Axis magazine April 2024 issue

THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO LOCAL LIFE

IN THE NEWS

High-profile MP won’t stand at next General Election

IT’S ON THE CARDS

Card Factory becomes first retailer to open at Lea Wharf

A CULTURED LIFE

We celebrate the vibrancy of our local arts scene

A FINE WINEHOUSE

Back to Black honours singer’s legacy in new film

FOOD AND DRINK

The Fox and Hounds celebrates 20th birthday

WELCOME

What’s inside this issue

05-11 y Briefing

The latest on Sunset Studios features in our local news coverage

15-22 y What’s on

A special focus on the arts scene, plus the best films to see this month

13 y Shopping news

Furniture retailer Fishpools reaches a remarkable 125 years in business

24-27 y Food & drink

The Fox and Hounds in Hunsdon celebrates 20 years of success

06 y THE POTHOLE PROBLEM: Does a robot hold the answer?

14 y THE DISAPPEARING BANKS: MP updates us on her cash campaign

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

PUBLISHERS:

Aaron Gransby & Justine Woods

DIGITAL EDITION:

Read us online at axismagazine.co.uk or issuu.com (search axis magazine)

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Front cover images (clockwise from top) Work by John Jarrett to promote Hertford Art Society’s forthcoming Open exhibition (p15); A scene from Back to Black, the new biopic about Amy Winehouse which is coming to local cinemas this month (p21); Henry Moore Studios & Gardens is now open for the new seaason (p18); Paul Draper of Mansun appears at Hertford Corn Exchange on Wednesday 10th April (p17).

BRIEFING

NEWS WORTH KNOWING

Political shock as Robert Halfon quits the Government and says he won’t stand as MP

Harlow’s Conservative MP Robert Halfon has announced he will not be standing at the General Election and has resigned his post as an education minister in the Government.

Mr Halfon is the constituency’s longest-serving MP and has been a tireless campaigner for local causes in the New Town, as well as a high-profile advocate of what much of the media has called ‘blue collar Conservatism’.

Mr Halfon was first selected as Conservative candidate for Harlow in 1999. He fought two General Elections, in 2001 and 2005 (famously losing by just 95 votes) before winning for the first time in 2010 and going on to increase his majority in 2015 and 2019, when he won by 14,063 votes.

In his time in Parliament he has chaired the Education Select Committee, served as Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party and, most recently, as Minister for Skills, Apprenticeships and Higher Education – the latter being a subject he has been particularly passionate about. In his resignation letter to the Prime Minister on Tuesday 26th March, Mr Halfon assured Rishi Sunak of his continued support from the backbenches, saying: “I believe that across the country there is quiet admiration for your work ethic, integrity and ability to solve complex problems faced by our country.”

With the Conservatives facing what polls suggest will be a chastening defeat at the next General Election, which is widely expected to be held in either October or November, the decision of Mr Halfon to not contest his seat could be significant. Harlow is what is known in political circles as a bellwether town. For the past 40 years, whichever party has won the seat has won the General Election. A pointer towards its fate may also be gleaned as early as May, when the whole of Harlow Council, which is run by the Conservatives, is up for election.

Mr Halfon becomes the second local Conservative MP to announce he will not be standing after this Parliament. Charles Walker announced last year that he would not seek-re-election in Broxbourne, where council leader Lewis Cocking has been chosen to be the party’s candidate in his place. Mr Walker has been MP for Broxbourne since 2005.

This year’s local elections on Thursday 2nd May: who’s voting where?

It is not just Harlow Council where there will be elections taking place on Thursday 2nd May, although that district council is an anomaly, with all 33 seats up for grabs due to boundary changes.

In Broxbourne, one third of seats are up for election, which will be one councillor in each of the borough’s 10 wards. The Conservatives have such a large majority (27 to 3

Labour) that they would remain in power even if they lost every seat being contested.

The next Police and Crime Commissioner for Hertfordshire will also be chosen and there is certain to be a new person in the role because Conservative David Lloyd is standing down having served three terms in the post – in fact, he is the only person to have held the role,

which was first created in 2012. There are no elections at East Herts Council, which had a whole council election last year in which the Conservatives were swept from power, leading to a joint Green Party-Liberal Democrat administration being formed.

The whole of Hertfordshire County Council will be up for election next year, in 2025.

Robert Halfon has become the second local MP to say he won’t stand again, after Broxbourne’s Charles Walker, pictured left

The persistent pothole problem: council brings forward an extra £3m to fill in the cracks – literally

They are the bane of every motorist’s life, and the pothole problem on our roads has been made worse by one of the wettest Februarys on record, leading Hertfordshire County Council to bring forward £3million of spending this year to try to tackle the issue.

