If you became obsessed with curling during the Winter Olympics, there is even a mini curling lane to give it a go

A new “social hub” has opened in Peterborough with games for both kids and adults to “escape from their daily routine”. Described as being “Peterborough’s home of games, drinks and good times”, Playard opened its doors for the first time on Friday, March 27.

Julianna Kreitale, the manager of Playard, said: “The Playard is meant to be a place for families and groups of friends and colleagues to come, relax, and have fun together. It is an activity oriented place. We have a bar and food on offer as well. It’s really just a place for people to come and have fun rather than visiting a regular pub.”

The venue has a huge range of games and things to do from simple board games to VR experiences. There is a selection of 40 different board games for all ages with people being able to book a table at Playard for only £5 an hour.

There are also interactive dart boards that keep score for you and take photos during the game that you can keep to remember the day by. There are pool tables, shuffleboards, and curling lanes made from synthetic ice that can all be booked for a fun afternoon.

Playard also offers something a bit different with its VR experiences. Miss Kreitale said: “We have eight tethered VR headsets. Players will stay stationary in a square and use controls to move. There’s different options to choose from in terms of games. They can go for the arcade, which has about 50 different games to choose from.

“The standard headsets can also be used for our escape rooms and you can play with two to six players. There are some children-friendly options, scary ones, different difficulty levels you can choose from. Players come and get a brief from the staff and there’s always someone looking after people to help if anyone is struggling.”

If you would prefer to use the VR sets freely, you can try one of the VR free roam arenas where you can move around. Miss Kreitale would recommend visitors try out the free roam headsets, as they are “great for team building”.

You are able to enjoy drinks and food while you play as well with a range of loaded fries, hot dogs, and paninis on offer. Playard also offers alcoholic drinks from spirits and beers to affordable cocktails starting at only £5 as well as soft drink options for children.

Playard wants to create “a relaxed and chilled atmosphere with good vibes” for people to enjoy. The venue also has a DJ on Fridays and Saturdays between 7pm to 11pm, when it switches from its main lights from 6pm to red and purple tube lighting to “add to the atmosphere”.

Playard can be found at 26 Hereward Cross in Peterborough. The venue recommends pre-booking activities to avoid disappointment, which can be done through the Playard website.

The venue is open from 12pm to 8pm on Mondays to Thursdays, from 12pm to 11pm on Fridays, from 10am to 11pm on Saturdays, and from 10am to 8pm.

The man was pronounced dead at the scene

A motorcyclist has died after he crashed into a lamppost. A 50-year-old man from Market Deeping was travelling from the A605 on Flaxley Road, Peterborough, at around 2.40pm on Friday (April 3).

The man crashed and struck a lamppost. The man was pronounced dead at the scene.

A Cambridgeshire Police spokesperson said: “The rider of the red Triumph Daytona, a 50-year-old man from Market Deeping, was travelling north west from the A605 on Flaxley Road at about 2.40pm on Friday when he struck a lamppost.

“Officers and paramedics attended, but he was pronounced dead at the scene and there were no other vehicles involved.”

Police are appealing for information into the incident. Anyone with information should call police on 101 and quote incident 280 of April 3. Alternatively, they can report it online.

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A new gym is set to replace a popular family-run party shop. Peterborough City Council’s planning department last week determined that Shadow Strength Gym’s application to take over Units 7 And 8 at the Saville Road Industrial Estate was lawful.

In making their decision, planning chiefs concluded the premises’ new function would be “Commercial, Business and Service” – known as ‘Class E’ – like the previous party shop.

This means that planning permission is not needed. As such, Shadow Strength Gym can remodel the existing premises to suit its needs.

The units were once home to The Party Place, a popular retail party shop that was run by Paul and Trish Shepherd, along with their daughter Jo, for 34 years.

The Shepherds decided to close the shop in October last year, citing rising costs, decreasing footfall, and the rise of online shopping as key factors.

First opened in 2024, Shadow Strength Gym is a well-established local gym that already has a 2,200 sq/ft unit on the Saville Road Industrial Estate.

This new acquisition – which is two units of 4,500 sq/ft – will see it more than double its footprint on the estate.

Celebrating the upcoming move on its Facebook page, the 24-hour gym said it was hoping to complete the move by early summer: “We’re aiming to be fully moved into the new unit within the next two months.

“There’s still a lot of work to do – from setup to final touches – but trust us when we say it’s going to be worth it.”

It will replace a pub which closed at the end of February

One of the UK’s most popular restaurant chains is set to open a branch in Cambridgeshire. Hickory’s Smokehouse is set to open the first of its kind in Cambridgeshire and is expected to create around 100 new jobs.

It will be located in Hampton, Peterborough, replacing a former pub called Mulberry Tree Farm. The pub, which closed on February 28, is currently undergoing a major refurbishment inside and out ahead of opening.

