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The groundbreaking digital magazine for Hertfordshire promoting the best in business, events and leisure in #Herts
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SPRING AT LAST! :We look at all the events coming up in #Herts
Your number one digital magazine for all that's best in #Herts
# Enjoy a taste of good w ine w ith Wine2laydown
# Find out which #Herts town is planning a tasty Food Festival
# All the best online advice and support from Climbing Turn
# Our unrivalled Main Event guide to all that's on
# HERTSLEISURE | EVENTS | BUSINESS | FASHION | DINING
April/May 2016
BEST IN THE BUSINESS:Our guide to the top businesses for all your needs in #Herts
Sailing to a bright Tappy Toes future
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P&O Cruises has teamed up with local Herts & Essex based company Tappy Toes (Tappy Toes Franchise Ltd) to offer new entertainment for families with toddlers on 13 select holidays in 2016.
Tappy Toes will offer fun, creative dance and movement classes with music and singing for children under the age of two. There will be two sessions on every sea day during each cruise for families with under twos, siblings and older children welcome to join in too. Similar classes aimed at two to four year olds will also be available during the cruises, with a minimum of six sessions on offer.
These classes will take place on family friendly ships Azura, Britannia, Oceana and Ventura, with the first classes kicking off on Azura?s seven-night Norwegian Fjords cruise setting sail from Southampton on July 3, 2016. Prices for an inside cabin start at £649 per person.
P&O Cruises head of entertainment Paul Wright said: ?I am very excited to introduce the Tappy Toes classes
for our younger guests. They are high energy, fun sessions designed to get everyone involved and moving, creating a fantastic opportunity for children and adults to mix with other guests. Children are well catered for on board with our children?s clubs, activities and entertainment and I?m sure Tappy Toes will be a great addition to this.?
The Tappy Toes team will also be supporting the on board youth departments to host children?s parties and other events.
Abigail Muller, Tappy Toes business development director, commented: ?This is the first time we have offered our classes on a cruise ship and we are very excited to be taking Tappy Toes sessions from land to sea.?
For classes in Hertfordshire see www.tappytoes.com
@Tappytoesltd
https:/ /www.facebook.com/tappytoesltd
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Welcome to the third edition of #Herts and it 's a delight to see that Spring is with us and the promise of warmer weather and great days out are just ahead.
For many this is the finest time of year, as nature stirs from winter slumbers and a county like #Herts comes into its own.
There are so many great places to visit at this time of year while of course we also have some amazing venues which host a wide range of top events for us all to enjoy.
In the current edition we are also happy to feature great ideas for your spare time and are delighted to team up with Champneys to promote their spa treatments in our easy to enter competition. There are also some amazing businesses in #Herts and it is our pleasure to feature so many of them such as Rookies Day Nursery in Stevenage, the brilliant Wine2Laydown or Climbing Turn for their excellent online advice. And don't forget you can see #Herts updates on all our amazing businesses on our social media feeds listed below.
Get in touch:
07539 782979
www.hashtagherts.co.uk
email: darren@spitf irepr.com
Facebook: HashtagHerts
Twitter: @hashtagherts
Darren Ist edEdit or#Hert s
Win an amazing spa t reatment pr ize in our f ree t o enter compet it ion
We show you how to get t he best out of #Hert shour t he weekly digit al network
WIN WITH CHAMPNEYS MAKE YOUR HOUR COUNT
Hello f rom
# Herts
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All t he t op events in #Hert s in t he next 2 months wit h a feature on The Barn Theat re
Our regular column wit h Wine2laydown gives you all t he latest wine news
THE MAIN EVENT TIME FOR GOOD WINE
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We take a look at t he TRACKS aut ism char it y and t he ways you can support i t
There are plans for plent y t o see and do in t he f irst Garden Cit y
CHECK OUT OUR CHARITYSPRING INTO ACTION
18-19
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For result s t oday speak t o t he communicat ion expert s at Spit f irePR
Media relat ions
Social media market ing
Market ing
Copy writ ing
Media t raining
Crisis management
For al l your mark eting and social media needs:
07539 782979
w w w .spi tf i repr.com
darren@spi tf i repr.com
@DarrenIsted1
@hashtagherts
w w w .hashtagherts.co.uk@hashtagherts
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"THE PLACE WHERE THERAPISTS ARE TRAINED TO WORLD CLASS STANDARDS AND ARE ON HAND TO GIVE A PERSONALISED APPROACH"
The good weather is almost with us now and it 's time for a treat - so we have teamed up with Champneys to offer #Herts readers the chance to win a treatment for two.
Yes that 's right, two treatments at the leafy and historic City Spa in St Albans which is full of luxury treatments and pampering therapies, along with everyday beauty needs such as manicures, pedicures and St Tropez tanning treatments. And to make that spa feeling linger, there's the Champneys Spa Collection, a range of pampering products and gifts. Champneys therapists are trained to world-class standards and are on hand to give a personalised approach, helping you discover the
most indulgent spa therapies along with solutions to address everyday skin care concerns.
Whether you have a moment in your lunch hour, some time to de-stress or perhaps an afternoon to completely unwind and relax, the City Spa provides the perfect environment.
So enter now to win a Champneys 55 minute Chocolate Wrapper Treatment for Two at St Albans Day Spa (worth £110).
To enter simply l ike our compet it ion post on t he #Hert s Facebook page and retweet on our Twit t er page.
Start with a full body exfoliation to prepare your skin for the delicious warm chocolate body wrap. Enjoy the distinctive aroma of chocolate and relax with a scalp massage. Body butter is massaged into the skin to leave you intensively moisturised and with a guilt free feel good factor.
Terms & Conditions Apply: Valid until 3st December 2016 and cannot be extended. Subject to availability. Non transferrable and non-refundable. Cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer and cannot be exchanged.
Win a treatment at Champneys City Spa
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#HertsHour is a useful tool to help develop your brand online and it 's not hard. Most importantly, it 's free and if you dedicate an hour a week to it, it could be very valuable.
Whenever you're using social media, the more you put in, the more you get out. Twitter works best when it 's a conversation - or a series of conversations.
If you just use it to post your own words of wisdom, it 'll quickly get very lonely out there, especially if you use a bot to schedule tweets and fail to follow them up.
The most regular #HertsHour contributors are those who log on fairly promptly at 8pm on a Monday and then welcome others as they join and begin to converse with several people.
They'll be the ones others follow and the conversation then spreads throughout the week - with or without the #HertsHour tag.
There's a few simple rules to remember:
* Get involved and respond to what others are saying.
* Ask people about their businesses.
* Don't post more than a couple of
blatant plugs - it puts people off, especially when there's a stream of them.
* Make sure in advance that your Twitter profile is complete and if it directs people to a website, that 's up to date, too.
* Follow up with people during the week.
* Find out about what your competition is up to - they're usually just as nice as you are!
* Always use the #HertsHour hashtag as that 's what most people search for.
If you want to find out more, take a look at the rest of the #HertsHour website, including the Business Directory and our Facebook page.
How to get the most from # HertsHour
The most regular #HertsHour contributors are those who log on fairly promptly at 8pm on a Monday and then welcome others as they join and begin to converse with several people
March 10
NATHAN CARTERStevenage Art s and Leisure Cent reOne of the big names in the Irish music scene
THE CHICAGO BLUES BROTHERSWat ford ColosseumA night of soul and comedy
March 11
AN EVENING WITH PAM AYRESWyllyot t s Theat reAn evening with Pam Ayres
March 12
SIMON CALLOW - ONE MAN BANDWyllyot t s Theat reAn evening with Simon Callow
THE SENSATIONAL 60S EXPERIENCEStevenage Art s and Leisure Cent reThe most explosive 60's show
AN EVENING WITH MICHAEL PORTILLOWat ford ColosseumLifting the lid on Westminster
March 13
CHUBBY CHECKERWat ford ColosseumThe US pop icon in town
March 18
(Through t o 26th March)Dealer ?s ChoiceThe Barn Theat reWhen you?re gambling with your life, know when to quit!
