Step into the new season with a bounty of delights to discover on your doorstep. This issue, we take a trip to Mill Road to reveal its must-visit restaurants and shops, highlight some sensational staycation spots, serve up some tasty recipes and bring you all the latest from the local culture scene.
YOUR MONTHLY FIX OF
LOCAL LIFE
AUGUST 2023
A stay at Poets House See page 51 WIN!
scoop The inside INDULGE IN AUGUST’S COOLEST TREATS AS WE UNVEIL THE HOTTEST HAPPENINGS THIS MONTH!
SIGN UP TO OUR DIGITAL ISSUE AT CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK
WELCOME
Soak up the city hese weeks – summer ’ s dog days – are the time to savour those Cambridge experiences we yearn for once the cooler months kick in. For me, that means cycling along the Backs with the sun on my face, paper cups of wine on Grantchester Meadows and people-watching with an ice cream on the King’s wall. Make hay while the sun shines and lap up these weeks of Cambridge being at its absolute peak, is my advice. For our gardening columnist Anna (page 82), August is a time to enjoy the fruits of your labour earlier in the year and ‘turn on, tune in and drop out for the hazy holiday season’. What could be nicer? On the culture scene, we hear from Dallahan, who chat about their melting pot of influences ahead of a Cambridge Junction gig this month (page 19) – as well as Gemma Brodrick, star of Blood Brothers , which hits the Arts in early September (page 16). We’ve got a cracking line-up of essential holiday reads in Book Club on page 20, and I also caught up with local author Cecilia Vinesse for this month’s Writer’s Diary. Hear what she’s got to say about the joy of rom coms and the urgency of writing for young people on page 23. Elsewhere, there’s the latest on two hot new restaurant openings, a minibreak at Poets House up for grabs, some fitness ideas to inspire you for an active autumn, plus lots more. Enjoy the issue and see you next month!
EDITORIAL Editor in chief Nicola Foley 01223 499459 nicolafoley@bright.uk.com Editorial director Roger Payne Chief sub editor Matthew Winney Sub editor Ben Gawne Junior sub editor Lori Hodson ADVERTISING Sales director Sam Scott-Smith 01223 499457 samscott-smith@bright.uk.com Ad manager Maria Francis 01223 492240 mariafrancis@bright.uk.com CONTRIBUTORS Miriam Balanescu, Mark Box, Charlotte Griffiths, Katie Kasperson, Tabitha Phillips, Anna Taylor, Angelina Villa-Clarke & Elisha Young
DESIGN & PRODUCTION Senior designer Lucy Woolcomb Ad production Man-Wai Wong MANAGING DIRECTORS Andy Brogden & Matt Pluck
Cambridge Edition Magazine Bright Publishing Ltd, Bright House, 82 High Street, Sawston, Cambridgeshire CB22 3HJ, 01223 499450, cambsedition.co.uk • All rights reserved. Material contained in this publication may not be reproduced, in whole or in part, without prior permission of the publishers. • Views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of Cambridge Edition or Bright Publishing Ltd, which do not accept any liability for loss or damage. • Every effort has been made to ensure all information is correct. • Cambridge Edition is a free publication that is distributed in Cambridge and the surrounding area.
EDITOR IN CHIEF
FIND US @CAMBSEDITION | CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK
Contents
32
38 COOL CO-WORKING 43 STAYCATIONS 51 MINIBREAK GIVEAWAY 53 WEDDINGS 61 INDIE OF THE MONTH 63 FITNESS 64 BEAUTY 69 INTERIORS 81 HOMES SPOTLIGHT 82 GARDENS
04 STARTERS 09 ARTS & CULTURE 16 BACKSTAGE 19 ON THE SCENE 20 BOOK CLUB 23 WRITER’S DIARY 24 ON THE BOX 28 HUMANS OF CAMBRIDGE
32 FOOD NEWS 35 ELISHA EATS
Illustration by Hedzlynn Kamaruzzaman, inspired by a photo by Nicola Foley
CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK AUGUST 2023 03
LOCAL LIFE
STARTERS
@TARABUCKLOW_PHOTOGRAPHY
@PETERRANKINDESIGN
Follow @cambsedition on Instagram for lots more stunning snaps of the city
@CAMBRIDGECLICKS
# instacamb Our favourite Cambridge Instagram pics of the month. Use the #InstaCamb hashtag for a chance to feature!
04 AUGUST 2023 CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK
LOCAL LIFE
This month’s must-haves from local indies WISH LIST August
1. Izipizi #N sunglasses, £50, Dogfish Stylish, hard-wearing and offering optimum protection for your peepers, these sunnies will see you through summer 2. Gatsby acrylic drop earrings, £55, Ark Bring a touch of art deco glamour to your day with these statement acrylic earrings and their iridescent marble effect 3. Objcindie tank top spring bouquet, £25, Iris & Violet With a bang-on-trend crinkle effect, this mint-green vest is ideal for adding interest to summer outfits 4. Beni calypso bag, £29.95, Angela Reed Made from organic jute, this durable striped tote is an ideal accessory for this time of year: big enough for a bikini, book and a bottle of something delicious… 5. Humade new kintsugi repair kit, £29, Kettle’s Yard Next time you crack a favourite dish or vase, try the traditional Japanese method of kintsugi: repairing imperfections with beautiful gold seams. This kit has all you need 6. Rainbow mug, £10, Freda & Bert Burwash Manor’s gift shop is full to the brim with adorable trinkets and homewares, like this sunny stoneware mug 7. Cotton bucket hat, £70, Laird Hatters Less Kevin and Perry and more understated summer cool, this sky-blue bucket hat is lightweight and made with premium cotton, by Cambridge’s favourite milliner
CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK AUGUST 2023 05
Culture Club centre stage FAIRS, FESTIVALS, FOLK BANDS & MORE IN THE SPOTLIGHT SIBLING RIVALRY Hear from one of the stars of the Arts Theatre’s Blood Brothers on page 16
CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK AUGUST 2023 07
CULTURE CLUB The must-see events around Cambridge this month Arts & Culture
1-3 Sep
BBC GARDENERS’ WORLD AUTUMN FAIR
Green-fingered readers, look out for the upcoming BBC Gardeners’ World Autumn Fair at Audley End House & Gardens, taking place 1-3 September. Held in association with English Heritage, the event will offer inspiration, take-home ideas and expert advice, with the Jacobean mansion and Capability Brown-designed grounds as a stunning backdrop. Taking centre stage will be the Edible Garden Through Time showcase, a sensory adventure and a dahlia garden, while you can find inspiration for small or challenging spaces at Beautiful Borders – a unique collection of compact, 9 sq m mini-spaces, packed with creative features and planting. Bringing some BBC Two Gardeners’ World TV magic to Audley End will be presenters including Frances Tophill, who says: “Nothing beats the joy of sharing a love of plants, gardening and growing with passionate people – I’m looking forward to doing exactly that with visitors to the autumn fair in September. Audley End is steeped in garden history and it’s going to be a real privilege to be a part of that rich heritage.” Tickets are available from £15.30.
CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK AUGUST 2023 09
CULTURE CLUB
HIDDEN TREASURES
Open Cambridge
This community-led event brings out Cambridge’s best, from its historical origins to modern-day advancements and everything in between
Open Cambridge celebrates the city’s history, culture and extraordinary impact – and the people who shaped it along the way. As part of England’s Heritage Open Days, the ten-day event provides opportunities for exploration, completely free of charge, and offers a new way to experience the local landscape. This year’s festival takes place from 8-17 September
and includes a number of activities suited to all ages. The event begins with a masterclass in environmentalism. ‘Building Entopia: The inside view of a sustainable retrofit’ consists of a tour and presentation inside the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership’s (CISL) Entopia Building; while
St John’s is also offering a tour of its grounds, which contain the famed Bridge of Sighs, and the iconic College Chapel. If you can’t get enough of the outdoors, take a University Farm tour for a taste of life at the Veterinary School. Guests will see the dairy herd and sheep flock, and learn about milk production, animal welfare and woodland management. Open Cambridge caters to local history buffs, offering ‘Life in the Bronze Age: Excavating Must Farm’ and ‘A Hidden WW2 Gem: A Guided Tour of Bottisham Air Museum’. Join the Cambridge Archaeological Unit and journey back almost 3,000 years at an excavation site in Whittlesey. There, find thousands of well-preserved artefacts, from textiles to tools and weapons, and experience the Fens of millennia past. If modern history is more appealing, you may enjoy the Bottisham Airfield Museum. This World War II air base is dedicated to the RAF, Belgian and United States Eighth Air Forces. To learn more about each event – or to pre-book your activities – head to heritageopendays.org.uk
‘Sustainable YOU at Eddington’ offers a more hands-on experience, with self- guided walking tours, toy swaps and other family-friendly activities. Get a sense of different religious practices in the Beth Shalom Reform Synagogue and the Cambridge Buddhist Centre. The Synagogue welcomes anyone and everyone to learn about Judaism, sample traditional Jewish dishes and try their hand at Hebrew lettering. The Buddhist Centre, situated on the edge of Midsummer Orchard, offers meditation and mindfulness sessions, a creative writing group and a chance to hear more about the religion. Continue the learning by visiting the Cambridge University libraries. Stop by Selwyn College’s two libraries, including the recently renovated Old Library – housing its archives, rare books and special collections – and the Bartlam Library, which is a more modern study space. Later on, pop over to St John’s College to experience ‘Improbabilities: A Douglas Adams Exhibition’, featuring memorabilia from the author’s drama and student debating days.
10 AUGUST 2023 CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK
CULTURE CLUB
BRASS FUNKEYS 30 SEPTEMBER, JUNCTION The local favourites return to the Junction with their brand of uplifting, New Orleans- infused brass covers and funky originals. THE WATERBOYS 18 OCTOBER, CORN EXCHANGE Folk-pop veterans The Waterboys, known for songs including The Whole of The Moon and How Long Will I Love You , stop off in the city on their European tour. WHEATUS 5 NOVEMBER, JUNCTION Two decades after their seminal smash Teenage Dirtbag , Wheatus are still making music and pulling in the crowds – catch them at the Junction this winter. JO WHILEY’S 90S ANTHEMS 19 APRIL 2024 CORN EXCHANGE After rocking Cambridge Club Festival in June, Jo Whiley is back in town with her 90s-themed jukebox party. Expect Chemical Brothers, Primal Scream and more nostalgic faves.
ALFRESCO ARTS THIS MONTH
Fancy enjoying some fabulous entertainment in the outdoors this month? Cambridge has you covered. The iconic Cambridge Shakespeare Festival enters its second leg in August, bringing open-air productions of A Midsummer Night’s Dream , The Tempest and Romeo and Juliet to some of the city’s most beautiful gardens. Trinity College, St John’s College and King’s College will act as hosts, with guests invited to bring along a picnic and make an evening out of it. Expect sumptuous performances in full Elizabethan costume, performed with panache. Shows run up until 26 August. Promising a gorgeous afternoon on 6 August is Summer Jazz at Wandlebury, where a local band will perform in the estate’s beautiful paddock. Tilly’s Vintage Caravan Café will be on hand for homemade cakes, ices and hot drinks, and you’re welcome to bring along deckchairs and picnic rugs for relaxing on. Music in the Parks also continues its 2023 run this month, serving up free Sunday afternoon concerts in green spaces around Cambridge. Keep an eye out for Haverhill Youth and Community Band on 6 August at King George V Playing Field, Rajasthani Brass Band plus Dance and Poetry on 13 August on Jesus Green, plus Vocal Remix Choir at St Alban’s Recreation Ground on the 20th.
