Tag: featured

Northern Students To Showcase Work In Support Of Refugees

By on 2nd December 2015in In & Around

Students from across Northern England are being given the chance to showcase their work before two leading figures in international media, as part of a unique fundraising event…

On January 29th, the University of York’s Central Hall will be hosting a charity fashion show featuring the designs of young people from a number of regional colleges and universities.

The Northern Youth Fashion Show, in aid of two refugee charities, will be attended by Katharine Viner, Editor-in-Chief of The Guardian, and Anna Wintour, Editor-in-Chief of American Vogue and Artistic Director of Condé Nast.

The event has been organised by HARD Magazine, a fashion publication at the University of York, and will not only showcase the designs of students from universities across the region, but will also raise vital funds to support refugees.

Students from the University of York, the University of Sunderland, Leeds College of Art, Newcastle College, Hull College, the University of Central Lancashire, Liverpool John Moores University, and Leeds Beckett University will all be taking part.

It will also include a talk with Ms. Wintour, followed by a question and answer session led by Ms. Viner.

Proceeds from The Northern Youth Fashion Show will be split between the Xavier Project, which runs schools, creates jobs, and offers mentoring schemes to some of the biggest refugee communities in the world and Refugee Action York, which plays a pivotal role in integrating refugees in the local area.

“We wanted to host an event that would highlight the creative talent of students and support the community by fundraising for local charities,” said Ellie Wintour, one of the event organisers.

“It’s fantastic to have Anna and Katharine on board to help make it a success. We are pleased with the positive response we’ve had so far. It’s going to be a night to remember.”

The event is being sponsored by train company Grand Central, and a spokesman said they were delighted to be on board.

“At Grand Central, we take pride in supporting young people – whether that is through hosting art competitions for emerging talent or by making student travel experience more enjoyable through our free Wi-Fi offer, and affordable with our unique discount,” he said.

“The Northern Youth Show is an opportunity for us to once again demonstrate our commitment to young people, as well as their colleges and universities that are based along our routes.”

Tickets for the event cost £30 (or £15 for students) and are available at http://www.yusu.org/tickets. A champagne reception and live music performances are included in the evening’s programme.

A “Ticket And A Tin” option is also available, with tickets priced at £10, but purchasers must include the donation of a tin of food to go to a York foodbank.

The evening will also include a champagne reception and live music performances.

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Rihanna Tickets On Sale From Thursday

By on 1st December 2015in Entertainment, Events, Music

Thursday 3rd December will see fans of global superstar Rihanna given the chance to secure tickets to see her live on Wearside…

Sunderland’s Stadium of Light is set to host the Bajan star on the UK leg of her ANTI World Tour on Saturday 18th June 2016, and is the only stadium venue between Coventry and Edinburgh on the hotly anticipated tour.

Supporting Rihanna on the tour will be The Weeknd, whose album Beauty Behind The Madness reached number 1 in the UK charts, and American rapper Big Sean.

Fans can buy tickets in person from the Stadium of Light box office from 9am on Thursday morning. A limited allocation of General Admission (GA) tickets, affording pitch standing/unreserved Tier 1 seating is available.

Reserved seating tickets can only be purchased through approved ticket agents (listed below). Fans are advised that tickets cannot be purchased from SAFC’s telephone hotline or club website.

Fans who wish to queue to ensure they get their tickets can do so from 6am on Thursday, with the ticket office opening at 9am. No overnight queuing will be permitted. Fans who do not wish to purchase their tickets in person can do so via the official ticket websites and phone lines listed below.

SAFC’s commercial director, Gary Hutchinson, said: “Rihanna has created a real buzz surrounding this world tour and her new album as part of her online ANTI DiaRy campaign and we are thrilled to be a part of it. There has been unprecedented interested since the announcement, and we fully expect this concert to match Rihanna’s last visit to Sunderland and sell-out, so we urge fans to secure their tickets as soon as possible to avoid any disappointment.”