HOPKINSON SMITH lute TBCInternat ional Concert Ser iesBenslow Music, Hit chinElizabethan lute music
PSYCHIC SALLYWat ford ColosseumA psychic evening
ELO EXPERIENCEStevenage Art s and Leisure
Cent re10th anniversary tour
March 22
COLLABROWat ford ColosseumBritain's Got Talent winners 2014
March 24
ALICE IN WONDERLANDStevenage Art s and Leisure Cent reShow runs March 24-March 28
DIRTY DANCING - THE TRIBUTE Harpenden Public HallsDirty Dancing tribute
March 25
LULUWat ford ColosseumThe amazing star with plenty to shout about
March 26
JESTERLARF COMEDY CLUB
Stevenage Art s and Leisure Cent reGeoff Boyz and more
THE BEATHarpenden Public HallsClassic 2-Tone music
March 30
ALL OUR YESTERDAYSWyllyot t s Theat reFeelgood 50s, 60s and 70s music
March 31
VOODOO ROOMStevenage Art s and Leisure Cent reA night of Jimi Hendrix and Cream
April 1
AND FINALLY...PHIL COLLINSStevenage Art s and Leisure Cent reThe life and times of Billy Fisher
AN EVENING WITH PAUL GASCOIGNE
Stevenage Art s and Leisure Cent reA night with the legend himself
April 2
OMID DJALILIWyllyot t s Theat reAn evening with Omid Djalili
THE SIMON AND GARFUNKEL STORYStevenage Art s and Leisure Cent reThe sounds of the duo
April 3
IN BLOOMLetchworth Film Club, Broadway Cinema, Let chworthFilm
A NIGHT OF DIRTY DANCINGWyllyot t s Theat reRelive the passion of the film
TOSCAWat ford Colosseum
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YOUR GUIDE TO THE UNMISSABLE EVENTS IN YOUR PART OF #HERTS
The Main Event
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A night of Puccini
April 7
KATE RUSBYWat ford ColosseumSweet sounds
April 8
(Through t o 16th Apr i l)The God of Carnage
The Barn Theat reA hilarious descent from civilised to savage
ROCK & ROLL YEARSWyllyot t s Theat reLook back with DJ David Hamilton
April 9
BRENDAN GRACEWyllyot t s Theat reAn evening of comedy
VENUS AND ADONISInternat ional Concert Ser iesBenslow Music, Hit chinDirector Dionysios Kryopoulos
April 10
ALL STAR CHARITY GALAStevenage Art s and Leisure Cent reHosted by Christopher Biggins
April 11
MARK VINERMonday af t ernoon Concert s, Benslow Music, Hit chinPiano
April 13
PSYCHIC MEDIUM DONNA FALLONStevenage Art s and Leisure Cent reA night of psychic mystery
April 12
AGGERS AND TUFFERSWat ford ColosseumAn evening of cricket chat
April 14
TONY STOCKWELLWyllyot t s Theat reAn evening of mediumship with TV psychic
GERRY AND THE PACEMAKERSStevenage Art s and Leisure Cent reAll their best tunes and stories
April 15
ILLEGAL EAGLESWyllyot t s Theat reWorld's official No1 Eagles tribute
The Main EventYOUR GUIDE TO THE UNMISSABLE EVENTS IN YOUR PART OF #HERTS
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The Main EventYOUR GUIDE TO ALL THE NOT TO MISS EVENTS IN YOUR PART OF #HERTSTHE WIZARD OF OZWat ford ColosseumBringing the classic to life
April 16
THE FUREYSWyllyot t s Theat reLegends of Irish music
PASHA KOVALEVStevenage Art s and Leisure Cent reStrictly winner 2014
April 17
LIZ PULMANStevenage Art s and Leisure Cent reA night of Hollywood tunes
April 18
ROUND AND ROUND THE GARDENStevenage Art s and Leisure Cent reComedy (To Wed 20)
April 19
Legally Blonde t he musicalWyllyot t s Theat reAward winning musical (To April 23)
NIGEL KENNEDYWat ford ColosseumPlaying the Four Seasons
April 21
TELL ME ON A SUNDAYStevenage Art s and Leisure Cent reThe hit West End show
April 22
DR FEELGOOD/EDDIE AND THE HOT RODSStevenage Art s and Leisure Cent reNight of rock and rhythm and blues
April 28
WE'LL MEET AGAINStevenage Art s and Leisure Cent reWar years music in the afternoon
April 29
ALLEGRI STRING QUARTETInternat ional Concert Ser iesBenslow Music, Hit chinMendelssohnn and Brahms
April 30
JESTERLARF COMEDY CLUBStevenage Art s and Leisure Cent reMark Maier and more
PURPLE ZEPPELINStevenage Art s and Leisure Cent reTribute to two great rock acts.
May 3
JEKYLL & HYDEStevenage Art s and Leisure Cent reGothic melodrama (to May 5)
May 6
BILL BAILEYStevenage Art s and
Leisure Cent reComedy genius
May 6
RICK WAKEMANStevenage Art s and Leisure Cent reNight with the music legend
May 7
BILL BAILEYStevenage Art s and Leisure Cent reComedy genius (second night)
PUPPETRY OF THE PENISStevenage Art s and Leisure Cent reComedy
KEN DODD SHOWWat ford ColosseumThe king of happiness
May 8
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The Main EventYOUR GUIDE TO ALL THE NOT TO MISS EVENTS IN YOUR PART OF #HERTSBEST OF THE EAGLESStevenage Art s and Leisure Cent rePerformed by Talon
STILL ALICELetchworth Film Club, Broadway Cinema, Let chworthFilm
DAVID STARKEYWat ford ColosseumAn evening with the history man
May 10
THE RUBETTESStevenage Art s and Leisure Cent reWith the original Rubettes
May 11
MAD ABOUT THE MUSICALSWat ford ColosseumWith Gareth Gates and Michael Courtney
May 12
THE STARS FROM THE COMMITMENTSStevenage Art s and Leisure Cent reGreat musical mix
May 14
MAD ABOUT THE MUSICALSStevenage Art s and Leisure Cent reWith Gareth Gates and Michael Courtney
May 15
GYLES BRANDRETHWyllyot t s Theat reA celebration of word power
May 19
DES O'CONNOR Stevenage Art s and Leisure Cent reAn evening with Des
MARTIN KEMPWyllyot t s Theat reAn audience with Martin Kemp
May 20
IAN WAITE & NATALIE LOWEStevenage Art s and Leisure Cent reStrictly stars in action
THE PROCLAIMERSWat ford ColosseumTop Scottish duo
JETHROWyllyot t s Theat reComedy at its best
May 21
THE BEE GEES STORYStevenage Art s and Leisure Cent reTribute to the Bee Gees
SOME GUYS HAVE ALL THE LUCKWyllyot t s Theat reCelebration of rock star Rod Stewart
May 22
OMARLetchworth Film Club, Broadway Cinema, Let chworthFilm
SWAN LAKEWyllyot t s Theat reVienna Festival Ballet
May 25
PROFESSOR ROBERT WINSTONWyllyot t s Theat reDiscussion on what makes us happy
May 26
RARE: PETR PANStevenage Art s and Leisure Cent reYouth musical presents
May 27
BINGHAM STRING QUARTETInternat ional Concert Ser iesBenslow Music, Hit chinAn evening of Shostakovich
May 29
GYLES BRANDRETHStevenage Art s and Leisure Cent reWords and wit from the former MP
June 5
LILTINGLetchworth Film Club, Broadway Cinema, Let chworthFilm
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Wyllyot t s Theat re in Pot t ers Bar have a host of t op events coming up and in t he next few months and one of t he biggest names is Gyles Brandreth who br ings his Word Power show to t he Theat re on Sunday May 15th at 5pmTicket s: £18, £17 concs. Here we chat t o Gyles ahead of t he show.
What can audiences expect f rom your ?Word Power ? show?
A two-hour show that takes you on a roller-coaster ride around the amazing world of words. It?s a show that should make you laugh and might even make you cry. It?s based around my lifelong love of words and includes stories from my life in the theatre and politics. It?s a show for people who love live theatre and who enjoy listening to Just A Minute or watching QI.
What do you love about t he English language?
Everything! English is the richest language in the world. There are 500,000 words in the English dictionary. The unfortunate French only have 100,000 words in their vocabulary ? and that includes ?le weekend?. Language is what makes us human. As the philosopher Bertrand Russell said, ?No matter how eloquently a dog may bark, he cannot tell you that his parents were poor but honest. Only words can do
that.?
What is your favour it e word and why?
My favourite word changes from day to day. I?m currently rather liking the word YEX. It?s an old word for a HICCUP and it?s very useful for playing Scrabble. I?m enjoying another old word at the moment, too. To SQUIDDLE is to waste time in idle talk. I do quite a bit of that.
How do you usually go about developing a new show?
I was an MP ? until the people spoke. When I lost my seat, I wondered what to do next. Someone suggested I take a show to the Edinburgh Fringe. I did. And I was very lucky. The show won awards and five star reviews. Since then I have taken three more shows to Edinburgh and I?ve been just as lucky with them. I try to create a show about a subject I love and that I think will interest and amuse people. My Word Power! show is my favourite so far.