HAVEN’T YOU HERD Visit the Cambridge University Farm to learn about their animal welfare and woodland management
CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK AUGUST 2023 11
CULTURE CLUB
MAGIC OF THAILAND FESTIVAL Established in 2012, Magic of
Thailand Festival aims to bring an authentic experience of Thai culture to different areas around the UK, allowing you to be immersed in a weekend full of traditional Thai entertainment and food. The event pitches up on Parker’s Piece in Cambridge from 5 to 6 August (10am to 7pm), with two full days of entertainment including Thai folk music, Khon royal dances and long drum dances. Authentic cuisine will be offered up throughout the event, with stalls selling both fresh dishes and Thai grocery products to recreate the magic at home. Children can explore the rides at the onsite funfair, while parents relax with a drink from the beer garden, followed by a Thai massage. Adult tickets cost £5 per day, and under-15s go free. Each online ticket purchase enters you in the festival’s complimentary raffle. For the complete entertainment programme, a look at what’s on offer and ticket purchases, visit magicofthailand.co.uk
5-6 Aug
Eclectic and unmissable live music at the Corn Exchange to put on your radar this August Three great gigs
FUTURE ISLANDS 29 AUGUST, CORN EXCHANGE The stateside synth-poppers hit Cambridge, bringing hits including Seasons (Waiting On You) and A Dream of You and Me .
LONDON FILM MUSIC ORCHESTRA
UNKNOWN MORTAL ORCHESTRA 30 AUGUST, CORN EXCHANGE Following the release of their fifth album V , the acclaimed psych-rock band hit the road for their first tour in four years.
4 AUGUST, CORN EXCHANGE Cinema’s most mesmerising music brought to life by a live orchestra. Expect favourites from Star Wars , Harry Potter and more.
12 AUGUST 2023 CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK
CULTURE CLUB
The Snail and the Whale Based on the picture book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, The Snail and the Whale carries the message that anyone can accomplish great things, no matter how small they are. From 31 August to 3 September, the story will be brought to life through magical storytelling, breathtaking visuals and live music, taking you along on the journey of a tiny snail and its companion – a humpback whale – as they explore the world around them. With showings running daily, and multiple performances on 1, 2 and 3 September, there are plenty of options. All tickets are £16 (plus a £3 booking fee), and there are options for relaxed performances suited to those with additional needs. For more information about the event, or to book tickets, go to cambridgeartstheatre.com
CAMBRIDGE CONTEMPORARY CHOIR FESTIVAL
Running all day on Saturday 12 August at the Corn Exchange, the Cambridge Contemporary Choir Festival will offer a full day of workshops to choose between, for anyone who loves to sing and is keen to use their voice. The interactive workshops will be led by professional vocal coaches, and each will follow a different genre, from rock to musical theatre. Vocal groups from the local area will be hosting pop-up performances throughout the venue, and the day will end with four choir groups: Sweet Charity Choir, London Show Choir, The Collaboration Choir and Sons of Pitches. Tickets for each workshop start at £11 per adult and £6 per under-18, while tickets to the evening performance range from £11 to £22 depending on the seat. Links to buy tickets can be found at the what’s on section of the Cambridge Live website, along with further information about the event.
NEWMARKET BUTTERFLY INSTALLATION 2023 Following on from its popular umbrella installation last year, Newmarket BID is laying on interactive public art again this summer, taking butterflies as its inspiration. The town will be awash with colour from late July to early September, with butterflies in pride of place on Sun Lane, Wellington Street, Market Street and Crown Walk, as well as at the Guineas Shopping Centre. There will also be a selfie point: grab a snap and share on social media using #newmarketincolour! Don’t miss the range of free events and workshops, which includes plant pot decorating and butterfly rock painting. Visit lovenewmarket.co.uk
12 Aug
14 AUGUST 2023 CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK
CULTURE CLUB
Until 29 Oct
Material Power Material Power , a new Kettle’s Yard exhibition, offers visitors a chance to discover the historical life and contemporary significance of Palestinian
been connected to the changing social, economic and political landscape in Palestine over the last 100 years, offering a window into the region ’ s cultural heritage through the lens of clothing. Items on show range from early-20th- century everyday dresses worn for domestic labour, through to thobes created for special occasions such as weddings. The exhibition will also examine embroidery’s commodification in recent years, trailing the shift from a labour of love to a job for pay in refugee camps. Visitors can also learn more in the Kettle’s Yard Research Space, with films, audio interviews and books on show related to the exhibition. Find out more at kettlesyard.co.uk
embroidered craft. Open now until 29 October, the show will track this ancient practice’s evolution over the past century, from village tradition to contemporary artistic reinterpretations, displaying pieces on loan from collections in Jordan and the West Bank. Palestinian embroidery is characterised by its beauty and intricacy, with some of the finest dresses carrying hundreds of thousands of stitches – but there is more to these garments than meets the eye. Material Power will demonstrate how embroidery has
CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK AUGUST 2023 15
CULTURE CLUB
BACKSTAGE No Twin Situation With Liverpudlian drama Blood Brothers heading to the Cambridge Arts Theatre, Miriam Balanescu catches up with cast member Gemma Brodrick B lood Brothers has always been in my DNA,” says Gemma Brodrick, an actor from Liverpool
She thinks the play holds timeless appeal: “It’s natural that music can really connect with an audience,” she remarks. “It’s fast moving, and it allows a real journey. Some of the songs are funny, some are hard-hitting; some are ballads, some are upbeat. “The nurture-versus-nature elements of it are something always talked about: privilege and how your environment can shape you. It was way ahead of its time in that way.” Dealing with heavy themes without being heavy-handed is one of the play’s strengths. And its themes – including underemployment during the 80s – are finding echoes today. “It’s very relatable, especially in a cost-of-living crisis,” insists Gemma. “That hits home – particularly with this Tory government. I find it so engaging. And I think it always will be; I can’t ever see it dating badly.” Having acted in a previous production of the play, Gemma has a close bond with fellow cast member Sean – who has been playing his role for over 20 years. How do they keep things fresh? “It’s about just connecting with each other. The way Sean plays Mickey, we never do it exactly the same.” Meanwhile Joe, who plays Eddie, has ‘got comedy bones’. And, while Blood Brothers is often gritty, its humour is a surefire win. “It’s not just people in Liverpool who find people from Liverpool funny,” Gemma
set to take on the role of Linda in Willy Russell’s 1983 musical. The story centres on twin brothers, Mickey and Eddie, who are separated at birth. One, adopted, gets to live a life of luxury; while the other, squeezed into close living quarters with seven other siblings, languishes in poverty. Over the course of several decades, the two brothers, not knowing they are related, are drawn back to each other. But as adults, they fall in love with the same woman, and their rivalry has severe consequences. Gemma plays this love interest alongside Sean Jones and Joe Sleight, a role she has been hankering after ever since she first saw the play at age 14. “It bridges the gap between being a musical and a play really well – better than most, to be honest,” she says. “It’s just so authentically me – that was why I was always desperate to do it.” As a Liverpudlian – and a youngster interested in acting – Blood Brothers was an unmissable watch for Gemma. It is one of the best-known plays to have emerged from the region, having run for 24 years in the West End and tallied up more than 10,000 performances. In a previous production, Gemma played Donna Marie, one of Mickey’s sisters, but was raring to get into the spotlight as one of the leads.
