Axis magazine January 2023 issue

ABOUT AXIS

Axis magazine was founded in 2003 by two award-winning former local newspaper editors who still own and run the business today. We are the independent, intelligent guide to everything that matters in and around eastern Hertfordshire and we aim to provide a concise, useful guide to local life. Our editorial content is targeted towards readers’ interests, to maximise readership and gain the best exposure for our advertisers. The magazine is delivered to homes and businesses in selected areas and copies can also be picked up free from venues across the area.

CONTACT US Axis Magazine, Lyric House, 6b St Andrew St, Hertford SG14 1JA 01992 500198 info@axispublications.co.uk axismagazine.co.uk

Up to 1,800 new homes planned in urban extension to Ware

Proposals that could see an urban extension of up to 1,800 new homes built on land to the north and east of Ware town centre have been submitted to East Herts Council for planning approval.

Ptarmigan Ware Ltd and Redellis (Ware) Ltd are seeking permission for a residential led, mixed use redevelopment of a 141-hectare site, bounded to the north west by the A10, by Widbury Hill to the south, with the town of Ware to the south west, and countryside beyond the north easterly perimeters.

Fanhams Hall Road (which, under the plans, would be realigned) passes through the middle of the site which falls within the parishes of Wareside, Ware and Thundridge.

The applicants envisage the creation of four new residential neighbourhoods (Moles Farm, Lower Fanhams, Priors Wood and Widbury) each with its own char-

An early impression of the proposed Moles Farm neighbourhood acter. Each neighbourhood would comprise housing together with a hub providing a mix of facilities that could include shops, employment space, education facilities and health and community centres. A new road running between the A10/A1170 in the north west of the site to the B1004 Widbury Hill in the south east would link them.

The development would be comprehensively planned, shaped by the site landscape and integrating woodland, trees and hedgerows and providing green ‘gathering spaces’ for relaxation and recreation.

Following consultation with the local community the applicants say that Cowfields, the open space

that hosts the town’s annual fireworks display and a popular local amenity, will be retained in its existing form and will remain accessible to the public throughout the construction period.

In its district plan, which plans for the housing needs of the area, East Herts Council identifies the site, which is primarily currently farmland, as one that will provide upwards of 1,000 new homes by 2023 with the potential to provide another 500 in the future, subject to highway mitigation measures. However, Ptarmigan and Redellis say that the comprehensive transport modelling that they have undertaken makes it possible to propose 1,800 homes from the outset. This takes into account their plans for the new sustainable transport corridor and other onsite sustainable transport measures including a new bus service and the extension of existing ones.

The application is what is known as a hybrid application.

It seeks outline approval for the homes and other mixed uses including schools and employment, retail and community space and full approval for a range of highways works relating to the construction of the first phases of the new road linking the A10 and B1004 and the neighbourhoods in between.

The grant of outline planning permission would establish the broad principles for the future development of the site, leaving the detailed design of the scheme and the buildings, routes and open spaces within it, to be brought forward for approval as phases are developed.

HOW

The type of homes built would include a full range from one bedroom apartments through to five bedroom houses.

Subject to planning permission being granted the development would be built in phases with the first occupation anticipated to be in 2025 and the whole site potentially completed by 2035.

The proposed new neighbourhoods

The images on this page are reproduced courtesy of JTP, architects, masterplanners and placemakers

Planning applications made for Old River Lane development

Cityheart

The company working with East Herts Council on the planned redevelopment of The Causeway car park and nearby land in Bishop’s Stortford has submitted two separate planning applications to the local authority.

Application one Cityheart’s first application relating to the site known as Old River Lane seeks consent to demolish a number of buildings to clear the way for a proposed mixed use development of up to 225 homes, shops, offices and an arts building, which is itself the subject of the second application.

The buildings earmarked for demolition include the United Reformed Church Hall in Water Lane which was recently given official designation as an asset of community value at the request of local residents. They say the popular venue, which hosts a programme of theatre, comedy and community events, should not be lost to the scheme, especially as no viable replacement is proposed.

Also earmarked for demolition are the former council offices Charringtons House, and three cottages along Old River Lane, the road from which the development gets its name and which currently leads to Waitrose car park and the closed surface level council car park.

Application two

The second application is an outline one seeking to establish the principle of the proposed Old River Lane development and its anticipated layout together with access details, while allowing the developer to submit details of the development’s appearance, scale and landscaping for approval at a future point. The application seeks approval for a mixed use development of retail, leisure and residential including ‘extra care’ uses, along with a ‘civic hub’ of commercial and community uses including an arts centre and office floorspace, and the creation of new streets and public spaces and associated works.

While there will be access for cars to the site, the aim is for the development to be pedestrian-led with a clear pedestrian link running from the new multi-storey car park at Northgate End through the site down to Bridge Street and from there into Jackson Square shopping centre and the wider town centre. There will also be new pedestrian access points along Link Road. The existing Old River Lane will provide access to Coopers of Stortford with a new road, called Causeway Lane, providing access to the site and a reconfigured surface level Waitrose car park via a new junction off Link Road. Some basement level parking is also

to be provided off Causeway Lane to serve elements of the development.

The reaction

It can be said that neither planning application has received the warmest of welcomes so far.

Objectors to the demolition works, including Bishop’s Stortford Town Council, question the need for the church hall to be demolished to re-provide parking spaces lost to Waitrose in the proposals. Many also question the logic of demolishing a serviceable office building, Charringtons House, only to

re-provide office space elsewhere on site saying it questions the scheme’s sustainability credentials.

