to|morrow Magazine by Welwyn Garden City town centre

AUTUMN/WINTER 2021

DISCOVER WELWYN GARDEN CITY ENJOY | CELEBRATE | DISCOVER | TASTE wonderfulwgc.co.uk

WWGC_White.eps

WHAT’S ON I N WO N D E R F U L W E LW Y N GA R D E N C I T Y

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MAG IC OF C HR I STMAS

CHRISTMAS LIGHT TRAIL

MAGIC OF CHRISTMAS

Discover the Magic of Christmas in Welwyn Garden City. A fun day to enjoy the Christmas spirit with a craft market, street entertainers and more! Welwyn Garden City town centre.

FREE - Explore the magical WGC Christmas Light Trail through the town centre and discover the most wonderful Christmas lights installations!

Children of wonderful WGC will be making lanterns at school out of recycled materials and will light the streets in a lantern parade.

W E LCO M E Welcome to our latest addition of to|morrow magazine. It’s great to be back and share with you all the great things that are happening in our wonderful town.

06 ELVES WORKSHOP

STREET ENTERTAINMENT

We are transforming a shop in the Howard Centre. Come and visit the elves workshop every Thursday in December.

Prepare to be surprised by street entertainers throughout the Christmas shopping period - the perfect photo opportunity!

My day in Wonderful WGC

LETTER TO SANTA Post your letter to Santa at the postbox outside the elves workshop in the Howard Centre and watch it make its way to Lapland. You can win up to £100 to spend in town!

Eating out

THU SUN

DEC

JAN

PANTO

LIVE ON SCREEN SEASON

ROLLERCITY

The hugely successful panto is back, this year presenting the rip-roaring show, ‘Jack & the Beanstalk’. The traditional, crowd-pleasing pantomime Book online www.campuswest.co.uk.

Enjoy classic shows such as the Nutcracker, Cinderella and Tosca via live screenings from top international venues. Book online www.campuswest.co.uk.

RollerCity at Campus West is the only purpose-built roller-skating rink in Hertfordshire with open skate sessions for all ages. Campus West is also home to Soft Play City.

Eat the rainbow

We are delighted to welcome new businesses which have opened in wonderful Welwyn Garden City. Most are independent restaurants or cafés which are a great addition to our leisure offer, encouraging new and loyal customers to visit and enjoy our town. In summer the BID invested in 14 picnic benches and umbrellas which were placed in Wigmores South just outside of Sainsbury’s turning the Garden City into a lively Italian style piazza. In this edition we bring you fashion, fitness, gifts, coffee, restaurants, entertainment and more! Our models Reesha and Sean enjoyed personal styling sessions at M&S and John Lewis, followed by cocktails with more friends at Postino Lounge, all captured by our talented photographer Zoe Cooper. We have a fantastic variety of restaurants in the town centre and on pages 8 and 9 you can see the choice of cuisine and great offers available. As we move into the winter months it’s so important for us to focus on our fitness and wellbeing and our centre page pullout shares some great tips.

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The team behind to|morrow The WGC BID is the organisation established by all the businesses in the town centre with the aim to improve and promote the town centre and make it a great place to live, work and enjoy. We are proud of our town and we want you to enjoy it. We hope you enjoy our latest magazine and discover the many reasons to visit our wonderful town.

Hero!

Town

Howard Centre

Christmas

FA S H I O N

04-05 Men's

0 6 - 07 Women's

Home

H E A LT H

Mariana Bitonte and Nicola Wolff Welwyn Garden City BID Managers

1 2 -1 6

Why to|morrow? Our magazine name is inspired by Ebenezer Howard’s original book: ‘To-morrow: A Peaceful Path to Real Reform’ originally published in 1898, renamed in 1902 as Garden Cities of To-morrow.

Keep up to date with all our activities and events by visiting wonderfulwgc.co.uk Connect with us on social media @wonderfulwgc @wonderful_wgc

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We are so excited about Christmas this year. We know many of you enjoyed the Christmas Light Trail and this year it's back, with a couple of new additions! We also have some other fun festive activities taking place throughout November and December.

NEWS

CO N T E N TS

SAT SAT

Restyling your home

wonderfulwgc.co.uk

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FA SHI ON

FASHIO N

CAPSULE WEEKEND WARDROBE Sean Cross tells us about his experience of the new men’s personal styling service in store. Stylists Becca Finch and Sharon Dowling, Photographs @zoecoopercommercial

was looking for some new outfits for a weekend away with friends. I usually wear the same sporty type brands but this autumn decided I’d like a bit of a change. My colleagues asked if I’d like to try out the new men’s personal styling service and I jumped at the chance. I booked a one hour free appointment with Becca and Sharon - really easy to do online and a simple form to fill in with information about hair colour, height, shoe size and what I was looking for. Becca rang me beforehand to ask more questions.

MEN'S FASHION

On the day, it was great. They had already looked out lots of different items to get us started and arranged them in the private changing room downstairs in menswear. I tried on all sorts of outfits with new colours and some styles I had never tried before but really liked. The whole experience was friendly, positive and professional and there was no pressure to buy anything - although I did!

Cocktails & dinner Houndstooth Check Shirt (£89) Hugo Boss Slim Suit Jacket (£120) JL&P Super Flex Suit Trouser (£139) Hugo Boss Leather Shoes (£100) Dune Leather Belt (£35) JL&P

AW21/22

Canvas Broadsands Jacket in Khaki (£95) FatFace

All from John Lewis & Partners

Sightseeing/lunch

SHARON & BECCA

International Casual Jacket (£149) Barbour Polo Shirt (£65) Fred Perry Cotton Jeans (£100) Gaby Arley Bayle Chelsea Boots (£140) Geox

“We’ve been offering women’s personal styling in store for 25 years and are so pleased to be able to offer the same service for men. We have a new private styling room in menswear as well as a bigger room upstairs in womenswear. We can style looks for any occasion - whether a new capsule wardrobe or an outfit for a special occasion. The service is completely free with no obligation to buy anything."

