Places & Faces April 2014 by Countrywide Publications

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WELCOME

Editor’s L e t t er

new venture, The Dial House, in Reepham and our competition this month offers you the chance to win a year’s supply of beer! Our travel reports have a touch of the exotic this month, with reports on Istanbul (you must haggle at the Grand Bazaar) and Indonesia, where the orangutans are so cute! Be sure to make time to check out the HighTide Festival at Halesworth which has a very impressive line-up this month including the very enigmatic Michael Gambon in conversation, and book tickets to the Norfolk and Norwich Festival which manages to attract acts from all over the world. Jill Asquith, who won our recent Jarrold’s competition which saw her enjoy a private session with the department store’s stylist, Lucy, plus £200 to spend on a new outfit, reports that she had a great day about which we are all delighted. And we’re getting lots of lovely comments about our great photography spread each month where we showcase the work of one local photographer. Do get in touch if you’d like to be considered – and doesn’t Stuart Aylmer’s picture capture a truly iconic Norfolk scene?

Sarah Hardy sarah@h2creativemedia.co.uk

WelcomE! Here at Places&Faces® we strive to provide an entertaining and informative magazine, with ideas on how to get the most out of the region where we live – places to go, events to attend, fashions to buy and so on. With Bake Off star Paul Hollywood as our cover story, food is always at the heart of much of what we do. We have a couple of cracking food reviews and hopefully you’ll feel like trying The Grove country house in Cromer and the Maids Head Hotel in Norwich. Both would be just the place for an Easter Day treat! Simon Wainwright, from the Imperial Hotel in Great Yarmouth, has a delicious salmon dish which would be great to serve on Good Friday, our French chef Franck Pontais shows us how to create an impressive starter and Roger Hickman turns his hand to a tasty quail recipe. Our wine writer Sam Matthews wants us to be more fussy when selecting our wine while Jay Wright, the boss of Norwich-based Virgin Wines, just wants us to enjoy it! Iain Wilson, of Byfords, The Pigs and more fame, tells us about his

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Contents

78 Mark Nicholls travels to Indonesia for his latest travel report – and just loves the orangutans

Celebrities 10 The soulful Lisa Stansfield talks to Joff

Hopkins about working with her husband, her ‘mad’ fame years and her latest album 23 Mix McFly and Busted and what do you get? Supergroup McBusted, of course

Fashion & Beauty 25 It’s child play – clothes for adventurous boys

and girls 27 De stress your hair with a luxurious treatment

What’s On

Our regular monthly round up of events across the region this month

Our four page special on two challenging shows about the horrors of war which arrive in Norwich next month

Simon Wainwright from the Imperial Hotel in Great Yarmouth offers up fish for Good Friday

31 Madness frontman Suggs heads the line-up at

the Lowestoft Marina Theatre in May 32 The Norfolk and Norwich Festival offers a

diverse programme of events next month 34 The HighTide Festival in Halesworth has

Diana Quick, Michael Gambon and Libby Purves as part of its line-up

Homes & gardens 44 Bring a little Easter fun and freshness into

your home with the help of our interiors pages 46 This month’s property of the month has a

touch of the Dynasty about it 49 Take a seat and enjoy The Lust List

Meet Simba and his savannah friends as Sarah Hardy reviews The Lion King in the West End

Food & Drink 57 Wine writer Sam Matthews reckons we all

need to be a bit more picky when it comes to choosing a tipple 58 Andy Newman finds out more about Norfolk Quail while Roger Hickman create a stylish supper dish 63 Our French chef Franck Pontais reveals a few tricks of the trade with a complicated cheese dish 64 The historic Maids Head Hotel is a gourmet’s paradise in Norwich 66 James Spicer thoroughly recommends dinner at The Grove country house in Cromer

Travel 82 Where Asia and Europe, east and west,

meet - Istanbul 8

t hi s m o n t h ’ s

Editor’s Choice Editor Sarah Hardy picks out the best events and activities this month… 1

52 Our gardening writer Mary Ellen has jobs for us to tackle in our garden this April

competiton

Win a year’s supply of beer

Worth a Flutter It is the race that millions bet on – the Grand National. Now called Crabbies Grand National, the handicapped steeplechase takes place at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool on April 5. Anything up to 40 horses tackle the 30 odd fences over the four mile course, which

Business 84 Raise a glass to the right man for the job – meet Jay Wright, boss of Norwich-based Virgin Wines

Motoring 96 Matt Joy reports on the new Seat Leon Estate 100 Iain Dooley test drives the Ford EcoSport,

a mini SUV

Regulars 94 Richard Barr shares his memories of his great

grandfather, Marcus Huish 106 Our High Society pages kick off with the launch of the Norfolk and Norwich Festival 112 Caught On Camera – Enjoy Stuart Alymer’s fabulous picture of mussel collecting in Old Hunstanton 114 Spend five minutes with Iain Wilson whose latest venture is The Dial House in Reepham

involves two laps of the circuit. It is usually the case of choosing a horse with a name you like…

Best Movie The Amazing Spider-Man 2, starring Andrew Garfield as superhero Peter Parker, is released on Good Friday and is sure to pack em in. He faces arch enemy Electro, played by Jamie Foxx, and you can expect amazing special effects.

Best Exhibition Love or loathe his clothes, Jean Paul Gaultier is a designer who has grabbed more than his fair share of the headlines over the past 40 years. Now a major exhibition called From Sidewalk to Catwalk opens at the Barbican in London. Around 140 outfits are on show, including pieces created for Madonna and Kylie Minogue. It opens on April 9 and runs until June 25. Visit www.barbican.org.uk for more.

Best Kids’ Activity The annual Spring Fling is a must on the Norfolk county calendar. Held at the Norfolk Showground, just outside Norwich, on April 9, it is a fun-filled educational day. There’s everything from tractor rides to sheepdog demonstrations and birds of prey displays. Add in around 70 stands, and there’s more than enough to keep all ages

C OV E R STO R Y

amused! Visit www.norfolkshowground.co.uk for more.

12 The king of bakers Paul Hollywood

Best Musical

turns up the heat in Ipswich

Cats, the smash hit Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, arrives at the Theatre Royal in Norwich on April 2. Expect fantastic costumes, amazing dancing and charming songs. Call 01603 630000 for more.

Endurance Feat The Virgin Money London Marathon takes places on April 13 with the main man, Mo Farah, going for glory! I wouldn’t bet against him coming across the line first. The 26-mile route takes in classic sites such as Buckingham Palace, Tower Bridge and the London Eye.

Endurance Gig Adam Ant plays the Hammersmith Apollo in west London on April 19, promising both new and old material – his newer pieces are, err, quirky to say the least . Visit www.eventimapollo.co.uk for more.

1. From Sidewalk to Catwalk exhibition; 2. The Amazing Spider-Man 2

| APRIL 2014

THE

MAGNIFICENT

SEVEN

Soul singer Lisa Stansfield reflects on 25 years in the music business but tells Joff Hopkins thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s plenty more to come!

Celebrity interview

Lisa Stansfield

t’s 25 years since you first appeared on the Top 40 with People Hold On. That’s a long time in showbusiness so what’s the secret?

We’ve touched on acting already – you’ve got a role in a film about the story of Northern Soul which is coming out soon. What can you tell me about that?

I think it’s about not being around all the time – I think it’s really dangerous just to keep yourself out there constantly, because people get bored. I mean, you could have the prettiest face and the loveliest voice in the world, but there’s only so much people can take!

It’s going to be an incredibly well-received film, hopefully. It’s the story of a young guy – he’s a bit of a wallflower, and his mother encourages him to go to this youth club and get on with people of his own age. She really regrets it when he does that, because he gets into all sorts of scrapes – drugs, driving fast cars, girls – everything a northern mother would hate!

It’s been 10 years since your last release. I know you’ve been doing a bit of acting, I think I remember seeing you in Poirot or Marple on the telly, was it a conscious decision to give the music a rest?

There’s a long list of awards with your name on them BRITs, Ivor Novellos, Silver Clefs - but which of your many achievements are you most proud of?

It was Marple, yes! I just thought that I didn’t necessarily have anything to offer at that particular time. I think if I had put out stuff that I wanted to, it would have got lost because it wasn’t what was going on at the time. Nobody would’ve understood it. So when the acting things came along, I thought ‘yep!’. I’m the sort of person who thinks that I’m going to be dead one day so if I get offered something, I’ll do it!

I think I’m most proud of the Ivor Novello, because it’s a really prestigious songwriting award, and it looks really cool as well! Some of them look a bit tacky, but the Ivor Novello is pretty classy. You really want it on your mantelpiece.

The new album Seven is spectacular – tracks like Carry On and Conversation sound like they could be on the soundtrack to a Bond film.

It was just that nobody moved. I’m used to everyone getting excited, and dancing about – and they didn’t dance about at all! I don’t think it was quite as bad as I made it out to be. I think the journalist made it sound worse than what I said. I’m surprised that people came backstage and said it was the best night of their lives, because if I was having the best night of my life, I’d be moving about a little bit! I’m not generalising a whole town of people, by the way – I’m generalising a gig!

When we started working through it and started to record it, we really realised that it lent itself to a very cinematic sound and feel. We’ve tried our best to do that with it. I think that people want to be free and they want to be emotional about things and if, musically, you can push triggers in people like that and help them in some way, then it’s lovely.

You’ve worked with your long-time songwriting partner Ian, who also happens to be your husband, on the album. So did you have any disagreements over anything and did you end up sitting down for dinner and not speaking as a result? No, we’re never like that! Obviously we have our arguments and, creatively, we disagree sometimes – but, you know, we’re with each other all the time so we just work through it. I think we’ve formed a much greater bond on this record with each other, because we’ve had to do a lot of it on our own. We’re really proud of each other!

I noticed that your last UK tour missed out Ipswich, a place you once said gave you one of the worst gigs of your career. What made it so awful?

You’re on tour in Europe again soon – and after that, are you going to leave it another 10 years ‘til you next get in the studio? No, we’ve got all our duck in a row – we’re already thinking about the next album!

Lisa Stansfield’s Seven is out now on Monkeynatra. Tickets are on sale for her 2014 UK tour. Visit www.lisastansfield.co.uk for more.

Can’t Dance is the track that opens the album. In this age of digital downloads and how you can cherry-pick songs that you like off iTunes, how important to you is the song order on an album? I think it’s really important – when we worked it out, we worked out a story pattern. It is a story of a woman who goes through a lot and comes through the other side and is okay.

JOFF HOPKINS, presenter on Norwich 99.9, The Beach and North Norfolk Radio

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| APRIL 2014

THE FLOUR POWER OF PAUL The Great British Bake off star Paul Hollywood brings his first ever live show to Ipswich Regent next month, with Get Your Bake On! He chats to Emma Outten about Mary, Mel and Sue

CELEBRITY INTERVIEW

PAUL HOLLYWOOD

’ve never salivated whilst interviewing

for me brutally honestly, and they’ve got to take that

someone before, but then I’ve never

judgement because I’m trying to help them to get better

interviewed Paul Hollywood before!

- it is constructive criticism.’

The Great British Bake Off star was chatting about

Yet underneath the bad cop exterior he’s got a good

his favourite recipes for this time of year. ‘I made a

Scouse sense of humour and says of his comedic co-

lovely load of flatbreads recently with a Nigella seeds

hosts Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins: ‘Mel and Sue are

‘meniche’,’ he says, before describing the spices he’d rubbed into a leg of lamb and the mango he’d put into a coleslaw. ‘Delicious,’ declares Paul. I bet! The week before he’d baked hot cross buns and a

just legends, aren’t they? I love them.’ And he adds: ‘The contestants themselves are the stars of the show. They are the ones people tune in to watch because they are highly entertaining.’ So it’s a

simnel cake with a twist: ‘Instead of putting marzipan

winning combination of ingredients. Paul agrees: ‘Many

balls on the top I put little mini eggs; and a good lump of

cogs make the wheel turn.’

marzipan in the middle - I love marzipan.’ So far, so seasonal, and this spring one of the biggest

He works extensively for the UK’s Flour Advisory Bureau, which recently reported that the volume of

names in TV baking brings his Get Your Bake On! tour to

flour sold has risen by five per cent a year for the past

Ipswich Regent.

four years. Although he says: ‘I think it’s because of the

‘The tour in May is about my history of baking from when I was a kid right the way through,’ says Paul. Baking is in the blood. The family recently found out

programme rather than just me!’ On the tour, Paul will demonstrate up to four of his favourite recipes during the show, plus four audience

that a forefather five generations back was head baker at

members, chosen at random, will be invited to take part

the Adelphi in Liverpool.

in one baking challenge with the chance to be dubbed

It was Paul’s father who persuaded him to ditch his path as a trained sculptor and join the family baking business.

star baker. Audience members will also been given the

‘His first bakery was in the Wirral, which is where I grew

opportunity to put their own questions to Paul in an

up. He would come back in, covered in flour, so that

open Q&A. ‘I want them to be quite open with me, if

seemed quite normal to me being around bread.’

they’ve got stuck on a very basic thing then tell me!’

From humble beginnings earning a few quid as one of

he implores. Although he’s used to the ‘odd cheeky

the ‘Saturday lads’, Paul would go on to become head

comment’, anything more than that, and ‘there’ll be

baker at some of the world’s most exclusive hotels and

snipers on the roof,’ he jokes.

one of the country’s finest artisan bakers. Still the family ties bind. ‘My brother’s a baker and

‘There’ll be a roving mike so people can just fire questions at me: that’s the point of the tour so I can instil

two of my uncles are bakers as well.’ So would his son

a little bit of knowledge of what I’ve learnt in the 30

be following in his footsteps? ‘No, he won’t go into it –

years.’

hopefully not.’ Paul’s hero is Michel Roux Jr, for working so hard to

There were to be no questions about his marriage during our interview. (Last year, following his appearance

sustain the Roux family name. Was Paul doing the same?

on The American Baking Competition, he said on The

‘Indirectly’ he replies. ‘It’s a by-product of what I do.’

Jonathan Ross Show: ‘I made a huge mistake, the

He is also good friends with Tom Kerridge, head chef at the then Adlards in Norwich before moving on to Hand & Flowers in Marlow, Bucks. ‘Tom’s amazing,’ says Paul. ‘He came on my

biggest one I’ve ever made in my life and at the moment Alex and I are working things through together.’) He’s ‘nervous but excited’ about his first tour, and finds the merchandise ‘hilarious’. ‘There are calendars!’

programme last year (Pies & Puds). His style of cooking

he says, sounding incredulous. ‘My mum just cracks up

is more like my baking and I like that - we must do

laughing.’

something together one day.’ There are not many doing what Paul is doing. ‘Probably because they don’t want to get out of bed

A busy few months beckon. ‘I’ll be doing some Bake Off when I’m on tour as well so I’ll be doing a bit of both.’ The show moves to BBC One this year. ‘It’s the same

in the morning,’ jokes Paul. ‘It’s a niche market within a

programme but it’s just like a button up on the remote!’

niche market.’

jokes Paul, although he adds: ‘I love the BBC, they’ve

The Great British Bake Off took off in 2011 and, with more than nine million viewers last year we all seem to

been great and they’ve supported baking. ‘I’ve always thought that baking was an untapped

want a piece of Paul. Fans range from my eight-year-old

source and it’s been proved right. People seem to like

daughter to my 78-year-old mother.

it and we’ll carry on doing it as long as they want us

‘It’s very sweet,’ says our favourite blue-eyed baker,

around.’

before adding: ‘It’s one of the only programmes I know that really has crossed borders to this extent. I think it is part of the reason it’s risen so quickly.’ Paul and Mary Berry have been described as one of

For tickets and information to see Paul Hollywood on his Get

the best judge combinations on reality TV. ‘Most people

Your Bake On Live Tour go to www.paulhollywood.com.

seem to think me and Mary are married!’. He adds: ‘It’s

The tour comes to Ipswich Regent on May 22.

very real for us. We judge very honestly, sometimes

Call 01473 433100.

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Heather Honey

Sponge

CELEBRITY Recipe

PAUL HOLLYWOOD

Ingredients 130g heather honey 100g unsalted butter, softened, plus extra for greasing 100g caster sugar 3 medium eggs 110g self-raising flour 1 tsp baking powder

SERVES 4

There’s nothing to compare to the light, fluffy texture of a steamed sponge pudding. Golden syrup is a classic addition, of course, but Paul Hollywood loves this version, which makes the most of the fragrant flavour of Scottish heather honey. Any other well-flavoured honey will work well too

Method 1. Butter a 1 litre pudding basin. Put 2 tbsp of the honey into the prepared basin (if the honey is very thick, warm it gently first to make it more liquid). 2. Put the remaining honey and all the other ingredients into a large bowl and beat together using an electric whisk. Start off slowly then increase the speed and mix for 2 minutes until all the ingredients are well combined. 3. Pour the mixture into the pudding basin, on top of the honey. 4. Place a piece of baking parchment on a sheet of foil and make a large pleat in the middle, folding both sheets together (this allows for the pudding’s expansion as it cooks). Put the parchment and foil on top of the pudding, foil side up, and secure with string, looping the end of the string over the top of the pudding and tying it to form a handle that will enable you to lift the pudding in and out of the pan. 5. Place the basin in a large pan, and pour in enough boiling water to come halfway up the side of the basin. Put a lid on the pan and bring to a simmer. Lower the heat to maintain a simmer and let the pudding steam for 1 1/4 hours until risen and springy to the touch. 6. Top up the boiling water during this time if necessary so the pan doesn’t boil dry. 7. Carefully lift the pudding basin from the pan, remove the foil and parchment and run the tip of a small, sharp knife around the edge of the pudding to help release it. Turn onto a warmed large plate and serve piping hot, with custard or cream.

Recipe taken from Paul Hollywood’s Pies & Puds (Bloomsbury, £20) Photography © Peter Cassidy Subscribe online at www.placesandfaces.co.uk

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Anniversary

interview

Charlie F’s

War As we mark the centenary year of the outbreak of the First World War, The Two Worlds of Charlie F is a timely exercise in how former soldiers can rebuild their lives through theatre. Emma Outten meets Cassidy Little and Darren ‘Swifty’ Swift at Norwich Theatre Royal

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| APRIL 2014

hen former Marine Cassidy Little looks in the direction of The Two Worlds of Charlie F executive producer Alice Driver at Norwich Theatre Royal he is emphatic when he says she has saved his life. The Canadian plays lead role Corporal Charlie Fowler in the play, which tackles the issues facing soldiers who have suffered life-changing injuries in Afghanistan. And his portrayal is all the more poignant because it was while serving with 42 Commando Marines, on his second tour in Afghanistan in 2011 as a medic, that he lost a leg in an IED blast. The production, which began life as a work placement for wounded, injured and sick military personnel within a theatre company, was the brainchild of Alice, and was the first time the Ministry of Defence allowed a theatre company access to personnel in this way. ‘I was recruited into the project around three months after I was injured,’ recalls Cassidy. The 32-year-old says of Alice: ‘In truth we’ve changed each other’s lives. Alice has become an incredibly close friend of mine, because we’ve spent the past three years – three very vulnerable years for me – working with each other.’ After meeting director Stephen Rayne and writer Owen Sheers, Cassidy was offered the lead role of the eponymous Charlie in the first highly successful UK tour, working with Sir Trevor Nunn and Ray Winstone as part of the Royal British Legion’s Bravo 22 Theatre Company for wounded soldiers. It then became a play which was performed in London’s West End and a short UK tour gaining full houses and standing ovations. Now the production is taking to the road again, and visiting Norwich Theatre Royal next month. First night gala tickets will include a £20 donation for the Royal British Legion – another life-saver as far as Cassidy is concerned. The Newfoundlander had harboured a lifelong passion for performing on stage. ‘I think I first went on stage when I was eight - I was a tree, and I played a damn fine tree!’ he exclaims. Cassidy attended a school for performing arts in Missouri, and then went on to join the Mid American Dance Company before moving back to Canada. With family in the UK, Cassidy moved to live in England after trying his hand at stand-up comedy.

How did he go from comedian to commando? ‘I play it up that joining the military was all very spur of the moment but the truth is, at a very young age I knew I had to do a stint. ‘My goal was to become a Royal Marine Commando,’ says Cassidy, before adding: ‘I wanted to go into the theatre. ‘I wanted those experiences, and I got them,’ he says, looking down at where his leg once was. Speaking to Cassidy it is clear he is ‘a get in the river kind of guy - I don’t know where the river’s going; I don’t care where the river’s going.’ He lives ‘on the edge of the Fens’. ‘The Fens are beautiful,’ he says. ‘I won’t lie, it’s not conventional beauty – but it’s just jawdropping; just the expanse of it.’ Although he adds: ‘My home is wherever my wife is. She’s a phenomenal human being – I’m a very lucky man.’ Cassidy recently became a naturalised British Citizen. ‘I didn’t want to be deported from my wife when I left the military so I applied for citizenship.’ He says of wife, Laura: ‘She loves the play,’ although he adds: ‘She’s not a big fan of me being on the road but that’s essentially what I was doing with the Marines.’ It’s certainly a different kind of tour for Cassidy, who recently filmed a guest lead role in BBC Doctors.

