Bury Edition April 2013 Issue

The quality lifestyle magazine for Bury St Edmunds

FREE MAGAZINE Issue 2

www.buryedition.co.uk

APRIL 2013

Inside this issue...

local

family days out

win a luxury mini-break!

Alfresco furniture SPECIAL

nightlife

local events & listings

Piece of cake We unearth Bury’s best cafés & coffee houses

BE04_001 (COVER)hbljc.indd 1

ARTS

culture 22/3/13 17:28:51

CAMBS KITCHENS.indd 1

21/3/13 16:17:10

W IE EV PR

!

OM M RO W 4P HO & L 2- TS T S N RI ES KE TIO AP GU AR EP H L M C 7T L W RE T 2 R A NE S A FO R INK E: S R OU DR AT FFE ED R A EBR S O P GN O L SI S F CE TO DE U TO RK RE OIN O WO VE J DEM ICE E’ ’S PR W EF FCH HAL

T EN EV

* see in store for details

Newmarket 3 The Avenue, Newmarket CB8 9AA Tel. 01638 560778 Open from 10.30 – 5 Mon to Fri, 9 – 5 Sat Cambridge 297 Mill Road, Cambridge CB1 3DF Tel. 01223 213266 Open from 9 – 5 Mon to Sat Bishop’s Stortford 48 Hockerill Street, Bishop’s Stortford, CM23 2DW Tel. 01279 501642 Open from 10.30 – 5 Mon to Fri, 9 – 5 Sat

www.cambridgekitchens.co.uk CAMBS KITCHENS.indd 2

21/3/13 16:17:35

CE ADS.indd 1

22/3/13 15:02:09

contents

APRIL 2013

Welcome

The quality lifestyle magazine

FR EE MAGAZINE

for Bury St�Edmunds

Issue 2

www.buryedition.co.uk

Inside this issue...

APRIL 2013

Here we are at issue number two, FAMILY DAYS OUT win a luxury and what a whirlwind month MINI-BREAK! it’s been since I last sat down to ALFRESCO write my editor’s letter. We’ve nightlife been super busy here at Edition, speaking to everybody we local events & listings possibly can, finding out what’s Pi ec e of cake happening locally and, hopefully, ARTS CULTURE shaping our magazine to be a perfect representation of all that Bury life is about. We had particular fun exploring the many brilliant local cafés and coffee houses in town, sampling plenty of tasty cakes along the way (it’s a tough job…). Turn to page 33 to see our round-up of the best of the best (and it was hard to call, I can tell you). Speaking of eating nice things, inside you’ll also find our newly extended food news pages – we very quickly realised that one paltry page was nowhere near enough space to showcase Bury’s vibrant foodie scene – get stuck into gastro news, reviews and recipes from pages 22 to 31.

We’ve also got some great ideas for family fun, offbeat nightlife suggestions, a fantastic mini-break up for grabs and even (call us optimistic) an interiors special on creating a stylish but functional garden to get you geared up for summer. As ever, if there’s something you’d like to feature in the magazine please do get in touch. Enjoy the issue and see you next month!

LOCAL

33

FURNITURE SPECIAL

We unearth Bury’s best

BE04_001 (COVER)hbljc.indd

8 7 • Five Things to do If you only do five things in Bury this month – make it these 8-9 • Nightlife Here’s the low-down on after‑hours fun in Bury this month 11-14 • Arts & Culture Bit of a culture vulture? Whet your whistle with our pick of exciting arty goings-on 17 • Competition This month we’ve teamed up with the delightful Elveden Estate to give away a fantastic prize bundle worth over £300 19 • Family There’s plenty of fun locally if you’ve got little ones in tow; here are eight ideas 20-21 • Listings A comprehensive guide to events in Bury and the surrounding area this April 22-24 • Food News A bumper round-up of local gastronomic goings-on 27 • Review Sian Townsend visits Angel Hill’s hot new eaterie, Graze Kitchen and Bar 29 • Food Column Chef and food writer Alex Rushmer pays homage to the ever-reliable egg 30-31 • Recipes Two eggstra-ordinarily tasty recipes: one sweet, one savoury 33-35 • Ten of the Best Bury is known for its wonderful cafés and coffee shops – here’s our pick of the best

37 • Business Local businessman Keith Senior finds reasons for Bury companies and the community to be cheerful 39 • Indie of the Month Every month we celebrate a local favourite. In the spotlight for April, gorgeous boutique Scarlet Shoes 40-43 • FASHION Three brave new trends for the ladies, and some bold primary colours for the boys 45 • Picks from the Indies Top spring style selections from local independent retailers 46-47 • Beauty Self-confessed beauty junkies Charlotte and Daisy round up the hottest looks from the SS13 catwalk, and show you how to recreate them 48 • Wellness Fast track your way to a happier, healthier you with our advice from local experts 50-55 • Interiors Summer’s on its way and the time is nigh for alfresco entertaining. Emily Brooks takes a look at ways to make your garden as stylish, practical and versatile as possible 59-60 • EDUCATION Being able to speak more than one language brings a wealth of benefits, and it’s never too late to learn, says Charlotte Phillips

40

62-64 • MOTORING Sue Baker road-tests the slinky and super-efficient ninth-generation Honda Civic

66 • PETS Alex Wylie from Eastgate Vets advises on dealing with and preventing a dreaded flea outbreak

cafés & coffee houses

1

22/3/13 17:28:51

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

FOLLOW US ON twitter: @BuryEdition

EDITORIAL

Contributors

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

Alex Rushmer, Sian Townsend, Charlotte Griffiths, Sue Baker, Daisy Dickinson, Emily Brooks, Alex Wylie, Keith Senior, Charlotte Phillips, Lucinda King

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

bury EDITION Magazine • Bright Publishing Ltd, Bright House, 82 High Street, Sawston, Cambridgeshire CB22 3HJ 01223 499450, www.buryedition.co.uk • All rights reserved. Material contained in this publication may not be reproduced, in whole or in part, without prior permission of the publishers. • Views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of Bury Edition or Bright Publishing Ltd, which do not accept any liability for loss or damage. • Every effort has been made to ensure all information is correct. • Bury Edition is a free publication that is distributed in Bury St Edmunds and the surrounding area

BURYedition.co.uk

BE04_003 (CONTENTS)ljchb.indd 5

Bury Edition | April 2013 | 5

22/3/13 17:30:24

CE ADS.indd 1

21/3/13 16:18:14

news

Things to do this month 1

Fashion Fusion

Top high street and independent retailers will be showcasing their spring and summer collections at this not-to-be-missed fashion event, held at The Apex.

Now in its third year, Fashion Fusion (19 April) is held in aid of St Nicholas Hospice, and is a great opportunity to plan your purchases for your new-season wardrobe, raise money for a very worthy cause, and perhaps even win yourself some fabulous prizes in the raffle. All tickets include a welcome drink on arrival, plus coffee and muffins at the interval, together with a goody bag to take home. Arrive at 7pm for 7.30pm, unless you have a VIP ticket, when you’re invited to arrive for 6.30pm for the pre-show demonstrations. Tickets cost £13.50 or £20 for VIPs. www.theapex.co.uk

Book tickets for LeeStock

2

Tickets are now on sale for LeeStock, the annual music festival which raises money for the Willow Foundation. This year the weekend-long festival decamps to a new venue: the beautiful National Trust property Melford Hall Park in Long Melford. Previous acts have included indie band Dodgy and American rockers Wheatus, whilst this year they’ve snapped up platinum-selling band Toploader, plus 1990s indie heroes Space. LeeStock was established in 2006 in memory of popular local, Lee Dunford, who died of Hodgkins Lymphoma the same year. All proceeds go to the Willow Foundation, which supports seriously ill young adults by providing special day experiences.

LeeStock takes place 25 and 26 May, weekend tickets £30. www.leestock.org

Go to the theatre Philip Pullman’s I was a Rat! comes to the Bury stage this month as part of a national tour by the Birmingham Repertory Theatre Company and, judging by the reviews it’s already garnered, looks set to be the highlight of the Theatre Royal’s season. The story begins as a scruffy pageboy turns up on the doorstep of an old married couple, claiming he used to be a rat. What follows in this first ever professional production is a humorous, gripping and unusual tale, with echoes of Oliver Twist and a certain dark quality.

16-20 April, 2pm & 6.45pm. www.theatreroyal.org

Enjoy the best of Britten Musicians from across the county will be flocking to St Edmundsbury Cathedral on 13 and 14 April (8pm and 4.30pm respectively) as the Suffolk Youth Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra, Suffolk Chorus and the cathedral choristers join together to perform a stirring rendition of Benjamin Britten’s War Requiem. This is a one-off event for Bury, arranged by Suffolk County Council to celebrate the centenary of our county’s great composer. Written in a direct style, audiences the world over continue to respond to the War Requiem’s timeless relevance and conviction. www.suffolk.gov.uk/ BenjaminBritten

5

3 Park for free!

Shoppers and local businesses alike will be glad to hear that free parking is being introduced in Bury town centre on Tuesday afternoons. As of 23 April, all short stay car parks in the centre will be free from 3pm – great if you’re on the school run or planning an afternoon browse around the shops. You’ll also be able to park for free at Lower Baxter Street on Wednesday mornings from 8 until 10am; this comes into effect on 9 April. Further parking reductions are set to be put in place throughout the town centre. www.stedmundsbury.gov.uk/parking

4

BURYedition.co.uk

BE04_007 (NEWS - 5 THINGS)ljchb.indd 7

Bury Edition | April 2013 | 7

22/3/13 13:40:14

April

NIGHTLIFE

Lucy Porter

At the Apex

It’s a busy month over at The Apex, kicking off with a visit from R&B veterans Dr Feelgood on 4 April. Still going strong almost 30 years after they first exploded onto the scene with their raw, uncompromising sound, they are known for their visceral live performances (£18.50). Next up it’s the turn of 80s pop act Dexys, who will be performing their One Day I’m Going To Soar album in its entirety. Formed as Dexys Midnight Runners in 1978 by Kevin Rowland, the group had two Number 1s (Come On Eileen and Geno), as well as landmark albums Searching For The Young Soul Rebels, Too-Rye-Ay and Don’t Stand Me Down (9 April, 7.30pm, £20/£22).

For something wildly different and a little bit eccentric, put 11 April in your diary and get yourself tickets to see Finnish

Enjoy live music this month at LP, Bury’s über-trendy pizza joint and bar. Lewis Mokler and Josh Kemp will be performing on Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 April (8pm, tickets £2 in advance). On Saturday, they’ll be followed by a set by DJ Monsieur, who’ll be spinning a mash-up of genres for all music lovers every Saturday for the rest of the month, starting at 11pm. Or, for a quieter night out, swing by for a pizza, hailed as one of, if not the, best in Bury.

For more information, visit www.lp-bar.co.uk

artist Johanna Juhola. This dynamic musician is a familiar face in her native country, having dazzled the tens of millions of TV viewers who tuned in to see her play a specially commissioned composition, ‘Fantasiatango’, on her beloved accordion as an opener for the Eurovision Song Contest in Helsinki in 2007. The piece also gives the title to her second solo album and serves as a good description of her personal style: an original blend of tango and electronica, laced with both melancholy nostalgia and uplifting exuberance, Finnish style (11 April, 8pm, tickets £12.50).

For more info, visit www.theapex.co.uk

Pocket-sized comedienne Lucy Porter is back on the road and stopping

by Haverhill with her new show, People Person. Last summer she celebrated 15 years at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and this latest feelgood show is based around her own fascinating story – which promises plenty of twists and turns. The 30something mother of Irish twins (not Jedward) and radio sketch show writer certainly has lots of material to draw on, and will be tackling subjects from happiness to home shopping and daytime TV. (13 April, tickets £12) For more information, visit www.haverhillartscentre.co.uk

Quiz Night

Fancy yourself as a bit of a trivia king or queen? It could be your time to shine at The One Bull on Angel Hill this month, when the pub will host a charity quiz night. The evening is fundraising for Suffolk Breakthrough Breast Cancer, a fantastic local charity which raises money to help research into the disease.

Teams of up to six people are invited to enter, and there will be prizes for the teams which come first and second (21 April, 7.30pm). www.theonebull.co.uk

8 | Bury Edition | April 2013

BE04_008-009 (NIGHTLIFE)hbljc.indd 8

BURYedition.co.uk

22/3/13 12:45:46

nightlife

WINGSPAN

Tired of frequenting the same old pubs and bars? Take yourself on an evening adventure and discover the decadent hidden bar at The Angel Hotel, nestled deep underground and featuring a fascinating mix of architecture. Wingspan is a stylish new drinks venue, fashioned out of the secret tunnels that run underneath much of Bury St Edmunds. Look out for the bar created from half an aircraft engine and tables fashioned from aeroplane doors. Drinks include quality wines, spirits and beers as well as expertly mixed cocktails. For more information, visit www.theangel.co.uk/eaterie/wingspan

The Chortle Factory The Hunter Club Billed as ‘a regular club night for regular people’, Washing Machine is the live music night at The Hunter Club, St Andrew’s Street. Washing Machine is jointly presented by B-Side music magazine and Sturm Und Drang Recordings, and sometimes they’ll bring in Toonteen Industries. The evening, they explain, is all about bringing alternative rock, indie, punk and dance music to the good people of Bury St Edmunds.

They’ve got two events running this month: on 6 April, see The Soft, These Are Endtimes and The Deference Engine, who’ll be on stage from 7.45pm

BURYedition.co.uk

BE04_008-009 (NIGHTLIFE)hbljc.indd 9

until 11pm. Then, on 20 April, you’ll be joined by Volunteers, Becky Jango, The Domestics and Chestburster.

The bar stays open until 12am and entry is £5 on the door. For more info, visit www.hunterclub.org.uk

Have a laugh this month in the attic at Benson Blakes, courtesy of brilliant monthly night The Chortle Factory, where you can catch some top quality stand-up comics on your doorstep for just £6 a ticket. Priding itself on being Bury’s ‘up close and personal’ comedy night, the vibe is intimate and relaxed, and always boasts a stellar line-up of acts.

