Tag: lifestyle

Tiger Bills Kitchen: Consett Restaurant Taking Christmas Bookings

By on 30th November 2015in Food & Drink, Lifestyle

Consett’s most exciting new restaurant is now taking Christmas bookings. Here’s why you should book…

Tiger Bills Kitchen is a fresh, new and exciting establishment in the heart of Consett. Mixing Thai and Western, the menu is dynamic and offers something to suit everyone. We pride ourselves on being Consett’s local restaurant, sourcing our produce from within a 10 mile radius.

Our staff are all friendly and are always willing to help. Whether you require the table to be decorated for a special occasion, or are looking for advice on our menu, they will meet your every need.

We accommodate all occasions, from large tables next to a children’s play area, booths for a more intimate dining experience, or even larger areas for business and social events.

Our menu includes everything from BBQ Grills, to Thai Currys and salads. You can see the full menu here.

 

Trip Advisor: “Fantastic”
Had a fantastic night at Tiger Bills. Great food and service! Prices are very reasonable, and the steak was fantastic! Would definitely go again, and would recommend to family and friends!

Facebook:  “5*****”
Just had a fantastic meal for my birthday. Food was lovely and the staff were brilliant. Very friendly, great value, and I was even given a cocktail on the house as it was my birthday. Definitely will be going back!

To book a table with us, call us on 01207 506 002, or pop down and chat to one of our staff.

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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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Miller Homes Holding Children’s Christmas Card Competition

By on 19th November 2015in Local Biz, What's New?

North East youngsters are being given the opportunity to help Miller Homes celebrate the holiday season, and wish homebuyers a Merry Christmas with a festive children’s drawing competition…

Children in the region are being asked to design a colourful picture for the front of a Christmas card, portraying what Christmas means to them and what they love about the festive season, whether it’s a wintery snow scene, jazzy Christmas tree or Santa and his elves.

The winning design will be made into a Christmas card which will be given to friends of the leading housebuilder, and homeowners moving into their new Miller home this December in the North East, as well as being displayed in the sales centre of the winner’s local development. The winner will also receive their very own pack of the designed Christmas cards to hand out to their friends and family.

Andrew Somerville, Miller Homes North East’s regional sales manager, said: “We want to give the region’s youngsters the chance to be part of Miller Homes’ festive celebrations this year, showcasing the fantastic artistic talent of one lucky winner and adding that personal touch to our Christmas well wishes.

“Christmas is such a wonderful time of year, especially for little ones who look forward to the festive season all year round, so we’re really excited about seeing all of the entries.”

Entry forms are available to collect now from the sales centres at any of Miller Homes’ North East developments, which are open Mondays from 12:30pm to 5:30pm and Thursdays to Sundays from 10:30am to 5:30pm.

Completed entry forms must be returned to the sales centres by 5:30pm on Monday 30th November 2015. Entries will be judged by a panel of judges from Miller Homes, with the lucky winner being notified by Friday 4th December 2015.

Committed to creating sustainable communities that cater for a wide range of buyers, Miller Homes has developments located across the North East. With prices starting from £129,950, homebuyers can choose from Bishops Park in Gateshead, Park View in Low Fell, The Acres in Bedlington, Wheatfields in Seaton Delaval, Portland Wynd in Blyth, The Meadows in Framwellgate Moor, Wheatlands Chase in Redcar, Acklam Woods in Acklam and Clairville Grange in Middlesbrough.

For more information on Miller Homes in the North East call 0808 250 6426 or visit www.millerhomes.co.uk/locations/north-east-of-england.

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Luxury Ramside Spa Awarded Five Bubble Rating

By on 19th November 2015in Local Biz

A luxury North East spa is raising a glass in celebration, having been given a five bubble rating, despite only being open for a few months…

The multi-million pound Spa at Ramside Hall Hotel near Durham opened in August, with its facilities just receiving a massive thumbs up from The Good Spa Guide.