“I wanted those experiences, and I got them,’ he says, looking down at where his leg once was”

Anniversary

Interview

The Two Worlds of Charlie F explores Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Sitting upstairs at the Theatre Royal, Cassidy speaks from a personal perspective: ‘I’m never going to grow my leg back but my body has healed to a point where if you said ‘can you walk down to M&S and grab a bottle of wine for me’ I’d say ‘yeah, no problem.’’ But he adds: ‘The mind doesn’t heal so quickly.’ Cassidy continues: ‘We don’t stand on stage and talk about having PTSD, it’s not as direct as that, but we talk about recovering from trauma.’ He makes the point: ‘We are all affected by trauma and in fact we should be tipping our hats to some of these guys because they are dealing with it a lot better than most people.’ He urges: ‘People need to understand; they need to see it,’ before adding: ‘Everybody who has been involved in this project, in fact, everybody who has just seen this project, has changed.’ Cassidy describes The Two Worlds of Charlie F as ‘very real; very raw,’ adding: ‘I promise you’ll be shocked; you’ll laugh, and you’ll cry.’ On a personal note he adds: ‘I was completely swept away with it.’ It’s a lifeline Cassidy clings on to. ‘I want to be involved with the Two Worlds of Charlie F as long as it has life. Wherever it goes, I will go.’ After all, as he reiterates: ‘I get in the river, I see where it goes.’ What if he hadn’t met Alice in the months following that life-changing blast? Ever the comedian, he jokes: ‘With my good looks I suspect I would’ve been a stripper, in a niche environment, with an amputation!’ Then, in all seriousness he concludes: ‘To me this production is just a life saver.’

The Two Worlds of Charlie F, runs from May 6 to 10 at Norwich Theatre Royal. Call 01603 630000 or visit www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk

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The Two Worlds of Charlie F co-stars Darren ‘Swifty’ Swift, as Cpl Chris Ward. Born in London, he joined the army soon after leaving school and served for 10 years, working as a specialist Tracker Dog handler in the Royal Green Jackets. He completed a non commissioned officers course though ended up leaving the military after losing both legs as a result of a terrorist bomb in Northern Ireland in 1991. He quickly discovered an interest in theatre and film performance and has worked for some 20 years in various roles on a wide range of television programmes (Band of Brothers) and feature films (Children of Men). After being invited to become a member of the cast of prestigious National Theatre production Travelling Light, Swifty moved straight into a role in The Two Worlds of Charlie F, joining the first UK tour. The 48-year-old says: ‘It’s a powerful, powerful play.’ When an officer reads out a long list of precursors to the term PTSD such as ‘Old Sargeant Syndrome’ and ‘Wind Contusion’, Swifty says: ‘For me, it’s one of the emotional parts of the play.’

APRIL

Mon 14 – Wed 16 Apr SCOOBY-DOO The Mystery of the Pyramid – hilarious family fun £5.50 - £22.50

Sat 19 Apr PAUL CARRACK Renowned singer songwriter £6.50 - £28.50

Sun 20 April BRITTEN SINFONIA Bach St John Passion £6.50 - £26 Mon 21 – Wed 23 Apr TAP FACTORY Stomp meets Tap Dogs £5.50 - £23.50

Fri 25 – Sun 27 Apr ENGLISH TOURING OPERA Britten’s Paul Bunyan, Tippett’s King Priam, Mozart’s The Magic Flute £6.50 - £35 Tues 29 Apr–Sat 3 May DIAL M FOR MURDER Christopher Timothy stars in stylish thriller £6.50 - £25

Book online: www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk THEATRE STREET, NORWICH NR2 1RL

Scooby Doo!

Wed 2 – Sat 12 Apr CATS Andrew Lloyd Webber’s smash hit musical £6.50 - £39.50

BOX OFFICE: (01603) 63 00 00

Celebrity interview

Paul Chequer

War Crimes A Michael Morpurgo classic examines life in the trenches of the First World War. Sarah Hardy talks to Paul Chequer who plays a condemned serviceman in Private Peaceful which arrives in Norwich next month

ichael Morpurgo, former Children’s Laureate, always writes books that pack a punch. They deal with awkward, touching subjects – often ones that you wouldn’t really think suitable for youngsters: death, loss, illness and more. You’ll be familiar with perhaps his greatest triumph, War Horse, which exposes the little known part played by hundreds of horses in the First World War. The Steven Spielberg movie, starring David Thewlis, Jeremy Irvine and Emily Watson, was a worldwide hit. Private Peaceful, written by Morpurgo in 2003 and winner of the prestigious Blue Peter Book of the Year, arrives as a stage adaptation at Norwich Theatre Royal next month. And, like War Horse, it shines a light on another little known story, an atrocity, during the First World War. The piece exposes the execution of many British servicemen for so called crimes such as disobedience, cowardice or desertion. Nowadays many would be thought of as suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. It tells the moving story of Tommo, a young soldier awaiting the firing squad at dawn and looking back over his short life, from happy times growing up in rural Devon to the circumstances that have brought him to his current predicament. The story is a highly emotional one, not least for performer Paul Chequer, who will be alternating in the role with fellow actor Andy Daniel on tour. ‘It is easier to manage that way, one week on and one week off. I get to go home and see my children,’ he says, adding that his little ones are aged five and three. ‘It is draining but very satisfying. I use a lot of emotional energy,’ he says, explaining that he is on stage for just over 80 minutes and plays a whopping 40 characters. ‘You do have to focus, it is pretty intense!’ It’s a story which crosses international borders, which is why Paul is just back

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from Hong Kong and Singapore, where he has been playing Tommo to packed audiences. ‘We have mainly played smaller theatres, ones that seat about 300, so the Theatre Royal will be quite different. ‘But it is a hard-hitting show,’ says Paul, who first played Tommo in the original production at the Bristol Old Vic in 2004, followed by the Edinburgh Fringe and a run at London’s Soho theatre. ‘Michael Morpurgo has always been very enthusiastic about our work, he takes a real interest and he’s delighted that it is such a high quality piece.’ Devotees of the book, with its final twist in the tale, should be aware, however, that the play has a different ending. ‘It’s quite dramatically different, if truth be told,’ says Paul, who also played a soldier facing a court-martial in TV drama series Making Waves and appeared in the original National Theatre production of War Horse. ‘The director felt to introduce the book’s twist into a theatrical environment would be almost cheating the audience, because you almost felt you knew the character, you didn’t need the twist.’ The show is on tour until June when Paul, who has appeared on telly in Sherlock and Torchwood, plans to have rest and then see what happens. ‘I enjoy both theatre and TV work; I’ll just wait and see what happens. At the moment, this show is all-consuming, it is a fantastic experience.’ Certainly the show has received superlative reviews, with Paul’s performance described as ‘mesmerising’, and the show called ‘infinitely touching’. It may not be an ‘easy’ watch but it sounds all the more interesting for it.

Private Peaceful is on at the Theatre Royal, Norwich, from May 1 to 3. It is just day time performances and is recommended for children aged eight and above. Call 01603 630000 or visit www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk

Celebrity interview

MCBUSTED

Scouting For Girls

McBusted performs at Chantry Park, Ipswich on June 29. Tickets are now on sale at www.aeglive.co.uk

D ouble T rouble Take two boy bands, join them together and what happens? A supergroup, of course! Sarah Hardy tells you more

he 90s saw two great boy bands, McFly and Busted, enjoy huge chart success and masses of popular appeal. Now, 10-plus years on, as the music from the 90s gains that vintage appeal (thanks to TV shows such as The Big Reunion), they have decided to unite under the moniker McBusted. McFly’s Tom Fletcher explains: ‘It’s mad, isn’t it? But we are having the best time – and the fans love it!’ Together, Busted and McFly have quite an impressive track record. They have sold 15m records worldwide, chalked up 15 number one hits, 20 top three singles and 27 top 20 singles. Tom, from London, says that McFly, whose debut single Five Colours in her Hair was released in 2004, got together last year to celebrate their 10th birthday with a concert at the Royal Albert Hall. The group comprises Danny Jones, Dougie Poynter, winner of I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here in 2011, and Harry Judd, who gained many more fans when he won Strictly Come Dancing in 2011. ‘We have always kept in touch and enjoyed each other’s

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company. It just all got a bit mad when we were touring, we travelled to the four corners of the globe – literally!’ They are joining forces with James Bourne and Matt Willis (winner of I’m A Celebrity in 2006) from Busted, who were formed in 2002 and whose hits include Up All Night and Hey Kid. They split in 2005 when Charlie Simpson decided to leave the band and Charlie, from Woodbridge, is the only one not planning to return. But the door remains very open for him, says Tom, who has written many hits for Busted, McFly and, more recently another great British band, One Direction. ‘It is up to him.’ He continues: ‘We are getting on really well, we all hit the gym together; Dougie has got the best abs at the moment – he’s the one to beat. And we all go to the movies – you can imagine what we’re all like together – organised chaos!’ The supergroup goes on tour this month, starting with a gig in Glasgow. ‘People should expect a good mix of McFly and Busted hits plus a few surprises,’ says Tom. The tour includes a date in our region as the group comes to Ipswich’s Chantry Park on June 29. Tom says: ‘We also haven’t played on the east coast of the UK before so we’re looking forward to seeing all your faces and can’t wait!’ They will be joined by The Backstreet Boys, Scouting For Girls, 5ive and dance group Diversity. The day before sees Jessie J, Rizzle Kicks, The Saturdays, Union J, The Vamps, Jason Derulo, Katy B, Neon Jungle all perform, as part of East Coast Live. And life for Tom, now in his late 20s, couldn’t be sweeter. He has talked about his battle with bipolar and problems with self image but he and his wife, Giovanna, have just given birth to their first child, a boy, already nicknamed in the press as McBaby – what else?!

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Fashion

children’s clothes 2.

As the weather brightens up, it is time to get the kids playing outside. Here Sarah Hardy suggests some practical but stylish pieces to have some serious fun in

1. Hennie The Elephant t-shirt, £14, Monsoon, Intu Chapelfield, Norwich 2. Red shorts, from £24.95, Joules 3. Hat, £10, Marks and Spencer 4. Trainers, from £20, Marks and Spencer 5. Mantaray t-shirt, £8, Debenhams 6. Barbour Wells dog t-shirt, from £16.95, John Lewis 7. Melrose sweater, £15.99, Zara, Intu Chapelfield 8. Pony print raincoat, from £49.95, Joules

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Beauty

Hair

The Mane Event Get your gorgeous locks in tip top condition for the spring, says Sarah Hardy, as she looks at just some of the great hair products currently on the market 3.

TREAT of the month Kundalini Back Treatment, Spa at St Giles, St Giles House Hotel, Norwich, tel 01603 275185 It’s all too easy to overlook our backs when it comes to treating ourselves, which is why the Kundalini Back Treatment at the Spa at St Giles was so welcome. For those not in the know, Kundalini is the dormant energy in the base of the spine, which when awakened, travels up the spine to the ‘third eye’ leading to increased energy (it’s also the female goddess of awareness in the form of a coiled snake!). The treatment was sublimely relaxing, thanks to therapist Katie’s use of an essential oil blend (it also contained the very ‘now’ argan oil). She used the blend in combination with ancient techniques of massage and chakra healing (my Manipuri chakra – related to the digestive systems – needed balancing, according to Katie). All in all, 55 minutes of massage heaven for your inner goddess!

NEW PRODUCT of the month Ashley by Ashley Roberts, £21.99, The Perfume Shop The lovely Ashley, fresh from the last ever Dancing on Ice series, launches her first ever perfume. It is a rich, floral fragrance with hints of orange blossom, rose and honey and is just right for the warmer weather. Her PR machine claims that it is fun and flirty – just like her!

1. Botanical Shampoo, Sisley, John Lewis, £47 2. Color Conserve, Aveda, Jarrold’s, £19.50 3. Full Circle Leave-In Treatment, Paul Mitchell, visit www.paulmitchell.co.uk, £14.95 4. Botanical Shine Nourishing Hair Oil, Liz Earle, John Lewis, £15 5. Rainforest Radiance Hair Butter, The Body Shop, £3 6. Restorative Hair Treatment, Ojon, John Lewis, £34 Subscribe online at www.placesandfaces.co.uk

| APRIL 2014

Jo Caulfield

what’s on April isn’t just about celebrating Easter as this month’s round-up of events proves

STAND-UP Jo Caulfield, nominated as Funniest Woman and Best Female Stand-Up, comes to Norwich Arts Centre on April 10 with her Celebration of Anger Tour. She is the star of Radio 4’s popular Jo Caulfield’s Speakeasy, and is seen on Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow. Call 01603 660352 or visit www.norwichartscentre.co.uk. EASTER TRAIL Head to Sheringham Park and tread amongst the early flowering rhododendrons and camellias for clues to complete an Easter trail from April 5 to 22. Follow the rhymes to discover more about the wildlife and plants of Sheringham Park before returning to the visitor centre to collect an Easter prize. Visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk.

The Rat Pack Live

LIVE SHOW The Rat Pack Live comes to King’s Lynn Corn Exchange on April 4. Boasting stars from the West End, this brand-new spectacular featuring the kings of swing – Sammy Davis Jnr (Jim Whitley), Dean Martin (Mark Halliday) and Frank Sinatra (Stephen Rashbrook) – is well and truly coming to town. Call 01553 764864 or visit www.kingslynncornexchange.co.uk.

MUSIC WEEKEND Aldeburgh Music presents Easter Weekend from April 18 to 20. This year’s Easter programme ranges from the recreation of a spectacular Elizabethan publicity stunt (Will Kemp’s nine-day dance from London to Norwich) and Easter Cantatas by Bach, to the Britten-Pears Orchestra’s focus on the music Mozart wrote in 1786. Call or visit www.aldeburgh.co.uk. VENTRILOQUIST Ventriloquist Steve Hewlett, a finalist on Britain’s Got Talent last year, is bringing his Thinking Inside The Box tour to the Marina Theatre in Lowestoft on April 27; Pavilion Theatre, Cromer Pier on June 1 and Britannia Pier, Great Yarmouth on August 3. Visit www.stevehewlettshow.co.uk. GARDENS The gardens opening for the National Gardens Scheme this month offer a wide variety of plants and bulbs flowering at their peak: Gayton Hall, a 20 acre water garden, opens on April 6; followed by Bradenham Hall on April 13; Wretham Lodge on April 20 and 21; and both 16 Witton Lane at Little Plumstead and nearby Plovers Hill on April 27. Visit www.ngs.org.uk.

LIFE DRAWING Dr Sketchy’s Anti-Art School Presents Nerves of Steel with Pete Howarth on April 30 at The Unthank Arms in Norwich. Peter is one of the UK’s most popular sideshow performers and has recently returned from Dubai, having performed for Cirque le Soir. Visit www.natalyaumanska.co.uk. THEATRE Marking the 100th anniversary of the start of the First World War, Birdsong - the hit, critically acclaimed, stage show based on the world famous novel by Sebastian Faulks – comes to the Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds from April 22 to 26. This mesmerising story of love and courage is set both before and during the Great War. Visit www.theatreroyal.org or call 01284 769505.

WHAT’S ON

MONTHLY ROUND UP Unwrapped Theatre

THEATRE Seachange Arts’ Unwrapped Theatre’s spring programme takes place from April 10 to 12 at St George’s Theatre and Seachange’s Drill House in Great Yarmouth: John Berkavitch’s SHAME is on April 10; on April 11, the very British obsession with celebrities, beauty and winning is examined in Victoria Melody’s one woman, one dog show; Major Tom; and on April 12, as part of the Drill House Open Day, Will Dickie’s Team of the Decades provides an interactive outdoor performance revealing where strong men hide their weaknesses. Visit www.seachangearts.org.uk. HOLKHAM HALL HIGHLIGHTS It’s all happening at Holkham this month. The 2014 chamber music series of concerts begins on April 13 with the award winning Arcadia Quartet performing works by Haydn, Janáček and Beethoven; well-known children’s author and illustrator Jackie Morris will be one of the star attractions during four days of Easter festivities from April 18 to 21; plus the 2014 Exhibition will lift the curtain on many poignant memories of the First World War from April 1 to October 31. Visit www.holkham.co.uk.

LAMBING DAY Swannington Farm to Fork is holding an Open Lambing Day on April 5 when you can take the family along for a visit to see the new-born lambs. There’s no charge and no need to book – just turn up and enjoy a sizzling bacon buttie and tea or coffee, and learn more about how Swannington Norfolk lamb is reared. Call 01603 754437 or visit www.swanningtonfarmtofork.co.uk. FAIRHAVEN Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden at South Walsham has a couple of events this month: Forest Night Adventure on April 5, when you can experience the magic of the woodland garden at night with Jon Tyler of Wildforwoods; and an Easter Egg Trail on April 18. Call 01603 270449 or visit www.fairhavengarden.co.uk. VARIETY An evening of variety by local artistes, compered by Barry Coleman, takes place at St Georges Theatre in Great Yarmouth on April 12. Live @ St. George’s TAKE 2 follows the success of last year’s event when £2000 was raised in aid of two charities close to his heart: Cancer Research UK and Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research. Visit www.stgeorgestheatre.com.

Photo: Paul Hurst

The Refectory at Norwich Cathedral

ANNIVERSARY EVENTS The Refectory at Norwich Cathedral opened in April 2004 – so look out for the following 10th anniversary events: free cake on April 1; anniversary dinner with the Matt Hodges Jazz Band on April 4; anniversary party night with the Lee Vasey Band on April 11; plus the Refectory bakeoff will be judged by Galton Blackiston on April 22. Visit www.cathedral.org.uk. COUNTRY FAIR The East Anglian Game & Country Fair, the annual two day family event held at the Norfolk Showground takes place on April 26 and 27. It’s the 10th anniversary of the event, which began mainly in response to traders wishing for a show to exhibit at between Easter and the summer show season. Visit www.ukgamefair.co.uk. FLAMENCO Electrifying flamenco dancer Jairo Barrull, known for his unmatched rapid footwork, presents his new show ‘Dos Ramas’ with flamenco dancer Manuela Vargas at the Maddermarket Theatre on April 11 and then The Quay Theatre in Sudbury on April 12. Call 01603 620917 or visit www.maddermarket.co.uk for the Norwich date or call 01787 374745 or visit www.quaytheatre.org.uk for the Sudbury date.

CARTOON CLASSIC The Mystery Machine is gearing up to hit the road when brand new production, Scooby-Doo! The Mystery of The Pyramid comes to Norwich Theatre Royal from April 14 to 16. Based on the hugely successful cartoon classic, ScoobyDoo makes a welcome return to the stage, after a five year break. Call 01603 630000 or visit www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk.

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Unwrapped 190x136_Layout 1 06/03/2014 08:24 Page 1

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WHAT’S ON

MAY AT THE

MARINA THEATRE

MARINA May brings the return of the Lady Boys of Bangkok, an opera double-bill and much more besides! Emma Outten reports

id you know that The Lady Boys of Bangkok has been seen by more than one million people? Well you could add yourself to that number if you make your way to the Marina Theatre on Lowestoft on May 1! Join the festivities as the cast take you on a parade through comedy, cabaret and a carnival beat with 16 of the world’s most entrancing beauties. Then we have an opera double bill on May 2 and May 3 with the celebrated Chisinau National Opera & Orchestra performing Puccini’s La Bohéme and The Ellen Kent Company performing Verdi’s Aida. La Bohéme is one of the most romantic operas ever written and tells the tragic tale of the doomed, consumptive Mimi and her love for a penniless writer. And Aida returns to the UK with a stunning brand new production. Traditionally staged, this lavish production with amazing special effects includes spectacular ballet sequences, stunning sets inspired by the Valley of the Kings and costumes taken from designs found in tomb paintings. Other May highlights include the 50th anniversary celebration of the music of Simon & Garfunkel on May 4. Direct from London’s West End, award winning actor Dean Elliott (Buddy Holly in Buddy - The Musical) and a full cast of performers tell the compelling story of the greatest music duo of all time. Then we have matinee favourite Bless ‘Em All on May 8, a brand new wartime cavalcade show from the producers of We’ll Meet Again, Duggie Chapman Associates. Starring comedy entertainer Steve Barclay, Britain’s greatest ukulele virtuoso Andy Eastwood, and new singing star Lucia Mattess, the show has the full supporting cast of singers Jamie Steen and Mervyn Francis plus the live music of the Martyn St James Band.

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Suggs, May 14

Singer and impressionist Joe Longthorne comes on May 10. This talented artist began his career over three decades ago with appearances on Junior Showtime, followed by a grounding on the tough Northern club circuit. On May 11, the Solid Silver 60s show reunites Brian Poole and The Tremeloes and features the unforgettable talents of Chris Farlowe, Chris Montez and Wayne Fontana, all backed by Vanity Fare. Then Madness frontman Suggs presents My Life Story in an hilarious yet moving evening of chat and music on May 14, The death of Suggs’ beloved cat on his 50th birthday triggers a personal quest to discover what happened to the father he never knew. Stunned by what he learns, Suggs is taken back to his childhood on the tough streets of 70s Soho and his first appearance on Top Of The Pops at the age of 18. Olivier Award winning play Morecambe comes to the Marina on May 15, with musical accompaniment and uncalled-for interjection from Deano and his loyal manservant-come-pianist. The play stars Olivier nominated Bob Golding as Eric, the comedy icon. Then we have rock ’n’ roll favourites Showaddywaddy on May 16. Did you know Showaddywaddy had more hits in the 70s than any other act... including ABBA! No, neither did I!

For more information or to book forthcoming Marina Theatre events, call 01502 533200 or visit www.marinatheatre.co.uk

| April 2014

Molotov Jukebox © Mike Massaro

Let’s Get This

Party Started Shingai Shoniwa, Noisettes

The annual Norfolk and Norwich Festival lasts another day this year and offers its usual diverse mix of classical music, jazz, performance arts, comedy, literature – and more. Sarah Hardy previews next month’s line-up

he yearly Norfolk and Norwich Festival bursts into life next month with the

old boast of offering something for everyone. Under the steady guidance of artistic director William Galinsky, it continues to attract international acts, some challenging for many of us, and a healthy amount of rich local talent, too. Originally a classical music festival, it now attracts a massive 66,000 people over the best part of a fortnight. Some acts can be high brow, some can be hard to penetrate, some are free, some are for children and some are plain daft! Music does remain at the heart of the Festival with many big name artists on the bill. The Philharmonia Orchestra, with violinist Tamsin Little, opens the Festival while The Sixteen offer Tudor music by candlelight in Norwich Cathedral which sounds pretty perfect to me! Add in Norfolk-based The Voice Project Choir performing a new commission, Souvenir, at Holkham Hall, America’s Snarky Puppy bringing funk and soul to Open and Dave Okumu (Paloma Faith’s producer) teaming up with Noisettes singer Shingai Shoniwa for a world premiere, Stars Align, and all bases are covered. Future stars of the Royal Academy of Music, the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, and jazz pianist Mike Westbrook all perform, too.

