Biddy at the Newbury Spring Festival

There’s still a week to go of this year’s Newbury Spring Festival – it runs until 23 May – so if you haven’t already attended an event this year do have a look at their website to see what’s available – whatever your musical tastes you won’t be disappointed. After all, it is one of the most magical music extravaganzas in the country – and right here on our doorstep.

It’s not even all about music. I booked my ticket some weeks ago for Poetry of the Great War which was performed at the West Berkshire Museum.

A friend and I ventured forth on what seemed to be the wettest day of May and as we had a couple of hours to while away before the event, we had lunch at the charming Tea Shop on the Canal, followed by a half hour enjoying some of the displays at the West Berkshire Museum itself – my friend’s first visit and on her list for a return very soon to see more. We particularly enjoyed the photographic exhibition where we were able to vote for our favourite (and that was a difficult choice as there was lots of entries from some very talented young photographers).

On to the performance – for one day only, but the third of the day – of Poetry of the Great War. Two actors marched on in uniform and stood silently, heads bowed, as Elgar’s Sospiri played, setting the scene.

The two young men, Ewan Somers and Dominic Rye from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, took the parts of two war poets: Wilfred Owen, killed in action at the age of 25, just one week before the signing of the Armistice; and Siegfried Sassoon, who survived the war, was decorated for his bravery on the Western Front and died when he was 80.

Their readings of the works of the soldiers was admirable and moving in the extreme, with my favourite, if that is the right word, being Sassoon’s Does It Matter? (Look it up: it’s beautiful.)

Just a couple of tasters of things during the next week:

• From Page To Screen on Tuesday 19 May – at Englefield House at Theale, best-selling author Robert Harris talks about how some of his books have been transferred to film.

• Till The Clouds Roll By on Thursday 21 May – with performances at both Sydmonton Court, Ecchinswell and Audley Inglewood, Kintbury, the Swell Party Company pay tribute to Jerome Kern, with songs from such great musicals as Showboat.

• Ronnie Scott's All Stars on Friday 22 May – also at the Corn Exchange, this celebrates the music and history of one of the world's most famous jazz venues, with classic jazz from many of the jazz greats.

• Kit & McConnel on Saturday 23 May – performing at the Corn Exchange, many people will already know how hilarious this comedy duo are.

Check out www.newburyspringfestival.org.uk for lots more too!

Biddy x 

Biddy Conquers 4 Kingdoms

A fine spring day beckoned and the husband and I decided to take our grandson (DD) to conquer 4 Kingdoms.

If you’ve conjured up visions of suits of armour, dashing chargers, fire-breathing dragons and pointed lances, do not fear: 4 Kingdoms is tamer than that – though very exciting for anyone up to age of 12.

4 Kingdoms Farm and Adventure Park, to give it its full title, is just on the outskirts of Newbury, at Headley. (It is very easy to find but see www.4-kingdoms.co.uk for directions and details of opening times etc). We arrived on a bright May morning, but my goodness the wind was chilly. There are wide open spaces here and I suspect the wind whips up pretty regularly, so my advice is to take plenty of layers.

After parking up in the spacious car park, a warm welcome awaited us. Once you’ve paid your entrance fee, everything (except food and drink, obviously) is free, even the ride-on machines which normally cost at least £1 – and when you are only two-and-a-half you can never get enough of a see-saw with Mr Bump on the other end. 

DD barely knew where to start exploring. To an adult eye the sight looked fairly modest to begin with, but once you are properly ensconced you begin to realise that it stretches on… and on… and on. In fact there are 40 acres of Kingdom and, despite its proximity to the A339, you are surrounded by trees and countryside so well protected from road noise. And within those 40 acres there is lots to keep youngsters occupied for, quite literally, hours on end.

Clearly during school holidays and weekends it gets much busier, but we are making the most of DD being a pre-schooler and, mid-week, were able to enjoy everything at 4 Kingdoms with other families in the same position, and no need to queue.

While many of the facilities have certainly been well-used and could do with a lick of paint, it was early in the season when we visited and the staff were busy making improvements and carrying out general maintenance – and all cheerfully and discreetly. Maintenance is, of course, essential, so visitors are warned that not every ride or facility is necessarily available every day.

So, what is there at 4 Kingdoms? Sandpits, bouncy castles, forts to explore and climb, and lots of slides of varying heights and lengths, so plenty of choice depending on the size of your child. DD is very keen on small buildings which he can run in and out of, and there are many of these in the play village – a police station (plus prison), fire station, post office – even a bank with an ATM machine (non-functioning, I should add). Here too are lots of stationery vehicles, including a speedboat, for those who like to ‘drive’, and DD ran from one to the other with the greatest of glee. (I especially liked the London taxi – you could twist the driver’s head round so he could ask the backseat passenger, ‘Where to, Guv?’)