The Guide is regarded as the leading authority in the UK and only recognises and rewards spas which meet its strict criteria.

Following a recent inspection visit, the spa was told the good news – that it has achieved the highest possible rating.

“We’re delighted to have been told by the Good Spa Guide that we’ve achieved five bubbles,” said Jill Russell, Spa Director.

“It’s very unusual for a spa which has just opened to have achieved this so soon, so it’s a great endorsement for the fantastic facilities we have here.”

 

The Good Spa Guide said that it loved “the sense of peace and relaxation that pervades The Spa at Ramside, and the amount of natural light that spills into the space.”

The report also praises “the huge spa with plenty of loungers. We also liked the idea of having one area for spa guests only; health club members tend to be in a hurry, while spa-goers need to slow down and chill out.

“The upstairs treatment area is very quiet and restful, and the sleep sanctuary is perfect for chilling out post-treatment.”

Awarding the Spa at Ramside a five bubble rating, the Guide praises it for “its light and airy design, extra-large main pool and hydrotherapy pool, excellent spa restaurant, carefully designed treatment rooms and restful sleep sanctuary.”

It also praised the spa for its “good treatments and good value spa days and packages.”

 

The £8m Spa at Ramside opened in August and offers five pools, including one of the UK’s biggest hydrotherapy pools, fourteen treatment rooms, a thermal suite, a Sleep Sanctuary and a Rasul mud chamber.

It also offers a wide range of spa experiences which can be totally personalised to each individual.

For more information, or to book the Spa at Ramside, call 0191 375 3088, email enquiries@ramsidespa.co.uk, or visit the website at www.ramsidespa.co.uk.

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Sunderland Beachfront Bistro Prepare Surf And Turf Night

By on 19th November 2015in Food & Drink, Lifestyle, Local Biz, What's New?, What's On?

Surf’s up at a Sunderland bistro as it prepares to serve the finest food from the land and sea…

The Beach House, at Pier Point, Roker seafront, is hosting a special Surf and Turf Night on Friday November 27th.

The event, devised by 1879 Events Management, will include a unique two-course menu, specifically designed to showcase fresh ingredients from beneath the waves and beyond.

This includes a salad of crab, prawns and salt and pepper squid, followed by a main course sharing platter, featuring minute steak with chimichurri sauce, piri piri chicken fillets, spicy chorizo sausage and a mixed garden salad.

The platter, designed for two people, will also include crab claws, king prawns and mussels, as well as patatas bravas or spicy potato wedges.

David Moses, General Manager at 1879 Events Management, which also manages catering and events at the Stadium of Light and National Glass Centre, said: “The Surf and Turf Night will pay tribute to the Beach House’s seafront location, as well as the amazing array of ingredients available from the North East coast and countryside.

 

“It also forms part of a continuing programme of events designed to make eating out more affordable and enjoyable for couples and families.”

Surf and Turf at The Beach House is priced at £30 per couple, including two courses with mixed bread and olives served on arrival. A selection of desserts will be available to purchase at an additional cost.

For more information visit www.facebook.com/thebeachhousesunderland or www.1879events.com. Bookings can be made for November 27th by calling 0191 5659473.

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Win! Tickets To See NT Live: Les Liaisons Dangereuses

By on 18th November 2015in Competitions

 

Following the hugely successful broadcasts of Coriolanus and King Lear, National Theatre Live brings the Donmar Warehouse’s highly anticipated new production of Les Liaisons Dangereuses to cinemas – broadcast live from the Donmar’s London home.

Directed by Josie Rourke (Coriolanus), the cast includes Elaine Cassidy (The Paradise), Janet McTeer (The White Queen) and Dominic West (The Wire). In 1782, Choderlos de Laclos’ novel of sex, intrigue and betrayal in pre-revolutionary France scandalised the world. Two hundred years later, Christopher Hampton’s irresistible adaptation swept the board, winning the Olivier and Evening Standard Awards for Best Play. Josie Rourke’s revival now marks the play’s thirty year anniversary.

