village life (hitchin)

TRAVEL TODUBAI

Lifestyle | Business | Community

Interview Chris Gerard

PLUS local business reviews

• Codicote • Kimpton • Whitwell • Preston • Breachwood Green • Graveley • Little Wymondley • Great Wymondley • St. Ippolyts • Gosmore

FREEAPRIL 2010

• Codicote • Kimpton • Whitwell • Preston • Breachwood Green • Graveley • Little Wymondley • Great Wymondley • St. Ippolyts • Gosmore

Lifestyle | Business | Community Village

FREEAPRIL 2010APRIL 2010APRIL

VillageVillageVillageLifewww.villagelifemag.com

FOOD REVIEWTHE GLOBE

BEAUTIFUL FLOORS

• Supply and fi t leading brands of wood, laminate fl ooring and carpet• Established and reliable family business with the personal touch• Domestic, commercial and insurance work undertaken• All work full insured and guaranteed• Quality craftmanship at very competitive prices• View samples, see references and a portfolio of previous work

CALL TODAY FOR YOUR FREENO-OBLIGATION MEASURE AND QUOTE

TEL: 01462 817202Mobile: 07903 594683, Email: mattsfl [email protected]

www.mandrfl ooring.co.uk

M&RFLOORING

M&R Wooden Flooring 0310 FP.indd 1 22/03/2010 13:58

C O N T E N T S

Village Life | www.villagelifemag.com | tel: 01438 216950April 2010 3

EDITORIAL & ADVERTISING ENQUIRIESMelanie Saavedra 01438 216950 [email protected]

PRODUCTIONDean Cook, The Magazine Production Company 01273 467579 [email protected]

© 2010 Village Life (Hitchin)

Village Life (Hitchin) is an independent magazine and does not endorse the products or services that appear in the magazine. Opinions expressed in the magazine do not necessarily represent those of the editor or of Village Life magazine.

5 Welcome to April

6 Business Spotlight:Women With Waders

8 Garden Calendar:What to do in April

10-11 On your travels: Dubai

12 Charity News:The Great Escape Challenge

16-17 Restaurant Review: The Globe, Codicote

18 Business Focus: Dealing with Pests

20 Business Review: Women With Waders

22-23 Local Focus: Local Entrepreneur (Chris Gerard)

28 What’s on in April / Take a break

TRAVEL TO DUBAI 10

GARDEN CARE 8

PEST CONTROL 18

RUSTY GUN 22

Where Can You Find Village Life?Village Life Magazine is delivered to 5000 homes and businesses

across 10 villages. Find us in Codicote, Kimpton, Whitwell, Preston,

Breachwood Green, Graveley, Little Wymondley, Great Wymondley,

St. Ippolyts and Gosmore.

We are increasing our circulation every month, so if you didn’t receive

a copy through your letterbox, you will do very shortly.

Village Life is published monthly by MJS Publishing.

01438 216950, www.villagelifemag.com

31

To advertise in The Hitchin Village Directory place call Melanie on 01438 216 950

GH Building and Landscaping design has years of experience to make your imagination become a reality. What we do...

• Extensions • Porches • Conservatories • Refurbishments • Any general building work • Patios, Decking and Pathways • Laid lawn and garden preparation • Building wall and outbuildings

62 Sparrow Drive Stevenage Herts SG2 9FD Telephone 01438 724660 Mobile 07867 794100

W E L C O M E


W E L C O M E


EMAIL [email protected]

VISIT US AND READ THE MAGAZINE ONLINEwww.villagelifemag.com

CALL US 01438 216950

P.S. Don't forget to visit www.villagelifemag.comP.S. Don't forget to visit www.villagelifemag.comP.S. Don't forget to visit

where you can visit the www.villagelifemag.comwhere you can visit the www.villagelifemag.com

Village Life message board.where you can visit the Village Life message board.where you can visit the

Jose & Melanie

Welcome to April’s edition of Village Life Magazine. Following the changes we made in the last issue, we have received many positive comments from our readers who like the

new format and the editorials. We are pleased that it has been well received and welcome any other comments or thoughts.

We have been working hard on expanding our distribution of the magazine which is delivered by hand by our three trusty lads to homes and businesses in Codicote, Kimpton, Preston, Graveley, Whitwell, Breachwood Green, Little Wymondley, Great Wymondley, Gosmore and St Ippollitts. In addition to this, you will also now find Village Life in the Sainsbury’s in Hitchin, David Lloyd in Stevenage, Vanstone Park Garden Centre and Codicote Garden Centre, all three branches of Norgans Estate Agents, The Strathmore Arms in St Paul’s Warden and other locations in our villages and in Hitchin town centre.

Don’t forget you can also visit our website where you will be able to see previous digital editions of Village Life; you can also get involved by posting a message on the Forum.

Remember if you have a local event or a story you would like us to mention then please email or call so we can put you in the magazine.

We wish you a very happy Easter, let’s hope we get some sunshine soon!

Bye for now

Village Life | www.villagelifemag.com | tel: 01438 216950

Village Life | www.villagelifemag.com | tel: 01438 216950 April 2010 6

BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

Now that spring has finally sprung your pond will probably require some much needed ‘TLC ’. Here are a few tips from Women

With Waders.Cover nets – These can be removed & cleared of

leaves & debris. Unless you have fish, which need protecting, your net can be put away until it is needed again in the autumn.

