Cambridge Edition February by Bright Publishing

Cambridge FEBRUARY 2015

Your monthly fix of local life www.cambsedition.co.uk

INSIDE THIS ISSUE...

ARTS

FREE MAGAZINE

CULTURE

NIGHTLIFE T WILIGHT AT T HE M USEU MS

Valentine's Day Ideas

GIG GUIDE

Cambridge

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CONTENTS

FEBRUARY 2015

50 5 • FIVE THINGS TO DO Our pick of the best things to do in Cambridge this month 7-10 • NIGHTLIFE Comedy, live music, clubs and bars… Your guide to the city after dark 13 • MUSIC BLOG Our insider guide to the best live gigs in Cambridge in February 17-25 • ARTS & CULTURE We round up the best shows, exhibitions and entertainment in the area 26-27 • TWILIGHT AT THE MUSEUMS Explore Cambridge’s museums after dark – don’t forget your torch! 30 • BRAIN FOOD Nourish the mind with these fascinating talks and events 32-33 • GROUP SPOTLIGHT They’re the mega-choir who started in Cambridge then conquered the capital: meet The Dowsing Sound Collective 35 • CAMBRIDGE HISTORY FESTIVAL A programme of talks and tours exploring Cambridge’s past. We can’t believe no one thought of it before! 37-49 • FOOD NEWS Visit a night market, discover Cambridge’s newest eateries and more 50-55 • RECIPES Fall in love with these irresistible, indulgent sweet treats… 57 • REVIEW Edition is impressed by the new-look Rupert Brooke in Grantchester 59-62 • VALENTINE’S DAY Need last-minute inspiration for gifts or meals out? You can thank us later…

Welcome

64-66 • GET CRAFTY This month we learn about quilting and take a peek at a new exhibition in Ely 68-69 • LISTINGS Your at-a-glance guide to what’s on in Cambridge in February

Well folks, that’s January over, hopefully taking with it the Baltic weather we’ve been experiencing (and it can keep the healthy eating resolutions too). Onwards to February, the month of love! In honour of Valentine’s Day, we’ve been delving into the history of our city to unearth some of its most fascinating love stories. From Lord Byron’s scurrilous affairs to the tragic union of Ted Hughes and Sylvia Plath (who met at a party whilst studying here), and the recently Hollywood-ised story of Stephen Hawking and Jane Wilde, this city has been the setting for some truly epic romances – turn to page 59 to find out more. This month also offers a chance to see Cambridge in a completely new light when the e-Luminate Festival comes to town. Taking place 11-15 February, this innovative event celebrates art, science and technology through a series of spellbinding free light shows – check out our Arts & Culture section for more details. There’s more afterdark fun planned at the always fantastic Twilight at the Museums too, which has a jam-packed schedule of events in store which kids will love (see page 26). Enjoy the issue and see you next month!

NICOLA FOLEY, EDITOR

71 • COMPETITION Fancy a champagne spa break at one of our region’s top romantic retreats?

72-75 • FAMILY A bumper half term family feature starring dinosaurs, bears and old-fashioned games

COVER ART

This month’s cover image is by Ian Scott Massie. To see more of his work, visit Cambridge Contemporary Art or see his website. www.ianscottmassie.com

77 • COMMUNITY The latest word on all your charitable deeds and events 78-79 • INDEPENDENT OF THE MONTH We step into the wonderful world of Trinity Street toy shop When I Was A Kid 87-90 • FASHION Make rainy days bright with these cheery boots, coats and brollies 92-94 • BEAUTY Beauty blogger Daisy explains the dark art of contouring 97 • WELLNESS How to feel fabulous – inside and out 101 • EDUCATION King’s Ely explains how accommodating 17 sets of twins is all part of its familyorientated ethos 103-111 • BUSINESS Cambridge’s latest business news, plus what you and your company need to know about pensions

EDITORIAL

CONTRIBUTORS

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

Alex Rushmer, Angelina Villa-Clarke, Charlotte Griffiths, Daisy Dickinson, Jordan Worland, Ruthie Collins, Stella Pereira, Sue Freestone, Robin Mead

Features editor Jenny Shelton 01223 499463 jennifershelton@bright-publishing.com Sub editors Lisa Clatworthy & Hannah Bealey

ADVERTISING Sales executive Lauren Widdowson 01223 499451 laurenwiddowson@bright-publishing. com Key account manager Maria Francis 01223 499461 mariafrancis@bright-publishing.com

DESIGN & PRODUCTION Designer Emily Stowe 01223 499450 emilystowe@bright-publishing.com Ad production Lucy Woolcomb 01223 499468 lucywoolcomb@bright-publishing.com

MANAGING DIRECTORS Andy Brogden & Matt Pluck 01223 499450

www.bright-publishing.com

CAMBRIDGE EDITION MAGAZINE • Bright Publishing Ltd, Bright House, 82 High Street, Sawston, Cambridgeshire CB22 3HJ, 01223 499450, www.cambsedition.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 Cambridge 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. • Cambridge Edition is a free publication that is distributed in Cambridge and the surrounding area

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5 THINGS TO DO

1. PANCAKE DAY

Whip out that frying pan and get cracking: it’s pancake day! Strictly speaking Shrove Tuesday falls on 17 February, but we are more than ok with eating pancakes all month long, at home or at one of Cambridge’s excellent establishments. Crepeaffaire on Bridge Street is the obvious choice, serving imaginatively topped pancakes all year round, including the cheeky I’ll Have What She’s Having, featuring chocolate and strawberries. Benet’s Café, King’s Parade, is also worth a stop-off, as is Afternoon Tease on King Street.

NAPOLEON AND THE

PRINTMAKING REVOLUTION A new exhibition opens at the Fitzwilliam Museum this month, marking the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo. Modern Heroism: Printmaking and the Legacy of Napoleon Bonaparte, running 3 February until 28 June, incorporates many famous images from the period. Marvel at the way in which Delacroix and Gericault captured the drama of war, enjoy Daumier’s satirical prints and draw your own conclusions about the glorified portraits of the French military leader which helped feed the all-important propaganda machine and contributed to Napoleon’s legacy. It’s free to visit. www.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk

THINGS TO DO

THIS MONTH...

3. BE MY VALENTINE ...

Love it or hate it, Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and as it falls on a weekend, there’s plenty going on in town for those planning something special. More than anything, it’s an excuse to go out and have someone else cook, right? We’d recommend The Blue Lion in Hardwick if you fancy getting out of town: it’s a classic country gastropub with a focus on local, seasonal food. Their Valentine’s Menu, which looks delicious, includes four courses for £34.50 per head. Think goat’s cheese pâté with apple and celery, salmon fillet with pesto crust and black cherry parfait with coffee and petit fours to follow. Turn to page 59 for more Valentine’s ideas and events, plus a feature on famous Cambridge lovers…

4. SEE YOU IN THE FUTURE

Changing Spaces, a community-run project which transforms unoccupied spaces around the city into pop-up art exhibitions, will host a new show this month. Head down to the group’s Norfolk Street premises to check out See You In The Future, which runs from 7-15 February, (open 7-10pm daily). The exhibition will feature pieces by Ben Martin and Toby Curtis, and you can expect strong use of colour amongst an eye-catching array of paintings and sculptures. www.changing-spaces.org

5. HALF TERM HEROES

Since half term falls in February, you’ll no doubt be looking for ways to keep the family entertained – not always so easy when it’s bucketing it down and the garden has turned into a mudbath. Thankfully, those nice people at Cambridge Science Centre have come to the rescue by putting on a series of science-based events throughout the month, including one about Formula 1 on 16 February (find out how your favourite racing cars stay on the track at speeds of over 200mph) and Fun Flying Machines on 18 February – part of Planes, Trains and Automobiles Week. Need more? Take a look on page 72 – where we’ve put together a four-page half term special.

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NIGHTLIFE

JOSIE LONG After three successful shows about politics, Josie Long is changing direction (for now) with a new, more personal show. Cara Josephine, which ran at the Edinburgh Fringe last summer and earned four stars from Time Out, sees the celebrated stand-up reflect on failed relationships, the brilliance of her sister, taking up extreme sports and her inability to ‘settle down’ like the rest of her mates. Still, you’ll find her charming and upbeat, with a hint of politics thrown in to keep Nick Clegg and Nigel Farage on their toes. See her at Cambridge Junction, 23 February, 8pm. Tickets £12-£14. www.junction.co.uk

THE STAVES Watford-born indie-folk sisters The Staves have evolved their willowy sound since releasing their debut album, Dead & Born & Grown, back in 2012. Still present are their signature familial harmonies but joining their new, second album, If I Was, is a more meaty, confident sound with a whiff of mid-western Americana. Indeed, the album came about as a result of a collaboration with Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon, and they recorded it together in the wilds of Wisconsin. “There was no plan to make a record there, or even demo anything, it was initially just to hang out and play some music with Justin,” says Emily. “There was no pressure at all, we didn’t even tell our label we were going.” “It was magical,” adds Jessica. “The snow was neck-high outside, so we were sort of trapped inside. Cabin fever sets in, but it’s really conducive to working.” The Staves have appeared alongside Mumford & Sons (at Glastonbury 2013) and on Tom Jones’ album, Praise and Blame, as well as headlining their own successful tours around the globe. Their second album sees the girls swapping the acoustic for the electric guitar on a couple of tracks and the reviews, so far, are looking very positive. The new album is out on 23 March and they play Cambridge Junction on 17 February, at 7pm (doors) – the closing show in their February UK If I Was tour. Tickets are £13.50. www.junction.co.uk ©Giles Smith

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NIGHTLIFE

ALUN COCHRANE Chortle Award winner for best club comic, Alun Cochrane offers a mildmannered, middle-aged view of life, celebrating all its foibles and pitfalls with acute comic insights. Sidekick to Frank Skinner on his Absolute Radio show, Cochrane is an established stand-up, and brings his new show, Me Neither, to Cambridge Junction on 4 February – the perfect venue for his laidback, understated style of delivery. Expect relatable anecdotes about family life interspersed with sharp one-liners. Starts 8pm; tickets £13. www.junction.co.uk

LEVERET Another collaboration this month comes from Leveret, featuring three of England’s finest musicians, Andy Cutting (known for his work with Martin Simpson, Kate Rusby and Chris Wood), Sam Sweeney (the fiddle player in Bellowhead) and Rob Harbron (helping reinvent the English concertina). Together, through Leveret, they’re aiming to create music that’s both fresh and rooted in English folk tradition. If you’re looking for something raw and multi-instrumental this February, look no further. Catch Leveret at Cambridge Junction on 17 February, 8pm; tickets £13. www.junction.co.uk

FALSE LIGHTS Set to debut at this year’s Folk East, False Lights will make an appearance at Cambridge Junction on 9 February. The brainchild of guitarist and singersongwriter Sam Carter and folk revolutionary Jim Moray, False Lights is a new project, and a fusion of the folk and heavy guitar music genres beloved of the pair. False Lights takes Radiohead as inspiration but there’s a strong folk influence too, resulting in sea shanty-style vocals sung to thrashing electric guitars and drums. Get a glimpse at this new collaboration in Cambridge, 8pm; tickets £11. www.junction.co.uk

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NIGHTLIFE

now

booking

CAMBRIDGE LIVE

MAN-GO Lithuanian sensations Mango, the girl group created at the tail end of the 90s, are back! No? Band of the Year at the Radiocentras Awards 2000 and 2001? Had hits with Pavasariniai žiedai (Spring Blossoms) and Svetimi (Strangers)? Well, prepare to discover the Baltic’s answer to the Sugababes as this sassy trio play Cambridge Junction, 6 February. They’re big in the Lithuanian communities of the UK and US. Their sound? Romantic, electro-Euro-pop ballads with super-cheesy accompanying music vids. Seriously, check out Netikejom on YouTube. Frontwoman Rima said: “I know that we have our own circle of fans who enjoyed the music that we perform. I do not promise revolutions, but I can assure you that it is a great pleasure for me once again to do what I really miss.” Doors open 7pm; tickets £17. www.junction.co.uk

FOOTLIGHTS Experience the Cambridge Footlights in their annual Spring Revue, on stage this February. A Whole Lot of Bother runs 24-28 February at the ADC Theatre and promises a variety show of silly skits, songs and giggles from this year’s cream of the student comedy crop. 7.45pm (Thurs and Sat 2.30pm too; tickets £9-£14). Footlights are also holding Smokers on 3 and 17 February: an hour-long mixed bag of comedy at 11pm (£6/£7). www.adctheatre.com

COURTNEY PINE 16 May, from £10, Saffron Hall Leading jazz man Courtney Pine is set to appear at Saffron Hall, the purpose-built concert venue just over the Essex border. Rising to fame in the 80s as one of the first prominent black British jazz musicians, his music is still as widely respected today. The gig accompanies his 16th studio album, SONG (The Ballad Book). www.saffronhall.com

ELVIS COSTELLO

WARNING Toast the end of Dry January and get back into the party mood with awardwinning club night Warning, which will be hosting its first party of 2015 at Cambridge Junction. Drum & Bass Quarantine gets underway at 10pm, 7 February, and features the spinning skills of Hype & IC3 & Funsta, Hazard & Skibadee plus Logan D, Pleasure and Majistrate. Meanwhile D-High, Coda, Jonny Kash and others will be laying it down in room two. Chucking out time is 6am, and tickets cost £18 in advance. www.junction.co.uk

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A new charity is being set up to run the Cambridge Corn Exchange, Cambridge Folk Festival and Cambridge City Events, and it goes live on 1 April with a free day of fun activities for all. Events will be taking place at the Corn Exchange and the Guildhall, including dance, music and exhibitions. Tickets on sale now from the Corn Exchange. www.cornex.co.uk

18 June, Corn Exchange, £45 Following the success of his celebrated string of solo shows last year, Elvis Costello has announced a 21-date UK tour – Detour – for 2015, which stops by at the Cambridge Corn Exchange in June. With his recent performances said to be the most adventurous of his illustrious career, this promises to be a show not to miss. www.cornex.co.uk

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NIGHTLIFE

DUB COLOSSUS Blast away those winter cobwebs with a dose of Dub Colossus. They draw on broad musical influences, from Afrobeat and reggae to dub, to come up with a funky, modern sound guaranteed to get you swaying along. Dub Colossus came about thanks to Nick Page, guitarist, bassist and producer, who has worked alongside many an artist and eccentric since the early 90s. The music explores UK and Jamaican musical heritages, with 2014’s album Addis to Omega (hailed as ‘stomping, rambling, rumbling fun’ by The Guardian) taking them down lots more new musical avenues and collaborating with different musicians. See them at Cambridge Junction, 28 February, 8pm. Tickets cost £13. www.junction.co.uk

THE WAVE PICTURES Three-piece The Wave Pictures are hitting the Portland Arms this month as part of a string of headline shows in support of their latest album, Great Big Flamingo Burning Moon. Formed in the late 90s, they make quirky, melodic toe tappers, described by The Guardian as ‘charming, witty pop songs shot through with Jonathan Richman’s gawky glee and Suede’s doomed provincial romanticism... and Tattersall has Morrissey’s knack of marrying the ridiculous and the sublime.’ Catch them on 4 February at 7.30pm. Tickets are £11. www.theportlandarms.co.uk

RUMOURS OF FLEETWOOD MAC Championed by Mick Fleetwood himself, Rumours of Fleetwood Mac are universally considered the next best thing to experiencing the iconic band live. Formed over a decade ago, they’ve performed to over half a million fans around the world and return to the UK this year for a series of gigs, including one at the Cambridge Corn Exchange. Their new show showcases and celebrates in meticulous note-for-note detail all the classic hits from one of the most outstanding and enduring bands in music, including Black Magic Woman, Albatross, Go Your Own Way, Dreams, Gypsy Say You Love Me, Little Lies, Everywhere and many more. Performed by talented musicians, the show offers a spectacular journey through the career of Fleetwood Mac, from their inception in swinging 60s London to the present day. Rumours of Fleetwood Mac perform 27 February, 7.30pm; tickets £25. www.cornex.co.uk

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MUSIC

Jordan Worland from local music website Slate the Disco selects his must-see gigs in Cambridge this month ith their brand new album, Great Big Flamingo Burning Moon on the horizon, The Wave Pictures announce a series of headline UK dates for February including a gig at Cambridge’s Portland Arms on 4 February. The album is a collaboration with one of their all-time heroes Billy Childish, who wrote the music, while the band’s Dave Tattersall wrote the lyrics. Bursting with energy and ignited with a garage-rock spark, the album rings loud and bold, showcasing Tattersall’s searing guitar solos and sharp lyrical wit. In the same style as in April 2013, when he last visited Cambridge, true gentleman singer/songwriter King Charles will be playing a gig in the UK each and every night in February 2015. With new material under his belt ahead of a release later this year, King Charles plays The Portland Arms on 9 February. Irish folk-pop duo Hudson Taylor spend February undertaking an extensive tour of the UK, taking in 22 venues across Scotland, England and Ireland, stopping by at Cambridge Junction on 10 February. The dates, which run throughout February 2015, are part of the siblings’ biggest headline tour to date and follow their main support of Jake Bugg on his UK arena tour in October. The Catenary Wires are Amelia Fletcher and Rob Pursey, originally from Tallulah Gosh, Heavenly and Tender Trap who formed last year when they decided to leave the stress of London, and who will be recording an album soon. The duo’s UK tour rolls into Cambridge on the 15th, playing The Portland Arms. Support on the night comes from Cambridge’s own Model Village, who balance lilting folk and EastAnglicised American indie. The Staves support the release of their forthcoming second album, If I Was, with an 11-date UK tour this February which concludes at Cambridge Junction on the 17th. Avoiding the dreaded pitfall of writing

a second album about touring, The Staves have cleverly opted to address the issue from another perspective, examining what they’ve left behind rather than the endless motorways, hotel rooms and what they see in front of them. Their new album was produced by Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon. One of 2015’s hotly tipped indie bands, Blossoms play The Portland Arms on the 18th, having made big waves in their native Manchester by creating and playing music as if they’re possessed: they smash out the melodies reminiscent of classic psych outfits such as The Zombies, The Doors and 13th Floor Elevators. Little Comets return to the Cambridge Junction on the 24th. The tour coincides with the release of the band’s highly anticipated third album Hope Is Just A State Of Mind – released via The Smallest Label on 16 February 2015. Little Comets tenaciously

