Cambridge Edition June

Cambridge JUNE 2016

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

INSIDE THIS ISSUE...

ARTS

MAGAZINE

CULTURE

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CONTENTS

Welcome

May was a great month for Cambridge. Not only did we get treated to some scorching sunshine, we also got to enjoy another fantastic Eat Cambridge, an event which becomes more a part of our city’s foodie fabric every year. Once again the event packed out the Corn Exchange with hungry punters, as well as serving up a truly stellar Fringe programme. We’re already hungry for next year!

Don’t fear an anticlimax for June though – there’s plenty to enjoy around the city this month. Soak up Cambridge’s lesser seen bohemian side at Strawberry Fair (page 7), get boozy at the fantastic looking Thirstyfest (page 38), and feast your way around the foodPark Night Market (page 38). For a jaw-droppingly beautiful and oh-so Cambridge experience, take out a punt during the university’s May Week and drift along the Backs enjoying the fireworks and frolics taking place at the May balls on the banks. Fancy experiencing your own May ball? Even if your student days are long gone you don’t have to miss out: the team behind the gorgeous Gogs Sundowner are this month bringing us a night of great food and music, fun, fizz and fairground attractions, plus a glitter station at the Cambridge University Union, which anyone can buy a ticket to. Sounds like a great night out to us!

Have a fun-filled June, all – see you on the other side!

NICOLA FOLEY, EDITOR IN CHIEF

5 • REASONS TO BE CHEERFUL Here’s why you should be happy now June’s here 7-10 • NIGHTLIFE Live comedy, music and more 13 • MUSIC BLOG Slate the Disco highlight their gig picks for June 15-25 • ARTS & CULTURE Exhibitions and concerts around Cambridge, including our monthly film and arts insider columns 27-30 • CAMBRIDGE OPEN STUDIOS Next month, artists around the county will open up their workspaces for the public – here’s the low-down 33-41 • FOOD NEWS Your monthly guide to the Cambridge food and drink scene, featuring new openings, food markets and more 43 • FOOD COLUMN Taking inspiration from some of the great works of literature to emerge from Cambridge, Alex Rushmer creates a special menu 45 • FATHER’S DAY FOODIE GIFTS Show your pops you care with these awesome pressies

Cover Art

On the cover this month is a piece by Gilly Marklew, whose work will be on display from 2 June - 10 July in Down Your Street, an exhibition at Byard Art. Find out more on page 15. www.byardart.co.uk

46-51 • SMOKE AND FIRE Andrew Webb shows you how to make your barbecues sizzle this summer 53 • RESTAURANT REVIEW Editor Nicola gets spoiled at Trumpington Street’s luxurious Hotel du Vin 55 • COMPETITION Win an Italian feast for you and your friends from Bella Italia, plus other great prizes 56-57 • LISTINGS Your at-a-glance guide to this month’s top events throughout Cambridgeshire 59 • COMMUNITY Charitable events and news from your local hub 61-63 • FAMILY Great ideas for entertaining your little ones this month, from outdoorsy fun to kids’ shows 64 • EDUCATION Tring Performing Arts School consider the future of boys in ballet after Billy Elliot closes in the West End 67-69 • SPOTLIGHT ON CB4 We explore CB4, discovering pop-ups, an art space, a great coffee shop and lots more 73 • INDIE OF THE MONTH Celebrating a decade in business this year, this King Street boutique goes from strength to strength 75 • FASHION Our favourite spring pieces from local independent fashion boutiques 78-79 • BEAUTY Daisy Dickinson of The Day’s Eyes beauty blog shares her advice and highlights top products

EDITORIAL Editor in chief Nicola Foley 01223 499459 nicolafoley@bright-publishing.com Senior sub editor Lisa Clatworthy Sub editor Catherine Brodie

ADVERTISING Senior sales executive Natalie Robinson 01223 499451 natalierobinson@bright-publishing.com Key accounts Maria Francis 01223 499461 mariafrancis@bright-publishing.com

CONTRIBUTORS Angelina Villa-Clarke, Ruthie Collins, Daisy Dickinson, Alex Rushmer, Zena Toscani, Jordan Worland, Andrew Webb, Siobhan Godwood, Cyrus Pundole

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

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/CambsEdition FOLLOW US ON TWITTER: @cambsedition

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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NEWS

REASONS TO BE

The inaugural Thirstyfest

It's officially beer garden season!

Lamenting the end of the Beer Festival? Sad that Eat Cambridge is done and dusted for another year? We’ve got some good news for you.

This month sees the launch of Thirstyfest, which will be serving up an awesome array of food, drinks, music and art on 4 June.

Offering craft beer, artisan spirits, street food and a relaxed, Oktoberfest style vibe, it’s promising to be quite the event. Turn to page 38 to read all about it.

And boy does Cambridge deliver. Fancy sampling beers from around the world? Mosey down Mill Road and pitch up in the huge beer garden at Gwydir Street’s Cambridge Blue.

For charming river views with your brews it has to be the Fort St George or The Mill, which also does tasty takeaway food packed up in little boxes to be enjoyed on the riverbank.

For the most impressive views of all though, head upstairs at The Varsity Hotel and enjoy a drink at their impressive rooftop terrace. You could sample a cocktail or check out the barbecue menu, too. It’s not cheap but it’s a total showstopper of a setting.

The Big Weekend is coming!

8-10 july

We’re already getting excited about next month’s Big Weekend, which takes place from Friday 8 to Sunday 10 July on Parker’s Piece. Kicking off with a dazzling fireworks display on the Friday night, this year’s musical line-up includes legendary 1970s disco group Boney M, ska group The Selecter and Desmond Dekker’s backing band, the Aces, as well as local talent including Fred’s House, The Treatment and The Dowsing Sound Collective.

As ever, there will also be games, science and sports workshops, food stalls and more, as well as the popular Cambridge mela. Stay tuned to the next issue of Edition for all the details. www.cambridgelivetrust.co.uk/city-events

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The Grafton is getting a makeover The Grafton Centre may have been looking a little tired and dated in recent years, but all that’s about to change. Purchased by Legal & General Property recently, the centre has announced plans for a huge revamp designed to completely modernise and rejuvenate the centre. The £18.5 million plans will bring it up to date, including a thorough facelift inside with lots of bright open spaces, sleek fittings and lighting, new food and entertainment offerings and a crop of new retailers. The centre will stay open throughout the refurb.

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NIGHTLIFE

JUNE CHECK OUT LOCAL EVENTS ONLINE cambsedition.co.uk

WILLOW FEST Bourn’s quirky gastropub The Willow Tree is set to host a music festival over the weekend of 25-26 June. Billed as a ‘feelgood family festival with a vintage vibe’, the event will feature a line-up of musical talent from around the UK including Katey Brooks, Ash Radford, Perfectly Frank, Tom Copson, Baron Goodlove, Warren Daniel and more.

Taking place in The Willow Tree’s rather lovely gardens, their supercool tepee and in the surrounding meadows, the event will also feature local beer, cocktail and cider stalls and include lots of scrumptious food.

Tickets are £10-£15. www.thewillowtreebourn.com

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STRAWBERRY FAIR Strawberry Fair, our city’s huge, free festival of arts and music, is back on 4 June and it’s promising to be better than ever before. Taking place on Midsummer Common, this year’s event has a wildlife theme – so get creative with your costumes and enjoy the animal-themed entertainment, activities and decorations.

As always, there will be loads of live music on throughout the course of the day, including lots of local acts at the Cambridge 105 stage, Portland Ballroom Acoustic Bar and Cambuskers Stage.

The parade will be back this year too, as well as the kids area, which is full of fun for little ones and sets off from Christ’s Pieces at 11am. There will also be plenty of food and drink to tuck into, as well as stalls selling clothing, trinkets and more. www.strawberry-fair.org.uk

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NIGHTLIFE

EARLY NIGHT CLUB MAY BALL If your student days are long gone and you find yourself a bit jealous of Cambridge University’s lavish allnight balls around this time of year, we’ve got the perfect event for you!

Taking place in the historic Cambridge Union on 18 June, the Early Night Club May Ball will combine great food and music, fun, fizz and fairground attractions for an event which anyone can buy a ticket too (why should students have all the fun, eh?).

It’s hosted by My Little Festival, the team behind which have brought us events like the Gogs Giant Sundowner and last month’s fabulous Sunday Best in Swaffham Prior. They’re all about bringing a bit of flair to the Cambridge events scene, combining the best of our city’s food and drink scene with great entertainment, cool venues and a bit of eccentricity.

At the Early Night Club May Ball, guests can expect delicious street food from Guerilla Kitchen, lots of fairy lights, live music, top DJs, a hair station and a glitter station (which we love the sound of), funfair rides and plenty of dancing.

The theme for the event is circus – and guests are encouraged to go all out with their outfits.

“We can’t quite stretch to an all-nighter, or the high budgets of the college balls, but we know how to throw a good party,” says Alex Ruczaj, founder of the Early Night Club (which is co-hosting the event and puts on regular nights around the city). “We’re going to make the Early Night Club ball quirky and fabulous with a nod to the fairground-themed fun of the traditional balls. It’s a great excuse to get dressed up, drink some fizz and just have a blast – if in a slightly more civilised way, as we’ll be closing up at midnight.”

Tickets are £35. mylittlefestival.uk

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NIGHTLIFE

SECRET GARDEN PARTY 21-24 July, Abbots Ripton, from £180 There’s still time to get your tickets for Cambridgeshire’s craziest festival, which this year features appearances from Caribou, Air, Primal Scream, DJ Shadow and Submotion Orchestra. www.secretgardenparty.com

HOT 8 BRASS BAND 31 Aug, Junction, £20 New Orleans’ most funked out brass band are back in Cambridge – and if their last show at the Junction was anything to go by, we predict a party and a half. www.junction.co.uk

JULIAN CLARY

MEGSON Husband and wife duo Megson, who create gorgeous, gentle folk with heavenly harmonies and rhythmic guitars, will play Cambridge Junction on 3 June.

Nominated three times in the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards and double winners of the Spiral Earth Awards, Megson draw on their Teesside heritage and Northern humour to create a unique brand of mesmerising folk.

Described by The Observer as “a force in the folk revival”, the band’s new album Good Times Will Come Again, is out now.

Tickets to the gig are £15. www.junction.co.uk

BILL BAILEY: LIMBOLAND

13 Oct, Corn Exchange, £25.50 Join the treasured comic as he celebrates 30 years as a camp comedian in his new show, The Joy of Mincing. www.cornex.co.uk

STEWART LEE 3 Nov, Corn Exchange, £25 Catch everybody’s favourite curmudgeon as he warms up for his Digital Content Provider tour before the DVD release of the BBC show Comedy Vehicle. www.cornex.co.uk

Beardy surrealist Bill Bailey is back in Cambridge on 15 and 16 June for two dates as part of his Limboland tour. Blending his trademark wit and intelligence with some bonkers musical numbers (including a heart-rending country protest ballad, played on a Bible), Limboland looks at “the gap between how we imagine our lives to be and how they really are”.

The show sees the comedian telling tales of his global travel, including the hilarious saga of his disastrous family trip to Norway to see the Northern Lights, whilst contemplating the true nature of happiness.

Tickets are £27.50. www.cornex.co.uk

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NIGHTLIFE

HALF MAN HALF BISCUIT Marrying sardonic, frequently hilarious lyrics with melodically infectious folk-punk sound, Birkenhead rockers Half Man Half Biscuit have been making music together since the 80s. Though mostly flying under the radar of mainstream success, they’ve truly attained cult status, becoming something of an undiscovered national treasure. Championed by John Peel back in the day, they’ve now released 13 studio albums, the most recent being Urge For Offal in 2014. Catch them doing their thing at Cambridge Junction on 9 June.

Tickets are £23. www.junction.co.uk

THE SONS OF PITCHES If you loved the Pitch Perfect films you’re going to love the all-male vocal group headed our way this June. A cappella sensations The Sons of Pitches combine impeccable harmonies with impressive beatboxing and soaring solos in their creative reworks of well-loved songs. They’ve racked up over 2 million YouTube views so far and gained an international fanbase, captivating viewers with their feel-good covers of tracks including MMMBop, Get Lucky, Lose Yourself and Wonderwall.

Catch them at Cambridge Junction on 10 June, tickets are £21. www.junction.co.uk

MAY WEEK PUNTING May Week, which actually takes place in June, is one of the great Cambridge University traditions.

It represents the end of the academic year for students: a time for cutting loose and squeezing as much fun in as possible before everyone disperses for summer. The colleges host a series of May Balls and parties during this period, and even if you’re nothing to do with the university you can join in the fun by heading down to the river and enjoying the huge, spectacular fireworks displays.

A punt offers the best vantage point, and for the most impressive displays, we recommend 13 June (when the Clare and Trinity Balls take place), and 14 June (St John’s). Scudamores offer both chauffeured, private punts and group options, and they come equipped with blankets and brollies too, just in case the weather turns. www.scudamores.com

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MUSIC

Jordan Worland from local music website Slate the Disco selects his must-see gigs in Cambridge this month une is our favourite month.

It’s the first month of the year where we have music options inside and outside. Strawberry Fair on the 4th is always filled with local acts of a variety of genres – in particular we recommend keeping an eye on the Cambridge 105 stage for new acts. June also sees the start of the city’s Jazz and Brass in the Parks series, with Caxton Swing up first at Jesus Green on the 12th.

If you prefer your strawberries with more beats then Cambridge festival Strawberries & Creem on the 11th is the place for you. Now entering its third year, legendary US superstar Nelly and UK grime legend Kano are the acts topping the billing at this year’s festival.

Taking place on a Saturday for the first time (making it much more doable for nonstudents), the line-up also features veteran reggae selector David Rodigan, comedy UK garage crew Kurupt FM (of BBC Three fame), pioneering grime MC D Double E, recognisable grime personality Big Narstie and electronic producers Snakehips.

Our top tip for June has to be Beach Slang and Weaves at The Portland on the 15th. Beach Slang’s music evokes the spirit of punk and is as brutally honest as it is infectiously catchy. Excellent Canadian band Weaves are definitely worth catching for their

high-wire approach to pop songwriting and idiosyncratic songs that play around with genre and form.

Shit and Shine, aka the mutant brainchild of seasoned transgressor Craig Clouse, play The Portland on the 2nd. They’ve carved out a unique niche with their take on Krautrock and will be one of the most unpredictable acts to play Cambridge this year.

Post-punk trio Less Win are the latest aggressors to emerge from the Copenhagen scene that also yielded Iceage, Lower and Yung. They’re in Cambridge at The Blue Moon on the 26th for the last leg of their UK tour, with support from The Bodies, Prison Whites and a rare appearance from The Proles.

Alt-classical quintet Wooden Arms bring their new album and tour to Cambridge for an evening of original collaboration, poetry and music, all taking place at St Paul’s on Hills Road on the 28th.

Megson’s infectious sound is a mix of heavenly vocals, lush harmonies, driving rhythmic guitars and mandolas and they return to the Cambridge Junction on the 3rd.

Elsewhere at the Junction this month we have Half Man Half Biscuit (9th), The Sons of Pitches (10th), Beatie Wolfe (14th) and St Paul and The Broken Bones (17th).

Formally known as folk-punk artist Dropout Dan, Daniel O’Dell now makes music under the guise of Heartwork. This year after a successful Kickstarter campaign, O’Dell will release his debut album, Things I Wish I’d Said. Get a taste at Relevant Records on the 4th.

The incredible ASUNA uses large collections of multiples to explore interference and drones in installations and live performances, they bring their 100 Toys show to CB2 café on the 7th.

Our top pick at The Corner House this month is on the 17th as melodic punk takes over. Liverpool’s all-star cast supergroup The No Marks

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headline in a rare appearance and come to Cambridge for the first time.

A trio of shows catch our eye at The Portland this month. Nick Harper, a folk troubadour, an acoustic balladeer – with a touch of rock ’n’ roll on the side – plays on the 18th. Trembling Bells’ latest album is a driving, dramatic work, filled with a great sense of tension and release; a witches’ brew, a psychedelic stew mixing up the range of the band’s musical interests – everything from ramshackle ballads to ancient May Day chants. Their show on the 20th is one to catch. Seattle outfit Night Beats play reverbsoaked rock and soul blended with sharp drone numbers and classic rhythm-and-blues tracks. They’re in town on the 21st.

We close with New Zealand outfit Unknown Mortal Orchestra (UMO) who will warm up for their Glastonbury appearance with a trip to the Junction on the 21st. UMO’s 2015 release Multi-Love was one of our albums of the year with its themes crafted with as much human soul as adventurous exploration, a break-up record centred on frontman Ruban Neilson’s polyamorous relationship. With effortless grace and a heady canvas of sound of colour UMO continue to deliver some of the brightest and boldest guitar records of their generation.

