September’s back school runs, soggy trainers, and that first smug whiff of pumpkin spice.

Ely’s stalls are stacked with apples, Cambridge’s colleges are flinging open secret doors, and St Ives is still pretending it’s summer by the river.

What’s inside this week?

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  * A local Cambridgeshire village brewery that will even keep the kids entertained while you drink responsibly!
  *Neighbours in St Neots swapping the time not cash.
  *The pub roast you’ll walk across meadows for.
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  And yes, the juiciest bit of local gossip we could track down.
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Fast, fun, and very Cambridgeshire. Let’s get into it.

Business Spotlight – King’s Cliffe Brewery: Pints With Personality

King’s Cliffe isn’t exactly the West End. Blink and you’ll miss the High Street.

But wander into a converted outbuilding on the edge of the village and suddenly it’s alive: steam hissing, hops perfuming the air, and barrels lined like soldiers waiting to be tapped.

This is King’s Cliffe Brewery, where small-batch beer packs big character.

Brewer Jeremy O’Neill fired it up in 2014, exactly a century after the last village brewery went flat.

He laughs: “We’re basically making up for lost rounds.

” With a five-barrel plant and a stubborn streak, he’s built a microbrewery that punches well above its pint glass.

The beers have personality, too. 5C, the session pale, is light and zippy — the sort you order as “just one” and then realise you’re three in. P51, the porter, is brooding and chocolatey, the pint equivalent of pulling on a thick jumper and refusing to leave the pub.

Locals swear the seasonal specials are worth chasing, and festival-goers have been known to queue early just to snag a glass.

But it’s not just about what’s in the pint.

Open days at KCB turn into mini street parties: villagers spilling out into the yard, live music rattling the kegs, kids running around while parents “sample” responsibly.

One regular summed it up perfectly: “It’s like having your best mate brewing in the shed if your mate knew what he was doing.”

KCB doesn’t care about supermarket shelf space or glossy adverts.

It’s proudly village-sized, fiercely independent, and fuelled by flavour over volume. 

Jeremy calls it “beer with a grin.” Judging by the locals, he’s not wrong.

So if you’re near Peterborough, forget the anonymous lager tap.

 Hunt down a pint of King’s Cliffe. You’ll be drinking more than beer — you’ll be drinking the story of a village that got its brewery back, and isn’t letting go this time.

Got a business with as much flavour as this? Nominate them — Spotlight is thirsty for the next story.

Five Quick Bites from the County

Cambridge goes slick with WestHub – The University’s shiny new West Hub has swung open its doors on the West Cambridge site, blending co-working, cafés and the campus’s first bar under one roof.

 One engineer grinned: “It’s like a grown-up playground — just with more laptops and grant forms.”

Black Cat Radio rocks St Neots – The town’s own community station marked another birthday by pitching up live in the Market Square.

 Listeners rang in with memories, and one chap summed it up: “It’s the sound of home.”

Cromwell after dark? Not quite yet – Huntingdon’s [object Object] is sticking to daytime hours for now, but staff say they’re mulling over the idea of special candlelit tours. With civil war tales told in the half-light, it could be one for the diary.

Ely’s stained glass goes digital – The Stained Glass Museum  has launched a new AR app that lets visitors point their phones at panels to unlock hidden stories.

 One mum laughed: “My teenagers finally looked up from their screens… to another screen, but I’ll take it.”

St Ives antiques fair struts back – Burgess Hall once again filled with around 50 dealers this month, hawking everything from vinyl to vintage handbags.

 Stallholders say mid-century chic is this year’s hot ticket. Less mothballs, more Mad Men.

Got a scoop, quirky launch or clever idea in your town? Drop us a line — the sharpest tips make it into next week’s Buzz.

Fixers With a Mission: Peterborough Repair Café

On a Saturday morning in Westgate, Peterborough, you’ll find a curious hum: sewing machines whirring, screwdrivers clinking, and neighbours leaning over kettles not to brew tea, but to repair them.

Welcome to the Peterborough Repair Café, where “don’t bin it, fix it” is the golden rule.

Locals bring everything from broken toasters to wobbly chairs, and a small army of volunteer “fixers” gets to work.

There’s no bill, no fuss just donations if you can.

One volunteer chuckled: “I love seeing a 1970s lamp come back to life. It’s like time travel with a plug.”

It’s not just about the repairs. It’s about conversation, connection, and skills passed down over cups of tea.

Kids watch how to sew on buttons, pensioners get laptops rebooted, and everyone leaves with the glow that comes from saving money and saving waste.

