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Match Report: Northampton Saints 61-19 Aviron Bayonnais

James Logan
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Match Report: Northampton Saints 61-19 Aviron Bayonnais

Northampton Saints qualify for the knockouts of the Champions Cup for the first time since 2016 with a 61-14 demolition of Aviron Bayonnais at the cinch stadium at Franklins Gardens on Friday night, writes James Logan.

The home faithful were treated to 11 tries with 9 of those coming for those in Green, Black and Gold making sure the Saints would stay top of Pool 3.

The Saints also made it eight wins in a row in all competitions which has been an informality of their recent past as director of rugby Phil Dowson is aware.

He said: “I think we have a group of lads that have been together through some tough experiences in the past.

“But it is looking like we are turning a corner and they’re taking ownership of the game plan and how they want to play and what they want to achieve.

“I think that’s powerful in terms of the group, who are very, very tight.

“I’m conscious we’ve won absolutely nothing, but we’ve put a run of games together when previously our main criticism was our consistency.”

Unlike their disappointing first 40 at Sandy Park last weekend, the Saints made no mistakes in making a quick start at the Gardens.

Tries from winger Tommy Freeman and flanker Tom Pearson put the home side 21-0 up just 20 minutes into the game, both trying to cement their names in the hat for England’s selection for the Six Nations next Wednesday.

Northampton would complete a half-hour bonus point as fan favourite Courtney Lawes latched onto the end of a lovely Fin Smith pass to find the gap and go over to score.

It would be a disappointing opening 40 for the travelling fans and that wouldn’t get any better as prop Tevita Tatafu would be yellow-carded following a high tackle on Sam Graham.

The home side would capitalise on the one-man advantage with both Curtis Langdon and Alex Waller adding tries just before the half-time break to extend the lead to 42.

The Saints would continue the second half in equally fast fashion, Tom Pearson charging down the left-hand touchline to secure his hat-trick, one of several players in Saints colours who will be wanting to play themselves into a Six Nations squad.

Alex Waller took the home side past the half-century mark moments later going over from close range to add his second of the game and the Saint’s 8th try of the evening.

The visitors would eventually show what their about with a quick-fire double, winger Tom Spring and fullback Aurelien Florian Callandret both scoring to give the travelling support something to cheer about in the Midlands.

Although that wouldn’t come before replacement Tom James put the cherry on top of the cake with the Saint’s 9th and final try of the context.

Man of the match Tommy Freeman was influential throughout the game scoring as well as setting up tries and with the Six Nations around the corner this upturn in form couldn’t have come at a better time.

He said: “It’s always better when we are winning and winning as a team and we’re enjoying it.

“We’re putting our game on the pitch, and we are benefiting from it.”

With Steve Borthwick announcing his England squad on Wednesday, Freeman said he would love another shot at representing his country.

Freeman said: “I think my mindset going into Australia and previous camps was just to take it as it came.

“I felt like I was very young and had it all coming my way.

“Whereas now I think it’s not about just taking your chances but about staying within the mix and staying in the international frame.

“You don’t want to be just sitting on the fringes, which I felt like I was last time, I kind of want to stay right in the thick of it and hopefully stay.”

This win for Saints guaranteed them a place in this season’s Investec Champions Cup round of 16 for the first time in eight years.

With a further chance to have a home round of 16 ties confirmed if other results in pool 3 go their way this weekend.

French foes Bayonne visit Franklins Gardens for first time as they face Saints for Friday night lights

Hilary Scott
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French foes Bayonne visit Franklins Gardens for first time as they face Saints for Friday night lights

Preview by James Logan

Northampton Saints director of rugby Phil Dowson says the squad are excited for yet another big European game at the Gardens, but they will “need to fire on all cylinders” if they are to get a result.

The Saints have the chance to make it three wins out of three in this season’s Investec Champions Cup, welcoming Top 14 side Aviron Bayonnais, known as Bayonne, on Friday night (8pm, January 12).

Northampton Saints currently top the domestic table, but Dowson understands that this weekend’s opponents are not to be under-estimated.

He said: “It’s another massive challenge, so much quality in their group (Bayonnais) and we are looking forward to measuring up against them.

“They’ll be disappointed about where they are in the league considering the quality of their players they have in their group and at different times they’ve been unlucky.

“And they were unlucky again at the weekend against Bordeaux and they have some world-class talent, and we are going to be on our metal as they can change a game at the turn of a hat.” 

The men in Green, Black and Gold currently sit top of pool 3 following back-to-back wins against Toulon and Glasgow, home and away respectively.

With a chance to qualify for the European knockouts for the first time since 2016, Northampton will need to rely on big players stepping up.

Northampton Saints and England back row Tom Pearson is just one player who has relished the opportunities since arriving in the Midlands from London Irish last summer.