Hickory’s has confirmed its new restaurant is set to open early this summer on Kempley Close in Hampton. The new restaurant will include a mix of seating to suit every visit alongside a chef’s bar, where you can watch the chefs in action.

Outside will feature a secluded garden inspired by Southern outdoor living complete with a covered dining terrace ideal for the summer months. Additionally, a ‘neighbourhood bar’ offering a selection of cocktails, craft beer and their very own ‘Hickory’s Pale Ale’ will be on offer for guests to enjoy.

The bar will also have screens for the sport lovers to relish in with a drink in hand. A special feature for young guests includes a movie room where they can come and go as they please.

When it comes to the main event (the food), visitors will be able to indulge in their classics including Memphis ribs and 16-hour smoked Texas-style brisket. Their appetisers and desserts include Brisket Popcorn Bites and Frickles as well as their Peach Jam Jar Cheesecake and Table Toasted Campfire Marshmallow.

In their recent blog, it said: “Get ready to enjoy authentic flavours that’ll whisk you away on a journey into the hear of the Southern States.”

One of the gardens is easy to reach from Cambridgeshire and might be worth a visit in 2026.

A historic garden near Cambridgeshire has been shortlisted to be garden of the year for 2026. The Historic Houses Garden of the Year Award for 2026 will see six gardens across the UK compared to each other to be named the best.

Burghley House, in Stamford, has been shortlisted as one of the places that could see its garden named the best of the year through a public vote. The shortlist has been created by selecting from hundreds of gardens that are publicly accessible member properties of Historic Houses.

Ben Cowell, Director General at Historic Houses, said: “Now that spring is finally here, we are thrilled to offer a truly exceptional shortlist for our annual Garden of the Year competition.

“Each of these six gardens is reflective of the horticultural excellence that can be seen across our member properties at Historic Houses. We look forward to seeing which emerges with the most votes by the end of a busy summer of garden tourism.”

The other gardens up for the award are Coughton Court in Warwickshire, Kelmarsh Hall in Northampton, Monteviot House on the Scottish Borders, Plas Cadnant in Anglesey, and Slemere House in East Yorkshire. The public has until the end of August to vote for their favourite garden.

Ursula Cholmeley, Chair of the Historic Houses Gardens and Parklands Committee, said: “We are grateful to historic house members for a strong list of entries this year and the shortlist features six small and large gardens all open to the public and all worth visiting before you cast your vote.

“There are two awards available to the gardens that entered this year including The Judges’ Choice Award that represents a lifetime’s work. Both awards acknowledge the dedication that owners and gardening teams put into making historic gardens some of the best in the world.”

The Burghley Estate has a few different gardens to explore, including the Garden of Surprises, which was inspired by the Elizabethan fascination with astrology, astronomy, and classical civilisations. The garden features water fountains and a mirrored maze to explore.

For those who love art, the Sculpture Garden has artwork from a “diverse collection of artists” as well as views across the great lake and pathways to follow around the area. The South Gardens are only open on certain days but are worth a visit thanks to the ‘spectacular’ trees and rose garden packed with modern varieties of rose.

You can also take a walk through the deer park if you want to see the herd that lives in the grounds. The deer park was “the vision” of Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown who worked with the 9th Earl of Exeter to remodel the parkland in the 18th century.

The Hide and Secrets adventure play area is ideal for children to let off some steam with climbing walls, walkways, and lookout nests for children to run around. The Hidden Towers covers multiple levels with two slides and a rope bridge that takes children to the lookout platform.

Younger children can explore the toddler and pre-schooler area that has a mini slide and things to do that are closer to the ground. The free Spymaster’s Guide activity booklet should keep children occupied for at least a few hours at the house.

If you are in need of something eat while visiting Burghley House, there are a few spots to choose from. At the Garden Café, you can enjoy a hot drink alongside a light lunch, homemade cake, or pick up a children’s lunch box for the day.

The Muddy Mole is also available and set right next to the adventure play area. It has plenty of picnic benches to relax on.

Tickets for access to the gardens and adventure play area cost £11 for adults and £8.50 for children aged between three and 15 with a family ticket available for £35. Tickets can be booked on the Burghley House website.

The gardens are open from 10am until 5pm. Burghley House is only a 26-minute drive away from Peterborough and just over an hour away from Cambridge via the A14. Parking is free for all visitors.

They now earn an extra £12k a year than they did working in the police force

A Cambridgeshire couple quit their jobs in the police force to set up their own business picking up dog poo. David and Shauna Wiles launched their professional dog poop cleaning business in October after leaving their £41,000 and £44,000-a-year jobs with Cambridgeshire Constabulary.

In April 2025, they had already set up a window cleaning business but noticed an opportunity for a side-hussle scooping poop, which is already big business in America.