Are t here any part icular places/ regions you always l ike t o t ake your shows t o?
I go where they?ll have me! No, seriously, I love touring the length and breadth of the UK. As anyone who follows me on Twitter - @GylesB1 ? will know, as a reporter for The One Show on BBC1 I am out and about and all over the country all the time. I have literally been from Land?s End to John O?Groats. With a stage show I love to go to beautiful theatres in places I know (like the Swansea Grand or the Richmond Theatre) ? I love going to theatres with a history and heritage. In this show I tell some stories about great actors of the past and their amazing way with words, so it?s exciting to be appearing in the sorts of theatres they appeared in. My wife was born in Wales; my parents and grandparents came from Lancashire and Cheshire; my teddy bear collection is soon moving to Newby Hall in North Yorkshire ? so really wherever I go I?m happy to be. What I really like is a town where I
Wyllyot ts Theatre, Darkes Lane, Pot ters Bar, Herts
My word Wyllyotts
www.wyl lyot tstheatre.co.uk 01707 645005
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can get a nice cup of tea and a toasted tea-cake before the show.
What is your favour it e English accent?
I love the variety of accents we have in the British Isles. Just to be difficult, I rather like a Brummie accent. I don?t mind what the accent is, so long as whoever is speaking can be understood. I can?t stand mumbling. These days on TV I often find myself watching the TV with the subtitles so I can follow what?s going on.
In September last year, you ran a ?Just A Minute? challenge at t he Radio Times Fest ival, exclusively for children t o t ake part in, t o encourage more var ied language use. Are children?s vocabular ies shr inking?
There are 500,000 words in the English dictionary, but William Shakespeare managed to write all his plays only using 26,000 words, so it?s not the number of words you know it?s the way you use them that counts. I?m encouraging young people to learn new words, to extend their vocabularies and to have fun with language. Language is power. The more clearly you can express yourself the better you will get on in life.
What can you t ell us about your book ?Word Play? and how does it t ie in wit h t his show?
I love puns and palindromes and anagrams and word play of every kind. I love asking people to take the word MONDAY and rearrange the letters in MONDAY to form another everyday English word . . . and then seeing how long it takes them to come up with DYNAMO. Word Play is a book that contains all the fun and funny and fantastic things I?ve learnt about our language in my lifetime.
After the show, I always stay to meet the audience in the foyer or the bar after the show and if anyone fancies a copy of the book I sign it for them.
Should we be worr ied about t he impact of t he internet and mobile t echnology on t he English Language?
No! The English language is rich because it isn?t pure. New words are arriving all the time and lots of them have come along with new technology. I like acronyms like YOLO. I like fun abbreviations. RIDIC is a bit ridiculous, but why not? I love new words. Do you ever MOSH? (I do!) Of course, there are dangers in the brave new world of texting . . . and some of the funny ones feature in Word Power!
You were t he MP for Chester f rom 1992 ? 1997 but have spoken out about MPs? use of cl ichés. What is it about polit icians? use of language t hat you disl ike?
I don?t like ANYONE using cliches because clichés are lazy. During the last election I thought I?d go mad if I heard another politician talking about ?hard working families?. I like language that is fresh and surprising. The word ICONIC is overused. The word PASSIONATE is overused. I passed a white van today. On the side it said: ?Passionate about plumbing.? Please!
Who is your l inguist ic hero?
William Shakespeare. He died 400 years ago this year, but he is one of the reasons that English is the world?s richest and most wonderful language. Until Shakespeare came along, the English language lacked EXCITEMENT. Yes, Shakespeare invented the word ? along with more than a thousand others. It appears first in his play, Hamlet. (When I was a young actor, I played Hamlet
once ? not every successfully. The audience threw eggs at me. I went on as Hamlet, came off at omelette.)
You recent ly met Miley Cyrus. Where did you meet her and what did you t ell her about ?twerking??
I met Miley in a lift at the BBC. She is famous for her ?twerking?. She seemed to think she had invented the word. I told her TWERKING was what?s known as a ?portmanteau? word, combining two words in one, and has been around since the early 1800s. It?s a mix of TWIST and JERK. She kindly said she?d come to see my WORD POWER show so if you come look out for Miley. You may be there on the same night.
I f you could give your 25 year old self a piece of advice, what would it be?
Live in the moment. Relish the here and now. You only get today once, so make the most of it.
It?s the advice I was given when I was 25. My father passed on to me the words of a great American playwright, William Saroyan:
?Try to learn to breathe deeply, really to taste food when you eat, and when you sleep really to sleep. Try as much as possible to be wholly alive with all your might, and when you laugh, laugh like hell. And when you get angry, get good and angry. Try to be alive. You will be dead soon enough.?
Coming up at Wyllyot t s
March 30 - All Our YesterdaysApril 2 - Omid DjaliliApril 3 - A Night of Dirty DancingApril 8 - Rock & Roll YarsApril 9 - Brendan GraceApril 14 - Tony StockwellApril 15 - Illegal EaglesApril 16 - The FureysMay 15 - Gyles Brandreth
www.wyl lyot tstheatre.co.uk 01707 645005
Wyllyot ts Theatre, Darkes Lane, Pot ters Bar, Herts
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The Barn Theatre, Welwyn Garden City, Herts
www.barntheatre.co.uk 01707 324300
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The Barn - amazing past, exciting future
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Welwyn Garden City's Barn Theatre Club is housed in an iconic Grade II l isted barn - one of the town's oldest surviving buildings. When it was constructed in the late sixteenth century Elizabeth I was stil l on the throne, Sir Francis Drake had just died and Shakespeare was putting the f inishing touches to Much Ado About Nothing which, incidentally was performed at the Barn in 1993 and 2007. It has been home to the Barn Theatre Club since the club's foundation in 1969, when the f irst season opened with Lionel Bart's Fings Ain't What They Used To Be.
Over one season the Barn stages ten plays in the 140-seater main house and two or three smaller productions in the Youth Studio. In addition it hosts the Youth Drama Festival in early Spring, the Welwyn Drama Festival in early Summer and the Fringe in Autumn - a Barn for all seasons! From the staging of the plays to the maintenance of the ancient building the theatre is staffed entirely by volunteers from its membership of around 600.
Three thriving Youth Groups rehearse and perform in the Studio, opened in 2015. The studio, which is a fully kitted rehearsal and performance space gives the next generation's theatricals the opportunity to learn lighting sound and all other technical aspects, as well as acting. Over the years many members of the youth group have gone on to work professionally.
The current season has seen two sell out shows, Brassed Off and Lilies on the Land, under the creative eye of Artistic Director Coral Walton.
Next up is Dealer's Choice, Patrick Marber's swaggering comedy which had its debut at the National Theatre in 1995, winning the Evening Standard Award for Best Comedy. Chief ly remembered as the play about poker, it is actually a play about
fathers and sons and the emotional def iciencies of men prey to ungovernable obsession. After an absence of six years Danny Swanson makes a welcome return to the Barn to direct, with a cast of six actors at the top of their game. There's a sense that something rather special is about to happen as this exciting director, puts the f inal touches to this dark, edgy comedy which opens on 18 March.
By mid-day on 27 March, the North London restaurant setting will have disappeared from the stage and the elegant sitt ing room of the Vallons will begin to take shape. God of Carnage Yasmina Reza's comedy of manners - without the manners - won the 2009 Tony Award for Best Play, and was later adapted for the screen by Roman Polanski, under the tit le of Carnage, in 2011.
In a stylish apartment two middle class couples, who have
never met before, get together to discuss a playground f ight when Alan and Annette?s son hit Michael and Veronica?s son in the face with a stick, resulting in two broken teeth. What starts off as an agonisingly polite discussion of 'boys will be boys' and recipes for clafoutis, deteriorates into a storm of anger, drunkenness and violence. By the end of the play the living room is like a theatre of war. It?s a captive, caustic exercise in confinement and hysteria with a hint of the battle of the sexes interwoven throughout the storyline. This is Director Hannah Sayer's second production for the Barn, her f irst being the award-winning Bouncers, the Barn's entry for the 2014 Welwyn Drama Festival. God of Carnage opens on 6th April and will be on stage again on Friday 22nd April, in Hertford, as the Barn's entry for Hertford Theatre Week.
You can see details for the rest of the Barn season at www.barntheatre.co.uk
When a bride embarks on a quest to find the dress of her dreams, it is probably fair to say that Asda doesn't feature too highly on her must-shop destinations. While a number of supermarket chains have ventured into the wedding dress arena, it is with a certain buyer in mind. The bride who buys their dress from Asda or Tesco won't want first class service, they won't mind sharing a changing area with a school child buying their first uniform or a man buying his work suit.
