Tag: christmas

Virgin Trains Bring In Extra Staff For Christmas Period

By on 18th December 2015in Local Biz

Worried about travelling with extra luggage this Christmas?

And how will you carry all those presents? If you’re travelling by Virgin Trains, then you no longer have to worry.

Virgin Trains will be bringing in more staff this festive period, helping travellers along their way during the busy Christmas holidays.

David Horne, Managing Director of Virgin Trains on the east coast route, said: “Our trains are often busy throughout Christmas time, as people travel across the country to spend time with their loved ones.

“We’ve noticed that customers are bringing bigger, bulkier luggage onto our trains, so we thought we’d make our customers travel easier this festive season by providing more people to help with their luggage.”

Luggage assistants will be in place at Leeds, London King’s Cross and Edinburgh throughout the festive holidays, and a dedicated luggage check-in will be available at London King’s Cross and Edinburgh.

For further information, visit www.virgintrainseastcoast.com.

Rent A Cop Christmas Special Clips Released

By on 18th December 2015in Entertainment, Film & TV

The final episode of the Rent A Cop series may have aired last night, but there’s still more to come…

Fans of the show will be pleased to hear that the Rent A Cop Christmas Special will be aired on Tuesday 22nd December.

The festive episode is set to see the return of faithful Sparta sidekick Luke ‘Pembow’ Pemberton, and the debut appearance of ‘Sparta Claus’.

Ahead of the episode’s first airing, BBC Three have released two exclusive clips as a taster. See the clips below…

Sparta frontman Francis Jones is also reported to be stepping back into the boxing ring, where he’ll be living up to his nickname ‘Fearless’. Secretary Rachel will be taking on the role of drill instructor as Francis works to shed the pounds before his comeback charity match.

Word on the street in Darlo is that the Sparta gang have had their Christmas tree up since early November, so the episode should be full to the brim with festive cheer and – hopefully – some wintery justice… Francis Jones style.

Have you seen Sparta’s Christmas tree? Are you looking forward to the Christmas Special? Leave a comment below!

#ThrowbackThursday: A North East Winter Wonderland

By on 17th December 2015in Lifestyle

A browse through the Tyne & Wear Flickr archive reveals some wintery gems…

The Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums Flickr page is home to nearly 2,000 photographs of North East history. Whether you’re looking for photographs of World War Two factories, turn of the century ship launchings, or criminal mugshots of the ’20s, you’ll likely find it in one of their many albums.

But with Christmas just around the corner, and with a few flashes of snow in our recent memory, we think you might like to check our the ‘Winter Wonderland’ album.

With just a light frosting, our local landscape is transformed into an image straight from the front of a Christmas greetings card.

See for yourself…

Gems include Jesmond Dene, and an awesome aerial view of Alnwick Castle.

To see more of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums photographs, click here.

Do you have wintery photographs of your own to share? Leave a comment below, or email online@inandaroundmag.co.uk!

Cinderella Stars Take Panto Magic To Children’s Ward

By on 17th December 2015in Entertainment

As stars of Cinderella brought festive cheer to a North East hospital, children found that if they can’t go to the ball, the ball will come to them…

 

The cast of the Gala pantomime visited Treetops, the children’s ward at the University Hospital of North Durham, to meet patients, parents and staff.

Dressed in full costume, Hazel Pude, James Hedley, Sally Collett and Paul Hartley brought their Christmas alter egos (Cinderella, Prince Charming, the Fairy Godmother and Buttons) to give youngsters a boost before the Christmas period.

Writer, director and actor Paul Hartley said: “Having two little girls myself, I was extremely honoured to be asked to go to Treetops and help raise some smiles for Christmas.

“The bravery displayed by the children was great to see.

“And the great attitude of the staff and the parents, who often work under extremely difficult and trying circumstances, was an inspiration.”

Cinderella began a six week run on November 26th to rave reviews, with critics praising its “wonderful set, terrific lighting, top-class dancers, eye-catching costumes and live music.”