The council says the extra money has been “reprioritised” from its 2025/26 budget to support its existing plans to maintain and improve 3,200 miles of roads plus footpaths and cycleways.

The £3million is on top of £2million already announced to be spent on drainage systems and a further £2million set aside for preventative work, so the council can get ahead of problems for future years.

Cllr Richard Roberts, the council leader, said: “We know that the condition and safety of our roads, paths and cycleways really matter to our residents, and it matters to us too. We can’t control the weather, but we’re doing everything we can in difficult circumstances to help residents move safely around the county.

“By the end of this financial year our highways team will have fixed

around 65,000 potholes, 40,000 more than the previous year.”

But maintaining our roads is about more than just fixing potholes and in total, more than 1,100 highways maintenance and improvement schemes have been given the goahead, after councillors approved a £106million capital budget for highways and transport.

Between now and March 2025 other planned works include projects to tackle safety problems, to reduce traffic congestion and make walking and cycling more practical and attractive options.

On-road trial of robot pothole preventer

The council is also looking to technology to help solve the pothole problem. It has recently successfully completed a trial using the world’s first pothole-preventing robot, which was tested outside the lab for the first time on the streets of Potters Bar last month.

The robot was developed by tech company Robotiz3d and academics at the University of Liverpool in partnership with Hertfordshire County Council’s highways engineers. The project is called ARRES,

the Autonomous Road Repair System (you can see why they added an E into the acronym!).

The ARRES PREVENT robot characterises cracks, potholes and other defects in the road using AI. It then automatically fills the cracks to keep out surface water which in turn helps stop potholes forming.

How to report a pothole

If you want to report a pothole, do it online at hertfordshire.gov.uk/ highways/faults

Studios’ plan for backlot at country club approved Award for plan to regenerate Waltham Cross town centre

Sunset Studios has been given planning permission to turn the neighbouring former country club site at Theobalds Park in Cheshunt into a backlot for its film studios alongside the A10 at Waltham Cross.

The main development of the studios was approved in 2022 and work appears to be back underway on the site after it was paused last summer.

In the meantime, Sunset London Studios Propco 2 Ltd had applied for permission for change of use of the country club site in Lieutenant Ellis Way into a backlot, to include the construction of a workshop building, connecting bridge across the New River, fencing, security storage and associated works. The site was previously used as a sports ground by Tesco and most

recently as the home of a junior football club.

The applicants said that the proposed larger backlot area would make it possible to host two major film productions at the same time, to optimise the use of the studio.

Councillors on Broxbourne’s planning and regulatory committee on Tuesday 5th March gave permission for the plan, subject to its being approved by the Secretary of State as the land is designated as green belt.

Broxbourne Council’s project to regenerate Waltham Cross has been recognised with an award at a nationwide showcase designed to highlight the towns across the country that are helping businesses and communities to thrive. The Let’s Celebrate Towns awards are run by payments firm Visa and the British Retail Consortium, and Waltham Cross was one of eight towns across the UK to be recognised at an awards ceremony which was held at the House of Lords on Wednesday 13th March. The award brings with it £15,000 to inject directly into a local community project and a programme of support for local businesses. Broxbourne successfully bid for £14.3million of funding from the Government’s Levelling Up Fund and has ambitious plans to regen-

erate Waltham Cross town centre, through three related projects. Work is due to begin on the first of these, the public realm project, in May. This will transform the heart of the town, improving pedestrian and cycle access and giving the town centre a more modern look and feel.

The other two parts of the scheme are enhancing the community hub and skills training centre and improving Waltham Cross playing fields.

Council officer Chris Allen-Smith with the robot pothole nemesis

Cllr Richard Roberts

The proposed workshop

How Waltham Cross could look

Former landfill site at Westmill Quarry to

be used as solar

A new solar farm has been granted temporary planning permission for a 25-year period at Westmill Quarry just outside Ware.

The solar farm, which is expected to generate 7.3 megawatts of clean energy for the local area, will be installed on a 10.5-hectare section of the 87-hectare restored landfill site by the A10.

The solar panels will be surrounded by steel wire mesh fencing to protect deer from entering and the whole area will be screened through the planting of trees and hedgerows.

As part of the approval, it was agreed that after 25 years the farm will be removed and the land restored.