HOW TO BUY

Tickets go on sale Thursday 3rd December from 9am at the Stadium of Light ticket office and from approved ticket agents.

A pre-sale will be available for SAFC season card holders and official members on Wednesday 2nd December from 9am.

Stadium of Light sales information:

The Stadium of Light will offer General Admission (standing/Tier 1 unreserved seating) tickets only, priced at £55, and a limited number of Gold Circle tickets at £75. All sales are subject to a £4 booking fee per ticket (unless payment is made in cash). Tickets cannot be purchased from SAFC by telephone or online, tickets are available from the stadium’s box office to in-person purchasers only.

Please note £1 per ticket will be added onto the booking fee, and this fee will be donated to the Clara Lionel Foundation.

Ticket agents:

Golden Circle £75, general admission tickets (standing/Tier 1 unreserved seating) £55. Tier 2 reserved seats £60 and Tier 3 reserved seats £50/£60. All tickets are subject to a booking fee.

Please note that £1 per ticket will be added onto the booking fee, this fee will be donated to the Clara Lionel Foundation.

Online at www.livenation.com.

Online at www.ticketmaster.co.uk or 0844 8440444.

Wheelchair and special needs patrons:

Tickets for wheelchair and special needs patrons are available by telephone from SAFC, tel. 0191 551 5004 or ticket.office@safc.com.

Important information:

Young people aged 14 and under must be accompanied by an adult aged over 18, and no unaccompanied youngsters aged 14 or under will be permitted entry to the venue.

There is a limit of six tickets per purchaser in place.

Show Times:

External courtyards: 2pm
Doors: 4pm
Showtime: 6pm
Show ends: 11pm

Hospitality:

Demand for this show is expected to be exceptionally high. Visit www.safcconcerts.com, call 0871 911 1555, or email rihannahosp@safc.com to find out more information, or to make an expression of interest for our exciting new concert hospitality concept. Existing SAFC hospitality customers should contact the club immediately to reserve their package.

Hilton Garden Inn:

A new 141 bedroom Hilton Garden Inn will open adjacent to the Stadium of Light in April 2016. For more information, or to make a room reservation, call 0191 5515110 or email catherine.graham@hilton.com. Prompt booking advised.

All the latest news about Rihanna at the Stadium of Light will be available at the following locations:

www.safcconcerts.com
https://twitter.com/StadiumOfLight
https://www.facebook.com/stadiumoflight
http://instagram.com/sunderlandafcofficial
www.youtube.com/user/sunderlandafc

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Newcastle Tavern Wins ‘Pub With The Best Pint’ Award

By on 1st December 2015in Local Biz

A landmark North East bar, which was restored to its former glory last year, is raising a glass to celebrate being voted the ‘Pub with the Best Pint’…

The City Tavern at Northumberland Road, Newcastle, beat off competition from more than one thousand pubs across the UK to take the honour in the Star Pubs & Bars awards organised by Heineken.

The pub is run by North East entrepreneur David King, who has a long history of working in the industry, and was behind some of the region’s most innovative watering holes.

The City Tavern, widely recognised for its Tudor style façade, was taken over by Mr King early in 2014, and soon underwent a £450k refurbishment to create a state-of-the-art bar, while still retaining the venue’s historic features.

It was Mr King’s commitment to producing the perfect pint which led to him winning the fiercely contested award, with the pub’s beer judged against stringent criteria including taste, smell and temperature, along with staff knowledge and service.

Judges were also impressed by the fact that the bar offered ten cask ales and ciders, along with three house ales which were brewed exclusively for The City Tavern.

“We are absolutely delighted to have won this award, which is acknowledgement of the commitment we have to pulling the perfect pint every time,” said David.

“We pride ourselves on giving customers a great experience, and for that to be recognised in the face of so much competition from around the UK is fantastic, not just for us but for the region.”

