Bury Edition March 2013 Issue by Bright Publishing

The quality lifestyle magazine for Bury St Edmunds

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MARCH 2013

Inside this issue...

£3OO

prize giveaway!

THEATRE GUIDE of the best GIFT SHOPS IN BURY FOOD & DRINK

ARTS & CULTURE

DISCOV ER

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CONTENTS

MARCH 2013

25 42

40 5 đ FIVE THINGS TO DO If you only do ﬁve things in Bury this month – make it these 6-7 đ NIGHTLIFE From club nights to comedy, gigs and festivals, we’ve got the low-down on after-hours fun this month 9-14 đ ARTS & CULTURE Bit of a culture vulture? Whet your whistle with our pick of exciting arty goings-on in town this month, from theatre highlights to gallery exhibitions 17 đ EASTER IDEAS Spring your little ones into action with our top picks for Easter fun around the county 18 đ COMPETITION This month we’ve got a fantastic personal shopping experience at Debenhams up for grabs, plus £300 worth of prizes 20-21 đ LISTINGS A comprehensive guide to events in Bury and the surrounding area this March 25 đ FOOD NEWS Get your tummy rumbling with our roundup of gastronomic goings-on in Bury and the surrounding area 27 đ REVIEW Sian Townsend visits The Old Cannon Brewery and enjoys some hearty home cooked fare and some of their specially brewed ales 29 đ FOOD COLUMN Chef and food writer Alex Rushmer gets into the spirit of British Pie Week with an homage to the humble pie 30-31 đ RECIPES Alex serves up a duo of perfect pie recipes to combat any New Year’s resolution diet fads – one sweet, one savoury

32-34 đ FIVE OF THE BEST This town isn’t short on places to pick up perfect pressies, but we reckon that these five are the best of the bunch 37 đ BUSINESS Chief executive of Bid4Bury Mark Cordell looks at how the town has weathered the recession, and finds that the future looks bright for Bury 39 đ INDIE OF THE MONTH Every month we’ll be celebrating a local independent business. Up first is Vanilla Hair Design on Churchgate Street

Welcome

Hello and welcome to the first ever er Bury Edition. First of all, thanks for picking up – we think you’ll be glad you did! There are lots of reasons that we’ve chosen to launch this magazine, but more than anything, we simply felt that h kind k d off quality l we wanted to give this special town the publication that it deserves. It’s our mission to showcase the best of Bury life: the many wonderful independent businesses, the great events, the thriving food and drink scene, the talented artists and interesting exhibitions, the remarkable local people, and everything else that makes people here so passionate about their town. We believe in celebrating what makes Bury St Edmunds special, and in doing so, helping to preserve its uniqueness and promote it to as wide an audience as possible. Our launch issue is jam-packed too; from top nightlife picks to restaurant reviews, ideas for Easter family fun, delicious recipes and a round-up of the best gift shops in town (perfect for a little Mother’s Day pressie buying inspiration!). To help us make this magazine as good as it can be, please do get in touch with local news and events or give us a call for a chat. We’d love to hear from you. You can also find us on Twitter @BuryEdition and Facebook too. I hope you enjoy the issue and see you next month!

40-41 đ MOTHER’S DAY GIFTS Treat your mum with these lovely gifts from local shops 42-46 đ FASHION We round up top trends from the SS13 catwalks – and give you some inspiration for recreating the look at a fraction of the price on the high street 49-50 đ BEAUTY Nail art is big news at the moment. Charlotte and Daisy file and buff their ways to terrifically trendsetting talons 52-58 đ INTERIORS Emily Brooks finds out about the local superhomes leading the way for ecofriendly homes, and Cambridge Kitchens & Bathrooms offer their top tips for a greener abode 60-63 đ MOTORING With warmer weather (possibly) on the way, motoring expert Sue Baker selects the top of the soft tops 65 đ PETS Alex Wylie from Eastgate Vets offers advice on taking your pooch on a trip into town – selecting the top most dogfriendly stores in Bury

NICOLA FOLEY, EDITOR FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/ BuryEdition

EDITORIAL

CONTRIBUTORS

Editor Nicola Foley nicolafoley@bright-publishing.com 01223 499459

Alex Rushmer, Charlotte Griffiths, Daisy Dickinson, Emily Brooks, Sian Townsend, Sue Baker, Alex Wylie, Mark Cordell

Features Editor Jennifer Shelton jennifershelton@bright-publishing.com 01223 499463 Sub Editor Lisa Clatworthy lisaclatworthy@bright-publishing.com Sub Editor Hannah Bealey hannahbealey@bright-publishing.com

ADVERTISING Senior Sales Executive Tim Sloane 01223 499458 timsloane@bright-publishing.com

DESIGN & PRODUCTION Senior Designer Alan Gray alangray@bright-publishing.com 01223 499450

PUBLISHING DIRECTORS Andy Brogden & Matt Pluck 01223 499450

www.bright-publishing.com

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NEWS

Mix it up

Things to do this month 1

Learn how to create perfect cocktails with the master mixologists at stylish town centre café and bar, Ivory. Whether you’ve got a hen or stag do on the cards, fancy an entertaining team-bonding exercise with colleagues, or you’re just after a fun night out with a gaggle of mates, the ‘Shaker Parties’ at this Abbeygate Street favourite are a guaranteed winner. You’ll have endless fun whipping up tasty tipples with the help of the pros – and of course, sampling your efforts. For more information and to book, visit www.ivoryburystedmunds.co.uk or call 01284 702277

Treat your mum 10 March is Mother’s Day, and the perfect opportunity to wine and dine your ma with lunch at one of our lovely local dining spots. The Old Cannon Brewery on Cannon Street will have a special menu on the big day, including a glass of wine on the house for all mums with the Mother’s Day Lunch (£22.50 per person; www.oldcannonbrewery.co.uk). Or, head out of town to the Elveden Estate, where they’ll be serving up a menu which includes such delights as parsnip and honey soup, wood pigeon, beef and Yorkshire pudding, herb-crusted hake and nut roast, and lots of tempting puds. Don’t forget to have a nose round the shop for chutneys, fresh bread, deli items and plenty more tasty treats to take home too (www.elveden.com). If you’re just after a pressie idea or two, take a look at our Mother’s Day Gift Guide (page 40).

3 Celebrate St Paddy’s Day In case you needed an excuse to go out for a pint on Saturday 16 March, The Old Cannon Brewery is hosting a St Patrick’s Day party with live Irish music, Old Cannon Stout and proper Irish stew on the menu. Owners Hannah and Garry have booked the Blarney Rovers, a Celtic Irish folk duo who’ll be performing traditional knees-up songs to get you dancing and singing along, and there’ll even be Tayto crisps at the bar. So don your best greens and head along for feasting and festivities, shamrock style. Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig duit! For further details, visit www.oldcannonbrewery.co.uk

Travel back in time History comes to life on 17 March at Ickworth House, where the clocks have gone back to 1930. Join the staff for a day of Downton Abbeystyle dramas: Who’s been at cook’s dripping pot? And will the hall boy finish polishing all the boots before breakfast? The newly restored servants’ hall at Ickworth is a maze of fascinating corridors and rooms, housing artefacts from centuries gone by. Many a servant has bustled beneath the floorboards of the great rooms above, preparing grand dinners and keeping the house running like one enormous, many-layered machine. You may even spy the ghostly figure of an irritable chambermaid still carrying out her errands… www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ickworth

Check out the new Krazy Horse

Motorbike dealership Krazy Horse in Bury has relaunched in glistening, roaring splendour. The refurbed showroom and shop comes complete with a new café, which serves as an ideal meet-up point for bike enthusiasts and is proving especially popular for its generous portions – you can even get kitted out in stylish new threads as they’re now stocking clothing ranges too. The showroom itself is a great place to browse, even if you’re not necessarily looking to buy. Featuring beautiful vintage-look bikes and choppers (a couple of which starred in Iron Man and Iron Man 2), it’s as much a museum as it is a showroom, and a treasure trove of motoring history. Visit www.krazyhorse.co.uk

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March

NIGHTLIFE

BURY ST EDMUNDS

COMEDY CLUB Held at The Grapes in Bury every second Wednesday of the month, the Laugh Out Loud Comedy Night provides a platform for local comedians to perform in public, while giving audiences a great night of entertainment covering all sorts of styles and subjects. With six acts performing in one night, there’s bound to be at least one that tickles your funny bone. The show starts at 8.30pm, doors at 8pm, and entry is £5. The pub also hosts live bands, runs regular karaoke nights and serves classic pub grub. Call 01284 754360 for more info.

Jazz Nights at The Fox Inn Located next to the Abbey Gardens, The Fox Inn on Eastgate Street is always a great place to while away a pleasurable few hours, enjoying the stylish surrounds and tucking into a superb bite to eat. Every Sunday (7.15pm), you can soak up some live jazz while you relax too – and there are a range of top-notch acts lined up this month for your listening pleasure. First up for March is jazz outﬁt Conﬂuence on the third, followed

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by singer, actress and all-round show woman, the internationally acclaimed Corinna Powlesland (10 March). Also paying a visit to Bury this month will be Bluesette (17 March) and guitar duo Watson & Hurley (24 March). Rounding things off in style will be up-and-coming guitarist and composer B.D. Lenz, who’ll be in town on 31 March. Entry is free and there’s more information online at www.thefoxinnbury.co.uk

Eat, drink and dance at LP this month, where there’s a dizzying programme of events taking place. Situated above the bar and restaurant, the club holds regular DJ nights: on Fridays enjoy cheap drinks, party music and even pole dancing at Tequila, 10pm-3am, then on Saturdays mash it up at The Monsieur Me Show, playing a mix of genres for all music fans (11pm-3am). Also in March, LP is offering to teach you the secrets of samba at Beater Box samba drumming – a class for all ages and skill levels (including skill level zero!), running from 7.30pm Tuesdays and Wednesdays. For more information call 01284 719617 or visit www.lp-bar.co.uk

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NIGHTLIFE

IVORY

THE GYM ROCKS As well as a great place to watch the footy, rugby and grand prix, The Gym on Risbygate Street hosts live music nights every Friday. On the stage this month will be local rockers 23X on 1 March, followed by The Kings on 8 March. On Friday 15 March, the Black Smoke will be delivering unique covers of rock anthems by the likes of Nirvana and The Pixies, and rounding off the month will be the intriguingly named hip hop/rap cover band Inverse Oreo. There’s also a DJ playing party classics each Saturday. That’s our kind of workout. www.thegymsportsbar.co.uk

Planning a weekend warm-up session with the girls? Head along to Ivory on Thursdays for Ladies’ Night (7pm, weekly) and boogie to hits from the eighties to today, while enjoying special offers on cocktails and wine. You could even book the ‘silver suite karaoke room’. Looking for love? Pop over to Singles Night on 7 March and snap up a goodie bag and free drink on arrival (over 25s, £3, 7pm). Heading further into the thick of the weekend, Ivory will be going all-out eighties mad, paying homage to the decade of legwarmers, big hair and Duran Duran, every week. Call 01284 702277 or visit www.ivoryburystedmunds.co.uk.

UNPLUGGED

SESSIONS AT S O B A R As sporadic warm afternoons and lighter evenings begin to tempt us out of our front doors a little more, direct your feet to So Bar in Langton Place, where you’ll be met with comfy sofas and coffee tables spilling out onto the street in true Mediterranean style. Great for wine and cocktails (they bring them in from all over the world), So Bar also hosts live music nights every Thursday. These ‘Unplugged’ sessions feature local acoustic acts, further enhancing the venue’s chilled-out vibe. One of the most popular sophisticated drinking destinations in Bury (they also do lovely light lunches and morning coffee), So Bar opens late at weekends, and acoustic sessions kick off at 7pm. For more info, contact 01284 722999.