The application was made by waste management company Biffa and construction firm Cemex and was approved by Hertfordshire County Council’s development control committee on Thursday 22nd February.

farm

for 25 years

Cllr Terry Hone, the chairman of the committee, said: “The reuse of landfill sites for solar panels is an opportunity to further improve our sustainability credentials. When we had our site visit, and at the development control committee meeting, the committee members

took the opportunity to challenge officers and the applicant around a number of concerns, including the protection of a walkers’ footpath through the solar farm, wildlife concerns, fencing to protect deer and other planned and future landscape enhancements.”

Four de France... Mayor of Ware’s cycle ride reinforces friendship and supports charity

This was the scene at Ware Priory last month when the Mayor of Ware and three colleagues returned triumphant from a four-day cycling challenge from their twin town in France to raise money for charity.

Cllr Thomas Day who, as well being Mayor of Ware is one of two owners of French and Day Delicatessen in the town’s High

Street, was joined by Cllr Graeme Hill, Town Clerk Terry Philpott and council officer Kerry Mavris for the trip.

The bike ride began on Sunday 10th March in Cormeilles-en-Parisis after councillors and members of the Ware Town Twinning Association attended a ceremony with local dignitaries where a Renewal of the Pledge of Friendship, reaf-

firming the bond between Ware and its twin town, was signed. The ride was conceived to raise awareness of, and money for, Citizens Advice East Herts. The intrepid quartet rode the 215 miles from the town just north of Paris back to Ware via the Dieppe to Newhaven ferry. So far, more than £1,500 has been raised through donations.

Old graves in Bishop’s Stortford can be re-used after Parliament agrees landmark Cemetery Act

Bishop’s Stortford has become the first town outside London where permission has been granted for graves on unconsecrated ground to be re-used.

Bishop’s Stortford Town Council had sought permission from Parliament to “lift and deepen” graves in the town’s Old Cemetery and New Cemetery if plots are more than 75 years old.

This involves digging up the remains in an existing grave, digging that grave deeper, and then re-interring the remains, sometimes in a new coffin. Fresh burials can then be made on top.

London borough councils already have similar powers, through the London Authorities Act 2007, but the Bishop’s Stortford Cemetery Act also became law on Wednesday 20th March.

The new law also gives the town council the power to remove people’s right of burial, if a person has not exercised that right for at least 75 years, subject to a period of notice through advertising. The town council had requested the power because of fears that the expanding town would run out of burial space by the mid-2030s.

A solar farm like this can now be installed on land outside Ware

The four in France ready to set off

STEVENAGE

HITCHIN

KNEBWORTH

BUNTINGFORD

WELWYN

WELWYN

HERTFORD

WARE

01707 390018

01438 714686

01992 582052

01920 468551

LETCHWORTH

HODDESDON

HARWOOD

HARPENDEN

01462 684292

01992 471709

01438 812515

01582 762570

Card Factory becomes the first retailer to open at Lea Wharf in Hertford

Card Factory has become the first retailer to open in Hertford’s new riverside Lea Wharf development. The shop opened its doors on Thursday 28th March.

Boots, the other traditional retailer in the centre, is also due to open soon.

In February, Lea Wharf Medical, the new name for the former Wallace House GP Practice that has moved from St Andrew Street, opened to patients.

There have been no dates announced yet for the remaining businesses, including restaurants and a fitness studio, to open. Meanwhile, a series of planning conditions that should have been discharged before the opening of the development are still being discussed by developer Chase New Homes and East Herts Council.

Good cod: yarn display can stay in plaice at fishmongers

A striking display of knitted sea creatures that adorns the front of a fishmongers in the centre of Hertford can remain in place for 12 months, East Herts planners have agreed.

Glenn Graney, who owns Blue Oyster Bar and Fishmongers in Railway Street, had bought the colourful display created by the Secret Society of Hertford Crafters in a charity auction after it was shown around the town last summer. With the help of netting he secured it to the outside of his shop, where it helped gain him national and social media coverage.

But he had failed to request planning permission for the installation

on the front of the building, which is Grade 2 listed and sits within a conservation area.

After being given a deadline by East Herts Council to either apply for permission or remove the display Mr Graney submitted two retrospective applications for listed building consent and advertisement consent. These have now been approved for 12 months.

Furniture store Fishpools celebrates 125 years

Family-run furniture business

Fishpools has celebrated its 125th anniversary.

The store, which is still based in the same Waltham Cross premises (albeit with a few extensions) that it first occupied 125 years ago, marked the occasion with a series of giveaways and events on Saturday 23rd March.