What’s On

Norfolk and Norwich Festival

Ramshacklicious Grime

Doric String Quartet

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Bourgeois & Maurice

Evelyne Berezovsky

Theatre is another key platform of the Festival, with Norfolk theatre group Curious Directive performing a new piece, Pioneer, Russia’s Dmitry Krymov’s Opus No 7 taking over the UEA Sportspark for a timely look at state oppression, Australia’s Circa bringing seven acrobats to make us all gasp at their daring and Michael Clarke’s dance company provides the moves to music by the Sex Pistols – who could want more? The free outdoor events are worthy of particular note as they attract many families. Sponsored this year, for the first time, by Lafarge Tarmac, the Garden Party, held in Chapelfield Gardens and outside the Forum, sees two days of jam-packed events on May 17 and 18. And don’t miss the People’s Tower on May 10 where, outside the Forum, the public is invited to use hundreds of cardboard boxes to create a version of St Peter Mancroft’s tower. And what do you think happens when it is finished? Yes, down it will come! Like a great big Jenga! Sounds fun! The Adnams Spiegeltent is where you’ll find the more alternative entertainment. I cannot help but wonder what Red Bastard, a ‘seductive comic monster’ will be like! Irish singer Camille O’Sullivan sounds more up my street while the Baby Disco Dance hall for under fives is always much enjoyed. For my money, there’s more of an accent on literary activities this year – which ties in nicely with Norwich being England’s only UNESCO City of Literature. Popular novelist Kate Mosse (Labyrinth) gives a lecture and The Kinks leader Ray Davies discusses his memoirs, to pick out just a couple of events. Visual art lovers are well catered for with a trail in Upper Cathedral Close sure to be fascinating, and one event which is sure to get bums on seats is an audience with John Hurt, the veteran British actor who is now based in Norfolk. There is also an effort to involve more of the county than just its capital city. Events take in King’s Lynn, Great Yarmouth, Loddon, Diss and Wymondham. And finally, there’s an extra day – just for us here in the region to enjoy! Supported by Norwich BID (Business Improvement District), it offers local performers the chance to appear at the Festival venues – and show us all what they can do. Called It’s Your Festival, it’s a Britain’s Got Talent right here on your doorstep! Be sure to sign up and take part.

The Norfolk and Norwich Festival runs from May 9 to 25. Visit www.nnfestival.org.uk

Michael Gambon

| APRIL 2014

High Time for HighTide The eighth HighTide Festival in Halesworth is offering up its most impressive line-up yet, this month. Emma Outten Reports

for WHAT’S ON

HIGHTIDE FESTIVAL ichael Gambon, Harriet Walter, and David Hare - the line-up of the eighth HighTide Festival in Halesworth is looking like it could be the best yet. One wonders how Artistic Director Steven Atkinson manages to pull off such a cultural coup in Suffolk each year! A particular highlight of the Festival is the Face to Face series and Steven is particularly thrilled that the likes of Kate Mosse and Anthony Horowitz are coming to Halesworth, and that they will be face to face with gifted interviewers such as Libby Purves. Moreover, Michael Gambon will be interviewed by Michael Billington. ‘We are really lucky this year to get Michael Gambon,’ says Steven, before revealing: ‘We’ve been trying to get him for years.’ Michael’s work on stage and screen is as unforgettable as it is diverse, ranging from the plays of Harold Pinter, Samuel Beckett, Alan Ayckbourn and Shakespeare, to Professor Albus Dumbledore in the final six Harry Potter films. Not only can HighTide boast one of Britain’s greatest living actors – it can also boast one of Britain’s greatest living writers: David Hare, who will be interviewed by Kate Mosse. David’s recent work encompasses his Oscar nominated screenplays for The Reader and The Hours, his acclaimed BBC drama Page Eight and play The Power of Yes. Steven says: ‘David, I think, is one of the best writers we’ve ever had.’ He is also happens to be a patron of the Festival, along with the likes of Sinead Cusack. ‘They’ve supported the Festival from the very beginning.’ Then the tables turn on Kate Mosse, when she and fellow novelist Anthony Horowitz are interviewed by Libby Purves. The HighTide Festival Readings of new plays include Boa by Clara Brennan, performed by Olivier Award winner Harriet Walter and her husband Guy Paul, and directed by Hannah Price. ‘It’s the first time they are going to perform it to a public audience,’ says Steven, who adds: ‘They really wanted to perform it at HighTide.’ The Festival will present four premiere productions in all: Michael Boyd takes on his first post-RSC production, directing the European premiere of Dan LeFranc’s US hit The Big Meal, a co-production with Theatre Royal Bath Productions. ‘It’s opening in Bath then it comes to HighTide,’ says Steven. ‘We are really looking forward to that.’ Diana Quick returns to the Festival as part of an outstanding ensemble cast for this production, which also includes Kirsty Bushell and Jo Stone-Fewing. The last time Diana was HighTide was in 2011 with Adam Brace’s Midnight Your Time. ‘She’s never worked with Michael before so this is a treat for her,’ says Steven. ‘And we’ve never worked with Michael before, so that’s a real coup.’ Suffolk resident Diana is a perfect example of the strong local links with many of the line-up. ‘A lot of them have that local link,’ says Steven, ‘they love East Anglia.’ Also, continuing a certain Harry Potter theme to this year’s festival, Harry Melling, best known as Dudley Dursley in the said films, will star in the world premiere of his debut play ‘peddling’, before it heads to New York. And the Festival will also see the world premiere of Incognito which brings the brilliant Nick Payne back to Halesworth. ‘One of his first ever gigs was at HighTide in 2008,’ says Steven. ‘That’s a classic example of seeing it at HighTide first.’ Finally, The Girl’s Guide To Saving The World marks the professional debut of Elinor Cook, last year’s winner of new writing’s most prestigious prize, The George Devine Award. Six new Escalator Writers-on-Attachment have been announced for the Festival - Georgia Christou, Vickie Donoghue, Marcelo Dos Santos, Daniel Kanaber, Nessah Muthy, and Sophie Stanton – and, with music from Ronnie Scott’s and the Hackney Colliery Band, Steven is justified in saying: ‘I think this is the best line up - particularly the plays. And we have them here in Halesworth!’ Subscribe online at www.placesandfaces.co.uk

HIGHTIDE HIGHLIGHTS

We are really lucky this year to get Michael Gambon. We’ve been trying to get him for years.

As part of the Festival’s commitment to young people in the East, The Garfield Weston Foundation has made a charitable donation, allowing it to give away 400 sponsored tickets to the region’s young people at no cost. Call 0207 566 9765.

The eighth HighTide Festival takes place in Halesworth from April 10 to 19. Visit www.hightide.org.uk or call 01603 598606. You can also book at Norwich Theatre Royal or at The Cut, Halesworth during the Festival itself.

Face to Face Series » David Hare (Interviewer: Kate Mosse) April 12 » Kate Mosse and Anthony Horowitz (Interviewer: Libby Purves) April 13 » Michael Gambon (Interviewer: Michael Billington) April 19 Readings of new plays » Boa by Clara Brennan, performed by Olivier Award winner Harriet Walter and her husband Guy Paul, and directed by Hannah Price (co-Artistic Director Theatre Uncut). April 13 » I’m Not Here Right Now by Thomas Eccleshare (Pastoral) will be performed by Valentina Ceschi and directed by Soho Theatre’s Artistic Director Steve Marmion. April 19 Escalator Plays Six playwrights have been selected as the Escalator Writers-on-Attachment for 2014: Georgia Christou, Vickie Donoghue (Mudlarks, HighTide/ Bush), Marcelo Dos Santos (Lionboy, Complicite), Daniel Kanaber (Shiver, Watford Palace), Nessah Muthy (Gastronauts, Royal Court) and Sophie Stanton (Cariad, Clwyd Theatre Cymru). Extracts from their commissioned plays for HighTide will be performed in Escalator Plays. April 18 Casting for Dan Lefranc’s The Big Meal Directed by Michael Boyd, Diana Quick is part of an outstanding ensemble cast including Kirsty Bushell and Jo StoneFewing. From April 10 to 19 Music Ronnie Scott’s Late Night Jazz returns to HighTide Festival, this time with Award-winning jazz vocalist, Georgia Mancio, who will lead a late night session accompanied by stellar pianist, Dave Newton. April 12 Premiere productions » HighTide Festival will also present premiere productions by Elinor Cook, April 11 to 19; Harry Melling, April 10 to 19; and Nick Payne, April 11 to 19. » And Mike Daisey’s epic 29-part monologue cycle ‘All The Faces of the Moon’, will be presented as a play for headsets. From April 10 to 19

| APRIL 2014

Welcoming All Norwichâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Catholic Cathedral is a place for worship and more. Find out about events and activities this month and beyond

Advertiser’s Announcement

Catholic Cathedral

n the last ten years the people of Norfolk have gradually come to realise that Norwich is a city of two cathedrals. After many years as a parish church the Catholic Cathedral has come of age. In the year 2010 it celebrated its first hundred years. But for much of that time it was seen as a rather forbidding, unwelcoming institution that kept itself to itself. In recent times there has been a radical change. Its doors have been thrown open (physically and metaphorically), the interior has been enhanced with more light and colour and a new climate of warmth and welcome has replaced the old perceived image of aloofness. This welcome extends to people of all faiths and none as well as visitors from all over the world. What do people find when they come through the doors? ‘Peaceful and powerful’. ‘A beautiful work of art’.’ Magnificent architecture with a warm welcome’. ‘The Cathedral feels warm

and welcoming’. These are some of the comments left by visitors. They also appreciate that entry is free and there is parking! In addition they find a new visitors’ centre and a delightful ‘secret garden’ just waiting to be discovered. Completed in time for the centenary year the magnificent Heritage Lottery Funded visitor centre, The Narthex, sits comfortably with the sturdy Victorian Gothic cathedral while bringing a sense of lightness and warmth. The complex is a hive of activity and a hub for the local community. It is a multi-functional space that enables the Cathedral to offer a variety of social, educational and corporate activities. The tranquil setting is ideal for relaxing in the heart of the city and the Refectory is a welcoming place to meet up with friends for morning coffee, lunch or afternoon tea. Produce is freshly baked and locally grown, much from the Cathedral allotment. In the spring and summer months, the patio cafe overlooks the recently restored Cathedral Garden where sculpture hides amongst the apple trees and

bees hum in the lavender beds before returning to the hives. Honey is on its way! There is much to enjoy. Visitors can explore and learn more about the Cathedral’s history and stunning architecture or for the more adventurous a climb to the tower gives superb views over the city and far beyond. The Duckett library is a fascinating resource for all and the Cathedral shop stocks inspiring gifts and cards. The Narthex can also be hired for business, family and community events. So, if you are seeking a unique venue, look no further. The Cathedral is openly daily from 7.30am to 7.30pm. Apart from the Masses and religious events during Holy Week and Easter, which all are welcome to attend, the Narthex also has a full diary of activities for the months ahead. Highlights include a Wine Tasting evening, Cream Tea and Tower Tours and the Summer Art Exhibition: ‘Joined Up Art’ which runs from July 15 to 21.

For more information visit www.sjbcathedral.org.uk

Photography by Paul Hurst ARPS

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| APRIL 2014

Roaring Success

The Lion King celebrates 15 years in the West End. Sarah Hardy is transported to the African savannah for a rites of passage tale where good finally triumphs over evil

West end review

The Lion King

isney’s The Lion King continues to

Timon, a meerkat, and Pumbaa, a warthog, befriend

entertain people - it has been seen by 70m

Simba and help him find the confidence to defeat his uncle,

people worldwide and is now enjoying its 15th

become the king and get the girl, or lionness, Nala.

year in the West End at the Lyceum Theatre. Its appeal does stem from that cracking 1994

The young actors playing Simba and Nala, Denzel Edoji and Kelsey Calladine-Smith, are superb and interestingly,

animated movie which was such a hit, as we

auditions are held across the globe to find the right cast

all fell in love with cheeky little lion cub Simba

members.

and witnessed his journey, through adversity, to

manhood.

And boy, do all 40 work hard! It is a very physical show, with numerous costume changes and high octane dancing.

The stage version follows the same storyline and has three

Overall the show is a real celebration of life, it is soul

new Elton John/Tim Rice numbers, taking their tally to eight,

stirring and you could well shed a tear – you have been

with others created by South African composer Lebo M.

warned!

Indeed it is the rich African beat, the rhythms of non-stop

So, here’s to the next 15 years in the West End and, as the

drums, that keep this show going at such a pace – helped

show now goes out on regional tours, maybe it will come to

along, of course, by near anthems such as Can You Feel

Norwich Theatre Royal before too long!

The Love Tonight? and The Circle of Life. There are two drumming stations, always on show, that you cannot help but keep half an eye on, too. The very opening scene is breath-taking as a veritable

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Noah’s Ark of animals comes singing and dancing through the stalls, setting the scene for an energetic, full-on show. You are immediately captivated by Julie Taymor’s amazing

The Lion King, The Lyceum Theatre, Wellington Street, London, tel 0844 871 3000, visit www.thelionking.co.uk

animal creations which are at the very heart of the show. The actors literally take on the personae of their animals, working

Superbreak offers great inclusive trips, offering rail and

as one to convey a springy gazelle or a gently lumbering

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visit www.superbreak.com

Theatrical techniques from all over the world – African masks, Japanese Kabuki costumes, Malaysian shadow puppetry – are mixed together in an explosion of spectacle. It’s perfect for a musical as it really keeps the audience on the edge of their seats. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that this is just a children’s show. Sure, it has easily understood themes, is very visual and has catchy tunes and is thus a perfect introduction to the theatre. But it is deeper than just a jolly family trip out. The story line is a traditional rites of passage one. Jealous uncle Scar plots to kill king Mustafa and heir Simba to take the throne. One critic has quipped: ‘It’s like Hamlet with hyenas.’

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Whether you are looking for a Grand, Upright or Digital Piano, Cookes have the ideal instrument for you and your home.

est. 1887

19 St Benedicts, Norwich, NR2 4PE

Your Move Oliver James 154 London Road North Lowestoft, Suffolk NR32 1HB Tel: 01502 534998

Your Move Oliver James 168-169 High Street Gorleston, Norfolk NR31 6RG Tel: 01493 600005

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Property

house prices

Oliver Hurren YOUR MOVE OLIVER JAMES 01493 600005 | www.your-move.co.uk

A Rising Market Are house prices on the way up? Is the Credit Crunch over? Oliver Hurren reports

he market certainly is moving and we can see over the last six months, especially the last three, things have picked up. More transactions are taking place, as sellers hand over the keys to buyers, and new occupants move in. Houses prices are increasing again with the average UK house price increasing by 0.6 per cent in the last month to £177,846 – 9.4 per cent higher than a year ago. The last two months have seen the biggest monthly increases in the last five years. We have been hearing about the London market where house prices have been sky-rocketing for many months. I do believe in the ripple effect that growth has on other regions as we have certainly witnessed it here in the past. Some say it will increase over the previous peak by the summer at the latest. This is a massive surprise for anyone studying the market at the beginning of 2013. People are asking where this demand for properties has come from? Well, the improvement of availability in the mortgage sector has helped, plus all time record low interest rates. This has built consumer confidence along with the help from the media which means, all of a sudden, we are moving again.

We can’t ignore that the number of properties remains limited, which also helps to push prices much higher. With new builds in particular demand, it is worrying that only 109,500 were built in England last year – 38 per cent below 2007 levels. The Government’s £12 billion Help To Buy scheme, aimed at helping people who cannot afford a big deposit get a mortgage, must be working as house builders report sharp rises in profits over the last few weeks. Building companies should start to develop more but I still think their supply will not be enough to satisfy demand. The rebalance of supply and demand may be helped by homeowners who, seeing the prices achieved by their neighbours, are then tempted to put their own home on the market. The negative result of houses prices going up is that it becomes even harder for people to take an initial step onto the property ladder. My biggest worry is that, as confidence grows, people will start taking great risks again without taking account how interest rates might change over the time of a mortgage. Lenders must ensure borrowers have enough income to service their loans when interest rates rise. The Bank of England has kept rates at a record low 0.5 per cent since March 2009 but most economists expect them to go up next year to control the housing market. This will affect most of us already with a mortgage and the Bank does have other tools available to control the market without having to resort to the raising of interest rates. These include the power to recommend that lenders apply maximum loan-to-value or loan-to-income ratios, as well as to require more capital against mortgage lending. Overall there is a prediction that house prices will go up seven per cent this year, some say nationally 5.9 per cent a year over the next five years. Although I still can’t be brave enough to say that the credit crunch is truly over.

For advice on first time buying and climbing the property ladder contact Your Move Oliver James on 01493 600005 or 01502 534998.

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| APRIL 2014

E aster Parade Spring is definitely in the air. Bring it into your home with some bright and colourful accessories, say our homes writers Hayley Philpot and Jennifer Read

Say Happy Easter with Emma Bridgewater hen mugs, tea towels, or a set of cute egg cups. 1. Year in the Country Hens tea towel £10 2. Set of 3 egg cups – gift boxes £29.95 3. Set of 2 Dorking & Welsummer 1/2 pint mug gift set boxed £39.95

Hayley & Jennifer are homeware buyers Jarrold’s, 1-11 London Street, Norwich, NR2 1AL www.jarrold.co.uk The Granary, 5 Bedford Street, Norwich, NR2 1AL www.thegranary.co.uk

Hand-sponged Blue Hen has always been one of Emma’s best loved patterns, so this spring she has put her colbalt blue chicken at the heart of her collection. It works beautifully with the original Blue Hen and with all the Blue Skies patterns – why not add a few pieces to your dresser this Easter? 4. 8 1/2 inch plate £17.95, 6 pint jug £85

These papier maché eggs will look just great in your kitchen or on the dining table and don’t you just love the cute chicken pots? 5. Broste Large egg £4, small egg £2.50 6. Broste Chicken pots £10

Interiors

Easter AT Home

And if you’re expecting guests for Easter why not just brighten up your home with a few choice accessories? 7. Scion Mr Fox cushion £25 8. Joules Chunky knit cushion £40, throw £85

For all chocolate lovers – make your very own Easter chocolate treats and impress your friends with a little help from the Sweetly Does It range of chocolate moulds from only £5. We love the flower lollipop mould and the cute Easter eggs and rabbits mould. 9. SWEETLY DOES IT Chocolate moulds from £5 Subscribe online at www.placesandfaces.co.uk

| APRIL 2014

A GRAND CURTAIN CALL! Our latest Property of the Month, on one of the main roads out of Norwich, was meticulously designed by the current owners just over a decade ago. Emma Outten spoke to Maria Grayston about spacious living

Guide price £675,000 46

es and Maria Grayston certainly had a sense of space in mind when they designed their detached home on Fakenham Road in Norwich. This property is super spacious and offers positively palatial accommodation as well as being extremely high spec in all areas of the home. First impressions: the property has a distinctive Georgian styling both externally and internally, with high ceilings and a fantastic feeling of light and space throughout. All credit to Les and Maria, who designed the property. What made them choose the location? Well, the clue may be in the fact Les is captain of Weston Park Golf Course, and the property is only a short drive away! The house welcomes you in with a light and bright entrance hall with very notably a galleried landing above offering a sweeping bow shape in the ceiling – this creates a real focal feature of the staircase. What’s more, there is

PROPERTY OF THE MONTH

FAKENHAM ROAD, NORWICH

F ac t file 48ft kitchen/dining room/family room; master suite with en-suite; two double bedrooms with Jack and Jill Bathroom; guest suite with en-suite; detached annexe, double and triple garage; 0.43 acres. (est)

E stat e Ag e n ts Arnold Keys Norwich Call 01603 620551 Or visit www.arnoldkeys.com

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ample space for an eight-seater table beneath the stairs. One of the rooms off the hall is a substantial room which is ideal as a home office (as it is currently used). Alternatively, this could be a formal dining room (even more dining options!) or a large ground floor bedroom. The sitting room is also a substantial and bright room and the main focal point is the marble and granite fireplace. No sofas need to be pushed back to the wall in this spacious room, something Les was very particular about in the design, given that he grew up in London with 16 siblings, according to Maria! French doors lead from the sitting room to a real showstopper of a space: a kitchen/dining room/family room measuring a massive 48ft in length! How many metres of curtain are we talking about to softfurnish a space such as this? Well, Maria is just the person to ask as she had her own curtain company, Design A Curtain, before retiring last year! The answer is an astonishing 60 metres of silk. And, as the ceilings are high, the curtains involved a three metre drop. The big question is: will Maria be leaving them behind?! The kitchen section itself is a contemporary selection of walnut shaker style units with brushed stainless steel door furniture under a midnight black Corian hard wearing work surface. An all-important central island creates the hub of the kitchen, with a central ceramic four/five hot plate hob with extractor above. The kitchen also boasts a brushed stainless steel double oven so, quite frankly, there’s no excuse for not entertaining. And I should mention there is a space for a US style fridge/freezer with plumbing. It’s all very open-plan and the dining area has ample space for an eight-seater table and that’s before you get to the family space beyond – all of which enjoys views over the rear gardens. It’s an amazing space, as Maria says: ‘The square footage of the kitchen is the equivalent to a terraced house in total!’ She adds: ‘That’s why we built it, as an entertainment area - somewhere you can cook, eat, and watch TV.’ Then it’s upstairs to the galleried landing, which has ample space for a sofa and the sweeping balustrades offer views down into the entrance hall below. There’s the master suite, a truly substantial double bedroom complete with dressing area with ‘his and hers’ double fitted wardrobes, and a similarly substantial en-suite bathroom with double Jacuzzi bath, something Maria feels is particularly worth a mention. Following the theme, there are ‘his and hers’ wash basins and an oversized shower cubicle (there’s nothing undersized about this home!). I also like the fact there are two double bedrooms sharing a Jack and Jill bathroom – all very convenient. And, as if that wasn’t enough, there’s also a guest suite with an en-suite. The Fakenham Road property also boasts a large detached annexe, with entrance hall, shower room and ground floor and a first floor room, both flexible enough to be used as either a reception or a bedroom space. So we’ve established that with this property there are a number of options for sleeping and dining. To continue that host-with-the-most theme, there is a hard landscaped driveway with parking for numerous vehicles, plus a double and even a triple garage. So why are Maria and Les leaving their perfectly designed palace? Well, being both ‘golf crazy and holiday crazy’ it sounds as though they only need a place to lay their heads these days! Maria says: ‘We built the house; we enjoyed the house. It’s going to be strange to leave so much space – not everybody lives in a house of this size.’