Tell us about your gig at www.slatethedisco.com

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ARTS & CULTURE

© Alice Thomson

A celebration of literature, drama, music and more is promised from 14 to 16 June at the Melbourn Bloomsday Festival. Free events indoors and out – but with donation to WaterAid welcomed – promise a range of art and culture to feed your mind.

On 14 June there are short stories written by eight greats, from Dylan Thomas to Anton Chekhov and Virgina Woolf, told outside different homes in the village. For drama fans, there’s James Joyce’s Exiles at Melbourn Village College, in play-reading form, at 7.15pm. Development issues will be addressed in a panel discussion from 10am to 12pm at Melbourn Hub on 15 June.

Four local writers, Britta Heinemeyer, Ute Maria Sproulle, Hattie Brantwood and Kate Swindlehurst will talk about text, (again at the Hub, 2-4pm), and the final day, 16 June, is Bloomsday itself. A celebration of the life of James Joyce, and his novel Ulysses, the name comes from Leopold Bloom, the protagonist in the novel.

From a reading and reenactment at 8.15am, to a prelunch concert, ‘acts’ of Bloom going about his day, a lecture at Melbourn Village College at 7.15pm and a farewell party at 9pm, it’s bound to be a stimulating day. www.melbourn cambridge.uk

© Rebecca Merry

Bloomsday festival

© Gilly Marklew

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

DOWN YOUR STREET This month at King’s Parade gallery Byard Art enjoy Down Your Street, a collection of ceramic pieces, craftwork, original prints, paintings and photography. Running from 2 June to 10 July, the exhibition showcases works by a variety of artists, all of whom have taken their inspiration from the street they live on.

On display will be vibrantly coloured, intricate cut paper collages by Vanessa Stone, who has featured on the cover of Cambridge Edition numerous times.

Also working with collage, Beth Lievesley’s work incorporates vintage papers, song sheets, maps, stamps and more, layered together artfully to create beautiful, one-off images.

Pieces by Gilly Marklew, Rebecca Merry and Laura Jordan will also be on display, with many items available to purchase at a range of budgets. www.byardart.co.uk

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ARTS & CULTURE

KING LEAR – ARTS THEATRE King Lear, viewed by many as Shakespeare’s most epic, tragic and human play, comes to Cambridge’s Arts Theatre this month with all its emotional power intact.

Michael Pennington, a two-time Olivier Award nominee, stars as the king in a Royal & Derngate Northampton production.

The ageing king, a tyrant perhaps aware he’s losing his faculties, decides to divide his kingdom among his three daughters. Regan and Goneril feel they deserve more and secretly feel their father is weak; the youngest, Cordelia, is not interested in having to prove her affection for her father in order to gain any part of the kingdom. Her share is divided between her sisters after Lear dislikes her honest, but blunt answers.

The king, at turns mocked by his fool and deceived by his eldest daughters, descends into madness.

Driven from his home, he battles a great storm alone as his retinue of 100 knights have been dissolved by Regan and Goneril. Yet within madness, he finds reason, after betrayal he finds loyalty, and through his suffering, ultimately a better world emerges.

Pennington heads a cast of 14 distinguished actors in Max Webster’s epic new interpretation of Shakespeare’s greatest tragedy.

Performances, which last three hours including an interval, are at 7.45pm, 20 to 25 June, plus 2.30pm matinees on 23 and 25 June. www.cambridgeartstheatre.com

Travels with my Aunt The talented and inventive team at Creative Cow bring Travels With My Aunt to the Arts Theatre from 6 to 11 June.

A Graham Greene novel adapted by Giles Havergal, four actors portray 20 characters in a hilarious, madcap dash around the world with Henry Pulling, a retired suburban bank manager with a penchant for dahlias. Pulling meets his eccentric Aunt Augusta, who persuades him to travel with her, joining a shifty twilight world of hippies, war criminals, the CIA and art smugglers.

As well as being entertaining, Travels With My Aunt confronts audiences with some of the most perplexing of human dilemmas.

Performances are at 7.45pm daily, with matinees on Thursday and Saturday.

Tickets are £18-£33. www.cambridgeartstheatre.com

June Bloom AT WIMPOLE

The gardens at the National Trust’s Wimpole Estate are always a joy, but this month, with some 180,000 bulbs springing into bloom, they’ll be truly awe-inspiring.

From delicate pinky purple gladioli byzantinus and the striking yellow of foxtail lilies through to the purple haze of alliums and the beautiful star-like camasias, there will be plenty to admire across the 12 acres.

If you need a helping hand identifying what’s what, join a weekly guided garden tour, or pick up a spotter sheet.

Round off your day with tea and cake at The Old Rectory Restaurant. Heavenly! The gardens are open all month, 10am-5pm. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/wimpole-estate

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ARTS & CULTURE

The Arts Interview:

MICHAEL NUNN AND WILLIAM TREVITT Edition catches up with the founders of all-male ballet company BalletBoyz ahead of their show this month Formed in 2001, BalletBoyz have become an international sensation, performing all over the world and picking up a slew of awards and accolades. Determinedly challenging ballet clichés, the group are credited with introducing the dance form to new audiences through their refreshing approach and innovative productions.

The company is the brainchild of Michael Nunn and William Trevitt, who met whilst studying at Royal Ballet Upper School. They both went on to join the Royal Ballet in 1987, which they describe as “a great place to work and a great place to learn. We were able to stand on the sidelines watching our heroes, slowly learning our trade.”

Inspired to continue collaborating and creating new dance works when they left the Royal Ballet, the pair established BalletBoyz, quickly making a huge impact on the dance scene. TV documentaries, international tours and critical acclaim followed as the BalletBoyz became established as one of the UK’s top dance companies.

This month, their latest show Life, billed as “an elegant, powerful and provocative look at life and death”, runs at Cambridge Arts Theatre.

“We imagined a show called Life, a title that would be very openended in terms of meaning, but that would spark an idea in the minds of the choreographers,” say Nunn and Trevitt when asked about how the show came about. “They were both given the title and asked to use it in any way they wanted, and what you will see is the result of that spark. There are predictable ways to create for a group of ten

young men, but we were looking for something beyond the obvious in Life. We have been delighted to find solutions to the problem that couldn’t be more different.”

The show features new commissions by choreographers Javier de Frutos and Pontus Lidberg – both prominent figures in contemporary dance, but offering very different styles and approaches, making for a richly diverse end product.

“Variety has always been important to us,” they explain.

“In the past we have wanted the two acts of a double bill to be in complete contrast to one another, but for Life, we were looking for more of a connection between the works. Javier has had a fascinating career

ranging from small-scale dance works to huge National Theatre productions and it is a great thrill to get to work with him, whereas Pontus was much less known to us. We had seen his work in some really beautiful dance films and thought that we would at least have a connection with him on that level. Our dancers have proved themselves creative artists in their own right, collaborating on two unexpected and wholly original works, which, in a strange way, are mirror images.”

The show premiered at Sadlers Wells in April and has already won widespread praise from the critics.

‘Dancers soar and rebound off each other’s bodies, orchestrating a paradox of muscular impact and weightless flight that I’ve never seen on stage’, says The Guardian, whilst The Independent deemed their bounding energy infectious and thrilling.

Decide what you make of them at the Arts Theatre, 3-4 June, 7.45pm.

Ticket prices are £18-28. www.cambridgeartstheatre.com

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ARTS & CULTURE

Families at the Fitz

Ruthie Collins takes a look at the family activities coming up this summer at the Fitzwilliam Museum Cambridge’s Fitzwilliam Museum is one of those places that many children growing up in the city will remember forever. With its steps flanked by a pair of stone lions so iconic they’re now immortalised in a series of children’s books starring Will and Fitz, the Cambridge Cats, it’s a treasure chest of mystery and wonder. Yet museums can often feel intimidating, particularly for parents with very young children.

The horror of offending the public with runaway tantrums or the thought of trying to entertain small people without them breaking precious artefacts can put many parents off even trying to go (particularly if sleep deprived). But the good news is, at the Fitzwilliam, you don’t have to wait until your kids are at school for them to enjoy a range of parent and child-focused fun that you’ll probably cherish experiencing with them forever.

Parents with babies and nursery tots are welcomed at the museum, with a range of fun self-guiding resources for parents available on request at reception. If you’re bringing a baby, ask for a comfy baby mat;

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and for toddlers there are children’s books and family friendly trails that really do make the collections come to life. Children from five to 12 can explore the entire museum with Fitz Kits – themed boxes of games, toys and objects (one even has a dragon!) to match the collections, too.

“Here at the Fitz we offer a range of activities and events for families to help them engage more deeply with our collections. We aim to inspire children and families to enjoy art and visiting museums,” explains Felicity Mottram, the museum’s Learning Associate (Families). “My personal favourite is our Family First events, which are free drop-in events.”

Family First drop-in events happen on the first Saturday of every month. “I liked making a woodlouse the best” was my four-year-old son’s solemn verdict on the Creepy Crawly themed Family First session we went on back in May. Our family were warmly ushered into the museum and taken on a whistle-stop bug spotting tour around the collections – featuring flower paintings and a rich range of ceramics. Both buggies and wheelchairs are made welcome, with buggies escorted in the lift by Fitzwilliam staff, so there’s no danger of losing the rest of the tour group if you dash to the lift!

With a selection of highly interactive talks and ‘creature hunting’ competitions that kept the kids entertained throughout, both parents and kids learned and had fun together. The session also included a scavenger hunt, drawing, plus a free art workshop where we got messy (aprons and baby wipes all provided) making prints of the bugs we’d seen in the paintings, which we got to take home. Run by professional artists, the sessions are a great way to meet families and learn about art.

Also running throughout the year are a range of bookable workshops for children and parents of all ages. Mother of two Belgin Bodur enjoyed Baby Magic, an art making and sensory play session for under twos, centred on botanical drawing and flower painting exhibition, Crawling With Life, featuring works by the likes

of intrepid 17th century German naturalist and illustrator, Maria Sibylla Merian. Belgin’s four-month-old, Maya, loved making an insect house, which has been well used by big brother, four-year-old Mark, since.

Maya’s favourite part, though, was singing in the gallery. “The best bit for me was meeting other families who also had an interest in art, plus enjoying the paintings in the gallery and being in a positive atmosphere where everyone was having fun,” says Belgin.

My four-year-old, Otis, also loved It’s Magic, a session centred around the same exhibition but geared towards slightly older children. A patient facilitator kept the group of children and parents spellbound with stories and games. “I liked the insects,” Otis told me afterwards, dragging me off to the museum shop.

“We get a lot of new first-time visitors but we then get repeat visitors, which is a real compliment to the sessions, really,” says Felicity. Once they’ve visited, families keep coming back, with some children even known to the staff from when they were babies. “This is exactly what we want – for families to feel welcome and to enjoy themselves,” explains Felicity.

Family First is on 4 June, 2–4pm (drop in, free). Baby Magic is on 13 July, 10-11am (book in advance, £3). Family Art Week is 2–4 August (drop in, free, various sessions). www.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk

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ARTS & CULTURE

ROYAL PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA Dame Evelyn Glennie, one of the world’s most celebrated solo percussionists, joins the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra for an explosive performance at the Corn Exchange.

The concert, at 7.30pm on 9 June, will feature Michael Daugherty’s percussive concerto Dreamachine, and a new work from Debbie Wiseman (composer of BBC TV’s Wolf Hall music) celebrating Glennie’s 50th birthday.

From her role in the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games, in which she led a thousand drummers to the opening music, to collaborations with artists including Björk, Glennie’s career is remarkable. A ground-breaking musical talent, known for her magnetising stage presence, her ascent has been all the more impressive given she’s been profoundly deaf since the age of eight.

There’s a pre-concert talk at 6pm at Hilton Cambridge City Centre, free to ticket holders.

Tickets are £28.50-£38.50. www.cornex.co.uk

Trumpington Meadows OFFICIAL UNVEILING The Wildlife Trust will officially unveil its Trumpington Meadows reserve on 11 June, celebrating with a Discovery Day that features food, music and entertainment, as well as lots of nature activities.

The Country Park forms an integral part of the of the south Cambridge residential development, which is located on Hauxton Road. Boasting meadow, flowers, river and large open spaces, the large, picturesque park was designed as a place for sport, play and relaxation for residents and locals.

Head down to the Discovery Day, which runs 11am-3pm, to join in walks, crafting sessions and kids’ games, as well as meeting the local allotment group, history society and more. www.wildlifetrusts.org

The Tales of MYSTERY AND IMAGINATION

On 4 June, in the atmospheric setting of the Leper Chapel, in situ: theatre group will present a production of Edgar Allan Poe’s Tales of Mystery and Imagination.

The one-man show will feature performances of two of the short stories from this famed compilation of Poe’s works, interspersed with folk and blues songs from both sides of the Atlantic.

In situ: are known for their interesting venue choices, having previously performed in houses around the city, as well as at Wandlebury Country Park., and the 12th century Leper Chapel Cambridge’s oldest building no less – promises to provide an especially memorable backdrop.

The performance starts at 8pm and tickets are £12 (£10 concessions). www.insitutheatre.co.uk

After MissJulie Class warfare combines with sexual tension in After Miss Julie, running at the Arts Theatre, 13-18 June. A reworking of August Strindberg’s 1888 classic Miss Julie, the play is set in an English country house on the eve of Labour’s 1945 landslide victory.

During a summer ball, the beautiful daughter of a peer wanders into the servants’ quarters in search of excitement and happens across her father’s handsome chauffeur. Ignoring the presence of his fiancée, she begins a flirtation which soon escalates into passionate trysts – with devastating consequences.

Written by Patrick Marber, the play stars Call The Midwife’s Helen George, who recently garnered praise for her impressive stint on Strictly Come Dancing. The Times praised the production’s ‘zinging dialogue, laced with ruthless wit and semi-repressed desire’, whilst Tribune described it as a triumphant and ‘fiercely intelligent reworking’.

Tickets are £18-£38. Performances are 7.45pm nightly, and 2.30pm (Thurs and Sat). www.cambridgeartstheatre.com

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r © Louisa Taylo

ARTS & CULTURE

© Laura Buckley

ambridge is roaring in the summer, a magnet for visitors from all over the world apparently starved of picnics, punting, balls and barbecues (and don’t forget tennis) for the rest of the year. It’s impossible to avoid the buzzing crowds around the Corpus Clock at the Taylor Library on the corner of Bene’t Street – one of the city’s most famous additions to our collection of public art. It was a winner of one of Time’s 50 best inventions of 2008 and was created by ‘retired’ entrepreneur and Corpus Christi college graduate John C Taylor. If you’ve ever wondered exactly why there’s a ‘terrifying’ grasshopper scurrying over the 24-carat gold clock face as part of the piece, it is intended to disturb. In fact, it is a beast Taylor calls a Chronophage or ‘time eater’! A comment on time, which as we all know stops for no one – ‘he’ll eat up every minute of your life, and as soon as one has gone he’s salivating for the next,’ Taylor commented. But this clock is only accurate every five minutes, with the hands lagging behind and racing ahead; an artistic reflection of life’s ‘irregularities’ (try using

Left to right Laura Buckley, Mark Titchner and Rana Begum’s artworks featured in the exhibition Into boundless space I leap at the Maxwell Centre

There's a real Cambridge 'magic' to the place that one next time you’re late). Taylor is a fascinating man, a keen philanthropist and a testimony to the kindness and generosity that often seems innate to Cambridge’s culture of ideas and success. There’s a real Cambridge ‘magic’ to the place, tapped into in Cambridge novelist Menna Van Praag’s newest book, The Witches of Cambridge – snap it up in Waterstones or Heffers. More than Harry Potter-style colleges and cobbled streets, trilbies and Prosecco, perhaps the

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magic is captured in John Taylor’s personal motto – ‘think the unthinkable’.

In the midst of the heat, it’s the perfect time of year to slow down, quit the sunflooded streets and parks and dip into the city’s galleries and exhibitions. Kettle’s Yard may be closed for a huge refurbishment, but it’s still curating art across the city in spaces that nudge us to ‘think the unthinkable’.

Running until 2 July, Into boundless space I leap appears at the new centre for research in the physical sciences in Cambridge, the

Maxwell Centre. The exhibition includes new commissions by Mark Titchner, Rana Begum, Laura Buckley, Wayne McGregor and Haroon Mirza. Other artists include political activist Gustav Metzger (who inspired Pete Townshend’s guitar-smashing performances with The Who).

“It was really exciting to commission brand-new artworks for this show,” says curator Guy Haywood. “Some of the artists took inspiration from the remarkable physicist James Clerk Maxwell; Mark

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ARTS & CULTURE

© Rana Begum

Titchner’s large-scale graphic text work takes a phrase from Maxwell’s poetry, and Laura Buckley’s photographic prints were made by ‘scanning’ some of Maxwell’s glass instruments. While Kettle’s Yard is closed it is great to have the opportunity to show contemporary art in different spaces around Cambridge.” For details check the Kettle’s Yard website (www.kettlesyard.co.uk).