But that doesn't have to be the way it is. Reputable bridal boutiques move quality dresses into their sample sales on a regular basis to make way for new designs. The
gowns have come from quality bridal houses and they start to become more affordable once they hit the sale rail. Not only do you get a dress for a fraction of the original price, but you also get the experience of specialist bridal sales staff, who know how to style a dress to give you the look of your dreams.
There are no shopping trolleys involved. It is about a journey. From
working with a bride - whatever the budget - to ensure she feels like the princess she wants to on her big day. In many cases, the brides Heritage Brides have worked with have creatively changed a dress which was 'not quite the one'. It might be changing the shape of the neckline or adding in a sleeve (or taking them away) but it is about personalisation. It is about their personality and their vision which we believe is unlikely to be realised a few feet away from the frozen chicken.
Contact Sam at Heritage Brides for an appointment at the only bridal boutique based at a stately home in the UK.
Tel: 01707 707842; www.heritagebrides.co.uk
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Affordable quality
Mowgli, it 's a jungle out thereCLASSIC TALE COMING BACK TO THE BIG SCREEN WITH A HOST OF TOP NAMES TO STAR
It has a UK release date of mid-April in the UK and this 2016 version of the Kipling classic looks set to be another wow.
If you've read the book or seen the original Disney cartoon you'll know that Mowgli (Neel Sethi) is a boy raised by wolves Raksha and Akela since he was brought to them as a baby by Bagheera the black panther (Ben Kingsley). Things have to change though and it 's soon time to grow up when the
fearsome Bengal tiger Shere Khan (Idris Elba) threatens him as man isn't allowed
Top release for May viewing
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C EI MN A
Avengers Civi l WarRelease date:May 2016
One year after the events of Avengers: Age of Ultron, another international incident involving the Avengers leads the policiticans to once again get involved. When Steve Rogers attempts to protect his friend Bucky Barnes, a conflict ensues that leads to the fracturing of the Avengers into two opposing factions, one led by Rogers and the other led by Stark.Cineworld Stevenage:
0871 200 2000www.cineworld.co.uk
Broadway Let chworth:01462 681088www.broadway-cinema.com
Odyssey St Albans:01727 453088www.odysseypictures.co.uk
Royston Picture Palaceinfo@roystonpicturepalace.org.ukroystonpicturepalace.org.uk
The Rex Berkhamsted01442 877759therexberkhamsted.com
in the jungle.
Guided by Bagheera and Baloo the bear (Bill Murray), he sets out on a journey of self-discovery.
Along the way, Mowgli encounters jungle creatures who do not have his best interests at heart including Kaa (Scarlett Johansson) the python and the smooth-talking orangutan King Louie (Christopher Walken).
Director: Jon Favreau
Writers: Justin Marks (screenplay), Rudyard Kipling (book)
Stars: Scarlett Johansson, Idris Elba, Bill Murray, Christopher Walkern
Take sides in a civi l war bat t le
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Join our Wine Club and in addition to special offers and discounts get 2 free tickets worth £15 each for our monthly wine tastings held at the Historic Hertford Castle. Sample some incredible wines and award winning cheeses in the historic atmosphere of ancient Hertford.
Our wine club costs £54.99 (delivered) every 2 months and can be cancelled at any time.
Tickets can be redeemed at any one of our monthly wine tastings, which are held every 2nd Wednesday between 7pm and 10pm. All we ask in return is that you subscribe to the Wine Club for a minimum of three orders.
Included in the club:6 cracking winesDetailed tasting and producers notes.Red, white, rose and sparkling.Range includes award winners, cult producers, organic & biodynamic wines.All wines will be hand selected by our wine experts.Membership perksRewards issued every 6 months just for using us.Christmas vouchers for those members who review our wines on our website.10% discount when you buy straight cases of the wines you enjoy through the wine club (minimum order of 6
bottles).
Wines selected will have an average value of £9 per bottle (wines range from £7-£11 per bottle).At least 5% savings versus buying retail.Easy to manage online direct debit system.Confirmation emails to let you know 3 days before funds are debited.We will arrange for your wine to be delivered in the first week of every 2nd month (Feb, April, June, Aug, Oct, Dec).
Where possible we will always try to arrange delivery on a Friday so you will have your wine in time for the weekend.
Get a taste for the wine club
With the Winter chill slowly giving way, we can look forward to warmer times and brighter days with a great glass of wine in our hands.
If you hold your breath, close your eyes and tap your heels, then maybe Mother Nature will do us the favour of English asparagus appearing in March. This wonderful vegetable is best eaten raw, or lightly cooked. Dip the spears into soft butter, or Hollandaise sauce. Alternatively, spoil yourself with a soft-boiled egg dusted with truffle shavings. The Duet t e Chardonnay from Casablanca in Chile at £11.50 offsets this combination with a rich, creamy mouthful.
Coming to the end of their UK season are Mussels. Perceived wisdom dictates that if we eat locally sourced shellfish, we concentrate on the months with an ?r? in the name. From September to April the waters off the UK
coast are at their coldest and thus the shellfish at their freshest. The delicious dish of ?moules mariniere? can be enhanced by the Sancerre-like Pet it Bourgeois, Sauvignon Blanc, £11 from the Loire Valley, France. An appealing and spicy alternative to the above is a Thai green curry, just in case it?s still chilly outside. The piquant and food-friendly Monsters At t ack Riesling from the Clare Valley, Australia £15.50, will soothe it away.
The majority of us will settle down to roast lamb at Easter time, but I would ask you to consider hogget. Hogget is a sheep, between 1 to 2 years old, that has fed outdoors and had time to improve taste-wise. Think of it as a balance between tender, young lamb and full-flavoured mutton. A shoulder, or a leg, roasted slowly will produce a yielding mound of delicious meat with plenty of juices for gravy! A great meal deserves a sumptuous wine. The
Warming up for a delicious wine treat
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Jam es Dow l in g f rom aw ard w in n in g w in e m erchan t WINE2LAYDOWN t ak es a l ook at som e of t he best w in es t o m ak e t he m ost of t he joys of Spr in g
rich and spicy Rive Barbera d?Ast i, from Piedmont in Italy £13.50, is a great partner.
?Yorkshire Forced Rhubarb? is a European PDO and will soon end its growing season. If you can find some before the end of March, grab it. The stalks are tender and bittersweet and benefit from a gentle roasting or poaching to intensify the flavour. Hugh-Fearnley Whittingstall adds either rosewater, or orange blossom water, to complete the dish. The wine to heighten the experience is a Monbazillac from the Dordogne in France, the honeyed, and citrus-like Domaine de Grangeneuve at £10.00 will be perfect end to the evening.
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Nursery with a fresh approach to learning
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Encouraging a healthy and active lifestyle is the aim of Rookies, a remarkable new nursery based at Stevenage Football Club Academy in Broadhall Way.
Rookies aims to both support but also reward families who help to give youngsters the best start by promoting a lifestyle of health and wellbeing.
Staff at the nursery help the youngsters aged from nine months to f ive years of age to grow and develop in an environment where learning is fun and with a curriculum that also allows them to be active.
In developing the ethos of Rookies it was realised that the key aspect to the development of any young person is physical activity and it is this which allows all those at Rookies to enjoy the
benefit of learning while being active. But this learning is done in a structured way and is based on the Government?s EYFS (Early Years Foundation Stage) guidelines
In order to lay clear foundations for parents who bring their youngsters to the nursery, Rookies has developed a set of transparent and easy to understand values which underline the expectation for both staff and children alike and
which both will adhere to while at the nursery.
The values are:
Inspire: We endeavour to inspire our children and parents to adopt and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Educate: We provide our children with the highest levels of education using an active and health focus curriculum.
Empower: We facilitate a safe and stimulating environment in which children and parents are encouraged to take responsibil ity for adopting an active and healthy lifestyle.
The staff at Rookies are all experienced early years professionals with full qualif ications and they work closely with families with the underlying aim of supporting children?s learning and development.
Staff who work at Rookies will all have completed an enhanced DBS check and hold f irst aid qualif ications.
Pictured below are staff celebrating World Book Day at Rookies.
ROOKIESStevenage FC Academy, Broadhall Way, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, SG2 8RH. Tel: 01438 842233.Email: [email protected]: www.rookiesdaynursery.co.uk
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WEB ADVICE IN ASSOCIATION WITH CLIMBING TURN SOFTWARE DEVELOPERS
Don't get hooked up on a phishing scamIn this month?s article we?ll be looking at scam emails and how you can avoid being tricked by them.