Plants – Now is best time to divide & repot your plants to make sure they look their best this season. Even if you do not repot baskets should be lifted, tidied and topped up with new stones.

Fish – Carry out a fish health check. After over-wintering fish can be feeling a bit off colour and may need a treatment of tonic salts to give them a much-needed boost.

Frogs & Newts – These little creatures will all be making their way back into your pond now so if you don’t have a beach area please make sure they can easily get in & out of the water by building a ramp with some stones or bricks.

Pumps – Make sure you give your pump a good clean to clear any weed or debris that may be preventing it working at it’s best.

Filters – These should be cleaned and a bio-start added to get the filter working properly. Remember, if you have a Ultra-Violet Clarifier, your UV bulb should be changed every year.

Below is an example of how Women With Waders have helped people in the past.

Mrs Waterhouse contacted them in May 2009. They found a very overgrown pond – which had not been maintained since 1991. The quote was accepted and here is what Mrs Waterhouse had to say about our service:

‘’Just a quick email to say how impressed we were by your friendly and efficient team of girls who arrived promptly this morning as arranged

and immediately proceeded to tackle the pond clearance, and worked throughout the morning (despite the intermittent bursts of rain). We really are delighted with the results, and would like to thank you for the excellent service. Would it be possible for you to offer me an estimated quotation

for us to have yearly maintenance?’’.Culpeper Community

Gardens in Islington contacted them in January 2009. They visited soon after when the weather was very cold and the pond was frozen over. The pond was in desperate need of a total clean out and all the plants needed dividing and repotting. A quote was given and accepted and work began in late February. It was a much bigger job than first thought and many community workers were roped in to help.

‘’Everyone who was there worked extremely hard and ended up with clothes that I don’t think even the ‘Daz Challenge’ would be able to cope with. Many, many thanks to Jo and the team from Women With Waders who got muddier than any human beings that I’ve ever seen. You were all a pleasure to work with from start to finish and had such wonderful team spirit’’.

If you do require any further help, have any queries or just need some advice please either visit our website, email or call us.

WOMEN WITH WADERS, 01462 456020, [email protected], www.womenwithwaders.co.uk

It’s wake up time for your pond

Business Review

The newspapers tell us that the garden is 5 weeks behind this year due to

it being the coldest winter in 30 years and you have to agree with them. The snowdrops around here in Whitwell have been spectacular. There seems to be so many more of them this year appearing everywhere, from gardens to verge, from woods to footpaths and they seem to have stayed around so much longer too. The downside is that the daffodils, crocuses and many of the other spring bulbs are only now making their presence felt. Still, they are here and that’s the main thing.

Let’s go through some of the more essential jobs (frost permitting), that need doing to keep the garden tidy and ready for that barbeque or outside party in a few short weeks time, hopefully.

Lawn - The longer days and warmer, sunnier weather will be encouraging stronger growth to the lawn. You can probably get away with a cut once a fortnight now. There is a school of thought that says

that if you cut the lawn often you don’t need to remove the clippings, they somehow help the lawn with nutrients, well, I think that’s dubious at best and who wants to keep bringing the clippings indoors on their shoes anyway? Once the lawn is drier, the blades on the mower can be lowered slightly but remember there’s plenty of time in the summer if you want your lawn to look like Lords- don’t rush it. Consider giving it a feed this month, I would recommend an organic fertiliser- they do the job well and are safer and better for everybody.

Hedges - It’s easy to take your hedge for granted but it will look a lot smarter for a tidy up and clip with shears or hedge trimmer. Remove the dead vegetation and rubbish that tends to accumulate under the hedge and clip it back so that it doesn’t start to take over either by growing too tall or into the garden too much.

Daffodils - I mentioned earlier about how late the daffs are this month. There will be

a temptation that when they have gone over to either remove their leaves early or tie them in knotted bundles to keep the garden tidy. Both those ideas will have a detrimental effect on next years display, the bulbs need about 6 weeks to re energise before you do anything. It’s a good idea to deadhead them to help conserve their energy.

Borders - Keep your borders tidy, keeping on top of the weeds by removing them and hoeing around your plants to keep the surface crumbly for aerating the ground. Sprinkle a general, organic fertiliser around your plants and also where you are going to be putting your summer bedding plants, when the time comes later.

Bedding Plants - Just a quickie, resist the temptation to buy your summer bedding plants yet, unless you have a greenhouse to keep them in. They look very attractive in the garden centre at the moment but until the threat of frost has completely gone you should sit on your money and wait; they’ll still be there in a month or so after all.

Anyway, I think that’s enough to be getting on with, don’t you?

Written by Cliff and Caren of Caren’s Creations. For further information, you can contact Cliff or Caren on 07855 862 412 or at [email protected]

What to do in April


GARDEN CALENDAR

The most thorough carpet cleaning ever seen… or it’s FREE!

That’s right, the most thorough cleaning ever. My carpet, upholstery & curtain cleaning is the best and most thorough you could ever have, if you don’t agree I won’t accept your payment.

Is your home a healthy home?

Did you know?1Carpets contain pollutants and bacteria. We

not only professionally clean your carpets but we will sanitise them as well, killing bacteria

and viruses making them safe for you and your family (see offer 5).

2By having your carpets and upholstery professionally cleaned your carpets will be transformed, the difference is amazing, and

will smell wonderfully fresh!