laughs. “For some reason, Liverpool kids are like old people; they mimic their nans and granddads – that comes through beautifully in this show.” The play is currently on tour – and taking a truly Liverpudlian production around the UK is key, asserts Gemma. “Representation is important. I’m a Scouser myself and there’s something endearing about a working-class accent, the way genuine, salt-of-the-earth people interact with each other. It’s similar to Billy Elliot – that works so well because it’s so authentically Geordie. “It’s that real working-class vibe that makes things last.” FRATERNAL STRIFE The multi-award-winning musical will be playing at the Cambridge Arts Theatre from 1 to 5 August
16 AUGUST 2023 CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK
CULTURE CLUB
ON THE SCENE
WORLDS COLLIDE
Bringing Balkan and bluegrass-infused tunes to the Junction on 3 August, Dallahan’s Jack Badcock speaks to Miriam Balanescu about their latest album
THE UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE Dallahan combine a variety of folk music traditions to create a thoroughly unique sound
telling of a headless horseman.) Jack talks about how core music is to these cultures: “Everyone’s cousin or niece that’s six years old is an amazing uilleann piper or barrel player. They’re phenomenal musicians, but it’s not a job. It’s just life.” England has always lagged behind – though there is undeniably a folk revival happening, he says. “That doesn’t seem to have quite the same forward movement as Scotland and Ireland in terms of technical development, particularly in instrumental music. But I think it’s getting better and is certainly growing.” Ten years on from their first EP, the next album is their best yet, believes Jack. “It’s hard to get all four of us in a room to write and record and get the album to the finish line,” he explains. “What was maybe three weeks’ work was spread out over 18 months. You had all this time to digest. Each second of music had such a dense gestation period.” Key to this album was the harmony (“We like juicy chords,” Jack laughs) and musical surprises: “What we’ve tried to do is get settled on something for a while, and then we like to pull the rug and take you somewhere else.” Set to play at the Junction this month, Dallahan have fully eased into their musical persona and are
3 Aug
F rom Hungarian ditties to modern bluegrass melodies, the influences of the band Dallahan are far- reaching to say the least. They define their music as ‘world folk’, weaving together elements that span the globe to create one unified sound. “When we started out, the idea was to be an Irish band and play Irish music,” begins singer and guitarist Jack Badcock. When Hungarian fiddle player Jani Lang got onboard, however, the group decided to branch out – although Jani wasn’t so sure. “Eventually, Jani reluctantly caved and we managed to squeeze out some really interesting tunes from different places: Romania, Hungary, Bulgaria. It felt interesting and meaningful. And it felt like the way in which we could actually exist.” Combining various folk traditions may sound strange, but it came more naturally than the group expected. “There’s probably
not a country in the world that doesn’t use the fiddle,” remarks Jack. “The guitar is quite androgynous and the banjo less so, but then it doesn’t matter. “Differences are actually harder to find than similarities. What makes it contrast is
the way the melody moves. Maybe you have different scales or ornaments, but fundamentally they all share rhythm. If you’ve got a rhythm and you’ve got bars in
ready for a new era. “The fundamental understanding of the sonic identity of the band – that’s quite a difficult thing to realise,” muses Jack. “I think the band’s identity was a bit like
You can travel round the world in 150 bars
which to place your melodies, you can travel round the world in 150 bars.”
a teenager growing up – and then it arrives in its 30s (which we all are) and feels a bit more assured. “If anyone comes to the gig, you’ll see it doesn’t sound like a mixture of different things. It sounds like a thing.”
Even so, the group’s track list remains rooted within the Irish and Scottish folk scenes that Jack and band member Andrew Waite were raised. (The name Dallahan itself is nabbed from an Irish pagan myth
CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK AUGUST 2023 19
CULTURE CLUB
CAMBRIDGE EDITION Book Club This month’s picks include thrilling speculative fiction, a twisting crime drama and a wistful wartime ode to the beauty of the Fens
WORDS BY CHARLOTTE GRIFFITHS
Land of Milk and Honey BY C PAM ZHANG
What a gorgeous book this is. C Pam Zhang’s new novel is an extraordinary piece of work – so well formed, so luxuriously detailed, such sensuously descriptive prose. On the surface, this is post-apocalyptic speculative fiction at its best. This world’s life-changing event was the ‘smog’, a cloud of poison that emerged from the American Midwest, wiping out crops, destroying ecosystems, shutting borders and reshaping humanity’s existence. Stuck in London, unable to get back to her home in America and fresh out of options, a young Chinese-American chef takes a post in the Italian mountains, cooking for an inscrutable, ultra- rich individual. His life’s work is the stronghold he and his daughter have built: a high-tech, fortress-like colony, out of reach of the starving, increasingly desperate population far below. Upon arrival, our chef relinquishes contact with the outside world, but gains access to long-lost foodstuffs and exotic ingredients, courtesy of the mysterious daughter’s subterranean laboratories that honeycomb deep into the mountain, reviving extinct species and perfecting their genetics. Increasingly elaborate dinners are ordered by her employer to entertain his investors and other inhabitants of the colony, serving the rarest of meats and money-can’t-buy tasting menus to garner funds for research and safeguard the future of the community.
