Mid-September and Cambridgeshire’s mood has shifted. Summer sandals are shoved to the back of the cupboard, boots are stomping across market squares, and Ferry Meadows smells more like wet dogs than sun cream.

In Cambridge, vintage rails are groaning under cord jackets as students flood back.

In Ely, the talk is all about riverside suppers before the evenings get too cold. And in Huntingdon, a certain Men’s Shed is proving that sawdust and banter are the best therapy going.

This week we’ve lined up a retro business spotlight, a roast you’ll want seconds of, and the juiciest cultural calendar yet.

Fun, food, gossip and just enough mischief to keep it interesting.

Jemporium Vintage: Cambridge’s Time Machine

Step inside  Jemporium Vintage on Burleigh Street and it’s like walking into a dressing-up box the size of a warehouse.

Seventies flares dangle next to eighties sequins, and racks of denim jackets look like they’ve survived more festivals than most students ever will.

The team behind Jemporium have built more than a shop.

 It’s part treasure hunt, part nostalgia trip, part sustainability statement. A Cambridge student rummaging through rails said: “Half of us come for the fashion, half for the TikTok content.”

And while the high street keeps churning out fast fashion, Jemporium quietly makes the case for clothes that last and stories stitched into every sleeve.

One customer showed off a faux-fur coat bought for £25: “It’s from the sixties. It’s older than my mum and still looks better than me on a night out.”

Yes, the prices can nudge higher than charity shop tags, but that’s the point.

It’s curated chaos, with a team who know the difference between “vintage gem” and “just old tat.”

Cambridge may love its shiny chains, but places like Jemporium prove the city still has character stitched into its seams.

Got a shop you love that deserves the spotlight? Nominate it — we’re always on the hunt for the next hidden gem.

Innovation Alley Unveiled

Cambridge Tech Week (15–19 Sept) is showing off its Innovation Alley, with 50 local startups parading their clever creations.

One techie quipped: “It’s the county’s biggest science fair — minus the dodgy glue sticks.”

Enzygo’s Green Expansion
Eco-firm Enzygo is opening a new Cambridge hub, promising fresh jobs and homegrown solutions to keep the county greener.

Rudy’s Pizza on the Rise
Neapolitan pizza lovers rejoice: Rudy’s is taking over a former bank in Cambridge. Expect thin bases, big queues, and even bigger debates about pineapple.

Digital Hubs Sprout Locally
Village halls across the county are turning into Digital Hubs , offering borrowed gadgets, free Wi-Fi, and a crash course in staying connected.

Hinchingbrooke Means Business

Huntingdon’s Hinchingbrooke Business Park is expanding again, with new warehouse and office units. Locals say it’s a sign the town’s economy is “quietly levelling up.”

Precision Boost in St Neots

Cambridge Precision Ltd, based near St Neots, has invested in high-tech machinery and training, opening the door for apprenticeships in advanced engineering.

Wisbech Brews & Brushes
A new café–gallery has opened in Wisbech Market Place, doubling as a home for local artists to display work while customers sip their flat whites.

Got a quirky business opening or a hometown hustle making waves? Tell us — the sharpest tips make next week’s Buzz.

Local Hero – Sawdust and Banter near Huntingdon’s at Brampton Men’s Shed

Walk into BramShed and you’ll hear the sound before you see the sawdust.

 It’s laughter, not drills, that fills the workshop first.

The Shed started as a place for older men to tinker with tools, but it’s become a lifeline for anyone who fancies making, mending or just having a brew in good company.

Benches are covered in half-fixed furniture, bird boxes, and the odd project that’s more enthusiasm than skill.

One regular joked: “I came here to build a shelf. Two months later I’ve got more mates than timber.” Another nodded: “It’s therapy, but with splinters.”

The group runs weekly sessions, and newcomers are welcomed whether they can handle a lathe or just a kettle.

For many, it’s less about what gets built and more about what gets said over the workbench.

With loneliness a growing issue, Brampton Men’s Shed shows that sometimes the best medicine is a shared project and a bad joke.

Know a group quietly making life better in your town? Nominate them — we’ll shine the Spotlight their way.

The Cutter Inn, Ely’s Riverside Classic

If you live in Ely, you’ve eaten at The Cutter Inn. If you’re visiting, someone will tell you to. And if you’re hungry right now, this might tip you over the edge.

The Cutter sits right on the river, which means your first pint comes with a view of rowers, swans, and the odd Labrador trying to swim after a stick.

 Inside, it’s all warm wood, Sunday roasts, and chatter bouncing off the beams.

The roast itself? Generous plates, crisp roasties, Yorkshire puds the size of your fist, and gravy that tastes like someone actually cared.

One diner whispered between mouthfuls: “This is why I put up with January in Ely.”

