2025

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April. New tipping laws will benefit hospitality workers. Your tips will now be assured of going to staff

New legislation came into effect from Oc1 making it illegal for businesses to hold back tips from workers. The updated Employment (Allocation of tips) Act states that employers must pass on all tips, service charges and gratuities to workers without deductions.

Feb 26. Bill clamping down on retail crime goes before Parliament

Labour’s promised Crime and Policing Bill, which includes tougher laws on retail crime, will be put before parliament on Tuesday (25 February).

The bill, which will mostly apply in England and Wales, contains over 50 measures including stricter penalties for shoplifting of items under £200 and making it a new offence to assault a shop worker.

It also contains new “Respect Orders”, which are reminiscent of the Anti-social Behaviour Orders introduced by the last Labour government before it was abolished in 2014.

The current laws deprioritise shoplifting theft under £200 and make it a summary only offence, meaning it can only be heard in magistrates court.

  The British Retail Consortium warned at the end of last month that retail crime is “spiralling out of control” despite more being spent on prevention than ever before.

The trade body’s annual crime survey reported that violent and abusive incidents were up more than 50% last year, while retailers were reporting 55,000 thefts a day costing them £2.2bn last year.

Home secretary Yvette Cooper said: “The new Crime and Policing Bill is about taking back our streets and town centres, restoring respect for law and order, and giving the police and local communities the support and tools they need to tackle local crime.”

Currys COO Lindsay Haselhurst said: “On behalf of Currys’ thousands of store colleagues across the UK, I’m incredibly pleased to see the introduction of a standalone offence of assaulting a retail worker, and the removal of legislation which makes shop theft of and below £200 a summary-only offence.

“The level of violence and crime our colleagues regularly face is unacceptable, and we hope these new powers for police will go some way in addressing that.”   Courtesy Retail Gazette

Business as normal at

LOVEWEDS.

Mitch will be welcoming you for all your engagement and wedding rings requirements

At Fonehouse Harpenden  we offer EE Business contracts for the latest devices.  Please contact us for more information on how we can help.

Fonehouse Harpenden, opposite Waitrose – your local mobile expert.

Steak Nights at the WOODYARD- Sept 26;

Oct 31st & Nov 21st

Are you ready for HALLOWEEN?

Threads  certainly are...take a look instore and be spooked!

The freshest and healthiest sourdough bread in Harpenden from  ARTICHOKE  BAKE & MORE.

Based in Leyton Road opposite Waitrose you’ll find this new artisan bakery  that delivers on it’s promise. How can that be?

Well,  it starts at 4am every morning when their experienced baker and husband of owner Seda ( below right)   switches on the ovens to bake the first batch of sourdough loaves. Once underway he gets to work preparing the dough for the next days bread.

This requires  some active sourdough starter,  ( their secret recipe) which gives the bread its signature tangy flavor and chewy texture, flour, water and salt. No yeast or additives. It is all blended together in the featured blender then left to rise. Followed by a series of ‘stretch & folds’ to strengthen the bread dough and add structure to the finished loaf.

The finished dough is divided up ready for the next day’s bake.

They bake a wide range of sourdough styles:

White; Multi Grain; Cheddar & Onion; Olive; White Baguette; PLUS Focaccia and Ciabatta

Prices for loaves start from £4.20 and Baguettes at £2.99

You’ll be greeted with warm and friendly smiles from the owner Seda and staff member Phoebe.(above left)

They are open daily: Sunday - Monday 8am - 2.30pm

Tuesday - Saturday 8am - 4.30pm

I tasted one of the white sourdoughs this morning- see photos below

with butter, olive oil and jam as you can see.

Delicious in all three ways, but my favourite way is dipped in olive oil.

A crusty exterior with a flavour packed inside in traditional sourdough style.

It will also make fabulous toast.

Why not try these superb breads to find your own favourite .

I’m sure you will enjoy the experience.

Ron Taylor.  Editor. Harpendia.

A NEW NAME ON THE HIGH STREET

WHSmith have been taken over by TG Jones. They will continue to trade with a similar stock profile and operate the POST OFFICE.

Saturday Sept 27. FREE Tasting Event at the Silver Palate Deli 1pm - 5pm.

You will be able to sample their CATERING MENU  and meet trusted suppliers.

A fabulous opportunity in Vaughan Rd.

The tastiest and healthiest cakes and pastries in Harpenden.

From  ARTICHOKE  BAKE & MORE in Leyton road.

Their selected range are all hand made using the freshest ingredients without any additives and less sugar.

How healthy is that?

Take a look at the photo here to see the

range on offer.

The Banana bread in the foreground is

so tasty it’s the Talk of the Town. You

can buy a whole loaf or just individual

slices. Also available but not shown is

Walnut and Coffee cake.

Next up are Apple Crumbles, then trays

of Pain au Chocolate, Pain au Raisin.

and Croissants. Now for the cakes, all

made to special recipes to ensure

exceptional flavours.  Muffins with

Raspberry & White Chocolate, Dark

Chocolate and Cherry, Blueberry, and

Marbled. Then Cinnamon buns that almost

float away, they are so light.

Seda, the owner said I also make Potato and caramelised onion tarts and a Basque Cheesecake that is so light you’ll never go back to the New York style again. Both to her own recipes.

Pictured behind Seda is Aysegul, another member of the friendly team to serve you.

They are open daily: Sunday - Monday 8am - 2.30pm

Tuesday - Saturday 8am - 4.30pm

The photos above show me about to eat

a Cinnamon Bun, having already set up

an afternoon tea with a slice of Banana

cake and some Muffin. They are all so

individually different and flavoursome

compared to what’s on offer elsewhere

in town.

Why not try them to find your own favourite .I’m sure you will enjoy the experience.  Ron Taylor.  Editor. Harpendia.