Zhang’s food writing is exquisite: the descriptions of the courses served and the poetic way she conveys tastes and scents will linger on your palate, making you hunger for impossible dishes. As the situation outside the stronghold becomes more desperate and the community more isolated, the evenings become more elaborate, the stakes get higher and the chef’s boundaries are tested – but can anyone put a price on survival? A bewilderingly brilliant novel about desire, pleasure, the subtle difference between hunger and want – and what one truly needs to survive.
Increasingly elaborate dinners are ordered by her employer
20 AUGUST 2023 CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK
CULTURE CLUB
FLATLANDS BY SUE HUBBARD
This quiet, beautiful book is a retelling of the classic novella The Snow Goose , by Paul Gallico. Here, the action moves from Essex to the wilderness of the Fens, jumping in time between 87-year-old Freda, now in her London care home, and reminiscences of her 12-year-old self, evacuated to Lincolnshire in World War II. Young Freda finds herself living with a grim-faced and abusive farming family, eking out a bleak existence on what seems like the edge of the world. Friendless, loveless and deeply hurt, she stumbles into an abandoned lighthouse which has become home to 27-year old Philip, a conscientious objector, consumed by the horrors of war, who’s abandoned his studies at Oxford for agricultural labour while he explores his love of painting. The two outcasts find a unique sort of sibling-like kinship in one another: together they care for an injured goose and slowly learn how to trust each other and the world, discovering the therapeutic power of art and seeking solace in nature’s riches – but how long can they keep the real world at bay? Flatlands has a superb sense of place and will be deeply evocative for those who adore our local landscape: passages of beautiful nature writing will transport you straight to the marshes of the Fens, no matter where you are when reading.
JUST ANOTHER MISSING PERSON
BY GILLIAN MCALLISTER Now this is a thriller. Be sure to start Just Another Missing Person with a whole day ahead of you, or you’ll be up till 3am finding out what happens. The book’s packed with twists, turns and reveals that’ll make you shriek, and the stories are so intricately entangled that you’ll wonder how anyone could come up with such a neat plot. 22-year-old Olivia is seen on CCTV entering a dead-end alleyway, but never leaves and hasn’t been heard from since. Before disappearing, she sent a text to her new housemates, asking them to ‘please come’.
DI Julia Day is in charge of the investigation, which she knows is a race against time, taking her attention from daughter Genevieve and her complex relationship with Genevieve’s father. Leaving the crime scene, Julia is accosted by a man who instructs her to frame someone for the murder. If she doesn’t plant evidence, he’ll reveal her secret – what she and Genevieve did years ago. How far would Julia go to protect her daughter? Staggeringly well plotted, this is a brilliant read you simply won’t be able to put down.
THRILLS AND SPILLS NYT bestseller McAllister can certainly be trusted with an intricate plot (above)
BY CHRISTINA DALCHER Christina Dalcher’s dystopian novels should always be put straight on the to-read pile, and The Sentence is no exception. Strap in for this nail-biting American thriller that rewrites the rules around the death penalty. New legislation states that if an executed criminal is later found to have been innocent, the prosecuting attorney will be put to death. So far, this has kept executions to a minimum, with few lawyers convinced beyond doubt and willing to put their own life on the line. Prosecutor Justine Boucher requested the death penalty only once, but new evidence has emerged questioning the verdict – now it’s a race against time to put things right. This is an unblinking look at the horrific nature of the death penalty; as we move between chapters, we leave the main story to read the diary of a death row inmate and recollections from Justine’s college years, plus grim descriptions of executions and the moral conundrums struggled with by academics and legal practitioners. Is it ever right to take a life? A brilliantly written, heavy but thought-provoking read that will satisfy those looking for a challenge this summer. The Sentence
CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK AUGUST 2023 21
CULTURE CLUB
Local author Cecilia Vinesse tells us about her writing life and latest YA novel, The Girl Next Door A Cambridge WRITER’S DIARY
The Girl Next Door is a young adult, sapphic romantic comedy. I describe it as a very chaotic, bisexual, fake dating love square! The main character is Cleo, who wants to get into NYU film school with her boyfriend Daniel. But the summer before their senior year, Daniel breaks up with her for a popular head cheerleader type named Kiki. At the same time, Kiki ditches her girlfriend Marianne for Daniel. Marianne is Cleo’s next-door neighbour and they used to be friends; Cleo is an artsy film nerd while Marianne is a cool swim jock character – and they end up teaming up together to fake date in order to win back their mutual exes. It’s very much a romantic comedy – bright and bubbly, and lots of fun. It was lots of fun to write, too. It was a book I was trying to write for quite a long time. I’d written versions of it before the pandemic, but none of them ever quite felt right. And then in lockdown, when the world went quiet and felt really scary, I did what a lot of people did, which was to connect with things that I loved; that brought me comfort. For me, that was romantic comedy. I grew up with Nora Ephron movies and Stephanie Perkins novels, which are very vivid and romantic. And I found myself shedding any personal bias I might have about leaning into tropes like big gestures, swoony romantic scenes and silly humour. During that period of time, I realised that these things aren’t pointless – they play a vitally important role in our lives, and can see us through dark times. Writing YA involves getting into a young person’s mindset – which my partner claims I never really left anyway! That’s probably partially true. I worked in children’s book marketing, originally,
on from. And that’s okay, in this instance, because I just channel it into the angst of YA novels. A major turning point in my writing career has been realising that you can only write for so many hours a day. You can only devote so much time to actually sitting down and putting words to paper, or putting words to screen. So developing a routine that restricts my writing time has been, oddly, the most productive thing I’ve ever done. I typically aim to write for about two hours a day, which I prefer to do earlier in the morning. I try to keep the writing time soft and nurturing and nourishing. When it feels too much like a job then it just becomes a slog, and that shows itself in the work. I moved to Cambridge about eight years ago, as my partner is the director of studies and an English fellow at Wolfson College. I don’t think I would have ended up in Cambridge without her, but I’m settled and happy here. I love Bould Brothers Coffee and I adore the Arts Picturehouse – it’s such a cosy, nestled, artsy space and the little cafe area is so cute. That’s a perfect day for me. I’m currently working on another queer romantic comedy. I love romantic comedies and I feel like that’s where my voice lands naturally. I’m very happy writing those. But I hope that this life and this career are long, and that I can experiment with other genres and other areas of the industry at some point. I’m also very drawn to horror as a genre: I love horror books and horror movies. And I think if I were ever just feeling as unromantic as possible, that’s where I would turn to…