Former lovers, the Marquise de Merteuil and Vicomte de Valmont now compete in games of seduction and revenge. Merteuil incites Valmont to corrupt the innocent Cecile de Volanges before her wedding night, but Valmont has targeted the peerlessly virtuous and beautiful Madame de Tourvel. While these merciless aristocrats toy with others’ hearts and reputations, their own may prove more fragile than they supposed.

We’re offering two tickets to see NT Live: Les Liaisons Dangereuses at Vue Gateshead on 28th January, 7pm. To win, all you have to do is answer the following question…

In which city is the National Theatre located?

[contact-form to=’online@inandaroundmag.co.uk’ subject=’LES LIAISONS COMP’][contact-field label=’Name’ type=’name’ required=’1’/][contact-field label=’Email’ type=’email’ required=’1’/][contact-field label=’Address’ type=’text’ required=’1’/][contact-field label=’Answer’ type=’text’ required=’1’/][/contact-form]

This competition closes 15th December.

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Alex Nelson’s Places To Go: Darlington

By on 18th November 2015in Have Your Say, In & Around, Lifestyle, Places To Go, What's New?

Stationmaster Alex Nelson has been suggesting places to go by train every month for ten years. This month, he’s headed to Darlington…

 

 

Over the past few decades, County Durham has been getting smaller. First of all, the county lost Gateshead, South Tyneside, Sunderland, Stockton and Hartlepool in 1974, followed by Darlington when it became a unitary authority in 1997.

With its population of over 100,000, Darlington is a town famous for many reasons, not least for the world’s first locomotive hauled railway service (from Stockton to Darlington) founded by Edward Pease and his business associates.

The company initially provided only the track, which was hired out to whoever wished to run a train, hauled either by horses or by steam. The transition to standard railway management was a gradual one, spurred on by frequent disputes between drivers over right of way, and by the dangers of the higher speeds of steam locomotives.

The town does have its own railway museum, but it’s been several years since I’ve visited, as opening hours are much reduced. This isn’t at the main Darlington station, sometimes known as Bank Top, but at the original station at North Road, a 20 minute walk north of the town. It’s the first stop on the branch to Bishop Auckland, which runs infrequently, but stops alongside the museum and the shed where the iconic new steam locomotive 60163 Tornado was built in 2008.

North Road Station Museum is known as the Head of Steam, and is open Wednesday to Sunday, 11am-3.30pm. There is an admission charge of £4.95, with reductions for concessions and children. The big problem it faces, however, is that despite being a very interesting museum and incorporating the fascinating Ken Hoole Study Centre, it is dwarfed by the National Railway Museum off-shoot at Shildon, just up the line, which is much larger and benefits from free admission.

The Shildon museum is where people tend to gravitate, but on a day trip to Darlington, it’s well worth a visit to the original.

 

The town centre contains many interesting alleyways (or vennels), particularly between the High Street and Skinnergate, which runs parallel to the west, away from the railway station. There are many independent shops and specialist cafes on these vennels.

My wife and I enjoy many of the shows at the Darlington Civic Theatre, which is a more intimate performance space than the likes of the Sunderland Empire or Theatre Royal in Newcastle. The theatre is also close to the railway station for a ride home afterwards, but requires careful planning of train times if you’re to avoid a long wait after the show.

Darlington is also an excellent place to change trains, having a flat floor plan with no bridges or subways between platforms. Watch the indicators, though! Whilst southbound trains routinely leave from Platform 1, northbound from Platform 4, and locals to Middlesbrough/Saltburn from Platform 2/3, these are prone to swap around from time to time.

I learned this the hard way when I foolishly directed a lady on her way to Whitby (via Middlesbrough) to wait with me on Platform 1 whilst her train gently slid out of Platform 4… and it was her last connection. I wrote an apology in the Whitby Gazette and it won Letter of the Week, but the memory still fills me with dread.