He said: “Northampton’s been great in helping me, I just want to keep putting in good performances out on the pitch as the competition is very strong.

“There are a lot of good young players, so I need to continue to keep playing well, impress on the pitch and keep winning at Saints because it looks good if you are winning as a team.”

Northampton were impressive last weekend in their 42-36 win away at Exeter coming from 26 points down to the Chiefs, although they will need to make a better start than last week.

Dowson said: “It’s very hard to put your finger on a single thing.

“But you’ve got to credit Exeter on how they start and how they start frequently at home.

“We were aware of that, and we couldn’t deal with that.”

Dowson spoke openly about his side’s second-half performance crediting the character of those who came off the bench to make such a distinct impact.

He said: “It says a lot about the maturity and confidence of the players, and it sounds ridiculous, but the coaching team were quite relaxed.”

“At least a lot more relaxed than when we actually started to score tries.”

The home side will still be without a raft of players on Friday night, Lewis Ludlam, James Ramm and George Hendy amongst those still sidelined through injury, as announced by Dowson.

George Furbank captains the side from fullback in the third round of the tournament, with Tommy Freeman returning to the starting XV to join Furbank and last weekend’s hat-trick scorer Ollie Sleightholme in Saints’ back three. 

Fraser Dingwall starts alongside Rory Hutchinson – who scored the match-winning try in Exeter – in Northampton’s midfield, while Alex Mitchell and Fin Smith both start in Saints’ half-backs. Saints welcome Bayonne to Northampton for the first time in the Club’s history. 

Alex Waller returns from injury to start in the front row alongside hooker Curtis Langdon and tighthead prop Trevor Davison, with Temo Mayanavanua and Alex Coles packing down behind them in the second row. 

Courtney Lawes – who claimed the Gallagher Premiership Player of the Month award for December earlier this week – returns to Saints’ starting line-up at blindside flanker against Bayonne, with Tom Pearson and Sam Graham also named in the back row (at openside flanker and No.8 respectively) to complete the starting XV. 

Dowson opts for a 6-2 split on his bench this Friday, with the likes of Sam Matavesi, Emmanuel Iyogun, Juarno Augustus, Angus Scott-Young and Tom Litchfield all set to make an impact from amongst the replacements – while Tom James returns to the matchday squad following a suspension.

NORTHAMPTON SAINTS vs AVIRON BAYONNAIS
Investec Champions Cup, Round 3
Friday 12 January, 2024
cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens
Kick-off: 8pm

15 George Furbank (c)
14 Tommy Freeman
13 Fraser Dingwall
12 Rory Hutchinson
11 Ollie Sleightholme
10 Fin Smith
9 Alex Mitchell

1 Alex Waller
2 Curtis Langdon
3 Trevor Davison
4 Temo Mayanavanua
5 Alex Coles
6 Courtney Lawes
7 Tom Pearson
8 Sam Graham

Replacements:
16 Sam Matavesi
17 Emmanuel Iyogun
18 Elliot Millar Mills
19 Alex Moon
20 Juarno Augustus
21 Angus Scott-Young
22 Tom James
23 Tom Litchfield

Not available for selection:
George Hendy, Paul Hill, Lewis Ludlam, Burger Odendaal, James Ramm and Tom Seabrook.

Injury to Snow White actor doesn’t stop the fun as panto season launches at Northampton’s Royal and Derngate (oh yes it does)

Hilary Scott
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Injury to Snow White actor doesn’t stop the fun as panto season launches at Northampton’s Royal and Derngate (oh yes it does)

As we settled in to the first Sunday matinee we already knew that actor Joey Wilby, playing Snow White’s best friend, the chirpy Buttons-a-like Muddles, had been injured in rehearsals in the week running up to opening night. But in true ‘the show must go on’ form, trooper Joey was ready on stage just days later, despite a rush to hospital to have several stitches in his face.

Lauren Lane as Snow White with the Seven Dwarves. All photography by Pamela Raith

A declaration of interest from the off – one of our kids is in this year’s panto at Royal & Derngate, as one of the theatre’s Youth Ensemble. But blink and you’ll miss them, because the cast this year is inevitably larger than usual, being Snow White and the Seven Dwarves.

The staging is incredible this year – with multiple proscenium arches, inset with windows and lights – allowing the fast set changes and cast scampering needed in this fast paced panto. We’ve got seven brilliant dwarves, a dame whose costumes almost deserve their own billing, an incredible troop of six multi-talented dancers plus rotating teams of 15 or more youngsters who take the show literally into the audience. It’s a joy to see so many performers back on stage after the scaled back misery of Covid. #SupportTheArts.

Big names on show include Ore Oduba (yes, him off Strictly, and BBC Newsround) as Prince Charming, and the apparently ageless Wendi Peters (eternally Coronation Street’s Cilla Battersby) as the Wicked Queen. And she looks a million dollars in that basque outfit, so Yas Wicked Queen indeed.

