Bury Edition October

The quality lifestyle magazine for Bury St Edmunds

FREE MAGAZINE Issue 8

www.buryedition.co.uk

OCTOBER 2013

Inside this issue...

ARTS

CULTURE

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Creating the heart of your home

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Beautifully crafted bespoke handmade & German kitchens

Greyfriars Road, Moreton Hall, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP32 7DX

01284 760811 www.house-of-harmony.co.uk HH.indd 2

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CONTENTS

OCTOBER 2013 Welcome

45

42

32 7 • FIVE THINGS TO DO Our must-have tickets for this month…

8-9 • NIGHTLIFE From club nights and comedy to live music, we’ve got the low-down on afterhours fun this month 11-13 • ARTS & CULTURE Soak up some culture this month at some edifying local events and exhibitions 15 • FAMILY Ideas for what to do with the family throughout October 16-17 • HALLOWEEN Get set for Halloween and plan some spooky excursions!

19 • INTERVIEW Ahead of his appearance at the Theatre Royal, we chat to top comic Stephen K Amos 20-21 • COMMUNITY NEWS What’s been happening in your local community lately 22 • COMPETITION Win tickets to see The Nutcracker ballet and a spot of afternoon tea at The Angel 24-25 • LISTINGS A comprehensive guide to events in Bury and the surrounding area this month 27 • REVIEW Escape to the country at Ravenwood Hall, a boutique rural hideaway with a top quality restaurant to boot 29-32 • FOOD NEWS A round-up of culinary events in Bury and beyond, including a duo of drinks recipes from Nick at Graze

35 • FOOD COLUMN Spice is the variety of life, or it certainly was in days of yore, says Alex Rushmer 36-37 • RECIPES Cook up a Moroccan feast of lamb tagine and date & pistachio couscous, 41 • INDIE OF THE MONTH Pamper yourself at C&B Beautiful, Bury’s gorgeous independent beauty salon 42-43 • FIVE OF THE BEST Time for tea? We pick our favourite afternoon tea spots in the area

If the mouth-watering macarons on our cover got your tummy rumbling, you’re in luck, because this is an issue packed with gastro delights. From our resident foodie Alex’s foray into the mysterious world of cooking with spices, to a round-up of the finest afternoon teas in Bury (that one was tough to call, I can tell you), through to the culinary theatrics of The Curious Pygmy Club and a review of the glorious restaurant at the Ravenwood Hall Hotel – we’ve once again been left agog at the calibre of our area’s food offerings. We’ve also selected our very first Pub of the Month on page 29 – fancy your chances guessing who we’ve gone for? If there’s a brilliant boozer in Bury you think is deserving of next month’s title, tweet us at @BuryEdition and tell us who and why! If you’re currently planning your nuptials, be sure to take a look at our Bury Weddings Guide (starting on page 45) as well, as it’s packed full of inspiration on venues, bridal boutiques and more in the area. I hope you enjoy the issue and see you next month!

45-48 • WEDDINGS Planning on getting hitched? Pick up some ideas in our local weddings special 52-58 • INTERIORS Say no to neutrals and use your home to express yourself through colour

NICOLA FOLEY, EDITOR

FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/BuryEdition

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER: @BuryEdition

62-67 • FASHION The editor rounds up her top style picks 68-69 • BEAUTY Hot new beauty trends for Autumn 71 • BEAUTY NEWS The latest news from the Bury beauty scene 73 • WELLNESS Carole Baker looks at natural menopause treatments 74-77 • MOTORING News from the roads with Sue Baker…

81-82 • EDUCATION Learn more about the schools in your area at an open day this month 85-86 • PETS Local experts advise on how to care for those furry members of the family

EDITORIAL

CONTRIBUTORS

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

Alex Rushmer, Charlotte Griffiths, Sue Baker, Daisy Dickinson, Carole Baker, Alex Wylie, Angelina Villa-Clarke, Sian Townsend, Charlotte Phillips, Megan Croft

Features Editor Jennifer Shelton jennifershelton@bright-publishing.com 01223 499463 Sub editors Lisa Clatworthy, Hannah Bealey & Siobhan Godwood

ADVERTISING Senior sales executive Tim Sloane timsloane@bright-publishing.com 01223 499458

DESIGN & PRODUCTION Designer Nicole Henson 01223 499450 nicolehenson@bright-publishing.com Designer Emily Stowe 01223 499450 emilystowe@bright-publishing.com

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

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5 things to do

this month

See The South In 2008, after 20 years of hits, from Rotterdam to Perfect 10, The Beautiful South packed up their instruments – but the story wasn’t quite over. Now, lead singers Dave Hemingway and Ali Wheeler, along with keyboard wizard Damon Butcher and other faces old and new, have reformed as The South, and head our way for a captivating concert on 12 October.

Expect to hear all your favourites as the band revisit their extensive back catalogue of feel-good hits. Showtime is 8pm, tickets are £20/£22. theapex.co.uk

Italian night at The Organic Shop When it comes to being green, The Organic Shop in Fornham All Saints has got the best eco credentials around. The shop, café and art gallery is run as ethically as possible and everything you buy there is organic and sustainably sourced. If you haven’t tried this country gem yet then book up now for their Italian night on 4 October. The menu is jam-packed with Italian classics such as antipasti, risotto, meatballs, and panna cotta and tiramisu to round things off nicely (£29.95 per person). To book call 01284 717175, for more information visit the website. theorganicshopltd.co.uk

March Hare Collective at The Apex This collective of over 50 local artists will be popping up at The Apex on the first Saturday of every month for the rest of the year – this month’s date for your diary is 5 October. There’s not space for all 50 of course, but each month you can see a selection of local handmade art and crafts, meet the makers and buy some of their work. The pop-up will run from 10am to 4.30pm. Free entry. marchharecollective.co.uk

Feel the rhythm Experience the mastery of the Mugenkyo Taiko Drummers, who make an appearance in Bury this month. The critically acclaimed troupe fuse traditional rhythms with spectacular showmanship and athleticism, creating a stage performance like no other.

They’re at The Apex on 9 October, 7.30pm.

Tickets £18/£20. theapex.co.uk

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Chortle Factory at Benson Blakes Whether your guffaw could be described as a chuckle, a belly laugh or a high-pitched squeal, you’re bound to unleash a snigger at Chortle Factory at Benson Blakes on 3 October. Although this month’s line-up is still under wraps, previous comedians include Paul Ricketts, Steve Ward and Ali Warward so you know the calibre is going to be high.

Tickets cost £6 each or £12.95 for the show and a pre-show meal. Doors open 7.30pm. For a full line-up, follow @chortlefactory on Twitter. chortlefactory.com

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Tunng Experimental folk outfit Tunng, who formed over a decade ago, began creating music together in the basement of a Soho clothing boutique, and have since been busily honing their unique sound – releasing five critically acclaimed albums in the process. Fusing traditional folk with electronica influences, the group are known for their eccentric style and unusual instruments (seashells included).

Their most recent album Turbines was released in June and has been described by the band as their ‘coming of age album’ – an apt label for they’ve never sounded more assured. Join them at the Apex on 17 October with support from Pinkunoizu & Horse Party (8pm, £13). www.theapex.co.uk

Indian Summer Motorcycle dealership and clothing store Krazy Horse, located at Lark Valley Business Park, is continuing its series of entertainment nights this month. Head over on 3 October when they’ll be staging an Indian Summer evening, complete with live music and refreshments in the Rockers Café. The reason for the theme is the fact that they've recently become one of just 70 dealerships outside the USA to stock bikes, apparel and accessories from the brand Indian Motorcycles – sure to draw enthusiasts from across the UK and beyond to their store.

“We are privileged to be selected to showcase this outstanding range of quality bikes and accessories when it is rolled out around the world in a few weeks time,” says owner Paul Beamish. “October will be an incredible month for us – we had adventurous plans for the relaunch of Krazy Horse but this latest news exceeds all our expectations – we really have arrived! We’re shaping up very nicely as the destination venue for Suffolk and the East of England. We’re not just about custom bikes, Morgan cars and threewheelers, we’re about the whole retro theme, with clothing, music, food and live acts too.” www.krazyhorse.co.uk

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Real ales go pop!

Fancy yourself as a bit of a music buff? Test your knowledge at the very first Golden Oldies Pop Quiz at the Theatre Royal on 27 October.

With real ale (selected by the team from The Dove) flowing, there’s sure to be lots of laughs and even more brain racking as you rattle through rounds including Complete the Lyrics and Guess the Intro. If you really fancy your pop prowess, there’s even a Rock Mastermind round for those who want to brave the chair on their specialist subject. A team ticket costs £50 (teams of up to five) and the event starts at 7.30pm. www.theatreroyal.org

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nightlife

The Curious Pygmy Club One of the most exciting event hosts to emerge on the local scene for some time, The Curious Pygmy Club will be bringing their unique blend of art, food and theatrical fun to Bury once again this month. The Artist’s Studio, which will take place on 11 and 12 October, invites guests to step back in time and into the world of Henri Matisse. From his beautiful ‘odalisque’ models to his colourful contemporaries including Pablo Picasso, this immersive experience will reveal the passions, romance and dramas of the legendary French artist’s life. Inside the sumptuous red velvet tent awaits a feast of Moroccan culinary delights, with a menu that includes fig and feta quinoa salad with fresh arugula and lollo verde leaves, and apricot chicken tagine with durum couscous. For dessert will be a refreshing orange blossom and pomegranate sorbet and a glass of French Muscat, with spiced Moroccan coffee to finish.

“Matisse explored a lot of Europe and North Africa whilst he was working on his now-famous paintings and drawings, so we’re harnessing the essence of that,” explains Joy Laing-Buisson, creative director of The Curious Pygmy Club. “There will be lots of exciting twists and turns and, of course, the food will be colourful, exotic and lavish – just like Matisse’s early paintings.”

A place at this feast for the senses will set you back £38, including the three-course meal, and events on both nights commence at 6.30pm. www.thecuriouspygmyclub.webs.com

BurySOUND If there’s one thing that Bury does well, it’s churning out great new bands, and this month is your chance to catch some of the cream of the crop as we welcome back battle of the bands competition BurySOUND. Taking place at the Hunter Club, the contest is designed to unearth and promote up-and-coming young musicians.

The first heat takes place on 11 October and will feature home-grown talent El Pascal, King Blood, Lola James and Lost Lungs. The second instalment is on 19 October and will include performances by Deaf Ecstacy, Keys, Liam & Seth and Mesonical, whilst round three on 25 October will offer up Beyond Revolutions, Echoes and Halos, Soft Like Camel and Three Patch Problem (7-11pm, £4/£3 adv). Stay tuned to Edition for news on the grand finale on 8 November at The Apex. www.facebook.com/burysound

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Comedy in Cambridge Some world-class comedy acts are stopping by in Cambridge this month, kicking off with the absolutely fabulous Jennifer Saunders at the Corn Exchange on 15 October. She’s provided years of entertainment for the nation with the outrageous characters created alongside Dawn French, but for this show, she’ll turn the limelight onto her own colourful life as she discusses her brand new autobiography, Bonkers (7.30pm, £10).

Next in line is razor-tongued controversialist Jimmy Carr, who’ll be bringing his witty one-liners and inappropriate jokes to the Corn Exchange on 20 October as part of his Gagging Order tour (8pm, £25). The blurb on the show advises attendees to leave their ‘conscience, sense of common decency and moral compass at home’ – which ought to give you a fairly good idea of what to expect.

Up the following day for a two-night run will be the surreal and hilarious ramblings of Bill Bailey, who’ll be confronting his apprehensions about the modern world with the help of some religious dubstep and his folk bouzouki in Qualmpeddler (Corn Exchange, 21 & 22 October, 8pm, £25).

You don’t have to schlep over to Cambridge to catch some comedy gold though: Stephen K Amos will be here in Bury at the Theatre Royal on 6 October with his new show The Spokesman – turn to page 19 to read our exclusive interview with the man himself to find out what’s in store. www.cornex.co.uk www.theatreroyal.org

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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 area, as well as highlighting the local artists and events to look out for

Paintings of Coney Weston Talented local artist Ned Pamphilon will be showcasing original paintings of Coney Weston at the village hall this month – his first public outing for a few years. My Village, which runs from 24 to 27 October, will feature a variety of works in his distinctive style that depict scenes of the church, The Swan public house, footpath and walkway landmarks, the surrounding

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countryside and the homes in the area.

The exhibition was inspired by an initiative launched by Radio 4 to encourage the use and support of village halls – and Ned hopes to go one step further and raise the spirits of local people through the power of art.

Having travelled extensively for many years, Ned – who was born and bred in

Bury – has now returned to the area to live, and is keen to create art that local people can afford which shows off the local area that he loves.

He was based in Istanbul for over ten years and is an interesting chap by all accounts, with passionate views on lots of interesting topics, so this show is definitely worth a look.

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ARTS & CULTURE

Theatre Highlights From classic comedy to brand new dance, there’s lots to lure you to the theatre this month. Things get off to a great start with The Graduate, showing at the Theatre Royal, 1-5 October. Newly returned from college, Benjamin Braddock embarks on that famous affair with Mrs Robinson, but complications arise when her daughter, a much more suitable match for Ben, finds out. Adapted from the 1967 film starring Dustin Hoffman, this saucy stage production comes courtesy of the Bury Theatre Workshop, 7.30pm (and 2.30pm Saturday), tickets £5-£15.

The next offering from the Theatre Royal is Unmythable, a tongue-in-cheek take on your favourite Greek myths.

Monsters and heroes go head to head in this riotous journey of songs, stories and cross-dressing, which completed an enormously successful run at the Edinburgh Festival – and won the ThreeWeeks Editor’s Award – in 2012 (7 October, 7.30pm, £12-£20).

Put Running on Empty on 8 October in your diaries too (also at the Theatre Royal), which tells the story of a man and woman who repeatedly collide over time.

It’s a study of love and survival, described as ‘an intrepid new work’, and combines dance and song (7.30pm, £10-£15).

Then, hop over to Cambridge Arts Theatre from 8-12 October for The Mikado, performed by Opera della Luna.

The ever-popular Gilbert & Sullivan classic sees Nanki-Poo attempt to win the hand of Yum-Yum under the iron rule of the Mikado. Expect a modern slant on the story, plus gorgeous costumes – and all those fabulous songs. Showtime is 7.45pm (2.30pm Sat & Thurs matinees), tickets £15-£27).

The Lovesong of Alfred J Hitchcock, at the Theatre Royal from 16-17 October, takes us through the life and mind of the master of suspense, Alfred Hitchcock. At the height of his powers, the iconic director is possessed by a

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dreamlike vision of a woman, firing up his imagination (7.30pm, £12-£20).

Take the kids out for a treat on 20 October when Peter Pan arrives at The Apex. The 4Seasons Theatre Group bring to life all the charm and magic of J M Barrie’s original story of pirates, magical lands, lost boys and fairy dust, making it the ideal family musical (2.30pm & 7.30pm, £10/£12/£15).

And the month rounds off with another iconic work, as Theatre Royal Young Company present Terry Pratchett’s Guards! Guards!, on 29 and 30 October.