And first the dropping of a planned theatre at the heart of the arts centre, which is now envisaged to be mainly a cinema, and later the closure of the surface level car parking well ahead of any redevelopment taking place seems to have frustrated many in the town despite the opening of a new multi-storey at Northgate End.

Both applications can be found on the council’s website – they are applications 3/22/2546/FUL and 3/22/2571/OUT.

Longer chargeable hours and charges for Sunday parking have been introduced in most car parks run by East Herts Council. The increases are a key plank of the council’s attempts to balance its budget in the face of extraordinary financial pressures.

From Monday 9th January, car parks in Bishop’s Stortford, Hertford and Ware have had their chargeable hours increased from 6.30pm to 8pm, meaning you now have to pay for parking up to 8pm. The exception is Jackson Square car park in Bishop’s Stortford, where the changes will not come in until Monday 3rd April. Also, in Bishop’s Stortford, Hertford and Ware, a flat all-day parking charge of £1.50 has been

introduced on Sundays, when parking was previously free. This flat rate will also apply on Bank Holidays (except for Christmas Day).

In Sawbridgeworth, the existing Monday to Friday chargeable hours of 7.30am-6.30pm will remain, with no longer hours or weekend charges implemented. However, there has been a 20 per cent increase in the Monday to Friday charges.

However, an earlier proposal to remove the initial 30-minute free parking periods in car parks has been put on hold and will be reviewed and implemented no later than June 2024.

Full details of all the changes are available on East Herts Council’s website.

You now have to pay for parking in most East Herts car parks until 8pm and on Sundays

The proposed arts centre and, below the United Reformed Church Hall

submits plans to demolish church hall and other buildings to make way for new homes, offices and arts centre in Bishop’s Stortford

HARLOW COUNCIL GAINS CONTROL OF TOWN

CENTRE’S

DESTINY WITH MAJOR PURCHASES

Harvey Centre bought by Harlow in landmark £21m deal

Harlow Council has bought the Harvey Centre for £21million in a deal which it says will give it more control over the wider regeneration of Harlow Town Centre.

The purchase of the shopping centre, which was announced in December, is one of the largest acquisitions made by the Conservative-run council and transforms the local authority into one of the biggest town centre landowners.

The centre had been put up for sale by owners Addington Capital in June at a guide price of £24.5million.

The total deal covers 8.5 acres of land and buildings including the retail and leisure units in the main Harvey Centre building, service yards and the multi-storey car park.

It also includes the vacant former BHS building which offers a further development opportunity and the cinema leisure extension added to the centre in 2016.

The council said the centre, which has been at the heart of Harlow shopping for more than 42 years, will continue to be run on a day-today basis by experienced property and asset management companies, with the council, as owner, looking to make improvements at various times over the coming years.

The decision to purchase, which was supported by both political parties on the council, would not, it said, detract from the delivery of other priorities such as improving and repairing existing council homes and building new ones.

Harlow Council’s deputy leader, Cllr Dan Swords, said the purchase had been a once in a lifetime opportunity for the council and showed how serious it was about regenerating the town centre.

He said: “This purchase makes us a major player in the town centre with a huge stake in its future. It

also gives much-needed stability and security to the Harvey Centre and the businesses and local people that work there.

“It is probably the biggest town centre decision this council has ever made, but it is not one which has been taken lightly.

“We have been guided all the way by property experts with extensive shopping centre expertise who have checked and double checked everything about the centre and its operation.

“The experts have worked up future forecasts for the best and worst

case scenario, but the biggest risk to the town centre is someone else buying the Harvey Centre.

“The alternative could be the centre falling into the wrong hands, a new owner which does nothing to support it, but uses the centre simply as a cash cow.”

Its purchase by the council, he said, gave the local authority full control over it and the chance to improve its offer for the wider benefit of the whole town centre.

Opposition Labour leader Cllr Chris Vince said: “This is a huge opportunity for Harlow Council to acquire a large amount of land in the town centre after it was sold by the Development Corporation in the 1980s.

“However, it is also an opportunity to regenerate the existing Harvey Centre and ensure it is protected for future generations to enjoy.

“Of course, this purchase is not without its risks but the risk of doing nothing and the area being land banked is greater. I hope potential business investors recognise the cross party support this acquisition has and the opportunity it has.

“I also look forward to supporting local community groups and charitable organisations to utilise some of the space particularly in difficult times.”

Occasio House purchase supports plan for a new cultural quarter

On the same day as it bought the Harvey Centre, Harlow Council completed another purchase – that of the derelict Occasio House in Playhouse Square.

It says the purchase, for £1million, will enable it to progress its plans to transform the area close to the Playhouse theatre and St Paul’s Church into a new cultural quarter for the town centre.

Occasio House, which was once used to provide accommodation and services for young people, closed its doors in 2016 and has been empty ever since.

It is clad with aluminium composite material, similar to that used on Grenfell Tower, and the substantial cost of replacing the cladding and bringing the buildings back into use has posed challenges. A cost estimate for doing so some 18

Occasio House

months ago stood at £7million. In July the council submitted a bid to the Government’s Levelling Up Fund for £20million to support its plans for the area which include a new live music venue, upgrades to the Playhouse, a pedestrian-focused public square, studio spaces,

art gallery and green ‘pocket park’. It expects to hear the outcome of that bid at the end of this month.

If successful it plans to demolish the Occasio House site and include the land within its redevelopment work, which could begin within the next few months.

Deputy leader Cllr Dan Swords said: “The completion of the purchase of the Occasio House site on the same day we bought the Harvey Centre truly shows that we are getting on with our plans to regenerate, support and renew Harlow town centre. There is no doubt that the demise of Occasio House is a sad one – it has stood derelict, unfit for use and blighting the town centre for too long.