42 Bells Road, Gorleston-on-Sea, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk NR31 6AN

E S TAT E A G E N T S • VA L U E R S • P R O P E R T Y M A N A G E M E N T

Seafield Close, Gt Yarmouth

£235,000

Paget Crescent, Gorleston

£225,000

Esplanade Court, Gt Yarmouth

£199,950

www.darbyandliffenea.co.uk · 01493 600411 · info@darbyandliffenea.co.uk

BELLE & CO are delighted to announce their luxury on-line lifestyle boutique is now open! Please visit our website www.belleandco.co.uk where you will find an emporium of home and garden accessories, soft furnishings, candles, handbags, gifts and last but not least designer dog products.

Kitchen Sense of Harleston For Quality Fitted Kitchens and Appliances

KITCHEN SENSE COMMON SENSE

We stock sought after brands including Little Greene Paint, True Grace, Designers Guild to name a few from our showroom located within Stonham Barns. Interior design & property presentation services offered for those wishing to enhance their home.

62 London Road, Harleston, Norfolk IP20 9BZ Tel: 01379 852592 Fax: 01379 854411 Tel: 01449 711444

www.belleandco.co.uk

staff@kitchen-sense.co.uk | www.kitchen-sense.co.uk

Lust List

Take a Seat

5 1

There are plenty of ways to park yourself, as Emma Outten suggests! 2

1. GPlan’s Vintage SIXTY TWO Leather Chair (‘The World’s Most Comfortable Chair’), Capri Red, £1499 Futters; Leather Stool £499, Futters of Great Yarmouth 2. John Lewis Barbican Leather Stool with Light Legs, Prescott Buckskin Hid, £650; John Lewis 3. Fatboy The Original Beanbag, £159, Jarrold 4. Luna Brocade Red Velvet Stool, TheVelvetLab, £193, www.thevelvetlab.com 5. Bistrot Bar Stool - Brown Wood, Sweet Pea & Willow, £600, www.sweetpeaandwillow. com 6. Pouf jaune - Ottoman, ITO design for Roland Garros, Boqa, £239, www.boqa.fr (this company is based in France and ships to the UK) 7. Cowhide Beanbag Cube, Doris & Boris, £125, www.olly-london.co.uk 8. Casamania - Her Chair Matte, LuxDeco, £230, www.luxdeco.co.uk

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Salhouse Garden Centre

BROADLAND NURSERIES

We are a friendly family run business specialising in plants, shrubs, trees, roses, conifers, perennial and seasonal plants with a huge selection of well established mature trees and shrubs for that professional ﬁnished look. We grow everything on the premises.

Be sure to visit us for all your Perennials, shrubs, climbers, roses, alpines, ornamental and fruit trees, summer bedding, Geraniums, Fuchias, Basket and Patio Plants. The shop has an excellent stock of all your garden accessories, tools, bird care, house plants. A superb range of gifts to suit all tastes, plus a good selection of cards. Enjoy a visit to our teashop boasting inside and outside seating. We produce home made daily specials, cakes and pastries.

Salhouse Garden Centre, 1 Honeycombe Road, Salhouse, Norwich, Norfolk NR13 6JP | Telephone 01603 722250

Our Cafe specialises in freshly prepared home cooked food. Yes we mean really homemade! Like Mother used to make... Ormesby St Michael, Gt Yarmouth, Norfolk, NR29 3LT 01493 732694 | www.broadlandnurseries.co.uk

Helping your garden ﬂourish

GDC Ltd, Beccles Road, St Olaves, Norfolk, NR31 9AD Tel - 01493 488228 Website – www.gdclimited.co.uk Email – ofﬁce@gdclimited.co.uk

Easter Egg Hunt Good Friday 18th April

11—4pm

Bluebell weeks

3rd to 25th May

Follow the Easter Trail to discover a prize!

A GREAT DAY OF ADVENTURE PLAY NATURE’S WAY

Usual entry fee applies plus additional £2 per child for Easter trail and crafts.

Pensthorpe Natural Park School Road, South Walsham, Norwich, NR13 6DZ www.fairhavengarden.co.uk 01603 270449

TIME FOR A FRESH LICK OF PAINT?

Open from 10am Fakenham NR21 0LN

Easter Eggstravagansa April 5-22

www.pensthorpe.com

BRUSHES ROLLER & TRAY SETS STONEMARKET INDIAN STONE (BELOW)

CROWN TRADE MATT EMULSION 10L

£14.99

The Woodyard, Reedham Road, Acle, NR13 3DF

WWW.RHINOBDS.CO.UK 01493 751762

| APRIL 2014

Time To Get In The Garden! Norfolk-based gardening writer Ellen Mary tells us what we should be doing in the garden this month

pril is a great month for gardening: full of preparation and anticipation. Even if the sun isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t shining, your plants need pruning and everything needs a good feed. As the temperature warms up, you will know you can sow seeds directly in the soil as soon as you notice weeds growing strong. Hoe those weeds away and get sowing!

Garden and Flowers Get your wellies on and dig that soil. Mix in a good 5cm of compost or wellrotted manure and give your soil a burst of nutrients. When daffodils and tulips are past their best, deadhead the flowers but leave the foliage to die back naturally. This allows the nutrients to feed the bulbs for next yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s blooms. Have a go at growing your own lilies. There are so many varieties to choose from and they are generally easy to grow. I recommend you start them off in pots and move them as needed. Tree lilies are especially great for grabbing attention. If you have any climbing plants, or those which will need supporting, fix the support in now. Leaving it until the plant has grown can be difficult and damage the plant and roots.

Gardening

jobs for APRIL Fruit and Vegetables Did you ‘chit’ those potatoes last month? They should be ready for planting out now. If you don’t have a vegetable garden, potatoes grow well in large trugs or grow bags on a sunny patio or balcony. To ensure a long supply throughout the year, chit your next batch ready for planting a few weeks later. Many seeds can be sown when the ground isn’t waterlogged and the frosts are over. Make sure the soil is prepared for beetroot, beans, peas, carrots, parsnips and chard. If you don’t have enough space to grow vegetables, there are so many ideas out there for growing in small spaces. You can grow herbs and chillies on a warm window sill and try spring onion, rocket and lettuce in pots.

Wildlife Gardening Put out a little food and water for our prickly hedgehog friends who will be emerging from hibernation. Leave some parts of your garden ‘wild’ which will give them a place to forage for beetles and slugs. Make your own wildlife shelter. Collect a pile of leaves, twigs and stones and simply bundle them together. These environments are perfect for all kinds of insects for the garden. We all know that bees are in decline and just how much we need them. Without bees, we simply wouldn’t have food. Grab yourself a bee box and sprinkle your bee friendly seeds to encourage them to have a safe place with plenty of opportunity for pollination.

Ellen Mary Gardening provides no jargon, easy to follow gardening advice, along with a range of colourful gardening products at: www.ellenmarygardening.co.uk

Gardening Product of the Month Make a space in your garden for some of these native wildflower seeds, all rolled into their own mini eco system. Each tin contains at least 20 balls made from peat free compost, clay, chilli powder and 100 seeds per ball. Simply scatter them where you want them to grow. Now that’s easy, ethical gardening! Choose from Bee or Butterfly mix plus flowers such as Poppy, Daisy and Forget Me Nots all at only £4.99 a tin. Available from Ellen Mary’s website.

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Give it a go

iting vironment by vis th the natural en wi h uc to r its in fo t n Ge s. Well know life and Garden y pl sim Pensthorpe Wild e grounds ar ringwatch, the r we flo spell on BBC Sp ild W h the ke a walk throug inspirational. Ta yourself on the ok bo or re su lei a day Meadow at your on April 26 for e Wensum day Th t ou Ab area. ild e W ervation in th sed around cons of activities ba thorpe.com Visit www.pens

Picture by PAUL SHREEVE

| APRIL 2014

Serves 4 Ingredients

* For the Fish 4 x 6oz portions of salmon (Loch Duart is the best) 450g of curly kale 100g of butter 100g smoked pancetta

For the Sauce 1tbsp of olive oil 1 onion finely peeled 4 cloves of garlic sliced 2 sprigs of fresh thyme 2 sprigs of fresh rosemary 2 bay leaves 6tbsp of port 240ml of red wine 800ml of fish stock 1l of chicken stock

Fish for Good Friday Pan fried fillet of Loch Duart salmon, buttered curly kale, smoked pancetta and red wine sauce Method 1. First blanch the curly kale in boiling water then refresh.Â Next cut the pancetta into cubes and fry off in a dry pan until crisp. Set aside. 2. To make the sauce, gently fry off the onion and garlic in the olive oil until soft. Add all the other ingredients, bring to the boil and reduce by half. 3. Next heat 1tbsp of olive oil in a medium sized frying pan, place the salmon skin side down and lower the heat to a minimum and cook the fish until the skin is crisp. Turn over, and place in oven for 3-4 minutes until cooked.

4. While cooking, wilt the blanched kale down in a saucepan with a knob of butter. 5. To serve, place the wilted kale in a centre of a bowl, put the pancetta into the sauce and drizzle around, then place the salmon onto the kale (skin side up) and garnish with a fine julienne (strip) of carrot and chopped chives.

Recipe

Imperial Hotel

Simon Wainwright, executive chef at the Imperial Hotel in Great Yarmouth, offers us a fish dish bursting with spring freshness for Good Friday

W I NE C H O I C E

2011 Fleurie, Louis Tête, Beaujolais, France Nick Mobbs, director and wine expert at the Imperial Hotel, says:

We all know the old adage about white wine being best with fish. However, for a change, I have chosen a light red to accompany Simon’s salmon dish. Salmon to me is quite a meaty fish which is rich in natural oils and, coupled with the fact that the dish is garnished with smoked pancetta and a red wine sauce, it needs a wine with some structure. I have chosen a Fleurie from one of the larger négociant houses in Beaujolais. The wines of Louis Tête are on a par with the region’s best. Balanced and pure in character, they showcase the classic flavours of the Gamay grape. This wine is wonderfully perfumed with a juicy ripe sweetness, cherry and chocolate flavours and a raspberry finish with a touch of spice. Make sure you serve the wine cool not chilled and you will have the perfect match to the salmon.

• A team of brilliant chefs • Superb wine list • Laid-back atmosphere The perfect restaurant for dinner or Sunday lunch. At the Imperial Hotel, North Drive, Gt Yarmouth, NR30 1EQ. To book call 01493 842000

www.cafecru.co.uk

Sunday 12.30 - 2pm Monday - Saturday 6.30 - 10pm The Terrace is open daily. For opening times & menu go to imperialhotel.co.uk

| APRIL 2014

Competition

Lacons Ales

Lacons Managing Director Mick Carver with William Lacon, descendent of the original Lacons family.

Beer For A Year! Norfolk has a rich brewing heritage and countless breweries. Places&Faces® has teamed up with Lacons Brewery to offer one lucky reader the chance to win something rather special!

his month’s competition sees Places&Faces® unite with Great Yarmouth brewery Lacons to offer one lucky reader the chance to win a year’s supply of cask ale. Sounds almost too good to be true! Lacons has a rich history, dating back to 1760. The brewery, originally based in the Rows in the heart of Great Yarmouth, grew to operate over 350 pubs in East Anglia and London, producing over half a million pints of beer a week! Lacons played a pivotal role in beer supply throughout the Second World War. In June 1942, a German air raid left the Brewery and nearby St Nicholas Church in flames. A stretched fire service had to decide which building to save... needless to say the church was reconsecrated in 1961. Over the years, the brewery has produced an extensive range of draught and bottled beers that have been savoured by generations of appreciative ale drinkers. Ranging from Audit Ale, brewed specifically for both the Oxford and Cambridge College’s ‘audit days,’ to the renowned Highlight, a strong pale ale named after the celebrated TV programme of the day. Despite being a survivor of two world wars and having lived through many other world events, Lacons could not fend off a corporate buyout which sadly closed the brewery and mothballed the iconic brand in 1968. Now the company is back and based at The Falcon Brewery, Main Cross Road, Great Yarmouth, and has multi award winning head brewer Wil Wood, formerly of Oakham Ales, in charge of producing the beer. The future is looking bright. There are two permanent ales on offer - Encore, with a pale amber hue, and Legacy, a blonde ale, which are complemented by an exciting seasonal range including the Heritage range which recreates and modernises some of the brewery’s original ales drawn from its rich archive.

Competition: To win a year’s supply of beer, 365 pints, you should answer the following question and send your name, address, email and a daytime telephone number to competitions@h2creativemedia.co.uk. »Where is Lacons Brewery based? The closing date is April 30 2014. Normal Places&Faces® competition rules apply – see our website for full details. There are no restrictions as to when the beer is taken – Lacons will supply it in multiples of 72 pints so you don’t have to drink it all at once! Entrants must be aged 18 or over. Lacons holds regular open days and tours at the Falcon Brewery where there is also a Visitor Centre and Museum full of original Lacons memorabilia including pub signage, recipes books and photographs, and also a shop where you can purchase a range of clothing, gifts, and of course beer. And yes, part of the brewery tour is a chance to sample the goods! Visit www.lacons.co.uk or follow on twitter @laconsales

Wine

Selection

A Matte r o f Taste Wine Writer Sam Matthews recommends being more choosy when it comes to purchasing wine

very time I go out for a glass of

something nice, whether for a celebration with family, a catch-up with friends, or large glass of something with a colleague after a 14-hour shift, I want the best drink I can get for my (very) hard-earned money! In trying to make this happen, I will always ask the simple questions. Which is the driest white on your list? Which would be best with the braised beef? Which is the strongest thing you can give me quickly in a glass? These are all questions I think are fair to ask and actually should get an educated and confident response, especially when you are handing over good money for a product or leaving a healthy tip at the end of a meal. We regularly hold training sessions with our staff on our drinks products. Everything is analysed, scrutinised, tasted and practised over and over again before it ends up on any of our menus. Last week we had our annual wine training and we tasted our new wine list. On the agenda: wine-growing countries, different grape varieties, vinification (the process of wine-making) and the all-important tasting. In the session we came up with perfect food matching wines alongside our current menu, discussed how each wine tasted to us and, most importantly, formed a constructive opinion on each drop we tasted. Front of House catering staff have to know a lot more than about bottles of wine – there are coffees, teas, beers, spirits and, of course, every item and ingredient on the menus. And, of course, the best bit is that you never know

when you are going to get tested on your knowledge! So the more we know, the less likely we are going to get caught out and more customers are going to think that we are an educated and nice bunch! I was lucky enough to do some training a few years back with the best wine and spirits tutor I could hope for, Jonathan Pedley. This was the man who got the pleasure of travelling around the world with Keith Floyd for his Floyd Uncorked series on Channel 5. I caught a re-run of this the other day on a distant-numbered Sky channel and was hooked for a couple of hours. Jonathan Pedley is a Master of Wine, an accolade held only by 188 people currently living or working in the UK. These wine experts could tell you about the soil beneath every vine in the world, along with the name of the winemaker’s dog. Now, while we don’t need to know about the bottle of wine in our hands in that much detail, there are important things that all restaurant and bar staff should be aware of. For example, we should know the grape variety of the wine we are pouring and the country it is from. We should also know which food the wine complements and we should be able to describe how it tastes. Most importantly, though, we should be able to give a constructive opinion on the wine. This comes through tastings, and whilst these sound like a glamorous part of the job (OK, they are a little), these are a necessity, too. How can we know otherwise that what we are serving is any good? It could be a bottle of vinegar! We only know that it isn’t by tasting it properly and giving it some thought. Just as a good chef wouldn’t let a plate of food out of his kitchen without knowing that it tastes OK, it should be no different when it comes to drinks. We all ask about the food we eat from the people who serve us when we go out to eat. ‘That dish looks nice, how is it cooked?’ Or ‘what is the fish dish like – is it spicy?’ Wine is no different, so next time you go out for a drink, don’t be afraid to ask what the wine tastes like and where it’s from and you should get an informed answer. And if you don’t, you shouldn’t be paying too much for your bottle of wine!

Sam Matthews is Food & Beverage Manager at The Assembly House, Norwich (www.assemblyhousenorwich.co.uk).

| APRIL 2014

Pictures bY ANDY NEWMAN ASSOCIATES, NORWICH

A Bird in the Hand Norfolk food writer Andy Newman meets a husband and wife team who produce quail while leading chef Roger Hickman uses one to create an ambitious dinner dish

t is strange how often life-changing decisions are taken in moments of diversity. It is almost as if nature has a way using stressful situations to foster creativity. That was certainly the case for Ellie and John Savory almost exactly four years ago. Sadly, John’s father was terminally ill, and the couple found themselves in London to research his family history at the National Records Office as a way of helping the whole family cope with the situation. As for most farmers, life was tough enough in 2010. The Savorys were producing organic hens’ eggs, a market which was hit by the double whammy of reduced demand due to the recession, and ever-increasing feed costs. It must have seemed as if the world was set against them. In more than 100 years of the Savory family running the farm at Great Ryburgh, near Fakenham, this was one of their biggest challenges. But Norfolk famers are nothing if not resilient, and the couple decided to put their troubles aside for an evening and enjoy a treat – dinner at Claridges. It turned out to be a serendipitous decision, and one which helped to launch a real Norfolk food success story. ‘We were enjoying an amazing meal, and that got us thinking about what produce you couldn’t get in the UK,’ explains Ellie. ‘Because we were clearly interested in food, the maitre d’ invited us into the kitchen to meet the chef. He told us that there were three things he struggled to get hold of in Britain: pigeon squab, rabbit and quail.’

Ellie Savory

Given their experience in poultry, the last of these struck a chord. When they found out that no-one was rearing freeto-fly quail in the whole of the UK, they decided this was an opportunity to seize – and Norfolk Quail was born. If that sounds simple, it was far from it. Not only was there the steep learning curve of finding out how to raise the birds, but up until that point the farm had not been marketing its produce under its own brand, so a level of marketing expertise was called for as well. Although Ellie – herself a farmer’s daughter – had spent some time as a product manager in the construction industry, this was another level entirely. But first the practical problems. The couple decided that the farm’s existing ethical stance was important, and that meant a significant investment in low density mobile housing so that the birds would be free to fly from the day they hatched, with not a single cage in sight.

Norfolk produce

Quail

RE C I P E

Roger Hickman’s Norfolk Quail leg, breast and egg with celeriac and apple serves FOUR

I NG R E D I E NTS Norfolk Quail is served at many of Norfolk’s leading restaurants, including Roger Hickman’s Restaurant and Morston Hall. Retail stockists include Back to the Garden at Letheringsett, Arthur Howell butchers at Wells and Graves in Larner’s food hall in Holt. Full details at www.norfolkquail.co.uk.

The birds experience day and night and therefore grow at a more natural pace than quail raised in constant light, and that means that they are not processed until they are at least 12 weeks old, as opposed to the more normal four to six weeks for French caged quail. That extra growing period means a greater depth of flavour. The Savorys also decided that there should be no waste. Traditionally, cock quail are surplus to requirements, but Norfolk Quail uses every bird, with hens producing eggs before being processed for meat, and cocks matured for meat alone. For any farm – and particularly during the depths of recession – taking on such a new venture is a big risk. Fortunately, a contract with Clarence Court to produce up to 50,000 quails eggs a week offered a stable income stream, and more recently a grant through the Rural Development Programme has helped the farm to make a significant investment in the processing capability, enabling them to meet the strict Food Standards Agency standards necessary to produce in bulk. Walking around the brand new facility, you can immediately see that quality is the watchword. The birds are hand dryplucked, ensuring the skins are not damaged, and it is this attention to detail which has attracted some of Britain’s top chefs to the product. This reputation has now spread beyond Norfolk, with national names such as Mark Poynton, Michael Wigmore and Daniel Clifford among a prestigious client base. ‘Top chefs want a consistent product, and that has been our watchword throughout,’ says Ellie. “It has been a really hard journey to get to this point, and it has been our passion that has driven us on.” This is a quality, high-end product – described by Ellie as ‘the lobster’ of the poultry market – and so top-end restaurants are a natural market. With FSA approval and the new processing facility, the ambition is to get Norfolk Quail into more of Britain’s best restaurants.

