Tag: north east

Win! An Elizabethan Banquet For 2

By on 19th October 2015in Competitions, What's New?

The year is 1595, and you’re invited to attend the banquet feast of Sir John Lumley…

Lumley Castle Hotel, gem of the North East landscape for over 600 years, are holding themed Elizabethan Banquet evenings!

Before the banquet starts, the doors to the dungeon and guardroom are thrown open, where wine, ale and mead can be purchased. To the sound of bagpipes, you’ll be greeted with a friendly smile… but take heed to be well behaved, or his Lordship’s Executioner will deal with you!

Armed only with a dagger and a bib, you’ll be served five courses of delicious food. Throughout the feasting, the banquet maids will fill your goblets twice with mead and wine while entertaining you with songs, sketches and sing-a-longs.

 

At the end of the show, the Chamberlain will guide you back to the 21st century to dance in the dungeon to the castle’s resident DJ.

We’re offering readers the chance to win an Elizabethan Banquet for 2, on a date of your choosing! To win, all you have to do is answer the following question…

This competition is now closed. Congratulations to Pamela from Consett!

The Dolls House: Our Autumn/Winter Fashion Tips

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

October can be a tricky month for fashion, but these tips from The Dolls House Fashion Emporium ought to make things a little easier…

Second-guessing the good old British weather is not an easy task when Autumn comes around, but on the plus side, it does provide us with a gorgeous colour palette to work with.

Bang on trend right now is berry, a rich dark maroon which oozes warmth. It’s the colour to be seen in this #AW, meaning there’s no shortage of it on the high street, from suede boots and leather satchels, to strappy sandals and oversized fedoras.

 

So, how can you add berry to your current wardrobe, you ask?

Whether it’s a little or a lot, there’s something for everyone. Have a look online, read a few blogs, and browse boards on Pinterest for outfits and style inspiration. You’ll be full of ideas! New colour and you’re not quite sure? Try a dark nail varnish or a slick of berry lippy to update your style.

If you fancy a new makeup look to match your new autumn outfit, check out Youtube for some seasonal beauty tutorials. These vloggers try out everything from shop own brands like No.7 to high end must-haves like Mac and Charlotte Tilbury. Be warned, though. Youtube is addictive!

If you’re planning cocktails with the girls or a meal out with the other half, take a look at the new arrivals landing at The Dolls House Fashion Emporium, where you’ll find an array of Autumn/Winter essentials, including the Brooklyn Berry Shirt Dress and Scarlett, a fitted cut out jumpsuit.

 

Brooklyn is a perfect day to night outfit, offering a versatile option when it comes to chilly days by either teaming with tights and boots, or throwing on heels and a leather jacket.

Scarlett offers a glamorous but trendy option for your night out. True to size, this cut out berry jumpsuit gives the wow factor when styled with strappy heels and a clutch.

If buying a new on-trend outfit isn’t exciting enough, wait until you hear about the Dress Exchange. New to The Dolls House, the dress exchange allows you to buy a dress, wear it out, then return it and receive up to 50% off your next purchase! You never have to be seen in the same dress twice, and you can look fab this weekend and next, without spending a fortune… it’s genius!

Looking for more great fashion, info and competitions? Check out The Dolls House website, and make sure to follow them on Facebook and Instagram! Got something to ask? Email hello@thedollshouseuk.co.uk.

Durham Interactive Exhibition Combines Art, Nature And Technology

By on 19th October 2015in Entertainment, Events, Lifestyle, Local Biz, What's New?, What's On?

Aether & Hemera exhibition ‘The Tree, The Caterpillar and the Butterfly’ opened at the DLI Museum and Durham Art Gallery this week…

DLI Museum and Durham Art Gallery are inviting families to enter an enchanting interactive garden inspired by nature and state-of-the-art technology. The Tree, The Butterfly and the Caterpillar, by artists Aether & Hemera, is the latest family friendly exhibition to join the highly successful Generation Tour.

The interactive exhibition uses Xbox Kinect technology, enabling visitors’ movements to affect a multi-coloured field of butterflies, while birdhouses play melodic sounds responding to peoples’ presence. Visitors can also use a magic watering can to make a ‘pea tree’ grow.

The previous two Generation Tour exhibitions (Generation AIR and Generation NOISE) have been highly successful in bringing new family audiences into four contemporary art galleries in the North of England. It is hoped that this exhibition and Musical Chairs, another brand new exhibition, will do the same. Generation AIR saw the Durham venue’s busiest October since its reopening fourteen years ago.