But f irst, some facts and f igures ? Unsolicited emails (known as spam) now account for around 14.5 bil l ion messages, globally, per day; that?s 45% of all emails. Some estimates are even higher at over 70% of all emails. Most of these emails are harmless and can be categorised as simply ?junk mail?, however a small proportion (maybe 2% to
3% ) are attempts at fraud or identity theft (known as phishing) or are tricks which are trying to install a virus on your computer.
Gone Phishing Phishing emails purport to come from reputable companies and are an attempt at tricking you into revealing personal information such as passwords or credit card numbers. Some of these emails are very cleverly constructed and look identical to emails which are sent out by companies such as Amazon and eBay. So how do you recognise
one when you see it? Firstly, have you bought anything from or had dealings with the company sending the email? If the answer is ?no? then you should ask ?why are they emailing me?? and proceed with caution. If the answer is ?yes? then proceed with caution anyway.
A very popular scam is a bogus email from Amazon tell ing you that your goods are on the way and you?ve been charged. Obviously if you haven?t ordered anything they hope you?ll react by clicking on a link in the email so that you can log in to your Amazon account to see what?s going on and cancel the order. The link will invariably lead to an accurate mock-up of Amazon?s login screen where you?ll enter your user name and password; only it is not Amazon?s website and as soon as you do this the scammers will have your Amazon login.
So, how do you identify a scam like this from Amazon or anyone else? If you read my very f irst article about the URL (web addresses) then you?ll recall that the answer lies in checking the web addresses (URLs) of the email sender and of the link they are asking you to click on. If you haven?t read this article then obviously I?d advise you to read it! But don?t worry, I?ll
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WEB ADVICE IN ASSOCIATION WITH CLIMBING TURN SOFTWARE DEVELOPERS
explain here as well. In the case of the email sender, make sure that the email has come from an address owned by the company who sent you the email.
In the case of Amazon the email should be sent from [email protected] (or amazon.co.uk) ? ignore the bit before the @, I made that up, it?s the bit after the @ and before the .co.uk or .com that?s important; it?s called the domain name and if the domain name doesn?t look right then the email probably isn?t legitimate. Now, the email sender?s address can be tampered with and made to look as though it?s coming from a reputable company so simply checking the domain name isn?t foolproof. However, the links they place in the email for you to click on can?t be easily spoofed but you must watch out for one particularly nasty trick: the visible link they place in the email (that is the address you see displayed) can be completely dif ferent to the address that will be opened when you click on the link.
Sometimes links are pictures in the email so you won?t know what web site address you?ll be sent to when you click on it. What do you do? If you?re using a desktop computer you should always hover over a link with your mouse before clicking it. When you do this you can read the link?s real web site address from the status bar at the bottom of your email program. If it doesn?t look right, don?t click it! Remember, the bit you?re interested in is the domain name; that?s the part of the address that comes immediately before the .com or .co.uk part. Ignore everything before and after this and make sure the domain name part is legitimate. If you?re using a tablet or smart phone you can?t hover over a link and check whether it is suspect or not. In that case, if you aren?t expecting the email then the safest bet is to treat it as a scam and delete it. If you?re brave, reckless or make a mistake and you do click on the link then when the site opens in your browser examine the web address carefully in your browser?s address bar (at the top of the screen).
Of course , if you do get an email and think that Amazon, eBay or anyone else is sending you something you don?t want and charging you for it, the safest bet is not to click on any links in their email and instead simply go to a browser and visit
the site yourself where you can log in. That way you know you?re visit ing the legitimate website.
Beware of attachments! All of the above advice is also true of emails which ask you to open an attachment. Be very suspicious of any email attachment unless you are 100% sure who sent it and that you are expecting it. If you know who sent it and you aren?t expecting it then stil l be very suspicious. It is quite common for our contacts (friends, family, colleagues etc) to go and get themselves infected with a computer virus which then sends emails to everyone in their contacts list with a virus f ile attached which, when opened, will infect the receiving computer. These emails depend entirely on the fact that you know the sender and therefore trust that email attachment is safe. It isn?t! Sometimes these emails simply contain a link to a website which, when clicked on, downloads the virus to your computer; no need for an attachment at all. Never open an email attachment unless you?re expecting it and always doublecheck the address of l inks before clicking on them. Most important of all ? make sure that your anti-virus software is up-to-date and that it is setup to scan your emails. Stay safe!
Quality dining that takes the crownDINING IN #HERTS: THE CROWN ASTON END
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Andrew and Claire bought The Crown freehold of The Crown Aston End in late August 2012. They have always worked in hospitality and for the last 20 years have both enjoyed successful careers in pub and hotel management. During October and November 2012 The Crown was carefully repaired and refurbished by local tradesmen and has now been restored to a beautiful, modern Victorian property. The recycled dark wood tables and upholstered dining chairs with a rustic mix of tartan arm chairs in the bar area and around the fully restored fireplace is now the ideal place to relax with friends and enjoy a light meal or drink. Many local black and white photos on the walls tell the story of Aston and Aston End through the ages.
In the summer of 2013 the refurbishment continued outside and new rattan patio furniture
arrived along with brand new garden seating for over 200 people in April 2014. With cream umbrellas by day and illuminated trees and candlelit lanterns sparkling by night the 50 seat courtyard is now Stevenage's hot spot in the country.
The passion at The Crown is for fresh British food served simply yet cooked to perfection, where taste is paramount and service is consistently great.
Claire and Andrew say: ?We firmly believe in serving top quality fresh food, with great emphasis on efficient, yet relaxed, service in comfortable, warm, unpretentious surroundings...a great place for all the family where everyone is welcome.
"Although amazing food, ales and wines is at the heart of what we do, we're focused on offering our customers everything they expect
from our village pub in the country - a place where we know your name and you know ours, with well kept real ales, sourced from local breweries, a well priced wine list, good selection of soft drinks, teas and excellent Lavazza coffees.
With monthly events ranging from music quizzes to live acoustic singers and guitarists, charity events and bouncy castle family fun days there's always something happening at The Crown, and always something to look forward to.
The Crown56 Long Lane, Aston End,Stevenage,Hert s SG2 7HD
01438 880060
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The btc, renowned as the ?centre of inspiration?, has been sponsoring The FSB Hertfordshire Business Awards for the last 3 years.
As a business centre that was built and designed to innovate and inspire new and growing local businesses, the awards partnership is the perfect fit.
The Best New Business Award is for businesses established within the last two years (start date after 1st January 2014) demonstrating a high degree of entrepreneurship and vision for the future. Entrants will be asked to explain the background to the business; how the company has performed since starting and what its future projections are. You should also display good managerial and financial practice. The judges will be looking to identify a business that has set and achieved challenging objectives within its business plans, overcome obstacles and established a position of sustainable profitability and success. (For further info on the
FSB Herts awards visit their website http:/ /hertfordshireawards.co.uk/
Perfect for both small to medium sized businesses that are looking to relocate, expand or start-up, The Business and Technology Centre (btc) provides flexible, affordable workspace as well as first-class meeting & conference facilities for businesses in Hertfordshire.
A one-stop shop for business support, the btc is much more than
your average business centre, offering access to on-site business advice, training courses, regular networking opportunities, state-of-the-art facilities and virtual office services. Additional benefits include free parking and an on-site bistro.
A wide range of support services are available at the btc including free business start-up training courses, low cost business skills courses, one-to-one advice and workspace for new and growing businesses.
Situated in an ideal central location on Bessemer Drive in Stevenage, within minutes of both Stevenage Railway Station and Junction 7 of the A1(M), the btc is the perfect place for businesses to start or grow.
The Business & Technology Centre (btc) is owned by Stevenage Borough Council and managed by local, leading enterprise agency, Wenta.
For further information on the btc, visit www.btcstevenage.co.uk or call 01438 310 000.
btc - helping to inspire success in business
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The Stevenage Community Trust was formed in 1990 from an idea by the then Mayor of Stevenage, Councillor Hilda Lawrence. It is based on a concept of Community Foundation schemes that have been running for almost 50 years in the United States.
Many of the major businesses in Stevenage at the time were involved, and over 24 years the Trust has included founder members including Astrium Ltd, MBDA (UK) Ltd and Stevenage Borough Council and also gained new Patrons such as The Follett Trust, as well as over 50 local business, community groups and personal members along the way.
Stevenage Community Trust promotes charitable giving and raises funds in order to enhance the quality of life of people within the community, living in the Borough of
Stevenage and its surrounding villages. The Trust has given out nearly £900,000 in grants since it started, as well as simultaneously and importantly building up an endowment to ensure it serves those in need for many years to come.