Ankh-Morpork is under threat by a flesheating dragon that leaves havoc and destruction in its wake. Worse still, the safety of the city depends on a motley band of misfit warriors, an orangutan

librarian and a zealous miniature dragon breeder. There’ll also be a cameo from the oddly charismatic Death himself (7.30pm, tickets £8). www.theatreroyal.org

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ARTS & CULTURE

Out Of The Fold Textile Artists

Following a successful run in 2012, Out Of The Fold Textile Artists are back with a new exhibition, entitled Finer Focvs.

Opening on 19 October at Cavern 4, it features a range of work, in both 2D and 3D, which are connected to each other by either theme, shape or colour.

The result is an inventive show of textiles, each of which tell a story.

Out Of The Fold Textile Artists were formed in 2006 with the aim of bringing textile art into the spotlight, and continue to meet each fortnight in Fornham All Saints to discuss and share new ideas.

The exhibition runs from 19-26 October, open 10am-4pm (closed Sunday). Free entry.

The Art, Craft and Design Show Now in its 41st year, the Art, Craft and Design show returns to Newmarket Millennium Grandstand on 25, 26 and 27 October. Spread over five floors, there will be a huge selection that features jewellery, ceramics, textiles and lots more. Returning faces include woodturner Colin Boatman and glasswork from Frank Neikes, plus first appearances from Jennifer Gay with her alpaca knitwear and Adrian Parfitt’s unique wooden furniture.

Everything will be on sale so it’s the ideal occasion for finding a unique gift for friends and family. The show will also include a specialist food hall for foodie treats and gifts. Plus there will be plenty of hands-on demonstrations from the artists and a chance to talk to them about their craft. Entry costs £6, concessions £5 and children under 14 go free. Open 10am-5pm on Friday and Saturday, 10am-4pm on Sunday. www.artcraftdesignshow.co.uk

Smiths Row:

The Drawing Stage Art enthusiasts of all ages, from beginners to professionals, are invited to take part in the Drawing Stage; an up-and-coming experimental project run by contemporary art gallery Smiths Row. Over two weeks, with a blank studio and a string of workshops run by accomplished local artists, the gallery will be curating a oneof-a-kind exhibition of work created by... You! Caroline Wendling kicks off the project with ‘Walk, Image, Imagine’, an interactive walk around the Abbey Gardens followed by a collaborative drawing experience (19 October). Highlights of the Drawing Stage also include CJ Mahony’s excitingly illicit session, encouraging participants to mark the studio walls (20 October), as well as illustrator Joel Millerchip’s family friendly workshop ‘Move & Mark’, in which the gallery predicts “movement, music and mayhem” (30 October).

If this sounds like your cup of tea, head down to Smiths Row (fittingly located in a converted theatre) in Bury town centre from 19 October until 3 November. Advanced booking is advised for this unique, community spirited event that culminates in a free open studio to celebrate the array of drawings borne out of the project. www.smithsrow.org

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FAMILY

Family wildlife walk

Take the family for a wildlife walk around Minsmere Nature Reserve with expert Stephen Massey, who’ll be finding out which creatures are dotted around the grounds and disovering who is ready to hibernate. Walks start at 10.30am and last 45 minutes – they’re pushchair friendly too. £1.50 on top of the entry fee of £7.50 for adults, children £3. Check site for dates. www.rspb.org.uk

Wood and country craft fair

at Ickworth

Enjoy a great family day out at Ickworth this month with arts, crafts, live bands, a pottery tent, lots of stalls and plenty of local food and produce to enjoy (plus local beers for the grown-ups too). And if you’re feeling a bit adventurous, you can even channel your inner Robin Hood and have a session with Lookout Archery. 10am-4pm, 6 & 7 October. £7 for adult non members and £3 for child non members. www.nationaltrust.org.uk

Peter Pan the Musical J M Barrie’s tale of never-ending childhood, complete with pirates, Indians, fairies and mermaids, is the ideal way to capture your brood’s imagination this autumn. The mischievous Peter, Wendy, Captain Hook and his unshakeable croc companion will come to life in this charming musical at The Apex on 20 October. Performances take place at 2.30pm and 7.30pm; tickets are £12, concessions £10. www.theapex.co.uk

singalong

Lullaby

Forget singing little boys and girls to sleep, this interactive session for under sevens is the perfect chance for them to sing and dance along to their heart’s content.

Performances by Professor Claire’s Music Lab will have youngsters on their feet and following all sorts of actions. Plus, for optimum noisemaking opportunities, they can even have a go at playing musical instruments. This noisefest takes place at Newmarket Memorial Hall on 30 October at 11am; entry is £4 for adults, £2 for children or family tickets are £10. www.theapex.co.uk

Time and Space exhibition

Exterminate! Exterminate! Calling all Doctor Who fans: in celebration of the show’s 50th year, Doctor Who and the Tardis visit Moyse’s Hall for the Time and Space Exhibition, with props and costumes aplenty. There’s more from other sci-fi favourites too, so pop along and see who you can find. 10am-4pm, normal admission prices apply: £4 adult, £2 child. www.moyseshall.org

kids club at abbeygate picturehouse Take your little ones to the flicks this month and enjoy Monsters University, the follow-up to 2001’s enormously popular Monsters Inc. Kids go potty for big furry Sulley and his little pal Mike Wazowski, and they’ll adore this adventure which sees them learning their craft (the art of scaring the bejesus out of sleeping children), at Monsters University. They’re joined by a motley crew of beasties, sure to delight kids of all ages – and make grown-ups smile too.

This screening at the Abbeygate Picturehouse, at 11am on 5 October, is part of the Kids Club, which hosts matinees of child-friendly films every Saturday, and costs just £1 per child (must be accompanied by an adult). It’s a great way to treat the little ones without breaking the bank, and there are often activities and games to get involved with too. www.picturehouses.co.uk

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halloween

WORDS Nicola Foley

Spook yourself silly this Halloween with our top picks of ghoulish goings-on around Bury…

The ghosts of Bury The medieval streets of Bury St Edmunds have a rich history of ghost sightings and plenty of spooky stories.

Perhaps the most famous of them all is the legend of The Grey Lady, who is reputed to haunt the cathedral grounds, the cellars of Cupola House and the buildings on Angel Hill, and believed to be the spirit of a rather badly behaved Victorian nun. The Nutshell pub also lays claim to its own ghost – this time a young boy. This ghoul is believed to be the spirit of a child who was allegedly murdered at the pub many, many years ago…

An American Werewolf in London Technically this event takes place after Halloween, but it’s such a stone cold cinematic classic that we couldn’t not include it.

The Abbeygate Picturehouse is hosting a special late night screening of An American Werewolf in London on 1 November at 10.15pm – with a pre-film Halloween party in the bar from 9pm.

Wandering in the English countryside, two American students ignore warnings not to venture out on the moors after dark – cue much bloodletting and howling at the moon. First released in 1981, this film was utterly groundbreaking in its special effects (this was a pre-CGI world remember), and has lost none of its grisly appeal. It was also one of director John Landis’ finest hours – so much so that it attracted Michael Jackson’s attention, who asked him to make the video for a song called Thriller… www.picturehouses.co.uk

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Putrid Pumpkins & Monster Masks Things are getting gruesome at the historic Ickworth House this Halloween. Grab the kids and pay a visit between 11am and 3pm to join in with some spooktacular fun including pumpkin carving sessions and other themed crafts.

Afterwards there will be a ghostly trail walk around the grand gardens – wrap up warm! £3 per pumpkin. www.nationaltrust.org.uk

Spooky Stories Enjoy a spine-tingling trip to the Theatre Royal on All Hallows’ Eve for a chilling reading of a classic ghost story. Last year’s tale was Dickens’ haunting short story The Signalman and the team are promising to up their game for an even more suspense-filled night of frights this time around… (31 October, 12 years and above; readings take place at 7.30pm and 9pm). www.theatreroyal.org

Pumpkin Festival Over at Elveden Estate they’re hosting a festival dedicated to all things pumpkin on 26 and 27 October to get you and your brood ready for Halloween. As well as a pumpkin carving contest (with prizes for the most impressive), there will be pumpkin throwing games and lots of delicious pumpkin-based food to try, including scones, pies and soups. Suitably scary fancy dress is encouraged at the event, which takes place 11am-3pm, and there will be plenty more Halloween fun and games to get stuck into as well. www.elveden.com

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halloween

Halloween Cupcake Workshop

Scaresville at Kentwell

For something scary but sweet take kids along to a Halloween themed cupcake class at The Cooking Club on 31 Octobe where young bakers will make six cupcakes and decorate them as ghoulishly as they can.

The class runs at 10am to 11.15am or 12noon to 1.15pm and costs £14 per child, which includes ingredients, a recipe card and a cupcake box to take their creations home with them. Booking is essential. www.the-cooking-club.co.uk

Every autumn, a mysterious village appears in the grounds of Kentwell Hall, the imposing, moated Tudor manor house in Long Melford. The Haunted Village is one of Britain’s top scare attractions, promising an hour of pure adrenaline as you journey through dark rooms, forests and open farmland, populated by shadowy figures who may or may not be benign… Built between 1500 and 1550 on the site of a medieval manor house, Kentwell Hall later fell into disrepair and by 1970 stood neglected within wild grounds. It was then taken on by the Phillips family who gradually brought the house back to life.

Tickets cost from £13.50 and scare tours leave from 5.30pm, 11 October-2 November (not daily). www.scaresville.co.uk

Halloween at Jimmy’s

Moyse's Hall Ghost Tour

Halloween at the Mill

The medieval Moyse’s Hall is the perfect place for a ghoulish tale or two, and they’ll be providing punters with just that on 31 October. Head down on Halloween at 6pm and join in with a candlelit tour of the museum, guided by a shadowy Victorian gentleman.

Prepare to see this historic building in a whole new light as tales of Bury’s ghostly past are unveiled…

(18 years+) www.weststow.org

Things are taking a turn for the creepy at the usually idyllic Pakenham Water Mill at the end of this month.

Pay a visit on Wednesday 30 or Thursday 31 October and the kids can have fun making pumpkin lanterns, listening to scary stories and having their faces painted, as well as a few more surprises (1.30-4pm). Children go free, but must be accompanied by a paying adult (£3.50). There’s an extra charge for pumpkins. www.pakenhamwatermill.org.uk

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They go mad for Halloween over at Jimmy’s Farm, and this year there’s something for all ages.

For younger children, there’s a haunted house magic show, balloon animals to take home and special spooky dinner which includes ‘brain spaghetti’ and a ‘green slime jelly swamp pot’ (£12.50).

Older kids will love fending off real live zombies in the Battlefield Live games in the woods (suitable for 7-16 year olds, £25, including two-course meal). They will be kitted out in camo gear, war paint and given a special digital gun (which is safe and pain-free but has impressive sound effects!). www.jimmysfarm.com

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interview WORDS Jennifer Shelton

EDITION INTERVIEW

STEPHEN K AMOS Ahead of his appearance in Bury this month, mischievous comic Stephen K Amos tells Jennifer Shelton why c omedy is no laughing matter omedy is a serious business,” said W C Fields, and a glance at any of this year’s standup shows is proof enough.

Russell Brand is psychoanalysing Hitler in Messiah Complex, Bridget Christie won the Edinburgh Comedy Award for her feminist show A Bic For Her, and Stephen K Amos is on tour with The Spokesman, which critiques the way we receive news.

“Whenever there’s a story in the news, there’s always a spokesman speaking on behalf of the person or the company,” Amos explains, “and it got me thinking about how true these statements are. Like when Edinburgh Zoo ‘announced’ that the panda may be pregnant and now we find out that it might not be. So why issue a statement? That’s just a frivolous one, but we’ve also had America issuing statements to Syria saying they will attack, which was premature, as they’ve now had to retreat.”

If that all sounds rather sombre, don’t worry. There are a few gags too.

“One thing I like to do is find a good local story where a statement was issued.

I also like to ask audiences to give me ideas of the kind of spokesman they think I’d be good for,” he says mischievously.

“We’ve had some interesting responses.

Somebody said I should be a spokesman for the KKK…” The irony of The Spokesman – an anagram for his name (“See what I did there?” he twinkles) – is that he is, by speaking on stage, acting as a kind of spokesman himself. “Of course,” he says, “when you do stand-up you’re being a spokesman for different subjects.”

So we should take everything he says with a pinch of salt?

“Exactly. Why should you believe what I’m saying? Always question things.”

London-born Amos has spent the past year honing the show in Australia, New Zealand and Edinburgh, and visits Bury on 6 October. He’s expecting plenty of audience interaction which, he says, is part of the fun of performing. “Even though you’ve got a script and a kind of structure,

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if anything funny happens in the room, I’ll run with it,” he explains.

The last time I saw Amos was at a Cambridge gig where he spotted a man in the audience with a cuddly toy. Needless to say it provided plenty of material.

“Oh my God, I remember that!” he exclaims. “That was bizarre. It wasn’t even a small toy, it was a huge, fairground-style thing that he’d put on a seat next to him!”

As well as his tour, Amos is working on a new sitcom, What Does The K Stand For?, which starts filming in November.

“It’s loosely based on my memoir books, so it’s about me in my formative years. I wrote it with Jonathan Harvey (of Gimme Gimme Gimme fame).”

The K, incidentally, stands for Kehinde, which means ‘second of twins’. There were eight of them growing up, so being shy and retiring wasn’t really an option, he explains. “When you’ve got lots of brothers and sisters, you’re vying for attention – and, of course, the biggest portion of the meal.”

While it got him noticed at home, being funny wasn’t something Amos expected to make a career of. In line with his parents’ wishes, he studied law “to keep them happy”, then began doing the rounds of the London comedy clubs.

“Nobody I saw on TV reminded me of me,” he reflects. “Acting, stand-up… it was a world that wasn’t attainable. This was an era when we still had The Black and White Minstrel show.”

Amos has previously spoken out for gay rights, as well as alerting the public to the lack of black comedians on the BBC, famously joking that he’d only ever get his own show if Lenny Henry died.

He’s looking over several scripts and radio plays as we talk, and plans are afoot for a new chat show (Lenny Henry, to our knowledge, is still very much alive and well). Amos is delighted, declaring: “I think it’s time to get a smart, cool, good-looking black gentleman to front a chat show.”

Despite this, is there still some way to go before there’s a wider mix of society

represented on our television screens, at least in Amos’s eyes?

“Definitely,” he says. “There are a lot of different cultures out there, different kinds of comedy, and always things we can learn from each other.”

It’s his use of comedy to satirise some of today’s serious cultural issues which make Amos one of the most successful comics of today, and The Spokesman looks set to be another triumph. But don’t take my word for it…

Theatre Royal, 6 October, 7.30pm, tickets £12-£20. www.theatreroyal.org

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NEWS

y t i n u m Com

news

Christmas shopping day T h e late st r ou n e ws fro m yb loca l h u

Get down with Oxjam The Bury St Edmunds Oxjam Folk Weekend returns for its third year on 26 and 27 October, as part of Oxfam’s national month-long annual fundraiser. There will be a fine array of footstomping gigs, ranging from folk to rock ’n’ roll.