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4 Norfolk quail, ½ celeriac, 4 Norfolk quail eggs, 3 Granny Smith apples, a bunch of watercress, white wine vinegar, rapeseed oil, celery salt, duck fat, a hen’s egg, breadcrumbs, butter, a little apple juice

Remove the legs from the quail. Melt enough duck fat in a pan to cover the legs, and bring the fat to a gentle simmer – around 90°C. Put the legs in the fat and cook until soft, which should take about 40 minutes. Remove the legs and allow to cool, then trim the legs so that the bone is revealed at the foot end. Sear the quail crowns in an oven-proof pan with some rapeseed oil. Then transfer into an oven at 180°C and roast for three to four minutes. Remove from the oven, allow to rest and cool, then remove the breasts from the crowns. When you are ready to assemble the dish, warm the legs and breasts in the oven for three minutes. Poach the quail eggs in their shells in simmering water for two minutes. Immediately refresh in iced water to stop them cooking any further. Very carefully peel them. Whisk the hen’s egg, and wash the quail eggs with this, then coat in the fine breadcrumbs. Deep fry in rapeseed oil at 200°C until crisp and golden – around one minute. Cut four wedges of celeriac and roast in a pan with a 50:50 mixture of butter and oil until golden. Transfer to a baking tray, and finish in the oven at 180°C for five minutes. Take shavings off the rest of the celeriac with a mandolin or peeler, and immerse in cold white wine vinegar for 30 minutes to pickle them. Dice one of the apples very finely (approx 2mm dice). Put the trimmings, and the other two apples (cored and chopped, including the skin) onto a baking tray and roast in the oven until they are soft. Now blitz in a food processor, adding a little apple juice if needed, to create a puree. Make a dressing from equal quantities of apple juice, white wine vinegar and rapeseed oil. Assemble the dish on the plate as shown in the picture, and garnish with watercress, your dressing and celery salt.

Roger Hickman is chef-proprietor at Roger Hickman's Restaurant in Upper St Giles, Norwich. More details at www.rogerhickmansrestaurant.com

Wine Cellar NEW culinary delights from our new resident butcher!

What joint will you choose for Easter?

Fresh from the farm to you… We specialise in quality pork and eggs produced on site! • Home Produce • Fresh Pork & Free Range Eggs • Gluten Free Sausages • Smoked Bacon & Hams

Throwers of Ludham

Eggs, Frozen Pork & Sausages available at all times

Call Val on

01508 480369 Orchard Farm Shop Holverston, Norwich NR14 7PH (on the A146 Loddon Road)

Email info@orchardfarmshop.com Web www.orchardfarmshop.com

THE WINE CELLAR is a piece of gourmet heaven born from an ethos of gorgeous wine, great food, and generous service.

Tucked away in the heart of Norwich, just a few steps away from the vibrant Market Place, a beautiful courtyard steeped in history is the setting for this charming hidden gem that has so much more to offer than just fantastic fine dining. Ambient and chilled, The Wine Cellar is the perfect place to mingle and socialise. Ideal for a sophisticated, lazy lunch or a wallet friendly supper.

www.winecellarnorwich.co.uk | 01603 886100 Guildhall Hill, 8 Woburn Court, Norwich, Norfolk, NR2 1JG

Love Local Food

Throwers of Ludham... ...more than just a village store.

BUY local prod uce from City Farm Shop

Under New Ownership Come and see our recently refurbished shop and new product lines.

Open 7 days a week Monday to Saturday 8.30 - 5.30 Sunday 10 - 4.30

Stocked with over 40 types of cheese, 9 varieties of olives & ham on the bone, why not give Throwers Deli a visit? Many other local goodies in-store including Letheringsett Watermill flour, Norton’s milk, Lakenham Creamery ice cream & Brays Cottage pork pies & sausage rolls. Find us on the A1062 between Wroxham and Potter Heigham.

Tel: 01692 678248 www.throwers.co.uk

• Norfolk grown seasonal fruit & veg from Tacon’s Farm, Breckland organics’ and White House Farm. • Locally sourced meat from Beehive Butcher & Game from Bunwell Wood. • Award winning Mrs Temple’s Norfolk cheeses & Marybelle dairy produce. • Fish from Pinney’s of Orford and Mid Norfolk Smokehouse. • Field Fare frozen ready meals, pastries, fruit and vegetables. As well as a wide selection of jams, preserves, sauces, oils, chutneys, tea, nuts, smoked fish, flour, olives and much more!

City Farm Shop, Notcutts Garden Centre Daniels Rd. Norwich NR4 6QP www.cityfarmshop.co.uk 01603 507343

01692 581099

www.theinghamswan.co.uk

info@theinghamswan.co.uk

menus Exclusive Offer

Dinner, Bed & Breakfast For Places&Faces Readers

To celebrate our 4 year anniversary and recent accommodation renovation we are pleased to offer a Dinner, Bed and Breakfast offer of 1 night’s stay for £125 for our standard double and £140 for our deluxe double based on two persons sharing, available Sunday to Thursday. Quote ‘Places&Faces’. Group discount available upon request.

Lunch du Jour Menu – Seasonal Daily Changing Dishes 2 courses £15 or 3 courses £18.95 Lunch du Jour Monday to Saturday 12pm to 2pm service – *excluding special calendar dates and bank holidays Thursday Steak Night from £40 for Two 28 day dry aged Sirloin Steak or Fillet Steak (£3.75 supplement per person) with Ingham Chips, Baked Field Mushroom and Wild Roquette Salad Sunday Lunch – 2 Courses £20.95 Featuring “Roast Fillet of Beef” as a main course Service from 12 to 3pm 7 Course Tasting Menu Every evening, pre-booking on Friday and Saturday nights required alongside full A la Carte menu HOW TO FIND US: The Ingham Swan, Sea Palling Road, Ingham, NR12 9AB (Turn at Tesco Stalham on A149 and follow signs for Ingham).

Our newly renovated bedrooms are decorated in contemporary muted tones with comfortable furnishings and feature Travertine stone Villeroy and Boch bathroom suites, flat-screen televisions and Nespresso coffee machines. Requires booking before 31/05/2014

Restaurant With Rooms

@inghamswan

The Ingham Swan

PUB • R ESTAUR ANT • FINE DINING • FUNCTIONS

EDP NORFOLK FOOD AND DRINK AWARDS 2013 CHEF OF THE YEAR

MARK DIXON AND NATASHA ROOKE WELCOME YOU TO THE

FOOD SE RV E D DA ILY 1 2– 2PM / 6 PM – 9 PM S U N DAY LU N C H 1 2- 4PM (food not served Tuesday)

Our traditional country pub and comfortable restaurant is now open daily and uses only the freshest local ingredients in all our dishes. Call in for a superb range of local real ales on tap plus a fine selection of wines and spirits are always available.

live music!

G UIL DH A L L L A NE Easter Bank Holiday SUNDAY, 20TH APRIL Come and join us for what promises to be another great night! We are extending our restaurant hours this day to 12-6pm. Entertainment starts at 9pm.

The Kings Arms, Main Road, Fleggburgh, Great Yarmouth, NR29 3AG Tel 01493 368333 www.kingsarmsfleggburgh.com

/kingsarmsfleggburgh

@KingsArms_Flegg

Recipe

Franck Pontais

SAY CHEESE!

Parfait of mature cheddar cheese with Prosciutto ham T h i s m o n th o u r F r e nc h c h e f Fra nck Po ntais c r eat e s a tri c ky b u t e xc iting starte r

Method For the Parfait 1. Pour the double cream into a saucepan and bring to simmer. Add the grated cheese and whisk until melted. 2. Take off the heat and whisk in the egg yolk. Season and store in a plastic container in the fridge until set.

For the Savoury Coffee Biscuit 1. Mix the egg white, icing sugar and coffee essence until foamy. Add the flour and the melted butter with the salt. 2. Leave the mixture to rest for 30 minutes. 3. Using a plastic tuille template or a spatula, spread the mix on a baking parchment paper and cook in hot oven at 180oC for 6 to 8 minutes. 4. Cool the biscuit on a pastry rack until they are ready to use.

For the Oven Dried Slice of Prosciutto Ham 1. In an oven tray, brush a sheet of nonstick paper with the oil and lay the slices of ham on top. 2. Cover with another sheet of paper and press slightly with a smaller tray. Bake in a hot oven at 230oC for 6 to 8 minutes.

For the Black Olive Dressing 1. Cut the black olives into two and place them on an oven tray. Cook at 150oC for 10 minutes. 2. Once done, place them in a thermomix and blend them quickly, adding the warm olive oil. 3. Create an emulsion. 4. Add the vinegar at the end.

To assemble, pipe some parfait on to the coffee biscuit and arrange the dried slice of ham on top. Drizzle with the black olive dressing and garnish with spinach or basil leaves.

SERVES 4

Ingredients For the Parfait

100g of grated mature cheddar cheese 100ml of double cream 1 egg yolk 1 pinch of ground nutmeg 1 pinch of table salt Â˝ pinch of white ground pepper For the Savoury Coffee Biscuit

10g of coffee essence 2 egg whites 35g of icing sugar 50g of flour 40g of butter 1 pinch of Maldon salt For the Oven Dried Slice of Prosciutto Ham

4 slices of Prosciutto ham 2 tbsp of rapeseed oil For the Black Olive Dressing

50g of black olives 50ml of olive oil (warm/hot) Âź tsp of cider vinegar

Let our French chef cook for your private dinner parties, and for those who really enjoy cooking, he also offers master classes, for all abilities, in your own home. More information is available at www.franckpontais.com pictures ANDREW FLORIDES, www.andrewflorides.co.uk

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| April 2014

A Winepress to Impress Have you a taste for fine dining in the fine city of Norwich? Look no further than The Maids Head Hotel in Tombland, where Emma Outten was more than a little impressed

It’s quite something to learn that you are eating in a hotel known to be the oldest in the UK, dating back, as it does, over 800 years. But then The Maids Head Hotel in Tombland, Norwich, has history in spades. The name Maydes Hedde, (dated 1287), was derived from ‘Murtel’, ‘Moldes’ or ‘Old Maid’, a Norfolk name for skate fish – and the Maids Bar was built in the ruins of a monastery founded in 1096 by Bishop Herbert de Losinga. Hurrah for history, although there are new changes sweeping through the Maids Head, not least in the WinePress Restaurant, where new Polish Head Chef, Marcus Pomierny, who is in his 20s, is working wonders. He trained as a chef in Poland and has learnt English and the British way of doing things on the job (having worked in Norwich since 2005). His first menu was launched in the autumn but with menus changing every six weeks to reflect seasonal flavours, things have moved on since then. The menu is invariably sourced from local suppliers, and the hotel has its own Maids Head beer from Woodforde’s and wine from Winbirri vineyards, Surlingham. Is that local enough for you? My friend and I were faced with three menus on the night we went – a Thursday, or a ‘school night’ as my teacher friend would, no doubt, describe it. For the sake of compare and contrast, my friend chose from the menu du jour (£25 for three courses) and I chose from the à la carte menu. But there was also a five-course tasting menu, comprising starter, fish, main, dessert and cheese courses (£49). This fine dining restaurant within the Maids Head Hotel is called the WinePress for good reason. It is able to offer 44 different wines by the glass. The only exception to this is the Taittinger Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut, at £150 a bottle! We liked the idea of drinking the ‘family wine’ – the Maids Head Hotel is one of the only places outside the vineyard that offers Tour De Belfort wines, a family run concern situated in Causses du Quercy, South West France, and the Cuvée Classique is blended

Restaurant Review

Winepress, Maids Head Hotel

The Maids Head Hotel, Tombland, Norwich, Norfolk, NR3 1LB. Call 01603 209955 or visit www. maidsheadhotel. co.uk

from eight grape varieties grown in the organic vineyard. We both had the Tour de Belfort Cuvée Classique White 2011 (£5.75 for 175ml or £7.75 for 250ml). It reflects the family feel to the hotel, as The Maids Head returned to trading as an independent hotel, owned by the Chaplin family from Cambridge, in 2012 (they also own the Gonville Hotel in Cambridge). We were treated to an amuse-bouche – a tomato, ginger and chilli concoction – plus homemade bread rolls with curls of butter, and then it was on to starters. I went for the very local sounding Norfolk White Lady and red onion marmalade pithivier, with pickled walnuts and dressed salad, priced at £6.50. Alternatively we could’ve shared a seafood platter for £12.50, but I’d had my fill of fish with the Places&Faces® crowd at lunch so gave it a miss! My friend opted for the leek and potato soup from her menu, and we were both intrigued by its foamy/frothy topping. For my main course, I went for the crispy thyme polenta cake, with herb crusted baked aubergine, sauce vierge, and mixed leaf salad (£14.50). Rachel, meanwhile had the pan roasted fillet of haddock, vanilla crushed potatoes, black olive caramel and tomato concasse because she liked the thought of such sweet ingredients. She’d forgotten she finds black olives a little overpowering but declared the potatoes a triumph!

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For dessert, I took heed of waitress Krystyna’s recommendation and went for the signature dish: the Maids Head fruit salad (£6.96). This was like no other fruit salad I ever tasted and am ever likely to taste: consisting of white chocolate and ginger parfait (I liked it already); pomegranate jelly, orange cake, apple puree, passion fruit curd, blood orange sorbet, and a tuille biscuit. A dessert any restaurant would be proud to sign its name under! Krystyna had also recommended the assiette of chocolate (the couple next to us showed us the one they were sharing as part of the taster menu and I still can’t quite believe I didn’t go for it!). Other options included caramelised Granny Smith apple tarte tatin, which comes with a 15-20 minute wait, but is probably worth it. My friend, on the other hand, was sticking with her menu du jour (she didn’t have to – you can mix and match) and had the apple and raisin crumble with vanilla ice cream. She accompanied her dessert with a Muscat de Beaumes de Venise, Cave des Vignerons (at £4 for a 75ml glass). We weren’t sure what to expect before we arrived (Rachel had only ever stayed and eaten breakfast at the hotel before and I’d never been) but to say we were pleasantly surprised with the fine dining experience in the historic heart of Norwich would be something of an understatement. And the service was exemplary – Krystyna even gave a Rachel a gentle pat on the back when her wine went down the wrong way! I would love to return and try the taster menu.

| APRIL 2014

N e w K i d On T h e Blo c k James Spicer discovers a north Norfolk country house where a new chef is determined to make it a key player in

Richard Graveling and Charlie Hodso

the region’s foodie scene

he family-run Grove country house, in a leafy suburb of Cromer, is fast becoming a hot name on the lips of all gourmets in the region. It has been in the Graveling family since the 30s, with Richard as the third generation to take on the mantle of running it. And what a delightful place – a Georgian building, set in three acres, and with a head chef, Charlie Hodson, on a mission for culinary excellence. He has only been there eight months but in that time has managed to achieve double AA rosette standard for the restaurant. Certainly his CV is impressive: Born in France, but raised in Norfolk, he has worked for Gordon Ramsay, has cooked at Selfridges and Harvey Nichols, and has practised his art in private households in the Middle East, and – significantly – for The Prince of Wales. But the chance to return to his beloved Norfolk was too much to pass up when a chance to work at The Grove became available. It’s a fairly big operation, with 15 rooms, half a dozen selfcatering cottages, and now ‘glamping’. The luxury camping carries on a tradition of camping at The Grove, but these modern bell tents have all mod cons and home comforts. Plus ‘glampers’ can use the excellent facilities at the country house, including the swimming pool and, of course, the restaurant. But it was the latter that my wife and I had come to sample and,

after checking in with the friendly receptionist we decided to have a drink in the comfortable lounge while perusing the menu. Wines at The Grove are supplied by local merchants Peter Graham and Norwich-based suppliers Blaise Le Mesurier; the list is not large but obviously carefully chosen (including my all-time favourite, a Sancerre). Our choice, however, a Chilean Sauvignon Blanc, was excellent, fresh and cleansing. The starters list was in all ways tempting, but eventually my wife opted for Charlie’s Signature Scallops, served with pea puree, Norfolk bacon and herb dressing (£9.95). I love pheasant, but don’t find it on menus too often, so had no trouble selecting the pheasant terrine, served with fig chutney on a warm brioche (£7.55). Helpings are generous at The Grove, and I enjoyed the firm texture and gamey flavours of the pheasant. Other choices include garden soup, a goat’s cheese tart and The Grove version of the prawn cocktail (something, ever since Fawlty Towers, I have been unable to order!). The whole menu is heavy on local produce – as it should be – with local meat and fish well to the fore. Cromer butcher Icarus Hines, apart from having one of the best christian names I have come across, is highly regarded in the area and supplies the meat for two entries on the menu. I am sure the rib eye steak was excellent, but lamb is my favourite, and the Norfolk Lamb Shank, served with smoked Norfolk ham, shallots, red wine, caramelised onion and wholegrain mustard mash (£14.95) was a glorious treat. The meat, quite literally, fell off the bone, and I didn’t need to use a knife at all, while the succulent lamb combined well with the

Restaurant review

The Grove, Cromer

used in this version). But it was a good finale to a memorable meal. Such quality, combined with a cosy restaurant with excellent ambience, made us realise why The Grove is now one of those ‘go to’ destinations.

The Grove is at 95 Overstrand Road, Cromer, NR27 0DJ. Call 01263 512412 or visit www.thegrovecromer.co.uk background flavours and the tasty mash in particular. Meanwhile my wife continued her fishy theme with the panseared fillet of Norfolk coast sea bass, which came with dauphinoise potatoes, braised red cabbage, pesto and herb oil (£15.95) – also pronounced delicious! Also available was Norfolk belly of pork, fish and chips (battered in Woodbastwick’s very own Nelson’s Revenge), baked Hevingham Chicken, and the cleverly titled ‘Snap, Quackle and Pop’ duck leg confit. ‘Dessert?’ said our waitress. Muttering we would ‘have a look’ I don’t think either of us really had room; but I couldn’t resist the St Giles Camp Coffee crème brûlée (£5.95); meanwhile my wife, not really up for chocolate brownies, spotted that they came with lemon curd ice cream, so opted for that! My crème brûlée was richly flavoured with coffee (the ‘Camp Coffee’ bit takes me back to my youth, although I am sure it wasn’t

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| APRIL 2014

Find Your Perfect Dress Deciding on what to wear to your own wedding is hard, says Sarah Hardy, as there is so much choice. Here is a look at a few gorgeous styles available on the High Street this spring No. 01

Advertising announcement

wedding dresses

ongratulations! Your wedding gown is the most important dress you’ll ever buy and it’s important to find the perfect match. Choose something that reflects your personality, your personal style, and that makes you feel at your most beautiful, from stunning vintage looking dresses to dreamy modern creations.

No. 04

Here are a few ideas to help you decide what you fancy

One of Norwich’s most established jewellers, Winsor Bishop, now boasts a Champagne Bar where brides and grooms can relax. Supported by Veuve Cliquot, the first floor bar is just the place to enjoy a glass of fizz and look at all stunning jewellery available. The upmarket company also runs a Something Borrowed scheme, where brides who have bought their engagement and wedding rings from the London Street store can wear, free of charge, items of diamond and pearl jewellery from the boutique on the big day. They can select from a very large range showcased in the Champagne Bar, with prices of pieces ranging from £300 to £30,000.

No. 02

No. 05

No. 03

The fifth Norwich Most Curious Wedding Fair, organised by Becky Hoh-Hale, arrives at St Andrews Hall, Norwich, on April 19. More than 45 exhibitors promise something a little bit different, with everything from tiaras to flowers, gowns and more on offer. A vintage tea room sounds fun, too. Visit www.mostcuriousweddingfair.co.uk for full details.

1. Sally dress, £250, Phase Eight 2. Helen dress, £499, Monsoon 3. Allanah dress, £699, Monsoon 4. Perla lace dress, £180, John Lewis 5. Adrianna Papell ivory gown, £190, John Lewis

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What is a pre-nuptial agreement?

A pre-nuptial agreement is a document which can be drawn up prior to marriage and can regulate a couple’s financial affairs during the marriage and determine the division of their assets in the event of divorce/dissolution of civil partnership.

Do I need a pre-nuptial agreement?

A pre-nuptial agreement should be considered by anyone who wishes to protect their assets entering into a marriage or civil partnership for the first time, or indeed on a second marriage, particularly if their assets are significantly higher than the assets of the other party. They are not just for the rich and famous!

Will a pre-nuptial agreement stand up in Court? The Court can uphold a pre-nuptial agreement and give what is called decisive weight to it provided that it is fair and that certain conditions are met.

For further advice, Amanda Owens

01603 598000 aowens@steeleslaw.co.uk 2 The Norwich Business Park Whiting Rd. Norwich NR4 6DJ

Emma Alfieri

01379 652141 ealfieri@steeleslaw.co.uk 2 Mount Street Diss IP22 4QE

Steeles Law Solicitors Limited is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority no. 592311.

01603 598000 www.steeleslaw.co.uk

CMY

O P E N W E E K E N D Saturday 19th & Sunday 20th April 2014

Wedding Invitation Brasted’s kindly invite you to enjoy an Open Weekend from 11am to 4pm at Langley Abbey, a beautiful and historic event venue.