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engage with topics not often discussed in mainstream music, whilst maintaining a real sweetness of sound. This band of three differing creatures continue making music that has to be heartfelt and communicative. Enter Shikari are an English four-piece rock band formed in 2003 in St Albans, Hertfordshire. They are well known for their crossover style, incorporating post-hardcore and various heavy metal sub-genres, such as metalcore and alternative metal, with elements of different electronic genres, such as industrial, dubstep, trance and occasionally drum and bass, creating a very distinct sound. In January they released their fourth studio album, The Mindsweep, and on the 24th they bring their new record to the Cambridge Corn Exchange. We end with our must not miss recommendation for February and a longawaited home town show for Sivu. Sivu undertakes an extensive UK headline tour, in support of critically acclaimed debut album Something On High. The 21-date UK trek, which includes a show at The Portland Arms on 25 February, follows support tours with Nick Mulvey and Bombay Bicycle Club (featuring the final ever date at Earls Court) and sold-out headline shows. Originally from St Neots, this will be Sivu’s first Cambridge headline show since the release of his debut LP. This is one not to miss. Tell us about your gig at www.slatethedisco.com

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ARTS & CULTURE

We explore the arts and culture scene in Cambridge, showcasing some of the many exciting exhibitions and shows taking place around the city

ACADEMY OF ANCIENT MUSIC Coming up on 16 February, Norwegian trumpeter Tine Thing Helseth makes her period instrument debut with the Academy of Ancient Music at West Road Concert Hall, playing alongside the orchestra’s principal trumpet David Blackadder, in a programme that celebrates the power and glory of the baroque trumpet. In the 17th and 18th centuries, the art of trumpet playing was dominated by a small number of virtuoso performers. Exploiting the super-high clarion register, these flamboyant trailblazers secured lucrative jobs at Europe’s wealthiest courts, inspiring court and civic composers to write ever more astonishing music for them. Helseth is one of the leading trumpet soloists of her generation and was recipient of the 2007 Newcomer of the Year Norwegian Grammy Award, the first classical artist ever to be nominated. Helseth and Blackadder perform a programme exploring baroque works including Bach’s Sinfonias from cantatas 29, 150 and 31, Biber’s Sonata No.10 in G minor and Corelli’s Sonata a Quattro. The programme is completed with Vivaldi’s Concerto in C major for two trumpets and Telemann’s Concerto in D major for three trumpets. Starts at 7.30pm with a pre-concert talk at 6.30pm. www.aam.co.uk

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ARTS & CULTURE

ST PETERSBURG SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

HATCH

Cambridge Corn Exchange gets a visit from the impressive St Petersburg Symphony Orchestra this February, as part of the 2014/15 Cambridge Classical Concert Series. Vladimir Altschuler conducts the concert which opens with Shostakovich’s incidental music from Hamlet. Violin virtuoso Alexander Sitkovetsky, a prodigiously talented protégé of Yehudi Menuhin, then takes centre stage to perform Tchaikovsky’s sublime Violin Concerto. Sibelius’s stirring and passionate Karelia Suite shows the composer’s deep affinity with the landscape and folklore of Finland. The evening ends with Tchaikovsky’s first great masterpiece, the tender and heartfelt Romeo and Juliet. The concert takes place on 12 February, 7.30pm. A pre-concert talk, at the nearby Cambridge City Hotel, will take place at 6pm in which local classical music expert James Day will share his insights into the background of the composers and repertoire. The talk is free to ticket holders. Full price individual concert tickets start at £28.50, with students and under 16s getting in for just £12.50. There are savings to be made if booking all four of the remaining concerts – including the spectacular concluding concert from the Royal philharmonic Orchestra in May. www.cornex.co.uk/classical

Revel in new writing at Hatch, Cambridge’s showcase of up-andcoming writers, taking place on 9 February. Poetry, prose and scripts will all be showcased in the friendly and informal setting of the Corpus Playroom, with a post-show talk to follow, in which audiences can comment on the evening’s work. An excellent platform for aspiring writers to have their voices heard and their work critiqued. And for audiences, a literary journey to who knows where? Hatch takes place at 7pm; tickets are £5/£6. www.corpusplayroom.com

CIRQUE BERZERK Prepare for something very special indeed as Cirque Berzerk somersaults into Cambridge following a triumphant run at Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland over Christmas 2014. This wild, wondrous show has been described by the LA Times as ‘the sort of phantasmagoric spectacle Tim Burton would dream up if he quit filmmaking to join the circus’ – and it’s easy to see why. Gothic acrobats performing heartstopping feats, knife-throwing, edgy musical numbers and a sexy nightclub vibe all combine to make Cirque Berzerk the wildest trip to the circus you’ve ever experienced. According to The Telegraph, it ‘makes Cirque du Soleil look wimpish’. And the costumes look incredible too… It’s in town 20-22 February, Cambridge Corn Exchange (various times). Tickets are £19-£26. www.cornex.co.uk

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ARTS & CULTURE

E-LUMINATE A fantastic programme of musical concerts, light shows, talks and family activities are planned for Cambridge this month as part of the third e-Luminate festival. The innovative concept sees city landmarks lit up spectacularly, in a perfect marriage of art and science, and is the brainchild of Alessandra Caggiano and Hugh Parnell. They wanted to celebrate technology and highlight how important light is to our lives, while creating something beautiful to be enjoyed by all. Last year’s e-Luminate saw King’s College glow purple, a giant game of noughts and crosses played out on the front of the Guildhall and Cambridge’s many churches come alive with light and music as part of the Trail of Light tour. Professor Sir Leszek Borysiewicz, Vice Chancellor of the University of Cambridge, commented: “What we have here [in Cambridge] is history and to see it in such a light is really spectacular. It’s not just looking back, it’s looking to the future because the technology we’re using is the technology of the future. “Seeing the city illuminated has been fun: to see the effect of e-Luminate has been great and makes you feel we’re on the right track for the next 100 years so that our grandchildren and their children will be able to enjoy the city in the way that we have.” 2015’s festival runs 11-15 February. www.e-luminatefestivals.co.uk

ALL MY SONS Hailed as ‘flawless’ and given five stars by The Guardian and Whatsonstage, a new production of Arthur Miller’s post-war drama, All My Sons, is Cambridge-bound, performed by Talawa Theatre Company. A searing investigation of honesty, guilt and the corrupting power of greed – and a critique of the American Dream – the play was Miller’s first success in 1947 and established his as a leading voice in theatre, along with Death of a Salesman and The Crucible. The story follows an all-American couple whose son is missing, presumed dead – by all but his mother, and is directed by Michael Buffong (behind last year’s stunning Moon on a Rainbow Shawl). It stars Dona Croll (Gimme Gimme Gimme, Doctors) and Ray Shell (The Bodyguard) as Kate and Joe Keller, and runs 24-28 February, Cambridge Arts Theatre, 7.45pm (2.30pm Thursday and Saturday matinee). Tickets from £15. www.cambridgeartstheatre.com

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GROUNDED Possibly the most acclaimed play to come to town this month, Grounded has been bestowed five stars from all the broadsheets and was named winner of the Fringe First awards 2013. It tells the story of a fighter pilot who, on becoming pregnant, has to sacrifice a career in the skies for a desk job far from the battlefield, hunting terrorists by day and being a wife and mother by night. Grounded, by George Brant, is being hailed as an ‘outstanding’ account of war, family and what it means to be a woman. Catch it on 18 February, Cambridge Junction, 7.30pm. Tickets £8/£12. www.junction.co.uk

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ARTS & CULTURE

CAMBRIDGE JUNCTION TURNS 25 What were you doing in February 1990? If you were in Cambridge and into music, there’s a chance you were at the launch party of the Cambridge Junction. A brand-new arts venue for the city, it was opened by John Peel and has been a springboard for some of the most well-known comedians and musicians around today. Rob Tinkler started as a part-time duty manager in 1992 having run a record shop on Mill Road, taking up his current role of popular culture manager at Cambridge Junction in 1994. So how has the venue changed over the years? “It was similar to what it is now, just a bit smaller. We still did the same mixture of club nights, theatre, comedy, dance and music, and supported local artists. “We’re always getting bands who are on their way up which is one of the things I like about the Junction,” he adds. “You get to see those bands before everyone else. I remember seeing the Manic Street Preachers in an almost empty room; I saw Radiohead support a band called The Frank and Walters – where are they now? And Ice T was particularly good… Then we’ve had comedians like Harry Hill and Jack Dee before they were big.” Though he admits to steering clear of backstage parties, Rob has bumped into the odd star along the Cambridge Junction’s corridors. “I met Gwen Stefani coming out of her dressing room and saw Ian Dury as the band were changing into West Ham shirts for the encore. And Robert Plant said he liked my shoes.” Comedian and Black Books star Dylan Moran kicks off the 2015 birthday celebrations by bringing his warmup show to Cambridge Junction on the 12 and 13 February (it’s sold out already, sorry). Then, on Saturday 14 February, everyone’s invited to their all-day birthday party featuring family games, performances and a tour of the venue. Kids will learn how to cook and serve yummies at Hunt and Darton’s eccentric café before everyone sits down to a group lunch (11am-4pm). That evening, test your knowledge of Cambridge and the Junction at Things of Cambridge Junction: part

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Cambridge Junction opened in February 1990 to offer a versatile performance space for artists. Today it is made up of three rooms: the main venue, called J1 (capacity 850); J2, a seated theatre holding 220; and J3, ideal for talks and learning. As well as attracting big names in music and comedy, Cambridge Junction helps develop new artistic talent and, as a social enterprise, reinvests over 50% of its income back into the business.

pub quiz, part theatre show (8pm). And nostalgic ravers will be glad to hear that Cambridge Junction’s first-ever club night, Cum Cum, is making a comeback. “We managed to find the three original DJs, so it’ll be nice to have them back,” says Rob. As to what kind of music they’ll be playing, he says: “Back in the day it was what you’d call acid house, and it’ll be along similar lines just probably a bit slower, cause none of us is as young as we used to be.” The Cambridge Junction staff have sent us some superb photos of clubbers

at Cum Cum in the early 90s. The fashions are questionable to say the least: let’s just hope high-waisted stonewashed jeans and crushed velvet vests don’t make a comeback any time soon. Rob continues: “We’re hoping to get some of those old photos up on social media and see if anyone recognises themselves and send in their memories. Hopefully they’ll have some horrible old photographs they can send in themselves. A lot of the Junction’s history isn’t at the Junction – it’s in the hearts and minds of the people of Cambridge.”

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ARTS & CULTURE

HENRY V

ROUNDELAY Celebrated playwright Alan Ayckbourn, known for his astute comic observations on life and relationships, returns to Cambridge in 2015 with Roundelay. But don’t expect your usual three-act drawing room drama: this one takes the form of five short plays, each interconnected through plot, theme or character, and performed in no fixed order. Described as ‘entertaining and daring’ by The Times, Roundelay (which translates as ‘circle dance’) is a theatrical adventure. Even the actors aren’t told the running order until 25 minutes before the show: a sure-fire way to keep a play fresh and the actors well on their toes. Ayckbourn explains: “I’m intrigued by the thought of how we may perceive an evening which will never be quite the same. Indeed, in a sense that is true of all theatre, isn’t it? The Roundelay plays have no order and, depending on how you see them, the evening can finish on a dying fall or a comic climax.” Secret pasts and skeletons in closets inform much of the action, as does the theme of memory. “The plays have overlapping characters,” adds Ayckbourn. “The pieces are all related and sometimes elements of plot from one spill over into another. The fun things are the little reference points from one piece to another. I think of them like a circle of mirrors in which, depending on the angle, you’ll see different aspects and reflections.” Cambridge Arts Theatre, 9-14 February, 7.45pm (2.30pm Thursday and Saturday matinee). Tickets are from £15. www.cambridgeartstheatre.com

Brush up on some history and culture with Shakespeare’s Henry V, being staged at Cambridge Arts Theatre this month. The wayward former Prince Hal has taken up the throne of England and has his sights set on France in this fourth episode in the Bard’s series of medieval history plays. One of his most famous, it includes the immortal lines ‘Once more unto the breach’ and coined the phrase ‘band of brothers’ – as uttered in the rousing St Crispin’s Day Speech before Henry leads his troops into battle. This home-grown production comes from the revered Marlowe Society, one of Cambridge University’s oldest institutions which has previously turned out talents such as Sir Ian McKellen. Their gritty, earthy take comes just in time for the 600th anniversary of Agincourt, which famously ended the 100 years war. Runs 4-7 February, 7.45pm (2.30pm Thurs and Sat matinee). Tickets are £15£20 (£12.50 students). www.cambridgeartstheatre.com

EUGINE ONEGIN Romance and revolution is in the air in 1920s Russia, the setting for Tchaikovsky’s celebrated opera, Eugene Onegin. Visiting his lover Olga, Lensky brings along a friend, the reckless Onegin, who quickly catches the eye of Olga’s sister. In the tangle of emotions, accusations of foul play between Onegin and Olga emerge, culminating in a duel between the two friends. This passionate story is brought to the stage by Cambridge University Operatic Society on 19 and 20 February, at West Road Concert Hall. Performed in modern English, it features a full orchestra and promises to be a theatrical and musical experience that’s not to be missed. Starts 8pm (1.30pm Saturday matinee); tickets from £7, including students and concessions. www.westroad.org

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ARTS & CULTURE

THE UNPROFESSIONALS

BYARD ART How great would it be to own your own art collection? It sounds like an expensive hobby, but Byard Art in Cambridge is making it a little more accessible through their Own Art Scheme. It essentially enables customers to spread the cost of a purchase over 10 months using an interest free loan. Customers may borrow anything from £100-£2500 and start their own art collection from as little as £10 per month. Throughout February, the bright, sunny gallery on Kings Parade will be holding an exhibition of beautiful paintings and artwork which all feature in this ingenius scheme. Artists taking part include Jo Oakley, Fletcher Prentice, Louise Shotter, Wendy McBride, mixed media by Jennifer Collier and Chris Wood, ceramics by Sophie Cook and Anthony Edmonds plus jewellery and more. Contact the gallery or pop in for more details. www.byardart.co.uk

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Enjoy a nod at the film noir genre with this fabulous and stylish comedy. The Unprofessionals, by Cambridge’s very own Henry Wilkinson, invites us to 1950s Italy, where Norman and Rita Sterling are enjoying their well-earned retirement. But a chance meeting with a mysterious stranger on a train sends them spiralling hilariously into a shady underworld of crime and espionage, nightclubs and dark streets, with the mafia hot on their tail. Catch the play at the ADC Theatre from 11 to 14 February, 11pm. Tickets £5/£6. www.adctheatre.com

THE WEIR In a remote Irish pub, three regulars gather for their daily pint, keen to talk about the pretty young Valerie, newly arrived from Dublin. Once each man has told his story – many of which have a ghostly edge – Valerie shares her own melancholy account of why she left Dublin, which changes the lives of the group forever. Expect laughs, thrills and heartbreak from Cambridge’s first production of Conor McPherson’s modern classic. Runs 17-21 February, Corpus Playroom, 7pm. Tickets £5/£6. www.corpusplayroom.com

DEAD SIMPLE Cambridge hosts the world stage premier of Dead Simple, adapted from the bestselling book by Peter James. In this, his most popular novel to date, Detective Roy Grace investigates a stag night prank gone wrong. Michael Harrison has it all: a great job, good friends and a beautiful fiancé, but suddenly he finds himself buried alive and fearful that no-one will find him… The play stars Coronation Street’s Tina Hobley, Eastenders’ Jamie Lomas and award-winning Casualty star, Gray O’Brien. It runs at Cambridge Arts Theatre, 16-21 February, 7.45pm (2.30pm Thursday and Saturday matinee). Tickets start at £15. www.cambridgeartstheatre.com

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ARTS & CULTURE

Taylor

THE ART INSIDER

015 is the International Year of Light, celebrated here in Cambridge this month with the e-Luminate Festival (11-15 February), shining a light on green technology and contemporary art. I’ll be there at the VIP launch: last year, I spent much of the party discussing all things light and art with light artist Colin Dewar, while trailing about with a very funny girl from Heart FM, artist Susie Olczak, a chap who looked like Inspector Clouseau (still not sure who that was) bumping into numerous Cambridge execs and entrepreneurs, all elated at the incipient success of the festival – which has grown in the past couple of years. “This year, we are here to stay,” promised Alessandra Caggiono, the festival founder, proven to be right, in 2015. This year promises more large-scale installations, lighting up the city in style – a fantastic initiative which is impossible to miss. Just watch out for festival co-director Hugh Parnell, one of the city’s leading movers and shakers who will more than likely request for the lights to be turned off. It’s also, of course, the month of love (ahh!). This Valentine’s Day, treat yourselves to a cultural fix at the Alison Richard Building on 14 February, held in association with Kettle’s Yard – a day exploring 1960s concrete poetry as part of the exhibition, A Token Of Concrete Affection. Perfect for designers and poets. Lovebirds, why not have a relaxed romantic cuppa with your beau at the new cycling themed Espresso Library on East Road? Showing art curated by Loukas Morely for the next year, it’s another hip coffee hang-out to join the city’s flourishing creative café circuit. Families can check Cambridge Junction’s birthday party on 14 February, too – pay what you like for a communal lunch and a day of fun, curious backstage tours, workshops and performance. Having had Dreamworks’ adaptation of Cressida Cowell’s How To Train A Dragon books on repeat at home since Christmas (for my toddler, not for me…) I’m also

e-Luminate festival is back to celebrate light, art and green tech

e on e s a n d Gra b you r litrltloo for glitte r h ea d to Wateble s a n d lots of ca n n on s, bunb at Va u lt Fe stiva l fu Fans of all things illustrated should get their hands on Clockwork Dragon looking out for Clockwork Dragon, the new book from Jonathan Emmett, illustrated by Elys Dolan, an illustrator at the Art Salon’s UNIT 13 studios (where we moved to last year) released this month. Elys is a multi award-nominated and winning illustrator, with some of her titles on the Best Books for 2014 List for School Library Journal – brilliant. If you culture-loving parents fancy a day trip away, head to London for Mini Vault – three weekends of underground art happenings for under 11s as part of the Vault Festival, Waterloo (www.vaultfestival. com/activities/mini-vault). I’m also heading to see DJ Layo (of Layo and Bushwacka fame) at Stratford Circus Art Centre, as part of a family rave from Big Fish Little Fish that promises glitter cannons, bubbles, ball pits and a bar, with my tribe on 7 February. Check www. bigfishlittlefishevents.co.uk for details of

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‘London’s latest clubbing craze’ (The Guardian) – let’s hope it spreads to Cambridge soon. While there, catch Cambridge-based artist, Israeli-born Idit Nathan’s first solo show at London’s Standpoint Gallery, Footpoints Playing Dead – whose work you may have spotted at the Gaza protests outside the Guildhall, here in Cambridge last year. As I write I’m also in the final edits of our book, to be launched in March as part of the next Women of the World Festival (WOW) in Cambridge. Our show, NEW INFLUENCES: Female Voices, Cambridge, celebrates the voices of women in the city and female role models in the community (including Cambridge Edition’s very own Nicola Foley and Mayor of Cambridge Gerri Bird). Come see it – and have a fabulous February, all!

