Places & Faces North & West Norfolk 24 March 2019

OUT&ABOUT | FOOD&DRINK | BUY&TRY | HOUSE&HOME | LIFE&LIVING

Spotl ight on

Beccles

NORTH & WEST NORFOLK · MARCH 2019 · ISSUE 24

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Mother's

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WELCOME

TO MARCH’S PLACES&FACES® SPRING is in the air and the weather has been remarkably good as we head into March - an amazing time to enjoy everything the great outdoors has to offer. In this issue we have some gardening tips with everything from planting to garden improvements for the green fingered among us.

If you are looking for something a little more relaxing then check out our travel section which has some ideas for some super Suffolk stays, a review of the award winning Crazy Bear Stadhampton, not to mention our usual roundup of fabulous destinations for breaks abroad and staycations.

This month the team reviewed two restaurants; The Swan Inn, Barnby (page 48) and Ufford Park, Woodbridge (page 50), and by all accounts they both sound well worth a visit to enjoy some great food.

The picturesque Beccles in Suffolk is our town spotlight this month and as well as having lots of beautiful

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places to eat, drink and visit, it is also situated on the Broads, so you could always while away the hours drifting along (reading the latest copy of Places&Faces!!). You can use this as a starting point when you are planning a trip to the area.

Tyler Torrance from the Boarding House, Halesworth and Peter Clarke from The Imperial Hotel, Great Yarmouth give us two fabulous cod recipes for us to try. Add to this roasted game bird with spatzle from Richard Bainbridge of Benedicts restaurant in Norwich, and you will have plenty of ideas for this month’s dinner parties.

Two big dates for this month’s calender are St Patrick’s Day on Sunday 17 March and Mother’s Day on Sunday 31 March. With the latter we have compiled a gift guide and five different types of restaurant for inspiration for you to celebrate your mum’s big day.

To complete Mother’s Day don’t forget to get the flowers... and a copy of the latest issue of Places&Faces!

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83

93

CONTENTS

88

81

22

42 OUT&ABOUT 11

24 31 33

Where to go & what to see Spotlight on: Beccles Mel Cook: Visit Norwich Kayla Dunn: Visit North Norfolk

FOOD&DRINK 35 37 41 42 44 46 48

Enjoy a Guinness...

Mother’s Day dining Cocktail time The Swan Inn, Barnby Ufford Park Boarding House: Local cod with crisp Deben oyster Imperial Hotel: Herb crusted cod fillet

BUY&TRY

Photo: SAM TAYLOR

53 54

57 61 63 64

Paint your own pot Books: This month’s recommended reads Mother’s Day gift guide Fashion: Beautiful blue Beauty: Heaven scent Keys Auctioneers

HOUSE&HOME 68 71 73 74 76 79 81

Jarrold interiors JHD Interior Design Tips Great gardens Greater outdoors Spring Gardening Bawdeswell Garden Centre: The humble tomato Wood Green, The Animals Charity

LIFE&LIVING 83

85 86 88 90 93 95 96

The Bhuti Yoga Retreat Studio Spire Hospital Staycations Suffolk Stays Crazy Bear Travel Time Wealth Management Social Scene

OVER&OUT 98

Five minutes with...

11 Caroline’s Kitchen page 20

march spring

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C ECI L A MEY

Looking Good! c ec i la m ey.c o.u k

&

Out About

SARAH DARLING

The American country singer and songwriter (her standout hit was Home To Me) makes a welcome visit to the region as part of her Wonderland UK tour. Hot from performing at C2C London, this is a rare chance to catch your country fix.

14 March, Norwich Arts Centre, 8pm, ÂŁ17 advance. Tel: 01603 660352

& 11

WE’RE GOING ON A BEAR HUNT See the smash-hit production of

RED CARD COMEDY

There is another feast of cracking

comedy down at Carrow Road this month, headlined by musical comedy maestro Jonny Awsum (not his real name, we assume). Best known as making the semi finals of Britain’s Got Talent in 2017, Jonny wowed the judges with his heartwarming act. He’s currently on a sell out tour supporting The Lost Voice Guy (who won BGT in 2018) but also performing his own gigs.

Another top act on the bill is prowling funnyman Roger Monkhouse. A stalwart of the scene, Monkhouse is an unsung master of the craft.

The triple bill is completed by Irish mirthmeister Chris Kent, described as a gifted storyteller of ripping yarns.

Your compere and master of ceremonies is Paddy Lennox, moving things along like a traffic warden (but with a sense of humour, so not really like one at all).

29 March, Norfolk Lounge, Norwich City Football Club, doors 7pm, show 8:30pm, £14 adv, £16 on the door.

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perennially popular We’re Going On A Bear Hunt on tour, direct from London’s West End. Described by one critic at Sky Arts as “Quite simply, the best family show I’ve seen”, the familiar story is expertly handled by director Sally Cookson and trots along set to Benji Bower’s lively score. Join the intrepid family and their musical dog on a quest to find the eponymous bear; as they wade through the gigantic swishy swashy grass, the splishy splashy river and the thick oozy, squelchy mud. Expect catchy songs, interactive scenes, plenty of adventure and a few surprises along the way. Based on the book

by Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury, this production is suitable for families with children aged 3 and up.

19-24 March, Norwich Playhouse, times vary, £11.50. Tel: 01603 598598

BRENDAN COLE SHOW MAN Fans of Strictly will be all a spin at news that

New Zealand’s Ballroom king Brendan Cole (the first winner of Strictly Come Dancing) has a new show heading to Norwich.

This new production for 2019 promises plenty of fleet-footed, debonair entertainment as Cole leads a stunning cast in a thrilling extravaganza of music and dance.

Cole is joined on stage by an talented team of professional dancers, singers and a live band to showcase the superb choreography and dazzling performance that has kept him in the public eye for 15 years. Catch a night of Ballroom magic and high-energy Latin passion with the charismatic Cole, and experience the ultimate Show Man at his best. Top hat and tails optional.

23 March, Norwich Theatre Royal, 3pm and 7:30pm, £10 to £41.50. Tel: 01603 630000

Out&About

STEVE HARLEY: ACOUSTIC TRIO Steve Harley, the original Cockney Rebel, tours with his acoustic trio, playing an intimate, unique and atmospheric show. Steve will be accompanied by his Cockney Rebel band-mates Barry Wickens (violin and guitar) and James Lascelles (piano and percussion). With 13 original albums to draw inspiration from, this gig is sure to feature a wide cross-section of the mercurial musician’s back catalogue. While Make Me Smile (Come Up And See

Me) was a million-selling single in 1975 (and featured on numerous soundtracks and TV adverts down the years), there’s also favourites like Mr Soft, Judy Teen and Mr Raffles to evoke the glam rock era. That said, the audience should also expect more recent work, taken from albums like The Quality Of Mercy and Stranger Comes To Town.

14 March, The Apex, Bury St Edmunds, 7:30pm, £28.50.

Tel: 01284 758000

MARK THOMAS

Mark Thomas has made a name for himself poking a comedic finger at serious topics. From the arms trade to politicians avoiding tax, Thomas has ruffled many feathers during his career as a self-proclaimed ‘libertarian activist’. Thomas loves a protest – at one stage he held a Guinness World Record for the most protests in a single day – and is happy to put himself on the frontline of his chosen topics. Which brings us quite nicely to his latest show, Check Up – winner of an Edinburgh Fringe First Award 2018.

Thomas takes aim on perhaps his most emotive topic yet – our beloved National Health Service. Thomas is 54, the NHS is 70. With the UK national average life expectancy being 84 years, if Thomas makes it then he will see the NHS turn 100. What will they both look like?

Based on a series of interviews with leading experts in and on the NHS and residencies in hospitals and surgeries, Thomas explores what is happening, how it is going right and what is going wrong.

Expect a full surgical appraisal of our nation, at a pivotal time (note this show is due to take place the day before the UK leaves the EU). Wonder if Thomas might mention that?

28 March, Norwich Playhouse, 7:30pm, £16, £12 conc and NHS. Tel: 01603 598598 13

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Out&About

FISHERMAN’S FRIENDS (12A)

VIeE MO of th th Mon

Not, I’m sorry to report, a biopic

on the inventor of the popular throat lozenges, but a story equally likely to take your breathe away, being the true story of a group of Cornish fisherman who became a chart hit with their album of sea shanties.

Yes, Universal Records gave this bunch of pub performers a £1 million recording contract and were rewarded when their album hade the top 10, selling 150,000 copies.

Although not all the original members of the a capella band were actually fishermen (there was a shopkeeper, a potter, an engineer and two builders), the name stuck and was obviously more appropriate for their sea shanty material.

Hoping to tap into the same feelgood vibe of The Full Monty and Calendar Girls, the low-key cast could be onto another unlikely winner.

For anyone already familiar with the Fisherman’s Friends story, the tragedy which befell the group at the height of their fame is not part of this movie.

Intsead, enjoy the classic underdog tale, some stunning Port Isaac scenery and, of course, those delicious melodies.

On general release from 15 March.

TV e of th th Mon

THIS TIME WITH ALAN PARTRIDGE

Norwich’s prodigal son returns with a new six part series which continues throughout March.

Penned by Steve Coogan the tales continue of the bumbling presenter in the mock-live half-hour programme which is a heady mix of consumer affairs, current affairs, viewer interaction, highbrow interview and lightweight froth. Alan Partridge’s gravitas comes alive and might even see him recognised as the heavy weight broadcaster he has always promoted himself as.

If you missed the first episode you can always watch it on catch up... destined to be a new classic in the Partridge saga!

Mondays BBC 1, 9:30pm

15

PASSIONATE MACHINE Rosy Carrick has to build a time machine – because her future self has already done so and is now stuck 100 years in the past. Given that her knowledge of quantum physics is limited to the works of Arnold Schwarzenegger, Rosy must summon the help of science’s greatest minds if she is to rewrite history and save herself...

Darting playfully between multiple narratives, this complex and emotional performance explores the realities of time travel and self-determination – taking in Bowie, motherhood and some most heinous hangovers along the way.

The award-winning Passionate Machine is a playful, intelligent and searingly honest story about obsession, salvation and finding yourself – literally.

Age guide 12+.

27 March, Passionate Machine, Norwich Arts Centre, 8pm, pay what you can afford. Tel: 01603 660352

OK BOO N W

Matthew Bourne’s legendary SWAN LAKE You have to go way back to 1995 to Mathhew Bourne’s original interpretation of Swan Lake with the all-important twist – the swan is a male.

This revival of this groundbreaking, acclaimed production has been given a facelift, but the show still brilliantly blends classical ballet with other dance influences. A true feast, this sumptuous performance is not to be missed, and you don’t have to be a fan of traditional ballet to fall in love with this stunning show.

From the flawless choreography to Tchaikovsky’s famous score, Swan Lake will leave you begging for more.

Retaining the iconic elements of the original production, Matthew Bourne and his associate artists, award-winning designers Lez Brotherston (set and costumes) and Paule Constable (lighting), have created an exciting re-imagining of the classic production.

2-6 April, Norwich Theatre Royal, 2:30pm (Sat) and 7:30pm, £10 to £45. Tel: 01603 630000

16

Out&About

OMID SINGH

This headliner is a real coup for The

If you are the kind of person who pays any heed to reviews, then this show is for you.

Based on the 1928 satirical novel by Virginia Woolf, Dyad Productions has received glowing reports for Orlando, following similar acclaim for Austen’s Women, Elizabeth, Female Gothic and Jane Eyre: An Autobiography.

Discover the life-affirming tale of Orlando – whose gender cannot be pinned down, whose spirit cannot be changed, across romantic adventures across British history, from the 1500s to the present day.

Performer Rebecca Vaughan and writer/ director Elton Townend Jones explore what it means to find our place in the world while remaining true to who we are. This is five-star theatre, and essential viewing.

Corn Hall Comedy night in Diss – bagging a brilliant rising comic from the US. Born to an Iranian mother and Indian father, and living in the US, it’s little wonder much of Omid Singh’s material draws on his multicultural background and upbringing, living in 12 cities across the world.

Singh now resides in Los Angeles and is fact making a name for himself on the comedy scene. You may have come across his work with the Edinburgh Festival hit Story Poker, or maybe his weekly podcast The Patiocast – which eavesdrops on stars at The Comedy Store on Sunset Strip. He’s also a regular host at Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club in Las Vegas and, closer to home, a favourite at The Comedy Store in London.

With three other comedians on the night, this is one not to miss in Diss (even though you may be tempted to watch live coverage of Brexit, although there is nothing funny about that).

THE HAIRY BIKERS

6 March, Norwich Playhouse, 7:30pm, £12, £10 concs. Tel: 01603 598598

29 March, The Corn Hall Comedy, Diss, 8pm. Tel: 01379 652241

29 March, Marina Theatre, Lowestoft, 7:30pm, Tel: 01502 533200

ORLANDO

THE CROMER PIER SHOW

If we were to say Si King and Dave Myers were in town, you’d probably shrug your shoulders and look rather non-plussed.

Which is fair enough, as most people know and recognize the duo by their moniker The Hairy Bikers. Far from being an appetizing name for a couple of travelling chefs, Si and Dave have still managed to carve themselves a rather generous slice of foodie fame, with their down-to-earth, northern charm being a breath of fresh air on a rather sterile TV menu.

This nationwide tour takes in 36 dates, and An Evening With The Hairy Bikers promises plenty of cooking and conversation. Expect to hear tales from their extensive travels around the British Isles and beyond in the pursuit of fine food.

OK BOO N W

Cheeky and hilarious Paul Eastwood returns with his trademark quick-fire wit.

Paul is no stranger to the theatre headlining in the summer of 2014 and 2015. “A man called G” returns for his second summer season, G felt the love of audiences in the summer of 2018 described as a revelation, raw new and exciting by the National Piers Society chairman. Performing at the theatre for the first time is charismatic master showman mind reader and conjuror, Matthew Pomeroy.

Matthew’s captivating act has been described as “brilliant” by Hugh Jackman. Lead vocalists Emily Yarrow and Harvey James are reunited to deliver those show-stopping vocals. The Cromer Pier Show dancers provide the glitz and glamour and the children from Marlene’s those heart melting moments.

It is “strictly variety” don’t miss it! www.cromerpier.co.uk 17

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Out&About

ANOTHER SUITCASE

in another hall With a multi-million-selling recording back catalogue and a glittering stage career, Barbara Dickson has done it all. Now she is set to share her career highs on a visit to Norwich but don’t expect a nostalgia-fest. She tells John Bultitude she is keen to revisit and re-explore some of her work giving it a new twist.

Despite a career where she has become

a big name in the folk world, conquered the charts and become beloved by theatre fans for her earthy portrayals of characters, you would forgive Barbara Dickson for taking a break and putting her feet up.

But not a bit of it. Barbara is poised to crisscross the country with a new tour which sees her performing some of her newest work as well as re-imagining some of her biggest hits, with the tour set to conclude at Norwich Theatre Royal on March 10.

She said: “It is something I do every two years when I go out with my band. I have passed a couple of milestones since I last did it which is 50 years as a professional musician which is unbelievable and 2017 was my fortieth year of doing headlining tours. I did my first tour back in 1977, would you believe?”

And if you think Barbara is just going to be singing, you would be wrong. She explained: “I am also quite an important instrumentalist in my band. I play guitar and piano so I have quite a lot of different arrangements to learn.”

The audience are also in for a real treat.

“There will be Another Suitcase In Another Hall from the theatre, there is some Beatles, there is Gerry Rafferty because of my connection with him and my album of his songs, some traditional music which is where I came from and part of who I am, and the pop songs that people would expect,” said Barbara.

As well as the opportunity to remember some of her biggest chart hits, Barbara is still very passionate about her folk music roots starting off as a semi-professional musician at night while being a civil servant during the day. “I then moved to Edinburgh where it was easier for me to tap into the folk scene at that time which was enormous. I imagine it was the same in East Anglia too. There are a lot of good songs that come from Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex. We were lucky in Scotland to have a strong cultural identity as well. Even at the height of my pop powers, I was still doing MacCrimmon’s Lament as part of my show. I never left that behind.”

It was through those folk links that she first spring-boarded into theatre. She knew the playwright Willy Russell through the folk scene first being cast by him in John, Paul, George,

Ringo and Bert before roles followed in arguably his best known theatrical work Blood Brothers.

It is a part of her working life she also looks back on with great affection. “My time in the theatre was just fantastic. The things I have done have been really strong meaningful things. I do think musical theatre now is more of an event and is more about frocks and the things like that and people’s recognition of the material rather than it being something to go away and think about.

I was very lucky because John, Paul, George, Ringo and Bert, Blood Brothers and Spend Spend Spend were all things that people went out and thought about. I was trying to bring something meaningful and artistic to my life and I shared it with everyone else.”

And the nature of those roles was also important to her as she was keen to find parts that resonated with her perfectly. “I have to feel that I have got something to give. I don’t think I could give anything to a Noel Coward even though I love his work. I am a working class Scotswoman from a mining area of Eastern Scotland and that is what I know about. The fact I became a pop star and went to London doesn’t change my stripes,” said Barbara.

Meanwhile the popular performer is looking forward to heading back to Norwich. “I love the cathedral and I love the history. Usually when I go on tour, I only get to see the inside of a hotel room and a plate of salad but the last time, I went to Norwich, I remember being outside the Maddermarket. I saw this plaque on a wall about Will Kemp who Morris danced all the way to London from that wall. I just remember that and I say if nobody knows anything about Norwich, I always tell them that.”

10 March at 7.30pm, Norwich Theatre Royal www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk

LEE MEAD It has been ten years since Lee

Mead first donned the coat in the West End production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. To celebrate this decade, Lee and his band will take you through the last ten years of his life.

Featuring songs from the classic shows he has starred in, such as The Phantom Of The Opera, Miss Saigon, Wicked and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, as well as songs from his albums, this is a celebration of stage musicals.

Note, this show is rearranged from 23 November last year.

10 March, Kings Lynn Corn Exchange, 7:30pm, £24.50 to £51.50.

Tel: 01553 764864

19

From Strictly

Joe McFadden captured the

nation’s hearts in 2017 when he lifted the Strictly glitterball trophy as he was crowned champion alongside professional dancer Katya Jones. Now the accomplished actor is set to get hearts racing in a different way as he brings some supernatural frights to audiences in the UK tour of The House On Cold Hill.

What drew you to The House On Cold Hill?

It’s really well written with really interesting characters. There’s some real tension in there and no-one in the play is what they first seem to be, which makes it so intriguing. It keeps you guessing right up until the last minute.

How would you sum up your character?

On the face of it Ollie seems to have everything going for him. He’s just sold his advertising company, he has this great family and it seems like he has this brilliant life, then that slowly gets unravelled throughout the course of the evening. He’s very happy and optimistic that he’s got this house. He’s got the house of his dreams.

In his childhood he was asked to draw the house he’d most like to live in and it’s exactly the house he ends up buying. But in the play everything starts to fall apart and you see his life collapsing around him.

That makes for an interesting progression as a character.

Have you kept up the dancing since winning Strictly Come Dancing last year?

No, not really, although there’s a bit of dancing in the play. At one point Alexa plays a song and I start dancing along to it, then one of the characters goes ‘You should be on Strictly mate!’ But you can’t really rock up to a jazz class after you’ve won Strictly because people expect you to be good and I’m not that good without intensive one-on-one training!

The House On Cold Hill 11 - 16 March, Norwich Theatre Royal.

Box Office 01603 630000 20

CAROLINE’S KITCHEN The cookery world has always been a big part of the TV schedules from Fanny Craddock to Delia Smith to the Bake Off. But what is it really like being a culinary celebrity, especially if your public and private personas are a little different? A razor-sharp new play aims to find out and one of its stars, Hollyoaks and Emmerdale favourite James Sutton, reveals more about what is in store to John Bultitude.

Enthusiasm is never in short supply with James Sutton. Whether it is talking about his soap roles, his passion for performing on stage or his memories of trying to conquer Norfolk’s road network, the actor has that enviable quality of putting you at your ease in seconds.

With a mixture of charm and friendliness pepped up with a side-serving of exuberance, you have the recipe for the perfect interview.

And recipes are front and centre unsurprisingly of his latest project Caroline’s Kitchen which comes to Norwich Theatre Royal on March 6-9. Caroline Langrishe plays the title character who appears to have it all with a hit TV show and the perfect family and house.But when the cameras are turned off, all is not as it seems, and James has a part to play. He laughed: “I play Graham, the northern handyman who is having a bit of an affair with her. We have lots of sneaky looks and it is great fun.”

For James, it has been an incredible learning experience as it is his first major theatrical tour. He has also been learning as much as he can from his co-stars including Caroline, who boasts a long career including a host of stage roles plus Judge John Deed and the Suffolkset Lovejoy, and Aden Gillett who has a strong theatre, TV and movie career. “Caroline is super. She is a tour de force. She is never off the stage and it is incredible to watch her at the top of her game. Aden plays her husband and he is just tearing up the stage and owning this play. Being around these guys and soaking up their knowledge is incredible,” he said.