RSVP

brasteds@langleyabbey.co.uk tel 01508 491112 Langley Abbey, near Loddon, Norfolk NR14 6DG www.brasteds.co.uk

| APRIL 2014

PUSHING THE

BOAT OUT

Norfolk has a spectacular new gastropub and wedding venue. Places&Faces® looks around The Boathouse in the Broads

he Boathouse is a stunning new destination for lovers of the finer things in life. But where to start when describing it? In a nutshell it is a wedding venue, a pub, a restaurant and a relaxing holiday spot! It is owned by Norfolk couple Michael and Belinda Minors who also run the nearby Waterside which, since it opened in 2010, has become a popular restaurant – in similar glorious surroundings! But The Boathouse is a more ambitious affair. Set in 11 acres on the banks of Ormesby Broad, it is on the site of the former Eel’s Foot pub which closed in 2012. Michael and his Norfolk-based architect, William Glover, have used the original pub building but expanded it considerably to create a much larger, more contemporary space, overlooking the water. There are landscaped grounds where existing mature trees mingle with plenty of fresh planting and there’s lots of room for children to play and guests to enjoy a glass of chilled white wine as

they watch the water gently lap onto the Broad’s edge. Overall, The Boathouse is decorated in cool, calming colours which reflect its natural surroundings. ‘It has a slightly New England feel and has been designed to fit in with the area around it,’ explains Michael. ‘We are very pleased with how it looks.’ Inside is a long bar with several large bay windows with views of the water. Exposed brickwork, an open fire, pine floorboards and oak beams make for a welcoming spot and you can easily imagine a buzzy but sophisticated atmosphere. There is also a restaurant, with a high pitched roof, where one wall has a large mural which pays homage to the pub’s former existence as the Eel’s Foot. ‘We will have old photos and postcards of yesteryear, whatever we can find – and yes, we’d be pleased to hear from people who have similar souvenirs,’ Michael says. Food is at the heart of The Boathouse and under head chef Simon Rogers, who also oversees the kitchens at the Waterside, there is an accent on seasonal produce with much sourced locally. With impressive new kitchens, The Boathouse menu features

many classic British favourites as well as Broads specials where you can really indulge your taste buds. So there are dishes for all times of the day – and all different appetites. Lovers of real ale will be pleased to note there will be several cask beers from Greene King and Wolf Brewery in Besthorpe, near Attleborough, on offer as well as other guest beers. The signature brew is a real ale, aptly called The Boathouse. The Boathouse is also operating as a wedding venue; with 75 bookings already in place, there is a separate, dedicated self contained luxury area, with the benefit of a large deck and jetty for bridal parties. The ceremony room, Belinda explains, has expansive sliding glass doors which open onto the spacious decking area. Beside it is a pretty arbour where couples can take their vows. Adjoining is another large function room where wedding breakfasts can be enjoyed before guests head to the dance floor next to their own private bar. A special mention must go to the deck where guests can enjoy unspoilt views over the Broad, admiring the wildlife, reed beds and more. ‘Brides can arrive in our Edwardian style launch, Gentleman Jim, travelling from the Waterside,’ says Belinda, adding that there are many wonderful photo opportunities. The Boathouse offers accommodation, too, with six bedrooms on the first and second floor of the main building. As you’d expect, they are not simple bedrooms but quaint boltholes. One suite stretches over two floors and has fabulous views across the water. All have beautiful bathrooms, king sized beds and plenty of those vital finishing touches. In the grounds are three lodges; a bridal one where newly

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Advertiser’s Announcement

The Boathouse

weds can enjoy their first night of wedded bliss among the beautiful country surroundings, plus two others which sleep up to six and seven people respectively. All are well equipped and have those stunning views again. To conclude, this is an exciting venue which offers some of the best views of the Broads imaginable in truly lovely surroundings. Add in great food and drink and what is not to love? And as for brides? Well, it is hard to think of a more memorable spot to choose.

FOR More information, visit www.theboathouseormesbybroad.co.uk

| APRIL 2014

dreams can come true Get the wedding of your dreams at a Suffolk country hotel which promises a real personal touch. Rachel Moore gives us a tour…

very bride has her own special dream about how her wedding day should be.

The secret to a wonderful wedding is a day that reflects the essence of the bride and groom, their personalities, their styles and tastes. Making those dreams come true is central to the wedding experience offered by the team at Carlton Manor, a stunning Victorian manor house set in landscaped gardens close to the north Suffolk coast. Fresh from a £3m refurbishment that took 18 months to complete with meticulous attention to quality, style and finish, the boutique hotel is an elegant venue for couples creating their special day their own way. Carlton Manor, near Lowestoft, has set out to be unusual – to offer something different – living out the promise of ‘an extraordinary hotel’ moniker used in its marketing, according to general manager Jon Fisher, who has brought his flair and expertise in hospitality management from around the world. Bespoke weddings catering for every style, taste and budget range are its speciality. From the first meeting with the excited couples, wedding coordinator Philippa Doran will listen to their hopes and wishes for their day and make them happen. Be it a formal wedding with Master of Ceremonies and lavish dishes by the hotel’s award-winning chef or an informal celebration with a barbecue or buffet, every style is available for weddings, civil ceremonies and same-sex marriages which can take place from the end of next month. ‘Weddings are about the individuals and that is always uppermost in our planning. It is about them and what works for them, not us and we always remember that,’ says hotel manager Jon Fisher, who has had a long career in managing functions and hospitality from London’s Grosvenor Hotel to

Advertiser’s Announcement

I N F O R M AT I ON

CARLTON MANOR

Carlton Manor Hotel, Chapel Road, Carlton Colville, Lowestoft, Suffolk Contact the wedding team on 01502 560567 or email weddings@carltonmanorhotel.com

running Moor Hall Conference Centre for the Chartered Institute of Marketing in Berkshire. ‘It is all about what people want. It is about making sure that our wedding couples achieve their perfect day and us making sure they feel comfortable all the way through the process of achieving it. ‘There’s nothing similar in the area. We are a country hotel where couples can hold their ceremony and reception in the grounds. We call it ‘an extraordinary hotel’ and it is just that.’ Its sweeping driveway offers the perfect entrance for guests and its terrace is ideal for summer wedding guests to sip Prosecco before sharing a wedding breakfast from menus including tian of smoked chicken with avocado, crayfish and mango salsa followed by roast best end of lamb with a mint and parsley crust, braised puy lentils and a red wine jus. ‘There is such scope for the photography here, too, with our gardens and hotel frontage as a lovely backdrop.’ Couples can choose from smaller intimate ceremonies in the Carlton Room for around 60 guests, the Mauree Suite, which can seat up to 300, or its lawns that provide perfect location for marquee weddings. Jon has updated the wedding packages to include everything – venue hire, drinks, wedding breakfast and evening reception buffet. The hotel’s connections with suppliers mean everything can be sourced, from cars to chair covers and even table magicians. A choice of two bridal suites and 15 boutique-style bedrooms for guests to book at a discounted price completes the offer. Philippa’s service is personalised and warm. ‘I am here to reassure, take away stress and worry and cover every detail. ‘What we offer is a bit different. We have suggestions – suggested menus in our wedding brochure and other suggestions – but, for us, it is about making it really bespoke to the clients. For example, I have a client this year that wishes to have cocktails on Subscribe online at www.placesandfaces.co.uk

the tables instead of wine so they are having different cocktails and a Caribbean theme with a rainbow of chair cover sashes to match the theme. ‘Next year, I have a wedding where the gentleman is Scottish. He wants a Scottish element brought into the wedding so we are having Aberdeen Angus beef and a Scottish dessert with strawberries and all the men are having whisky as their arrival drink. ‘Not all wedding venues do what we do. We do try to make their day as special and as unique as they want it to be.’ Philippa clearly adores what she does. ‘It is a privilege to play such a personal part in their day. I have such good support here with the management and the team. It makes me very proud. ‘From the first meeting, when the couples are excited and full of ideas, to bringing together all their plans to the couple of weeks before when the bride is really nervous and I reassure her, to the day when it’s usually the groom who is more nervous, is a privilege.’ And she is used to unusual requests. ‘We do everything we can within reason and legislation. So far, I’ve only had to say no to a couple who wanted to get married on bucking broncos and another who wanted a pet owl to deliver the rings but, for the first couple, I suggested other ways to bring a Texan theme to the wedding.’ Before choosing any dishes or drinks, couples are invited to the hotel for a food and wine tasting. ‘If couples would like something not in the package, we can price it for them,’ she adds. One big shift in wedding trends has been to hold ceremonies outside the traditional weekend days to make their weddings more cost-effective. Jon explains: ‘Sunday through to Thursday weddings is an area we are keen to develop. ‘Our wedding packages on these days offer good value for money and are a growing trend for couples looking to marry outside weekends to make their budget go further.’ 75

Andrew Florides award winning wedding photographer

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Afternoon delights Treat yourself to our ‘Fire & Ice with Afternoon Tea’ Spa Package Leave your cares at the door when you step into the stunning Thermal Suite and then take it easy in the Relaxation Room. A spa robe, towel and slippers, are also yours for the afternoon.

And when you are fully relaxed it’s time for tea! Start with a glass of sparkling Italian Prosecco followed by a selection of delicate sandwiches, homemade scones, cakes, sweets and fruits, served with a pot of tea of your choice. £33 per person* Available any afternoon, Monday to Thursday

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01603 712550

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*Limited availability - call our holiday booking line on 01263 576022 or visit our website at www.woodlandholidaypark.co.uk for more information and to book.

Woodland Holiday Park Trimingham, Norfolk NR11 8QJ Tel: 01263 576022 Email: info@woodland-park.co.uk

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| APRIL 2014

Exploring Indonesia Mark Nicholls discovers Indonesia: a land of volcanoes, river boats, temple complexes and orangutan sanctuaries

s the sun rises over the Buddhist masterpiece of Borobudur, mist fills the surrounding valleys. Surrounded by 118 smaller bell-shaped stupas, the giant central stupa of the 10th century temple pierces the brightening sky. Yet in the distance are menacing reminders of the volatility of this region as smoke drifts from the summits of volcanoes. Mounts Sumbing, Shindura, Marapi and Murbabu highlight the seismic uncertainty of this part of the world and of these, Marapi poses the more immediate threat having erupted as recently as 2010, coating the temple in a layer of volcanic ash but leaving it undamaged. The stunning Borobudur complex, set in lush gardens a few miles outside the city of Yogyakarta, cascades over nine levels with 4000 statues adorning the tiers. The upper stupas, reached by ascending dozens of stone steps, are at their most impressive as the sun rises.

This is a region of incredible religious architecture and not too far away stands the 9th century Prambanan Hindu temple. Its five monolithic towers stand defiant against the skyline, despite sustaining damage in an earthquake which struck at precisely 5.55am on a May morning in 2006 (five minutes before the site opened to the public), bringing tons of ancient carved stonework crashing to the ground. Undergoing restoration, most parts can be visited though hard hats have to be worn for the central Shiva temple. While the city of Yogyakarta, on the island of Java, is as crowded and hectic as the capital Jakarta, it has a more cultured ambience. Renowned as a centre of Javanese art and batik, it is a city of temples, mosques, the Sultanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s palace and the intriguing Water Palace which is an oasis of pleasure set amid narrow lanes. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also great shopping along Malioboro Street for souvenirs and crafts. For a different atmosphere again, but still on Java, the city of Solo is calm, green and sedate with streets where cycle rickshaws weave

TRAVEL

Indonesia in and out of the noodle stands and street vendors as they ferry passengers to batik and antique markets. Indonesia, of course, is a long haul-destination but is becoming easier to reach as the country’s national airline Garuda introduces non-stop direct flights – taking just under 14 hours - from London Heathrow to Jakarta from the end of May. While Java, Sumatra, and Kalimantan are the major islands, the country has a total of 17,000-plus islands spread over three time zones but a reliable network of internal flights is making all parts increasingly accessible for visitors meaning you can split a break between culture and the cities, add in a beach element, or experience Indonesia’s incredible wildlife and rainforests. The island of Kalimantan, formerly Indonesian Borneo, is a destination well worth a visit. Home to some 12,000 orangutans, about half of them are in the protective sanctuary of Tanjung Puting National Park where lowland tropical rainforest, freshwater swamp, mangrove forest, and secondary forest come together. Reaching deep into this landscape is the Sekonyer River, which I travelled along aboard a ‘klotok’ - a traditional Indonesian river boat - to reach some of these sanctuaries where it is possible to see wild orangutans in the trees and others that are semi-wild and gather for daily feeding rituals. The brightly-painted river vessels pass into the heart of the

rainforest where the banks are lined with Mahogany trees, palms and the bandas fruit - a favourite of the orangutans. Along the way you may see rhinoceros hornbill, macaque and proboscis monkeys, parakeets, brahminy kite and coucal as well as a wild mother and baby orangutan. From our jungle lodge, we travelled sedately two hours down river before the klotok captain throttled back the engine and moored us beside a slatted footpath leading into the undergrowth. We hadn’t walked far before a branch in the trees above suddenly bent under the weight of an orangutan. The female, with a baby on her back, paused and then used the branch to propel herself gracefully onward through the rainforest canopy. By the time we arrived at a cutting in the jungle, a semi-wild male was swaggering impatiently, awaiting an afternoon feed. A few moments later a warden arrived with a sack of bananas on his back and, after momentarily distracting the large primate, swiftly emptied the contents onto a raised platform. A few moments after the dominant male began his greedy feed, more orangutans cautiously moved in to join the feast. The feeding station is part of Camp Leakey, the oldest orangutan research and conservation centre in the world. Established in 1971 by Dr Birute Galdikas, it has been important in helping sustain the number of orangutans in this region.

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TRAVEL

Indonesia

FACTS AT A GLANCE Flights Garuda Indonesia launches non-stop scheduled flights from London to Jakarta on May 29. Promotional fares start from £576 return for flights to Jakarta, including taxes and luggage allowance. Visit www.garudaindonesia.co.uk Accommodation/klotok tours Prices for a 4-day/3-night package at Rimba Orangutan Ecolodge start from £339 per person, based on two people touring. Price includes airport and boat transfers, all tours, park costs and meals. Visit: www.rimbaecolodge.com

Back aboard the klotok, we headed to the riverside halt at Pondok Kerja and the Pesalat Reforestation Project, where you can plant a sapling to help regenerate the rain forest – and the orangutan’s natural habitat - which is being depleted by palm oil cultivation. At dusk we moored for dinner aboard of fried fish, spicy chicken, prawns, fritters, rice, and water spinach cooked in the klotok’s cramped galley. With the onset of darkness, the noises of the jungle changed with the sound of insect and bird life, fireflies twinkling like stars in the trees and offering a vivid show as macaque growled and squealed. As we ate, a proboscis monkey catapulted itself through the air above us followed by others bouncing rhythmically through the trees in the fading light. Later, the captain churned the engine into life and we returned to our jungle lodge, set on stilts just back from the banks of the Sekonyer River, for the night. Indonesia is vast and distant but with direct flights from London and a comprehensive domestic air service, the sights, sounds, natural landscape and architectural wonders of the country all sit within reach.

Indonesian tourist information visit www.indonesia.travel/en

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| April 2014

Where East Meets West Sarah Cullen heads to Istanbul, a labyrinth-like city that oozes culture and history

Travel

Istanbul

The bosphorus

Grand bazaar

The Blue Mosque

rom its original Byzantine and Ottoman Empire eras

to the present day, Istanbul is a city which has sandwiched together ancient, crumbling stone buildings against typically modern glass fronted shop façades. Many of these can be seen along Istiklal Caddesi, one of the city’s main pedestrianised thoroughfares, where walking down this vibrant street is an experience in itself. Put aside the pavement road-rage and simply go with the flow like a large school of fish moving upstream. The crowds were swarming 24/7, like being on London’s Oxford Street on the last weekend before Christmas, but thankfully without the panicked rush we seem to have adopted on British shopping streets. The pace of life in Istanbul is very relaxed. Take time to watch the world go by and observe the city’s dozens of street cats sauntering around, all whilst nursing a cup of traditional Turkish tea served in a small clear glass, typically with two lumps of sugar (and I thought the British were known for being the teapots.) For the must-see sights, head to the Sultanahmet neighbourhood to visit the Blue Mosque, Aya Sofia and Basilica Cistern. These can all be done in a day, as they are a short walk from one another. And despite tour guides recommending you visit the Cistern early to avoid crowds, it was just as amenable to spontaneously try the queues mid-afternoon during the week. The magnificent architecture of the underground aqueduct is well worth the 10-minute wait on the street for the 10 TL (roughly £3) ticket. When visiting the magnificent Blue Mosque, note that women need to wear a headscarf and trousers/long skirt, as it is still a place of prayer. It gives a real sense of the strong religious heritage that envelops the city when you are surrounded by the breath taking architecture of Mehmet Ag˘ a. He wanted to create the same wow factor on the outside of his mosque that can be found on the inside of Aya Sofia. The sense of pride the people of Istanbul have in rich historical culture can be felt amongst foundations of the mosques, so take time to meander between the sites in Sultanahmet and linger for the prayer calls that will echo between the minarets across the Hippodrome as you imagine the historic, gladiator-like performances that occurred on the spot thousands of years ago. To absorb more of the Turkish ambience, visit the Spice Bazaar and Grand Bazaar, perhaps towards the end of your trip to spend your last remaining liras. It is an ideal place to buy souvenirs and presents as well as chuckle with the stallholders who will switch their charm on for us tourists. However, if you are not a confident haggler, it could Subscribe online at www.placesandfaces.co.uk

be worth your while making your purchases along the street markets leading up to the Bazaars, as they are typically cheaper. To see the city from alternate perspectives, take a lift ride up the ancient Galata tower located at the end of Istiklal for a birds-eye view of the beautiful horizon spiked with numerous minarets of mosques and traditional buildings. Or on the other hand, board a ferry for a trip up the Bosphorus as dusk falls for an appreciation of this city straddling Europe and Asia as it comes to life when the sun goes down and the lights are turned on. There are stunning views of the up-lit mosques and palaces along the shorelines and hilltops, with the echoing of prayer calls bouncing off each other as the sun sets, though as with any major city take care when Flights walking through certain areas at night, as Sarah Cullen to Istanbul in recent times there has been outbreaks Atatürk Airport on of civil unrest. Turkish Airlines (www. The Asian side of the city is only a turkishairlines.com). short, cheap ferry ride away and there is a different atmosphere across in Accommodation Kadaköy offering another insight into The Grand Star Hotel, Turkish life. conveniently located Away from the hustle and bustle of with short walks to the European half, the Asian side is less public transport and familiar with tourists (so be mindful buzzing street life, visit: they may not be used to having their www.starhotelsgroup. photograph taken and English can be com non-existent in restaurants). A morning trip to wander the streets Transport and soak up the authenticity of daily Public transport life is a good idea and for the younger across the city is easy, generations, there is an area known as accessible and cheap. I Moda which provides a somewhat arty/ recommended buying hipster part of the city with quirky shops a travel card from the and jazzy street performers. ticket machines, which The food of Istanbul is legendary and have English settings, varies from delicious traditional Turkish in the metro stations. meat dishes to fresh fish sandwiches by the docks, cooked straight from the water on the boat. When in the maze of the Grand Bazaar, try hunting out the small restaurants in pokey alleyways and fill up on a traditional köfte casserole or back outside treat yourself to a chicken or doner kebab from the street corner. With its long history, culture and amazing sights and attractions, Istanbul is a fabulous city destination, perfect for a long weekend. 83

| April 2014

The Wright Man For The Job

Business Profile

Jay Wright

Last year was a good year for Jay Wright, as he became CEO of Virgin Wines following a management buyout and was named Man of the Year at The Drinks Business Awards. Emma Outten went to St James’ Mill in Norwich to meet him

t’s very fitting that Virgin Wines provides a Rockstar

Service. After all, CEO Jay Wright had ambitions to be a rock star himself in the late 80s/early 90s, when he was in a rock band for four years. The hair may be shorter these days, but 44-year-old Jay still exudes something of that image. ‘I had a great time doing it; I absolutely loved it,’ he says. Virgin Wines, based in St James’ Mill, Norwich, has a suitably informal air, with a games room for a reception area and Jay sharing the same office as everyone else. He may be CEO, but there’s no hierarchy here. ‘We have an informal atmosphere and we have a lot of fun, but we care passionately about what we do,’ he says. ‘Virgin Wines feels very much like a family – we’re a very sociable bunch; we party a lot together as well as work a lot together.’ Virgin Wines was established under Richard Branson’s Virgin banner in 2000, the same year Jay founded mail-order business Warehouse Wines in Preston. ‘I very much saw there was an opportunity,’ recalls Jay, of that era when wine became less niche and more mass market. Virgin Wines became a subsidiary of Direct Wines in 2005, with Jay becoming Managing Director in 2008. It’s fair to say that the business was making a loss at that time, but Jay’s arrival heralded a significant period of restructuring, which included merging the Warehouse Wines brand with that of Virgin Wines. Jay says: ‘We turned over £35million last year and the business made £2million net profit, so hopefully it has been a real success story.’ In November of last year Mobeus Equity Partners and Connection Capital provided a combined debt and equity package to support the £15.9 million management buy-out of the business from Direct Wines. ‘I learnt a huge amount with Direct Wines over the years,’ says Jay, although he adds: ‘There’s nothing quite like owning your own business again so that’s a really nice place for me to be.’ The business operates under the Virgin banner: ‘Richard is so much the figure head of the Virgin brand and he’s done the most incredible job of building the Virgin business from nothing to this huge global iconic brand that really resonates with people, and part of our job is to make sure we carry on building on that whole brand ethos.’ The tagline for Virgin Wines has always been ‘life’s too short for boring wine.’ ‘We are here to find wines that are interesting,’ agrees Jay. The company prides itself on its range of around 600 boutiquequality wines, and around 90 percent are exclusive to Virgin Wines. As for that exclusive club feel (as would befit a rock star), there’s the Discovery Wine Club (40,000 subscribers) and the justREDS Wine

Club. Was he a red over white afficionado? ‘I like good wine full stop; wine is one of those real pleasures in life,’ says Jay. He would be the first to admit: ‘I’m not a wine connoisseur at all – I have a very healthy practical interest in it but we’ve got wine buyers here who know far more about wine than I do. They do all the glamorous stuff,’ says Jay, ‘my job is to make some money!’ The Norwich office, which has 110 staff, has a dedicated call centre and delivery tracking team. Virgin Wines is also located in Preston, the legacy of the merger with Warehouse Wines, and Jay lives in the Lake District with wife Rachel and sons Tommy, 11, Charlie, nine and Matty, five, although he rents a home from home in Norwich city centre. His local is The Last Wine Bar. ‘It’s dangerously only a 30-second walk from where I live!’ Jay adds: ‘I’m down here four days a week. I’d never been to Norwich until I’d got the job for Virgin so my first day here was my first time ever in Norwich but I’ve really grown to love the city.’ He was born in South America and has lived in North America, although his family is from Lincoln. Jay says: ‘Lincoln was the one really stable point of my childhood and Norwich really reminds me of Lincoln.’ So he’s here to stay? ‘I’ve just been involved with my colleagues in buying the business so I’m not planning on going anywhere. I love the fact when I’m here I can give 100 per cent.’ If Jay had a good year last year, (he was named Man of the Year at The Drinks Business Awards) Virgin Wines also had a vintage year, winning Innovator of the Year at the International Wine Challenge, thanks to innovations such as the London Wines Award and the Virgin Wines Virtual Winery, where 700 people got to influence every part of the production of wine. ‘It is wine making by democracy,’ explains Jay. This year Virgin Wines will be hosting 30 wine tastings around the country including in Norwich. ‘We do a Norwich tasting, normally in November,’ says Jay. Last year, 300 people attended the event at Blackfriars Hall. This year Jay wants to continue to develop the new party plan service, Virgin Wines Fabulous. ‘I just think it’s a lovely way to enjoy wine – wine is such a social thing.’ And he hints: ‘I would love Virgin Wines to become the place everyone thinks about when it comes to wine and Champagne drink gifts – I think there’s massive opportunity for that.’ The day we met, Jay was about to fly from Norwich to Manchester to celebrate the MBO. Needless to say, the CEO would be drinking ‘mainly wine.’