In an age where throwing away feels easier, the Repair Café proves the opposite. It’s slower, messier, friendlier and a reminder that community fixes more than appliances.

Know a grassroots group in your town doing brilliant things quietly? Tip us off — Local Hero is all about them.

The Green Man, Grantchester

The Green Man looks like a postcard pub from the outside, but inside it’s all about the food.

Locals whisper about the roast pork belly crisp crackling, apple sauce that tastes properly homemade, and Yorkshire puds that don’t need excuses.

One Sunday regular leaned across his pint: “I’ve tried every roast in Cambridge. This is the only one I come back for.”

Hard to argue when the plates come out steaming and the fire’s crackling behind you.

The menu doesn’t stop at Sunday. Sticky toffee pudding lands soft and sweet, the kind that makes you instantly regret sharing.

Burgers are stacked high, chips are chunky enough to fight over, and the ale list makes it worth missing the last bus home.

It isn’t fine dining, but it doesn’t need to be.

It’s the kind of pub where birthdays, reunions and muddy-boot Sundays all make sense. And when you step out after dinner, the meadows stretch away like an extra course.

Got a local pub or café you swear by? Tell us. Your Table Talk could be next week’s star.

Purrs, Zoomies & Forever Homes

Venus, a striking white-striped tabby with Cats Protection Cambridge, is a classic mix of independence and affection.

She’s happiest sunbathing on a windowsill, then padding over for fuss when the mood takes her. Volunteers say she’s “the perfect blend of aloof and adorable.”

Over at Woodgreen Godmanchester, Alfie  is waiting a gentle dog with soulful eyes and a love of long walks. Staff describe him as “the kind of companion who’ll stick by your side, whether you’re on a muddy trail or curled up with a brew.”

By the time you read this, Venus or Alfie may already be in their forever homes. If so, fantastic news but there are always more whiskery faces and wagging tails ready to meet their match at Cats Protection and Woodgreen.

Thinking of adopting? Check Cats Protection Cambridge or Woodgreen’s adoption pages your next best friend could be waiting.

East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) in Milton.

This week’s space is donated to East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) in Milton.Their team cares for children and families going through the hardest times, offering everything from play therapy to overnight stays.

Local businesses: this slot is open for sponsorship in future Spotlights. Want your name here while supporting community news? Get in touch to learn more.

Save smart this week with a few local tricks.

Two for one on the train – Off-peak Duo tickets from Cambridge and Ely mean two adults travel for the price of one after 9.30am. That’s shopping money saved before you even hit the city.

Veg at a steal – Turn up to Ely Market late on Saturday and you’ll often nab a bag of veg for half the morning price. Stallholders would rather see it eaten than carried home.

Books on demand – Cambridgeshire libraries don’t just lend books. You can borrow board games, audiobooks and even e-magazines for free.

Warm up for less – South Cambs Council is offering free loft insulation checks until October. Worth booking before the frost creeps in.

Wheels for free – Dr Bike sessions at Cambridge train station give free cycle tune-ups. A quick fix there could save a £60 bill later.

Got your own clever saving trick? Send it in — we’ll feature the best next week.

The Lie-In Factor

Here’s the real secret of selling in September: it’s not the granite worktops or the garden.

It’s how many minutes of extra sleep parents can squeeze in before the school bell.

One Ely mum told me straight: “We took the smaller house because it’s five minutes to the gate. That bought me twenty minutes in bed. Worth every penny.”

Estate agents see it every autumn.

Families aren’t just buying bricks, they’re buying easier mornings.

If your house is in the right catchment, say it loud.

Talk about the safe walk, the shortcut past the café, even the fact you can leave the car at home.

Catchment isn’t a line on a map. It’s an extra coffee in peace.

Want more cheeky shortcuts to boost your sale? Sign up for Smart Money News and we’ll drop them in your inbox.

Oats, Honey and a Laugh

Forget £60 creams with names you can’t pronounce. Your kitchen cupboard has the best face mask in the county.

Two spoons of oats, a drizzle of honey, a dollop of yoghurt if you’ve got it.

Slap it on, look like a ghost for ten minutes, rinse off — and your skin feels like you actually slept eight hours.

One assistant at Neal’s Yard in Cambridge confessed: “Honestly, this works better than half the fancy jars. But don’t tell my manager.”

It’s cheap, cheerful, and the only side effect is your partner laughing when you open the door mid-mask.

Got a homegrown beauty hack? Send it in. The quirkiest tip gets a spot in next week’s Spotlight.

Pandas, Otters and a Worm Called Kevin

If the kids are climbing the walls, let them climb something cuter. Shepreth Wildlife Park is perfect for a Saturday escape.

