Tag: lifestyle

Wynyard Hall Unveils Autumn Brasserie Menu

By on 11th November 2015in Food & Drink, Lifestyle, Local Biz, What's New?

An autumn menu of smoked, steamed and spiced dishes has been unveiled at one of the North East’s leading hotels…

Diners at Wynyard Hall Hotel and Spa, Tees Valley, can enjoy some of the season’s most popular ingredients with a new Brasserie menu, served at the informal, outdoor Terrace, overlooking the grounds.

In the coming weeks, a choice of starters, main courses, lighter options and desserts will be on offer, alongside an extensive drinks menu, including punch bowls of warming drinks, such as Daniel’s Swedish Glögg – created to a family recipe – and Winter Pimm’s Punch.

Starters will include venison and pork Scotch egg with Cumberland sauce, cured duck salad with baby pears and smoked salmon with boiled quail’s eggs, shaved fennel and wild radish.

Diners can then choose a main dish – such as steamed Shetland mussels in a Thai broth, spiced lamb massaman curry with coconut and roasted peanuts or a Wynyard burger with Applewood cheddar, pancetta and chunky chips.

Lighter options include an open, free range chicken and avocado club sandwich or roasted Mediterranean vegetable wrap with hummus and vegetable crisps.

These can be rounded off with desserts such as lemon meringue tart with raspberry sorbet, passion fruit and ginger panna cotta and plum and grenadine burnt crème with honeycomb and jam.

The Brasserie menu will be served daily from midday until 2.30pm, and from 5.30pm until 9.30pm. Starters are priced from £6, main courses from £13 and desserts from £5.

For further information call 01740 665406 or email events@wynyardhall.co.uk.

Youth Workers Searching For New Duke Of Edinburgh Challengers

By on 11th November 2015in Local Biz, What's New?

Youth workers in County Durham are seeking new people to take on an internationally recognised challenge…

 

After a summer of success that saw teenagers and young adults completing their bronze, silver and gold level awards, staff at Newton Aycliffe Youth Centre, which is run by Durham County Council’s One Point Service, are ready to welcome those who will take on the scheme as it celebrates its diamond anniversary in 2016.

Cllr Ossie Johnson, Durham County Council’s Cabinet member for children and young people’s services, said: “The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award has been running at Newton Aycliffe Youth Centre for over 20 years, helping and supporting young people to gain valuable experience, build confidence, make new friends and take on new challenges.

“The experience gained has shaped and changed the lives of many young people from the area, some going on to do more amazing things, and influencing career choices and leisure activities.”

The Award is open to all young people aged 14 to 24-years-old, with a minimum age of 14-years-old to participate at the bronze level, 15-years-old for the silver level and 16-years-old for gold level.

To complete an award, individuals must demonstrate regular volunteer work, skills and physical activity over a minimum of three months – as well as plan and take part in a group expedition.

Newton Aycliffe Youth Centre is holding an open evening for anyone in the area who is interested in taking part in its Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme on November 15th at 6.30pm. For more information, call Alison Ghent at the One Point Hub in Newton Aycliffe on 03000 261 118.

For details on joining a Duke of Edinburgh group elsewhere in County Durham, call 03000 261 111.

Ramside Hall Hotel Receives First Award Of Its Kind

By on 10th November 2015in Lifestyle, Local Biz, Places To Go, What's New?

A North East hotel is celebrating being the first in the region to receive a new award given out by a leading recognition scheme…

This year the AA has introduced its Silver Star award for hotels which achieve particularly high standards. The Ramside Hall Hotel, near Durham, is the only four star hotel in the area to have been awarded the new accolade.

AA inspectors gave Ramside Hall – which has benefited from a £16m investment in the last two years – the Silver Star for its “high standards of hotel keeping, superior level of quality, hospitality, service and cleanliness.”

To qualify, hotels also need to have a current Rosette award for “culinary excellence.”

The new entry in the AA guide for Ramside praises it for combining “the best of both worlds – convenience and tranquillity.”