Almary Green Investments Ltd

Advising clients throughout East Anglia Tel: 01603 706740

www.almarygreen.com

We are delighted to offer our personal, professional and prompt service… … for all your property transactions, wills, family and other legal matters.

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06/11/2013

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Caring For

Your Finances • Choose the right investments • Plan ahead for retirement • Provide disaster protection for your family • Secure your inheritance for your loved ones • Save tax on savings and gifts • Fund care fees, if and when needed

Almary Green Investments Ltd, Greenfields House,10 Meridian Way, Meridian Business Park, Norwich NR7 0TA Tel: 01603 706740 Email: enquiries@almarygreen.com

www.carefeeplanningnorfolk.co.uk www.carefeeplanningsuffolk.co.uk

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Financial Planning

gifts

Carl Lamb Almary Green Independent Financial Advisers 01603 706740 | www.almarygreen.com

H ow G i fts can B e n e fit Yo u Too remaining in your estate, for IHT purposes. What happens in

One of the benefits of becoming

practice, in the event of death within the seven years, is that the value of the gift is the first part of the estate to be set

more wealthy is the ability to make

against the Nil Rate Band when calculating IHT. The tax due

gifts to our loved ones. However,

on any lifetime gift in excess of the Nil Rate Band reduces

these gifts can have a liability to Inheritance Tax if we die within a

over the course of the seven years in a process known as taper relief. However, not all gifts will be included in the IHT

seven year period of making the gift.

assessment. Each individual has an annual gift allowance

Carl Lamb explains more

of £3000 – so that’s the total you can give away in a year

without incurring an IHT liability. On top of that, you can gift up to £250 per person per year to any number of people. In addition to the annual allowances, there are a number

lanning to minimise the amount of Inheritance

of other special allowances. Wedding gifts are exempt up

Tax (IHT) payable on your estate when you

to a certain value —£5000 from a parent, £2500 from a

die is something that should be a core part of

grandparent and £1000 from anyone else. Gifts to charity

your financial planning. Anything you leave to

and to political parties are also exempt.

a spouse or civil partner is free of IHT and, in

There is another less well-known gift allowance for those

addition, we each have an IHT free allowance on death which

who have surplus income, allowing you to set up a regular

currently stands at £325,000. This is known as the Nil Rate

pattern of gifts. This must be done properly: you must be

Band, and any unused Nil Rate Band can be transferred to

able to demonstrate firstly that the gifts are being made

your spouse or civil partner on your death if you leave your

from surplus income (excluding investment income) and

estate to them – so if, for example, you leave everything to

secondly that you have set up an established pattern and

your spouse, they will have a tax-free threshold of twice the

intend to stick to it. Good record keeping is essential if you

prevailing Nil Rate Band when they die.

want to take advantage of this allowance as your gifts may

If your estate on death exceeds the Nil Rate Band, the excess will normally be taxed at 40 per cent. That’s a big slice of your hard-earned assets going straight to the taxman. Making gifts is one way of reducing the value of your

come under scrutiny when your estate is being assessed for IHT. An important point to remember if you are looking at making a gift of an asset such as property is that you mustn’t

estate, but it should be remembered that any gift you

continue to benefit from the asset after you have given it

make within seven years of your death may well count as

away – you mustn’t continue to live in a house rent-free when you’ve passed it on to your children, for example. In such an instance, the gift will be considered as a ‘gift with reservation

For independent advice on your investment portfolio, contact Almary Green on 01603 706740 or email carl.lamb@almarygreen.com

of benefit’ and will still be included in your estate, however long ago you made the gift.

Please remember that the advice here is generic and we recommend that you get individual personalised advice.

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KEEPING IT IN THE FAMILY IT’S NOT JUST ABOUT NUMBERS

An innovative and forward thinking firm of chartered accountants, who have been helping families preserve and grow their wealth for over 150 years. For a free consultation contact: Kevin Bunting | 01493 335100 | k.bunting@lovewell-blake.co.uk

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Legal

Changes to the legal system

JULIAN GIBBONS NORTON PESKETT SOLICITORS 01493 849200 | www.NORTONPESKETT.CO.UK

Coming Full Circle

find any barrister willing to represent them. Most of these cases involve complex fraud allegations, with trials expected to last months and where the state has already invested hundreds of thousands of pounds in investigating and prosecuting them. The authorities are now facing a number of applications from the defence to permanently stay the proceedings on the

This month Julian Gibbons raises concerns about changes being made to the legal system but reckons they will soon be changed back!

grounds that the defendants cannot possibly have a fair trial without representation. Exactly how it is in the interest of the state, to have a raft of cases incapable of prosecution because that state is unwilling to make available the resources to ensure that there is a level playing field at trial, is not explained by Mr Grayling. Government does not stint on what it pays its counsel to prosecute complex cases in the Crown Court; it does not, at the same time, acknowledge that to have a fair trial defence

I have written more than once about the tendency

counsel should be entitled to expect to receive comparable

of government and politicians to re-invent the

remuneration. The right to a fair trial is enshrined in the

wheel. The process is quite recognisable. First, they decide,

European Convention on Human Rights, but it was part of our

usually on the basis of little or no evidence (though sometimes

common law long before then.

with the benefit of reports written to suit a particular agenda),

The implications go beyond the immediate cases. If

that the system is not working. Then they tear up that system

prosecutions cannot proceed then offences will not be

and replace it with something which costs more and achieves

investigated and this country will start to acquire a reputation

little of what they expect.

as being a soft touch for economic crime. The cost of this to

Along the way, the law of unintended consequences gives rise to issues which were not predicted. These normally have a knock-on effect, causing more cost elsewhere in the system.

the country is difficult to quantify now, but it is likely to be immense. The Lord Chief Justice has recently delivered a speech in

Eventually, some smart politician, often from a government of a

which he predicts that these types of cuts, including others

different political colour, comes up with another solution which

to the Ministry of Justice, are likely to be a permanent feature

resembles the one dumped in the first place. As usual, it is the

which we should get used to. One of his solutions is to consider

poor tax payer who pays for this nonsense.

a two-tier or intermediate Crown Court, with the lower tier

The latest idiocy from government is to dump the

dealing with less serious matters applying a different, more cost

entire structure and expertise of representation in criminal

effective, procedure. Those of us old enough to remember may

proceedings. They do not, of course, say that is what they are

experience some dĂŠja vu. Up until 1971, this is exactly what we

doing, but you can only cut costs so much before the system

had: the magistratesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; court, where most cases were dealt with

falls apart and firms doing the work simply cannot make it pay.

summarily, and then two jury courts; the Assizes for the very

The Justice Minister and Lord Chancellor, Chris Grayling, whose previous proposals even he finally realised were

serious offences, and Quarter Sessions for everything else. The latter court was run by someone called the Clerk of the

unworkable, has now set about imposing a fee cut of an

Peace, an office dating from medieval times. He also provided

average of 17.5 per cent on the legal profession, all over 12

advice to the lay magistrates who comprised the County

months. Anyone in business will recognise that a low margin

Quarter Sessions. It was efficient and low cost, without the

business will be unlikely to sustain that sort of reduction in fees

massive bureaucracy that today characterises the slothful

and remain viable. In fact, with the associated bureaucracy

Courts and Tribunal Service.

and regulation, many firms will question whether to continue working increasingly longer hours for less reward. Unintended consequences? A parallel and significant cut in the fees paid to defence barristers for what are termed Very High Cost Cases has already left several defendants unable to Subscribe online at www.placesandfaces.co.uk

Take that system, apply modern technology and some real efficiencies to court management, and we have returned to 1971. None of this, of course, addresses the injustice of unrepresented defendants. Plus Ă§a change!

Wealth management

Tax

Kevin Bunting LOVEWELL BLAKE CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS 01493 335100 | www.lovewell-blake.co.uk

I’m a ‘Ta x’ Entrepreneur – Right ? time limit for submitting the election has passed. The conditions for sole traders and partnerships are different

Kevin Bunting examines how and when taxpayers can claim Entrepreneurs’ Relief

to shareholders with qualifying shares. The conditions for company shares are generally easier to satisfy because selling the asset (shares) will always be considered as selling an interest in the business. The same cannot be said for sole traders or partnerships because they can sell an asset of the business which does not require them to sell an interest in the business. For example, four partners in a trading partnership have equal interest in the profit and gains of the business and all meet the

he capital gains tax system has

ER conditions. The business owns the trading premises and

fundamentally remained unchanged

the partners decide to sell them and rent instead. The gain on

since 2008, except for the introduction of the 28

selling trading premises will not qualify for ER as an interest in

per cent rate in 2010. That said, it is still extremely

the business has not been sold (only an asset). If the partners

common to see a taxpayer claim the 10 per cent

introduced a fifth member to the partnership around the

CGT rate (called Entrepreneurs Relief (ER)) but see it fail

time as selling the property they would get ER on selling the

because something has been missed.

premises because each would have disposed of an interest in

The main reason taxpayers have trouble with claiming the

the business around the same time as selling the property.

relief is because they think it mirrors business asset taper relief

Regardless of the business interest it must always be held as

which applied until 2008. This relief resulted in a 10 per cent

a qualifying interest by the taxpayer throughout the one year

tax rate but the qualifying conditions were considerably more

period ending with the date of disposal. This is known as the

generous. As a concept ER is based upon Retirement Relief

12 month rule and is a strict requirement to generate the relief.

which is an old (in my terms!) relief which had a firm place in

Extreme care needs to be taken with this requirement because

CGT planning until the late 90’s and retained a legacy in the

decisions can result in ER conditions being lost. I have heard

tax system until April 5 2003.

of a case where the conditions were not satisfied for three

For those who remember planning with Retirement Relief,

days so the 12 month ownership period restarted – prior to the

they may recall a number of hoops or steps had to be created

three days they had always met the criteria. Ironically, if advice

to ensure the asset sale triggered the relief. That same thought

had been taken, the three day period need not have existed as

process is needed with ER but the culture created by taper

the order of events could have been adapted to ensure the ER

relief still makes people think they automatically get the

conditions were not sacrificed.

reduced CGT rate.

As ER relates to taxpayers it is not a relief available to trustees

ER is designed to shelter gains from CGT where a trading

of settlements, regardless of whether they own qualifying

business interest is owned. Each taxpayer has a lifetime

assets. It is possible for certain types of beneficiary to allocate

allowance of currently £10m but not all will be fortunate

their lifetime allowance to the trust but there will undoubtably

enough to have assets, or an interest, which triggers the relief.

be a need for tax planning advice before a trust can benefit

A taxpayer must elect to claim the relief and has a set period

from the 10 per cent rate.

to do so. This is important because there are instances where

The requirements of ER are very complex and I hope this short

a gain is not immediately taxable but the taxpayer should file

article warns readers there is more to the relief than one might

a protective election. Failing to make a protective claim could

think. Equally advice can shelter large gains from CGT, in

result in an earlier gain being taxed at 28 per cent because the

circumstances where you might not think it possible.

Finance

Retirement Plans

DENISE LITTLEWOOD Denise Littlewood Financial Adviser 01493 384255 | www.deniselittlewoodfinancialadviser.co.uk

Facing the future Searching questions about our saving and investment habits need to be answered as the gap between needs and reality widens, says Denise Littlewood

hese days we are likely to live longer, healthier lives. The Office for National Statistics predicts that by the mid-century more than seven per cent of the UK population will be over 85 years old. Longevity is undoubtedly a blessing, but it comes at a cost. The reality is that we are not saving enough or spending enough time planning for our future. Successive governments have urged us to save more as the cost of living rises, but the combination of falling real wages, low interest rates and steady inflation is chipping away at our attempts to put in place the foundations for future wealth. Clearly, there is a disparity between our expectations of future lifestyle and the reality of what we are doing to realise those designs. But, although the gap is acute, the solution and action is not beyond the means of individuals and households. One in three There is a degree of realism among Britain’s savers, even if their assessments are unsettling. Recent research by HSBC (‘The Future of Retirement’, 2013) revealed that two-thirds of people think that their preparations for a comfortable retirement are inadequate. The survey found that people expect their retirement to span 19 years but their savings would cover their anticipated lifestyle for just seven years. People are increasingly at risk of outliving their capital, but attitudes towards financial planning have not kept pace with this new demographic reality. Modern Britain is struggling to meet the cost of welfare and social insurance – from pensions to the National Health Service – which we have increasingly come to expect, over a century of expanding state provision. A recent survey* by BlackRock of 2000 UK residents revealed that over half of people (53 per cent) do not save anything specifically for retirement. Even more worryingly, the figure remains the same among people aged 35–54, when earning power should peak and planning for retirement become a priority. Individuals who are not saving need to face up to a stark message: the pay days remaining until you retire are the number of opportunities you have to build the fund for the rest of your life.

*26/11/2013

Back to basics There is a widespread hesitancy in Britain to address this growing problem, despite the dangers that people are storing up for the future. Instead, many are using cash as a safety blanket in an uncertain world. BlackRock’s survey revealed that 68 per cent of people’s investments is held in cash. Although individuals voiced concerns about whether they will be able to achieve longer-term goals, a third of respondents planned to increase their cash holdings over the next year. However, just over a fifth (22 per cent) said that tax breaks on their investments might be the catalyst that they needed to move out of cash. Not only are we cautious and risk averse, but we are attending to our short-term needs at the expense of our longterm plans. BlackRock found that people save primarily for a rainy day or a holiday and spend more time planning for their annual vacation than their retirement. Clearly, as a nation we are not making adequate provision for our future. But careful planning and a commitment to action can still help us realise designs we have, however humble or grand. Surveys consistently demonstrate that there is a direct link between financial planning and saving more, however modest our income. People who use professional advice have two and half times the retirement savings of those who have not sought advice (source: HSBC, ‘The Future of Retirement’, 2013). BlackRock’s research also showed that people who have a financial adviser feel more in control of their financial futures, probably because the process compels them to take a more involved and comprehensive view of their finances. Building a secure financial future requires foresight, attention to detail and realism – as well as a dash of anticipation of enjoying one’s hard-earned wealth. The tax year-end is a time to seize your opportunities and start to make a difference now for the future. To receive a complimentary guide covering Wealth Management, Retirement Planning or Inheritance Tax Planning contact Denise Littlewood Financial Adviser on 01493 384255 or email denise.littlewood@sjpp.co.uk

**Investor Pulse Survey, October 2013

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The Quay to Success A Beccles-based conservatory company is celebrating 20 years in the business. Find out more about their success

onservatories are a popular addition to any home, providing that vital finishing touch. They create a welcoming space that is light and airy and often becomes a much loved place to both relax and entertain. One well known Beccles company, Quayside Conservatories, has been creating and manufacturing, amongst other things, individually designed traditional hardwood conservatories, orangeries, lantern roofs and garden rooms, for 20 years. These buildings accommodate the tastes and requirements of each client, as well as complementing the style and architecture of their existing home. Caroline Topping, sales and marketing manager, who joined the company just two months after it started, said: ‘The team has lots of experience in the creation of conservatories, windows and doors and can help customers work through what they require and the best way of achieving it, whilst ensuring that the new addition is sympathetic to the existing one. ‘We offer a personal and friendly service and can organise everything from start to finish, whilst ensuring that the client has plenty of input and is totally happy.’ She explains that the products are created using traditional joinery methods. The hardwood is sourced from certified, sustainable forests, much of which is now in an ‘engineered’ form, strip laminated and finger jointed for improved stability and strength. Caroline continues: ‘We keep in touch with all our customers so when a new client wants a particular type of conservatory, orangery or garden room, we can take them to see one in situ. They can see how it works in a home, how people make use of it and how much time they spend in it.’ The company, based in former boat building boathouses on the bank of the River Waveney, began with seven people, five of whom are still there. Caroline says: ‘We have a very stable

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team.’ Plans are in place and the company is awaiting the delivery of machinery and associated computer software for a new window line which will be able to produce a new more thermally efficient window to comply with the latest in government legislation for new builds. The new window system will be marketed under a new brand name of QTech Windows by Quayside Conservatories Ltd. The windows will be A rated for thermal efficiency and

Quayside Conservatories are members of the Consumer Protection Association, www.thecpa.co.uk and the British Woodworking Federation. Quayside Conservatories’ mobile conservatory will be at Notcutts Garden Centre, Daniels Road, Norwich, from April 1 to April 17 and then from April 22 to May 5

created from Accoya (a durable and stable timber with ecofriendly FSC certification) and a minimum of 60 years’ service life. Subscribe online at www.placesandfaces.co.uk

For more information visit www.quayside-conservatories.co.uk or call 01502 714512

| APRIL 2014

Mark and Marcus This month our columnist Richard Barr looks at the lives of two distinctly different but ultimately similar men

hey both lived during the second half of the

19th century and the first few years of the 20th. They both wrote a lot of books. They both had fine moustaches. They lived on opposite sides of the Atlantic, though each wrote about the other’s country. Books by both of them are in print even 100 years after their deaths. You will have heard of one of them, but almost certainly not the other, unless you are very keen on art. But did they meet? In my early years I spent some time incarcerated at a Suffolk boarding school. It is an experience I would not recommend, but if they eventually catch up with me and I were sentenced to a spell in Wayland Prison, I would at least have had some conditioning for the experience. I say no more of my five year prison sentence, except to mention that from time to time the prisoners – sorry pupils fell ill and had to spend time in the sick room. And that is where I read The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Samuel Langhorne Clemens which, at the age of nine or 10, I thought was just a good children’s adventure book set in the American Deep South.

Marcus Huish

Mark Twain

A Look At Life

Richard Barr

F r o m Ma r k t o Ma r c u s

Are you still none the wiser? Certain famous people felt the need to change their names to make them more famous (Georgios Panayiotou = George Michael; Reginald Dwight = Elton John and Harry Webb = Cliff Richard). And as for Samuel Clemens, the name you are familiar with is Mark Twain. Mark Twain is more famous these days for his wonderful quips – designed to put almost everyone in their place. Here are a few: Of Bankers: A banker is a fellow who lends you his umbrella when the sun is shining, but wants it back the minute it begins to rain. Of the French: In Paris they simply stared when I spoke to them in French; I never did succeed in making those idiots understand their language. Bullies: Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great. There are hundreds of them and together they could amount to a philosophy of life.