Lucy Jenkins, Art Exhibitions Curator at the DLI Museum and Durham Art Gallery said, “The artists Aether & Hemera have done a brilliant job of creating a new exhibition that will capture the imagination of families as well as being outstanding artistically.

“We look forward to seeing many more families in the gallery and promise them a very warm welcome.”

Gloria Ronchi of Aether & Hemera added, “We’re so pleased to be chosen to create the exhibition for the Generation Tour, so the work can reach the widest possible age range.”

The Tree, The Caterpillar and The Butterfly continues until 10th January. It will be followed by Musical Chairs, another interactive Generation Tour exhibition offering a new take on the old parlour game. Musical Chairs is showing soon at Central Art Gallery, Ashton-under-Lyne.

For more information about the Generation Tour, visit generationtour.org.uk.

Sincerely, The Editor: The Forgotten North East?

By on 16th October 2015in Have Your Say, In & Around, What's New?

Hi! My name’s Alex, and I’m the editor of In & Around Online.

This site went live on Wednesday, and before the week draws to a close, I’d just like to take a few minutes to reflect on what that means.

Each and every one of us has ‘something to say’, whether it be insight that we’d like to share, or an opinion to put out there, or something we’re proud of that we’d love to be able to shout about. I know from experience that it isn’t always easy to put some of those things into words, or to know how to go about sharing them.

In & Around Online is the platform to do just that.

Particularly in recent times, the North East can seem like the ‘forgotten’ region, but we want to change that. We want to give our region a voice, and we want you to be able to #HaveYourSay.

Getting to this point has been a lot of hard work, and I’d particularly like to thank everybody who has made a contribution so far. All of the people that I’ve spoken to since beginning this project have had so much insight and passion to share, and it’s a great feeling to finally be able to put that content out there for everybody to enjoy.

The likes of Dr Twist’s writeup of their fantastic traditional portrait business is a great read, as is Laura Tindall’s musings on Newcastle-based pianist Christopher Watson, and I’m especially privileged to be able to press the publish button on articles like Rebecca Scott’s explanation of why her involvement with the Alzheimer’s Society is so important.

Articles like these are a great reminder of the voices we have in the North East.

Having seen the first wave of content, I look forward to future contributions! Don’t forget, if you’d like to be a contributor yourself, visit the Write For Us page. Anybody at all can submit articles.

And so here’s to the future of In & Around! Ten years ago, we launched the magazine that would go on to become a Chester-le-Street institution, and this week we’ve set out on the second part of our journey. Are you coming with us?

Sincerely,
Alex Porritt
The Editor

Fenwick Christmas Pop-Up Store Opens This Weekend

By on 16th October 2015in Local Biz, What's New?

The UK’s largest independent department store group has spread its wings this Christmas with a seasonal pop-up store…

Fenwick, which has been Newcastle’s retail flagship for more than 130 years, has crossed the river to intu Metrocentre, Gateshead, and its 13,000sq ft. Christmas Wonderland at the Platinum Mall opens tomorrow (Saturday 17th October).

Until January 2016, it will be bringing shoppers everything from decorations, cards and wrapping paper to trees, food and drink, plus an exciting array of Christmas gift ideas.

This is the first time the store – which is famous for the Christmas window at its Northumberland Street site – has opened a festive pop-up store in the region.

Kate Grant, regional director of intu, said: “We are delighted that Fenwick are branching out in the North East and opening a Christmas emporium on the ground floor of Platinum Mall. 

“We already work with Fenwick at intu Eldon Square and are looking forward to seeing how they bring their own special brand of Christmas magic to intu Metrocentre.” 

A Fenwick spokesperson said: ‘We are pleased that so many people in the region see Fenwick as an indispensable part of their festive shopping experience, so with an opportunity arising to open a pop-up store in the Metrocentre we’re really excited to bring our unique take on Christmas gifting to even more North East shoppers.’

Fenwick is currently recruiting for Christmas team members for both the intu Metrocentre and Newcastle stores. Click here or call into the HR Department in the Newcastle store to apply.

For further information visit www.intu.co.uk/metrocentre.

Sunderland Shopping Centre Expansion Plans To Be Exhibited

By on 15th October 2015in Local Biz, What's New?

Sunderland shoppers will be able to get the first look at the exciting new expansion plans for the Bridges, with an exhibition of the proposed development going on display this weekend (October 17th).

The new scheme includes a new large store for an as-yet-unnamed leading retailer adjacent to the centre, and will provide improved public spaces and new parking facilities.

