Coastal VIP #02 · July 2015 by Countrywide Publications

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TRAVEL

THE PLACE TO BE THIS SUMMER CELEBRITIES

HELEN SKELTON DISCUSSES HER BOOK

RICKY WILSON

THE MAN WITH THE VOICE BRINGS HIS BAND TO NEWMARKET

№ 02 J U LY 2 0 1 5

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Contents

10 Helen Skelton chats about her new children’s book, her adventures and what the future holds

06 Ricky Wilson brings The Kaiser Chiefs to the races

THE RESPONSE TO the first issue of Coastal VIP has been quite overwhelming so thank you to everyone who has taken the trouble to email or phone us with your comments. Every month we will be increasing the outlets where you can pick up your FREE copy – this month we have introduced two new racks in Market Gates so please tell your friends. In this month’s issue Joe Makintosh, Chief Executive of SeaChange Arts starts a new monthly arts & culture column and we also talk to Ricky Wilson from the Kaiser Chiefs as well as former Blue Peter presenter Helen Skelton-Meyer who has just released a new children’s book. Our travel writer heads to New Delhi, a vibrant city full of colour, sounds and culture. Our recipe from Andover House turns a humble ingredient into a truly delightful dessert with their white chocolate mousse. We road test the Peugeot 2008 from Sidegate Motors and The Grosvenor Casino is our choice of venue for our food review. So sit back, enjoy the second edition of Coastal VIP and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter @CoastalVIP. Colin Huggins

Editor

15 The Clifftop Festival returns to Gorleston

32 Head to our VIP Events pages to see if you’ve been snapped out and about

From the roulette table to the dining table, The Grosvenor Casino has it covered

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Editor colin@h2creativemedia.co.uk 01493 742091 · 07775 858862

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Colin Huggins

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TERMS & CONDITIONS All content copyright © H2Creative Media Limited. Reproduction in part or whole is forbidden without the express permission of the publishers. All prices, events and times correct at the time of print. You are encouraged to contact the businesses and venue prior to making bookings. All expressions and opinions within the publication are those of the editor including contributors.

20 Suffering from a case of wanderlust? A trip to New Delhi could be the answer

Dave Nash, Head Chef at Great Yarmouth’s Andover House, shows you how to make a refreshing summer dessert

26 Read about the new Peugeot 2008 – which we think is the ideal family car

For an alternative weekend break, we try out the Swift Bolero from Simpsons of Great Yarmouth

In his first column about arts and culture in Great Yarmouth, Joe Mackintosh tells us there’s plenty to be excited about for Great British seaside towns

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RIT AWARD-WINNING, multi

million selling Kaiser Chiefs – lead by charismatic coach on BBC’s The Voice Ricky Wilson – will be bringing their formidable live show back to Newmarket Racecourse at the end of the month. The band first shot to recognition in 2005 with breakout hit I Predict a Riot, followed by hits including Oh My God, Everyday I Love You Less and Less and 2007’s number one hit Ruby. They released their latest LP, Education, Education, Education & War last year, smashing into the number one spot on the UK album chart on release. The record became their second number one long play, following 2007’s Yours Truly Angry Mob and became their fifth top 10 album. The Kaiser Chiefs are playing at Newmarket for the second time in three years, as they wowed a big audience in the summer of 2013, and next month they will bring their unique brand of music back to The July Course all over again!

C O A S TA L V I P J U LY 2 0 1 5

Ricky Wilson

WE WANT EVERYONE TO HAVE THE NIGHT OF THEIR LIVES – THERE’S 20,000 PEOPLE OUT THERE AND I’M WORRIED ABOUT ONE OF THEM GOING TO THE BAR! Do you think you being on The Voice has opened up the band to a lot more of a mainstream kind of audience. Would that be something that you’ve noticed? Ricky Wilson: Well no, because when we

first started, there was a lot more TV to go on. So when we went on Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway and played, it opened us up to a bigger fan base. And when we were on SM:TV and Top of the Pops every other week, it was the same thing. But nowadays, there isn’t as much that boys with beards and guitars are allowed to go on. Simon Rix: I think we’ve always had quite a wide fan base – pure chin scratching musos never liked us but everybody else did, from kids to pensioners, mums and dads, teenagers, everyone. I think we’ve always had that at our shows.

Your fellow judge Tom Jones is also doing a few of the racecourse shows as well this summer. Has it ever come up in a conversation at all?

Kaiser Chiefs

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NEVER MISS A BEAT: THE KAISER CHIEFS FOR BEGINNERS

Employment (2005) Yours Truly, Angry Mob (2007) Off with Their Heads (2008) The Future Is Medieval (2011) Education, Education, Education & War (2014)

The Kaiser Chiefs come to Newmarket Racecourse as part of Newmarket Nights on July 31. Visit www.newmarket. thejockeyclub.co.uk

So are you normally into your horse racing then? S: No, not at all. One of our crew guys, it’s his favourite gig of the

year because he loves it. He stayed out doing all sorts of things all day, not setting anything up, just betting. R: Everything becomes very serious about the betting, and you’re getting paid for the day and you’re in danger of losing it.