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Open mic at Jimmy’s Farm The famous farm has called on friends from Highbarn Music and Arts to put on an open mic night on 1 March. It’ll take place in the restaurant from 8pm, and they’ll be putting on a special menu for the evening too – and you know the grub will be good at this place. The farm itself was a project embarked upon by Jimmy Doherty, a pal of Jamie Oliver, for a BBC TV series in 2002. The farm breeds pigs, sells its own produce and is known for its mouthwatering meals and lively line-up of events, which range from markets to comedy nights. For full details of what’s on, visit www.jimmysfarm.com

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ARTS & CULTURE

ARTS & CULTURE We explore the arts and culture scene in Bury St Edmunds, showcasing some of the many exciting exhibitions and projects taking place around the town, as well as highlighting the local artists and events to look out for

MARCH HARE COLLECTIVE A dizzying array of handmade, original work by local artists and crafters will be on display in a pop-up shop cum gallery at The Apex, courtesy of The March Hare Collective this month. The group, which is the brainchild of Esme Crick and Julia Masterman, touts itself as ‘Suffolk’s Spitalfield’s Market’, and aims to showcase our area’s talent whilst offering customers a wide-ranging choice of beautiful items, all available to buy at affordable prices. Since 2010 the March Hare Collective has grown rapidly, with exhibitions going up at the Apex venue on the first Saturday of each month (this month’s date for your diary is 2 March). Esme and Julia, both artists themselves, also exhibit alongside the 20-plus makers who brighten the room each month with their eclectic wares, from prints and paintings to crochet, jewellery, knitted items and crafts. You’re likely to find something different there each time, so if you’ve been before it’s worth visiting again to see what’s new, especially if you’re on the

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IMAGES: A collection of works from Melissa Hemmens and Julia Masterman, part of the March Hare Collective

lookout for a nice original gift. Featured artists this month include Melissa Hemmens, whose striking woodcut prints offer a quirky slice of rural life, infused with a quintessentially British feel, and Julia Masterman, who produces vibrant works in a variety of media that include oil painting, drawing, printmaking, as well as mixed media pieces. Open between 10am-4pm, entry is free. For further details, visit www.marchharecollective.co.uk

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ARTS & CULTURE

FLICKER AT SMITHS ROW Over at Smiths Row this month they will be celebrating the Super 8mm film in an exhibition designed to showcase the adaptability and influence of this and other low-gauge film formats. Introduced by Kodak in 1965, the ‘Super 8’ created a revolution in home-movie technology, and by 1970 was the most widely used film format in the world. Though superceded by video technology not long after, the cult status of the Super 8 remains, and the Flicker exhibition (which continues until 23 March), provides an opportunity to recall and reminisce over your own Super 8

memories, while witnessing how 20th and 21st century artists have made use of it. Co-curated with the Cambridge Super 8 Group, the show will feature works from the likes of Derek Jarman and Anne Rees-Mogg, right through to more recent visionaries such as Giovanna Maria Casetta and Adam Kossoff, who are combining the old technology with today’s, and creating a place for Super 8 in the digital age. As well as the main exhibition, there’s a lively selection of fringe events too, including an open-panel discussion with the Cambridge Super 8 Group on 8 March and Cine Voices: a two-day sound

workshop taking place on 16 and 17 March. From 9-10 March meanwhile, acclaimed German film-maker Dagie Brundert will visit Bury to lead ‘Three Soups’, an organic film-making workshop that demonstrates how to process Super 8 film at home, using such unlikely aids as lemon, coffee, vodka and beer. The newly refurbished Abbeygate Picturehouse will host an afternoon of film screenings on 10 March too, showing off some of the many submissions to the exhibition that there wasn’t space for. www.smithsrow.org

HATTER STREET STUDIO Fancy getting those creative juices ﬂowing this month? Pop along to the lovely Hatter Street Studio (opposite the Picturehouse), to learn how to make your own beautiful ceramic plate or bowl – or anything else you might have in mind. Run by friendly staff, the pretty studio space also doubles as a café, serving homemade sweet treats, with shelves lined with ceramic creations to give you inspiration. Don’t worry if you need a little assistance; owner Nat is always on hand

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to help with ideas and techniques. Once you’ve created your masterpiece, you leave it with them for a week and return to collect it, glazed and ready for pride of place on your mantelpiece. There are no set courses as such – just drop in whenever suits you and you’ll be able to start making there and then. The studio can be found at 22b Hatter St, Bury St Edmunds. Tel: 01284 747075

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ARTS & CULTURE

THEATRE HIGHLIGHTS It’s a busy month over at the Theatre Royal, with a varied selection of offerings promising to delight local theatregoers of all tastes. Kicking things off is a Theatre Bury St Edmunds production of Shakespeare’s immortal tale of true love and feuding families, Romeo and Juliet, which runs until 9 March. Prepare to be transported to Renaissance-era Verona (with the help of some live Italian folk music), as the star-crossed lovers inch towards their tragic fate in this new show directed by Lynn Whitehead. Next up, from 12-13 March, is The Trench, which recounts the true story of a miner who became entombed in a tunnel during the First World War. Described as ‘spellbinding’ by the Sunday Express, this award-winning production comes to Bury courtesy of acclaimed theatre company Les Enfants Terribles, using live music, puppetry and physical performance to tell the story of one man’s epic journey of survival and salvation (tickets £10-£15). On a rather lighter note, The Bard’s Missing Bits (16-17 March) takes a sideways look at the ‘backstories’ of some of Shakespeare’s best-loved characters. Ever wondered what the witches get up to when they’re not waylaying Macbeth on the blasted heath? Now's your chance to ﬁnd out. Presented in the form of a series of short sketches, this unique take on the alternative lives of the likes of Kate the Shrew is sad, funny and enlightening in

equal measures. A smash hit sell-out at the Edinburgh Festival and winner of the Fringe First Award 2012, Dirty Great Love Story follows the story of a pair of hapless romantics who get drunk and get it on. He thinks she’s The One - she thinks he’s a mistake, and one that she can't seem to stop bumping into at that. Fusing poetry, prose and lots of laughs, this thoroughly modern romance asks one timeless question: can a one-night stand last forever? (19 March, £10-12). Next up, head over to India for Kanjoos – The Miser; a colourful modern-day re-imagining of Molière’s classic farce. Harjinder makhi choos (a name which translates to ‘ﬂea sucking miser’ in Hindi) is a man obsessed with hoarding wealth through living

a life of extreme frugality. Surrounded by rampant consumerism in a moneyobsessed Mumbai, his children yearn for the ﬂashy Bolly lifestyle that they dream of, whilst he abhors spending any money at all. Enjoy the ensuing culture clash in this refreshing take on an old favourite, adapted by Hardeep Singh Kohli and Jatinder Verma (20-23 March). Rounding things off on 30 March is Our Fathers, a poignant look at the manifold challenges of fatherhood. Leaping across generations and geographical boundaries, this daring production tells the gripping stories of three characters with absent fathers, who may or may not make an appearance... www.theatreroyal.org

THIS IMAGE: A drunken one-night stand is the basis for a Dirty Great Love Story on 19 March

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ARTS & CULTURE

THIS IMAGE: Lyn Rohde is one of the four painters showing her landscape-inspired work this month

ART CLASSES AT DENNY’S Learn a new skill or hone an old one at Denny’s – East Anglia’s largest arts and crafts store, which also holds classes for all abilities. This month, tutor Paul Seymour will teach Beginners Watercolours, starting 7 March and taking place from 2-4pm each Thursday until 21 March. The three-week course will show you the techniques required to master the precise art of watercolours, and several tricks and tips to make sure you fulﬁl your painting potential. Got yourself a mini Monet? Kids’ classes are available too. To book a place, call in to the shop or phone 01284 761171. Find out more at www.dennybrosshops.co.uk

THE GALLERY HIGHWAYMANS Four painters and a potter will be showcasing their work in The Gallery Highwayman’s ﬁrst exhibition for 2013: Four Painters & A Potter. Running from 8 March-7 April, it will showcase a range of works, from landscapes to abstract and ﬁgurative art, as depicted in paint and ceramics. The gallery itself is an interesting place to visit: set out in the countryside it’s part of an estate that also encompasses a family run B&B, farm and a former vineyard. “It’s a beautiful open space with skylights, so it makes an ideal gallery,” says Natalie Sinnadurai, who has recently

been brought in to look after the gallery, which looks set to expand as the year progresses. “We want to make it a destination where people can come and spend an afternoon having tea and coffee and going for a beautiful walk in the woodland.” Artists displaying this month include Susan Abbs, Katherine Bor, Angela Kilenyi, Lyn Rohde and Jim Waterman. “A lot of their work will be looking at Suffolk and further aﬁeld,” says Natalie. “There are a few landscapes and a few portraits, and some beautiful, really surreal ﬁsh which provide a nice contrast to the paintings. They really complement each other perfectly.” More information available online at www.thegalleryhighwaymans.co.uk

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JAPANESE ARTIST EXHIBITION Two cultures combine this month as Ickworth House in Horringer plays host to a beautiful display of Japanese silks, paintings and ink drawings at the house, created by artist Takumasa Ono. The works combine the delicacy and beauty of Japanese art techniques and have been inspired by National Trust locations. Should something catch your eye, items will also be available for sale. The Japanese National Trust artist exhibition and sale runs from 15 March-9 April. Normal admission charges apply, see nationaltrust.org.uk/ickworth for details.

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ARTS & CULTURE

NORIKO OGAWA Classical pianist Noriko Ogawa, who recently completed her 30th CD for BIS records, will be in town on 7 March to perform pieces by Mozart, Beethoven and others at The Apex. This massively talented lady has the critics gushing, with The Telegraph praising her ‘ravishingly poetic playing’. Noriko, whose success at the 1987 Leeds International Piano Competition propelled her into fame, will also be performing the beautiful Rain Tree Sketch II by Takemitsu, plus Beethoven’s ‘Tempest’ Sonata, Mozart’s Sonata K.331 ‘Alla Turca’ and Liszt’s B Minor Sonata. Tickets cost £10-£16 (£5 under 25s) and can be bought from The Apex box office or by calling 01284 758000.

POETRY ALOUD Friendly Bury writer’s society Poetry Aloud, who meet on the last Tuesday of every month, will be gathering for their usual catch-up on 26 March to share ideas and read works aloud. The meeting takes the form of an open mic night, and is held at Benson Blakes bar in town at 7.30pm. If you’re thinking of coming along for the ﬁrst time, don’t worry about being too rigorously critiqued – members are out to encourage each other, not put each other off. And the warm welcome is extended to anyone who just wants to come along to listen.

NEW ART GROUP IN STANTON Smiths Row art gallery has been given funding from The Co-operative Membership Community Fund to run a practical art group in Stanton, 10 miles from Bury, to offer support to elderly people in the community, including Shepherd’s Grove Park. The relaxed and friendly group, which is led by artist Ruth Philo and held in Stanton Church Hall, gives participants of all abilities the opportunity to explore their creativity through drawing and painting, as well as a chance to socialise with others.

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There’s more information on their website www.poetryaloud.org.uk

“This kind of work is so important to Smiths Row,” says Niki Braithwaite, director of the gallery. “We are keen to give as many people as possible across West Suffolk the opportunity to get involved with the arts.” The project has been enthusiastically received by participants – if you or somebody you know would be interested in joining, contact Ruth Philo on 01787 269434 or email ruthphilo@btopenworld.com

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EASTER

EASTER IDEAS

With Easter weekend on its way, there are plenty of activities to spring the whole family into action. Hop along to one – or all! – of these fun Easter events taking place around the Bury area Breakfast with the Easter Bunny Over the Easter weekend, Bury St Edmunds Garden Centre on Rougham Road is hosting a special breakfast event, with delicious food, stories, riddles to solve and sweets to be found. Meet the Easter Bunny himself and make your very own gingerbread bunny to take home, while tucking into some freshly prepared tucker in the café. The breakfast menu includes sausages, hash browns, eggs and beans with squash or milk for the wee ones, and a hearty, adult-sized Full English for accompanying grown-ups (you can have tea or orange juice instead of squash). Prices are £8.95 per person. Visit www.thegardencentregroup.co.uk for further details.