David received the prestigious award at a gala celebration night in Liverpool from celebrity chef Simon Rimmer, where he was also recognised as a finalist in two other categories for best-trained staff and best retailer.

Star Pubs & Bars Trading Director, Chris Jowsey, added: “The hallmark of a great pub is a great pint, and the City Tavern serves one of the best in the country with beers to satisfy all palates, delivery and standards that are second to none, and staff that clearly care.”

This is not the first time The City Tavern has enjoyed victory in these awards however, having last year taken the title of Retailer of the Year.

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Film ReVue: Bridge Of Spies

By on 30th November 2015in Entertainment, Film & TV

Vue Cinema’s Olly Cobb shares his thoughts on Steven Spielberg’s new Cold War drama, starring Tom Hanks and Mark Rylance…

Based on true events, Bridge of Spies follows the trial of Rudolf Abel (Mark Rylance), a Soviet spy captured working in New York in 1957. Main protagonist James Donovan (Tom Hanks) is the American councillor tasked with defending Abel, but finds himself caught in the midst of the Cold War.

As is to be expected from ‘Triple-A’ blockbuster titles, Bridge of Spies delivers a believable and accurate window to the past. Scenes set on the Brooklyn streets (and later in East Berlin) are astonishing, and the 1950s attire and deco is wonderfully nostalgic.

Spielberg has tried (and succeeded) to place his characters into an immersive world, but it does – on occasion – only serve to distract from the moments when the script falls flat.

Spielberg’s actors, however, aren’t quite as perfect as his world. Tom Hanks delivers a convincing performance, and proves yet again that he’s an extremely competent actor, but perhaps past his best. Here we have yet another Spielberg movie in which Hanks’ character is the black sheep.

 

Thankfully, Rylance’s performance is extremely refreshing. When Abel is incarcerated, he is asked why he isn’t alarmed by the prospect of the death penalty, to which Abel simply replies “Would it help?”

The supporting cast is solid, but there is a lack of development seen in Donovan’s family and peers, especially his wife who appears frequently but is uninteresting. The American authorities in this movie (in particular the C.I.A) seem to be the standard impatient, patriotic men who fit the ‘Cold War Criteria’ nicely.

As for moments of intense drama, there’s a light spattering. The courtroom scenes are brief and tedious, but excitement kicks in as Hanks makes his way through East Berlin. It’s engaging and beautiful, and the climactic exchange on the Glienicke Bridge is a superb, well-crafted cinematic moment. It’s just a shame that there weren’t more scenes like this.

 

Suffice to say that Bridge of Spies is visually fantastic, and there are moments of excellence from its leading actors, but these days watching a Spielberg movie is a lot like going to a museum. You don’t necessarily go for the thrill, but for the experience. Bridge of Spies falls into the same trap as 2012’s Lincoln, in that a predictable plot hides behind beautiful set design and a star-studded cast.

We can forgive it for not being particularly rewarding, but one hopes for Spielberg’s return to making less ‘grown up’ movies. Nevertheless, the Academy will likely try to give Bridge of Spies an Oscar, to which I ask… would it help?

Our Bridge of Spies review was written by Vue Cinema’s Olly Cobb. For more information on the latest cinema releases, or to book tickets, visit www.myvue.com.

Click here to book tickets for Bridge of Spies.

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Frosty Fun In Chester-le-Street For Christmas Light Switch On

By on 30th November 2015in In & Around

The Chester-le-Street Christmas lights are set to turn the town into a Winter Wonderland…

 

Residents and visitors to Chester-le-Street are invited to gather around the Christmas tree for the annual festive light switch on, taking place on Thursday 3rd December at 4pm.

They’ll be joined by the Town Crier, stilt walkers, Frosty the Snowman, and characters from Disney blockbuster Frozen.

Organisers have arranged for free parking after 3pm in all Durham County Council car parks throughout December, and businesses are set to remain open throughout the evening, meaning hot drinks and food will be available.