Would you approach these shows differently? R: Well, we’re not daft, you know, we can judge what we need to R: No. It’s funny because we talk about everything and nothing.

I’m not one of those people that’s gonna ask Will.i.am to remix a record or Rita to appear on Falling Awake. I don’t think we’re that into that kind of thing. We like the unit we’ve got, it’s worked for a long time and even though we might have had a hiccup when Nick [Hodgson] left, I think we kinda pulled it back together. Saying that, you can whip that out of the archives when we do do a collaboration.

You’ve obviously done some racecourse shows before – do they differ much from the normal kind of tours you do, like the festival performances? S: They are different, but that’s not to say it’s bad different, just

different different. So there’s racing and drinking, and everyone’s quite dressed up and they’re all on a big night out and it’s all very good. But there’s no support band, we’re kind of the main event I guess, which is nice.

Do you catch any of the racing while you are there? R: Ah it’s hilarious, I’m watching this lot all day, betting and I

don’t bet because I know it would be a problem if I started I’ve got to do the (five). So yeah, it’s funny – they keep popping out and putting bets on.

do at certain times but it’s becoming weird because we’ve got a song on the radio at the moment and people generally love the new stuff. We want everyone to have the night of their lives – there’s 20,000 people out there and I’m worried about one of them going to the bar!

Have you got any rituals or do you do anything before you go on stage or during the day? R: There’s hundreds of them. S: It’s getting ridiculous. R: As rituals go, we usually have a disco before we go on. It is funny though, I mean it’s a room full of late 30 somethings, all dancing like it’s a kid’s disco.

Newmarket has got a catchment area of Cambridge, Norwich, and Ipswich. Have you got any good memories from these places? S: We did go to Norwich with (the Ordinary Boys) on our first tour and it was good. We haven’t been that much to Norwich, I don’t think we’ve ever been to Ipswich. We played at Cambridge, though, at the Corn Exchange, that was good. We haven’t been enough, we didn’t go to that area at all in the last tour. So it would be good to go and play to the people, hopefully they’ll all turn out! C O A S TA L V I P J U LY 2 0 1 5

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Helen’s new adventures Television presenter Helen Skelton-Myler has just added a new string to her bow, with the publication of her ﬁrst children’s book WORDS: EMMA OUTTEN

C O A S TA L V I P J U LY 2 0 1 5

Helen Skelton

Photography: Ruth Crafer

aving kayaked the length of the Amazon River for Sport Relief, it was only a matter of time before former Blue Peter presenter Helen SkeltonMyler wrote a children’s book inspired by her adventures. The result is Amy Wild: Amazon Summer, published in May. ‘I’ve always wanted to write,’ says 31-year-old Helen between filming. It was important for her to create a character for girls who’s brave and exciting but from a traditional family: ‘I wanted young people to realise you can be from a very regular family and still have massive adventures. All you need is a bit of gumption.’ There is an upshot to putting it all down on paper, as she explains: ‘Doing this book means that I don’t have to bore my family with stories of my trips. A lot of it is in the book! ‘It’s a fiction book but there’s a lot of real life experience in there. My family are all laughing because the brother in there is called after my brother.’ So where does she get her spirit of adventure from? Not from her mother by the sound of it! ‘My mum is scared of lifts and people think I’m from an adventurous, rock-climbing, kayaking family! It couldn’t be further from the truth,’ she laughs. Helen co-presented the BBC children’s programme Blue Peter from 2008 until 2013. The transition to adult TV may have been hard, but she makes the point that she worked in news and radio for a long time before going into children’s television and asserts that children’s TV is a lot harder than people give credit for. It’s not for nothing that ‘children’s telly is one of the best exported television products from this country across the world’. And it’s not always easy speaking in a language appropriate for seven to 10 year olds all the time! Helen comments: ‘There is a greater responsibility on you as a kids’ presenter to lead a certain lifestyle and present a certain image, yet kids presenters get accused of being daft and silly. ‘In children’s telly if kids don’t like it they turn over, in adult telly they start critiquing you on Twitter and casting aspersions which are quite often unfounded. ‘I feel very lucky to have been part of something very special, on Blue Peter, and that’s why I love being part of Countryfile, as there are elements of that there too, but I guess I am still looking for the thing I can call my own,’ she adds.

Born in Kirkby Thore in Cumbria, and

nowadays living in Cheshire with her husband, the professional rugby league footballer Richie Myler (who she married in 2013) and dog Barney, Helen remains true to her northwest roots but knows all corners of the country thanks to her presenting work. Along with Countryfile, she has come to East Anglia with Country Tracks, where she travelled through Suffolk, visiting such places as Bury St Edmunds.