Up this month on Thursday 11 April is James Alderson, who has been nominated two years on the trot for the prestigious Guide Awards’ Best Comedian, and is known and loved for his exuberant style, hilarious observations about the everyday, and self-deprecating humour. Plus, if you book in advance, you’ll be offered 20% off a pre-show meal at the venue. For more information, see www.chortlefactory.com

Bury Edition | April 2013 | 9

22/3/13 12:45:57

CE ADS.indd 1

22/3/13 14:23:04

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

The Apex Scandinavia doesn’t just produce compelling crime novels, as talented trio Phronesis are proving. These boys have been thrilling audiences the world over with their modern take on jazz, characterised by charismatic live performances and musical prowess. In 2012 they rose to stardom when their fourth album, Walking Dark, was described in a five-star review as “arguably the best disc yet from one of the best of the bunch of contemporary bands” by BBC Music Magazine. They’ve also picked up the London Jazz Award and several other prestigious nominations, and are looking forward to their first visit to The Apex (3 April, 8pm, £14).

On 5 April, catch the Carducci Quartet who’ll be showing off their skill on the strings, performing music by Hayden, Shostakovich and Dvořák. The Carducci Quartet are recognised as one of the most successful young quartets of the day, and perform over 90 concerts worldwide each year. Dvořák’s American String Quartet, which they’ll be treating you to in Bury, is one of the favourites in their repertoire (7.30pm, £12/£16).

Meanwhile the monthly March Hare Collective returns on 6 April, offering local artists and crafters the chance to display and sell their work, and you, the browsing

public, a range of lovely stalls to peruse (10am-4.30pm).

Finally, indulge your musical side with a Harmonica Workshop on 27 April. Running from 12 until 4pm, the class will teach you the basics and provide tips on how to get to grips with the harmonica. You’ll learn to play some blues rhythms, cool country wails, and have a bit of a jam together too.

You don’t need to know how to read music – you don’t even have to have your own harmonica, as instruments will be provided on the day (£25 in advance).

For more information, visit www.theapex.co.uk

Bury St Edmunds Art Society A place for local artists to meet, work and be inspired, the Bury St Edmunds Art Society gets together every second Thursday of each month, and on 11 April will be joined by guest speaker, artist Christine McKechnie. Christine will provide an insight into how she creates her unique pictures using watercolours and collage. Since training at Kingston School of Art in the early 60s, she has been creating bright, bold collages, which often feature her garden and particularly picturesque holiday spots. They are made up of many tiny different pieces of paper, brought together to form eye-catching and unique patterns.

If you’re not a member, you can still come along – visitors can join in for £2 admission.

Then, if you like it, you can pay £25 to join for the year. The meeting takes place at the Hyndman Centre, Hospital Road, next to St Peter’s Church. www.burystedsartsociety.co.uk

BURYedition.co.uk

BE04_011-014 (ARTS & CULTURE)hbljc.indd 11

Bury Edition | April 2013 | 11

22/3/13 15:42:19

ARTS & CULTURE

Theatre Royal The Theatre Royal has a stunning programme for us this month, with gothic horror, dance spectaculars and children’s fantasy all on the cards.

On 4 and 5 April, be transported back to the golden age of the railway in The Iron Road, a collection of engaging tales surrounding the arrival and closure of the West Suffolk Railways. It is brought to us by the Theatre Royal’s three Youth Theatre groups, tickets cost £8 and the show starts at 7.30pm. From 9-13 April, forget your Twilight and True Blood teen romances

and return to the essence of the vampire horror story with Bury Theatre Workshop’s Dracula. Bram Stoker’s famous Transylvanian tale is dark and poetic, set in dark forests and ancient castles, yet still has the power to captivate since it first shocked Victorian audiences in 1897 (7.30pm, tickets from £5).

I Was A Rat, which comes to town from 16 to 20 April, was described by The Guardian as having “genuine wit and style” – and it looks set to be the must-have ticket in Bury this spring. Adapted from Philip Pullman’s 1999 children’s novel, it’s a modern Cinderella story following pageboy Roger, who turns up on the doorstep of a middle-aged couple, claiming he once was a rat. Expect colourful characters, elaborate costumes, a sinister edge but a heart, too, from this professional production of Pullman’s fantasy story.

Finally, get your groove on with Footloose, live on stage from 23-27 April.

The classic 80s musical introduces us to a sleepy town, where rock ’n’ roll is passing the teenagers by. That is, until the arrival of rebellious Ren McCormack, who whips the town into a frenzy with his dance moves (7.30pm & 2.30pm Saturday, tickets from £8).

Visit www.theatreroyal.org for details.

WV Art & Interiors launch A new arts and interiors space opened its doors on 1 March, headed up by interior designer Esmé Veldhuizen and art dealer Stephen Walton. Part gallery, part showroom, WV Arts and Interiors showcases a carefully selected range of beautiful paintings, etchings and other artworks, as well as fabrics, furniture, lamps and objets d’art.

“Stephen and I started working together two years ago,” says Esmé. “He’s been an art dealer for the last 20 years and I’ve been in interior design for 12.

“Stephen is often commissioned to find art for hotels and private houses but then needed advice on how to make the art fit in the existing space. At the same time I have decorated houses based on an existing painting or had to find a piece of art as the finishing touch to a room. So we decided to join forces.

12 | Bury Edition | April 2013

BE04_011-014 (ARTS & CULTURE)hbljc.indd 12

“Our showroom features a mixed exhibition at the moment, with retro items, Scandinavian 1930s furniture and some traditional English pieces and interiors that complement these. I think old and new items go together – everyone has that old item of furniture they’ve inherited but it needn’t stick out like a sore thumb; interior design is about making everything work together and creating something personal to you.

“I’m delighted with the result,” she adds.

“The showroom is cosy and colourful – it feels easy-going and less stuffy than a gallery, so people can have a look around and have a piece of cake and a coffee.

“We had 300 people here on opening night; since then we’ve had a constant flow of people and lots of positive responses.”

WV Art and Interiors, Langton Place, Bury St Edmunds, open 10am-5.30pm

BURYedition.co.uk

22/3/13 15:43:35

ARTS & CULTURE

Lucy Grossmith

IMAGES: Head over Long Melford’s Jessica Muir Gallery to see Lucy Grossmith’s paintings this month

Making your hobby your livelihood is a dream shared by many people, and local art lover Lucy Grossmith has done exactly that. The Suffolk-born selftaught artist works from her garden studio creating charming, pretty works inspired by birds, animals and the countryside around her.

“I grew up in the countryside so I have always been surrounded and inspired by nature,” says Lucy. “I paint wild birds and animals, countryside and coastal scenery along with gardens, old buildings and snippets of country life.

My aim is to inspire others and capture their imagination too.”

Lucy will be exhibiting her paintings at the Jessica Muir Gallery in Long Melford until 12 April. It will be her first exhibition in six years, and it’s the first exhibition in the gallery’s 2013 programme. Her artwork will be available to buy at affordable prices.

Opening hours are from 10.30am until 4pm (closed Wednesdays and Sundays).

Contact 01787 310400.

For more information, visit www.heart-to-art.com/lucy-grossmith.

Suffolk Showcase

Art gallery and creative space Smiths Row marks the end of its 40th anniversary programme with a special Suffolk Showcase, celebrating the rich diversity and talent of artists in the local area.

The exhibition will be selected from over 100 entries made through an open submission process which aims to unearth both new homespun talent as well as recognise the contribution of more established Suffolk artists.

The selection panel for Suffolk Showcase is made up of artist and printmaker Adam Bridgland and Guy Noble, arts curator at University College London Hospitals. They will choose the recipient of the £250 Suffolk Showcase award, and a further award of £250, sponsored and selected by local solicitors Ashton KCJ, will also be made. The winners will be announced at the private view on Friday 5 April 2013.

“We are delighted to bring back Suffolk Showcase to mark the end of our 40th anniversary celebrations,” says Niki Braithwaite, director of Smiths Row. “The exhibition has been enjoyed by visitors and artists in the region for many years and always brings exciting new artists to the gallery.”

Exhibition runs from 6 April until 8 June. www.smithsrow.org

BURYedition.co.uk

BE04_011-014 (ARTS & CULTURE)hbljc.indd 13

Bury Edition | April 2013 | 13

22/3/13 15:43:47

ARTS & CULTURE

See more of local photographer Allison Johnson’s work on show at this month’s Through The Lens Lens exhibition

The Gallery Highwaymans This month’s exhibition at The Gallery Highwaymans invites us to look at the world through the lenses of five photographers. The exhibition, Through the Lens, starts on 19 April, running until 7 May, and features all Suffolk and Norfolk-based artists. Brett Alexander Robertson was a drummer before he took up the camera, and is inspired by landscapes and nature. Jessica Bardosh captures people and life events, as does newborn, portrait and wedding photographer Allison Johnson. Kevin Sawford is another who draws inspiration from the natural world, and Phil Morley charts his interest in photographing “anything and everything that moved” from his teenage years, and still prefers using film for his landscapes.

Visit The Gallery Highwaymans at Risby, 01284 811833. Open Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 10am-5pm.

Art classes at Denny’s If you’d love to be able to draw but can’t seem to manage a decent stick man, Denny’s on St Andrews Street South might have just the class for you. Tutor Paul Seymour is running a drawing course this month, aimed at beginners and improvers and offering tips and tricks that will help you hone your skills.

It runs over three weeks, starting with the basics, then gently progressing you on to more advanced techniques.

You’ll learn how to look at things like an artist – seeing things as shapes and recognising tones, measuring distance and learning how to get objects into perspective so your drawings look realistic and more 3D. It’s not as hard as it sounds!

Classes are on 15, 22 and 29 April, 2-4pm, and cost £37.50 for all three.

It’s suitable for beginners aged 16 and above. For the first class you’ll need: HB and 2B pencils, a sharpener, soft eraser, pad of A4 cartridge paper and a black felt tip pen (there’s an art shop open before class if you’re stuck).

Other courses running this month include: acrylics, cartooning and botanical art: spring flowers.

To join or for more information, visit www.dennybrosshops.co.uk or call 01284 761171.

www.thegalleryhighwaymans.co.uk

14 | Bury Edition | April 2013

BE04_011-014 (ARTS & CULTURE)hbljc.indd 14

BURYedition.co.uk

22/3/13 15:44:06

CE ADS.indd 1

21/3/13 16:18:43

All Roads Lead to Scampers

LIAM Proudly Supporting

FAIRHURST FOUNDATION

www.scampers.co.uk Independent since 1985

scampers.indd 1

01353 720 431

Northfield Crossroads, A142 Soham by-pass, Soham, Ely, Cambs, CB7 5UF

22/3/13 15:03:53

Competition

A Champagne MiniWIN! Break at Elveden

Wine, dine and relax with a luxurious two-night stay at the beautiful Elveden Inn

T

his month, we’re inviting one lucky reader to enjoy a romantic countryside retreat – on us. We’ve teamed up with Elveden Estate, which owns the delightful Elveden Inn, to give away a luxury champagne weekend break for two worth over £300. The prize includes a two-night stay for two people in one of the sumptuous bedrooms, complete with a bottle of Elveden’s own champagne and a box of delicious chocolates to enjoy.

Our lucky winners will also be treated to dinner on the first evening at the Inn’s restaurant, which boasts a traditional-style menu full of delicious dishes created with seasonal and local produce. Set in the heart of the Brecks countryside, Elveden Inn makes an ideal country getaway: a boutique five-star hotel surrounded by woodland walks and offering roaring fires and hearty, home-cooked food. To be in with a chance of winning visit www.buryedition.co.uk. Terms & conditions apply

Elveden Inn, Brandon Road, Suffolk IP24 3TP. For more information visit www.elvedeninn.com

BURYedition.co.uk

BE04_017 (COMPETITION)hbljc.indd 17

Bury Edition | April 2013 | 17

22/3/13 12:47:00

CE ADS.indd 1

21/3/13 16:19:05

Family

Grab your brood and head off on an adventure with these fantastic local days out in and around Bury

1

4

7

2

5

8

3

6

Find out how your ancestors lived at West Stow Saxon Village, a full-scale working village with huts, farms, fires and ancient artefacts to explore and discover, many of which were lost underground for over a thousand years.

There’s a shop and café too, plus attractive grounds, and village tours are available. www.weststow.org If your toddler loves covering him or herself in mud, or digging up worms in the garden, why not channel their love of gardening for good?

At East Town Park in Haverhill, parents and toddlers will be potting plants to take home at Flower Port Kids, running from 10.30 until 11.30am on 26 April. Bring a £3 entry fee and some old clothes. Suitable for preschoolers.

Saturday afternoons are going off with a bang at Moyse’s Hall, where the Zebra Science Club is holding a hands-on science workshop for kids aged 6-11 years. It takes place 1-2pm from 20 April and includes conducting experiments, learning about electricity and seeing what cool things you can do with science. Don’t worry – it’s much more fun than school! You even get to wear a lab coat…

There’s also a girls only club from 2.30 until 3.30pm (20 April, £32 for five weeks). www.zebrascience.co.uk

BURYedition.co.uk

BE04_019 (FAMILY FUN)hbljc.indd 19

Put your feet up and let the kids cook the dinner on 3 April at Brockford Barn. Here, they’ll teach your wee ones how to make a lasagne, side salad and dessert, ready to serve up to you at 5.30pm. Suitable for ages 12+ (£25, 2-5.30pm) www.brockfordbarn.co.uk Junior Tarzans can explore Thetford Forest in a whole new, exciting way with Go Ape’s Tree Top Junior adventure. Once fixed up to a secure harness, you’re free to hurtle headlong through the trees, overcoming obstacles and whizzing down zipwires (£16). www.goape.co.uk/junior

Fancy roller skating with your mates? Running around in a big bubble? Or sliding down mega slides into a ball pool? Curve Motion on Lark Valley Business Park is a pioneering indoor activity venue offering a range of activities for children up to 12. Get grooving at the roller disco, try body zorbing or take on the vertical drop slide… www.curvemotion.com

Build your own colourful kite and take it for a test-fly around Haverhill’s East Town Park on 9 April. Rangers will be on hand to help, though under-8s should bring a grown-up.