“Our plan is to redevelop the site into a new high quality residential development as part of a thriving new arts and cultural quarter for the town centre. These major redevelopment plans will transform our town centre and we are getting on with the job of delivering so that no longer are these just plans, but the reality that residents see when they come to the town centre.”

Cllr Dan Swords, Deputy Leader of Harlow Council, at the Harvey Centre

HERTFORD & STORTFORD MP JULIE MARSON’S MONTHLY CONSTITUENCY UPDATE

The local campaigns making a difference as we enter 2023

JULIE MARSON

I hope everyone in Hertford and Stortford had a restful Christmas break.

2022 was an incredibly busy year. Economic difficulties off the back of the pandemic, an energy crisis following Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine and the death of Her late Majesty Elizabeth II certainly made for some challenging times.

Locally though, there have also been lots of issues I’ve worked hard to deliver on for our community.

Cracking down on speeding

Since my election in 2019, I’ve campaigned to crack down on dangerous speeding in Hertford Heath, consulting with local residents and stakeholders along the way.

I’m grateful to the Police and Crime Commissioner for Hertfordshire, David Lloyd, for listening to our concerns and installing

two cameras and warning signs at either end of London Road in the village as a result.

These cameras will go a long way to alleviate many of the anxieties

I know residents there have historically had.

I continue to monitor this with Mr Lloyd closely to make sure dangerous driving in Hertford Heath really is stamped out.

Improving train services

Restoring train services to their pre-pandemic timetable was another great local win.

I wrote to Greater Anglia several times on the issue and was really pleased they agreed to restore their direct service into London Liverpool Street on the Hertford East line in response.

People no longer have to change at Broxbourne, making a real difference to their daily commutes. Now, I’m working with the

Department for Transport to also improve services on the Stansted line from just two trains an hour to four.

This will help people on the other side of the constituency get into town more easily too, and hopefully make for less crowded trains – particularly important for the elderly and most vulnerable in our community.

Saving Ware’s Post Office

Saving Ware’s central Post Office also continues to be a big campaign of mine. Post Office HQ has now received lots of local interest to re-home Ware Post Office and have closed the link on their website while they discuss options with those who have already registered their interest. This is encouraging news. I’ve set up the Facebook group ‘Save Ware High Street’s Post Office’ to help keep everyone in the loop.

New diagnostic centre

Lastly, I’m thrilled Bishop’s Stortford will become home to one of the 19 new Community Diagnostic Centres (CDCs) opening across the country.

The centre at the Herts and Essex Hospital will be a one-stop shop for medical tests, checks and scans across our area and is set to open in January next year. Around 114,000 extra scans and tests will be carried out there each year, including NOUS, Xray, Phlebotomy and POCT.

I’ve campaigned in Westminster for a service like this throughout the past year, and know this CDC will come as a huge relief to concerned local residents who must be able to access life-saving diagnosis and treatment services urgently. I look forward to meeting with staff at the Herts and Essex Hospital shortly to help support the centre’s full development.

MP FOR HERTFORD & STORTFORD

Working together with David Lloyd, Hertfordshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, I have been tackling the problem of speeding in Hertford Heath

Margaux’s, the lifestyle store for dogs, opens its doors in Hertford

Margaux’s, a lifestyle store for dogs, has opened in Hertford.

Run by sisters Sam and Vicky Levy from Bengeo, Margaux’s (which is named after Sam’s whippet) is proudly championing small and artisan British suppliers.

Locals will have noticed extensive work going on in the building in Market Street since Sam and Vicky bought it in December 2017. They knew then that it would need substantial refurbishment and the quality of the work carried out by their builder Chris Howard, together with their own dedication to the quality of the work, has resulted in a shop that greatly improves the street scene.

Both sisters love dogs and the idea for the shop came after they saw a similar one while away in Suffolk and thought it seemed like a great idea.

With others springing up in towns and cities across the country they

might well be on to something!

Margaux’s sells a wide range of often hand-made and artisan products for dogs, including leads, harnesses, collars, apparel, beds and blankets, as well as grooming products – all of which are natural and many of which are also organic.

They don’t sell food but they do sell doggie treats, including ranges from the renowned Wales-based JR Pet Products which is famous for its sustainability credentials. In fact, sustainability is the key to Sam and Vicky’s philosophy, hence the 100 per cent dedication to British brands and focus on ethical goods and recycled materials.

You will find Margaux’s at 7 Market Street, Hertford SG14 1BD. Call 01992 536637. The shop is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10am to 4pm and 10am to 1pm on Sundays. Please note, payment is by card only.

How a chance introduction planted the seeds for what is now a flourishing garden design and landscaping business

In 2019, Hertfordshire-based garden designer Kevin Hosier decided that he needed a new office to work from. He decided to knock down a dilapidated garage at the front of his property to create space for the building - and to produce a bespoke design himself, based on the old Mardock railway station ticket office, which was originally located less than 400m away in the Ash valley. Neighbouring Mardocks Cottages once housed railway workers and the original signal box sits in the garden next door, having been painstakingly relocated when the railway line closed in the 1960s.

Local friends introduced Kevin to William Carter from Hertford Heath, who, coincidentally, had once lived in the railway cottage next door to the proposed site for the building. The pair got on famously and the contract for the build was awarded to William. They started to work together on the project and Kevin soon discovered that William’s true passion was actually in landscaping and landscape construction.