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Her favourite place in East Anglia is all thanks to another programme, Holiday Hit Squad: ‘I love Southwold beach!’ exclaims Helen. ‘I filmed a holiday series in Southwold and we had amazing weather, amazing fish and chips and hired a gorgeous huge house that all the crew stayed in.’ Plus she can credit East Anglia for trying her first oysters and crabbing! She adds: ‘I was probably naive before I visited East Anglia – I thought: it’s so flat, how can it be stunning countryside (I grew up in the Lakes)? But it has gorgeous landscapes and is so different to what I am used to. It’s a reminder that our little island has everything!’ And, she points out: ‘I’ve done quite a few things in Norwich’. In 2011, for example, Helen presented the Bernard Matthews Youth Awards at Open, and comments: ‘We don’t give young people enough credit. Young people are breaking world records, looking after parents, inspiring teachers and have a lot to contribute to society. Celebrating young people is the best way to inspire youngsters to do positive things.’

Helen is now part of the team at BBC Sport and BT

Sport and has covered events for the BBC including the Olympics, the Commonwealth Games, the Boat Race and the Cheltenham races to name a few. ‘My whole life revolves around sport: my husband and brother both play professionally so weekends are built around sport.’ Her brother is Gavin Skelton, currently manager of Northern Premier League side, Workington. She continues: ‘I have always played all manner of sports – I am not good at anything but I like to have a go. ‘I was one of those kids who was brought up in a house where you play badminton one night, go swimming one night, then to netball club one night – I was Jack of all trades and master of none really so I’ve always been around sport and love the way that it unites people. ‘It doesn’t matter where you go in the world, you can always talk about football, even when filming in slums in Bangladesh.’ Well known as a dare devil, Helen has walked a tightrope between the towers of Battersea Power Station in 2011 for Comic Relief; was the second woman ever to complete the Namibian Ultra-Marathon, and was the first person to reach the South Pole by bicycle. Ask her to pick a favourite, and it has to be the Amazonian adventure. ‘The Amazon was a total gamble; I am neither a kayaker nor an adventurer and neither were the crew I was with: we just took a gamble and worked hard and it paid off. I am proud of the team who put it together.’ As for future adventures, Helen announced her pregnancy in February, and Tweeted: ‘Thanks for the nice messages, very excited, although the dog won’t like the addition of a baby!’ Helen Skelton’s Helen may have slowed down her sporting children’s book Amy activities, but only ever so slightly: ‘Being Wild: Amazon Summer, published by Random pregnant means I am swimming a lot and House Children’s playing golf.’ Publishers, is out now For Helen, a whole new adventure is about and is available in all good book stores to begin!

C O A S TA L V I P J U LY 2 0 1 5

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Full Market Wednesdays and Saturdays, 36 Stalls every day Please contact Duncan Mallett, Market Manager: 01493 846403 or drm@great-yarmouth.gov.uk

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For the full event line up visit our website www.clifftopfestival.info Get all the latest festival news and updates by following us on Facebook & Twitter /GorlestonClifftopFestival

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Festival fun!

ADVERTISER’S ANNOUNCEMENT

GORLESTON CLIFFS WILL BE filled with fun and excitement once again at the end of July as the Gorleston Clifftop Festival returns for its 18th year. The weekend of 25 and 26 July promises to set the peaceful stretch of the east coast alive with entertainment for all the family. The fun fair and live music will return as well as the sports display ring and charity, handmade trade and corporate stalls. The committee are pleased to welcome back the troop from Ken Fox Wall of Death, allowing visitors a second chance to witness the breathtaking show as well as the team from Top Body Gym who will be hosting the strong man competition on the Sunday. After the success of the dog show in 2014 it has been decided to host it once again on Saturday with a slight shake up in the classes including dog with the most awesome eyes and best junior handler (under 16). The fun dog show will be compèred by up and coming local comedian Ross Downes. The committee are pleased to announce that the children’s arena will run over both days of the weekend and will become an For more information and to keep updated visit the website established part of the event going www.clifftopfestival.info, forward. ‘Once upon a time at the like on Facebook Gorleston pirate ship’ will host arts and crafts Clifftop festival and follow on Twitter @clifftop_fest workshops, magicians, story tellers