3Our success rate in stain removal is second to none so let us get rid of unwanted stains and odours.

4We offer dust mite elimination, these are the biggest cause of Allergies and are found in most homes.

“We will offer you the most thorough service, using the correct methods, solutions, quali�ied technicians, and delivered on time. We also offer a 100% cast iron guarantee...if you’re not 100% satis�ied we will not accept your payment!” - Justin & Emma

SPECIAL OFFERS1: Have two rooms cleaned and

get another FREE (up to 200 sq ft)or

2: FREE stain protection with every carpet cleaned

or3: Have two rooms cleaned and

get your upholstery cleaned FREE (three-seater settee or equivalent)

or4: 25% of mattress, leather,

curtain or rug cleaningor

5: 25% of our specially designed pet and baby packages

(MINIMUM CALL OUT FEE £80)Quote Ref. PCC05-Valid until May 30th 2010

For a FREE ‘Healthy Home’ no obligation audit freephone 0800 612 5380 or call 07756 403073www.premiumcarpetcare.co.uk Premium Carpet Care

FREE CONSUMER AWARENESS

TELEPHONE LINEDon’t call any carpet cleaning company until

you have listened to this FREE 24-hour recorded message.

‘The Consumer’s Guide to Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning’

Listen to this message to learn:• How to avoid four carpet cleaning rip-offs

• Eight questions to ask a carpet cleaner before you let him into your home.

• Six costly cleaning misconceptions

FREEPHONE: 0800 612 5379

Premium Carpet Care FP 0410.indd 1 24/03/2010 10:21

Sitting at the crossroads of Asia, Africa and Europe Dubai is ideally located for a

short break, stop over en-route to your final destination or as your main holiday resort. Originally a small fishing settlement that became a busy port of call on the ancient trade route, the emirate was rapidly transformed into an international business centre and modern tourist destination following the discovery of oil in 1966. Today Dubai offers the most comprehensive and cosmopolitan holiday destination where “old meets new” and “east meets west”. The hotels rank as some of the best in the world where the service and facilities are second to none.

The main tourist areas of Dubai are Jumeriah Beach which is mainly occupied by luxury hotels and home to the famous Burj Al Arab. Bur Dubai is old Dubai and famous for

the Gold Souk and Spice Souk, this area is full of history and culture. The Palm Islands, 3 of the largest man-made islands which are apparently visible from the moon! The Palm Jebel Ali home to a fantastic water park, Palm Deira is going to be residential and finally The World which is made up of 300 islands resembling a map of the world!

A few of the popular attractions include: the old Bastakiya district which is a step back in time to the days before electricity and air-conditioning, where traditional courtyard houses were cooled by wind towers. The souks, or traditional markets, are popular with bargain hunters as well as sightseers and photographers. The most famous is the Gold Souk, where the narrow streets are lined with shops selling everything golden, from 24-carat bars to rings and elaborate

necklaces. No visit to Dubai would be complete without a trip to the races…the camel races. This is a traditional sport in the UAE and hugely popular among local Emiratis who head to the race tracks early in the morning. The Jumeirah Mosque is one of the most photographed sights in Dubai. A fine example of modern Islamic architecture, this beautiful mosque is also one of the city’s largest, with a majestic dome and twin minarets, and is one of the few mosques open to non-Muslims for tours.

Children are not forgotten and Dubai has many attractions to keep children of all ages happy. Wonderland Theme and Water Park in Dubai Creek Park is the perfect place to cool down! The Caribbean themed park offers thrilling rides and slides such

DubaiUNITED ARAB EMIRATES


ON YOUR TRAVELS

Sitting at the crossroads of


ON YOUR TRAVELS

as the Red Baron, the spinning-coaster, the Action Arm, Lazy River and Surf Hill. Wonderland is a great way to spend the day with the family and a must for children of all ages. Wild Wadi Water Park on Jumeriah beach is one of the most advanced water theme parks ever designed; the five-hectare (12-acre) water park at Wild Wadi offers families and thrill seekers hours of fun, relaxation and adrenalin-pumping action. Designed like an Arabian wadi (oasis), the park has an Arabian folklore theme. You will also find a dolphinarium, children’s city an educational park and Ski Dubai in the Mall of the Emirates.

Dubai is also known as a shopper’s paradise and

the world largest shopping mall opened in November 2008, Dubai Mall

is home to around twelve hundred retailers.

It is the size of more than fifty football pitches and features an ice rink, a hotel, and is the gateway to the Burj Dubai; the tallest building in the world. The mall is home to a number of the world’s best known stores including Bloomingdales, Marks and Spencer and Montblanc. Designers such as Stella McCartney also have outlets in the complex and world famous jewellers Tiffany & Co. have a branch located there. No trip to Dubai would be complete without an outing to Dubai’s latest shopping spectacular

Having been to Dubai myself I have firsthand knowledge of this exciting destination, I fell in love with Dubai and all it has to offer.

I stayed at the Jumeriah Beach Hotel and can only say that you will not be disappointed if you stay here, the breakfast buffet was the largest and most diverse I have ever seen and the attention to detail was amazing. The staff greet you by name on arrival and the service continues to wow you throughout your stay, with 23 restaurants, 6 bars, 6 pools, a marina, private beach area and 24 hour golf buggies to drive you around the complex – this hotel will blow you away!