The Cutter doesn’t stop at roasts. Fish and chips come in golden armour, burgers arrive stacked like leaning towers, and the sticky toffee pudding has been known to silence entire tables.

It’s not posh, it’s not trying to be, and that’s why people love it.

The Cutter is a pub for birthdays, muddy-boot walks, or just that Thursday when the fridge looks too depressing.

Got a favourite local bite we should try? Send it in — Table Talk is always hungry for tips.

Tinker is a curious two-year-old tabby currently being fostered through Cats Protection Cambridge. She’s the sort of cat who treats every shelf as her personal climbing wall, and she’ll happily nab the best seat in the house the moment you stand up.

Over at Woodgreen in Godmanchester, Bruno the Labrador cross is all about enthusiasm. He’s chunky, tail in permanent wag mode, tongue lolling, and always up for a sprint across the garden. He’ll need space and a family who can keep pace with his energy.

By the time you’re reading this, Tinker and Bruno might already be snoozing on their forever sofas. If so, brilliant news for them but both rescues have plenty of other furry characters waiting to meet you.

⚠️ Check the rescues’ websites for the latest adoptables — your next best friend could be there.

Wood Green , The Animals Charity

This week’s space goes to Wood Green, The Animals Charity, based in Godmanchester. They care for thousands of pets every year and match them with new homes full of love.

Local businesses — this slot could be yours. Sponsor a future Spotlight and get your name here while supporting community news.

Stretch Your Quid This Week

Ride for less – Park & Ride into Cambridge saves not just petrol but sanity. £3.50 return and you dodge the city-centre parking hunt.

Free coding clubs – Cambridgeshire libraries run free Code Clubs for kids. Tech skills without the price tag of a tutor.

Market markdowns – St Neots’ Friday market is famous for end-of-day bargains. Turn up at 3pm and you’ll leave with a bag of veg for the price of a coffee.

Energy check-ups – South Cambs Council is still offering free home energy audits this autumn. Spot draughts before your bills do.

Ticket tricks – Huntingdon to London commuters are saving up to £15 a day using split-ticket apps. Same train, smaller dent in your wallet.

Got a killer saving tip? Share it with us — we’ll feature the best next week.

The September Spike

Here’s a secret estate agents mutter every year: September is one of the best months to sell.

 Families are back from holiday, schools are in full swing, and suddenly everyone wants to be in a new home before Christmas.

One St Neots agent told me: “It’s like someone flicks a switch. September hits and viewings go mad.”

So how do you play it smart?

• Get the garden looking sharp while it’s still green.

• Make sure your listing photos scream “light and space” before the darker evenings roll in.

• Mention that you can be moved in by half-term. Buyers love a deadline.

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It’s not wizardry, it’s timing. September sellers get the buzz.

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

The Sweetest Fix

If Ely honey can fix hayfever, what can it do for your skin?

Quite a lot, actually. Stir a spoonful into warm water and you’ve got a soothing face rinse.

Mix it with sugar and you’ve made yourself a natural lip scrub that tastes far better than anything from a tube.

One beautician in St Ives laughed: “Half my clients pay £25 for what is basically honey and sugar. The difference is I put it in a pretty pot.”

It’s cheap, local, and you can pick up a jar at Ely market for a fiver. Treat yourself — and save the fancy pots for Instagram.

Got a homegrown beauty hack? Share it. The quirkiest will land in next week’s Spotlight.

Dinosaurs in Peterborough

If you need a guaranteed win with the kids, head to Peterborough Museum where the dino exhibition is still roaring.

There are life-size models, fossil casts you can touch, and an interactive dig pit where children happily bury themselves in sand while you grab five minutes on the bench.

One parent grinned: “I promised we’d stay an hour. Three hours later I had to bribe them out with ice cream.”

It’s free entry, though donations are welcome, and the museum café serves cakes that could probably bribe adults too.

Got a family day out tip that works every time? Tell us — we’ll share the best ideas.

Discover Some Candle Magic Across The County...

King’s Parade at dusk: the colleges glow honey-gold, and inside a snug boutique you’re sniffing amber, fig, fern, and something that smells like autumn after rain.

 Home County Co. runs a two-hour candle-making workshop right here in Cambridge city centre you’ll pour a soy-wax candle, pick from 20+ fragrances, and yes, there’s a glass of bubbly and a Fitzbillies pastry to keep your creative courage up.

 It’s hands-on, friendly, and you leave with a jar that looks shop-bought but smells like your idea of cosy.

Prefer a countryside vibe? Head just north of Ely to Willow Grange Farm in Chittering, where local maker Bumble – The Wellness Wax Co. hosts an aromatherapy soy-candle workshop using essential oils.

 It’s the sort of calm, fiddly-with-purpose evening that resets your shoulders and sends you home with something you actually want to light.