The Trust supports the people of Stevenage in a range of ways. This has included the promising Stevenage athlete Daniel Gardner through to individuals in need of food and warmth for their families in the winter months. The Trust 's activities are broad and outreaching and by the end of the year they hope to have granted over £1,000,000 to the community since their foundation.
Sarah Bennett, Director at Lawrence Dean Recruitment, spoke about their involvement with the Trust, "We
have only recently started supporting Stevenage Community Trust, but have been overwhelmed by the passion and dedication shown by them to support such a broad range of local people in need. This ranges from individuals in need of urgent help through to local groups that need support to increase or improve the services they offer to the local community. As a local business with the majority of our own employees, candidates and clients being based within the local area, we are delighted to support Stevenage Community Trust.?
To find out more about Lawrence Dean Recruitment contact us at our website below or on 01438 310131. Our website can be found http:/ /www.lawrencedeanrecruitment.co.uk/
Helping the community
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Food lovers have proved themselves hungry for a huge helping of the Letchworth Food and Drink Festival taking place in Letchworth Garden City Town Centre on 28th and 29th May from 10am to 4pm.
Organised by The Letchworth Garden City BID, this year?s festival will be a celebration of local gastronomy and is set to be packed with local produce, culinary activities, a free Taste Trail and various food and drink classes and demonstrations.
Town centre cafés, pubs and restaurants are joining in the local spirit of the Festival by taking part in the new Taste Trail. During the festival, members of the public will use the Taste Trail map inside the Food and Drink Festival programme to navigate their way through the town trying the wide variety of food and drink on offer. Each shop will have a table inside their premises with a selection of food/drink tasters which they would normally sell on a day to day basis.
The Scouts, Guides and Cadets will come together on Leys Square for a large cookery competition being run over both days of the festival. The Letchworth Arts and Leisure Group
will be running a bake off and whisky tasting classes as well as the world champion gnome bowling competition in the garden Square shopping Centre! The Letchworth Garden City BID have also organised a children?s theatre tent and Food Art tent on Leys Avenue and in the Wynd.
As well as all this, the Garden City Bakery and R & E Family Butchers are supporting and organising a hotdog eating competition on the main stage. If you are feeling up to the challenge, applications will be
available in the coming weeks.
This year?s festival is sponsored by Wentworth Kitchens Trade who have been creating beautiful kitchens for over 15 years with a proven track record in customer satisfaction. Visit www.wentworthstalbans.co.uk for more information.
With live music throughout both days and the array of food and drink offerings, this year?s festival is set to be the best one yet.
For more information please contact [email protected]
Taste trail addition to Food & Drink Fest
"Town centre cafés, pubs and restaurants are joining in the local spirit of the Festival by taking part in the new Taste Trail. During the festival, members of the public will use the Taste Trail map inside the Food and Drink Festival programme to navigate their way through the town trying the wide variety of food and drink on offer"
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Property hotspotThere are many factors that make buying a property to let in the Stevenage area a good investment at this time. First and foremost is the value of such a proposition but you have to make your move quickly as Stevenage is fast becoming a property hotspot.
It?s little wonder that so many people are turning their attention to the New Town, especially given the fact that there is the prospect of a great return at the moment. Along with the major businesses that are already in town offering a ready-made market of tenants, Stevenage itself is on the up and is a great place to live, its thriving night time economy is testament to this.
With more than 60 years of
experience in the lettings business the team at A-Top can help you to find the right place and manage your investment for maximum return to you.
Mervyn?s A-Top t ip: When looking for a good return focus on t owns such as Stevenage which of fer great value and are clear ly becoming t he place t o l ive.
C&J Heat ing and Plumbing of fer boiler repairs & cent ral heat ing installat ions across Stevenage, St Albans, Hit chin, Let chworth & Harpenden, in fact almost across t he whole of #Hert s.
With over 20 years? experience our expert Gas Safe engineers are happy to offer excellent quality and craftsmanship on all our work. They pride themselves on providing a flexible, affordable solution to your boiler and central heating problems.
Helping Heat Your Home
Heat is the heartbeat of any home, especially when the heartbeat comes from an energy efficient, safe central heating system which is strong and healthy. To help you maintain that C&J Heating and Plumbing are here for you 24 hours a day.
To have a safe and efficient central heating system it needs to be maintained with regular servicing, just one of the essential services C&J Heating and Plumbing are here to supply.
Because any central heating system is most likely to break down when you need it most, C&J Heating and Plumbing offer regular servicing and a call out repair service.
Expert Engineers
With their own expert engineers and qualified fitters they are able to provide a full range of specialist services for landlords and home owners alike, at the most competitive prices and providing the highest quality workmanship.
Offer ing a Range of Services...
C&J Heating and Plumbing combine excellent value for money with their clear pricing system together with free estimates for all your boiler or central heating system needs.
Emergency Call-out will cost just £70.00 + VAT (evenings and weekends £80.00 + VAT ).
Boiler Services are just £65.00 + VAT and £75.00 + VAT for back boilers.
?Powerf lush? will cost £450 including VAT.
Replacement Hot Water Cylinders from £460.00 including VAT. For more information on any of these services contact C&J Heating and Plumbing today on 01438 351799.
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Helping you with your heating needs
Emergency Cal l -out will cost just £70.00 + VAT (evenings and weekends £80.00 + VAT ).
Boiler Services are just £65.00 + VAT and £75.00 + VAT for back boilers.
?Powerf lush? will cost £450 including VAT.
Replacement Hot Water Cyl inders f rom £460.00 including VAT
Keeping you warm this winter
Stevenage 01438 351799Luton/Harpenden 01582 920097St Albans 01727 240056Hitchin/Letchworth 01462 820 021
Secret garden tips
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Sow new lawns and deal wit h bare pat ches
If you are hoping for a lovely patch of green for the coming year then now is the time to sow the lawn. Seed, when it is well cared for, will start to grow vigorously and of course seed sown now will also help to improve bare patches.
Increase t he amount of water given t o house plant s
As the seasons change, the amount of water given to different plants also varies. This is especially true of houseplants so as the temperature starts to rise make sure that the amount of water given also increases.
Feed shrubs and roses
As the weather improves, plants will want to get growing so make sure
that shrubs and roses are fed to allow them to make the most of the favourable conditions.
Start feeding cit rus plant s
Along with others, citrus plants need a little boost at this time of year to help growth so start to feed them gradually.
Sow hardy annuals and herb seeds
April is a great time to start sowing
hardy annuals and herb seeds and within no time you will see growth begin and great crops in later months.
Tie cl imbing and rambling roses
It may not seem like they will get out of hand but pretty soon climbing and rambling roses will be tough to tackle so make sure they are tied now ready for the growth to begin.
Beware late f rost s so protect f ruit blossom
The warm weather may be with us or just around the corner but late frosts can still strike so protect fruit blossom.
Keep on t op of weeds
If seeds and plants are growing then so are weeds so make a start on them now, if you don't keep on top of them in Spring there's a Summer of hard work ahead!
And don't forget as t he weather improves and t he warmer weather star t s t o arr ive, just get out int o your garden and enjoy it !
The # Her t s t eam of exper t s gi ve you som e t op t i ps an d jobs t o do as t he garden spr in gs i n t o act i on i n M arch an d Apr i l
What is t he name of your char it y?TRACKS Autism
What is t he aim of t he char it y?To provide a calm environment for up to 10 children per 3.5 hour session, currently running 5 sessions over 4 days, 48 weeks of the year. We have a high ratio of dedicated and specially trained staff to help the children develop:
- the means and motivation to communicate with others
- the ability to play and become active learners- basic skills and understanding of the world
around them
Where are you based?TRACKS House, Boulton Road, Stevenage SG1 4QX
Do you have any special project s at t he moment?In 2015 we moved to our new pre-school premises at TRACKS House in Stevenage. As a result of the improved facilities there we have set in place exciting new plans scoped around three opportunities for our children for which we currently seek support.
These are:-
Sensory Circuits: We have been piloting a pro-active Sensory Circuits approach and the evidence is that it has been extremely beneficial to our children. We need to fund the input of an Occupational Therapist to compliment the work of our Teaching Assistants.
Intensive Social Skills Interaction: Children with an autistic spectrum condition can have serious problems with communication and social interaction. They have major difficulties understanding and expressing their
own needs or feelings. We urgently need the funding to buy in the expertise of a speech and language therapist.
The Kaspar Project: We are working in partnership with the University of Hertfordshire in developing the humanoid robot Kaspar. This robot acts as a mediator to enhance learning, social communication and social interaction, as well as the emotions of pre-school children with autism.