Easter Extravaganza Think your little ones belong on the stage? Take them along to the Easter Extravaganza running at the Theatre Royal. Aimed at 5-12 year olds, the three-day course will allow your aspiring creative types to join in with singing, dancing, crafts and other activities, led by theatre professionals. It runs from 9 until 11 April (10am-3pm) and costs £45 for the three days. There are only 25 spaces, so book in advance if you’re keen. Contact 01284 769505.

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Ickworth Easter Egg Trail

Easter Egg Hunt

The Cadbury Easter Egg Trail, taking place at National Trust properties up and down the country, comes to Ickworth from 31 March to 1 April. Clues have been hidden all around the wild and wonderful grounds of this beautiful property, stowed in all sorts of secret places, so you and your brood can have lots of fun searching for them and enjoying the tasty prizes. As well as the hunt, there’ll also be Easter games to take part in, including a family egg and spoon race. For more information call 01284 736127 or visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ickworth

Set off on a treasure trail to ﬁnd the tokens that have been hidden around East Town Park on 30 March. There’ll be lots of special prizes to win, plus a chocolate egg for every child taking part. Arrive at the Park Visitor Centre for 2pm. Price is £1.50 per child. For more details email parks@stedsbc.gov.uk

Gathering for Eostre The 7th century peasants at West Stow Anglo-Saxon Village are gearing up for Easter (or Eostre as the pagans called it) by making arrows and clothing, and preparing meals. Watch them in action and learn about past customs as they weave, dye and create authentic items (30 Mar-1 April). There’s also an Anglo-Saxon museum to explore, displaying some of the artefacts discovered during the dig at the site, plus a shop, café and adventure playground.

Easter Bunny Hunt All the easter bunnies at Burrs Country Park have gone missing… and they need you to help track them down! Meet at the chimney car park on Bury’s Woodhill Road, on 27 March, and start the search. Register by 11am – it’s 50p per child taking part, and little ones must be accompanied by an adult. Contact 01612 537984

Easter at the Cathedral On Easter Sunday, the traditional Easter liturgy will be held at St Edmundsbury Cathedral, including seasonal songs, hymns and readings. This starts at 6am, then the Festal Eucharist follows at 10am, concluding with the Festal Evensong at 3.30pm. Then, on Easter Monday, there will be music from a visiting choir at 4pm and Evensong sung by Laus Deo at 5.30pm.

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COMPETITION

WIN A

PRIZE BUNDLE

300! worth N!

This month we’ve teamed up with Debenhams at arc Bury St Edmunds to give one Bury Edition reader a fantastic £300 worth of prizes!

ur lucky winner will get VIP treatment with a one-to-one session with the in-house personal shopper, who will be on hand to guide you through the hottest new-season trends, using her fashion know-how to help you to discover which styles, colours and shapes work best on you. Perhaps you’ve got a special occasion you want to look your best for? Maybe you just fancy a new spring/summer wardrobe? Either way, your £200 shopping spree will make you the best dressed in Bury in

no time. You'll be spoiled for choice when it comes to choosing your bounty, with Debenhams' designer brands like J by Jasper Conran, Rocha John Rocha, Black by Betty Jackson to choose between, as well as the homewares and kids departments. As if that wasn’t enough, our winner will also receive a fantastic beauty goodie bag worth £100, brimming over with premium brands including Clinique and Clarins. If you want to be in with a chance of winning this fantastic prize, head to www.buryedition.co.uk. Terms & conditions apply.

Debenhams, 36 Charter Square, arc shopping centre, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk IP33 3AA. For more information visit www.debenhams.com

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LISTINGS

WHAT’S ON A round-up of events in and around Bury St Edmunds for March

2 March

3 March

BURY BACH CHOIR Time: 7.30pm Location: The Apex Price: £10/£18.50/£21 Description: Singing since 1932, the Bury Bach Choir are in concert this month with the Suffolk Baroque Players, performing a programme of mixed Baroque music from Bach to Vivaldi. www.burybachchoir.co.uk

THE VOICE SQUAD Time: 3pm Location: The Apex Price: £7.50 Description: Bringing us new interpretations of well-known songs, The Voice Squad presents Vocalantics: a show packed with everything from musical theatre numbers to classical pieces and folk songs. www.theapex.co.uk

PEPPA PIG: MISS RABBIT’S DAY OFF Time: 11.30am Location: Abbeygate Picturehouse Price: £5.50 Description: Toddler time is a 30-minute screening for children and their parents or carers. Follow Peppa Pig’s latest adventures including Miss Rabbit’s Day off. What fun will Miss Rabbit get up to? Peppa Pig will also be returning to the Picturehouse on 19 March. MARCH www.picturehouses.co.uk

6 March ZUMBA Time: 6.30-7.30pm Location: St John’s Centre Price: £5 Description: Dancing is a brilliant way of exercising without it really feeling like exercise, and Zumba offers a great way to get ﬁt and have fun at the same time. Classes are held every Wednesday in the East Hall. Call Nataliya for details 07769 803308

8 March

MET OPERA

MARCH

Time: 5pm Location: Abbeygate Picturehouse Price: Various Description: Proving that you don’t have to go all the way to London to experience top-quality live opera, the Picturehouse is screening director François Girard’s vision of Wagner’s ﬁnal masterpiece, Parsifal, a story of an innocent who ﬁnds wisdom. www.picturehouses.co.uk

3 March CLOSE ENCOUNTERS Time: 9-11.30am Location: West Stow Country Park Price: £5, children £4 Description: Come and watch wildlife experts catch and ring a variety of birds in the Country Park and learn more about them. www.weststow.org 20 | Bury Edition | March 2013

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TRAGIC ROMANCE Time: 1.10pm Location: The Greene Room, Theatre Royal Price: £6 Description: Heathcliffe and Cathy, Orpheus and Eurydice, Lancelot and Guinevere… the list of ill-fated lovers throughout ﬁction is seemingly endless, and the Theatre Royal dedicates itself to them with a lunchtime reading to coincide with its staging of Romeo and Juliet. You could even have lunch there. www.theatreroyal.org

MARCH HARE COLLECTIVE

10 March

11 March

FAT CAT COMEDY CLUB Time: 8pm Location: The Apex Price: £10 Description: Bury’s very own monthly comedy club returns with some of the top stand-up comics on the circuit to tickle your ribs. www.theapex.co.uk

HANDBAGS & GLADRAGS Time: 7.30pm Location: The Hunter Club Price: £10 Description: Second-hand fashion boutique Handbags and Gladrags is hosting a charity fashion show, with all monies from ticket and clothing sales going to St Nicholas Hospice. www.hunterclub.org.uk

10 March WILLOW WORKSHOP Time: 10am-2pm Location: East Town Park Visitor Centre Price: £15 Description: Make your own willow obelisk for sweet peas, clematis or other garden climbers. All tools and materials required are provided, plus tea and coffee. Bring a packed lunch if you wish. The workshop will also be held on 3 and 17 March. Book by calling 01284 757088

12 March ARTISTS SURGERIES Time: 10am-3pm Location: Smiths Row Price: Free Description: Whether you’re an artist, curator or writer, if you have any questions about your practice come along to Smiths Row for an Artists Surgery, where gallery staff will be on hand to offer advice and information on any topic. www.smithsrow.org

Time: 10am-4.30pm MARCH Location: The Apex Price: Free Description: Enjoy browsing the collection of affordable art and original handmade crafts – with an emphasis on local creativity – and maybe make the odd purchase… More dates are available online. www.theapex.co.uk

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LISTINGS

IMAGES FROM LEFT TO RIGHT:

See Stuart Jarvis’s work at the March Hare Collective on 2 March, have a giggle when the Fat Cat Comedy Club comes to The Apex on 10 March and visit Tuddenham Mill for a spectacular wedding fair on 24 March.

19 March

LIVING HISTORY Time: 11am Location: Ickworth House Price: Normal admission charges apply Description: History comes to life for a day at Ickworth House, where the clocks have gone back to 1930. Join the staff at the house for a day of Downton Abbey-style dramas in the newly restored servants’ hall. www.ickworthhotel.co.uk

DIRTY GREAT LOVE STORY Time: 7.30pm Location: Theatre Royal Price: £10/£12 Description: Two hapless romantics share a drunken encounter one night in this comic fusion of poetry and prose. To her, he’s a mistake. To him, she’s perfect. Can a onenight stand last a lifetime? www.theatreroyal.org Until

14 March

16-17 March

THE LAUGHING STOCK Time: 7.30pm Location: Theatre Royal Price: £10 Description: A unique line-up of comedians take to the stage in aid of Focus 12, which provides support for the local community here in Suffolk. With 12 comics taking part, you’re pretty much guaranteed a giggle. www.theatreroyal.org

SCIENCE & NATURE FESTIVAL Time: 10am-4pm Location: Jimmy’s Farm Price: £5 advance, kids free Description: Join Jimmy on his farm and build bug hotels, get pond dipping, and dive into his nature and science workshops. And don’t forget the animal petting. Martin Rapley, aka The Bug Man, will be on stage, as well as BBC’s Marty Jopson. There’s also a ﬁeld kitchen BBQ and snack tent for some tasty nibbles. A live chainsaw carving of a ﬁery dragon is sure to spark your little ones’ interest. www.jimmysfarm.com

16 March CRAFT & GIFT FAIR Time: 10am-4.30pm Location: The Apex Price: Free entry Description: Held every third Saturday of the month, the Craft & Gift Fair offers a fantastic selection of unique homemade gifts and crafts from local exhibitors. www.theapex.co.uk

22 March

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Time: 10.30-11.30am Location: Clare Country Park Price: Free Description: Get your little ones out of the house and take a ranger-led walk around the park. Splash in puddles, hunt for worms, feed the ducks and ﬁnd out what other wildlife is out and about too. www.clare-uk.com

GHOST WALK Time: 6.30pm Location: Moyse’s Hall Museum Price: £7.50 Description: As darkness falls across the land, step inside the atmospheric Moyse’s Hall, a former prison, and learn its story. One legend tells of a ‘screaming skull’ which belonged to the infamous William Corder… www.moyseshall.org

24 March WEDDING OPEN DAY Time: 11am-5pm Location: Tuddenham Mill Price: Free Description: Go to the Tuddenham Mill Spring Wedding Open Day at the end of the month for ideas and advice on your big day. There will be experienced professionals ready to discuss your requirements and you can view the restaurant and terrace room with buffet and wedding breakfast layouts. www.tuddenhammill.co.uk

29 March VICTORIAN LIFE Time: 10am-5pm Location: Moyse’s Hall Price: Normal admission charge applies Description: Play ‘pot luck career’ and discover who you would have been in the 1800s. Learn about fashion, sweets and more, including a ‘wash day’ experience! www.moyseshall.org

JUDIE TZUKE

16 March EAST ANGLIA CHAMBER ORCHESTRA Time: 7.30pm Location: The Apex Price: £16, under 18s £5 Description: EAChO performs music by Mozart (including the Don Giovanni Overture), Copland and Schoenberg, conducted by Jacques Cohen. www.theapex.co.uk

WELLY WALK

29 MARCH

Time: 7.30pm Location: The Apex Price: £18, concessions £16 Description: Best known for the classic song, ‘Stay With Me Till Dawn’ (voted the 39th best British song of the previous 50 years by BBC Radio 2), and top 10 albums including Welcome to the Cruise, the acclaimed singer-songwriter showcases songs from her vast back catalogue. www.theapex.co.uk

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Introducing the lifestyle magazine for Bury St Edmunds

Part of the Edition series of publications

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DISTRIBUTION Bury Edition is available across Bury St Edmunds and the surrounding villages with major pick-up points including local supermarkets, Debenhams, The Apex, the Bury Leisure Centre, Glasswells and Palmers. You will also be able to ﬁnd Bury Edition magazine at many independent businesses such as local shops, boutiques, cafés, restaurants, hotels and more.