Red pandas snooze in the treetops, otters squeak their way through mealtime, and the nocturnal house flips the lights so you can finally see those night-time creatures awake.

The play area is big enough for a proper run-around too.

Parents swap war stories at the café while kids argue over which animal they’re adopting in their heads.

 One dad left last year chuckling: “My son named a worm Kevin and insisted we take him home. Kevin did not make it past the car park.”

It’s fun, affordable, and the animals do most of the entertaining. Just don’t let the kids loose in the gift shop unless you fancy another soft toy menagerie.

Got a favourite family day out in Cambs? Share it — your tip could be next week’s pick.

Craft & Create – Wreaths That Aren’t Just for Christmas

September’s hedgerows are basically free craft shops. Conkers, berries, corn stalks, even the odd scruffy sunflower — all begging to be turned into a harvest wreath.

Ely craft groups have been at it already. One organiser grinned: “You don’t need to buy a thing. Half my wreath is stuff I picked up on the school run.”

All you need is a base (bendy willow twigs or an old wire coat hanger works), a bit of twine, and whatever nature’s dropping this week.

Add a bow if you want to look fancy, or leave it rustic and smugly “authentic.”

And if glue guns aren’t your thing, no stress Ely, Cambridge and Huntingdon craft shops are selling autumn wreath kits this month, so you can skip the foraging and still hang something seasonal on your door.

Made something brilliant for autumn? Snap a pic and send it in — the best reader makes will get a Spotlight feature.

Open Cambridge (12–21 Sept) throws open hidden doors across the city, from secret gardens to the Mullard Radio Astronomy Observatory.

 It’s your rare chance to peek behind the scenes at places most of us only see in Sunday news magazines.

Ely looks ahead to its Apple & Harvest Fayre (11–12 Oct), with local produce, family fun and early festive flavours. True, it’s not until next month, but Ely’s already buzzing with prep.

Perfect for “just browsing” until you’ve accidentally bought your own Christmas gift.

St Ives brings the beat with the Old Riverport Jazz & Blues Festival from 11–14 Sept, lighting up pubs and riverside stages with free music enough rhythm to make even the swans sway.

One regular summed it up: “Cambridgeshire in September feels like it’s showing off. And we’re here for it.”

Planning to pop along to any of these? Send us your snaps or a cheeky one-liner — the most vibrant will feature in next week’s Spotlight.

Friday	65° 49°	Partly sunny with a shower in the area in the afternoon
Saturday	64° 51°	Mostly sunny
Sun, Sep 14	67° 50°	Intervals of clouds and sunshine with a couple of showers
Mon, Sep 15	66° 50°	Rain
Tue, Sep 16	67° 51°	Mostly sunny
Wed, Sep 17	66° 51°	Sunny to partly cloudy
Thu, Sep 18	67° 50°	Sunshine and a few clouds

. Weather Watch – Staggeringly Sept-Perfect (Mostly)

Here’s a neat wrap-up for the week ahead—from Friday, September 12:

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• Friday, Sept 12: Expect turncoat weather—sunlight might tease you, but an afternoon dribble could catch your jeans off guard. Tops at ~18 °C.

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• Saturday, Sept 13: Solid sunshine—flat caps and cafés are calling. Perfect weather for dawdling.

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• Sunday, Sept 14: Cloud-sun tag-team all day, with the cheeky chance of a shower. In other words bring a jumper or a brolly if you fancy halfway through your stroll.

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• Monday, Sept 15: A proper rain day. Those wellies and waterproofs you never think about pulling out? Good plan.

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• Tuesday, Sept 16: The sun reclaims its crown sunny with a wink perfect for coffee walks or chasing those last-beam photos.

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• Wednesday, Sept 17: Mostly sunny, just shy of jumper weather. Ideal for open doors and golden-hour snaps.

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• Thursday, Sept 18: Gentle sun and soft clouds. Mild and calm—a quiet beauty perfect for lingering over garden gates.

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Insider tip—this stretch is textbook early cosy season: think layers, rain drama, and a hot drink in hand. 

Council & Community – Wisbech Looks Back, Northstowe Looks Forward

Two very different stories shaping Cambridgeshire this month.

In Wisbech, heritage groups are buzzing about this weekend’s open days.

From Peckover House’s Georgian splendour to tucked-away chapels, doors that are usually bolted are swinging open. Locals are calling it “time-travel with cake” because, yes, most tours end in a church hall tea.

Meanwhile in Northstowe, the debate is all about the future. Plans for the new Unity Centre have split opinion.

Supporters say the town desperately needs somewhere for sports, meetings and community life.