Even having to talk in time with the pre-recorded Magic Mirror, (appropriately camped up by Northampton’s own Alan Carr) doesn’t dent the energy of this wicked step-mother.

Our heroine Snow White (Lauren Lane) ably stays at the centre of the story as regular Northampton dame Bob Golding as Nurse Nellie vies for star of the show, alongside Marc Pickering’s Herman the henchman, who might just steal it.

You see, Herman has a dream, and by goodness does he get to act it out by the end of the show, with a magnificent musical act that raises the roof (thankfully still intact after R&D’s RAAC scare).

He has a dream – Marc Pickering as Herman the henchman (photo Pamela Raith)

There’s far fewer of the usual double-entendres and clever contemporary puns to keep the parents engaged than you might expect, and sometimes you feel the stars have to work hard to keep the audience engaged. It felt a bit flat in places but that could just be down the show bedding in at the start of its month-long run. Nevertheless, it’s lively Christmas show for all ages, with some amazing visuals and a truck load of puns.

You definitely get some bang for your buck, with 19 professionals, a live band in a box, 50-odd juniors, 16 scenes over two acts and a couple of whopping great musical numbers, alongside the usual audience participation – just don’t miss your cue!

Snow White and the Seven Dwarves runs at Northampton’s Royal and Derngate until Sunday December 31. For tickets and information, visit the Box Office or call 01604 624811.

Gothic Revival is asking Northampton if we know who we really are

Steve
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Gothic Revival is asking Northampton if we know who we really are

Now that I think about it, even the address of the exhibition has a Gothic aftertaste: the Vulcan Works on Angel Square.

When things just fall into place like that… I’m not a superstitious person, or a religious person but sometimes you get the impression that occasionally great unseen templates line up and the cold light of some universal truth can shine through.

Welcome to Gothic Revival by Jarman award-winning digital artist David Panos. The Guardian newspaper loves it. I don’t want to come across like I’m in any way impressed by those London media types but that is pretty cool.

You push at the blackened glass of the door to Unit 9 and step out of the crisp winter air onto thick red carpeted stairs leading upwards into sounds and darkness.

You are in a large dimmed room dominated by two large pub-sized flat screens arranged side by side. A handful of chairs are arranged facing the screens and behind them on a short pillar rests a small box that looks like a prototype ghost trap which I investigate first.

It is an analogue monitor, presenting a array of subculture garments like a studded cuff or a scrap of fishnet in their own aquarium of light and energy. In one sense the threads of light forming the picture feel like antiquated technology, in another they feel as luminously timeless as a medieval engraving. It’s called Time Crystals and dates from 2016.

There is an archaeological energy to the items depicted (how did that fishnet get torn? what broke that cuff open?) that sets you up nicely for the sifting of Northamptonian sights and sounds that arrives on the main screens.

Dark rock covers band Raven Rust are rehearsing the ominous opening chords of Belalugosi Is Dead, the single from Northampton band Bauhaus that triggered the goth music movement in the last century and in turn lured Panos from London for his exploration of the gothic in this century.

On the other screen red robed choristers from All Saints Church rehearse hymns plucked from a library that dips even deeper into the past. Sometimes the soundtracks blend. Sometimes they interrupt each other precipitously. And then dialogue emerges. Father Oliver Coss describes the history of the town as digitised segments of its architecture twitch on the screen and then other voices describe a less glorious mundane present, traumatised by change.

Are we seeing a town living in the ruins of its own past, cursed with the inability to build anything but new ruins? It doesn’t feel like Panos is picking on Northampton, the scenes of boarded-up litter strewn shopping precincts are like a lot of places beyond London’s immediate gravitational pull.

What is solid in the real world becomes ephemeral in Gothic Revival but what is intangible or unnoticed in reality is revealed by these visual and audio snapshots of the town.

Some things are strikingly hopeful amidst the broken grandeur of pixelized archways and empty carrier bags tumble-weeding down Abington Street. You might think of the choir of All Saints as being one of the more culturally ancient institutions in the town and yet you are looking at as diverse a group of young people as you could find anywhere in Northampton. It sounds contrived but it is what it is. That is the choir.

Alongside that glimpse of a possible harmonious future inside the stone bones of the town’s past the camera pulls back to reveal Raven Rust in all their middle-aged pub rock glory, meticulously assembling their version of the Bauhaus classic. The face of the guitarist looks like he could be running a Primary School somewhere but his fingernails are painted glossy black. They capture a sense of ordinary people doing extraordinary things without fuss, for their own amusement as much as ours, and that feels so Northampton.

Gothic Revival really works for me. It is not a documentary nor a complete excavation of every contribution Northampton makes to the gothic tradition but as a piece of art it has the immediacy of a sampling of our present – a way of seeing ourselves that no other lens provides.