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and the seaside favourite; Punch and Judy. The arena will be fancy dress and special visits from Disney princesses will make the arena a magical experience. A line up of entertainment times will be available closer to the event. Sports groups, dance schools and theatre groups will entertain the crowds on Sunday, both in the sports display ring and on the main music stage from 11am until 4pm. The festival provides a great platform for individuals and groups to showcase their talent. Vivienne Trorey from Phoenix Karate has stepped in to organise the sports displays this year having taken part in previous years. Displays taking place include majorette troupes, martial arts and fitness dance classes. Local band RiVERS will headline the live music on Saturday night and tribute band More Madness will end the weekend on Sunday night. The live music and festival feel of the music arena has become so popular that a decision was made to move it, allowing it to be made bigger in order to comfortably and safely accommodate the hundreds of people who pass in and out throughout the weekend. Visitors will now find the music arena at the south end of the clifftop in front of the south car park. The arena will have the same set up as in previous years with the licensed bar and caterers still setting up shop. An acoustic arena will also host local musicians throughout the afternoons. The arena is being run by Paul Davenport of local band Three and a Half Hands. The ‘half way house’ will provide visitors with a pit stop to grab a beverage from the licensed bar or a bite to eat as they walk the length of the event from the craft stalls to the main music arena. Gorleston Clifftop Festival organising committee is wholly made up of volunteers and would be interested in hearing from anyone who would like to get involved with the event. Volunteers are needed each year over the weekend to help the smooth running of the event whether it be for a couple of hours or for the whole weekend; anyone who is interested can get in touch via the website or Facebook page. There is no denying that there really will be something for everyone at this year’s Gorleston Clifftop Festival and the committee anticipates this year to be as, if not more, successful than previous years. C O A S TA L V I P J U LY 2 0 1 5

FRIDAY & SATURDAY NIGHTS LAST ORDERS 7.30PM

Dabs n Crabs is a local fishmongers, run by Tracey Wrightson and her family. It is located in Scratby, on the main road, between Caister on sea and Hemsby. The business has been trading for the past eleven years, and prides itself in the variety and freshness of its fish. The summer months are a great time for local crabs and lobsters, which are delivered live from the fishermen in Cromer, straight to Dabs ‘n’ Crabs. These are all cooked and prepared on the premises guaranteeing there quality and freshness.

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Recipe:White Chocolate Mousse WITH ALL THE FRESH PRODUCE that’s finally available to us, INGREDIENTS 400ml double cream 3 egg yolks 25g caster sugar 3 gelatine leaves 500g white chocolate

it would be a crime not to take advantage. With a bit of savvy, it’s easy to turn a humble ingredient into a feast for the eyes and mouth. For my new summer menu, I have chosen the raspberry to accompany the white chocolate mousse, as these gorgeous berries add a zing of colour and freshness to any plate. Have a bit of fun with them – I have included raspberry jelly and purée alongside a few fresh morsels. Remember, the British Isles are bursting with suppliers so make sure they come from home ground. British farmers are the unsung heroes and are worth supporting. Whether you’re feeling flush or saving the pennies, something fresh, affordable and delicious is yours for the taking! And what to drink to complement white chocolate and raspberries? It has to be champagne, I recommend Dumont et Fils Brut Rose NV which has flavours of cherry drops, raspberry and violet.

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1 Whip 300ml of the double cream until it forms soft ribbons on the surface. Put to one side. 2 Place the egg yolks and sugar in a bowl and set it over a pan of simmering water, making sure the water doesn’t touch the base of the bowl. Whisk until thick and creamy, then set aside. 3 Soak the gelatine in cold water for about 5 minutes, until soft and pliable. Remove and squeeze out all of the water. Bring the remaining cream to the boil in a small saucepan, then remove from the heat and add the gelatine, stirring until dissolved. 4 Melt the white chocolate in a bowl set over a pan of simmering water. Stir in the cream and gelatine mixture, then fold in the egg yolk mixture. 5 Allow to cool for a little, then fold in the double cream a third at a time. Cover and leave in the fridge for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight.

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C O A S TA L V I P J U LY 2 0 1 5

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The bright lights of Great Yarmouth lead to the Grosvenor Casino, where a few games of poker and a great supper are the order of the day! WORDS: SARAH HARDY

C O A S TA L V I P J U LY 2 0 1 5

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THE GROSVENOR CASINO IN GREAT YARMOUTH is one of the

most popular entertainment spots in the town and offers a wide selection of games ranging from poker to black jack – and a fine dining restaurant with a growing reputation. It is set in one of the town’s most attractive buildings, Shadingfield Lodge on Marine Parade. It is an elegant Grade Two listed building which was built in 1865 as a private family home. The Prince of Wales, Bertie, later King Edward VII, (and Lillie Langtry, allegedly) were visitors and it’s certainly worthy of royal patronage.

Grosvenor Casino

Marine Parade, Great Yarmouth. Visit www.grosvenorcasinos.com or call 01493 850444. Open 12pm to 6am. Over 18s only.