20,000 TOTAL CIRCULATION

WEBSITE Visit www.buryedition.co.uk for the latest information, news, events and competitions.

BURY EDIT A new weekly digital newsletter, coming soon. This will provide highlights of the next seven days around Bury, as well as exclusive vouchers and competitions.

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FOOD

FOOD NEWS

A monthly round-up of gastronomic goings-on in Bury and the surrounding area

NEW AT THE WOOLPACK Pub owners Graham and Clare Hindle, who took over The Woolpack in Fornham St Martin two years ago, have expanded their foodie offerings in the last few weeks with a brand new farm shop. Located at the back of the pub, the shop stocks home-made pies, locally sourced vegetables and other

groceries. Keen to provide their customers with good, responsibly sourced produce, they’ll also call in fresh ﬁsh and butcher’s meat to order, as well as selling hearty pub fare prepared in their kitchen. Open 8am-6pm (9am Sunday opening).

The art of afternoon tea

‘Let’s Do Lunch’ at Pea Porridge Sample a selection of ﬁne wines along with a delicious lunch at the award-winning Pea Porridge restaurant in Cannon Street. You’ll be introduced to eight different wines, specially selected to accompany your lunch menu. A former bakery run by Justin and Jurga Sharp, Pea Porridge’s combination of rustic charm and simple, quality cuisine, often with a nod to the Mediterranean, recently won it a coveted Bib Gourmand Award from the Michelin Guide. Let’s Do Lunch takes place on 23 March, 12.30-3pm (£39.50 per person). www.grapesense.com or www.peaporridge.co.uk

It’s said that the Duchess of Bedford invented afternoon tea after years of experiencing a ‘sinking feeling’ between lunch and dinner. Relate to that? Head along to The Angel Hotel, where the art of afternoon tea has returned in glorious fashion. There are three packages to choose from: Cream Tea (£6.95) comes with tea and a large fruit scone with jam and Jersey cream; Afternoon Tea (£16 per person) includes tea, sandwiches, scones (plural!) and a selection of cakes and pastries; or the Luxury Afternoon Tea, which introduces champagne into the arrangement. Ah, choices, choices… www.theangel.co.uk

On Safari… Food Safari is teaming up with the Rose House Butchery in Ipswich to offer an Evening Butchery Class on 8 March. This hands-on class, led by artisan butcher Jamie Willows, will teach you about different cuts of meat (this month the focus is lamb), along with simple butchery techniques and how best to use them at home. You’ll also come away with some beautiful joints to take home afterwards, so get the neighbours round and make sure your other half puts the oven on… (£80, 7pm) 01728 621380, www.foodsafari.co.uk

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EATING OUT

REVIEW BY SIAN TOWNSEND

Restaurant Review

THE OLD CANNON

BREWERY

Sian Townsend tucks into some brilliant brews and great grub at this local favourite T’S ALL TOO RARE THESE days to ﬁnd a truly independent pub; a friendly spot where you can tuck into hearty homemade grub, enjoy some top-quality ales and even – in this case – watch your beer being made as you relax. Luckily for Bury residents, The Old Cannon Brewery in the heart of town offers exactly that. Owners Hannah and Garry Clark took over in 2009, and have been building up a great reputation ever since. They had a brilliant canvas to work with. As interior design features go, the brewing equipment at the Old Cannon Brewery is pretty impressive, with vast silver vats that greet you as you wander in, leaving you intrigued as to how they’re used. On our Friday night visit we learn that these shiny instruments are the mash tun and the kettle – used twice every three weeks by brewer Chris, who makes real ales in them. After a quick crash course in the making process, we sample a couple of brews for ourselves, opting for a Gunner’s Daughter, a light, slightly fruity ale, and a Bow Chaser, a larger-style blonde beer. Both of which hit the spot and left us immediately wishing we could try everything on the extensive menu. Soon enough we needed something to soak up the ale, and were pleased to discover this pub takes good food just as seriously as good beer, and everything they serve is freshly prepared and cooked to order. They pride themselves on offering the ‘bounty of the county’ food-wise, and whilst the menu changes seasonally, you’ll ﬁnd favourites like

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fish and chips and bangers and mash on offer all year round, along with a daily specials board full of tempting offerings. “Working with trusted local suppliers is also very important to us,” explains Hannah. “For example, we often give a nearby farmer our used hops to feed his animals and in turn he lets us know when we can get our hands on some great local meat from them.” Their sausages are given a novel twist by a Bury butcher who infuses them with the brewery’s own Gunner’s Daughter ale, and they also work with a distiller in Cambridgeshire which produces its own, custom-made spirit, created by distilling the wort (the liquid extracted from the brewing process) five times. The result is Spirit of Gunner’s Daughter, a malt drink similar to whisky – very nice it is too. I went for a starter of pulled pork and parsnip pie and the filling was utterly melt in the mouth; I’m always a sucker for pulled pork but the Old Cannon Brewery’s take on it was exceptional. My companion’s starter of chicken liver and chorizo salad was full of punchy, bold flavours that made the lighter salad option hearty in its own right. Nicely warmed up, we tucked into our mains – salmon and crab fishcakes for me. The

crunchy outside of a good fishcake is a thing of beauty and this was perfectly executed, with a crisp shell encasing a beautifully fluffy fishcake. A flavoursome tartar sauce added some clout, and the accompanying vegetables upped my five-a-day quota substantially. The Thai beef curry that my companion plumped for had a real kick to its creamy sauce and the slowcooked beef was as soft as butter. Defeated at last, we shared a coffee and Baileys cheesecake for pudding. Creamy, soft, gooey and again homemade, it had none of that mass-produced jelly-like rigidness, and proved an ideal end to our indulgent evening. The combination of great food and fine real ale is the basis for a range of exciting events at the pub too, with a special Mother's Day menu planned for this month and a weekend of stout and stews on the cards for St Patrick’s Day. The friendly service, hearty food and brilliant brews make the Old Cannon Brewery the perfect spot for a night out or leisurely lunch, and we’ll definitely be visiting again very soon. Highly recommended. The Old Cannon Brewery, 86 Cannon Street, Bury St Edmunds IP33 1JR, 01284 768769, www.oldcannonbrewery.co.uk

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FOOD

WORDS ALEX RUSHMER

LIFE OF PIE

In celebration of British Pie Week, which runs from 4-10 March, restaurateur and food writer Alex Rushmer pays homage to a national treasure of a dish NOUGH! Enough of this nonsense. Enough of this charade. It’s time to start eating properly again. Now that the façade of new year abstinence is well and truly over and we’ve recovered from the explosion of guilt that occurs in the wake of festive overindulgence, we can start thinking about food in a more sensible and coherent fashion again. With a chill still in the air, now is no time for salads, smoothies and deﬁnitely not selfrestraint. Waking in the semi-dark is bad enough. Having to trawl through days when vast quilts of cloud stop what little sun there may be in the open skies of East Anglia from reaching the ﬂat earth is even worse. Surviving on a diet totally unsuited to northern Europe prior to the vernal equinox is, quite frankly, misery unbound. So, how to rein in this raging wild beast of melancholy, short of a holiday, a wild imagination or a ready supply of recreational narcotics (the latter recommended only for late 19th century poets)? My simple solution

is embodied in a golden crust of pastry, beneath which sits a steaming mass of slow-cooked meat and vegetables. A stew or casserole is one thing, indeed it is a worthy culinary destination beﬁtting of the time of year, but it can be transformed into a meal of simple beauty with the addition of a pastry topping. The humble pie has been a staple of British cuisine since the 12th century and has changed little since

Images courtesy of Waitrose

Bring a sharing pie to a table and witness glee and expectation, perhaps to do with the air of mystery

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medieval cooks began using residual heat from bakers’ ovens to cook meats encased in rough pastry and it deserves its place in the great canon of our edible history. Moreover, a pie is an ideal dish for sharing – single-serving pies have their place, usually gracing a pile of steaming chips and covered in gravy, but bring a large sharing pie to a table and witness the glee and expectation of those sat around. Perhaps it's something to do with the air of mystery over what can be housed beneath a golden crust. Some simple rules apply with pie cookery but nothing too prescriptive or arduous, such is the delight of such cuisine. For some reason I feel that a chicken pie should be covered with a flaky puff pastry lid that rises politely above the filling. A dark, sticky beef pie on the other hand should be covered with an equally rib-sticking shortcrust lid, preferably one made with suet or at the very least butter. The only point of contention is whether or not the entire ensemble should be completely shrouded in pastry (as with a game pie) or merely lidded before baking. My advice would be the former – lightly pre-bake any pastry lining a pie dish before the addition of the filling to maintain structural integrity then cover, glaze with beaten egg and bake until the filling is piping hot and the top a delectable golden colour. Some simple seasonal vegetables complete the meal more than adequately. Salads be gone; make mine a life of pie.

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EATING IN

British Pie Week

WORDS ALEX RUSHMER IMAGES CHARLOTTE GRIFFITHS

4-10

celebrate BRITISH PIE WEEK! MARCH

Rather than messing about doing it yourself, here are two great pies that use ready-made puff pastry. The first is a sweet option which uses Discovery apples – a local variety that has a slightly fizzy texture and a wonderful sweet/sour balance. The second is hearty, rich and a perfect meal for a chilly day

Discovery apple tarte tatin Ingredients 3 Discovery or other eating apples, peeled, cored and cut into eight slices each 75g unsalted butter 50g caster sugar 25g dark soft brown sugar 1 cinnamon stick, broken into two 2 star anise 1 sheet of puff pastry, cut to the same diameter as the top of the pan you are using

A CLASSIC FRENCH VERSION of an upsidedown cake, tarte tatin is a wonderfully sweet, sticky dessert – perfect if served with ice cream. I use locally grown Discovery apples, which are fast becoming my favourite variety.

Step-by-step guide 1. Place the sugars and butter into an ovenproof frying pan about 20cm in diameter. Cook over a moderate heat until the sugar begins to caramelise. Add the apples and spices and then cook for a further ﬁve minutes. 2. Top with the disc of puff pastry, then bake in a pre-heated oven at 180°C for 20 minutes. 3. Allow to cool slightly before turning out onto a plate. Serve straight away with plenty of vanilla ice cream.

Serves

Images courtesy of Charlotte Grifﬁths

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EATING IN

4 hours Beef, ale & mushroom pie

COOK TIME

WE SERVE A LOT OF PIES at my restaurant, The Hole in the Wall in Little Wilbraham. Our method is more classic than the traditional old English method, but the results are worth the effort as there is a clarity and richness to the gravy that's not possible to attain any other way. It also means you can make the ﬁlling in advance and assemble the pie at your convenience.

Step-by-step guide 1. Season the beef with salt and heat a large frying pan with a little oil over a moderately high heat. Brown the beef in batches, it should sizzle when it hits the pan. Once it is all browned, transfer it to a casserole or other stewing pot. 2. Use the same pan to colour the veg (carrots, onions, celery) for ﬁve minutes, stirring regularly. Add the tomato purée, cook for another minute then stir in the ﬂour. Cook for a minute or so and add the ale. Bring to the boil then add the stock. Tip it all over the beef, add the bay leaf, cover and place in a pre-heated oven at about 120°C for three to four hours.