James is also an admirer of Torben Betts who has written the play. “It is a clever piece of writing. Technically it is really difficult but there is also a real rhythm and a real pace to it. Also, lots of characters don’t really listen to each other and talk over the top of each other. It could be messy, but the levels of concentration needed are high. It is

blisteringly funny and very fast-paced. Torben is an incredible writer and people have been laughing a lot and having a really nice time.

Long may that continue.”

Caroline’s Kitchen has also given him the opportunity to get his teeth into comedy.

“It is something I haven’t done much in my short career. I have spent a lot of time in soaps which, by their nature, you can be doing comedy one week and something serious the next. This is proper black comedy, and this is very different.”

Caroline’s Kitchen, 6 - 9 March, Norwich Theatre Royal. www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk

James Sutton

Photos: SAM TAYLOR

THRILLS to spooky CHILLS

Out&About

PERFORMING POET

HERE COME THE GIRLS A brand new show featuring stars

of Strictly Come Dancing is hitting the road – and this time it’s the girls turn! ‘Here Come The Girls’ brings an exciting mix of individual performances and group numbers from Dianne Buswell, Amy Dowden and Chloe Hewitt. Dianne and Amy have already established themselves on the hit BBC show Strictly Come Dancing, while Chloe Hewitt performed in the 2016 series. One of Strictly’s youngest-ever professionals, Chloe was aged eight when Strictly Come Dancing began airing on BBC One in 2004, in fact, she was inspired to take up dancing after watching early series of the show.

How did your dancing careers start?

DIANNE: I began dancing at the age of five in Perth, Australia. I went on to compete from an early age representing Western Australia in National and International Ballroom and Latin events. I found success in Australian TV show “So You Think You Can Dance” at the age of 18.

AMY: I started dancing at the age of eight at my local dance school Shappelles in Caerphilly along with my twin sister. I soon joined the school’s formation team and immediately fell in love with the world of dance. I studied ballroom, Latin, freestyle, ballet and contemporary but my dream was to be a top competitor on the open Latin and ballroom competition circuit.

CHLOE: My dance training began at the tender age of seven when I joined Pritchards Dance and Fitness Academy in Burleydam.

I went on to win many dance titles but my proudest achievement was winning the World Championships at Blackpool Winter Gardens in 2015. I first appeared on TV on ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent in 2013 when I got through to the live semi-finals.

When did you join Strictly Come Dancing?

DIANNE: I joined in 2017 as Strictly’s new professional dancer. My first celebrity partner

was the Reverend Richard Coles who I sadly bowed out of the 2017 competition with during week three.

AMY: I was invited to become one of the professional dancers in 2017, partnering comedian Brian Conley. In this first year on the show I won the “Children in Need Strictly Special” with Mark Curry and danced in the Christmas special with Colin Jackson.

CHLOE: In 2016 I joined the cast becoming the youngest ever professional to join the show at the age of 20 years old. My Strictly career has seen me dance in the 2016 Christmas Special with Gethin Jones and partnering the incredible Blue Peter presenter Radzi Chinyinganya for the 2017 “Children in Need” show.

Amy Dowden was the 2017 British National Champion and remains one of the highestranking Ballroom and Latin American professional dancers in the UK. Amy is also a four-time British National Finalist and in 2015, she reached the semi-final of the World Championship. Amy’s students say she can be strict and is quite the perfectionist, which her first dancing partner Brian Conley quickly found out! 2018 was a particularly scandalous year for Strictly, and Amy became one of the show’s controversial couples, when she partnered Danny John-Jules. She had several rows with the Red Dwarf star throughout rehearsals and the series itself, however they reunited in a group number for the live final, as did Seann Walsh and Katya Jones.

Fabulous, fiery, redheaded Dianne had a completely opposite reaction to her partner – and found romance with social media star Joe Sugg. Her captivating partnership with Joe reached the final in 2018, however it’s fair to say her first celebrity partner, Reverend Richard Coles didn’t quite dazzle the Judges!

Wright’s new show, Luke Wright: Poet Laureate, celebrates his 20th anniversary as a performing poet. He’s currently touring the show around the UK and there are several chances to catch it in the eastern region, including a special anniversary show at Norwich Playhouse on 30 March, and a London West End run. In the year in which Carol Ann Duffy ends her decade long tenure as Poet Laureate Luke Wright: Poet Laureate takes a look at the history of the role and its relevancy in 2019. It’s an opportunity for him to showcase his best new poems and take the temperature of the nation, at a time of profound change.

Since his first gig at 6th form college and his first paid performance at Norwich Arts Centre, both in 1999 Wright has inspired a generation of young poets (and reinvigorated a few older ones), performed at literary and arts festivals around the world and published a series of acclaimed books. The latest, After Engine Trouble, has just been published by Rough Trade.

His verse play What I Learned from Johnny Bevan won multiple awards, including theatre industry bible The Stage’s Award for Acting Excellence - not bad when you consider he has never had an acting lesson.

Wright is one of the east’s favourite sons and he has no plans to leave. ‘I grew up in Essex, studied at UEA, lived in Norwich for a few years and am now in Bungay where I get the best of the region. Where I live is very pretty and nearby Norwich really is as cool as any city in the country - and I travel a lot doing shows so I have plenty of opportunity for comparisons!’

And if he were to chose just one poem of his own to represent him? ‘The latest book includes The Lay-Bys and Bypasses which also closes the new show. I’m very proud of that’.

30 March, Norwich Playhouse. www.norwichplayhouse.co.uk For full tour dates and other information visit: www.lukewright.co.uk

18 March at 7.30pm, The Apex. www.theapex.co.uk

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OUTonf Tow

WEST END: What’s new in 2019?

With theatre awards season arriving in the coming weeks, our West End Theatre reviewer Benet Catty takes a look at the new shows opening in the West End in the coming months.

Many new plays are arriving in London, but in the vanguard is All About Eve. There’s nothing surprising about a stage adaptation of a classic film, particularly an Oscar-winner famous for Bette Davis.

But this will be something special.

Gillian Anderson and Lily James play the Hollywood star and her obsessive fan respectively, and the production is by superstar director of Ivo van Hove, fresh from the Broadway opening of his National Theatre production of Network (itself a screen-to-stage adaptation) starring Bryan Cranston. London audiences were also dazzled by his staging of Arthur Miller’s A View from the Bridge with Mark Strong in 2014.

Miller is also the name above the title of three big up-coming revivals. First, The Price transfers from Bath starring the peerless David Suchet. The story of two brothers meeting after sixteen years to sell their family furniture and facing the emotional as well as financial price has been widely acclaimed and runs until the end of April. Suchet’s last Miller was All My Sons, which by chance is to be revived at the Old Vic starring two more Hollywood stars, Bill Pullman and Sally Field, hot on the heels of one of Miller’s Katharine McPhee in Waitress

lesser-known works, The American Clock, also at the Old Vic. If it’s stars you’re looking for, the summer brings Matthew Broderick (the Broadway star of The Producers) for his London debut in the new play The Starry Messenger written by Kenneth Lonergan (writer of the Oscar-winning Manchester by the Sea). And John Malkovich returns to the London stage for the first time since the 1980s to helm the world premiere of David Mamet’s new post-Weinstein Hollywood drama The Bitter Wheat. Mamet’s plays have been hit-and-miss in recent years, but this one finds him with a zeitgeisty subject and he’s directing it himself.

The London musicals scene has been overwhelmingly dominated by American shows in the last couple of years. And that’s no bad thing, with the British contingent often seeming anodyne (The Girls, anyone?). The trend continues with the opening of the Broadway hit Come from Away – about the people of a small town in Canada who took in the passengers of a flight forced to land on 9/11.

Waitress – a Broadway hit about a piemaker seeking love – opens shortly at the Adelphi starring the glorious Broadway star (and the one redeeming feature of the cliché-ridden drama series Smash) Katharine McPhee.

Later in the year the Tony-winning Dear Evan Hansen comes to London with what is bound to be a big fanfare, written by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul whose songs for The Greatest Showman made that Hugh Jackman film one of the surprise hits of last year.

For fans of the great classics, Trevor Nunn’s Menier Chocolate Factory staging of Fiddler on the Roof is transferring to the Playhouse, with the theatre reconfigured to recreate the intimacy Nunn has created at the Menier to re-examine a show more typically staged in big houses.

There are now only a few months left to see Nunn’s original staging of Les Miserables which is controversially being retired in July after 34 years to be replaced by the excellent, more modern

22

(but inferior) 25th anniversary staging which has been playing around the world for much of the last decade. Les Miz will continue to run, but you’ll never see it better staged than in its original production.

At the other end of the scale, Andrew Lloyd Webber will this summer see three simultaneous revivals of his first three musicals. Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat returns to the London Palladium 50 years after its West End premiere. Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre stages Evita directed by Jamie Lloyd, while its Timothy Sheader staging of Jesus Christ Superstar moves indoors for a summer run at the Barbican. For those of us who have despaired of His Lordship’s more recent offerings, these three contrasting masterpieces will be a timely reminder of the immense contribution he’s made to the British theatre.

For those who can’t make it to London, or at least not often enough to get the full benefit of this range of treats in the coming months, All About Eve and All My Sons will be playing live in cinemas in April and May. Whether you’re coming to the capital, or experiencing it in your local cinema, the London theatre is set for another bumper year.

David Suchet in The Price

Photo: NOBBY CLARK

Photo: MATTHEW MURPHY

Out&About

Come From Away Lands

Monday 11 - Saturday 16 March Box Office: 01603 63 00 00 Tickets: from £10 Book online: www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk Theatre Street, Norwich NR2 1RL

Beccles spotlight on

TALES OF THE UNEXPECTED From a cactus and chilli festival to skydiving, smuggler tunnels to floating glamping pods, there is more to Beccles than just the fabulous river and Broads.

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Out&About

Beccles is a quintessential Suffolk

market town nestled on the edge of the Broads and hugging the River Waveney. The proximity to the river made Beccles an important inland port centuries ago in Saxon times – a centre for trade both legal and clandestine. Indeed, as you wander the winding streets, you are no doubt at some stage directly above a series of mysterious tunnels that weave their way underground, used by smugglers to hide contraband brought in by boat (no doubt under the cover of darkness). We like to think this only adds a delicious edge to what at first

glance is a purely wholesome town.

And Beccles is the kind of place that is full of interesting stories, quirky places to visit and a bewildering array of things to see and do – from paddling to parachuting.

The town centre is dominated by the soaring 97-foot bell tower – unusually located a short distance from the church. In fact, this landmark has many quirks (like clocks on only three sides) and you can find out more now that the bell tower has been renovated and open to the public. On a clear day you can see 20 miles from its top, and volunteers will be able to shed some light on this architectural anomaly. And if architecture is your thing, be sure to check out the octagonal Beccles Museum.

St Michael’s Church is also well worth a visit, with its pretty grounds and vantage point for fine views across the river. Wander down from here to the river itself which is bustling in summer months. There is the heated outdoor lido and the Big Dog Ferry takes you on a three-mile trip down the peaceful river where you can stop at the Locks Inn at Geldeston. Simply

catch the ferry back to Beccles or enjoy one of the many walks back into town. The Big Dog has various stops and, as the name would suggest, is also dog friendly.

It’s fair to say that the river and the Broads are the main attractions for visitors to Beccles so it’s no surprise to see many activities based down on the bankside, where you can also find great places to eat, drink and stay. If you want to admire some boats, head along to the Beccles Quay and Yacht Station – a great place to stay on your own boat or, new this season, why not glamp it up on the floating pod called secret Water at Hippersons Boatyard?

Hippersons also has a number of moored houseboats for hire – perfect for family getaways – as well as small day rentals for exploring the river and perhaps a spot of fishing.

The Waveney House Hotel has 12 individually styled bedrooms and is also a great place for a meal or drinks right on the river. Built in the early 16th century, many original features remain, and the hotel has fabulous views right on the water’s edge and within an easy walk of the town

Did you know...

Beccles is twinned with Petit-Couronne in France.

Beccles had a population at the 2011 census of 10,123. Near by Worlingham is a suburb of Beccles; the combined population is 13,868.

Sir John Leman (died 1632) was a tradesman from Beccles who became Lord Mayor of London.

Must visit: Beccles Lido: Enjoy swimming in the fabulous 30metre x 15metre outdoor pool, separate toddler pool and paddling pool which are all heated to 27°C. Situated on Puddingmoor, next to the River Waveney, with lots of grassy areas, sunloungers, tables and chairs to relax on, including a cafe, with covered eating area.

25

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Out&About

centre. If arriving by boat, moorings are also available.

Talking of arriving, getting to Beccles has been made far easier recently, with both the introduction of new train track in 2012 and a recently completed bypass that takes car congestion away from the town centre’s narrow streets. Trains run to Ipswich and Lowestoft from Beccles.

Back to where to stay, and you can’t really go wrong with The Kings Head Hotel, one of the many Wetherspoons pubs that also now offers quality accommodation and very reasonable rates. Located in a landmark building in the centre of the town, you’ll be hard pressed to find a better location, and with Wetherspoons’ renowned value drinking and dining on your doorstep. The only downside is that there is no visitor parking, but that may not matter if you are arriving by train, with the station a short fiveminute stroll away.

It’s fair to say that Wetherspoons isn’t for everyone, but they do breathe new life into heritage buildings that would more often than not sit empty, so fair play to them. However, Beccles is not the kind of place where you will find an abundance of high street chains, and indeed most of its highlights are one-off eateries and shops that you simply won’t find elsewhere. For Beccles, read boutique.

One of the best cafes in town is undoubtedly Twyfords, which has been serving up homemade, locally

sourced food in a historic building for more than 20 years. Sit watching the world go by in their fab frontage or, if weather permits, seek out their secret garden – perfect for discreet afternoon tea. This is the place for a brilliant breakfast, homemade soups, or even Twyfords’ own soda concoctions (or perhaps a shot of Norfolk gin or whisky).

Baileys Delicatessen is also a café with seating in the shop and also upstairs. Having recently changed hands, reports reach us that many of the old favourites from the menu remain, which is good news for

regulars. Whether popping in for some takeaway morsels, coffee and cake or a three-course meal, treat yourself to a Baileys.

The Wine Vaults Bar & Restaurant is open all day and serves a wide range of food and drink on three floors, including the eponymous wine cellars.

Best described as friendly and lively, the Wine Vaults uses a good selection of local ingredients, including Suffolk lamb chops and fish and seafood sourced from The Fishmonger at No. 4, just down the street. The Fishmonger at No. 4 is a friendly fishmonger happy to provide hints and tips on how to cook your fish and selling a wide selection – both fresh and smoked.

As they say, “Don’t just buy fish, learn about it and how to cook it”.

Also worth checking out is the contemporary Graze White Horse, a classy restaurant with a distinct Asian flavour to the main menu, with dishes including szechuan pork belly and vietnamese shiitake mushroom pho, sitting alongside classics like chicken supreme and pan fried cod fillet.

Just fancy a pint of real ale or catching some sport on the big screen?

Locals swear by the Ingate free house pub, which was voted the most improved pub in 2018 by the local CAMRA society.

Blending a café with a retail experience is nothing new, but The Café at Urban Jungle has to be one of the quirkier examples of this art.

Enjoy bold and flavoursome food

why not try PLACES TO EAT GRAZE

INDIA GATE

THE WINE VAULTS

OAK FIRED

A relaxed restaurant, bar and grill offering affordable delicious food from a modern British cuisine.

The menu changes frequently to reflect seasonal produce and food trends and the Graze bar offers a good selection of wines, beers and fabulous cocktails. On sunnier days you can enjoy food and drinks in the garden and courtyard. www.grazewhitehorse.co.uk

This restaurant expertly offers authentic flavours of Indian and Bangladeshi cuisine. The restaurant is a casual fine dinning experience in a relaxed atmosphere with friendly staff, home delivery is also available.

Definitely worth a visit if you want to add a touch of spice to your trip to Beccles. www.india-gate-restaurant.co.uk

Fabulous food is served in a restaurant split over three floors.

Great ingredients and a creative menu including daily specials combine for a great experience.

Add to this fantastic wine and gin menus for a memorable night out.

A must try is the Sunday brunch served from 10am, a great way to set yourself up before a Sunday stroll www.winevaultsbeccles.co.uk

Serving true Neapolitan Pizza cooked in a wood fired oven.

In 2017 Oak Fired was recognised by the Pizza, Pasta & Italian Food Association with a Gold Award for best UK independent pizzeria.

We can definitely recommend the Oakies pizza and the Suffolk lamb ragu. Well worth a visit for pizza and pasta lovers alike. www.oak�ired.co.uk

27

Out&About

why not try

PLACES TO DRINK INGATE FREE HOUSE A family run friendly sports and community pub with sky sports and BT sports on seven screens.

108 Grove Road, Beccles

BUTCHERS ARMS Fun and friendly for all ages with live music, quizes and open mic nights, plus Freeview sports on the big screen.

London Road, Beccles

THE BEAR AND BELLS A dog and children friendly pub serving a good selection ales. Situated oposite the main bus stops in the town centre.

11 Old Market, Beccles

KINGS HEAD A Wetherspoons pub and hotel offering all of the usual amenieties from one the UK’s best loved pub chains.

4–6 New Market, Beccles

28

surrounded by tropical plants. It’s an eclectic experience, with cosy vintage furniture and a distinctly bohemian vibe. Top tip – don’t miss the treehouse-style Nest for a unique brunch, lunch or dinner.

From independent bookshops to giftshops, there is plenty to occupy the browser in Beccles. Try out Beccles Books, The Marmalade Tree, Vintage Mischief, Eccentricities Keith Steel, Coriander Beccles and Smash Skates.

And at certain times of the year there are a number of special events that make Beccles worth an extra visit. Coming up on 5 May is the first of two Antiques Street Markets, playing host to a hundred dealers of antiques and collectibles.

Also creeping up fast is the fifth Beccles Food & Drink Festival on 25 May, featuring more than 70 food and drink stalls, many of them local artisan producers. Based in the town centre, the festival also includes cookery demonstrations and talks, music and children’s entertainment.

Spilled some artisan jam down your shirt while trying to sneak in an extra donut at the festival. Fear not, for Beccles has one of the finest dry cleaners for miles around at Linen Press. They will also take care of any service washing requirements – perfect if you’re on holiday – and residents can revel in a collection and delivery service to take the hassle out of laundry day.

Making a clean getaway to August there is the second instalment of the food market, plus – something a little spicier – the cactus and chilli festival at Urban Jungle (29 August).

As you’d expect, this celebration of prickles and peppers covers everything from the plants to plates, plus fiery cocktails, live music and craft stalls.

But Beccles isn’t just everything you’d expect to see in a 1950s period drama on Sunday night TV – no sir. On the edge of town you can get an adrenaline fix at Ellough Park Raceway – the region’s only championship karting circuit. Want something even more exciting? Just a couple of miles away is UK Parachuting with its active membership tumbling from the skies all year round. You can join them too, and capture that memorable moment on video as you see Beccles from a totally different, and unexpected, angle.

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Hippersons Boatyard Beccles Bringing the river to life for all the family.

Right in the heart of Beccles, Hippersons Boatyard is your next stop.

We offer the following services:

NEW FOR 2019: The first Floating Glamping Pod

· Day Boat Hire · · Houseboat & Pod Holiday Rental · · Caravan & Motorhome Club Site · · Twilight Boat Hire (seasonal) · · Moorings · · Boat Repairs · · Pump Out · · Diesel ·

Call us on 01502 712166 Or visit us at www.hippersons.co.uk Hippersons Boatyard hippersonsboatyard

MARCH What’s On Show times all at 7:30pm unless stated

‘n’ Roll Revolution with the Bluejays Sat Rock Award-winning band The Bluejays take you on a jiving 2nd journey through the fabulous fifties.

50 EVENTS OVER 11 DAYS!

THURSDAY 16 – SUNDAY 26 MAY 2019

Tickets: 01284 758000 • www.buryfestival.co.uk Visit our website for a full festival line-up

River trips and self-drive day boats in the Broads National Park

Sun 3rd

The Lisa Stanley Show

Fri 8th

Naturally 7 – The best acapella group in the world

Sat 9th

Mark Anthony as Prince

Join Irish country singer Lisa Stanley (the daughter of Ireland's legendary singer, Maisie McDaniels) for catchy songs and friendly chat.

An American music group with a distinct a cappella style they call “vocal play” which is "the art of becoming an instrument using the human voice to create the sound."

The star of Prince life story film documentary When Doves Cry performs in a brand-new-for-2019, hit-packed extravaganza.

Fri 15th

The Real Thing – Feel The Force Tour

Sat 16th

UK Pink Floyd Experience

Original vocalists, Chris Amoo and Dave Smith, perform their no.1 singles and many more live on stage with their own fantastic 5-piece band.