Can’t get a spot this week? Do a DIY: clean jam jar, leftover soy wax, wick, and a few drops of essential oil (lavender if you’re new).

 Heat gently, pour carefully, cure patiently smugness guaranteed on first light.

Tried a local craft workshop we should shout about next? Send us your tips and a snap of your best pour.

A County Bursting with Gigs, Ghosts & Gowns

Cambridgeshire’s shaking off its September sleepiness with a mix of books, beer, and a fairground whirl that might just make you drop your candy floss.

First up, it’s not every day you get waved past the velvet rope at Corpus Christi’s Parker Library. On Friday 19 September, the college is throwing open its doors to let the public nose around medieval manuscripts and Tudor treasures.

One visitor whispered last year, “It’s like Hogwarts, only with more Latin and fewer owls.” Bring your specs—tiny script, massive wow factor.

From dusty vellum to weathered headstones: on Saturday 20 September, Cottenham Dissenters’ Cemetery invites you in for a wander.

Trustees will be on hand to share 180 years of tales, from ministers to mill-workers, all resting beneath tilting stones.

It’s history with muddy boots—and a reminder that even the quietest corners have stories.

Then on Sunday 21 September, art gets a civic twist. Along Histon Road, a “Making Your Mark” workshop turns pavements and buildings into muses.

 Expect sketchpads, bold strokes, and a few puzzled drivers watching you commune with a lamppost.

And finally, forget your supermarket run because Kimbolton Statute Fair is back in late September, rolling out waltzers, candy floss, and the sort of small-town magic that feels like stepping straight into a childhood postcard.

As one grandad muttered, “It hasn’t changed in 50 years—thank goodness.”

Different scenes, same Cambridgeshire buzz.

Which one’s tempting you out?

Snap a pic or send a one-liner review—we’ll feature the cheekiest next week.

Fri, Sep 19	65° 49°	Mostly sunny
Sat, Sep 20	64° 49°	Sunshine and a few clouds
Sun, Sep 21	64° 46°	Sunny

This Week’s Cambridge Drama (Minus the Showers)

Here’s your cheeky heads-up for the coming days in Cambridge (and if you see stubble on your sleeves, blame the wind not your speed in getting dressed):

• Friday, Sept 19 – Expect mostly sunshine to chase you into your jacket.Highs around 18 °C—jacket on, must-have-sunglasses energy.

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• Saturday, Sept 20 – Sun and a few clouds in a friendly tag-team.

• Still comfy, still smiling. Throw on a scarf, but leave the brolly at home.
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• Sunday, Sept 21 – Full sunshine mode. Highs around 18 °C and not a cloud in sight. Perfect for lingering at markets, lingering over coffee, and maybe even lingering on a bench

From Sheds to Surveys

While Huntingdon’s Men’s Shed has everyone talking about sawdust therapy, there’s plenty of official business ticking along too.

Cambridge City Council has opened consultation on new cycle lanes along Mill Road. Supporters call it a win for safety.

Shopkeepers mutter about lost parking and fewer deliveries. One trader groaned: “Great for cyclists, terrible for fridges.” Have your say before the end of the month.

Over in South Cambs, residents are being asked for views on solar farm expansions.

Farmers point to extra income.

Neighbours worry about losing green views. The debate’s heating up faster than the panels themselves.

And in Peterborough, plans for new community sports pitches are back on the table.

Locals want the grass, but want guarantees on toilets and parking too. Priorities, sorted.

It’s democracy in action — messy, noisy, and definitely worth watching.

Spotted a consultation in your area? Tip us off and we’ll dig into it.

Gossip & Rumour – Not Just Scuttlebutt

Forget tabloids—Cambridgeshire gossip is binge-worthy:

• At a café in Bassingbourn, the new owner Nathalie Morton has taken over Hatties Coffee Shop—and customers are already calling it “the best coffee in the village”. Not too shabby for a debut.

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• Over in Grantchester, ’Grantchester’ actor James Norton popped by the set this week and briefly addressed the rumours of a spin-off — fans were swooning. 

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  The original Reverend Chambers (aka James Norton) was recently seen chatting with Robson Green and Rishi Nair in Cambridge.

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• Fans are whispering about a possible cameo in the final season or maybe just a friendly hello to old pals.

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•  Either way, it’s Grantchester buzz that’ll light up your tea break.

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• And a hidden Cambridge coffee shop that’s tucked off the beaten path was hailed as “a dreamy escape from the hustle”. Some locals swear it’s become their secret sanctuary. Indigo Coffee

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Still quiet? No problem. The juiciest whispers always come from readers like you.

Robson Green punted on the Cam

Fresh off set,  Robson Green was seen punting along the River Cam.