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3. Once cooked pick out the pieces of beef and strain off the cooking liquid into a clean pan. Discard the vegetables and bring the liquid to a boil, thicken with gravy granules if necessary and return the beef to the liquid. 4. Fry the mushrooms in a little butter over a high heat until just beginning to caramelise then add these to the beef. Transfer to a large pie dish or a number of small ones and top with the puff pastry lid. Brush with beaten egg then bake for 25 minutes at 160°C. 5. Serve immediately with plenty of mashed potato and seasonal vegetables.

Ingredients 500g cubed braising beef 1tbsp plain ﬂour 2 large carrots, diced 2 white onions, roughly chopped 2 sticks of celery, roughly chopped 1tbsp tomato purée 1 pint dark ale or stout 1 pint beef stock 1 bay leaf Salt and pepper 200g button mushrooms, sliced 1tbsp gravy granules 1 sheet ready rolled puff pastry 2 eggs, beaten

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5 OF THE BEST

WORDS JENNIFER SHELTON

5 of the best...

GIFT SHOPS Bury St Edmunds’ streets are chock full of gorgeous gift shops bursting with perfect pressies, for him, for her, for the home, or simply a little gift to yourself. Here’s our pick of the best

KENDALL & KO Stray just a little from the town centre and you’ll ﬁnd the newly opened Kendall & Ko; a stylish boutique run by bubbly 22-year-old Kendall Banks-Browne. Since opening in December, it has already added a great deal to the town’s gift and homeware selection, stocking a lovely range of lamps, pretty crockery, candles and other accessories, as well as Scandinavian-inspired pieces like their amazingly cosy fur throws. There’s a focus on the natural too, with wicker hearts, wooden photo frames and decorative stone and shell items all on show on its bright, sunlit shop ﬂoor. It’s a perfect calling point should you be looking for a gift for mum, a friend who’s moving into a new house – or if you just fancy treating yourself. It's a joy to browse. Kendall & Ko also stocks wedding invitations and seasonal items. 100 Risbygate Street, 01284 749745

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5 OF THE BEST

TC2 For stylish, contemporary jewellery backed by a wealth of experience and history, look to TC2 – the sister shop of long-running Bury jewellers Thurlow Champness, and situated just next door. TC2 provides an extensive range of jewellery and watches from some of the biggest and most popular brands around. Thomas Sabo and Links of London are hugely popular, closely followed by award-winning designers Rachel Galley, Sarah Ho, Babette Wasserman, Missoma and Old Florence, all of whose designs would certainly impress that special somebody in your life. There’s a ﬁrm focus on good old-fashioned customer service here too, along with expert product knowledge, so you know you’re in safe hands whenever you cross the threshold. And don’t forget to look next door too, especially if you’ve an important purchase to make ahead of a particular question you might be thinking of popping… 16 High Baxter Street, 01284 723158

THE PARSLEY POT Quaint and cosy, this adorable shop on Abbeygate St is particularly good if you’re searching for a unique children’s gift or something for a new baby. There are cuddly Jellycat toys galore, Beatrix Potter ornaments and fun pocket-size toys and gifts, plus a pretty range of wrapping paper and greetings cards. For the grown-ups, there’s attractive crockery by Emma Bridgewater and Sophie Allport, necklaces and more from Joma Jewellery, and locally made soaps – supplied to Sandringham, no less. The shop is run by Suzanne Cooper, who worked there as a Saturday girl at the tender age of 17 before returning while raising her daughters. Then, when her boss told her she was selling up, she took a leap of faith and bought the shop herself. And we’re very glad she did! Friendly staff and a lovely shopping environment have earned The Parsley Pot a loyal and long-standing client base, with many coming in for a chat as well as to see what’s new in. 17 Abbeygate Street, 01284 760289

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5 OF THE BEST

LILYO They say diamonds are a girl’s best friend, but we at Bury Edition would argue that pearls are pretty high up there too. Elegant, delicate, with an almost ephemeral quality, they’re a gorgeous choice of gift for a friend or daughter, and you won’t find a wider selection in Bury than at Lilyo. This charming independent boutique specialises in natural, freshwater pearls and has them in literally every colour you could imagine, in the form of bracelets, necklaces, hairclips, earrings – you name it. And, in the unlikely event that nothing on the shelves catches your fancy, owner Lily Daly also offers a bespoke service where she will create a unique piece of jewellery just for you, exactly as you want it – great for brides looking for that special tiara or hairpiece to set off their outfit. Lilyo began life as an online shop in 2004 after Lily quit her accounting job to concentrate on nurturing her creative talents. Fashion and design having been very much part of her upbringing, she decided to launch her own jewellery business, which soon flourished and opened as a high street shop in 2006. And just so you know, the pearl is the birthstone for June as well as the symbol for a 30th wedding anniversary... 77b St John’s Street, 01284 766300

BUY THE LIGHT Set right by the entrance to the Cornhill shopping centre, this pleasing treasure trove of candles and homeware is a delight to peruse, not least because of the heavenly scent of the many candles that adorn its shelves. In fact, it’s gained a bit of a reputation for being ‘the smelliest shop in town’ – in a good way, of course! Buy The Light, run by the friendly Lesley Bancroft, sells mostly candles, candleholders and home fragrances (there’s a gorgeous cranberry one new in) but also quirky animal ornaments and sculptures, doorstops, pillows and leather bags, plus lovely lotions and potions ideal for your mum, gran or any female relatives or friends you want to treat. 11 Cornhill Walk, 01284 700288

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BUSINESS

BURY BUSINESS Mark Cordell, chief executive of Bid4Bury, discusses how Bury is weathering the storm of the recession, and looks forward to a bright future for the town

AM DELIGHTED TO BE offered the opportunity in the first ever Bury Edition to say a few things about the fabulous town that is Bury St Edmunds, Bid4Bury and the businesses we represent. Unless you’ve been under a rock for the past four years, it can’t have escaped your attention that we are in a financial recession which is impacting negatively upon all parts of the world – and making it difficult for all of us to make ends meet. Our businesses are no different, but with every challenge, I firmly believe that opportunities arise and that a positive perspective is required to ride this storm out. It’s rather unfortunate for Bury that the recession started around the time that the arc shopping centre opened. This visionary development – which has in my view promoted Bury into a higher division – can occasionally be unfairly blamed for a turndown in fortune for some of our businesses, when probably in reality the recession has had a much bigger effect. I know that many business owners feel let down that the promised link between the original town and the arc has never happened and that as a consequence, footfall numbers and patterns have changed. But the harsh reality is that we are 'where we are' and we

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need to promote the many positive things about our town – and indeed realise what an advantage we have over our competitors. Bid4Bury started life in April 2010, and as an organisation we represent most of the town centre businesses. With 400 members we, along with the Chamber of Commerce, are the voices of business here in Bury. Our role is to do all we can to spread the word about the both town as a whole and our individual businesses to as many people as possible, encouraging even more people to visit Bury and choose to spend their time and hard-earned money here. We do this in many ways, but the foundation of our marketing strategy is the ourburystedmunds.com website, where all the information about our businesses and our town centre is held. If you want to be kept up to date, just head over and sign up so you don’t miss out on anything that’s happening in town. You can now download our free smartphone app too, which allows you to access information when on the move, and enhance your time in Bury – whether you’re a local or just visiting. I believe that we need to ensure Bury cements its place on the map as one of the most popular visitor destinations in Suffolk and the whole of East Anglia, and another way of doing this is for the town to have a

reputation for great events. This is already the case in regards to the Christmas Fayre (29 Nov - 1 Dec), but we are also aiming for the two main events we organise, the Whitsun Fayre on 26 and 27 May, and our Food and Drink Festival on 25 to 26 August, to become known as top-drawer attractions as well. These are fantastic days out for local families and those from further aﬁeld, as well as being perfect opportunities to showcase the town and encourage return trips. Bury is a wonderful place to visit and although we are still not out of the ‘recessionary woods’ yet, compared with so many other towns in the region we are positively thriving, and visitor numbers continue to increase. To ensure this continues, we need locals to really appreciate what they have on their doorstep and make regular use of it. So when you have a moment, pop into town, enjoy a stroll, participate in some retail therapy and meet your friends or family; stop for a drink or a meal and relax. Temporarily get off that ‘treadmill of life’ and value what we have in our town. Remember: if you want Bury to continue to improve what it can offer you then we need your support and commitment to ‘Buy Local and Buy Bury’! For more information on Bid4Bury, visit www.ourburystedmunds.com

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NEWS

WORDS JENNIFER SHELTON

Independent of the Month

VANILLA HAIR DESIGN Each month, we'll be paying homage Bury's finest local independent businesses. First up, we visit a bustling salon and training academy which is going from strength to strength OUSED WITHIN A beautiful period building, Vanilla Hair Design is the regular salon for many a Bury resident who know they’ll be looked after by friendly and experienced stylists, and come away feeling a million dollars with exactly the cut or colour they want. At the helm of this smooth operation is owner Michelle Ames, who trained in London and took over the business four years ago after moving to Bury and falling a little bit in love with it. “I moved up from West Sussex about six years ago and really took to the area – it just felt like home,” she smiles. “I looked at lots of different salons but was really taken with the lady who had this one – though there weren’t any positions available at the time. But I kept pestering her and six months later she said I could rent a chair.” Just two years on, Michelle found herself taking over the business. “I didn’t have any money and it needed a lot of work… But I thought, this is a chance to put everything I’ve learnt into practice. What do I have to lose? “I think fear stops people doing a lot. Yes, you might lose some money, but if you’re not a money person that doesn’t matter, and if you don’t mind your pride taking a bump, that doesn’t matter either. So I thought I’d go for it. “When I took it over there was one full-time stylist, one part-time and one trainee. It was difficult because unless you’re a big successful company already, good stylists don’t want to work for you. I didn’t want to employ stylists I wasn’t happy with, so I decided I’d open a training school and train them up myself. The girls went to college for one day a week then learnt practical skills here in the salon, and they picked it up really, really quickly.” By investing in her training programme, and putting in many long hours herself, Michelle soon got her business to the level she wanted. Last year Vanilla became an official academy for training, and to top it off, Michelle was recently chosen by Aveda to stock their

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top-quality products. “Aveda is one of the best product ranges,” says Michelle, “so when they approached me I nearly fell off my chair! They’re really choosy about who they work with, so that was probably my biggest achievement so far.” Michelle had dreamt of this career since she was a teenager. “I’d always wanted to be a hairdresser,” she explains. “At 21 I got myself about four jobs, got an apprenticeship and went for it. I was always artistic, so I ﬁnd it very satisfying getting the shades and the styles right… Every customer is like painting a picture. And it’s lovely making people feel happy.” Clearly proud of her girls and the hugely popular salon they’ve created, Michelle now has something else to smile about. Happily single while she was building up her business, she's getting married later this year. “He couldn’t have come along at a better time; we met and we instantly fell in love and

wanted to get married. But I did make it clear that Vanilla would take over his life – it’s like my baby and the girls are a huge part of my life… but he was ﬁne with that!” Michelle has lots of exciting plans for Vanilla as well, which shes's looking to grow and improve in the coming years. “Our strength in here is that we have a really good team. We want to expand Vanilla in the next two years and hopefully double in size to incorporate both the academy and the salon,” she says. “Our aim is to train all our girls and those who come to us to a really high standard. That’s when you really start making your mark in the hairdressing industry, when other people are sending their employees to you.” Vanilla Hair Design, 22-23 Churchgate Street, Bury St Edmunds IP33 1RG, www.vanillahairsalon.com, 01284 765622