I would highly recommend an excursion into the desert for the sand dune 4 x 4 driving followed by camel riding then a visit to a Bedouin village and ending with a traditional Arabian barbeque under the stars, with a show of belly dancing. This was a real highlight on my holiday and gave you a taste of Arabia.

It rarely rains in Dubai so you can visit anytime of the year but please bear in mind that the temperatures in July and Aug can reach 50 degrees, so you need to be able to take the heat. A nice time to go would be in our spring or towards the latter part of the year where it is a cooler 30 degrees. During Ramadan it is considered disrespectful to eat, drink or smoke in public during daylight hours, although this isn’t a problem in the hotels. You will find prices more favourable during Ramadan as it is out of season. This year Ramadan starts on the 11th August and ends on the 9th September.

If you fancy a taste of Arabia then give Mel a call at Off Broadway Travel on 07932 154240 or email [email protected]

as the Red Baron, the spinning-coaster, the Action Arm, Lazy River and Surf Hill. Wonderland is a great way to spend the day with the family and a must for children of all ages. Wild Wadi Water Park on Jumeriah beach is one of the most advanced water theme parks ever designed; the five-hectare (12-acre) water park at Wild Wadi offers families and thrill seekers hours of fun, relaxation and adrenalin-pumping action. Designed like an Arabian wadi (oasis), the park has an Arabian folklore theme. You will also find a dolphinarium, children’s city an educational park and Ski Dubai in the Mall of


CHARITY NEWS

Matt Wallis and James Ryding, two local residents from Codicote are off to the Brecon Beacons to test themselves in a

corporate challenge that will raise funds for Marie Curie Cancer Care, as part of the charity’s Great Escape Challenge. The money raised will help Marie Curie Cancer Care to provide more free nursing care to patients with terminal cancer and other illnesses in their own homes.

The Great Escape Challenge takes sixty teams of four on a head to head, multi-sport adventure, designed to test the mind, challenge the body and build team spirit.

Matt Wallis, local Marie Curie supporter said: “We have entered a team in Marie Curie Cancer Care’s Great Escape Challenge; it’s the perfect way for us to test ourselves physically, mentally, enjoy the great outdoors and also, most importantly, raise as much money for Marie Curie Cancer Care as possible.”

Details of what challenges and tasks the competitors will be undertaking on The Great Escape Challenge has deliberately been kept to a minimum by the organisers, wanting instead to ‘surprise’ the teams on the day. What we do know is they will be undertaking a series of 10 team

challenges where they will need to demonstrate strength of body, mind and team tactics all on top of a 10km run (over the top of a 700m peak) and a 35km mountain bike section.

“Fundraising is going well and we are already on our way to the £4,000 target we have set ourselves” said Matt. “We have a number of exciting plans and initiatives coming up in the next few months to raise more funds but, any additional support from local individuals or companies would be incredible and would raise much needed money and awareness of the charity, a cause close to the hearts of all the team.”

“Therefore, if you wish to donate money to this inspirational charity please visit our fundraising website www.justgiving.com/astraliscommandosquad where you can donate online directly to Marie Curie Cancer Care.”

To find out more about the Great Escape Challenge or to register your entry visit www.greatescapechallenge.com, or call 0845 050 4321. The Great Escape Challenge takes place over the weekend of 21-23 May, 2010

For more information about Marie Curie Cancer Care please visit www.mariecurie.org.uk.

Codicote residents to compete in the Great Escape Challenge


VILLAGE LIFE

Please mention The Hitchin Village Directory when responding to adverts 28


VILLAGE LIFE


VILLAGE LIFE

46a High Street • Kimpton • Herts • SG4 8RN

LiberationBeauty Salon

Unisex Beauty SalonFully Qualifi ed Staff

Catering for all your beauty needs

Including Refl exology & Indian Head Massage

Beautician: Hayley Roberts

Tel: 07786 860 028Late appointments upon request

Unisex HairdressersFully Qualifi ed Staff

Catering for all ages and styles

With Foil Highlights £74.00incl. cut and blow dry

Proprietress: Michelle Scott-Worthington

Tel: 01438 833 468Reduced prices for

Senior Citizens & Children

FringelineUnisex hair salon


RESTAURANT REVIEW

Last month we visited the Globe in Codicote and we were impressed with

the friendly atmosphere of this traditional village pub. This month we returned to the Globe to enjoy a meal and a pint!

It was around 1pm on a Saturday when I re-visited the Globe with my wife and 20 month old son. When we arrived we were greeted with a smile by Lucy who manages the Globe, Donna (her sister) and Kat who was busy pulling pints. They were very friendly and accommodating, especially to our son who doesn’t sit still for 5 minutes. It was clear that the pub is family friendly; there was a mixture of locals enjoying a drink while watching the match and families with children enjoying a meal. Football was being shown on a large Plasma TV but it wasn’t on too loud and didn’t disturb the diners.

There is a good selection of beers and ales with Fosters at £3.10 a pint, however I was

really impressed to see Peroni available on draft, a drink that you don’t see very often outside of Italian restaurants especially on draft! Another unique point is that the wines are available in 250ml bottles, which is the equivalent of a large glass for just £3.20. This means you can try a good range of wines without having to buy a whole bottle or being restricted to a house wine by the glass. There are a range of whites including Sauvignon Blancs, Pinot Grigios and Chardonnays. Reds include Merlots, Shiraz and a Rioja; finally there is a selection of

rose wines including Zinfandel and Mateuz.