Stars include folk duo Doug Hudson and Ian Cutler, with guitar and fiddle in hand, on the Saturday evening; plus Scottish singer Wendy Arrowsmith will return to perform her own material and amuse with a bit of comedy for good measure. The Bounty Hounds will also make an appearance, as well as Two Coats Colder, members of Cambridge rock group Hedgepig and many more. And if all that music gets you on your feet then there will also be a ceilidh on Saturday evening with a real ale bar. The musical action runs throughout the weekend at All Saints Church and Community Hall. Tickets are £20 for the weekend, individual gigs from £5 to £15 from www.wegottickets. com/f/6288 and all profits go to Oxfam. www.oxfam.org.uk/oxjam

Get on top of your Christmas shopping this month at the Lavenham Cancer Research UK shopping day on 7 October from 10am to 3.30pm at Lavenham Village Hall. There will be something for everyone with stalls including Hot Footed shoes, The Book People and Phoenix Trading. As well as clothing and stationery, there there’ll be chocolate, hats, candles, cushions and skincare, so you are sure to find a unique something for that special someone’s pressie sack.

If all that leaves you feeling peckish then light lunches will be available for £5 including a glass of wine. Entry is £3, all of which goes to the charity and includes a hot drink, plus all stalls will donate a proportion of sales to Cancer Research UK. www.lavenhamvillagehall.com

Jumble sale

Take the heat fire-walk

Bury’s Cat Protection group will be holding a charity jumble sale on 19 October to raise funds to help feline friends in need. The sale will run from 2.30pm to 3.30pm at Stowmarket Community Centre and you are guaranteed to pick up a bargain. Call Sue on 01449 720003 if you would like to take part.

If you think you’re brave enough to tread hot coals then sign up now for a fire-walk in aid of St Nicholas Hospice on 1 November at Melford Hall Park. The feat will involve walking over 500° coals for four metres, all in aid of raising funds for this local hospice.

Registration costs £15 and participants are asked to try and raise £75 for completing their endeavour. In return for your efforts you will gain free entry to the bonfire and fireworks taking place on the same evening. Fire walking starts at 5pm and you can find the event and sign up at the St Nicholas Hospice website. www.stnicholashospice.org.uk

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NEWS

Guilt-free cake Head down to arc on Prospect Row on 5 October and indulge in a slice of cake in aid of Suffolk West Active Parkinsons group, who will be selling their wares throughout the day. Cake for charity = no guilt and no calories (maybe).

Celebrity tee-off Join in 18holes of Pro-Am golf on 10 October at Haverhill Golf Club and play alongside local celebrities including Ipswich Town footballing legends. Entry for a team of four golfers is £180 which includes coffee and a bacon roll, plus dinner and drinks at the post-play prize-giving. Email ian@club-noticeboard.co.uk to submit a team.

How well do you know Bury?

Taking inspiration from the BBC’s Test The Nation, The Bury Abbey Rotary Club will be testing the town again this year. Enter a team and you can take on local bankers, hairdressers and solicitors to compete for the coveted Test The Town Challenge Trophy. The quiz takes place on 11 October at 7pm at The Apex and of course the bar will be in full swing for fuelling those brain cells. All proceeds will go towards a chosen local charity. www.rotary-ribi.org

Charity bike ride Whether you’re a keen cyclist or an enthusiastic amateur, you can help to raise funds for the local Beat It Appeal by taking part in a charity bike ride on 13 October. The appeal was launched at the start of 2013 to raise £59,000 for a life saving piece of equipment to detect the early signs of prostate cancer and is well on the way to achieving its goal. Participants can choose to cycle 10 or 20 miles for the worthy cause and entry is £20 in advance or £25 on the day. The ride will start off from Culford at 10am and finish at King’s Forest, Thetford with drinks and refreshments available for weary cyclists. www.stedmundswheel.org.uk

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COMPETITION

WIN AFTERNOON TEA A TRIP TO THE BALLET

!

N I W ith the season to be jolly just around the corner, we’re getting into the spirit early with a fantastic festive giveaway for two people. First of all, our lucky winners will be treated to a delicious afternoon tea at our town’s most famous hotel, The Angel. This indulgent affair is the stuff of legend, and you’ll appreciate why as you tuck into a smorgasbord of dainty sandwiches, scones with fresh cream and jam, fresh pastries, and all sorts of other scrummy cakes and luxury teas from around the world.

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Afterwards, you’ll mosey over to the Theatre Royal for a spectacular production of Christmas classic The Nutcracker (which plays in Bury from 18-20 November).

Performed by the renowned Ballet Theatre UK, the show blends exquisite choreography, dazzling costumes and breathtaking scenery with the immortal score by Tchaikovsky, offering an enchanting adventure for audiences young and old.

To be in with a chance of winning this prize, visit www.buryedition.co.uk

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listings

What’s on A round-up of events in and around Bury St Edmunds for October THE GRADUATE

1-5

THE MAGIC FLUTE

oct

Time: 7.30pm & 2.30pm Sat Location: Theatre Royal Price: £5-£14 Description: The classic coming of age comedy, made famous by the 1967 Dustin Hoffman film, comes to the stage this month.

Telling the story of Ben and his affair with the infamous Mrs Robinson, it contains, to quote the theatre, “some tasteful nudity”. theatreroyal.org

3 October

INDIAN SUMMER Time: 5-10pm Location: Krazy Horse Cafe Price: Free entry Description: The café and motorcycle dealership is launching itself as an Indian Motorcycle UK dealership this month – one of only 70 to be appointed outside the USA – and will be staging an Indian Summer evening to celebrate. krazyhorse.co.uk

5 October

AUTUMN DANCE & SUPPER Time: 7pm Location: Blackthorpe Barn Price: £12/£6 children Description: Enjoy a meal followed by dancing at this beautiful barn venue. There’ll also be an auction of promises, and music comes from live band Switch, playing hits from the 60s to the present day. blackthorpebarn.com

7

EARLY oct CHRISTMAS SHOPPING DAY Time: 10am-3.30pm Location: Lavenham Village Hall Price: £3 Description: If you’re one of those who get their Christmas presents wrapped by 1 November, you’ll probably already have the Lavenham Christmas Shopping Day in your diary. Browse clothes, accessories, cards and more. lavenhamvillagehall.com

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6

oct

10-12 oct

11 oct2 nov

SCARESVILLE

Time: From 5.30pm Location: Kentwell Hall Price: From £13.50 Description: A mysterious village that appears in the grounds of Kentwell Hall every autumn, The Haunted Village is one of Britain’s top scare attractions, promising an hour of pure adrenaline… scaresville.co.uk

11 - 12 October

stephen k amos Time: 7.30pm Location: Theatre Royal Price: £12-£20 Description: The world-famous comic and star of Live at the Apollo brings his new show, The Spokesman, our way for a night of naughty but nice entertainment and audience interaction. theatreroyal.org

Time: 7.30pm Location: Theatre Royal Price: £8-£20 Description: Mozart’s magical masterpiece contains some of the most famous melodies in the world and presents a playful vision of love, wisdom and virtue.

This exciting new production will be sung in English by the Suffolk Opera, accompanied by the Virtual Reality Orchestra. theatreroyal.org

THE ARTIST’S STUDIO Time: 6.30pm Location: The Unitarian Meeting House Price: £38 Description: Indulge your imagination at this pop-up dining event, inspired by the bohemian art studio of Henri Matisse. Includes a Moroccaninspired feast and interactive theatre, all taking place within The Curious Pygmy Club’s enchanting red velvet tent. thecuriouspygmyclub.webs.com

12 October

HARMONICA WORKSHOP Time: 12-3.30pm Location: The Apex Price: £25 Description: A chance to learn how to play this fun, transportable musical instrument which has formed the likes of country and blues music to today’s pop and rock. theapex.co.uk

12 October

THE SOUTH Time: 8pm Location: The Apex Price: £22 Description: The South, formed of lead singers Dave Hemingway and Ali Wheeler, along with keyboard wizard Damon Butcher and others, arrive in Bury to play songs from The Beautiful South’s impressive back catalogue, including the hits Rotterdam and Perfect 10. theapex.co.uk

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listings

Images from left to right:

For a feast of art, theatre and food, pay a visit to The Curious Pygmy Club this month. The South perform on 12 October and Catrin Finch & Seckou Keita are at The Apex on 30 October

13

SUFFOLK HARVESt FESTIVAL

oct

Time: 10.30am Location: Angel Hill/Bury Cathedral Price: Free (fee for tea/pre-service lunch) Description: Browse the morning Farmer’s Market then visit St Edmundsbury Cathedral filled with flowers and produce for the annual harvest festival service at 3.30pm. Anna Hill of Radio 4 will interview Tim Jenkins of Fishermen’s Mission and a collection will be taken for the Addington Fund. visit-burystedmunds.co.uk

13

fat cat comedy

oct

Time: 8pm Location: The Apex Price: £12 Description: Actor, writer and comedian Phil Nichol makes a welcome return to the comedy club this month, joined by Gordon Southern and compère Stephen Carlin, a frequent performer at the Edinburgh Fringe who has supported the likes of Stewart Lee and Stephen Merchant. fatcatcomedyclub.com

27 October

REAL ALES GO POP! Time: 7.30pm Location: Theatre Royal Price: £50 for a team of 5 Description: Think you know your music? Then join the theatre’s first Golden Oldies Pop Quiz! To stimulate those neurons, there’ll also be a range of ales supplied by The Dove Pub. theatreroyal.org

27 October

wedding open day Time: 11am-4pm Location: Ravenwood Hall Price: Free entry Description: See the elegant Edwardian Pavilion, sweeping gardens and poolside summerhouse at this charming country hotel, licensed for weddings and civil ceremonies. ravenwoodhall.co.uk

COLCHESTER CHAMBER CHOIR

26

oct

Time: 7pm Location: St Edmundsbury Cathedral Price: £12.50 Description: An acapella concert performed in the wonderful surroundings of the cathedral, with music from Claudio Monteverdi, just as it might have been heard in the 17th century. stedscathedral.co.uk

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26 October

STRICTLY SATURDAYS Time: 2.30-4.30pm Location: The Apex Price: Free Description: Join in the Latin and ballroom dance class at The Apex at the upstairs bar, taking place every Saturday. theapex.co.uk

30 October

CATRIN FINCH & SECKOU KEITA Time: 8pm Location: The Apex Price: £5/£13/£15 Description: Welsh harpist Catrin and West African kora player Seckou join forces for a spectacular night of music. theapex.co.uk

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REVIEW

WORDS JENNIFER SHELTON IMAGES CHARLOTTE GRIFFITHS

RAVENWOOD HALL HOTEL

Jennifer Shelton escapes to the country to the enchanting Ravenwood Hall Hotel, where the new chef is cooking up a storm with his modern British creations ou don’t always have to go far to feel like you’re getting away from it all. Sometimes a short stay, with dinner and new scenery to explore, is just what’s needed to break up your routine – and Ravenwood Hall Hotel, tucked away down the road in Rougham, offers just that. Better still, you don’t have to tackle a long car journey. I think we’re on to a winner here.

My recent visit fell on a warm September weekend, with just a hint of autumn in the air and in the colour of Ravenwood’s towering trees. Staff had lit the first fires in the grand inglenooks and the cosy winged armchairs in the bar looked tremendously inviting.

A true country house hotel, Ravenwood Hall Hotel lends itself excellently to the colder seasons. Dating from the days of the Tudors, it’s all sturdy beams, four-poster beds and warm, muted lighting. It was taken on by Craig Jarvis in the 1980s, and family photos in the lounge give a friendly, welcoming feel – like arriving at the home of a rather grand relative.

We were shown into the Oak Room, a gorgeous panelled room with a sloping floor and impressive four-poster bed, while other antiques, including a pleasingly weathered old mariner’s trunk, were artfully arranged elsewhere. And it was with a squeak of delight that I discovered the hidden door to the en-suite bathroom – just as tastefully and elegantly furnished.

Dinner that evening was served in the Garden Room, a splendid space where the tartan carpet and mounted armour on the walls almost conjures up the feel of a Scottish castle.

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The menu is similarly impressive, with a focus on game, fowl and fish, and the new chef, Lyndon Schofield-Harvey, brings a modern slant to the menu. I chose a starter of scallops, arranged intermittently with inventive black pudding spring rolls with a parsnip garnish. The strong black pudding taste worked well to offset the natural subtlety of the scallops, which met my fork with the perfect springy softness. Across the table, my partner tucked into the breast of Ben Rigby pigeon. The succulent meat came with a sweet apple sorbet accompaniment, adding an eccentric, but delicious, dimension.

For the main, on the recommendation of our server, I went for the honey glazed duck breast with confit hash brown, honey glazed carrots and pak choi with a Suffolk cider jus. There’s something comforting about a hash brown, and this sophisticated take on the childhood favourite, infused with rich morsels of duck, was a definite winner, while the duck breast itself was perfectly pink and tender.

If you’re a dessert person, I’d recommend a visit to Ravenwood on the strength of their sweets alone. Having deliberated over the salted caramel and chocolate tart, I eventually decided on their quattro of desserts, consisting of a lemon

verbena cheesecake, poached apple, scoop of chocolate mousse and neat raspberry Bakewell. These marvellous miniatures were once again beautifully arranged, and the rich chocolate mousse, containing hidden chunks of biscuit, was amongst the best I’ve tasted. My dining partner finished with a concoction of pistachio brûlée, apple and almond pudding, and hazelnut gateau, eye-catchingly entitled Nuts!. It was another winning combination of flavours and textures, with the pistachio complementing the sweetness of the sticky pudding and layered gateau, and the nuts adding a satisfying crunch amongst the intense creaminess.

With its expert re-imaginings of classic British dishes and flawless service, wrapped up in an enchanting yet intimate setting, dinner at Ravenwood is ideal for a special occasion. If you’re staying over, don’t forget to take a walk in the gardens to meet Ravenwood’s goats and miniature ponies, which we did the next morning after breakfast. There’s also a croquet set in the lobby to neatly finalise your transition into country lady or gent.

Ravenwood Hall Hotel, Rougham, Bury St Edmunds IP30 9JA, 01359 270345, www.ravenwoodhall.co.uk

Bury Edition | October 2013 | 27

27/9/13 12:55:23

THE BUNBURY ARMS

“eat, drink, be merry” Book your Family or Staff Christmas Party at the Bunbury Arms today.

THE BUNBURY ARMS Ixworth Rd, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk IP31 2NX 01359 231253

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27/9/13 12:26:16

FOOD

F OOD NEWS

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

h

nt o M e h t Pub of

The One Bull itting just around the corner from the Abbey Gardens is The One Bull, thought to be one of the oldest pubs in town and now established as the go-to destination in Bury St Edmunds for wine connoisseurs, foodies and real ale drinkers alike. Pleasing such a broad spectrum of customers has been the mission of The One Bull’s owner David Marjoram (who also owns three other local pubs and microbrewery the Brewshed) since he bought the establishment more than five years ago.

“I felt there was a need for a more grown-up pub in Bury, one that 20 year olds through to 70 year olds can enjoy, go to for a nice coffee during the day, wine in the evening and home-cooked, seasonal food,” says David. “Although we are a gastropub, we have still tried to remain a drinking establishment at our core.”

That sentiment is evident in the pub’s extensive, accessible and occasionally quirky wine list, which has earned The One Bull the title of Best Wine Pub 2013 for

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Harvest Festival You can celebrate the abundance of autumn at the Suffolk Harvest Festival on 13 October with a special farmer’s market and service at St Edmundsbury Cathedral. The market will take place on Angel Hill from 10.30am, with stalls including Pepperbellies Chillis, Simply Home Bake, Hazelwood Nurseries, Leigh Doy Cheeses, The Friendly Loaf and Hubbard Pork. This will be followed by a celebratory service at the cathedral from 3.30pm, complete with flowers and produce galore.

