Advent Moving Feast at Norwich Cathedral and the Maids Head Hotel

Marcin ‘Magic’ Pomierny, Head Chef Maids Head Hotel, The Dean of Norwich, the Very Reverend Jane Hedges and Chris Hedges in the Priors Hall 

The Maids Head Hotel and Norwich Cathedral are combining to stage a special Advent Moving Feast on the evening of Saturday, November 26, 2016.

The Dean of Norwich, the Very Reverend Jane Hedges and her husband Chris Hedges, are hosting the first course in the ancient Priors Hall, before guests are escorted across Tombland, to the equally historic Maids Head Hotel, for the main course and dessert. Diners will also be regaled with historic tales of the Priors Hall, Cathedral Close, Tombland and the Maids Head Hotel during the meal.

Chris Hedges is chef for the first course, producing a variety of soups with scones, before handing over to the Maids Head team led by Head Chef, Marcin 'Magic' Pomierny, who are offering a choice of main courses including Norfolk turkey, seared monkfish and roasted butternut squash. A selection of desserts is also on the menu including stem ginger pudding, orange & candied nut salad, Christmas ice cream and chocolate sauce.

Places are still available for the Moving Feast, for more information contact Maids Head Events t. 01603 272008, events@maidsheadhotel.co.uk.

The Dean of Norwich said: “Chris and I are looking forward to hosting our travelling dinner guests and to sharing with them a little of the history of Priors Hall. Chris loves cooking and entertaining and telling stories and he has some delicious soup recipes up his sleeve for next week.”

Christine Malcolm, General Manager Maids Head Hotel said: “We are delighted to be working with The Dean and her husband on this special Advent Moving Feast. It will be a wonderful evening of storytelling and excellent food.” 

The Maids Head has had a very long relationship with Norwich Cathedral. The first Norman Bishop, Herbert de Losinga, lived on the hotel's site. His palace eventually became the Murtel Fish Inn, which was the Maids Head’s predecessor. The Prior's Hall at the Cathedral dates from 1284 and the first official mention of the Murtel Fish Inn was in 1287.

Curly Sheep's Bad Hair Day – debut children's book from Norwich author

Curly Sheep's Bad Hair Day is a new children's book written and illustrated by Norwich author and artist, Sandra Derry. It is the first in a series of books by Sandra, who grew up on a farm, aiming to introduce children to countryside life. Curly  Sheep's Bad Hair Day is beautifully illustrated. It explains, in a fun way,  how and why sheep get sheared.

Sandra approached Kinsale Infant School for feedback, when she was writing the book and creating the illustrations.  The reviews from children at the school are included on the back cover.

To thank the children, Sandra visited Kinsale Infant School to present copies of the book to her band of reviewers.

Sandra Derry explained: “I grew up on Valley Farm, Henham, always surrounded by animals, mainly cows. I love all things farm and country and wanted to develop a series of children's books, which introduce young children to the countryside. Curly Sheep explains why sheep get sheared. I am working on the next book in the series called Molly Moo the independent cow.”

Sandra Derry with her review panel at Kinsale Infant School Norwich

“I would like to thank the children at Kinsale School for giving me feedback. It really encouraged me to keep going, finish the book and plan Molly Moo.”

Curly Sheep's Bad Hair Day, price £9.99, ISBN 9780995618701, is currently on sale at Jarrold Norwich, Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden at South Walsham, and is available from allthingsnorfolk.com.

Sandra is also an expert seamstress and is the author of Know Before You Sew. She is the sewing 'guru' for Let's Talk magazine.

Sandra is staging a solo art exhibition at Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden at South Walsham in the Norfolk Broads from Tuesday, January 31 to Sunday, February 5. Her paintings all inspired by countryside themes.

Sandra Derry  'Great Trees' - part of her exhibition at Fairhaven Garden in January

Norwich Summer Family Staycation at the Maids Head Hotel

The Maids Head Hotel launched a new Norwich Summer 2016 Staycation package at the Royal Norfolk Show, with a ‘beach burial’, on the hotel’s stand.  Amy Elvin, the hotel’s wedding co-ordinator is pictured being buried by Carey Briggs from Pensthorpe Natural Park, hotel colleague Katherine Renhard and Louise Rout from Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden.