and fell in love with that market because there was an urgency to the books. You’re writing for young people, and you know how tumultuous or lonely everything can be at that age, and how much you crave connection. Books can provide that. Feeling that weight behind all the books I was reading in my marketing role meant something to me. It gave me a path forward to what I could see myself writing. Another part of it is that I moved around a lot as a teenager, so I felt a little disconnected and never fully at home or safe in any one place. I always knew that my surroundings could change at any moment. That being the case at such a pivotal time in my life has kept those years very fresh for me: it was something I can’t forget or fully move TEEN DREAMERS Cecilia’s latest is a swooning sapphic rom com with a high-school setting, inspired by a lifelong love of the genre
CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK AUGUST 2023 23
SCREEN TIME
Seeing COPYCAT Outlandish artist Richard DeDomenici has brought an experimental film project to Cambridge – Miriam Balanescu meets him to find out more I n 2013, the artist Richard DeDomenici was asked by arts organisation Forest Fringe whether he had any ideas for a possible installation at the Scala decentralise the moviemaking process, in an attempt to show others how easy it is to be a creator – and not just a consumer – of culture. “My goal is that, by making fake versions of things that are inherently DOUBLE
Discover your August on-screen essentials
Cinema in Bangkok. This work would end up expanding beyond the Thai capital and spanning ten years, eventually becoming titled The Redux Project . The concept is simple: recreate scenes from classic films but on a stripped-back budget. While the idea is straightforward, the results can be revealing – exposing how dated certain movies have become, or the over-complicated mechanics that can go into filmmaking. “A couple of years previously, I had attempted to recreate a scene from Amélie in Paris, albeit only from memory – and with a limited French vocabulary,” recalls Richard, speaking on how the project started. “It was awful.” His first proper attempt, a reimagining of Bangkok Traffic (Love) Story , ‘got better reviews from the local film critic than the movie on which it was based’. “I quickly realised people preferred my inexpensive fakes to the multi-million- dollar originals. So, ever since then, I’ve been on a mission to deconstruct and
artificial already, we’ll somehow arrive at a greater truth – although I’ve got no idea as to what this truth is yet…” Last year, the project landed in Cambridge when Richard was approached by Commission Projects Limited to bring his escapades to the city as part of a new public art project for CB1. “I did a lot of research into things that were filmed locally, then watched about 50 movies and TV shows, pausing them in key moments to ascertain where exactly they might have been filmed,” explains Richard. “Then I made several visits to Cambridge to find the locations, see if they still looked the same and check they were accessible.” Narrowing down Cambridge’s wealth of cinematic material was influenced by two limitations – colleges being closed to filming and the pandemic – meaning shooting outdoors was a must. Volunteer performers got onboard and the resulting slate included Chariots of Fire and Bachelor of Hearts . “I’ve made over 100 reduxes all around the world, and because each one is a completely different experience – with a new set of challenges in an interesting place with exciting people – I’m not even slightly bored of the project yet,” exclaims Richard. “I’ll basically just keep carrying on until either I get sent to jail for copyright infringement or recruited by Hollywood to direct the next Transformers movie – whichever happens first.” A redux of 2003’s Sylvia will be screened at Cambridge’s Centre for Research in the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities (CRASSH) later this year. Find out more at thereduxproject.com/cambridge
A musing on art, misery and love from one of Germany’s greatest auteurs, Christian Petzold. Two friends escape to the Baltic coast for a creative retreat, resulting in a comedic quartet of entanglements, which plays out against a more uneasy backdrop of climate catastrophe. Where to Watch: UK cinemas When: 25 August AFIRE
SCRAPPER
Charlotte Regan’s feature debut follows a fiercely independent 12-year-old girl whose life takes an unexpected turn when her absent father comes back home. Sundance Festival’s 2023 Grand Jury Prize winner masterfully navigates tricky family terrain with honesty and elegance. Where to Watch: UK cinemas When: 25 August
THE SINCEREST FORM OF FLATTERY Richard DeDomenici’s micro-budget cinematic recreations have taken him around the world
24 AUGUST 2023 CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK
SCREEN TIME
A MURDER AT THE END OF THE WORLD
Trouble brews in Louis Garrel’s fourth directorial excursion. When Abel’s mum marries an ex-convict, he suspects all is not as it seems. This French drama is a deft cocktail of genres – one part heist thriller, two parts romantic comedy. Where to Watch: UK cinemas When: 25 August THE INNOCENT
Emma Corrin plays detective in this forward-thinking crime caper – where the tech-savvy sleuth makes use of their generational wisdom to outsmart a killer. Where to Watch: Disney+ When: 29 August
A spectacular season spotlights top female directors in the lead up to the opening of Charlotte Regan’s Scrapper Picturehouse Picks BLUE JEAN Cambridge-based filmmaker Georgia Oakley’s debut homes in on PE teacher Jean in 1988: the year Section 28 legislation is being debated. When Jean runs into a student at a gay bar, her job is on the line. 6 August AFTERSUN In this heart-meltingly tender, melancholy debut from Charlotte Wells, a woman reminisces on a holiday taken with her father, where his struggles with mental health bubble just beneath the surface. 13 August RYE LANE Perhaps creditable with rehabilitating the rom com, Raine Allen-Miller’s love letter to Peckham is a day in the life of two London teens. The film is peppered with celebrity cameos, including Colin Firth as a taco man. 20 August
CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK AUGUST 2023 25
ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE
WHAT IS LOVE CAMBRIDGE? Love Cambridge is the brand developed by Cambridge Business Improvement District (BID) to deliver a range of events and projects that animate and entertain our city. Offerings include the Love Cambridge Gift Card, open-air cinema nights, Wimbledon screenings, magazines, maps and more. Visit love-cambridge.com or @lovecambridge_ on socials.