Critics grumble about cost, parking, and whether it will be “Cambridge-lite” rather than a place with its own heart.

One resident muttered: “We asked for a community centre. We’re getting a spaceship.” Another said: “Finally, somewhere to meet that isn’t Costa.”

The consultations are still open, but the chatter is already fierce.

 Wisbech is busy polishing its past while Northstowe argues over its future both proving that in Cambridgeshire, community is never just background noise.

Want your say? Drop us a line with the local debates that matter most to you. We’ll chase them in future issues.

Cambridge Market was buzzing last Saturday after whispers that Bake Off’s Alice Fevronia  popped by for a loaf and a selfie or two.

No photos surfaced, but one stallholder swore: “She bought sourdough and didn’t flinch at the price. Must be her.”

Over in Ely, the cathedral café went quiet when word spread that Prince Edward was having tea nearby. Staff smiled politely and refused to confirm, which probably tells you everything.

And in St Ives, the talk was more down-to-earth. A Peterborough United player posed for selfies at the Barley Mow, leaving fans speculating whether he’s eyeing a house move closer to town.

Are they true? Who knows. Are they fun? Absolutely.

Spotted someone interesting in Cambridgeshire? Send us your sightings we’ll happily stir the pot.

This Week’s Sofa Stars

University Challenge (Mon, BBC Two, 8:30pm)

Trinity Hall, Cambridge go head-to-head with the LSE. Expect lightning buzzers, furrowed brows, and living-room shouts of “I knew that!” five seconds too late.

Strictly Come Dancing (Sat, BBC One)
Not quite time to dust off the sequins — the 2025 series kicks off next weekend. The line-up’s a mix of Love Islanders, athletes, soap stars and a drag queen or two. Half the fun will be guessing who sparkles and who stumbles.

Countryfile (Sun, BBC One)
This one’s basically homework for Cambridgeshire life. Rivers, fields, hedgerows — and the occasional cow giving side-eye to the camera. Not flashy, but always a Sunday staple.

Call the Midwife (Sun, BBC One)
Back with another dose of tea, tears and nostalgia. Nobody does emotional whiplash like this show — one minute you’re cooing, the next you’re reaching for tissues.

Got a favourite binge or guilty pleasure? Tell us — the quirkiest pick gets a shout next week.

Fashion Finds – Layer It Like a Local

September in Cambridgeshire is a weather guessing game. Scarf in the morning, t-shirt by lunch, coat again at school pick-up.

The trick is layering — and our markets and charity shops are full of bargains.

Ely Market has stalls stacked with vintage wool scarves that look far more expensive than their £5 price tags.

St Ives charity shops are packed with second-hand Barbours and puffas dog walkers know what’s up.

In Cambridge, students are already rocking tweed jackets with cords, looking like they stepped out of a Netflix period drama.

The rule? Think mix-and-match. Jumper over shirt, trench over jumper, scarf tucked in for good measure. If the sun peeks out, peel a layer. If rain rolls in, pile it back on. Easy.

Got a favourite autumn piece you can’t live without? Send us a pic — we’ll share the best reader looks.

• Cambridge ditches congestion charge — Council has scrapped it after months of mutterings and misery.

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• Peterborough station revamp approved — A £50 million makeover is on the way with more platforms and better access, aiming for a sparkle-by-2027 finish.

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• Ely bypass repairs are coming — A £3 million job is planned to fix flood damage, with work expected to start next spring.

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• Wisbech jobs boost from Coveris — The packaging firm in town has recruited 100 new staff to meet demand.

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Spotted something newsy (but not snoozy)? We want it. Send it our way — and we may feature it next week.

Prices Holding, But Only Just

Latest data from Rightmove (Aug 2025) shows Cambridge house prices still edging up around +2.4% year-on-year.

Ely and St Neots are following suit, though more modestly. Fenland’s practically flat at +0.5%, which means bargains are still hiding if you know where to look.

One Cambridge agent shrugged: “It’s not a boom, but houses are still shifting faster than we can stick boards up.” Sellers who stage well (and shout about school catchments) are winning.

Want more insider shortcuts? Sign up for Smart Money News and get the local lowdown every week.

September is pulling its usual trick: cool mornings, hot afternoons, and everyone arguing about whether the heating’s going on.

Markets smell of chutney, schools smell of Pritt Stick, and evenings smell of someone else’s BBQ that you wish was yours.

Next week we’ll bring you craft chaos in St Ives, sawdust and banter at Huntingdon’s Men’s Shed, and Cambridge’s big science bash.

Plus more food, more gossip, and at least one story that’ll make you spit out your tea.