Tag: hardwick hall

Couple Recreate Wedding For 40th Anniversary

By on 2nd February 2016in Lifestyle

A North East couple have marked their 40th wedding anniversary at the same ‘plaice’ they celebrated tying the knot…

Alan and Anne Hodgson, who run Hartlepool-based seafood supplier Hodgson Fish, held their wedding reception at the Best Western Plus Hardwick Hall Hotel, Sedgefield in 1975.

And they recently returned to the four star venue to mark their ruby anniversary – and were even attended to by the same member of staff.

Hardwick Hall Hotel’s current Restaurant Manager, Jeronimo Martin (known as Martin), was among the team who catered for Alan and Anne’s original wedding, and was delighted to see the duo return.

“I have worked at Hardwick Hall Hotel for 44 years,” he said, “and I always love to see familiar faces coming back time after time. I remember Alan and Anne’s wedding quite clearly, and it was fantastic to be a part of their anniversary celebrations too.”

Alan and Anne, who met as teenagers, were married at St Luke’s Church in Hartlepool before travelling to nearby Hardwick Hall Hotel to celebrate with around 40 guests.

The hotel, part of leading leisure organisation Ramside Estates, was one of Hodgson Fish’s first wholesale customers, so the couple fittingly opted for a shellfish buffet as part of their wedding breakfast.

Fish was also on the menu for the couple’s recent anniversary return, where they were once again joined by close family and friends.

“It was just like old times, being back at Hardwick Hall” said Anne. “While we have worked closely with the venue as fish suppliers for around 50 years, being able to return for such an amazing occasion was an extra special treat, and brought back a lot of great memories.

“I can clearly remember posing for pictures on the lawn on our wedding day, and it was fantastic to be able to recreate that 40 years on.

“I was also amazed to see that our original waiter Martin was still working there, but being able to catch up with him was really the icing on the cake.”

The award-winning Best Western Plus Hardwick Hall Hotel specialises in weddings and private celebrations, with a variety of suites available to cater for anywhere up to 1500 guests.

More information about the venue, including its wide range of packages, can be found by visiting www.hardwickhall.co.uk or calling 01740 620253.

Primal Scream First Act Announced For Down To The Woods Festival

By on 8th December 2015in Entertainment, Music

One of the world’s most notorious rock bands are to take to the stage at a major North East festival next summer…

Scottish legends Primal Scream are one of the first acts to be announced for Down To The Woods – successor to the Hardwick Live festival – which will take place in the grounds of Hardwick Hall Hotel, County Durham on Saturday August 13th.

Following on from the huge success of 2015’s sellout Hardwick Live, which featured top performers including James, Razorlight and Embrace, organisers Ramside Estates are now planning the renamed 2016 festival, with the promise of a packed programme full of amazing acts.

Bringing Primal Scream – a band with more than 30 years in the music industry – to the North East is a huge coup for Ramside Estates, as the supergroup are scheduled to showcase their unique blend of rock, indie pop, dance and acid house at only a handful of gigs across the UK.

They will be joined by songsmiths Echo & the Bunnymen, who have had a string of top 20 hits since the 1980s, including the classic anthem Nothing Lasts Forever.

The original Hardwick Live festival grew rapidly in its three year history, with a capacity crowd of 10,000 enjoying the event in 2015.

Early bird tickets for its successor sold out even before any of the line-up had been revealed, with the organisers offering even more exciting entertainment at the new festival.

Jonathan Woodliffe of Ramside Estates, said: “Hardwick Live 2015 really set the bar in terms of both acts and atmosphere, and we’re hoping to top that in 2016 with the first ever Down To The Woods.

“To land Primal Scream is a major coup for us, especially as it will be their only gig within a 100 mile radius, and to have Echo & the Bunnymen, as well, really is a double whammy.

“This is the first of many exciting announcements we’ll be making about Down To The Woods in the coming months, and we’re confident it’s going to be one of the biggest music events of 2016.

“We’ve changed the name of the festival, but everything people enjoyed before will still be a part of this year’s event, with even more to enjoy in the best day of music for miles.”

Primal Scream began to leave a legacy with the release of their enormously successful third studio album, Screamadelica, which won the first Mercury Music Prize in 1992.

Since then they have maintained a constant assault on the UK and international music scenes, with a new album set for release in 2016.

Songs like Movin’ On Up, Rocks, Loaded, Country Girl, It’s Alright, It’s Ok and many more will ensure a party atmosphere during their hugely anticipated Down To The Woods set.

 

Echo & the Bunnymen have released a string of top 20 hits since the 1980s, including top selling studio albums Crocodiles, Porcupine and Ocean Rain, which all went gold.

Ian McCulloch still leads the band, with rumours of a new album to be released in 2016. Songs The Cutter, The Killing Moon and Bring On The Dancing Girls are guaranteed crowd pleasers at the North East festival.

Tickets for Down To The Woods, priced at £55 for adults, £15 for young people and £8 for children, are available now at www.downtothewoodsfestival.co.uk. A limited number of camping pitches are also on sale, priced at £30 per tent.

For more information, follow Down To The Woods on Facebook or Twitter.

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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