There is a question here for us as townsfolk. Has Panos captured some nuggets of truth about Northampton’s distinct character as a place? Is there something we could be leaning into effortlessly and celebrating as much as we do other aspects of our history and what goes on here? A town that bridges the yawning gap between boots and princesses must be sitting on a well-spring of goth.

Gothic Revival is the final part of NN Contemporary Art’s Sensing Place season which has seen the arts organisation staging exhibitions at various locations while its future home at 24 Guildhall is reconfigured. The new base will include gallery, studio and exhibition space as well as a reading room and opens next year.

Gothic Revival runs until January 20.

For details of opening times see the NN Contemporary website.

Mitchell relishing the build-up to the East Midlands derby

Nene Quirer
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Mitchell relishing the build-up to the East Midlands derby

Northampton Saints scrum-half Alex Mitchell says he would like to bring his World Cup success back to the club ahead of “one of the biggest games of the season”. 

Saints travel to Leicester Tigers in the East-Midlands derby this weekend as they make their early push into the top 4 of the Gallagher Premiership, writes James Logan. 

The men in green, black, and gold will travel to their local rivals off the back of a dominant 34-19 win against Exeter Chiefs last Sunday.

This East-Midlands tie on derby weekend will give Alex Mitchell and his fellow teammates that extra bit of motivation to get a win.

Returning from England duty Mitchell said: “These are the games you look forward to.

“The derby weeks, the boys, and the atmosphere both throughout the week and on gameday is fantastic.

“These are the games you want to play in, and we can’t wait to get going.”

Mitchell cemented his name into the starting lineup as well as helped England to another semi-final after injuries accelerated his elevation to first-choice nine at the World Cup.

The scrumhalf spoke enthusiastically about the opportunity he was given during his time in France.

“It was a great experience, the whole buzz around the tournament was massive. 

“To play at a World Cup, at the top table is what I wanted to do as a child.

“It was a dream come true, I loved every moment of it,” said Mitchell.

Picture by James Logan

Saints currently sit fourth in the Premiership table winning three of their opening five games with this game giving the Saints a chance to move further up the table.

Previously playing in this fixture as a player, director of rugby Phil Dowson recognises the importance of a win on derby day.

“It’s one of the biggest derbies in domestic rugby.

“You know they’ll (Leicester) be excited about the game themselves.

“There is no need to drive anything from what’s happened in the past, it’s a great rivalry.

“It’s got a lot of history, but we’re more focused on what happens this Saturday than what’s happened in the past,” said Dowson. 

Dowson also highlighted the progression in Saints set pieces this season and how it’s about being consistent. 

“We target scrums every week, we target lineouts every week, we target restarts every week and attack and defence.

“It’s a consistency message, it’s the ability to repeat it and repeat it away from home under pressure.

Saints have been able to rely on is fly-half Fin Smith, the 21-year-old has been astute from the boot and clever with his attacking patterns. 

This will be an East-Midlands derby debut for Smith who is looking forward to the challenge that the Tigers will pose on Saturday.

“I can’t wait, I’ve been chatting to some of the lads about what a derby day is like and the tension and rivalry and all the little bits that come with it.

“I’m really looking forward to it and should be a great experience,” said Smith.

He went on to credit the team on how they approach games this season with the view that on their day they can beat anyone.

The number 10 said: “We’re really confident that we can play well and beat anyone on our day.

“So, we are just having to focus on us, obviously there are little bits to look at to improve, but we are just trying to focus on the things that we do well.”

Northampton will want to add to their away derby win In January as the home side will want to change their seasons fortunes around.

With players now back in the mix from the World Cup in September and October it is set to be a fiery derby day at Mattioli Woods Welford Road.

Full list of winners at Weetabix Northamptonshire Food and Drink Awards

Steve
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Full list of winners at Weetabix Northamptonshire Food and Drink Awards

The annual reveal of where to find the good stuff in Northamptonshire has taken place at the Weetabix Northamptonshire Food and Drink Awards.

The judges have spent a year investigating restaurants, chefs and products from all over the county and the full list of medal winners is below.

Scroll down for a report on the ceremony from the organisers.