The married couple, from Peterborough, believe that they are one of a small number of businesses across the UK providing this service. They say that is is mainly used by the elderly and disabled, and also includes cleaning cat litter trays.

David, 42 and Shauna, 47, say the poop-picking side of their business is set to make an extra £12,000 a year and could eventually become more profitable than their £30,000-£40,000 a year window cleaning business. The couple decided to leave the police force because of the strain of the job. David has already left, and Shauna will officially leave on April 22.

David, who worked as an emergency call handler, said: “I left the force because, for me, I felt like I was letting people down – I’m one of those who want to help people and I was finding I was struggling to do that. Some want to speak to officers that day and I’m thinking you’ll be lucky if one comes out at all because we don’t have the resources to send out.

“I spent 11 years with the ambulance service before that and suffered from burn out and I just thought I’ve got bigger priorities in my life like my 10-year-old daughter who I wasn’t seeing as much. I just lost faith in the job and the window cleaning and poop scooping just gives me a chance to do what I enjoy and that is making people happy.”

Shauna, a previous domestic abuse advisor, said: “I got to the point where the job was affecting my mental health given the nature of the victims and cases I was dealing with. It just became too much.”

The couple set up their window cleaning company, Nene Window Cleaning whilst they were still working part-time with the police, but they both decided that they wanted to throw themselves fully into their new business ventures. They noticed the need for poop scooping services whilst cleaning windows and noticing the mess in the gardens.

They thought that as people pay for services such as car cleaning, delivering food, cleaners and dog walkers, why not poop scooping?

David and Shanua have since been helping people who struggle physically with the demands of the messy garden job. The couple, who have three children and are pet owners themselves, have roughly 20 regular customers on a subscription and have privoded one-off cleans for another 30 clients.

Shauna said: “We first noticed the need while window cleaning and coming across dog poo in gardens. We found ourselves having to step around a lot but sometimes our hose would get dirty. David then did a bit of research and found this was huge business in the USA but only a handful of companies were doing the same here.

“There were only about four or five nationwide but they seemed to be low budget and amateur, which I do say with respect, but what we offer is a more full professional works. We wanted the van with signage, uniforms, all the right equipment, including disinfecting gardens afterwards – we don’t think there’s many offering the same level of service.

“We use a horse bucket, which we empty into bags which are double bagged and put into the clients wheelie bins. We did query with the council if we would need waste disposal but as long as its bagged and binned with the homeowner’s permission that is fine. We are also DBS checked and have business liability insurance – we’ve put everything into making this as professional as possible.

“We have our own dog Rufus, a Bichon Frisé crossed with a Shih-tzu, so we’re used to picking up mess and you soon get used to it. You do come across some quite neglected gardens which prove quite tricky, but you adapt.

“We set up in October but have only been fully up and running since February. Despite this we already have around 20 regular customers paying us a £50 a month subscription. It is proving very popular already and bringing in on average £1,000 a month.

“We run the window cleaning and poop scooping as two separate companies and we aim to grow and expand to the point where we are employing staff. We have disabled and elderly people as customers but the service is available to anyone. These days people have gardeners, their shopping delivered or their houses cleaned .

“It could just be a job you don’t like doing, and to be honest it is one of the worst jobs around the garden to do, so there’s really no shame in it. We’re also introducing a grass-cutting service too to mow your lawn once we’ve picked up the poo. Some people might frown at it – but it’s a job we’re happy to help with.”

David added: “There is a need for our services and we are helping elderly people and those with disabilities. Those people were struggling and needed our help. As a result it is really rewarding. We have seen comments saying if you can’t pick up after your dog then you shouldn’t have a dog.

“But we have found those animals are very much loved. The big thing for us was to start a business to try and improve our lives. We wanted to get out of shift work and spend more time with our family. We have realised we are genuinely helping a lot of people.

“We wear specialised PPE and footwear and use tools and disinfectant. This service didn’t exist before and we are getting great feedback from customers.”

The unit is set to open in 2027

The refurbishment of a primary school in Stanground is set to benefit from a new specialist unit for pupils with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).

The work will see a space at Southfields Primary School that is currently underutilised comprehensively refurbished to create a dedicated SEND Specialist Unit for 38 children. Set to open in 2027, the facility will welcome pupils aged five to 11 with autism spectrum disorder and associated learning difficulties.

The refurbishment is part of the council’s commitment to ensuring every child and young person in the city will have access to quality education in their local community, and have their needs met by trained staff, regardless of their individual requirements.

Councillor Katy Cole, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, said the council was “proud to take this important step” in helping to provide a nurturing and inspiring environment that will enable every child to flourish.

“By investing in inclusive provision, we are making strong inroads into ensuring that children and families can remain rooted in their communities while benefiting from specialist support,” she said.