VARIETY SHOW This new festival is bringing the cream of the crop of street performers to Cambridge’s historic streets
OUT OF THE ORDINARY This August bank holiday, experience the
toy-inspired Big Mob; a bewitching and hilarious giant Slinky walkabout; twin-set-clad Crimplene Crusaders championing good old-fashioned values alongside some unrivalled disco moves; traditional circus pushed to the limits with Out of the Box; or the startling Mirror Men, dazzling in their reflective suits – a weekend of wonder is promised, as these, plus many more internationally acclaimed professional artists, create a world of fun and make extraordinary memories. Save the date! cambridgelive.org.uk/city-events
extraordinary in the streets of Cambridge, when street-art festival Out of the Ordinary hits the city for the very first time. Taking place Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 August, and supported by Cambridge BID, the event will see performance artists bring fantastic worlds of colour, imagination and humour to Cambridge’s historic streets, entertaining and amazing everyone as they go! Whether it’s a souped-up shopping trolley dance display from Granny Turismo; iconic 70’s
BIG-SCREEN MAGIC! It’s your last chance to enjoy a film in Market Square, with the this summer’s final open-air movie night taking place 25 August. Pack your popcorn and head along for 6pm, when Puss In Boots: The Last Wish will kick things off, followed at 8pm with Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody . It’s free to attend, with chairs available on a first come, first served basis. You’re welcome to bring along your own seats as well.
CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK AUGUST 2023 27
STREET STYLE
Cambridge Photographer Mark Box shares some of his favourite portraits from the streets of Cambridge this month – can you spot anyone you know?
I met @alexiad8n on her way to Roman law class. Her skirt, reminiscent of the togas worn, symbolises the status and authority of Roman citizens
ABOUT THE PROJECT Humans of Cambridge is an Instagram photoblog by local photographer Mark Box. It began as a lockdown project and has turned into a sensation, featuring an ever-growing number of Cambridge’s colourful characters on the @humanofcambridge grid. Mark is out most days snapping, and can usually be found in the Market Square, on King’s Parade, Burrell’s Walk and Garret Hostel Bridge – your best bet for being papped is to head out around lunchtime wearing something suitably eye-catching!
This look and those glasses take me back to the 80s
A blast from the past! This human has nailed the 70s fashion from top to toe!
28 AUGUST 2023
STREET STYLE
A flowery backdrop to complement these great 60s floral print trousers – and smile!
There’s so much to like about @xylophonetrack. That jacket, the hairstyle, the earrings, the necklace and that smile in their eye
When you lose your favourite badge, and your best friend makes you one with their face on it!
There’s definitely a decade theme for this month. Feeling the love for this 70s vibe
@karlito_12 looking
like a boss as always
Savour&Sip
SUMMER SPREAD bursting with flavour AFTERNOON TEA, A WINE & DINE DEAL AND THE MOST DELECTABLE DATE-NIGHT DESTINATIONS
CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK AUGUST 2023 31
SAVOUR & SIP
A monthly round-up of delicious happenings around Cambridgeshire
BURGER BOSS
Flat Iron – one of London’s finest food exports – hits Cambridge’s Market Street on 24 July. Founded in 2012 by Charlie Carroll, the popular steakhouse puts quality first at an affordable price point. The restaurant specialises in its signature Flat Iron steak, a deliciously tender dish best served with chips, macaroni and cheese or garlic mash. Describing itself as ‘doing a few things really well’, Flat Iron offers a concise menu and seasonal specials, starting with a Scottish bavette, sirloin steak and beef burger. A selection of wines, beers and signature cocktails form Flat Iron’s drinks list, including its specially made malbec from southern France. The Cambridge location just off Market Square fills two storeys, with interior wooden flooring and white- brick tiling. The exterior will feature pillars, plants and a glazed front window, presenting a perfect balance between urban and agrarian. flatironsteak.co.uk
HIGH TIME FOR TEA
Parker’s Tavern, the University Arms Hotel’s in-house restaurant, is offering a summery afternoon tea that is also available as a takeaway. Created by a talented pastry team, the menu includes traditional British bites like scones and finger sandwiches, plus custom-made, Pimm’s-infused macarons, Duke of Cambridge tarts and other sweet treats. Tea time is every day from 12pm to 5pm. parkerstavern.com
32 AUGUST 2023 CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK
SAVOUR & SIP
Kibou Japanese Kitchen & Bar’s latest restaurant is coming to central Cambridge on 7 August. Located at 7A Jesus Lane, Kibou will share the iconic space with the Pitt Club. The 150-cover restaurant has been renovated to reflect its East Asian roots, with three dining rooms catering to a distinct element of Japanese design. Guests will enter through the atmospheric cocktail lounge, a nod to cosmopolitan Tokyo. To the right, a sage-green dining room is adorned with traditional artwork and upholstery, with tables centred on a Japanese maple. Straight ahead, you’ll find an open, airy space decorated with mirrors. Kibou’s mouth-watering Cambridge menu features sashimi and sushi rolls, hand-pressed nigiri, marinated wagyu, spiced gyoza, bao, donburi, ramen and more. Enjoy signature sharing platters like the luxury tokujo moriawase, or browse the extensive vegan offerings. The bar serves flowery cocktails, sake and umeshu, whisky and Japanese-brewed beers. And don’t forget dessert! Kibou’s other locations include Cheltenham, Battersea, Clifton and Solihull. Cambridge bookings are now open – head to the site to secure your spot. kibou.co.uk Let’s Roll