Artisan Local Drink of the Year, sponsored by J Sweeney Accountants

GOLD – Club 80 Navy Strength London Dry Gin, Silverstone Distillery

SILVER – Blueberry Juice, Mee Blueberries

SILVER – Oat Drink, Wild & Furrow

BRONZE – Heidrun Session NEIPA, Three Hills Brewing Ltd

BRONZE – Phipps Foundry Mild, Phipps Northampton Brewery Co Ltd

BRONZE – Paw Another, Bearly Organised Ltd

BRONZE – Winwick Hall Methode Champenoise, Winwick Hall Bruce Green Limited       

Artisan Local Product of the Year, sponsored by Heygates

GOLD – Coffee Ice Cream, Your Cool

SILVER – Boughton Estate Homemade Honey, The Boughton Estate

SILVER – Shoetown Blue, Hamm Tun Fine Foods

BRONZE – Lemon Curd, Friars Farm

BRONZE – New Lodge Vineyard Chili Honey, Made by the Beekeeper

BRONZE – Northampton Cheesecake, F.F Tee Bakery

BRONZE – Steak Pasty, Duston Village Bakery

Artisan Local Vegetarian/Vegan Product of the Year, sponsored by Daily Bread

GOLD – Strawberry & Rose Cake, Mill House – The Old Stable Yard Tea Room

SILVER – Carrot, Parsnip & Pecan Cake, Sophisticake Creations

SILVER – Northamptonshire Blue, Hamm Tun Fine Foods

BRONZE – Fresh Oyster Mushrooms, Shoots & Spores                     

BRONZE – Harrington Wild Garlic Butter, The Tollemache Arms

BRONZE – Rose Cottage Multi Seed Loaf, Dovely Bakery

BRONZE – Salad Mix, Urban Microgreens

Booker Gastro Pub of the Year, sponsored by Booker

GOLD – The Tollemache Arms, Harrington

SILVER – The Rose & Crown, Yardley Hastings

SILVER – The Sheaf Inn, West Haddon

SILVER – The Kings Arms, Polebrook

BRONZE – The Old Talbot, Potterspury

Booker Young Chef of the Year, sponsored by Booker

GOLD – Jade Walter – Rushton Hall Hotel & Spa

SILVER – Thomas Giles – The Falcon Hotel, Castle Ashby

BRONZE – Harvey Tapp – The Snooty Fox, Lowick

BRONZE – Levi Moukan – The Falcon, Fotheringhay

Canape of the Year, sponsored by Portfolio Events

Kamil Podgorski, Northampton College

Community Café of the Year, sponsored by The Good Loaf, and The Health and Wellbeing services at West Northamptonshire Council

GOLD – Bennett’s, Thrapston

SILVER – Bob’s Corby, Corby

SILVER – Polo Pavilion Tea Room, Winwick

BRONZE – Happy Mondays, Rushden

BRONZE – A Place to Bee, Kingsthorpe

CERTIFICATE OF MERIT – Lavender Bee Tea Room, Kettering

Event Venue of the Year, sponsored by Hilton Garden Inn

GOLD – Silverstone Circuits Ltd

CRYSTAL – The Granary at Fawsley

SILVER – Kelmarsh Hall & Gardens

SILVER – Kettering Park Hotel & Spa

SILVER – Rushton Hall Hotel & Spa

BRONZE – Furtho Manor Farm

Farming Environment Award, sponsored by Weetabix

GOLD – J.A. Knight & Sons

SILVER – Courteenhall

SILVER – Wold Farm

BRONZE – J.E Atkinson & Son

BRONZE – White House Farm

Certificate of Merit – Stetchworth Estate Farm

F&B Achiever of the Year, sponsored by Howes Percival

GOLD – Joe Buckley, The Tollemache Arms

GOLD – Eddie & James White, Whites of Earls Barton

BRONZE – Glenn Newman, The Granary, Fawsley, Daventry, and The Waterside Café at Northampton Active, Northampton

BRONZE – Steve Reid, Northampton Cheese Co., Northampton Charcuterie Co., and Friars Farm, Northampton

BRONZE – Jo & Nigel Wagstaff, Houghton Hams

Food and Drink College Student of the Year, sponsored by University of Northampton

GOLD – Cohen O’Dell, Northampton College

SILVER – Thomas Walshaw, Moulton College

SILVER – Cara Payne, Northampton College

BRONZE – Chloe Matthews, Moulton College

BRONZE – Alex Mundey, Tresham College, Corby

BRONZE – Dante Newman, Tresham College, Corby

Healthy Food and Wellbeing of the Year, sponsored by Delapre Abbey

Producers:          

GOLD – Mango Explosion Granola, Salma Soulful

SILVER – Organic Wheatgrass Juice, Britt’s Superfoods

BRONZE – Chocolate Super Shake, Nasty Vegan

BRONZE – Bresaola, Northampton Charcuterie Company

BRONZE – Carrot Cookies, The Loving Chef

Workplace:

GOLD – Sol Laug Haven

SILVER – Weatherbys

BRONZE – Silverstone Circuits Ltd

Local Food Hero of the Year, sponsored by Moulton College

GOLD – Rick Sharpe, The Roaming Artisan

SILVER – Milly Fyfe

SILVER – Claire Gurney, The Shack Food Project

BRONZE – Narinder Hammond, Skittles Community Shop

One to Watch, sponsored by Whitworth Bros. Ltd.

GOLD – Restaurant Ember

GOLD – Santina’s Wood Fired Pizza Co.