A perfect show to cool down at, is Valour,

by Regine Bartsch, an exhibition of paintings inspired by the David Parr House, a small terraced house once home to Victorian working-class painter, David Parr which has appeared in World of Interiors magazine and the New York Times Magazine. Running 4-11 June at St Peter’s Church, Valour is a reminder of how artful interiors can signal the desire “to do good, to live well and to experience the holy preciousness of simple beauty,” says art historian Dr Ayla Lepine.

“Regine’s paintings explore the concepts of home and domesticity with a tender regard and deep sensitivity to place, time and texture,” says Tamsin Wimhurst, chair of the David Parr House charity.

There’s no place like home. Lovers of ‘artful interiors’ will also love gallery Cambridge Contemporary Crafts – watch out for furniture from local design company,

Children can join dance company Creative Movements at the Strawberry Fair parade

© Mark Titchner

Cubed, down in their ‘snug’ (cubed.design).

Why not adorn your kitchen with tea towels from illustrator Jo Clark, whose work goes from strength to strength each year? Check their gorgeous range of artists at www. cambridgecrafts.co.uk.

Finally, splash out at Art of Float, opening on 1 June. Teaming a floatation spa, with contemporary art curated by resident artists.

Just off Chesterton Road, on Hawthorne Way, it’s another sign that this area is fast becoming a hotspot for the city. Over the

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road on Midsummer Common I’ll be getting some shade at the Eastern Bloco arts area at Strawberry Fair on 4 June, Cambridge’s annual free festival, a place for many of us in the city to ‘think the unthinkable’.

Children can join dance company Creative Movements at the Strawberry Fair parade, for dance and frolicking. This year the theme is British Wildlife and home-made costumes are encouraged! For a full programme be sure to check strawberry-fair.org.uk. Have a fabulous June, all!

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ARTS & CULTURE

movies WORDS ZENA TOSCANI

NIGHT AT THE

Contrary to popular belief, movies aren’t all about escapism. This month, Pro Moviemaker magazine’s Zena Toscani gives you the low-down on where to get a cinematic reality check Summer’s coming! Expect ice creams on Midsummer Common, supersized floppy hats and a deluge of massive budget blockbusters to fill those inevitable rainy days. While I personally am quite excited that Finding Dory and Independence Day: Resurgence will be gracing our screens in July, this month I’m prescribing the perfect antidote to the forthcoming special-effects overload in the form of some documentaries.

Though not officially the month for documentary screenings (you’ll have to wait until Doctober for that), June brings some of the world’s most renowned documentarians to the UK for Sheffield Doc/Fest, which has an inevitable trickle-down effect on the rest of the country. One of the festival’s headline events; a screening of Michael Moore’s latest film Where to Invade Next will be simultaneously screened at the Arts Picturehouse on 10 June with the following Q&A with Mr Moore himself also screened via live satellite broadcast. Also on the roster is the Berlin Film Festival Golden Bearwinning Fire at Sea, this powerful Italian documentary by Gianfranco Rosi focuses on how the migrant crisis is affecting the small island of Lampedusa.

If provocative political commentary isn’t really your bag, don’t worry, the Arts Picturehouse is doing its name proud with a line-up of artsy documentaries too. Early in the month, Versus: The Life and Films of

at a glance

WHEN w/c 3 June (TBC)

WHERE Arts Picturehouse

5 June 8 June, 1pm 10 June, 6.15pm 10 June, 8pm 11 June, 8pm 16 June, 6.30pm w/c 17 June (TBC) 24 June, 8pm 26 June, 6.30pm

Saffron Screen Arts Picturehouse Arts Picturehouse Saffron Screen Saffron Screen Arts Picturehouse Arts Picturehouse Saffron Screen Arts Picturehouse

28 June, 1.45pm

Arts Picturehouse

WHAT Versus: The Life and Films of Ken Loach Miles Ahead A Cine-Tour of Norfolk Where to Invade Next + satellite Q&A Miles Ahead The Man Who Knew Infinity Leonardo Da Vinci: The Genius in Milan Fire at Sea I Saw the Light Where You’re Meant to Be + Q&A + Live music Leonardo Da Vinci: The Genius in Milan

Ken Loach is being screened, making the affectionate retrospective of this revered and socially principled director more accessible than ever in the year that he turns 80.

Continuing the archive theme, A CineTour of Norfolk does exactly what it says on the tin, collating content from the East Anglian Film Archives.

Elsewhere in the month, the Arts Picturehouse has two showings of Leonardo Da Vinci: The Genius in Milan, the tributary documentary about last year’s celebratory exhibition at the Palazzo Reale, Milan and this all-round prolific human.

Slightly left-of-field in a documentary and geographical sense (alright, south of

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TRUTH AND MOVIES:June

field), Saffron Screen in Saffron Walden has a few reality-based fiction features worth a look. The Man Who Knew Infinity is bound to have local appeal being set in First World War Cambridge, while Miles Ahead and I Saw the Light tick the boxes for music lovers interested in biopics of their jazz and country heroes, respectively. Rounding out the month in a musical sense is the comedic documentary Where You’re Meant to Be, a Scottish auditory road trip exploring the country’s musical heritage. Director Paul Fegan will be at the Arts Picturehouse for a Q&A, while star of the film Aidan Moffat will perform a live acoustic set.

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© Jo Tunmer

OPEN STUDIOS

OPEN STUDIOS WORDS SIOBHAN GODWOOD

One of the many wonderful things about living in or around Cambridge is having access to a vibrant, thriving local art scene. One event that encapsulates that vibrancy more than any other is the annual Cambridge Open Studios, taking place this year throughout July.

Cambridge Open Studios (COS) is one of the oldest open studio events in the country and can be traced back to the 1960s, when a small group of Cambridge artists joined forces, opening their studios to the public as part of a movement to

© Lorraine Allan

The annual Cambridge Open Studios event is a chance for local art lovers to meet artists and discover where and how they work. We talked to some of those involved to find out more…

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demystify the arts and make them available to all. Since then the event has gone from strength to strength and currently has around 470 active members from Cambridge and the surrounding area.

Although COS has grown enormously, the ethos remains the same, as Jo Riches, who helps to promote and market the event, explains. “Open Studios offers the opportunity for people to buy art if they want to, but the aim is to make art accessible and to welcome the public to see how artists produce their work. The

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MORE INFO

event is free to the public, and most of the artists offer a range of different items, so if a painting or piece of jewellery isn’t in your budget you can buy some cards or a mug featuring the artist’s work.”

As well as a way for art lovers to discover local talent, COS allows artists and craftspeople to get advice and tips from other artists, and have their work included in the event’s promotional materials and social media activity. “We have a new member meeting every year,” says Jo, “and we also have a mentor scheme, where artists who have never taken part before can get tips from some of the COS veterans.”

The chance to spend a July weekend travelling around our beautiful city and the surrounding villages, meeting and talking to artists and seeing a huge range of different types of arts and crafts, is one that shouldn’t be missed. Some artists join forces, showing on the same weekend so that visitors can do an ‘art trail’ around a particular area. Others collaborate, sharing a studio space so that you can see more than one artist at a time. There’s absolutely no pressure to buy, and it can be a way of finding out what you like, whether that’s printmaking, jewellery or woodcrafts, and it’s a wonderful event for families – it might even provide inspiration for the next generation of Cambridge artists!

© Alison Hullyer

© Jo Tunmer

© Jo Tunmer

OPEN STUDIOS

Cambridge Open Studios runs for four weekends in July: 2-3; 9-10; 16-17; and 23-24.

Visit www.camopenstudios.co.uk to download the free guidebook and find full details of the artists involved.

The guidebook is available in galleries, museums, independent cafés and Park & Ride sites throughout Cambridgeshire.

The Twitter feed (@CamOpenStudios) and the Facebook page feature details of the artists and information about trails or collaborations.

Look out for the yellow flags that artists display to show that they’re taking part in the event and are open to visitors.

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JO TUNMER PRINTMAKING, PAINTING

DANIEL HUMPHREYS

© Jo Tunmer

© Jo Tunmer

“This is my first Cambridge Open Studios. I moved to the area a year ago from London and a friend who was living FURNITURE and working here recommended the event to me. I went DESIGNER/MAKER back to college three years ago to study furniture making, and although I’ve done a new designers exhibition, I’ve never done anything else like this before.

“I rent a workshop at The Wood Yard on Cheddars Lane. There are three of us who work here so we’re doing the event together, and some friends who are painters are also going to exhibit in our space, too. I make bespoke furniture, inspired by the Arts and Crafts movement, at a range of prices, so I hope that some of the people who come along will like my work and commission pieces.

“I’m always busy working, so while I am doing some special preparations for COS – I’m going to get some leaflets and brochures showing my work printed – I also want visitors to see how I really work, so I’m not going to tidy things up too much! This is a proper, working workshop, and I think that’s what makes it interesting, and hopefully that’s what people are coming to see. I’m a little bit nervous, but mostly I feel excited about showing my work and getting the chance to show people what I can do.”

Visit Daniel on weekends three and four.

“I’ve been doing Cambridge Open Studios since 2008. I really enjoy showing people how the work is actually made, and people are usually very interested in the printmaking.

I have a studio outside, and then I open up another workroom in my house as well.

“Cambridge is a great place to be an artist; it’s well known for technology and biomedics, but things are changing, and I’ve been very involved in developing independent events in and around the city. I created Cambridge Showcase, and am also one of the founders of the Cambridge Original Printmakers Biennale.

“Cambridge Open Studios is fun and very different to showing your work through galleries, as you get to meet your customers face to face. It’s open to artists from all genres and media, so it’s very broad. I’ve made some of my closest friends by collaborating with artists I’ve met through Open Studios; it’s great to meet other artists, and even though they may not work in the same medium, they’re all creative so we can share ideas.

This year, I’m sharing my studio with three other artists, a jeweller, a ceramicist and a wire artist, so there will be something there for everyone.”

Visit Jo on weekends three and four. www.jotunmer.com

ARTIST PROFILES

OPEN STUDIOS

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BARBARA STANLEY

WATERCOLOUR PAINTING, PHOTOGRAPHY

“I’ve taken part in Cambridge Open Studios many times; it’s been part of my summer schedule since 1995. It spurs me ALISON on to produce plenty of new work each year, plus it’s a good HULLYER incentive to tidy up my studio!

PRINTMAKING, “I really enjoy meeting people face to face and getting ILLUSTRATION instant feedback for my work. I usually sell through galleries, and I never actually know where things are going, so it’s nice to talk to the people who are buying my art and hear their stories. I find out if it’s a present for a special occasion, or where they’re planning on hanging something in their houses. It often leads to commissions, too; at the moment I’m working on a piece that someone has commissioned to go with something they bought last year, and they’ve specifically requested that it feature cow parsley and hares.

“I work out of a garage next to my house. My etching press is in there and I put up tables and screens to display my work. People are very interested in the process of printing; not many people realise what’s involved, so it’s great to be able to demonstrate. I let children have a go at rolling things through my press, and it’s lovely to feel that I might be inspiring a future generation of artists. Local schools and colleges send students and I have leaflets that they can take away, and let them take photos for their projects. I remember going to see a printmaker’s studio when I was a sixth former, and it was eye-opening for me to see you could actually make a living out of it.”

Visit Alison on weekends two and three. www.hullyer.co.uk

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“I’ve taken part in Cambridge Open Studios twice before. My paintings are watercolour or pencil images of natural life – plants, birds, minerals, fruit – and I’m Photographer of the Year for the Royal Society of Biology.

“I’m a retired artist now, really.

I don’t enjoy the promotional, business side, getting out there and trying to get my work seen, so COS works well for me; they take care of the promotion and people come to me! When visitors are interested in finding out more about my work it’s nice to talk to them, but some people just want to browse quietly and not be bothered. There aren’t any other artists involved in Open Studios where I live, in Tadlow, so people do have to make an effort to come to me – but I’m happy when they come, and don’t worry too much if they don’t! Not everyone is coming to buy, some people just want to look, but others leave with a picture or two which is always nice.”

Visit Barbara on all four COS weekends. barbarastanley.weebly.com

© Barbara Stanley

© Alison Hullyer

For more about all four artists, including full addresses and examples of their work, visit www. camopenstudios.co.uk

ARTIST PROFILES

OPEN STUDIOS

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FOOD DRINK A N D

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

REVIEW: HOTEL DU VIN

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FOOD

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

JAMIE,S PIZZERIA Surely one of the most impressive restaurant buildings in the city, Jamie’s Italian is a city centre favourite with its solid offering of Italian fare. A bit of a hidden gem though, is the dinky pizzeria which sits upstairs – a stand-alone eatery entered via a side entrance, which serves up some of the most delicious pizzas in Cambridge.

On the menu, you’ll find a mouthwatering selection of rustic-style, authentic Italian pizzas including the Patata Bianco (creamy white sauce with slivers of potato, rosemary, balsamic onions, black pepper and juicy pancetta) and the Funghi Misti, with porcini mushroom sauce, roasted herby mushrooms, mozzarella, chervil and tarragon. Like it hot? Get stuck into the Chilli Freak, which packs some serious heat and contains mozzarella, fresh chilli, Bella Lodi, mint and, the secret ingredient, chilli freak sauce.

Choose between sides of rocket and parmesan or heritage tomatoes with buffalo mozzarella and basil, and nibbles including roasted almonds and handstretched garlic bread, which is served with a gorgeous olive and sundried tomato tapenade. The afters don’t slouch either, with Italian favourites on offer including affogato, tiramisu and limoncello. Highly recommended for good value Italian feasting in a superstylish, super-central setting. www.jamieoliver.com

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FOOD

FOODPARK NIGHT MARKET The foodPark street food collective is back this month for another of their night markets at Gravel Hill Farm on Madingley Road. Taking place on 25 June, 5-10pm, the event will feature the usual combo of great food, craft beer and wines and live music.

Make sure you’ve got your eating trousers on as you can expect a huge line-up of traders serving everything from artisan gelato to gourmet burgers. The line-up is different each time but usual suspects include Steak & Honour, Asian street food from Jalan Jalan, steamed bao from Guerrilla Kitchen, chicken wings from Buffalo Joes and authentic wood-fired pizzas from Fired Up. The venue is under cover, but if the sun does decide to make an appearance there will be plenty of spots for eating al fresco. www.foodparkcam.com

THIRSTYFEST

Get set for a day of foodie, boozy fun when the inaugural Thirstyfest hits Cambridge on 4 June. Hosted by Chesterton Road’s independent drinks shop, Thirsty, the event will feature a cornucopia of craft beers, top wines, ciders and spirits, along with plenty of tasty things to eat.

The location is the Bodywork dance studio on Glisson Road, which will be transformed into an Oktoberfest style bar downstairs, complete with seating for up to 200 people. Upstairs, you’ll be able to explore stalls from wine producers from around Europe, craft breweries and artisan distillers. Then, outside, get stuck into a street food market where you’ll be able to pick up eats from Provenance Kitchen, Holy Schnitzels, Guerrilla Kitchen and Steak & Honour. There will also be fringe events taking place around the city – search Thirstyfest on Facebook for more info and keep up to date on twitter @ThirstyCamb.

MILL ROAD FEAST As rapidly as Cambridge’s food scene is evolving, the Mill Road area still lays claim to being the true foodie hub of the city. Boasting international supermarkets, great cafés and eateries serving up everything from Algerian to Korean cuisine, there’s ample opportunity for delicious adventures in this corner of Cambridge. All this will be celebrated on 5 June with the return of the Mill Road Feast, taking place at Gwydir Street car park from 11am until 4pm. With a pop-up market featuring street food and top quality produce from the local area, there’s always lots of tasty treats to try and buy. Search Mill Road Feast on Facebook for more information.

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FOOD

OLD BICYCLE SHOP

The Cambridge food and drink scene is the gift which keeps on giving at the moment, and this hip new eaterie on Regent Street is one of the most exciting new openings of the lot.

The Old Bicycle Shop is located at the site of what was Howes Cycles – which recently closed its doors after an impressive 173 years of service, making it one of the oldest bike shops in the UK. The new pub pays homage to the building’s history in more ways than its name, with the design featuring bicycle-inspired touches like handlebars and gear cassettes as ornaments around the place. There’s no denying it’s a stylish fit-out, with an industrial vibe reminiscent of its sister pub, the Cambridge Brew House (owned by City Pub Company, who also run The Mill).

It’s the food which has really piqued our interest though, and we love the look of the quirky menu that features loads of local ingredients and has plenty of vegan, veggie and gluten-free options. Choose from mains including carrot and parsnip hash browns with wild mushrooms, white bean and chive aioli or a posh kebab, featuring marinated slow roasted shoulder of lamb with coriander and ginger slaw and saffron aioli.