Subscribe online at www.placesandfaces.co.uk

Marcus Huish was a barrister who (as far as I know) never practised. His life long love was art of many different kinds, ranging from statuettes, and water colours to tapestries and Japanese art. He wrote many books, copies of most of which line one of our bookshelves. They include Happy England which is still in print. It is a delightful collection of paintings by Helen Allingham, many of which over the years have been reproduced in those more expensive greetings cards that have no message inside. It has to be said that the style of the book is a little long winded, taking eight pages alone to explain the title and to give half an apology for not including paintings of the sordid side of England in the nineteenth century. If he were writing for Places and Faces our Sarah would soon have cut his words down to size. Marcus Huish was also my great grandfather. Not only was he a force to be reckoned with in the art world. He was a founder of the Fine Art Society which, in its heyday, was patronised by royalty from the monarch downwards. He also became involved in the famous libel case between the artist James Whistler and art critic John Ruskin. Ruskin had taken a dislike to what is now a priceless painting by Whistler (Nocturne in Black and Gold) and described it as ‘flinging a pot of paint in the public’s face.’ Whistler won his case but was awarded just a farthing (about an eighth of a penny in modern currency) in damages. Marcus Huish did not take sides but supported both protagonists – and helped Whistler through his subsequent bankruptcy. The University of Glasgow holds hundreds of letters that passed between them. My great grandfather was not a saint though. Apparently he had a penchant for beautiful young women – such that his wife ordered a peephole to be inserted in his office door, so that staff could keep an eye on him when he was alone with aspiring young female artists. And so to the question – did Mark and Marcus meet? Certainly Mark Twain regularly visited England towards the end of the nineteenth century. He declared himself an Anglophile and spent a lot of time in art galleries. Who knows – Mark may have met Marcus and marched off with a smile on his face and a copy of Happy England under his arm. And me? I follow further guidance from Mark Twain: Never put off until tomorrow what may be done day after tomorrow just as well.

| April 2014

Leonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s New Look We love it in five and three-door forms, but now Seat has introduced an estate version of its Leon. Is anything lost in translation? Matt Joy reports

Motoring

Seat Leon ST

Facts at a glance Model Seat Leon ST FR 2.0 TDI 184PS, £23,380 Leon ST prices range from £16,675 to £24,630

Engine 2.0-litre diesel producing 182bhp and 280lb.ft of torque

Transmission Six-speed manual gearbox driving the front wheels

Performance Top speed 142mph, 0-62mph in 7.8 seconds

Economy 65.7mpg combined

Emissions 112g/km of CO2

Dealer Castlegate Seat Jupiter Road, Mile Cross Lane, Norwich, NR6 6SU, Tel 01603 480200, www.castlegateseat.co.uk

ne truism of the car world is that if you have a successful model, try and spin as many other models off it as you possibly can. Nothing wrong with that of course, particularly when it comes to widening the potential audience. Seat has done well with this approach before and is doing the same with its excellent Leon. First we had the five-door, more recently there was the sportier threedoor SC and now there’s the eminently practical ST. It shouldn’t be too hard to spot. You’ll recognise the handsome nose and sharp creases that have become a key part of the Seat look, only at the rear it now flows into a neatly designed estate tailgate. Some might see the term ‘estate’ as a byword for unglamorous practicality but those days are long gone; the Leon ST is slick, sharp and thoroughly modern. The other important bit is in place too, namely space. With a modest length increase of 27cm over the five-door the Leon ST hasn’t been turned into a parallel parking nightmare, but the boot space is usefully larger. With the seats up there is 587 litres on offer (almost 200 more than the hatch) and with the seats down there’s a massive 1,470 litres. All versions regardless of spec also have a moveable boot floor, giving you a useful separated storage area beneath or the one giant area, plus a 12v power socket and a through hatch, useful for long loads. An option is a folding front passenger seat too, for serious load carriers. SE models and

above get a handy release in the boot for dropping the rear seats, the kind of detail that makes it so easy to live with. You might expect that the transformation into an estate means compromises in the way the Leon drives, but in reality it’s easy to forget you’re in the ST once behind the wheel. The same refreshingly simple and well-specified cabin greets you as you climb in, and you and your fellow passengers enjoy as much room as in other Leon models. The layout is easy to get to grips with, while the finish and the standard of materials is significantly better than the previous model. The Leon is a quality item, regardless of the bodystyle. The engine choice is usefully broad too. Petrol engines start with a surprisingly flexible 1.2-litre TSI unit, with a 1.4-litre TSI and powerful 1.8-litre version at the top. Diesel engines include the 1.6-litre TDI, including in super-frugal Ecomotive guise (capable of 85.6mpg combined), rising to the full-house 184PS 2.0-litre TDI. It may be the most expensive choice but that top diesel engine also gives you the most impressive overall package. It’s as quick and responsive as the figures suggest, with more torque than you could possibly need yet the possibility of more than 65 miles per gallon. It’s smooth and powerful, making life very easy for the driver. The Leon should be on your shopping list anyway, but if you don’t think the hatch is quite big enough then the ST solves all your problems. Don’t think about buying a compact estate without taking a close look.

Prices correct at time of going to press

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Model shown: New Citroën DS3 VTi 120 manual DSport Pink Special Edition. Elect 4 Personal Lease rentals require an advance rental of £4835 followed by 46 monthly rentals of £219 & an optional final rental of £5986. Elect 4 Personal Lease rentals shown apply to Citroën DS3 VTi 120 manual DStyle Pink Special Edition & require an advance rental of £5819 followed by 46 monthly rentals & an optional final rental of £6026. Excess mileage charges may apply if the agreed annual mileage is exceeded. Payment of the optional final rental extends the rental term (this does not transfer title of the vehicle) & requires an annual rental equivalent to one months’ rental. Finance subject to status. Written quotations available on request from Citroën Financial Services, Quadrant House, Princess Way, Redhill, Surrey, RH1 1QA, UK. Over 18s only. A guarantee may be required. ‡Free insurance is only available on Elect 4 Personal Finance Lease & Elect 3 if car ownership is required. Ask your dealer for details. Free insurance available on Citroën DS3 DStyle & New Citroën DS3 Cabrio DStyle models in UK mainland & Northern Ireland. Policyholder must be aged 21-75 years [25-75 for Northern Ireland and all New DS3 Cabrio DStyle models). DRIVERS AGED 21-24 YEARS ARE REQUIRED TO ACTIVATE THE TELEMATICS BOX & CONSENT TO DATA CAPTURE & TRANSMISSION TO QUALIFY FOR FREE INSURANCE. INSURANCE COVER IS SUBJECT TO CANCELLATION IF YOU RECEIVE FOUR WARNINGS FOR POOR DRIVING. All drivers must hold a full UK licence & meet eligibility criteria, including limits on driving convictions & claims. Excesses apply. 1 year’s Citroën Motor Insurance will be provided & underwritten by U K Insurance Limited. †Applies to all retail & small business customers of DS3, DS3 Cabrio, DS4 & DS5 models. Includes: Scheduled servicing, annual service (for vehicles on 2 year cycle, where needed) & brake fluid. Expires at 36 months or 35,000 miles (whichever occurs sooner). Offers, prices & specification correct at time of going to press from participating Dealers. Terms & conditions apply. Please ask us for details. Subject to stock availability. Finance offers apply to UK only.

Official Government fuel consumption figures (Range): Urban cycle, Extra urban, Combined (litres per 100km/mpg) & CO2 emissions (g/km); Highest:Citroën DS3 VTi 120 automatic DStyle 9.3/30.4, 4.9/57.6, 6.5/53.5, 150. Lowest:Citroën DS3 e-HDi 90 Airdream manual DStyle 91g 4.3/65.7, 3.2/88.3, 3.6/78.5, 91. MPG figures are achieved under official EU test conditions, intended as a guide for comparative purposes only, and may not reflect actual on-the-road driving conditions.

NOW AVAILABLE TO TEST DRIVE AT M. R. KING & SONS

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The New Peugeot 308 has arrived at M. R. King & Sons. It’s a car where every design choice has been made to bring your senses alive. Sight, sound and touch come together to deliver driving exhilaration that makes you feel closer, more connected to the road ahead. Contact us to arrange a test drive.

M R KING & SONS Horn Hill, LOWESTOFT, NR33 0PX 01502 573955 www.mrking.co.uk

The official fuel consumption in mpg (l/100km) and CO2 emissions (g/km) for the 308 range are: Urban 35.7 – 67.3 (7.9 – 4.2), Extra Urban 61.4 – 85.6 (4.6 – 3.3), Combined 48.7 – 78.5 (5.8 – 3.6) and CO2 134 – 82. MPG figures are achieved under official EU test conditions, intended as a guide for comparative purposes only, and may not reflect actual on-the-road driving conditions. On the road prices quoted include delivery to dealership, number plates, 12 months’ Government Vehicle Excise Duty and £55 Government First Registration Fee.

| APRIL 2014

Worth The Wait Ford is rarely first to market with new models but its EcoSport compact SUV is proof that being patient has its rewards, writes Iain Dooley

If you’ve been looking for a mini SUV recently you may have noticed the absence of Ford representation in what’s become a rapidly growing market sector. The Blue Oval has finally fixed this omission with the EcoSport, a car boasting familiar Ford driving and design characteristics plus a trio of engines promising to be kind on your wallet. As befits a market sector focused more on urban agility than the ability to climb every mountain, the EcoSport is front-wheel drive only. Up front you’ve the choice of Ford’s awarding winning three-cylinder, 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol motor, a conventional 1.5-litre petrol and frugal 1.5-litre, four-pot diesel unit. Riding more than a little higher than a Fiesta, the EcoSport offers drivers a commanding view of the road. Despite its ‘compact’ tag Ford’s mini SUV’s cabin is surprisingly spacious, and there’s enough room for four adults or more importantly a growing family.

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Bash-proof plastics abound in the cabin, which, while coming close to that of a Fiesta or Focus, are the obvious sign of the EcoSport’s low cost roots. Still, what you can see and touch is of a good standard, and the controls and displays will be familiar to existing Ford owners. Also pleasing is Ford’s generosity when it comes to standard equipment. Focusing initially on high-grade Titanium spec, the EcoSport lacks very little in real terms thanks to the inclusion of keyless ignition, alloy wheels, air-con, decent audio and plush upholstery. Open your wallet a little wider and you can add leather trim, rain sensing wipers, cruise control, Ford’s feature rich multimedia system complete with mobile phone connectivity. Showroom appeal is all very well, fortunately the EcoSport also makes a convincing case on the road. While not built for outright speed the car boasts a well sorted ride and weighty steering, which should instill plenty of confidence when on the move. Much work has been done by Ford’s engineers to tailor the EcoSport to the demands of European roads and its drivers. The bottom line is that mini SUV drives much like any current small Ford, which is a considerable achievement and should be enough to give its rivals something to think about. It’s fair to say that, in 1.0-litre EcoBoost trim the car is best suited to relaxed urban motoring. Brisk performance is easily achievable but push hard and you’ll soon be jealous of the extra torque and smoothness of the diesel motor. The EcoBoost petrol-powered car might be quicker

Motoring

Ford EcoSport Prices correct at the time of going to press

Fac ts at a g lan ce Model: Ford EcoSport 1.0 Eco Boost Titanium, from £15,995 on the road. Engine: 1.0-litre petrol unit developing 125bhp. Transmission: 5-speed manual transmission as standard, driving the front wheels. Performance: Maximum speed 112mph, 0-62mph 12.7 seconds. Economy: 53.3mpg.

in a straight line but the diesel’s welcome extra slug of torque might be a deal breaker for some. The five-speed manual gearshift is slick in both cars, while the added flexibility of the diesel allows you to stretch the EcoSport’s legs on long journeys. Motorway cruising is a doddle plus you’ll need fewer downchanges when attacking hilly terrain. Other cars might have stolen a march in this market sector but Ford’s EcoSport can stand tall, confident that it has the requisite talents to meet many of its rivals head on. It might not have been first to market but it’s yet another first rate motor from Ford.

CO2 Rating: 125g/km.

D e al e r D e ta i l s Pertwee and Back, Gapton Hall Road, Great Yarmouth, NR31 ONJ, Tel 01493 664151 Prices correct at time of going to press

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Places & Faces (136x93):Layout 1

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Visit Redwings and meet our special rescued horses and ponies FOR FREE!

ALBATROS Café, Restaurant, Bar, Music Venue and speciality Bed & Breakfast

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THE ALBATROS IS A TRADITIONAL Dutch cargo ship from 1899. Instead of sailing the high seas she is now permanently moored alongside The Quay in Wells and used as a Dutch style cafe, bar, restaurant, music venue and B&B, offering one of the most entertaining ways to spend a couple of hours (or a couple of nights) on the North Norfolk coast. The restaurant serves an extensive choice of sweet and savoury Dutch pancakes and other Dutch specialities for lunch and dinner. Guests can sit below deck in the cosy bar area or outside on the main deck with fantastic views over harbour and marshes. It’s a great place to experience something a bit different!

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EAST ANGLIA’S LEADER IN LADIES’ WIGS For over 25 years, Chris Chapman has specialised in the treatment of hair loss. Whether you are prematurely balding or undergoing medical treatment, Chris can help you.

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Norfolk and Norwich Festival Launch Fusion, The Forum, Norwich This year’s Norfolk and Norwich Festival line-up was unveiled to sponsors and guests at the programme launch at Fusion, The Forum. The 16-day event, which runs from May 9-25, entertains thousands of people with classical and contemporary music, theatre, circus, dance, visual arts and literary events. Performers will include the Philharmonia Orchestra, The Bo Nanafana Social Club and Camille O’Sullivan. Amanda Sandland-Taylor Newsmakers PR

Words and photos by

Liz Larner, Anne Fry, Jackie Higham and Lesley Hewett

Michelle Lamont, Sarah Owen and Helen McFayden

Professor John Last, Caroline Williams and Stefan Gurney

N&N Festival Artistic Director, William Galinsky with Sponsor of the Free Outdoor programme, Rick Green

Amy Vaughan and Lisa Elmer

Leader of Norwich City Council, Brenda Arthur, The Lord Mayor of Norwich, Cllr Keith Driver and The Chairman of Norfolk County Council, Hilary Cox

The High Sheriff of Norfolk, Lady Sarah Leicester and Head of Corporate Affairs at Abellio Greater Anglia Jonathan Denby

Juliete and Tony Colman

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The new N&N Festival Executive Director Alex Darbyshire and Roger Holden

Danielle Bussell, Paul Timewell and the Chairman of Broadland District Council, Stuart Dunn

Tristan Roche, Helen Stonely and Pasco Kevlin

Pete Goddard and Frances Berridge

John Howkins, Timothy Colman, Chair N&N Festival Board Caroline Jarrold, and David Parry

Mark Noble and Mark Little

Charlotte Vogel and Rob Steer

Emily Kerrison and Emma Van Deventer

Tim Bishop and Jane Claridge

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Lowestoft and Waveney Chamber of Commerce Business Awards, Potters Leisure Resort Excellence, innovation and inspiration were the themes for the 2013 Lowestoft and Waveney Chamber of Commerce Business Awards, which culminated with a celebratory awards ceremony at the Zest Rooms at Potters Leisure Resort. More than 150 business delegates attended the awards evening which looks to recognise and celebrate outstanding people and businesses in our region. Photographs by Ferini

Media

Tom McGarry and Emma Ratzer

Alice Walton, Amie Mullen and Mark Warnes

Simon Summers, Jules Shurrock and Teresa Miller

Jim Bradley, Freddie Chance and Jim Miles

James Laird and Rachel Flatt

Sid Anverali and Peter Aldous MP

Mayor of Lowestoft Cllr June Ford and Paul Amer Martin Halliday and Laurence Castle

John Dugmore, Simon Hazelgrove, Erika Clegg and James Reeder

Darren Newman, David Howard, Sue Patterson and Danny Steel

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Winter Warmer, Norwich City Football Club Business telecoms company Comms Supply and Farnell Clarke accountants brightened up a chilly evening by hosting a Winter Warmer at Norwich City Football Club. As well as treating clients and associates to an evening of great entertainment, the event raised valuable funds for The Benjamin Foundation. The charity supports children, young people and families throughout Norfolk. Entertainment included talented singer/songwriter Bill Downs, who has appeared on BBC1’s The Voice; beat-boxer Lee Gibling, acclaimed comedy mind-reader Doug Segal and competitive wine tasting thanks to Bouchon wines. Photography by Keith Words by Plain

Whitmore, visit www.keithwhitmore.co.uk Speaking PR

Lou Tyler and Joe Hansell

Kerry London and Jason Houghton

Juila McGraffin and Sharon Clark

Connor Eade, Samantha Elliott and Nathan Bowden

Claire Reynolds, Sharon Matthews, Chris Elliott and Pippa Lain

Oliver Lawer and Lauren Skinner

Rachael Shakespeare and James Shelton

Victoria Jennings, Frances Jackson and Alison Taylor

Mike and Kelly Surtees and Will Farnell

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Norwich Eateries Back ‘Norwich Restaurant Week’ City centre restaurateurs got together at City College, Norwich, to vote for a ‘Norwich Restaurant Week’ in early September. The event, hosted by the Norwich BID and the Adnams Norfolk Food & Drink Festival, comprised drinks and canapés, a cookery demonstration, speeches and a wine-tasting by the Adnams Norwich Cellar & Kitchen Store. A week of special offers, discounts, promotions and events is planned (details soon at: www.norfolkfoodanddrinkfestival.co.uk) Photography by Keiron

tovell, visit www.keirontovell.com

Jayne Raffles, Sarah de Chair, Tim Bishop and Steve Thorpe

Richard Graveling, Adam Mott and Glenn Walker

Jennie Matthews and David Clayton

Vanessa and Les Scott

Derek Robertson and Philippa Rudd

Huw Sayer, Charlie Hodson and William Gribbon

Henry Watt and Steve Thorpe

Lyn McAlistair and Pete Waters

Chris Bailey, Fiona Ryder and Paul McCarthy

George Savage

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Norwich Twenty Exhibition, Assembly House, Norwich A one-off exhibition of works by many prominent members of the Norwich Twenty Group of artists, celebrating its 70th anniversary this year, was mounted at the Norwich Assembly House by Keys Fine Art Auctioneers, who included works by several of the groupâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s founder members in its spring East Anglian Art Sale. At a special preview evening, guests included relatives of some of the founder members whose works were on display, as well as art lovers who were able to make a bid for all of the works on display. Words and photos by Andy

Newman Associates

Clive and Tracy Woolls and Joseph McCarthy

Penny Loudon, Mauny Wood and Helen Davenport

Chen Jiameng and Simin Han

Guy Gowing and Barrie Masterson

Alex Walker and Robin Bouttell

Keys Head of Pictures, Kevin Lines

Clive Hedges and Leigh Reeves

Judy and Stan Smith

Becky Newman and Craig Knights

Graham and Kathleen Hill and Ian Hytch

Jenny, Katie and Emily Matthews

| April 2014

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Photography

Norfolk Views

Caught On CAMERA West Norfolk photographer Stuart Aylmer beautifully captures a man picking mussels on the sands at Old Hunstanton. You can almost feel the squelch of all that wet sand Visit www.northnorthwest.co.uk for more examples of his lovely work

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| APRIL 2014

minut e s

w it h

Iain Wilson The owner of Byfords in Holt and, most recently, Dial House in Reepham, on working in a room under the garden which overlooks the North Sea!

Describe your job to us I support some great leaders in a range of businesses which are all very different – Byfords, Holt; Kings Heads, Holt; The Pigs, Edgefield; The Assembly House, Norwich; Back to Your Place, Holt; Our Norfolk; Sponge, Holt; and - new to the family - The Old Brewery House [now called the Dial House], Reepham. Where were you born, and what brought you to Norfolk? I am a Scotsman by birth and heart! I moved to the Torquay area when I was 11, then to Leicester for university. I was lucky enough to join Marks and Spencer’s graduate scheme when I left university and spent two years with them, finishing up in the Norwich store. It was a great time, but the politics of a large firm were not for me, so I begged a job, off my sister and brother in law, to run a health club in Reepham. 20 years on from the day I started there, we have just bought the same place. What’s your ideal day out in the area? I guess that it’s mixed. I love ‘work’ (and we are lucky enough to have a room at the end of our garden, which is weirdly under our garden and looks out over the North Sea), or being with my wife Clair and our four kids. Clair likes unplanned and easy going days; I like to have a plan and be busy, so I guess a good day for me would be a full-on one, with an ice cream at some stage! Which iconic Norfolk characters do you most admire and why? That is tricky - I need to know people well to respect them. I never knew Henry J Sexton, but he donated the Assembly House to Norwich as somewhere for the performance of arts and as a place for people to meet. It’s such a wonderful building; it must have taken real vision and generosity to make such a big decision. Everybody who is now involved with the Assembly House benefits from his gesture. There is a picture of him in one of the rooms and, occasionally, when we have meetings there you feel that he is looking over in your direction! Visit www.byfords.org.uk

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What’s your favourite pub in Norfolk and what do you like to drink there? It is a close call between The Pigs, Edgefield and Kings Head, Holt! The Pigs is a real foodies’ destination with some quirky spa rooms; and the Kings Head for, without doubt, the best steaks, grill cooking, and authentically smoked food I have ever tasted. What do you miss most when you leave the region? It has to be the sea and the feeling of space. When I first came to Norfolk and locals used to ask me why I needed to go elsewhere on holiday, I used to think they were crazy! Now I completely see where they are coming from. The county has a lovely balance of everything, and north Norfolk’s charm is protected by a fairly poor road network which stops the masses from coming our way. It may sound weird that I would want this to continue as I do work in the hospitality business; however, I think it is key if we want life to stay as it is. What are you reading at the moment? I’m not a massive reader, I’m more of a thinker and visual person. I had a go at The Chimp Paradox recently. It is written by Steve Peters, who helped several Olympic athletes achieve great success by teaching them how to control their minds, so maybe that’s why I don’t read too much! Would you prefer a day on the Broads or a day in Yarmouth? Why? I’d probably say Yarmouth, with arcades for the kids, ice cream obviously, maybe a show at the Hippodrome, then banger racing. Opera, musical, drama or movie - which would you prefer to watch? And what was the last production/ show you saw? It would definitely be a movie as it is nice to escape for a little while. In terms of shows, we went to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory in London just after Christmas. It was really good, but I must confess that I dropped off at one point! But if our kids are in anything, I totally love it! Sum up Norfolk in three words Space, sea, special Sum up yourself in three words Vision, energy, honest

Unveiled. Even before its launch, the all new Audi A3 Cabriolet has already won What Car? Open-Top Car of the Year. With a flowing silhouette, advanced technology and a roof that opens in just 17 seconds, it’s the perfect way to make the most of the sunshine. The all new Audi A3 Cabriolet is now available to order. Contact us on the details below or visit audi.co.uk/a3cabriolet

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Norwich Audi 17 Meridian Way Norwich Norfolk NR7 0TA 01603 709200 www.norwich.audi.co.uk

Official fuel consumption figures for the all new A3 Cabriolet range in mpg (l/100km) from: Urban 38.7 (7.3) – 55.4 (5.1), Extra Urban 58.9 (4.8) – 76.3 (3.7), Combined 48.7 (5.8) – 67.3 (4.2). CO2 emissions: 133-110g/km. Standard EU Test figures for comparative purposes and may not reflect real driving results.