For more information, email chester-le-streetaap@durham.gov.uk.

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6 Top DJs To Headline Hardwick Hall Boxing Day Club Night

By on 26th November 2015in Entertainment, Events, Music

Six of the world’s top DJs are bringing the beats to the North East for a special Boxing Day event…

 

Popular club night, To The Manor Born, will return to Hardwick Hall Hotel, Sedgefield, on Saturday December 26th.

Leading this year’s line-up is internationally renowned artist, Graeme Park, who recently marked 30 years on the decks and 20 years on the radio airwaves, with shows on stations including Galaxy and Kiss.

Graeme, who now has his own app, started his career in Nottingham in the 1980s, before moving on to an eight year residency at the high profile Hacienda club in Manchester.

He was one of the first British DJs to play places like Australia, South America, Asia and America and has remixed tracks by artists such as The Brand New Heavies and Sophie Ellis-Bextor.

Graeme will be joined at To The Manor Born by fellow Hacienda favourite, Allister Whitehead, who sold more than a million DJ mix albums with Fantazia and has headlined all the major clubs, including Cream and Ministry of Sound during an illustrious 25 year career.

Both Graeme and Allister were among the first guest DJs when To The Manor Born launched in the 1990s, and are returning to the event by popular demand.

Performing alongside them in the Main Room will be North East DJ, Michael Johnson.

A Residents Room will also be open throughout To The Manor Born, welcoming performances by another top trio. This includes Groovebox club night regulars Pete Wharrier and Rob Oxley, as well as event organiser Johnathan Woodliffe.

Jonathan said: “We’re thrilled to be welcoming back two of our most popular DJ’s, Graeme Park and Allister Whitehead, who I’m sure will raise the roof alongside Michael, Pete, Rob and myself. It’s going to be an amazing night.”

To The Manor Born 2015 will run at Hardwick Hall Hotel from 8pm until 2.30am. Tickets, priced at £20, must be purchased in advance, and no entry will be permitted after 10.30pm.

For further information about this and other Christmas events taking place at Hardwick Hall, call 01740 620253, email info@hardwickhallhotel.co.uk, or visit www.hardwickhallhotel.co.uk.

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Review: Legally Blonde At Tyne Theatre & Opera House

By on 26th November 2015in Entertainment, Events

West End Musical Theatre Company‘s debut production of Legally Blonde is setting Newcastle alight. Here’s a review courtesy of Kelly Knowles and Abbie Wilkinson…

 

We were lucky enough to score a pair of tickets for the show’s opening night at the Tyne Theatre, and the atmosphere was electric. The lavish auditorium is a great place to be, even before the theatrics begin, and our Grand Circle seats meant that we had a great view of the stage.

The Legally Blonde musical is based on the novel by Amanda Brown and the 2001 film starring Reese Witherspoon, and as big fans of the source material, we’re pleased to report that its adaptation to the stage has worked beautifully.

The show’s music, by Laurence O’Keefe and Nell Benjamin, is a fantastic compliment to the narrative, and will have you singing along even after you’ve left the theatre. Favourites include Take It Like A Man, which has all the charm of a Disney fairy tale, but the wit you’d expect from Hollywood. Top marks to the singing cast, who go for every number with total energy and passion.

In fact, the cast’s performances are hard to criticise all round. The West End Musical Theatre Company’s experience shines through wonderfully, making us just a little disappointed that it took us until now to see one of their productions! Their previous shows include Wizard Of Oz and Stepping Out.

Leading lady Cheryl Moody is electrifying as sorority girl Elle Woods. Her performance is fun, charming, and so effortlessly ditzy that we’re sure many like us will be able to see a little of themselves up on stage. Along the way, Cheryl reminds us that being ourselves never goes out of style.

 

Special mention, however, must go to the two unlikely stars of the show, Chi-Chi the chihuahua and Patsy the bulldog. Chi-Chi, as Elle’s faithful sidekick Bruiser, steals every scene with effortless grace, and remains en vogue throughout.