SILVER – Nasty Vegan

BRONZE – Butterwick Bakery

BRONZE – Royal Oak, Naseby

Outstanding Contribution to Food & Drink Northamptonshire

Jo & Nigel Wagstaff, Houghton Hams

Patrons Award

Phil Martin, Northampton College

Restaurant of the Year, sponsored by Greedy Gordons

GOLD – The Palmichael, Burton Latimer

SILVER – Marseille, Northampton

SILVER – Murrays, Whittlebury Park, Towcester

BRONZE – Hopping Hare, Northampton

BRONZE – Karmana, Northampton

BRONZE – Tap and Kitchen, Oundle

Weetabix Sustainability Award, sponsored by Weetabix

GOLD – Sol Laug Haven

SILVER – Blue Skies Ltd

SILVER – SNVB (South Northants Volunteer Bureau)

BRONZE – The Farm Shed

BRONZE – Green Machine Refill

BRONZE – Silverstone Circuits Ltd

Whitco Chef of the Year, sponsored by Whitco

GOLD – Adam Phillips, The Falcon at Castle Ashby

SILVER – Zak Perrin, The Falcon at Fotheringhay

BRONZE – Piotr Czarnocki, Gourmand Pierre Private Dining

HIGHLY COMMENDED – Daniel Webster, Websters Catering and Events

HIGHLY COMMENDED – Laszlo Bodnarjuk, The Palmichael

HIGHLY COMMENDED – Reece Coles, Hops and Chops

World Cuisine Restaurant of the Year, sponsored by British Pepper & Spice

GOLD – June Plum, Wellingborough

SILVER – Marmaris, Northampton

SILVER – Mexican Fire Garden, Kettering

BRONZE – Little India, Earls Barton

BRONZE – Voujon, Long Buckby

With Northamptonshire’s growing success in the Food & Drink sector this year, there has been probably the toughest competition yet when it comes to finding winners across all 19 categories at the awards. 

Celebrating our ‘Community’, local ‘Champions’ and ‘Culinary’ expertise, Stuart Branch, Chief People and Digital Officer for Weetabix, said: “Weetabix is delighted to be headline sponsor for the fourth year running, especially as aspects of sustainability are included in every category. Sustainability is in our DNA at Weetabix and so important to our local communities, our customers, and our consumers.

“We are delighted that this ethos is shared amongst the brilliant people and businesses that come together through the awards process and are extremely proud to support Rachel and the team to ensure that those who achieve Gold, Silver and Bronze in each category receive the recognition they deserve as we know that they have worked so hard to achieve it.

“These awards not only provide us with an opportunity to recognise our amazing Weetabix Growers’ group of farmers but also to celebrate the brilliant businesses from around the county, giving us the opportunity to learn from each other, taking inspiration from the innovation, creativity, and ambition in this space.”

With 101 finalists and over 500 hours of volunteer judging taken place, this has to be one of the most supported events in the 15 years of having the awards.

The menu served by Portfolio Events included some wonderful examples of Northamptonshire food and drink including Dovely Bakery Rose Cottage multi seed loaf, Hamm Tun Fine Foods’ Northamptonshire blue cheese, Urban Microgreen mixed salad, New Lodge Vineyard Chilli Honey dressing, Three Hills Brewery Heidrun Session NEIPA, Eat Curious vegan Wellington, and Boughton House honey.

As sponsors of this year’s Gastro Pub of the Year and Young Chef of the Year awards, Booker were delighted with the calibre of entries.

Darren Bown – Customer Director, Catering at Booker, said: “It is fantastic to see such brilliant talent at Weetabix Northamptonshire Food & Drink Awards in the Booker Gastro Pub & Booker Young Chef categories. Booker is really proud to be sponsoring both categories. It has been a hard time for the industry which is why it is even more important to get behind these fantastic local companies to allow them to keep bringing brilliant food and drink to their communities and to help encourage employment for the sector. All companies and the young chefs should be proud of their achievements and Booker will continue to offer the choice, prices, and services this sector requires while also continuing to support young chefs coming into the sector.”

The culinary themed trophies were created from upcycled metalware supporting the sustainable theme of some of our categories.  These were presented by Helen Fospero who was the Master of Ceremonies, known for her presenting role on shows such as GMTV, Daybreak and Lorraine.

Mike Peters, Managing Director of Whitworth Bros Ltd, category sponsor of ‘One to Watch’ said “Every year the Awards ceremony and Gala Dinner is an evening to remember and this year was no exception.   I’d encourage everyone to seek out the winners and finalists in each of the categories to support them throughout the year as we continue to make Northamptonshire a great place to eat, work and live.”

For more information on the Weetabix Northamptonshire Food and Drink Awards 2023/24, please visit www.northamptonshirefoodanddrink.co.uk. 