The show runs until Sunday 3rd January 2016, with tickets, priced from £8, available by calling the Gala Box Office on 03000 266 600, or online at www.galadurham.co.uk.

Changes To Bin Collection Dates Over Christmas Period

By on 16th December 2015in In & Around

There will be changes to some bin collections over the festive period in County Durham…

 

The changes, during Christmas and New Year weeks only, affect rubbish and recycling bins which are normally emptied on a Friday.

Collections which would have been due on Friday 25th December will instead take place on Monday 28th December.

And collections due on Friday 1st January will be carried out on Monday 4th January.

All other collections, including those due on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, will not be affected.

Normal collections will resume on Tuesday 5th January.

Residents are also advised that Durham County Council’s bulky waste collection service will not operate between Monday 21st December and Monday 4th January.

People can arrange to have their real Christmas tree collected free of charge by contacting the council on 03000 261 000 before Friday 8th January.

People can check their bin collection dates by entering their postcode on the My Durham section of the council’s website.

Heart Of Teesdale Helping Locals Reconnect With Nature

By on 16th December 2015in In & Around

The Heart of Teesdale Landscape Partnership want to help us reconnect with nature…

 

The Heart of Teesdale Landscape Partnership is holding a free guided walk on how to identify trees in winter without their leaves. This session will take place from 10.30am to 12.30pm on Saturday 16th January in Flatts Woods, Barnard Castle.

The session will look at key features that can help identification, some quick and easy tips, and also talk about the uses and folklore surrounding some of our native trees.

The walk leader, Bruce Ferguson of Wild North Discovery, is currently writing a series of articles for the Northumbrian Magazine on tree lore covering uses past and present, folklore and mythology. The walk forms part of the Heart of Teesdale’s Landscape Discovery project, which aims to reconnect local communities with their landscape and heritage through training and workshops.

This event is free of charge, but places are limited so booking is essential. The event is also suitable for children 13 and over, accompanied by an adult. Please ensure you bring waterproof clothing and sturdy footwear. All equipment is provided.

To book a place, please contact Alex Sijpesteijn on 03000 260842 or email alex.sijpesteijn@durham.gov.uk.

Ramside Spa Celebrates 12 Days Of Christmas With Festive Prizes

By on 15th December 2015in Lifestyle

There may not be any maids a-milking or geese a-laying, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty on offer at one of the North East’s leading spas this Christmas…

The Spa at Ramside, Ramside Hall Hotel, County Durham – which opened earlier this year – will be running a special prize draw from December 12th until December 24th.

The 12 Days of Christmas, which started at the weekend, gives anyone who books a visit to the venue’s state-of-the-art spa the chance to enter the prize draw and win some special upgrades and added extras.

One name will be drawn each day, with the winner then selecting one of the 12 baubles behind the spa reception, each of which contains a unique prize.

“The festive season is all about giving a little bit extra, and that is what the 12 Days of Christmas prize draw is all about,” said Jill Russell, the spa director at Ramside Hall Hotel.

“The prizes that are up for grabs will make a great early Christmas present for some of our guests.

“There’s so much on offer at the spa this Christmas, and hopefully this will help to make our winners’ visits extra special.”

Throughout the festive season, the Spa at Ramside will also be running a selection of Christmas spa packages, designed to help visitors unwind during the festive season.

The Sleep and Beauty package and The Lady and The Vamp package includes use of the spa facilities until 5pm, a choice of treatments and a two course lunch in the Fusion Spa Restaurant.

Guests looking to use the spa facilities in the afternoon can opt for The Beauty and the Feast package, which includes use of the spa facilities for three hours, a choice of either a 45 minute personalised facial or a back, neck and shoulder massage and a spa afternoon tea.

There is also a number of packages available between Christmas and New Year, including the Twixmas Treat, the Winter Warmer, the Winter Wonderland and Rock that Resolution.

All the packages include a welcome smoothie on arrival, a choice of treatments, and complimentary use of robes and spa flip flops.

Prices start from £75 per person, and packages are subject to availability.