All from John Lewis & Partners

Special offer: £50 off if you buy items after a men's personal styling session, valid until 31 December 2021.

Travel Check Flannel Shirt (£65) Tommy Jeans T-shirt (£25) Levi’s Original 501 Jeans (£80) Levi’s Sherpa Corduroy Over Shirt (£110) Tommy Jeans Trainers (£80) New Balance Travel Explorer Bag (£249), Barbour All from John Lewis & Partners

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Tweed Duckbill Hat in Grey (£19.50) FatFace

Wilton Check Jacket (£75) FatFace Winchester Crew Tee (£32.50) FatFace Slim Dark Vintage Wash Jeans (£59) FatFace Leather Chelsea Boot (£89) Fatface AUTUMN / WINTER 2021

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FASH I ON

FASHIO N

MY DAY IN WONDERFUL WELWYN GARDEN CITY We invited WGC resident Reesha Panchal @mama_to_toddler_and_twins to spend a fashion and beauty day in the town and share her experiences with us. Stylist Claire Lale for M&S, Hair @ashleycharleshair, Make-up @designedbyhenna, Photographs @zoecoopercommercial

y day started at Elley Spa experiencing a traditional Persian Hammam for the first time. The two hour treatment with Michelle was amazing. It started with a 15 minute steam in the Hammam followed by a full body exfoliation, honey and milk body mask and relaxation on the heated stone bed. To complete the treatment I had an incredible full body massage and Thalgo facial. The staff were really welcoming and professional and took all appropriate safety measures. I would definitely give the whole experience 5 stars and can’t wait to return. I then visited my regular team at Ashley Charles hairdressers, who I love! The whole team is so friendly and welcoming and I love the way they do my hair. On the day

I had a wash and blow dry with Andy and Neave straightened, curled and back combed before a final brush out for natural bouncing curls. Professional make up artist Henna (@designedbyhenna) made me look the part and came with Nicholas, Neave and me to the photoshoot to ensure not a hair was out of place! My final stop was M&S where visual merchandiser Claire styled me with new looks for casual day and a night out with friends. It was great to get a fresh pair of eyes choosing some brand new looks for me - coffee by day and cocktails by night at Postino Lounge. Teddy Shacket (Spice) (£69) Cotton Earth Slogan Sweatshirt (£19.50) Mom Jeans (£39.50) Woven Checked Tassel Scarf (£12.50) Knitted Pom Hat (£12.50) Chunky Block Heel Ankle Boots (£45)

Thanks to|morrow magazine for a fabulous day out!

With thanks to the team at Elley Spa Reesha enjoyed the Queen Shahrzaad Hammam Treatment. www.elleyspa.co.uk The Hammam Ritual is a traditional method of microdermabrasion. It boosts the immune system, rejuvenates the body and relaxes the mind and body with the combination of heat, steam and massage.

allaboutme sal by @ on ils a wg N c

Frill Collar Denim Shirt (£49) Monsoon

WIN! For a chance to win the Royal Hammam Treatment at Elley Spa, send an email to info@ elleyspa.co.uk & say: “I’d like to take part in the Raffle”. We’ll go live on Instagram and social media on 1st of December and announce the winner.

Style by M&S

Tapas Tuesdays at Postino Lounge three tapas and a glass of wine for just £11.75 from 5pm B

ELLEY SPA 4B CHURCH ROAD

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| 1 8 C H URC H

Floral Waisted Midi Dress (£45) Faux Shearling Aviator Jacket (£69) All by M&S

Kaylin Fern 2 Ankle Boots (£89) Clarks

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FO O D

FOOD

EATI NG OUT YOUR GUIDE TO EATING OUT IN WELWYN GARDEN CITY

NEEM TREE

PO ST I N O LO U N G E

RED INDIAN

Neem Tree is a naturally authentic Indian restaurant in Welwyn Garden City. The Neem Tree philosophy is that "Our hand-made food tastes delicious." They know this to be true as this is the food they eat at home with friends and family.

On a lovely spot on Howardsgate, right in the heart of Welwyn Garden City, Postino Lounge has really put their stamp on things with a little outside terrace and a gorgeous, bold interior stretching across two floors inside, where you can enjoy their fantastic range of food and drinks.

Red is an Indian Restaurant with a wealth of experience providing the finest of Indian cuisine & quality service. Enjoy 20% OFF Sun - Thurs until the end of November by quoting “WGC Magazine” This can be used multiple times but not to be used in conjunction with any other offer.

POSTINO LOUNGE 17-19 HOWARDSGATE

RED INDIAN | 49 WIGMORES NORTH

RACK AND BONE

T WO W I L LOWS

TURQUAZ

This Smoke House and Grill specialises in quality barbecues and burgers. All meat is ethically sourced, grass-fed wherever possible and matured for 28 days. Chicken is brined in a house recipe and our non-meat produce - from vegetables to vegan substitutes - are fresh, wellsourced and of the highest standard possible.

Whether you are looking for brunch, small plates, sharers, pizza or burgers or a cheeky dessert you can find it here, with vegetarian, vegan and gluten free options. We have lots of offers: burger & pizza with a drink, lunch times Monday to Friday. Every weekend we offer pre booked bottomless brunch is also available every weekend, last sitting at 1pm.

RACK AND BONE | 32 FRETHERNE ROAD

TWO WILLOWS | 9 HOWARDSGATE

Turkuaz Welwyn Garden City offers delicious and outstanding samples of European and Mediterranean cuisine! You can find a variety of delicious starters, juicy grilled meats, fish and vegetarian dishes that are served all day. Enjoy 20% off Mon to Thurs evenings (exc Christmas menu) or a welcome glass of prosecco to anyone with a table of 4 or more (until 30 Nov 21).

NEEM TREE | 4 FRETHERNE ROAD

BILL'S

CÔT E

D O CTO R S TO N I C

Light and airy during the day, Bill’s Welwyn restaurant is open all day and into the night. It has a mix of quiet booths and sharing tables, and some outdoor seating for sunny days. In the evening, we turn down the lights, light the candles and let the candelabras twinkle.