You will find a couple of menus available at lunch time as well as a good selection of specials. During the week, a lunch time menu is available for just £3.95 offering dishes such as homemade lasagne with French bread and salad, Ham egg & chips, Jacket potato with a choice of filling and other classic pub dishes. The main lunch menu ranges from £5.50 for a burger and chips to £12.95 for a 10oz Rib Eye Steak with chips, fresh veg and pepper or mushroom sauce. The

The Globe

really impressed to see Peroni rose wines including Zinfandel


RESTAURANT REVIEW

specials included homemade chicken and liver pate served with red onion chutney, warm toast and a salad garnish at just £4.50, Greek Mezze at £3.95, Fisherman’s Pie at £8.95, a huge Mixed Grill for just £12.95 and much more. If you are looking for a quick bar snack, then you have a choice of sandwiches, baguettes, Paninis etc… from £3.95. There is also a kids menu offering dishes such as Chicken nuggets, burgers, pasta and mini pizzas for just £4.25. On a Sunday you can enjoy a traditional Sunday lunch from 12pm to 4pm where Topside of Beef, Loin of Pork or Gammon Ham is available with all the trimmings for just £7.95, or two courses for £10.95 and three for £12.95.

We decided to start with a prawn cocktail and although it was busy, it wasn’t long before the starter arrived. The prawn cocktail was beautifully presented and delicious, it was just the right size to start my meal and I was excited about the next course. For my main course, I opted for the Hunter’s Chicken – one of my pub favourites; well I wasn’t disappointed – the presentation again was great, the portion size was generous and the dish had been prepared fresh from scratch. The chips were hand cut and the coleslaw homemade. The chicken, topped with bacon was smothered in cheese with a tangy sauce and boy did it hit the spot! My wife went

for Scampi and chips and was more than pleased as again the presentation was great and the food piping hot and cooked perfectly.

We were full at this point however it seemed rude not to try one of the homemade

desserts available. We were spoilt for choice with bread and butter pudding, fruits of the forest and

dark chocolate cheesecake, chocolate fudge or lemon meringue pie. We went for the cheesecake which was homemade by the chef, again immaculate presentation and a wonderful taste. I would highly recommend the cheesecake; it was really tasty and would be a reason in its own right to visit the Globe!

In conclusion, The Globe is a great example of how a traditional village pub should be. It has a warm, friendly atmosphere where families with children of all ages are welcome. The food is fantastic and very well priced for the quality, especially as it is all freshly made. You are spoilt for choice with a good range of drinks available both on draft and in bottles and you will find a range of activities during the week. The Globe was taken over about 6 months ago and I think the new management team have got it just right. I would strongly recommend a visit to The Globe and don’t worry about parking on the high street as the pub has a private car park.

The Globe 115 The High Street, Codicote, SG4 8UA,01438 820 349

much more. If you are looking to try one of the homemade desserts available. We were spoilt for choice with bread and butter pudding, fruits of the forest and

Mice are normally active at night, and you may not see them during the

day. You may find nests, which are made of materials such as paper and look like a ball of material loosely woven together. You may find partially nibbled food and small droppings. Rats are also nocturnal. Droppings near food sources are the most common sign of rats along with evidence of gnawing, tracks, burrows and nests. Mice and rats contaminate the environments in which they live through their urine, droppings and hairs. They can carry a wide range of diseases that can be passed on to humans, either by directly contaminating food with droppings and urine, or by contaminating surfaces. Rats in particular can pass on Weil’s disease, which can be fatal to humans. Rats can also cause extensive structural damage to property. They are capable of gnawing a range of materials including electric cables and wiring, which could cause fire or electrocution.

Some bird species can create a nuisance, including making a noise,

fouling and even causing property damage. However all birds, nests and their eggs are protected in the UK by law. Only professional pest controllers operating under a general licence issued by DEFRA can control birds.

Wasps can give you a nasty sting, and unlike bees they sting more than once. For a minority of people the venom in their sting causes anaphylactic shock which can be fatal. A wasp uses its sting for killing prey, but it also uses it effectively for defending itself. The venom of the wasp contains a pheromone which acts as an alarm causing other wasps to become more aggressive when a wasp has stung something or been killed. This means it’s not advisable to swat a wasp near its nest or attempt to remove the nest yourself.

The best thing to do in these situations is call the experts.

Shires Pest Control and Wildlife Management Company is a local company which has been helping people get rid of pests since 2006. They are also qualified to help manage issues with wildlife.

Andrew (the proprietor) began his working life in game keeping to some large estates in the Bedfordshire area then moved onto working for several large pest control companies. He came to the conclusion that he could provide a better, more professional service by setting up his own company. Shires is fully insured and deals with everyday problems people have - rats, mice, wasps, flies, moles, squirrels, rabbits, pigeons and all other pests and wildlife. The company covers a substantial area including the Home Counties and North London and works in a very discreet manner, always using unmarked vehicles for customer confidentiality.