These days it proudly proclaims itself “the largest furniture store in the south-east” but back in 1899 Ernest Fishpool borrowed £85 to open his dream furniture store in High Street, Waltham Cross. Current managing director Simon Fishpool said: “We are proud to be celebrating 125 years in the business this Spring. A familiar and trusted presence in the local community, our family-run company prides itself on high quality, value for money and an unrivalled product offering, all whilst offering first class customer service.”

From stylish sofas to beautiful beds, and everything in between,

Fishpools offers a wide range of on-trend furniture and home accessories from its 62,000 sq ft showroom and online. It also offers a bespoke interior design service to its customers, helping them to create the perfect rooms.

At the anniversary celebration event, Mayor of Broxbourne Cllr Paul Seeby cut a birthday cake while the store offered 125 prizes in a lucky dip prize draw on the day, ranging from a free cup of coffee to a £1,250 gift card. Fishpools in at 115 High Street, Waltham Cross EN8 7AL. Visit fishpools.co.uk for more information.

JULIE MARSON

MP FOR HERTFORD & STORTFORD

Progress on banking hubs and bold Budget measures

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been updating residents on my ongoing campaign to advocate for more banking hubs in our area, especially considering the unfortunate trend of closures in recent times. The core objective of this campaign is to enable LINK, a not-forprofit organisation, to assess the cash access needs within communities without being constrained by rigid regulations. Presently, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) restricts LINK from recommending a banking hub until the last bank in a town closes. While there are

discussions within the FCA about amending this rule to allow for recommendations when the secondto-last bank closes, I want them to go a step further: removing a figure altogether and giving LINK more flexibility instead.

In my previous column, I discussed the letter I addressed to the FCA’s Chief Executive regarding this matter. I’m pleased to report that Mr Rathi has responded to this. He acknowledged the need to identify gaps in access to cash services and expedite the implementation of new solutions where and when

these are needed.

I’ve made Mr Rathi’s response available on my website for interested residents to read in full. Currently, the FCA is in the process of reviewing consultation responses, including mine, with decisions expected to be announced in the third quarter of this year. However, I’m committed to maintaining momentum on this issue. Consequently, I’ve requested two of Mr Rathi’s colleagues to attend a briefing session in Parliament to update MPs on their plans. Given that this problem impacts communities right across the country, it is crucial to exert maximum pressure through collective efforts.

Bold steps in the Budget

The Chancellor announced his Budget a few weeks ago. I was impressed by a lot of the measures, but some are particularly bold. For instance, coupled with the National Insurance cut that took effect at the start of the year, NI has now been cut from 12% to 8%. That is a staggering cut, saving the average worker in Hertford

and Stortford £900 per year.

I wanted to unpack a significant change to our childcare system. We currently withdraw child benefit when one parent earns over £50,000 a year. That means that two parents earning £49,000 a year receive the benefit in full, but a household earning a lot less than that does not if just one parent earns over £50,000. This is hugely unfair and was something I was glad to see addressed.

In the long term, we will move the high-income child benefit charge to a household-based system. However, two immediate changes have been made.

From April, the high-income child benefit charge threshold will be raised to £60,000 and the top of the taper at which it is withdrawn will be raised to £80,000. Because of the higher taper and threshold, nearly half a million families with children will save an average of £1,300 next year. This change will see an increase in hours among those already working to the equivalent of 10,000 more people entering the workforce.

WHAT’S ON

Hertford Art Society to hold 71st Open

Hertford Art Society will be holding its 71st annual Open exhibition at Cowbridge Halls from Saturday 27th April until Sunday 5th May.

One of the most prestigious Open exhibitions in the southeast, it includes works from both professional and amateur artists and always features a high calibre of work in a wide variety of mediums.

The exhibition can be visited at Cowbridge Halls in Cowbridge, Hertford SG14 1PG on weekdays and Saturday between 10am and 8pm, and on Sundays from 10am to 5pm. hertfordartsociety.co.uk

Courtyard to host art trail and Open

Courtyard Arts, which now curates the annual Hertford Art Trail, is launching this year’s event on Saturday 6th April and it will run across the county town for two weeks, until Saturday 20th.

Throughout the fortnight, local artists collaborate with local businesses, which offer space within their premises to showcase pop-up exhibitions featuring different artworks.

It’s a great opportunity to see art in a less formal setting than traditional galleries and exhibition spaces and also serves to introduce new people to the breadth and quality of local artists’ work. Keep an eye out around town and check out Courtyards Arts’ own

website for a full list of participating venues. Printed copies of the trail map will be available at Courtyard and Hertford Town and Tourist Information Centre in The Wash.