Over the period of the build, the pair started to hatch a plan for a possible garden design and build business, with Kevin providing the design know-how and William the construction expertise. Unwittingly, then, their first collaboration was on construction of the office that was to become

the headquarters for their new garden design and build business – Jardinia Landscapes.

What

Jardinia can do for you

Jardinia Landscapes primarily works with homeowners looking to invest in a complete transformation of their outdoor space. They are a highly creative, design-led landscaping business specialising in beautiful whole-garden schemes and work closely with their clients from the initial design consultation right through to the final project sign off. They find that their clients often have an idea of what they want to achieve in their garden, but lack the time or skills to turn their vision into reality. Sometimes they have no ideas and are searching for inspiration. Whichever camp you fall into, Jardinia Landscapes can bring over 26 years of experience to deliver you a beautiful outdoor space perfectly suited to your lifestyle needs.

Based near Ware, Jardinia Landscapes works with residential clients across Hertfordshire and neighbouring counties, including North London. They also offer design services and landscaping advice for architects and property developers.

William and Kevin at their design HQ and, below, one of their creations

Weddy, steady go... three of the best wedding fairs to inspire you

Christmas and the New Year are traditionally a time when many couples get engaged and the next stage on their journey will be to attend wedding fairs to gather ideas for their own big day. So, for anyone who has just got engaged: congratulations! Here are some forthcoming fairs (all with free admission) that will offer boundless inspiration.

The North London Wedding Fair at Forty Hall

Sunday 5th February

Forty Hall Estate in north Enfield is a fine historic house and a truly stunning venue for a wedding. The on-site Banqueting Suite will be open, the courtyard will be buzzing with activities (weather permitting) and the picturesque walled garden will be open to view. There will be fashion shows throughout the day, live entertainment, a variety of exhibitors and masterclasses. Open from 11am to 3pm.

Forty Hall Estate

Forty Hill, Enfield EN2 9HA fortyhallestate.co.uk

The East Hertfordshire Wedding Fair at Ware Priory

Sunday 12th March

Ware Priory combines medieval splendour with a modern, spacious wedding venue. Set in seven acres of picturesque riverside gardens, it is an ideal wedding venue. The Priory itself is a Grade I listed building, while adjacent is Fletcher’s Lea, built in 2006 and with a bright and contemporary atmosphere. You

can explore both at this wedding fair. There will also be fashion shows at 12.30pm and 2pm held in the Priory Hall and the Ware Priory team will be on hand to answer any questions you have. Open from 11am to 3pm. Ware Priory High Street, Ware SG12 9AL Warepriory.co.uk

The Luxury Wedding Fair at Hatfield House

Sunday 26th March Hatfield House has history at every turn. It is set within the beautiful Hatfield Park, where

Queen Elizabeth I spent much of her childhood, and hosts two dramatic wedding venues – the historic and grand Old Palace and the contemporary Riding School building – both offer a timeless and magical backdrop to your big day. The Luxury Wedding Fair includes fashion shows at 12.30 and 2pm and there will be more than 60 wedding professionals from a wide range of suppliers present. Open from 11am to 3pm.

Hatfield House

Hatfield Park, Hatfield AL9 5HX Hatfieldhousehospitality.co.uk

Forty Hall, Ware Priory and The Old Palace at Hatfield House will all be hosting wedding fairs this season

Freshen up your skin for the New Year – and the summer holidays

Now is the perfect time to book a course of laser hair removal at BeauSYNERGY skin clinic

If the recent cold snap and the stresses and strains of December have left your skin needing a bit of attention, now is the time to think about refreshing it – and also to start thinking about the warmer months ahead.

BeauSYNERGY is Hertfordshire’s leading advanced skin care clinic and, now under the fresh leadership of Dr Caroline Hayden, it offers solutions to any skincare issue you may have.

The New Year is the perfect time to start thinking about putting yourself first and giving your skin a bit of a lift.

BeauSYNERGY’s medically-led approach covers high quality and proven treatments for all kinds of skin problems, including dull, grey-looking skin; fine lines, wrinkles and crow’s feet, acne and blemishes.

Dr Caroline and her experienced

team also offer laser hair removal and advanced injectables such as Profhilo, Seventy Hyal and dermal fillers.

And it is never too early to start planning ahead. For instance, starting a course of laser hair removal now will see significant reduction in time for the summer holidays.

To find out how BeauSYNERGY can help you, give them a call on 01707 662477 or email info@ beausynergy.co.uk.

PICK A NEW CLINIC NAME AND WIN £250 0F TREATMENT

Dr Caroline is currently considering a name change for the clinic. Send your suggestions to info@beausynergy.co.uk and if your clinic name is picked you will win £250 worth of free treatment.

Dr Caroline Hayden, owner of BeauSYNERGY skin clinic

New Year, New You, New Diet? Why not try a different way...

Yes, you may initially lose weight, but when you do put it back on, which you will, you are likely to put on more. So when the diets stop working it is time to try something different! And that’s where I can help.

sending you unhelpful messages to sabotage your efforts.

Hey presto, the weight starts to drop off, your energy levels improve, so too does your mood and sleep, making it easier and easier to never need another diet ever again.

Are you thinking of going on a diet this New Year?

Well, I’m sorry to tell you this but DIETS DON’T WORK. And don’t just take my word for it – a review of 30 long term studies showed the more diets you have tried the more you will weigh.

The reason they don’t work is simple: our bodies are hard-wired for survival and to your body dieting feels like starvation so it decreases your metabolism and undermines your innate ability to recognise hunger and fullness. This results in binging, food obsessions and disordered eating.

•

Develop a healthy relationship with food Guilt should play no part in creating a healthy relationship with food that will lead to a healthy weight.