Featuring eight top flight musicians and a world class crew, this concert-based production authentically recreates the atmosphere of a Pink Floyd live performance

McKeown’s Bay City Rollers Fri Les Bay City Rollers icon Les McKeown is back on tour, 22nd bringing his fantastic show to Princess Theatre!

Relax and unwind on one of our river trips.

Discover stunning scenery and wildlife around every bend as you listen to the Skipper’s live commentary.

Trips available each day from 1st April to 31st October.

Perhaps you’d prefer to be ‘The Captain’!

Hire one of our day boats or day cruisers and explore the Broads your own way.

Call us on 01603 782207 and we’ll help you arrange the perfect day out.

Call 01603 782207 or visit broadstours.co.uk

Sat 23rd

American Four Tops Motown Show

Sun 24th

The Jimmy Shand Story with Brandon McPhee

Fri 29th

Direct from the USA, the show everyone is raving about its Soul Satisfaction’s AMERICAN FOUR TOPS Motown Show live in concert!

This show is a celebration of the life and music of the late Sir Jimmy Shand, prolific composer and renowned band leader, an international star and legend of Scottish music

Jimmy Buckley – Live in Concert

One of Ireland's best loved and most respected performers.

Along with his magnificent band, Jimmy will entertain you superbly and looks forward to meeting friends old & new.

For ticket prices, more info & to book visit the website:

www.princesshunstanton.co.uk

or call the Box Office: 01485

532252

The Princess Theatre, 13 The Green, Hunstanton PE36 5AH

Out&About

Blow away the cobwebs Take a different route into spring says Melanie Cook of VisitNorwich. off your lunch before you eat it) wander up to Castle Gardens for another great view.

Through Norwich Cathedral Quarter, down Elm Hill and across Tombland, you reach the (real) cathedral and its grounds, making you feel like you’ve left the city behind. Set in 44 acres, the cathedral gardens are a peaceful stroll down to the river and back again. The Refectory or The Britons Arms on Elm Hill are both great places for coffee and homemade cake if you fancy a sugar rush after all that exercise.

They’re also great stops for lunch, with Elm Hill being a hotbed of independent shops too. Walking, eating, shopping – a perfect couple of hours!

And why not get to both our cathedrals?

Follow through the streets of the Norwich Lanes through Upper St Giles, to reach The Cathedral of St John the Baptist which is a sublime example of Victorian Gothic architecture and a really atmospheric place to explore. Next door, wander into Plantation Garden - referred to as Norwich’s secret garden - a Victorian 3-acre site of glorious planting and a place to visit in all seasons.

Photo: DAVID STREET

I

t’s the beginning of spring; the season when you can count the days to ‘getting your legs out’. And as much of a cliché as it is to say ‘there’s a renewed sense of wellbeing at this time of year’ – it’s true, conscious or not.

And whilst we’re not quite ready to throw off our coats and scarves and jump into a pair of shorts, there is something to be said about wrapping up warm to enjoy the outdoors rather than endure it. Hope is in the air in spring, when hedgerows and trees are turning green (exciting!), and blossom is blossoming - it all adds up to something special.

If you’re shopping or visiting Norwich - or even on your lunch break - there’s a host of hidden (and less hidden) green spaces to spend quiet time appreciating the flora and fauna of the season. Chapelfield Gardens is a perfectly formed small city park complete with its own bandstand, making it a lovely place to spend time enjoying an al fresco elevenses, or a coffee catch up with a friend.

Pop to Carrello’s van outside Debenhams for a hot drink to go at a very reasonable cost.

Across from The Forum, the City Hall War Memorial and Memorial Gardens is the place where locals take the weight off their feet while enjoying great views of Norwich Castle, the 900-year-old market, The Guildhall and Norwich’s largest medieval church - Sir Peter Mancroft - often thought to be Norwich Cathedral by visitors!

There’s a lot to be said for taking time to appreciate food in good surrounds and on a sunny spring day this is the top spot for relishing ‘food from around the world’ from one of the many stands on Norwich Market.

One of my particular favourites, Churros and Chorizo, sell warming soups, such as their chorizo, mixed beans, fresh rosemary, garlic and tomato soup served with a wedge of bread for only £2.95. Followed by – very naughty – hot churros. Alternatively (to walk

Cycling is going to be a bit of a theme in the county this year with the first Great British Cycling Festival taking place 27 – 30 June. Starting and finishing in Norwich City Centre, on the last day is the fifth round of the HSBC UK National Cross-Country Series. This is where amateur riders and families can cycle the same closed road route after the elite cyclists. This leaves us plenty of time to get used to our saddles before the event.

From Norwich one of the best routes to go cycling (or walking) is the Marriott’s Way, again another place to get to in every season. Following a disused rail track and with art installations along the way, it’s a pretty special place to explore with an abundance of wildlife too. Anyone that can go the distance can cycle as far as Cromer (you pick up The Weavers Way at Aylsham), however once you reach Aylsham (26 miles from Norwich) take your bikes onto the Bure Valley Railway (steam train, 9 miles) to Wroxham and catch a Greater Anglia train back to Norwich.

You can also closely explore the Broads by reversing the itinerary: upon arrival at Wroxham, board the Bure Valley Railway to a number of stations in the Broads. Coltishall is a good destination to head to because of its market town status, Georgian architecture, riverside Rising Sun pub and the Norfolk Mead Hotel.

The Norfolk Mead has a gorgeous walled garden where you can take afternoon tea – or if its chilly, beside one of their three open fires. Though I would suggest first making sure this all fits with the train times! I have to say, if you get stuck at the hotel it wouldn’t be such a bad thing; their rooms are beautiful, and equally so is their breakfast!

For things to do all year round as well as accommodation, places to eat, drink and shop go to www.visitnorwich.co.uk and www.cityofstories.co.uk

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S O C O M E A N D V I S I T U S AT P E R T W E E & B A C K - G R E AT Y A R M O U T H

O COME AND VISIT ertwee &SBack Limited

U S AT P E R T W E E & B A C K - G R E AT Y A R M O U T H

apton Hall Road Pertwee NR31 & Back reat Yarmouth, 0NJLimited Gapton Hall Road Pertwee & Back Limited el. 01493 660350 Gapton Hall Road Great Yarmouth, NR31 0NJ ww.pertwee-and-back.co.uk Great Yarmouth, NR31 0NJ Tel. 01493 660350 01493 660350 www.pertwee-and-back.co.uk NGERTel. WILDTRAK 3.2 TDCi 200PS AUTO. FROM £325 PER MONTH OVER 4 YEARS ON FORD CONTRACT HIRE FROM

www.pertwee-and-back.co.uk RD LEASE. ADVANCE OF 6 MONTHLY RENTALS. BUSINESS USERS ONLY. RANGER WILDTRAK 3.2(l/100km) TDCi 200PS FROM 3.2 £325 OVER 4 YEARS ON FORD CONTRACT HIRE FRO cial fuelRANGER consumption figures in3.2 mpg for AUTO. the AUTO. Ranger Wildtrak TDCiPER 200PSMONTH Auto: Urban 24.8 (11.4), Urban 38.7 (7.3), Combined 32.1 (8.8).

WILDTRAK TDCi 200PS FROM £325BUSINESS PER MONTH OVER 4 YEARS ONExtra FORD CONTRACT HIRE FROM FORD LEASE. ADVANCE OF 6 MONTHLY RENTALS. USERS ONLY. cial CO emissions 231g/km.

FORD LEASE. ADVANCE OF 6 MONTHLY RENTALS. BUSINESS USERS ONLY. 2

Official fuel consumption figures inresults mpg(EU(l/100km) for715/2007 the Ranger TDCi 200PS Auto: Urban 24.8purposes (11.4),and Extra not Urban 38.7 (7.3),driving Combined 32.1 (8 mpg figuresOfficial quoted arefuel sourced from official EU-regulated Regulations (EC) (EC)Wildtrak 692/2008 as3.2 last200PS amended), are provided comparability reflectCombined your actual consumption figures intest mpg (l/100km) for the Rangerand Wildtrak 3.2 TDCi Auto: Urban for 24.8 (11.4), Extra Urbanmay 38.7 (7.3), 32.1 experience.

(8.8).

CO emissions 231g/km. er WildtrakOfficial 3.2 TDCi 200PS Auto.

Finance subject to status.

Guarantees/indemnities may be required.

You will not own the vehicle at the end of the agreement.

Examples exclude VAT and are based on 48 month non-maintained agreements, 2emissions 231g/km.

Official CO a mileage ofThe6,000 annum. returned in good condition and(EU within agreed mileage, otherwise further chargesaswill incurred. Prices correct at of going topurposes print andand aremay subject change notice. experience.

Subject mpgmiles figures2perquoted areVehicles sourcedmust from be official EU-regulated test results Regulations (EC) 715/2007 and (EC) 692/2008 lastbeamended), are provided fortime comparability not to reflect yourwithout actual driving The mpg figures quoted are sourced from official EU-regulated test results (EU Regulations (EC) 715/2007 and (EC) 692/2008 as last amended), are provided for comparability purposes and may not reflect your actual driving experience. ailability atRanger a FordWildtrak Authorised UK Dealer for vehicles with finance accepted and vehicle contracted between 1st January and 31st March 2019 and vehicle registered by 30th September 2019.

Not available with any other promotion.

Ford Lease Ranger Wildtrak 3.2 TDCi 200PS Auto.

Finance subject to status.

Guarantees/indemnities may be required.

You will not own the vehicle at the end of the agreement.

Examples exclude VAT and are based on 48 month non-maintained agreem 3.2 TDCi 200PS Auto. Finance subject to status. Guarantees/indemnities may be required. You will not own the vehicle at the end of the agreement. Examples exclude VAT and are based on 48 month non-maintained agreements, vided by ALD Ltd, trading asper Ford Lease, BS16 7LB. withAutomotive mileageofof6,000 6,000 miles annum.

Vehicles must be returned in condition good condition andagreed withinmileage, agreed mileage, further will be incurred. at to time ofand going print and are subject changeSubject without notice. Su with aamileage miles per annum.

Vehicles must be returned in good and within otherwiseotherwise further charges willcharges be incurred.

Prices correctPrices at timecorrect of going print aretosubject to change withouttonotice. toavailability availabilityatata aFord FordAuthorised Authorised Dealer for vehicles finance accepted and vehicle contracted 1stand January and 31st 2019 and vehiclebyregistered by 30th September 2019.with Notany available with any other promotion. Ford to UKUK Dealer for vehicles with with finance accepted and vehicle contracted betweenbetween 1st January 31st March 2019March and vehicle registered 30th September 2019.

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Ford Lease providedbybyALD ALDAutomotive Automotive trading as Ford Lease, isis provided Ltd,Ltd, trading as Ford Lease, BS16BS16 7LB. 7LB.

Out&About

g n i r p S is in

the air

We’re starting to see signs that Spring has arrived in North Norfolk!

Kayla Dunne from Visit North Norfolk talks about some of the best places to see Spring flowers and Bluebells.

T

he UK is home to half of the global

bluebell population and so our north Norfolk woodlands are the envy of Europe, with some of the best places to see these glorious displays. Discover north Norfolk’s beautiful bluebell woodlands this spring as we reveal the best places to visit in March, April and May, showcasing the very best of nature.

Cared for by the Norfolk Wildlife Trust, Foxley Wood is the largest ancient woodland in Norfolk. In early Spring you can see dots of pale yellow as primroses peek out from the banks of ditches, a teaser for the abundance of colour to follow in April and early May, when bluebells carpet the woodland floor.

You should also see other woodland plants and wildflowers such as dog’s mercury, greater butterfly orchid, wood anemone, wild garlic and herbparis, as well as the locally scarce wild service-tree. In total over 350 flowering plant species have been recorded.

The National Trust’s Blickling Estate has 950 acres of woodland and parkland, displaying a wonderful array of wildflowers such as bluebells, yellow archangel and campions growing among the trunks of chestnut, oak, rowan, beech and ash. In the 1930’s, thousands of bluebell bulbs were planted in Blickling’s formal gardens and if you head along Temple Walk, you will see the beautiful bluebells along the tree lined avenues. The Great Wood, which dates back

well before mediaeval times, is also famous for its stunning swathes of blue.

Just a couple of miles north-east of North Walsham lies Bacton Wood (or Witton Wood, as it’s also known), which dates back to the Saxon times. Take a stroll or follow three waymarked walks and discover over 30 species of trees, a conifer plantation as well as bluebells in the spring months.

Set in the heart of the Broads National Park is, Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden, in South Walsham. Surrounded by a 130-acre woodland and four miles of woodland pathways, the pretty gardens contain a mix of native and cultivated planting including beautiful pockets of bluebells, candelabra primula and rhododendron. Enjoy a stroll along the private Broad and see if you can spot any of the 95 species of birds, many rare and only found in the Broads.

The garden and grounds surrounding Walsingham Abbey are not only famous for the spectacular ruins of the mediaeval Priory and place of pilgrimage since the 11th century, but also for its unrivalled displays of snowdrops in February which you may still be lucky enough to see. Late Spring sees the beautifully maintained grounds transform the colourful wildflower meadows with bluebells, within in the 18 acres of woodlands.

The National Trust’s Sheringham Park boasts breath-taking coastal views as well as woodland magic during Spring. The landscape park and woodland garden has fine mature woodlands to explore, with a large variety of azaleas, rhododendrons and spring bluebells. Near to Little Snoring is Thursford Wood, home to an array of spring colour which is followed by Summer ferns amongst the oak trees, which are thought to be over 500 years old. Here, you will also see a variety of woodland birds, as well as fungi.

On the outskirts of Sheringham, Pretty Corner Woods takes after its name with a stunning carpet of bluebells as well as red campion, wood sorrel as well as a spectrum of woodland butterflies. And if you pop to Pensthorpe Natural Park’s you can enjoy one of their woodland walks, within the further reaches of the reserve, you may stumble upon a blanket of bluebells. While there, take a walk along the board walk in the wildflower meadow, one of the largest in Norfolk, where you can enjoy a diverse selection of more than 80 different species of grasses.

Wherever you visit, you’ll see North Norfolk’s wildlife, trees, plants and flowers spring into life at this time of year, a great time to get out and exploring. For more information visit www.visitnorthnorfolk.com

33

OPEN 6 days a week The New Forge is located on the Norwich road just outside Aylsham town centre next to the Garden Centre.

English & Thai menus available Also Carvery Roast on Sundays - 12-3pm

FOOD SERVED: Tues - Thur:

12:00 - 14:30 / 17:00 - 20:30

Fri - Sat:

12:00 - 21:00

Sun:

12:00 - 20:30

also Carvery Roast from 12:00-15:00

CLOSED MONDAYS Except Bank Holidays

Tel: 01263 734275

The New Forge, Norwich Rd, Aylsham, Norwich NR11 6UD www.thenewforge.co.uk

Helhoughton Road, Hempton, Fakenham NR21 7DY Tel: 01328 864743 or 855321 Email: sales@norfolkreclaim.co.uk www.norfolkreclaim.co.uk

Food Drink

119.5 seconds to go...

March is most certainly the month for a Guinness!

Love it or hate it, the black stuff (which is a actually a deep ruby red if you hold your pint up to the light) will be consumed a plenty on St Patrick’s Day and during the finale of the Six Nation’s Rugby this month. The perfect pint takes time to pour, 119.5 seconds to be precise, and is a six step process. Step One: ‘The Glass’ must be a Guinness branded glass.

Step Two: ‘The Angle’ of the pour. The glass should be held at a 45-degree angle under the tap. Step Three: ‘The Pour’, fill to the bottom of the harp logo and then stop. Step Four: ‘The Settle’, leave for 119.5 seconds and you will see the iconic creamy head forming. Step Five: ‘The Top up’, which is a gentle process so all of the hard work of ‘the settle’ is not undone. Step Six: ‘The First Sip’... sheer silky heaven!

Guinness was originally marketed as a health product with the first national advertisement mentioning it was a “valuable restorative after influenza and other illnesses,”. The slogan ‘Guinness is good for you’ is still argued in many a pub! To help promote the myth that Guinness is a high source of iron (which it isn’t), the brewery often handed out free bottles to blood donors throughout Ireland. This practice was stopped by the parent company Diageo in 2010 as they had long ceased promoting the clout of the stout’s medicinal properties.

Whatever your reason for drinking this iconic pint we can not think of a better way to spend an afternoon with friends in the pub... just remember to wipe off the creamy moustache!

Six Nations Rugby Fixtures: SATURDAY, 9 MARCH 14:15 Scotland v Wales 16:45 England v Italy SUNDAY, 10 MARCH 15:00 Ireland v France SATURDAY, 16 MARCH 12:30 Italy v France 14:45 Wales v Ireland 17:00 England v Scotland

Don’t forget

St Patrick’s Day

on Sunday, 17 March WE RECOMMENCED A VISIT TO

BUTCHER BHOY 10 Exchange Street, Norwich

& 35

BIG CHOICE OF MEAT A S AT MEATS & VEGETA T BLES TA VEGETABLES S PIGS IN BLANKETS THE WORKS! SERVED EVERY SUNDAY

The Beach Cafe & Bistro, Lower Esplanade, Gorleston-on-Sea Norfolk, NR31 6BT

Please book a table to avoid disappointment | tel: 01493 657001 Jay Jay's at The Beach Cafe

@JayJaysTheBeach

Seasonal Menu • Locally Sourced • Freshly Prepared Great Wines • Local Independent Guest Ales.

Drinker-friendly • Child-friendly • Dog-friendly LUXURIOUS BED AND BREAKFAST NEAR SOUTHWOLD We hugely enjoy having people to stay and we offer extremely comfortable country house bed and breakfast from our lovely Grade II listed 17th century farmhouse set in three acres of orchard and garden, with rolling fields beyond.

Many people agree that this is a perfect place for a country escape and an ideal place from which to discover this part of Suffolk. The delightful town of Southwold, and all it has to offer is ten minutes away by car and of course, the beaches of the Heritage Coast are very near.

Sarah creates a very warm and relaxed atmosphere and has lots of local knowledge and can point you in the right direction, if you need help.

01502 578532 sarahlentaigne@btinternet.com Church Farmhouse, Uggeshall, near Southwold, Suffolk NR34 8BD

8 St. Mary’s Street, Bungay, Suffolk NR35 1AX Tel: 01986 897079

www.thefleeceinnbungay.co.uk

Food&Drink

Mother’s Day

Stuck for ideas for Mother’s Day meals? Let us show you the way with five fabulous suggestions for mums of all ages.

Mother’s Day in the UK falls on 31

March this year (it was 11 March in 2018) so the good news is you have plenty of time to book a special meal. But with such a bewildering choice on offer (let’s face it, every pub and restaurant is going to be catering to generational gatherings), how to choose? Let us do the hard work for you, by suggesting five very different foodbased options to choose from.

POSH

The Unruly Pig not only has a catchy name, it has damn fine ‘Britalian’ food cooked with passion and style.

For Mother’s Day, they also have a special menu for families to get stuck in to some naughty pork, lamb, beef or sea bream. Head Chef Dave Wall has an impressive CV that takes in Bibendum, Gordon Ramsay’s Boxwood Café, Claridge’s and Le Talbooth. However, home is where the heart is, and that’s brought Wall back to Suffolk, tempted by the region’s fine produce. This three-course menu (priced £39)

is available for both lunch and dinner on 31 March and features classic traditional roasts as well as those Italian influences. Cleverly, it also has a half price kids menu, recognising the fact that where there is a mother, there is invariably a child. Proof of age may, or may not, be required for any diners quite rightly proclaiming themselves to be a child.

Orford Road, Bromeswell, Suffolk.

Tel: 01394 460310 www.theunrulypig.co.uk

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Food&Drink

PEACEFUL

If vodka shots isn’t your mum’s thing, perhaps a civilised afternoon tea in one of Norwich’s heritage venues is more appropriate. Treat her to The Assembly House Mother’s Day Afternoon Tea specially created and themed by chef Mark Mitson and his team. Not only will you dine finely on dainty smoked salmon sandwiches and Norfolk ham, but also three cheese toasties, chorizo and pork sausage rolls, fruit scones infused with Colman’s mustard and a dazzling array of mini desserts. Plus, there is Kir Royale on arrival, choice of tea or coffee and a handmade chocolate box for mum. Bless.

Afternoon tea costs £25, or £15 for under 12s.

PUB

The Assembly House, Theatre Street, Norwich.

Tel: 01603 626402 www.assemblyhousenorwich.co.uk

Located in the pretty village of Brisley, The Bell pub boasts incredible countryside vistas and views over the common. The newly renovated 17th century pub retains many of its old charms, while updating the interior with eclectic furniture and fittings. Working with the very best local suppliers, Michelin trained Head Chef Hervé Stouvenel creates seasonal dishes full of fantastic flavours, combining classic English cuisine with global influences. If it’s cold, snuggle up to the log fires with mummy. If it’s sunny, perhaps a game of croquet on the lawn. Sunday lunch at The Bell usually offers three courses for £24.25, or two for £19.75.