Keep up to date on the latest awards news on our socials:

Instagram – @foodawardshq; Twitter – @foodawardshq; Facebook – @foodawards;

LinkedIn – Weetabix Northamptonshire Food and Drink Awards

Moving and powerful theatre for our troubled times. Review: I, Daniel Blake at Royal and Derngate, Northampton.

Nene Quirer
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Moving and powerful theatre for our troubled times. Review: I, Daniel Blake at Royal and Derngate, Northampton.

By Karin Johnstone

“I am not a client, a customer, nor a service user. I am not a shirker, a scrounger, a beggar, nor a thief. I’m not a National Insurance Number or blip on a screen. I paid my dues, never a penny short, and proud to do so.” So states the eponymous Daniel Blake.

Kathy and Daisy, played by Bryony Corrigan and Jodie Wild – All photography by Pamela Raith

Seven years have passed since Ken Loach’s award-winning film ‘I, Daniel Blake’ highlighted the inflexibility of a benefit system in this country which feels like it was designed to debase human beings and keep people in poverty. Is the message of this narrative still relevant today?

Playwright, Dave Johns, like Loach, clearly believes it is, since he has adapted the original screenplay into a stage play. This play is not just about low-income households but NO income households. Absolute poverty in 2023.

John’s message is made stronger by screen projections and verbatim parliamentary recordings of Tory ministers’ statements; Cameron, Johnson, Truss et al, all with a shocking social commentary that highlights their absolute lack of compassion and understanding of working-class people struggling to survive. The opening projection from Damian Green, previous Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, states that ‘…it is a work of fiction; it is not a documentary and bears no relationship to the modern benefit system…’ a comment he made when asked to comment on the film narrative. (He later found himself in the headlines for his own questionable behaviour).

This play follows the characters desperately trying to negotiate a system to get money to live. Protagonist Daniel Blake has been told by his doctor that he can’t go back to work after a recent heart attack. When he’s in the job centre trying to make a benefits claim, he meets Kathy and her daughter, who have just arrived in Newcastle from London due to housing shortages. Late for her job centre appointment, she has been told that her claim has been sanctioned and she will have no money for a month. After trying to argue her case, Daniel forms a friendship with Kathy and her daughter. The friendship embodies the sheer generosity of spirit of Daniel.

This kindness is portrayed in a touching way by David Nellist. The performance of Bryony Corrigan playing the mother Katie has many hard-hitting scenes. It’s hard to watch as Katie comes out of the food bank and is so starving, having sacrificed her own needs for her daughter, that she opens a can of beans and starts eating them straight out of the tin. For anyone who has experienced this type of hunger this performance will be upsetting to watch. Choices are clearly limited for all the characters, even young China, Dan’s neighbour and wannabe entrepreneur, selling dodgy trainers to subsidise zero hours contracts, engagingly portrayed by Kema Sikazwe.

The utilitarian set designed by Rhys Jarman, is a simple backdrop of utilitarian shelving seamlessly transforming the stage from a flat, to job centre to foodbank. It doesn’t interfere with the intension of director, Mark Calvert, who has created absorbing performances. Calvert hoped that the audience would feel anger and outrage. I came out of the performance spewing with rage but with little hope that this fiasco will change the bleak horizon anytime soon.

You may come out of this performance furious, or maybe agree with former Tory Minister Green that ‘this is a work of fiction’. Either way, it’s hard to argue with shocking stats from the Trussell Trust charity. The charity provided almost three million emergency food parcels to families, in the year ending March 2023. In conjunction with this charity the box office at the theatre is accepting food donations for the Hope Centre while this show is running. Go and see this while you can, take a box of something for the food bank, and you’ll fully understand the power of live theatre.

‘I Daniel Blake’ is showing at Royal & Derngate until Saturday 4th November.

Book fair at Northampton Museum celebrates local writers

Nene Quirer
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Book fair at Northampton Museum celebrates local writers

Calling all bibliophiles. Northampton Museum and Art Gallery is pleased to be hosting their first ever book fair!

On Saturday 4th November, Northampton Museum and Art Gallery will be hosting its first ever Book Fair to the public. This will be a free event for visitors and will give them the opportunity to meet local authors, find out more about their books and perhaps pick up their next favourite bedtime read!

There will be an exciting variety of authors, publishers and literary societies offering their works for sale on the day with something available for all ages: children, young adults, and adults. Lovers of both fiction and non-fiction will be pleased with the range of genres; from fantasy thrillers to poetry, historical memoirs to romance… there will be something for everyone! There are also several stallholders who aim to promote reading amongst the public, particularly schools and young children.

Participating stallholders are all from Northamptonshire and the surrounding areas with the primary goal for the event to highlight the rich heritage and literary talents from across the county.

Entry will be free to the public, however we recommend bringing some cash on the day if you wish to purchase books as not every stallholder may accept card payments.