How can local businesses help you? Your support could be for a specific piece of work that we do with the children such as:
- sensory circuits- sherborne developmental movement- KASPAR the humanoid robot
You could sponsor a particular event, for example:
- to raise awareness of autism - to inform parents and professionals about the
vital work that we do- workshops to help parents manage family life
with a child with autism
You could sponsor a particular area of our building, such as:
- our sensory room- our art room- our outdoor sensory garden
How can I f ind out fur t her informat ion about you?www.tracks-autism.org.uk
Check-out a charityTHE PAGE THAT PROMOTES CHARITIES LOCALLY, THEIR FUNDRAISING EVENTS, THEIR AIMS AND THEIR FUTURE PLANS
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For many small business owners, business planning is something that they feel they ought to do, but rarely have the time to do one. If the business is running well then why bother to write a business plan? Let?s try and answer that question ? what are the benefits of a business plan?
Types of Business PlanBusiness plans can vary in style and content a great deal. For example, at Hooke & Co. we offer modern business plans (like the one shown in the picture above) that list tasks, task owners, and then map out what needs to be done over time. We also offer more formal business plans that are more detailed, and take the form of a document and spreadsheet.
So benefits will vary depending on the type of business plan. But broadly speaking, here are a list of the benefits of a business plan.
1. A Map From A to B ? Organise Your ThoughtsWhether launching, expanding or improving a business, there is inevitably a lot to think about. A business plan will help you to organise your thoughts and map your journey from A to B.
2. Do the Right Thing Day-to-DayWith your map from A to B to hand you are more likely to do the right thing on a day-to-day basis to achieve the longer-term change. Big changes are most frequently made up of lots smaller changes delivered over a sustained period of time. In
much the same way as a geographical map will keep you on course step-by-step, so a business plan will keep you on course day-by-day.
3. Share Your Vision and Win BackingOnce your thoughts are captured in a business plan it makes it far easier to share all of the detail with someone else. One of the key benefits of a business plan is that you can share your vision with other people and win their backing for your venture. Examples include investors, bank managers or potential business partners.
4. Select Your Best IdeasThe activity of writing a business plan will force you to think carefully about your venture. Inevitably your ideas will change and evolve as you prepare your business plan. Naturally, you will realise that things could be achieved more efficiently and effectively than your original approach, and you will start selecting your best ideas for inclusion in your business plan.
5. Evaluate Risk and De-RiskFurther benefits of a business plan include helping you to evaluate the risks associated with your venture.
No one wants to fail in business. Identify and managing risks is key to avoiding failure.
6. Get to Grips with the FinancialsNot everyone is a naturally gifted accountant, and for some people business financials are very difficult. However, at the end of the day a business will live or die by its financials ? the amount of money coming in versus the amount of money going out.
7. Confirm Task OwnersOne of the most important benefits of a business plan is to agree who in the business is responsible for what. Even if the business is a one-man-band there will still be tasks delivered by third parties, e.g. accounting. For multi-person businesses confirming which founder is responsible for what can save a lot of heartache and blaming when things get tough.
8. Feel MotivatedLaunching, expanding or improving a business is often tough going. One of the final benefits of a business plan is that it can be a great source of motivation during the most difficult of times. A business plan will help you to remember why you are doing what you?re doing.
Hooke and Co assist with business plans
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A square deal with the new online estate agent
www.cube-estates.co.uk email : [email protected] 01438 557405
Business and Technology Centre, Bessemer Drive, Stevenage, Herts SG1 2DX
CUBE IS YOUR KEY TO A SPEEDY AND SUCCESSFUL HOME MOVE:- FREE VALUATION- MANAGED OPTION INTRODUCTORY FEE JUST £499 NO VAT- "TRADITIONAL" OPTION INTRODUCTORY RATE JUST 0.6% NO VAT- NO HIGH STREET PREMISES, SAVINGS PASSED ON TO CUSTOMERS- REGISTER FOR FREE PROPERTY UPDATES- LONGER WORKING HOURS TO SUIT YOU
8AM-8PM- PROFESSIONAL SERVICE BASED ON
HONESTY AND STRONG PRINCIPLES
[email protected] 557405
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Have a great day at Celtic HarmonyOn Sunday 13th March, the gates of Celtic Harmony Camp, the Iron Age Settlement near Hertford, opened to visitors for the f irst t ime this year, and what a glorious day!
With the sun beating down, families had the opportunity to Live Like A Celt for a day, and travel back in time to experience a day in the life of an ancient Briton.
Having been ambushed at the wattle gates by Celtic warriors, families were welcomed to the traditional Iron Age Celtic settlement. Visitors had their own Celtic hosts, Bronwyn and Owain, who guided them around craft experts, including the Farmer to grind grain and make f lat breads, the Potter to make coil pots and the Herbalist to dye bracelets with native plants. The afternoon saw battle
techniques led by seasoned warrior Owain, and Angus trained young archers too.
Visitors also got close up and personal with the owls; European Eagle Owl and Great Grey, and listened to stories from a time of giants and heroes.
?We had a fantastic day, thank you! We loved the bread making and the pottery!?, said Lucy about her day at Celtic Harmony Camp.
?We were delighted to be part of the Visit Hertfordshire Big Weekend?, said Luca Parrella, Heritage Director and Head Archery Coach, ?This was a fantastic opportunity to show our new roundhouses and share with our visitors what l ife was like for Ancient Britons?.
Live Like A Celt returns to Celtic Harmony Camp on Sunday 31st May (www.celticharmony.org/ families/ live-like-a-celt). If you cannot wait until then, book onto our Summer Beltane Festival which takes place on Sunday 1st May (www.celticharmony.org/ families/beltane-summer-festival).
Pre book your Great Day Out in Ancient Britain at: celticharmony.org/events
"We were delighted to be part of Hertfordshire's Big Weekend...to show our new roundhouses and share with visitors"
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Enjoy a great stay the Novotel way Novotel Stevenage hotel is located off Junction 7 of the A1M in the grounds of Knebworth House, just 5 minutes' drive from central Stevenage with its shops and railway connections. The hotel offers 101 guestrooms, a restaurant and meeting and function space for up to 150 delegates. The hotel is enjoying a fantastic refurbishment which will see it re-branded as a 4 star hotel.
Novotel benefits from free on-site parking, free WiFi, a Cosy stylish bar for drinks and snacks and six airy flexible rooms for events that work.
Novotel has a host of amazing events coming up in t he next few months and you can be sure of a good t ime and a warm welcome.
22nd May - Best of Br it ish Two course traditional British meal. Enjoy all the classics with our live band and
disco. £25 Per Person.
14th May- Eurovision Song Contest Final Night . Food, music and the show streamed live.
19th June - Fathers Day BBQ Including a drink. £20 per person.
5th August - Cinema evening featuring a Grease Night.
23rd September- Tribute Night Come along for great entertainment and top tribute band.
28th October- Psychic Night Have a conversation with the other side on our psychic night.
30th October- Fr iends of
Frankenstein Halloween Act ivit y Day.
Before the scary night enjoy our freaky day, £20 with carvery, £10 without carvery. Includes carvery, mask making, carving classes with chef, drawing contest.
5th November- Bonf ire Night Dinner wit h open mic.
To book all of the events listed or to find out more details about the Novotel:Call 01438 346198Email [email protected] follow us on facebook @events at Novotel StevenageTwitter: @NovoStev
- Also planned:Every second Friday- open mic night/ live music
- Speed Dating nights- Cooking Classes Last
Thursday every month
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DVANA gives you a strategic insight
DVANA provides strategic insight and innovation for exceptional businesses since its inception in 2004. We do this with a deep understanding of how businesses operate. This means when we?re working together with DVANA?s Tools, Techniques and Insights, you gain a strategic advantage over your competit ion.
Dr Katherine Bean PhD, has a deeply technical background, with a PhD in Electronic Engineering, and a career at companies such as IBM. She spent years teaching, MBA & MEng courses; researching business procedures, processes and project management at university, whilst analysing the underlying problems, identifying solutions and assessing opportunities lost by businesses. She then developed a deep insight into how these problems
could be rectif ied and then devised the public and private Tools that DVANA use daily. These include:
The Success Cycle
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GREAT and the GREAT Endeavour
When the revolution in business productivity, which is GREAT and the GREAT Endeavour, are fully implemented their use helps businesses to improve their internal communications, drive productivity and ultimately
enables businesses to function more eff iciently. This can be through increased productivity, better staff retention or innovation. A GREAT Endeavour will deliver all these benefits to a business. GREAT is designed to work at all levels of a business, from senior management down, with everyone being able to contribute appropriately.