There are go-carts a-plenty, and what fun we had on those. There are two outside tracks, with go-carts that involve pedal power – great exercise for us – plus an indoor track with electric-powered ones. Woo-hoo!

Then on to the crazy golf (sadly no holes in one for me), and I managed to persuade the husband that perhaps the zip-wire and assault course were not for him.

The site is bordered by the River Enborne and there are three lakes. Go through a gate to follow a nature walk or picnic beside the water while watching ducks and other waterfowl. Beside the Magic Lake is what I would love most of all if I were still five-years-old: the Fairy Wood. There are little fairy houses in the trees too…

Although the Tractor Train was not running on the day of our visit, the fun had not stopped yet. There are animals to be admired in the great outdoors – pygmy goats, llamas and ponies – and in the animal petting area you can meet smaller creatures: rabbits, guinea pigs, chickens and, one of the highlights of our day, baby lambs, which you get a chance to feed at certain times of day in the spring. 

If you don’t bring you own picnic there is an indoor café where you can buy drinks, snacks and lunches – sandwiches, jacket potatoes, or such things as burgers or fish fingers and chips cooked to order. As well as two indoor seating areas, there is a soft play area for little ones if you want some time indoors.

We were there for hours so thought it well worth the entrance fee. Wind-blown, full of fresh air and well exercised, an exhausted DD was asleep in the car before we’d even left the car park!

Biddy x 

New Chapter for Waterstones bookshop in Newbury

Waterstones, the leading high street bookseller, is to relocate its bookshop on Northbrook Street in May, to stunning new premises just a couple of minutes walk away at Parkway.

Waterstones Northbrook Street will cease to trade on 8th May, with all booksellers transferring to the new bookshop at Parkway, which will open to the public on Saturday 6th June. Waterstones Parkway bookshop will trade over 2800 sq ft over one floor and will feature a beautiful new light oak bookcase and slat wall design, and a scrumptious new Waterstones Café with indoor and outdoor seating for 32.

Alongside triple certified coffee from Matthew Algie - approved by the Fairtrade Foundation, Rainforest Alliance and Organic Food Federation – the café will offer a unique and delicious range of handmade cakes and pastries sourced from local artisan bakers and specialist producers who champion natural ingredients. Locally sourced delicacies will include pastries and sandwiches sourced daily from Newbury’s Hethertons Bakery and mouthwatering cakes from Kintbury’s Cakes by Cocochoux.

Whilst brimming with many wonderful books as you would expect, the bookshop will also be home to a specially selected range of stunning stationery and gifts. And with free wi-fi and a well-stocked children’s department that the kids will love, Waterstones at Parkway will be a great place for the whole family to enjoy.

Waterstones Bookshop Manager Annie Gibb-Cohen says:

“We’re thrilled to be opening a brand new bookshop in Newbury. With its gorgeous new design, and delicious café, our bookshop will be a real pleasure to browse, to enjoy with the family and to visit with friends and catch up over a coffee. We are really looking forward to sharing our stunning shop with our customers.”

Waterstones will launch the new bookshop at Parkway with a special family fun day on Saturday 6th June.

The Merry Month of May in Newbury

There is so much happening in Newbury over the next few weeks that the month of May is indeed lining up to be a merry one.

First up is the Car Festival, brought to you by Parkway Shopping Newbury and Newbury BID (Business Improvement District). This is taking place over the May Day Bank Holiday weekend, Saturday 2 to Monday 4 May at Parkway. Zoom along to experience the very best on four wheels: Mercedes, BMW, Maserati and lots more….

Also on Bank Holiday Monday, 4 May, is the Round Table Crafty Craft Race. This annual charity fund-raising event happens on the stretch of the Kennet & Avon Canal running between the village of Kintbury and Victoria Park in Newbury. First started in 1974, this is a fun boat race where teams in home-made boats sail along this five-mile stretch of water. Competitors navigate their vessels along the canal, carry them around the seven locks, and paddle their way to the finish line in Victoria Park. But the fun doesn’t stop there as ‘Vicky Park’ is host to a great day of entertainment for all the family. More details, including how to enter a team in the race or to reserve a stall in Victoria Park, from www.craftycraft.com.

On Saturday 9 May, Paddington Bear is coming to town! Following hot on the heels of the wonderful film about him, everyone’s favourite bear is travelling with First Great Western from the London station after which he is named to arrive in style in Newbury. Paddington will be ‘meeting and greeting’ in Parkway, where there will be special events taking place all day long. He’s going to be one busy little bear so maybe you could pack a few marmalade sandwiches…?