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MUSEUMS

TWILIGHT

AT THE MUSEUMS WORDS JENNY SHELTON

Ever wondered what goes on inside Cambridge’s museums at night? Head down on 18 February for torchlit tours and craft workshops, plus a few ghost stories... et out with the family to discover the wonderful world of Cambridge museums after dark. On 18 February, museums and collections across the city are staying open late (4.30-8.30pm) for an evening of nocturnal fun and adventure. 13 venues will be taking part, offering up a fantastic range of inspired events and activities for all ages. Take a dip into the depths of the ocean at The Polar Museum’s Deep Sea Darkness event; play Guess Who with the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology and find characters from around the world; journey through the

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glowing glasshouses at the Botanic Garden and bring a spot of technical know-how to the evening with hands-on fun at the Museum of Technology. Joining the Twilight team for the first time is the University Library, where you’ll be able to get involved with quizzes, torchlit exploring and even bookmaking. Travelling between the museums is all part of the fun – look out for an interactive light display illuminating the magnificent Fitzwilliam Museum and discover the historic streets of Cambridge after dark in a torchlit tour with the Cambridge Guides. If all that exploring works up an appetite, seek out Steak and

Honour – surely Cambridge’s favourite burger van – which will be popping up to keep grumbling tummies at bay alongside Caffe Mobile, serving hot drinks and cakes. More food and drink options will be available with cafés at the Fitzwilliam, Botanic Garden and Farmland Museum, and the Museum of Cambridge is running a special Twilight Tea Room (for workshop participants only). A copy of the Twilight What’s On programme can be downloaded online, plus your all-important passport. Use it to collect a stamp at every place you visit along the way. www.cam.ac.uk/museums/twilight

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MUSEUMS

DON’T MISS READING AFTER LIGHTS OUT Where: Cambridge University Library When: 4.30-8.30pm What: A chance to get up close to the library’s exquisite 500-year-old books by torchlight and make your own mini book. exhibitions.lib.cam.ac.uk TREASURES BY TORCHLIGHT Where: Museum of Classical Archaeology When: 4.30-8.30pm What: A night-time exploration of the museum, where statues are rumoured to come alive after dark! Complete the Twilight Trail and don’t forget your torch. www.classics.cam.ac.uk/museum CREATURES OF TWILIGHT Where: Museum of Cambridge When: 4.30-6pm or 6.30-8pm

What: A craft workshop for imaginative kids. Come and make masks, wings and scaly tails and turn yourself into a mythical creature of your own invention. www.folkmuseum.org.uk GUESS WHO? Where: Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology When: 4.30-8.30pm What: A guessing game in the dark. Use your torch and match the clues to reveal fearsome warriors or mysterious objects. www.maa.cam.ac.uk DEEP DARK POLLINATOR HUNT Where: Botanic Garden When: 4.30-8.30pm What: A night-time hunt through the magnificent glasshouse to find the giant

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pollinator pictures. Prizes to be won! www.botanic.cam.ac.uk SHADOWLANDS Where: Denny Abbey When: 4.30-8.30pm What: An outdoors adventure at the farmland museum, with trails by torchlight and ghost stories. www.dennyfarmlandmuseum.org.uk THE DRAGON’S PEARL Where: Fitzwilliam Museum When: 5.30pm, 6.30pm, 7.30pm What: An ancient folk tale from China, told by the award-winning Indefinite Articles using paper and shadows. Also a chance to see the spectacular light display in the Fitzwilliam’s portico. www.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk

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BRAIN FOOD

CLIMATE CHANGE, CULTURE CHANGE Representatives from Oxfam, Greenpeace and Cambridge University will appear together on 7 February for a discussion on climate change and capitalism. Join them for Climate Change: Culture Change, in which they’ll be questioning whether capitalism is an obstacle for climate change and whether politics is the solution. The speakers are Dame Barbara Stocking, former CEO of Oxfam and president of Murray Edwards College; Professor Anthony Giddens, author of The Politics of Climate Change and Stephen Tindale, former executive director of Greenpeace and co-founder of Climate Answers. They, along with other speakers, will be sharing their experiences and expertise with a view to engaging people and ultimately paving the way for a better future. The forum takes place at St Catharine’s College, see online for the programme. Tickets are £35 or £10 for students. www.cambridgeclimateforum.org

THE BLETCHLEY GIRLS

BRAIN FOOD

With much deserved hype surrounding the Bletchley Park codebreakers, a talk in Ely this month will offer a chance to discover more about the pioneering women involved. In her book, The Bletchley Girls, Tessa Dunlop reveals the important work of the women of Bletchley during the Second World War. Many were fresh from school, some learned Japanese and all were sworn to secrecy. This account is told by the women in their own words. The author will hold a talk at The Old Bishop’s Palace, Ely, on 4 February, 7.30pm. Tickets £7 (£6 adv) from Toppings Bookshop or online. www.toppingbooks.co.uk

Give your little grey cells some nourishment this month with these improving talks, discussions and exhibitions

JESUS COLLEGE PAINTINGS

BANFF MOUNTAIN FILM FESTIVAL Be inspired by stories of adventurers and explorers as the Banff Mountain Film Festival brings a series of short films to Cambridge as part of its Festival World Tour. These exhilarating documentaries will transport you to some of the most captivating and visually stunning places on earth while showcasing a range of adrenalinefuelled sports you may or may not have come across before. It takes place at Lady Mitchell Hall, 10 February, 6.30pm. Tickets are £13 (£11 concessions). www.banff-uk.com

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Three portraits of women have replaced traditional paintings of men, hanging in the dining hall at Jesus College. These iconic portraits, showing characters from paintings by Manet, are by celebrated artist Agnès Thurnauer and form part of a groundbreaking exhibition. Dr Rod Mengham, curator of the College’s Works of Arts Committee, says: “Placing the three female portraits in the Hall is making a big statement about female self-definition in an institution which encourages women to realise their true potential but which – like other colleges – surrounds them with images of male pre-eminence.” The exhibition will be displayed in the college until 8 March. Thurnauer explains: “For Manet, these women were not only models but colleagues and working women.” Jesus College’s history is steeped in links with strong women but the College did not admit female students until 1979. Dr Mengham adds: “The College has a tradition of pushing for gender equality but cannot avoid its history, some of which reflects a less than gender-equal society. Art can help us examine our assumptions and confront aspects of our culture we might not otherwise be comfortable with.” For details and opening times call 01223 339339. www.cam.ac.uk

AGATHA, POIROT AND ME When she published The Monogram Murders in 2014, Cambridge-based author Sophie Hannah became the first person in nearly 40 years to write a novel starring the mustachioed sleuth, Hercule Poirot. It’s a classic Christie thriller, with three bodies, a posh hotel and a bumbling sidekick, and was written, Hannah has said, as a ‘gift’ to the author and her fans. In this free public talk, she will discuss how she got her hands on Agatha Christie’s most famous detective as well as delving into her own award-winning back catalogue of psychological crime thrillers. It takes place at 6pm, 12 February at Lucy Cavendish College. www.eventbrite.co.uk

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GROUP SPOTLIGHT

Andrea Cockerton, founder

Uplifting live shows, quirky covers and a whole lot of talent. We meet Cambridge's coolest choir WORDS JENNY SHELTON

ndrea Cockerton knows this will be a moment to remember. It’s December, 2014, and the Cambridgebased pianist is on stage at the Corn Exchange with her new 120-strong choir and band performing the Proclaimers’ I’m Gonna Be. The audience is on its feet, in full voice, raising the roof. As they reach the chorus, a spontaneous conga breaks out, and their collective voice grows louder still. “It was total mayhem. In one ear I had the choir singing at full volume and the audience in the other, and I felt this overwhelming, mad joy,” she says. Andrea, who studied music at Cambridge University, is the founder of The Dowsing Sound Collective. Described as ‘not a choir and not a band, but something in between’, it’s open to singers of all or no experience (she doesn’t hold auditions; as long as you can carry a tune you’re in). They performed their first gig – an unexpected, overwhelming success – at Cambridge’s Great St Mary’s in 2011 (“they were queuing out the door down to TK Maxx!”), and now they’ve got their sights set on Glastonbury. A lifelong lover of all kinds of music, Andrea learned the piano at seven, sang in choirs and then took up a place at Cambridge to study music. “The degree didn’t really suit me to be honest; it was very theoretical and

I’m a performer,” she says. “I spent the next 10-15 years in business but in the back of my mind I was trying to find a way to get into music and merge all the things that I loved about it.” Then inspiration hit, as it’s wont to do, in an unexpected place. “Four years ago I was on the A14 listening to a piece of North African club music. It was a cool track and I thought, ‘I can really hear this to voices and instruments’. I put a post on Facebook seeing if anyone was interested in getting together and there was a great response. “My vision was to do a gig in Cambridge that could prove you can sing good music to a high standard without it being stuffy, or oversimplified. There are loads of brilliant choirs that sing to a fantastic standard, but you have to be able to read music. At the other end, you’ve got community choirs who are doing great music but it’s generally quite simple. I thought there’s got to be something in between.” So the Dowsing Sound Collective was born. Led by Andrea on keys, this monster choir and band (instruments range from electric guitar to bagpipes) performs two gigs each year, including their Dowsing Christmas Cocktail at the Corn Exchange – now a firm fixture in Cambridge’s Christmas calendar. “It’s more like a band than a choir, and we play gigs rather than concerts,” Andrea explains. “Our set list is pretty eclectic: we cover Coldplay, Scissor Sisters, Goldfrapp… but also bands people might not have

I knew from the start that I wanted to do something good with it, so we donate 40% of gig proﬁts to charity

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GROUP SPOTLIGHT

The Dowsing Sound Collective is currently full, but those wanting to join can put their name on the waiting list – places come up fairly regularly.

heard of, plus the classical stuff. I love coming across new music. We’ve sung in Icelandic, Spanish… It’s absolutely not cheesy pop.” Dowsing Sound also has a charitable mission: “I knew from the start that I wanted to do something good with it, so we donate 40% of all gig profits to charity. We’ve set up The Dosoco Foundation, which helps music-related projects, for instance a choir for people with dementia or buying instruments for children with illnesses. Music is so powerful in improving lives, so while we’re having a great time on stage we’re also able to help less privileged people, which is the icing on the cake.” Word of Andrea’s unique musical mission has spread, catching the attention of club kings Basement Jaxx. “They came to our last Christmas gig where we were covering one of their tracks,” she says. “Somehow they heard about us, and were just going to come for

The sense of euphoria and achievement at the end of a gig is just insane. It’s so powerful and emotional the first half but stayed for the whole gig because they loved it so much! A couple of weeks later I had a call from Felix saying they were looking for a choir to work with them on a music project called Power to the People, where they were getting groups from all over the world to perform their music. So in March last year we went down to the Cambridge Union, in fancy dress, and recorded. “Basement Jaxx go large with clothes, though initially Felix asked if we’d all do it naked! I said no, but what about fancy dress? There was no theme, but people had to do it properly – no half-hearted attempts. I went as Adam Ant. It was brilliant fun. What an experience.” She adds: “We’ve also collaborated with Boo Hewerdine, Megson and Dirty Freud,

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‘the high wizard of electro dub’! They’ll be on our EP, out in July.” Andrea is also approaching Secret Garden Party, Latitude and Glastonbury. And having established a DSC in London, she’s now expanding the project to other cities, starting with Brighton and Birmingham. Says Andrea: “When you’re on stage, everyone is out of their comfort zone doing something they wouldn’t normally do – that’s when exciting things happen. The sense of euphoria and achievement at the end of a gig is just insane. It’s so powerful and sometimes really emotional. That’s what makes music so profound.” thedowsingsoundcollective.com

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HISTORY FESTIVAL

Illustration by Alice Thomson: www.alicethomson.co.uk

WORDS JENNY SHELTON

ow did the arrival of the railway change Cambridge? Want to find out about the history of local beer brewing? Or where the real historic centre of the city is? Delve into the history of Cambridge at the 2015 Cambridge History Festival, running for two weeks starting 26 February, and revealing the fascinating stories which have helped shape the city. The festival is in association with the Museum of Cambridge and there’s a range of events planned.

made and reveal more about the ladies who created it.

26 FEBRUARY THE INAUGURAL ENID PORTER MEMORIAL LECTURE Where: Castle Street Methodist Church Time: 7.30-8.30pm Price: £5-£7.50 (includes a drink) ‘1914-18 A Century On: Global War, Public Memory and Local History’. David Reynolds explores the way public memory of the Great War has altered over time.

THE IMPACT OF THE RAILWAYS IN CAMBRIDGE Where: Castle Street Methodist Church Time: 7-8pm Price: £5-£7.50 (with a glass of wine) Tony Kirby looks at the role of the railway in shaping Cambridge and explores the changing landscape of railways, from the days of steam through dieselisation to electrification.

DEATH & DISEASE THROUGH THE AGES IN CAMBRIDGE Where: The Mitre Pub Time: 5.45-7.30pm Price: £10 (includes a drink) A tour for adults from See Cambridge Differently. Join a 1.5 hour guided walk taking in the gory parts of Cambridge’s history! Meet for mulled cider at The Mitre then finish at the Museum of Cambridge.

CAMRA AT THE WHITE HORSE INN Where: Museum of Cambridge Time: 7.30-9.30pm Price: £7.50 (includes a drink) Knock back some delicious beer from the Moonshine and Black Bar breweries while learning more about local brewing, includes a short tour of the inns – past and present – in the Castle Hill area.

27 FEBRUARY THE MASTERS’ WIVES COVERLET OF 1892: A REAL DETECTIVE STORY Where: Museum of Cambridge Time: 3-4pm Price: £3-£5 (includes a drink) Carolyn Ferguson examines the iconography of a coverlet gifted to the museum in 1892 to identify why it was

28 FEBRUARY SINGING HISTORY Where: Museum of Cambridge Time: 2.30-4.30pm Price: Free with museum admission Join the children of the Singing History Choir as they sing about Thomas Hobson, Cambridge Tudor philanthropist, with music by Kirsty Martin and lyrics by Horrible Histories songwriter Dave Cohen.

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CAMBRIDGE IN THE GOOD OLD DAYS PRESENTS: 50S & 60S CAMBRIDGE Where: Castle Street Methodist Church Time: 6.30-7.30pm Price: £5-£7.50 (includes a drink) What was Cambridge like in the 1950s and 60s? Members of the 5,000-strong Facebook group ‘Cambridge in the Good Old Days’ share their memories and images of this vibrant time. 1 MARCH THE DAVID PARR HOUSE Where: Museum of Cambridge Time: 6-7pm Price: £3-£5 (includes a drink) David Parr may have evaded the history books had it not been for the legacy he left in his house. Tamsin Wimhurst reveals the story of the development and survival of this hidden Cambridge gem. 2 MARCH OLIVER CROMWELL: HERO OR VILLAIN? Where: Castle Street Methodist Church Time: 7-8pm Price: £5-£7.50 (includes a drink) Dr David Smith explores Cromwell’s life and leadership through a selection of his letters and speeches, and considers why he still divides opinion. 4 MARCH FROM WORKHOUSE TO PLAYHOUSE: A HISTORY OF MILL ROAD Where: Castle Street Methodist Church Time: 7-8pm Price: £5-£7.50 (includes a drink) A Heritage Lottery-funded project plans to build a community archive for Mill Road. Hear what volunteers have discovered so far about this popular area of the city. www.folkmuseum.org.uk

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FOOD DRINK A N D

GET THE INSIDE TRACK ON CAMBRIDGE'S FOODIE SCENE WITH EDITION'S MONTHLY SUPPLEMENT

EXCLUSIVE RECIPES

Valentine’s dining

ASK THE FOODIE

Restaurant Review ©Waitrose

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FOOD

CUSTARD

Images by Charlotte Griffiths, crumble recipes by Afternoon Tease (afternoontease.co.uk) and Alex Rushmer

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FOOD

WORDS ALEX RUSHMER IMAGES CHARLOTTE GRIFFITHS

CUSTARD CREATIONS SWEET OR SAVOURY CUSTARD MAKES A DELICIOUS AND SUPRISINGLY VERSATILE , ADDITION TO ANY CHEFS ARSENAL SAYS ALEX RUSHMER , ’ve been thinking rather a lot about custard recently. Three ingredients, a simple method and a terrific variety of directions, applications and uses – it is a technique that can equip even the most cack-handed of cooks with a lifetime of potential uses, both sweet and savoury. A traditional crème anglaise – milk (or cream) thickened with egg yolk, sweetened with sugar and flavoured with vanilla – is a very basic and simple introduction and a recipe that deserves to be in everybody’s arsenal. As an addition to an apple crumble or steamed suet pudding there is nothing better and the ratio is an easy one to remember – one egg yolk will thicken 100ml of liquid sweetened with one tablespoon of sugar. The recipe is scalable from there on in. Heat the milk (or cream, if you are feeling decadent) with your chosen flavour, whisk together the yolk and sugar then pour the warm liquid over the egg yolk. Return to a clean pan and cook gently until it thickens. For the scientifically minded amongst you this occurs between 70°C and 80°C although do take care as the likelihood of scrambling increases along with the temperature. From this basic method you can veer off into any one of a number of directions. Playing with flavours is a great way to begin experimenting: all the warm spices (nutmeg, star anise, or cinnamon) create a wonderful wintry custard that works really well with apples and other orchard fruits. More aromatic results could be achieved with lemongrass, ginger and kaffir lime and hardy herbs like thyme, rosemary and bay leaf all add surprising flavour notes to custards. Once you’ve mastered custard, you are only a few hours away from incredible home-made ice cream and you can alter the richness simply by changing the ratio

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of milk to cream or even sneaking in a couple of extra egg yolks for a truly rich treat. Again, original flavours can be infused early on in the cooking process to create some unexpected results and add some unusual twists to an otherwise classic preparation (blue cheese ice cream anyone?). For the more adventurous cooks, savoury custards can be a great way to start a meal – in the past anchovy, black truffle and Parmesan crème brûlées have all appeared on my menu at some point. Aside from omitting the sugar (or at the very least reducing it) the process is the same and the results can be sublime. Finally, learning how to turn a simple custard into the workhorse of the pastry kitchen – crème patissiere – is a vital skill that will serve you well. Here, the custard is thickened with plain flour (25g for every four egg yolks) that is whisked with the yolks and sugar before adding the warm liquid. The flour stabilises the custard and thickens it more readily yielding a versatile preparation that can be used for a multitude of uses once cool, from piping into profiteroles to creating a millefeuille.