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Remortgaging hits a nine-year highBy Chris Pease, Partner in Longmores? Residential Property team
Last December, Brit ish homeowners tapped into a staggering combined property wealth of £837 mill ion ? marking the largest amount of equity withdrawal over the Christmas period in the last nine years.
According to property experts, 2015?s historic low interest rates encouraged homeowners to remortgage on to a cheaper deal, with the average equity f igure withdrawn via re-mortgaging per person sitt ing at a very healthy £30,361.
The last t ime collective withdrawal through remortgaging hit a higher f igure during December was back in 2006, before the recession, when UK equity withdrawn totalled £1.4 bil l ion.
But with the Bank of England signalling no plans to hike the 0.5 per cent base rate, and an estimated 90% of banks and building societies in a so-called ?price war?, savvy homeowners were easily able to breach that amount, quickly realising that they could exploit the value of their homes to pay off debts and buy big ticket items, like new cars or kitchens, without having to increase the cost of their monthly repayments.
Charlotte Nelson, from comparison website Moneyfacts.co.uk, said:
"Mortgage payments are one of the biggest f inancial outlays a homeowner can have, so it 's a no-brainer to grab a low rate deal while they're stil l available?.
"Of course, borrowers need to look at the mortgage as a whole to ensure they get the best deal to suit them. But by taking advantage of the rates on offer today, they could end up saving signif icant f igures."
If you require any further information or advice about your property please contact Longmores on 01992 300333 or visit www.longmores-solicitors.co.uk
"Mortgage payments are one of the biggest financial outlays a homeowner can have, so it's a no-brainer to grab a low rate deal while they're still available"
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Use the power of social to connect
The key t o t he success of #Hert s is t hat more and more businesses and readers are t urning t o digit al t o both sell and also t o entert ain. A websit e is a given now for most businesses but so are Facebook pages, Instagram sit es and Twit t er feeds. They are all ways in which potent ial customers can f ind out more about what is going on in t heir area and who is of fer ing services t hat t hey need.
There wil l always be pr int . But even t hough t here wil l be a pr int element t o #Hert s, don?t expect t housands of copies being pushed t hrough unwil l ing let t erboxes or even worse, embarrassing numbers lef t in apt ly named ?dump? bins.
Those days are gone. Now if a customer wants t o view your product t hey wil l come to you. They wil l be a fol lower, or t hey wil l log on
and search for you. So #Hert s is t he best of both wor lds. I t is a pr int st yle publicat ion wit h all t he famil iar it y t hat af fords, but it uses current t echnology and t rends t o make sure t hat customers get exact ly what t hey want . The lazy of days of hit and hope publishing are over, t he days of t he hashtag are here...isn?t it t ime you became a leader t o your fol lowers?
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LEISURE # EVENTS # BUSINESS #DINING #
# HERTS# HERTS
Get in touch:
07539 782979
www.hashtagherts.co.uk
darren@spitf irepr.com
HashtagHerts
@hashtagherts
In the next edit ion of ...
How t ime f l ies and by t he next edit ion of #Hert s we wil l be near t o t he mid-point of t he year and summer wil l be very close at hand.
Our next digit al copy wil l be available on May 13 wit h all t he best in business and features f rom the per iod unt i l t he summer holidays begin in earnest .
Along wit h our regular columns and features promot ing t he very best of #Hert s t here wil l also be our unr ivalled guide The Main Event featur ing all t he t op act s and events in t he county.
To advert ise or make sure of your copy contact or fol low us on t he addresses below.
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Kelly Swallow
Fanshawe St, Hertford01992 310280www.kellyswallow.com
La Belle Assiet t e
020 3318 5003www.labelleassiette.co.uk
Sallyanndesigns
Stevenage SG1 6BX01438 317722www.footprint-magazine.co.uk
Isabel Hospice
61 Bridge Road, Welwyn GC01707 382575www.isabelhospice.org.uk
Hooke&Co Businness Consult ing
Stevenage, SG2 9DA020 3700 3391www.hookeco.com
#Hert sHour
01462 811134www.hertshour.co.uk
Novotel
Knebworth Park, Stevenage, SG1 2AX, 01438 600687www.accorhotels.com
Love Let chworth
16 The Arcade, Letchworth GC,01462 486999www.loveletchworth.com
Cube Estates
BTC, Bessemer Drive, Stevenage, SG1 2DX, 01438 557405www.cube-estates.co.uk
biz4Biz
Forum Chambers, The Forum, Stevenage SG1 1EL 01462 478031www.biz4biz.org
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We are delighted to present our business directory of trusted traders and supporters of #HertsCall 07539782979 if you wish to take advantage of one of the advertising options via our extensive online promotion and here in the magazine
BUSINESS DIRECTORY
Elsie Road
Dave Hadley Photography
Carters Mead, Harlow, CM17 9EU07810 563838www.davehadleyphotography.co.uk
The Crown Aston End
56 Long Lane, Aston End, Stevenage SG2 7HD 01438 880060www.crownastonend.co.uk
Spire Healt hcareAmbrose Lane, Harpenden, AL5 4BP, 01582 763191www.spirehealthcare.com
The Barn Theat re
Handside Lane, Welwyn GC, AL8 6ST01707 324300www.barntheatre.co.uk
A-Top Propert y Let t ings
Drapers Way, Stevenage, 01438 369173www.a-topletting.co.uk
C&J Heat ing and Plumbing
33c Julians Road, Stevenage01438 351799www.candjservices.co.uk
Herit age Br ides
The Harness Room, Stable Yard, Hatfield House AL95NQ 01707 707842www.heritagebrides.co.uk
Lawrence Dean Recruitment
BTC, Bessemer Drive, Stevenage, SG1 2DX, 01438 310131www.lawrencedeanrecruitment.co.uk
WINE2LAYDOWN
Unit 21, Merchant Drive, Hertford, SG13 7AY, 01707 505560www.wine2laydown.com
WallJAM
BTC, Bessemer Drive, Stevenage, SG1 2DX, 07753 719311www.walljam.com
Climbing Turn
BTC, Bessemer Drive, Stevenage, SG1 2DX, 07717 582128www.climbingturn.co.uk
Mack's Pie and Mash
29b High Street, Stevenage, SG1 3AU01438 317721www.mackspieandmash.co.uk
Topgolf
Bushey Mill Ln, Watford, WD24 7AB01923 222045www.topgolf.com
Wat ford Colosseum
Rickmansworth Road, Watford, WD17 3JN 01438 01923 571102www.watfordcolosseum.co.uk
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We are delighted to present our business directory of trusted traders and supporters of #HertsCall 07539782979 if you wish to take advantage of one of the advertising options via our extensive online promotion and here in the magazine
BUSINESS DIRECTORY
Wyllyot t s Theat re
Wyllyotts Place, Darkes Lane, Potters Bar, EN6 2HN 01707 645005www.wyllyottstheatre.co.uk
Gordon Craig Theat re
Arts and Leisure Centre, Lytton Way, Stevenage, SG1 1LZ 01438 363200www.gordon-craig.co.uk
Henry Moore Studios and Gardens
Dane Tree House, Perry Green, Much Hadham, SG10 6EE 01279 843333www.henry-moore.org
Stableyard Hat f ield HouseStableyard Shops, Hatfield House, Hatfield, AL9 5NF 01707 287010www.stableyardshops.co.uk
Parent s Paradise
Unit C, Greatham Rd Industrial Estate, Bushey, WD23 2NZ, 01923 249747www.parentsparadise.eu
The Music Dept
67 London Road, St Albans,01727 898300www.themusicdept.com
Rookies Day Nursery
Stevenage FC Academy, Broadhall Way, Stevenage, SG2 8RH, 01438 842233www.rookiesdaynursery.co.uk
Spit f irePR
Wheelwrights, Kimpton, Herts, SG4 8PW07539 782979www.spitfirepr.com
Odyssey Healt h Club
Old Knebworth Lane, Stevenage, SG2 8DU 01438 313320www.odysseyhealthclubs.com
Cineworld Stevenage
Stevenage Leisure Park, Kings Way, Stevenage, SG1 2UA0871 200 2000www.cineworld.co.uk/cinemas/stevenage
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For result s t oday speak t o t he communicat ion expert s at Spit f irePR
Media relat ions
Social media market ing
Market ing
Copy writ ing
Media t raining
Crisis management
For al l your mark eting and social media needs:
07539 782979
w w w .spi tf i repr.com
darren@spi tf i repr.com
@DarrenIsted1
@hashtagherts
Proud publ isher of #Herts@hashtagherts