Rumour (and most of us) say he was scouting picnic locations—or just enjoying a quiet cuppa with a view.

If it's local gossip but too good to keep to yourself let us in. We promise, we’ll sort the fact from the fun.

Black Rabbit (Netflix, from 18 Sept)

Jude Law runs a fancy New York restaurant, Jason Bateman turns up as his brother, and suddenly it’s less about cocktails and more about chaos.

Family drama with velvet booths and dodgy secrets — binge material, sorted.

The Girlfriend (Prime Video, from 10 Sept)

Robin Wright is back, and not in presidential heels.

This time she’s a mum watching her son’s life and hers unravel thanks to one unsettling new girlfriend. Think “meet the parents” with actual shivers.

Tip Toe (Channel 4, coming soon)

Alan Cumming and David Morrissey in a Russell T Davies drama about neighbourly quarrels gone nuclear.

If your street WhatsApp feels dramatic, wait till you see this.

Playing Nice (Netflix, streaming now)

James Norton charms as a doctor with a perfect life until an old flame crashes back in.

The cracks appear, the tension builds, and yes he’s still distractingly handsome.

Pushers (Channel 4, ongoing)

Rosie Jones goes full throttle in this dark comedy about turning society’s assumptions on their head.

 It’s sharp, it’s cheeky, and it might just be your new cult favourite.

Got a sofa obsession better than Bake Off? Tell us — we’ll feature the quirkiest picks next week.

Boots, Bags and Market Brags

September in Cambs means one thing: boots season. The students have clocked it already stomping down King’s Parade in chunky Dr Martens like they own the cobbles.

In Ely, the Saturday market is stacked with vintage leather bags that smell of stories and cost less than a Pret lunch.

Meanwhile in St Neots, charity shops are brimming with second-hand Barbours, the kind that make you look like you’ve just stepped off a BBC period drama (mud optional).

The trick this month? Mix practical with playful. Chunky boots + floaty dresses.

 Oversized jumpers + mini skirts. A coat you can actually sit down in without needing a degree in origami.

Got a killer autumn piece you swear by? Snap it and send it in — we’ll feature the boldest looks next week.

Booze In The Pews - All Saints Parish Church - St Ives

 Headlines With Bite

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• Robot pets invade Cambridge. Forget stargazing — this Sunday 21 September, the Cambridge Science Carnival lands with a Robot Petting Zoo.

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• Yes, you can stroke a robo-dog without worrying about muddy paws. One organiser winked: “It’s science, but with snacks.”

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  Apple Day countdown in Ely.

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• The Cathedral City is limbering up for 11–12 October’s Apple & Harvest Fayre.

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• Expect pressing demos, crumble mountains, and enough cider to make Newton himself roll over. Volunteers are wanted — crumble-tasting compulsory.

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  Wisbech wonders what’s next. With the Rose Fair fading into folklore, locals are scheming up a summer festival with more music, less bunting fatigue.

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• Early whispers: think bands in the market square, not brass on the bandstand.

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 March library gets loud. The £400k EverySpace refurb is live — digital corners, craft tables, and a café buzz replacing the “shhh.” One librarian laughed: “Less hush, more wow.”

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  St Neots skatepark grinding on. Community crew Revamp the Ramp  are eyeing a glow-up for the riverside park — bowls, rails, and hopefully the best chip van parked 10 feet away.

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  And the seriously?! file… A “Pints & Psalms” choir night is brewing in St Ives : craft beer served while the choir belts out everything from Bohemian Rhapsody to Byrd.

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• Organiser’s promise? “One part evensong, one part beer-garden — 100% community.” Yes, really.

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  Got a scoop your neighbours don’t? Spill it — we’ll lap it up and splash it here next week.

Renters Feeling the Pinch

The latest Zoopla data (Aug 2025) shows rents in Cambridge have climbed 8% year-on-year, making it one of the priciest rental spots outside London.

 St Neots and Huntingdon aren’t immune either, with steady rises squeezing younger tenants hardest.

On the mortgage front, analysts warn that the UK’s looming budget deficit could push borrowing costs back up this autumn.

 One Ely broker sighed: “We had a good summer run of lower rates — but the honeymoon may be over.”

For sellers, it means buyers might rush to lock in a deal before rates rise.

For renters, it means bracing for more competition at the viewings.

Want smarter ways to ride the market? Sign up for Smart Money News — think of it as a cheat sheet before you sign.

September’s nearly out, and Cambridgeshire’s leaning into autumn.

Coffee smells better, scarves are back in rotation, and diaries are filling with harvest suppers, open-mic nights and excuses to light a log burner.

Next week we’ll bring you a Wisbech makers’ fair, Ely’s harvest trails, and Cambridge’s indie gig scene turned up to 11.

Don’t miss it.