I focus on what is missing from my clients’ diets. Recognising what your body and mind are crying out for can be very motivating.

When you are motivated, changes can feel easy, focusing on adding to our diet often leaves less space for the foods we perhaps know we should be eating a little less of. And when we are eating for our health and the body is getting all of the nutrients it requires, it stops

So if you are still trying the same things year after year and still are not getting the results you want, perhaps it’s time to try something new.

Albert Einstein said it best: “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.”

Get in touch now and kick-start your New Year

So break the cycle and see how I could offer you an alternative. Book in for a free chat via my website, email me direct at contact@charlottelevynutition. co.uk, or act now and sign up for one of my packages, prices start from £420.

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As a nutritional therapist I work with you to identify the root cause of health issues caused by your diet or lifestyle.

Why not book in now for a quick chat to see how I can help? It’s FREE so you have nothing to lose!

What to expect when working with me:

• Initial consultation to really get to know what you are hoping to achieve, what you have tried before and any conditions you may have

• Ongoing weekly support ensures you have little risk of steering off course – no matter what life throws at you

• Personalised nutrition plan, accounting for personal goals, lifestyle, routine, likes and dislikes

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Nutritional therapist Charlotte Levy can help change your life

Nashville Bad Boys of Country

Thursday 2 February, 7.30pm

Pop Princesses

Hits from artists such as Little Mix, Ariana Grande, Taylor Swift and more!

Sunday 12 February, 1pm and 6pm

Dinosaur Adventure Live

Sunday 19 February, 2pm and 4.30pm

Rave on! The rise of Rock and Roll Saturday 4 February, 7.30pm

Sounds of the 60s Live hosted by BBC Radio 2’s Tony Blackburn. Thursday 16 February, 7.30pm

Jive Aces

Thursday 23 February, 7.30pm

GOLDEN GOALS

Jermain Defoe Golden Goals

HOSTED BY GRAHAM ROBERTS

Hosted by Graham Roberts

Thursday 9 February, 7.30pm

Roy Orbison & The Travelling Wilburys Experience

Friday 17 February, 7.30pm

Soul Kinda Wonderful

Featuring Richie Sampson formerly of The Drifters

Saturday 11 February, 7.30pm

The Bohemians Saturday 18 February, 7.30pm

Box office: 01992 441946 Monday-Friday, 10am-2pm Book online at thespotlightvenue.com The Spotlight, High Street, Hoddesdon, EN11 8BE

The Syd Lawrence Orchestra –Big Band Brass

Saturday 25 February, 7.30pm

WHAT’S ON

Create your own gin or work with horses on new experience days

Hatfield Park has introduced two new experiences for visitors seeking a unique day out in 2023.

The first is a Gin Foraging Experience for two on Wednesday 12th April. For this, Hatfield Park has partnered with local gin distillery Spirit of Hertfordshire. You will explore the woodlands of Hatfield Park, guided by an expert forager, to find the best botanicals to create your very own original and bespoke spirit. You will then have lunch at the park’s Coach House Kitchen in The Stable Yard whilst your gin is being distilled, ready for you to take away at the end of the day. You will also learn about the origins of gin and the distilling process with your guides from Spirit of Hertfordshire.

The experience runs from 10am to 3pm and the cost is £300 for two people.

The second new event is a Working Horses Experience, on Saturday 29th April.

In this, you can immerse yourself in the historic tradition of horsedrawn agriculture at Hatfield Park. Under the supervision of expert handlers, you will learn how to interact and work with these magnificent animals, extracting timber from the woodlands using sustainable, centuries-old methods.

Your session includes meeting and learning how to interact with working horses, a demonstration of traditional grooming and equine care, and practising traditional reining techniques, all against the backdrop of the woodlands and parklands of Hatfield House.

The day will run from 10am to 3pm and costs £200 per person, including a cream tea lunch with glass of Champagne.

Further dates may be added for both events.

For further information, visit hatfield-house.co.uk or email experiences@hatfield-house.co.uk.

THINGS TO DO, PLACES TO GO

On Saturday 28th January, Myddelton House Gardens in Enfield will be hosting its famous Ultimate Snowdrop Sale. Hundreds of horticulturalists, gardening enthusiasts and snowdrop collectors from far and wide are expected to gather at the popular annual event in the hope of buying a range of beautiful and, in

some cases, very rare varieties of Galanthus bulb.

This will be the 10th year of the event which celebrates the snowdrop, a small, white, bellshaped flower whose appearance is heralded as one of the first signs of Spring.

They often bloom in January and February, despite the weather.

Get out walking in Lee Valley Park

The Lee Valley Regional Park Authority has launched a free monthly guided walk in the River Lee Country Park.

The first is called Frozen Statues and takes place on Sunday 15th January at 11am. To attend, book your place online at visitleevalley.org.uk and meet at Fishers Green car park, Waltham Abbey EN9 2EF.

A series of sensory walks has also launched, which are designed for people with disabilities but can be enjoyed by everyone. Those taking part are encouraged to use their senses to connect with their surroundings.

There are three routes: Bowyers Water (meet at Lee Valley White Water Centre reception) on Friday 13th January at 11am; Waltham Abbey Gardens on Friday 20th January at 11am (meet at the car park EN9 1QX)

and Gunpowder Park, Waltham Abbey on Tuesday 31st January at 11am (meet in the car park in Gunpowder Park at EN9 3GP). Each walk will then run monthly, on the second Friday, third Friday and last Tuesday of each month respectively. All walks are free.

The Visit Lee Valley website also has details of recommended routes for you to follow yourself. Go to visitleevalley.org.uk for details.