It was also a hotel but is now home to a Grosvenor casino, one of just under 60 in the country. Inside, a family home feel remains along with plenty of original features such as large fireplaces, huge chandeliers, coving and picture windows overlooking the seafront. There is also a decent sized garden, too. It is an easy place to find your way around. There’s a very nice bar area (with good prices, I thought) where food is served including all your favourites such as curries, fish and chips, burgers and so on. Then there’s a more formal restaurant, where I dined, while the main action is downstairs, on the gaming floor, where there are plenty of slot machines and several so called live tables where you can play roulette, three card poker and blackjack. This was my second visit to the casino and was just as much fun as I’d remembered. And I even returned with the same girlfriend who’d also enjoyed her night out so much that she wanted a repeat run! We started with a drink in the bar which is all comfy sofas – and Sky Sports. There is a great cocktail list but I went for my firm favourite – a glass of cool Prosecco while my friend sampled a port and lemonade – those retro drinks are quite the rage these days!

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After swapping our news of the day, we moved through to the dining room which is all white linen cloths and attentive waiter service. Mention here must go to Teresa, our waitress for the evening who was very charming. The menu is easy on the eye with starters including cheesy garlic mushrooms, spicy chicken wings and a Bloody Mary king prawn cocktail. I went for crispy calamari at £4.95 which really is a favourite of mine although the homemade pasta with mozzarella, tomato and basil was very tempting. My friend tried the soup of the day, mushroom and stilton, at £3.95 which was described as thoroughly delicious so you can’t say fairer than that. Main courses include Chinese style sea bass, chargrilled half chicken, a full rack of ribs and Nicoise salad. I tried a juicy 8oz sirloin steak, cooked medium as requested, and with a peppercorn sauce at £14.95. It was accompanied by battered onion rings, a plum tomato, a chargrilled mushroom, red onion slaw and skin-on fries – perfect! My friend had Cajun salmon at £11.95 which beat her as it was such a generous portion, as indeed all of the dishes seem to be. We kept going to the dessert course with me enjoying a banoffee brulee tart which was lovely and creamy and my friend had a chocolate and salted caramel tart. Both were just £3.95 which is incredible value! We were impressed by the food which was well presented and nicely prepared – and very good value. The wine list had plenty to go at, too, but I stuck with another firm favourite, a glass of Australian Pinot Grigio at £4.10. By the time we had lingered over our lattes, the tables were very busy, with all generations enjoying themselves. And it looked especially popular with birthday parties. So how did I fare? Well, that would be telling, wouldn’t it? C O A S TA L V I P J U LY 2 0 1 5

AN I·N·D·I·A·N SUMMER Our travel writer experiences the

colour and contrast of India’s capital, from the hustle and bustle of the streets to the sanctuary of his luxury hotel, and everything in between WORDS: MARK NICHOLLS

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NEW DELHI IS A CITY L I V I N G O N T H E R AW EDGE OF INDIA. The capital has an intensity that few of the sub-continent’s other cities have; the streets are chaotic, crowded and filled with a cacophony of blaring horns in which you are just as likely to find yourself dodging out of the way of a sacred cow as avoiding a threewheeled auto-rickshaw. The bazaars are temptingly brash and full of spices, saris and the tastes of India, with drifting aromas that challenge the senses in every way, in a city that is a mesmerising cauldron where culture, language and religion converge. But New Delhi, the capital of India since 1931 when it was moved from Calcutta in the twilight days of the British Raj, remains a truly fascinating location to visit with an array of sightseeing delights that will amaze, with Hindu temples, mosques, monuments, museums and tombs sprawled across this Asian conurbation. Permit yourself to absorb what Delhi has to offer but also have a ‘bolthole’ into which you can retreat for some peace and quiet, and remember too, that Delhi is just one aspect of India. When you venture into the rest of the country – to Agra and the Taj Mahal, Jaipur and the forts of Rajasthan, or the coast at Goa – the experience will be different again, but just as magical. A few days is plenty of time to see India’s capital and getting around is much easier than it once was. When I first visited in 1992 the streets were clogged with wandering cows, overcrowded buses, meandering carts, persistent vendors, and rickshaws. They still are… but today you have a choice: do battle with this daily chaos or take the new Metro system which in recent years seems to have burrowed its way under the city, conveniently linking many of the tourist attractions and major sights. So, after popping above ground to visit an attraction or monument, you can disappear beneath the city, back into the calm and cool to take the underground train onto the next destination. Taking a guided tour is also an option, but if travelling independently, the Delhi Metro is one way to go. You may also want to take an auto-rickshaw to one or two destinations – just for the hell of it. After all, it is one of the classic Indian transport experiences! My must-sees for New Delhi include The Red Fort, where Nehru addressed the crowds when India gained independence from Britain in 1947, the nearby Jami Masjid (Friday Mosque), and Raj Ghat with the black marble slab which marks the spot where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated after his assassination in January 1948.