As part of the planning process, local people are being given the opportunity to share their views, and with that in mind, an informal exhibition showcasing the plans will be on view on Saturday 17th October from 10am to 4.30pm, and on Sunday 18th October from 11.30am and 4pm.

Visitors to the exhibition, in Central Square at the Bridges, will be invited to give their feedback, or alternatively they can view the plans and give their feedback online at www.thebridges-shopping.com from Oct 17th.

All feedback and comments are welcomed by Nov 2nd 2015.

“This is a very exciting time for the Bridges,” said Andy Bradley, Centre Director, “and we hope as many people as possible will come and view the plans and let us know their thoughts.”

Alnwick Garden Recognised As Outstanding Wedding Venue

By on 15th October 2015in Local Biz, What's New?

A popular Northumberland wedding venue has been recognised as one of the most outstanding locations in the region…

The Alnwick Garden received the prestigious “Outstanding Wedding Venue Judges’ Choice” Award at The North of England Wedding Awards 2015  – the first time it has entered.

Along with being praised for the excellence of their service, the product quality, value for money and outstanding commitment, the venue win was supported by glowing testimonials from happy couples.

Since opening, The Pavilion Room at the Garden has been hugely popular for weddings, giving couples the chance to celebrate while overlooking the gardens and the grand cascade water feature.

The food operation (which was also praised by the judges) is run for the venue by Ramside Event Catering, which has a long history of providing catering for a huge range of external events.

“This award pays homage not only to the garden itself but, also to all the hard work that everyone – including the team at Ramside Event Catering – put in to making every couples’ wedding day as special as possible,” said Arthur Piszcz, Events Sales Executive.

“The Alnwick Garden is such a beautiful venue, which makes it incredibly popular all year round, and we are delighted it has been recognised in this way.

“It’s a real tribute to what we have here that we are the first venue to take the major award the first time we’ve entered.”

The North of England wedding Awards are organised in association with The Wedding Guide UK, and are Yorkshire and North East England’s most prestigious awards for client service excellence. The awards recognise businesses which go the extra mile for their customers, providing outstanding service and inspiring their customers to want to actively and positively promote them.

The Alnwick Garden runs a number of all-inclusive wedding packages throughout the year with the option of special added extras and bespoke wedding packages.

For more information about weddings at The Alnwick Garden visit www.alnwickgarden.com, or contact the wedding team on 01665 511081. You can also email weddings@alnwickgarden.com.

Oxjam Darlo: One-Day Festival Returns For 2015

By on 13th October 2015in Entertainment, Music, What's New?, What's On?

After the mammoth success of Oxjam Darlo 2014, the festival is back for 2015, and intends to build on the huge achievements from last year. After raising a staggering £8,000 and smashing the original target by more than double, the money raised by Oxjam Darlo contributed hugely to helping those who are in need in the UK and abroad.

Takeover manager, Chris Jenkins, reflected on last year’s festival. “Oxjam Darlo was an amazing experience for everyone involved in 2014; the bands, venues, volunteers, gig goers and of course us, the organisers! It was a fantastic event for Darlington and was a huge success for Oxfam and the people that ultimately benefited from the money raised.”

The date is already set for this year’s event, where venues across Darlington will once again open their doors to music lovers from a wide range of genres. The one day festival (on October 25th) will also focus on promoting home-grown talent as it showcases some of Darlington’s finest musicians.

Fundraising efforts are in full swing, with the Oxjam team holding a very successful ‘Ultimate Music Quiz’ in early September at the Voodoo Café. Takeover Manager Chris also took part in a white knuckle bungee jump during a recent trip down under, and team member Jonny Lancaster endured the 13.1 miles of the Great North Run on behalf of the festival.

Music fans also enjoyed getting revved up for the main event by attending the festival’s launch party at The Green Room on September 25th, where they got a little taster of what to expect from the main event!

Tickets (which will be exchanged for wristbands on the day) are on sale for the one day festival and are priced at £8. – Take a look at Oxjam Darlo’s social media pages (Facebook and Twitter) for details on where they can purchased.

Dr Twist: Reviving Traditional Sepia Portrait Photography

By on 13th October 2015in Lifestyle, Local Biz, What's New?

Charles Twist and Caed Parker are bringing classic portraiture back to life with their traditional, hand-crafted approach to photography. Read on for their story in their own words…

 

Started by photographers Charles Twist and Caed Parker in 2014, Dr Twist’s Photographarium offers the experience of traditional photography, creating beautiful and timeless, sepia portraits.