Andrew said “When a domestic customer calls we talk through the problem with them and try to give them an idea of what the problem may be over the phone. We will visit the house free of charge to assess the situation and advise how we can help and the costs involved. For example, if it was a wasp nest or cluster of flies, this could be treated in one visit. Rats or mice treatment could take 2 or 3 visits to complete. Treating rabbits, moles, bird/pigeon proofing is more in-depth and we would prepare a written quotation. We can also prepare reports for a pro-active approach with preventative treatments. We use modern methods of pest control but also provide more traditional and humane environmentally friendly options. The service is designed to be of a high professional standard in accordance with current legislation and regulations.”


BUSINESS FOCUS

Dealing with Pests

Shires Pest ControlTel: 01767 315 101Tel: 07890 131 174


VILLAGE LIFE

[email protected]

Home: 01438 833 163Mobile: 07860 260 964e-mail: [email protected]

Quality Painting & Decorating

PeterBattershill


VILLAGE LIFE


•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•


LOCAL ENTREPRENEUR

Chris Gerard is a local entrepreneur who lives in Whitwell with his wife

and two sons. As young Lieutenant in the

Royal Navy, Chris served with the task force that recovered the Falklands in 1982. He has been engaged in the Pub, Hotel and Restaurant business for 29 years.

Chris has an MBA and ran a £400m turnover business before quitting in 2003 in order to start his own small business ‘Innventure Ltd’. Chris is also the Chairman of the Letchworth Town Centre Partnership and a keen sailor.

Innventure Ltd owns a Hotel and four Pub Restaurants. It was awarded the National accolade Food Operator of the Year 2009 which is a huge achievement for a business which Chris runs from home. Innventure punches above its weight and since its start up, has created over 100 new jobs. It is in essence a business that repositions struggling pubs to fresh food. Unconstrained by shareholders and banks the business has one goal; to meet

the long term interests and needs of its customers, it is a sales led organisation supported by Chris but driven by its Managing Partners. Neighbouring businesses owned by Innventure are The Broadway Hotel Letchworth and the Wellington at Welwyn.

I met up with Chris to find out about his new project – The Rusty Gun.

The Rusty Gun is Chris’s latest Pub Restaurant; it was formerly the Royal Oak Pub, located between Hitchin and Codicote on the London Road and it re-opens following refurbishment on the 2nd of April 2010. The Royal Oak has been a pub since the 19th Century; previously it was a shop and even a petrol station at one point in time. This wonderful 17th Century building has been

artificially extended using old listed barns. It was owned by Whitbread and run as a Brewers Fayre pub then in 2006 it was sold to Mitchells & Butlers positioned as a Grown up pub; however the quality of the food never really matched the grown up aspirations. The problem in Chris’s view was that although the Royal Oak was a glorious 17th Century building, there was no real reason to go there. Chris told me, “The Rusty Gun is a destination business so you have to make a conscious effort to go there. I believe you have to build reasons for people to visit and return. The food, drink, lighting and music, the atmosphere must all be strong reasons for people to return. This is what we are striving to achieve with The Rusty Gun.”

the long term interests and needs artificially extended using old

The Rusty GunTheLocal Focus


LOCAL ENTREPRENEUR

The business will be re named to help communicate the enthusiasm that is being poured into this lovely old pub. The name The Rusty Gun was suggested by Chris’s son James, after two old rusty ornamental cannons were found by him. (From where? He is not saying! ) The Rusty Gun will be run by Managing Partner Andy Lilley and have an all fresh food kitchen, run by Head Chef Jollan d’Souza who has been working with Chris for the last 5 years.

The kitchen has been re equipped with state of the art induction technology in order to reduce its carbon footprint by half. The large walk in freezer has been converted to a fridge for local game when in season. The Rusty Gun will open with its own unique cask beer, ‘The Rusty Gun’ a 4% abv cask beer brewed by Suffolk based micro brewery The Old Cannon Brewery. Whilst Robert Hill Smith, owner of 12 wineries in Adelaide, New Zealand and Tasmania, will provide the wine.

Chris is introducing delicious fresh food from local suppliers such as the Heart Felt Produce farm shop in Harpenden and Caroline Bowes-Lyons who supply beef. Other local suppliers include Wobble Bottom Cheese in Hitchin, Whitwell Water Cress, Four Seasons Preserves in

Whitwell and Quotidian who are a local bakery.

The Rusty Gun will feature a produce store where you can buy the ingredients that are being used by the chefs to cook your meal such as white truffle oil, smoked paprika, a range of great local chutneys, cheese, meat, bread and other delicious chefs comestibles which are usually hard to find. You will also be able to buy local juice, bottles of the Hill-Smith wines and much more...

The Rusty Gun with its shop, old style country pub bar and 90 cover fine fresh food restaurant will be very attractive. It will offer full table service with food priced from £4 for the soup of the day, to a St Merryn aged fillet steak at £23. The bar has an area which welcomes ramblers with their muddy boots and dogs, where they can enjoy an inexpensive bar menu without digging too deeply in to their pockets. They can enjoy classic local dishes such as local sausages with horseradish mash and gravy, Fresh fish of the day in batter and chips with mushy peas and much more including sandwiches and bagels.

Looking at restaurant menu, there are some amazing dishes on offer. The starters include Local game terrine with rabbit, hare and smoked ham, juniper and grape chutney and potato crisps for £6, a wild mushroom and pigeon dish for £7 and many more including one of my favourites - foie gras at £8. The mains include lamb shank with aromatic rice, wilted spinach and minted yoghurt for £13, slow roasted chicken with confit port belly, sweet potato puree and bok choi in an aromatic spiced stock for £12 and a goose dish at £18. On Sunday’s you can enjoy

a traditional roast dinner with a choice of local roast chicken or pink rib of beef.