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FOOD

FOOD NEWS A MONTHLY ROUND-UP OF GASTRONOMIC GOINGS-ON IN CAMBRIDGE AND THE SURROUNDING AREA

NIGHT MARKET What could be more romantic on Valentine’s Day than a stroll around a twinkling night market? The first foodPark night market will pop up at Burwash Manor in Barton on the 14th, as part of Burwash Larder’s Love Food weekend. Street food fans can expect the usual high quality street food from foodPark’s traders such as Steak and Honour, Guerrilla Kitchen, and Fired Up Pizza, alongside newbies like Churros Bar, Buffalo Joe’s, and the stunning foodPark BAR serving top tipples and some special Valentine’s aperitifs and nibbles. Warming Your Cockles will also be there with their gourmet hot chocolates and other sweet treats. The market will stretch throughout the beautiful courtyard, meadows, and secret snugs of Burwash Manor, including plenty of festoons of lights, covered seating, and cosy blankets to fend off the February chills. Live music and DJs will add to the atmosphere, with a mix of vintage romance from the ’50s and electro swing. Guests coming from Cambridge can prebook transport, to be provided from the city centre and back. FoodPark organiser Heidi White says: “We’re so thrilled to be working with Burwash Manor, one of our favourite foodie spots and a great supporter of street food, to create our first pop-up night market. It is a beautiful and magical location, and we’ve got an amazing night of street food, drinks, and music lined up!” Find out more on Twitter: @foodPark_cam. www.foodparkcam.com

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FOOD

GOGS

BUTCHERY CLASS The award-winning butchers at the Gog Magog Hills Farm Shop are inviting you to learn their craft at a Butchery Class, taking place on 11 and 18 February. The evening course runs 6.45-10pm and starts with a discussion about each animal being studied, including age, breed, origin and how it’s looked after. You’ll also discuss the best ways of cooking each cut, and how to make the most of each part of the animal. Then, aprons on and cleavers in hand, you’ll get stuck in to breaking down a side of pork and stuffing a pork shoulder – plus take part in a masterclass in creating the perfect crackling. The evening finishes with a pork supper, all washed down with local beer or wine. The night costs £110 and includes a pork shoulder to take home, worth £50. www.gogmagoghills.com

CAMBRIDGE CHOP HOUSE One of the most popular dining spots in Cambridge – with one of the best views too – has been given a new look for the New Year. The Cambridge Chop House stands on the corner of King’s Parade, offering wonderful views of one of the most iconic street in the city. Since opening in 2007, despite relaying the floor after some biblical flooding, the restaurant has largely remained the same – so the team decided it was time to give the place a stylish update. The ground-floor area has been extended to make room for more soughtafter window seats and facilitate the new Coffee House, open from 8.15am and serving barista coffee and fresh pastries. They’ve also made a few tweaks to the menu, while staying true to that hearty, rustic and occasionally adventurous ethos that has done the place proud. Downstairs, in the basement, you’ll find a private dining room of four to five tables with dark leather chairs and a cosy atmosphere. Ideal if you’re a large party and want some space to yourself. www.cambscuisine.com

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FOOD

HOTEL DU VIN EVENTS With ‘dry’ January out of the way, this month is the perfect time to treat yourself to fine wine and indulgent dining, and there’s few better places in Cambridge than Hotel du Vin. On 18 February, the hotel’s Bistro will host a wine dinner, featuring a sumptuous meal and a range of perfectly matched tipples from the celebrated Jackson Family Wines. The event begins at 7pm and it’s £69 per person. You can also take advantage of a special dining deal until the 27th of this month, enjoying a 28-day aged entrecôte steak with pommes frites and green salad, accompanied by half a bottle of HdV merlot, for £25 per person (available for lunch Monday to Saturday and dinner Sunday to Thursday). As we move into spring, there’s also a new menu to sample at Hotel du Vin. Taking its inspiration from regional French recipes, the menu features classics such as moules à la bouillabaisse (mussels in a tomato and fennel broth), which hails from Marseille, a region renowned for its excellent seafood and Mediterranean influences. There’s also maquereaux poêlé (seared mackerel with a Normandy horseradish crème fraîche) and the pissaldiere, a caramelised onion and anchovy tart from the Provence region. The new menu runs until March and is £16.95 for two courses, and £19.95 for three. www.hotelduvin.com

NEW LOOK FOR GREENS Cambourne café Greens has benefitted from a new look for the new year with the arrival of new owners Debs and Daniela. The pair formerly ran the tea rooms at Burwash Manor, but when their lease expired they went on the hunt for a new premises. They found it in Greens, a popular local café on Deb’s doorstep, only receiving the keys to their new venture on Christmas Eve. The menu is a brunch junkie’s dream, featuring top quality ingredients not only in the superb brunches but also in the lunchtime classics. We’re liking the look of the toasted ciabatta with chilli jam and the baked herby Camembert with grapes and crusty bread… “We’re doing ciabattas, antipasti boards, fresh soup every day and a really popular one, our Ultimate Toastie,” says Debs. “It’s all good, authentic ingredients.” And the décor? “It’s a mixture of old and new,” she says. “We’ve got some great upcycled pieces and put up some funky wallpaper to give it a really fresh new look. “We wanted to give the place a real, sociable feel; if people want to come in and sit with their laptops that’s great, and we’re going to be holding a few open evenings and open mic events too. We’re licensed for alcohol, so in the evenings it’s a nice place to pop in for a drink and a bite to eat after work.” www.greens.macmate.me

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FOOD

ASK THE WILD IN

POP UP

THE PANTRY Run by chef Frank Boddy, Wild in the Pantry offers a range of culinary services from one-toone tuition to personal in-house cheffing for events in your home. Every few months, they also host a supper club in the village of Colne, Huntingdonshire, where they live, featuring menus inspired by all corners of the globe. This month’s date for your diary is 3 February, when Frank and his partner Sandra will host a Scottish themed dinner, featuring a host of Highland delights to get stuck into. The menu includes a haggis scotch egg, green pea soup with oat and treacle bread and slow-cooked venison casserole with tatties and neeps. Dessert will be a lemon and raspberry sponge pudding or a butterscotch apple meringue pie. Veggie options are available as well and tickets are £20 per person. The event begins at 7pm. www.wildinthepantry.co.uk

FOODIE

HEIDI WHITE AKA THE MOVING FOODIE ANSWERS ' ' YOUR BURNING QUESTIONS ON THE CAMBRIDGE FOOD SCENE Q: WHERE CAN I FIND THE PERFECT PRESENT FOR A FOODIE? Good timing. I’m sure you’re not the only one out there hunting for a foodie treat to combat the winter blues. Or perhaps you’re intent on impressing the foodie in your life with the ultimate Valentine’s gift this month. Either way, you’re in the right place. Cambridge’s independent shops are treasure troves for unique and special gifts – foodie or otherwise – so your first stop should be the array of classic glassware, serving and storage items to be found at Catesby’s on Green Street, and the delightful oak and slate kitchen accessories from Providence (Bridge Street, Cambridge, and Burwash Manor, Barton). For the discerning foodie, the city is home to the best merchants for picking up premium and unique food and drink items. Put together a hamper of treats

from Cambridge’s best specialist food shops, such as The Cambridge Cheese Company, literally packed with unique ingredients, imported goods from France, Italy, and Spain, and a huge range of cheeses and sundries. Then head to Cambridge Wine Merchants for some seriously good single malt whiskies, an impressively large range of top notch sherry, and (perfect for making a grand gesture) the latest rare wines on offer at the Bridge Street, King’s Parade, Mill Road, or Cherry Hinton Road branches. Budding chefs might like to embrace the latest trend for getting back to basics with food, and local food writer Tim Hayward has just the book for you. His guide covers everything a foodie could possibly need to know about home-smoking, curing, preserving, and making it all from scratch, and can be purchased at Fitzbillies on Trumpington Street. Pop into Cutlacks on Mill Road whilst you’re at it and pick up the works – muslin bags, mason jars, brewing equipment – and you’ll be set.

For more top tips on eating and drinking in Cambridge, visit Heidi’s blog www.movingfoodie.com Got a question for the Moving Foodie? Tweet us at @cambsedition or @TheMovingFoodie and hashtag #askthefoodie

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FOOD

KIDS' CLASSES AT CAMBRIDGE COOKERY SCHOOL

ED’S EASY DINER Ed’s Easy Diner have been serving up an authentic portion of retro Americana since opening their first branch in Soho in the late 1980s. Fast-forward to 2014 and the business has been a runaway success with diners, opening up restaurants everywhere from Aberdeen to Southampton – and becoming one of the UK’s fastest growing companies in recent years. Next month, you can see what all the fuss is about when Ed’s opens its doors in the Grand Arcade – promising to offer a great new spot for refuelling during shopping trips. You can expect a 1950s diner-style setting, complete with tabletop jukeboxes, booths and of course, a menu packed with all-American classics. Tuck into hamburgers (with toppings including blue cheese, chilli con carne and maple cured bacon), fried chicken, deluxe hot dogs, all-day breakfasts and sides including chilli fries and ‘atomic’ American onion rings (which come slathered in jalapeño jelly, chilli, sour cream, Cheddar cheese sauce and with guacamole on the side). There’s also thick and creamy milkshakes and desserts like brownies, waffles and sundaes. “The Grand Arcade is a fantastic new location for our diner,” says Andrew Guy, CEO of Ed’s. “We’ve had Cambridge on our list for quite some time and now the right site has become available, we’re hugely excited to bring our retro 50s brand to the city.” Ed’s will work closely with UK employment charity Springboard to target local people in Cambridge, offering worthwhile, long-term employment and careers. The retro restaurant group has become synonymous for hiring staff based on attitude, rather than previous experience; a policy that saw them shortlisted for the 2013 Springboard Award for Best Recruitment Initiative. Sign up to Ed’s Club at www.edseasydiner.com/club and get a free burger when the new restaurant opens in the Grand Arcade in March. www.edseasydiner.com

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Got a budding Jamie or Nigella on your hands? Let them experiment in the kitchen (with someone else doing the washing up!) this month at Cambridge Cookery School, where they’ve got a jam-packed schedule of sessions especially for the little ones planned. First up, Five Family Suppers, in which teenagers can learn key techniques and an understanding of how to budget, prep and cook great family meals. Taking place on both 16 and 17 February, this popular course includes a hearty lunch and recipe packs and food to take home. Next up on 18 February is Sushi for Youngsters, in which the secrets of this Japanese delicacy will be revealed to young cooks, as well as Curries for Kids on the same day. For the more ambitious little chefs, French Pastry for Young Bakers takes place on 19 February and will teach the basics of choux: a versatile pastry to master for both sweet and savoury creations. Also on the 19th is Holiday Traybakes for 7-10 year olds, which will feature lots of scrumptious, simple cakes and goodies to take home, whilst Italian Winter Classics the following day will focus on topnotch pasta dishes which make ideal staples for any chef’s repertoire. Visit the website for full details and to book. cambridgecookeryschool.com

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FOOD

LOVE FOOD AT BURWASH MANOR Local gastronomes will be pleased to know that Burwash Manor in Barton is once again gearing up to host its annual Love Food weekend, promising a packed two days of events bursting with delicious delicacies to try and buy from a host of great suppliers. It’s the seventh outing for this popular food and drink festival, which this year takes place 14-15 February. Pop along to have a browse around the Food Marquee, which will be choc full of The Larder’s favourite suppliers and foodie heroes. Showing their wares and offering lots of tasty samples will be Cambridge Gourmet Mallows, who produce gorgeous, light and fluffy marshmallows in lots of interesting flavours (we love the salted caramels), produced using the finest ingredients. They’ll be vying for your attention alongside the equally delicious, family-run Gourmet Brownie Company, as well as Queens Park Preserves, who’ll be showcasing their delightful range of luxury jams, marmalade and chutneys. Be sure to check out Capsicana, a company which takes the art of spice very seriously with their extensive range of chilli powders, sauces and recipe kits. When it’s time for a drink, mosey over to the Moonshine Brewery stand to sample their award-winning beers, or pay a visit to Grain Brewery for even more flavourpacked ales. In all, the marquee will host more than 30 of the UK’s best independent food suppliers, many of whom will be offering tasty freebies and their own special offers and competitions. “It’s such a fantastic opportunity for our customers to meet the people who actually make some of their favourite foods,” says manager Clare Rosier. “And a fantastic way for the producers and suppliers to meet and talk about something we all find so important – great food and drink.” Burwash will also be holding their ‘Little Love Food’ classes during February half term, offering kids the chance to take part in sessions in everything from pottery to breadmaking – see the website for more details. www.burwashmanor.com

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FOOD

NEW LOOK FOR THE VAULTS Subterranean bar The Vaults, on Trinity Street, is in new hands following its takeover by events managers Leo and Tunji. The bar opened early in the new year following a spruce-up of the interiors and the food and drinks menu. Cocktails are very much remaining a mainstay of The Vaults, and it’s still Happy Hour from 5 to 9pm. But lots of the old booze has been replaced with new, better quality bottles, and the pair have installed a brand-new sound system and lighting, as well as hiring a new head chef. “It seemed to be a really popular place so we haven’t changed it entirely, just tried to improve what it was doing. My background is events, so weddings, parties, club nights etc, and my business partner Tunji owns a big nightclub in Manchester. We do a lot of work in Cambridge, and it seemed to make sense for us to buy a bar and do what we do best every night,” says Leo. The new, simplified food menu launched on 1 February. Leo tells us more: “It’s a really pared-down menu with a focus on gourmet hotdogs. We’ll have five choices, all distinctly different, including a hot dog in a brioche bun with truffle butter and a Parmesan crisp along the top.” Leo is also hoping to develop the place as a daytime haunt for those wanting to read, work or chill. “We’ve got decent Internet and printers, and we’ve got a really cool idea to paint games on some of the two-person tables so you can play backgammon and chess.” www.thevaults.biz

WINTER TREATS AT NO.77 This stylish, quirky Thai eaterie in Caxton is well worth making the journey for, and this winter No.77 is offering a series of seasonal delights to tempt us through its doors. Fusing local fare and faraway flavours, this Thai restaurant serves excellent quality dishes and cheeky cocktails in a plush setting (retro cinema seats, distressed wooden flooring…). In February, children dine free Monday to Thursday, 5-7pm – quote ‘family treat’ when booking. Bringing friends? Dine with four or more mates Tuesday-Thursday, lunch or dinner, and you’ll get a free glass of Prosecco or mocktail each. Quote ‘friends treat’. But No.77’s best-kept secret is surely their Cinema Sundays. During February they’ll be showing family films at 3pm and classic romantic flicks at 8pm, all free to diners. Call for details. www.77cambridge.com

MEET MARKET AT THE ARCHITECT Stylish pub seeks males and female customers for special Valentine’s event… New(ish) pub The Architect on Castle Street is hosting a night of speed dating on 14 February, ready to stir things up a little on the Cambridge dating scene. Arrive for 8pm, cast aside your preconceptions and see what happens with a free cocktail, some great 80s tunes and a roomful of single strangers. Opening at the end of the year where the County Arms used to stand, The Architect serves quality food, craft beers and cocktails in a hip, urban setting. Tickets to the event cost £5 in advance. Go on, why not? www.thearchitectcambridge.co.uk

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RECIPES

WORDS & IMAGES STELLA PEREIRA

Stella Pereira

is a cook, cake designer and artist, originally from Portugal and now living in Cambridge. Visit her website at www.littlecakepot.com

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RECIPES

Fig and blackberry galette Pastry • 100g plain ﬂour • 1tbsp brown sugar • 40g cold butter • 20ml ice cold water

Filling

• 5 ﬁgs sliced in half • 3tbsp blackberry compote

Step-by-step guide In a medium-sized bowl, mix the flour, sugar and butter until the dough is crumbly. Add water and quickly mix with your hands until the dough just holds together. Roll out dough on a lightly floured surface until 3-4mm thick. Transfer to a pre-buttered tray and spread the compote and figs over the dough, 3cm away from the edges. Fold up the edges over the filling. Place in the freezer for ten minutes. Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes at 180°C.

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RECIPES

Chocolate, spelt & poppy seed pancakes • 100g spelt ﬂour • 35g cocoa powder • 2 large eggs (separated) • 100g brown sugar • 1tbsp poppyseeds • 1tsp baking powder • 120ml hot water

Step-by-step guide Place a skillet on a gentle heat. Do not overheat! In a large bowl, whisk the egg yolks and sugar. Slowly add water until well blended. Sieve flour and cocoa into the bowl and gently incorporate. Add the poppyseeds. Add the baking powder to the egg whites and whisk until stiff. Gently fold into pancake batter. Thinly spread olive oil onto skillet and remove excess. Spoon dollops of batter onto skillet. Flip pancakes as soon as you are able to lift the edge with a palette knife. Allow to cook gently. Serve with melted chocolate.

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RECIPES

www.littlecakepot.com

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RECIPES

Lemon polenta & blackcurrant cake • 3 eggs (separated) • 100g polenta ﬂour • 35g plain ﬂour • 200g sugar • 1/2tsp baking powder • 120ml hot milk • Zest of a lemon

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In a medium-sized bowl, whisk the egg yolks with the sugar until you get a creamy consistency. Gradually add hot milk. Then incorporate the flour, lemon zest and baking powder. Beat the egg whites until stiff and fold them in. Pour into a cake tin and bake for one hour at 160°C. Top with blackcurrant syrup and cream or whatever else you wish! Enjoy!