It goes on to praise the variety of restaurant options and adds that, “bedrooms are furnished and decorated to a very high standard and include some stunning suites. A new addition to the property in 2015 is their spa and leisure facility; one of the finest in the country.”

John Adamson, owner of Ramside Hall Hotel, said he was delighted that the hotel had achieved the new award.

“We have invested heavily in the hotel and our new wing of rooms, second championship golf course and, now, our multi-million spa have all gone towards helping us achieve this Silver Star,” he said.

“It is great to hear our high standards of service and customer care being acknowledged in this way by such a prestigious organisation.                                

“To be one of the first to get the Silver Star and to get an 84 per cent rating from the AA, which is one of the highest in the region, is testament to all the hard work and investment which have taken place at Ramside Hall.”

For further information on the hotel visit www.ramsidehallhotel.co.uk and www.ramsidespa.co.uk.

New Website Offers Essential Care And Support Information

By on 9th November 2015in Lifestyle, Local Biz, What's New?

A new website promoting wellbeing, and offering information and advice on living independently has been officially launched…

 

Locate, run by Durham County Council, provides a directory of care and support services.

It contains information ranging from activities in the local area to help people get out and about, to help to access support with tasks ranging from washing, dressing and eating.

The easy-to-use site also features a journey planner to help people plan their route to services on foot or by car, bicycle or public transport, and a link to the Care Quality Commission website, where ratings for regulated services are available.

Lesley Jeavons, Durham County Council’s head of adult care, said: “Locate will play a key role in providing the essential information and advice people will need to make informed decisions about their care and support, enabling them to stay well and independent for longer.

“We want people who need care services to have as much choice as possible, by bringing together a huge range of services and suppliers in one easily accessible website.”

The website was launched at the County Durham Health and Wellbeing Board annual engagement event, which offers members of the public the chance to provide their views on how services should be developed.

The site is in keeping with one of the themes of the Care Act, which places a greater emphasis on individual choice and control.

Stadium Of Light Hosts Winter Wonderland Gourmet Night

By on 5th November 2015in Food & Drink, Lifestyle, Local Biz, What's New?, What's On?

Food lovers are invited to dine in a winter wonderland in Sunderland this month…

On Friday 20th November, the Stadium of Light will be hosting its annual Winter Wonderland Gourmet Night, celebrating the season’s finest ingredients, as well as wines from around the world.

Included in the five course feast, specially designed by the chefs at 1879 Events Management, is a starter of air cured fillet of beef with rocket, celeriac remoulade and blue cheese, as well as a decadent dessert of dark chocolate marquis with macerated cherries and coconut ice cream.

In between, guests will enjoy an intermediate course of green onion risotto with spiced monkfish, a main course of roasted loin of venison with wild mushrooms, game croquette and fondant potato and a selection of regional, British cheeses with walnut bread.

Each dish will be served with a different wine, specifically chosen to complement its unique flavours and fresh, locally-sourced ingredients.

Vegetarian options are also available for several courses, including marinated goats cheese and beetroot salad, green onion risotto with pine nuts and butternut squash and wild mushroom pithivier.

Steve Welch, Executive Head Chef at 1879 Events Management, which also manages private and corporate events at National Glass Centre and The Beach House, said:  “There’s a real tendency at this time of year for people to start eating more comfort food. 

“We wanted to show that, even as the temperature drops, there’s still a wide range of fresh produce available to help create warming dishes that won’t weigh you down.

“Pair these with a selection of wines from around the world and it should be a fantastic night.”

Tickets for the Winter Wonderland Gourmet Evening at the Stadium of Light are priced at £54.50 per person.  For more information, or to book, visit www.thestadiumoflight.com, call 0871 911 1555 or email conf&banq@safc.com.

National Stress Awareness Day: 6 Tips For Handling Stress

By on 4th November 2015in Lifestyle, Local Biz, What's New?

It’s #NationalStressAwarenessDay. Feel like it’s all piling up?