From speaking to Chris it is clear that he is very passionate about this project and from our discussion, it appears that The Rusty Gun is going to provide a really unique experience to its clients. I enjoyed speaking to Chris and wish him all the best for The Rusty Gun; I’m looking forward to visiting soon!

The Rusty Gun reopens on 2nd April; in the mean time, you can access deals vouchers and a range of free benefits by becoming a friend of The Rusty Gun. All you have to do is complete a short form on the website – www.therustygun.co.uk

The Rusty GunLondon RoadSt Ippolyts, SG4 7PGwww.therustygun.co.ukTel: 01462 432653

The business will be re a traditional roast dinner with a


VILLAGE LIFE

25


27


Off Broadway Travel

Hi I’m Mel, your personal Holiday

Consultant. Let me take the stress

out of planning your trip, whether it is a

weekend break in the UK , break in the

Winter Sun or your Honeymoon.

Give me a call on

07932 154 240

UNIT 3B 113 - 115 CODICOTE ROAD CODICOTE HERTFORDSHIRE AL6 9TY

TELEPHONE: Mobile 07891 039835 E-MAIL: [email protected]

Marias QP 0410.indd 1 22/03/2010 07:50


VILLAGE LIFE

HOME APPLIANCE

REPAIRSRepairs of Washing Machines, Tumble

Dryers, Electric Cookers & Ovens and all

domestic appliances.

Specialist in Hotpoint, Indesit, Ariston, Creda

and Whirlpool.

SHIRONDOMESTIC APPLIANCESTel: 01438 720304Mobile: 07739 922493

Shiron Domestic QP 0310.indd 1 25/02/2010 12:34


VILLAGE LIFE

25


JCS SOLICITORS

Divorce & Separation

Children

We are a niche firm who provide a supportive and personal service during the stressful

experience of divorce and family separation. We cover Herts & Beds.

Hill House, 1 St Albans Rd, Codicote, Herts, SG4

For Specialist Matrimonial Advice

Cohabitation

www.jcssolicitors.co.uk

Tel: 01438 820 946

MARIA’S MOBILE

HAIRDRESSINGFor Ladies & Gentelmen

Expert salon treatment in the comfort of

your own home at a time that suits you.

Please call Maria07796 565773


VILLAGE LIFE

11


To advertise in The Hitchin Village Directory please call Melanie on 01438 216 950 23

Village Tree Services

Tel: 01462 435 873 Mob: 07717 744 274

Professional Tree Care Services All Aspects of Tree Work Undertaken

Fully Qualified and Insured Logs Available

VillageTree Services

Tel: 01462 435 873Mobile: 07717 744274

Village Tree Services 0310 QP.indd 1 22/02/2010 13:46

• • •

Qualifi cations• RHS Certifi cate in Horticulture: Distinction 2002• Diploma in Plants and Planting Design• Student of the Year 2003: Capel Manor College• Diplomas in Garden Design and Garden History

Experience• Founded Caren’s Creations in 2003• Has designed over 40 gardens - portfolio and client references

available for inspection

Services• Gardens Designed in full consultation with Clients • Full range of individual, personal plans• Project Management • Full Planting service• Gardens Restored / Maintained.

Caren’s CreationsWe tailor our service to fi t your requirements

Contact: Caren Black or Cliff Martin Tel: 01438 871373 (Whitwell) or 07855 862412

Email: [email protected]

“Would your garden also benefi t from

a makeover?If your answer

is ‘Yes’, then I’m here to help you”CAREN BLACK – Garden Designer

Caren's Creations QP 0410.indd 1 19/03/2010 15:33


VILLAGE LIFE

What’s on in April

Take a Break…

SOD

UK

U

Codicote PlaygroupMonday 5th AprilCodicote Playgroup’s Easter Hunt - Join us on an Easter hunt. Simply collect your answer sheet for £1 from Codicote Garden Centre between 10am and 12pm. Collect all the answers from around the village and return them to the garden centre by 2pm to claim a prize!

Rhythm of the Dance11th April, Albans Arena in St AlbansHaving played to over 3 million people in 43 countries around the world and produced by The National Dance Company of Ireland, this stunning special edition 10th anniversary production, features breathtaking dance with the very best music and song of the Emerald Isle. Together with beautiful costumes and wonderful production this fully live phenomenon delivers the premier Irish dancing experience.Box Office: 01727 844488

The Adventures of Mr Toad Wednesday 14th – Sunday 18th April, Stevenage Gordon Craig TheatrePrepare to join Mr Toad and his friends on a series of action-packed adventures. The fun-filled musical adaptation of Kenneth Grahame’s ‘The Wind in the Willows’, tells the story of the fall and rise of the impulsive Mr Toad and will feature all his riverside chums, who help to bring about a cheerful ending.Box Office: 01438 363200

The East of England Food Festival at Knebworth HouseSaturday 17th and Sunday 18th AprilA celebration of all that is good to eat and drink from across the eastern region and beyond. As well as a huge range of food and drink (and related goodies) there will also be unique arts,

craft and gift products to enjoy plus a full programme of food and cookery demonstrations as well as wine and beer tasting sessions and a variety of family entertainment.Knebworth House, The Estate Office, Knebworth, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, SG1 2AX. www.knebworthhouse.com