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EATING OUT

WORDS JENNY SHELTON

RESTAURANT REVIEW

Rupert Brooke The new-look pub delivers a sophisticated, modern menu while acknowledging its rich history, says Jenny Shelton fter months of renovation, the Rupert Brooke pub in Grantchester reopened at the end of last year. It was bought by Chestnut Inns, a small independent group, and having enjoyed a superb Sunday lunch at The Packhorse Inn, their sister pub in Moulton, I was keen to see how they had put their stamp on this popular village local. Named after the famous war poet who lived in the village (and wrote about it wistfully from the front line in The Old Vicarage, Grantchester), this pub is an important part of Grantchester’s history and identity. Chestnut Inns have recognised this (excluding the modern extension), updating the interiors with traditional sensibilities in mind. Photos of Brooke as a boy are hung on the back wall of the dining room, and I particularly liked the cosy, library style snug by the stairs, with its dark leather winged armchairs and low-lit lamps. This air of rustic, rural England translates to the menu, which tempted us with delicious-sounding, earthy dishes like mushroom and truffle omelette, game shepherd’s pie and pork belly with parsnips and pears. Today, I was treating my mum to dinner after a day of shopping and catching up on family gossip. As a starter, she chose the apple, hazelnut and celeriac soup: a warming dish with beautiful wintry flavours. It was served in a deep, black bowl allowing its fresh greens to really pop. Since it’s not the sort of thing I have at home, I picked the snails, which were amongst the best I’ve had – reassuringly firm with a buttery, garlicky finish. The Sunday roast looked too good to miss, and I was won over instantly at the sight of the huge, crispy Yorkshire

pudding that was coming my way. The accompanying thick slices of Suffolk beef were soaked in ample gravy (more bonus points) and the roast spuds were perfectly crisp on the outside, giving way to a soft, fluffy interior. Though they didn’t have redcurrant jelly, as requested by my mother (she’s obsessed with the stuff after learning that Mary Berry puts it in everything), the obliging staff did bring a pot of cranberry sauce to go with her saddle of lamb. This tasty dish came with dauphinois potatoes and English tenderstem broccoli, moistened by its own lamb and onionbased gravy. Too full for a chocolate fondant (with macadamia nut ice cream! Next time…), I chose instead the banoffee and fudge brûlée as something new, and the mater stuck with a classic and chose apple tarte Tatin. Mine, made with real vanilla custard, was very sweet and thick, topped with banana fritters and honeycomb. The apple tart might have been the best choice, with its delicate slices of refreshing fruit and crisp base. My revelation of the night, however, was the wine. It’s promised on the menu that the Italian Bacca Nera will change your life, and I was thoroughly impressed with its sweet, black-fruit taste – lovely. Both our mains came in at £18, with starters and puds around the £7/£8 mark. It sounds a little steep for a roast, but fair considering the quality, choice and tasteful, ambient surroundings. It’s no doubt that dinner at The Rupert Brooke is something to write home about. 2 Broadway, Grantchester, Cambridge CB3 9NQ, 01223 841875, www.therupertbrooke.com

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VALENTINE'S DAY

HEART STRIPED IPHONE CASE £22 OLIVER BONAS, SIDNEY STREET, CAMBRIDGE

Valentine’s gift guide

PERSONALISED VALENTINE’S BISCUIT TINS £39.50 BISCUITEERS

Treat your significant other this 14 February with these gorgeous goodies

VALENTINE’S BALLOONS £29.95 BUBBLEGUM BALLOONS

HELLO HANDSOME MUG BY BREAD & JAM £9.50 NOTONTHEHIGHSTREET.COM NEON HEART FRAMED WALL ART £79 OLIVER BONAS, SIDNEY STREET, CAMBRIDGE

12 WOODEN HEART PEGS £3 PAPERCHASE, MARKET HILL, CAMBRIDGE

LOVE HOT WATER BOTTLE £14.95 DOTCOMGIFTSHOP

LIGHT MY FIRE MATCHSTICK BISCUITS BY EAT MY CAKE LONDON £10 NOTONTHEHIGHSTREET.COM

THE AFTER DARK COLLECTION £15 HOTEL CHOCOLAT, PETTY CURY, CAMBRIDGE

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LOVE VELO LIGHTS £150 ARK, ST MARY’S PASSAGE, CAMBRIDGE

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VALENTINE'S DAY

HANBURY MANOR

VALENTINE’S DAY THE ITALIAN WAY A surprise Valentine’s trip to Venice looking unlikely? Suggest a meal at De Luca Cucina & Bar instead. The modern Italian eaterie on Regent Street is offering a special four-course Valentine’s Day menu on 13 and 14 February, featuring several of its signature dishes. And, if you book for Friday evening, you’ll be able to enjoy live music in their Piano Bar, situated in De Luca’s Top Floor Cocktail Bar. Resident piano entertainer Robin P-iano will be performing classic love songs from across the 20th century to set the Valentine’s mood and taking special requests. The cocktail bar is open to diners for pre- and post-dinner drinks and those who simply want to soak up the ambience over a cocktail or two. The Valentine’s menu costs £35 per person. As well as a selection of starters and main courses, the menu includes a raspberry sorbet with Prosecco and Chambord, and a selection of desserts including a chocolate and raspberry torte. www.delucacucina.co.uk

Stately Jacobean hotel Hanbury Manor, just down the road near Welwyn Garden City, makes a stunning backdrop for romance with its luxury rooms and fine dining restaurant. Part of the Marriott group, it’s offering two Valentine’s Day packages this February. Sit down to a four-course dinner at their restaurant, Zodiac, and enjoy live music while you dine. This runs 13 and 14 February, tickets £75 per person. Or, spend the night in one of their deluxe rooms where a bottle of champagne, freshly cut Hanbury rose and a spa gift set awaits. This exclusive deal starts at £249 per person to include dinner at the Oakes Grill or £299 for dinner at the Zodiac (13 or 14 February). www.marriotthanburymanor.co.uk

THE GARDEN KITCHEN Not a fan of crowded restaurants full of smoochy couples? Can’t face cooking either? The Garden Kitchen – our new favourite Mill Road Café – has come up with a simple yet ingenious solution. On the 14th, you can stop by and pick a starter, main and dessert from their special Valentine’s menu, then take it away with instructions on how to cook and serve once you get home. It’s just £24 for a three-course meal for two, so loads cheaper than going out, and if you just fancy one or two courses those will be individually priced. The menu will be posted on Twitter a week in advance – see @82gardenkitchen. We’re expecting something along the lines of butternut squash and watercress soup, caramelised red onion and goat’s cheese tarts and veggie lasagne, all freshly prepared using gorgeous local ingredients. Pre-order by calling in to the shop or just pop in on the day. Easy! www.thegardenkitchencambridge.co.uk

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VALENTINE'S DAY

VALENTINE’S PUNTS Glide beneath the whispering willows on a romantic Valentine’s punt of the River Cam. Scudamore’s offer private chauffeured punts for couples, allowing you to sit back, snuggle up and watch the beautiful college buildings and bridges sail by. It’s £85 for half an hour and boats leave all day from the Mill Lane punt station; red rose, blankets and hot water bottles provided. We’d advise booking a twilight tour if you can, which are lit by the glow of Chinese lanterns. www.scudamores.com/valentinespunting

ROMANCING THE WINE We’ve all heard of speed dating, but this new concept from Cambridge Wine Merchants takes things to a sophisticated new level. Romancing the Wine, taking place at the Cherry Hinton Road branch on 14 February, invites the males to purchase a wine that represents their personality. They’ll then go round the room sharing it with each lady, spending five minutes chatting with each. Girls, you’ll have to decide whether Mr Fun & Fruity or Rich & Exotic is more your type… We’ll stop before we get carried away with the innuendos. For the £15 ticket price you’ll get a welcome glass of Prosecco, nibbles and 10% off everything all night – plus, fingers crossed, the man or woman of your dreams! Limited to ten guys and ten gals, so book early if you can. www.cambridgewine.com

VALENTINE’S NIGHT TRAIL OF LIGHT Twirl on your favourite scarf, grab your beloved and head out into the night for a oneoff musical adventure through the streets of Cambridge. The Trail of Light, part of the e-Luminate Cambridge Festival, is a unique way to experience the striking architecture of Cambridge, its college chapels, beautiful organs and sublime choirs. You’ll start with a walk through the historic city centre, taking in St Catharine, Peterhouse and Pembrooke chapels. In each, the music scholars will perform a mini concert (about 15-20 minutes long) just for you. Participants will be given their own LED light and, by walking from college to college, you will become part of a moving light art installation. Tickets are £10 and include a beverage at the concluding drinks reception at Pembrooke College. There are only 70 places for this lovely event so book early for a perfect Valentine’s Day pre-dinner treat! The Trail of Light starts at 4.30pm on Saturday 14 February at St Catherine’s Porters Lodge. www.eventjoy.com/e/eluminate2

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VALENTINE'S DAY

LORD BYRON AND JOHN EDLESTON The famous poet, who kept a tame bear in his rooms at Trinity College when told he couldn’t have a dog, is known as much for his notorious personal life as his poetry. But while he had countless, well-documented affairs with women, including his half sister, a few liaisons with men are hinted at in his poetry and letters. At Cambridge, Byron met John Edleston, a choirboy two years his junior, for whom he developed ‘a violent, though pure, love and passion’. Take a romantic stroll and pay homage to the ‘mad, bad’ romantic at Byron’s Pool in Trumpington, so called because he took regular dips there in the summer.

s ' e g d i r b m a

e v o l t ea s e i r o st

SYLVIA PLATH AND TED HUGHES Possibly Cambridge’s most famous lovers, though not for their happy ending, Ted Hughes and Sylvia Plath met at a party in Cambridge in February, 1956. Allegedly he kissed her passionately on the neck and she reciprocated by biting him on the cheek – not your usual ‘do you come here often?’ but it seemed to do the trick. Just months later they were married. Both were poets and lived large: he was known as ‘the biggest seducer on campus’; she was a blonde, brilliant American studying English literature at Newnham who’d had ‘hundreds of boyfriends’. Indeed, Sylvia was in love with Richard Sassoon, a distant relation of the war poet, Siegfried Sassoon, when she met Ted, and would have almost certainly married him instead if he’d asked. The Hughes lived at 55 Eltisely Avenue in Cambridge and later moved to London. She committed suicide at her home in Primrose Hill on 11 February, 1963 – not far from where the Beatles were recording Abbey Road that same day.

STEPHEN HAWKING AND JANE WILDE Living genius and local hero Stephen Hawking fell in love with his first wife, Jane Wilde, while he was studying for his PhD at Cambridge. His entry to Cambridge was the subject of their first conversation at a party in 1963, and she was his date to a May Ball later that year. Their story of love and determination against the odds recently became the subject of a film, The Theory of Everything, based on Jane’s memoirs of her time with Stephen.

They married in 1965 and had three children, but Stephen was rapidly deteriorating having been diagnosed with a rare motor neuron disease. Their relationship lasted until 1990 when they separated amicably. “Perhaps there was something about his very eccentricity that fascinated me in my rather conventional existence,” she writes in Travelling to Infinity: My Life with Stephen Hawking.

THE DUKE AND DUCHESS OF CAMBRIDGE Kate and Wills made an eagerly awaited visit to their namesake city in November 2012, shortly before the Duchess’s first pregnancy was announced. Crowds gathered in the Market Square to catch a glimpse of the royal couple, who had lunch at a local pub (the Fort St George – perhaps with baby names in mind?) and visited homeless shelter, Jimmy’s. They have since had a punt named after them. Though the pair met at University in St Andrews, the Duchess is patron to a local Cambridge charity, EACH, and we’re sure it won’t be long before they’re back.

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CRAFT

WORDS JENNY SHELTON

uilting is a craft I’ve been hearing a lot about recently. A visit to the quilt museum in York over Christmas made it clear that there’s much more to the art than old-fashioned patchwork quilts – instead they can be bright, modern and at times, like paintings rendered in fabric. Here in Cambridge, the Cambridge Quilters meet regularly in Grantchester and Orchard Park to work on beautiful and highly individual quilts, each reflecting the maker’s personality. Elaine Hayes is the group’s chairperson, and completely addicted to the craft. “I was inspired after seeing one of the group’s exhibitions in Grantchester,” says Elaine. “I’d always done something:

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knitting, cross-stitch… but when I saw the quilts that was it. I love how ordinary pieces of material can be turned into stunning quilts or even works of art by simply cutting them up and sewing them back together. And there is something comforting in making a quilt that has been replicated many times by many different women (and men) down the years. “A lot of modern quilts are now quilted by machine, but I prefer to hand quilt mine. I find the process of sewing the layers together very relaxing and it is wonderful to see the design coming to life under your hands. Most of my winter evenings are spent by the fire sewing my quilts. It’s a totally addictive hobby. I’ve made quilts for all my family. Luckily I’m expecting

grandchild number 13 in June so the demand keeps growing!” Cambridge Quilters meet at Grantchester Village Hall the third Friday of each month (10.15am), and Orchard Park Community Centre (7.15pm) the second Wednesday. They also host regular talks and workshops from world-class speakers: the next one, on 21 March, will be on printing for quilting. Joining the ladies at an evening meeting, I’m impressed with the incredible skill and diversity of their creations. There are quilts fashioned from all kinds of gorgeous and unusual fabrics (it’s handy for using up bits that are too small for anything else), tea cosies and a particularly showstopping

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CRAFT

A short history of quilting:

wall hanging depicting a rural Norfolk scene. It shows tiny wading birds together with sheep, trees and sailboats – there’s even a distant wind farm – in exquisite detail. Quilting has a long connection with charity: in America women made quilts to raffle off to raise money for the abolitionist cause, then later for the war effort in the 1860s. This October, the Cambridge Quilters will hold an exhibition of their work, including a large group quilt to be raffled off for charity. “Each of us makes a square then one of the girls puts it all together,” explains Elaine. “Last year we raised over £1000 for the Autistic Society.” The Cambridge Quilters also fashion quilts for the Rosie Maternity Hospital to give to their newborns. These tiny, colourful blankets are the perfect size for a cot and become treasured items to be passed down the generations. “One family was so taken with their blanket that they named their baby after the lady in our group

who co-ordinates it,” says Susan Ross, treasurer. “She was in tears!” Susan also shows me their ‘fidget quilts’, vibrant, multi-textured blankets which they make for the elderly. “They go out to Langdon House in Cambridge, and Fulbourn Hospital also love them. It’s such a wonderful idea: it’s been found that people with dementia like fiddling, so these quilts are covered with ribbons, buttons and tactile materials which keeps them occupied and happy.” I’m impressed, but also a little intimidated. It all looks terribly complicated and their quilts look very professional. Is it a difficult process? “It looks complicated but it’s actually a really easy technique,” admits Elaine. “Some styles of quilting are tricky, but anyone can grasp the basics. And you can be so creative.” New members are welcome, and workshops are open to all. See online for more details.

tt e rn s a p r a l Popu e t h e Ni n ei n clu d I rish Ch a i n, ot patch, l, Lo ve rs’ K n. e ee Pi n wh F lyi n g Ge e s a nd

www.cambridgequilters.org.uk

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Quilting, defined as stitching together separate layers of fabric, has its origins in ancient Egypt and later spread across the globe as a decorative and resourceful way of creating garments, bedding and hangings. The word derives from the Latin word ‘cucita’, meaning a bolster or cushion. In the Middle Ages, quilting was used to fashion jerkins, which crusaders wore under their armour as protective padding. Quilting became popular in colonial America in the late 1700s, a skill brought over from England and Holland. The turn of the 19th century saw the rise in popularity of Quilting Bees – sociable gatherings of women who would embroider patchwork quilts together. For young women, this was a useful way to develop skills which would become handy in later life and a chance to express their creativity. Quilts were made for all occasions, the Wedding Quilt being particularly popular, which would display motifs of flowers and fruit as signs of fertility. Quilting also gave a voice to plantation slaves, who would often hide African symbols in quilts they made for their masters.

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l a r d e h t a Ely C n o i t i b i h x e y r e d i o r emb or some truly divine inspiration, make your way to Ely Cathedral for its unique exhibition of ecclesiastical embroidery, running 4-28 February. There will be more than 60 displays to take in, revealing significant pieces of needlework which have been worked on by the Royal School of Needlework and form part of their collection which is seen at Hampton Court Palace. One of the highlights is the display of six of the 12 Litany of Loreto panels. These were bequeathed to the school by a convent in Sussex and are rarely on display to the public. Other pieces include depictions of theological figures and symbols using a wide range of threads and techniques, plus some rare examples of whitework altar cloths, burses, stoles and chalices will also be on show. This unique exhibition will include artefacts from Ely Cathedral’s own collection, including a medieval cope, an 18th century gold vestment set and the recently restored white altar frontal. And don’t miss the 11th century gilded bronze chasuble pin, originally from the tomb of Archbishop Wulfstan at Ely, and gifted to the Society of Antiquaries in 1771.

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“We are delighted to be hosting such an exquisite exhibition in collaboration with the Royal School of Needlework and are particularly excited about having six of the Litany of Loreto embroideries which are rarely on public display,” says Lesley Ann Thompson, communications director at Ely Cathedral. “The exhibition has also presented us with an opportunity to show some of Ely Cathedral’s own treasures, including a medieval cope and an 11th century chasuble pin which is temporarily returning to Ely especially for this event.” The exhibition is open 10am until 4pm, Monday-Saturday and 12-4pm Sundays. Tickets £8 (children under 16 free). A preview evening will take place on 3 February (6.30pm) with tickets priced at £5. The evening will include a drinks reception held under the Octagon and an introduction and tour of the exhibition with Dr Susan Kay Williams, CEO of the Royal School of Needlework. There will also be a series of expert-led embroidery workshops to get involved with if you’re feeling inspired and want to make something of your own. Go online for details of more talks and workshops taking place in conjunction with the exhibition. www.elycathedral.org

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LISTINGS

WHAT S ON A ROUND-UP OF EVENTS IN AND AROUND CAMBRIDGESHIRE FOR FEBRUARY 2 February -16 March

SIX MORE OF THE BEST Time: 6pm, Mondays Location: Arts Picturehouse Price: From £60 Description: A six-week film appreciation course which offers close reading of classic films including Hitchcock's Vertigo, Some Like It Hot with Marilyn Monroe, High Noon and family favourite The Railway Children. picturehouses.co.uk

February KATHERINE JENKINS Location: Corn Exchange Time: 7.30pm Price: From £57.50 Description: The mezzosoprano sensation, charged with popularising classical opera, stops by as part of her huge UK tour, celebrating her new album Home Sweet Home. cornex.co.uk

10-14 February

PRAVDA Location: ADC Theatre Time: 7.45pm Price: £7-£12 Description: A new production of Howard Brenton and David Hare's dynamic comedy about ethics and the press in Thatcher’s Britain, featuring a host of larger-than-life characters and dodgy dealings. adctheatre.com

FEB

13 February

12-14 February

SWEENEY TODD Location: Mumford Theatre Time: 7.30pm Price: £5-£9 Description: A student-led production of the bloody tale of the demon barber. 20 years after being falsely imprisoned, Sweeney Todd returns to find his wife dead and his daughter being raised by the man who betrayed him. anglia.ac.uk

14-15 February

ERTH’S DINOSAUR ZOO Location: Corn Exchange Time: Various Price: £15-£17.50 Description: This huge-scale show is as close as you’re going to get to meeting the dinosaurs! See cute babies up to terrifying carnivores controlled by expert puppeteers – with a chance to meet the dinos afterwards. cornex.co.uk

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FEB

9 February

COLLABRO Location: Corn Exchange Time: 7.30pm Price: £22-£41 Description: Britain’s Got Talent winners Collabro – whose album Stars went to No.1 last August – are joined by runner-up Lucy Kay for a feel-good evening of songs from musicals to classical tunes. cornex.co.uk

17 BRENDAN COLE: A NIGHT TO REMEMBER Location: Corn Exchange Time: 7.30pm Price: £30.50-£37.50 Description: The bronzed king of the ballroom performs a series of spectacular routines live on stage in this evening of theatrical entertainment, following the success of his last show, Licence To Thrill. cornex.co.uk

14 February

NIGHT MARKET Location: Burwash Manor Time: 7pm Price: Free entry Description: Discover the delights of Cambridge’s best street food vendors by night at this magical fairy-lit evening of delicious food, drink and entertainment. From the organisers of foodPark Cambridge. foodparkcam.com

14-15 FEB

February VALENTINE’S DAY TASTING Time: 7pm Location: CWM Bridge Street Price: £15 Description: Head to Cambridge Wine Merchants’ Bridge Street wine bar for delicious wines, aperitifs and nibbles. cambridgewine.com

16 February

PLAYLAND Time: 7.30pm Location: Mumford Theatre Price: £8.50-£12.50 Description: In this play by Athol Fugard, a travelling amusement park has opened its gates, promising an evening of thrills and laughter against the backdrop of a country in the grips of a brutal Apartheid regime. anglia.ac.uk

17 February

THE STAVES Location: Cambridge Junction Time: 7pm Price: £13.50 Description: The super-cool sisters release a new album in spring 2015, full of their signature harmonies. See them live on tour this month. junction.co.uk

18 February

JASPER CARROTT & ALISTAIR MCGOWAN Location: Corn Exchange Time: 8pm Price: £22-£27.50 Description: A double bill of laughs from two comedy legends: impressionist Alistair McGowan and Jasper Carrott, who’ll be passing the buck between them for an evening of non-stop hilarity. cornex.co.uk

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LISTINGS

IMAGES FROM LEFT TO RIGHT:

See Britain’s Got Talent winners Collabro at the Corn Exchange, or for a few giggles, don’t miss Jasper Carrott and Alistair McGowan. And celebrate Valentine’s Day the best way we can think of – with wine!

February ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT Location: Cambridge Junction Time: 7pm Price: £21 Description: The hip hop trailblazers bring their first tour in years to Cambridge, playing songs from their extensive, 20-year back catalogue, which includes People Everyday. junction.co.uk

22 February

MICHAEL PORTILLO Location: Cambridge Arts Theatre Time: 8pm Price: £12.50-£22.50 Description: The controversial former MP, who read history at Cambridge, returns for a An Evening With, in which he will discuss his life and career. cambridgeartstheatre.com

23 February

MICHELANGELO IN SONG Location: West Road Concert Hall Time: 7.30pm Price: Free Description: Opera star Sir John Tomlinson performs a programme of music based on Britten’s Seven Sonnets of Michelangelo, as part of the Humanitas Series in Vocal Music 2015. westroad.org

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FEB

24-28 February

DREAMING WITH DALI Location: Corpus Playroom Time: 9.30pm Price: £5-£6 Description: Dream with Dali in this surreal stage show which tells the story of the artist’s journey into his own subconscious – includes zany moustaches, eggs and sexually provocative lobsters. corpusplayroom.com

24 February

LITTLE COMETS Location: Cambridge Junction Time: 7pm Price: £13 Description: Indie fans of Bloc Party and The Smiths should make a beeline for this live show by the ‘exhilarating’ (BBC) trio behind One Night In October. junction.co.uk

25-27 February

LET’S GET NOUGHTY! Location: ADC Theatre Time: 11pm Price: £6-£7 Description: A 2000s nostalgia fest by the CU Show Choir featuring pop hits from the not-so-distant past, including S Club 7 and Lady Gaga. adctheatre.com

February RUMOURS OF FLEETWOOD MAC Location: Corn Exchange Time: 7.30pm Price: £25 Description: The highly-regarded tribute group, described as ‘world class’ by the Sunday Times, will perform hits from the legendary Fleetwood Mac. cornex.co.uk

24 February

ENTER SHIKARI Location: Corn Exchange Time: 7pm Price: £22 Description: The St Albans band (pictured right), known for their crossover style incorporating heavy metal with electronic and dub elements, are back with a bang, showcasing their new album, The Mindsweep, which was released last month. cornex.co.uk

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February SPAIN ON A PLATE Time: 7-10pm Location: Cam Cookery School Price: £110 Description: Join the team for a Friday night session full of vibrant and tasty food from Spain which embraces recipes using the traditional methods and ingredients found in the restaurants of Barcelona, Madrid and San Sebastián. cambridgecookeryschool.com

24 FEB

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COMPETITION

Win!

WIN A CHAMPAGNE SPA BREAK FOR TWO AT THE SPA AT BEDFORD LODGE HOTEL! ecently named one of the top 5 romantic retreats in the UK by the Good Spa Guide, The Spa at Bedford Lodge Hotel in Newmarket is a blissful haven of relaxation. It boasts state-ofthe-art facilities including five different water experiences in the spacious mezzanine hydrotherapy pool, a thermal area comprising a steam room and sauna, a luxurious relaxation room, ten beautifully styled treatment rooms, a rooftop hot tub, a Rasul for cleansing and detoxing mud treatments and

experiential showers which stimulate the senses with a combination of music, lights and water. There’s also the Spa lounge, where guests can relax and chat whilst enjoying a selection of light bites, as well as a beauty room and a treatment menu bursting with treats for the face, body and mind. If all this sounds heavenly, you’ll be pleased to hear that this month Cambridge Edition has teamed up with Bedford Lodge Hotel to offer one lucky reader a champagne spa break for two people worth £160.

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The prize comprises a day of pampering, which begins with a welcome glass of champagne, and includes full use of the hydrotherapy and heat experiences, a relaxing mini facial and a gorgeous Jessica manicure. To be in with a chance of winning, head to the Cambridge Edition website. www.cambsedition.co.uk The Spa at Bedford Lodge Hotel, Bury Road, Newmarket, Suffolk CB8 7BX, 01638 676130 www.bedfordlodgehotelspa.co.uk

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FAMILY

VISIT THE

Fun Barn

The indoor Fun Barn at Bury Lane Farm Shop is the perfect place for kids to let off some steam. Let them hurl themselves into ball pits, whizz down slides and wobble along balance beams all in one squidgy, farmyard-themed indoor playground. There’s a dedicated toddler’s area too, plus a café. Meanwhile the farm shop itself is full of tempting local produce to stock up on afterwards. Bury Lane Farm Shop and Fun Barn is situated off the A10 near Melbourn and features a garden centre, shop, butchers, café and deli… It’s a whole day out in itself for kids and parents alike! www.burylanefarmshop.co.uk

Victorian Games AT AUDLEY END

This February half term, time travel back to the age of the Victorians at Audley End House, near Saffron Walden. At this impressive setting, visitors are invited to join in a range of classic children’s games like skittles and quoits (a jolly lark involving metal hoops which are thrown over a pole), chess and croquet. Challenge the family and see who’s best at these games that time forgot. Takes place 16-20 February, 11am-4pm. Entry is £9.60 adults (£5.80 children under 15; English Heritage members go free). www.english-heritage.org.uk

Deep sea

DARKNESS

Would-be deep sea divers and polar explorers are invited to an immersive night-time event at the Polar Museum on Lensfield Road. On 18 February, join experts from the Polar Museum and Museum of Zoology to discover the creatures that live deep in the icy dark of the ocean. Play games and take a torchlit trail of the galleries, which will come alive with the strange, gurgling sounds of the ocean. Deep Sea Darkness is just one of the events taking place as part of Twilight at the Museums. For more information, see our feature on pages 26-27 or go online. 4.30-8.30pm. Bring your torch! www.spri.cam.ac.uk/museum

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18 Feb

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FAMILY

ERTH’S

Dinosaur Zoo

Thought dinosaurs were a thing of the past? Then think again! Australian puppeteer company Erth return with their incredible stage show, Erth’s Dinosaur Zoo, this month. Using beautiful (and fearsome) lifesize puppets, against a magnificent set, the company recreates the sounds and movements of these prehistoric giants. Afterwards there’s a chance to meet the dinos, from cute, cuddly babies to towering meat-eaters (dare you put your head in the Australovenator’s mouth?). Time Out called it ‘a delight’, praising the puppets’ War Horse-like dexterity as well as the captivating host, Lindsey Chaplin. It’s suitable for ages 3+ and runs 14-15 February, Corn Exchange, various times. Tickets £15 (‘danger seats’ £17.50). www.cornex.co.uk

I WANT MY

Hat Back!

7 Feb

There can’t be much wrong with introducing your offspring to quality classical music from an early age, so why not take them along to this family concert at West Road Concert Hall? I Want My Hat Back is an interactive concert for all ages, devised by Hannah Conway in collaboration with the Britten Sinfonia. It’s based on a picture book by Jon Klassen, about a bear who sets off to find his missing hat, meeting a series of woodland critters along the way. The narrative will be set to music by Debussy, Beethoven, Elgar and Gershwin, with a few singalong numbers to get everyone joining in. Worried about fidgeters? Fear not: the concert lasts just an hour and is aimed at 3-7 year olds. Takes place 7 February, 2pm; adult tickets £10 (£8 under 16s). www.westroad.org

Cooking FOR TEENS Parents! Do you have a teenager on your hands who can’t cook, won’t cook? This bestselling cookery course at Cambridge Cookery School is perfect for introducing young people – reluctant or otherwise – to basic kitchen skills to set them up for life. On 16 and 17 February, the Five Family Suppers class will teach students to create, from scratch, five healthy and exciting meals. It runs 10am-2.30pm and includes lunch, food to bring home and share plus an all-important recipe pack. The course costs £60 per person and is ideal for any uni-bound teen. Cambridge Cookery School are also running a half term cooking course for kids on 18 February, with a focus on curries, 10am-12.30pm. www.cambridgecookeryschool.com

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Go wild AT

17 Feb

WICKEN FEN Winter at Wicken Fen is a magical time, when frost clings to the reeds, the waterways crack with ice and creatures from watchful birds of prey to tiny mammals do their best to survive the cold. On 17 February, once you’ve taken a walk round this historic nature reserve (a perfect example of the Fenland habitat that once covered the county), have a go at creating your very own wild art, using materials found onsite. Takes place 10.30am and 2pm, 17 February, £5.25 for a child ticket. Then, on 19 February, there’ll be den building, geocaching and much more at Go Wild At Wicken, running 10.30am and 2pm (£5.25, child). Experts will also be revealing how some animals build their own shelters to survive the harsh winter months. www.nationaltrust.org.uk

MONSTERS

in the garden!

Some beautiful and brilliant beasties will be invading the Glasshouse at Cambridge University Botanic Garden for their Orchid Festival, getting underway on 7 February. Orchids are amongst the most exotic and alluring of flowers and have developed numerous weird and wonderful ways to attract the animals and insects which pollinate them. Petal shape, nectar reward, triggers, traps, scent and glowing colours are just a few of the tricks that orchids employ to attract a vast array of animal pollinators. For example, did you know that in South America, huge, shiny male euglossine bees harvest scents from rainforest orchids, store them in large armoured pouches on their hind legs, and then release them to attract female bees? In collecting the scents, the bees dislodge special pollen packets which are then carried to the next orchid, effecting pollination. This is just one of the colourful cast of characters, including iridescent bees, wasps, moths with mega-long tongues and jewel-coloured hummingbirds, which will be paying a visit to the Garden’s Orchid Festival – in oversize cardboard cut-out form. See how many you can spot. There will also be a display of Dendrobium orchids suspended from the ceiling in globes, plus floating pedestals of beautiful slipper orchids and much more to keep all your senses stimulated. Alex Summers, glasshouse supervisor, says: “We’re really excited about the Orchid Festival – our most ambitious to date – and we’ll be using some new and fun ways to present the ingenious biology of orchids. I don’t want to give it all away, but watch out for Judge Dredd style giant hummingbirds and Thynnid wasps!” The Orchid Festival at the Cambridge University Botanic Garden runs from 7 February until 22 March. Go online for details of special related talks and events. www.botanic.cam.ac.uk

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FAMILY

Cambridge Junction FAMILY DAY As part of its 25th birthday celebrations, the music, comedy and arts venue is inviting you over for a free lunch! Bring the family on 14 February and explore the venue (and go backstage), watch some performances and get a lesson in cooking and waiting tables with Hunt and Darton, before sitting down to a big team feed. It’s free, but a donation wouldn’t go amiss. Runs 11am-4pm. For younger theatregoers this month, there’s Whatever the Weather, a lovely little production centred around an Alpine weather house. The sunny girl and the rain man couldn’t be more different, but what happens if the wind blows their clockwork world into disarray? 22 February, 11.30am and 2.30pm; £6-£10. www.junction.co.uk

question

THE MOZART

Before half term gets started, War Horse writer Michael Morpurgo will be narrating his wonderful book, The Mozart Question, at Saffron Hall in a live musical performance. Words and music by Mozart, Bach and Vivaldi interweave, bringing to life a haunting tale of survival against the odds. Lesley, a young newspaper reporter, travels to Venice to meet the great reclusive violinist Paolo Levi, on his 50th birthday. Here, he tells her his fascinating life story, shadowed by the horrors of the Holocaust, grounded in survival and transformed by the healing power of music. Suitable for children aged eight and over, takes place on 1 February, 3pm, £8-£20. www.saffronhall.com

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stargazing

“A philosopher once said, ‘Are we human because we gaze at the stars, or do we gaze at them because we are human?’ Pointless, really. Do the stars gaze back? Now, that’s a question!” Ok, so that’s actually from the film Stardust, but it’s a great thought. Strike out into the deep, dark grounds of Wimpole Hall, near Royston, this 17 February and spend an evening making sense of the stars overhead. You’ll be joined by Paul Fellows, chairman of the Cambridge Young Astronomers (he believes in aliens – we asked him), who will be pointing out all the fascinating stars and planets visible to the naked eye at night. Starts 5.30pm prompt and all tickets cost £6. www.nationaltrust.org.uk

WYSING

Arts Centre

Do you believe in parallel universes? Will we ever be able to travel back in time? Discover the wonders of space and time at Wysing Arts Centre in Bourn for a special half term event and ponder these mind-boggling ideas which still have scientists stumped. It runs 17-19 February, 10.30am-12.30pm, and is a chance to join artist Maria Teresa Ortoleva in a range of fun creative projects. Draw with bubbles and light, make up stories about other dimensions or build a spy sculpture... Then stand back and marvel at your creations. Costs £8 per person, suitable for all ages. www.wysingartscentre.org

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NEWS

Communit y NEWS A CHARITABLE YEAR FOR CAMBRIDGE SUNBLINDS

Everyone who furnished their homes thanks to Cambridge Sunblinds in 2014 helped the company support a range of causes. They donated £1 for every blind and pair of curtains sold to a different charity each month, raising over £8000. These included Nelson’s Journey, PACT, Age UK Norfolk and East Anglia Air Ambulance. In December, they raised £755 for the Benjamin Foundation which helps people from different age groups and backgrounds cope with the challenges life throws at them. Rosie Dorrell, project manager at Cambridge Sunblinds, says: “We’re delighted with the money we have raised and would like to thank everyone who made it possible.” www.cambridgesunblinds.co.uk

SCHOOL BRINGS GENERATIONS TOGETHER St Mary’s School, Cambridge, invited children to bring their grandparents to school on 15 January, coinciding with former Children’s Laureate Michael Morpurgo’s call for grandparents to pass down their knowledge and histories to their grandchildren. Grandparents’ Afternoon proved a huge success, as head of juniors Chris Hald explains: “Each year our pupils look forward to showing their grandparents around their school and showcasing their great work. Our girls gain confidence from seeing their families take an active interest in the school and, consequently, we benefit from the involvement of a vibrant and friendly family community. Grandparents are playing an increasingly important role in modern family life and are often involved with looking after children while parents are at work. They have so much knowledge and life experience to impart and their involvement with school life should be encouraged.” More than 47 grandparents arrived with their granddaughters, including one grandmother who came all the way from Devon. “I just couldn’t resist,” she said. When asked how they thought learning had changed since they were at school, many referenced the use of beautiful information books and the use of IT rather than chalk and blackboard. The school’s Grandparents’ Afternoon is to be followed by Living Histories days throughout the school year.

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THE CAMBRIDGE ROAR RETURNS Local charity event Cambridge Roar is returning for another year, promising a jam-packed programme of glamorous events. Last year the event, hosted by the Quy Mill in Stow cum Quy, raised £5000 for The Prince’s Trust and this year will be supporting the Arthur Rank Hospice Charity, and particularly their Help Our Hospice campaign. Says chairman Tony Murdock: “Our first year proved to be the success we hoped for. We welcomed and entertained our guests who enjoyed a host of differing events from a Handbag Auction Lunch, a Sporting Dinner through to a live 80s concert. We also raised an impressive amount for our chosen charity, The Prince’s Trust. “The Cambridge Roar 2015 promises to be bigger and even better. Opening with Cambridge Style Week in March, guests will be able to enjoy a variety of catwalk shows, a Gala Ball, finishing the event with a Grand Wedding Fair. The team from Cambridge Style week will continue to work with the Cambridge Roar through into the Summer Festival, adding glamour and flair to the proceedings.” The Cambridge Roar Summer events will run for three weeks starting on 19 June. Events have been chosen to ensure there is something for everyone, ranging from business and trade exhibitions to exciting evenings of entertainment. Tickets went on sale at the end of January – visit the website for details and to book your places. www.thecambridgeroar.co.uk

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INDIE OF THE MONTH

WORDS JENNY SHELTON

INDEPENDENT OF THE MONTH

When I Was A Kid Big kid Jenny Shelton enjoys a trip to Trinity Street's magical treasure trove of traditional toys

ntering traditional toyshop When I Was A Kid feels like stepping into a mixture of Bagpuss’s shop, Gepetto’s workshop and Roald Dahl’s imagination. Scarlet pirate ships look set to cast off on micro adventures, ballerinas stand poised atop music boxes and wind-up frogs crouch, ready to spring into life. There’s colour everywhere, and is that a faint smell of bubblegum? Overhead, a tin engine whirrs merrily around and I wonder what this place would be like if toys really did come to life once you’d left the room. Open since September, When I Was A Kid puts the emphasis on classic toys, excellent customer service and a magical, nostalgic shopping experience. Owner Paul Warner explains: “It’s about getting kids to use their imagination and keeping traditional play alive. Very often with modern toys, it’s a case of on goes the switch, off goes the imagination. Even Lego isn’t about buying a big box of bricks and building whatever’s in your head, they’re all kits where you follow instructions. “Kids today are growing up in a world rammed with technology,” admits Paul, father to two girls, “and they need to understand technology. But I think there should be a balance. In our Wellingborough shop we had a five-year-old lad come in with his mum. He pointed to a pogo stick and said, ‘What’s that?’ She told him, and he said, ‘Does it plug into my Wii?’” When I Was A Kid started as a website before Paul opened his first shop in his home town, Wellingborough, three years ago. Cambridge born, the city was the natural place for his second shop. “I’d worked for the same company for 15 years building in-car navigation

systems,” says Paul. “But I was bored. When a colleague had a fabulous tin pedal car delivered to the office for his little boy, I started looking online for toys I’d loved as a child and found there weren’t many available. So I dabbled at weekends, got a warehouse, did a few fetes then finally opened a shop. Within two years we’d won a best customer service award and mostloved shop in Northamptonshire. “People tell us shops aren’t the future and it’s all online, but I think if you get it

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right and have that passion, you can stand out on the high street. I love retail and I love the customers: not a day goes by when someone doesn’t come in and say how much they love the shop, which is a fantastic feeling.” Asked about his favourite boyhood toys, Paul answers: “There were three things I played with constantly: a spacehopper, a toy fire engine and the sandpit. Though sandpits are a bit big for us, we do stock spacehoppers and plenty of toy trucks.” Delving further into the shop I spy a Fisher Price Chatter Telephone from the 1960s, catapults, toy soldiers and more, all guaranteed to put a smile on your face.