At present, 66 primary-aged children in Peterborough are waiting for specialist SEND placements, none of which are likely to become available until September 2027.

Cllr Cole said: “Our vision is for every child to experience belonging and opportunity in their local school, supported by trained staff who share our commitment. This new unit will help us realise this key aim and I look forward to seeing it established.”

The remodelling work at Southfields Primary School was authorised by Peterborough City Council at a Cabinet meeting on March 24.

The barn was previously used for farming

A plan to convert an agricultural barn into seven houses has been refused permission over fears of traffic and highways impacts. A prior approval application was submitted to Peterborough City Council on behalf of Horrell Farm Company to convert St Vincents Cross Farm on Crowland Road into seven houses.

The proposed developments are for the change of use of the eastern building to form seven houses. Each floor space of the proposed houses were proposed to have less than 150sq m. The plans show that five of the seven houses proposed would have two bedrooms, and the other two would have three bedrooms.

The case officer said that the proposal “fails to provide sufficient information” to demonstrate there would not be any highways impacts. The case officer added: “In particular, insufficient detail has been provided to demonstrate that the site curtilage can accommodate adequate car parking and turning, and that vehicles can enter and leave the site safely.

“Furthermore, given the constrained and substandard nature of the existing access track from Wisbech Road, the submitted information fails to demonstrate that vehicles would be able to pass, wait and manoeuvre within the site without queuing back onto and obstructing the public highway.”

Therefore, it was recommended that the prior approval application be refused. In the required amendments, the planning authorities said to “demonstrate a minimum of 16 parking spaces” and show a “safe access route and width from the highway” including for wheeled or vulnerable users.

The site, which has 958sq m of floor space, is currently agricultural and is in flood zone 3, which means there is high risk of flooding. The flood risk assessment for the application said there was no historic evidence of flooding at the site, but increased rain due to climate change could have an impact.

It is the first phase of a £65 million development

A major redevelopment of a city centre landscape is under way as the latest update has been revealed. The first phase of the Peterborough Station Quarter project was due to start before the end of March.

The first phase of the £65 million Station Quarter development, known as City Link, is expected to create a modern gateway between the railway station and Cowgate, according to the council.

In the latest update, a spokesperson for Peterborough City Council confirmed that work is underway. Workers are removing trees and clearing more vegetation on the roundabout.

They expect M Group to be setting up their compound in April and May, with the main road works due to begin in May. The construction works include lane closures on Queensgate Roundabout, meaning motorists and road users could experience delays.

A spokesperson for Peterborough City Council said: “Although the traffic orders are being published later than we originally said this will not affect the timeline for our start on site. It will begin in May/June and the completion date for the project will remain the same.”

The two subways that run underneath the Queensgate roundabout will be removed. As part of the consultation, officers reviewed whether any of the 35 trees could be retained.

A spokesperson for the council said: “Unfortunately, this will not be possible due to engineering requirements that are necessary to construct the new footpaths and make improvements to the landscaping to transform the area.

“The landscaping proposals will see 49 new trees planted and there are also plans for seven additional small trees/shrubs as well as a rain garden and Gabion walls.”

The Station Quarter is a regeneration project being delivered by Peterborough City Council in partnership with Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority, Network Rail, Platform 4, and LNER.

A man called Michael Hudson was murdered at the castle in June 1648

A medieval castle hidden within Cambridgeshire is said to be haunted by a man that was murdered there. There are many places across Cambridgeshire with histories that span hundreds of years.

With some going back so far, it would make sense that some may be haunted. In the parish of Etton, near Peterborough, is a former castle known as Woodcroft Castle.

This castle was surrounded by a moat, and includes elements of medieval and Edwardian design. Even today, some of the medieval parts are still visible, including the front range, circular tower and gatehouse.

During the Second English Civil War in 1648, the castle was held by Royalists. However, during the war in June 1648, Parliamentary forces attacked the castle and took it over.

Michael Hudson, a man who was supported by the Royalists, tried to take refuge in the castle after trying to raise forces for King Charles I in nearby Stamford. A siege was launched at the castle and within 48 hours, Michael was killed.

Before his death, Michael refused to surrender, even when he was tapped at the top of the main tower. It’s said he clung to the tower, begging for mercy.

However, those attacking chopped off his fingers and then Michael was thrown into the moat below. He was then brutally beaten to death with rifle butts.

Since Michael’s death, nearby locals claim to have heard cries of help from the castle, believed to be from Michael. People claim to have heard bloodcurdling screams of “mercy, mercy”,

Paranormal experts have said Michael’s ghost likes to re-enact his death, especially during the month of June, which is when he died.

Today, Woodcroft is no longer a castle but a home. In 2016, it sold for £1.5 million. When it was listed 10 years ago, it was said to have eight bedrooms, seven bathrooms and five reception rooms.