The event runs from 10.30am to 12noon and admission is £4 per person with free parking. Admission to the gardens themselves remains free but parking charges for the gardens will apply after 12noon. The gardens are in Bulls Cross, Enfield EN2 9HG.

For further information, see visitleevalley.org.uk/Myddelton.

Enjoy an early hint of Spring at 10th annual Ultimate Snowdrop Sale at Myddelton House this month

Hanks and Colman star in a month of top film releases

A Man Called Otto (15) Now showing

For all curmudgeons everywhere. Tom Hanks is Otto, a grumpy and isolated widower with firm principles, strict routines and a notably short fuse, who gives everyone in his neighbourhood a hard time as he watches over it like a hawk. Just as it seems he has finally given up on life, he begins to develop an unlikely and reluctant friendship with his new neighbours. Otto undergoes a subtle transformation, but is he really capable of lasting change?...

Empire of Light (TBC)

Out on Friday 13th January

Directed by Oscar-winning Sam Mendes and with a cast that includes more Oscar winners in Olivia Colman and Colin Firth, Bafta winner Micheal Ward and the always watchable Toby Jones, Empire of Light is set in an English seaside town in the 1980s.

A romance develops in a beautiful old picturehouse in this powerful and poignant story about human connection and the magic of cinema.

TAR (15)

Out on Friday 13th January

Director Todd Field’s drama is set in the world of classical music and cancel culture. Cate Blanchett delivers a remarkable performance as the conductor Lydia Tar, an irascible, passionate genius with a past she wants

to keep hidden in a film that examines the changing nature of power in the modern world.

Babylon (18)

Out on Friday 20th January

There is definitely a lot to see in this, the latest film from Damien Chazelle, the director of La La Land and Whiplash. Margot Robbie and Brad Pitt star in a three-hour cinefest that traces the rise and fall of several characters during an era of unbridled decadence and depravity in early

Hollywood as it moved from silent movies to ‘talkies’.

The Fabelmans (12A)

Out on Friday 27th January

As if Steven Spielberg hadn’t made enough of an impact on cinema history, he brings us a deeply personal film based on his own past. It’s a funny and lovely movie about a boy who falls in love with cinema – a real coming of age story about an isolated young man in pursuit of his dreams.

HOWE GREEN HOUSE SCHOOL

BARRY STEELE AND FRIENDS–THE ROY ORBISON STORY

Friday 27th January, 7.30pm

A musical journey jam-packed with Roy Orbison’s rock n roll classics

Tickets: £26

TONY

STOCKWELL –PSYCHIC MEDIUM

Thursday 2nd February, 7.30pm

Remarkably compelling, detailed and always humorous Tickets: £24

THE HISTORY OF SOUL Friday 24th February, 7.30pm

A nine-piece band, great costumes... a fabulous celebration of all things soul!

Tickets: £27

www.wyllyottstheatre.co.uk

A Man Called Otto and Empire of Light are among this month’s new releases showing at local cinemas

The best shows to see at our local theatres

January is a quiet time in our local theatres but there are some great events coming up throughout the next few months which are well worth booking your seats for now.

Here is our pick of some of the most interesting shows to see…

Tony Stockwell Psychic Medium Wyllyotts Theatre, Potters Bar Thursday 2nd February, 7.30pm

The popular star of TV’s Street Psychic, Psychic Private Eyes and Psychic Academy, Tony Stockwell is one of our best-known mediums. In this live stage show, he demonstrates his belief that those who have passed can communicate with their loved ones, with detailed messages delivered with emotion, sensitivity and empathy. Tickets from £24. wyllyottstheatre.co.uk / 01707 645005

The Serial Killer Next Door

The Spotlight, Hoddesdon Friday 3rd February, 7.30pm

Psychological therapist and crime commentator Emma Kenny discusses what creates a serial killer. She looks at whether anything could have prevented the potential of people such as Ted Bundy and Jeffrey Dahmer being activated, or whether they were simply born to kill. There is a minimum age of 14 for this show, and tickets are £26.

thespotlightvenue.com / 01992 441946

The Noise Next Door:

Hometown Heroes

South Mill Arts, Bishop’s Stortford Saturday 4th February, 7.30pm & The Spotlight, Hoddesdon Thursday 30th March, 7.30pm The kings of improvised comedy are coming to Bishop’s Stortford (and Hoddesdon and Broxbourne). The Noise Next Door gang will take your suggestions of the best, worst and weirdest things about Bishop’s Stortford (and Hoddesdon) and transform them into a cavalcade of hilarious songs, scenes and characters. It’ll be chaos, but damn funny chaos. Tickets £15 at South Mill Arts; from £12.50 at The Spotlight. southmillarts.co.uk / 01279 710200 thespotlightvenue.com / 01992 441946

Jermain Defoe Golden Goals

The Spotlight, Hoddesdon Thursday 9th February, 7.30pm

The legendary Spurs striker talks through his long and successful career live on stage with another Tottenham legend, Graham Roberts. With a career spanning 20 years and almost 300 goals at the highest level, including 20 in 57 appearances for England, Defoe is one of the country’s best ever strikers. There will be an audience Q&A and a limited number of meet and greet tickets are available. Tickets from £35. thespotlightvenue.com / 01992 441946