Head down between 2 and 4pm, suitable for 7-11 year olds (£6 adv).

If you’re quick, there’s still time to catch a glimpse of what went on at Kentwell Hall during the Tudor times this Easter weekend. There’ll be music, dancing, hot cross bun making and more at this grand-scale event from 29 March - 1 April. Meet ladies and gents parading the grounds in fabulous costumes, watch the players perform silly dances and games, and chuck eggs about in the traditional egg rolling and egg smashing contests. There’s also an Easter egg trail with tasty prizes to be won (£9.75-£14.40, 11am-5pm). www.kentwell.co.uk

Bury Edition | April 2013 | 19

22/3/13 16:48:32

LISTINGS

What’s on A round-up of events in and around Bury St Edmunds for April Easter Crafts Time: 10am-12pm Location: Brockford Barn Price: £6 per child Description: A morning of Easter-themed activities for ages 6-10 years which includes making chocolate crispy cakes, hot cross buns and painting stained glass window pictures. www.brockfordbarn.co.uk

6 April – 8 June

SUFFOLK SHOWCASE Time: 10.30am-5pm Location: Smiths Row Price: Free entry Description: The Bury gallery is hosting a huge exhibition showcasing a diversity of local talent to mark the end of its 40th birthday celebrations. The hope is to unearth new artists while recognising the contribution of the more established Suffolk painters, printmakers, sculptors and more. www.smithsrow.org

6 April

THE BOUNTY HOUNDS Time: 7.30pm Location: The Apex Price: £4/£8 Description: Home-grown folk band The Bounty Hounds, who are making their mark on folk festival stages across the country, are launching their second studio album with a concert at The Apex. They play a mixture of traditional songs and tunes, plus a few modern classics you might recognise, all with great beat, bounce and originality. www.theapex.co.uk

1 April

EASTER AT KENTWELL Time: Open 11am-5pm Location: Kentwell Hall Price: Child ticket from £9.75, adult ticket from £12.95 Description: See 100 Tudors at the manor, celebrating Easter Tudor-style with music, dancing, hot cross bun making, crafts, art activities and plenty more to see and do at the impressive stately home and gardens. www.kentwell.co.uk

4 April

QUIZ NIGHT Time: 8pm Location: The Flying Fortress Price: £1 Description: Famed for its carvery and Second World War connections, this pub and restaurant just outside Bury town centre runs quiz nights too, taking place on the first and third Thursday of the month. www.theflyingfortress.co.uk 20 | Bury Edition | April 2013

BE04_020-021 (LISTINGS)NF.indd 20

6 April

The Monsieur Me Show Time: 10pm-3am Location: LP Price: Free entry Description: DJ Monsieur Me spinning a mashup of genres for all music lovers. www.lp-bar.co.uk

PEOPLE Time: 1pm Location: Abbeygate Picturehouse Price: Various Description: A chance to see the National Theatre’s broadcast of Alan Bennett’s bitingly funny farcical show about heritage and belongings. www.picturehouses.co.uk

9 April

CARTOONING CLASS Time: 10am-noon Location: Denny Bros, St Andrews Street Price: £12.50 Description: Young artists, hone your drawing skills at this workshop where you’ll draw your favourite characters, then get to work creating your own cartoons. Bring a felt pen, good pencils, paper, a sharpener and eraser. (Age 10 and over) www.dennybrosshops.co.uk

9 April

BURY TANGO Time: 7.30-10.30pm Location: The Hunter Club Price: £6 Description: Master the Argentine Tango in this class which is suitable for all levels.

It’s a great way to keep fit; don’t worry if you’re unsure of your moves – if you can walk, you can tango. See website for dates. www.burytango.co.uk

9-13 April

DRACULA Time: 7.30pm & 2.30pm Sat Location: Theatre Royal Price: £5-£16 Description: This adaptation of Bram Stoker’s famous vampire tale, which is performed by the Bury Theatre Workshop, takes us back to the origins of gothic horror and vampire romances.

Forget Twilight – welcome to Transylvania… www.theatreroyal.org

10 April

CLEO LAINE Time: 7.30pm Location: The Apex Price: £23/£25 Description: Widely acclaimed veteran singer Cleo Laine has performed across the world, from Broadway to the BBC, and rose to prominence as part of jazz group the Johnny Dankworth Seven. Now, she’s got Bury in her sights... www.theapex.co.uk

6

April

Antiques Fair

Time: 10am-5pm Location: Ickworth House Price: £3 Description: Norfolk Fairs hosts a weekend-long antiques fair at the majestic stately home. www.norfolkfairs.com

BURYedition.co.uk

22/3/13 12:49:03

LISTINGS

Images from left to right:

Create your own cartoons at Denny's on 9 April, step back in time with Kentwell Hall's Easter celebrations on 1 April and join the Bury Film Society's viewing of The Apartment on 10 April

10 April

FILM SOCIETY Time: 7.30pm Location: The Hunter Club Price: £30 annual membership Description: Having shared their thoughts on The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes last month, Bury St Edmunds’ Film Society will be watching and discussing Billy Wilder classic, The Apartment this month. burystedmundsfilmsociety.co.uk

14 April

suffolk wedding fair Time: 12-5pm Location: Blackthorpe Barn Price: £2 Entry Description: Get inspired for your big day with fashion shows, exclusive offers, live music and the area's leading suppliers. www.blackthorpebarn.com

14 April

complete CHICKEN DAY Time: 10am-3pm Location: Harveys Garden Plants Price: £2.50 Description: find out more about keeping chickens with talks, expert advice and stalls selling poultry equipment. www.harveysgardenplants.co.uk

14 April

The Ickworth 10k hoohaah Time: 10am Location: Ickworth House Price: £18 Description: A fun 10km multiterrain run (over 18s) through the grounds of Ickworth, with medals and goody bags, plus a £300 prize for the runner who raises the most in sponsorship for the British Heart Foundation. www.hoohaah.co.uk

THEATRE TOURS Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays Time: 2pm Tues & Thurs, 11am Wed & Sat Location: Theatre Royal Price: £6 Description: Take a guided tour of one of the country’s oldest working theatres – the sole surviving example of a Regency playhouse in England. Built in 1819, it has a fascinating story to tell. www.theatreroyal.org

Photo by Irene Young

17 April

JEZ LOWE & THE BAD PENNIES Time: 8.30pm Location: The Milkmaid Folk Arts Centre Price: £12 Description: Performer and songwriter Jez Lowe takes to the stage with his band. Jez has made more than a dozen albums over 20 years and had his work covered by a number of artists. www.milkmaidmusic.co.uk

BURYedition.co.uk

BE04_020-021 (LISTINGS)NF.indd 21

ANA MOURA Time: 7.30pm Location: The Apex Price: £16 Description: This young Fado singer, who can count the Rolling Stones and Prince amongst her fans, looks likely to be a major superstar in the next few years.

Don’t miss what should be a stunning evening of music as she visits Bury. www.theapex.co.uk

20 April

STRICTLY SATURDAYS Time: 2.30pm Location: The Apex Price: Free entry Description: Dump your shopping bags and join the dancers at the upstairs bar for an afternoon of ballroom and Latin dancing. It’s free too, so there’s no excuse not to slip on your dancing shoes, learn some slick moves and dance like a true pro! www.theapex.co.uk

23 April

Personal Shopping Day Time: 11am-8pm Location: Gallery Highwaymans Price: Free entry Description: Stop by the art gallery for an exclusive shopping event featuring organic skin care specialists Neal’s Yard Remedies and Boden clothing. thegalleryhighwaymans.co.uk

25 April – 20 May

ANGELS Time: 9am-5pm Location: St Edmundsbury Cathedral Price: Free entry Description: An exhibition on the theme of angels – by West Suffolk College students – is to be held within the Cathedral until 20 May. www.stedscathedral.co.uk

THE MAD DOGS Time: 10pm Location: The Grapes Price: Free entry Description: Blues band The Mad Dogs strike up at The Grapes for an evening of live music. www.gkpubs.co.uk

28 April

RED POLL SOCIETY CATTLE SHOW Time: All day Location: Elveden Estate Price: Free to view Description: Come and witness a true, traditional cattle show as hundreds of competitors put their prize specimens before the judging panel. There will be a barbecue and bar too. www.elveden.com

19 April

FASHION FUSION Time: 7.30pm Location: The Apex Price: £13.50/£20 Description: Fashionistas, do your bit for charity at the St Nicholas Hospice fashion show, showcasing the best in next season’s collections. Tickets include a welcome drink, coffee and muffins, a goody bag and entry into the raffle. www.theapex.co.uk

THE ELEPHANT BRIDESMAID Time: 3pm Location: Theatre Royal Price: £8.50/£9.50 Description: Nessie is going to be a bridesmaid – only she needs help to find an outfit. Join her and her animal friends in this charming production, based on a tale from the best-selling book, How The Koala Learnt To Hug and Other Australian Fairytales. www.theatreroyal.org

Bury Edition | April 2013 | 21

22/3/13 12:49:14

FOOD

FOOD NEWS

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

Award-winning burgers at Benson Blakes Benson Blakes has won the Publican’s Morning Advertiser/National Pub Food Challenge award, making its burgers the best in the country. “We are amazed at the response to us winning the National Pub Food Challenge 2013,” says Steve Blake. “Business has been good with everybody remarking on it, plus chatter on Facebook and Twitter.

“We work hard on our burgers, continually improving them, but the Benson Blakes Burger that won has essentially remained unchanged since we opened in 2003.”

The Benson Burger is home-made with Suffolk and Norfolk beef, Suffolk Black Bacon, Emmental cheese, home-made salsa, tomato, lettuce and red onion. It is served in a bun made by an artisan baker at Gastronome, whose café and deli is just across the road.

88-89 St Johns Street, 01284 755188

Brew Yard Farmer’s Market

Hannah and Garry at The Old Cannon Brewery are hosting another Farmer’s Market at the pub and brewhouse. They will open their yard to local farmers and producers selling cheeses, meats, vegetables, savoury snacks, sauces and the establishment’s home-brewed beers.

“We were delighted with our first Farmer’s Market,” says Hannah. “The seven stalls will increase to 11 and offer chocolates, smoked cheeses, Spanish cured meats, Ickworth wines, cakes, Old Cannon sausages and more.”

(3 April, 10am-2pm). For more info, see www.oldcannonbrewery.co.uk

St George’s Day at Elveden Celebrate our patron saint and Englishness in general at Elveden Estate, where they are serving up a special patriotic menu on 27 April. Live music and entertainment will accompany the meal, with such quintessential English classics as pie, bangers and mash, cod and chips and desserts including apple pie and custard, rice pudding, queen of puddings and lemon syllabub with English whisky cream.

27 April, places cost £29.95, www.elveden.com

Fish Cookery Day If you love fish but find bones, scales, fins and all the messy bits you have to deal with a bit daunting, head along to Bull House in Pakenham on 24 April. Local company The Movable Feast is hosting a special cookery day between 9.30am and 3pm, covering everything from purchasing good fish to storing and preparing flat, round, oily and white fish. As well as learning how to skin, bone and fillet fish properly, you’ll create a range of delicious fish-based recipes. The course costs £95 per person. www.themovablefeast.co.uk

22 | Bury Edition | April 2013

BE04_022-024 (FOOD NEWS)hbljc.indd 22

BURYedition.co.uk

22/3/13 12:50:51

FOOD

Bread-making Cookery Day Being able to make bread is a wonderful skill to possess. In our book there’s nothing better than the smell of a freshly baked batch of rolls or golden artisan loaf – not to mention how delicious it will taste with your lunch.

Over at Finborough School on 5 April you’ll be able to learn this age-old skill at a day-long course that covers all the basics of mixing, kneading, fermenting and shaping. You’ll be taught how to make an array of loaves including wholemeal, brioche and focaccia plus pizza and other bread-based products. You’ll enjoy lunch on the day, and be able to take a loaf or two back home with you.

The course costs £95 and runs 9.30am3pm. See www.themovablefeast.co.uk

Produce & Craft Market Head along to Jimmy’s Farm for breakfast and a stroll around the Produce and Craft Market, which takes place every first Saturday of the month. Here, you’ll find an array of beautiful items, from handmade jewellery and crafts to locally grown vegetables, freshly baked breads and pastries and a scrumptious selection of meats, cheeses, beer and wine.

Jimmy’s Farm is a rare breeds farm, so you’re likely to find things here that you won’t have come across anywhere else. There’s also the Joules Clothing Store and All Seasons Garden Store to browse around, too. Drop by from 10am-2pm (the restaurant opens for breakfast at 9.30am).

If you’re interested in having a stall, visit www.jimmysfarm.com/farmers-market or contact 01473 604206

Swine & Dine Prolific purveyor of pork, Dingley Dell is making a ‘flying’ visit to Tuddenham Mill this month – and bringing some foodie friends along too. On 17 April, the Suffolk-based suppliers are heading up a grand feast showcasing the work of some of the best up-and-coming chefs in the region. The evening will start with a spot of foraging with Paul Foster, head chef at Tuddenham Mill and owner of three AA rosettes. Take a walk through the water meadows

then head back for a tour of the farm led by Dingley Dell’s Mark Hayward, followed by a butchery demonstration by Tom Roberts of Direct Meats.

Then, sit back and enjoy a special dinner created by top chefs including Michelin star winner Mark Poynton of Alimentum restaurant in Cambridge.