The Summer Staycation 2016 package gives families the opportunity to have a night in a family room in the oldest hotel in the UK and enjoy breakfast, plus an evening meal in the two AA Rosette WinePress Restaurant. 

Then they can explore one of four popular Norfolk attractions: Pensthorpe Natural Park near Fakenham, Fairhaven Woodland & Water Garden in the Norfolk Broads, Merrivale Model Village on the seafront at Great Yarmouth or CitySightseeing’s open top bus tour of Norwich. Also included in the package is a delicious picnic to take on the day out.

Prices are from £205, more information here.

Maids Head Hotel t. 01603 209955, www.maidsheadhotel.co.uk.

Wymondham Abbey Norfolk Medieval Evening

Wymondham Abbey

Head to Wymondham’s historic Abbey on Wednesday, June 15, 2016, from 5pm to 8pm, for an evening of 1107-style merriment. The Medieval Evening takes place in the church and churchyard off Church Street. It will be an evening of fun for all family, costing £5 for adults, for which you receive medieval money to spend at the event. Children get in free.

Falconry at Wymondham Abbey 

Explore medieval life and meet jesters, medieval villagers and more. There’ll be a falconer demonstrating one of the oldest hunting skills and a herbalist giving advice in the use of plants found in the Abbey’s herb garden. Try your hand at archery, partake of a hearty hog roast and sup an ale, while listening to merry medieval music.

Wymondham Abbey was founded in 1107, and dissolved as an Abbey on the orders of Henry VIII in 1538. The church was spared, and continues as the town’s Parish Church. The recently completed development project has given the church new modern facilities and allowed many ancient artefacts to be displayed.

For more details see www.wymondhamabbey.org.uk 

New at Fairhaven Garden St Benet’s Abbey Boat Trip and Tour - Norfolk Broads

St Benet's Abbey. Photograph by Stephen Mole

Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden in the Norfolk Broads is running a new combined boat trip and guided tour around St Benet's Abbey every Saturday until the end of September starting on Saturday, June 4, 2016.

The boat will leave Fairhaven staithe at 2.15pm, returning at approximately 4.30pm. The trip will include a 45 minute guided tour of St Benet’s Abbey, led by volunteers from the Friends of St Benet’s Abbey.

The combined trip and tour is not available to wheelchair users due to the unsuitability of the ground at the abbey.

Booking is advisable as spaces are limited. Prices, which include Fairhaven Garden entry and a donation to St Benet’s Abbey restoration fund, are £20 adult and £13  child. For Fairhaven members, the price is  £14 adult and £9.50 child. To book a place, please call 01603 270449, email enquiries@fairhavengarden.co.uk.

Primula one of the Fairhaven Garden boats

Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden is at South Walsham NR13 6DZ, nine miles east of Norwich, signposted off A47 at B1140 junction. The garden is open daily all year from 10am to 5pm (closed Christmas Day), and on Wednesdays, until 9pm, to the end of August. Garden entry is £6.50 adult, £5.90 concessions, £3.75 child (under 5 free); free entry to tearoom, gift shop and plant sales.

There is wheelchair access throughout the garden, including a Sensory Garden and an accessible boat for trips on the broad from April to October (additional charge). Visitors requiring special facilities are advised to telephone in advance, mobility scooters available.

Dogs are welcome in the garden on leads; small charge to cover poop scoop.

Murtel Fish Ale New at Maids Head Hotel for Norwich City of Ale

Marcus Patteson, Director Sistema in Norwich, Katherine Renhard, Food Services Manager Maids Head Hotel and Rupert Farquharson, Managing Director Woodforde's launching Murtel Fish Ale in the Maids Head Bar.

The Maids Head Hotel has launched Murtel Fish Ale, a new signature beer brewed by Woodforde’s, in time for the Norwich City of Ale festival, which runs from May 26 to June 5, 2016.

The beer takes its name from the Murtel Fish Tavern, the Maids Head’s predecessor, which was trading on Wensum Street, then known as Cook Rowe, from at least 1287. The change of name to the Maids Head was confirmed by John Paston in a letter dated 2 November 1482, in which he recommended the inn as a good place to stable your horse.