You can even choose to stay for tea after the service for £3. www.visit-burystedmunds.co.uk

the East Anglia and East Midlands region in the BT Sport Great British Pub Awards.

Incredibly, all wines (and there are more than 40 currently on the list) are available by the glass, or for those wanting to explore the menu a little more, as part of a tasting flight (50ml of each wine).

In the dedicated dining space, seasonal Suffolk produce features heavily on the menu created by head chef Sean Goss, who tries to get as involved in the sourcing process as possible.

David explains: “Currently our local butcher is making sausages to our own specification and we are baking brioche in-house to use as buns for our burgers; where we feel we can add quality by doing it in-house, we always will.”

Ticking so many different boxes has made this brilliant boozer a firm local favourite. Whether you’re after a quick pint or a delicious three-course meal, The One Bull has definitely hit upon a winning formula. www.theonebull.co.uk

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FOOD

Wine tasting at the Angel Hotel Whether you can identify new world from old in just one sniff, or you just know you like a large glass, all wine lovers will enjoy the Angel Hotel’s wine dinner on 21 October. The event will focus on Amarone, a dry Italian red, and will include talks from Toby Hope from Hallgarten Druitt and Sabrina Tedeschi from Tedeschi wines. It also includes a four-course menu to compliment each wine. The event starts at 7.30pm and costs £42 per person. If your October is already jampacked then there’s the Capezzana Olive Oil event on 11 November as well. www.theangel.co.uk

Com ing so on!

The Packhorse Inn, Moulton There’s a new, proper pub coming to Suffolk, The Packhorse Inn in Moulton. The latest hostelry in the village will adopt a ‘back to basics’ approach to running a rural pub with local real ale and great seasonal food on offer. Set in the idyllic village of Moulton, the inn overlooks the green – ideal for a stroll before dinner. You can expect a large, bustling bar, various snug dining areas and a function room for up to 40 people. Plus there will be four luxurious bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms in case you fancy making a night of it. It is due to open later this month but watch the website for an official launch date. www.chestnutinns.com

Autumn Dance and Supper Supper and dancing: what’s not to love?

Blackthorpe Barn is putting on a night of barn dancing and a delicious hot dinner on 5 October to welcome in the autumn. Set in a medieval thatched barn, the evening will see five-piece band Switch playing favourite tracks from the 60s through to the noughties. Plus there will be an auction of promises from local auctioneer Simon Pott. The evening kicks off at 7.30pm and tickets are £12 for adults and £6 for children. www.blackthorpebarn.com

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Octoberfest

Elveden Estate

If you are a devoted beer lover then you won’t mind the hop across to Cambridge for their annual Octoberfest on 18 and 19 October at Cambridge University Social Club. The CAMRA event is small but beautiful with many beers and plenty of nibbles on offer. The tiny baby sister of Oktoberfest in Munich, it saves you a trip to Germany because the plan is to have all six of the larger beer festival’s brews at the Cambridge event, as well as other German brews and a smattering of local and national UK beers.

The festival will run from 5pm to 10.30pm on Friday and 12 noon to 10.30pm on Saturday. Admission is free to CAMRA members, £3 to the general public. www.cambridgebeerfestival.com

Feast your mince pies on the East End inspired menu being served at Elveden Estate on 5 October.

Dishes include smoked eel with beetroot, pie and mash, salt beef and treacle tart. And this is no pie shop buffet, all the traditional cockney grub will be served with typical Elveden flair, making it a glorious gastro adventure. Tickets cost £29.95 and that includes three courses and entertainment from cockney performers (yes, there will be a bit of Chas & Dave). Get on the dog and bone and book up now, we say.

Later in the month, 25 October is Elveden Tasting Night – when a delicious eight-course meal will be served, created using the best of the estate’s ingredients including home-grown veg, home-reared meat and wild meats (£24.95). www.elveden.com

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FOOD

Anniversary dinner at Maison Bleue Bury’s very own French fancy, Maison Bleue is 15 years old this year and will be holding a special celebratory dinner on 3 October to mark the occasion.

The black tie gastronomic affair will cost £100 per person, which includes four courses, canapés, an aperitif and wine with dinner. The meal will also be accompanied by enchanting music from harpist Geraldine McMahon. Call the restaurant on 01284 760623 to reserve a place. www.maisonbleue.co.uk

British Food Fortnight at Bedford Lodge Hotel Bedford Lodge Hotel will be celebrating British Food Fortnight in style this month with a special Great British Menu, playing homage to the heritage and diversity of British produce and recipes. Long gone are the days of boiled this and tinned that, we have a thriving food scene in the UK and Bedford Lodge Hotel want to help celebrate that. The menu runs until 6 October and includes tempting options such as Bottisham smoked salmon, Norfolk roast beef and gooseberry and apple crumble tart. Call 01638 663175 to book. www.bedfordlodgehotel.co.uk

Forage for your supper There really is such a thing as a free lunch – if you are willing to forage for it that is. And what could be better than food for free? This course at Assington Mill on 6 October from 10am to 5pm will teach you everything you need to know about foraging for wild food in Suffolk’s fine countryside.

Students will go out foraging and then bring back their booty to cook and eat together, all for £85 per person. Plus there will be demos on rabbit skinning, pigeon plucking and sourdough cooking. Bring your marigolds for pickling and your wellies for puddle hopping! www.assingtonmill.com

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DRINK FOOD

WORDS Nick Armitage IMAGES Charlotte Griffiths

DRINKS FIRST, Food later

Nick Armitage from Graze Kitchen & Bar calls for a revival of the oft-overlooked aperitif and suggests some tasty pre-dinner tipples he decline of the aperitif may well be one of the most depressing phenomena of our time,” according to filmmaker Luis Buñuel. And whilst a touch hyperbolic I feel it’s not far from the truth. When in the South of France (ok, they have the weather), there are few greater pleasures than watching the sun go down on a restaurant terrace, waiting for dinner with a glass of pastis; or perhaps you’re in Italy (ok, they have the weather), sitting on a dock somewhere on the Amalfi coast, with a chilled negroni, pontificating about the menu, drinking your drinks and feeling the aperitivi do their work stimulating your appetite.

But we have weather too, so why not join in? Before lunch or dinner chill a bottle of Lillet (the white is more robust) and serve it with a slick twist of orange. Or reach into the back of your drinks cupboard, pull out the fino sherry you’ve been saving for the oldies, put it in the fridge and treat yourself to the cold, dry pleasure of a fortified wine before you sit down to eat. For some people, a simple glass of champagne will do.

If you’re feeling more adventurous, try one (or both) of the following cocktails.

Negroni Spumante

Lemon 43

1½ shots dry gin 1½ shots Campari 1½ shots Martini Rosso

This was on our very first Graze drinks menu way back when and it’s still being asked for today.

Top up with Prosecco Glass Rocks (old-fashioned) Garnish Orange twist Step-by-step guide Fill your glass with

ice. Pour in the first three ingredients.

Top these with the Prosecco and stir. For a classic negroni, named after the Count Camillo Negroni, leave out the Prosecco.

The result is a very dry, bitter drink but it’s very tasty.

15ml Licor 43 10ml limoncello Top up with Prosecco Glass Champagne Garnish Physalis Step-by-step guide Pour the Licor 43 and limoncello into your glass (chilled if you can) and stir. Add the Prosecco and stir with your swizzle stick! You’ll have a sweet, yet dry, yellow aperitif.

Bartender's glossary Swizzle stick A stick used to stir drinks or hold fruit.

Originally they were made from small sticks in Bermuda some time around the 1700s. Today, if used at all, they are used to break down the bubbles in champagne, which seems a bit pointless.

Nick Armitage is a mixologist and the owner of Graze Kitchen & Bar in Bury St Edmunds. With a lot of experience on both sides of the bar, he has mixed drinks around the world, including a stint as manager of the American Bar at the Savoy in London.

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FOOD

WORDS alex rushmer

Spice the variety of life Make mundane meals magnificent by adding a sprinkling of spice to your dishes, says Alex Rushmer

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Images courtesy of Waitrose

O

ysters in gravy: shell oysters and cook them in wine and their own broth. Cool the broth through a cloth. Take blanched almonds, grind them, add to the broth and ally it with rice flour. Finally add the oysters and cast in a powder of ginger, sugar and mace. Heat through and serve immediately.

Admittedly this recipe might seem dated and the combinations a touch jarring for modern tastes but there is good reason for that: it was conceived and written over 600 years ago. The Forme of Cury documented the recipes of the royal household in the reign of Richard II and is thought to be the oldest cookbook in existence.

What surprised me most when I flicked through a copy was the heavy and regular use of spices that even today many view as exotic and adventurous. In addition to liberal sprinklings of cinnamon, cloves, anise and ginger throughout most of the dishes, there is a recipe for galangal soup and an intriguing cocktail consisting of wine, ginger, almonds and fennel juice.

This is ambitious cooking and a far cry from the bland, stodgy food that we English used to have a reputation for.

Admittedly there is a vast gulf between what the royal court dined on and how the rest of the populace sustained themselves, but this reliance on spice is an obsession that continued long into the 19th century.

The history of English food is a catalogue of exotic flavours and adventurous combinations In simple terms, the history of English food is a catalogue of exotic flavours and adventurous combinations characterised by the use of spices. It’s no surprise that curry has so firmly ingrained itself into the national diet in such a short period of time, or that chicken tikka masala is now rated as one of the most quintessentially English dishes.

It is perhaps because of this proliferation of Indian restaurants that spice has become synonymous with heat, but there is no reason the two have to coexist – spiced food need not necessarily have you reaching for the water jug. Indeed, there are no references to chilli peppers in The Forme of Cury, chiefly because they didn’t make the transatlantic leap until a century later.

My own introduction to the world of spices came in the north Indian state of Rajasthan where the cuisine is aromatic, full of flavour and perhaps a little reminiscent of some of the dishes served at 15th century royal banquets. The spice markets of Jodhpur are wonderful, and on returning my spice shelf grew fourfold with new jars of aromatic seeds and powders appearing with wanton regularity. The same thing now happens

in the kitchens of my restaurant, where spices are used daily and diligently to lift dishes from mundane to magnificent.

If you’re new to the world of spices then I’d recommend beginning with four or five spices from a similar flavour family, combining them in different ways in both sweet and savoury applications.

Cinnamon, cloves, anise, cardamom and black pepper all harmonise wonderfully and take your food in a variety of directions. Cumin and smoked chillis lean towards Mexico. Replace cloves and cardamom with smoked paprika and oregano to head to North Africa, or add dried chillis to take your food towards India. The same combination can be used to add warmth to autumnal fruit desserts such as apple crumble or pear tarte tatin – or replace traditional vanilla in a crème brulée to take a firm favourite in an exciting new direction.

For this month’s recipe I’m using a combination of warm spices in two dishes that complement each other wonderfully.

The first is a sweet, sour and savoury tagine of lamb which is warmed with cinnamon and cumin. The second is a fragrantly smoky and delicate couscous flavoured with rose and paprika.

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eating in

Words Alex Rushmer images CHARLOTTE GRIFFITHS

of lamb Ing red ien ts

We buy whole lambs from a local farm and once butchered, we are left with a reasonable amount of stewing meat that needs cooking slowly – ideal for this recipe.

Step-by-step guide

1. Season the lamb with sea salt and brown in a frying pan over a high heat. Brown on all sides then remove to a plate. Meanwhile heat the olive oil over a medium heat in a casserole or tagine.

2. Add the coriander seeds then turn down the heat and add the onion. Cook over a low heat for 15 minutes to soften, but not brown, the onion.

3. Next, add the cinnamon, cumin and ground almonds and cook for a further five minutes, stirring regularly.

4. Add the lamb and the lemon to the onions and spices, cover with chicken stock, stir in the honey or sugar and leave to simmer gently for two hours until the lamb is tender.

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eating in

Ingred ien ts

&

rose couscous

The most important thing with couscous is to use cold water. I acquired this tip from a fellow chef who had in turn learned it from fusion cuisine guru, Peter Gordon. It makes for a wonderfully light and clump-free texture, and is ideal for making well in advance. The flavour comes from the spices, onions, garlic and fruit, all folded in after the couscous has rehydrated. It can then be heated through in the microwave before serving. You will need equal parts by volume of couscous and water.

Step-by-step guide

1. Rehydrate the couscous with the cold water or stock in a large baking tray so the couscous is in a thin layer. Leave for ten minutes.

2. Soften the onion and garlic in olive oil over a medium heat in a frying pan for ten minutes without browning.

3. Add the spices and cook for a further ten minutes and finally stir in the dates,

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pistachio nuts and rose essence. Allow to cool slightly then fold through the couscous. Sprinkle in the chopped parsley and mint.

4. Keep in the fridge until ready to use.

Then place into a microwaveable bowl, cover with cling film and heat for a minute on full power or until warmed through. Serve with the tagine.

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Advertisement feature

Experience Sri Lanka Nikhil Chhibber of Western & Oriental, who works with Fred. Olsen Travel, gives an insight into his recent trip to Sri Lanka. If you would like to find out more there is a Western & Oriental evening in store at Fred. Olsen Travel on 2 October from 6:30pm. ne day sticks in my mind when I recount my recent stay in Sri Lanka, and it started with witnessing two humpback and three blue whales putting on a performance in the morning off the coast of Mirissa. In the afternoon, this spectacle of nature was followed by sightings of Asiatic elephant in musth, crocodile making a charge at wild buffalo, then, deeper in the jungle, we heard the barking deer.

Known as The Pearl of the Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka is a most beautiful and diverse island. Sri Lanka has something for everyone, with a rich culture and heritage, amazing architecture, landscapes, scenery and hills for people looking for adventure, stunning beaches and amazing wildlife.

The best way to experience Sri Lanka is to stay in small character and boutique style hotels, which are like hidden treasures waiting to be revealed. I’d also recommend taking a helicopter or hot air balloon ride over the iconic Sigiriya Rock Fortress, a night safari in Yala National Park, or visiting the Esala Perahera festival in Kandy to see the decorated elephants.

Sri Lanka also inspires you to cook – its curries are delicious. Chat to your chef or go to a cooking demonstration to pick up a few easy tips. It’s clear that Sri Lankan hotels and the government are taking initiatives to push the destination. A new international airport at Hambantota opened earlier in the year, and an expressway is being expanded that will bring down the travelling time from Colombo airport to Galle under two hours.

New luxury carriages like Espo and Rajadhani are added on to local trains to attract discerning foreign travellers, which really lifts the standard of comfort – I highly recommend the journey between Hatton to Nanu Oya, offering breathtaking views.

With British Airways starting its operation earlier this year, you have the option of a top

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ber Nikhil Chhib Mark Scriv ener

quality flat bed all the way to Sri Lanka and it has also made the twin centre experience of Sri Lanka and Maldives very popular (Sri Lanka for culture and touring, and Maldives for its spectacular island experiences).

New air services like Cinnamon Air or Flyme with its fleets of amphibian aircrafts are linking new destinations. Unspoiled beaches in the East Coast of Sri Lanka are gaining popularity as you can fly to Trincomalee or Batticaloa on the east coast from Colombo.