The foraging starts at 6pm with dinner to follow at 7pm. Tickets are £55 for five courses cooked by five chefs, and £15 extra for three expertly paired wines. Rooms are also available. www.tuddenhammill.co.uk

New Supper Club at The Swan The beautiful 15th century Swan Hotel in Lavenham has launched a brand new supper club, where diners will be able to sample some exquisite food and fine wine for a very affordable £10 per head.

Available Sunday to Thursday from 6 until 9pm, dinner will be served in the bright and contemporary Brasserie, which overlooks the picturesque courtyard garden. Food wise, you

BURYedition.co.uk

BE04_022-024 (FOOD NEWS)hbljc.indd 23

will be treated to a tasty seasonal dish, created using fresh and locally sourced ingredients.

The food, prepared by head chef Justin Kett, will be deftly matched with top class wine

by The Swan’s in-house sommelier François Belin.

Call 01787 247477 to book or email bookatable@theswanatlavenham.co.uk.

Visit www.theswanatlavenham.co.uk

Bury Edition | April 2013 | 23

22/3/13 12:51:05

FOOD

A Taste of Spring

Food for free at Assington Mill Like the idea of foraging for your dinner, living off the land and enjoying truly fresh, 100% organic food? We might have just the thing. Assington Mill in Sudbury is holding a ‘Food for Free’ course on 28 April where you’ll spend the day learning how to identify, find and cook edible roots, stems, leaves, flowers and fruits which are commonly found in our area.

Helping you navigate your way around nature’s bountiful larder will be tutors Nick Miller and Jude Greenan, in addition to

WIN!

a rabbit-skinning demonstration by Neil Catchpole at the end of the day (course costs £80 per person, 10am-4.30pm).

Assington Mill is a small organic farm which offers a wide variety of short courses, focusing largely on rural crafts, and ranging from beekeeping for beginners to cider making and fruit tree pruning. The Food for Free course and most others include a home-made lunch, biscuits and cake within the price. www.assingtonmill.com

Don’t miss your last chance to enjoy the limited edition ‘Taste of Spring’ menu at The Great House Hotel and Restaurant in Lavenham. Sister restaurant of Bury’s renowned Maison Bleue, The Great House restaurant serves up an array of Frenchinspired cuisine in its gorgeous oak-panelled dining room, and the Taste of Spring menu, which runs until 6 April, is as enticing as ever.

Dishes are influenced by different areas of France, and include such delights as carpaccio of belly of veal confit, served with caper berries and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese or ricotta and spinach cheesecake to start. Mains include beef ‘train de côte’, slow cooked in Merlot, or roasted duck breast in hazelnut, chestnut and cognac sauce, while desserts range from pineapple tarte tatin to tartelette au chocolat noir, served with Spanish red orange sorbet. Prices start at £18.50 for two courses. www.greathouse.co.uk

Picnic Hampers to be won!

Summer’s on its way and we intend to make the most of every ray, which is why this month we’ve teamed up with Carluccio’s to give away three fantastic picnic hampers, packed full of delicious Italian delicacies. The hampers, which are worth £45 each and serve two, include a mouth-watering array of dishes such as antipasti, savoury tarts and a summery chicken supreme served with a potato, red onion and spicy salami salad. For dessert, there’s the indulgent crostata di fragole al balsamico (individual strawberry and balsamic tarts), as well as some Carluccio’s chocolate to share. There’s an equally delicious vegetarian alternative, which includes red wine and radicchio focaccia, classic Italian salad with sourdough croutons and stuffed roasted peppers.

Picnics can be pre-ordered 24 hours in advance from your nearest Carluccio’s, or, if you choose it as a last-minute option, the ‘chef’s choice’ will be available on the day. To be in with a chance of winning a hamper, visit www.buryedition.co.uk.

Carluccio’s‚ Bury St Edmunds arc, 24-26 Auction Street, 01284 725 505, carluccios.com

24 | Bury Edition | April 2013

BE04_022-024 (FOOD NEWS)hbljc.indd 24

BURYedition.co.uk

22/3/13 12:51:27

NEW BARBERS & MENS GROOMERS IN BURY ST EDMUNDS

Cambridge 84 King Street CB1 1LN 01223 461 811 Newmarket 22 High Street CB8 8LB 01638 667 878 Bury St Edmunds 96 Risbygate Street IP33 3AA 01284 701 010

visit celiksmensroom.com, find us on Facebook and follow us on twitter @celiksmensroom celiks.indd 1

5* TREATMENT USUALLY £45.50, ONLY £30 FOR APRIL at Celiks Mensroom Bury St Edmunds 21/3/13 16:27:13

CE ADS.indd 1

22/3/13 14:31:04

eating OUT

REVIEW BY Sian Townsend

Restaurant Review

Graze Kitchen & Bar Great things come in small packages at this hot new dining spot and funky bar says Sian Townsend, as she makes her way through a sensational selection of mini dishes

S

mall plate dining, tapas, tasting menu, call it what you like, but I’ve always loved the concept of trying a little of this and a bit of that when I eat out, so I was delighted to find that Graze Kitchen and Bar on Angel Hill was right up my street.

The idea of bringing this rather European way of eating to the town came from coproprietors Nick Armitage and Paul Bailey. “We enjoy the social aspect of grazing over dishes and taking your time,” says Nick. “It also means that everyone gets to try lots of flavours.”

When it comes to the menu that Nick and his business partner have devised, the best way to think of it is as a tasting menu that you design yourself. These are well-executed, complex dishes that you can mix and match as your mood and appetite dictates – and with small plates starting at just £4, you can order with abandon.

Graze has been open for just over six months now, and if our busy midweek visit was anything to go by, it’s certainly proving a hit with Bury folk. It’s easy to see why; everything in this place feels fresh and exciting – including the rather special cocktail menu. I started the evening with a rhubarb negroni (a sour Campari-based drink with a subtle hint of rhubarb), but on a weekend visit I would certainly have followed that with a

BURYedition.co.uk

BE04_027 (REVIEW)hbljc.indd 27

IMAGES Graze specialises in small dishes bursting with flavour

strawberry jam martini and a caipirinha.

Decor is stylish but cosy, with artistic prints adorning the walls, squishy seats and a lovely open fire. There are plans in the offing for an alfresco dining area come summer too.

The food menu is set into categories: from the earth, from the sea and from the land, with meatballs in the middle of it all. The idea is you order three or four dishes each and they come out in courses, from lightest to heaviest dish.

Every plate of food had us enraptured but a standout was the goat’s cheese panna cotta with beetroot carpaccio and walnuts, in which the deep earthiness of the beetroot contrasted beautifully with the delicate and fresh-tasting goat’s cheese baked cream. From the sea we championed roasted scallops with crab, apple and seaweed, served with an intense fish stock consommé – the tang of apple lifted the seafood and enhanced the subtle scallop flavour rather than overpowering it.

Presentation is key at Graze, and the team work hard to ensure each dish makes the right impression before you pick up your fork. “It might seem a small thing but for this style of dining every dish needs to be presented perfectly as well as taste great,” he says. They

succeed on every level; every dish looks like a small, but perfectly formed, piece of art.

When it came to our meatball course, the doner kebab option won, which had a hit of chilli instantly cooled by a dollop of mint yoghurt.

Finally, from the land, duck and pork rillettes with cornichons was my favourite dish – the distinction between the coarse but melty meat pâté with the tang of the gherkin and crunch of toasted sourdough was perfection on a plate.

Desserts are similarly small but perfectly formed, with a few clever twists. Our lemon meringue pie, for example, was a deconstructed take on the classic, with shards of meringue, a lemon cream and an unexpectedly lovely basil pesto drizzled on top.

Not only was the food at Graze exceptional, the style of the menu felt truly innovative and there was a great atmosphere to boot. If you've got a really special occasion, there's a private dining room (for 14 to 16 people) available too – book up and you can even play DJ for the night and get your favourite tunes on the record player while you dine. What's not to love?

19-21 Angel Hill, Bury St Edmunds IP33 1UZ, 01284 704870, www.grazekitchenandbar.com

Bury Edition | April 2013 | 27

22/3/13 12:53:00

CE ADS.indd 1

21/3/13 16:34:06

FOOD

WORDS ALEX RUSHMER

GOING TO WORK

ON AN EGG

HE EGG IS A TRUE MARVEL of nature, a conveniently packaged fast food that is not only an essential ingredient in the kitchen but a meal in itself. Witness the success of recent butter adverts to see the appeal of a hastily made omelette as an attractive alternative to the lure of the takeaway, or the beautiful simplicity of a fried egg slid onto a slice of hot buttered toast, the yolk just waiting to be burst. Recent years have also seen the egg as a suitable poster boy for a successful animal welfare campaign and it won’t be long before the battery egg is consigned to the compost heap of history. It’s not just a good thing for chickens but consumers as well, since there is a world of difference in flavour between a truly free-range egg and one laid in intensive conditions – a difference I have come to know well since becoming a chicken owner five years ago.

The egg may be simple to cook but it’s also an ingredient that is hard to master.

A perfectly cooked fried egg – one where the white is set all the way through, the yolk remains tantalisingly liquid and there is no stringy, snotty quality to the tricky part where the two meet – is no mean feat. A

BURYEDITION.CO.UK

BE04_029 (FOOD COLUMN)hbljc.indd 29

Images courtesy of Waitrose

Simple, fast, good food, eggs are eggstra-ordinarily versatile. Local chef and restaurateur Alex Rushmer prepares a battalion of soldiers

perfect boiled egg is even trickier, putting paid to the patronising epithet about useless cooks being unable to boil an egg. Many chefs test out the innate cooking abilities of new recruits by asking them to cook an egg and famed New York-based chef Daniel Boulud measures the competency of his cooks by asking them to make him a ‘simple omelette’ – a task fraught with difficulty.

So, chefs love eggs but it takes skill and originality to raise them up from humble fast food to gastronomic fare. Many of the finest dishes in the world have eggs at their heart and recent advances in cooking techniques have seen a boom in high-end preparations.

A meal at Thomas Keller’s French Laundry in Yountville, California, begins with a signature truffled egg custard served in a perfectly hollowed-out eggshell; Heston Blumenthal is famed for his bacon and egg ice cream at The Fat Duck; René Redzepi, head chef at Noma, uses the bland richness of an egg as a foil for an array of wild herbs and Le Gavroche, home of Michel Roux Jr, is still celebrated for its decadently rich cheese soufflé. But perhaps my favourite of all is the slow-cooked egg made famous by David Chang of Momofuku.

It takes skill and originality to elevate eggs from humble fast food to gastronomic fare The Chinese have been slow-cooking eggs for centuries but only recently has this method been taken on by classically trained chefs, thanks in part to the obsessive work of molecular gastronomist Hervé This.

Egg yolk and egg white behave differently at different temperatures. By slowing down the cooking process it is possible to cook an egg to a wonderfully wobbly and rich doneness throughout – the white remains a little gooey and the yolk incredibly unctuous with an almost custardlike consistency.

Exhaustive testing in laboratory conditions (not by me, I hasten to add) has resulted in consensus that cooking in a precisely controlled, temperatureregulated water bath at 64.4°C is the exact temperature at which to achieve the ‘perfect’ doneness of an egg. Alternatively, you could just crack it into a frying pan.

Bury Edition | April 2013 | 29

22/3/13 08:40:49

EATING IN

WORDS ALEX RUSHMER IMAGES CHARLOTTE GRIFFITHS

HEAVEN ON OEUF Alex Rushmer knocks up a duo of simple but delicious recipes, both with the humble egg at their heart

Fried duck egg & truffled mushrooms on toasted sourdough A DUCK EGG always feels like a special occasion egg – richer and larger than a regular hen’s egg, it is perfect for a lazy Sunday brunch. The duxelles can be made ahead of time and finished with truffle oil right at the end of the cooking process. This is a regular, and very popular, fixture on the menu at my restaurant where we often finish it with grated truffle for an extra hint of decadence.

Ingredients 200g finely chopped button mushrooms 1 banana shallot, peeled and finely chopped 1 clove of garlic, finely chopped 2 sprigs of thyme 25g unsalted butter Sea salt Black pepper Splash of truffle oil

1 duck egg per person Day-old sourdough bread

Step-by-step guide

Serves

2

30 | Bury Edition | April 2013

BE04_030-031 (RECIPE)hbljc.indd 30

1. For the duxelles, melt the butter in a frying pan over a moderate heat and cook the chopped shallot for ten minutes, stirring regularly and taking care not to colour or burn it. Add the garlic and thyme and cook for a further minute before adding the mushrooms. Cook for 15 minutes, stirring often and cooking out any moisture.

Season with salt and pepper and finish with a dash of truffle oil. Keep in a warm place while the egg cooks.

2. Toast your bread and heat a non-stick frying pan over a moderate heat. Add two tablespoons of cooking oil and crack the egg into the pan. Cook slowly and spoon the hot oil over the egg, paying particular attention to the point where yolk and white meet. Cook for three to five minutes depending on the size of the egg.

3. Spoon the duxelles onto the toast and top with the egg. Season with salt and pepper.

Serve immediately.

BURYEDITION.CO.UK

22/3/13 08:42:07

EATING IN

Saffron & vanilla custard tarts I'VE ALWAYS HAD a bit of a penchant for Portuguese custard tarts (pasties de nata), and after recently sampling the best I've ever tasted at the rather delightful Norfolk Street Bakery over in Cambridge, I was inspired to create my own version, flavoured with saffron, which gives the custard an amazing colour as well as flavour.

Step-by-step guide

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C. 2. Begin by making a sugar syrup – combine the caster sugar and water together and add the saffron and vanilla. Bring to the boil and remove from the heat. Mix together the flour and cornflour with enough milk to make a smooth paste.

Bring the remainder of the milk to a gentle boil and pour it onto the flour paste. Whisk then return to a clean pan and heat until the mixture thickens. Mix the egg yolks and egg together, combine the thickened milk and sugar syrup then pour the liquid over the eggs. Pour into a jug and allow to cool slightly.