The annual Diwali Festival is happening in Town Centre on the same day and there are plenty of exciting exhibitions to visit at the museum including the museum’s new “Punk, Rage and Revolution” exhibition which details the history of Northampton’s punk scene and a retrospective on the work of Sex Pistols album cover artist Jamie Reid.

More finalists revealed for the Weetabix Food and Drink Awards

Nene Quirer
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More finalists revealed for the Weetabix Food and Drink Awards

As Autumn starts to show its face it means the Weetabix Northamptonshire Food and Drinks Awards are on the final countdown to the Awards Dinner and revealing more category finalists.  This time it’s the turn of Healthy Food and Wellbeing, One to Watch, F&B Achiever, and Food & Drink College Student of the Year!

The Food & Drink College Student of the Year Award is aimed at students aged between 16 and 21 currently undertaking a full or part-time food/drink-related course at a Northamptonshire college (Moulton, Northampton or Bedford). It is designed to recognise students showing drive, commitment and passion for the sector, those demonstrating exceptional progress in skills development who are keen to learn and who are a young ambassador for learning about food and drink. We are delighted to have the University of Northampton as a new sponsor for this category and who will kindly offer our Gold Award winner 1:1 careers coaching. 

Head of Events, Tourism & Hospitality at the University of Northampton,  Inva Reic, commented after the judging: “This year’s Food and Drink College Student of the Year category was brimming with exceptional talent. Each and every candidate had a unique story and their passion for the food and drink industry really shone through. This made the judging panel’s decision really challenging! We are very grateful for the interest shown by the students this year. All of this makes us very hopeful for the future of Northamptonshire’s food and drink sector and we are also very excited to see what all of this year’s finalists do next in their careers.”

Finalists for the Food and Drink College Student of the Year are:

Cohen O’Dell, Northampton College 

Chloe Matthews, Moulton College

Alex Mundey, Bedford College, Corby 

Dante Newman, Bedford College, Corby 

Cara Payne, Northampton College

Thomas Walshaw, Moulton College

Back for its 2nd year, the Healthy Food & Wellbeing Award is sponsored by Delapré Abbey Preservation Trust.  This category is in 2 parts and is designed to recognise producers in Northamptonshire who manufacture healthy food, and also those businesses and organisations who provide healthy food and wellbeing initiatives for their staff (defining ‘healthy food’ as those lower in fat, salt and sugars which can be used as part of a balanced diet).

Richard Clinton, CEO of Delapre Abbey said “There was a good level of entrants this year, and fantastic to see such diversity across the products and workplaces we were judging.  Great to see such a high level of passion with wonderfully tasting produce.”

Finalists for Healthy Food and Wellbeing of the Year are:

Producers:

Organic Wheatgrass Juice, Britt’s Superfoods

Bresaola, Northampton Charcuterie Company

Chocolate Super Shake, Nasty Vegan 

Carrot Cookies, The Loving Chef

Mango Explosion Granola, Salma Soulful

Businesses and Organisations:

Silverstone Circuits Ltd

Sol Havens CIC

Weatherbys

One to Watch, a category aimed at food and drink manufacturers or hospitality businesses who are less than 5 years old, and is designed to recognize their potential for major growth.  Their future significant impact on the market is also taken into consideration as well as how this will raise the profile of Northamptonshire at a regional or national level.

Category sponsor Kim Osborne, Technical Accounts Manager from Whitworth Bros Ltd enthused:  “Once again the level of entrants for the One to Watch category was outstanding. The dedication and enthusiasm from every one of the finalists made me proud to be involved.  Northampton is continuing to raise the bar to show what can be achieved.  I’m delighted to pass on my congratulations to all the finalists for their achievement.”

Finalists for One to Watch are:

Butterwick Bakery

Nasty Vegan

Restaurant Ember

Royal Oak, Naseby

Santina’s Wood Fired Pizza Co.

The category of F&B Achiever is designed to recognize a person who has made and/or continues to make a significant contribution to the sector.  This may be awarded early in someone’s career, as recognition of original or creative ideas, or later, when someone has established a consistently outstanding record.

Category sponsor Jenna Bruce, Legal Director at Howes Percival says “A really strong set of finalists, so different, which made it a real challenge to judge.  Their individual achievements are impressive in different ways.  They are all such champions for the county using local suppliers and establishing themselves within the county and potentially internationally!”

Finalists for F&B Achiever are:

Joe Buckley, The Tollemache Arms, Harrington

Glenn Newman, G&D Newman Ltd 

Steve Reid, Friars Farm

Nigel Wagstaff, Houghton Hams

Whites of Earls Barton

The winners will be announced on 1st November at Royal & Derngate.
For more information on the Weetabix Northamptonshire Food and Drink Awards 2023/24, please visit www.northamptonshirefoodanddrink.co.uk. 

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