This makes Sri Lanka a 365 days destination.

The East Coast is best visited between May and October when traditionally the West Coast can be wet.

The specialist travel staff at your local branch of Fred. Olsen Travel in Bury St Edmunds are extremely well travelled and best equipped to assist you with travel arrangements worldwide. Assistant manager Mark Scrivener has also been to Sri Lanka; you can visit him in store or call 01284 847907. www.travelwithfredolsen.co.uk/shop/bury

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indIE of the month

WORDS Jennifer Shelton IMAGES Charlotte Griffiths

Independent of the Month

C B

Beautiful

If you fancy a spot of pampering, make a beeline for this luxurious local salon, says Jennifer Shelton ituated just round the corner from the hustle and bustle of Abbeygate Street is a gorgeous independent beauty salon worth seeking out. C&B Beautiful is a wonderful find for anyone wanting an hour of pampering, a dose of relaxation or simply to top up on quality beauty products to use at home. Established by Caroline Grimes and Rebecca Denham, C&B Beautiful stocks products by Clarins, Crystal Clear, Bio Sculpture Gel and ESPA, as well as offering facial and body treatments, spray tans, hair removal, nail treatments and more in their luxurious, smartly decorated treatment rooms.

The salon, based in characterful premises on the corner of Whiting and Churchgate Street, has a friendly, welcoming feel.

Caroline and the team - all fully qualified beauty therapists and experts in their field - are clearly passionate about what they do, greeting me warmly as I step inside.

Along with Caroline and Rebecca, the team in Bury is made up of Molly, Eve, Cassie and assistant manager Rachael. “The girls are all so knowledgeable, and happy to offer advice and recommendations; Rachael and Molly have been doing this a long time,” says Caroline. “We have some lovely clients, and we’ve got to know them really well.”

Local lass Caroline studied beauty at college, working alongside her training.

Then, after working in Saffron Walden for three years, she opened C&B Beautiful in Haverhill at just 23, with her business partner Rebecca.

“We’ve been open for ten years in Haverhill, and three years ago we decided to open up in Bury St Edmunds, where we saw a gap in the market,” she says.

What do their clients most commonly come in for? “Generally it’s gel nails, eyelash extensions, and we’ve recently launched ESPA products,” Caroline explains. “They’re

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luxurious five-star products and are stocked by a number of spas, so it was great that they let us stock them here. It’s a really big thing for us; I think we’re the only people in town who have the brand.”

The British-based spa brand creates nourishing cleansers, toners, eye creams and hand creams, for a variety of skin types. If you’re not sure which would be best for you, the C&B team will be more than happy to give some recommendations.

“I have the facials myself, which are fantastic,” says Caroline. “And all of ESPA’s products are 99-100 per cent natural.”

Rachael adds: “The kits and gift sets are the most popular; they’re really good value and a great way to try the products out. There are different ones for different skin types, including the Lift and Firm, Skin Radiance and Intense Hydration collections.

Because it’s quite new, that’s what people

are going for to start with.”

C&B offer consultations under their ‘skin vision lamp’, where customers can come in and learn which products are best for their skin. Rachael explains: “What we do is cleanse the skin, then turn the lights off and use a UV lamp to highlight any areas of dehydration or combination. Then we can recommend certain products and what treatment, if any, would be useful.”

C&B Beautiful are constantly growing and evolving, and there are exciting plans afoot for the business in coming months.

If you've not yet made your first visit, expect fantastic service and a great range of products and treatments, designed to make you feel beautiful, inside and out.

16 Whiting Street, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 1NX, 01284 747077. www.candb-beautiful.co.uk

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five of the best

WORDS Jennifer Shelton

five of the best...

There are few more enjoyable pastimes than indulging in a quintessentially English afternoon tea. But where to go? Here's our pick of Bury’s best offerings...

Harriets At Harriets, the ever popular tea room in the centre of town, afternoon tea is what they do best. A traditional afternoon tea here includes a pot of their special blend fresh leaf tea, finger sandwiches filled with ham and egg, two home-made scones with clotted cream and jam, followed by an assortment of mini sponge cakes, for £13.75. Tea here is a picture of luxurious elegance, complete with twinking chandeliers and even a live classical pianist on some afternoons.

If you fancy really treating yourself, opt for the Special Afternoon Tea, which comes with smoked salmon, cucumber and chicken sandwiches, plus a choice of fresh mini patisseries. To complete the Downton effect, all this will be served on a silver threetier stand by waitresses in period uniform. Splendid! www.harrietscafetearooms.co.uk

The Angel Sink into a sumptuous armchair in the super stylish Eaterie Restaurant at The Angel Hotel and indulge in one of their delightful afternoon tea specials. A serving of delicate sandwiches, scones with jam and Jersey cream, and a range of pastries and other mouth-wateringly moreish morsels will be served with your choice of tea or coffee. Make it even more special by adding something bubbly. “For us, it’s about reinventing the classics and giving them a modern twist,” says Cara Beggerow at The Angel. “All the cakes are home-made on site and served on funky plates – you can even substitute the tea for champagne.” Afternoon tea costs £16 per person, while the luxury afternoon tea, including a glass of fizz, is £25. Served daily between 2.30pm and 6pm. Advance booking is recommended.

They're not just for afternoons though, afternoon teas are also becoming popular for functions and small parties – just let the hotel staff know what you want and they’ll sort it out for you. www.theangel.co.uk

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five of the best

Images courtesy of Charlotte Griffiths

Really Rather Good Either a first stop-off on arriving in Bury or a last port of call before collecting the car, Really Rather Good, overlooking the Abbey Gardens, is well known for its lovely decor and delicious cakes. Home-made each morning, their offerings vary from day to day; you might find a carrot cake and traditional Victoria sponge on the counter, or maybe something a little more adventurous like a lemon, poppyseed and courgette slice. Enjoy yours with a cup of loose-leaf tea or freshly roasted coffee.

Really Rather Good are possibly best known for their scones: try a light and fluffy cheese scone if you’re in a savoury mood, or keep it traditional with a fruit scone.

Follow @MummaStansCakes on Twitter for info and updates. Who said scones were old-fashioned? www.rrgood.co.uk

The Swan, Lavenham It’s thought that the tradition of afternoon tea began in the early 19th century when Brits were expected to have just two meals a day, breakfast and dinner, with nothing to stave off those early afternoon hunger pangs. Thankfully, the seventh Duchess of Bedford decided this was absolute nonsense, and began taking tea and a light meal with friends in her boudoir. And we’re jolly glad she did.

The iconic 15th century Swan at Lavenham has brought a new dimension to this British tradition with the introduction of its indulgent emperor swan afternoon tea.

Just as with other Swan tea menus, it’s served on delicate, antique porcelain in front of a roaring log fire; ideal for a refined, convivial occasion, just like in the Duchess’ day. Included is a selection of venison and cranberry, salmon and caviar, and crab and lemon mayonnaise sandwiches on tomato bread (no crusts, naturally). Also included are apple and walnut scones with local preserves and clotted cream, with a range of pastries and cakes (we are particularly enamoured of the swan-shaped meringues).

Served daily between 2.30pm and 5.30pm, the emperor swan afternoon tea is priced at £21.50 per person, with lighter options from just £8.50 if you want to leave room for dinner. www.theswanatlavenham.co.uk

The Ickworth Hotel Retreat to the country and take tea at the glorious Ickworth Hotel, situated in the grounds of the National Trust property. One of the UK’s top luxury family hotels, it’s a chance to live like a lord and lady for an afternoon.

With your cup of tea or coffee you’ll be served a scone with jam and cream, sticky toffee cake, fruit cake, banana cake and fruit meringue, plus a selection of sandwiches. The traditional Ickworth tea is £18.95 per person, or £26.95 to include champagne.

Then, walk off the calories with a gentle stroll around the grounds (there’s 1,800 acres to explore), to complete your truly English afternoon at Ickworth. www.ickworthhotel.co.uk

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WEDDING GUIDE WORDS NICOLA FOLEY

Planning your big day? From perfect venues to showstopping dresses, our essential local weddings guide has got it covered BURY BRIDAL ROOMS

THE SUFFOLK WEDDING SHOW If you need some extra inspiration and advice and want to see loads of suppliers in a single place at once for maximum convenience, then make a beeline for The Suffolk Wedding Show. Taking place on 20 October at Wherstead Park in Ipswich, this is a one-stop shop for all of your wedding needs. Exhibitors include venues, caterers, entertainers, florists, cake makers, hen and stag specialists and everything else you need to get sorted ahead of your big day, so it’s definitely worth a look. It’s open 11am-3.30pm and entry is free. www.thesuffolkweddingshow.co.uk

Every girl wants to look her best on her big day, and we’re fortunate enough to have a great bridal boutique on our doorstep. Bury Bridal Rooms pride themselves on their fantastic personal service and stock a carefully selected range of designer dresses.

They offer a ‘dress on the day’ too, to make sure everything is perfect as you walk the aisle.

www.burybridalrooms.co.uk

THE PRIORY When our reviewer dined at The Priory’s inhouse restaurant a couple of months ago, she was blown away by the calibre of their culinary offerings, so you can guarantee that your wedding breakfast will be fit for a king if you choose this hotel for your nuptials. But there’s more to The Priory than its food. The beautifully landscaped gardens are a treat, and the staff are warm and friendly as well. It’s also got a great central location, but, nestled as it is behind the historic walls of an ancient priory, it feels peaceful and secluded. They will of course put you up for the night as well, and the team are happy to negotiate rates for wedding parties on overnight rooms. www.prioryhotel.co.uk

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WEDDING GUIDE

PERFECT BREW If you’re looking for somewhere for the groom’s party to stay the night before the Big Day, we recommend The Old Cannon – after all, where better to spend the last night as a single man than a brewery?! With lovely rooms, hearty home-made food and their renowned ales on tap, it’s a great pre-wedding spot. Weekend packages are available. www.oldcannonbrewery.co.uk

BEDFORD LODGE

THEATRE ROYAL We all want to take centre stage in the most dazzling production of our whole lives, so what better wedding venue than the Theatre Royal? Sumptuous Regencyera surroundings, a spectacular auditorium (which can hold up to 300), and a team of talented technical staff on hand to give your big day added wow factor make this the perfect location for a truly memorable celebration. A wedding here is also a rather irresistible opportunity to become part of the rich 200-year history of this Bury institution – you can even get married on the stage itself if you so desire… www.theatreroyal.org

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Newmarket’s luxury country hotel does charming weddings and civil services, with five self-contained banqueting suites to choose from to suit any size of party, from ten to 150. Bedford Lodge is an elegant, white 17th century building close to but nicely tucked away from the centre of town.

“Within all our packages we offer a complementary bridal suite, and for the bride the night before, so the bride can get ready here too,” says wedding co-ordinator Vicki Jones. “We also offer discounted rates for the rest of the bridal party.” www.bedfordlodgehotel.co.uk

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WEDDING GUIDE

THE GRANGE COUNTRY HOTEL Located in Thurston, The Grange is bursting with character and charm.

Set in pretty landscaped gardens, the Tudor-style building boasts a large banquet room (that seats up to 110 diners), and offers some fantastic packages that include dining, flowers, entertainment and everything else you need to make sure your big day is everything you dreamed of. They even offer extra special bridal makeovers, where the hotel’s spa director will provide a personal consultation that covers everything from make-up to dress, tiara and entourage to ensure you arrive looking perfect. www.burystedmundshotel.com

KENTWELL HALL As far as awe-inspiring weddings venues go, they don’t come much more magical than the historic Kentwell Hall.

From the impressive oak-floored dining and dancing area to the beautiful courtyard, walled garden and Cedar Lawn, as well as plenty of room for large marquees – they’ve got every base covered, in spectacular style. They can also host civil ceremonies in their magnificent Great Hall, but couples wishing to hold their own ceremonies can get married in any number of romantic locations around the estate. They’re always keen to help couples achieve their dream day, whether it’s an after-dinner fireworks display, hiring their vintage Rolls Royce or arriving by parachute (which sounds like the coolest thing we’ve ever heard). www.kentwell.co.uk

SUITE DREAMS AT THE ANGEL Once the ceremony and reception are done and dusted, you’ll need somewhere suitably heavenly to rest your head – and our town’s most treasured hotel, The Angel, more than delivers. Sitting proudly on Angel Hill, this place is synonymous with luxury and style – and with sumptuous (and uber romantic) suites that boast ornate beds, gorgeous views of the cathedral and enormous free-standing copper baths, you can’t really ask for a more perfect start to married life together. www.theangel.co.uk

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WEDDING GUIDE

Ravenwood Hall Hotel Set within seven acres of picturesque Suffolk countryside, Ravenwood Hall Hotel is a rural gem. If it’s a fairytale summer wedding you’re after, the Edwardian Pavilion is the ideal backdrop – but there’s plenty of room for a marquee if you’re reluctant to trust the good old British weather. The hotel can also host a mini celebration the day after the wedding – offering a BBQ and desserts served by the pool.

If you’re opting for a winter wedding, Ravenwood is equally enticing during the cooler months with its huge fireplaces and cosy feel. Whatever the time of year, they always deliver on the food front, with an award-winning modern British menu bursting with tasty seasonal fare. www.ravenwoodhall.co.uk

The Swan, Lavenham If it’s luxurious country charm you’re after, look no further than the renowned Swan Hotel in Lavenham. With its medieval courtyard, cottage gardens and beautiful 15th century building (complete with ancient oak beams and inglenook fireplaces), it’s a gem of a venue which suits both understated intimate celebrations or larger affairs.

They’re licensed for civil ceremonies and the food and wine (taken care of by the talented duo of head chef, Justin Kett, and head sommelier, François Belin), here is well known for its sky-high calibre too.

Book The Swan for an exclusive midweek wedding before May 2014 and take advantage of the hotel’s special all-inclusive package for up to 70 guests from £13,650, which can be tailored to suit your individual requirements. www.theswanatlavenham.co.uk

COME FLY WITH ME You want your honeymoon to be the trip of a lifetime, but with so many options out there, deciding what’s perfect can sometimes turn selecting your getaway into a bit of a headache. We recommend relieving the pressure by visiting a good travel agent. Fred Olsen on Brentgovel Street are pros when it comes to helping you find your dream destination and tailoring every last detail with you.

It’s not just honeymoons that they’re well versed in however, if you fancy actually tying the knot abroad, you’ll definitely need a little expert advice, and they’ll be more than happy to assist on everything from prices and availability to guiding you through the documents and legalities of your country of choice. And the choices are dizzying: from a postcard-perfect tropical beach to a fairytale Disney wedding, to the Mara bushtop camp in Kenya, they can help you make your dream wedding destination a reality. www.travelwithfredolsen.co.uk

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interiors

WORDS ANGELINA VILLA-CLARKE

Cooking with

sunny spaces The new Yellowcake shade from Farrow & Ball was inspired by kitchens of the 1960s but has an ‘of the moment feel’. Paint prices start at £19.50. (01202 876141; www.farrow-ball.com)

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interiors

green with envy This white Charles York kitchen features a peppermint green island with oak top.

From £18,000, House of Harmony kitchens (01284 760811; www.house-of-harmony.co.uk)

CONFIDENT COLOUR Team Farrow & Ball’s dramatic Stiffkey Blue shade with silvers and greys.