Also, this month, Courtyard holds its 17th annual Open exhibition at its gallery in Port Vale, Hertford. For this exhibition, any artist has been able to submit work, with the final selection of diverse and inspiring pieces to be shown chosen by an experienced judging panel. You can view the final selection between Tuesday 9th April and Saturday 4th May at Courtyard Arts, Port Vale, Hertford SG14 3AA. courtyardarts.org.uk

HArtsFest to be held in castle grounds

HArtsFest 2024 is an event on the main lawn of Hertford Castle on Saturday 13th April, running from 12-4pm. Organised by Hertford Town Council, it will offer an opportunity to browse arts and crafts stalls and there will also be a programme of entertainment, including dance, music and theatre. The event will be free to attend.

hertford.gov.uk

Pictured right is a work by John Jarrett

Don’t miss Paul Draper playing iconic Mansun album Six in full at Hertford Corn Exchange

Hertford Corn Exchange welcomes Paul Draper, the former frontman of Mansun, one of the most innovative and iconic British bands of the late 90s, on Wednesday 10th April.

To celebrate the 25th anniversary of Mansun’s seminal album, Six, Draper and his band will be playing the album in its entirety during the second part of a gig which will begin with a first set of solo material. This tour is the last time Draper will play the album in full. Doors 7.30pm. Tickets £25 in advance from cornexchangehertford.co.uk or £30 on the night, subject to availability. The Corn Exchange is in Fore Street, Hertford.

Star name at photography lecture

Ware Photographic Society welcomes one of the world’s leading landscape photographers, Charlie Waite, who will be giving its 60th anniversary lecture this month. Charlie, whose renowned style brings an almost spiritual serenity and calm to his landscape photography, will be giving his lecture at The Drill Hall in Amwell End, Ware SG12 9HP on Sunday 14th April. Doors open at 1pm for a 1.30pm start and tickets are £10. Tickets can be ordered by email at tickets@wareps.org. uk. For more information on the society visit wareps.org.uk.

Puss in Boots, an Easter panto with a difference, at The Spotlight

There is still time to enjoy The Spotlight in Hoddesdon’s Easter panto, Puss in Boots, which is being performed afternoon and evening until Wednesday 10th April.

Written by theatre boss Marc Day, this localised production

tells the tale of Colin, who is left facing a future on the streets of Broxbournia when he hears of his inheritance, his father’s old tabby cat known as Puss. Ticket prices start at £16 – book at thespotlightvenue.com or call 01992 441946.

Puss got ready for panto by going on a trip around nearby Hertfordshire Zoo in Broxbourne with his friend Safari Sam

Photographer Charlie Waite

Henry Moore Studios & Gardens opens for season

One of the artistic gems of Hertfordshire, Henry Moore Studios & Gardens in Perry Green near Much Hadham, has reopened to the public for the 2024 season.

The home of 20th century sculptor Henry Moore has on show an outdoor display featuring 23 of the artist’s iconic bronzes and six studios preserved as Moore would have used them. Tours of Moore’s family home, Hoglands, which is on the site are also available.

Nature theme for 2024 season

The 2024 season, entitled Sculpture, Inspiration and Our Natural World, runs until Sunday 3rd November and includes a programme of events inspired by the relationship between sculpture and nature.

Nature was always at the centre of Moore’s work. In 1951 he famously declared: “Sculpture is an art of the open air. Daylight,

sunlight, is necessary to it, and for me its best setting and complement is nature. I would rather have a piece of my sculpture put in a landscape, almost any landscape, than in, or on, the most beautiful building I know.”

The open countryside of his home at Perry Green allowed Moore to fully explore this relationship.

International Sculpture Day

Among events on this month is a drop-in day suitable for all ages on Saturday 27th April to mark International Sculpture Day. You can get hands-on with Soft Sculpt, hear from the curators about Moore’s relationship with nature and explore the studios and gardens.

Find out more

For full details of visiting, and of this year’s events programme, visit henry-moore.org.

Broxbourne Arts Forum continues its mission to take arts to the people

The future of the arts in Broxbourne remains in safe hands under the umbrella organisation the Broxbourne Arts Forum, which is celebrating its 24th birthday this year.

BArts is a local voluntary organisation that brings the arts to life by offering a wide range of events throughout the year, including concerts, courses, talks, floral art, lectures, lunches, musicals, painting, photography, plays and talks.