C O A S TA L V I P J U LY 2 0 1 5

ENJOY THE MANY HINDU TEMPLES AS WELL AS COLOURFUL STREET SC E N E S , E XO T I C M A R K E T S AND G R E AT P L AC E S TO E AT

New Delhi

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New Delhi

The Jantar Mantar, a series of giant 18th century astronomical instruments painted pink that perfectly tell the time, predict eclipses and chart the movement of the stars, is impressive while the domes and symmetry of the tomb of the Mughal emperor Humayun will whet your appetite for what Agra may offer you later in your Indian indulgence. Enjoy, also, the many Hindu temples, the modern Baha’i Lotus temple and the soaring Qutb Minar tower as well as colourful street scenes, exotic markets and great places to eat.

DELHI IS ALSO A CITY to explore on

Accommodation

Mark Nicholls stayed at the Metropolitan Spa and Hotel on Bangla Sahib Road close to Connaught Place in Central Delhi, which is a member of the Great Hotels of the World Premium Collection with double rooms from £72

Getting there

There are numerous flight options from UK airports to New Delhi and The Met is near Shivaji Stadium station which has a direct express rail link to Indira Gandhi International Airport

foot, so take time to wander around the Information www.hotelmetdelhi.com markets of Chandni Chowk and the www.ghotw.com/ streets and bazaars of Old Delhi. Be brave, too, and metropolitan-hotel-spasample some of the freshly-cooked food on sale on delhi or call 020 7380 3658 the streets. Yet after all of this intensity – and that is what Delhi is about – it is great to find somewhere to relax. One of the best places I’ve found in recent years is the Metropolitan Hotel and Spa. Close to the Connaught Place/Rajiv Chowk area, it is set back on a quieter street but still in the centre of the city. The Met – as it brands itself – is a five-star hotel with the wonderful Neo Veda Spa, which takes relaxation to a new level with treatments which allow you to submerge yourself in an hour or two of pure delight. The treatments vary from basic massages and cleansing through to longer and specialist treatments, all with a very Indian theme to them. There is also an outdoor pool, gymnasium, craft house for shopping and business centre facilities as well as very good restaurants. The Chutney Bar and Tandoor specialises in Indian cuisine and brings together tastes from across the nation; the Sakura Japanese kitchen offers an added international dimension with private dining areas embraced within the main restaurant; while Zing is an all-day world cuisine restaurant.

Places

Yet when you are refreshed, ready to hit the streets of New Delhi and some serious shopping beckons, The Met is perfectly situated on Bangla Sahib Road with a Metro station close by and the pivotal hub of Connaught Place only a short walk away. This is great for shopping and there’s no better place to start than the State Emporium complex which offers crafts, souvenirs and textiles from every corner of India. One block over is Janpath Market where you can buy gifts, souvenirs, clothing or simply browse and enjoy the atmosphere of an Indian marketplace that truly comes to life at night. Alternatively, head off to Khan Market and its interesting shops and international restaurants. Have fun doing it; barter with the stallholders, drink cups of cay (hot sweet Indian tea), have a snack at a food stand and revel in the streets scenes of central Delhi; it is an experience that will stay with you for life.

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Big ideas

The latest three-cylinder Peugeot 2008 compact crossover is an urban car well worth looking at WORDS: MATT KIMBERLEY

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Peugeot 2008

Peugeot 2008 Allure 1.2 VTi 82

Engine Three-cylinder petrol producing 81bhp and 87lb/ft Transmission Five-speed manual driving the front wheels Performance Top speed 105mph, 0-62mph in 13.5 seconds Economy 57.6mpg Emissions 1149/km of CO² Price from £15,595 All prices correct at the time of going to press

Sidegate Motors

Gapton Hall Road, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, NR31 0NL 01493 419700 www.sidegatemotors.co.uk

THE PEUGEOT 2008 is a small car with big ideas, having so far proved popular in the growing compact crossover market. Peugeot has fitted it with its three-cylinder 1.2-litre petrol engine, which promises no regrets for urban drivers. At just a tonne in weight with an empty fuel tank the 2008 isn’t as chunky as it might look. But that high driving position can give a taste of the SUV lifestyle without the associated price tag. Peugeot’s latest styling is among the prettiest and most balanced on the market, with tidy proportions and pretty, if sometimes a little safe, styling. The little intrusions at the bottom of the headlights give the face some character and the roof rails look great – adding the impression of extra height and the option to install a roof box. It all sends out the right messages.