(01202 876141; www.farrow-ball.com)

Gone are the days when taupe, mushroom and beige were the height of sophistication. Our homes are now bursting with colour and the craze for shades of all hues has even reached the kitchen, once the enclave of neutrals. Angelina Villa-Clarke finds out more here’s a frisson of excitement in the world of interiors.

Farrow & Ball, that hallowed paint brand that homemakers the length and breadth of the UK bow down to, has launched a collection of nine new colours. It’s a once-in-everythree-years event and, as you’d expect, the heritage brand has got them just right. The new shades have captured the zeitgeist for boldness, giving them an upto-the-minute modernity. Yellowcake, for instance, is a zingy, citrus hue – ideal for sunny kitchens, while Nancy’s Blushes is a rich, girly pale pink – fantastic for teaming with dark greys or blue-blacks.

While there’s nothing new in ‘Farrowites’ applying a bright lick of paint

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on a statement wall in a bedroom, or indeed choosing a bold colour scheme for a living room, what’s interesting is the fact that there is a mini revolution occurring in our kitchens. Once the domain of whites, creams and woods, kitchens have become colourful. As well as bolder wall colours, zany tiles and statement flooring, kitchen manufacturers themselves are seeing an increased demand for more daring shades of units and requests for white goods, which are, well, no longer white.

“The kitchen is the perfect place to introduce colour, whether it’s a soft accent or a bold statement,” says Sarah Cole, Marketing Director at Farrow & Ball (www.farrow-ball.com). “Green hues, for instance, help to bring a hint of nature

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to the home, especially if you have a kitchen that looks out onto a garden.

Choose a shade such as Mizzle, a beautiful grey-green that could be used on your cupboards to complement a neutral shade on the wall. Pigeon is another easy-to-livewith colour and a good choice for painting a kitchen island, to accentuate the focal point of the room.

“For those seeking some real excitement, there is the retro boldness of Yellowcake,” she continues. “This sunny yellow provides a wonderful injection of colour into a kitchen, whether it’s used on walls, accessories or furniture.”

But while a wall can be easily repainted if you realise that you’ve overdone it, the investment of a whole kitchen can be a different matter and is not for the fainthearted. While white and cream kitchens will always keep their style factor, there is that enduring fear that a bright, colourful kitchen can quickly look tired and dated. To counteract this, a key point to remember is not to choose one shade for the whole kitchen. Pick out elements and match darker hues with bright neutrals to achieve a timeless look.

Darker shade of pale Colour doesn’t have to be bold; Neptune’s Chichester Kitchen is shown with a dove grey island unit and mushroom-coloured walls and shelving. Subtle but effective. (01284 731025; www.neptuneburystedmunds.com)

Light worktops in polished marbles and limestone work well with contrasting paint colours

ultra cool A white AlnoStar Gloss kitchen is brought alive by contrasting royal blue sparkle kitchen tops and oven backdrop. From £15,000, Kitchenology.

(01284 724723; www.kitchenologyltd.co.uk)

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Tony McCarthy, Commercial Director at Crown Imperial (www.crown-imperial. co.uk), one of the UK’s leading kitchen manufacturers, favours the use of colour simply on an island: “A great way to create a focal point in a kitchen is by creating an island. As a stand-alone piece of furniture, it offers an opportunity to use colour to contrast with the rest of the kitchen. Going as far as choosing an alternative material for the island work surface can create an even bolder feature. Crown Imperial has a wide range of styles that marry colours from intense tones to pastel shades. We also offer a wide range of materials, from contemporary gloss to matte colours, for a truly individual look. Curved cabinets add the wow factor to a large kitchen island and are a stylish choice for standalone pieces, particularly if chosen in a contrasting or bright colour.”

Richard Moore, design director at Martin Moore & Company (www. martinmoore.com), which has six kitchen showrooms across the UK, has witnessed more clients having fun with colour in the kitchen with truly inspiring results.

“Flashes of colour, for example deep pink or ruby red, are being used for accent pieces,” he says. “Light worktops in polished marbles and limestone work well with these contrasting paint colours.”

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red tops Make an island a focal point by using colour, like in this kitchen with its splash of scarlet surface. Price on application, Knights Country Kitchens.

(01787 277914; www.knightscountrykitchens.co.uk)

We use colour to tie in worktops, smaller appliances, floors and soft furnishings along with accessories Gemma Copsey, kitchen designer and director of Knights Country Kitchens, agrees that a bolder use of colour in the kitchen is currently very popular.

“If the client has the right space and light in their kitchen, we encourage them to be brave and use two contrasting colours – it gives such a dramatic, modern-day effect. At the moment, for instance, we are installing a kitchen where clients have chosen Farrow & Ball’s Cinder Rose, a dusty, rose-pink shade, on the island unit and Hardwick White on the units surrounding the island. They look absolutely stunning together.”

Bespoke kitchen specialists Knights Country Kitchens (www. knightscountrykitchens.co.uk) is a family run business based in Clare, Suffolk.

Specialising in offering a personal design service, they work closely with clients to choose the right handmade kitchen for

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their needs, which can be produced in specialist paint colours.

Chris Beale of Bury St Edmunds based House of Harmony kitchens (www.houseof-harmony.co.uk) thinks the use of colour in the design of a kitchen is imperative for the overall success of a space.

“Whether it is contemporary or traditional, the use of colour is more frequently used to define an area, units or personal preference within the kitchen,” he observes. “We use colour to tie in worktops, floors, smaller appliances, soft furnishings and fabrics along with accessories, to blend all elements to create an individual look and feel.”

Jennifer Shaw from Kitchenology, (www.kitchenologyltd.co.uk), a specialist in ultra-modern kitchens, based in Bury St Edmunds, recommends keeping the units themselves neutral but incorporating clever accents of colour: “Our German

German accents Contemporary kitchens such as the Alno ArtPro in black and the AlnoStar Vetrina in high-gloss white, from Kitchenology, feature clean lines and bold colours. (01284 724723; www.kitchenologyltd.co.uk)

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ABOVE Martin Moore & Company’s ‘English’ kitchens are hand painted. This warm blue is a focal point. Kitchen prices start at £35,000. (0845 180 0015; www.martinmoore.com) RIGHT Using bright tiles is a practical way to add interest to a kitchen. Topps Tiles has a huge selection to choose from. (0800 783 6262; www.toppstiles.co.uk)

Alno kitchens are lifetime investments.

Super slick, they are popular in ultra-white and ‘cashmere’ shades. In terms of design, we find that bold, primary-coloured glass splashbacks complement them really well and make a space bang up to date.

“For this year, Alno introduced the Ultra White door colour in a range of gloss and matte finishes,” Jennifer continues. “The Ultra White is so white that it almost has a blue/violet tint and looks wonderful with the Deep Blue AlnoFine matte lacquer door, for a crisp, contemporary contrast.”

Another stylish way of updating your kitchen is to choose a ‘heritage’ colour – sage green, sea blue, dove grey – on large pieces of stand-alone furniture, such as dressers, table legs and dining chairs.

Based in Bury St Edmunds, Neptune Home (www.neptuneburystedmunds. com) sell stylish, handcrafted kitchens with a focus on hand-painted colours covering a palette of greys, blues and brown tones. Neptune’s Martin King comments: “Many of our clients choose a neutral colour for the core of their kitchen. But recently we have noticed a

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shift to people choosing slightly stronger shades. Our kitchens are not sleek and glossy in style but instead are more classic and traditional. We therefore don’t offer hot pinks and reds – they just wouldn’t suit what we do. But there’s definitely an increase in demand for the ‘smoke’, ‘charcoal’ and ‘driftwood’ shades, which work wonderfully with a bright statement wall. Best of all, we can simply repaint kitchens in the future if a client has a change of heart.”

Tiling is another way of adding a splash – or indeed a splashback – of interest. “Our new Batik range is a stunning yet durable choice for a splashback, giving plain walls an uplift,” says Beth Boulton, head of marketing at Topps Tiles (www.toppstiles. co.uk). “The tiles have an intricate decorative pattern, in a Moorish earthy palette, and you can choose to create a charming patchwork effect by mixing and matching contrasting batik patterns for eye-catching appeal, scattering colours randomly for added impact.”

When it comes to kitchen appliances, you might have thought these would be

Choose a ‘heritage’ colour on large pieces of stand-alone furniture the last bastions of non-colour. But not so – leading kitchen company The Suffolk Kitchen Company (www.suffolk-kitchens. co.uk) have even noticed a demand for colourful cookers.

“More colours are definitely being used in the kitchen. It’s because it has become much more of a social space, merely than just a functional one,” says Jacques Dasan, co-director and designer at The Suffolk Kitchen Company. “Adding in a bright splash of colour on a range or AGA is a great idea to give a very unique effect.

The Falcon cookers, for instance, come in a huge variety of colours – such as racing green, bright blues and reds. Lots of the manufacturers, especially of freestanding appliances like range cookers and American fridge-freezers, are offering a bespoke colour service so you can match your appliance to your curtains if you want to. It’s really popular.

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“One of our most popular kitchens at the moment is a blue/green Charles Rennie Mackintosh kitchen,” Jacques continues. “It works really well with a dark acrylic worktop with a touch of sparkle in it.”

However you choose to update your kitchen, the best thing about this growing trend is that the use of colour is an instant brightener. Done tastefully – unusual tiles, a primary coloured floor or a bank of richly glossy cupboards – it can make your space an inviting room to be in. Colour is definitely hot right now and if you can’t take the heat, then you know what to do.

heritage The Charles Rennie Mackintosh kitchen from The Suffolk Kitchen Company is a popular choice in blue/green with dark tops. (01284 768899; www.suffolk-kitchens.co.uk)

image right Cambridge Kitchens can match your white goods and ranges to your colour scheme. (01223 213266; www.cambridgekitchens.co.uk)

Other ways to instantly update your kitchen

1

1. Use industrial lighting, such as the Cluck chicken wire shade from Habitat (£40, www.habitat.co.uk); or the Samuel pendant (£95) adds a splash of colour.

4

2. Change your cupboard handles to coloured ones, from Rockett St George (£5.95, www.rockettstgeorge.co.uk).

3. Incorporate stand-alone furniture, such as a dresser, but painted in a vibrant tone.

4. Update a neutral kitchen by adding colourful accessories, like this Newgate Pantry clock, £28, and LSA Centro Carafe, £14, both from Oliver Bonas (www. oliverbonas.com). Have a look at John Lewis’s range of colourful pieces, too (www.johnlewis.com).

5. Botanical prints and shades of green are big with stylists right now. Natural History has a selection of ceramics and tiles all featuring painted birds and plants (www.natural-history.myshopify.com). Set of eight cards, £16; 10" coupe plate, £25; cushions £62.50 each.

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Advertisement feature

Our new showroom is now open!

The new Platinum Karndean Design showroom is now open at M2M Flooring, the Bury based family business in St John’s Street. To celebrate, the company are holding a launch party on 5 October for a chance to see the new showrooms and enjoy a glass of bubbly. Everyone is welcome.

“What’s more, every floor purchased during October and November will receive a free Karndean Floorcare Kit worth £34.99,” says Yvonne Poole, who runs the showroom.

“Additionally, we will give you a £30 Marks & Spencer voucher when you recommend us to someone who goes on to purchase from us within the next six months. Just ask for details.”

There will also be a free raffle prize for the chance to get your floor fitted for free.

Renowned for their professional service and modern flooring techniques, M2M Flooring have taken their business a stage further. They now have on display the full range of Karndean in their newly installed Platinum Design studio and have moved their beautiful, extensive ranges of carpets and vinyls to their new upstairs showroom.

“Our new showroom now displays the full Karndean Design Flooring range including the brand new Loose Lay Designs, the luxurious Art Select Woods and the versatile Knight Tile ranges,” says Yvonne. “Karndean Design Flooring is the perfect way to add a touch of individuality to your space.”

Easy to look after, quiet underfoot and warmer to the touch than natural materials, Karndean Design Flooring helps to create a welcoming environment that suits your lifestyle. These floors are designed to look beautiful for years. Each plank and tile features a protective hard-wearing surface layer which makes it tough and resistant to scuffs and marks which means all floors are guaranteed for between 12 and 20 years.

Offering a personal service and working closely with every customer, M2M Flooring offer helpful advice to ensure every finished floor exceeds expectations. With a high level of personal recommendations, the company is proud that David and James, Yvonne’s sons and both directors of the company, install your floor to the highest levels. Specialising in this area, they have a wealth of experience plus the continued support from Karndean in the latest fitting techniques.

“Our new Karndean Showroom is set up with the customers in mind, with examples of Karndean designs on the floor and a great interactive design service to help make your choice,” adds Yvonne. “Design tables are here to lay out different designs on and show you how your new floor could look.”

01284 704500

Contact or find out more online: www.m2mflooring.co.uk 60 | Bury Edition | October 2013

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FOOD

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FASHION WORDS NICOLA FOLEY

SWEATSHIRT £10 PRIMARK

Revival You’ve probably already got a few leopard print pieces kicking around in your wardrobe, so you’ll be happy to know that this trend is back with a vengeance for autumn/winter 2013. Rather than opting for classic black, brown and white prints however (although it seems these will be forever in style), this season it’s all about having some fun with a splash of colour. We love these unique takes on the trend from the high street, sure to brighten even the most dreary of winter days.

MULTI LEOPARD SIDE STRIPE TEE £34 TOPSHOP

FLURO ANIMAL CROP CAMI £22 TOPSHOP

LEOPARD NEOPRENE SWEAT £32 TOPSHOP

DKNY LEOPARD PRINT BAG £105 HOUSE OF FRASER 62 | Bury Edition | October 2013

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Army Tartan is set to be the biggest trend for the new season; as featured all over the catwalks at Saint Laurent, Mulberry, Givenchy and Versace. You’ll have the pick of the high street when it comes to selecting your checked bounty, from tartan leggings and jeans for a punky aesthetic, to preppy skirts and rock chick bags à la Vivienne Westwood. If you only buy one item this month, make it tartan.

Image courtesy of Miss Selfridge

FASHION

H! BY HENRY HOLLAND CHECK TROUSERS £22 DEBENHAMS

VIVIENNE WESTWOOD TARTAN BAG £450 HOUSE OF FRASER SHELLYS PLAID DERBY LACE UP BROGUE £55 BANK LIMITED EDITION MCGREGGOR TROUSERS £39.50 M&S

PU & TARTAN SHIRT DRESS £13 PRIMARK

Pink

RED CHECK TOP £32 MISS SELFRIDGE

BUTTON UP PINK COAT £199 JAEGER

Word on the street is that pink is the new black, according to the likes of DKNY, Jonathan Saunders and Roksanda Ilincic, anyway. From bold fuchsia to dusty hues through to vibrant neon, pink was prolific. Our favourite high street takes on the catwalk pieces are the many and varied pink coats – perfect partners for the plethora of slate greys, inky blacks and navys also set to hit the rails this season.