Cote’s chefs have been busy working on a whole new French-inspired menu to make this year extra special for you; packed full of festive indulgence and flavour. Their beautiful Mont Blanc dessert is highly recommended. Their Menu du Noël will be available between 23rd Nov - 24th Dec, priced at £29.95 for three courses. Santé!

Whether you’re planning some long overdue festive drinks, a team celebration or a seasonal soiree with your loved ones, the team at the Tonic will keep the bubbly flowing and the feast cooking, all you need to do is bring some festive merriment. We’re delighted to say, the pub is back this festive season!

COTE | 1-3 HOWARDSGATE

DOCTORS TONIC | CHURCH ROAD

BILL’S | 32 HOWARDSGATE

CAFÉ TRIO

GIGGLING SQUID

M I S YA

A lovely café which provides great food, a warming atmosphere and good value for money. Breakfasts are a speciality and available all day with an extensive range of freshly cooked food. Some great individual specialities include an original and tasty mixed hot and cold mezze plater and chicken wraps.

Due to open in December on Howardsgate, Giggling Squid is already causing ripples of excitement around the Welwyn Garden City foodie community. Offering tasty Thai tapas, luscious curries, sizzling stir fries and plentiful dishes to share. Sign up on their website to be the first to know when bookings open.

A family friendly restaurant which specialises in delicious Turkish and Anatolian cuisine, including tasty Adana Kofte, Lamb Shish and Beef Shish Kebabs or Chicken Shish, Lamb Beyti or Chicken, Lamb Ribs or Chops, a range of Special dishes, Vegetarian dishes and Kids Meals and chips or rice.

CAFÉ TRIO | 15 WIGMORES SOUTH

GIGGLING SQUID | 4-6 HOWARDSGATE

MISYA | 67 PARKWAY

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TURQUAZ | 15 HOWARDSGATE

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LI F E STY L E

L I FESTYL E

LIVING IN

THE

WELL

GARDEN

aving celebrated 100 wonderful years in 2020, Welwyn Garden City has never been a better place to live. The property market is booming in all sectors. Rental demand has increased on all properties from one bedroom flats to larger houses which are receiving multiple offers. Return on investment and capital growth over a 10 year period has never been higher.

Lighting can make a space look more inspiring and homely. New lampshades can refresh a look and adding lamps gives you flexibility to move around.

HOW INTERIOR DESIGN CAN IMPROVE THE VALUE OF YOUR HOME Updating your interiors can not only give you pleasure but can also increase the value should you choose to move.

Welwyn Garden City combines the best of town and country living, with beautiful parks and woodlands and a thriving community. Add the numerous sports and leisure facilities and it's easy to see why so many people are leaving London for a lifestyle change. Over 60% of buyers in the last year have come from the capital. Some are also changing jobs with so many great businesses based in the town.

This is one of the most important areas in any house. Spending time painting units and even replacing the worktop can totally transform your kitchen.

If you’d like to find out more about living in wonderful WGC, visit Wright’s – their team will be happy to help. WRIGHTS | 36 STONEHILLS WGC WWW.WRIGHTSOF.CO.UK

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If you need key replacements or duplicates, whether for your house, Chubb or window locks, safe, patio doors, filing cabinet, office, caravan, cash box, locker or cabinets, Timpsons can help. If you inadvertently lock yourself out of your home, their 24 hour locksmith service can get you back in.

LIGHTING

First time buyers are enjoying the great facilities and shops in the town centre and are happy to walk to the station for the convenient train line into London.

Continued growth in the market is anticipated for the foreseeable future. Ebenezer Howard’s vision of ‘a true marriage of town and country’ has never been more appreciated.

KEYS, KEYS, KEYS!

CITY

KITCHEN

BATHROOM

Bathrooms can be updated with new tiles or a fresh coat of paint and accessories; look at the lighting and add mirrors to make the most of the space. Keep it light bright, clean and uncluttered.

FLOORING

Consistent and complementary flooring with a nice neutral carpet or wooden flooring throughout your property will create the feeling of flow and space.

Majestic Parkway with the Coronation Fountain dyed pink to support Breast Cancer Awareness month. Photo by Robert Gill

TIMPSONS | 2 FRETHERNE ROAD WWW.TIMPSONS.CO.UK

HALLWAY

Consider adding a nice mirror to create extra space and a plant for instant appeal and homeliness. Fresh doormats or a runner can also add appeal.

PAWS ON THE FLOOR! With more of us enjoying the companionship of our four legged friends, Welwyn Garden City continues to become more dog friendly.

DE-CLUTTER

Decluttering will give a sense of calm and space as well as support to local charity shops.

STYLING

A really useful process is to take photos of each room, then look at them as if you were a buyer looking at details. What catches your eye? Can you imagine living there? Plants are wonderful, as they make a home look loved and are also very on trend so give an instant update as do andles, vases of flowers, nice mirrors and cushions. WHY NOT FIND OUT HOW MUCH YOUR HOME IS WORTH TODAY? Visit ashtons.co.uk/ instant-valuation ASHTONS | 29 WIGMORES NORTH WWW.ASHTONS.CO.UK

PICTURE THIS Photos are a great way of personalising your home and there are so many alternatives available. Large prints in frames or on canvas can refresh a look while smaller ones in frames, photobooks or even a keyring make great gifts. Quote to|morrow magazine for a 15% discount on a range of items. SNAPPY SNAPS | 59 HOWARDSGATE WWW.SNAPPYSNAPS.CO.UK

POSTINO LOUNGE NATURAL HEALTH BLACKS BILLS CAFÉ NERO DOGS TRUST JOHN LEWIS & PARTNERS KINETIC CYCLES THE TWO WILLOWS TRAVELODGE WATERSTONES COFFEE LAB

There are many dog friendly places to eat, drink coffee and shop. For the full list of dog friendly places please download our dog trail from the Loyalfree app - see page 27. Milo The Natural Health dog

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HE ALTH

WEL L BEI NG

TAKING CARE OF YOUR

SENSES... HEALTHY HEARING

Boots Hearingcare’s World of Hearing store on Howardsgate opened in summer and is the first of its kind in the UK.