NCT Welwyn Garden City and District Branch Children’s Spring Nearly New SaleSunday 18th April, Stanborough School, Lemsford Lane, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, AL8 6YREntrance Cost for the sale is £1. NCT MEMBERS GET IN 30 MINUTES EARLY. All proceeds are in aid of the NATIONAL CHILDBIRTH TRUST. Free entry with cake donation, Refreshments available, unsupervised baby soft play area available. Parking is available, please respect local by-laws and do not park on grass verges, thank you. Tel: 0844 243 6316

That’ll Be The Day21st April, Stevenage Gordon Craig TheatreThe legendary That’ll Be The Day, the nation’s most successful touring production returns. Bringing on back the good times with a combination of their unique comedy routines mixed with back to back classic gold hits from the 1950s through to the 70s, this is definitely a show not to be missed!Box Office: 01438 363200

Codicote Playgroup8th May Summer is coming! The very popular Codicote Playgroup SUMMER BALL featuring THE SUBSTITUTES is now confirmed for Saturday, 8th May at 8pm in the PMH. Tickets £15 or buy by 23rd April and pay only £12.50. Buffet dinner/licensed bar. Dress to Impress.

MISSING LINKFind the missing word that inks each pair for example (TOFFEE – APPLE – PIE). The first letter of each link word will spell out a miltary man.

PAY DREAMFRIED PAPEROAK SAUCEEYE EYECASTER DRUMTAKE TAKEBIRDS BOX


VILLAGE LIFE

Fdip!Qvcmjdbujpot!27 Gladding Road, Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, EN7 6XA

Telephone:- 01707 870391 Email:- [email protected]

I confirm that the above advertisement / editorial is as per my request and give my authorisation for it to appear as shown in the above publication

Signed _____________________________ Print name________________________

Date ____________________

Artisan Loft Ladders

01992 633 883 www.artisanloftladders.co.uk

• Loft Ladders • New or Enlarged hatches• Boarding • Lighting • Insulation

Lofts cleaned, cleared of rubbish

and lined with plasterboard and

insulation


SHOWCASE

MOBILE DISCOS

For all occasions, large music collection and great sound

and light show. Call us on 01438 220 558

or visit www.aaadisco.com

LEAFLET DISTRIBUTION

We can distribute your leafl ets to our 10 villages for just £30 per 1000 delivered

(just 3p per leafl et).CALL 01438 216950

FINSBURY BUILDERS

General Builders and Maintenance

All building work undertaken.

Walling – internal & external, patios, drives, etc…

Tel: 07919 157128

Michael ShelleyElectricalQualifi ed Electrician

“No job too small”Tel: 01438 820 820Mobile: 07930 243651Email: [email protected] member of ElecSa

WAXING&

MASSAGEby Jo

Waxing & Massage treatments at a fraction of the cost of most

salon prices.

CALL JO07960 980 317

THIS AD WORKS!Let’s face it, you just read it!

ADVERTISE HERE TO 9000 LOCAL CUSTOMERS FROM JUST £20pm!

CALL 01438 216950Terms and conditions apply.

GOT YOUYou have read this ad too!HOW CAN YOU NOT INVEST £20pm HERE TO REACH OUT TO YOUR NEW CUSTOMERS?

CALL 01438 216950Terms and conditions apply.


• Established since 1971

• All plumbing work undertaken

• No Job too small

• 24hr Emergency call out

01438 820 820

[email protected]

07930 243 651

JR ENTERPRISES ADVERT TO GO HERE DISCOUNTPET FOOD &

SUPPLIESALL MAJOR

BRANDS STOCKEDFREE DELIVERY ON ORDERS OVER £10TELEPHONE07952 735 [email protected] R ENTERPRIZES

I. BURGESS PLUMBING

EST. 1971ALL PLUMBING

WORK UNDERTAKENNO JOB TOO SMALL

24h EMERGENCY CALL OUTCONTACT IAN BURGESS

07711 [email protected]

The Peony Florist & Gift ShopBeautiful �lowers for

all occasions and lots of handmade gifts.

01438 821888 121 High St, Codicote

www.peony�lorist.co.uk

Deep Cleaning plus Fast Drying for Upholstery,

Carpets and Leather

Amtico & Karndean Floors CleanedCarpet & Fabric Protector

Leather RenovationBurn Retufting

Oriental Rugs & Curtain Cleaning Specialist

Mention this ad in

Village Life Magazine

when you call and get

a 10% discount.

CleaningNEEDSCall us on 01438 821154www.cleaningneeds.co.uk74 High Street, Codicote. SG4 8XD

Professional, reliable and good value for money. Courteous and uniformed operatives.

Recommended by leading retailers, insurance company and other cleaners. Nearly 20 years in this area, we are not a franchise.

Areas Covered: Codicote, Kimpton, Preston, Whitwell, Graveley, Hitchin, Stevenage, Letchworth, Breachwood Gr., Little Wymondley, Great Wymondley, St Ippolyts, Gosmore

Cleaning NEEDS 0410 FP.indd 1 23/03/2010 13:28

village life (hitchin)

Documents

village life magazine

evillage life

magazine onlinewww

independent magazine

codicote18 business

pests20 business review

c o n t e n t svillage

reliable family business