COAT £25 PRIMARK

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KNOWSLEY JUMPER £79 REISS

COLOUR BLOCK SHELL £30 TOPSHOP

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JO SE PH

TU RV EY

AW 13

FASHION

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‘T UX BO ’ G OT REY S £6 SUE 5 D TO E PM HI AN TOP

AS K

TH E £7 MIS 4. SU 99 S O SU FF N IC BR E O GU E

AN TH O SH NY O M ES IL £1 ES 30 N TO AVY PM D AN ER BY

TS CA HIR RD T IG £35 AN , T £4 RO 5, US AL ER L S RI £5 VE 0 R , SH IS A LA W ND L

TSH C IR AR T TO £2 O 8 N RI P VE RI R NT IS LA ND W T- HIT SH E IR HE T M £1 L 8 EO TO P PM AR AN D

Fashion dipped its toe into neons frequently last season, and that trend is (literally) continuing with gusto into AW13. Fluro footwear accents were all the rage on the catwalks of Katie Eary, Jonathan Saunders and Vivienne Westwood, and the high street is already brimming with copycat styles. Our favourite has to be Office’s ‘Ask the Missus’ brogue. Bang on trend and perfect for adverse weather conditions to boot.

TR RI AI VE NE R RS IS LA £3 ND 5

JO NA TH AN AW SA 13 UN DE RS

W O RN T- B SH Y IR ‘HE T N £2 DR 8 TO IX’ PM FLO AN RA L

Black and white combos were all over the place at the AW13 shows. From Dalmatian prints at Joseph Turvey to a multitude of stained-glass window style designs, monochrome patterns reigned supreme.

Get the look with this white leopard print accent tee from Topman or this quirky, cartoony River Island shirt.

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FASHION

Picks from the

INDIES

With our local fashion boutiques brimming over with tempting new season styles, we round up the best buys of the month

NORSE PROJECTS VORM SWEATSHIRT £89 SIX WHITING STREET

SANDWICH CLOTHING DRESS £89 PAUL STEPHENS

HILFIGER DENIM SURINA DRESS £70 JAVELIN

ARMANI JEANS TWO TONE CREW JUMPER £149 JAVELIN

‘PONY’ LOAFER £179 NICOLA SEXTON

NORSE PROJECTS WOOL TWO TONE CAP £45 SIX WHITING STREET DAY BIRGER ET MIKKELSEN FUSED BLOUSE £169 ANNA

TRICKERS BROWN ‘STOW’ DERBY BOOTS £365 SIX WHITING STREET

NEDAM SEQUIN DRESS BY MALENE BIRGER £379 ANNA RED OR DEAD VICARAGE MINI CROSS BODY BAG £45 SUNRISE

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BEAUTY

WORDS DAISY DICKINSON & CHARLOTTE GRIFFITHS

A W13 TREND REPORT

Summer’s over and we’re seeing a switch from SS13’s pretty pastels to more striking looks. We’ve scoured the lookbooks to find the key catwalk-inspired AW13 styles

Get the look:

EYLURE ACCENT & LENGTHEN LASHES £5 ASOS

ORIFLAME BEAUTY EYEBROW KIT £7.95 ORIFLAME.COM

Image courtesy of Front Cover

SLEEK MAKE-UP BROW KIT DARK £8.49 SUPERDRUG

SMASHBOX BROW TECH TO GO £19 BOOTS

MAGNIFIBRES NATURAL BRUSH-ON FALSE LASHES £20 MAGNIFIBRES.COM

BOURJOIS INTUITIVE LINER £6.99 BOOTS

60S MOD A favourite with us, and a perennial style classic, the 1960s Mod girl look made another appearance on the AW13 catwalks (think Twiggy or Breakfast at Tiffany’s).

Get inspired by Marc Jacobs, who was seen using double downwards flicks, or for a more subtle look, try a good-quality eyeliner such as one of the new Bourjois range, like the Intuitive Liner for beginners.

Look straight ahead into a mirror and start from your inner eye, tracing a thin line

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along to the outer corner, adding a flick out. Work the product into the lash line, then go over the line making it thicker until you are happy with the look. Bold brows frame this look, and for real 60s chic, Magnifibres’ natural brush-on false lashes offer added length to your lashes.

Use a white eyeliner on your lower lid, such as MAC Eye Kohl in ‘Fascinating’ (£14, MAC), to make your eyes pop; or highlight under your eyebrow arch, with a smudge.

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BEAUTY

CASHMERE NEUTRALS A perfect nude look always features in new season collections – we reckon this is because a) it makes everyone look good and b) it allows you to indulge in some more daring fashions elsewhere on your person. The trick to pulling off this ‘supernude’ effect is completely flawless skin, so, as ever: proper preparation prevents poor pore-formance.

We’ve fallen in love with a classic product that – when you get help finding the correct shade – gives the perfect finish to any

Image courtesy of MAC

VASELINE £1.99 BOOTS

Get the look: LAURA MERCIER SECRET CAMOUFLAGE CONCEALER DUO £26 JOHN LEWIS

MAX FACTOR COLOR ELIXIR LIPLINER £4.99 BOOTS

OMBRE GOTHIC Another autumn sneaks into view, and once again the fashion bigwigs are dictating that the trend this year is: gothic.

No, don’t sigh – this doesn’t have to mean black eyes and deathly pale foundation.

We have a sneaky tip to give you a nod to goth without scaring your co-workers.

Darker lips are key, but tricky to pull off – so an ombre, graduated lip is what we’re aiming for. You’ll need red lipstick and a dark, plummy lipliner or lipstick. Use darker tones around the edges and have them fade inwards to the lighter colour.

First, apply lipstick to both lips, then gently use the darker-coloured lipliner to

Get the look:

line around the edges, just a hair’s breadth in, so a teeny bit of the original colour can still be seen. Work the two colours together, drawing short brushstrokes towards the centre of your lips.

Once you’re happy with the blending, keep it the way it is for a matte finish or apply a coat of gloss or balm. Keep the rest of your face neutral and be sure to put down your summery peaches and corals in favour of brown-toned blushers for sculpting facial contours. Add a slick of deep nail varnish (we love Mavala for their seasonal colours) and ta-dah! A gothic, autumnal style statement in minutes.

RIMMEL EXAGGERATE LIPLINER £3.99 BOOTS

MAC PRO WEAR GLOSS COAT £12.50 JOHN LEWIS MAVALA NAIL POLISH £4.50 JOHN LEWIS

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Images courtesy of MAC

LANCÔME TEINT MIRACLE FOUNDATION £27 BOOTS

skin. Lancôme’s skin-perfecting Teint Miracle gives great coverage and, crucially, lasts the test of a day in the office. Apply gently with your fingertips as a little goes a long way.

For eyes, our killer tip for this look is to apply a light smoothing of Vaseline to your lids to give a glossy glow. For a little more coverage, try MAC Pro Longwear Paint Pot in Groundwork (£15, MAC). When it comes to lips, we’re trying out a new trick: simply use a lip pencil in an almost nude tone all over your lips, then when you’ve got the coverage sorted, pop some balm (or Vaseline again) over the top for a colour-rich, sheened finish that’ll last for hours without smudging.

BOURJOIS ROUGE EDITION LIPSTICK £7.99 BOOTS MAC INDULGE LIPSTICK IN SWEET SUCCULENCE £15 JOHN LEWIS

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WELLNESS

Beauty NEWS

SK Clinic launch Lumafirm Eye Contour

Heritage Wellbeing Centre If you fancy treating yourself this month, we recommend heading over to the delightful Heritage Wellbeing Centre at the Nowton Court Complex, which offers everything you need for a spot of luxurious pampering, as well as a range of holistic therapies. The centre, which is based in an impressive nineteenth century manor house, boasts beautiful landscaped gardens and luxurious décor – perfect for an indulgent escape "It is such a tranquil place to visit," says receptionist Teresa Suttle. "From the minute you walk up the drive everything is very calm and relaxed. Guests can even relax in our chill out room or take a walk in the gardens before or after their treatment.” The centre offers a range of treatments, including CACI, the non-surgical facelift that is quickly becoming the favourite treatment of many celebrities. Other tempting treats include the Infinite Indulgence Black Mud

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Envelopment or the Peace Hot Stone Massage, both of which will have you on cloud nine within minutes. For a full relaxation experience there are also a range of day packages on offer, including the bargain Time Out retreat for just £60.

And once you’ve indulged you can visit the centre’s juice bar where fresh soups and juices to complement the therapies are rustled up.

Rather excitingly they're adding a range of Dermalogica products and treatments to their offering and will be holding a launch party on 16 October (5-8pm). Throughout the evening there will be therapists on hand to explain more about the treatments and offer face mapping for guests to find out which products work best for their skin. The event will also include a complimentary glass of wine, canapés and 10% off all treatments. www.nowtonvillage.co.uk

If your crows feet are getting deeper by the day, then SK Clinic’s new Lumafirm Eye contour treatment might be for you. The beauty clinic, based on Northgate Street, is one of the first local spas to offer the treatment. This pioneering new treatment rejuvenates the delicate area and soothes away wrinkles for a smoother texture around the eye. You will notice a pronounced difference before and after, with the skin appearing firmer and any hint of dark circles around the eye banished.

And for those who have overindulged in a spot of sun worship, the treatment will help to repair damage and brighten the whole area.

The 30-minute treatment costs £40, or a mini version can be added to any Pevonia, Prescriptive or Lumafirm facial for £20. Call the clinic on 01284 748470 to book up and begin the journey to younger-looking peepers. www.skclinic.co.uk

BEFORE

AFTER

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WELLNESS

WORDS CAROLE BAKER

HELP YOURSELF, the natural way This month, Carole Baker from The Self Centre looks at natural menopause treatments nown to women worldwide as ‘the change’, the menopause is in fact the word used to describe the time when oestrogen levels decrease in a woman’s body and her ovaries stop producing eggs, meaning she will no longer have her monthly period. The average age in the UK for a woman to go through the menopause is 52 – though some women experience it during their 40s or even 30s.

Mental symptoms include: • Loss of memory or concentration • Increased stress and anxiety • Depression or low mood • Change in libido Physical symptoms include: • Irregular bleeding • Bone density changes • Hormonal imbalance • Hot flashes and night sweats • Vaginal lining changes • Weight gain • Weak bladder The most common conventional treatment is Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), which delivers synthetic progesterone and oestrogen. Continued research has induced caution and most doctors now prescribe HRT for a maximum of five years. There is also a slightly increased risk of breast cancer, uterine cancer and blood-clotting

disorders; therefore HRT is contraindicated for anyone with a family history of these.

While some symptoms are lessened on HRT, side effects may produce other unwelcome symptoms. There has been a surge of interest in ‘natural’ progesterone, usually in the form of a topical cream – an oestrogen precursor found in wild yam.

A holistic and natural approach It’s important to remember the menopause is a natural process and we should not treat it as a disease – it is better to assist the body in finding its new hormonal balance post child-bearing years. One of the reasons we find it challenging to deal with is because of the amount of oestrogenmimicking compounds in our environment, found in chemicals and plastics.

Natural remedies There are many herbal remedies which can ease menopausal symptoms and support the body as it adjusts. Exercise is one of the best therapies of all. Even 30 minutes a day of brisk walking and yoga can be a wonderful antidepressant since the brain releases endorphins. It also encourages the flushing of toxins and lymph drainage; promotes good balance and coordination; encourages healthy elimination of waste; improves lung and heart capacity; maintains muscle tone; and builds and maintains bone density.

Aromatherapy can be very helpful too.

Geranium combats fluid retention and has a balancing effect on the hormones; clary sage is an antidepressant; bergamot is calming and pain relieving; and lavender regulates menstruation, soothes headaches, encourages relaxation and is sleep inducing.

Regular reflexology treatments can support a menopausal woman physically, mentally and emotionally. There is lots of evidence that shows that reflexology can make significant improvements to the overall health and immune response of the

body and can have a very balancing effect on hormonal issues.

Optimal nutrition Food is medicine! The right diet will relieve symptoms, support the endocrine system and promote good health throughout the menopause. It will assist the body as it adjusts itself to the change and keep the hormones more balanced.

Improve your diet: • Stabilise blood sugar levels • Increase water intake and avoid addictive foods and drinks • Reduce intake of dairy products (bio yoghurt excepted) and red meat • Include essential fats omega 3 and 6 • Increase dietary fibre • Reduce salt, avoid processed foods • Increase intake of phytoestrogens, such as natural fermented soya products • Include vitamin C, B complex and vitamin E Eat the most natural foods possible: avoid plastic packaging (xenoestrogens interfere with the body’s hormonal receptors), eat organic to decrease intake of chemicals and artificial hormones, buy fresh local produce where possible – or grow your own! And also, do not heat plastic in the microwave!

To read the full version of this article with more detailed explanations and suggestions please visit www.the-self-centre.co.uk Menopause Workshop incorporating Yoga, Nutrition and Homeopathy Saturday 19 October 10am-4pm.

Book online at www.the-self-centre.co.uk or call 01284 769090.

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MOTORING WORDS SUE BAKER

BEST IN PRICE

Motoring expert Sue Baker presents the crème de la crème of the car world to help you get more bang for your buck, whatever your budget Dacia Sandero Access

s the autumn leaves change colour, a kaleidoscope of hues is also rapidly appearing on the car scene. There is a shift away from the monochrome palate of silver, black and white models and lots of brighter shades are starting to appear on the roads.

If a new set of wheels is on your agenda in the next few months, what is worth looking at? Here is a guide to some of the best options worth putting on the shortlist in every price bracket.

Volkswagen Move up!

UNDER £10,000 You can’t get much of a car for this kind of money if you buy a new one, or so you might think. Wrong. You can afford something that drives pretty decently, covers the miles, keeps out the weather, and doesn’t ramp up the bills too steeply.

Just don’t expect too much plush cushioning or many soft-touch surfaces at this bargain end of the new car arena.

So what is worth considering? How about the lowest-priced car you can buy brand new: a 1.2 litre Dacia Sandero Access with a fiver change from £6,000. Yes, it’s relatively basic, but it comes with a pretty

Skoda Citigo S

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MG3

typical warranty of three years or 60,000 miles, its safety standard is assured with a four-star score in Euro NCAP crash testing, and its official average fuel economy figure is almost 48mpg. Or you could go for a top-of-the-range 1.5 litre Sandero Ambiance at £8,395.

Others well worth considering are a Fiat Panda 1.2 Pop at £8,900, a one-litre Skoda Citigo S at £7,630, or its Volkswagen cousin the Move up! at £8,717. Also on the must-see shortlist is the new baby MG, the MG3, with prices starting from £8,399 and the dearest version squeezing in at £9,999.

What: The bargain basement models of the new car market.

Who for: Tight-budgeted drivers who want a lot of car for not too much money.

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motoring

up to £15,000 Now the options open up a bit more, with lots of models coming into the frame. But let’s assume that you want a bonus of more interesting choices for stepping up into the next price bracket and paying a bit more. Top of the list in this category is that desirable up-market small car famous for its good looks, great build quality and gokart handling. Yes, I’m talking about a MINI Cooper, with a price of £14,528. The range starts with a MINI First at £11,573, but if the budget will stretch to a Cooper you will get a quicker car and even more charisma for your money. Interested? Check out the huge new MINI showroom at Carrs on Thetford Road in Fornham St Martin.

Also in the frame is an Audi A1 starting at £13,515. Or you might take a fancy to a funky Renault Captur priced at £13,895 with a 1.5 litre diesel engine and 76mpg average economy quoted in the official fuel figures.

Another one worth a look is the excellent Kia Cee’d with a 1.4 litre engine and a starting price of £13,500. If you need more space, take a look at a Skoda Yeti 1.2 E at £12,605.