We all get stressed. No matter what line of work we’re in, it’s easy to let it all pile up on top of us, which – as we all know – can lead to severe feelings of anxiety.

Stress doesn’t just affect us mentally, either. It attacks the body physically, leaving us vulnerable to sickness.

Today is National Stress Awareness Day, and we’re keen to do our bit to help out. When stress creeps up, bare these tips in mind…

1. Take A Deep Breath

Getting worked up causes you to take rapid shallow breaths, which causes the heart to beat faster and the muscles to tense up. When you’re already feeling stressed, that’s the last thing you want to happen.

Breathing deeply oxygenates the blood, allowing you to relax much more easily. Inhale slowly through your nose, hold the breath for a few seconds, and let it out slowly.

2. Don’t Be The Victim

When bad things happen, a first instinct is to feel sorry for ourselves. We huff and puff, and wallow in self-pity, but all this does is give in to the stress.

Instead, try taking a more pro-active approach to your problems. When something bad happens, don’t focus on the problem. Focus on the solution.

3. Cut Out The Coffee

Even before the stress kicks in, the coffee can make us jittery. Maybe it’s time to consider decaf?

Avoid caffeine-withdrawal headaches by reducing your caffeine intake slowly. Instead of your afternoon cup of coffee, try a glass of water.

4. Be Realistic About What You Can Do

Particularly in the workplace, it can be difficult to say ‘no’. We agree to things that aren’t necessarily achievable, the work piles up, and before we know it, we’re buried underneath it all.

Don’t kid yourself, and don’t be a pushover. If there’s something you simply cannot do, don’t agree to it.

 

5. Go For A Walk

A relaxing stroll hold countless benefits. Not only will the fresh air do you good, but getting up and moving is key to working the stress out of your body. Even pacing back and forth can do you good.

A decent outdoor walk can give you some alone time to really think about your problems and clear your head.

6. Talk About It

Keeping your worries bottled up is one of the biggest mistakes you can make. Letting these things out, vocalising them, and confronting them is a great way to exorcise the demons. Speak with a friend, or write things down in a letter.

You never know, maybe your friend has the same stresses you do.

For more tips and advice, visit the Jak Inc Blog.

North East Walks: Crawley Edge

By on 3rd November 2015in Lifestyle, Places To Go, What's New?

Gary Richardson, Darlington-based freelance photographer and writer, details the North East’s best walks. This month, he’s visiting Crawley Edge…

Route Info:

6¼ miles/10.0 Km with 800 feet/240m of ascent
Maps: 1:25K OS Explorer 307 or 1:50K OS Landranger 88
Start: Durham Dales Centre. Grid ref: NY995392 …. Post Code: DL13 2FJ
Parking: Durham Dales Centre car park.
Where to Eat and Drink: Durham Dales Tearooms, 9.00 to 16.00 Tel: 01388 527650

Route Map

A lovely autumnal walk combining riverside strolls along the wooded Stanhope Beck and Shittlehope Burn valley’s, with an airy walk along Crawley Edge, which gives outstanding views over Upper Weardale. The walk starts in the market town of Stanhope in Upper Weardale.

 

Leave the car park and go left along the main road, and walk into the market place. Cross the road and go left down ‘The Butts’ heading towards the river. At the bottom of the road, turn right onto the riverside path, which is followed upstream to the Stanhope Swimming Pool. Turn right past the pool to the main road, go left for a short distance, then go right along a track leading to Stanhope Hall (A).

 

Go right along this and follow it as far as the footbridge across the river. Don’t cross this, but keep on the west side of the stream and follow the path, initially fenced along field edges and then into the woods. Continue through the woods until another footbridge is reached. Cross this and climb the steep steps to join a wide track. Go left along this, through old quarries to reach some derelict mine buildings (B).