Adele: The Journey So Far Harlow Playhouse

Saturday 25th February, 7.30pm

Assuming you don’t have a ticket to the Vegas Residency v2, the nearest you’ll get to the vocal phenomenon that is Adele is this show at Harlow Playhouse. Singer Stacey Lee was chosen by the star herself to appear in Adele at the BBC, and Stacey’s uncannily similar vocal timbre left the singer ‘gobsmacked’. Stacey certainly captures Adele like nobody else. Tickets £25.50 – as Axis went to print there were just a few left so hurry. harlowplayhouse.co.uk / 01279 431945

The Best In Comedy

Wyllyotts Theatre, Potters Bar Thursday 2nd March, 7.30pm The Best In Comedy show debuts at Wyllyotts Theatre in Potters Bar with a superb line-up that features some of the country’s top names. Ed Byrne is a household name teetering on the brink of national treasure status. Alongside him, enjoy the talents of Ivo Graham, Stephen Bailey and Harriet Kemsley, all of whom have been making their names on high-profile TV shows including Have I Got News For You, Mock The Week, Live at The Apollo and 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown. Tickets from £18.50. wyllyottstheatre.co.uk / 01707 645005

Suffolk painters at Parndon Mill gallery

The Way I See It is the title of the new exhibition at Harlow’s Gallery at Parndon Mill which is now showing until Sunday 19th February. It features the work of three artists, Jane Lewis, Sam Hacking and Lucy Scott, who live near each other and respond to their landscape and surroundings in their art. The elements, seasons and weather all play an important part in their work though they each produce strikingly different paintings. Their works are complemented by the bold and beautiful ceramics of Simon Sharp.

Parndon Mill is in Parndon Mill Lane, Harlow CM20 2HP.

Visit parndonmill.co.uk or call 01279 426042 for opening times.

Yarnbombers exhibition on at Ware Museum

Ware Museum is hosting an exhibition about the Secret Society of Hertford Crafters, whose charity yarnbombings of post boxes and other venues in and around Hertford have been so popular in recent years.

The exhibition will run at the museum, in Ware’s High Street, from Saturday 21st January until 12th April and will feature information about the history of the group as well as many exhibits of members’ work. There will also be a children’s trail.

The museum is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday from 11am to 4pm and on Sunday from 2-4pm.

Visit waremuseum.org.uk for more information.

Ed Byrne will be appearing at Wyllyotts while The Noise Next Door will play Bishop’s Stortford and Broxbourne

Lukasz looks forward to his first full year in charge at

The Dusty Miller

The Dusty Miller pub on the edge of Harlow has just completed its first six months under its new owner who is looking forward to a successful 2023.

Chef patron Lukasz Szumski was aware of the pub under its previous ownership and had always liked it so he was quick to offer to take it on when it became available in July last year.

Lukasz has an extensive background in both cooking and restaurant management, having started his career at Chicago Rib Shack and Obica Mozzarella Bar. He then went on to work at management level for The Restaurant

Group at both ASK Italian and Carluccios.

More recently he ran The Sebright Arms in High Barnet and he still runs The Stag in Chorleywood as well as The Dusty Miller.

Lukasz says he offers freshlycooked pub food, using local suppliers wherever possible, with fresh fish supplied every day by Stickleback and meat from Mimram Valley Butchers near Brookmans Park.

The menu includes pie of the day and seafood linguine as well as pub classics such as pork and leek sausages and horseradish

mash, and also features a good selection of gluten-free and vegan options.

Full menus, including for Sunday, can be viewed online.

The pub, which has 48 covers, is currently open from Wednesday to Saturday from 12noon to 10pm and from 12noon to 6pm on Sunday, when a traditional roast dinner has been proving popular.

The Dusty Miller Burnt Mill Lane, Harlow CM20 2QS 01279 424180 dustymillerharlow.co.uk

Bookings open for Tapas Night and Valentine’s Day at The George IV

The George IV in Great Amwell is kicking off its 2023 events with a Tapas Night on Friday 3rd February.

Bookings are open now for you to enjoy a series of Spanish small plates accompanied by vibrant wines as recommended by a guest sommelier.

The George IV will also be opening at 6pm on Tuesday 14th February for Valentine’s Day when it will be serving its seasonal a la carte menu, along with a special dish to share.

Call 01920 870039 or email info@georgeivpub.co.uk to book your table for either event.

Lukasz Szumski (pictured above right) has taken over at The Dusty Miller on the outskirts of Harlow

Artisan coffee and craft beer on menu at new Brew Garden

Artisan coffee and craft beer specialist Brew Garden has opened in Hertford. You will find it in part of the former premises of Monsoon and Accessorize that, historically, made up part of the county town’s former Gravesons department store.

The Hertford site is the latest opening by owner Luciano Franchi, who first launched Brew Garden in London in 2002. Back then, his mission was to offer a true Italian coffee experience in the capital, where his family had been working in the Italian food industry for three generations.

Brew Garden serves organic coffee from a roasting plant in the heart of Italy, together with craft beer from the Camden Town Brewery, brewed (of course) in Camden.

It also offers iced drinks with fresh organic ingredients and fine wines personally selected by Luciano.

If you would like food with your coffee or beer, you can choose from Italian pastries, snacks and sandwiches between 8am and 4pm, or real Italian pizza from

4-9pm. A gluten-free pizza base is also available on all pizzas.

Highlights from the menu include Brew Garden’s signature pizza, Trevigiana, with bechamel, gorgonzola, Parma ham, grated Parmesan and walnuts (£12.50); and Fantasia, with mozzarella, tomato sauce, mushrooms, Italian salami and artichokes (also £12.50). Ice cream desserts are also available.

Brew Garden has been gathering fans along its journey, with favourable comments from the likes of Gordon Ramsey and The Times’s food critic Giles Coren, who famously told his readers: “Go, for the Lord’s sake. Travel whatever – hundreds of miles if you must – just for a cup of coffee. It’s worth it. And double worth it.”