This no-nonsense roomy family carrier is a lot of car for the money, immensely practical and surprisingly good to drive.

Audi A1

Renault Captur

Mini Cooper Kia Cee'd

What: The price bracket where most private buyers hunt for their new wheels.

Who for: Price-canny motorists looking for a great deal in return for a reasonable outlay.

Skoda Yeti

up to £20,000

Mazda MX-5

This is where the available choice starts hotting up, with lots of tempting cars on offer. It is more of a minefield too, with plenty of mundane motors to steer around on route to something that will be really enjoyable to live with in the longer term. A fine starting point on the short list of pleasing possibilities is the latest-

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Volkswagen Golf

generation Volkswagen Golf, a car that packs a lot of quality into a moderately sized family hatchback. Prices for a 1.2 litre petrol model start from £1,275, and the ultra-frugal 1.6 diesel kicks off at £18,910.

Or how about a sports car? The Mazda MX-5 is a latterday legend, with great handling, good economy, and undeniable

glamour. Have a look at a 1.6 litre SE, with strong performance, decent 40mpg fuel sippage and an £18,566 price tag.

What: Mainstream motoring that injects some quality without a lavish price tag.

Who for: Discerning drivers with more sense than money.

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motoring

up to £30,000

Lotus Elise

In the £20,000 to £30,000 price zone there are plenty of really nice cars to choose between.

We’re comfortably into executive territory here, with wide accessibility to the prestige German brands. How about a Mercedes C-Class, starting from £23,592 for a 1.8 litre SE, or climb the scale to a 2.2 litre Elegance from just over £26,000.

Or how about a gorgeous BMW 3-Series, a true driver’s car with a starting price of £22,641, although we’d go for a 320d Luxury at £27,828. Or you could succumb to the raw excitement of a Lotus Elise, a purist sports car with a stunningly alert driving style, at £28,100.

What: Classy executive motoring for the financially secure.

Who for: Discerning middle managers climbing the corporate ladder.

BMW 3-Series

Mercedes C-Class

over £30,000 A world of choice opens up in this price bracket. It lets you afford something really exotic second-hand, or something very nice brand new, such as a gorgeously trendy Range Rover Evoque, with a 2.2 litre eD4 diesel engine, at £36,495 in Prestige trim. It is great on the road, and remarkably capable off-road.

In this elevated price zone you can afford a Porsche. Terrific to drive, great looking and as glamorous as they come, the Porsche Boxster costs £37,589 with a 2.7 litre engine.

Range Rover Evoque

What: Nice motors on a looser budget.

Who for: Well-heeled drivers who want to indulge themselves behind the wheel.

Porsche Boxster

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education

WORDS Charlotte Phillips

SCHOOL

OPEN DAYS Open days give you an unparalleled insight into what a school can offer, but it pays to be prepared, says Charlotte Phillips

Culford School

n schools up and down the country, head teachers are polishing up their words of welcome, science labs are trying out their most exciting whizz-bang experiments and choirs are sounding more like hosts of angels by the minute.

Autumn term is the season for open days, the time for parents whose children are about to take their next (and for many their first) step in the great educational journey, to work out which school will best match their interests, abilities and temperament. Schools have got the format down to a T, giving parents what effectively amounts to an immersive experience that gives an amazingly impressive flavour of school life in just a couple of hours.

Indeed, seeing how schools grapple with the logistics can be an eye-opener in itself, point out South Lee School in Bury St Edmunds, an independent day school for boys and girls aged between two and 13. “It takes a lot of planning by the teachers and staff to orchestrate a well-

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oiled open day,” says Derek Whipp, the headmaster. “Months of planning can go into preparation and the actual delivery on the day. For parents doing the rounds, they will get a sense of team spirit from those who are showing them around.”

For some open day novices, the school they are looking at will be their son or daughter’s first foray into formal education at the age of four. Others will be looking at 11+ or 13+ entry to senior schools. Older pupils, meanwhile, might be contemplating a post-GCSE move to a new sixth form.

For the parents who have somewhat mixed memories about their own schooldays – and there are a few – open days can be something of a revelation when it comes to the atmosphere and activities on offer.

At Culford School, assistant head Dave Watkin says parents will get a real flavour of the school – and a warm welcome into the bargain. “It’s important that people feel you’re ready for them, and that they get a warm welcome but one that’s not done in an overly stuffy or pompous way.”

While the formalities are observed at Culford, parents also get the chance to chat with staff and pupils and see what goes on in classrooms. The aim, says Dave Watkin, is to operate on a number of levels, so parents know what they’re buying into while children are inspired and excited by life at the school.

South Lee School sees every day as an open day, planning more formal events throughout the year but ensuring that, whenever they visit, parents and children get a sense of what life is like at the school – all the way through from the Nursery to the Prep School.

“We find the best time to show families around is when the school is in full swing,” says Derek Whipp. “We love to get everyone involved and prospective parents talking and asking questions of us.”

Given what’s on offer at South Lee, from the ‘Wild Wood’ area used by children at the Nursery, to the soft play and artsand-crafts equipment for the younger children, favourable comments are likely to come thick and fast. ‘Stave House’

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EDUCATION

music sessions, a scheme approved by the London College of Music, are also a useful endeavour and a brand new Sports and Performance Centre is opening in October.

Even encounters with the head these days are a far from intimidating experience.

John Brett, headmaster of Old Buckenham Hall, leads guided tours himself. In addition to helping share his vision of the school – parents are, after all, choosing whether or not they buy into his educational philosophy – it is also a way of teasing out any issues that might not immediately surface, he says.

“For all the impressive sports pitches and games halls and wonderful things there are around the school, it’s actually about people and it’s about their relationships,” he says.

“It’s important that parents have a large dose of me. I take them on a longish tour so we can talk and after a while the formality is broken down and people are very honest. They ask questions that perhaps they might have been a bit nervous asking at first and are more comfortable asking in a large group.”

Pupils, too, can be an excellent source of information about school life. They won’t keep anything back and their honest feedback comes with the school’s blessing, says Dave Watkin.

“We do tours with our prefects. 17-yearold schoolboys haven’t read books on marketing and staying on message, they just tell you the truth and there’s nothing more compelling than that.”

It’s a perspective confirmed by Derek Whipp. “Getting a sense of how wellrounded, polite and confident South Lee pupils are is really important and this can be achieved when they are given the responsibility of showing parents round.

It’s a job pupils find very rewarding.”

Whatever the age of the child, it pays for families to work out in advance what is important to them, counsels John Brett at Old Buckenham Hall. “As a family, you need to ask what you want for your children and then ask the question: how are you going to deliver that? Every family’s got their own particular area of education that matters to them and they shouldn’t be afraid of asking difficult questions.”

Culford School boasts an outstanding multi-sports facility set in 480 acres of

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Old Buckenham Hall

Culford School

Even encounters with the head these days are far from intimidating

Pupils can be an excellent source of information about school life.

They won’t keep anything back

South Lee School

beautiful parkland, including a four-court Indoor Tennis Centre.

But while a school’s facilities are important, stresses Dave Watkin, the planning that goes into getting the most out of them is something parents should also ask about when they visit.

“For me, the facilities are a starting point. They present an objective criterion of whether or not they will facilitate your son or daughter’s interests. But on their own they are just part of the story. It’s what is going on in those faculties that is the heartbeat of the school.”

So while open days can provide an invaluable insight into a school, it’s

scratching beneath the surface that will really help parents discover whether a particular school is right for their child.

“Try to get to what the school’s all about,” urges John Brett. “In my opinion it’s much more than just teaching them maths, science and English.”

If a school waffles, worry, is his advice. A good school will be able to tell you what a child will get from being there. “Of course we’re great at teaching about literacy and numeracy and all those things, but we’re also making the connection between what goes on in the school and what goes on in the real world. To me, that’s almost the most important thing about education.”

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All Roads Lead to Scampers

“The Scampers Experience” • Natural, Healthy pet foods • Qualified pet care advisers • Only the best natural Treats • One – to – one personal guidance • Unbelievable range of toys and bedding • An Holistic Approach • Free tasting table • Raw food specialists • Latest products from around the world • Expert puppy and kitten advice • Great training tips

LIAM Proudly Supporting

FAIRHURST FOUNDATION

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www.scampers.co.uk Independent since 1985

01353 720 431 Northfield Crossroads, A142 Soham by-pass, Soham, Ely, Cambs, CB7 5UF

27/9/13 09:57:19

PETS

DO YOU REALLY KNOW WHAT YOUR PETS ARE EATING?

The experts at Scampers Natural Pet Store step into the (sometimes murky) world of the pet food industry to help you choose wisely when it comes to feeding your dog or cat e’ve recently looked into what kind of diet is good for your pets, how to understand pet food labelling and some of the tricks of the trade that big companies sometimes use to mislead consumers regarding what they’re feeding their animals. This month, with a little help from the experts, we’re going to have a look at the process of pet food creation, from the ingredients, techniques and methods – not all of which are especially pleasant – to how a brand comes to market. That way, you’ll be equipped with all the facts before deciding what to feed your beloved pet.

INGREDIENTS When looking at pet food labels, the first thing you might consider is how much meat is in the product – and indeed whether this is declared in a straightforward and understandable way.

Elsewhere, are you able to understand the ingredients and why they are in the food?

Whilst the label might say ‘meat’ – you need to ascertain whether it’s ‘meat meal’ or a high-quality meat product.

Something else to consider, which we’re becoming used to doing with our own food, is how the animals used for the meat were fed and kept. This is worth thinking about because additives and preservatives present in the feed of the animal will be present later in the dog food. Many dogs have problems with digesting gluten, so this is another

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thing to look out for. Any and all other ingredients should be listed with an explanation of their use. So look out for preservatives, synthetic additives, or anything which could be used as a ‘filler’.

PET FOOD CREATION At the heart of good food, for both people and pets, is good ingredients. Simple, right? Well, no. Sometimes ingredients are treated in ways that significantly lower their nutritional value during the manufacturing process. Extrusion, a method which the pet trade has used for over 50 years, is when foods are sheared and heated under high pressure, forced through a spiral-shaped screw and then through the die of the extruder machine – the result is a ribbon-like product which is then cut and dried.

High temperatures (up to 400°F) are used to heat the food in a very short time frame, which has a negative impact on the ingredients, including causing protein degeneration and vitamin loss.

This process also creates, in many cases, a food which cannot absorb water and will swell in the dog’s stomach – potentially causing many health issues. It is also very unlikely that any molecule structures, fibres, vitamins or enzymes can stay intact during this process, meaning they need to be added again.

A GENTLER WAY In order to retain the goodness of ingredients, companies such as Gentle

Dog Food use a ‘cold-pressed’ method.

This uses a maximum heat of 45°C for less than a second to create a kibble that’s both tasty and healthy for your furry friends. We at Scampers are delighted to have been involved in the creation of this great new brand. So much so in fact, that we even went over to Germany to taste all the ingredients and see how it was made (as well as giving the company its name!), so we’re excited to see that it’s already proving a hit with pet owners looking for the best for their animals.

“The chunks can absorb water and do not swell,” explains Gentle’s founder Beate Rothon. “We want the dog to use their teeth. The digestibility is high and therefore you need to feed them less.

All this is beneficial to the dog’s overall health and it reduces the risk of bloating or torsions. By using the cold-pressed method the ingredients are staying as natural as possible, and it’s close to the animal’s natural eating habits.

“Most of the molecule structures, fibres, enzymes and vitamins will not be destroyed during this process and it’s suitable for all dogs and breeds.”

Gentle, a family run business, also prides itself on creating gluten-free food with no artificial flavours and colourings, meaning that you know exactly what you’re feeding your pet. They also, rather uniquely, exclusively use hydro power – so you’re being kind to the planet, as well as your pets!

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PETS

or Trick?

WORDS Alex Wylie

Treat

Treating and playing with your pet should be fun, but there are a number of horrors to be aware of, as Alex Wylie of Eastgate Vets explains s Halloween approaches and the kids start prepping their costumes for trick or treating, it’s important to remind ourselves that some of the things we humans think of as treats for our pets may have hidden dangers. Unlike the ghouls and goblins of Halloween, these can be truly scary.

Pigs’ ears Did you know that pigs’ ears are almost one third fat? Eating just one pig’s ear can cause pancreatitis in dogs, a disease in which the pancreas becomes inflamed. This is often a result of eating a meal or treat with a high fat content and causes vomiting and diarrhoea. In extreme cases it can be fatal.

Bones Many people are aware of the dangers of feeding dogs cooked bones, such as damage to the mouth and perforation or blockage of the intestines, but even raw bones can cause major problems. The marrow in bones is high in fat and can cause pancreatitis. The hard part of the bone can cement the faeces together and cause bone constipation. The last dog we had at the surgery with this condition had to have a two-hour enema under anaesthetic.

Sultanas, raisins and grapes Grapes, both fresh and dried, are toxic to some dogs. Ingestion can cause renal (kidney) failure. It seems that some dogs are unaffected, while others can die, so it is best not to risk allowing your dog to eat grapes in any form.

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Chocolate The darker the chocolate, the more toxic it is to dogs. Even other cocoa products, such as cocoa bark used in gardens, are dangerous. Never leave chocolate anywhere that dogs can access.

Milk Puppies and kittens that are fed a good-quality junior diet are consuming all the calcium that they require. Adding extra calcium, with either milk or supplements, can cause bone deformities. In adult pets, milk can cause gastrointestinal upsets as many adult animals (and that includes humans) lose the ability to digest lactose.

Cheese As a dairy product, cheese also contains lactose, so causes problems in lactose-intolerant animals. Cats are often fed cheese as a treat but scarily, as well as being high in fat, one small chunk of cheese contains almost 40 per cent of a cat’s daily calorie requirement.

Fish There is no reason why cats can’t eat fish, but a total fish diet is deficient in both thiamine and calcium. A kitten brought in to our practice by the RSPCA had to be put to sleep after suffering from curvature of the spine and leg fractures due to being fed a fish-only diet.

Bread Many rabbits enjoy bread, however it is bad for their digestion and teeth, so avoid it and feed them some more veggies or hay instead.

Sticks Throwing a stick is a cheap and convenient way to exercise your dog. The expense could be your dog’s life however,

if things go wrong. There are things you can do to make this fun pastime less risky. Choose thick, blunt sticks that can’t puncture tissues and are less likely to fragment and get stuck in your dog’s mouth. Best of all invest in a Safestix rubber toy stick – or never introduce your dog to sticks in the first place.

Laser lights Many psychological problems have been caused by using laser pointers to amuse pets. Dogs and cats can become fixated by the lights and end up staring at the wall for hours after the light has gone. Some even develop an obsessive compulsive disorder from this kind of ‘play’.

Taking your dog everywhere with you For dogs to gain confidence, be well balanced and have independence, they must have some time alone. It is also important that they spend time in the company of others apart from their own family. Dogs that are constantly with their owners often develop anxiety issues which can cause problems if they ever do need to be left.

Treating your pet is simple. Spend quality time with them, playing and exercising, but also give them some alone time. Reward them with low-fat treats and praise when they are well-behaved.

Provide them with quality nutrition and a loving home. In return they will be your best friend.

If you have any questions please contact us at facebook.com/eastgatevets

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