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GIFT GUIDE

y a d s ’ r Mothe Gifts CUPCAKE BUTTERFLY MINI TEAPOT, £8, PAPERCHASE WWW.PAPERCHASE.CO.UK

SONG IN D MINOR BON BON HAND CREAM, £22.50, MIA FLEUR WWW.MIAFLEUR.COM ‘MUM IS QUEEN’ MUG BY EMMA BRIDGEWATER, £19.95, THE PARSLEY POT ABBEYGATE STREET, BURY ST EDMUNDS, WWW.THEPARSLEYPOT.COM

BROWN OWL CUSHION BY SASS & BELLE, £16.50, SUNRISE DIRECT ST JOHN’S ST, BURY ST EDMUNDS, WWW.SUNRISEDIRECT.CO.UK

MEMORIES BOX, £27.50, THE PARSLEY POT, ABBEYGATE STREET, BURY ST EDMUNDS, WWW.THEPARSLEYPOT.COM

EFFERVESCENCE STAR WATCH, £250, TC2, HIGH BAXTER STREET BURY ST EDMUNDS, WWW.TC-2.CO.UK

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GIFT GUIDE

EFFERVESCENCE STAR NECKLACE, £350, TC2, HIGH BAXTER STREET, BURY ST EDMUNDS, WWW.TC-2.CO.UK

PHOTO FRAME BY SASS & BELLE, £6, SUNRISE DIRECT, ST JOHN'S ST, BURY ST EDMUNDS, WWW.SUNRISEDIRECT.CO.UK

WORLD’S BEST MUM CHOCOLATE, £5.95, THE CHOCOLATE LIBRARY WWW.CHOCOLATELIBRARY.CO.UK

PARADISE SILK DIGITAL SCARF, £22, ACCESSORIZE UK.ACCESSORIZE.COM

LOLITA PERFUMED CANDLE, £24.99, KENDALL AND KO, RISBYGATE STREET, BURY ST EDMUNDS; WWW.KENDALLANDKOLTD.COM

CREAM CARD HOLDER, £10.50, KENDALL AND KO RISBYGATE STREET, BURY ST EDMUNDS, WWW.KENDALLANDKOLTD.COM

BRIXTON OVEN GLOVE, £9, KENDALL AND KO, RISBYGATE STREET, BURY ST EDMUNDS, WWW.KENDALLANDKOLTD.COM

THOMAS SABO CHARM BABY BOOTIE, £48.95 (PER PAIR), TC2, HIGH BAXTER STREET BURY ST EDMUNDS, WWW.TC-2.CO.UK

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FASHION WORDS GEORGIA LEAN & SUSAN DOOGAN

step into

SPRING Put your coats, scarves and gloves back in the wardrobe, and pull on some hot new trends. Bury Edition reviews the best of the SS13 catwalk, showing you how to recreate the look at a fraction of the price on the High Street...

LIMITED COLLECTION FLURO LACE TOP, £32.50, M&S PREEN SPRING/SUMMER 2013 COLLECTION

MOSCHINO SPRING/SUMMER 2013 COLLECTION

GREAT PLAINS ORCHID BLOOM DIGITAL FLORAL DRESS, £95, JAVELIN

Florals

Quite frankly, spring is just not spring without a floral print. Whether it be the retro ’70s floral Moschino, splashes of neon from Erdem, or a more classic romantic floral print from Preen. There were other interpretations too, with some designers building up textures and making florals look 3D, and Prada using oriental-inspired flower detailing.

Styling tip Accessorise a floral print with subtle, simple jewellery, and solid coloured bags and shoes. Too much floral can be distracting so avoid dressing head to toe in it. If you are worried about wearing all-over floral, try 3D colour applique flowers.

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CUTOUT FLORAL BODYCON DRESS, £29, TOPSHOP ERDEM SPRING/SUMMER 2013 COLLECTION

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FASHION

STRIPES Stripes featured in lots of classic black and white combinations but on the spring/summer catwalks we were especially won over by Massimo Rebecchi’s Mary Quant-esque nautical stripes. Alice and Olivia dresses are always a favourite with us too – this pretty 1950s-style feminine summer dress is gorgeous. In other news, and as evidenced on the Philosophy di Alberta Ferretti catwalk, crop trousers are back at long last. There were also some very sexy but very wearable crop outﬁts from Victoria Beckham which we could just imagine her rocking off a plane wearing, ready for the paparazzi!

ALICE & OLIVIA SPRING/SUMMER 2013 COLLECTION

MASSIMO REBECCHI SPRING/SUMMER 2013 COLLECTION

LIMITED COLLECTION STRIPE SHIRT, £32.50, M&S

PARRI STRIPE DRESS, £129, TED BAKER

ALBERTA FERRETTI SPRING/SUMMER 2013 COLLECTION

Styling tip If you're self-conscious about your midriff stick to vertical stripes. And if, like most of us, you haven’t got Elle MacPherson’s legs, wear a heel with your crops to instantly give the illusion of longer legs.

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FASHION

ANGELINA BLAZER, £125, COAST

Tailoring Blazers featured heavily on the SS13 catwalk; Saint Laurent had a super-slick androgynous pinstripe while Badgley Mischka showed sumptuous fabrics and smart tailoring. There were blazers with skirts or shorts too, going as far as jacket dresses like this yellow number from Gucci.

SAVINA DRESS, £129, HOBBS

ARETHA SLEEVELESS JACKET, £159, HOBBS

Styling tip

GUCCI SPRING/SUMMER 2013 COLLECTION

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BADGLEY MISCHKA SPRING/SUMMER 2013 COLLECTION

We think it is worth investing in a well-cut blazer, as it’ll become a staple piece in your wardrobe for years to come – so think about cost per wear. You needn’t be too conservative though – try a splash of colour, you might just surprise yourself.

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FASHION

It’s time to reconsider the humble shirt as more than just officewear. Thanks to Kenzo’s painterly leopard prints and Etro’s bohemian paisley patterns, it’s now a major style statement piece. Rock a pub-ready polo knit from Reiss, a colourful print number from Topman, or check out River Island’s dizzying array of styles and colours for spring/summer 2013.

‘EMPIRE’ SHIRT, £89, REISS

HAWAIIAN PRINT SHIRT, £35, RIVER ISLAND

MULTI PRINT SHORT SHIRT, £28, TOPMAN

SWALLOW PRINT SHIRT, NOW £22.40, RIVER ISLAND

WILLOW PRINT SHIRT BY YMC, £140 SIX WHITING STREET

SHOE TREND

SLIP-ONS Feeling a bit over boat shoes and plimsolls? Dip your toe into something a bit different this spring and opt for easy to wear slip-ons, preferably with a tassel to help you channel your inner hipster.

VERNON MOCK TASSLE , £59.99, OFFICE

ETRO SS13

KENZO SS13

CONDOR DRIVING LOAFERS BY PAUL SMITH, £179, SIX WHITING STREET

‘FINNIS’ CAMO SLIP ON LOAFERS, £55, TOPMAN

VELVET MOCCASIN WITH TASSELS, £49.99, ZARA

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22/2/13 10:31:27

CALLING ALL F1 RACE FANS!

GP International is aimed at serious Formula 1 fans. It features beautiful images from some of the sport’s best photographers alongside features written by a selection of F1’s most respected writers and unashamedly reflects the luxurious nature of the world’s most glamorous sport. Enjoy the magazine for half the price with this exclusive subscription offer!

· Get 3 issues for just £1!* · Save 50% off the cover price · Free delivery – never miss an issue

To take advantage of this offer, call

01371 851833 or subscribe securely online at

www.gpinternational.com/subs Also available on the App Store

* Get three issues for £1 when you subscribe to GP International magazine for just £7.50 a quarter by Direct Debit, details at www.gpinternational.com/subs. Terms & conditions: Please allow 28 days for delivery of your ﬁrst issue. This offer is valid for UK addresses only. Bright Publishing reserves the right to withdraw or change the offer without notice. For overseas subscription prices please call +44 1371 851833 or visit www.gpinternational.com/subs.

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BEAUTY WORDS DAISY DICKINSON & CHARLOTTE GRIFFITHS

Nailed it

Glam up your nails at home

Adorning your nails with this season’s colours is a budgetfriendly way to modernise your look. Though there’s nothing quite like pampering your paws with a salon treatment, thanks to modern nail-care technology, creating your own style is easy, even for a total newbie. We’ve filed, buffed and polished our way through the latest routes to fabulous fingers – here’s our pick of the bunch!

REBEL NAILS NAIL WRAPS For a quick nail fix, these stick-on wraps are just the ticket: clear instructions and YouTube videos made application easy but you’ll need a heat source to improve the finish – we used the bathroom hand-dryers and were delighted with how long the wraps lasted. Easier to apply on long nails, but whatever the length, they give a fantastic finish. £7.99, WWW.REBELNAILS.CO.UK

NAILS INC BLING IT ON HOLOGRAM KIT The aptly named ‘Bling It On’ comes with two glitters (above) to choose from and a tray to apply them over the basecoat. The glitter easily rolled on and the topcoat proved essential at ﬁrmly setting the look. Although a little rough to the touch, the sparkle lasted. This can also be applied to stick-on nails for a super glam look that’s simple to take off. £20, BOOTS, JOHN LEWIS OR WWW.NAILSINC.COM

IDEAL FOR: Lunch breaks, last-minute cover-ups, strong graphic looks

IDEAL FOR: Parties, perfect for ultra-glam events

RATING:

MODELS OWN NAIL ART PEN BOX SET

BROADWAY IMPRESS NAIL COVERS

This gorgeous set of nail art pens is essential for anyone who loves to sketch and doodle. Tiny nibs at the end of the colourful pens release just the right amount of polish for ﬁnely detailed drawings, while brushes let you cover larger areas at speed. The polish dries quickly and is good fun – plus at £8 each or £20 for the set, they won’t break the bank. £20, BOOTS, JOHN LEWIS OR WWW.MODELSOWNIT.COM

imPRESS by name, very impressive by nature, this press-on manicure consists of 24 nail covers. Our reviewer popped them on before an event and expected them to ‘ping’ off fairly quickly, but these quickly applied nails survived two nights out and a whole weekend of chores before starting to loosen. £8.99, BOOTS

IDEAL FOR: Ultimate creative control for customised looks

IDEAL FOR: An immediate smart look, great for parties, for short nails

RATING:

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BEAUTY

CIATÉ ANIC CU URE RE S ET CAVIAR MANICURE SET London-based Ciaté’s signature ﬁnish was originally created for a magazine shoot and provides a sophisticated look (left) without any hassle. Everything you need is in the box, including a base coat, the tiny glass beads for the 3D textured ﬁnish and even a funnel to help re-bottle escapee beads. Perhaps one for a special occasion rather than everyday though. £18, WWW.CIATE.CO.UK

IDEAL FOR: Special occasions (or just an incredibly fabulous everyday look)

RATING:

BEAUTY SCHOOL

Claire and Sarah, from Cambridge-based beauty and hair salon Finn Jordan, share their expert advice to get your nails in tip-top condition ready for the perfect at-home nail art session. All the glamour of a salon treatment, in the comfort of your own home – or your best friend's!