There’s a killer cocktail list too, featuring the likes of the Marginal Gains (Beefeater gin, Matcha tea powder, fresh lime juice, sugar and rosemary) and Darwin’s First Ride (Chivas Regal whisky, Amaretto and orange), so named because Charles Darwin reportedly bought his first bicycle from Howes.

As well as lunch and dinner, the beautiful brunch menu offers dishes like sweet potato pancakes with berry compote, toasted almonds and yoghurt, as well as breakfast faves like eggs Benedict and bacon baps. oldbicycleshop.com

HOTEL CHOCOLAT DRINKS MENU

Have you visited the Hotel Chocolat café in the Grand Arcade yet? A blissful, airconditioned cocoon serving up a selection of heavenly cocoa-based bites and drinks, it’s the perfect spot for refuelling mid-shopping excursion. We’re especially taken with the latest addition to their menu: the selection of coffee chocolat lattes, which come in six delectable flavours.

Created using chocolate, Arabica coffee beans and skimmed milk (no sugar, syrup, additives or anything else), the drinks all come with the option of adding a complimentary chocolate whip topping from the Whip Bar – it’s a dream, trust us.

Flavours include salted caramel, luscious white chocolate, hazelnut chocolate, spiced chocolate and the classic 100% chocolate, which is made using a rich, malty St Lucian hot chocolate with a double shot of espresso for an extra kick to pep you up. www.hotelchocolat.com

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DRINKS

WORDS SAM OWENS IMAGES NICOLA FOLEY

THERE’S A DRINKING

REVOLUTION OUT THERE From craft beer to organic wines, the way we drink is changing.

Sam Owens from Chesterton Road drinks shop Thirsty investigates

Cravats and bushy beards can still be found among wine and beer cognoscenti.

But the clichés of old are becoming ever more obsolete.

A wave of change has ripped apart the UK’s drinks business. Supermarkets and the Internet have grabbed the vast majority of our drinks purchases, at the expense of the many high-street chains, which have since disappeared. High-end wines have become straightforward traded commodities, purchased and sold like stocks and shares for astronomical sums. Brewers have consolidated and consolidated, leaving us with a small number of global monoliths – a pattern echoed in the spirits business. On the face of it, the picture doesn’t look that rosy.

But the good news is that all this change has spawned a huge explosion in innovation – both by producers and by retailers.

Wine producers across the globe are going back to basics. Huge, over-oaked flavour-bombs are falling out of fashion with both customers and producers alike.

The revolution doesn’t just stop with the people making the stuff: us ‘retailers’ are turning models upside down as well (I use the term retailers loosely. Selling drinks these days is about so much more than just plain old vanilla ‘retail’.)

Technology has created opportunities for new online businesses, democratising the world of wine by breaking Inside Thirsty on Chesterton Road down traditional barriers between the drinker, the There’s a trend to do less to get more: let seller and the producer. Apps and social nature take its course with less interference media platforms enable all parties to from us and the results often tend to be communicate and share information from better. Witness the growth in organic, a smartphone. biodynamic and so-called ‘natural’ wines.

There’s been a phoenix-like rebirth of Beer is arguably the most exciting part independent sellers of wine, beer and of the drinks game right now. The craft spirits. Such places offer interesting, beer revolution shows no signs of abating, carefully chosen products that you simply with new breweries popping up across won’t find in a supermarket, staffed by the UK every week. Look beyond people who know what they are talking the hipster tattoos and waxed about and share your enthusiasm. And beards to explore the fantastic many are not just ‘shops’, either. Highbreadth of styles and flavours street retail needs theatre to attract people these guys and gals are brewing away from the supermarkets and retail up. In most cases, these are small, parks, so expect to see more and more artisanal productions – the result hybrid formats, marrying shop with bar of a brewer’s insatiable appetite to and other elements… experiment. Cherish that.

It’s certainly an exciting time. There’s a A similar picture exists with real sense that we’re moving on, that the spirits – most visibly with gin. There future looks (and tastes) good, that the are hundreds of new gin producers pace of innovation will only increase. If, out there and the big brands are like me, you love a great drink, let’s raise a feeling it. toast to that!

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FOOD

BEER FESTIVAL Sit back and relax with a beer of your choice at The Black Horse’s summer beer festival in Swaffham Bulbeck.

With a selection of ten beers and ciders from local breweries, including 3 Blind Mice from Ely, Moonshine from Fulbourn and Buntingford Brewery, as well as a few from further away, the festival, on 1-3 July, is part of a weekend of activities planned in the village. There’ll also be a street market and village day on the 2nd, which features bouncy castles on the village green, live music throughout the village and many other activities.

The Black Horse, in conjunction with The Cambridge Events Company, will be hosting live music on the 2nd, with a great duo called Crowjane already confirmed. The pub will also host a mojito and Pimms bar, plus a barbecue, all served from the garden.

On the 3rd, The Black Horse will compete against the village’s cricket club – a rematch of last year’s game, followed by burgers and hot dogs.

The pub’s charity quiz will finish off the weekend, with all proceeds going to Snakehall Farm, an organic care farm, in Swaffham Prior. www.theblackhorseswaffhambulbeck.co.uk

MILL ROAD MIDSUMMER We’re already getting excited about the Mill Road Midsummer event, which takes place on 2 July. The summer counterpart to the well-loved Mill Road Winter Fair, this community event is now entering its second year, and promises to deliver the same combination of great food, great music and great entertainment once again for 2016.

Taking place from 5pm, the event will once again feature a pop-up food market at the Gwydir Street car park, featuring the cream of the local foodie scene. There will also be a craft market, plus music at the Ash Coop. This year’s additions include a dedicated kids’ area at Ditchburn Place, and Hope Street Yard will be getting involved with a programme of entertainment too. Stay tuned to the next issue of Cambridge Edition for the full lowdown and find the event on Facebook by searching Mill Road Midsummer.

WINE PRODUCERS DINNER

If you have a taste for wine, a nose for fruity aromas or just an interest in what makes a perfect meal and drink combination, don’t miss your chance to dine out in style at Hotel du Vin & Bistro in Cambridge.

The Wine Producers Dinner takes place on 29 June at 7pm in the stunning Ruinart Room and you’ll be treated to canapés and a four-course dinner, with each course perfectly paired with wine. A guest speaker will be also be present.

For more details, or to book a place for £69, call 01223 227337 or email events.cambridge@hotelduvin.com. www.hotelduvin.com

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FOOD

WATERFRONT RESTAURANT LAUNCHES NEW MENU With its stylish spa, great golf course and lovely restaurant, Wyboston Lakes near St Neots is the perfect spot for a blissful retreat. There’s all the more reason to visit right now as they’ve just launched a fabulous looking new menu at their inhouse restaurant, The Waterfront, which boasts beautiful views overlooking the south lake.

The menu focuses on seasonal ingredients and local produce, and offers starters including Thai chargrilled beef salad served with som tum salad, and pan-seared king scallops with cauliflower purée, bacon crumbed cauliflower and aubergine sambal. For mains, meanwhile, there are indulgent offerings like the trio of Welsh lamb, consisting of loin, crispy belly and slow cooked shoulder, served with salt-baked heritage carrot and sweet potato fondant.

Vegetarians are well catered for, too, with wild mushroom linguine, pearl barley risotto with roasted shallots, heritage carrots and marinated beetroot and the Penang vegetable curry, served with wilted pak choi and jasmine rice.

Desserts are equally enticing, with favourites like tiramisu, sticky toffee pudding and lemon meringue all making appearances.

“Our new restaurant menu is a fusion of cultures and styles focusing on excellent quality ingredients all prepared by our 16-strong chef brigade,” says The Waterfront’s food and beverage manager, Paul Rhodes.

“Our ethos, devoid of snobbery, gives diners the chance to enjoy an array of dishes, each with their own provenance and story, such as our steaks from the Royal Warrantholding Aubrey Allen of Coventry or our free-range Cotswold chicken.” www.wybostonlakes.co.uk

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WORDS ALEX RUSHMER

A COOK'S BOOKS ALEX RUSHMER RAIDS HIS BOOKSHELVES TO CREATE A SPECIAL MENU

or the last three years it’s been a real pleasure taking part in the Eat Cambridge food festival, and once again I marked the occasion by creating a themed tasting menu to cook at my restaurant, The Hole in the Wall. In 2014 the focus was on locality and we sourced all the ingredients for the feast from within about 20 miles of Little Wilbraham. Last year’s menu centred around historical figures from the city’s past and consisted of such dishes as Lord Byron’s Pool and Cromwell’s Favourite, as well as a deliciously sweet Duchess of Cambridge Tart, flavoured with bergamot and vanilla.

The challenge for this year’s menu was to find another connection on which to base the ten courses that create the meal. I’d had the germ of an idea wondering around my head for at least 12 months, but the advancing deadline ensured I would have to work a little more quickly. So I delved into the bookshelves for inspiration and found plenty.

Thankfully Cambridge has a rich and varied literary history and there are any number of authors, books, poems or plays that could have been used as influences for dishes that would appear on the menu.

I devoured the works of the Romantic poets, scoured Milton and powered through Forster to find even the most fleeting references to food or a hook on which to hang a dish.

Gradually the shape of the menu came together and after plenty of time searching

through book after book I found enough source material to create a fun thematic menu with a definite connection to this great city.

Along the way it takes in fiction, memoir, poetry, science and travel with culinary inflections from all over the world (and even beyond if you include Douglas Adams’s magnificently named cocktail, the Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster) including Chilean ceviche flavoured with Tahitian vanilla, a vibrant green chutney taken straight from the pages of Salman Rushdie’s Midnight’s Children and a truly wicked dessert based on the brilliantly evocative Turkish delight of C S Lewis’s The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.

One thing I realised when putting this menu together was that inspiration can, C.S. Lewis and often does, appear from the

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© Charlotte Griffiths

INSPIRED BY THE WORLD OF LITERATURE

CULINARY INFLECTIONS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD (AND EVEN BEYOND IF YOU INCLUDE DOUGLAS ADAMS) strangest of places. On late nights when it felt as if the creative juices had long since been depleted, a single word or line could fire a spark of inspiration that would be sufficient to come up with a whole new element or complete dish as happened when reading the gentle meanderings of A A Milne’s The House at Pooh Corner and the wonderful opening words of Tom Sharpe’s biting satire Porterhouse Blue.

But I suppose, more than anything else, it made me realise just how much fun the process of creating and cooking and dining actually can be – that small injection of comedy or a referential nod to something can bring a whole new dimension to an eating experience.

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FOOD

, Y A D S R E H FAT

S T F I G FOODIE

For Father’s Day Vhari Russell and Kelly Molson, founders of the award-winning networking group Grub Club Cambridge, have chosen some top foodie treats for dads LAZY SUNDAY MORNING Who doesn’t want a lazy Sunday morning? Cambridge Artisan have created a wonderful gift box which is just that with Hot Numbers coffee, Kandula tea, passionfruit and lemon curd from Scarlett and Mustard, plus many other delicious East Anglian products. This perfect Sunday morning is £59 from www. cambridgeartisan.co.uk.

With the barbecue season upon us this is a great foodie treat for dad. Foraging Fox have two beetroot ketchups and the hot one has just launched, offering the delicious flavour of beetroot with a warmth of spice. Available in farm shops and delis, via Ocado at £3.49 or direct from www.foragingfox.com.

THE DUKE CHEESE The Duke is a delicious cultured blue with complex flavours, a soft blue natural rind and a golden interior with blue veins – just perfect for picnics. The Duke Cheese retails for £13 (450g) and is available across Cambridgeshire in farm shops and delicatessens, as well as direct from www.dukeduchesscheese.co.uk.

We Love Manfood have a wonderful array of products, and the moreish satay sauce is sure to make any stir-fry or barbecue even tastier. It’s a Malaysian recipe, which goes well with meat and fish. Find it for £4.95 (300g) in farm shops and delis across the region or you can buy it at welovemanfood.com.

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SPICY CHILLI & GARLIC MEXICAN COOK SAUCE Sauces like Capsicana’s range take the hard work out of cooking, and they make a perfect gift for dads who like a bit of spice. This Mexican Chilli & Garlic sauce uses Manzano chillies – great for meat, fish and veggie dishes.

The sauces all retail for £1.95 and are sold in farm shops and delis, and online at www.capsicana.co.uk.

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smoke and fire WORDS ANDREW WEBB

The perfect barbecue is no smoke and mirrors trick, it’s all down to choosing the right barbecue, fuel and food, says Andrew Webb Meat, meet fire. This incredible event in human history is thought to have taken place around one million years ago. Why? Well, cooking meat makes it easier to chew and digest, as well as making it safer to eat. But more than that, it makes meat tasty, darn tasty. Then, as cooking came first indoors, and then into an oven, we lost the skills of cooking outside over naked flames using solid fuel. Today, all that’s left is the barbecue.

When I was growing up, barbecues in Britain were often dreadful testosterone and alcohol-fuelled affairs. We had neither the equipment nor the experience to do them properly, resulting in the classic ‘burned on the outside, raw in the middle’ chicken drumstick. I’ve got dozens of British cookery books from the latter half of the 20th century and not one of them mentions cooking outside on a barbecue.

In the past five years there’s been an explosion of ‘dude food’ and the American style of outdoor cooking.

They’re not the only nation with a culture of outdoor cooking over coals however.

South America, Australia, southern Asia and the Caribbean all have variations, as does the eastern Mediterranean and Middle East with their kebabs and koftas.

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What is

barbecue?

This question will get you a different answer, and even different spelling, depending on whom you ask. So perhaps I’ll leave it to the late, great food writer and founder of the Meatopia festival, Josh Ozersky, who once said, “the only ingredients that truly matter in barbecuing – beyond the quality of the meat, of course – are smoke and time.”

Barbecue boils down to one of two methods, either high temperature and short time, or low temperature and a long time. In the UK, we tend to favour what Americans call grilling. This means smaller items like burgers, steaks and sausages cooked directly and quickly over hot coals and the occasional flame. If you’re going to cook steaks, bigger, thicker ones work much better as they allow time for that lovely telltale charred crust to form on the outside, without completely overcooking the centre. You can also cook steaks ‘dirty’,

which means throwing them directly onto the hot coals. Proper barbecuing is cooking large cuts of meat much slower, often indirectly. This means the coals are moved to one side of the barbecue and the resulting gentle radiant heat as well as smoke does all the work. Using this ‘low’ (as in temperature) and ‘slow’ (as in it takes a while) approach, you can cook meat with lots of connective tissue such as shoulder and brisket, breaking it down for a soft and delicious result.

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FOOD

Kit

The cheapest way to cook outdoors is to dig a small hole in the ground, line it with rocks and fill it with fuel.

Great if you’ve got the space, but a little tricky in a tiny back garden off Mill Road. Barbecues come in all shapes and sizes, but whichever one you choose, do look for one with a lid, so you can smoke and cook indirectly. The last word when it comes to buying a barbecue, however, has to go to Big Green Egg (pictured below, right).

These ceramic barbecues are brilliant; you can grill on them, but also slowcook meats and roast chickens. With

look for one with a lid so you can smoke indirectly the addition of a pizza stone you can even cook pizzas and bread on them.

Gog Magog Farm Shop has a full range and hosts courses showing you how to get the most out of one, with Nic Williams from Big Green Egg. As Nic says: “There are only two accessories you need to barbecue all year round, an umbrella and a glass of wine!”

Big Green Egg courses 15 JUNE – Technique & Surfaces 20 JULY – Spanish Dishes 17 AUGUST – Get Creative 7 DECEMBER – Christmas 14 DECEMBER – Christmas See gogmagoghills.com/events to book

top five

NIC WILLIAMS’ BARBECUE TIPS

1. Start with the best ingredients and that includes the charcoal. Make friends with your butcher and get them to advise you on what cuts of meat to cook.

2. Do one thing and do it well. A marinated butterflied leg of lamb is a good start.

3. After cooking your meat, rest it – whether it’s a steak or a whole shoulder of pork. It will relax the meat and make it more succulent.

4. Relax, give yourself time. A barbecue with a lid will allow you to control the temperature, and get it going early.

5. Buy a Big Green Egg, it’s the best way to cook outside.

Just ask the more than 30 Michelin-starred restaurants who use them!

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Fuel

The type of fuel you use on your barbecue is actually really important.

Charcoal comes in two main types: lump and briquettes. Lump charcoal is made from burning solid wood in a reduced oxygen atmosphere. It burns quickly and gets hot fast, though after that it cools rapidly. This is great for quickly grilling things like steaks and sausages. You can also use wood for indirect smoking to give a lovely smoky flavour. Briquettes are made from charcoal and coal dust held together with a starch binder. The advantage of these is their uniform size and shape, and the fact that they burn for longer. They’re often cheaper too.