Just after passing a large single storey building on the right, take the track going uphill on the right following a wall through gorse bushes to reach a gate. Go right along the track which is followed through Heathery Burn to reach a road. Go directly across the road to reach an old mine track, turn right and follow this downhill. At the buildings go left and then leave the track. Follow the grassy track on the right alongside the wall/fence to reach a gate. Go left along a path through the heather onto Crawley Edge, and continue to reach a fork in the path (C).

Keep straight on along Crawley Edge to reach a road, then turn left uphill to a farm. Go left through the gate and then keep right to pass behind the farm. Find the stream and follow it downstream. As the woods are reached, cross the stream again and follow the path to reach a footbridge. Cross the bridge and go right downstream, following the path through the woods until the next bridge across the stream (D).

 

Cross this then cross the stile into a field. Keep right alongside the wall to a lane between houses. Go along this, then turn left along Woodcroft Gardens to the main road (A689). Turn right and follow this back through Stanhope to the dales centre.

For more of Gary’s work, visit www.garyrichardson.me.

What’s On? November Roundup

By on 2nd November 2015in Entertainment, Events, In & Around, Lifestyle, Places To Go, What's New?, What's On?

Haven’t picked up your copy of this month’s In & Around magazine yet?

Straight from the pages of the North East’s favourite monthly publication, here’s your handy guide to the region’s top events this month!

 

Friday 6th November
Seaham Firework Display
Seaham
Free firework display from 7pm. Find the best viewing point at George Elmy Lifeboat way, opposite Asda.

Saturday 7th November
Durham Does Vintage
The Gala Theatre
Vintage fair is set in the heart of the city. Expect exquisite vintage stalls supplying the finest vintage clothing, jewellery, homeware, kitchenalia, prints, and crockery. Whether you’re a discerning bargain hunter or avid vintage home lover, Durham Does Vintage promises the perfect purchase!

Thursday 12th – Sunday 15th November
Durham Lumiere
Durham
The UK’s largest light festival returns to Durham for the fourth time. Created by Artichoke, one of the UK’s leading arts producer, the world’s most innovative artists and light designers are brought together in a breath-taking and spectacular programme of artworks across four dazzling winter nights.

Saturday 14th – Sunday 15th November
Letters To Santa Weekend
Killhope
Write your letter to Santa and have it delivered by his own highly trained and responsible owls. Enjoy and owl flying display, papercraft activities, mine tours, live music, and a hot chocolate with marshmallows.

Thursday 19th – Sunday 22nd November
Dine In Durham
Durham
Look out for amazing £5, £10 and £15 meal deals in Durham City. If you’re a fan of food, you’ll be spoilt for choice by what’s on the menu. From large national chains to independent eateries, the food offering in Durham City is second to none.

Friday 20th – Sunday 22nd November
Wynyard Christmas Fayre
Wynyard Hall
Find a truly perfect gift among 150 stalls selling the finest local, handmade and artisan jewellery, fashion, decorations and treats. Capture the spirit of Christmas with crackling log fires, tasty mulled wine, and carol singers.

Saturday 21st – Sunday 22nd November
Designer Makers Market
Barnard Castle
Showcasing some of the very best designers and craftspeople from around the region. The emphasis will be on original and contemporary work, with a strong ‘up-cycled’ theme. There will be an opportunity to meet the designer-makers in person and buy unique handcrafted goods of gallery quality.

Saturday 21st November
Nightmare Before Christmas
Rockliffe Hall Hotel
Bored with the same old scare-and-scream routine of preparing for Christmas? Before all the bright colours and warm spirits take control, join us in Halloween Town with a larger-than-life-size Jack Skellington and embrace the Halloween Christmas spirits.

Sunday 22nd November
Durham Christmas Light Switch On
Durham Market Place
Annual Christmas Light Switch On event where the lights will be turned on by Father Christmas himself!

Saturday 28th November
Christmas Gift Fair
National Railway Museum Shildon
Get ready for Christmas and enjoy a shopping trip with a difference! Browse a number of stalls including stained glass, ceramics, knitted toys, candles, jewellery, cakes and baked goods, wooden toys, hand-made cards, model railway, preserves and more.