prolonged use often causing eye strain. To prevent screen fatigue, follow the 20-20-20 rule. Just make sure that every 20 minutes you look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has highlighted the importance of hearing care globally. It is estimated that as many as four million people in the UK are currently living with unchecked hearing loss. The state-of-the-art concept clinic has been built with a purpose to revolutionise the way the nation thinks about hearing care and to help break down customer barriers within the sector. Customers will enjoy a new interactive hearing care experience, utilising state-of-the-art equipment, including a new immersion and experience room and self-screening suites, which enable the customer to experience the benefit of wearing hearing aids in many different, and typically challenging, environments. As part of the experience, the suites remove the need to book an appointment, with the facilities opening up the opportunity for anyone to get a hearing test and speak with an expert whenever is convenient for them. BOOTS WORLD OF HEARING 38-40 HOWARDSGATE WWW.BOOTSHEARINGCARE.COM

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GOOD EYE HEALTH From cleaning products and computer screens to dust and air pollution, modern life can expose your eyes to many things which can lead to them becoming tired or sore, or even damaged. These tips will help keep your eyes healthy. H E A LT H Y D I E T, H E A LT H Y EYES Everyone knows that a healthy, balanced diet is good for your body, but it can also be good for your eyes. Eating a diet that is rich in fruit and vegetables can help to prevent eye problems and conditions and drinking plenty of water can also prevent both your body and eyes from becoming dehydrated! 20-20-20 RULE We spend an average of eight hours a day staring at screens, with

N E W N O N - I N VA S I V E O C T SCAN OCT stands for Optical Coherence Tomography, a method which gives a clearer picture and a better understanding of how healthy your eyes are. It’s a quick, non-invasive scan performed in your health.

Get an eye test for £10 and pay just £10 extra for an OCT Scan (usually £25). VISION EXPRESS | 61 HOWARDSGATE WWW.VISIONEXPRESS.COM

Great WAYS TO FEELING

THIS WINTER

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W E L LBEI NG

WELLBEIN G KEEP MOVING WITH DYNAMIC STRETCHING

EXERCISING DURING THE WINTER MONTHS HAS BENEFITS FOR BOTH YOUR MIND AND BODY ■

Exercise endorphins can help if you’re feeling down during the shorter, darker days, and if you make it outdoors you’ll get the extra benefit of vitamin D which enhances the mood.

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It also boosts your immune system and can improve your defences against winter coughs and colds.

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It will keep you warm for hours – exercise gets your blood pumping and you’ll keep the heat long after your workout has finished.

Dynamic stretches are particularly good when the weather is colder because they simultaneously stretch your muscles and get your blood pumping, preparing your body for your workout. Repetitive motions like leg kicks or arm circles, jogging on the spot, star jumps, light squats and lunges are all good to keep your muscles warm and prevent injuries.

Club member Antony Stevens, 72, has been a member for over 4 years.

There is always a friendly face here to help and instruct you if needed. Being open 24hrs a day is a big plus. I’ve been a keen gym goer for over 40 years, and a member here for over 4. It’s a very comfortable environment to train in.

BOOST YO U R IMMUNE SYST E M BOOSTING YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM IS A GREAT WAY TO FIGHT COLDS AND FLU DURING THE WINTER MONTHS. THE POWER OF PLANTS Boosting the intake of powerful plant compounds called flavonoids can also strengthen the immune system and fight colds and flu. Anthocyanidins are the dark red and blue colours found in many fruits and seeds and are highly regarded by most nutritional scientists. Taking a supplement over winter can help protect the body. Natural Health are offering a great boosting combination of supplements for the winter months. If you buy Imuno-Strength you will get a free bottle of Vitamin D3 worth £9.95. Called the “sunshine vitamin,” vitamin D3 is vital to strong bones and teeth and a healthy immune system. Our bodies obtain vitamin D3 from two sources, our diet and from sunlight

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S TAY FIT AND H AV E FUN

SPIN CLASSES are a great way to get the heart

pumping and endorphins flowing with music, lighting and a mixture of climbs, jumps and sprints to get the most out of your ride.

TEST YOUR REACTIONS bring out your

competitive spirit playing against a friend on a reaction wall. Designed to help you improve memory, reactions, speed and coordination it’s a fun way to train.

Rise Gym and Natural Health have teamed up to give specialist talks relating to nutrition and better health. Visit websites for latest news.

ICE BATHS or taking a cold shower is beneficial not just for injury rehab but also prepping the body pre-workout. The icy temperature helps reduce inflammation and boost circulation while the aerated water massages tired, aching muscles.

RISE GYM | UNIT B | FRETHERNE ROAD WWW.RISEGYM.CO.UK

ANYTIME FITNESS | HOWARD CENTRE WWW.ANYTIMEFITNESS.CO.UK

on our skin which drives the natural production within the body. If we all have plenty of sun then we have plenty of vitamin D3, but during the winter months we need to obtain some from our diet. As we age the body’s ability to manufacture vitamin D declines too. BENEFITS OF TAKING VITAMIN D3 - Bone health - Treatment of skin disorders - Anti-inflammatory - Brain health and cognition - Immune system boost - Prevents infection - Prevention of rickets - Kidney health - Weight and appetite NATURAL HEALTH | 36 WIGMORES WWW.NATURALHEALTHWELWYN.CO.UK

BE KIND

SHARING AND RECEIVING KINDNESS CAN HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON OUR MENTAL HEALTH They produce positive chemical responses which increase levels of happy hormones that leave us feeling good. ■

Take time out of each day for yourself - a long bath or pamper or reading a good book can give a real boost.

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Get a good night’s sleep.

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Volunteer for a local charity such as Isabel Hospice as a community companion or for the Willow Foundation.

Read more about our ‘Holding out for a Hero’ kindness initiative on page 17.

