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Newbury Today Forum _ Newbury News _ Mr Rayner ......
Posted by: admin Sep 28 2011, 09:52 AM
NEWBURY is dull.
In fact, it is “very, very dull.”
Who says so? National newspaper food critic and author Jay Rayner says so, in an online blog for The Guardian.
In an unusual analogy, Mr Rayner insists: “Emmental is, at first sight, the Newbury of cheeses: it's solid, workmanlike, but very, very dull. Everybody knows it's there but few think they have any reason to visit..... just as the boring town in Berkshire is a place of light industry and mid-range technology firms - the sort of place where really hard unglamorous work gets done - so emmental is the workhorse of the cheese world.”
As if already hearing the knives being sharpened for him, Mr Rayner ameliorates his comments by adding: “It is upon emmental's broad, solid and unassuming shoulders that the sexy supermodels of the cheese world – the gruyères, Comtés and Beaufort – stand.”
Newburytoday.co.uk contacted Mr Rayner via his Twitter account for a chat.
He replied: “Would you mind awfully if I don't?”
Actually, we do. A little. But what do you think? Does he have a point?
And if Mr Rayner was to be compared to a cheese, which one would he be?
We have one in mind. But what do you think?
Posted by: Bloggo Sep 28 2011, 09:58 AM
I personally don't care for Mr Raynor.
Posted by: Bloggo Sep 28 2011, 10:01 AM
I personally don't care for Mr Raynor. I think he is pompous and boring however I conceed that he has a point about Newbury. It's lost it's way and has little identity.
Posted by: Ted Maul Sep 28 2011, 10:33 AM
Well I have lived here for just under two years now and haven't found it dull
Isn't there a famous quote about "only boring people get bored?"
Not that for one second I am insinuating that Jay Rayner is dull, boring, publicity starved or humourless.
Posted by: Andy Capp Sep 28 2011, 11:05 AM
I think being boring is what makes Newbury a nice place to live.
Posted by: nigethelegend Sep 28 2011, 11:13 AM
Lets be fair, the bloke has got a point. Newbury has slowly had its sole ripped out of it and during the day it has become a slow moving traffic pit. I don't doubt that there are some "things" going on in the evenings but having lived here for twenty years and moving north before moving back down again all I seem to encounter is either rude people in a rush to go nowhere, chavs, out of control children and people with their noses stuck in the air.
Have a wander down town at lunch time and tell me if I'm lieing. No doubt we'll get the usual do-gooders on here saying Newbury has this, Newbury has that but generally it's not a patch on what other towns have. Lets build another shopping centre and mix another few thousand tonnes of concrete and forget about the infrastructure to support it. Newbury can then become one big car park. I believe the Council has a lot to answer for.
Posted by: stewiegriffin Sep 28 2011, 11:46 AM
Yes, Newbury is boring. So are 99% of other towns in Britain. Newbury has its good points and to me they outweigh the bad. It has been a 'traffic pit' for decades. I remember going nowhere fast in jams 25 years ago. But having lived in various other parts of the country, things are no better elsewhere. I lived in Falkirk for a few years. If you want to see a chav infested, feral child overrun no go zone for decent law abidng folks then look no further. Newbury's anti social behaviour problems are mild indeed compared to Falkirk and Slough and Bracknell and Manchester and so on.
Overall Newbury may be 'dull', but to me it's by and large a likeable kind of dull. A fairly attractive town with better than average employment prospects and plenty of community activities, surrounded by nice contryside. Yes of course there are downsides, but try living in some of the places I've mentioned and you'll soon come to appreciate its dullness.
Jay Rayner, meanwhile, is the spoilt, snooty, self important, never had a real job kind of non entity whose opinions can be safely ignored.
Posted by: Jack Sep 28 2011, 11:52 AM
Mr Rayners comments are shallow attempts to raise the game of his poor presentational style, perhaps he is trying to emulate a Jeremy Clarkson type of journalism, but in order to do that a certain intellectual capacity is required. I feel that he lacks it. Of course any town could be described as dull, I do not think that Newbury is, but it rather depends on your perspective, but those that do describe Newbury so are usually residents who lack the energy or drive to do a single thing to improve their environment other than write dull and negative comments about their home. So, Mr Rayners comments are meaningless, shallow, lacking in real taste, just like emmantal and on that we agree !
Posted by: Blue Sep 28 2011, 11:52 AM
If I had to compare him to a cheese I'd have to do some research, as it would have to be one that, as with him, I'd never heard of..........