Fortunately, Axis readers, you don’t have so far to travel. You’ll find Brew Garden at 3 Maidenhead Street, Hertford SG14 1DP. It is open from 8am to 10pm Monday to Thursday; 8am to midnight Friday and Saturday and from 9am to 7pm on Sundays. Visit brewgarden.co.uk for more information.

Gastropub award for The Hummingbird

The Hummingbird in Hertford has been chosen as the Best Gastropub in Hertfordshire in the 2023 Good Food Awards.

The independent awards scheme, which has been running since 2002, chooses its winners based on votes from customers at hundreds of venues around the country.

The pub, which is at 130 Fore Street in Hertford, has also recently been named among the UK’s top 20 most Instagrammable restaurants, in new analysis carried out by card machine provider Dojo.

To find out more, or to book a table at The Hummingbird, visit welovethehummingbird.com.

What was formerly The Snug in Hertford’s Railway Street has a new name and a new direction. The venue has been renamed Vintage and is now a late night wine, cheese and cocktail bar. The food menu features a cheese board (£17.50), with three cheeses of your choice from an extensive list with mixed crackers, chutney, relish and fresh grapes; a charcuterie board (£18.50) with freshly sliced Suffolk chorizo, Milano Salami, Spanish Iberico Serano and Prosciutto di Parma; and a mixed board (£19.50) featuring a mix of the above.

There are also side plates and nibbles available, as well as locally produced Scotch eggs from Barton-le-Clay, such as the Classic Italian (£5.50) with pork sausage meat and Nduja; and

the Bombay Potato (£6) which replaces the traditional sausage meat with Bombay potato.

Vintage is at 32-36 Railway Street, Hertford SG14 1BA. Call 01992 587674. It is open Wednesday and Thursday from 5-11pm; Friday and Saturday from 3pm to midnight and Sunday from 3-11pm.

The Snug in Hertford becomes Vintage

THE GEORGE IV Pub & Dining

Nestled in the picturesque village of Great Amwell, The George IV is the perfect spot for you to enjoy imaginative, freshly prepared dishes, including traditional pub classics, served in a friendly pub atmosphere or on the fully heated terrace area. The George IV can also be the perfect venue for your next event. From intimate weddings, birthday parties and anniversaries to baby showers and corporate events, they’ve got it covered with their beautiful function room and variety of dining options.

Cautherly Lane, Great Amwell SG12 9SW / 01920 870039 info@georgeivpub.co.uk www.georgeivpub.co.uk

KHAO YAI Thai

Khao Yai is the new name for the Hoddesdonbased Thai restaurant formerly known as Omsin’s. Now under new ownership, Khao Yai offers a broad menu of your favourite Thai dishes alongside superb service. Now open seven days a week, Khao Yai also offers both takeaway (with a 10% discount for collection) and delivery through its own website as well as delivery apps. In addition to the welcoming ground floor there is a large first floor dining space with its own bar which can also be booked for events, parties and private dining.

18 Brocket Road, Hoddesdon EN11 8NZ 01992 445988 www.khao-yai.co.uk

THE GOLDEN FLEECE Pub & Dining

The Golden Fleece is an old English pub with a contemporary twist, and one where the food is so good that it has earned an entry in the Michelin Guide for Hotels and Restaurants. Set at the heart of the village of Braughing, Jess and Peter Tatlow’s pub offers a menu of fresh, seasonal and delicious locally sourced food and also caters for diners who require gluten-free meals. As a freehouse at the heart of its community, the Fleece is also able to offer a wide range of real ales, beers, wines and spirits. A takeaway menu is also available.

20 Green End, Braughing SG11 2PG 01920 823555

www.goldenfleecebraughing.co.uk

THE BEEHIVE Country Pub

This family-run country freehouse reopened following a lockdown renovation with a major extension, creating new modern facilities which blend well with its historic character. The new look is proving popular with customers enjoying a menu that has plenty of fresh fish and seafood dishes as well as steaks, burgers, pies and many others. Vegan and vegetarian dishes are always available. It also offers a great Sunday lunch. Afternoon teas, which must be booked, are available from Monday to Saturday. Check social media for forthcoming events. Book now to experience its fresh new look!

Epping Green, near Hertford SG13 8NB / 01707 875959

www.beehiveeppingreen.co.uk

RONI’S

Fine Dining

Roni’s, set in the heart of Bishop’s Stortford, is a fine dining restaurant where both the quality of food and the service combine to offer guests a memorable experience. Roni’s offers a wide range of traditional dishes, passionately crafted, including gluten-free and vegan menus. There is also a set lunch menu, as well as the main menu. Superb roasts are served on Sundays, while the Christmas menu can now be viewed online as well. Roni’s is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 12noon to 10pm, and closed on Monday.

16 North Street, Bishop’s Stortford CM23 2LQ 01279 508856 ronisrestaurant.co.uk

BAAN THITIYA Thai

Baan Thitiya, Bishop’s Stortford’s premier Thai restaurant, is the perfect place for relaxed dining. Close to Bishop’s Stortford town centre, it has a beautiful garden and its own parking while, inside, the restaurant is decorated in a contemporary Thai style. The extensive menu features high quality food prepared by Thai chefs with an emphasis on fresh, healthy ingredients and authentic, natural flavours. It also has an excellent wine list. Baan Thitiya is open seven days for lunch and dinner. A warm welcome and great service await you.

102 London Road, Bishop’s Stortford

CM23 3DS 01279 658575

www.baan-thitiya.com