We recommend the French onion soup to start and the slow roasted lamb shoulder with mint gravy.

The Green, Brisley, Norfolk. Tel: 01362 705024 www.thebrisleybell.co.uk

PASSENGER

And now for something completely different. How about whisking mum away on a nostalgic steam railway for the perfect expression (see what we did there?) of your love and gratitude. Starting out from Wroxham at 11:10am sharp, enjoy an unforgettable experience through nine miles of stunning Norfolk countryside on the Bure Valley Railway, before arriving in Aylsham. Here, enjoy a complimentary drink before a two-course Sunday roast plus desert, coffee and mints at the Whistlestop Café before catching the train back to Wroxham. Not only that, but mum also receives a small gift. This memorable way to spend Mother’s Day is a bargain at just £26 for adults and £13 for kids.

Bure Valley Railway, Norfolk. Tel: 01263 733858 www.bvrw.co.uk

PARTY

In recognition of the fact that not every mum is past her partying days and may prefer more of a celebration of her child-bearing achievements, we turn to Revolution and its Bottomless Brunch. Yes, for two solid hours mums (and anyone else for that matter) can enjoy a meal from the menu, some cakes and pastries from the buffet and, importantly, bottomless prosecco or Bloody Marys. Priced at just £25, it’s a good call for anyone fancying a few cheeky drinks in a lively atmosphere rather than pushing brussel sprouts round a plate. Choose from hot brunch classics like a full English, baked eggs with halloumi or avocado on toast, then get the party started. Just watch out for the chilli vodka.

1-7 Old Cattle Market, Ipswich: Tel: 01473 857515 6 Queen Street, Norwich. Tel: 01603 858483 www.revolution-bars.co.uk/bar/ipswich

ERFECT

IT

On your perfect day you need your perfect partner. Set in the Norfolk countryside, Park Farm Hotel gives the best quality service and peace of mind.

Our experienced events team are on hand to ensure your wedding or civil ceremony will create beautiful memories to last a lifetime.

With all inclusive packages starting from only £69.50pp, your wedding day and Park Farm Hotel are a perfect fit.

Hethersett, NR9 3DL • 01603 810264 • weddings@parkfarm-hotel.co.uk www.parkfarm-hotel.co.uk

Tel: 07557 303114 01493 652774

Gorleston High Street Gorleston On Sea, Norfolk

CHERS U O V T GIF LE AVAILABRE IN STO Retro clothing for him or her from the 40S 50S and 60S

Quality butcher, baker, wine merchant & delicatessen 81 High Street, Wickham Market, Woodbridge, Suffolk, IP13 0RA s 01728 746263 s revett.co.uk

Come and join us at one of Suffolk’s most welcoming members Clubs! ying all year round…

Free draining soil keeps you pla mbership Rates 2nd Club and Holiday Home Me

R: SPECIAL NEW YEAR’S OFofFE 12 15 months membership for the

price

01502 723234 www.southwoldgolfclub.co.uk

Food&Drink

Blood Orangecello Nicole Cachao

Restaurant Manager at Benedicts Restaurant in Norwich www.restaurantbenedicts.com

Now I love limoncello to finish a meal and my own homemade recipe is really popular in the restaurant - its refreshing yet sweet acidity is perfect to me.

I then had the privilege of going to Italy where they had every flavoured cello you can imagine and it got me thinking of other fresh, seasonal fruits to infuse.

Winter is a tough season as there are not too many fruits around this time of year. However, there is one that I thought would be perfect which is the wonderfully seasonal and delicious blood orange. With it’s rich, vibrant colour and it also has a beautiful sweetness at the beginning with the hint of orange and a kick of alcohol to finish. What more could you ask for in a digestif, the perfect finish to your meal or to drink as a winter warmer by the fire.

Shake, Muddle & Mull Sharpen up your cocktail mixing skills

Ingredients • 10 Blood Oranges (Zest peeled with no pith) • 750ml Grain Vodka • 500g Sugar • 500ml water

Photo: GREAT BRITISH CHEFS

Method Peel the zest of the blood oranges (try not to get any of the white pith or the skin), cover and leave in the vodka for 7 days, shaking it every day.

Keep the oranges as you will need them for the next step.

On the 7th day make a stock syrup by bringing the water and sugar to the boil and then allowing it to cool down. Now my little tip to get that little extra boost of orange flavour is to juice the oranges you peeled and add it to the stock syrup while it is cooling down.

Once your stock is chilled, add your vodka and stir together. Pass your drink through muslin to filter, pour into a sealed bottle and place in fridge. Once chilled I would always serve it over ice. It’s making my mouth water just thinking about it.

with a master class at Mr Postles Apothecary

Become an apprentice in an exclusive Apothecary Masterclass where you can choose from three different packages.

A great way to make an entertaining day or evening with six friends or more... mix, try and enjoy!

MASTERCLASS ONE You will be welcomed with a delicious Strawberry Bellini to get you warmed up and ready to mix. One of Mr Postles favourite mixologists will then teach you how to make one classic cocktail of your choice. £20 per person

MASTERCLASS TWO This class gives you everything you would get from Masterclass One, but the master mixologist will teach you two wondrous classic cocktails. £30 per person

MASTERCLASS THREE The ultimate Masterclass which gives you everything from classes one and two but with the added extra of a selection of small plates to share... a great way to enjoy the joy of cocktails and the great food on offer! £40 per person www.mrpostlesapothecary.co.uk

41

42

Food&Drink

Swan Inn THE

BARNBY

Andrew Hirst heads to The Swan Inn, Barnby for a Saturday seafood delight.

T

he Swan Inn is situated

in the fabulous village of Barnby, between Beccles and Carlton Colville, and is everything you would expect it to be. I had been to the Swan Inn several times before, but my last visit with family must have been over ten years ago. As my wife, Lorraine, and I pulled into the car park I started to have distant memories of my previous visits and things felt the same... yet very different.

A warm welcome awaited us in the bar area at the family run restaurant. The staff were well drilled and friendly, and looked incredibly smart yet contemporary in their matching ‘Joules’ outfits. It is sometimes the small details like this that can set the tone to a dinning experience. It was my turn to drive so I enjoyed a refreshing glass of Coca-Cola whilst Lorraine enjoyed a cool glass of white. Glancing around the interior I started to piece together the things that had changed.

The nets and fishing theme had gone and freshened up with a more modern feel. I noted that some of the original features where still here; such as the quirky boat in the ceiling and the sepia prints on the far wall of the main dining room. New owner Clare Wood, who had previously managed the Swan Inn for two years, has now been at the helm for 18 months. Clare has a wealth of experience in the industry and is aided in the day to day running by Zara Quantrill, Clare’s daughter, truly a family affair. Admittedly I have not been in the restaurant for a while but I like the feel of what they have created here in such a short time. Apart from the revamped interior there is an updated garden with a children’s play area and an outside kitchen with pizza oven and barbecue (I have noted this for the summer months). The next phase are the rooms, which are on track to be open for the summer season.

These will consist of one double room and one family room, which will have a separate master and children’s bedroom, making it an almost self contained home from home.

The restaurant historically had always been hailed as the ‘fish’ restaurant and the current menu didn’t disappoint with the surf feel, but also gives a nod to the turf

with a selection of steaks and vegetarian options. I went straight to the specials board and made a very quick decision.

Salt and pepper squid with sweet chilli dipping sauce to start and monkfish tails in garlic butter with hand cut chips for main. Lorraine stayed on the main menu with a starter of deep fried whitebait and a main of hot roasted smoked salmon salad with beetroot, apple and new potatoes.

The starters arrived in good time. The salt and peeper squid had a great batter and the dipping sauce had just enough kick to feel the warmth of the chilli coming through without overpowering everything else. Lorraine is notoriously difficult to please in a restaurant but the whitebait was given a nod of approval.

With main courses on the horizon Lorraine inspected the wine list, which has an interesting selection of English wines, but instead opted for one of the many gins available. Settling on a rhubarb and ginger gin, from local producers The Tiny Tipple Company, with a Fever-Tree Mediterranean tonic, not a classic pairing with smoked salmon but I wasn’t going to argue! The glass arrived and was dressed well with botanicals.

My monkfish was served and looked every bit as good as I had hoped. The fish was meaty and succulent, coated in a plentiful amount of garlic butter. The chips were exactly what chips should be, a crisp outer with a heavenly fluffy inner.

Great chips such as these dipped in garlic butter is one life’s joys. Lorraine’s hot smoked salmon salad looked great and we did the customary swapping of food, her salmon was fantastic, delicately smoked to perfection.

I must admit that I couldn’t manage a dessert, the portion size is good and I recommend you have a light lunch before dining as you will go home very happy.

The head chef, Lee Walding, has a great history with the restaurant. He started his culinary journey in the kitchen of the Swan Inn at a fresh faced 14 years old. He worked hard and absorbed the knowledge of his mentors until he moved on to further skills working in fine dining restaurants around the area including Southwold. He returned to his spiritual

culinary home 18 months ago when Clare set sail on her tenure in charge. Lee told me he loves the local ingredients and the fish is obviously one of the stars. With such fantastic local produce on hand keeping the dishes simple and letting the quality of the ingredients shine through is a special talent, where there is nowhere to hide if you get it wrong. His skills showcase these ingredients perfectly and certainly does them justice.

You can taste and feel the vibrancy and passion of the Swan Inn. All the ingredients which are needed to make a great restaurant are here and this shows in the food. Not fine dining, not a gastro pub but something else. Great wholesome food... honest food.

More than just a restaurant with a pub on the side, you can also enjoy a whole host of other events such as theme nights.

In March they host a much anticipated vegan evening on 12th, live music on 17th and a tapas evening on 27th. Add to this a beer festival on 27th July and a quiz night held on the first Tuesday of every month which, for an entry fee of only £8, also includes a fish supper, what is there not to like about that? Book in for a Sunday roast, which is normally roast sirloin of beef and another meat choice, or join them for breakfast on a Saturday or Sunday... or just pop in for coffee and cakes.

Sometimes it is difficult to venture out to try new restaurants as we are all, myself included, creatures of habit. However the Swan Inn is well worth the visit, you will not be disappointed. Excellent service with great food in a relaxed setting. Clare, Lee and the team are one big family and a corner stone of the village. I found that there was a feeling of warmth which exudes from the Swan, and it wasn’t just coming from the coal on the fire. You feel that the Swan is well loved in the area and is the heart of the community. To sum up this Saturday’s evening meal in just a few words... “we live in Beccles, we will be back”.

THE SWAN INN, Swan Lane, Barnby, Suffolk, NR34 7QF. 01502 476646 www.thebarnbyswan.co.uk 43

Food&Drink

Ufford PARK WOODBRIDGE

Jo e M a r r i t t h e a d s t o Wo o d b r i d g e t o e x p e r i e n c e t h e delights of The Park Bar and Restaurant at Ufford Park

S

et within its own 120-acre golf course the Ufford Park Woodbridge, Hotel Golf and Spa has something for everyone. The Golf Course itself is an 18-hole, par-71 award-winning course that is ideal for golfers from intermediate through to the more experienced player.

Alternatively the younger and young at heart in the family may be drawn to Congo Rapids - an adventure golf course that sits at the entrance to the hotel and provides, dinosaurs, tigers and rafts across lagoons. The Spa and Gym facilities offer something for everyone, from the hardcore gym user to the more moderate spa aficionado.

Ufford Park offers a fully equipped gym, indoor pool and numerous mud and treatment rooms. However, we are not here to play golf, navigate rafts or enjoy a Mud Serail in the Spa. No, we are here to sample the menu in The Park Bar and Restaurant.

We arrive at 7:45 on a Wednesday night and make our way through the grounds towards the restaurant, sharing the path with golfers who have finished their rounds. I am no golfer, but am impressed by the variety of people who have clearly enjoyed the course and now after their exertions are still in the hotel grounds and enjoying all that the complex has to offer.

Once inside the restaurant itself we are instantly shown to our table by the friendly and attentive staff, the restaurant has a light and airy feel and we are made to feel very welcome.

The restaurant is busy with a mixture of couples and groups and has a happy and relaxed atmosphere. Having taken our seats my guest enjoys an aperitif whilst I peruse the menu. Perusing through the menus now complete we

decide to start with an Ardennes Pate and some Creamy Garlic Mushrooms.

The Mushrooms are served with a tasty but not overpowering garlic sauce and are very nicely presented in a crisp and light Vol Au Vent case. The Ardennes Pate is simply but tastefully presented and comes with toasted local breads, making a very nice start to the meal. Starters dispensed with our main courses arrive, Herb Marinated Red Snapper served with steamed Kale, SautĂŠ Potatoes, and caper butter. The Baked Chicken Breast is served with Applewood cheese, streaky Bacon, Carrot Batons,

We found the Park Restaurant to be a very nice environment, relaxed and friendly, whilst serving an interesting menu and proudly supporting local suppliers.

red wine sauce and Parmentier Potatoes. We opt for a bowl of seasonal vegetables and enjoy a very fresh and locally supplied accompaniment to our main courses. The whole meal is well cooked and very nicely presented, with nice mixtures of colour and flavour. The Red Snapper is a particular success with my guest, who is impressed by the delicate texture and flavour of the fish.

By this point we are feeling pretty full, but in the interests of a thorough review we venture onto the dessert menu. My guest is instantly drawn to the New York Cheese Cake, whilst after some thinking I choose the Banana Parfait, The New York Cheese Cake is the undoubted hit of the evening. The cheese cake is rich without being overpowering and is very nicely presented, whilst the Banana Parfait served with Ice Cream is a classic way to round off my meal.

As we walk back through the grounds to our car we talk through our dinner and overall experience. We found The Park Bar and Restaurant to be a very nice environment, relaxed and friendly, whilst serving an interesting menu and proudly supporting local suppliers. As the guests of Ufford Park we had a lovely evening and would certainly venture back, both agreeing that we would like to see the golf course and grounds during the daylight.

UFFORD PARK WOODBRIDGE HOTEL, GOLF & SPA Yarmouth Road, Melton, Woodbridge Suffolk, IP12 1QW 01394 383555 www.uffordpark.co.uk

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local cod crisp Deben oyster, oyster mayonnaise, sea greens & lemon preserve SERVES 4

For the local cod fillet • One local cod scaled, filleted, pin boned & cut 4 150g cod fillets

METHOD Trim the belly of the cod and cut four 150g portions from the head end of the fillets. Reserve until needed.

For the oyster mayonnaise

Tyler Torrance

is the chef proprietor of Boarding House in Halesworth

www.boardinghousehalesworth.com @BHHalesworth

Fisherman to fork “Suffolk Day Boat” cod, skate, crab, lobster, herring, bass, dover sole, plaice and flounder

as a chef I feel spoilt for choice...

ALL ALONG the east coast at the

moment you will find proud skippers repairing nets and painting and maintaining their boats in preparation for the warmer spring weather. With quotas lifting as spring approaches I know I’m not the only one eagerly anticipating their fantastic daily catches.

Aldeburgh, Southwold and Lowestoft are just a few of my favourite places to buy the freshest of Suffolk’s fish and shellfish.

Don’t just take my word for it, get out with your family and see why fisherman to fork may just be the next big thing.

One family making waves in the community (pun intended) is the Simper family. Their partnership brings three generations together, Robert, Johnathan and Harry Simper, to operate Simper’s Silver Harvest; consisting of four boats

46

sailing from Aldeburgh and around the east coast. Harry is in day-to-day charge of the vessels and skippers one of them, usually the Silver harvest. Jonathan and Robert are pushing the business forward by managing the oysters and mussels on the River Deben as well as the family farm. Yes, quite the operation these days; from one boat to four in the last 4 years.

Oh... and I forget to mention that they have now set up their own smoke house!

To show case the coming spring season I’ve paired wild line caught local cod with crisp Deben oysters, oyster mayonnaise, sea greens and lemon preserve. Spring on a plate. *Special thanks my fish monger Danny at ‘Scaled Up Fish’ for the logistics assistance and constantly fabulous service.

• 8 Simper’s Oysters, shucked • 1 tbsp dijon mustard • 2 tbsp white wine vinegar • 250ml vegetable oil • Half a lemon, juiced

Any good fishmonger will happily shuck them for you, but if you are feeling brave give it a try. It’s really not that hard.

Holding an oyster firmly with a tea towel pop open the oyster with an oyster knife, placing the blade at the hinge for best results then using a sharp knife skim the underside of the top shell releasing the top, then do the same with the bottom shell. The towel will enable a better grip and protect your hand against slips. Once the oysters are released, please save the juices (very tasty), reserve to one side until needed.

METHOD Place four oysters in a blender with the Dijon mustard and the white wine vinegar. Blend on a low setting, slowly drizzling the vegetable oil to create an emulsion. Note use the oyster juice and the lemon to adjust the consistency of the mayonnaise. This recipe is the same as our Boarding House mayonnaise but we have replaced the traditional egg yolks with oysters. So very tasty. The four extra oysters are breaded in panko bread crumbs and fried to a crisp golden brown for a garnish when serving.

Food&Drink Deben oysters & mussels aqua culture by Simpers silver harvest Suffolk’s only mussel producer and one of two oyster producers, ask your fish monger to bring them in.

Proudly served at The Boarding House.

UPCOMING EVENTS ARTIST IN RESIDENCE Patrick Elder, Sculptor 27 March Canapés and bubbles to celebrate one of Suffolk’s most renowned sculptors taking on a years residency at The Boarding House Dining Rooms.

For the sea greens • 200g samphire

METHOD

Trim the root and lightly steam with butter.

For the lemon preserve • 300g preserved lemons • 100g sugar • 100g white wine vinegar • 100g water

METHOD

Place all ingredients in a sauce pan and cook down to a chutney consistency then blend whist hot. Pass though a fine sieve, cool and reserve.

TO SERVE

In a hot lightly oiled pan place the fillets of local cod skin side down and cook until the skin is crisp and golden. Flip the fish and then baste with butter whilst in the pan, allowing the fish to finish to medium rare (most dense fleshed fish such as sea trout are extremely succulent served this way).

Rest whilst preparing to plate.

On a white plate a place a dollop of your home made oyster mayonnaise with your buttered sea greens and then the local cod fillet. Garnish with crisp fried oysters and your lemon preserve. This dish is a true taste of spring... Enjoy x.

F E AT U R E D W I N E

2015 Saint-Véran les Terres Secrètes Perfect with “Local cod & Deben oyster” Saint-Veran is a famous wine producing village/area in the Maconnais, which in turn is a famous ‘sub region’ of Burgundy (or Bourgogne) in Eastern France. Maconnais is at the southern end of the region and famous for its white wines made from the Chardonnay grape variety. The climate is slightly warmer than in the Cote d’Or, where the superstar whites such as Puligny Montrachet and Meursault are situated. In simple terms, what is lost in finesse is gained in body, structure and intensity at each price/quality level.

Therefore well-made wines from the Maconnais often offer wonderful complexity and richness at a fraction of the price of their more famous northern relatives. The Chardonnay grape variety is very at home on the rocky soils and produces richness combined with citrus and mineral notes... our chosen wine is no exception.

Mother’s Day Lunch 31 March Treat your mum this Mothering Sunday with a fabulous lunch for all the family.

Gourmet Wine Dinner 9 May French food and wine pairing.

Price: £48 to include wine with each of the four courses.

TASTING NOTES: Enticing nose of peach and pear leads to rich buttery Chardonnay on the palate, layered with notes of honey and citrus, finishing with complex minerality - powerful yet refined!

47

cod fillet

Herb crusted

RECIPE

Breas t of Norfo lk phea sant, Conf it leg, white polen ta, black berri es , hazle nuts and a black berry jus INGREDIENTS

e arkke Peter Clar r Cl Pete d chef hea executive chef of the e head executiv of the L HOTEL IMPERIA IMPERIAL HOTEL in Great Yarmouth

SERVES SIX

cocotte potatoes, buttered leeks, saffron sauce & parsley oil

• 4 pheasant breasts and 4 pheasant legs

• Thyme, duck fat, salt and pepper

• 40g roasted hazelnuts

• 3 heritage carrots peeled and cut on the

• 3 blackberries each

• 6 oz polenta flour( quick cook) • 2.5 oz of grated parmesan • 1.5 pints of water

• Half a pint of milk • 4 oz butter

• Oil

slant into lozenges.

• 12 blackberries pureed and sieved with 1tbsp of water

• 2 pint beef stock reduced to 1/2 a pint • 25g pea shoots

METHOD

Take the duck fat and thyme and place in a saucepan bring to a rolling simmer and place the pheasant legs into it,cook on the lowest heat Until tender and cooked through, this will take about 3 hours. Once they have been on the stove gas for 2 and a half hours take the water,milk and some salt and pepper and place in a saucepan, bring to the boil and add the polenta flour bring to the boil whisking all the time and be careful as if it gets too hot it will spit out of the pan, once this has cooked for 2 minutes at boiling point, add the parmesan cheese and butter and whisk this in until it has been incorporated. Reserve this warm somewhere.