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W E L LBEI NG

CELEBR ATE

E AT T H E RAINBOW

Start by heating a glug of olive oil in a pan and add in a small onion and two cloves of garlic, finely sliced. Sauté for a few minutes over a moderate heat before adding in a can of chopped tomatoes, 300ml of fish stock, 100ml of dry white wine and a squirt of lemon juice. Let it bubble away for a minute or so and then take off the heat and transfer to a wide bottomed ovenproof dish

2. Cut the fish into chunks... the equivalent of four thickish fillets (ideally skinless) plus a handful of prawns. Season well, adding in a pinch of chilli flakes for a bit of kick! Pop in a hot oven (about 180/200 degrees) for 10-15 minutes, until the fish is cooked through, adding in a good handful of spinach leaves half way through. Cook 200g of orzo in a separate pan to add.

HEALTHY COMFORT FOOD TO FUEL THE BODY AND SOUL! We all know the importance of staying healthy... and a big part of that is making sure we eat lots of fruit and vegetables, including as many different varieties and colours as possible. Swapping meat for fish and adding vegetables into comforting classic winter warmers like mac and cheese, casseroles or lasagne creates a much more balanced meal. Or start from scratch and create your own healthy winter warmer. like this Mediterraneanstyle fish stew with orzo. Made with garlic, onions, tomatoes, spinach, white wine and fish stock (which you can buy in cubes), it's easy to cook and - if you want to pep it up a bit - serve with some saffron aioli (which is super tasty, stirred in at the end of cooking). You can use pretty much any mix of fish eg cod, king prawns and trout.

3. In the meantime, if you fancy the saffron aioli (I'd recommend it), pop a clove of garlic, a pinch of saffron and a little squeeze of lemon in a pestle and mortar. Grind until you have a mush! Then add in a pinch of sea salt and two tbsps of mayonnaise and mix well. When the stew is ready, gently stir in the aioli and finish with some freshly chopped dill. Alternatively, serve the aioli on the side

I went to get a coffee in Bebo’s today and just as i was about to pay, someone lent over and tapped a card, and said ‘have that coffee on Wonderful Welwyn Garden, thank you for supporting WGC! Cathy

This winter Wonderful Welwyn Garden is ‘HOLDING OUT FOR A HERO’ (for those that know it, sing along to the 80’s classic by Bonnie Tyler!) We want to reward our very own local heroes here in Welwyn Garden City for being local to our town centre. Since October our hero hunters have taken to the streets seeking out people who they believe deserve a little treat for being kind. Most of our heroes don’t wear capes or uniforms so you may not spot them. They could be behind you in a queue today and about to surprise you by paying for your shopping?!

NOMINATE YOUR LOCAL HERO! SIAN HUGHES IS A PASSIONATE FOODIE. YOU CAN FIND MORE OF SIAN’S RECIPES ON HER INSTAGRAM PAGE @RECIPEBREAKOUT AND ON HER WEBSITE PAGES @COOKLYBOOKLY.COM/RECIPEBREAKOUT

All ingredients available from Waitrose & Partners, Bridge Road www.waitrose.com

We want you to tell us about local heroes you know, people who are always thinking of others. It could be someone who has made a selfless contribution to the community, or who is looking after someone in need. It doesn’t have to be someone helping lots of people – we will consider all nominations big or small from anyone of any age. If you wish to nominate someone or a group, send us an email or a very short video (max 1 min) explaining your nomination. Your hero must live or work Welwyn Garden City but doesn’t need to wear a cape! Email your nomination or video to bid@welwyngarden.co.uk

Thank you to Ewart Price Solicitors who are sponsoring this wonderful initiative. We have some fantastic prizes for our deserving WGC heroes. EWART PRICE SOLICITORS | 16-18 CHURCH ROAD WWW.EWARTPRICE.COM

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to|morrow 17

BO O K REV I EWS

LIFESTYLE

READING BETWEEN

THE WINES

COFFEE

THE BEST THINGS ABOUT BEING IN A BOOK GROUP By Caroline Roberts

CULTURE

Our group began in 2004 when we were young, tired mothers who feared we might never read books again. The discipline of a deadline, book suggestions we might not have otherwise considered and the need to formulate an argument in defence of our opinion have all worked to help us use our brains for more than nappies! Our Book Group is far more than just books however. During 2020 we resorted to online discussions supplemented with zoom cocktailmaking and quizzes, but nothing beats our monthly get-togethers in our homes with great companionship, laughter, gossip and the sharing of news and local events -all combined with good wine and tasty snacks. What more could you want?

If coffee’s your thing, Welwyn Garden City is the place to be. With a great variety of favourite independents and popular chains, your perfect cup awaits you!

GENERAL MANAGER OF COFFEE LAB DOM CLAYTOR SHARES SOME OF HIS TIPS FOR A GREAT CUP OF COFFEE.

There is a wonderful and growing variety of different tastes in coffee from Brazil, Colombia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Peru, Kenya and Costa Rica. Each can be roasted to different tasting profiles with an amazing variety of flavours from chocolate to fruit.

TOP-FIVE BOOK CHOICES

THE GOLDFINCH

IN COLD BLOOD

BY DONNA TARTT Reviewed by Hilary

BY TRUMAN CAPOTE Reviewed by Linda

Combining art history, crime novel, coming of age and love story, set in modern times, based on a real 17th century painting with its own tragic back story. With sections based in New York, Las Vegas and Amsterdam, I become totally engrossed in the life of the narrator Theo.

This book was a pioneer of the truecrime genre. The detailed descriptions of the criminals, the victims, and a rural American community really brought the story alive for us. Our group had some vigorous discussion about the ethics and accuracy of truecrime novels, but all enjoyed reading this book!

THE SONG OF ACHILLES BY

A GENTLEMAN IN MOSCOW

MADELINE MILLER Reviewed by Rebecca

BY AMOR TOWLES Reviewed by Mel

Exciting, compelling (and hugely popular at the moment thanks to ‘Booktok’!) what Madeline Miller did so well in this novel, was combine a tragic love story with a vivid retelling of a classic Greek myth. Members of our group had the opportunity to attend a BBC R4 Bookclub with the author.

The synopsis didn’t seem terribly exciting: aristocrat put under house arrest during the Russian Revolution finds joy in ‘the little things’. However, this historical fiction has something for everyone - politics, romance, espionage, companionship and humour, all set in 1920s Moscow.