BArts works with 25 affiliated local groups, Broxbourne Council and Love Hoddesdon BID to fulfil a brief to offer events which would not normally be part of the borough’s events programme, including classical music, opera and open-air Shakespeare. Its spring/summer season features a series of free piano concerts by Barbara Manning in the café-bar

at The Spotlight in Hoddesdon from 12-2pm on the first Wednesday of each month. These offer a range of easy listening music, have been a regular feature at The Spotlight since 2010 and continue to prove popular. Let’s Do Lunch is a series of themed talks on the arts or social history with musical illustrations, a dash of humour and a two-course lunch with a glass of wine. These often attract capacity audiences. Forthcoming events include Let’s Hear it for the Girls on Friday 17th May and Playing for Laughs on Wednesday 12th June.

Later in the summer, on Friday 21st June, The Festival Players will return to The Spotlight Gardens to perform Shakespeare’s The Tempest, which will be part of the Love Hoddesdon Midsummer Festival.

For more information, visit broxbournearts.org.uk or pick up BArts’ current programme from The Spotlight or Hoddesdon Library in High Street.

Silent disco in Ware

A silent disco is being held as a school holiday activity on Tuesday 9th April in Fletcher’s Lea at Ware Priory in Ware High Street between 12noon and 4pm. Just book your free 45-minute slot at ticketsource.co.uk/ waretowncouncil, choose your channel and dance to your own beat! The event is organised by Ware Town Council.

Art at St Mary’s

Art at St Mary’s is an exhibition of work by local artists that will be showing at St Mary’s Church in Ware between Friday 25th and Monday 29th April. Opening times are 9am to 5pm apart from Sunday, which will be 12noon to 5pm. Admission is free.

Henry Moore’s Double Oval, 1966

Barbara Manning’s piano concerts are a staple at The Spotlight

JONTY WILDE

The all new Hertfordshire Zoo

Scan here

It for the Girls!

June 12

Playing For Laughs

July 19 Masters of Music

Shakespeare’s ‘The Tempest’ June 21

See this play as Shakespeare himself saw it, in the open air, with an all male cast and Elizabethan costumes and music.

Spotlight Gardens, Hoddesdon.

Picnics from 6.00pm, performance 7.00pm

Adults £18, Students & under 16 £10, Family 4 £50.

All BOOKINGS 01992 441946

www.thespotlightvenue.com

Aled Jones –Full Circle

Sunday 7th April 7.30pm

The Amazing Bubbleman

Sunday 14th April 2pm

£16, child £14

Celine –My Heart Will Go On Friday 3rd May 7.30pm Tickets: £28

Wyllyotts box office: 01707 645005

Wyllyotts Place, Darkes Lane, Potters Bar EN6 2HZ wyllyottstheatre.co.uk

At the movies: From Winehouse to giant marrows

Mothers’ Instinct (TBC)

Now showing Anne Hathaway and Jessica Chastain star in a dark, slowburn thriller that is all the more effective and affecting because of the 1960s, apple-pie America setting. The pair play neighbours Celine and Alice in affluent suburbia, enjoying a close friendship that lightens their mundane lives, until an unthinkable tragedy occurs and a combination of guilt, grief and paranoia test their friendship to the max.

Back to Black (TBC)

Out on Friday 12th April

The life and music of Amy Winehouse are explored through the journey from adolescence to adulthood and the creation of one of the best-selling albums of our time. The film, directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson, paints a vivid picture of the Camden streets the iconic singer walked and cap-

Mothers’ Instinct and Back to Black are among the new films showing this month tures her struggles as global fame engulfs her, exploring her artistry, honesty, wit – and demons. Marisa Abela plays Winehouse and does all the singing herself, having trained extensively to mimic the star’s vocals.

Civil War (TBC)

Out on Friday 12th April

A journey across a dystopian

future America following a team of journalists embedded with the military as they race against time to reach Washington DC before rebel factions descend upon the White House. Nothing like this could ever really happen in America, could it? Of course not. It’s about as impossible as Donald Trump running for President again. Oops.

Swede Caroline (15)

Out on Friday 19th April

And the award for Best Title of the Month goes to… Swede Caroline, a British-made mockumentary in which the competitive world of giant vegetable-growing is rocked by scandal when up-and-coming young prospect Caroline has her prized marrow plants stolen. Very, very funny.