Take the beef stock out that has been reduced and place in a clean saucepan, add the blackberry puree a bit at a time until you are happy with the taste you should became to taste the beef flavour of the stock and the BlackBerry underneath it !!

Place to one side to heat up later Blanch the carrots in boiling salted water and refresh once cooked, around 6 minutes.

Next put a trying pan on capable if taking 4 pheasant breasts and add 1 tbsp of oil, heat up and place the pheasant breast skin side down and fry until golden brown both sides, add the carrots place in a oven heated to 185.c for 2-3 minutes for a dash of pink in the pheasant breast and 2 minutes linger for well done juicy finish. Leave to rest somewhere warm.

TO FINISH

Place the leg into the oven to heat through and the skin to crisp. Reheat the polenta so it is boiling hot and place a quenelle on to the plate at the top, heat the sauce back up to boiling point and add the blackberries and hazelnuts. Cut the breast into 3 and place up against the polenta, add the leg next to it and then the carrots in a uniform pile next to the breast. Spoon the sauce over the breast and leg so that it covers the meat and garnish with pea shoots and enjoy !!

WINE

2015 Pinot age Rheb okslo of Vineyards South Afric a

Nick Mobbs director and wine expert at the IMPERIAL HOTEL

This is a wonderful estate which dates back to the late 1700s with traditional Cape Dutch style buildings some of which date back to the early settlers.

The current owners bought the estate in 2006 and have taken advantage of the unique micro climate of the vineyards in the Paarl valley giving the ideal climatic conditions for the growing of premium grapes The Pinotage is a grape which is basically only grown in South Africa. A hybrid grape being a cross between the Pinot Noir and Cinsault. The grape thrives in South Africa but very few other places in the world.

The wine is made by fermenting the grapes in Stainless steel on their skins and regular pump over of the cap to extract colour and flavour. The wine was then aged in 60% new oak and 40% 2 year old oak barrels for 14 months.

A wonderful wine it shows complex, dark fruit flavours with notes of blackberry, prunes and hints of soft oak spices.

The tannins fill the palate and nuances of dried fruit flavours linger on the aftertaste and work really well with the flavours of the Pheasant dish.

• A team of brilliant chefs • Superb wine list • Laid-back atmosphere

48

The perfect restaurant for dinner or Sunday lunch. At the Imperial Hotel, North Drive, Gt Yarmouth, NR30 1EQ. To book call 01493 842000 Sunday 12.30 - 2pm Monday - Saturday 6.30 - 10pm

Food&Drink

Ingredients - SERVES 4 • 4 cod fillet portions (skin on, weighing 185g each) • Small bunches of tarragon, parsley and chives

• 100g panko breadcrumbs • Olive oil • Salt and pepper

• 1 large bunch of parsley

• Pinch saffron

• 150g butter

• 250ml white wine

• 3 good size leeks

750ml fish stock

• 12 small boiling potatoes

750ml double cream

RECIPE

Breast of Norfolk pheasant, Confit leg, white polenta, Toitplate up white polen ta, leg,jus blackberries and a blackberry Conf sant, Norfo lk phea Breas t of, hazlenuts

Method

RECIPE

Bring a pan of water to the boil on a high First take the tarragon, parsley and chives Place three cocotte jus berry and a black nuts es , hazle berri black SIX boiling heat SERVES and once add the large bunch potatoes around the and put in a food processor with the salt INGREDIENTS of parsley and cook for 30 seconds, then plate at two, four and and pepper, blend until you get a green • Thyme, duck fat, salt and pepper • 4 pheasant breasts andSERVES 4 pheasant legs SIX IENTS INGRED refresh in iced water.

Strain the water and eight on the clock face. breadcrumb.

• add Oil • 3 blackberries each and pepper salt fat,of ring out as much moisture as possible, Add aduck couple spoons of Add in a tiny amount of olive oil whilst Thyme, • legs t pheasan 4 and • 4 pheasant breasts • 3 heritage leeks carrots and on the • 40g roasted to ahazelnuts clean food processor, adding enough in peeled between thecut potatoes you are still blending to bring the mixture Oil • eacha flavoured oil. Blend on ries blackber • 3 olive slant into lozenges. oil quick to make then add the cod on top of the together and then reserve to the side •until 6 oz polenta flour( cook) and cut on the peeled carrots executive head chef • 3 heritage s hazelnut its highest setting, add salt and pepper to blackberries leeks.pureed Take aand little of thewith parsley needed. roasted • 40g • 12 sieved • 2.5 oz of grated parmesan . lozenges the of into slant 1tbsp of water taste.

When ready pass through muslin into oil and add it to the sauce to taste, Place the wine, fish stock and saffron in • 6 oz polenta flour( quick cook) IMPERIAL HOTEL • 1.5 withSpoon sieved and pureed chef to riessplit squeezy bottle. blackber hea will the1/2 saffron cream. a thick bottomexec saucepan and d reduce a pints ofawater 12 which • utive • 2 pint beef stock reduced to a pint in Great Yarmouth of grated parmesan • 2.5 water 1tbsp theof sauce around the cod (not over) and glaze, and then add the • Half a pint ofoz milk the Bring this ofcream.

• 25g pea shoots To finish ELoff the HOT mixture to the boil and then turn servebeef withstock a little more parsley oil. of water RIAL pints 1.5 to 1/2 a pint IMPE reduced • 4 oz butt•er • 2 pint outh heat (you can reheat later when needed).

Place a thick frying pan on the heat and t Yarm in Grea • Half a pint of milk • 25g pea shoots Peel each potato into a barrel shapeMETHOD with add a drop of oil. Heat the pan up and er butt oz 4 • Take the duck fatthe and thyme and place a no sides, blanch these until they are just add cod fillets skin sideindown, fry for Next put a trying pan on capable if taking 4 pheasant breasts and add 1 tbsp of oil, heat up saucepan bring to a rolling andof place thefor cooked, refresh in iced water and then set 3 minutes and simmer add a knob butter and place the pheasant breast skin side down and pheasant METHOD legs into it,cook on the lowest heat Until to one side. each cod portion and turn this nut brown. taking 4 on capable pan a trying Next put fry until golden brown both sides, add the if carrots tender and cooked through, thisthyme will take about place3in a and fat and the duck Take of oil, heat up 1 tbsp Next prepare the leeks by topping, hours. Once Spoon the butter over the cod, monitoring and add breasts t pheasan place in a oven heated to 185.c for 2-3 minutes they have been on the stove gas for the place and simmer rolling a to saucepan bring side skin t breast tailing and cutting in half and then in2half the temperature so thatonthe and for a dash of place pink inthe thepheasan pheasant breast and 2 down and and a half hours take and somedoesn’t heat Until lowest thebutter it,cook intowater,milk t legsthe pheasan carrots therest add sides, both brown minutes linger for well done juicy finish.

Leave to and place in a saucepan, bring to golden until fry again. Then cut half inch semi circlessalt andand pepper burn.

Place in the oven at180˚c for 2 tender and cooked through, this will take about 3 somewhere warm. the boil and minutes. add the polenta flour bring to the boiladd in a oven heated to 185.c for 2-3 minutes place for gas wash clean.

Remove from the oven and stove the on been have they Once hours. whisking all the time and be careful as if it gets too for a dash of pink in the pheasant breast and 2 some andand the water,mi the crumb on top.

Return to the lk oven take a half hours 2 and hot it will spit out of the pan, once this has cooked bring to TO FINISH linger for well done juicy finish. Leave to rest n, saucepa in a and and4place pepper cook for another minutes then rest Place theminutes and salt for 2 minutes at boiling point, add the parmesan leg into the oven to heat through and the re warm. somewhe the boil bring to polenta the and boil the for 2erminutes.

Heat up theflour sauce cheese and butt andadd whisk this in until it has and beenadd skin to crisp. Reheat the polenta so it is boiling hot too gets it if as careful be and time the all whisking incorporated.

Reserve thisto warm somewhere. the potatoes this to heat through. Place and place a quenelle on to the plate at the top, TO FINISH once this has cooked pan, reduced thebeen it will spit hot Take the beef stock out out that heat the sauce back up to boiling point and add a saucepan on aofhas medium heat, addand 75g leg into the oven to heat through and the Place the add the parmesanthe blackberries point, at boiling minutes 2 place in a for clean saucepan, add the blackberry and hazelnuts. Cut the breast into of butter and the leeks, notthis forgetting to so it is boiling hot polenta the crisp. Reheat to against skinup in until er and buttyou puree a bitcheese at a time arewhisk happy with the it has been anduntil the polenta, add the leg season withReserve salt andthis pepper.

Place a lidre. 3 and place at the top, plate the to on quenelle a place and somewhe warm taste you should became to taste the beef flavour next to it and then the carrots in a uniform pile next incorporated. and add point boiling on the pan, stir after a couple of minutes, to up back sauce and the heat reduced been of the stock andthe thebeef BlackBerry underneath that has it !! to the breast. Spoon the sauce over the breast and stock out Take breast into thepea s. Cut hazelnut andand ries continue to do this blackber Place to one sideintoaheat upsaucepa lateruntil the add the blackberry leg so that it covers the meat garnish with n, cooked clean place

Peter Clarke

Peter Clarke

up against the polenta, add the leg Blanch thepuree carrots in boiling salted and place 3 and enjoy !! happy with theshoots and you are untilwater at a time a bit refresh once cooked, around 6 minutes. then the carrots in a uniform pile next and it to flavour next beef the taste to you should became

2015 Villa Margon Trentino Superiore, 2015 Alto Adige

taste breast and to the breast. Spoon the sauce over the of the stock and the BlackBerry underneath it !!

WINE leg so that it covers the meat and garnish with pea Place to one side to heat up later shoots and enjoy !!

Blanch the carrots in boiling salted water and around the sixteenth century Villa Margon, This winery is situated in 6 minutes. around Pinotage Rheboksloof Vineyards South Africa refresh once cooked,

at 400-500 metres above sea level. At this the hills of Northern Italy. height the vineyard enjoys a cool climate In the 1980s, after more than a hundred This is aexperience wonderful gained estate in which dates The wine is made by fermenting to allow for freshness in thethe grapes with years’ the production grapes in Stainless steel on their skins back to the late 1700s with traditional plenty of acidity of their sparkling wine of Ferrari Trento Afric South Cape Dutch style buildings some of regularards pump over of the cap to a okslo ofandViney Rheb age Pinot 2015 is temperature controlled doc, the Lunellis family decided to produce extract Fermentation which date back to the early settlers. colour and flavour. The wine in stainless andand 20% to a current range ofowners still wines.

These were made was then aged insteel 60% tanks new oak The bought the estate ng the fermenti by made is wine The in small oak barrels.

It is aged dates in 2006 and have taken advantage 40% 2 year old oak barrels for 14 which from grapes grown in the family’s vineyards estate ul wonderf a is This skins their on steel Stainless in grapes of the unique micro climate of the months. al tradition for eight months in the cellar with 1700s latehills thehigh on the slopes surrounding backoftothe overinof the cap to pump vineyards inCape the Paarl thesome ofA wonderful it shows regular andwine buildings style giving and another eight months Dutchvalley director and wine Trento. flavour. The wine ideal climatic conditions for the growing complex, dark fruit flavours and with colour extract early settlers. the which to date back which expert at the the bottle.

The wine is very This grapes wine is chardonnay based of premium notes of blackberry, prunes new oak and 60% in aged then was estate the bought owners current Theblend IMPERIAL HOTEL complex and hasspices. a fragrant is 80% of withis10% each of The Pinotage is athe grape which basically and hints of soft oak for 14 barrels oak old year 2 40% ge advanta and have taken 2006 in bouquet scents of apples, Sauvignon Blanc and Bianco. only grown in South Africa.

APinot hybrid grapeI think The tannins fillwith the palate and months. climate of the micro unique the of being a cross the Pinot Noir andto match nuances of dried fruit flavours grapefruit and citrus that thebetween chardonnay grapePaarl is ideal it shows winefruit. ul A wonderf giving the valley s in the vineyard director and winewine expert Cinsault. grape thrives inaSouth Africa lingerElegant on the aft ertaste and and rich on thework palate. with with The the ideal meaty fl akes of fresh fi llet of Cod. flavours fruit dark , director and complex growing the for s condition climatic at the really well with the flavours of the but very few other places in the world. prunes ry, blackber of Theof grapes are grown from the family’s notes expert at the premium grapes Pheasant dish.

IMPERIAL HOTEL and hints of soft oak spices. own The vineyards which from is basically IMPERIAL HOTEL grape which is a originate Pinotage

Nick Mobbs

Nick Mobbs obbs Nick M

Photography by MALCOLM HIRST

only grown in South Africa. A hybrid grape being a cross between the Pinot Noir and Cinsault. The grape thrives in South Africa • A team of brilliant chefs but very few other places in the world.

• Superb wine list • Laid-back atmosphere

The perfect restaurant for dinner or Sunday lunch. At the Imperial Hotel, t brillian of NR30 • A North Drive, Gt team Yarmouth, 1EQ. To book call 01493 842000 wine list • Superb

www.cafecru.co.uk

The tannins fill the palate and nuances of dried fruit flavours linger on the aftertaste and work really well with the flavours of the Pheasant dish.

chefs

Sunday 12.30 - 2pm ck atmosphere • Laid-ba Monday - Saturday 6.30 - 10pm for dinner or The Terrace isThe open daily.restaurant For opening perfect times & menuSunday go to imperialhotel.co.uk lunch. At the Imperial Hotel,

North Drive, Gt Yarmouth, NR30 1EQ. To book call 01493 842000

WINE

Food&Drink www.restaurantbenedicts.com

Richard Bainbridge

As partridge draws to the end of its season

I think let’s celebrate it one last time as we go into March! This is a beautiful, simple, fresh salad to celebrate the end of the game season and the beginning of the bounty of Spring. With the addition of spätzle which is a little nod to my wife’s German upbringing, it is a German style noodle.

A cross between a noodle and gnocchi pan fried in brown butter with the jewels of pomegranate bursting through this makes for the perfect cold March lunch or a starter for a dinner party. This dish really celebrates everything I think a cold March plate of food should be.

50

Ingredients

SERVES 4-6 GENEROUS PORTIONS

Spätzle

• 30g Butter (melted)

Roasted Partridge • 1 Local Partridge (1 breast per serving) • 50g Salted Butter • 1 Sprig of Thyme • 2 Bay Leaves • 10 Crushed Juniper Berries • Salt & Pepper • Small Handful of Meadow Hay

Method

Place the thyme, bay leaves, small handful of meadow hay and juniper berries into the inside of the bird and season with salt.

Use a large frying on a high heat, once hot add a splash of oil and gently place the bird into the pan then turn the heat down by half. Add the salted butter and allow to foam, spooning over the bird. Colour all over until nicely golden, pre-heat the oven to 180˚C still in the frying pan put the bird into the oven for 8-10 minutes.

Remove from the oven and cool on a rack leaving it to rest for 8-10 minutes. Finish with a good crack of white pepper.

When you are ready to serve warm the Partridge back through for 2 minutes in the oven.

• 50g Salted Butter • 2 Whole Eggs, 1 Egg Yolk • 250g Plain Flour • 120ml Milk • Nutmeg

Method

In a bowl, mix the eggs and milk then pour into a separate bowl with the flour. Mix the melted butter in with a pinch of nutmeg to season until it forms a batter consistency. Bring a pan of salted water to the boil, once boiling use a colander to push the mixture through the holes forming small noodles directly into the boiling water.

Cook the noodles until they have risen to the top of the water then drain and place into ice cold water, once cooled drain again, season with oil and salt then put to one side until ready to serve.

To serve, place a frying pan onto a medium heat add a knob of butter and melt until it starts to bubble. Once the butter is bubbling add the Spätzle and fry until golden brown.

Serve with lightly dressed watercress.

Photo: GREAT BRITISH CHEFS

game bird with spätzle

is the chef proprietor of Benedicts Restaurant in Norwich

Roasted

Upholstery, Curtains and Blinds

•

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Hand made sofas and chairs Traditional & contemporary Re-Upholstery Made to measure curtains and blinds Vertical. Roller & blackout blinds Loose covers Curtain track & poles supplied and fitted Repairs and alterations

At Williams all of our work is carried out at our West Runton premises as it has been for the last 30 years, no middlemen means greater value for money.

Whether it’s a spring repair, new seat foams or a complete lounge suite with co-ordinating curtains you can be guaranteed of first class customer service and attention to detail.

• Ralph Lauren • Designers Guild • Zinc • Romo • Christian Lacroix • GP & J Baker • Clarke & Clarke • Linwood fabrics & wall coverings • William Morris fabrics & wall coverings • Sandersons fabrics, wall coverings & paint

INTERIORS

5 Station Road, West Runton, Norfolk Tel: 01263 837611 www.williamsofwestrunton.co.uk

Margo’s Lounge Monday to Saturday - 8.30am - 4.30pm Cakes: Served all day Breakfast: 8.30am - 3.30pm Lunch: 11am - 3.30pm Afternoon Tea: Fri & Sat 3pm - 5pm

58 Bells Road, Gorleston, 01493 653885

www.margoslounge.co.uk

Places and Faces Jan_Layout 1 22/02/2019 15:20 Page 2

Mother’s Day Luncheon Sunday 31st March 12.pm - 2.30pm

Served in the beautiful sea facing Westcliff Restaurant 2 Courses £19.95 3 Courses £23.95 (both includes Coffee) Full Children’s Menu Available For more information or to book

01263 512543

reservations@cliftonvillehotel.co.uk www.cliftonvillehotel.co.uk @TheCliftonville

www.facebook.com/cliftonvillehotel

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PAINT YOUR OWN POT

Ceramic Painting Studio If you would like an activity a little out of the ordinary then creating your own original ceramic is easy and fun, and you don’t have to be creative to do so!

Willow Gallery just outside of Norwich gives you the perfect opportunity to create a unique and personalised gift. Open seven days a week and with over 250 items to choose from, including plates, mugs, bowls, jugs, moneyboxes, clocks and vases.

Everything you need is provided and the experienced staff are on hand to lend assistance if needed. Start by sketching or tracing your design and then paint your piece selecting from a range of over 30 contemporary colours.

& 53

You can find inspiration from one of the reference books, the gallery artwork or by asking one of the team.

The studio fee is £4.50 per painter plus the cost of the item(s) you wish to create. Leave your finished item to glaze and fire, and it will be ready for collection within a week. This is a fantastic fun activity for all ages and creates a memorable keepsake including the immensely popular baby hand and footprint plaques... all fired up for a Mother’s Day gift that is a little bit different.

Willow Gallery Framingham Earl, Norwich www.willowgallerynorfolk.co.uk

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E- R PRD E R O

Books

MURDER UNDER A GREEN SEA

This month’s recommended reads

by Phillip Hunter

BREAKING DAD A DEATH IN CHELSEA

by Lynn Brittney

Set against the backdrop of WW1, Mayfair

100 is the telephone number for a small, specially-formed crime fighting team based in a house in Mayfair.

A call comes through to Mayfair 100, where the intrepid team of investigators eagerly await their next case.

A society gossip queen has been found hanged in her room in mysterious circumstances. Her enemies are numerous – and her family are convinced she was murdered. Can the group uncover the truth in a case that twists and turns to delight and terrify its readers.

A Death in Chelsea in the second book in the exciting series of nostalgic crime sagas featuring an undercover team of postEdwardian men and women.

Lynn Brittney has been a writer for almost 30 years and her first crime novel is the excellent Murder in Belgravia. Her second novel was included in the UK Government’s recommended reading list for boys and was described by the Daily Telegraph as having “furious swordplay, tremendous chases, atmospheric journeys and wince-inducing reminders that this was an age before anaesthetics.”

Lynn was previously shortlisted for the Waterstones Book Prize; Brandford Boase Award and Doncaster Book Prize.

This historical crime fiction is perfect for fans of Ripper Street, Downton Abbey, Foyles War and The Bletchley Circle and employs meticulous research of the Edwardian period to truly bring the story to life.

54

by James Lubbock with Warren Fitzgerald

Would you take crystal meth if it was offered by someone you knew and trusted?

Like your dad?

James is just a normal student - insecure, smelly, geeky and a virgin to boot. His father is a middle class, middle-aged and very well respected Jewish coin dealer. Their life is as good as it gets.

Until one day James’ father ditches Handel for Hard House and unexpectedly hits the gay club scene of London - trading in coin dealing for drug dealing.

As James gets to grips with his new reality, will he save his broken dad or be dragged down with him?

This is the incredible true story of how one well-to-do family man became Britain’s most wanted Meth dealer. For the first time, James, his son, tells the true story of their epic highs and crushing comedowns.