Vintageous Rags: Halloween Special

By on 30th October 2015in Lifestyle, Local Biz, What's New?

Grace Stringer, owner of Middlesbrough’s hottest vintage and retro boutique, Vintageous Rags, shares a one-off Halloween outfit…

Hey, witchy women!

Halloween is looming, and we were feeling so inspired after our Cruella de Vil outfit that we thought we’d do a Halloween special. Feeling spooky?

This outfit is great for the witching hour, because you can make it as dramatic as you like, depending on the makeup and accessorises you choose to go with it. 

You could make it all cute and sexy, or you could go full on scary, gory, zombified, dead…!

A red velvet skirt (M £12) is always a winner when Halloween comes around, and the faux leather lace up top (UK10 £10) just screams hocus-pocus!

Add a witch hat, a choker, and a few cobwebs, and that’s your Halloween outfit sorted!

So… trick or treat? 😉

You can find this outfit in our Baker Street store, Middlesbrough, or you can shop online at www.vintageousrags.com. See you soon!

Follow Vintageous Rags on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Darlington Table Tennis Academy: Reigniting The Sport

By on 30th October 2015in Have Your Say, Lifestyle, Local Biz, What's New?

Giulio Pontone, secretary of Darlington Table Tennis Academy, talks about the group’s history…

Darlington Table Tennis Academy was formed in 2013 to try and revitalise the sport in our area, and to stop the demise of the Table Tennis League.

Over the past thirty years, the Darlington Table Tennis League has seen a reduction from six divisions and seventy-two teams, to two divisions and twelve teams, which prompted a group of league players to get together and form the Academy, hoping to reverse this trend.

With the support and funding of the Darlington Sports Development Team, Sport England and Durham County Community Foundation, we were able to purchase equipment, cover our initial venue hire and coaching course fees, and eventually established the Academy at the Education Village in Darlington.

Within a very short time, interest and membership grew beyond all expectation, and in need of the flexibility to run more sessions, we moved to Longfield Sports Hall, and finally to our current venue at the Kings Centre Darlington.

When establishing the Academy, we agreed three main objectives:

  • To increase table tennis in Darlington and the surrounding areas.
  • To increase the number teams in the Darlington T/T league.
  • To ensure interest in table tennis is sustainable, and to promote and increase participation within schools.

These objectives are ongoing, and we have made significant progress in all these areas.

The Academy now has over a hundred members of all ages, and offer sessions on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursday evenings, and Friday mornings.

Along with these sessions, we’ve also set up satellite clubs at two secondary schools, offering further sessions on Wednesday and Friday evenings.

This year, we’ve entered eight teams into the Darlington League, representing the Kings Centre, which is a 50% increase over 2013.

We’re currently working with four secondary schools in Darlington, running weekly after-school clubs with average attendance of over a hundred students per week.

We firmly believe that inspiring youngsters within schools is key to sustaining interest in Darlo’s table tennis, and over the past two years – through taster sessions and demonstrations – we’ve involved over 1,500 children in the sport.

As the Academy has developed, so has the ability of our youngsters, who are now playing in the local league, entering local, regional and national events, and establishing themselves within the junior England rankings.

Because of costs and availability of volunteers and coaches, we were unable to offer more sessions at the Kings Centre to cope with the increase in membership, but with the support and funding of Tees Valley Sport, we were able to extend the influence of the Academy by setting up satellite clubs in Polam and Longfield secondary schools, offering more sessions to youngsters and the community.

 

Our partnership with the schools has resulted in the Academy receiving the award for the North East Regional Satellite Club of the Year 2015, recognising the hard work of our dedicated coaches and volunteers.

Our challenge for the future is to continue maintaining that impetus and achieve our core objectives. However, every successful sport organisation needs dedicated volunteers to make it happen, and we encourage you all to get in touch.

Interested in taking part or volunteering?

You can contact Giulio at giulio.pontone@yahoo.co.uk, visit the DTTA website, or call 01325 300942.

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