That same week sees the start of one of West Berkshire’s most prestigious musical events of the year: Newbury Spring Festival 2015. Running from Saturday 9 to Saturday 23 May, this is a full-on fabulous ‘Festival Fortnight’. Now in its 37th year, many venues throughout West Berkshire – from Sheepdrove Farm at Lambourn to Highclere Castle, from the Corn Exchange Newbury to Douai Abbey to name but a few – play host to leading musical talent and rising stars covering many genres. The first evening starts, as is tradition, with a classical concert at St Nicolas Church in the centre of Newbury – but don’t for one minute think the whole fortnight is about classical music. There really is something for everyone of all ages (even babies!): jazz, orchestral, poetry recitals, theatre, film … the list is endless. Full details at www.newburyspringfestival.org.uk and tickets from the Corn Exchange, www.cornexchangenew.com, Box Office 0845 5218 218.

As the Spring Festival draws to a close on the Saturday, that same weekend, on Sunday 24 May, the Bayer Newbury 10K and Under-16s Races take place. Local business Bayer is once again partnering Newbury Athletic Club (NAC) for the Bayer Newbury 10K run, plus two pre-event runs for under-16s. All races start in the Market Place, Newbury and races for the under-16s follow a route around the town centre on traffic-free roads. This year the event supports Naomi House and Jacksplace children’s hospices. Details of how to enter at www.bayer.co.uk/newbury-10k. But you don’t have to run to join in the fun – go along and cheer on the runners!

Rounding off the month is the start of this year’s Banjo Cycles Summer Cyclocross, commencing on Thursday 28 May. Competitive cyclists of all ages and experience are welcome to go along and join in at Goldwell Park in Newbury. The fun starts at 5.30pm and runs over six consecutive Thursdays, the final one being on 2 July. There will be lots of different courses to try out, suitable for those who want to push themselves and those who prefer to take things a little more steady, and all on grass tracks. Pre-register or just turn up on the night: further details at www.banjocycles.com.

And that’s just May! Summer is just around the corner, so keep a look out for more Newbury fun over the coming months.

Biddy on the Newbury Giant Easter Egg Hunt

A fine Bank Holiday Easter Monday … and I lured the husband into Newbury with the promise of breakfast before we hit the Giant Easter Egg Hunt trail.

Breakfast sitting outside in early April in England? Yes indeed – and at the Teashop by the Canal there are few finer spots. Fuelled by a full English with a side order of black pudding (for him) and a bacon and egg sarnie (for me), accompanied by tea in a proper teapot (leaf tea at that) and a good Americano we were fired up and ready to hit the town.

We collected our form from the special Easter Zone in Parkway (you can also get them from the Visitor Information Centre in the Market Place), where lots of children were enjoying activities and having their faces painted. Then off we went on the hunt for those Giant Easter Eggs. 

I must say it was good fun deciphering each of the 15 clever cryptic clues (most of which were not too difficult, thankfully) to find the eggs and, very importantly, the special letter displayed alongside each one. 

Without wanting to give too much away, the trail takes you all around the town centre, and follows a logical route so you don’t need to backtrack on yourself. 

The clues aside, the giant Easter eggs themselves are works of art and include a fabulous golden one, a stylish black and white one, a pretty rainbow one, even one that looks like a circus Big Top. However, there were a couple that I liked best of all. One was in … oooh I can’t tell you but it is big and yellow and covered in smaller eggs, cut out and coloured in by children, with my particular favourite being a drawing of an Easter bunny. The other was very cleverly and beautifully decorated in a découpage style, all pink and blue and pretty … the only clue I’m going to give you is: it’s on the bridge.

So … give me a C – C!  Give me a G – G! And that really is all the help you’re getting … if you want to find out what the other letters are that will help you crack the code you’ll have to go and hunt for them. There’s still plenty of time as the competition runs until Saturday 18 April, all through the school holidays, and is a great way to while away a morning or afternoon.

And as you could be in with a chance of winning a fabulous prize – a £250 John Lewis at Home voucher, a Hotel Chocolat hamper or a giftcard from The Entertainer toyshop – it’s a bit of fun that’s too good to miss.

Happy hunting!

Biddy x 

Biddy says Bonjour to PAUL

It had only opened the day before I visited PAUL, the new bakery/pâtisserie cum Parisian café in Parkway, so it was all pretty much new to the staff as well as the customers, of which there were many.