“In December 2009 the national newspapers reported the arrest of a ‘drug baron’ with the biggest haul of crystal meth yet seen in this country. The accompanying photo was a mugshot of a scrawny, seedy looking bloke – the archetypal lowlife, a career crook, no doubt. And yet behind the headlines was a story the newspapers never discovered, a story more sensational than they could ever have wished for. This lowlife, this drug baron was in fact, just a few years before, a meek law-abiding suburban family man... He was my dad.”

The first in a new crime series set in Britain in the late 1930s.

Max is an impecunious journalist married to Martha, the daughter of a wealthy family who disapprove of their son-in-law. Max discovers members of his old platoon from Passchendaele are being knocked off one by one. With the police believing Max is the murderer, he’s forced to go on the run (with his very capable wife) to solve the murder.

Will he solve the crime or will the murderer or Police get to him first?

With humour, style, a fair amount of reckless foolishness, and the help of Winston Churchill, they uncover Nazi sympathisers in the British High Command.

MARINE A

E- R PRD E R O

by Sgt. Alexander Blackman

For the first time, a blistering, highly-

charged account from the man known as ‘Marine A’ who was at the centre of the controversial murder of a wounded Taliban fighter. His case lead to an unprecedented wave of public support which raised over £800,000 to fund his appeal.

The nerve-shredding situations Sgt Blackman operated within, under sustained attack for long periods, living in the unrelenting horror of a theatre of war took their toll mentally and physically.

Alexander says “This book chronicles my young life, my recruitment and training, my first deployments, and then my experiences in the Middle East, where I fought first in Iraq, and later completed two tours of duty in Helmand, Afghanistan – before finally confronting the final moment of my 2011 tour, and the killing of the Afghan insurgent which led to my conviction for murder.” all the above books are available from www.mirrorbooks.co.uk

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Mum’s current reading addiction Elizabeth Parker discusses ‘Women’s Murder Club’ Novels by James Patterson Reading is a major passion of mine and

THE BOY WITHOUT LOVE ...and the farm that saved him

by Simon Dawson

A warts-and-all celebration of mothers (human and animal) everywhere, from the popular Devon-based radio presenter. Simon Dawson is a broadcaster, smallholder and author of several books including humorous life-on-a-farm memoirs.

However, his cheery exterior masks a very unhappy past.

His mother did not love him, and informed him of this fact often. She spent most of his childhood trying to find someone she could give him away to, played him off against various gangster lovers and abusive boyfriends, failed to feed him and overtly taunted him.

Simon, meanwhile, lost his virginity to a much older woman, failed spectacularly at school, and took the blame for their house burning down. But eventually he found a soul mate and together they now care for a menagerie of animals.

In his new book he decides not just to face up to the emotional damage his mother inflicted on him, but to try to understand her and achieve some kind of reconciliation before she dies.

Was it his innate unloveableness, or was it something that would now be called postnatal depression?

Warm, witty and honest, the book charts the humour, the anger, the confusion, the hurt, the hate and the desperation of a mother who can’t give love and a son longing for it. All of this is set against the backdrop of present day life on the farm where some animals also mysteriously reject their young.

I love nothing more than to get completely submerged into a book or even better a series. My current is obsession is the Women’s Murder Club series which is quite simply as immersible as the latest box set.

Detective Lindsay Boxer is the main thread in the series. Other key characters develop alongside her as she works to solve crimes whilst developing friendships and relationships along the way. The Women’s Murder Club is a group of four like-minded women who in their different capacities and thought processes attempt to find solutions. Whereas some murder books are all about the crime, this series is definitely about all of the ups and downs in the complexities of all of the different relationships that we all have and that is what makes this series different to others that I have read.

I loved it and found it a really easy and enjoyable read, one I wanted to go back to and most definitely addictive.

The first one of the series that I read was 17th Suspect, I was drawn to this one on a shopping trip. I loved it and found it a really easy and enjoyable read, one I wanted to go back to and most definitely addictive. I then went back to the beginning, 1st to Die. Where I discovered that Lindsay Boxer is the only woman homicide inspector in San Francisco, and she is seen to be tough.

However even she was not prepared for the brutality that she faced with the murder of newlyweds on their wedding nights.

Lindsey found these deaths, in particular the timing of these murders heinous and her strong resolve to deal with this case was challenged when she was faced with her own personal loss. So she turned to Claire, a leading coroner, Cindy, a journalist and Jill, a top attorney, for help with both her crises, and the Women’s Murder Club was born.

James Patterson is a legend in the literary world and this is him at his absolute best, fast paced and engaging, without losing anything along the way.

I think that whether you are looking for a crime thriller with suspense and twists and turns or a set of characters that you want to invest time and emotions in this series will give you both. I guarantee that once you start reading these books you will be hooked and, like myself, will be waiting for the delivery of the next book in the series.

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1. BOUDICCA DESIGN Dry Gin and Pink Pomelo Candle £39 www.boudiccadesign.co.uk

2. FLINT VINEYARD

Charmat 2017, Alc: 12% £21.99 www.flintvineyard.com

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3. CAITHNESS Glass Paperweight ‘Pooches Collection’, £45 each Bradley Hatch, Norwich www.bradleyhatch.com

4. CLASSIC AMBER “India” Amber Bracelet £90 www.novasilver.co.uk

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5. CATH KIDSTON Climbing blossom 50ml hand cream £4 www.cathkidston.com

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6. ROYAL SCOT

Prices correct at the time of going to press. Items may be available from various retailers and prices may vary so please check online for a full list of local stockists

Crystal ‘Marlborough’ Flared Vase £27.50 Bradley Hatch, Norwich www.bradleyhatch.com

Mother 's

day gifts

5

Show your mum you appreciate everything she does for you and get her something special this year, here are a few ideas to inspire you

...and don’t forget the flowers!

3 4

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day gifts 7 7. ORLA KIELY Multi-coloured stem print wallet £78 shoulder bag £145 www.debenhams.com

8. ALESSI Pulcina Espresso Maker, 3 Cup, £65.00 www.johnlewis.com

9. RICHARD COOPER Bronze ‘Three Little Pigs’ £110 for three Bradley Hatch, Norwich www.bradleyhatch.com

10. MODERN RARITY Wool Silk Storm Lilies Scarf, Grey/Multi £45 www.johnlewis.com

11. NORDIC Curved Frame £25 www.jarrold.co.uk

12. NICOLE BARR Plique-a-Jour Enamel on Sterling Silver, set with ruby Heart Stud Earrings £135 Heart Necklace £170 Bradley Hatch, Norwich www.bradleyhatch.com

Prices correct at the time of going to press. Items may be available from various retailers and prices may vary so please check online for a full list of local stockists

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Mother 's

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TREASURED Mother’s Day 31st March

FASHION Discover all your favourite brands at Jarrold

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beautiful Refresh your spring wardrobe with something blue selected by Donna Titcombe

1 1. RALPH LAUREN

Blue 3. LAURA ASHLEY

Cotton Blend Sweater Hydrangea £89

Blue Ombre Bead Necklace £18

2. PHASE EIGHT Chelle Colour Block Dress £99

4. JIGSAW Blue Poppy Suede Heeled Pump £129

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Prices correct at the time of going to press. Items may be available from various retailers and prices may vary so please check online for a full list of local stockists

5. TED BAKER Pale Blue Faceted Bow Leather Tote Bag £199 6. MONSOON Alexandra Cord Jacket £70

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For a beautiful way to indulge yourself…

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Scent

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Spoil your mum or yourself with a gorgeous new perfume selected

by Donna Titcombe

2 1. ELIE SAAB Girl Of Now Eau de Parfum 90ml £69.95 2. BVLGARI Eau Parfumee Au The Vert Eau de Cologne 75ml £65

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Prices correct at the time of going to press. Items may be available from various retailers and prices may vary so please check online for a full list of local stockists

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3. MAISON MICALLEF Royal Muska Eau de Parfum 30ml £105 4. MILLER HARRIS Violet Ida Eau de parfum 100ml £105 5. KENZO World EDT 75ml £71

3

'A Romantic Evening' by John Berney Ladbroke

Aylsham-based Keys Fine Art Auctioneers recently regained its independence following a management buyout. Places & Faces caught up with managing director David Broom to find out what the future holds for one of the UK’s leading provincial auction houses.

A KEY MOMENT 'Tanker at Greenwich' by L.S. Lowry

T

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ell us about the changes happening at Keys.

Keys’ regaining of its independence is an important step forward for the auctions business in Norfolk. With the advent of online bidding, regional auction houses have started to compete at national and international level with the major London houses, but to do this requires ongoing investment and for the leading provincial firms to be led by specialists who have the expertise, experience and focus to not just keep up, but lead the way.

A management buy-out is the ultimate expression of confidence – it means that those who run a business are literally putting their money where their mouths are. For Aylsham, for Norfolk and for East Anglia more widely, Keys’ new beginning is a dose of good news as we move into 2019.

Keys has been a feature of the auctions landscape for decades – tell us a little about its history.

Keys was founded by Geoffrey Key in 1953, the business started as a small livestock

Keys’ �irst three-day Fine Sale of the year takes place from Wednesday 27 March to Friday 29 March. Featuring top quality ceramics, glass, oriental items, silver, jewellery, clocks, watches, furniture, militaria, wines and spirits and pictures, the sale is a �lagship event which attracts bidders from all over the UK and beyond.

Full details can be found at www.keysauctions.co.uk

Coming up in the Fine Sale: Walter Dendy Sadler (1854-1923) “The Widow’s Birthday” Keys first furniture sale

market selling mainly poultry. A weekly general furniture sale and periodic antique sales were added during the 1960s, with fine art sales following, including pictures, books and collectables.

In 2012 the firm was bought by a regional property services firm, but at the end of last year it regained its independence and is now back in the ownership of our team of auction specialists.

What kind of auctions does Keys hold?

We have a programme of specialist sales across the year, reflecting the breadth of expertise we have at Keys. These include our flagship three-day Fine Sales which are held three times a year, and a wide range of specialist sales, including the internationally-important East Anglian Art Sales, the Book and Ephemera Sales which attract so much national media attention, Ornithological and Natural History Sales, the ever-popular Silver, Jewellery and Watches Sales, and our newest auctions, the 20th Century Design and Modern Art Sales.

Alongside these specialist sales, the Antiques and Interiors Sales take place on a monthly basis, and for 2019 the weekly General Sales have been reinstated. In addition, auctions of commercial assets will once again take place at Aylsham.

We also hold occasional one-off specialist sales, either to sell a particular collection, or around a single theme. For example, we are planning a very big Nelson-related auction in the summer, which we know will attract bidders from all over the world.

How has technology changed the antiques and fine art business?

Technology has been a gamechanger, because it has opened up the market and allowed regional auction houses like Keys to compete with the major London firms.

Comprehensive online catalogues, quality digital photography and live online bidding all mean that buyers can view and bid for lots from the other side of the globe. Nowadays as many as two-thirds of bidders are not actually in the room. It means we have a

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PROMOTION

Some saleroom highlights from the past year: • A rare, fine and delicately cast Sino Tibetan gilt bronze of a Lama far exceeded its pre-sale estimate of £800-£1,200, selling for £56,000 • A Chinese porcelain vase decorated in pale famille rose palette with members of the Imperial family sold for £20,200 (estimate £250-£350) • A very rare Lowestoft porcelain model of a cat from circa 1780 sold for £4,400 (estimate £3,000-£4,000) • A painting by Norwich School artist John Berney Ladbrooke entitled ‘A Romantic Evening’ more than tripled its pre-sale estimate of £1,500-£2,000, selling for £6,500 • Pictures by L.S.Lowry only rarely come up for auction, and a pencil drawing entitled ‘Tanker at Greenwich’ sold for £14,500 • A very rare copy of the first ever Beano Annual attracted huge media attention before selling for £2,700

much bigger reach, and sellers no longer feel they have to go to the big national houses to gain the attention of serious buyers.

What are the ‘hot trends’ in the antique and fine art auction room?

This is a business which is very much subject to the ebbs and flows of fashion, and it’s fascinating to track which areas are doing well, and which have fallen relatively out of popularity.

At the moment there is very strong demand for anything oriental, driven in large part by a resurgent market for such items in Asia itself. Aside from that, it is good to see furniture performing strongly in the saleroom again after many years in the doldrums. There is also fast-growing interest in items from the 20th century – not just the Arts & Crafts and Art Deco periods which have been in vogue for a long time, but increasingly items from the post-war period, when British design was so strong.

Finally, because of our region’s tradition of attracting the best artists, East Anglian art remains an area where demand is strong.

65

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DON’T FORGET YOUR VEGETABLES

& 67

This is a busy time for the vegetable growers. Many of your main crops to be raised from seed can be started in a gently-heated propagator if the ground is still too cold outside.

But remember, as soon as the seed is up, lift them into a cooler, but well-lit place to stop them becoming spindly and weak. The seedlings will need turning, ideally a quarter turn a day to stop them developing one-sided.

g n i r p S style

Change it up this spring with pops of colour and print, to give a simple update to your home, say Jarrold home buyers Hayley Philpot and Jennifer Dwyer.

It’s time for a spring clean. The warmer weather (hopefully) means that we can awake from our winter slumber and start getting our homes ready for the many seasonal events ahead. Events such as Mother’s Day and Easter call for time with family and friends, entertaining, dining and even an overnight stay, so making sure that every room in your home is ready for both invited and uninvited guests is a priority.

With new season looks and fresh pieces coming into store every week, now is the chance to embrace the new. Amongst the plethora of styles this year, pops of colour and pattern reign supreme. Here are just a few pieces that can help transform each room in your home in an instant.

Hayley & Jennifer are homeware buyers

Jarrold, 1-11 London Street, Norwich, NR2 1AL www.jarrold.co.uk The Granary, 5 Bedford Street, Norwich, NR2 1AL www.thegranary.co.uk

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For the bathroom

For the hallway

BLOMUS Agava Green Tumbler £14.50 Toilet brush £37.95 Soap dispenser £28.50

PARLANE Marita Mirror £195

(also available in grey)

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For the bedroom CHRISTY Sumatra Ochre Reversible duvet set, from £40 for a single (double, king and super king available) MALINI Puntos cushion £29

For the dining room ORLA KIELY Multi Stem Lined Eyelet curtains (66x54) £68 EMMA BRIDGEWATER Wallflower Dining set, pieces from £19.95

For the lounge HARPER DESIGNER CHAIR £791 (price subject to choice of fabric) HOLME Sideboard £1,119

All available from Jarrold, floor 2

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n g i s e LondonD Week This month our resident interior design expert Julie Handforth-Doidge t a l k s a b o u t t h e f o r t h c o m i n g L o n d o n D e s i g n We e k w h i c h i s o n from 10 to 15 March at The Design Centre in Chelsea.

FOR ONE WEEK in March, London becomes the design capital of the world as interior designers, architects and taste makers from across the globe flock to the capital for London Design Week 2019.

This year’s event runs from 10 to 15 March with more than 100 events, designerled talks, presentations, workshops and artisanal demonstrations, London Design Week caters for every designer’s needs.

Whether you’re an architect, designer, or a style-seeker with a passion for ingenuity, you’ll love exploring the various booths and stands housed under the famous glass dome of the Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour.

London Design Week prides itself on showcasing collection launches from the best in stylish innovation, with products ranging from fabric and furniture, to carpet and kitchens. While the centre permanently showcases more than 500 of the design world’s most esteemed brands, it truly comes alive during London Design Week.

This is a leading event that I like to attend each year as I get the chance to meet up with some of our top suppliers and friends and discuss the up and coming trends. I find it so inspiring to glean the knowledge and expertise from some of the top global interior designers giving presentations throughout the entire week.

Spending a couple of days at the exhibition I find that I come away buzzing with new ideas which I can then pass onto my loyal customers back here in Norfolk.

It is held for the 1 week in March when London becomes the design centre of the world where Interior designers flock to

the capital. Products range from fabric and furniture to carpets and kitchens.

At London Design Week 2019, think global. This celebration of the new season is a remarkable source of inspiration, knowledge and expertise for both professionals and design lovers alike.

Discover defining design directions, as well as intricate details close up from 600 international brands at 120 showrooms.

Expect highly sophisticated designs from an illustrious global portfolio that meld opulent palettes, noble materials and impeccable finishes. The latest looks at London Design Week 2019 are cosmopolitan in outlook, underscoring the importance of individual style and quality craftsmanship. Each is distinctive; what unites them is creative excellence Journey into the minds of well-travelled influencers and tastemakers, gathered together at the world’s leading design destination. Over 120 immersive experiences offer talks, demonstrations, workshops, launches and discovery tours that encourage visitors to engage with design. On the main

stage, a line-up of international speakers share their experiences at the acclaimed Conversations in Design series.

‘Legends’ returns for the second year, transforming showroom windows and showcases with original concepts that profile stories from design, decoration and photography.

The packed programme is animated by further expressions of creativity such as inventive pop-ups, specially commissioned installations and new dining experiences.

Nowhere else will you find such a high concentration of design’s biggest names shaping luxury interiors today – and all at one address... see you there!

If you would like some expert advice you could always pop down to see the JHD Interiors showroom.

Julie Handforth Doidge

Proprietor / Interior designer at JHD Interiors in Norwich 01603 722 385 www.jhd-interiors.co.uk 71

Wensum Pools Ltd is a national award winning family run business established in 1977.

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Gardens Great

With winter almost over (fingers crossed), it ’s time to g e t t h e g a r d e n r e a d y f o r s u m m e r. H e r e ’s s o m e o f t h e b e s t p l a c e s to grab perfect plants, fancy furniture and all you need to make the most of your outdoor space.

With the worst of winter hopefully

behind us as we head towards spring, it’s time to venture once more into the garden.

Although keen gardeners will have been working year-round on their preparations and planting, this is prime time for casual gardeners to spruce up their patch of paradise ready for long hours enjoying the great outdoors.

Most of us in Norfolk and Suffolk are lucky enough to live in homes with gardens, and enjoying taking care of them.

Not only is gardening good exercise, studies have shown that it is also good for mental wellbeing – so if you don’t already enjoy getting green fingers, maybe now is the time to start.

You will find everything you need for a great garden at one of the region’s numerous garden centres. Not only are they packed with all of the tools, seeds and plants you may need, but they are also staffed with knowledgeable experts who are more than happy to share their tips and tricks. At times, successful gardening can seem like a combination of cookery and science skills, but the good news is that you can make it as easy or complicated as you

like to suit your needs.

Combine your gardening needs with a grocery shop at AG Meale farm shop and garden centre in Stalham. As well as grabbing lunch or a coffee in their in-house café, Vera’s, you can also buy a wide range of their homegrown vegetables while also stocking up on your gardening gear.

From bedding plants to fruit trees, perennials to shrubs, you’ll find it all here.

Vera’s also has regular events, including a steak night on 9 March and Mother’s Day menu on 31 March.

Situated between Norwich and Fakenham, Bawdeswell Garden Centre is a family-run business founded in 1983. As well as all your gardening requirements you’ll also find giftware, toys, garden furniture, books, clothes and pet supplies.

But you are here for gardening, so check out their selection of trees and shrubs, water features, ornaments and garden buildings before enjoying refreshments at Reeve’s restaurant while the kids enjoy the Treetops Adventure play area.

Garden Centre Overstrand on the North Norfolk coast has a great range of plants and trees for all seasons. You’ll also find garden ornaments, lighting and furniture to add some wow to your outdoor space.

There’s also a range of gifts to browse and pet food to stock up on, before taking a break in the Tea Room and Bistro with its locally sourced food and drink.

Woodgate Nursery just outside Aylsham was started by Peter Purdy as a hobby – selling a handful of plants out of his front garden on the roadside. That was back in 1982, and Peter’s hobby quickly became a flourishing business. The nursery now stocks more than 700 different plants and, due to demand, Purdy’s Tea Room was added in 2011. Peter’s passion for plants is clear, and that’s why Woodgate has grown into such a respected and trusted nursery.

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House&Home

s r oo d t u O Greater

Make your outdoor space look extra special with a little help from some of these super suppliers

Whisper

it, but summer is around the corner, and it’s time to throw away the dead wood (literally in some cases) and spruce up your personal plot. From boundary fencing to welcoming whirlpools, you can find everything you need for a greater garden.

Nothing brings your personal castle’s curb appeal down more than shoddy or tired fencing. Often the first thing that you and your visitors will see when approaching the homestead, even the best fencing can soon become tired looking or battered. Not only can this affect aesthetics, but it can also compromise security.

Norfolk Prestige Fencing offer a bespoke solution thanks to using handbuilt fencing that perfectly fits your requirements. Recognising that not every garden is square. Level or with a boundary that neatly divides into standard fencing panels, the guys at Prestige can measure and make the perfect fence for your needs.

Installation of a new fence begins with removal of the old one (or anything else in the way), preparation of the ground, then the fence is built on site to perfection.