However they also produce more ash than lump charcoal. Whichever you decide to use, I’d avoid anything that’s impregnated with chemicals that help it set alight.

As well as from the national DIY and garden centres such as Scotsdales in the region, you can also get fuel for your barbecue from Forestry Fuels in St Neots, Treewood Charcoal in Bishop’s Stortford, and further afield, the excellent Oxford Charcoal Company.

Fire starter

I don’t like firelighters, lighter fluid or other chemicals to get a barbecue started. It’s far better to buy a chimney starter, now widely stocked alongside barbecues. This ingenious invention consists of a small metal barrel with holes in the bottom; you simply place the charcoal inside and the holes draw air in and up through it. Place some newspaper underneath the coals, light them, and 15 minutes later the coals are ready. You then just you pick up the chimney and tip the coals out onto the rest of the barbecue.

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cook savvy

Now, I love a good steak, or a chop; as well as a juicy burger or a smoky hot dog. I love all these things, just not all at once on the same plate. There’s the tendency with many barbecue menus to have too much food, often from all over the globe. A South American style menu isn’t going to sit well alongside Middle Eastern dishes. The flavours will muddle and much like mixing all the colours together, you get brown. So pick a country or region and think about the dishes from there.

All too often I see cooks at the grill constantly pressing burgers or other meats down with the spatula, the result is a flare-up of flame and a satisfying sizzle. The trouble is, all you’re doing is squeezing out the lovely juices from your meat. This means a dry burger, with much of the flavour now coating the coals underneath, so remember: don’t squeeze your meat!

Slather on the sauce

The sides and sauces to served alongside your meat are critical. You don’t want chimichurri, peri peri and kimchi all on the same plate. If you’ve not heard of any of these sauces, and still reach for the tomato ketchup, here’s all you need to know.

Chimichurri is an Argentinian sauce made from finely-chopped parsley, garlic, oil, oregano and white vinegar. It’s best served with thick slices of steak and a large glass of red. Peri peri is originally from Portugal via the trade routes of Africa, and features chilli, lemon juice, herbs and oil. It can be used both as a sauce and a marinade for meats such as chicken (never serve a sauce that raw meat has been marinated in though). Kimchi meanwhile is a pungent Korean sauce made from chilli and pickled vegetables, often shredded cabbage. It’s great on anything from rice to burgers. If you’re sticking with US style sauces, they’re mainly tomato and vinegar based, with sweetness from brown sugar or molasses.

Smokeworks

If all this sounds like too much effort, then let someone else do all the work for you.

For an event or larger party, there’s The Cambridge Barbecue Company.

They’ll arrive, light the coals, do all the cooking, and clean up afterwards. They can tailor a menu to your exact tastes and preferences, as well as budget.

For eating barbecue out and about in Cambridge, there’s SmokeWorks on Free School Lane. Here chef Vladimir Hromek and his team offer the ultimate in low ’n’ slow barbecue. I asked him for his barbecue advice.

• What’s your top barbecue tip?

It’s all about understanding the ingredients and the cooking equipment – smoke and fire are not as precise as gas and electricity.

• What’s the key to making your iconic pork belly bun a success?

Tenderness and smoke on the pork belly is the key – we slow roast the pork for three hours so it has that melt-in-the-mouth tenderness.

• What’s the secret to a great homemade barbecue sauce?

Try as many recipes as you can find and see what you prefer. There are so many varieties. It really is only about your personal preference. At SmokeWorks we experimented for months before settling on our own recipe, which uses apricots and apple juice. These natural fruit juices give the sauce a great fruity tang and help with the glazing process on the ribs.

• What do you do differently to other barbecue chefs?

I don’t ask myself such questions. I try to input as much passion and love into our food as humanly possible. That is the only rule!

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Pork Belly Bun ASIAN SLAW AND LIME MAYO

SERVES 4 DIFFICULTY: EASY-MEDIUM

MARINATED PORK BELLY • 700-800g pork belly • 50ml Shaoxing rice wine • 50g light brown sugar • 50ml light soy sauce ASIAN SLAW • 1/2 red onion • 1 stick of celery • 2 green chillies • 8 mangetout • 2tbsp fresh coriander • 1tbsp toasted sesame oil • 1tbsp sesame seeds • 1 lime (zest & juice) LIME MAYO • 5tbsp mayonnaise • 1 lime (zest & juice) • pinch of salt

TO PREPARE THE MARINATED PORK BELLY The day before, cut the pork belly into six equal rectangles. Mix together the rice wine, sugar and soy sauce until the sugar has dissolved. Pour the marinade over the pork belly, massage it gently into the meat and leave it to marinate overnight in the fridge.

The next day preheat the oven to 150°C/130°C fan/gas mark 2. Place the pork belly in a small roasting tray and pour over all the juices. Cover with foil and slow roast the pork for three hours until very tender. Leave to cool, setting aside the cooking juices for later.

TO MAKE THE ASIAN SLAW Thinly slice the red onion, celery, green chillies and mangetout. Combine in a bowl with the fresh coriander, sesame oil, sesame seeds, lime zest and juice. Leave to marinate for 1 hour.

TO MAKE THE LIME MAYO Mix together the mayonnaise, lime zest, lime juice and a pinch of salt.

TO ASSEMBLE Cut each rectangle of pork belly in half to make 12 squares. Heat a griddle pan to mediumhot. Grill each square of pork belly on both sides for 30 seconds. Spread the lime mayo on the inside of each bun. Fill each bun with three squares of grilled pork belly. Place a heaped spoon of Asian slaw on top of the belly and drizzle with a little of the reserved cooking juices.

Cover with the brioche bun lid and serve.

Recipe from Vladimir Hromek, head chef at SmokeWorks 2 Free School Lane, CB2 3QA www.smokeworks.co.uk

ASSEMBLY • 4 brioche buns

A final word

Avoid those cheap disposable barbecues. They can’t cook much more than a sausage.

Not only that, but they damage the grass, so much so that Cambridge City Council has banned barbecuing in public spaces. However, recognising that people love to barbecue, they’ve installed barbecue stones at Jesus Green and a designated area located at Sheep’s Green/Lammas Land and Byron’s Pool. Enjoy!

Andrew Webb’s new book, the Haynes Meat Manual, was released last month.

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HOTEL DU VIN SAY BONJOUR TO TOP CUISINE ON TRUMPINGTON STREET WORDS NICOLA FOLEY IMAGES DAISY DICKINSON

handsome townhouse on Trumpington Street, Hotel du Vin sits proudly among its historysteeped neighbouring buildings.

It was converted into a boutique hotel back in 2007, immediately becoming a front runner in the local dining scene – a shining beacon in what was then a rather barren foodie landscape in the city. Things have moved on drastically since then but Hotel du Vin remains a go-to for a fancy dinner or special occasion.

Hotel du Vin is a chain, but a clever one, which continually endeavours to imbue its outposts with individuality and local character.

Accordingly, the Cambridge branch is adorned with artistic depictions of students at May Balls and references to the university. Joined by grand fireplaces, dark wooden floors and antique light fittings, the whole place feels decidedly luxurious, but never stuffy.

Beautiful bedrooms (of which there are 41) and stylish subterranean cocktail lounge aside, there’s a strong focus at Hotel du Vin on the food.

As the name suggests, the menu takes its inspiration from French cuisine, and the menu groans under the weight of Gallic indulgences like moules marinière, saucisson en brioche and chateaubriand (a sharing steak which would have definitely made its way to my plate had I not been dining with a vegetarian). Which brings me to my first observation on the food: there’s a definite emphasis on meat – par for the course when it comes to a restaurant serving up French style food, perhaps, but something to consider if you don’t eat meat.

That said, my dining partner very much enjoyed her dainty tomato consommé starter, with its colourful roasted heritage tomatoes and basil-infused tapioca. A lovely light dish, perfect for a warmer evening. I, meanwhile, went for the rather more decadent limousin beef carpaccio: a sizeable platter of exquisitely tender beef slivers accompanied by boudin blanc and quail Scotch eggs, edible flowers and roasted garlic cloves.

It was more meaty indulgence with my pork belly main – also generously sized –

which came drizzled with a rich jus de veau. The Gloucester Old Spot pork belly was perfectly done (crispy skin, chewy fat, soft meat and plenty of flavour), and the accompanying mound of creamy pomme mousseline was gloriously buttery. A match made in heaven for the fruity Côte de Rhone recommended by our waiter.

Over on the other side of the table the sweetcorn and courgette cakes were being devoured. Fluffy on the inside with a crisped exterior, they were served with steamed spinach and a swoosh of salsa verde, lovely to look at, and they more than delivered on the taste front too.

Ignoring our already overfilled bellies, we pored over the dessert menu gleefully. I could have happily scarfed down anything on the list (or indeed the spectacular looking cheese trolley), but I went for the salted caramel fondant, served with crème

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anglaise. The sponge may have been ever so slightly underdone but it didn’t diminish my enjoyment of this dish, which made exquisite use of that alchemic combination of toasted sugar, rich butter and bitter sea salt.

Not to be outdone in the sugar consumption stakes, my dining partner was happily digging into a huge crème brûlée.

After begging for a spoonful, I echoed her positive noises: it was the optimal blend of rich, creamy custard underneath with perfectly crisped caramelised sugar on top.

Had we not both been driving, we’d have headed downstairs to the gorgeous cocktail bar. Open to everyone, it’s one of the nicest spots in city for an expertly crafted cocktail. www.hotelduvin.com

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COMPETITION

WIN!

UP FOR GRABS…

WIN BIG WITH BELLA ITALIA!

PLATINUM PRIZE

Historic Bridge Street recently gained itself another great eatery in the shape of Bella Italia.

Boasting a stylish interior with lots of cool touches (we love the retro gelato cart!), the restaurant offers the tasty Italian cuisine and great value the brand is known for.

The menu is packed with products from family-run Italian producers and offers classic Italian favourites with a twist. Expect hand-stretched pizzas, fresh pasta dishes and favourites like lasagne, made from scratch each day in the restaurant. There’s a lovely range of cocktails and Italian Prosecco too, as well as a menu especially for the bambinos, if you’ve got little ones with you.

Fancy trying it for yourself? We’re giving away a meal for four, a meal for two, a £100 voucher and a Bella hamper worth £50 – giving you four chances to get lucky! Head to the Cambridge Edition website at www.cambsedition.co.uk to enter.

Bella Italia is located at 14-16 Bridge Street. Tel: 01223 464630 www.bellaitalia.co.uk/cambridge-bridgest

Meal for 4 at Bella

GOLD PRIZE

Meal for 2 at Bella

SILVER PRIZE £100 voucher

BRONZE PRIZE

Hamper from Bella worth £50

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LISTINGS

CHECK OUT LOCAL EVENTS ONLINE

cambsedition.co.uk

A ROUND-UP OF EVENTS IN AND AROUND CAMBRIDGESHIRE THIS JUNE

6 JUNE SARA PASCOE Time: 8pm Location: Cambridge Junction Price: £13 Description: The comedian, who’s appeared on shows including Live at the Apollo and QI, chats Tony Blair, Oedipus Rex and the wildlife of Lewisham in her new offering, Animal. www.junction.co.uk 7 JUNE DRINK AND DRAW Time: 7-9pm Location: Hot Numbers, Gwydir Street Price: Free Description: A friendly, artist-led creative session at which all are welcome. Expect great coffee and cake and lots of doodling. hotnumberscoffee.co.uk 9 JUNE HALF MAN HALF BISCUIT Time: 7pm Location: Cambridge Junction Price: £23 Description: Cult favourites Half Man Half Biscuit bring their witty words, melodic yet edgy singalong songs and infectious tunes to the Junction’s J1 stage. www.junction.co.uk 10 JUNE GLOBAL FOOD SAFARI Time: 7-10pm Location: Cambridge Cookery School Price: £62.99 Description: Join this whistle-stop tour of gourmet hotspots from around the world on its final leg – journeying around Europe where there are plenty of fantastic dishes to be sampled. Global Food Safari is BYOB. cambridgecookeryschool.com

10 JUNE HAMMER & TONGUE Time: 7.30pm Location: Cambridge Junction Price: £7.50 Description: Hosted by Cambridge-based poet and musician Fay Roberts, Hammer & Tongue is a mixture of spoken word artistry and competitive fervour. Headlining this month’s slam is Paula Varjack, whose beguiling wordplay touches on social dynamics and identity. www.junction.co.uk

11-12 JUNE LIFE ABOVE AND BELOW STAIRS Time: 11am-4pm Location: Audley End House and Gardens Price: £18.30 adult, £11 child Description: Watch this majestic stately home travel back in time to its Victorian heyday. There’ll be cooking with Mrs Crocombe, visits to the stables and more, with costumed characters offering an educational and entertaining insight into Audley End’s fascinating past. www.english-heritage.org.uk

Price: £118.87 Description: The Literary Kitchen presents lectures by leading academics, interspersed with culinary activities. This session is all about Katherine Mansfield and the cream puff. cambridgecookeryschool.com

12 JUNE THE LITERARY KITCHEN Time: 1.30-4.30pm Location: Cambridge Cookery School

15-16 JUNE BILL BAILEY Time: 8pm Location: Corn Exchange Price: £27.50 Description: In typically surreal fashion, the comedian laments the chasm between the selves we are and the selves we imagined we might be in Limboland. And it wouldn’t be a Bill Bailey show without music, including a brilliantly downbeat version of Happy Birthday. www.cornex.co.uk

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LISTINGS

21 JUNE UNKNOWN MORTAL ORCHESTRA Time: 7pm Location: Cambridge Junction Price: £16 Description: The endlessly innovative Unknown Mortal Orchestra bring their psychedelic, jazzy and soul-infused sound to the J1 stage, showcasing their latest album Multi-Love. It’s their last gig before heading to the Glastonbury Festival. www.junction.co.uk 13 JUNE OPEN DECK Time: 6-11pm Location: The Portland Arms Price: Free entry Description: Bring along your own records and spin them on The Portland’s decks: no restrictions on genre, era or provenance. www.theportlandarms.co.uk 13-18 JUNE AFTER MISS JULIE Time: 7.45pm, 2.30pm Thurs & Sat Location: Cambridge Arts Theatre Price: £18-£33 Description: A compelling, erotically charged thriller set in the wake of the Second World War, After Miss Julie was inspired by Strindberg’s 1888 masterpiece. www.cambridgeartstheatre.com 18 JUNE MAD ABOUT THE MUSICALS Time: 7.30pm Location: Corn Exchange Price: £27.50/£29.50 Description: The very best songs

from the shows you love, starring Gareth Gates and Michael Courtney. www.cornex.co.uk 18 JUNE SCRAPE, SPLODGE, SPLASH Time: 10.30am-12.30pm Location: Fitzwilliam Museum Price: £8 Description: A painting session with artist Lara Jones for ages five to seven years. Children can get inspired by the artworks around the museum, before creating their own masterpieces in the session. www.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk 23 JUNE BEN FOLDS & YMUSIC Time: 7.30pm Location: Corn Exchange Price: £27.50/£37.50 Description: Multi-platinum selling singer-songwriter Ben Folds returns to the UK for a tour with yMusic and supported by Olivia Chaney, following the release of his critically acclaimed album So There. www.cornex.co.uk

24 JUNE RETRO VIDEO GAME NIGHT Time: 7pm-12am Location: Centre for Computing History Price: £10 Description: A summer edition of the centre’s popular retro gaming night: expect loads of consoles and vintage games plus outdoor entertainment. BYOB. www.computinghistory.org.uk

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28 JUNE-2 JULY LADY ANNA: ALL AT SEA Time: 7.45pm, 2.30pm Thurs & Sat Location: Cambridge Arts Theatre Description: Set in 1871 aboard a steamship bound for Australia, celebrated novelist Anthony Trollope is penning his latest tale, Lady Anna. A story full of intrigue, rebellion and social politics, it proves divisive among his fellow passengers. Is Trollope himself a surprising radical pitted against the status quo – or are his characters to blame for the controversy? cambridgeartstheatre.com

24 JUNE COMEDY LIVE: PHIL WANG Time: 8pm Location: Corn Exchange Price: £5-£15 Description: An evening of comedy in a stylish, cabaret-style setting featuring food from Aromi and standup comics including Phil Wang. www.cornex.co.uk 29 JUNE WINE PRODUCERS DINNER Time: 7pm Location: Hotel du Vin Price: £69 Description: Canapés, a four-course dinner and matching wines, served in the hotel’s elegant Ruinart Room. www.hotelduvin.com Cambridge Edition | June 2016 | 57

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COMMUNITY

Community news Care home OPEN DAY

Ferrars Hall Care Home in Huntingdon will host an open day on 12 June to coincide with its official opening.

The home offers personalised residential and dementia care that is delivered by devoted and capable staff. The high quality of personalised care promotes a dementiafriendly lifestyle for residents.