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1. If you’re going for attention-seeking nail art, you’d better make sure your hands look good! Start by exfoliating them. You can grab a couple of things from your kitchen cupboards to create your own exfoliator. Mix one part oil with two parts sugar, then gently massage the mixture into your hands before rinsing off. Then soak them in warm water for a couple of minutes to soften the cuticles. Next gently push your cuticles back, clipping any dry cuticles from the nail and finally file your nails into a neat shape. 2. Give your nails a quick wipe with nail varnish remover to remove any dust or oil so the varnish applies perfectly. A good base coat is essential. This not only protects the nail from any staining from dark colours, but it also creates a smooth surface for the varnish to sit on and will help the nail art last longer. 3. If your hands are feeling dry in the winter, coconut oil is an amazing moisturiser which sinks into skin as the molecules are smaller then other oils, meaning skin doesn’t feel slippy. 4. Whatever type of nail art you’re trying, once you’re done, be sure to apply a topcoat. This creates a smooth, shiny finish to secure all your hard work and helps to protect it from chipping. Once you have applied the topcoat, run the brush along the top edge of your nail so the varnish is completely sealed.

Gift idea

FR FRONT RONT C COVER OVER COSMETIC ICS NAIL N COSMETICS ART KIT A great gift idea, this box set from Front Cover Cosmetics comes packed with all the kit you’ll need for sophisticated nails – including nail varnishes, wraps, jewels and tools, beautifully packaged with easy-tofollow instructions. We hear fans of the kit already include Beyonce’s manicurist! £25, FRONT COVER COSMETICS WWW.FRONTCOVERCOSMETICS.COM

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INTERIORS

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INTERIORS

Planet friendly homes

Want to make your home greener and lower your bills, but not sure where to start? Local homeowners and projects can point the way, says Emily Brooks HE UK has some of the oldest and most inefficient housing stock in Europe: from un-lagged lofts to creaky old boilers, we’re leaders of the pack when it comes to wasting energy – and we end up paying for it out of our own pockets via fuel bills. Many people are interested in making their homes greener – and correspondingly saving money – but lack of knowledge about what’s involved holds them back. There’s also perhaps some scepticism about whether the figures will add up, especially since the financial outlay for some technologies, such as solar energy, can run into tens of thousands. What better way to find out what it’s really like than to talk to a local person who’s already been there? Nick Butt’s Glemsford home is a designated ‘SuperHome’, part of a

nationwide network of eco-home owners that open their homes to the public and are happy to dispense advice (www.superhomes.org. uk). The improvements he’s made to his Victorian semi include high levels of insulation in the walls and loft, double glazing, solar panels and ground-source and air-source heat pumps. “When we moved in in 1983 it had terrible energy efficiency,” he explains. “Double glazing was the ﬁrst improvement we made, and that’s paid for itself several times already.” Over the years the improvements have gradually racked up, leading to an estimated 70% carbon savings, and Nick says that, “by doing most of the work myself, I have kept the total price down to about £12,000. “The technology has proved reliable and has mostly paid for itself now. My favourites are the solar PV, which gives us very low power

ABOVE: Designed by Ely’s Mole Architects (01353 667068; www.molearchitects.co.uk) and owned by Cambridge Carbon Footprint trustee Ian Collins, this contemporary eco home will be opening up its doors as part of the Cambridge Open Eco Houses scheme (www.openecohomes.org) LEFT: Modece Architects’ development of 12 ﬂats on Kings Road, Bury St Edmunds, sticks to the practice’s ‘deep green’ philosophy of using natural, non-harmful materials (01284 830085; www.modece.com)

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INTERIORS

Made from wool ﬁbres, Thermaﬂeece is a natural alternative to glass-wool insulation; available from Bowller (01223 873640; www.bowller.com)

bills, and the air-source heat pump – amazingly cheap to run.” Further aﬁeld, Cambridge’s Open Eco Homes days (www.openecohomes.org) are a great way to engage with homeowners who have already installed energy-saving measures. Happening this year on 15 and 23 June, the homes open to the public are a mix of older properties that have been souped-up to become more energy efficient, and one-off new builds. Ian Collins, whose architect-designed home will be open, says “there’s nothing like seeing something that’s already been done, and talking to the person who’s paid for it; you’ll get the whole story of how it works. People are encouraged by seeing how other people have done things.” He adds that much of the available information on greener homes is “what manufacturers and installers will tell you – which is fair enough, but what people really need to know is, what’s it like to live with?” Ian’s home features generous amounts of insulation, double-glazed windows and a rainwater tank that uses rainwater for garden irrigation, the loos and the washing machine. Like Nick Butt, he also has a ground-source heat pump, and there is additional complex technology at work here, from the solar tubes that heat the hot water to the heat-recovery system that keeps the airtight house ventilated while at the same time recycling heat that would otherwise be lost, such as from the bathroom and kitchen. Don’t be put off by these high-tech measures, however: current thinking about building greener advocates a ‘fabric ﬁrst’ approach, saying that it’s much

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ABOVE: Some developers are incorporating green credentials into new builds; Skanska’s Seven Acres in Cambridge includes triple-glazed windows and solar PV panels on the roof LEFT: This illustration from heatpump manufacturers Nu-Heat (0800 731 1976; www.nu-heat. co.uk) shows a ground-source heat-pump system: cold water is pumped through an underground loop (either laid out in a shallow trench or bored down into a deep trench), and heated by the solar energy stored in the ground; the temperature is then boosted by the heat-pump itself before being fed into the heating system inside

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INTERIORS

In older homes, the ‘fabric first’ approach still applies; making sure your home is airtight so it loses as little heat as possible more important to get the basics right. “Our approach is to go for very simple technologies, so you’re not building in lots of systems that are not only complicated, but expensive,” says Ralph Carpenter, co-founder of Hartestbased Modece Architects (01284 830085; www.modece.com). “The human skin works brilliantly at keeping our bodies functioning, and it’s the same thing with a building.” Modece’s ‘deep green’ sustainable buildings have won multiple awards, and the practice advocates laying as light a hand as possible on the land. For example, instead of the complex heat-recovery systems often used to ventilate extremely airtight buildings, Ralph advocates ‘earth tube’ systems, where pipes are run under the ground and the air running through them picks up warmth stored in the earth. “Air is brought through the pipes by displacement; you let it escape through pipes in the roof, and as it escapes it draws warm air in from outside.” The practice also uses natural, non-toxic materials with low-embodied energy (the amount of energy required to manufacture

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a material) and also incorporates features such as reed-bed systems to treat sewage on-site. “People are definitely waking up to the idea that they can be off-grid,” says Ralph. “The technologies are more developed, and the regulatory bodies are much more open to these things – their systems are so overloaded that anybody who’s removing extra load is a bonus for them.” On older homes, the ‘fabric first’ approach still applies; it means making sure your home is airtight, so that it loses as little heat as possible through poorly fitted windows, holes in the roof, skirting boards, and even your letter box, and that it is as well insulated as possible. According to the DECC (Department of Energy and Climate Change), half of all homes aren’t properly insulated; a quarter of all heat is lost through the roof in an uninsulated home, and even if you’ve got some in the loft already, it might be worth replacing it with something thicker and more efficient. If you have cavity walls, have them filled with insulation too. You should also consider a new boiler: condensing

TOP: This ecoPANEL makes for useful secondary heating at a lower cost than a regular electric radiator; it uses convection rather than a fan to push the heat around the room. £89.99 (www.ecopanelheater.co.uk) ABOVE LEFT: Gavin Langford Architects’ Low Impact House in Cambridge (01223 847200; www.gavinlangford.com) uses highly efficient tripleglazed Ecoplus3 windows, from £300 per m2 for a ﬁxed window and £540 per m2 for opening windows (01484 461705; www.ecoplus.co.uk) ABOVE: An air-source heat pump installation by IECL (01284 711442; www.iecl-energy.co.uk); these systems work best on homes that are already both airtight and well insulated

models, mandatory since 2005, are around 90% efficient compared to older models (which are only 60–75% efficient). A new government scheme, the Green Deal (www.gov.uk/greendeal) is attempting to tackle the urgent matter of the poor energy efficiency of our existing housing. Launched at the end of January, it aims to level the playing ﬁeld when it comes to the affordability of energy-saving measures. Homeowners get an assessment by an accredited adviser,

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INTERIORS

THIS IMAGE: This 4kW solar PV system was installed by Bowller (01223 873640; www.bowller.com) in Ashwellthorpe. Norfolk, and generates around 3,400kWh of electricity per year; the feed-in tariff (FIT) pays 15.44p per kWh BELOW: Solar thermal panels (which heat up your water) like this one from Worcester will soon be covered by the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI): just like the feed-in tariff (FIT) now pays you for generating electricity, the RHI will pay for generating heat

and instead of paying upfront for insulation or a new boiler, the money will be loaned to you, and paid back via your energy bills; the Green Deal’s ‘golden rule’ calculations should guarantee that you’re always saving more than you would have paid out on your old bills. The system has its detractors – asking homeowners to saddle themselves with a loan for up to 20 years could put them off and the interest rates

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set by the not-for-profit finance company behind the Green Deal (between 7–9%) are generally higher than a personal finance loan or remortgaging. However, the scheme is offering a cashback incentive for early adopters, so if you’re thinking about changes like a new boiler, for example, it could pay to act quickly. If you’ve got as far as you can with insulation, airtightness and a new boiler, the logical next step to greening your home is to look at renewable energy. Solar PV panels qualify for the government’s feed-in tariff, so you’ll be paid 15.44p for every kWh you generate. This is a dramatic drop from the 2011 high of 43.3p per kWh, but it is balanced out by the cost of a system falling by as much as 70%, so your initial outlay should be around £6,000– £7000. This summer, the government will launch an equivalent scheme, the Renewable Heat Incentive, for any homes that generate their own heat, most commonly via a solar thermal system that will heat your hot water, but also by biomass boilers and heat pumps. Justin Bullard, technical director at Bury St Edmunds green energy consultants IEC Ltd (01284 711442; www.iecl-energy.co.uk) says the RHI is an “absolutely key” tipping point to incentivise technology like heat pumps. “At the

moment, you’d need to be replacing an oil-fired boiler to really get the savings from a heat pump – if you currently have gas, it’s not going to save much, because you still need electricity to run the pump. But costs are now coming into line; it’s not as expensive as it was and it’s not just people with lots of money that can have this type of system.” Because heat-pump systems run on a lower temperature, they work well with underfloor heating, but it all comes back to having a well-insulated house: “In an old property, if you haven’t got insulation in the roof or walls, you’re going to have major problems,” continues Justin. “As soon as you put a heat pump in, it would be running all the time and you’d be spending a lot on electricity.” Justin stresses the need to use a Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) accredited installer (as IEC Ltd is) for installing technology, such as solar panels or a heat pump, to qualify for either FIT or RHI. He’s aware of local companies being less than honest about their lack of MCS qualification – “yes, they’re cheaper, but they’re not telling the truth to the end-users, so in the end they will not qualify for any grants.” To be sure, find an installer via MCS’s website (www.microgenerationcertification.org).

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INTERIORS

The experts at Cambridge Kitchens & Bathrooms give their top tips for a more eco-friendly home S KITCHEN AND BATHROOM designers we are increasingly asked about the eco-friendly options, but until recently, green solutions have been a luxury rather than a viable option because of the high cost of the technology behind them. With many more green products now available that can compete on price, we ﬁnally feel like we have some answers! So, what are the key areas to focus on when making your kitchen or bathroom greener?

SAVE WATER It pays to be savvy about the brands that you choose to use in your bathrooms. A simple idea like the dual-flush button on your cistern found in Duravit products, for example, can save a family of four up to 17,000 litres of water a year. The economy button uses just half the volume of water per flush compared to a normal toilet, and as a result Duravit’s toilets flush using just six, 4.5 litres, or even less than that. Did you know that washing up by hand uses far more water than doing a full load in a modern dishwasher? Bosch’s new Aquastar dishwashers use only six litres of water to wash 13 place settings on a standard Eco programme. Compare this to an amazing 49 litres of water to wash the same load by hand! Appliance manufacturers in general are extremely sensitive to the new green demands of customers, so make sure you ask your designer to source you the appliances that will save you water, energy and therefore money in the long term.