BURYEDITION.CO.UK

BE04_030-031 (RECIPE)hbljc.indd 31

3. To make the pastry cases, cut the puff pastry in half and roll out each piece into a square about 5mm thick. Place one on top of the other and roll into a tight Swiss roll. Cut 1.5cm thick slices from the pastry sausage and turn each one onto its flat side. You should see a spiral. Roll each of these into a 10cm round then grease a muffin tray with butter or sunflower oil. Line each cup of the muffin tray with a round of pastry and pour the custard into the pastry cases. Bake for about 20 minutes until the pastry is cooked and the custard is set. Leave to cool at room temperature and dust with icing sugar.

20 mins COOK TIME

Ingredients 250g caster sugar 100ml water A pinch of saffron Seeds from 1 vanilla pod 250ml milk 30g plain flour 20g cornflour 4 egg yolks 1 whole egg 1 block ready-made puff pastry

Bury Edition | April 2013 | 31

22/3/13 08:42:22

THREE GENERATIONS OF BUILDING CARMELCREST CAN...

EXTEND, REFURBISH OR DESIGN & BUILD YOUR DREAM HOME...

BUILDING YOUR CITY, BUILDING YOUR TRUST, AND NOW WE CAN BUILD YOUR HOME. Cambridge: 7 Chalky Road, Great Abington, Cambridge, CB21 6AT

01992 718 231 www.carmelcrest.co.uk info@carmelcrest.co.uk cc.indd 2

22/3/13 14:32:11

ten of the best

WORDS jennifer shelton

Ten of the best...

CAFEs in Bury

There is no shortage of lovely independent cafés, coffee houses and great places for a hot drink and a light bite in Bury and the surrounding area. Here are our top picks

Harriet’s Café & Tearooms The classic tea and cake experience is executed superbly at Harriet’s Café and Tearooms. Now with a branch in Cambridge, it was established in Bury St Edmunds in 2001, yet its values hark back to an earlier, more genteel time when ‘taking tea’ was an elegant pastime to enjoy at length, and at leisure.

You’ll find the customary scones, sponges, sandwich platters and other novelty savouries on the menu, all freshly cooked and mostly available for purchase in the shop as well. A pianist plays on selected afternoons, completing the wonderfully nostalgic feel.

Must try: Afternoon tea with a glass of champagne

Gastrono-me Gastrono‑me is perfect for lunch, light bites or coffee and cake, and has developed a large following since opening in 2011. The staff are friendly and the menu is a delight, with illustrations of fat rascal buns and ‘My Big Fat Greek Rolls’.

“I ran a market stall at first, then two years ago we found these premises,” says Gemma Simmonite, also known for her celebration cakes, who runs Gastrono-me with her husband Mike. “We started out as a deli, but people began suggesting we created somewhere to sit and eat – so our café area was born.” The café space has a bright, modern-retro vibe, with Lewis Carroll quotes adorning the chalkboards. “We make our own bread and get meat from the butchers opposite,” adds Gemma. “It’s nice in Bury how everyone supports each other.”

57 Cornhill Buildings, 01284 756256 www.harrietscafetearooms.co.uk

Must try: The Moroc ’n’ roll, Portuguese custard tart and the new Mumbai pie 2 St John’s Street, 01284 718665 Twitter: @Gastrono_me

The Lounge This treasured local hangout has to be one of the largest cafés in town, with a spacious, open-plan floor area, plenty of tables and wide windows looking out onto the picturesque Hatter Street – perfect for people watching. “As well as teas and coffees we also serve frappés, smoothies and luxury milkshakes,” says manager Sally Stevens (ask about the chocolate bar flavours). Food wise, The Lounge is bang on for breakfasts, lunches and afternoon treats, with the panini a firm favourite. It’s also a popular spot for those wanting somewhere quiet to work or catch up on the papers. Cast your eyes over the local art for sale on the walls while you’re there too, or even join in with the poetry evening.

Must try: The Skittles strawberry milkshake 2 Hatter Street, 01284 760860

BURYedition.co.uk

BE04_033-035 (10 OF THE BEST)hbNFljc.indd 33

Bury Edition | April 2013 | 33

22/3/13 13:04:58

Really Rather Good Coffee House

Josef’s Vegetarian Café Ironically, Josef’s Vegetarian Café is on the site of a former butcher’s shop. But times have changed and these days, you won’t find any meat products here: it’s run by young restaurateur and lifelong vegetarian Joseph Taylor, and offers delicious veggie staples like vegetarian lasagne and cottage pie, plus more adventurous dishes such as the Thai noodle salad with tofu and cashew nuts, not to mention the delicious selection of homemade cakes.

And it’s not just for veggies, either: “About 90 per cent of people who come in aren’t vegetarian,” says Joseph. “We opened about this time last year and it’s been really successful.”

The interior of the café is an explosion of colour; its aubergine walls are lined with exotic curiosities and comfy, lime green sofas provide a relaxed alternative to the more formal dining tables. As Bury’s only dedicated vegetarian establishment, with vegan options too, it’s a nice little find.

You couldn’t dream up a more picturesque location for a café than the elevated spot at the Really Rather Good Coffee House.

Right opposite the Abbey Gardens, this beautiful coffee shop is a favourite with locals and visitors alike, thanks to its welcoming, stylish interior which draws on retro polka-dot designs, pretty cake stands and patriotic bunting to create a quintessentially English feel. Bunches of flowers adorn the tables and the chairs are lovely and comfortable.

Once seated, you’ve got some difficult choices to make: will it be the daintily decorated raspberry cupcake or traditional cream tea? Or stay for lunch…

Must try: The affogato coffee (a hot espresso shot over a spoon of quality vanilla ice cream) 31 Abbeygate Street, www.rrgood.co.uk

Must try: The lentil burger with potato wedges 7 St John’s Street, 01284 719117, www.josefscafe.co.uk

Saints Café If you want a stunning backdrop to your morning coffee or afternoon cake indulgence, head to Saints, where you’ll find an array of tempting treats housed within a stylishly revamped period building. Vintage Sunday school chairs, along with the establishment’s name, hint at some earlier divine purpose, and the unusually high ceilings, from which a glittering chandelier hangs, lend an elegance to the place.

Saints is run by Engin Aga, who cooks up delicious sweet and savoury items, great for breaking up an afternoon’s shopping trip, and you can also call in until 11pm on Fridays and Saturdays for a glass of wine or dinner. A prettily inscribed slogan on the wall reiterates the aim to provide a relaxed, inviting space where everything smells good, tastes great and the staff are friendly. I’d say they’ve more than fulfilled their promise.

Must try: The lamb stew and Moroccan fishcakes 44 Abbeygate Street, 01284 722988, saintscafe.co.uk

34 | Bury Edition | April 2013

BE04_033-035 (10 OF THE BEST)hbNFljc.indd 34

BURYedition.co.uk

22/3/13 13:05:14

ten of the best

Picturehouse Café The Abbeygate Picturehouse Café might be part of the cinema, but this vibrant café is a destination in itself. Tucked away on the ground floor, it’s a cosy den adorned with technicolour teapots and sweetie jars, and one of the big selling points is being able to take a glass of wine into the cinema with you. They’ve seized upon their Hatter Street location to put a Mad Hatter’s spin on the menu, which offers indulgent vintage afternoon teas and, a favourite with the staff, the ‘create your own burger’ option.

A stylish and sophisticated place to meet (the music’s great too), they source their products locally, using Dingley Dell pork and Hardwick Game Farm among others.

Must try: Sunday brunch – in particular, the café’s signature eggs Benedict 4 Hatter Street, www.picturehouses.co.uk

The Bay Tree For lunch or afternoon tea, The Bay Tree, which has been running for over ten years, has everything you’d want, from nobbly scones and teacakes to hot sandwiches, baked potatoes, speciality teas and locally roasted coffee. It’s also licensed to serve alcohol if you fancy a tipple.

“We wanted to provide a good choice,” says Nicola Richmond, who runs the business with husband Mark, who is the chef. “We have a weekly changing bistro menu, and offer lots of gluten-free products: bread, scones, as well as dairy-free ice cream. We’d started getting requests from customers for these, and we think it’s important to be accommodating.”

Must try: The famous scrambled egg breakfast and the delicious Bakewell tart 11 St John’s Street, 01284 700607, www.thebaytreebury.co.uk

The Coffee House If you live or work in Moreton Hall and don’t fancy going into town for coffee, The Coffee House on the corner, by the pub, is ready and waiting with a selection of teas, coffees, cakes and tasty savoury options. Set up two and a half years ago by local ladies Lucy Newell and Jessica Darnell, it’s a welcoming space with some fantastic, locally sourced food to choose from.

“Everything here is homemade and locally sourced,” says Lucy, whose father, a butcher, supplies the meat. “We make our own sausage rolls and Scotch eggs every morning, and 1p of every coffee sale goes towards the St Nicholas Hospice.”

Must try: Auntie Philippa’s carrot and walnut cake – a Darnell family recipe 5 Lawson Place, Moreton Hall, 01284 700304

Hatter Street Studio “We’ve just had our first year anniversary at the end of last month,” smiles Nat, who runs the charming Hatter Street Studio and Café.

“What makes us different is our paint-your-own pottery, where people can come in and make something as well as having a nice locally produced homemade cake and cup of tea. We sell really good-quality organic coffee and herbal teas, too.

“The carrot cake’s very popular, and I’m rather partial to a Victoria sponge… Everything we have is very good quality and made by a local baker who really knows his stuff.” Having formerly worked in adult education, Nat established her friendly café/studio as a way to apply her skills and encourage others to be more creative.

Must try: The chocolate brownie. Better than Harrods’, we hear…

22b Hatter Street, 01284 747075, facebook.com/hatterstreetstudio

BURYedition.co.uk

BE04_033-035 (10 OF THE BEST)hbNFljc.indd 35

Bury Edition | April 2013 | 35

22/3/13 13:05:26

CE ADS.indd 1

21/3/13 16:43:38

BUSINESS

BURY BUSINESS Keith Senior, director of Jacobs Allen Chartered Accountants & Tax Advisers, offers a view from town, finding optimism and opportunity in our business community

GAINST A BACKGROUND of economic gloom and woe that besets us all every day in the news, it is perhaps unsurprising that many find it hard not to succumb to thinking that we are unable to improve our lives and financial positions. Most economic reports show that business performance is flat and likely to stay that way for a long time.

But remember they are just that – reports, either on past performance or of what is to come. They aren’t the reality of the future that awaits each one of us, merely the collective expectations of a sample who have been polled for that particular report. After all, it is for each of us to dare to take ownership and responsibility for our individual needs, to make life better for ourselves. We then don’t have to concern ourselves with the collective view; it becomes individual to each of us.

That can be scary, because we have to own the potential for failure as well as success, but it does mean that we open our minds to the opportunities that exist, which we can choose to take or leave and to consider the skills we have that can be deployed to our benefit. It doesn’t mean that we always have to be striving for the financial gains that many of us enjoyed in the past, but perhaps deciding to change our life to do something different and gain enjoyment and satisfaction from that.

We are extremely fortunate to be living, and in my case committed to working, in the heart of such a wonderful town as Bury St Edmunds, with a wealth of history, culture and entertainment available to us. Against that backdrop, we still have businesses serving us, both old and newly established.

How refreshing it is to see that others do have optimism for the future, otherwise they wouldn’t risk going into business. They have

BURYEDITION.CO.UK

BE04_037 (BUSINESS)hbljc.indd 37

IMAGE: Say I do to marriage and you could be saying yes to financial gains too

identified their particular skills and have ideas for harnessing and promoting them that they believe people will benefit from and be prepared to pay for. This is the essence of how an economy works, from the simple basis of selling something to someone else who needs or desires it. And how do we make that economy better? Of course, by trying to replicate such entrepreneurialism in other areas with different products and services. Let each of us try to help to make our town more vibrant and attractive by supporting local businesses who are trying to serve us, so we can be proud to join in helping to build up our local economy and be optimistic about its future.

It is very heartening to witness a collaborative, vibrant town centre. Try to use that to your advantage to make the most of opportunities for any business that you are working in or are planning to start. Think outside the confines of how you have run it in the past and use every available resource

at your disposal; talk to others in business to learn new approaches, test your market, measure the success and modify the offer in order to achieve the best result you can over time. Or leverage the benefits that come from organisations like Bid4Bury, of which I am proud to serve as finance director, to promote your business.

Being in business is hard work but by taking control of our own destiny, we can make a difference to our lives and fight to achieve a result that gives us great satisfaction. And if you need guidance about brand building, social media, performance measurement, getting finance, strategic planning or if you’re just not cut out to deal with the red tape and compliance that come with running a business, there are always professionals who are willing to help.

Jacobs Allen Chartered Accountants & Tax Advisers, 59 Abbeygate St, Bury St Edmunds, 01284 704260, jacobsallen.co.uk

Bury Edition | April 2013 | 37

22/3/13 08:43:44

CE ADS.indd 1

21/3/13 16:19:44

news

WORDS Jennifer Shelton

Independent of the Month

Scarlet Shoes

With its stylish décor and amazing array of funky footwear and accessories, Scarlet Shoes is a local favourite for very good reason. Jennifer Shelton pays a visit

T

here’s barely a women in the world who doesn’t love shoes. They can make you feel younger, bolder, more sophisticated, and transform an entire outfit.

Nobody knows that better than Kate Palliser of Scarlet Shoes, a boutique shoe shop in the heart of Bury. She also knows the importance of buying ‘good’ shoes that are well made and comfortable as well as stylish, and will last you more than just one season.

“We buy in shoes that are investment pieces and interesting wardrobe staples,” says Kate, a Bury resident, who opened the shop seven years ago. “I think a lot of people would rather spend £100 on a pair of boots that they’ll wear for two or three years than something that will just last them one season.”

The shop is chic, welcoming and bedecked with beautiful and unusual shoes from brands such as Tommy Hilfiger, Ugg and Belstaff & Hudson, as well as accessories which range from scarves to bags and earmuffs. With so much choice, what are Kate’s personal favourites? “I really love the United Nude shoes, which are interesting and quirky.