OFF THE BEATEN TRACK
At the end of Purbeck Road, housed within Cambridge Cookery School, is Chez Amélie Cafe. Offering up Mediterranean classics like shakshuka, Turkish eggs, quiches and tarts, the cafe’s outdoor terrace is a quiet brunch spot off Cambridge’s busy streets. The team also create made-to-order pastries, from strawberry patisseries to New York-style cheesecakes. Pay a visit any day of the week. amelierestaurants.co.uk
WINE WEDNESDAYS Enjoy a midday meal with a
complimentary glass of wine – or go for three courses and get the whole bottle – as per Squires Restaurant’s Wine & Dine Wednesdays deal. Located inside the Bedford Lodge Hotel and run by head chef Lee Cooper, Squires offers locally sourced, à la carte options and a classic bar menu. Every Wednesday lunchtime from now until summer’s end, guests can choose between sauvignon blanc or merlot. Quote ‘Wine & Dine’ when booking or ordering – T&Cs apply. bedfordlodgehotel.co.uk
AUGUST 2023 33
SAVOUR & SIP
ELISHA EATS Hidden gems Elisha Young (aka @elisha.eats on Instagram) is here to help you break out of your date-night dining rut and try something new
Q: Is there a hidden gem in Cambridge you could recommend for a date? Ideally with a cocktail menu, too. A: I am strongly of the belief that any restaurant can be a date restaurant if you are determined enough. I have been on a first date where we ordered from a fried chicken food truck, sat at a bench and ate with our hands – but both had a fantastic time. That being said, I don’t know what kind of date you’re going on. Is it a first date? A special occasion? A cute weekend outing? I’ll give you different suggestions and hopefully one will hit the mark! First up is an eatery that’s actually located inside of a cocktail bar – so that should cover all your bases when it comes to drinks. Lazy Boys is a fried chicken joint that serves incredible wings, tenders and burgers from 2648, the cosy underground cocktail bar on Trinity Street. Fried chicken may not sound all that fancy, but trust me when I say that this place is a true hidden gem. The menu ranges from Korean glazed wings with Kewpie mayo to mac ’n’ cheese, including a satay sauce chicken burger (which I highly recommend) and chorizo beans. There’s also a mushroom burger, with a patty that’s handmade on-site to ensure that vegetarians get to enjoy the same flavour explosion as the meat eaters. And I promise this fried chicken isn’t heavy and greasy. The chicken is free-range and from Norfolk, while the batter is gluten-free, resulting in some of the lightest, crispiest fried chicken I’ve ever eaten. Speaking of great food you can find alongside alcoholic beverages, I should also mention Oscar’s Lockdown Pizza – a pizzeria in residence at the Blue Moon pub on Norfolk Street. Oscar’s strong point is inventive flavour combinations – plus the fact every single pizza is also available in a vegan alternative. You can look forward to perfectly charred sourdough bases topped with exciting ingredients like deep-fried aubergine or mango chutney. The pizzas
BRUNCH TIME Chez Amélie’s Turkish eggs with yoghurt, some aleppo pepper, olive oil and grilled sourdough
Cambridge Cookery School, which is a ten-minute walk from the train station. With a sun-drenched terrace worthy of the Mediterranean, this little cafe serves the same flammekueches as its sister restaurant in the Grafton, as well as perfectly executed brunches (think shakshuka and poached eggs on sourdough) and a whole collection of homemade cakes, quiches, pastries and tarts. The baked goods change regularly, but keep an eye out for pains au chocolat and fruit tarts if you’re after a superlative sweet treat. There’s a wine, beer and cider selection, plus excellent coffee. Oh, and it’s dog-friendly, too. Whether it’s a first date or not, I hope you’ve found somewhere to enjoy a bite to eat and a cocktail or two. The Cambridge food scene is full of hidden gems if you know where to look, so it’s always worth trying somewhere new. You might discover a favourite!
also come with a dangerously addictive tarragon and garlic dip that will have you polishing off all your crusts without even meaning to; while the garlic bread options include caramelised garlic flatbread and garlic butter sticks. Oscar’s also serves homemade pistachio gelato – only available when eating in. There are dairy and vegan versions, and the former enjoys a generous topping of white chocolate. Pretty romantic way to finish a date, right? If you’re more in the mood for a daytime date, I can’t recommend Chez Amélie highly enough – tucked away in
If you’re more in the mood for a daytime date, I cannot recommend Chez Amélie highly enough
CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK AUGUST 2023 35
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51 Page 52 Page 53 Page 54 Page 55 Page 56 Page 57 Page 58 Page 59 Page 60 Page 61 Page 62 Page 63 Page 64 Page 65 Page 66 Page 67 Page 68 Page 69 Page 70 Page 71 Page 72 Page 73 Page 74 Page 75 Page 76 Page 77 Page 78 Page 79 Page 80 Page 81 Page 82 Page 83 Page 84Powered by FlippingBook