Spread across three floors, the home has been purpose built in traditional stone to offer excellent accommodation for residents with beautiful enclosed gardens. There are 66 en-suite bedrooms, a hair salon, café, shop, cinema room and numerous lounges.

For more information, call 0843 506 9452 or email info@countrycourtcare.com.

STAGECOACH heroes

First-year architecture students at Cambridge University have been helping local homeless charity Cambridge Cyrenians to redevelop their allotment site.

They’ve created a new development called Growing Space at the site, comprising a new tool shed, including a rainwater collecting roof, a bike storage space, a market stall, a bird and bug ‘hotel’ made from chestnut logs, plus a secluded area and a social space for users to have a cuppa.

Everything has been made from found materials, and designed, planned and built by the students in eight weeks.

Project leader Mark Smith said: “Why spend five years on theoretical projects when you could be involved with developing and building designs with exciting organisations like Cyrenians?”

The charity was set up as an alternative to traditional hostels, offering a range of accommodation, support and specialist services.

The allotment grows fruit and veg that participants can take, and produce is also donated to other homeless shelters and sold at local fairs. The project was designed by horticultural therapist Ruth Nicholls to offer a meaningful activity for homeless people, helping to provide training, improve physical and mental health and develop new skills.

She coordinated the project for the Cyrenians. “The team thoroughly enjoyed working on the architecture projects with the first-year students,” she said. “They are already making good use of the six completed working spaces.”

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Stagecoach’s initiative to encourage the public to nominate their personal cancer hero has raised £1,054.

People filled in a specially designed card for the Park & Ride Heroes nominations, and for every completed card that was deposited in the drop boxes at the Madingley Road, Newmarket Road, Milton, Babraham and Trumpington Park & Ride sites, Stagecoach East then made a donation to Cancer Research UK charity.

Alongside other donations, the total topped £1,000.

Ali Orr, fundraising manager for Cambridgeshire Cancer Research UK, said: “It’s fantastic to have the support of local organisations to help build awareness.”

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FAMILY

The Botanic Garden will host a Moth Monitoring event on 4 June, where nature lovers big and small can learn more about these amazing insects. There will be a moth trap to look at and the chance to create some moth inspired artworks too. The event is free to attend (adults pay the usual admission charge) and takes place between 11am and 3pm – drop in whenever! www.botanic.cam.ac.uk

WILDLIFE CRAZY AT WANDLEBURY COUNTRY PARK Young children with a taste for the outdoors can spend a day at Wandlebury Country Park at half term.

Wildlife Crazy caters for six- to ten-year-olds on 3 June, from 10am to 4pm. They will be able to investigate the pond, woods and grasslands and gain an understanding of the plants and animals that live there.

It’s an unaccompanied event, but parents should provide a packed lunch. Advanced booking is essential. www.cambridgeppf.org

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Barracudas Kids Camp Barracudas Kids Camp in Cambridge has a host of fun stuff to do for the summer holidays. Based at St Faith’s School, their activity holidays are Ofsted registered and ensure maximum fun for kids.

The camps are for children aged four-and-a-half right up to 16 and the more than 80 things to do include archery, fencing, motor sports, dance, drama and art. Skills builder courses include motor mania and lab rats.

St Faith’s School, in the heart of Cambridge, features a modern sports hall, drama studio, art room and tennis courts, to name just a few of the facilities. An inflatable water park will also be on site for the duration.

Opening hours are 8.30am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday, but can be extended with early morning and late afternoon clubs. www.barracudas.co.uk

FATHER’S DAY AT DENNY ABBEY Treat dad to a glimpse of life down on the farm, when the Farmland Museum and Denny Abbey host a Father’s Day event on 19 June.

Organisers promise fun for all the family with a variety of activities and demonstrations, including model railways and welly throwing.

The fun starts at 10.30am and lasts until 4pm. The museum features a restored 17th century barn, craftsmen’s workshops and a children’s play area. www.dennyfarmlandmuseum.org.uk

Family drop-in activity It gets a bit lonely for our pets while we’re out at work or at school, and now there’s a chance to have a bit of fun while making something for them to entertain themselves with.

Wood Green in Godmanchester will be hosting a Family Activity Day on 2 June that’s free and suitable for all ages from two and up.

You could make guinea pig hay kebabs, hamster crackers and lots more, and there’s also advice about how to stay safe around dogs.

There’s guinea pig story time at 11.30am and 1.30pm, plus interactive animal games. You can drop in any time from 10am to 3pm – no need to book. www.woodgreen.org.uk

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FAMILY

FATHER’S DAY AT KNEBWORTH HOUSE Knebworth House hosts a Father’s Day treat to remember on 19 June with a jousting event.

The Knights of Arkley will be jousting in front of the house, with the turrets and towers providing the perfect backdrop.

Costumed knights on majestic warhorses will gallop across the arena and knights will demonstrate their hand-to-hand skills.

There is no additional charge to see the jousting, at 12.30 and 2.30pm (weather permitting), and online booking saves 10%. www.knebworthhouse.com

ABBOTS RIPTON HALL GARDEN SHOW Love the fragrance and colour of a beautiful garden? Then, be sure not to miss the biennial Abbots Ripton Hall Garden Show, in aid of local charities, when Lord and Lady de Ramsey open their stunning private gardens on 25 and 26 June.

The 8.5 acres of managed parkland comprise ancient trees, extensive lawns, a bog garden and mixed borders, plus a ten-acre lake.

You can sample talks and demonstrations by professional gardeners, attend the gala evening on the Saturday with Dixieland Jazz and hog roast, plus there’s a silent auction, plant sales, classic and vintage car displays and the popular children’s container competition.

Founder of the Secret Garden Party, Fred Fellowes, and his creative team, present and sponsor a gala evening on Friday 24 June with the world famous Diva Opera. www.abbotsriptonhall.co.uk

Circuit Unlocks Digital

Are you – or do you know someone – aged 15 to 25 into the digital arts? Then visit Circuit Unlocks Digital, a free event on 11 June that begins with two workshops from 4pm until 7pm – in glitch (changing a digital or analogue error into an image) and GIF (animated images on web pages). They’re followed by an evening showcase until 9pm of artwork and performances, plus live music.

Managed by a team of young leaders as part of Circuit Cambridge, in collaboration with Young Art Kommunity at firstsite, Circuit Unlocks Digital are working with artists Antonio Roberts and Luca Mainini for the workshops. www.junction.co.uk

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EDUCATION

WHY BILLY ELLIOT CLOSING COULD BE TERRIBLE FOR DANCE Will Billy Elliot finishing in the West End spell trouble for the future of boys donning their ballet shoes? he principal of Tring Park School for Performing Arts, an internationally renowned dance and performing arts training ground for future stars, says that many aspiring male dancers have lost their hero now Billy Elliot has left the West End. The well-loved story of a boy from a working-class Newcastle family, who goes against all expectations and his miner father to become a successful ballet dancer, has transformed the dance industry.

“Billy has given male dancers the courage to pursue their passion,” says Stefan Anderson, who has been principal of Tring Park for 14 years. The show has been running for 12 years and in that time 4,400 boys have attended open auditions for the role of Billy.

“In total, I expect the show has inspired hundreds of thousands of young boys to get involved with dance,” adds Stefan, “and this has enriched the profession immeasurably.”

And he should know. Tring Park has trained many young male dance professionals over the years, and three of its own dance students have played the role of Billy in the West End. Other ex-students have made their own mark on the world of dance, such as Drew McOnie, who recently won the

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arts disciplines as a result of a seeing a young male role model as a principal part on the London stage,” he says.

Darcey Bussell has also claimed that there were so many male dancers, due to the ‘Billy Elliot effect’, that consequently there is now a shortage of ballerinas.

Stefan is worried the pendulum may now swing in the opposite direction, once again. “It does worry me that we might see a reduction in the number of boys dancing now that the show is leaving the West End. The show has inspired hundreds of “I fervently hope that the Billy Elliot UK tour will continue to thousands of young boys to dance inspire boys up and down the country to dance,” he continues.

“Some of our strongest, most excellent main inspiration,” he says. “The film kicked athletes are male dancers and we need a it off, but many of the boys coming through steady stream of boys training as youngsters the system are more familiar with the show: in order to put on the incredible range of they are inspired by the fact that a hugely dance-based productions that we have seen successful West End show stars a boy dancer over the past decade or so in the West End – and they can relate to the story portrayed and throughout the country.” on the stage.”

And it is not only dance that he thinks has Tring Park School for the Performing Arts benefitted: “We offer four main disciplines is holding open days on Friday 7 October, at Tring: Dance, Drama, Musical Theatre and Thursday 13 October and Friday 14 October.

Commercial Music, and I think more boys www.tringpark.com have been attracted to all these performing 2016 Olivier Award for Best Theatre Choreographer for his work on In the Heights, and is currently choreographer on Bugsy Malone at the Lyric Hammersmith.

Stefan believes that, were it not for Billy Elliot, a sizeable number of these boys would never have dared to follow a career in dance in the first place.

“We have seen so many boys in our school entrance auditions who cite Billy Elliot as their

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SPOTLIGHT

WORDS & IMAGES NICOLA FOLEY

on

CB4 It’s all going on in this Cambridge postcode – here’s why we’re loving the Chesterton area

Stir Providing the top-quality caffeinating and community hub which the people of CB4 so needed, Stir arrived on the scene last summer and has since won itself legions of fans across the Chesterton area and the rest of the city.

As Cambridge cafés go, it’s huge inside and has masses of seating, including tables and chairs outside and some comfy sofas – there’s a selection of board games to keep you busy too. The enormous blackboard along the back wall serves as a menu, tempting with its vast selection of wholesome and tasty breakfasts, brunches and lunches. Choose between sumptuous salads, gourmet bagels, frittata and other deliciousness, including the Stir brioche stack, which comes with bacon, poached egg, halloumi, avocado and spinach.

There’s also a counter laden with cookies, cakes and pastries, plus a great range of smoothies and juices, and coffee – Butterworth & Son – is to die for.

They cater exceptionally well for vegetarians, it’s super kid-friendly and they host a busy line-up of events in their purpose-built space at the back of the café including Pilates, yoga, kids’ art classes and storytelling for families.

253 Chesterton Road, Cambridge CB4 1BG www.stircambridge.co.uk

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SPOTLIGHT

Townsends Light Blue Cycles Townsends Light Blue Cycle Centre has been providing bicycles to the people of Cambridge for a staggering 121 years – give or take a few years’ pause during the First World War – making it one of the oldest businesses in the city. Impressive stuff, but perhaps not surprising given our city’s enduring love affair with the bicycle.

They’ve popped up on Norfolk Street and Burleigh Street over the years, but have been in their current home on Chesterton Road for some 28 years, now onto the fourth generation of the Townsend family.

Aiming to provide top-quality cycles and service, the shop stocks leading brands of men’s, women’s and kids’ bikes including Pashley, Ridgeback, Genesis, Scott, Bianchi, Surly, Salsa and Raleigh, plus their own covetable range of Light Blue Cycles (beautifully made, steel framed, retro-style bicycles in ‘Cambridge blue’ – the perfect town bike). There’s a comprehensive range of parts and accessories on offer too, from locks and lights to pedals and saddles, and there are numerous qualified mechanics in-house to fix your bike or give it a service to keep everything ticking along nicely. A true Cambridge indie.

©Jemma Dodd

72 Chesterton Road, Cambridge CB4 1EP www.townsends-lb.co.uk

Radmore Farm Shop It’s not a new arrival, but we couldn’t write about great things in the CB4 postcode without mentioning Radmore Farm Shop. Bringing a bit of the countryside to the city, the shop stocks a huge range of produce, from both the family farm and other local suppliers and farms.

Step inside and you’re greeted like an old friend and met with shelves upon shelves of quality foodstuffs, which range from everyday essentials to exotic, specialist items. There are crates filled with fresh fruit and veg, scrumptious-looking home-made cakes, a dairy with eggs, milk and the like and a butchery section with interesting flavoured sausages and homemade burgers. Elsewhere, pick up artisan condiments, bottled drinks, ice creams, pasta and more. Charmingly higgledy-piggledy, super-friendly and all about bringing people great food and ingredients without the frills, this place is deservedly a favourite in the local community.

If you’re not in their neck of the woods often but are still keen to try their products (and support a local business), check out their recently launched delivery service on the website.

30 Chesterton Road, Cambridge CB4 1AX www.radmorefarmshop.co.uk

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SPOTLIGHT

Thirsty Cambridge

1 Thrifts Walk Another interesting addition to the Chesterton area is 1 Thrifts Walk, a new independent art space. It’s run by Cambridge Art Salon – whose previous premises was on Cromwell Road – a social enterprise which pioneers equal access to art.

It’s the third disused space they’ve transformed, and is accessed via an unassuming gate at the back (look out for the herons). It’s blissfully peaceful inside and features both a gallery and studio space for artists to work in. 1 Thrifts Walk opened in March with a show from portrait artist Heloise Toop, and will be showcasing an eclectic range of art moving forwards, with original pieces available to buy.

“It’s a lovely, quiet spot with heaps of heritage in the area, especially with the river round the corner!” says Ruthie Collins, creative director of the space.

“Three of the artists live in Chesterton (including Sa’adiah Khan who is working on the first-ever Chesterton Community Mural), with many visitors saying how lovely it is to have things like this so close by. There’s definitely more creative support for north Cambridge now, with the likes of Kettle’s Yard doing so much, too. We are excited about being part of it all!”

Visiting is currently by appointment only, email info@cambridgeartsalon.org.uk.

Hooray for Thirsty, Chesterton Road’s super-cool independent drinks shop, which arrived with a boozy bang last summer. With an avowed goal of bringing their brand of ‘revolutionary drinking’ to Cambridge, Thirsty offers a refreshingly non-stuffy approach to wine. The bottles are organised according to categories like ‘Smooth’ and ‘Juicy’, rather than by vineyards that you’ve never heard of or grapes you can’t pronounce, and there’s a great range of ciders and spirits available too, plus craft beers from hip breweries like Beavertown.

Stop off for a bottle to take away or sit in and relax with a few drinks. They’ve embraced the Cambridge street food scene and offer an ever-changing line-up of food trucks outside including Jalan Jalan and Pull me Chéri. Great space, great wine and great food – what more could you want from a night out?

This month, Thirsty will host its biggest event yet: Thirstyfest. Taking place on 4 June at the Bodywork dance studio on Glisson Road, it’s promising loads of lovely drinks, food and entertainment, all served up in the relaxed, friendly and fun fashion we’ve come to know and love from Thirsty.

46 Chesterton Road, Cambridge CB4 1EN Twitter @ThirstyCamb

1 Thrifts Walk, Cambridge CB4 1NR www.cambridgeartsalon.org.uk

events The social calendar in CB4 is hotting up too, with an increasing number of great events taking place around the Mitcham’s Corner area. Mitcham’s and More Festival is returning for its second year on 3 September, offering a picnic-style lawn party behind Barclays bank with great live music, food trucks, kids’ workshops, and craft and community stalls. We’ve also got wind that there’s a rather exciting party in the offing from the team behind the Gogs Sundowner to look out for – follow @mitchamscorner to keep in the loop.

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ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

Selecting the right A guide from Yvonne Duffy, home manager at Ferrars Hall Care Home, Huntingdon’s new luxury home Many people arrange their own care.

Local authorities can help with this, but it’s always a good idea to do your own homework. Know what category of care you will need as this is often overlooked when looking for a care facility.

You might assume that all care homes offer all categories of care, however they do not. You need to know whether the person who requires care will need nursing, residential, dementia or nursing dementia care, or, perhaps, a home that caters for specific conditions or disabilities. The age group of the residents in the home may also be an important factor, as not all care homes are for the elderly.

Care Quality Commission (CQC) and local authority reports are a good place to start. On the CQC website it is possible to enter your postcode and search all categories of appropriate care homes within a nominated mileage range. Inspection reports are available for care homes of all categories and will give you an indication of the home’s

suitability for the person who may need care. It is a good idea to ask the manager of the home further questions about their report if you have any concerns or need clarification.

THINGS TO DO AND LOOK OUT FOR: • Visit the home unannounced. The staff at the care home should be happy to offer you a viewing at any time. This way you will see everyday life at any time of the day you visit.

• Have a list of questions ready that you would like to ask. For example, ask to see a copy of the menu or what activities are provided.

• Ask a resident about their experience living at the home.

• Do the staff seem friendly and engaging?

• Do the residents you see look happy?

• Is the environment suitable for the needs of the person you are helping find a care home? For example, are the facilities suitable for a person having difficulties with cognition or mobility?

It is always a good idea to take the prospective resident to visit the home before a final decision is made. This will allow you to gauge their reaction.

For confidential help and advice, you can contact Yvonne at Ferrars Hall Care Home at ferrarshall@countrycourtcare.com.