St George’s Family Fun Day

Saturday 20 April

Laura Trott Leisure Centre Windmill Lane, Cheshunt, Hertfordshire EN8 9AJ community@broxbourne.gov.uk

www.bebroxbourne.co.uk Find us on

Family fun for everyone

Grundy Park, Cheshunt, 12noon-5pm

 Re-Enactment

 Traditional Punch and Judy show

 Inflatables

 Devil Stick Pete

 Climbing wall

 Arena performances

 Stalls

 Morris Dancers

 Activities within the Laura Trott Leisure Centre

LauraTrottLC thelauratrottleisurecentre lauratrottlc BroxbourneBC

*Refreshments available throughout the day and some of the activities will carry a charge.

HODDESDON TOWN CENTRE

SPRING SPRING SPRING FAYRE & &

Heritage Day

SATURDAY 27 APRIL, 10AM-5PM

Children’s rides, vintage cinema, stalls, entertainment throughout the day and much more family fun.

Chapter 79 will hold its next wedding ring event this month

Wedding ring specialist Chapter 79 in Hertford will be holding its next in-store wedding ring event on Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st April, during which a 15 per cent discount is offered on all wedding ring orders placed.

Chapter 79 have helped hundreds of couples choose the perfect rings with which to start a new chapter in their lives.

They have extensive collections featuring many different styles and designs to choose from, including diamond-set bands, shaped rings to fit any engagement ring and rings made with contemporary materials such as carbon fibre, tantalum, titanium and stainless steel. Among premium brands offered is Furrer Jacot, a Swiss company which has been working to the highest standards since 1858. Each individual ring from Furrer Jacot is handcrafted in Schaffhausen, working to a customer’s individual

preferences. Nearly everything is possible with this wedding ring brand – you can set diamonds in your ring, choose mixed metal pattern designs or take inspiration from Furrer Jacot’s own Magique collection of beautiful and original designs.

You will find Chapter 79 at 15 Market Place, Hertford SG14 1DQ. Call 01992 534555 or visit chapter79.co.uk.

An historic venue to create your own piece of history

Set in seven acres of picturesque riverside grounds, Ware Priory is one of the area’s leading wedding venues and has been the backdrop to couples tying the knot for generations.

Ceremonies and receptions can take place in the historic Priory

building itself, with its refurbished conservatory looking out on to the lawns, or in the modern Fletcher’s Lea building. To book an appointment, or find out more, visit warepriory.co.uk or call 01920 460316 to speak to a member of the friendly team.

FOOD & DRINK

James and Bianca celebrate 20 years of success at The Fox and Hounds in Hunsdon

Chef James Rix and his wife Bianca, who own The Fox and Hounds at Hunsdon, are celebrating 20 years at the pub this year, and have marked the occasion with a major refurbishment of the dining room.

The Fox and Hounds was taken over by James and Bianca in 2004 and serves imaginative food with rustic Italian and French influences. It has long been regarded as one of the best pub-restaurants in Hertfordshire. The pub has a large garden for drinkers, a large terrace and a heated gazebo for outdoor dining, while its lounge bar area and dining room are perfect to enjoy a relaxed meal. The dining room, which has been given a new warm and cosy feel during its spruce-up, also doubles up as an ideal space for private parties

and special occasions. It has been busier than ever following the refurb and the team have had great feedback about the new look.

If you have a special occasion coming up, call and ask for a copy of the pub’s private dining brochure to find out more about holding your event here.

The menu at The Fox and Hounds is seasonal and creative, meaning there is always something new to try, whether you are a regular visitor or a special occasion diner.

Current favourites include Josper grilled squid, chorizo, rocket and aioli; Twice-baked three-cheese souffle and herb cream sauce; Venison ragout and rigatoni pasta, garlic breadcrumbs and Parmesan; Pork escalope, fried egg and spinach; and Pannacotta and poached Yorkshire rhubarb.

Sunday lunch remains hugely popular with a set menu that always includes roast rib of beef and all the trimmings among other choices.

The pub is open for lunch and dinner Wednesday to Saturday from 10am to 3.30pm and then from 5.30 to 10pm (last food orders are at 2pm and 8.30pm), then from 10am to 5pm on Sunday (last food orders at 3.30pm). It is closed on Monday and Tuesday.

During the Covid lockdowns, when pubs were forced to get creative in order to survive, James and Bianca launched their own Fox Shop – initially outside on the terrace – where people could buy both local produce and F&H ‘ready meals’. That shop is still going strong, now inside in its own permanent home, and

you can visit it from 10am when the pub is also open for coffee, pastries and home-made treats. After 20 years, James and Bianca are still passionate about the business they have built into a highly successful dining venue. Bianca said: “What a 20 years it has been! We are proud to have built such a strong business thanks to our team over the years and so many loyal and supportive customers. We are looking forward to many more years to come.”