The Maids Head will be supporting Sistema in Norwich, during City of Ale, by donating 20p to the local music charity for every pint of Murtel Fish Ale sold.

Marcus Patteson, Programme Director for Sistema in Norwich said: “It is fantastic to get support from such a high profile Norwich business as the Maids Head. We are trying to get more local businesses involved with Sistema and I’d like to thank Christine Malcolm and her team for working with us.”

Paul Dickson, a City of Norwich Tourist Guide, is leading two historic pub tours during City of Ale on Tuesday, May 31 and Friday, June 3, starting at the Maids Head at 6pm and ending back at the hotel’s bar for a Murtel Fish Ale sampling session.

Find out where Ralph McTell had his first professional gig and where Monsieur du Pain entertained drinkers by dipping his feet in boiling lead, explore Alan Partridge’s favourite Norfolk bar, discover where Parson Woodforde used to drink and much more. Price for the tour, including beer sampling, is £4.50. To book a place t. 01603 272008, or email events@maidsheadhotel.co.uk.

Christine Malcolm, General Manager, Maids Head said: “We have had a long and successful relationship with Woodforde’s and are very proud to be serving Norfolk beer in our 16th century Maids Head Bar. Naming a beer Murtel Fish Ale celebrates more than 800 years of hospitality on this site. We are also very pleased to be supporting Sistema in Norwich and hope to have a busy City of Ale festival.”

Rupert Farquharson, Managing Director Woodforde’s said: “As well as brewing delicious local beer, part of our duty is to preserve and promote the rich heritage of Norfolk. The Maids Head as a venue is steeped in charm and history with a unique story to be told. We hope that Murtel Fish Ale helps to keep this heritage alive and captivate drinkers throughout City of Ale and beyond, whilst providing valuable funds for Sistema in Norwich.”

Murtel Fish Tavern – the inn is first mentioned in Norwich records in 1287/88. The landlord is named as John de Ingham. ‘Robert the fowler stole goods from the said innkeeper at Cook Rowe.’ Edward the Black Prince (eldest son of King Edward III) was entertained at the tavern in 1359 when he attended a joust.            
Sistema in Norwich works to transform the lives of children and young people through participation in music. The charity involves them in learning to play a musical instrument and being part of an orchestra. Sistema in Norwich draws inspiration from El Sistema, the Venezuelan music programme that has more than 30 years experience, of how a music programme can both create great musicians and dramatically change the life of disadvantaged children.

Fairhaven Green Festival Norfolk Broads

Head to Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden, at South Walsham in the Norfolk Broads, for a great green day out at the annual Green Festival on Sunday, June 26 from 10am to 5pm. There will be a packed day of entertainment and fun environmental activities on land and afloat.

Normal entry charges apply on the day: adult £6.50, concessions £5.90 and child £3.75 (under 5 free), with some additional charges for boating activities.

Entertainment features music from The Busketeers, The Pedant’s Revolt Morris Dancers, Stevie Spud’s circus skills workshop, children’s clay play and face painting.

Free Spirit Canoe Tours

Activities and exhibitors include Avril’s Glass and Jewellery, Big Skies Food Company, Broadland District Council conservation bus, The Broads Society, Bure Valley Conservation Group, Compassion in World Farming, Forget Me Not Plants, Free Spirit Canoe Tours, The Green Lady Eco Store, Hawking Experience, Helen’s 4 Seasons Plants, Love Spoons Jewellery, Mini Scrapbox, Norfolk Badger Protection Group, Norfolk Hedge Baskets, Norfolk Heritage Fleet Trust (Hunter’s Yard) Norfolk Wildlife Trust, Predator Plants, RSPB and Wild Touch.

Louise Rout, Manager Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden said: “We are really looking forward to our Green Festival. We have a busy programme of family entertainment, with activities afloat and on dry land, along with Norfolk businesses and charities with a ‘green’ focus.”

There is wheelchair access throughout the garden. Mobility scooters are available. Fairhaven offers accessible boat trips. Visitors requiring special facilities are advised to telephone in advance.

Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden is at South Walsham, nine miles east of Norwich, signposted off A47 at B1140 junction, t. 01603 270449, www.fairhavengarden.co.uk.