For more information about Ferrars Hall itself, you can visit www.countrycourtcare.com.

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INDIE OF THE MONTH

Boudoir femme Celebrating an impressive ten years in business, King Street womenswear boutique Boudoir Femme is one of Cambridge's most treasured indies WORDS SIOBHAN GODWOOD

oudoir Femme started life in an antique centre off Mill Road, selling beautiful vintage occasion wear back in 2004. Then in 2006, owner Pippa Sandison opened her first store at 18 King Street, inspired by an old black and white film she’d watched one rainy day. “There was a scene where a woman walked into a shop that looked like an elegant bedroom. She sat at a dressing table and a man brought her everything that she was looking for; the outfit, the shoes, the jewellery.

That’s what I wanted Boudoir Femme to be – a girl’s dream shop, where she could get every single thing she needs for a fabulous, glamorous occasion.”

Now in its tenth year, Boudoir Femme is everything that Pippa dreamt it would be, catering to Cambridge’s most stylish women of all ages and from all walks of life. “I don’t believe there is a particular ‘Cambridge look’,” says Pippa. “But our customers all share a desire for beautiful, good quality pieces.” The boutique sells clothing from a range of highquality brands, including American Vintage,

Maison Scotch, Ganni, MiH Jeans, Gestuz and Elia B. They also offer accessories, shoes and fragrances, and have kept the vintage element with a range of jewellery and scarves.

“Our customers love to hear the stories behind their purchases,” says Pippa, “and learning that our cashmere range is made by a wonderful British artist and knitwear designer, or that our vintage jewellery is personally sourced by me from New York is

all part of the personal service that we offer at Boudoir Femme.”

Although the population of Cambridge can be transient, Boudoir Femme has a core of loyal customers who have shopped there from day one. “We love the fact that we have customers who come back year after year, but because this is a university town, there are people who live here for a few years, then move on. Interestingly, some of the young people who shopped with us when they were students are now moving back with young families and new careers. They remember us fondly from their university days and are thrilled that we’re still here, still selling gorgeous clothes!”

In 2014 Boudoir Femme moved to its current location at 2 King Street. “We wanted to grow the business, and increase our offering of shoes and accessories,” explains Pippa. “This building is three times the size, but we’ve worked very hard to maintain the element of very personal customer service that’s part of the essence of Boudoir Femme.” The new location has been a great success. “We were a bit tucked away before and had to work hard to let people know we were here. Now, we’re one

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of the first shops that people see when they come on to the street. King Street is a really vibrant location, with a host of other thriving businesses, including D’Arry’s and the Cambridge Brew House.

Afternoon Tease sells the most amazing cakes and I buy my coffee in Urban Shed every day. It’s a great place to be.”

This summer Pippa and the team will be celebrating Boudoir Femme’s tenth anniversary with an in-store fundraising event on 2 July, with proceeds going to the Arthur Rank Hospice Charity. “We will launch a very special ownbrand accessory to celebrate our decadelong relationship with Cambridge, treating customers to free champagne, massages from Finn Jordan, healthy bites and juices from Tasty Cambridge, and goodie bags.

We’ll also announce the winner of our prize draw, with a prize of £800 worth of designer goodies. Tickets are available in June.”

With its great location, passionate, knowledgeable staff and shelves packed with gorgeous clothes and accessories, we have a feeling there will be many more anniversaries to celebrate in Boudoir Femme’s future. www.boudoirfemme.co.uk

CELEBRATE BOUDOIR FEMME'S 10TH ANNIVERSARY On 2 July, 10am-5pm at 2 King Street Cambridge, enjoy mini massages, complimentary fizz, nibbles and goodie bags.

Tickets for the prize draw can be purchased throughout June in store. All proceeds to Arthur Rank Hospice, Cambridge.

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INDIE PICKS

FLORENCE SKIRT BY EMILY AND FIN DRESSES £65 LILAC ROSE, BRIDGE STREET

THE FOLIO SHOPPER £150 CAMBRIDGE SATCHEL COMPANY, ST MARY’S PASSAGE

Check out our top picks from local independent fashion boutiques

HERSCHEL SETTLEMENT BACKPACK £55 PODAROK, BENE’T STREET

LARGE TRIANGLE CLUTCH £85 ARK, PEAS HILL

SYMONE TOP BY LOUCHE £35 LILAC ROSE, BRIDGE STREET

SAUVAGE BLUE BY ROIDAL BIKINI £150 DRESS £199 BOTH ELOUISE LINGERIE, BUCKDEN

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ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

FINN JORDAN LAUNCH NEW LASER HAIR REMOVAL SYSTEM! After months of research and testing, Finn Jordan are delighted to announce the launch of their laser hair removal system, a new addition to their already extensive beauty therapy and hairdressing offering.

The brand-new eLase Laser Hair Removal System, from worldwide aesthetic medical device company, Syneron Candela, arrived in the salon last month. Finn Jordan are offering 25% off all laser courses purchased throughout June and July 2016.

Below are the top reasons that Finn Jordan believe this system to be the best choice for those wanting long-lasting hair removal:

Some popular questions answered by the expert, Sarah Jordan, from Finn Jordan: Q: Why did you choose the eLase system?

A: Syneron Candela have a widely trusted reputation and we believe it is the best! eLase is the fastest diode laser platform to deliver safe and effective hair removal treatments on the widest variety of skin and hair types. This was essential as we wanted a system that could treat a variety of clients effectively.

• Virtually pain-free • Long-lasting results • Permanent hair reduction • Safe and effective • Treatment carried out in the comforting and relaxing surroundings of Finn Jordan’s newly refurbished salon

Q: What areas of the body can be treated?

A: eLase can treat unwanted hair growth almost anywhere on the body, including: upper lip, cheeks, chin, chest, breasts, stomach, arms, shoulders, bikini area, legs and back. The only area we can’t treat is eyebrows as we don’t consider this safe.

Over the years Finn Jordan has built up a fabulous reputation as waxing specialists, using Lycon’s range for fantastic results. Identifying that hair removal was a huge part of their business, and with clients requesting a more long-lasting or permanent form of hair reduction Finn Jordan decided now was the time to introduce laser hair removal. The new system is not to replace their established hair-removal treatments, hot waxing, strip waxing and electrolysis, they are simply looking to enhance their current offerings with a longer lasting option.

The Finn Jordan team were busily training in the new system in the lead-up to their launch event, on Tuesday 10 May. Guests received consultations and patch tests to give them a feel for the treatment and assess if it was the correct choice for them. Finn Jordan will be continuously offering complimentary consultations and patch tests for those looking to try the treatment or just to find out more about it, so contact them if you are interested.

Q: Is hair removal right for everyone?

A: Yes, both men and women can achieve permanent hair reduction on almost all body areas. It is proven to remove lighter coloured hair. To achieve a successful outcome on lighter hair colours, more treatments may be needed than with darker hair colours. There are some medical conditions and medications that may prevent you from having the treatment but our team will be able to advise you on this.

BEFORE

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Q: Does it hurt?

A: Everyone’s pain threshold is different, but we have purposely chosen a system that offers a virtually pain-free treatment option. The system cools the skin surface and provides a constant measurement of the skin’s resistance to ensure safety and comfort during treatment. When we did our training all the therapists were amazed how it wasn’t anywhere near as painful as they were expecting!

Q: Do I need to rest after the treatment?

A: Absolutely not, unless you want to, of course. This is a no-downtime procedure.

Patients can return to normal activities immediately after treatment.

AFTER

25% OFF Finn Jordan are offering 25% off eLase hair removal courses purchased in June and July 2016, courses are non-refundable and non-transferable. Contact them to book your free consultation and skin test. info@finnjordan.co.uk | 01223 356600 | www.finnjordan.co.uk

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BEAUTY

VEGAN-FRIENDLY

FOCUS Gone are the days of being forced to the back of a health food shop in pursuit of cruelty-free and vegan beauty products. Thanks to more and more cosmetic and skincare companies adopting a cruelty-free approach, it’s easier than ever to make sure the make-up you choose isn’t at the expense of unnecessary testing on animals, and doesn’t compromise on quality either.

Daisy Dickinson picks her favourite cruelty-free offerings, all of which are vegan friendly too

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A huge number of high-street and high-end cosmetic companies now back a totally cruelty-free approach in both manufacturing and testing their products, but as well as being bunny-safe, a surprising number are also vegan-friendly, meaning no animal by-products are used at all – but getting your head around the confusing marketing jargon can be hard work.

While some products may not have been tested on animals, their ingredients may have been, so getting acquainted with a few campaigningcompanies can be a huge relief. If you’re making lifestyle changes, or your beauty bag simply needs a makeover, consider these gorgeous goodies.

Too Faced is one of my favourite brands for highly-pigmented products with excellent colour pay-off, and the funkiest packaging. Cruelty-free, their brushes are even made from ‘teddy bear’ hair!

If you’re new to the brand, dash to Debenhams immediately and pick up the new Hangover Face Primer (£27) (£27), which is just as good as it sounds; enriched with coconut water for reviving tired and thirsty skin. Heading into summer the Milk Chocolate Soleil Bronzer (£25) is also 100% vegan-friendly, and, thanks to its non-shimmer finish, is perfect for building subtle colour and adding contours. 1

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BEAUTY 6

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I was recently reintroduced to Neal’s Yard Remedies and found so many products I didn’t previously know about including nutritional supplements and blends (pop in and ask the ladies what to put in your Nutribullet!). Their Lengthening Mascara Black 5 (£16) is not only made with 78% organic ingredients but is also suitable for vegans and has a delicious vanilla scent. Team with Oat eyeshadow on the lid, and Cocoa eyeshadow blended into the crease for a natural look (£8.75 each).

For skincare, the majority of the Lulu and Boo Organics range is certified by the Soil Association and registered with the Vegan Society. Their new Chocolate Orange Cleansing Oil 6 (£27, luluandboo. com) is amazing at removing dirt and makeup and, as you might have guessed, it smells incredible too.

Another company taking the guesswork out of choosing make-up is MyChelle. Crueltyfree, vegan-friendly, gluten-free and using 100% recycled paper for the packaging, they’re ticking all the boxes. The Deep Repair Cream (£24) harnesses shea butter for ultranourished skin, while the Fruit Enzyme Scrub (£13, both mychelleuk.com) polishes dead skin away while gently unclogging pores.

And to apply all this lovely, vegan-friendly make-up check out Nanshy brushes. The Masterful Collection 7 comes with everything you need for just £49.95 (nanshy.com).

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A brand popular in the States that’s recently become easy to find over here is Tarte.

Known for their long-lasting formulas, Tarte’s whole range is cruelty-free with many vegan options including the Amazonian Clay Full Coverage Foundation with brush (£34.50), a satin-matt formula which blends seamlessly. For lighter coverage, try the gorgeous BB Concealer and Brush (£18.72, both qvcuk.com) in a range of colours, for dabbing over imperfections.

Any super-pale toned gals like myself who often find highlighters are too deep for the English rose complexion, head to Space.NK on Green Street and discover Becca. You’ll find most products in the line, including the Shimmering Skin Perfector Powder in Pearl 2 (£32), are vegan. I cannot recommend this pressed powder enough for a frosty finish to cheek bones.

Cult cosmetics brand Makeup Geek is fairly new to online shopping site Beauty Bay and boasts a huge list of vegan goodies. Their super-pigmented eyeshadows can be bought as single pans, which can be easily popped into a magnetic Z Palette. The small size costs just £8.95 and will fit nine pans at £4.95 each – perfect for choosing just the shades you want. My favourites are Shimma Shimma, Moondust and Burlesque. 3 Making things super easy, Superdrug’s own brand, B, is totally vegan-friendly, as well as being cruelty-free. With skincare, make-up and a men’s range there are plenty of products to satisfy your beauty cravings, without having to waste time pondering the labels. The B. Rich Intense Colour Lipstick in Rose Quartz 186 4 (£7.99) is a pretty pink shade that’s perfect for an everyday look.

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Of course this round-up wouldn’t be complete without a well-deserved nod to Lush.

Flying the flag for furry-friends the world over, more than 80% of Lush products are also vegan-friendly, and where they do use honey, milk, lanolin or eggs, they will always work to provide a vegan-alternative – plus all Lush products are clearly marked so it’s easy to make choices. I’ve been using their Big Shampoo (£6.75) for the past couple of weeks, combining it with Veganese conditioner (£4.75), and am so pleased with the results on my usually tangled mop. And for those in need of a little colour in their life, try dropping The Experimenter bath bomb 8 (£3.95) into your tub for a psychedelic experience filled with vanilla aroma.

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CONTENTS

ON THE COVER…

The products on this month's cover are available from HomeSense, the Cambridge branch of which is located at the Beehive Centre. www.homesense.com

EDITORIAL For editorial enquiries, contact Editor Nicola Foley 01223 499459 nicolafoley@bright-publishing.com

ADVERTISING For commercial enquiries, contact Key accounts Maria Francis 01223 499461 mariafrancis@bright-publishing.com Senior sales executive Natalie Robinson 01223 499451 natalierobinson@bright-publishing.com

THIS MONTH… 6-12 • INTERIORS Create a blissful boudoir with a little help from our interiors expert 20-21 • PROPERTY NEWS The latest from the buzzing Cambridge property market 23 • BOOMTOWN BULLETIN Updates from new residential developments in the area

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INTERIORS

WORDS ANGELINA VILLA-CLARKE

6 | Property & Home Edition | June 2016

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INTERIORS

As we are asleep for a third of our lives, the bedroom is where we spend a lot of our downtime. We talk to the experts to reveal the latest trends and how to achieve the perfect sanctuary

S L U M B E R The bedroom is one of our most private rooms and it is often the place where many of us express our personality. It’s a personal sanctuary we can retreat to and relax in at the end of a busy day. To create the ultimate modern bedroom, blend trends with timeless pieces of furniture, adding in cherished items which have special meaning for you. Whether you veer towards a Nordic cool sensibility or boutique boudoir, comfort and cosiness is important, so choose fine linens, sumptuous bedcovers and luxury window treatments.

A one-stop shop for a pulled-together, unique finish is Sandra Jane at Home. As well as advice on how to create your theme, with complementary fabrics, wallpapers and accessories, they can also commission original, crafted furniture to match your style.

A neutral colour palette works well. Iced Mauve, Pashmina and Lavender Mist are all pretty, pared-back paint shades available at Benjamin Moore. These are ideal base colours from which to add interest – paint a bolder statement wall, mix and match prints and textiles and use contrasting accessories.

Ruth Mottershead, marketing director at Paint & Paper Library, suggests darker hues give a cocooning feel: “Clutter-free bedrooms

S T Y L I N G are the key to a good night’s sleep – so painting walls, doors and skirting boards the same in our Architects’ Matt helps create an oasis of tranquillity. I choose dark colours for the bedroom so that, even in lighter evenings, I am sure of a restful sleep and feel cosseted in the rich colour.”

Textile designer Vanessa Arbuthnott reveals how to bring this idea to life: “Layer colour and pattern gently for the ultimate in pared-down living. Make this room a haven from the busy world outside.

Made-to-measure quilts and padded headboards are the ultimate bedroom luxury.”

To complete the look, add in accessories.

Check out the homeware collections at Sainsbury’s, currently causing a stir with their accessible take on high-end design. From the indigo-blue bed linens to the relaxed, muted Coastal range, you’ll find a host of covetable pieces for a contemporary bedroom.

Rona Olds, head of buying for Sainsbury’s Home, comments: “There’s no doubt that patterned bed linen is having a renaissance.

It is a brilliant way to bring a focal point to a bedroom scheme. Layering is key, so team the

Ditsy Geo linen set with a bold Moroccan style cushion and a navy knitted throw.”

Wallpaper is also back in vogue. Sandberg designs combine flora and fauna, while the new ‘trompe l’oeil’ effect wallpapers, such as Mineheart’s Panelling Wallpaper, are a contemporary update for bedroom walls.

David Mottershead, managing director of Little Greene, says: “Waking up surrounded by a botanical print is like waking up in your own art gallery. Keep the look on-trend by painting the skirting boards and mouldings in a dark colour inspired by the wallpaper.”

Rest your head LEFT And So To Bed’s Dickens Bedstead, from £6,675, in polished nickel, is perfect for adding a sense of grandeur to a bedroom ABOVE, FROM TOP Little Greene’s Scree and Shallows shades of grey paint, £38 for 2.5l of matt emulsion, gives a calm and sophisticated atmosphere. Put up Sandberg’s Liljekonvalj wallpaper, £90 per roll, for a fresh feel.

Sainsbury’s Coastal range of bedroom accessories, from £6, offers a relaxed and gentle vibe

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INTERIORS

I T ’ S

A L L

Central to any bedroom is the bed you choose. Whether you go for a lavish, padded style, like those at And So To Bed, or a practical, wooden bed with storage, like those at Direct Furniture, make sure you select a model that will stand the test of time. Space is also important. Dwell’s felt Morrison storage bed is a practical choice, while Natuzzi’s Fenice model lifts up to give extra storage space underneath, making it ideal for smaller rooms.