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LED LIGHTS It’s worth considering the beneﬁts of LED lights in both ceilings and cabinets and as feature lighting. The energy-saving properties of LEDs are well documented, but until recently applications were limited and the only colour available was a rather cold ‘blue’ light. Now we have a range of colours including a ‘warm’ white which we use in our display cabinets and under wall units to light the worktops.

USE RENEWABLE/RECYCLED MATERIALS Used since the 1950s in the aerospace industry, recycled paper is becoming a viable choice of material for worktops and bathroom surfaces. It may sound bonkers, but the compressed layers of recycled paper result in a robust, durable and non-porous surface (Richlite offers a design-conscious range, available in a range of colours and thicknesses). We were recently asked to design a kitchen for an eco new-build, timber-frame house to match the style of the overall build. “I was very keen to use a recycled material for the worktop and had spoken to a company called Resilica who make bespoke recycled-glass worktops in almost any colour,” said our designer Leon. “The client makes her own wine and was excited about the idea of recycling some of her wine bottles into a stunning new kitchen worktop. You don’t get a much more personal connection with your kitchen than that!”

DEMAND SUSTAINABLE DESIGN To us, this means not only choosing a product that is sourced and manufactured responsibly, but also one that is designed with longevity in mind. “A kitchen or bathroom that lasts 20 years is clearly more environmentally friendly than one which needs replacing after only 10 years,” says our designer Paul. “Our UK-made kitchens are built to last, cabinets are FSC approved and components are Blum and carry a lifetime guarantee. Likewise, our German kitchen manufacturer has all the PEFC certiﬁcates and is highly committed to environmental protection and sustainable production. So make the most of our designers’ years of experience in planning spaces that work and ask us how to future-proof with green solutions.”

SAVE ENERGY Lots of people ﬁnd it hard to imagine cooking on anything other than gas. But induction hobs are quicker, safer and more efficient, taking less than half the time to boil a pan of water. The heat is also more controllable, especially at lower temperatures, and the sleek, frameless design of the hobs makes them much easier to keep clean, meaning that they are a great option for sparkling kitchens.

THIS IMAGE: Cambridge Kitchens & Bathrooms use white LEDs in their walnut and painted-oak kitchen: eco friendly and beautifully modern

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MOTORING

WORDS SUE BAKER

Motoring Review

SPRING IS IN THE AIR Now is the perfect time to let soft-tops shine in the breezy spring months, says Sue Baker NOWDROPS are blooming in the hedgerows and as of the ﬁrst day of March it is officially spring. Easter is just around the corner. Even if the weather is out of step, winter is almost history and longer days with warmer temperatures loom ahead. So with spring in the air we are heading into the time of year when all those sealed-up convertibles and cabriolets in the traffic start to lower their lids. Modern drop-tops are mostly so well engineered that it is perfectly feasible to drive them with their roofs down year-round. Their cabins are designed to be snug with creature comforts even when open to the elements, and if the weather changes, the top can be up and

sealed again in under half a minute. Those Meccano sets of metal rods and reluctant canvas that constituted old-style convertible car hoods of the past have long gone. Today’s hoods ﬁt tightly, go up or down quickly and easily, and are very often motorised so all you have to do is press a switch to raise or lower them. Convertible lovers already have a wealth of drop-top models to choose between, and more are on the way this spring. Among those coming soon are the Audi A3 Cabriolet, Citroën DS3 Cabrio, Peugeot 208 CC, Vauxhall Cascada and Volkswagen Beetle Cabriolet. Here are some of the best current options for open-air, breezy glamour motoring for the upcoming spring sun.

BMW 1-SERIES CONVERTIBLE Here is a breezy Bavarian, a svelte convertible based on BMW’s 1-Series Coupé. The starting price is lower than its Audi rival, but the cachet of driving a beautifully engineered prestige German car is the same. It looks good and its driving dynamics are particularly appealing, and anyone who favours a rear-wheel drive car will instantly understand. Rear-drive makes winter driving trickier, but also guarantees

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seat-of-the-pants fun on twisty Suffolk roads on a sunny summer day. Top down, stereo tuned to your favourite music, balmy air breezing overhead, what more can you possibly want for behind the wheel enjoyment? This is what great motoring is all about, knowing you can press a button when clouds appear and seal out any sudden change in the weather.

WHAT: Open air beauty from Bavaria WHEN: In the showrooms WHO DRIVES IT: Keen drivers with rooﬂess ambition PRICE: from £24,930 ENGINES: 2.0 & 3.0 litre petrol, 2.0 litre diesel

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MOTORING

PEUGEOT 308 CC If a cabriolet appeals, but you are concerned about having a fabric roof overhead – with qualms about security and possible deterioration of the hood – here is a good solution. This is one of the cleverly hinged, steel-top cabriolets based on an existing coupé in the maker’s model range. Peugeot’s 308 CC is one of the more reasonably priced ways to glamorise your driving. Svelte styling and pretty fair fuel economy make this French coupé-cabriolet an appealing route to open-air motoring. A chic regular on the streets of Paris and the Cote d’Azur, it looks just as good bowling through Bury. WHAT: Folding steel-top coupé-cabriolet WHEN: Here now WHO DRIVES IT: British weather realists who like metal overhead when it rains PRICE: from £19,995 ENGINES: 1.6 litre petrol, 1.6 & 2.0 litre diesels

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MOTORING

VOLKSWAGEN GOLF CABRIOLET

WHAT: VW’s popular drop-top WHEN: Already on sale, R version imminent WHO DRIVES IT: Sunny-natured extroverts PRICE: from £21,040 ENGINES: 1.2 & 1.4 litre petrol, 1.6 & 2.0 litre diesels

Fun to drive and hugely popular, the Volkswagen Golf Cabriolet is almost the deﬁnitive drop-top on UK roads, and is a familiar sight zipping around here in our area. Oddly, it is not based on the most recent, seventh-generation Golf that arrived this year. The Cabriolet, launched in 2011, is built around the previous, sixthgeneration model. It is a clever design, with a concealed steel front section built into the fabric hood to give taut protection from the elements when the top is up, neatly doubling as a hard cover when the roof is open. Electrically operated, the Golf Cabriolet’s hood is one of the fastest to open or shut, taking around 10 seconds each way. A new extra-sporty model, the Golf Cabriolet R, is coming this spring.

AUDI A5 CABRIOLET This is the other of the two Bavarian beauties among the drop-top brigade. A stylish soft-top oozing exotic glamour, it is based on Audi’s well-regarded A5 Coupé. It is hardly a budget option, though. Quite pricey, and certainly dearer than many of the others, it’s also a strong performer. It has a special appeal with highperformance versions on offer in the upper echelons of the range, and is available either with standard frontwheel drive or optional quattro fourwheel drive for grippy, sure-footed handling when the sun is out, the roof is stowed and you feel like enjoying

a drive. As with any of these cars, there is a free bonus in the gorgeous seasonal scents of spring ﬂowers and summer meadows that comes with top-down motoring. So long as you’re not a hay fever sufferer…

WHAT: Glamorous four rings drop-top WHEN: Currently on sale WHO DRIVES IT: Style-conscious fresh air aﬁcionados PRICE: from £31,785 ENGINES: 1.8 & 2.0 litre petrol, 2.0 & 3.0 litre diesels

RENAULT MEGANE CC We Brits like to think of ourselves as inventors of convertibles, because they go so far back in our national motoring history. But in fact it was a Frenchman who ﬁrst thought of the idea, way back in the early 20th century when a young man in Nice watched from his window as a neighbour struggled to erect the complicated fabric roof on his early automobile. Renault’s Megane CC, closest rival to the Peugeot 308 CC, continues a long tradition of French convertibles. Its coupé-style steel roof concertinas back down into the upper boot area to give an elegant line of open-top stylishness that lets a driver and three passengers waft along in airy comfort. Reasonably priced and with an economical range of engines, it’s a breeze of a choice. WHAT: Fellow French rival for Peugeot’s drop-top WHEN: Already around for a while WHO DRIVES IT: Breezily cheerful Francophiles PRICE: from £22,945 ENGINES: 1.2 & 1.4 litre petrol, 1.5 & 1.6 litre diesels

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PETS

WORDS ALEX WYLIE

Dog-friendly

SHOPPING IN BURY Alex Wylie from Eastgate Veterinary Group shares her round-up of Bury’s top dog-loving businesses that make shopping trips with your pooch a pleasure f I forget to take my dog with me when I visit the cosmetics section of Palmer’s Department Store, the staff greet me warmly with a smile, but they then ask in disappointment, ‘Where’s your dog?’. My eight-year-old staffy, Frazz, usually accompanies me on shopping excursions through Bury and shop assistants love to lavish attention on him. Shopping in Bury St Edmunds is excellent. With a variety of shops and a high percentage of local traders it is a unique experience, which can be made all the more special by taking a companion along. I recommend choosing one who is cute, loves a fuss, snogs shop assistants and is canine! I wouldn't advise taking your dog into shops, however, if he is likely to pee on the

merchandise, shed excessively on the carpet, or destroy anything. It would be awful if all dogs were banned from a shop because of one inappropriate act. It's also probably best to remember that most shops have a ‘he chews, you buy’ policy. Many businesses in Bury are proudly dog friendly, so I’d like to share with you how easy it is to plan a canine-accompanied shopping extravaganza through the streets of Bury St Edmunds. The market days of Wednesday and Saturday present a fantastic opportunity to take your dog shopping. The market is one of the few places that you can purchase food with your dog by your side and my dog takes advantage of this by heading straight to the stall selling ham. He also helps the local council to save money on litter picking by cleaning up any scraps of food dropped on the ground!

PALMER’S: For cosmetics and a warm welcome (avoiding the clothing department so as not to deposit hairs).

BURY’S TOP

dog-friendly shopping spots

COTSWOLD OUTDOOR, MOUNTAIN WAREHOUSE AND STEPPING OUT: To help gear up for your next trek or camping expedition. WATERSTONES: (not the café) Purchase dog training books and other essential reading. BODY SHOP: Help you and your loved ones smell beautiful ethically. CROASDALES: To pick up your pharmacy necessities. BUTTERWORTHS: Top up on health supplements or specialist foods. (As this shop sells food stand at the front door and ask the very helpful staff to ﬁnd your shopping). SNEEZUMS: This proudly dog-friendly shop sells everything from cameras and watches to telescopes.

In general I ﬁnd that local businesses are more likely to be ﬂexible and allow your dog entry. Some of the larger chains are equally friendly however, so it is worth asking anywhere not displaying a ‘no dogs’ sign.

BURY FRAMING CENTRE: There is usually animal-themed artwork in the window – the best are painted by the shop owner himself!

As you can see, it is possible to purchase almost all your shopping requirements, while socialising your dog. Shopping with an adorable and well-behaved dog helps break down barriers and encourages interactions with other shoppers and staff. Good businesses recognise this fact and welcome both you and your canine companion to their premises.

POST OFFICE: Send the ones you love a proper letter!

Happy shopping!

CAMPS, DENNY BROS AND RYMAN’S: All three of these stationery shops allow well-behaved dogs inside.

TOYMASTER: Act like a kid in a toy store where staff enthuse ‘we love dogs!’. HMV: The dog on the logo isn’t the only one allowed inside. MILPETS: This local pet shop will ensure you a happy pup with its range of toys, beds and a free treat if you’re lucky. BANKS: After such enthusiastic retail therapy you’ll need to reﬁll your wallet: Happily, both HSBC and Lloyds both allow dogs inside.

Feel free to contact me with your comments on any local dog-friendly businesses (shops, pubs, hotels, restaurants etc), so that we can share information with other dog lovers. Visit facebook.com/EastgateVets

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