For more information about the festive packages available at The Spa at Ramside, visit www.ramsidespa.co.uk or contact the spa reception on 0191 375 3088.

Jez Lowe Brings Annual Christmas Show To County Durham

By on 14th December 2015in Entertainment, Music

Folk music favourite Jez Lowe is returning to County Durham to perform his annual Christmas show…

 

Fresh from a solo tour of North America, the BBC Folk Awards 2015 nominee, his multi-talented band The Bad Pennies, and special guest Benny Graham, will bring Mistletoe on Tyne to Bishop Auckland Town Hall on Wednesday 16th December.

Their unique take on the festive season is part folk concert and part music-hall revue, with new and old seasonal songs, and a hearty dose of humour,.

Mistletoe on Tyne takes place at Bishop Auckland Town Hall on Wednesday 16th December at 8pm.

Tickets are selling fast, but to book your place – priced £10 or £8 for concessions – call the box office on 03000 269 524.

North East Artist Uses Powerful Designs To Help SSI Families

By on 14th December 2015in In & Around

A North East artist wants to help families affected by the closure of SSI by donating 10% of profits he makes from the sale of his artwork…

Graphic designer Graeme Hall has created a series of 150 powerful, limited edition designs depicting the closure of Consett Steelworks, which saw 4,500 people lose their jobs in September 1980.

Having grown up around Consett, the father-of-two witnessed first-hand the devastating impact that such a closure has on a community, which is one of the reasons he has decided to donate to the Teesside Steel Appeal.

Graeme, 43, has also been inspired by the actions of 10-year-old Ben Hebden, from Marske, who started a fund to give a Christmas party and other treats to steelworkers’ children.

He said: “When I saw in the news that this young lad was doing an extremely generous thing to help those affected by the closure of SSI, I thought why can’t I raise some money to show my support for them?

“When the Consett Steelworks shut down, the impact it had on the community was huge, and it took years for the town to recover.

“I knew people who were personally hit by the closure back then, but I couldn’t really help the way I wanted to.

“This time, I can do something to help, even if it makes Christmas better for just one family.”

Each of Graeme’s designs has been created to capture the significant moment in the region’s history, while emphasizing the scale of the steelworks and showing how it dominated Consett.

Taking anything between eight hours and a couple of days to produce, Graeme has used an abundance of reds to portray the processes which were used when the steelworks was running and often left a red glow over Consett.

Having worked as a graphic designer for the last 20 years, Graeme – who is a director of award winning branding and graphic design studio Designs Unique – always knew he wanted to pursue a career in art from a young age.

Although he has never sold any of his work in the past, Graeme currently has designs displayed in Consett’s The Glass and Art Gallery, and now hopes his work will find its place in houses across the North East, while helping SSI families enjoy their Christmas.

To order or enquire about a design, email www.uniquely-yours.co.uk.

There are four different designs available, which come in A3 and cost £45 (double mounted) and £98 (framed).

Ramside Spa Offers Relaxing Alternative To Boxing Day Dip

By on 13th December 2015in Lifestyle

North East people who don’t want to brave the cold of the sea on Boxing Day are being offered a warmer alternative by the region’s top spa…

The award-winning Spa at Ramside, at Ramside Hall Hotel near Durham, has unveiled a special Boxing Day package which includes doing a very different kind of dipping.

Guests can book in for a special spa day which includes a welcome drink on arrival, full use of the spa facilities, and a choice of either a two course brunch or a spa Asian-inspired afternoon tea.

The package costs £65 per person, with an additional attraction for groups of between four and eight people – exclusive use of the balcony infinity pool for an hour.

A number of extras can also be added to the package at £30 each, including a 30 minute back or foot massage, a 30 min salt and oil scrub, or an express facial.

“Boxing Day is a time when people often just want to chill out after the excesses of Christmas Day,” said Jill Russell, Spa Director.

“And not everyone is brave enough to go into the sea, so our Boxing Day is a much warmer alternative!”

Bookings for the Boxing Day package can be made by contacting the spa on 0191 375 3088, or by emailing enquiries@ramsidespa.co.uk.

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