Specialising in beautifully romantic beds is Sweetpea & Willow and co-founder Jacquie Dunton says the size of your room is the most important consideration: “It’s essential that a bed is practical and beautiful.

Before committing to your favourite design ensure that you’ve taken into account the size of the room and the measurements of the bed. Many homeowners don’t realise the size of a headboard or height of the bed and this can completely distort the feel of the room if not considered correctly. If storage is a necessity then an ottoman or drawerbase bed is imperative. Look for beds with wide panelling, which will give your mattress support and additional comfort. A bed can often completely change the feel of a room

A B O U T

T H E

and with an array of headboard options it is important to pick one which complements the rest of the scheme.”

Arguably more important than the frame is the mattress – after all, this will be where you will be resting your head for many years to come. Interior designer Nicola Sanders, at Parsons Gray in Cambridge, agrees: “When choosing a new bed and mattress, apply an approximate rule of one third of your budget on the base and two thirds on the mattress.

It’s possible to pick up a decent base for under £200 if budget is tight, but it’s well worth spending as much as you can afford on the mattress. Less glamorous, yes, but a really good mattress should last you ten to 15 years and will improve the quality of your sleep, which is invaluable. I prefer natural fillings – such as silk or wool – but it really comes down to personal preference.”

Jim Carlile, managing director of Reeds Homestore, gives his expertise: “On average we spend a third of our lifetime sleeping, so choosing the right bed is a very important decision. Reeds Homestore in Ely have a huge range of beds and mattresses to suit everyone. With so much choice, finding the right one can be daunting so we have

B E D

trained staff to help you. With the latest health advice being about the importance of getting a good night’s sleep, it is vital to create a serene environment in the bedroom.

Make sure your pillows are technologically designed to do the best job to suit your sleep patterns (replace them every two years) and get some expert advice on the best mattress for you.”

Lastly, choose your pillows, duvets and bed linen wisely. According to John Lewis, how your pillow feels is affected by how firm or soft your mattress is. It will perform best when there’s a match rather than a contrast, so avoid a firm pillow with a soft mattress.

Taibah Mazhar, brand director at Bedmonkey, adds: “The bed is the main visual focus in any bedroom, so it’s worth choosing the right bedding to make your room look and feel as cosy and plush as possible. Invest in a feather duvet and layer with pillows, cushions and a throw to create the ultimate on-trend stylish bedroom retreat. Combine different luxurious materials and textures in your bedding, rugs and accessories too, for instance try layering textured linens with silk throws, knitted blankets and velvet cushions.”

Softly does it ABOVE, CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT Sweetpea & Willow’s Lauren Bed, from £1,190, oozes romance. The felt Morrison bed, £899, Dwell, provides storage. Reeds Homestore offers a range of beds, such as this Harrison Breeze four-drawer divan, £899

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INTERIORS

L O V E LY

L U M I N O S I T Y

Serenity is all-important in the place where we end and start the day, and lighting is key to this. A stand-out ceiling fitting, such as a chandelier or modern pendant, will give the wow factor and dimmer switches mean you can create different moods.

Søren Ravn Christensen, chief creative developer at VITA Copenhagen, says: “A central, stunning pendant lamp is key to any interior design. Just like a piece of jewellery, it can create a powerful design statement.

Consider style, shape, size and colour when choosing the centrepiece light in a room.”

Adding in different layers of illumination with bedside lamps or reading lights, which are practical choices if there are two of you, can heighten the ambience. Smaller pendant lights, like the Cask model at Bert Frank, hung either side of the bed are currently in vogue, while the Swiss Oak lamps, from MOS Furniture, have neon flock internal surfaces to create coloured circle patterns from the light giving a gentle glow to the room.

“In the bedroom it is particularly important to choose several light sources for different functionalities,” says Sarah Lister, director at David Hunt Lighting.

“A bedside or wall light creates ambience and is perfect for reading, while an overhead light is bright enough for dressing. To create a cosy and intimate atmosphere, try placing reading lamps on either side of the bed.

For table lamps, opt for tinted low-wattage bulbs to mimic candlelight.”

Revealing the latest trends in bedroom lighting is Diane Simpson, lighting buyer at John Lewis: “We’ve seen some beautiful, ornate lighting using mixed materials and wonderful coloured and smoky glass finishes over the past few seasons. This year, we’ve seen a growing trend of customers wanting well-designed lighting made from natural materials such as raw wood and polished concrete. The emphasis has moved to a focus on using high-tech design techniques on raw base materials to create lighting that can work in any interior space, be it classic or modern. There is still very much a trend for using bold colours and pattern, but the quality of craftsmanship and beauty of using raw materials is at the forefront. This is something we feel the market is moving towards and will be relevant to the customer for the coming season.”

Light up the room CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT David Hunt’s Dallas Pendant, £63.50. Soften the mood with the grey Eos feather light, £84, Vita Copenhagen. Bert Franks’s modern Revolve Table Lamp in Brass and Matte Petrol Blue, £79. The Swiss Oak Lamps, £295, MOS Furniture, have neon flock internal surfaces to give coloured circles of light

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INTERIORS

S E N S I B L E S T O R A G E Having ample storage is vital to creating a decluttered aesthetic and therefore a calm environment. Due to its practicality, fitted bedroom furniture is having a renaissance and is perfect for rooms with alcoves or odd-shaped walls. Add personality by mixing and matching quirky bedside tables or a vintage dressing table.

“It’s all about using every spare inch of space for storage,” says Mark Law, managing director at Law & Lewis Joinery of Cambridge. “Clever, fitted wardrobes including pull-down hanging space to take advantage of full room heights, lighting fitted into wardrobes so you can see into dark corners and ingenious shoe and handbag shelving to keep everything in perfect condition with easy access are all really great.”

Another expert in fitted bedrooms is Langtry Fitted Furniture, also in the Cambridge area. The company offers a range of different styles, all made to fit individual bedrooms. Owner Tony Jones comments: “Our bedroom storage is fitted from floor to ceiling so it makes the most of a room’s space. Sleek designs are popular at the moment, with natural colours – cream and grey – our bestsellers.

Another trend are designs that feature coloured glass in the doors.”

For more traditional, stand-alone cabinetry then turn to John Lewis of Hungerford. Its range of painted wardrobes and bedside cabinets means everything has its place but is hidden from view.

Hideaways CLOCKWISE FROM TOP RIGHT The Pure Bedside Table matches the Pure fitted wardrobe range, from £5,000. The Artisan lay-on bedroom furniture comes in birch with clear crystal handles, from £5,000, all John Lewis of Hungerford. Langtry Fitted Furniture offers a wide range of bespoke fitted furniture, prices vary. Visit John Lewis for a selection of lighting options

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INTERIORS

A C C E N T Finally, pulling a look together are those all-important finishing touches. Source sumptuous carpets from The Carpet Mill or from leading specialists Brintons.

“Carpet is perfect for creating a cosy bedroom,” says Natalie Littlehales, consumer marketing manager at Brintons. “The texture of wool coupled with a warm colour or pattern is a great way to build a comfortable scheme. We have seen a surge in demand for our Bell Twist Rosebud carpet. A luxurious shade in a hard-wearing weave, it pairs perfectly with grey furniture and accessories.”

Dress windows with luxurious fabrics made into flowing curtains, such as those available from Sandberg or Harlequin. If budget allows, fit wooden shutters or roller blinds underneath for a practical touch.

Fiona Garwood, director at Cambridge Sunblinds, gives her insight: “White and cream wooden shutters are popular. Giving a classic finish, they filter the light and give privacy. We also have a fabulous range of Roman blinds. Printed designs, with birds

T O U C H E S

and butterflies, in grey, natural and duck-egg blue, are on trend. These can be supplied with blackout lining and give a warm, cosy look. If you don’t know where to start, we offer a free measuring and estimating service, where we bring samples to your home, and help you find the perfect choice.”

Added touches, such as throws – the merino wool versions at Janie Knitted Textiles are super luxe – and fine bed linen, like the Beardmore Egyptian cotton range by Sheridan, give a welcoming feel. Statement pieces of furniture also give personality. Visit Rachel Bates Interiors for inspiration.

“The Horatio carver chair makes a smart, cosy addition to any bedroom,” Rachel says.

“The world’s your oyster when choosing upholstery, trims and wood finish. We can bespoke the chair to your requirements creating a statement piece for any scheme.”

Championing British design, Mineheart is a great source of eclectic finds. John Mabhegede, Mineheart’s commercial director, comments: “One of the emerging trends

for 2016 is the use of feathers for interior decoration and as motifs in pattern and textiles. The Mineheart Feather Table Lamp is the perfect way to introduce this trend. These glamorous feather lamps feature luxurious black or white ostrich feathers held in place by a gold metal wire frame. Soft and delicate, the lights are reminiscent of the elegant feather boas and decadent hats of days gone by, but the design is totally contemporary.”

Pretty it up CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT Go quirky with Mineheart’s Feather Lamps, from £395, and the Birdcage Pendant Lamp, £1,150. Add a feminine touch with Brintons’ Bell Twist carpet in Rosebud, £39.99 per sq metre. Cambridge Sunblinds’ stylish shutters offer a perfect finish. Make a statement with Rachel Bates’ customisable Horatio chairs, from £1,400

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INTERIORS

AND SO TO BED 0808 144 4343 www.andsotobed.co.uk

LANGTRY FITTED FURNITURE 01353 725380 www.langtryfurniture.co.uk

NATUZZI 01322 771442 www.natuzzi.co.uk

BEDMONKEY 01924 469993 www.bedmonkey.com

LAW & LEWIS JOINERY OF CAMBRIDGE 01954 260575 www.lawandlewis.co.uk

PAINT AND PAPER LIBRARY 020 78237755 www.paint-library.co.uk

BENJAMIN MOORE PAINT 01753 575756 www.benjaminmoorepaint.co.uk

LITTLE GREENE 020 79358844 www.littlegreene.com

PARSONS GRAY 07789 658370 www.parsonsgray.co.uk

BERT FRANK 020 71646482 www.bertfrank.co.uk

MINEHEART 0845 467 4580 www.mineheart.com

RACHEL BATES INTERIORS 01625 464300 www.rachelbatesinteriors.com

BRINTONS 0800 505055 www.brintons.co.uk

MOS FURNITURE 01768 798387 www.mosfurniture.co.uk

REEDS HOMESTORE 01353 669754 ely.reedshomestore.co.uk

CAMBRIDGE SUNBLINDS 01223 460192 www.cambridgesunblinds.co.uk

SAINSBURY’S 0800 636262 www.sainsburys.co.uk

DAVID HUNT LIGHTING 01295 672 200 www.davidhuntlighting.co.uk

SANDBERG +46 321 53 16 60 www.sandbergwallpaper.com

DIRECT FURNITURE 01284 752086

SANDRA JANE AT HOME INTERIORS 01223 323211 www.sjah.co.uk

DWELL 0345 675 9090 www.dwell.co.uk

SHERIDAN 01925 453410 www.sheridanaustralia.co.uk

HARLEQUIN 0845 123 6815 www.harlequin.uk.com

SWEETPEA & WILLOW 0345 257 2627 www.sweetpeaandwillow.com

JANIE KNITTED TEXTILES 01909 480163 www.janieknittedtextiles.co.uk

JOHN LEWIS OF HUNGERFORD 01223 305480 www.john-lewis.co.uk

©Benjamin Moore

JOHN LEWIS 01223 361292 www.johnlewis.com

THE CARPET MILL 01223 316866 www.thecarpetmill.co.uk

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VANESSA ARBUTHNOTT 01285 831437 www.vanessaarbuthnott.co.uk VITA COPENHAGEN www.vitacopenhagen.com

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PROPERTY

PROPERTY Edition takes a look at the latest happenings in the buzzing local property market

WHAT CAN I GET FOR MY MONEY? £500,000 NEWTON ROAD, LITTLE SHELFORD £500,000 (pictured right)

YOUR FIRST CHAPTER The question still remains: when will the property market cater for first-time buyers?

With property prices at an all time high and the government’s starter homes proposal gaining little traction with the House of Lords, the outlook for first time buyers still appears challenging.

If the Government’s starter homes proposal goes forward, under 40s are set to receive a boost, as they will be eligible for a 20% discount off the starter home market price: this is with the intention that anyone who is in a position to start their journey on the property ladder should be given the opportunity to. In order to ensure that there is a constant supply of starter homes, the government has proposed a single national minimum requirement of 20% for starter homes on residential sites that comprise of 10 or more units, or more than 0.5 hectares.

There has been scepticism over the proposed plans, with the House of Lords challenging that these enforcements will only benefit

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middle or higher income earners.

Someone in London would need an annual income of £76,957 – £50,226 in the rest of the country – to qualify, but developers will still be able to classify them as ‘affordable’.

Richard Hatch, partner at Carter Jonas Bradshaws, says: “Property prices in Cambridge are at record levels, and although this is good for the sellers and people who already own property in Cambridge, it makes it all but impossible for first-time buyers to afford to buy in or around the city. There needs to be a scheme in place that can provide firsttime buyers with affordable starter homes so we can break away from this renting generation.”

Our economy is growing at such a pace that it is estimated that we will require 43,000 affordable homes by 2031 just in Cambridge. The government has pledged that there will be 200,000 extra starter homes across the country by 2020.

A lovely, light-filled three-bedroom home located in the pretty village of Little Shelford, this property is on the market with Cooke Curtis & Co. The main sitting room boasts period fireplaces and exposed floorboards, leading to a contemporary countrystyle kitchen with quality cabinetry and a wood burning stove.

French doors lead out onto a beautifully kept, south-east facing garden with flower and shrub borders and mature trees, as well as a covered storage area and a timber shed. For the greenfingered, the rear of the garden adjoins the village allotments.

On the first floor are three bedrooms, all of a good size, including a master bedroom with en-suite and fitted wardrobes.

The location offers good cycle routes into the city and to Addenbrooke’s Hospital, and the property is situated about a mile away from the Great Shelford train station, which links Cambridge to London Liverpool Street.

Little Shelford also has a thriving community, with a large recreation ground and sports pavilion and dining options including a Thai restaurant, Chinese takeaway and fish and chip shop. Neighbouring Great Shelford offers further amenities such as a post office, hairdressers, butchers, GP surgery, dentist and supermarkets. www.cookecurtis.co.uk

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PROPERTY

THE PENROSE AT ABODE, ADDENBROOKE’S ROAD £499,995 (pictured left) On the market with Bidwells, this sleek and contemporary two-bedroom house provides 1018 sq ft of accommodation set over two floors. The property forms part of Abode at the Great Kneighton development, a semi-rural community that is positioned adjacent to a 120-acre country park.

Downstairs, you’ll find a dining and living area leading onto a private garden with a generously sized open-plan kitchen that boasts high-spec, fully integrated appliances. Upstairs are the two bedrooms and family bathroom, with the master bedroom also benefitting from a luxury en-suite and fitted wardrobes.

There is allocated parking available and the location offers excellent transport, education and amenities within easy reach.

Looking for a buy-to-let opportunity? The agent anticipates a monthly rental value of £1350 per calendar month. www.bidwells.co.uk

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PROPERTY

BOOMTOWN

The latest from Cambridge’s new property developments

Bulletin REFLECTIONS CAMBRIDGE Five luxury detached homes with their own private mooring rights on the River Cam comprise a new development appropriately named Reflections.

Situated overlooking Stourbridge Common, Reflections is on the edge of Chesterton and half a mile from the new Chesterton Station, which is due to open next year. Each home is built to the highest quality, with beautiful details such as sleek, bespoke kitchens and oak and glass staircases.

Frameless bifold doors on the ground floor fill the reception space with light and provide uninterrupted views across a decking area with glass balustrade, with the river beyond.

Upstairs, each of the three bedrooms has its own en-suite.

The show home launches this month. To secure your place at the launch event, call 01223 258382. www.abbots.co.uk

ALCONBURY WEALD

TRADITIONALLY DESIGNED 2, 3, 4 & 5 BEDROOM HOMES

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Alconbury Weald is a new development offering two- to five-bedroom homes in a variety of styles by Hopkins Homes. Whether you’re a single professional, have a growing family or are looking to downsize, there’s a home to suit.

All the homes benefit from the finest construction and finish, built with traditional methods alongside cutting-edge technology. The layout of the development itself boasts mature shrubs and trees, off-street parking, a network of cycle routes and footpaths, as well as parks and beautiful gardens.

Set between Alconbury and The Stukeleys, near Huntingdon, Alconbury Weald offers a wide range of amenities, including a post office, doctor’s surgery, pub and church. www.hopkinshomes.co.uk

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