Ladies of all ages wear those. I’ve got a great metallic‑heeled cowboy boot in at the moment too, and some new Becksondergaard scarves.

“We focus on buying shoes for mid‑season,” Kate continues, “because I think our climate in this country falls into those in-between seasons – we don’t have high summer and deep, dark winter – so we stock products that suit that. And being a smaller shop we can be more reactionary. We want people to get a lot of mileage out of their purchases.”

A former interior designer (it shows: her stylish shop floor oozes elegance, with moody backlighting and funky feature wallpaper), Kate started Scarlet Shoes after seeing a gap in existing local chains. “I’ve always been in retail – I started off working in a shoe shop part-time when I was 14. After that I worked in London and abroad, but I thought there was a real opportunity to set up an independent shoe shop in Bury. I couldn’t find what I wanted, so I brought the brands I loved to Bury. I’ve lived here 20 years and love the

BURYedition.co.uk

BE04_039 (INDY OF THE MONTH)hbljc.indd 39

town; there’s a great community spirit here.

“I love seeing someone try on some shoes and it immediately changing their demeanour.

Shoes are mood lifters and mood changers.

We all know that if you put on a pair of heels or some beautiful shoes you feel instantly more attractive. And not just to the opposite sex, I think that’s a huge cliché. I think it’s about feeling attractive in yourself. You should always start your outfit from the shoes upwards.”

Because Scarlet buys its stock in small quantities (prices are across the board, ranging from £30 to £300), you’re likely to find shoes in Scarlet that you won’t find anywhere else, or on anyone else.

“We have to try and guess what customers will want, but having been here seven years we have a good idea. We have a lot of loyal customers and we buy with them in mind.

We have a wish list too, and will text people pictures when we get shoes in that we think will be very ‘them’.”

Kate and her staff are experts, and divulge a few tricks of the trade when it comes to those common shoe complaints. “It’s a shame if you expect nice shoes to hurt,” she says, “but there are some old cobbler’s tricks you can use – like heating up your shoes before you put them on, or applying a hot spoon to the area that’s rubbing. That’s what saddlers do to make leather fit round the horse.” It’s service like this, as well as the lovingly handpicked selection of reliable, lovely products, that recommend shops like Scarlet Shoes.

“Retail is tough,” admits Kate. “You park for an hour and a half outside Boots here and I think it costs you £4, whereas I parked at Westfield all day yesterday for free. Jeremy Clarkson said that parking in town centres should be free, and I think he’s right. You’ve got to save the high street.”

9B The Traverse, Bury St Edmunds IP33 1BJ, 01284 753575, www.scarletshoes.co.uk

Bury Edition | April 2013 | 39

22/3/13 13:42:46

FASHION

WORDS ESME BENJAMIN

ORIENTAL PRINT DISC EARRING £6 ACCESSORIZE

statement

This month, fashion blogger extraordinaire Esme Benjamin surveys three directional new trends that will have you tearing up your style rule book ASOS JACKET WITH QUILTING AND EMBROIDERY £65 ASOS

HABANERA PRINT KIMONO £25 ASOS

Eastern promise

This season’s collections were full of Eastern promise. Designers like Celine and Prada showed Samurai belts, kimono cuts and

LIME T-SHIRT £35 HOUSE OF FRASER

intricate Japanese-inspired prints to grand effect. Nod to the trend with these orientalinspired earrings from Accessorize or go for a

MESH INSERT COLOUR BLOCK TOP £20 TOPSHOP

FLORAL SHEER KIMONO JACKET £69 EAST

DOTTY FLORAL KIMONO £55 TOPSHOP

bolder statement in one of East’s floral jackets.

Opt for a bohemian traveller vibe to make the look work on this side of the globe.

FINDERS KEEPERS CROP TOP £90 HOUSE OF FRASER

EMERALD DOUBLEBREASTED BLAZER £90 REISS

COLOUR BLOCK JUMPER £35 SKIRT £30 RIVER ISLAND

40 | Bury Edition | April 2013

BE04_040-041 (WOMENS FASHION)hbljc.indd 40

Spring is the perfect time to add an injection of eye-wateringly bright colour blocking into your wardrobe.

Take style notes from Gucci, Kenzo and Burberry who flaunted cobalt blues, emerald greens, fuchsia pinks and canary yellow head to toe. Thankfully

there’s no shortage of on-budget dazzling pieces – buy this smart emerald double-breasted blazer from Reiss and team with a lime-hued House of Fraser top and statement-making Topshop wedges.

SPRING COLOUR BLOCK WEDGES £85 TOPSHOP

SIGN UP TO THE EDIT NEWSLETTER AT BURYEDITION.CO.UK CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

22/3/13 08:47:00

FASHION

LONG DENIM DUNGAREES £45 RIVER ISLAND

PRINTED DUNGAREES £55 TOPSHOP

Dungarees

It might sound mad, but for the sartorially gutsy the tricky trend to try this spring is the dungaree.

The current predilection for all things 90s is still going strong thanks to the collections of House of Holland (which showed acid-rave print dungaree shorts), Margaret Howell (who also offered up pinafore dresses) and Phillip Lim (who plumped for fierce, full-length leather ones). Copy-cat the look on the high street with a little assistance from ASOS, River Island and Urban Outfitters – or opt for a braver fabric choice like leather if you’re feeling adventurous.

BIB DENIM DUNGAREES £38 ASOS

DUNGAREES £65 URBAN OUTFITTERS LONG DENIM DUNGAREES £40 RIVER ISLAND

SIGN UP TO THE EDIT NEWSLETTER AT CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

BE04_040-041 (WOMENS FASHION)hbljc.indd 41

Bury Edition | April 2013 | 41

22/3/13 08:50:40

CE ADS.indd 1

22/3/13 14:30:31

FASHION

INFERNO T-SHIRT £45 REISS

BRIGHT BLUE SKINNY TROUSERS £34 TOPMAN

JEFF BANKS BLAZER £85 DEBENHAMS

RED HERRING BASEBALL CAP £12 DEBENHAMS

RED TREK JACKET £65 TOPMAN

LEATHER SATCHEL £199 TED BAKER

If you eased yourself into colour last year with a pair of coloured chinos here and a bright T-shirt there then it’s time to step things up a gear.

This spring, designers are proposing primary shades from top to toe,

including dramatic red at Etro and colour-blocked yellow and blue at Louis Vuitton. Go for bright separates from Farah Vintage, Topman and Matalan to get the same look on a pocket-friendly budget.

BELLFIELD ‘RUSTIE’ BOMBER JACKET NOW £35 TOPMAN

LEVIS VINTAGE BOMBER JACKET 1960S DENIM £240 ASOS

SILVER AND BLACK BOMBER JACKET £60 RIVER ISLAND

GREEN QUILTED TIPPED BOMBER JACKET NOW £30 TOPMAN

B MB SQUAD The prevailing sportswear trend has inspired the ubiquitous popularity of the bomber jacket this season. From puffy to minimalist, casual to directional – designers including Gucci, Versace

HELP US RAISE FUNDS FOR THE ROSIE AT WWW.JUSTGIVING.COM/CAMBRIDGE-EDITION

BE04_043 (MENS FASHION)hbljc.indd 43

SLIM FIT CHINOS £14 MATALAN

and Dior all put their spin on this staple piece.

Opt for a denim look version from ASOS, a metallic number from River Island or a sporty classic from Topman to follow suit.

CambridgeBury Edition Edition | February | April 2013 | 43

22/3/13 09:01:07

CE ADS.indd 1

21/3/13 16:37:39

FASHION

Picks from the

Indies Spruce up your wardrobe for spring with these stylish clothes and accessories – all from local independent stores

KASUKU KIKOy sarong £24.50 CABANA, HATTER STREET

hipanema BRACELET £79 SCARLEt SHOES, THE TRAVERSE

BURTON LADIES SPRUCE VEST NOW £48 ODYSSEY, ST JOHNS STREET

Superga 2750 Cotu Classic Trainers £45 Six Whiting Street, WHITING STREET

Gt Plains Geo Pops Stripes Shift Dress £65 Javelin, ABBEYGATE STREET

Nicola Sexton Blue Sneaker £145 Nicola Sexton, ABBEYGATE STREET

Duck & Cover Howell Shirt in Marsh now £39.50 Paul Stephens, THE TRAVERSE

Tom Ford ‘Rock’ sunglasses £230 Six Whiting Street, WHITING STREET

Part Two Knit – Puerla Cotton Stripe Knit in CobAlt £99.95 Paul Stephens, THE TRAVERSE

Buryedition.co.uk

BE04_045 (INDEPENDENTS PICKS)ljchb.indd 45

Bellfield Yannique T-Shirt £18 Javelin, ABBEYGATE STREET

Bench Clothing 2D 3D Tee £22 Sunrise Direct, ST JOHNS STREET

Bury Edition | April 2013 | 45

22/3/13 13:44:19

beauty

SS13 beauty trend report WORDS Daisy Dickinson & Charlotte Griffiths

Edition rounds up the top spring/summer beauty trends emerging from the catwalks, demonstrating how to achieve the looks on a high street budget…

90s grunge

Image courtesy of MAC

MAC took the 90s as inspiration at the Roberto Cavalli SS13 show, with Smoulder Eye Kohl used with a smokybrown shadow up to the brow and under the eye. We love the modern twist on the trend: coupling it with a natural lip – but if you feel like going for fullon grunge, try Rimmel’s Lasting Finish Matte Lipstick by Kate Moss in shade 107. While you may not want to leave hair unwashed, try got2b Volumizing Style Powder by Schwarzkopf for a matte, scrunched look.

Neon brights Schwarzkopf got2b VolumiZing Style Powder £4.05 Superdrug

Rimmel Lasting Finish Matte by Kate Moss (shade 107) £5.49 Boots

Nars Lip Lacquer (Chelsea Girls) £17.50 NARS

A burst of fluoro is bang on trend for this season and a super quick route to a very modern, very eye-catching look. Try fluorescent eyeliner on your lower lids and keep the rest of your face neutral for a really current look – these pencils from Stargazer give a bright finish, can be used on lips as well and won’t break the bank at just £3 each. Colour pop lips are another way of achieving the style: Bobbi Brown’s key look for this season was a combination of hot pink and vivid red lips – gorgeous paired with fresh, dewy skin.

Illamasqua Lipstick Palette £34 www.illamasqua.com

W7 Neon nail polish £4.95 New Look

MODELS OWN nail polish (sophie’s pink) £5 boots

Bobbi Brown Sheer Colour Cheek Tint £18 John Lewis

Image courtesy of MAC

Stargazer UV Lip and Eye Pencils £3 www.stargazer-products.com

46 | Bury Edition | April 2013

BE04_046-047 (BEAUTY)hbljc.indd 46

MAC Eye KohL (Smouldering) £14 MAC

BURYedition.co.uk

22/3/13 09:13:12

Image courtesy of Derek Lam

beauty

Pretty pastels

this season’s hottest looks

Embrace the new season and indulge in the plethora of fresh and pretty hues so well suited to this time of year. Keep skin smooth and glowing with a pearlescent primer such as Benefit’s Girl Meets Pearl for a dewy golden base, and finish off with Bobbi Brown’s gorgeous Brightening Finishing Powder. Nail polish is a quick way to add a little pastel to your look too: Mavala’s 60s-inspired mini bottles are a nice option, and were used at the Holly Fulton London Fashion Week SS13 show.

Bobbi Brown Brightening Finishing Powder in Porcelain Pearl £36 John Lewis

The natural look

Pack those heavy foundations away and dust off the tinted moisturisers or BB creams for a gentle hint of colour with a flawless finish. If you’re in the mood for a splurge, Crème de la Mer’s fluid tint glides on smoothly to leave your skin beaming and there’s even an SPF included in case

Crème de la Mer SPF Fluid Tint £60 John Lewis

Benefit Girl meets Pearl HIGHLIGHTER £25 Debenhams Soap & Glory Super-Colour Fabulipstick £9 Boots

BE04_046-047 (BEAUTY)hbljc.indd 47

nberg Image courtesy of Diane Von Furste

Mavala nail Polish £4.50 John Lewis/Debenhams

BURYedition.co.uk

the sun dares to make an appearance.

Add a highlighter to illuminate cheekbones – our favourite is the classic Benefit High Beam – whilst MAC’s brand new Mineralize Rich lipstick in the nude Posh Tone will top off your natural look, as seen on the Badgley Mischka catwalk.

Mac MineraliZe rich Lipstick £20 MAC Benefit High Beam £18.50 John Lewis

Bury Edition | April 2013 | 47

22/3/13 09:13:28

WellNess

Avoiding holiday

Weight Gain

Weight management experts LighterLife offer advice on how to prevent piling on the pounds while on holiday e’d probably all readily admit that we like to treat ourselves when we are relaxing abroad, but a recent survey revealed that on average, over 90% of us Brits pile on a staggering 9lbs while on our summer holiday. Even more alarmingly, the survey (which took information from 1,000 people), showed that five per cent of us gain a whole stone in weight over the course of just one week away.

Worrying statistics indeed, especially when you consider that almost half of us head off on holiday three times a year. Then factor in that lots of us attempt to shed a few pounds ahead of our breaks, and this results in many people yo-yo dieting and never losing the excess weight that they put on – potentially gaining up to a couple of stone each year which we struggle to get rid of.

Calorie-laden meals out and lots of booze are the main culprits, with 55% stating that they eat out most nights, and 71% admitting that they consume alcohol every day of their holiday. When asked the reason for the excessive behaviour, 86% said it was due to using their holiday as an excuse to

overindulge and 14% revealed that they pay in advance for all-inclusive deals so want to get their money’s worth.

“These statistics are not surprising and we see this often with yo-yo dieters kick-starting their summer holidays by not eating properly to get into their bikinis, and then returning to their old eating habits when they get on holiday – coming home with more weight than they started with,” comments TV’s Dr Hilary Jones.