Performance

It seems you can’t win with the heights of seats. Most of us simply deal with whatever height they come at or use the in-built adjuster to fine-tune it, but for grandparents seats are always either too high or too low. The 2008’s just about pass the OAP test, though, being comfortably high without being a challenge to climb into. There are a good few practical touches in the cabin, but one thing you won’t find is four-wheel drive. You can get this pseudo-off-roader with a special system called GripControl, which does a sterling job of maximising the amount of traction from the driven front wheels even in really low-grip scenarios, but it’s not available with this engine. With this engine the 2008 is a beast of two halves. In town it’s excellent, using an eager throttle map to deliver most of the engine’s torque in the first section of pedal travel. That makes it feel eager, responsive and quick up to 40mph or so; a sense boosted by the dinky go-kart-esque steering wheel that sits low beneath the raised instrument cluster. The test car has a strange clutch action, though, where the bite point is right at the top of the pedal travel and way out of sync with the way the throttle and brakes feel. It takes some serious getting used to, and isn’t good for confident stop-start driving. Unfortunately the engine simply isn’t powerful enough for main roads and motorways. It needs to be worked so hard that fuel economy plummets to depths little better than the likes of larger, much more powerful hot hatchbacks. The urban sprawl is definitely where the 1.2-litre VTi petrol engine belongs. From a purely subjective point of view the 2008’s asking price before options seems very reasonable indeed. A discount at the dealer will make things even sweeter. Beware that it’s not as big inside, or in the boot, as you might hope for if you’re looking for a family car, but then there’s always the larger 3008 to consider if that’s your priority. The 1.2-litre VTi engine is quiet, it warms up quickly, feels instantly light and eager and comes with low emissions as standard. In short, it’s ideal for short journeys. Plus there’s the warm, fuzzy glow that comes with knowing that you’re not spewing harmful particulates out into urban areas, like diesels do. It’s an ideal choice for a young suburban family, or as a second, smaller family car. As long as the oddly high clutch bite point doesn’t bother you, you could describe it as very likeable indeed. C O A S TA L V I P J U LY 2 0 1 5

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Escape route

Take to the road in a luxurious motor home from Simpsons for a few days of freedom WORDS: PAULA HODDS

LAST YEAR I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH to be

loaned a luxurious motor home by Simpsons of Great Yarmouth to try. So when the lovely Belinda, Sales Director at Simpsons, asked if we would like to borrow another this year, we jumped at the chance! However, as the day approached to pick up the Swift Bolero 712SB it got progressively colder and colder! Was our latest adventure going to be ruined by the great British weather? Millie the dog became excited the minute the vehicle came into our drive. She decided to stand guard, just sitting beside it as if to say you are not leaving me behind. Some friends organised for us to meet them for a pre-holiday briefing just before we left for our weekend away in north Norfolk as we were due to look after their chickens while they were away. As we chatted over supper at the pub, we explained our planned expedition and Jane and Duncan were very intrigued as they plan to travel through America in a motor home.

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So they came with us to take a look inside and it was so very cosy with the heating on that we gossiped until midnight. The next day we headed to north Norfolk, to Kelling Heath which has great facilities and masses of open space. We were there for the fresh air and Millie just loves walking in the glorious countryside around the park. On day one we strolled to Weybourne, across the heath, and found a very nice watering hole in The Ship, a pub which offers real ale and a menu that features local produce including a fresh fish platter which looked very impressive. On day two we walked alongside the North Norfolk Railway, the so-called Poppy Line, from Kelling (which boasts its own railway stop) to Sheringham. It was market day and the popular seaside town was buzzing with both locals and visitors. We had arranged to meet friends at the Lobster pub which is near the beach, and its log fire was very welcoming on a very cold day. Plus they serve great home cooked food, again using local ingredients, which we all enjoyed. But back to our stylish motor home. It was lovely to return to each teatime after a hard day of enjoying ourselves. You can really be completely self-sufficient as any and every need is catered for. Indeed, it never ceases to amaze me how every single bit of space is put to such good use. There is a really efficient dual fuel gas/electric heating system that not only has a wall heater but also has warm air ducts throughout the van so you can keep warm and cosy. And facilities include a full size cooker complete with extractor fan, a decent-sized fridge and a microwave, and the power shower is perfect to get you going each morning! It is so easy to drive – and park – and has strong green credentials, too. My husband and I, and Millie, of course, had a lovely few days away. A motor home provides you with all the home comforts you need and, most important of all, freedom. Once you’ve Simpsons Motor Caravans explored one area for long enough, you can simply pack up and head off into the sunset. Suffolk Road, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, Children especially love their own NR31 0LN mini castle and what can be nicer than 01493 601696 waking up in a new destination every www.simpsonsmotor caravans.com morning?