On the railway, I’m supposed to know what I’m doing…

Alex Nelson

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North East Ice Skater Joins Dancing On Ice Star In Sunderland Frost Village

By on 17th November 2015in Entertainment, Events, Local Biz, What's New?, What's On?

A rising North East skater will be getting the chance to showcase her skills alongside a Dancing on Ice star this Christmas…

As part of the activities taking place in Sunderland this festive season, aspiring ice skater Anna Waters will be performing with her coach Andrei Lipanov – one of the professional skaters from ITV’s Dancing on Ice – at the opening gala of the Sunderland Frost Village on November 26th.

An exciting programme has been put together by Sunderland’s Business Improvement District, which includes the creation of an ice rink at Keel Square, which will operate right up until Christmas Eve.

Andrei, who taught celebrities including Clare Buckfield, Heidi Range and Bonnie Langford for the TV show, currently coaches Anna, who is originally from Wallsend.

The pair specialise in Adagio pair skating, a highly skilled and acrobatic style of ice performing.

The skaters will launch the ice rink at a gala performance, alongside young ice skating duo, Josh and Ellie, from the hit CBBC documentary series Ice Stars.

Following the opening, the ice rink will run daily skating sessions and is available for private hire, along with a programme of activities including the chance to be coached by Andrei on various dates throughout the festive season.

“We’re so pleased to be able to give someone from the region the chance to perform with Andrei,” said Ken Dunbar, Chief Executive of Sunderland BID.

“It brings another dimension to our fabulous Frost Village and another reason for people to come and see what we have on offer in the run up to Christmas.”

Along with the open air ice rink, Sunderland Frost Village will offer a traditional Christmas market with more than 25 stalls selling food, drink, gifts and crafts and a traditional fun fair with a waltzer, ferris wheel and bumper cars on the former Vaux Brewery site.

Anna replaces Andrei’s regular skating partner, Susie Lipanova, who is unable to take part due to family commitments.

Sunderland’s Frost Village will be open daily between 10am and 10pm (8pm close Monday to Wednesday), and until 4pm on Christmas Eve – though skating on this day must be booked in advance.

Prices for skating starts from £6.50 per child and £7.50 per adult.

Full activity listings and opening times are available at www.sunderlandchristmas.co.uk.

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Durham County Record Office Offer History Courses For New Year

By on 16th November 2015in Lifestyle, Local Biz, What's New?, What's On?

Looking for an unusual Christmas gift for the amateur historian in your family?

 

Durham County Record Office is now offering gift vouchers for history courses and taster sessions running in the New Year.

Two Palaeography Taster Sessions in January will give people the chance to pick up hints and tips on reading old handwriting and understanding historic documents.

Taking place from 10am to noon on Friday 29th January and Saturday 30th January, the sessions will cover how letter forms have changed and how documents are structured.

There will also be the opportunity to try reading Medieval Latin. Sessions cost £10.

The popular Beginners’ Family History course also returns in January, with advice on how to trace your family tree and how to use the record office and its archives to support your quest.

Sessions run on the following dates from 10am to noon and 6pm to 8pm, and the course costs £30:

  • Thursday, 21 January – Parish registers and civil registration
  • Thursday, 28 January – The census
  • Thursday, 4 February – Military records

For those who have already mastered the basics, the record office also runs Branching Out sessions. Each is an hour-long talk followed by time to browse the records and take advantage of one-to-one advice.

Sessions, cost £10 each and take place on the following dates:

Education

  • Tuesday, 17 November – 6pm to 8pm
  • Thursday, 19 November – 10am to noon

The workhouse

  • Monday, 22 February – 6pm – 8pm
  • Thursday, 25 February – 10am to noon

Criminal ancestors

  • Tuesday, 15 March – 6pm to 8pm
  • Thursday, 17 March – 10am to noon

Hospitals (including asylums)

  • Tuesday, 26 April – 6pm to 8pm
  • Thursday, 28 April – 10am to noon

For more information or to book a place, call 03000 267 619 or email record.office@durham.gov.uk.