“Everyone knows that maintaining weight loss is one of the hardest things to manage following a diet, and the only way you can maintain weight loss is to learn new habits and change your relationship with food. You cannot go through life constantly dieting.

“It’s interesting that people use holidays as an excuse to overindulge because food and drink is readily available. Holidaymakers need to change their mindset and see their break as a time to relax and enjoy themselves – but not ruin their waistline and health in the process,” he adds.

For more information on weight loss and managing your weight, visit lighterlife.com

Yoga at The Boiler House Located just off Honey Hill, near Old Shire Hall, stands the unmistakeable chimney of the historic Boiler House.

Once home to the original Shire Hall boilers, The Boiler House is now a purpose-built, fully equipped Yoga Studio, which offers various styles of yoga including Vinyasa Flow, gentle Hatha, Yin, Ashtanga, Kundalini, Iynegar, Restorative and children’s sessions, as well as Tai Chi, self-defence classes and pilates.

Aimed at men and women of all ages, the beginners’ Vinyasa Flow class can get even yoga novices to engage the core, control the breathing and stretch the body, so that when the session ends you’ll leave walking that little bit taller. The instructor, Jacqui Sedgwick, will guide you through the various rhythmic poses aimed to increase flexibility, strengthen the core and centre the self, before finishing with a relaxation session.

We’re all striving to achieve the optimum work/life balance and yoga allows time for you; time to strengthen, time to release and time to unwind.

So whether you’re advanced, beginner or just plain inquisitive, engage your sun warrior and head to yoga at The Boiler House. www.yogaattheboilerhouse.com

48 | Bury Edition | April 2013

BE04_048 (WELLNESS)NFhbljc.indd 48

BURYedition.co.uk

22/3/13 17:40:06

CE ADS.indd 1

21/3/13 16:22:15

interiors

50 | Bury Edition | April 2013

BE04_050-055 (INTERIORS)ljchb.indd 50

BURYedition.co.uk

22/3/13 09:16:07

interiors

TO REL A X Whether you want to use it for relaxing, entertaining or a bit of both, Emily Brooks shows you how to create an irresistible outdoor space that's both stylish and functional arden designers think of their creations in terms of two elements, hard and soft landscaping – with the hard landscaping (walls, pathways, paving) as the ‘bones’, and the soft landscaping (the plants) as the flesh that brings it all to life. But there is a third element that is just as important, and it’s the one that allows you to sit still and actually enjoy all your hard work: the furniture. The right furniture can make a statement that enhances the style of your garden, whether it’s a sculptural contemporary space or a soft profusion of cottage planting. It also makes a statement of purpose: low-down beds and beanbags say lazy lounging, while a table for ten is for the homeowner who loves big sociable gatherings.

“Furniture plays a key role in your garden, as it creates a social life and a new living area outdoors, enhancing the space and making use of it in a new way,” says Lee Adams, managing director of contemporary garden furniture specialists Alexander Francis (0117 325 5247; www.alexander-francis.co.uk). And as with every major design decision, choosing new garden furniture is all about putting the practical stuff first. “The two main points that every customer should think about are the size of the space, and how they would like to use it,” says Adams. “Secondary to that is the durability and maintenance of the furniture; and finally, choosing the style that best suits the customer and their home.”

MAIN IMAGE BY ALEX STOOL £69, PIONEER SMALL BOWLS (X4) £25, CEREAL BOWL £9, CURVE PLATE (OPAL) £9, and (CLEMENTINE) £12, MUGS £5, SCATTER CUSHION £20, CORSICA ARMCHAIR £90, all John Lewis (08456 049049; www.johnlewis.com)

BURYedition.co.uk

BE04_050-055 (INTERIORS)ljchb.indd 51

“It is important to incorporate your furniture into the overall garden design, because it’s going to be there for some time,” says John Derry, the managing director of Moulton-based web garden furniture retailer SandEdge (www.sandedge.com). “Furniture is portable of course, so you can move it around, but it’s still important that the planting and furniture look good together.”

Steve Bentley at Archley Landscape Solutions (01284 724486; www.archleyland scapesolutions.co.uk) says that customers often upgrade to new furniture when they’re having new paving or other landscaping done (the company also sells a range of high-quality, allweather rattan furniture), with the advantage that the furniture and external flooring can be designed to work perfectly together.

Garden furniture trends definitely don’t move as quickly as those for interior design, possibly because most furniture sets are real investment pieces that need to look good for several years, or even decades. As Louise Smith at Merit Garden Products (08456 805286; www.meritgardenproducts.co.uk) says of the company’s timber furniture sets: “What we sell is traditional, but not faddish – it will look good with a lot of styles of garden, and it will also look good over time, weathering to a grey colour.”

New for this year, Merit’s pressure-treated softwood bench set has a simple design that will work equally in a contemporary or cottage garden, while its eight-seater circular picnic table with built-in chairs is great for gatherings.

Timber is an obvious match for garden furniture, gently blending in with the planting itself, and hardwoods such as teak are as popular as ever, not least because they are very durable – either leave it to weather to a silvery grey, but treat it with a teak

Bury Edition | April 2013 | 51

22/3/13 09:16:13

CE ADS.indd 1

21/3/13 16:40:57

interiors

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT M&S Cortardo bistro set £79, Marks & Spencer (08456 090200; www.marksandspencer.com) Grey wooden hinged bench £440, Flora Furniture (01302 7111166; www.florafurniture.co.uk) Illuminated fibreglass stools £249, Ingarden (01732 832299; www.ingarden.co.uk) Antiqued red bistro set £145, Burwash Secret Garden (01223 260040; www.burwashmanor.com) Emu snooze chairs £129 each and Navajo lounger made from FSC-certified wood £299, both John Lewis (08456 049049; www.johnlewis.com)

patiniser to protect against mildew, dirt and moisture; or use a teak protector that will retain the wood’s golden brown hue. Another way to include some natural materials is to introduce woven fencing to mark out your seating area, or even commission a woven gazebo or summerhouse as a focal point. A woven fence is a sculptural element in its own right, and as the timbers used for them are usually gathered

BURYedition.co.uk

BE04_050-055 (INTERIORS)ljchb.indd 53

locally, they’re a very eco-friendly product too; for example, Graham North at Woven Worlds (01284 702344; www.gwovenworlds.com) uses materials from Suffolk, Norfolk and Essex.

Garden furniture has evolved over the past few years to embrace the idea of the outside space as an extension of the house – outdoor ‘rooms’ with a boundary to define them, furniture that looks more like the sofas and chairs you might get inside – properly upholstered, and piled high with cushions – and accessories such as lighting and heating that will prolong your time outside in comfort. Resortstyle, sofa-like seating sets are gaining hugely in popularity, thanks to the comfort factor of an upholstered seat as well as the glamorous style statement they make. The widespread availability of all-weather rattan (made from synthetic woven materials) has made this look

possible even in damp British climes. “It’s got a great contemporary look, and you can leave it out all year,” says Steve Bentley at Archley Landscape Solutions. “Even the cushions are waterproof – you can pour a whole glass of wine over it, and when you tip it up, the cushion will be bone dry. It’s just a fantastic concept.”

Consideration for what happens when the sun isn’t shining is important when choosing garden furniture. If you’re planning on leaving it out all year, make sure it’s truly weatherproof, and if it’s not, that you either have somewhere to store it, or that you’d be happy to look at a mound of tarpaulin over the winter. Check that plastics are labelled as fade-resistant and that stainless steel is outdoor grade.

“Even weatherproof furniture should be cared for in order to maintain its luxurious feel,” says Lee Adams at Alexander Francis.

Bury Edition | April 2013 | 53

22/3/13 09:16:42

interiors

Blue and purple beanbags £19.99, Tropical Stripe beanbags £22.99 Homebase (08450 778888; www.homebase.co.uk) RIGHT BLOOMA MORETTA CHAIR £60, BENCH £99, ROCKING CHAIR £69, and COFFEE TABLE £40, B&Q (08456 096688; www.diy.com)

Bright furniture is almost sculptural, giving space structure and focus even when the garden’s dormant

ABOVE Äpplarö gazebo £250, IKEA (08453 583363; www.ikea.com) RIGHT Outdoor poufFE in Summer Orange £250, Nordic House (08454 751610; www.nordichouse.co.uk) BELOW Bespoke gazebo with ‘witches hat’ roof Wonderwood (01223 263423; www.burwashwonderwood.com)

54 | Bury Edition | April 2013

BE04_050-055 (INTERIORS)ljchb.indd 54

“We would suggest you cover the furniture in the cold winter months or during a lot of rain, and bring cushions inside or store in cushion boxes so that they stay clean and dry. This will make your furniture much more durable and a much better investment in the long run.”

Foldable or stackable designs can be extremely useful, because you can tuck them away in the corner of the shed or garage, and they’re available in every style. For fans of timeless teak, for example, the Bristol round table and Sussex chairs from Jo Alexander both fold up, while a funky plastic chair can be stacked up when not needed. The oak Zeno set from Habitat (08444 994686; www.habitat. co.uk) is possibly the biggest space saver on the market, with a drop-leaf table that cleverly conceals four chairs in its central section.

Folding or stacking designs are also great as ‘extras’ for when you have occasional guests, and, since they’ve been designed for portability, you can also pick them up and move them as you chase the sun during the day. Other savvy designs incorporate handles so they’re easy to grab and reposition, like contemporary Danish brand Cane-line’s minimalist On-the-Move side table.

If you’re a trend hunter, then there are also some bolder, brighter options emerging. There’s

now a fun Latin American influence on garden furniture, with sizzling-hot colours such as lime green and bright pink, and a retro 1960s style using materials such as woven cord and plastic: high-end Italian brands such as Moroso have been doing it for several years, and now the high street has got the memo, with B&Q’s Moretta range, new for this year, as the stand-out stylish bargain for 2013. If you like bright colours but don’t want the vintage look, try SandEdge’s metal ranges, which include a curvy set in fire engine red.

“A bright piece of furniture is almost sculptural, and it gives a space structure and focus even when the garden’s dormant,” says John Derry of SandEdge. “In a small garden in particular, I think that a bold piece of furniture

BURYedition.co.uk

22/3/13 09:17:05

interiors

FAR LEFT Barcelona armchairs £189, oval extending teak table now £445, all Jo Alexander (01954 267857; www.joalexander.co.uk) LEFT Capri outdoor furniture set £899, BHS (0844 411 6000; www.bhs.co.uk)

is much better than something that blends into the background.”

Look out, too, for the trend of a wider weave for rattan, and cane furniture that’s bolder, and touches on a dreamy 1970s style. It’s characterised by oversized weaves, as in the Capri range by BHS (08444 116000; www.bhs. co.uk) and the Ocean range by Alexander Rose (01444 258931; www.alexander-rose.co.uk), and furniture that’s made for lounging, such as daybeds and hanging pods.

You may be lucky enough to have room for a secondary seating area, such as a bench or little table for two at the end of the garden. Position it so that it catches the eye – a strong colour works very well at a distance – but ‘disappears’

BURYedition.co.uk

BE04_050-055 (INTERIORS)ljchb.indd 55

into the planting. Wire benches complete with a built-in trellis are wonderful for training a climber, for example, while a stone bench with informal planting at its feet can give a feeling of permanence.

“We sell a high-backed bench which is really popular and stylish – the sort of thing you can leave at the end of an avenue as a focal point, and a nice place to sit, too,” says John Derry of SandEdge. He also believes that bistro sets are always popular because, “they fit anywhere – conservatories, patios, even on balconies – so whether people have a small courtyard garden or a city high rise, they can still have nice furniture, and most sets fold away too, which is really useful.”

Not everyone is a sun worshipper, and even our temperate climate demands some consideration for shading, so factor it in to your buying decisions. Check that your table has a central hole for a parasol (not every product does), or leave space on the patio for a freestanding one. For more of a statement, install a simple pavilion with a textile roof, an easy way to create a more or less instant outdoor ‘room’.

For something more permanent, homeowners have often opted for traditional awnings, but a shade sail can provide a nice contemporary alternative. Semi-permanent, so you can unclip them fairly easily, their dynamic shape creates a focal point that’s every bit as stylish as the furniture it shelters.

Bury Edition | April 2013 | 55

22/3/13 09:17:28

CE ADS.indd 1

21/3/13 16:22:41

CE ADS.indd 1

22/3/13 14:26:18

CE ADS.indd 1

22/3/13 14:24:06

education words CHARLOTTE PHILLIPS

a skill for life

Language lessons are evolving, imparting not just verb tables and spellings, but a love of the country and its culture. Charlotte Phillips speaks to local experts to find out more anguage is such a fundamental part of what makes us human, our flexibility to change learned behaviour so crucial to our survival that, considered objectively, it is truly extraordinary that, for so many of us, the very idea of venturing away from our mother tongue and learning a second language comes with as many hang-ups as it does.

It’s something language teachers encounter all the time. As a subject leader for modern languages at Old Buckenham Hall School, a co-ed day and boarding prep school, Kate Allanson has met parents whose own memories of French or German lessons aren’t ones of unalloyed pleasure.

“I think language is a bit like maths,” she says. “If the parents have had a negative experience they do tend to pass it on and languages can get a bit of a bad press. We do often get that at parents’ evenings.”

Similar attitudes are widespread, say other language experts. And every time a survey comes out that reinforces the picture of the average Englishman or woman not just as hopelessly monolingual but proud of it, their hearts sink.

The latest research to follow this familiar pattern appeared earlier this year. Carried out by the European Commission, it tested the second language skills of 15 year olds in 14 countries. To no one’s surprise, and perhaps the saddest thing of all, it named and shamed English teenagers as the worst of the bunch, with many barely able to understand the most basic of words and phrases, highlighting a national approach that sees our children learning languages later than their European counterparts, spending less time on it when they eventually get cracking and less able to see the point in learning a language.