Posted by: Roost Sep 28 2011, 01:44 PM
Not sure what cheese he'd be, but could we take him to that cheese rolling competition, strap his arms to his side and roll him at some velocity side ways down a hill?
Posted by: On the edge Sep 28 2011, 02:36 PM
Yes, Newbury is like most other towns I know - unless you understand their rationale. The Town Council's vision publication suggested that Newbury is a place for short swift entertainment - and had been good at it for ages. Come here for the races, spring festival etc.etc. Yes, Newbury is as interesting as an empty theatre - depends what you are looking at...
Posted by: Strafin Sep 28 2011, 03:57 PM
I think he's right, but I don't see it as bad thing. And we do have the races and have recently had some big name concerts.
Posted by: Cognosco Sep 28 2011, 04:03 PM
How can Newbury be boring - the antics of the two local Councils keeps us entertained although frustrated perhaps! 
Posted by: spartacus Sep 28 2011, 04:56 PM
I'd never heard of Rayner either..... perhaps he's been to that other 'celeb chef' Pierre-White's place at Highclere and there's a touch of 'dissing the opposition'?
(Although Marco Pierre-White isn't exactly someone I'd like to share a dinner table with.......)
As for "What cheese would Mr Rayner be compared to?" Bell End?
Posted by: dannyboy Sep 28 2011, 04:57 PM
Why concentrate on the dull aspect - He is right - it is a it's solid, workmanlike town.
In a Michelin guide it would not even merit one star.....
Posted by: xjay1337 Sep 28 2011, 05:37 PM
Overall Newbury may be 'dull', but to me it's by and large a likeable kind of dull. A fairly attractive town with better than average employment prospects and plenty of community activities, surrounded by nice contryside. Yes of course there are downsides, but try living in some of the places I've mentioned and you'll soon come to appreciate its dullness.
Jay Rayner, meanwhile, is the spoilt, snooty, self important, never had a real job kind of non entity whose opinions can be safely ignored.
I agree word for word with this post.
Posted by: stewiegriffin Sep 28 2011, 05:42 PM
I'd never heard of Rayner either..... perhaps he's been to that other 'celeb chef' Pierre-White's place at Highclere and there's a touch of 'dissing the opposition'?
(Although Marco Pierre-White isn't exactly someone I'd like to share a dinner table with.......)
As for "What cheese would Mr Rayner be compared to?" Bell End?
Jay Rayner isn't even a chef. Just an opinion machine food critic. I think he inherited his 'the world must listen to me' attitude from his bothersome mother, the agony aunt Claire Rayner. I'm sure he lives somewhere far more exciting than Newbury.
I've always been very fond of our little town though. Despite the traffic and eye watering house prices it has a lot going for it. Having not been back here very long, I'm enjoying reaquainting myself with all the places I used to know and the local events I haven't been to in years.
The RCOB show was fun and had quite a few 'foodie' things going on. Luckily Jay Rayner was not present.
He really ought to pay Newbury a visit and review the Empire Cafe. I had a lovely pot of tea and a donut in there the other day. I love that place. It refuses to move with the times. Looks exactly as it did when I used to go in there as a teenager. It really ought to be awarded national monument status.
Posted by: NWNREADER Sep 28 2011, 06:32 PM
Where does he live? Stoke maybe?
Posted by: Turin Machine Sep 28 2011, 08:12 PM
Nowt wrong with Newbury, it does what it says on the Tin, Food critics on the other hand should be rolled in cloth and boiled with their own puddings. like slugs and wasps, good for nothing.
Posted by: Darren Sep 28 2011, 09:24 PM
All I want to know is.....
....Where my bloody cheese!!! Nom Nom
Posted by: Vodabury Sep 29 2011, 09:51 PM
Is this not an old ruse?
1. Make disparaging comments about somewhere in your newspaper/magazine column
2. Get a few inches in the local press.
3. Local Mayor/Chamber of Commerce/Businessmen invite you to the town "to see for yourself what a great place it is"
4. Arrive, have a free lunch and then say ok, the town is not that bad after all.
More publicity for the journalist and his column.
Posted by: NWNREADER Sep 30 2011, 01:07 PM
Maybe a note to info@emmentaler.ch ? I'm sure the Swiss would love to know what an eminent food writer thinks of their famous product. Better he be rolled down the Eiger than Goldwell Park........
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