WATERSTONE’S BOOK OF THE MONTH FOR SEPTEMBER

RIVER KINGS BY CAT JARMAN Reviewed by Jackie

I was drawn to this book because it melds history and detective work

which would be my two favourite genres. Cat Jarman, an emerging force in archaeology, does not disappoint and I liked the original idea of illuminating the Viking world by tracking one small, ordinary stone bead.

The first coffee house in England was established in 1650 in Oxford. With the price of a coffee being one penny, these coffee houses would become known as ‘penny universities’ where the atmosphere and discussion would draw people rather than the coffee. With the vast array of choice we have today the coffee is equally, if not more important. There is a constantly evolving focus on higher quality beans and beverages, on sustainability, recipes and techniques, making our coffee shops more and more attractive.

LIFE AFTER LIFE BY KATE ATKINSON Reviewed by Caroline

If you’ve ever wondered what might have happened if you were able to live your life again, then this is the book for you. In a number of ‘sliding doors’ moments, the life of Ursula is relived to explore the outcomes at different turning points in her life. Beautifully written and very readable, we all loved this book.

Blends from a variety of countries, such as our Bionic Bull blend are great with milk. Single origin coffees are normally better tasted black and made through a filter or pour over method. Decaffeinated coffee is roasted differently and flushed with sparkling water to remove caffeine. With hand made coffee options such as V60, Aeropress, Cafetieres and filters as well as electric coffee makers the choice is endless though you can guarantee finding the perfect cup of coffee for you!

There are plenty of places to enjoy a coffee in wonderful WGC! BEBO CAFÉ CAFÉ TRIO CAFFÉ NERO COFFEE LAB COSTA COFFEE HUMPHREY'S MORENO'S MUFFIN BREAK CAFÉ AT M&S THE PLACE TO EAT SIMMONS STARBUCKS For all details and addresses find the coffee trail on the LoyalFree app.

OFFER Buy one of Waterstone’s books of the month & get a FREE CUP OF COFFEE! Valid until 31 December 2021. WGC store only.

Welwyn Garden City Coffee Lab opens on Stonehills in November. They also own the Bionic Bull Roastery which supplies all their beans. Downstairs is designed for meeting friends, with a dedicated free hot-desking floor upstairs. www.bionicbull.co.uk @hertscoffeelab on Instagram.

WATERSTONES | 52 HOWARDSGATE WWW.WATERSTONES.COM

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F I NA NC E

HO M E

TAKING CARE OF YOUR F INANCE S

TODAY & TO M O R ROW Whether you’re looking after your own finances or helping an older family member, our tips will point you in the right direction. PROTECT YOURSELF ONLINE

With so many more of us working from home, staying safe online has never been more important. UPDATE YOUR PASSWORDS Change your passwords at least twice a year and make sure it is different from any other password. ALWAYS QUESTION UNINVITED APPROACHES Instead, contact the company. DON’T SHARE personal information over email or social media. ALWAYS UPDATE your operating systems as soon as they become available and install anti-virus software. SHOP SAFE ONLINE Always use a credit card, debit card or PayPal which offers some protection against fraud. CHECK bank statements regularly.

SHRED IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS Shred any paperwork that reveals personal information, especially bank statements, card details and other sensitive data. CHECK YOUR CREDIT REPORT Check your credit report – there are many free sites you can check for unusual activity. HSBC BRANCH MANAGER LAURE-JANE DENYER SAID:

“Protecting customers from fraud is an absolute priority for us. Customers can help themselves by taking note of fraud warnings when making online payments and following the advice given." If you’d like any more advice on staying safe online pop in to HSBC and speak to LJ and her team. HSBC | HOWARDSGATE WWW.HSBC.CO.UK

TRAVEL MONEY As international travel returns Cashbrokers can help with your currency needs. Checking rates daily they make sure they offer better value than other providers and will not only sell you currency but also buy back any amount for 0% commission. CASHBROKERS | 8 CHURCH ROAD WWW.CASHBROKERS.CO.UK

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WHY YOU NEED A WILL AND THE BEST TIME TO MAKE ONE If you don’t have a will, intestacy rules will determine who will administer your estate and who will benefit. The key moments when you should consider making a will are:

Large 2pk set of trunks (£55) Habitat by Sainsbury's

BUYING A HOUSE - especially if you own a home outside of a marriage or civil partnership. GETTING MARRIED - any will you had in place beforehand, automatically becomes invalid. CO-HABITING - unless you have a will, your partner will not inherit any of your estate. DIVORCING - until your divorce is final, you will still be viewed as a married couple and your estranged spouse will still inherit. HAVING CHILDREN - you can stipulate who should act as guardians and take care of your children in the event of your death. HRJ FOREMAN LAWS | 10 PARKWAY WWW.HRJFOREMANLAWS.CO.UK

THE BENEFITS OF MAKING LASTING POWERS OF ATTORNEY A Lasting Power of Attorney is to enable you to appoint people who you trust to assist you in managing your affairs. There are two types: one relates to your financial decisions, the other your health and welfare decisions. You do not lose your independence by completing LPAs, they are completed in case you need assistance in the future or simply don’t want to manage your financial decisions.

AUTUMN TRENDS

MAKE YOUR HEART SING! The luxe look of pattern on pattern is all about creating an immersive decorating scheme, one that can carry you away to a whole other world. It’s a beautiful way to add character to any room, through the patterns you choose, the fabrics and accessories you add in, and the details that you emphasise.

Kayleigh Drinks Trolley Brass (£125) Habitat at Sainsbury's

CONNECT TO SIMPLE PLEASURES, CRAFTS & RITUALS The popularity of nature retreats has surged in recent years. Natural materials such as wood, stone and linen can bring a similar sense of peace to your home, transforming it into a restorative sanctuary.

BRING CALM TO OPEN PLAN SPACES The modern Nordic style is a dream for adding texture and interest to a minimalist aesthetic. At its heart are natural materials including pale wood, leather, jute and linen. Warmth comes from pale shades of plaster and chalky earth tones while hits of matt black provide bold accent. Wovens, rattan and woven jute promise warmth and comfort.