15 Ways To Stay Positive At Work

By on 13th November 2015in Have Your Say, Lifestyle, What's New?

Andy Knowles, MD of Jak Inc, shares his top tips for keeping smiling…

 

I’ve had an interesting journey over the last ten years.

Starting a family business wasn’t part of my career plan, and things were going nicely for me at Coca-Cola enterprises. I had a great boss, loved the brand, and there was bags of opportunity for career progression.

But somehow, here I am with a portfolio brand business, sporting an annual turnover of £1m plus.

Interestingly, one of the challenges many entrepreneurs face is burnout or fatigue. I’ve attended many personal development seminars over the years, including a three-day trip to Kentucky, where I met a handful of truly inspirational mentors. I even found myself finishing their sentences, as I’ve read their books repetitively!

Because of this, I’ve learned an awful lot over the years about how to fight the fatigue. Below are my top 15 tips to help you stay focused, and be more positive at work…

1. Utilise Your Commute
Don’t write off your time in the car as ‘wasted time’. Listen to audio books, podcasts or inspirational music on your commute, and use that time to learn something new, or get fired up.

2. Get Places Early
Arrive early and focus on the tasks ahead. Even if you’re only ten minutes ahead of schedule, use that ten minutes to wake up and get your head straight. You’ll be grateful for it later in the day.

3. Your Emails Aren’t Always A Priority
Avoid checking emails first thing. Instead, focus on the tasks that can’t be put off. Check your emails periodically throughout the day, which will stop you from getting bogged down in them.

4. Stop Procrastinating
Are you making the most of your time? It’s easy to put things off until later, but those things will pile up, and when you finally have to face them, you’ll wish they were done earlier. Schedule your day in advance, and stick to it.

5. Take A Break
Plan breaks into your day to allow for recovery. Trying to do too much all at once will wear you out, and you’ll lose sight of the end. Take a moment to re-focus on your tasks, and come back to them shortly.

6. Take Something From Your Meetings
Take notes from your meetings, and leave them with clear and achievable objectives. Write down your action points, and share them with the involved parties.

7. Don’t Neglect Your Health
Exercise is proven to reduce stress, and the resulting feel-good factor can boost your productivity.

8. Pace Yourself
Rushing tasks will only create more errors, which you’ll inevitably have to fix. Take your time, and get it right.

9. Support Your Colleagues
Share your achievements with the people around you, but don’t forget to support them too. Be there for your colleagues when they need a little positivity boost, and they’ll be there for you when you need one yourself.

10. Stay Compassionate
Negative colleagues can get you down, but try to remain compassionate towards them. People are usually negative for a reason, but don’t let it affect you too.

11. Collaborate
Never be afraid to ask for help. Collaborate with others to achieve mutual goals, and be aware that sharing the load of some of your tasks can help you get through them.

12. Accept That Some Things Are Boring
Unfortunately, not everything at work is fun, but those things still need to be done. Bite the bullet and face the mind-numbing tasks head on. The sooner they’re tackled, the sooner they’re done and out of the way.

13. Accept Criticism
Don’t be offended by negativity, and instead try to understand any criticism aimed at you. Take that feedback constructively, use it to improve yourself and your work.

14. Relish Your Days Off
Sometimes it’s okay to spend your days off in bed, but try a few different activities too. Variety is the spice of life, and leaves you in a more positive mood.

15. Adapt
Businesses have to change to survive. Make sure that you’re open and adaptable when it’s important, and do your best not to resist it.

Looking for more great business tips? Visit the Jak Inc Blog.

Jak Inc are the North East’s finest print, design, and marketing agency. Keen to reinvent your brand? Visit www.jakinc.uk and find out exactly how to do it.

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