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Reasons to be cheerful Joe Mackintosh, Chief Executive of SeaChange Arts and Artistic Director of the Out There Festival looks forward to a bright future for England’s historic seaside towns THIS MONTH SEES the long-awaited re-opening

of the Dreamland amusement park in Margate. It’s an amazing seafront site that has hosted all manner of rides and attractions since 1880, but closed 20 years ago. Local people-power and support from the likes of designer Wayne Hemingway put this historic seaside gem in the hands of a charitable trust who have led, what is not only a first class renovation of the historic attractions, but also reimagined the whole experience for modern times. The opening event has been sold out since March and the national press can’t seem to get enough of it. And in my view this is cause for tremendous celebration and optimism about the future of wonderful coastal resorts such as ours here in the mighty GY, not just dreamy Margate. “Why” I hear you ask? “What has this fast gentrifying Kent coast town, with its new fancy Turner Contemporary gallery, pricey antique shops and Hackney hipsters priced out of Dalston got to do with us out

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PART ONE

here on the far eastern extremity of civilisation?” True, that in my walk through Great Yarmouth this morning in search of a goat’s milk Frappuccino the place was not exactly awash with young bearded fixie riders but that’s not the point! No, what’s exciting here is the surrounding mood which is rising much more widely than just with the Dreamland project. Attitudes are changing among people, the press, authorities and the arts world – about seaside culture but also about culture itself. It’s becoming more and more accepted that ‘culture’ can be ‘fun’. And that ‘fun’ can be cultural. Doesn’t sound so radical an idea put like that does it? And yet, in Britain particularly, it seems to be an idea that went out of fashion for some time. 100 odd years ago Great Yarmouth was in its true heyday. The number of spectacular entertainment venues, the variety of the offer and the numbers enjoying it is something to marvel at. It was the Las Vegas of Europe at this time – with an entertainment offer of maximum enjoyment and minimal cultural elitism yet still with a reputation for quality, innovation and being on the cutting edge. Contemporary dance, contemporary circus, modern variety – all very much in vogue art forms at present… as well as back then. So what’s going on? Time has come full circle and the British seaside resort entertainment offer is back in fashion? Resorts are about to be chocka with well-heeled trendy tourists bringing the visitor-based economy back to the glory

Seaside Stories

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DREAMING IN MARGATE…

DAVID STREET | JMA PHOTOGRAPHY | DREAMLAND

JOE MACKINTOSH is Chief Executive of SeaChange Arts and Artistic Director of the Out There Festival. Visit www.seachangearts.org.uk

SeaChange’s Out There International Festival of Circus & Street Arts returns 18-20 September… where the crazy happens! Check out www.outtherefestival.com for more information

Described as the heartbeat of Margate, Dreamland was one of the UK’s best-loved amusement parks and at one time listed within the UK’s top ten visitor attractions. The 16-acre park included a zoo, miniature railway, 2,200 – seat purpose built Cinema, cafés, restaurants, bars, retail and a 2,000-capacity ballroom playing host to The Who, The Yardbirds and the Rolling Stones. Having fallen into decline, and in a bold move, Thanet District Council compulsorily purchased the site in 2013. With the support of designer, Wayne Hemingway, the campaign to breath new life into one of the UK’s seaside gems reaches a conclusion this month, when the park reopens to the public. Check out this reimagined pleasure park at www.dreamland.co.uk

days? Phew, the last 40 years was clearly just a blip, let the good times roll! Of course it’s not as simple as that. The world has changed and continues to do so. The opportunities for cheap foreign travel that began in the 1970s are not going to go away and many government studies of seaside towns conclude that their future success cannot be built on tourism alone. No, what’s happening is a growing appreciation of quality – in design, architecture, and experience. Dreamland, Blackpool Tower, Great Yarmouth Hippodrome – these are not unfashionable icons of yesteryear but long-standing jewels in the crown, incredible human feats of creativity that can, and should, be enjoyed and appreciated – not just by tourists but by all of us who live, work in or visit these places. The Dreamland restoration was not driven by a commercial tourism business operator hoping to make a few quid, but by the local people who quite rightly felt that Dreamland was just too good, too valuable to let crumble away into memory. And that’s absolutely right. That’s the spirit to cultivate here. We’ve got the good stuff here in spades! Let’s not forgot that nor allow the voices of doom (ever more present in an age of austerity in which discussion of the ‘pleasure’ of living seems a taboo subject) to tell us that ‘those days have gone’. The only way is forward, but for goodness sake, let’s take the crown jewels with us!

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Ria Helsdon’s Memorial Golf Day PARENTS, FAMILY AND FRIENDS of Ria Helsdon, who died of bone cancer aged just 14, raise funds each year for CLIC Sargent who are the UK’s leading cancer charity for children and young people, and their families. This year the event was held at Caldecott Hall where they had many generous donations of raﬄe prizes and items for the charity auction, raising over £2500. Pictures by Diane Green

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In association with GROSVENOR CASINO GREAT YARMOUTH

Events

Caister Volunteer Lifeboat Beer Festival 39 BEERS, 14 ciders, six live acts and hundreds of people descended on Caister for the fourth annual Beer Festival, three days of beer and cider tasting with live music and fun in and around the lifeboat station which this year proved more popular than ever. Volunteers and crew manned the casks and the organisers thanked the local businesses who provided sponsorship, the breweries who supplied the drinks and everyone who came along. All money raised goes towards funding the popular lifeboat. Pictures by Shaun Coomer

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