We have no doubt that that is a sentiment their customers will definitely share.

The Fox and Hounds 2 High Street, Hunsdon SG12 8NH 01279 843999

foxandhounds-hunsdon.co.uk

The warm and cosy dining room at The Fox and Hounds has been refurbished by owners James and Bianca Rix

room takes centre stage at one of

THE GRANDISON

Pub & Dining

This dog-friendly country pub is surrounded by countryside and offers fresh, home-cooked fare using seasonal ingredients and local suppliers wherever possible. A selection of staple pub classics and changing seasonal dishes keep the menu fresh and inviting all year round. The beers at this free house are well-kept and refreshing and the wines varied and affordable. A weekday set menu, available Tuesday to Friday at lunch and Tuesday to Thursday at dinner offers two courses for £12.95 and three for £15.95.

18 Bury Lane, Bramfield SG14 2QL / 01992 554077 grandisonpub.com

VODINA

Turkish

Opened in November 2023, Vodina is a new Turkish restaurant and cocktail bar that is a welcome addition to the dining scene in Ware. The stylish, refurbished, family-friendly restaurant is smart, warm and welcoming and can seat 60 at a time, with room for both couples and larger groups. The main menu is available at all sittings and features traditional Turkish cuisine, alongside set menus for two or four people. There is also a £12.95 lunch menu which is available from 12-3pm. Vodina is open seven days a week from 12noon to 10pm.

21-22 Tudor Square, Ware SG12 9XF / 01920 468866 vodinarestaurant.co.uk

RUAY RôT BY BAAN THITIYA

Thai takeaway & delivery

Ruay Rôt means ‘rich in flavour’ in Thai and that is precisely what the food you can order for takeaway or delivery from Hertford’s newest eatery is. Just a few hundred metres down the road from the town’s previous Baan Thitiya restaurant, this new takeaway outlet offers authentic Thai food for you to enjoy at home, continuing Baan Thitiya’s story after 20 years in Hertford. You can order by phone or through the GoGetters and Deliveroo apps for delivery to Hertford, Ware and Hoddesdon. The varied menu includes many vegan specials.

6 Old Cross, Hertford SG14 1RB 01992 587706 ruayrôt.co.uk

THE GEORGE IV Pub & Dining

Nestled in the picturesque village of Great Amwell, The George IV offers exceptional restaurant cuisine within a warm, friendly and relaxed atmosphere. Oliver and his team serve a menu of seasonal and fresh small and large sharing plates.

The George IV can also be the perfect venue for your next event. Whether it is an intimate wedding, baby shower, birthday or a special anniversary, there is a variety of dining options to suit any occasion in the private dining room and courtyard.

Cautherly Lane, Great Amwell

SG12 9SW / 01920 870039 info@georgeivpub.co.uk

www.georgeivpub.co.uk

SHISHBOURNE

Turkish

Shishbourne is a Turkish/Mediterranean restaurant on Broxbourne High Road which is open seven days a week and offers a full menu all day, now including breakfast from 8am to 4pm. It is plush and luxurious with an unforgettable Instagrammable interior, great cocktails and an a la carte menu filled with Turkish classics. It also offers a bottomless dinner option from 6pm Monday to Thursday and a twocourse lunch menu from 12-3.30pm Monday to Friday. There is live entertainment on Friday and Saturday evenings too.

27 High Road, Broxbourne EN10 7HX

01992 313198

www.shishbourne.co.uk

BAAN THITIYA

Thai

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

102 London Road, Bishop’s Stortford CM23 3DS 01279 658575

www.baan-thitiya.com

THE DUSTY MILLER Country Pub

The Dusty Miller is a country pub and casual dining venue just outside Harlow, surrounded by countryside and close to the river. It serves freshly-cooked pub food, including a pie of the day and other pub classics, together with a good selection of gluten-free and vegan dishes. Thursday night is Steak Night with two steaks and a bottle of wine for £50.

The Dusty Miller is open from 12noon to 11pm Tuesday to Saturday and from 12noon to 6.30pm on Sunday when a traditional roast is available.

Burnt Mill Lane, Harlow CM20 2QS

01279 424180

www.dustymillerharlow.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

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 a set lunch menu as well as the main menu and superb roasts are served on Sundays. Social wine tastings can also be booked for groups of family or friends in the private dining room. 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

www.ronisrestaurant.co.uk