Compact Aloe Planter (£30) Lamberts Flower Company

The role of an attorney is important so you should fully consider who you wish to appoint. It can be more than one person and they must act in your best interests

NEED HELP RESTYLING YOUR HOME?

A Health & Welfare LPA gives the authority to inform doctors and other health practitioners of your views and wishes particularly regarding life sustaining treatment.

Book a virtual, in-store or at-home appointment at www.johnlewis. com, or visit the store and speak to a Home Design Stylist.

CRANE & STAPLES SOLICITORS LONGCROFT HOUSE, FRETHERNE ROAD WWW.CRANE-STAPLES.CO.UK

Whether you’re refreshing a room or rethinking your whole home, the team of five stylists can help you create a look you’ll love. Looks by JOHN LEWIS | BRIDGE ROAD

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SUSTA I N

1, 9:32 AM

SUSTAIN

Welwyn Garden City was designed as ‘a town for healthy living’ and as such, we are on a mission to honour our founder and become a more sustainable town.

REUSERECYCLESUSTAIN

Copy of Sustainable beauty_Beauty Cycle Evergreen_BEAUTY_CYCLE_PRODUCTS_square.jpg

MASTER YOUR CHARITY SHOPPING Sustainable doesn’t need to be boring, we can all help the environment (and our pockets) by doing our bit to support recycling. Charity shop buying is good for your wallet and the planet (winwin) and in Welwyn Garden City we have a great range. Town Centre Manager Mariana Bitonte shares her top tips to master your charity shopping! •

• • • •

•

Get there often: stock at charity shops turn over pretty quickly so keep going, build a rapport with the employees (they are the ones in the know!) Take your time: charity shopping cannot be done in a hurry Have an open mind: that tweed men’s jacket might just be your next winter coat Try it on: don’t be shy Guess the label: some big brands donate surplus stock to charity shops, you will spot these items as they sometimes have the label cut off Volunteer: if you volunteer at a charity shop you’re not only doing a good deed you will get first dibs!

SUSTAINABLE SALONS This brilliant initiative will finally allow hair and beauty salons to become sustainable. Every item of salon waste including used foils and colour tubes can be used again to benefit both the community and the environment. Hair is used to clean up oil spills, discarded PPE can generate clean energy and even salon towels can be composted. Stonehills Hair salon is championing the cause in Welwyn Garden City with owner Mike Paraliki being one of the first 100 of over 40,000 UK salons. Look out for the accreditation at your salon soon. STONEHILLS HAIR | 27 STONEHILLS WWW.STONEHILLSHAIR.CO.UK

CARBON BALANCED CHRISTMAS CARDS With sustainability becoming increasingly important in all aspects of our life, we can shop wisely to make sure we buy products which have used natural, recycled and biodegradable materials in the manufacturing process. This year, all of KallKwik’s Christmas cards will be Carbon Balanced. This is a scheme run by the World Land Trust, an international conservation charity. Why not personalise Christmas with your own cards? KALL KWIK | 36A HOWARDSGATE WWW.KALLKWIKWGC.CO.UK

Check out some of the fantastic bargains we got in WGC charity shops.

MAKE DO AND MEND

RECYCLE AND BUY RECYCLE YOUR EMPTY BEAUTY

OXFAM BOOKSHOP

PRODUCTS

•

Take five or more empty beauty products to John Lewis WGC the next time you are buying new beauty products and show your John Lewis card to enjoy £5 off your purchase.

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We all wear through soles and heels of our favourite shoes and it can be tempting to replace them. Why not be part of a sustainable future by having them repaired instead. Plastic and leather soles can be replaced and heels built up and polished to make as good as new.

PRE-LOVED

• •

Donate pre-loved books, CDs, vinyl and DVDs for others to enjoy Recycle non-glitter greetings cards all year round Buy pre-loved - save money and support a great charity

OXFAM BOOKS & MUSIC 36B HOWARDSGATE @WGCOXFAMBOOKS

AUTUMN / WINTER 2021

Boots (£6.50) Simply Be Dog’s Trust, Wigmores North

Furry jacket (£6) Gap British Heart Foundation, Fretherne Rod

REPAIRS PLUS | HOWARD CENTRE 01707 376101

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D I SCOV ER

DISCOVER THE WGC FISHERMAN The much-loved WGC fisherman is now standing proudly outside his home at Regal Fish and Chips on the newly reopened Stonehills. After he was disrupted during the Stonehills revamp, the community has warmly welcomed him back, along with the town’s favourite fish and chips.

IT'S ALL HAPPENING

IN THE TOWN!

he Welwyn Garden City BID has been running for the past five years and is up for renewal this November. We hope you have enjoyed the many activities and features we have brought to your town centre, from the World Food Festival to Cinema on the Green; Christmas lights switch on and vegan market. All have offered our residents more to enjoy in the town centre and encouraged new visitors to enjoy our wonderful town. We certainly hope the BID will be successful in the renewal and look forward to delivering much more in the years to come.

REGAL FISH & CHIPS | 25 STONEHILLS

The improvements in Stonehills to the road and square are well underway. The road reopened in October and has created a lovely environment, reducing traffic, making the roads safer and better for those travelling on foot and bike and a turning circle for cars. Stonehills Square will offer a great space for community events and markets and will open early in 2022.

A PIECE OF WELWYN GARDEN CITY’S HISTORY WE ARE 101! We are incredibly fortunate that our town was designed over 100 years ago as a ‘town for healthy living’ We have never appreciated having all this wonderful open space as much as we did during Welwyn Garden City’s centenary last year. It’s never been a better time to live or visit the garden city. A wonderful new addition to our town is the new sculpture of founder Ebenezer Howard at the top of Howardsgate - a lasting legacy of the town’s centenary celebrations. We are immensely proud that this was a project inspired and funded by community group the Welwyn Garden City Centenary Foundation to be much loved by the community for the next 100 years.