If your manor is more substantial, or for a contemporary solution that maintains your borders with blocking you in, you might want to consider metal fencing from Norfolk Estate Fencing. They specialise in designing, making and installing steel estate and park fencing and gates that is ideal for larger boundaries but can also add a modern look any family home. Long lasting and easy to maintain, metal fencing was traditionally used to cope with natural undulations and curves, plus its extra strength and fact that it does not obstruct the view. Norfolk Estate Fencing also has a great range of metal garden ornaments created by their skilled craftsmen, to add a dash of style to your garden.

If the last word you would think of when looking at your garden is ‘style’, 74

maybe you should get in contact with Hall Landscaping & Design. Whether you have a small back yard or an expansive acreage, Hall Landscaping & Design can help you make the most of your outdoor space. Maybe you want something low maintenance, or keen to develop a meadow to encourage wildlife, or perhaps something as simple as some decking and a barbecue area – they do it all. Using smart design means your garden will transform from an afterthought to front of mind when it comes to entertaining and socialising, genuinely adding another room to your home.

Talking of adding extra room, more and more people are opting to have a superior shed at the bottom of their garden. Great

as a guest house or as a home office, the stunning sheds from Scott Timber Buildings really do add flexibility to your accommodation. More of us work from home these days but struggle to detach ourselves from family distractions. That’s why having a studio or office in the garden is such a great idea. From a traditional tool shed to log cabin or contemporary pod, Scott Timber Buildings has a wide range to suit your taste and requirements. Let’s face it, is there anywhere more relaxing?

Well, there may be one place in the garden that is even more soothing and calming than your studio or shed – your hot tub or, if space allows, a swimming pool. Turn to Wensum Pools, a family run business since 1977, for all your needs.

Their showroom has more than 20 hot tubs on display (who knew there were so many options!), as well as three swimming pools and a number of saunas. If space is tight, have you ever heard of Endless Pools?

These are clever solutions that have a built in, adjustable current so you can swim for as long as you like without having to make a turn. That also means that a pool can start from just 12 feet long and 7 feet wide, meaning you can install it just about anywhere. Brilliant for exercise or for a serious swimmer, we just love it. Check them out at Wensum Pools.

For allFoirrydaoglluooryoduries birdinclgbudooindgiefeseders, rs,s thsedsteand includingbafe baths standanfodods ! and food!

Come and visit us for all your gardening and alfresco needs!

6 Mundesley Road, Overstrand, Cromer, NR27 0PU. Tel: 01263 579485 www.gardencentreoverstrand.co.uk enquiries@gardencentreoverstrand.co.uk

Comeandandvisit visitus usforforall your Come your gardening gardening and and alfresco alfresco needs needs!

6 Mundesley Road, Overstrand, Cromer, NR27 0PU Our opening times: Mon-Sat 9am-5pm Sun 10am-4pm

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Tel: 01263 579485 6 Mundesley Road, www.gardencentreoverstrand.co.uk Overstrand, Cromer, NR27 0PU. enquiries@gardencentreoverstrand.co.uk Tel: 01263 579485 www.gardencentreoverstrand.co.uk Our opening times Mon - Sat 9 - 5 Sun 10 - 4 enquiries@gardencentreoverstrand.co.uk

Our opening times: Mon-Sat 9am-5pm Sun 10am-4pm

NORFOLK ESTATE FENCING info@norfolkestatefencing.co.uk 01263 735656 • 07831 528560

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r u o Y

Spring Garden Preparations for spring should be well underway as March brings the transitional period and we’ve enjoyed an abundance of snowdrops gracing our woodlands. Whilst there is so much to do now, keep your eye on the weather forecast as frosts can still be heavy at this time of year. So, enjoy the beautiful early spring days as you start to put your gardening plans into action.

x

Mu mxx

Don’t forget the flowers for Mother’s Day and you can’t go far wrong with a good bunch of Daffodils

GARDEN & FLOWERS As new growth emerges when the days warm up and there is more sunshine, keep an eye out for slugs and snails who will enjoy eating your young plants. Try copper tape arounds pots and containers, broken egg shells around plants, beer-filled slug traps and apply nematodes to help keep slugs under control.

If you have a greenhouse or grow house don’t forget to make sure there is adequate ventilation by opening windows and doors during the warmer times in the day. This will help to prevent a build-up of pests and diseases. The evenings will still be too cold for some plants, so don’t forget to close them back up again!

Hellebores are one of the early bloomers in the year and their flowers can bring a lovely sigh of relief that spring must be on the way. Keep them in tip-top shape by cutt ing off old leaves of hellebores that produce flowers from ground level which will show off the flowers and help to get rid of hellebore leaf spot.

House&Home

top five summer bulbs Its time to start planting for summer colour...

1. ORIENTAL LILY

2. FREESIA

FRUIT & VEGETABLES

WILDLIFE GARDENING

Start planting your shallots and onion sets in a sunny position but not in freshly manured soil. Gently push them in with just the tips showing above the soil. Birds can try to pull them out at this stage so it’s a good idea to cover them with a net or some horticultural fleece until they have established their roots.

Get your packets of seeds out and start sowing salads such as spring onion, lett uce and radish as long as you keep them in a greenhouse or under a protective cloche.

You will enjoy picking them very early in the growing season by starting to sow them successionally from now on.

Whilst most varieties of potatoes can go in during April, early varieties such as ‘Rocket’ can go out towards the end of the month if the weather is mild. It’s a good idea to “chit” them first on a sunny windowsill but don’t worry if you haven’t been able to. Don’t forget that potatoes grow well in growbags as well, so space shouldn’t be a problem.

Give your garden birds a helping hand by supplying nesting material around your garden. You can leave out moss, piles of small twigs, even pieces of your own hair or pet dog’s fur. These will all help them create a safe, warm nesting place for the busy season to come.

We tend to think of dandelions as weeds but, in fact, they are a valuable source of early nectar and pollen for bees and other insects. Not only that but dandelion roots are apparently quite a tasty coffee substitute; whilst I’ve never tried it, I do hear it’s quite nice! So, don’t be too quick to mow dandelions away. Let the bees enjoy them first to get them off to a strong start in the year.

Winter berries and natural food supplies will have been eaten up by now, so it’s really important to keep your bird feeders and water full at this time of year. It’s also a lovely time of year to listen to birds singing as they enjoy your garden. Watch carefully as they grace our skies with song.

3. POLIANTHES TUBEROSA

4. BEGONIA

5. BEARDED IRIS

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Everything you need to create a beautiful garden

Perennials  Bedding, Basket & Patio Plants  Shrubs Ornamental & Fruit Trees  Roses  Vegetable Plants

Non Electric

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Plant Centre, Farm Shop & Pick Your Own Mon-Fri 8am-6pm Sat 8am-5pm Sun 10am-4pm Open until 8pm on Fridays from April to October

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10 Year Guarantee

Vera’s Coffee Shop

Breakfast  Light Bites  Lunch  Afternoon Tea  Cakes Mon-Fri 8.30am-4.30pm Sat 8.30am-4pm Sun 9.30am-4pm Italian menu from 5pm on Friday evenings from April to Oct

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Open 7 days a week

Find us on the A149 near Stalham, Wayford Nurseries, NR12 9LJ

www.bawdeswellgardencentre.co.uk

Mother Earth, Mother Nature or just Mum!

...we’ve something for all Mothers FOOD HALL ✿ LICENSED RESTAURANT ✿ TOYS ✿ CLOTHING ✿ BOOKS ✿ GIFTS ✿ CARDS Norwich Road, Bawdeswell, Dereham, Norfolk NR20 4RZ

Tel: 01362 688 387

... where friends meet

THE HORTICULTURAL HUB

Did You Know...

BEST PICKINGS OF

THE HUMBLE

TOMATO

Kevin Morris

is the Manager at The Bawdeswell Garden Centre

www.bawdeswellgardencentre.co.uk

P acked

with life sustaining vitamins C and K and bursting with the antioxidant lycopene to help us fight the battles of aging, cancer and heart disease, the humble tomato packs an almighty punch for its size.

The delights of growing, picking and eating these bundles of lusciousness straight from your own tomato vine cannot be underestimated. From windowsill to glasshouse and beyond there is a tomato variety for most growing locations, provided you follow a few simple rules.

Traditional and heritage varieties along with and modern novelty cultivars jostle for our attention, but which are the best to grow?

Look for award winning varieties over well-known names because they have a proven trialled and tested track record.

‘Sweet Aperitif’ ‘Bite Size’ and ‘Rosella’ are three examples from RHS 2018 trials.

Timing and hardiness:

Sowing and growing in an environment which is ideally above 16 degrees c at all times is essential. Traditionally the seeds can be sown from March onwards or for simplicity purchased as small plants, from your local garden centre during April & May.

Sowing for success

Tomato seedlings have been grown in space.

Location, location, location:

A more reliable harvest is achieved by growing your tomatoes under a poly-tunnel or glasshouse, using a range of containers or compost bags. The greater the root-run the more productive the plant, so give the tomato plants plenty of growing medium to develop and this will also allow good air circulation. Good levels of light and sunshine are vital to achieve good fruit set and ultimately sufficient ripening.

Keeping your plants well and regularly watered is essential, possibly twice daily during warm periods. Using a liquid based tomato, potassium rich feed once weekly from the time that the first flowers appear on the plant, will be essential for promoting good flowering and fruit production, over keeping the plant healthy.

Harvest:

Once your juicy tomatoes have ripened, determined by skin colouration to reds and yellows, they can be picked and eaten warm from the vine... delicious THE BAWDESWELL GARDEN CENTRE Norwich road, Bawdeswell, Dereham, Norfolk NR20 4RZ Tel: 01362 688387 www.bawdeswellgardencentre.co.uk

Tomatoes originally came from Peru, where their Aztec name “xitomati” literally translated to “plump thing with a navel”!

10k

Seed sowing can be achieved at home, provided all the care conditions are met.

Continue to grow on your propagated plants and once they have increased in size put to one seedling per pot; before planting in its final position once all frosts have passed.

Watering and feeding:

Life&Living

PROMOTION

There are over 10,000 varieties of tomato, these come in a variety of colours including pink, purple, black, yellow and white.

Tomatoes increase in weight as they ripen, even after harvesting.

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Million

They are world’s most popular fruit, with annual production of 60 million tons. Second spot goes to bananas

The reddest tomatoes contain the most goodness.

Cooked tomatoes are better for you than raw ones, as the process breaks down cell walls and releases more beneficial chemicals.

1890s

A tomato is a fruit. A fruit is technically defined as the edible part of the plant containing seeds. Some confusion arose after the 1890s when the US Supreme Court named them a vegetable for taxation purposes.

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A living experience as unique as you are...

Use your new space as a place to eat, meet, relax, entertain or

01603 you 720005 sleep - whatever have in· www.gardenroomdesigns.co.uk mind we will create it for you.

Garden Rooms

Orangeries

A Garden Room combines an outdoor feeling with the yearround comfort of an inner room.

A popular and practical way to much needed space to a home.

Garden Offices A great way to have more space but allow a separation and peace from the bustle of the house.

Conservatory Transformations A simple, quick and cost effective way of transforming a conservatory.

Conservatory Roofing Systems A great way to transform your conservatory into an ‘all year’ room.

Whatever your requirements we offer a comprehensive commitment to quality and service.

Contact us for our free consultation service

Whatever your requirements we offer a comprehensive commitment to quality and service.

bringing

pets Wood Green’s dedicated teams are there to listen and give you the help you need. Visit woodgreen.org.uk or to contact Wood Green’s pet advisors call 0300 303 9333 ext. 1281 or email: pet.support@woodgreen.org.uk

& people closer together

Wood Green, The Animals Charity knows that owning a pet is one of the most rewarding things you can do.

Giving a pet a loving home, whilst also gaining a new best friend who will bring lots of love to your home.

es

Bella's pup

A gn

e g d u m S

M is t y

That’s why

Wood Green vows to change the lives of pets and their owners bringing them closer together. Whether you are considering having a pet in the future and need guidance on pet choice, or you already have a pet and need some general advice or intensive support, Wood Green offers free pet advice to anyone who needs it. They can help you to find your perfect pet, to understand how best to care for your pet and how to improve pet behaviour and your relationship with your pet.

In the space of a year, this unique service has helped over 2,000 pet owners and through behaviour advice and support managed to keep over 250 pets and their families together at a time when they thought giving up their pet was the only option.

The charity’s commitment to help change the lives of pets and make an immediate difference to pets in need is an essential part of their three centres ‘daily life. Therefore, Wood Green has expanded their working partnership with the Royal Veterinary College to include their main site in Godmanchester, Cambridgeshire. This initiative helps in mentoring the vets of the future and ensures that the message about animal welfare and shelter medicine is passed on. Thus enabling Wood Green to help more pets and people.

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Life&Living

PROMOTION

Visit Italy direct from

Norwich Airport

9 amazing tours from ÂŁ709 Departing 15 May & 25 Sep 2019 To book please call 01603 428700 or visit www.travelnorwichairport.co.uk Price quoted excludes ÂŁ10 per adult Norwich Airport Development Fee, payable locally at the airport.

&

Life Living MINDFUL & BALANCED THE BHUTI YOGA RETREAT STUDIO is a peaceful tranquil space

away from the noise and pollution of the city run by Barbara who has been teaching yoga for over 12 years. Her studio offers a wide range including classes, events and retreats, podcasts, online classes, corporate events, private tuition and coaching. Barbara covers everything from beginners wanting to start a healthy, safe practice before joining a class, people recovering from or finding modifications for injuries, increasing mental focus, clarity and self awareness and incorporating yoga into a weight-loss or strength training programme.

THE BHUTI YOGA RETREAT STUDIO, NORWICH www.yoganorfolk.com

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Life&Living

Are your Feet causing you trouble?

Debbie Thorpe of Spire Norwich Hospital, talks to Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon Mr George Smith about some common foot complaints.

O

ur feet are an evolutionary

marvel comprising of 26 bones, 33 joints and 42 muscles all working together with more than 50 ligaments and tendons to carry us around every day. Through the foot’s many moving parts it handles hundreds of tons of force each day to move us about. The stress of all this movement puts the foot at high risk of injury. Mr George Smith, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon at Spire Norwich Hospital explains some typical foot conditions he sees in his outpatient clinics.

‘Various conditions affect feet, whether through irritation from an ill-fitting shoe, injury or indeed from a condition affecting the rest of the body such as arthritis or diabetes. Many of my patients have suffered in silence and are frequently embarrassed by their feet, never displaying them in public.

Many foot conditions can be treated but if left unchecked can cause great upset to a lot of people.’

Bunions (Hallux valgus) ‘Hallux valgus is more commonly known as a bunion. It is a mal-alignment of the big toe, which deviates towards the second toe. The foot gets wider and the fitting of shoes becomes very difficult. It usually runs in families but can also be secondary to a number of systemic conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis (a chronic progressive disease causing inflammation in the joints resulting in painful deformity and immobility). If Hallux Valgus is left unchecked it will usually cause overcrowding of the lesser toes and excessive pressure problems on the ball of the foot.

‘The conservative options for treating a bunion include changes in footwear,

night splints and special insoles in the shoe. Unfortunately there is little evidence to support their effectiveness. The only effective bunion treatment is to correct the mal-alignment of the bones surgically.’

Painful lesser toes ‘There are a number of conditions that can affect the small toes. Toes can be bent out of shape either through inherited factors, poor footwear or quite often secondary to a Hallux valgus. Toes that do not function correctly may rub on a shoe and develop a painful corn or callus (thickened area of skin that can become painful). A hammer toe, a toe that is bent downwards, will often both rub on a shoe and create excessive pressure on the ball of the foot.

Treatment options for problematic toes involve either regular trips to a Podiatrist to remove hard skin or surgery to permanently correct the alignment.’

Neuroma ‘A neuroma is a painful thickening of the nerve between the second and third, or more commonly, third and fourth toes. It can cause a hot burning pain or tingling sensation which sometimes leads to cramp in the toes. It typically occurs with tighter fitting shoes. It can be a particular problem in active sports people or those who have to wear tight shoes for considerable periods of time.

‘The treatment options for neuroma include changing shoes, injections in the area or if necessary surgery to remove the painful and thickened nerve.’

Arthritis ‘Arthritis can affect any joint in the body and with 33 joints the foot is commonly involved both in systemic forms of arthritis and with 85

wear and tear type osteoarthritis. Although the big toe is most often affected any foot joint can be involved.

Treatment options usually involve the use of orthoses (insoles), shoe changes, injections and if necessary surgery. Surgery can, in many instances, help restore function and keep the joint moving or if necessary the painful joint can be removed to allow pain free walking.’

Heel pain ‘Another regular foot condition that affects many patients seen in my clinic is heel pain.

There are multiple reasons why a heel may become painful. The vast majority of heel pain conditions are due to a mechanical dysfunction, often due to tightness in the Achilles tendon. These conditions can be treated with stretching and insoles and occasionally need surgical intervention.

Due to multiple possible causes of heel pain a specialist opinion should be sought as early as possible.’

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION or to directly make a private appointment with Mr George Smith please contact one of the team on 01603 255 614. Further details regarding consultant orthopaedic surgeon Mr George Smith can be found on his consultant profile at www. spirenorwich.com All surgery carries an element of risk and the content of this page is provided for general information only. It should not be treated as a substitute for the professional medical advice of your doctor or other healthcare professional. www.facebook.com/spirenorwichhospital/

Staycation

s k a e r B

The Old Kiln House, Cotswolds The Old Kiln House is a beautiful eighteenth century grade II listed town house situated in the centre of the historic market town Shipstonon-Stour. The house is situated in a secluded, peaceful location with a beautiful large, south facing private courtyard garden and is a two minute walk away from all the amenities for which Shipston is well known such as restaurants, pubs and a wide variety of interesting shops including the well-known Mrs Brown’s tea shop, the Town and Country delicatessen, The Stour Art Gallery, several boutiques and antique shops and the renowned Sheldon Wine Merchants.The Old Kiln House Luxury bed and breakfast is in a unique building with a rich history and has three luxury spacious bedrooms which are all en-suite. Each room has been individually decorated to the highest stylish standard and is equipped with all modern facilities and features to ensure you have everything you need for a relaxing and pampered stay. www.theoldkilnhouse.co.uk 86

Holkham Estate, Holkham, Norfolk The special Holkham Lodges are unique, enchanting and irresistible. Each sleeping two, you can choose from the woodland hideaway that is Palmers Folly, the Grade II listed and very romantic gatehouse Palmers Lodge, S. S. Teulon designed South Lodge, and the exemplary Grade I listed Triumphal Arch, designed by the renowned architect, William Kent.

What’s more, you’ll have iconic Holkham Hall, Estate, beach and nature reserve on your doorstep to enjoy, plus free parking and a 10% discount to the range of Holkham business, including The Victoria, to make the most of during your stay. www.norfolkcottages.co.uk/holkham-lodges

Life&Living

Dannah Farm Country House, Peak District

Mary Green Manor, Brentwood Marygreen Manor is a fine example of early sixteenth century architecture and was initially the home of Henry Roper, gentleman servant to Catherine of Aragon.

Beautifully presented and centrally located, just minutes from M25/J28, the Tudor Manor House offers a selection of modern, well equipped accommodation, period function and meeting rooms and the beautiful 2AA Rosette Tudors restaurant.

The hotel is ideal choice for both the discerning business traveller and the sophisticated leisure guest. Effortlessly combining its historic 16th Century home with modern, efficient style and service the main building is bursting with original Tudor features with oak beams in abundance. The lounge is particularly interesting with its ornate ceilings and wood panelled walls. During the winter months you can relax in front of the roaring open log fire. www.marygreenmanor.co.uk

The Bloomsbury Guest House, York This family run bed and breakfast offers a range of king, double, twin and single occupancy en-suite rooms and is just a short walk from the historic York Minster and city centre.

Situated in a leafy area of York, The Bloomsbury Guest House is close to all of York’s attractions such as The Jorvik Viking Centre, National Railway Museum, Castle Museum, Knavesmire Racecourse, The Shambles and many more. All of The Bloomsbury Guest House bedrooms and en-suites are tastefully decorated with high quality furnishings. High ceilings add to the light and airy feel of bedrooms and remind you of the elegance of days gone by. www.thebloomsburyguesthouse.com

Dannah is located in the beautiful Amber Valley. It nestles just below Alport heights with its panoramic views over the surrounding six counties. In its idyllic rural setting, this is the perfect base for exploring the glorious Peak District. Intimate and secluded yet within easy reach of Derby, Nottingham and the M1.