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INDIE OF THE MONTH

“There’s a whole generation of children who haven’t seen these toys,” says Paul. “Some of the toys that we loved as kids are in danger of being forgotten. And because we loved them, why wouldn’t our kids or grandkids love them too?” I’m particularly taken by the beautiful wooden Noah’s Ark; a smooth, tactile piece of craftsmanship complete with handpainted animals. It’s simple, charming and timeless: the kind of toy you can imagine being treasured 100 years from now. “Kids have lots of toys these days, but people like the idea of wooden toys as they’re the toys that last,” says Paul. “When we started, we sold nothing with batteries and nothing made of plastic. But there are a few rule breakers: we have a range of ecotoys made from recycled plastic bottles for example which still fit with our ethos.” Another highlight is spotting the tiny pink door by the vintage cash register. This, I’m told, is where the Till Fairy lives. “She lives in the till and prints out receipts from her magic toadstool,” smiles Paul. “It’s things like that which help engage the customers. We want to create an experience,” he continues. “You’ve got to make shopping exciting and make people want to get up from their computers and come into a shop that smells of bubblegum and has a train going round the ceiling and where you can touch and feel the toys.” Another criteria high on Paul’s priorities is customer service. “A lot of shops have forgotten what customer service is about, but we think it’s so important so we try to be a bit old-fashioned about that too. We listen to our customers, and if we don’t have what they’re looking for we’ll point them in the right direction or even order it in.”

When I Was A Kid hold activity days every fourth Saturday of the month. “We wanted to get involved with the community,” says Paul. “The first one we did was pumpkin carving, then at Christmas we got everyone making Olaf the snowman out of socks.” This month they’ll be making Valentine art – call or email the shop for details.

You’ve got to make people want to get up from their computers and come into a shop that smells of bubblegum and has a train going round the ceiling Paul headhunted one of his staff members when she went the extra mile while serving him in another shop. “I dropped her a note the next day, told her we were opening a shop and that, if she fancied a change, we’d love to have her.” Despite the changing face of retail and the British high street, Paul is full of praise for the way Cambridge people support their local stores: “We’ve been quite taken aback by the number of people who’ve asked ‘are we independent?’, as it seems

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to matter to them, whereas three years ago it probably wouldn’t have come up. People are more inclined to support their local shops. I don’t think the high street will ever disappear, but I think it will evolve massively, and those outlets which make an effort will be the ones to survive. And that’ll make the high street a wonderful place.” When I Was A Kid, 19 Trinity Street, CB2 1TB 01933 426365 www.wheniwasakid.co.uk

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NEWS

CAMBRIDGE BID MONTHLY UPDATE

Welcome We’ve got lots coming up this month, from a special Valentine’s prize trail to a glamorous film screening at the Arts Picturehouse. We’ve also turned our attention to Rose Crescent: one of Cambridge’s prettiest shopping locations, as well as teaming up with Talking T’s for a T-shirt designing contest. Keep an eye out for the photo booth taxi too!

What is the

Cambridge BID? Launched in April 2013, Cambridge Business Improvement District (BID) is funded by businesses and organisations in the city to deliver a range of projects and events that enhance and promote Cambridge and encourage people to visit and enjoy our fabulous city. Find out more at www.cambridgebid.co.uk Follow us on Twitter at @cambridgebid

WIN!

Win an iPad with our special Valentine’s competition! We’ve teamed up with 15 businesses across the city (listed below) to lay out a Valentine’s treasure trail: find the clues and work out our secret Valentine’s phrase! In the window of each participating business you’ll find a letter – make a note of the letters from each business, decipher our phrase and enter online at www. cambridgebid.co.uk to be in with a chance of winning prizes including an iPad. • Bags ETC, The Grafton Centre • Bellina, Bridge Street • Boudoir Femme, King Street • Bravissimo, Sussex Street • Bridges, Bridge Street • Caffé Sicilia, Regent Street

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• Catesby’s, Green Street • Chocolat Chocolat, St Andrew’s Street • Fitzwilliam Pharmacy, Trumpington Street • McDonalds, Rose Crescent • Noa Noa, Kings Parade • Ooshi, Regent Street • Pandora, Grand Arcade • Podarok, Bene’t Street • The Mill Pub, Mill Lane

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NEWS

Spotlight on...

Rose Crescent The curve of Rose Crescent contains many establishments worth visiting. Connecting Market Square with Trinity Street, it’s right in the heart of the city and one of Cambridge’s prettiest thoroughfares. It’s also a diverse street, featuring high-class shops jostling alongside fast food joints. One of its most glittering windows belongs to jewellers Cellini, while Jo Malone, L’Occitane and Crabtree & Evelyn will have you well-stocked on gorgeous, quality smellies. Customers popping in to the latter to browse its affordable range of classic creams, soaps, lotions and colognes will receive a complimentary cup of tea and a biccie, and a hand massage this month. Don’t mind if we do! You’ll also find the increasingly famous Cambridge Satchel Company housed here, along with French Connection and Jojo Maman Bebe. Rose Crescent dates as far back as the 1680s and is pedestrianised, meaning you’re free to amble along its lovely Yorkstone pavements without having to dodge any bikes. Rumour has it, because of the street’s historical importance and listed status, the McDonald’s sign had to be customised to suit its location and kept more low-key than usual. The crescent is also home to popular post-clubbing pit stop The Gardenia, somewhat of a local institution and the best place to grab a Greek kebab or falafel. During the day a trendy tapas-style dining spot, La Raza on Rose Crescent is one of the city’s more popular bars after dark. Known for its DJ sets and chilled-out vibes, it’s good for a dance and a cocktail while avoiding the sticky crush and student revellers of Cambridge’s larger clubs.

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NEWS

WIN!

Design a Cambridge T-shirt!

As part of Cambridge Style Week Cambridge BID will be holding a Design a Cambridge T- Shirt competition in partnership with Talking T’s of Bridge Street. To enter, we want you to come up with a T-shirt design that sums up Cambridge. It could be anything from a drawing of one of many colleges, the market, or one of our fantastic city parks, or how about a portrait of your favourite Cambridge celebrity? There will be categories for adults and children and the winners will receive a hamper of goodies and of course their designs made into T-shirts for them and their families, courtesy of Talking-T’s. For more information on how to enter, visit www.cambridgebid.co.uk or call 01223 903300.

Red Carpet Film Exclusive Screening As part of Cambridge Style Week, Cambridge BID and The Arts Picturehouse invite you to a night out with a difference, with a screening of a documentary based on Ari Seth Cohen’s wonderful blog, Advanced Style, which celebrates the way New York’s most sartorically creative seniors, aged 60-95, simply refuse to stop being fabulous. Walk up the red carpet, be greeted by ‘paparazzi’ and join us for a drink before sitting down to watch an exclusive screening of the documentary. Ticket prices include a free drink (restrictions apply) and a chance to meet some of the stars of Cambridge Style Week. So, dress up and come join us on Tuesday 3 March 2015. We’ll see you on the red carpet! Tickets available from: www.picturehouses.com

Cambridge Style Week Photobooth To launch Cambridge Style Week, we will be wheeling a Taxi Photobooth into the city centre for your amusement and enjoyment. On Saturday 28 February, the taxi will be parked up in Fitzroy Street and Sidney Street, so come along and give it a try! It’s totally free, and those who upload a picture to Facebook using the hashtag #LovingCambridge will be in with a chance to win a prize. We will choose our favourites and contact the winner through Facebook. Prizes will include tickets to the fashion shows, the Red Carpet Exclusive Screening and other goodies.

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FASHION NEWS

FASHION News

From the best fashion from local indies to your chance to be a cover girl or guy, there's plenty of stylish treats in store GRAFTON FAMILY FASHION DAY The Grafton is hosting a fashion day for the whole family this month, which will see the Great Court transformed into a style lover’s paradise. Taking place on 21 February, the event will offer interactive activities including make-up and hair consultations in the Styling Zone. There will also be a Photo Shoot Zone, in which you can play out your dream of being a cover girl or guy and have your picture taken by a professional photographer to feature on the front cover of a special Grafton Magazine (pics will then be posted online and be available to purchase). At the kids’ Model Zone, little ones can strut their stuff learning how to catwalk like a pro – the best may even be scouted for Cambridge Style Week! Carina Tyrrell, Miss England 2014, will also be on hand, sharing her experience and modelling secrets as well as posing for photographs. “I am looking forward to meeting Grafton shoppers at the fabulous fashion day!” she says. “It will be great to share the wonderful fashions and beauty products that the Grafton has to offer. Whether for work or the catwalk, I know I can always find the right outfit at the Grafton Centre.” There will also be a Dad Zone, complete with chill-out area with videos games, magazines and men’s fashion, plus a kids soft play area, and members of the public will also have the opportunity to enter The Grafton’s best-dressed competition, an online contest with the chance to win tickets to a Cambridge Style Week 2015 catwalk show and £150 Grafton gift card. www.graftoncentre.co.uk

MICHAEL MICHAUD SILVER GINKGO SINGLE DROP PEARL NECKLACE £105 PODAROK, BENE’T STREET, CAMBRIDGE

INDIE

picks

LOOP HANDLE HANDBAG £35 ARK, ST MARY’S PASSAGE, CAMBRIDGE

DUFFY KNIT £245 ANNA, HIGH STREET, SAFFRON WALDEN

MATT AND NAT MINKA BAG (PEACH) £89.95 CUCKOO, BURWASH MANOR AND ST MARY’S PASSAGE, CAMBRIDGE

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FASHION

Rainy day HEROES

Brighten up gloomy days with these gorgeous, quirky and very practical wet weather accessories. Treat yourself to a colourful retro mac from the Cambridge Raincoat Company, splosh around in puddles to your heart’s delight in these cute White Stuff wellies (good for festival season too) or stave off the rain in style with this bicycle-adorned brolly.

VINTAGE BICYCLE UMBRELLA £14.95 DOTCOMGIFTSHOP

CONTRAST COLLAR PLAYSUIT £22.99 NEW LOOK, GRAFTON CENTRE AND GRAND ARCADE, CAMBRIDGE

CLOUDS UMBRELLA £35 CATH KIDSTON, MARKET HILL, CAMBRIDGE

MINT CONTRAST COLLAR BOX PLEAT SKATER DRESS £42 LAVISH ALICE H! BY HENRY HOLLAND £50 DEBENHAMS, GRAFTON CENTRE, CAMBRIDGE BUTTERFLY MID HEIGHT WELLIES £32.50 WHITE STUFF, TRINITY STREET, CAMBRIDGE

FLORAL PRINTED TOP WITH CONTRAST COLLAR £28 ASOS

ALEXANDER WANG SS15

HIGH COBALT BLUE RETRO RAINCOAT £250 CAMBRIDGE RAINCOAT COMPANY

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HIGH SHINE RAINCOAT £18 PRIMARK, BURLEIGH STREET, CAMBRIDGE

contrast

Making waves on the SS15 catwalks were contrast collars: Alexander Wang models rocked vibrant green on white, whilst Victoria Beckham opted for bright hues with beige. Mimic the look with asos’s flowery top or channel your inner Park Lane princess with this Lavish Alice dress.

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FASHION

DENIM LAB COAT £48 ASOS

BOXY DENIM JACKET BY MARQUES’ ALMEIDA X NOW £30 TOPSHOP, GRAFTON CENTRE AND GRAND ARCADE, CAMBRIDGE

STELLA MCCARTNEY SS15

delights

BAGGY JEANS BY BOUTIQUE £55 TOPSHOP, GRAFTON CENTRE AND GRAND ARCADE, CAMBRIDGE

Hardly a new trend, but designers were going barmy for the blue stuff on the catwalks for SS15. We adored Burberry’s cropped indigo jackets with contrasting collars, sure to spawn a million high-street imitations. Channel Fendi with head-to-toe denim (B*Witched eat your heart out!), find a chic denim dress or make a beeline for Topshop for a pair of statement jeans.

ASOS DENIM SHIRT DRESS £40 ASOS

DENIM BUTTONED SHIRT DRESS £28 DOROTHY PERKINS, GRAFTON CENTRE, CAMBRIDGE

FENDI SS15

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FEBRUARY MENSWEAR EDIT

FASHION

YELLOW BEANIE, £8 TOPMAN, GRAND ARCADE, CAMBRIDGE

REVERSIBLE JACKET NOW £29.99 ZARA, ST ANDREW’S STREET, CAMBRIDGE

BLUE ORNATE SWEATSHIRT £30 TOPMAN, GRAND ARCADE, CAMBRIDGE

COTTON CREW NECK SWEATER £75 JAEGER, TRINITY STREET, CAMBRIDGE

PIQUÉ JACKET £65.99 ZARA, ST ANDREW’S STREET, CAMBRIDGE

THIS MONTH’S TOP STYLE PICKS

FOR HIM

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PATRICK GRANT SHIRT £38 DEBENHAMS, GRAFTON CENTRE, CAMBRIDGE QUIKSILVER PARKA WITH SHERPA LINING £90 ASOS SUEDE DESERT BOOTS £42 BURTON, NEWMARKET ROAD, CAMBRIDGE

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BEAUTY WORDS & ILLUSTRATIONS DAISY DICKINSON

CONTOURING 101 Since Kim Kardashian revealed the secret to her (too) perfectly chiselled face, beauty fans the world over have been going contour crazy, looking for the best bronzer or top technique to achieve those envious angles. I’ve been brushing up on my sculpting skills to deliver a foolproof guide to conquer contouring…

When more and more YouTube tutorials emerged last year of beauty buffs showing off how to manipulate make-up in this Hollywood style, my contour curiosity got the better of me and I took to my face with artistic brushstrokes worthy of (I thought) a gallery. However, I was yet to learn that the skills required for full Kardashian effect were a little more involved. My first attempt left me more Picasso than Monet… it was time to go back to the drawing board.

How to:

Contouring, put simply, is: using make-up to exaggerate and enhance the way shadows and light fall on your face in a flattering manner. There are tons of different ways to achieve this, and many in my opinion are best left to the stage. Kim K’s make-up artist uses multiple shades of foundation, which takes hours – time that most people simply don’t have. Since my early attempts at contouring, I’m happy to report I’ve perfected my skill through following these simple steps.

You’ll need a decent range of make-up brushes for this and it’s well worth the investment. The Sculpting Set from Real Techniques (£23.99, Boots) is great to get you started, and Mary Kay have a fab range that comes in a make-up scroll for safekeeping, which includes eye brushes too. (£35, www.marykay.co.uk). If you prefer the lighter coverage of a BB cream, then the ecoTOOLS brush is perfect at just £7.99 (Boots) – and for pure cute appeal, the Vintage Cosmetic Company offer a range of beautiful

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BEAUTY

nottheninetofive.com

©Sleek MakeUP

tools, with the Airbrush Face Brush Set at just £22.50 (www. thevintagecosmeticcompany.com). Apply a primer to help the foundation glide on. I love Benefit’s POREfessional (£24.50, Boots) or for an oily complexion Murad’s Oil-Control Mattifier SPF 15 (£37, John Lewis).

2. 2.

Take your foundation brush and apply a thin layer of your usual product – this will give an even canvas. Now you need a foundation that’s one shade lighter. Brush a small amount to the areas the sun would naturally highlight: the bridge of your nose, between the brows, under the brow arch, the highest point of your cheeks and your lower jawline near your mouth. My favourite for this is Bobbi Brown’s Long-Wear Even Finish Foundation, which is available in 19 shades (£31, John Lewis).

Next, use a fresh brush to apply a small amount of foundation one shade darker to areas where you want to enhance shadow – your jawline from lower ear to mouth corner, stopping before your mouth, underneath your cheekbones, each side of your nose, temples, hairline, tip of the nose.

Use a cosmetic sponge or Beauty Blender (£16, www. beautyblender.co.uk) and start blending the areas together to create an airbrushed appearance, being careful to press onto the face with a stippling motion, to avoid smudging. Once you’re happy use a translucent or light powder to set your make-up, like Too Faced Primed & Poreless Loose Powder (£24, www. beautybay.com) or Benefit POREfessional Agent Zero Shine (£23.50, Debenhams).

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

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BEAUTY

Now it’s time to be bold. Use a non-shimmery bronzer or a powder darker than your usual shade – I love Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Bronzer in Milk Chocolate (smells delicious!) to add further definition (£25, Boots). Using a fluffy bronzer brush, swirl in the product, then tap the excess away before applying to the face in the shape of a ‘3’, back and forth from your temple, to cheekbone, to jawline in smooth motions, then add a little to the sides of your nose to slim the appearance.

To finish the look, use a highlighting powder, like MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Lightscapade (£23, John Lewis) to add a touch of shine. Using a clean blusher brush, sweep over cheekbones, brow bones, the bridge of your nose, and use your finger or a small brush to add a dab to your cupid’s bow. Lord & Berry’s Luminizer Stick (£13, www.asos.com) can be used as a creamy concealer under make-up or as a highlighter to pop in your bag for touch-ups on the go.