Dressed in pristine white overalls the staff looked very bakery, very fresh, just as you’d wish – and there were plenty of them attending to everyone’s desires.

And when you step inside their premises selling gorgeous French breads, cakes, pastries and savouries there is indeed much to be desired. Because they all looked so good I took my time over the display of goodies while I tried not to drool.

Front of shop is the counter, with pretty tiles behind, traditional black and white tiled flooring, and great black and white photos on the wall. Here too there are high tables and stools for perching, while beyond is the more relaxed seating/dining area, all looking very chic.

There was a constant stream of customers, all eager to try out Newbury’s newest café, but the friendly staff seemed to manage to seat everyone. Ahead of me in the queue a young guy was already taking advantage of PAUL’s takeaway Parisian breakfast deal – coffee, tea or hot chocolate, with a croissant or pain au chocolat. At just £2.95, it’s great value. 

I sat on one of the high stools by the window – always my seat of preference! It was a great spot to people-watch while I enjoyed my coffee and croissant. I’d plumped for a croissant pistache. Crisp and flaky on the outside, soft and sinful on the inside, this is your traditional croissant with an added twist. And very yummy it was too. Just the million calories per bite, you understand! But my latte was a skinny one, so does one balance out the other? (Who am I trying to kid?)

So, what of PAUL? It certainly has a good track record as it is the biggest bakery in France; the first one opened in Lille in 1889 and the business is still family-owned, now in its fifth generation. Its popularity has seen it open in 29 countries, and in the UK the Newbury branch is only the second one to open outside of London.

Opening hours are long – Monday–Wednesday 8am–7pm, Thursday–Saturday 8am–9pm, Sunday 9am–6pm – giving everyone a chance to sample what’s on offer, whether it’s breakfast, brunch, elevenses, lunch, afternoon tea or a post-work snack or early supper.

As well as the traditional French breakfast, also on offer will be: Oeufs á la Coque (also known as boiled eggs and soldiers); Oeufs Royale (poached eggs with smoked salmon, hollandaise sauce on delicious toasted bread); Brioche Perdue (French toast with crème anglaise – or eggy bread and gorgeous authentic custard if you want to get down to basics); and Les Criques de Gramat (potato cakes, ham, Emmental cheese and tomatoes, topped with a fried egg).

Later in the day you might try their charcuterie and cheese platters, and there is also a choice of wines – well, it wouldn’t be French without, would it?

I left with a pain de Campagne tucked under my arm for the husband and the intention of taking him with me when I next visit as I really want to try their signature French-style afternoon tea. Au revoir, PAUL, until then …

Biddy x 

Giant Easter Egg Hunt: 3–18 April 2015

The Easter school holidays are on the horizon, and what better way to keep children of all ages (from 1 to 101!) amused than with Newbury’s Giant Easter Egg Hunt 2015? If it’s anything like the one in 2014, it’s going to be cracking good fun!

This year’s Giant Easter Egg Hunt starts on Good Friday (3 April) and runs for over two weeks, ending on Saturday 18 April, and as it incorporates three weekends this gives everyone plenty of time to get involved.

So, how does it work? It’s simple. All you need to do is collect an entry form from Parkway Easter Zone on East Street or the Visitor Information Centre in Market Place (available from 3 April). This will present you with a series of 15 clues about where in Newbury town centre you will find the giant Easter eggs, planted by Newbury’s very own Easter bunny. Follow the trail around town – it is all within easy walking distance – as you work out the crafty clues. When you find each of the 15 giant eggs you will also find a special letter that will go towards cracking a secret code. Once you’ve completed the trail and cracked the code, all entry forms need to be returned to the Easter Zone in Parkway – then keep your fingers crossed!

Everyone who works out the code correctly will be in with a chance of winning a fabulous prize, including a fantastic first prize of a £250 voucher from John Lewis at Home. It is expected that competition winners will be announced on 18 April, but no later than 20 April.

Which shops and businesses are involved? Well, that would be telling! But what we can do is thank Newbury BID, Newbury Building Society, Parkway Shopping Newbury, Pageant Party shop in Cheap Street and Rainbows in Inches Yard who are sponsoring the event and giving everyone this exciting opportunity.

Even if you don’t have time to complete the trail, while you are in Newbury over the Easter period you are sure to enjoy admiring the magnificent giant Easter Eggs – they really are enormous and hugely colourful. Many of them have been designed by local junior schools, giving the children a great time demonstrating their artistic talents. Others have been decorated by local craft shop Rainbows.

Many people who participated in the Giant Easter Egg Hunt 2014 voted it an out and out success, and this year it is anticipated that even more locals and visitors to the town will take part. We hope to see you there!