Still a working Chatsworth Farm, no expense has been spared in converting the traditional Georgian farmhouse and adjoining stone buildings into luxurious boutique accommodation. The eclectic mix of rooms and suites each offer a completely different experience. The Studio and The Granary each have a private and secluded deck, complete with hot tub while the Hay Loft Spa Suite complete with Finnish sauna, double shower, luxurious living space and enormous hot tub. All are for exclusive use - no sharing ! In addition, tucked away, there is “The Secret Garden” with its unique changing pod and stunning hot tub which can be booked alongside any of the Dannah’s rooms. Treat yourselves to something a little different, slip into the tub, order the Champagne and relax as the weekend unfolds! www.dannah.co.uk

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Life&Living

Suffolk Stays

Te n p l a c e s t o s t a y t h i s w i n t e r t h a t y o u n e e d t o k n o w a b o u t . w w w.v i s i t s u f f o l k . c o m

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you’re planning a trip to Suffolk, there’s a wealth of amazing places you could stay. From B&Bs to self-catering, contemporary to traditional, high end chic or slumming it in style, Suffolk has something for every taste and need and is the ideal place to recharge after a long week. We unearth unique, bold, original and fun accommodation. Once you’re here, you’re never far away from total relaxation, unforgettable days out and insta-worthy places to see.

1. Happy Days Retro Vacations, Saxmundham Set in the Suffolk countryside, just a mile away from Saxmundham and five miles from the coast, you will find Happy Days Retro Vacations; taking glamping to new levels of cool. The retro-Americana inspired site has a range of authentic vintage American Campers and Airstream trailers from the 1950s, ‘60s and ‘70s - available for your stay (choose from Nettie, Dee-Dee, Elsie, Betsy, Peggy, Gloria and Annie). The camp-site is situated on farmland and surrounded by trees, with all the facilities you might expect: toilets and family style shower rooms and hot showers.

2. The Angel, Bury St Edmunds The iconic 18th century boutique The Angel Hotel, set in the heart of Bury St Edmunds, is ideally situated for a weekend of shopping, eating and mooching about.

The hotel proudly boasts that it still has in use the four-poster bed stayed in on two separate occasions by none other than Charles Dickens (ask for Room 215!).

The hotel is stunning inside and out: a large building situated in the open square of Angel Hill, its exterior attired in pink flowered window boxes, complimented by decadent and stunning ivy-clad walls.

Inside, glimpse contemporary areas with designer furniture and modern art.

3. The Treasure Chest, Southwold You can’t beat a bit of seaside chic for a weekend of relaxation. If you want a place to your own for the weekend, then The Treasure Chest is just for you! Available to hire, this luxurious 1-bedroom penthouse is located in the centre of the town, set within a beautiful period property, just a short walk from the beach. The apartment is finished to an exceptional standard with designer kitchen; so you can stock up on local produce and goodies at the many Delis that Southwold boasts and rustle up a feast for dinner or breakfast during your stay.

Contact Treasurechestlet@yahoo.com.

4. Salthouse Harbour Hotel, Ipswich A feature of Ipswich’s Waterfront, Salthouse Harbour Hotel is located within a converted warehouse building. The independently owned hotel is unashamedly contemporary but still retains some of the original features of the merchant’s warehouse.

With floor to ceiling windows, copper roll top baths (many with views), Temple Spa toiletries and Bose Sound Systems, this is contemporary chic at its finest. You needn’t travel far for good food either. The hotel’s Eaterie serves an array of modern dishes; with Mersea Rock Oysters, 45 day aged 17oz Angus T-Bone steak and Gressingham Duck, all on the menu.

5. Five Acre Barn, Aldeburgh Five Acre Barn is a contemporary bed and breakfast centred around a 19th century barn, offering five guest suites and set in (you’ve guessed it!) five acres of garden and woodland. This scandi-styled property has received deserved attention from the national press including The Guardian and The Standard among others and offers guests the ultimate rural location and chillout spot whilst still being close to the seaside towns of Aldeburgh and Thorpeness. Should you wish to venture out, take a stroll along the beach and discover great food. Rent one of the ubercool rooms or hire the entire complex for a weekend away with friends or family.

6. The Rutland Arms Hotel, Newmarket Right in the heart of historic Newmarket, The Rutland Arms Hotel is a former 17th Century coaching inn harking to the town’s long and prestigious horse racing heritage.

Stay in one of the hotel’s luxurious rooms and take a morning stroll around the famed training grounds of Newmarket and watch the horses outside enjoying their exercises.

As for food, the hotel’s very own bar & lounge, The Nell Gwynne Bar, serves awardwinning local food from breakfast through till dinner.

7. The Windmill, Lavenham Stay in an original 19th century windmill, with views across the Suffolk countryside, at The Windmill - the ultimate country hideaway. Just a short drive from Bury St Edmunds and the idyllic towns of Lavenham and Clare, it combines total indulgence and high-level design within a timeless iconic building originally built in 1891. The Windmill offers stunning panoramic views of the rolling landscape either from the top floor POD living space or from the 4th floor external balcony where you are likely to

enjoy a beautiful evening and the absolute treat endless Suffolk skies.

The remoteness doesn’t compromise the facilities. Wi-Fi on all floors and audio inputs throughout the mill allow you to enjoy your own music wherever you are in this truly unique property.

8. House In The Clouds, Thorpeness The House in the Clouds does exactly what it says on the tin – it’s a 70-foot high house which must be seen to be believed. The building has been described as “A fantasy unmatched in England” and offers self-catering stays for large parties, situated within an acre of grounds overlooking Thorpeness Mere. The village of Thorpeness is one of Suffolk’s iconic villages; it remains unspoilt since it was built in the 1920s, and was the inspiration for J.M.Barrie’s Peter Pan! You are also close to Aldeburgh, Snape Maltings and RSPB Minsmere or just a short drive away from the rest of the Suffolk coast.

9. West Stow Pods, Near Bury St Edmunds Recently listed as one of the top 10 glamping sites in the U.K., West Stow Pods are nestled in a woodland copse just four miles away from Bury St Edmunds. Book into a woodland lodge or Megapod and explore nearby King’s Forest, by foot, bike or horse and disconnect from a fast-paced way of life.

For something truly unique, their addition of ‘Pod Hollow’ is a winsome halfling inspired subterranean dwelling! The hollow mixes old-world (or Middle-earth!) charm and modern comforts; step through Pod Hollow’s perfectly round wooden door and you will feel like you’re entering The Shire.

The self-catering home sleeps four (+1) so is ideal for couples and families looking for a truly memorable getaway!

10. Pentahotel, Ipswich For anyone looking for absolute convenience and indulgence in one stay, Pentahotel combines the two. The hotel has vibrant creative interiors offering inspiring design, artwork and furniture and a menu that spans classic, simple and cultural. Located in Ipswich town centre, it’s just a short walk from the train station (with direct lines from London) and the Waterfront Marina; home to contemporary eateries, bars and Jerwood House, the home of DanceEast.

If you’re after a weekend of relaxation, then you can set up camp in the Pentalounge, or muster up a bit of energy to catch a show, concert or comedian at the Ipswich Regent. Try some of Ipswich’s award-winning restaurants, and if you’re a fan of the beautiful game, Portman Road, the home of Ipswich Town FC is also just a short distance away.

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Life&Living

Bear Crazy

STADHAMPTON

Andrew Hirst heads to Oxfordshire to experience the original Crazy Bear Hotel, Stadhampton, a unique oasis in the countryside

T

he Crazy Bear

hotel has been on my visit list for quite some time. My wife, Lorraine, and I enjoy staying at good hotels, especially individual boutique hotels. We have been planning a visit to the Crazy Bear in Stadhampton for a while and hoped that it would be everything we had imagined. The Stedhampton hotel is part of the Crazy Bear Group which has four hotels in total; two in London, The Crazy Bear Fitzrovia and The Crazy Bear Clubhouse in Covent Garden, and The Crazy Bear Beaconsfield in Buckinghamshire. All of the hotels in the group come with a formidable reputation and have numerous awards between them.

We arrived slightly before check in after a three-hour drive from Suffolk and decided to park up and head to the farm shop for a light lunch. Many of the

other tables were enjoying an afternoon tea, which looked fabulous, and we promised ourselves we would return before we returned home to stock up on some of the local produce on offer, especially the unusual gins available.

After a panini and a salad we felt refreshed enough to head for check in.

The eclectic design starts with reception which is on board a red double decker bus and we sipped a glass of champagne as we completed the paperwork and were handed the keys. Next we were led through the fabulously presented courtyard with water fall and outside seating area.

We had booked suite no. 2 and were impressed with the grandeur and opulence it provided, from copper bath tub at the foot of the bed to the velvet covered walls. A bottle of Tsarine also awaited us in the room which was included in the overall package we had selected when we booked. Also included was the evening meal in either the English or Thai restaurants and breakfast. The room was spacious and a great place to relax before heading down for cocktails before we dined.

We had opted for the English restaurant, which has maintained two AA rosettes every year since opening,

and enjoyed cocktails and a sumptuous meal of Wield Wood Farm pigeon breast followed by oven roasted rump of Welsh badger faced lamb.

All in all it was an enjoyable and decadent stay. The Stadhampton hotel is the original venue of the group and for me was an individually styled hotel at its best. The food was excellent as was the service.

I felt like I had stepped through the looking glass and emerged into a world of James Bond mixed with the Mad Hatter’s tea party. I recommend you experience this hotel at least once and I shall certainly be looking to visit all of the others in the group for a longer stay.

The Crazy Bear Stadhampton, Bear Lane, Stadhampton, Oxfordshire OX44 7UR www.crazybeargroup.co.uk

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Relax on the North Norfolk Coast    

Six delightful four star graded properties in Sheringham, families welcome All houses have off-road parking, free unlimited Wi-Fi, gardens and Sky TV Free unlimited use of Woodlands Leisure Centre, swim steam and gym. Pool has gentle sloping steps Superb quiet location, blue flag lifeguarded beach, steam railway, theatre, golf course, shops and restaurants, all within 300m / 5 min flat walk

Why move when you already live in the home that you love?

New and Used Stairlifts Serviced and Installed

Long established family business HOME VISITS A PLEASURE SCOOTERS - New and Used WHEELCHAIRS

r & Families Stay in one of our 4 stahou Welcome graded ses

RISE & RECLINE CHAIRS Enjoy our large family roo ms wit h T V & ensuite bat h/shower/ WC

Superb kitchen / dining areas with patio doors T: 01263 577560 E: enquiries@sheringhamcottages.com W: www.sheringhamcottages.com

We are expanding our portfolio, so please contact us if you have a beautiful holiday retreat to share with others.

01263 569220 owners@norfolkcottages.co.uk norfolkcottages.co.uk

STAIRLIFTS

Holt Mobility Centre Making Life Easier Tel: 01263 588777

Weybourne Road, Bodham, Holt NR25 6QJ

time

Life&Living

Travel

Escape the cold weather at one of these fantastic destinations

Hotel Villa Kapetanovic, Opatija, Croatia

Meliá Llana Beach Resort & Spa, Cape Verde, Africa An exclusive adults only resort with spa situated right on the beachfront of the fabulous Algodoeiro beach, opposite a coral reef that boasts an abundant variety of marine wildlife. The luxury services and facilities at the hotel include spectacular suites and villas, Wi-Fi access, seven outdoor swimming pools, a Yhi Spa, a well stocked gym, eight bars, an amphitheatre for shows and themed parties, boutiques and shops in the boulevard area, a hairdressing salon, two tennis courts and a beach volleyball court.

Once through the Meliá entrance, an airy beach feel is immediately apparent. The huge pool complex is the focal point, surrounded by a very good array of seating: pod-like day beds for two with moveable shade, loungers, armchairs and sofas ensuring the ultimate in relaxation.

Perfect if you want almost guaranteed sunshine and don’t have sufficient time or budget to make the Caribbean a viable option. The flight from Gatwick is around six hours, followed by a 20-minute transfer to the hotel. Be warned that Cape Verde is extremely windy, particularly in winter. www.melia.com

With beautiful views of the kvarner islands the hotel is located above the picturesque Volosko in the city of Opatija, situated on the west side of Preluka Bay, which is located in the Kvarner Gulf in western Croatia, is known for good windsurfing and sailing conditions. Daily thermal winds, locally known as Tramuntana, blow regularly from the north each morning, peaking just after sunrise and ending a few hours later.

The hotel has 24 comfortable rooms, a spa centre and an outdoor pool. The restaurant combines fresh local seasonal ingredients to create traditional and modern dishes which are blended with the their extensive wine list.

The seaside resort of Opatija is known for the Maiden with the seagull, a statue by Zvonko Car (1956), which is positioned on a promontory by the Juraj Šporer art pavilion. www.villa-kapetanovic.hr/en/

Le Bristol, Paris, France From its elegant address on Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, Le Bristol Paris embodies the true sense of extravagance.

Since 1925, Le Bristol Paris has been celebrated for its unique definition of luxury, and for offering service of the highest order. The world’s most discerning travellers choose Le Bristol for a first-class Parisian experience, and this illustrious palace has become a benchmark for luxury hotels all over the world. A palace hotel of peerless elegance where guests immediately feel at home.

Behind the precious fabrics, works of art and splendid Louis XV and Louis XVI furniture, you will find a harmonious retreat with a unique atmosphere.

Spacious and chic, the hotels rooms display a multitude of refined details. www.oetkercollection.com

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BRANDON LEWIS Working for you Great Yarmouth & Westminster Workingall for you inin Great Yarmouth & Westminster Working for you in Great Yarmouth Westminster Working year round for the residents of&& Great Yarmouth Working for you in Great Yarmouth Westminster Please get inintouch with my team if I can help you with any local issues Please get touch with my team ififYarmouth, you any local issues 20 Church Plain, Great Norfolk, NR30 1NE Please get with my team can help youwith with any local issues Please getin intouch touch with my team ifIIIcan canhelp help you with any local issues

www.brandonlewis.co www.brandonlewis.co www.brandonlewis.co www.brandonlewis.co www.brandonlewis.co

01493 652 958 01493 office@brandonlewis.co 01493652 854958 550office@brandonlewis.co ofďŹ ce@brandonlewis.co

01493 01493 652 652 958

office@brandonlewis.co office@brandonlewis.co

Life&Living

PROMOTION

Is your transferred pension drifting?

Carl Lamb

Managing Director and Chartered Financial Planner

www.smith-pinching.co.uk

With advantageous pension transfer values on offer, many Defined Benefit Scheme members took the decision to move their pension savings to a personal pension. However, there are potential dangers ahead: Carl Lamb, Managing Director and Chartered Financial Planner at Almary Green, explains.

THE LAST couple of years have been an interesting time for those who belong to a “Defined Benefit” (DB) pension scheme.

These are workplace schemes such as in the public sector and larger businesses where the value of your retirement benefits depends on your salary and length of service.

It was the introduction in 2015 of new rules giving personal pension scheme members greater flexibility in how they access their pension that started the ball rolling. Alongside this, there was a hike in the transfer value offered to many DB scheme members as the schemes themselves sought to limit their future ongoing liabilities. Suddenly, turning your DB pension into a personal pension arrangement became the popular thing to do.

We’ve advised a number of clients on this area. In many cases we’ve recommended that the member stays in the DB scheme, because we have not been able to identify good reasons to transfer.

However, there has been a tendency for DB scheme members across the UK to take a “jam today” approach: many thousands of them have transferred their benefits across to a personal pension arrangement, often because of the high transfer values on offer. What some perhaps didn’t take on board was that, once the benefits were transferred, certain guarantees were lost and it became crucial to ensure that the funds were managed carefully to achieve the growth needed to meet retirement objectives.

Sadly, some of those who transferred are now finding themselves drifting without an ongoing advice service to ensure their pension remains on track. This may be because the firm who provided the original transfer advice is not offering ongoing advice or has ceased trading. Others are finding that their new pension investments are not performing as well as they expected.

Personal pensions rely on investment performance. The money is usually held in a range of investments to give a diversified portfolio and it is the pension holder’s responsibility to determine where the money is invested. This is where an independent financial adviser will normally help: we look at your scheme and work out how you can meet agreed objectives without taking a level of risk with which you are uncomfortable.

Choosing a portfolio of investments is only the first step. It is hugely important that the portfolio is reviewed and adjusted periodically to ensure that its performance is on track to meet your objectives. We are discretionary portfolio managers, which means that our clients’ portfolios – whether they take the form of stocks and shares or a portfolio of funds – are actively managed as markets change.

If you have been cast adrift by the people who executed your transfer or are unhappy with the investment advice you are receiving, it may be time to get an alternative view. I’d like to invite you to have a no-cost meeting with a member of our advice team to explore how we can help you make the most of your retirement savings.

Your retirement should be a happy time, free from money worries. If you have personal pension savings, it’s critical that you plan carefully to ensure that your pension fund can meet your needs and objectives throughout your retirement.

The value of an investment and the income from it could go down as well as up. The return at the end of the investment period is not guaranteed and you may get back less than you originally invested. The tax treatment of investments depends on individual circumstances and is subject to change.

Almary Green and Smith & Pinching are Chartered Financial Planners. If you would like a no cost exploratory review to discuss your retirement planning with an adviser from either Almary Green or Smith & Pinching call us today on 01603 789966 or email enquiries@smith-pinching.co.uk

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World Bowls Tour Awards & Gala Dinner at Potters Resort

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Social Scene Great Yarmouth Round Table Turkey Ball at Ocean Room Gorleston

Photos: MALCOLM HIRST

Saturday 16 February

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Over&Out

. .. h it w s e t u n i five m

Trevor Holmes is one of the founders of Norwich’s largest independent, family-run store for camping, caravanning and home leisure equipment – a thriving, Blofield-based business that’s soon to celebrate its 50th year of trading.

What do you like about living in Norfolk?

The beautiful coastline as well as The Broads – plus the natural manner of Norfolk people. People from Norfolk don’t beat around the bush, they say what they mean – and sometimes that might sound a bit blunt to others. I call it being genuine.

Nowadays, too many people are just saying what they think others want to hear.

How does Norwich Camping & Leisure make a difference to people’s lives?

We always try to employ people from the surrounding villages and that adds to the family feel that our business has. Also, over the years, we must have introduced many, many people to outdoor living and holidaying for their very first time – to the idea of taking weekend in a tent, or seeing what they can add to their garden to enjoy the nice weather, to cooking and eating outdoors. Most of the products that we sell are linked to the living of a healthy, outdoor-focused life, in one way or another, so that can’t be a bad way to make a living can it?

What do you most enjoy about working with people and businesses in our region?

Our local customers include individuals, families, businesses, schools, charities and 98

even the military. We try our very best to pay them all back for their custom by delivering a level of service that we can truly be proud of. Quite recently, we’ve started using the TrustPilot scheme to collect reviews from our customers and it’s very gratifying to read their comments confirming that we get the vast majority of things right and generally surpass people’s expectations.

How is your business contributing to the growth of the region?

Though our Blofield store is our only outlet, we promote our merchandise through our very popular website www.norwichcamping.co.uk - and our nation and European sales have never been healthier. We all know that Norfolk isn’t exactly the easiest of places to get to from the rest of the country, so it’s ironic that we ship to most corners of the UK on a daily basis during the busy season. We get an increasing amount of orders from Europe – helped by weakened exchange rates caused by the Brexit saga – making us even more competitively priced for overseas customers. Sweden is our second biggest market. Amazing how everyone wants to find out more about The Broads, we should be on commission from the tourist board!

Tell us something that people don’t know about you...

I enjoy barefoot waterskiing in my spare time. Now that’s something you can’t hear every day! I learned how to do it when I was about eighteen and it just stayed with me over the years.

What is your proudest achievement?

Running and growing our family business for nearly 50 years – something that’s been a challenge, a pleasure and a bit of a ‘voyage of discovery’ all at the same time!

Like most businesses, we started in a very small way – and at a time when the whole leisure industry, as we now know it, was pretty much in its infancy. People suddenly found that they had the spare time, money and space to want to take-up new things in their leisure time, so manufacturers started to tune-in to their needs. Well, probably the other way around really – people needed to be shown what kind of things they could do and what kind of equipment they would need to do it. Take barbecuing, no-one would have thought to go outside, start a fire and start cooking a meal – not until it became a lifestyle thing that people adopted from warmer countries like the US and Australia. We evolved alongside the industry and still see new products coming out at trade shows virtually every new summer season. Nowadays, we’re all about offering the best brands at the best prices – low prices, but not low quality. With nearly 50 years in this business, we like to think we know what we’re talking about and are always ready to advise customers on their product options.

Run us through a typical day for you...

It’s almost a case of no two days being the same during the summer season, but my time might be split between working with our departmental managers to ensure we’re making the most of our displays, discussing opportunities with manufacturers and talking first-hand with customers in the store to make sure we keep in touch with their likes and dislikes.

What do you like to do when you’re not working?

I play golf, go snow and water-skiing, and enjoy fine food – sometimes a little too often!

Where do you like to eat and drink?

Thai is my favourite type of food, but I always like to try out any new restaurants and eateries in and around Norfolk.

Can you sum up Norwich Camping and Leisure in five words?

Best brands plus best prices.

Can you sum yourself up in five words?

Honest, Hard-working, Knowledgeable, Dependable, Demanding.

Established 2000

North Norfolk’s Premier Gaddesby Kitchens outlet 5, Norwich Road, North Walsham, Norfolk , NR28 9JP www.pipedreams.org.uk | info@pipedreams.org.uk

01692 503050

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