Hitchin Nub News food writer Deven Thakeria contemplates a year in Hitchin and shares just why he thinks our town is special.

Hitchin Nub News aims to support our community, promoting shops, businesses, charities, clubs and sports groups.

We showcase some of these businesses, organisations and interesting individuals from our area displaying creativity and innovation in our regular feature called 'Up Close'.

This week we are featuring Deven Thakeria on why he loves Hitchin - and what he's learned as he approaches his first 12 months living in our town. You can also find Deven at Hitchin Market most Saturdays selling his special homemade soup - as well as his very own mulled wine.

Up Close: The comfort of belonging and the platform to be an individual - Why I Love Hitchin - by Deven Thakeria

It was by accident that I crossed paths with this place called Hitchin, a name I had barely heard before, writes Deven Thakeria.

An aimless stroll through it's quaint streets lined with independent shops paved the vision that maybe there was something here for me, and maybe I could be something for here.

I took a leap of faith rather than dithering in a way I knew only too well. Within months the move to Hitchin was made.

I strutted over to the Information office on the first day to enquire about a market stall, soon enough I was there on a dark December morning with a flask filled with mulled wine, and hope. The neighbouring stall holders were my only customers that day, bless 'em.

I spent the most part of January 2022 thinking about what to bring to the market for the rest of winter. Wherever I travelled I have always been fascinated by the one hit wonders of the street food scene.

Whether on a cart or through a 'hole in the wall', these meek masters stayed afloat through the tides of time when the glitz and glamour of fads came and went. With these thoughts, the idea of an all encompassing hearty tomato soup brewed. The stalwarts of the market shared their encouraging wisdom – perseverance.

A fair few patches of a Saturday are spent leaning against the metal frames of the stall and nattering away with my neighbours. The market is a mere murmur of the once throbbing heartbeat of Hitchin. It's sad to see this when it has so much to give. 

My eyes light up when I spot a regular approach. I should get one of those bleeping card machines in the name of efficiency, but there's just something about the shiny notes between my fingertips and pound coins placed in the palm of my hand. I rarely get a queue, more a trickling, but a loyal one where snippets of our lives are shared between each sip.

In the year that I've been in Hitchin, I've noticed a few things:

The best day at the market wasn't the one where I earned the most money. Camaraderie has been the currency of wealth.

Walking slower leads to living a lot of a little, rather than a little of a lot.

It's a rare to be in a relationship where the comforts of belonging and the platform to be an individual exist at once. Hitchin has this.

You can find Deven at Hitchin market on Saturdays serving soup - and for this festive period the mulled wine is back he says, 'with its sweet spicy tingle and boozy roar to fend off any winter chill.'

PREVIOUS NUB NEWS UP CLOSE FEATURES

Up Close: Sun Street's Hidden Gem - 27 Street Bagels - a brilliant business in the heart of our town

Up Close: Sam's Pizza - 'The moment they announced lockdown I said I'd get a pizza oven'

Up Close: Hitchin Food Heroes - Amani Kitchen angling Hertfordshire's hunger to the wonders of Iraqi street food

Up Close: Hidden Gem - Highly-acclaimed Fox at Willian

Up Close: Strand PR - Hertfordshire company celebrates decade of delivering

Up Close on suicide prevention: Gemma Kirk from Herts Police mental health unit opens up on trying to stop people taking their own lives

Up Close: Hard-working Rory's Story as young achiever flies high with renowned financial experts Lyndhurst

Up Close: International Motor Racing series born in a Hitchin pub holds first race

Up Close: Q&A with courageous Ukraine refugee Alina Kurylova who now lives in Hitchin

Up Close: Taking in a refugee from Ukraine is incredibly rewarding says Hitchin host Debbie Stalkartt

Up Close: Get set for the brilliant Cider and Cheese Festival at Hitchin Town's Top Field

Up Close: You're never too old for body art - but think before you ink says talented Ela Lawrynowicz owner of acclaimed Femnink Tattoos

Up Close with the brilliant Willow Foundation

Up Close: Lockdown and challenging life events tested me - but now I have Penny says Kate Peto owner of successful VW campervan wedding company

Up Close: Lyndhurst Financial Management's Joe Pritchard - A Story of Success

Up Close: Stevenage FC boss Steve Evans on loving life at Boro, Sir Alex Ferguson, Pep Guardiola and so much more

Up Close: Bowled Over - Bowmans and Ickleford CC are the perfect match

Up Close: Angels' Share owners Harpreet and Preeti's exciting new plans for Lower Stondon's Bird in Hand pub

UP CLOSE: How backpacking trip led to Lauren and Toby creating acclaimed Bite Around the World - that has now catered for Nike, Google and Just Eat

UP CLOSE: Amanda Reed lollipop lady – our town's true unsung Hitchin hero

UP CLOSE EXCLUSIVE interview with Sir Kier Starmer

UP CLOSE: Matt Bean, owner of Cantina Carnitas

UP CLOSE: Chris Cheah, owner of Chicken George

UP CLOSE: Simmy and Jhai Dhillon, owners of Rice and Spice

UP CLOSE: Hitchin Food Rescue

UP CLOSE: Adam Howard, organiser BackToSchoolival

UP CLOSE: Hitchin's inspirational Black Lives Matter movement

UP CLOSE: RuPaul revolutionised positive perception of drag among mainstream says north Herts' Magenta

UP CLOSE: The brilliant Keith Jones - master butcher and master crooner

UP CLOSE: Freddy and Em, landlord and landlady of The Half Moon pub

UP CLOSE: Bim Afolami, Hitchin MP on racism, NHS, Brexit, lockdown, welfare, Marcus Rashford, Kier Starmer and much more

UP CLOSE: Fabio Vincenti, owner of Fabio's Gelato

UP CLOSE: Danny Pearson, Beano comic writer

UP CLOSE:Hitchin Squirrel Rescue

UP CLOSE: Tradee On Demand - the brilliant new app dubbed 'Uber for property maintenance'

UP CLOSE: Flip Connect and Hitchin Town - The Perfect Match