The production and stage management itself is also of note. The story takes us from the sorority house to the Halls of Justice, and the scenes change seamlessly. We commend the WEMTC for their clear dedication to rehearsal and practice.

Suffice to say, Legally Blonde had us smiling from start to finish, and if you’re looking for a feel-good show, this one will not disappoint. As keen theatre goers, Abbie and I were suitably impressed, and we’re already looking forward to the company’s next production.

And yes – we played through the entire soundtrack on the way home!

If you want to see the show for yourself, you can catch it at the Tyne Theatre & Opera House, located on Westgate Road, Newcastle. The show runs until this Saturday, so be sure to book your tickets here.

County Durham Invited To Sign Up For Garden Waste Collection

By on 25th November 2015in In & Around

Residents in County Durham are invited to sign up for next year’s garden waste collection service…

 

Durham County Council will resume the fortnightly collections for more than 190,000 eligible properties in March 2016.

Householders can subscribe to the service, which offers 17 collections between spring and autumn, for an annual fee of £20.

Following feedback from residents who used the service last year, an additional collection has been added for the 2016 scheme.

Cllr Brian Stephens, Cabinet member for neighbourhoods and local partnerships at Durham County Council, said: “The garden waste collection service is a convenient way for residents to dispose of and recycle their garden waste.

“Nearly 65,000 people subscribed to the service in 2015, and we are very pleased to be able to offer 17 collections for 2016, with no increase in the annual fee of £20, and would encourage people to sign up to take advantage of the service.”

Residents wishing to receive all 17 collections must sign up before 14th February 2016.

Those who do subscribe will receive a pink bin sticker and a collection calendar, which will be issued from January 2016.

Anyone who has already subscribed to the service for three years will automatically receive their sticker and collection calendar in January.

For more information about garden waste collections, or to subscribe, you can go to www.durham.gov.uk/gardenwaste or call 03000 261 000.

In Teesdale, garden waste collections are provided by Rotters Composting, and residents in this area should contact Rotters direct to arrange collections at www.rotters.org or by calling 01833 690 022.

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Wynyward Hall Offer Exclusive Spa Experience For Christmas Shoppers

By on 23rd November 2015in Local Biz

Christmas shoppers looking for pampering present ideas are invited to a special event at a top hotel and spa…

 

The lakeside Spa, at Wynyard Hall Hotel, Tees Valley, is holding a shopping evening on Tuesday 1st December.

Not only will visitors be able to snap up an extensive selection of products from the exclusive Temple Spa range, but they will be given a voucher for a free file and polish by the Spa’s trained team of manicurists.

They will also be able to find out more about the treatments and products available at the Spa and view its wide range of facilities, which include a salt inhalation room, outdoor vitality spa, ice fountain and herbal sauna.

Complimentary mulled wine and canapés will be served throughout the evening, which is by appointment only and free to attend. Places can be reserved by calling 01740 644811.

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Extensive A690 Roadworks Begin Monday 23rd

By on 21st November 2015in In & Around

Drivers are advised to allow extra time for journeys while essential road maintenance takes place on one of County Durham’s main routes…

 

Durham County Council will be carrying out resurfacing work on the south-bound section of the A690 dual carriageway, between the county border with Sunderland and Rainton Gate.

The work will start on Monday 23rd and is expected to take six days.

During the work a contraflow system will operate on the north-bound carriageway of that section of the road and five central reservation crossover points will be closed.

Diversion routes for residents in West Rainton and Rainton Gate will be in place.

John Reed, head of technical services at Durham County Council, said: “This work is part of our essential maintenance programme which is aimed at keeping the county’s roads in good condition.

“We appreciate that this is a busy commuter route in and out of Durham and we would ask road users to be patient and allow extra time for their journeys while we carry out this work.”

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