As teachers like Kate Allanson will tell you, however, there’s no need for the UK to write itself off as a nation of linguistic dunces, something that, in part, is down to a revolution in classroom practice that allows lessons to be structured to cater for different learning styles.

“Historically, people may have found languages difficult but today, there are so many different ways of learning. When I

BURYEDITION.co.uk

BE04_059-060 (EDUCATION)ljchb.indd 59

LEFT: Innovative teaching approaches are giving pupils of all ages a real chance to master languages

Fluency in another language could become the make or break factor at job interviews

was at school, I don’t remember anyone discussing my learning style with me and I certainly didn’t have study skills sessions where I worked out if I was an auditory, visual or kinaesthetic learner.” It translates into lively lessons at the school where you might see pupils working on the whiteboard at the front of the class, or as a team to form human sentences, racing against the clock to sort words into the right order.

Some might argue that given the inexorable rise in English as the world’s top business language, we could sit back and take things easy. Not so, say the experts. At a time when there’s a worrying shortage of high-flying career opportunities, fluency in another language could become the make or break factor at job interviews as employers attempt to distinguish between an array of sparkling candidates.

And that’s definitely far from being the only reason for learning a language, of course.

It can also open your mind to completely different ways of thinking, a message that local schools are certainly taking to heart.

At South Lee School pupils start off learning French but add Spanish in year seven, with

Bury Edition | April 2013 | 59

22/3/13 09:18:48

education

Making language a living, breathing thing gives students an insight that can spark a lifelong interest Latin, taken from year six, which helps, says the school, “to support the development of grammatical awareness”.

And at Old Buckenham Hall, linguistic opportunities are also grasped with enthusiasm. Chinese New Year, for example, is marked with a lesson on the written form of the language, something pupils find fascinating, and no wonder.

“We look at characters,” says Kate Allanson. “The Chinese character for tree looks like a tree, so if you have lots of them, you can work out that that means forest.”

Although the pupils only learn a tiny amount of Chinese, the school’s approach helps them acquire the skills and knowledge that go into mastering a different language.

As the school’s approach clearly demonstrates, making language a living, breathing thing that gives students an insight into the culture, history and lifestyle of the country they are studying can help spark a lifelong interest.

And age need be no barrier to fluency.

While we’re often told that only those who learn a language in early childhood will ever become truly bilingual, this isn’t the case.

What’s far more likely to be a problem for adult learners is our fear of making mistakes in public.

“I think you’ve just got to get over it,” says Ben Logan, principal of BLS English in Bury St Edmunds, which offers all year round English courses to everyone from students to executives. “Generally, the British are not very good at doing that, as mistakes may make us look silly – but give it a go,” he urges.

“Probably the best piece of advice I was given was that you will make mistakes and not to worry about getting things ‘perfect’ as you won’t – you’re learning,” confirms

60 | Bury Edition | April 2013

BE04_059-060 (EDUCATION)ljchb.indd 60

Peter Moorby, who learned Italian with La Dante, in Cambridge. “It’s particularly relevant when you go abroad and want to try out what you’ve been learning in classes. I found it intimidating just to start to say anything.

Maybe that sounds an obvious point, but it helped me start talking.”

It’s generally reckoned that you need 200 hours of study to acquire a beginner’s knowledge of a language and about the same amount again to make significant gains in fluency. While a sound grasp of grammar gives you an essential insight into the language structure, learning is about far more than that. It’s a full-on cultural experience, and necessarily so. And that means formal lessons, while they are invaluable, should be the starting point rather than the be-all and end‑all.

“It’s unlike anything else you do,” says Ben Logan. “You have to do it little and often, with lots of repetition.”

But while our area, well-known for its thirst for knowledge, embraces second languages with characteristic enthusiasm, is there likely to be a similar shift in attitude elsewhere in the country?

If the government has its way, the answer has to be a reasonably resounding ‘yes’ (and hopefully ‘oui’ and ‘ja’ too). Currently compulsory only in secondary schools up to the age of 14, languages are, says Michael Gove, secretary of state for education, also to be taught to primary school pupils, starting at the age of eight in year three.

Of course, we still have some way to go.

When Kate Allanby spent a year studying in Mexico, she was struck by the way English language films and music were part of everyday life, something that just doesn’t happen in the UK. “Mexicans are exposed to English from such an early age. They had all these cultural references that we don’t get unless we go to an art house cinema, so I think that’s part of it,” she says.

It’s possible, however that we could just be shaken out of our monolingual complacency.

With The Killing taking off here, subtitles and all, and leading to a mini-wave of imported foreign language dramas, could we be developing an appetite for different cultures – and their languages?

We’ll just have to take things step by step.

Or trin for trin, as they say in Denmark.

BURYEDITION.co.uk

22/3/13 09:51:28

CE ADS.indd 1

21/3/13 16:25:28

motoring

WORDS sue baker

Motoring Review

honda civic Safe, efficient and thoroughly futuristic, Sue Baker presents the ninth-generation Honda Civic

ne of the more memorable car commercials of recent times featured a continuous series of interacting mechanical events. Cogs rolled, screws swivelled, wipers swished, tyres trundled, all in amazingly choreographed sequence. Not until the very end of the ad did the car brand become apparent. This two-minute marvel of mesmerising precision was Honda’s message that what most of us want out of a car is that it just, well, works.

Impeccably. Every time.

Generations of Japanese cars have schooled us to expect just such trouble-free reliability. They have earned a reputation for it. So a car like the Honda Civic comes with the expectation of utter efficiency. Except that it is not made in Japan, 6,000 miles away in the land of the rising sun, but is manufactured about 160 miles to the southwest of Bury St Edmunds, in Swindon.

Honda Civics have been produced in Swindon since 1994, in a factory that is structured around Japanese ways of doing things. Everyone from the assembly workers to the plant manager is called an ‘associate’ and wears the same egalitarian uniform of overalls. The factory runs to a philosophy of ‘kaizen’ – the Japanese word for improvement. Continuous improvement is the company slogan.

It is a remarkable fact that there have been nine generations of Civic. Cars wearing the Civic badge have been around in various guises since the early 1970s. Until 2006 they were all conservatively styled, but then the eighth-generation Civic took a remarkable visual leap with its teardropshaped body and space-age interior. It stood out for its radical design, but did not take quite the same jump forward in driving calibre. It looked exceptional, but was rather ordinary to drive.

62 | Bury Edition | April 2013

BE04_062-064 (MOTORING)hbljc.indd 62

Which brings us to the current Civic, which arrived on the UK motoring scene late last year. Its design is a little softer, somewhat toned down and not quite as starkly drawn as its ‘look at me’ predecessor. It has the same short, curvy bonnet and horizontally split rear window as the previous car, but the styling has been smoothed off and become a little more normalised. It has improved aerodynamics and better fuel economy as a result.

It remains quite radical in its interior design. At a stroke, the Civic makes the cabin of anything else of a similar size look a bit staid by comparison. There is a big swathe of space where other cars have conventional dash panels, and the instrument display would not look out of place in a spacecraft. The Civic’s cabin is bold and bright, and an interesting place to be. In the driving seat, you feel like you are commanding the Starship Enterprise.

The big change is in the car’s driving dynamics. This latest five-door hatchback Civic has taken a distinct step forward in road behaviour. It is crisper and more poised, with a superior driving calibre that distinguishes it as the best Civic Honda has ever produced. It comes in a choice of two petrol and two diesel models, six-speed manual or five-speed auto, and four trim levels, starting with the SE and peaking with the EX GT as the range-topping flagship model.

IMAGES The ninth-generation Honda Civic is the best the company has ever produced

Model tested: Honda Civic 2.2 i-DTEC SE Price: £20,300 Engine: 2.2 litre, four-cylinder turbo diesel, 148bhp Gearbox: 6-speed manual Top speed: 135mph Fuel economy: 67.5mpg average How green? 110g/km CO2

BURYedition.co.uk

22/3/13 09:22:28

motoring

This latest five-door hatchback Civic has taken a distinct step forward in road behaviour

BURYedition.co.uk

BE04_062-064 (MOTORING)hbljc.indd 63

Bury BuryEdition Edition| March | April 2013 | 63

22/3/13 09:22:45

motoring

The Civic rides comfortably, and this one is also much more fun to drive. It is quiet and refined too

Honda Jazz 1.6 i-DTEC

Honda Civic 1.6 i-DTEC

What’s coming New things are on the way from Honda.

Recently added to the range are an updated version of the CR-Z, the company’s perky little sports car, and the new smaller-engined diesel variant of the Civic, the Civic 1.6 i-DTEC. That same frugal new engine will gradually be rolled out in other models across the Honda range. Later this year it will appear in an additional, more economical version added to the CR-V range, the CR-V 1.6 i-DTEC. Next year there will be an estate model joining the Civic range, called the Civic Tourer. Also coming next year is a new diesel version of Honda’s popular small car, the Jazz 1.6 i-DTEC.

Automatic engine stop-start, to save fuel in traffic jams or while waiting at red lights, is now standard on every Civic with a manual gearbox. The system makes no demands on you, and the restart when you dip the clutch is efficient and instant. The car rides comfortably, sopping up surface bumps more efficiently than the old Civic, and this one is also much more fun to drive. It is quiet and refined, too.

It isn’t perfect. The steering is a touch on the light side, and rearward vision is not the best. You look backwards in the rearview mirror past a spoiler that cuts right across the rear window, and is just a touch annoying, so you find yourself concentrating more on the view in the door mirrors instead.

The boot is a decent size at 487 litres, and is split level to let you stow items under a concealing floor. An unusual feature is Honda’s ‘Magic Seat’. As well as the rear seat folding in hatchback fashion, it has a seat base that can be raised like a flip-up cinema seat, to let you stow items behind the front seats when there is nobody in the back.

The choice of engines in the Civic is 1.4 and 1.8 litre petrol, 1.6 and 2.2 litre diesels.

For power the 2.2 litre diesel tested here is the one to go for, but the best engine for its combination of good performance and fuel efficiency is the new 1.6 litre diesel.

Its combined fuel figure is an exceptional 78.5mpg and the CO2 emission is 94g/km, which is low enough for a free annual tax disc and exemption from the central London congestion charge.

The Civic has strong safety credentials. It is a top-ranking five-star car under the Euro NCAP crash test programme. Higher-spec models come with a low-speed collision mitigation system to help avoid minor traffic bumps, and adaptive cruise control that monitors and manages your distance behind the vehicle in front.

Honda Civics are familiar on Suffolk roads, and right across the UK. Since the firstgeneration model arrived here in the early 70s, more than 650,000 Civics have found homes with British motorists. It is a big endorsement for continuous improvement.

Honda CR-Z

64 | Bury Edition | April 2013

BE04_062-064 (MOTORING)hbljc.indd 64

BURYedition.co.uk

22/3/13 09:23:02

CE ADS.indd 1

21/3/13 16:26:12

pets

WORDS Alex Wylie

FLEA FRENZY

They are the pesky parasites every pet owner dreads. Alex Wylie from Eastgate Veterinary Group offers expert advice on guarding against and controlling fleas ver the last couple of years we have seen an explosion in the flea population in the UK. These irritating little creatures have enjoyed the humid, wet summers and central-heated milder winters.

There is no longer a seasonal freeze-out to naturally halt their invasion. It is crucial, therefore, that pet owners are proactive all year round with flea control.

There is no shame in admitting that your pet has fleas. It is easier for a cat or dog to catch fleas than it is for us humans to contract a cold. Fleas are natural parasites affecting dogs, cats, rabbits, ferrets and a host of other animals. Almost all our pets are at risk of suffering from an infestation. For the sake of your animals and your home, therefore, it is important that you seek expert advice to control the situation. Note how I use the word ‘control’, not ‘cure’. Fleas will always be in the environment so, unless you confine your pet inside a flea-free house all the time, complete eradication is not realistic – instead, you need to focus on killing these pests quickly on your pets and preventing them breeding in your homes. Many veterinary practices offer flea clinics, free of charge, which are run by veterinary nurses, so information and assistance from professionals is easy to access.

Flea Facts: • One flea can lay 50 eggs a day, producing over 1000 fleas in just three weeks! An infestation can spread extremely fast so you need to act quickly.

• Only pets that are allergic to fleas will scratch. Your pet could be riddled with fleas but show no signs.

• Fleas can kill. Like vampires, they feed on blood – which can be fatal for kittens. Sadly we see many preventable deaths from flea bite anaemia every year. Veterinary flea sprays can be used on kittens and puppies from as young as two days old. Your vet can also supply products that are safe to use on a bitch or queen while she is pregnant or feeding her young. Veterinary products are different to non-prescription flea treatments and are safe and effective.

• Some over-the-counter dog flea treatments can kill cats, so always read the label and never put a dog product on a cat.

• 95 per cent of the flea population live in the environment, which could mean your house and garden as well as lots of other areas. If you only kill the fleas on your pet you will not control the problem. It often takes six months or longer to treat an infestation so prevention is an easier, more sensible and more affordable option.

• Fleas can live in a cocoon for up to a year before hatching.

Household sprays and ‘bombs’ can’t kill these pupal stages, so you must wait until they hatch to destroy them.

Vibrations encourage fleas to hatch so vacuuming (or jumping about!) before spraying the house is important.

I would extend the urban myth about cockroaches surviving nuclear war to include flea pupae, as there is nothing in our arsenal that can kill them.

• Bubonic plague – which most people associate with the Middle Ages – is carried by fleas and still exists in this century. An average of ten cases of the bubonic plague are seen yearly in the US but luckily it no longer exists in the UK. •N ot all people in a household will get bitten by fleas. Some people believe that those with ‘sweeter’ blood, like diabetics, are more attractive to fleas.

66 | Bury Edition | April 2013

BE04_067 (PETS)hbljc.indd 66

BURYedition.co.uk

22/3/13 17:05:15

CE ADS.indd 1

22/3/13 14:28:29

CE ADS.indd 1

21/3/13 16:26:33