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One of the longest standing businesses in Welwyn Garden City is independent and family run Godshaws Jewellers. Established in 1947 by Mr Freddy Godshaw, the jewellers is now in the hands of his son Mr Steve Godshaw. Both father and son have created a warm, welcoming family business that provides the highest customer care and service. They value every customer, new and old. Be it a quick pop in for a battery or an afternoon long browse for that very special piece they provide a personable approach to do their best to meet your needs. 42 WIGMORES NORTH | WGC WWW.GODSHAWJEWELLERS.CO.UK

WELCOME TO THE HOWARD CENTRE Howard Centre Manager Carley Beck shares the latest news. With over 30 big name brands and high street names we have everything you need for convenient shopping. Community is at the heart of everything we do at the centre engaging with local business and local people, working alongside the BID to deliver initiatives for the benefit of the whole town. Building a strong team is key for me and we do our utmost to support customers and tenants in any way we can. We’re pleased to recently welcome local businesses Validate and Dessert Kitchen to our centre and the latest addition Wenzel’s the Bakers – with their first ‘dine-in’ store! WHAT’S THE BEST THING ABOUT WORKING IN WELWYN GARDEN CITY? I love the open spaces, full of natural beauty and steeped in history. It has a close-knit community of loyal people who you can see are passionate about where they live.

It’s also refreshing to work with local businesses such as the Welwyn Garden City BID and John Lewis who continue to strive in making Welwyn Garden City a great place to spend time in. As a centre, we’re really keen to support new businesses and we are encouraging independents, small businesses who are interested in trialling WGC to get in touch. To read the full interview with Carley, visit www.wonderfulwgc.co.uk SOME HOWARD CENTRE BRANDS M&S Pandora Boots WH Smith Anytime Fitness Next Monsoon

H&M JD Sports Hotel Chocolat New Look The Entertainer Ernest Jones

Keep up to date with latest news and offers and the full list of retailers and businesses at www.howardcentre.co.uk.

Secure parking just £1 all day Sunday.

We look forward to welcoming you soon.

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SHOP

EN JOY

THE MAG IC O F

Rather Larg e Chocolate Christmas Cracker (£ 36) Hotel C hocolat

GREAT in g

cc es so rize

n ht Lig

Gif ts

DISCOVER THE MAGIC OF CHRISTMAS IN WELWYN GARDEN CITY.

)A Bo 12 lt C £ ( e oin Purs

ts avel Sized Trea Soap & Glory Tr s ot (£14) Bo

A fun way to enjoy the Christmas spirit with a craft market, street entertainers and more! Welwyn Garden City town centre – 20 November and 4 December. WONDERFUL WELWYN GARDEN CITY CHRISTMAS LIGHT TRAIL. 20 NOVEMBER UNTIL 2 JANUARY

Mal fy Wai Gin Ro tros e & sa (£28 Par tner ) s

e Fac Fat £7) ks ( Soc eph Jos ns Me

Discover the most wonderful Christmas Light Installations across the town centre.

Bluey & Family Figures 4pk (£15) The Entertainer

Yankee Can dles (from £8.99) Future Gift s

riginal Bulldog O ts o o B ) 12 (£ Newborn London Guard Knit Set Grey (£28) Monsoon

Green Velvet Hex Dog Bed (£42) Next

io Skincare Tr

Hand Cream Cath Kidston Sainsburys & Tin (£10)

Meet the Christmas Teddy Bear, the Big Bauble and some new surprises you will have to discover by yourself! Our trail is a great opportunity for all the family to enjoy the illuminations that the businesses of Welwyn Garden City have provided. Download the LoyalFree app to get the trail, scan the QR code at each location and vote for your favourite. You can win some amazing prizes! Stay up to date by following the Wonderful Welwyn Garden City BID on social media.

@wonderfulwgc @wonderful_wgc

LANTERN PARADES

ELVES WORKSHOP

Children of wonderful WGC will be making lanterns at school out of recycled materials and will light the streets in a lantern parade.

We are transforming a shop in the Howard Centre into a workshop full of busy elves! Come and visit the elves workshop every Thursday in December. Post your letter at the Christmas postbox and see it travel all the way to Lapland!

LoyalFree is a free app which offers exclusive deals, loyalty schemes, lists exciting local events and fun interactive trails. Search ‘LoyalFree’ on the iOS and Google play store. Slippers (£27.50) John Lewis & Partners

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WELCOME TO W E LW Y N GA R D E N C I T Y

With wide leafy streets and large green spaces, Welwyn Garden City offers a tranquil escape from the rat race and a lively evening and weekend retreat to spend with family and friends.

Just 20 minutes from Harpenden and St. Albans

Welwyn Garden City is easily reached from London, Potters Bar and Hatfield in the south and Cambridge, Royston, Baldock, Letchworth, Hitchin, Stevenage and many stations in between, to the north.

From Harpenden via the Lower Luton Road, Marford Road and Brocket Road to Stanborough. From St. Albans, via Sandpit Lane and Coopers Green Lane and Stanborough. 16 minutes from Hertford Via the B1000 (Welwyn Road), A1000 (Bessemer Road) and Bridge Road. 22 minutes from Hitchin

■ PARKING You will find limited FREE, short stay on-street parking on Howardsgate, Parkway, and Fretherne Road – ideal for quick trips into town.

Via the A1(M), exit junction 6, A1000 and Bessemer Road.

For longer stays, there is a wealth of pay and display and pay on exit parking throughout the town.

■ BY BUS

These include:

653 from St Albans and Hatfield

The Howard Centre 725 space multi-storey. Follow postcode: AL8 6TU

324 and 724 from Hertford and Ware

*Campus West 310 street level spaces. Follow postcode AL8 6BX *Campus East Street level 342 spaces. Follow postcode AL8 6AE Osborn Way 401 street level spaces. Follow postcode AL8 6TU *Free for 30 minutes

CLAIM YOUR

FREE £5 GIFT CARD

when you spend between £2.50 and £3.50 on your parking at Hunters Bridge Car Park Mon - Fri. tw t ww de .w o for k u n d e rf u l w g c . c o.