To soften, don’t forget to add a little blusher. I like a matte blusher to keep the look natural, and Natural Collection blushers are just £1.99 in Boots! Using a brush, add a touch to the apples of your cheeks, and blend out towards your ears lightly and you’re done!

7. In a hurry, but still craving those contours? Apply your usual foundation/powder and skip straight to steps 6 and 7 – the Bourjois Delice De Poudre Highlighter (£7.99, Superdrug) comes with a matte bronzer and beautiful highlighter and is perfect for this. Kits are great for stashing in your make-up bag too and Sleek has some great offerings with their Face Form bronzer, highlighter and blusher (£9.99, Superdrug) and their new Precious Metals Highlighting Palette (£9.99, Superdrug).

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WELLNESS

CAMYOGA SPECIAL OFFER

WELLNESS

Looking to make good on a new year resolution to live more healthily and be good to your body? CamYoga, who have locations in central Cambridge and Shelford, are offering new clients 30 days of unlimited classes for the special price of £40. You’ll have more than 60 classes per week to choose between including detox flow, core strength yoga, Ashtanga and hot yoga, as well as the innovative BarreConcept: a low impact, total body workout performed at a ballet barre. www.camyoga.co.uk

C oming

soon

MURAD RENEWAL DAY

THE LIFESTYLE & WELLBEING SHOW EAST

Let the winter blues ebb away with a blissful day of relaxation and pampering at Y Spa at Wyboston Lakes Hotel. The Murad Renewal Day, which costs £59 per person, includes full use of the hotel’s thermal spa, a rejuvenating pomegranate facial and a £10 Murad retail voucher. You’ll also get a fab Murad goody bag worth £35. As if that weren’t enough indulgence, guests will be treated to a delicious two-course lunch (hot or cold), which we think is a total bargain and exactly what the doctor ordered at this time of year! The package runs until 31 March and offers a top opportunity to sample the Y Spa’s facilities, which feature the latest in hot and cold therapy rooms, relaxation areas with reading pods, an outdoor heated therapy pool, the unique Kelo sauna and the thermal suite. www.yspa.co.uk

A new lifestyle and wellbeing show for Cambridgeshire is currently in the planning, set to take place 9-10 May. The event is the brainchild of Rachel Pernak-Brennon, who has 11 years of experience as a health and social care lecturer and holistic healthcare practitioner. She was inspired to start the event after she lost her mum to sarcoma, and will be donating funds to a charity which raises awareness of this rare form of cancer. Already confirmed for this exciting new event is make-up artist to the stars Bridgette Ellwood (the lady behind the uber-glam looks on TV’s Strictly Come Dancing), who will be giving feel-good make-up tips. She’ll be joined by a diverse line-up, including an ethical jewellery company, a local juicing company and natural kids clothing and toys. “I want this event to promote the amazing array of local lifestyle and wellbeing businesses we have in the area,” says Rachel. “And also offer families, the elderly, adults, women, men, children and even animals information and a fantastic experience on having a better lifestyle and level of well-being. More than one in five GP visits can be linked back to stress or depression. This event, I hope, will present health, wellness and better lifestyle choices as a preventative measure rather than a later cure.” The event is at Wood Green’s Grand Arena, which will be divided into different zones including Health and Fitness, Hair, Beauty & Accessories, Homes & Gardens, Food & Drink, KidsZone. There will also be a Demonstrations & Workshops area offering free talks and sessions on anything from lifesaving skills to healthy cooking on a budget. If you’re a local company and are interested in getting involved or exhibiting, email info@livewellevents.co.uk for more information. www.livewellevents.co.uk

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EDUCATION

WORDS SUE FREESTONE

Sue Freestone, principal of King’s Ely, explains how accommodating twins is just another dimension to being a genuine family-orientated school e are very happy at King’s Ely in Cambridgeshire to be a school that welcomes twins with open arms, boasting 17 sets of twins across the school from Sixth Form to Nursery! The most headlinegrabbing accolade must go to one of our families comprising two sets of twins, all girls, currently in Years 7 and 8. When the Hamilton-Bings first joined King’s Ely back in September 2010, we opened up a special little dormitory to accommodate the four girls so that they could all be together, given that they were so young. Now each has spread her wings and has her own set of friends; all have grown in confidence. Their father, Simon, who serves in the Armed Forces, spoke of the warmth and understanding the school showed when they first arrived. “King’s Ely felt right straight away,” he remembers. “We looked at several schools with no particular thoughts on type or specialisation. My wife and I both judged the schools on the ‘feel’ of the place, the buzz, the way our guides carried themselves and what they had to say, the facilities and the boarding house. At King’s Ely, we were impressed by the amount of activity going on; every child seemed to be carrying some sort of musical instrument or in some sort of sports rig or other! What was most noticeable was how cheerful the children were.” The two sets of twins have enjoyed the cosy atmosphere of the Junior Boarding House for nearly four years now, having been drawn to its vaulted ceilings and 11th century gargoyles so reminiscent of Hogwarts. It was clear that the warmth of the atmosphere was of utmost importance to a family whose younger set of twins was

only just eligible (by two days) and who boarded for a whole school year before turning eight. Initially, their parents had not appreciated the true value of the holistic approach on the development of the child; now it is what they cherish above all else for their two sets of twins, that and the “well-rounded curriculum delivered by transformational teachers”. No student of King’s Ely is wrapped in cotton wool and the school’s approach to twins is no different. The school’s preference is to place twins in separate classrooms to allow and encourage them to develop their own identity. But it will be

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different for every pair of twins; a different class, a different school even, may be right for one family, whilst for another, twins may feel more comfortable together as one King’s Ely family proved recently. Starting off in separate schools in nearby Cambridge, they are now happily together at King’s Ely, demonstrating different passions and skill sets but sharing the allinclusive ethos of this ancient school. It feels clichéd to say it, I know, but King’s Ely is a family school and the number of pairs of twins we have adds another dimension to the richness of the relationships our pupils enjoy.

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GRUB CLUB Work in the food industry in Cambridge? Check out Grub Club, a networking and social group which offers a place to get together, chat, build relationships, discuss ideas and collaborate with others in the sector – over some tasty food, naturally. The group, which launched in autumn last year, will host its third event this month at Cambridge Cookery School, with places costing £28 per person. Taking place on 17 February at 6.30pm, guests will enjoy an Italian supper, breadmaking masterclass and gin tasting courtesy of the Ely Gin Company. www.grubclubcambridge.co.uk

RASPBERRY PI TURNS THREE!

BUSINESS NEWS A NEW BANK FOR CAMBRIDGE The last weekend in January saw a brand new bank open its doors in Cambridge, located (poetically enough) in the building on Christ’s Lane previously home to Bank Fashion. It’s the latest in a string of new openings for Metro Bank, which offers a range of USP’s for its customers, most notably its seven days a week opening hours (8am-8pm Mon-Fri, 8am-6pm Sat, 11am-5pm Sun and bank holidays) Another piece of good news is that Metro offers instant replacements for lost or stolen debit cards, free coin counting and safe deposit boxes for customers’ valuables. The bank is also actively dog friendly – they’ll even offer your pooch biscuits and water bowls! www.metrobankonline.co.uk

Raspberry Pi, the revolutionary Cambridge-born microcomputer, turns three this month, and the company is inviting you to help them mark the occasion with a huge celebration of creativity, technology and community. It promises to be a great day out; whether you’re a seasoned Pi-er, you’ve been given a Pi for Christmas and want to get inspired, or just want to find out more about this Cambridge success story and some of the Pi’s mindbending applications. On 28 February and 1 March, Raspberry Pi will be taking over the University of Cambridge Computer Laboratory for a jampacked weekend of talks, hands-on workshops, panel discussions and show and tells. There will also be a marketplace where you can pick up the latest Raspberry Pi add-ons, plus competitions, prizes and freebies, as well as the chance to have a chat with the team. From 4.30pm ’til 7.30pm each day there will be cakes, drinks and general birthday fun, and tickets are a very reasonable £2.50. www.raspberrypi.org

COMING UP AT CFEL The Centre for Entrepreneurial Learning’s Enterprise Tuesday events return this month. On 3 February, Lord Karan Bilimoria, a founder and Chair of Cobra Beer, looks at ‘building a brand against all odds’. On the 10th, join William Tunstall-Pedoe (principal product management at Evi and founder and owner of Genius 200), who’ll lead Make It Brilliant & They Will Come. There’s an information session about the CfEL’s Postgraduate Degree in Entrepreneurship on 11th too, with guest speaker Maria Kempinska MBE, founder of Jongleurs Comedy Clubs. www.cfel.jbs.cam.ac.uk

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WORDS NICOLA FOLEY

CONFERENCING SPECIAL We continue our showcase of Cambridgeshire’s finest conference venues and offer advice on creating an event with wow factor

FOR CREATING A WOW FACTOR AT YOUR EVENT: The team at the Møller Centre, a purpose-designed residential management training and conference centre in Cambridge, offer their top tips for creating a memorable conference. 1. U se music technology to provide a soundtrack for your event – this creates an instant atmosphere, buzz and excitement.

to collate tweets using your unique hashtag and your Twitter handle. This allows delegates to ask questions and interact with each other and enables you as the organiser to drive engagement through your own tweets. obile apps can offer serious benefits 4. M to an event organiser. Apps can be designed to keep delegates up to date with the conference running order, speaker information, travel news, taxi bookings and accommodation options.

rovide personalised edible treats, 2. P such as branded cookies, reinforcing the message of your event.

e culturally competent and wow all 5. B your delegates – consider cultural characteristics, language, history, values, beliefs and behaviours of any groups and individuals involved in your event.

3. U se social media throughout – in the build-up to an event to promote it and at the event to increase delegate engagement. Install a Twitter wall

se audience participation technology 6. U to engage with your delegates – long gone are the days when a speaker would ask delegates to raise their

hands and speak up – software allows real-time voting and feedback to take place during a keynote talk. nsure that the venue offers 7. E complimentary Wi-Fi. reate a wonderful ambience with 8. C branded colour-match lighting at your event. ake life easier for your keynote 9. M speakers on the day – ensure that they have access to easy-to-use technology and good quality IT support. For example, Apple TV allows delegates or presenters to share content on-screen from iOS devices or from Mac using AirPlay. ake life easy for yourself – work 10. M closely with dedicated event planners who are supported by a team of operations staff who will take care of all the important details of your meeting or event. www.mollercentre.co.uk

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Situated in Bourn and surrounded by luscious countryside, Wysing Arts Centre offers a conference venue with a difference. A renowned contemporary arts hub, the centre can be booked out for events, receptions and away days. This unique space consists of 11 acres of grounds and ten separate buildings, which include a 17th century farmhouse, a large, airy gallery and an award-winning studio building which accommodates specialist media facilities. There is a variety of options for private hire depending on the size of your group and the type of event. The large, contemporary Reception Space, with floor to ceiling glass sliding doors, offers a unique and inviting space which comes complete with its own kitchen, plus projector and free-standing screen. The Wysing Open Studio meanwhile offers a quiet space for smaller groups (20 people, boardroom style and 50 classroom style), whilst the Amphis (an ampitheatre created using only recycled materials) is an inspiring structure available for use as a creative and innovative thinking space come the summer months. If you’re looking for a residential retreat, the farmhouse has six bedrooms and a large lounge with an open fire and kitchen. www.wysingartscentre.org

One of Cambridge’s most luxurious hotels, the four-star Felix offers a stylish setting for a meeting or conference. Offering a striking combination of traditional and contemporary architecture and surrounded by beautiful gardens, the hotel offers four meeting

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rooms which can accommodate up to 34 delegates in a boardroom layout (or 50 theatre style). All meeting rooms have views of the hotel’s manicured grounds and come with free Wi-Fi and free parking for all delegates. Various conference packages are on offer at the hotel which include catering options from the award-winning Graffiti restaurant, ranging from finger food to hot buffets. The menus from this celebrated

fine dining spot are a cut above your average sorry looking conference nibbles too, with delicious dishes including fillet of sea bass with tomato and olive gnocchi and herb tagliatelle with wild mushrooms and artichoke hearts and marinated mozzarella. The staff are very happy to accommodate specific conferencing requirements and adapt the facilities to suit your needs. Plus if you fancy a bit of

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team building, the hotel can get you discounted rates at the nearby Girton Golf Club. If you’re looking for overnight accommodation, there are 52 contemporary bedrooms for delegates to bed down in for the night, and the hotel can offer nice extras like teambuilding barbecues in the gardens and drinks receptions on the terrace. www.hotelfelix.co.uk

Surrounded by countryside and overlooking a working airfield, IWM Duxford’s AirSpace Conference Centre packs a punch, offering a truly memorable backdrop for a business event. It’s also one of the largest conference facilities in the region, able to accommodate up to 1000 guests and offering flexible rooms and suites. The Marshall Auditorium, which can seat up to 200 delegates for meetings, presentations, seminars and lectures, comes equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, like a built-in PA system. The largest space on offer is the Conservation Hall, a versatile area which features three airspace exhibits and would make an idea venue for larger conferences, trade fairs, exhibitions or product launches. This venue is supported by a range of smaller spaces including the Airside Suite, which boasts floor to ceiling windows leading out onto a personal balcony, and the Concorde Suite, which consists of three individual rooms (Vulcan, Boxkite and Spitfire) separated by soundproofed sliding partitions, designed for smaller seminars, meetings and private functions, but which can open up to create one large function space. There is a range of catering options available also, including breakfasts, sandwiches, afternoon teas and a large dining menu which features lots of tasty dishes such as the Duxford beef Wellington with Spitfire ale gravy served with potato dauphinoise. If it’s client entertaining with added wow factor that you’re after, consider the Come Fly with Us private dining package for groups of 10-70, which includes a private viewing of the Airspace Exhibition before moving through to the Airside Suite for dinner. There are also corporate hospitality packages that include flying lessons, tank rides, barbecues and outdoor events, plus delegates can take advantage of complimentary access to the museum. www.iwmduxfordevents.com

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Located adjacent to the Science Park in the heart of Cambridge’s vibrant tech cluster, the St John’s Innovation Centre offers purpose-built

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facilities for conferences, training courses, workshops, meetings and networking events. Offering quality facilities with a capacity of between four and 80 people, the conference rooms are light and airy and equipped with state-of-the-art audiovisual equipment and a variety of layout options. The Centre has a dedicated conference team on hand to ensure your event goes as smoothly as possible, and is experienced in catering for the individual requirements

of clients. Designed to encourage a constant flow of ideas, St John’s Innovation Centre provides a dynamic and inspiring atmosphere for a business meeting, and has on-site parking as well as good access to the A14 and the guided bus. There’s a wide variety of catering options on offer, from set buffet menus or canapés to drinks receptions held in the marquee. www.stjohns.co.uk

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WORDS ROBIN MEAD

WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU? The UK’s pension scheme is going through a radical change which will affect every employer and employee. Robin Mead explains what you need to know e regularly hear from clients, and their employees, who want to know more about how the legislation changes will affect their own pension’s future. These are some of the questions that have been asked recently – you may find similarities in your own concerns.

enrolled into a qualifying pension scheme according to a timetable of staging dates applicable to employers. Your employer is responsible for keeping you informed once the auto-enrolment process begins, so communication is key for both parties. You can find out more information on if and when you will be auto-enrolled from gov.uk.

HOW DO I KNOW IF I AM GOING TO BE AUTO-ENROLLED? Any worker aged 16 to 74 who works in the UK could be affected – it does not matter if you are full- or part-time, permanent or temporary. This will include employees, but can also include people who, whilst not employees, are personal services workers (for example IT contractors or carers). If you are not already in a qualifying workplace pension scheme, are 22 years of age and above but below state pension age, earning the equivalent of £10,000 per year or more (2014/15 tax year) pro rated per pay period, and work or ordinarily work in the UK, then you will need to be automatically

WHAT DOES OUR COMPANY HAVE TO OFFER US AS EMPLOYEES? Automatic enrolment provides an opportunity for both employer and employee to pay into the pension fund. The minimum contributions, at the moment, are 1% of salary paid by the employer and the employee. This will then increase to 2% employer and 3% employee from 1 October 2017 with a further increase to 3% employer and 5% employee from 1 October 2018. These are minimum contribution levels and as long as the minimum levels of employer contributions and total contributions are met then contribution levels can be varied. So, the contributions will be at least 2% in total until October

Your employer is responsible for keeping you informed once the auto-enrolment process begins

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2017, 5% in total until October 2018 and 8% thereafter. The Money Advice Service offers a calculator for workplace pension calculations on their website. DOES THE SIZE OF THE COMPANY MATTER? No. Automatic enrolment applies to all businesses employing at least one person aged between 16 and 74 in the UK. There are exceptions for director-only companies, where no contracts of employment exist, or where the only employee is a director of the company. Hefty fines can be levied if the employer does not meet their obligations by their staging date. The Pensions Regulator – the body responsible for regulating workplace pensions – has confirmed on their website that penalties have started to be issued. WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF DOING THIS EARLY RATHER THAN LEAVING IT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE? There are a vast number of companies staging over the next two years (approximately 800,000) so gaining access to advisors or specialist providers of automatic enrolment services is going to become more problematic the longer employers leave it.

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Any worker aged 16 to 74 who works in the UK could be affected – it does not matter if you are full- or part-time, permanent or temporary IS THERE ANYTHING EMPLOYEES CAN DO TO ENCOURAGE THEIR EMPLOYERS TO SET UP A PENSION SCHEME? Employees can ask their employer to consider staging early. However, the employer would need to make sure they are ready and have a suitable pension scheme in place before doing this (and would also need to give The Pensions Regulator at least one month’s notice). DO WE HAVE TO BE PART OF THIS? You can opt out, but this must be your choice – not your employer’s. You will

be automatically enrolled first, but your employer must provide you with information on how to opt out of the situation. If you wish to do so, you will need to complete an opt-out notice and you will then receive a refund in the next possible pay period. WHAT NOW? We continue to recommend that you visit www.tpr.gov.uk and utilise their resources to help you and your employer plan ahead. Our own website – www. ukpensionsautoenrolment.co.uk – is also a

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valuable source for more information on the subject. We at PayPlus are also running a series of seminars in the coming months to give you all the information you need; the Cambridge seminar will be on 26 February at Homerton College. Although this is aimed at business owners and those responsible for payroll, we welcome all who wish to know more about the changes. Register your place at www. cambridgepae.eventbrite.co.uk. The figures provided are as reported, with thanks, from The Pension Regulator. www.ukpensionsautoenrolment.co.uk www.gov.uk/workplacepensions www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk

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