Our big plate cameras are fitted with historical lenses, some as old as the 1850s, and are perfectly complemented by a Victorian developing process which delivers real sepia prints. The resulting images have a quality and charm that is not easily mimicked by any modern methods, and along with the physical feel of the print (like a vinyl record over an mp3), the photographs possess a unique presence and character.

The experience transports you to another world. Sitting for a plate camera is a luxury to be enjoyed slowly, and is a process that involves both the photographer and the sitter. This interaction translates in to a portrait that is both warm and truthful.

We bring with us an assortment of vintage props and accessories. Some are genuinely old, while some are quality, modern counterparts. The costumes add great depth to the portraits. Plus, they’re great fun!

A common misconception is that the sitter must remain still for long periods. In reality, while composing the picture can take a few minutes, you only have to stay steady for half a second. We’ve even photographed children and animals with great success.

 

The plates are processed on site in our specially constructed darkroom. Small and self-contained, it is the modern equivalent of the erstwhile developing carts which would have been used a hundred years ago, allowing the studio experience to travel to your home (or the beach!). Ours is designed so that the whole process is on view. You can look in and see your plate go from a blank sheet of paper to a one-off sepia portrait in the space of a few minutes.

Witnessing this in our modern digital world conjures up a by-gone age when things happened slowly and deliberately. It is enthralling and educational in equal measure.

Each print is totally unique. The piece of paper which is processed in our darkroom-on-wheels is the self-same sheet that is exposed in camera and later handed to the sitter. There are no other copies, no negatives, and (of course) no digital files. The portrait is as unique as an original pencil drawing – quite a rare occurrence in photography, and one that gives the portrait very strong, personal value.

Quite apart from that, nobody else offers this service in this country (maybe even in the world), making it even more special!

 

We’re available for private sittings to create stunning sepia portraits of your family, your children, your pets, your home, your friends. It may be for a special occasion – a birthday, a wedding, a christening, an anniversary, a Christmas party – or simply because you like to know that your portrait has been created with love and care in the traditional, hand-crafted way. A unique print makes a perfect memento of an important day.

With Christmas coming up, a studio session would create original entertainment at your party, at home, at the pub or at the office. Each guest would sit for a portrait that they could take away on the day. A unique sepia portrait is a great gift which tells your family, friends and colleagues how much you value their companionship.

A sepia portrait of the children or the family is also a brilliantly original Christmas present for the grandparents. In this circumstance, we encourage people to be photographed without our props and accessories, simply because the prints are so beautiful and charming in themselves. Pet photography is also a favourite. Our portraits reveal your furry friends at their best!

We’re also hired by businesses and event companies to entertain on their special occasions – a launch, an important visit, a conference, an office party, a festival. Our portraits are impressively presented in card mounts which we can personalise with your company logo.

 

Dr Twist’s Photographarium is ideal for a range of periods from the 1880s to the 1940s, and for a range of styles, such as Victorian and Art Deco, to Steampunk. We can modulate our setup to adapt itself to your circumstances. We can even prepare your very own painted backdrop!

Would you like your own unique sepia portrait? You can find more details on Dr Twist’s website, follow them on Facebook, or email them at info@drtwists.com.

Want to discuss your portrait further? Call 07975 945 884 for Charles, or 07738 740 160 for Caed.

Dr Twist’s Photographarium
30-32 Marske Road
Saltburn-by-the-Sea
TS12 1QG

All images are copyright of Dr Twist’s Photographarium, except DrTwist_Festival.jpg which is copyright of Tracy Kidd. This image shows Charles Twist (left) and Caed Parker (right).

The images may only be used with our permission.

Alzheimer’s Society: My Fight Against Dementia

By on 11th October 2015in Have Your Say, Local Biz, What's New?, What's On?

Rebecca Scott, Community Fundraiser for Alzheimer’s Society, explains why the charity’s work is so crucial to the North East…

Alzheimer’s Society is the UK’s leading dementia support and research charity, here for anyone affected by any form of dementia in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. We provide information and practical and emotional support to help people live well with dementia, and we invest in world-class research with the ultimate goal of defeating it.

We also campaign to improve public understanding of dementia and the devastating impact it can have, and make sure it’s taken seriously and acted on by our governments. At Alzheimer’s Society, we believe passionately that life doesn’t end when dementia begins. We are here for anyone affected by dementia, and we do everything we can to keep people with dementia connected to their lives and the people who matter most.

There are currently over 850,000 people living with dementia in the UK, with numbers set to rise to over 1 million by 2021. In the North East alone, there are over 35,000 people living with dementia, and shockingly, more than 1,125 of these people live in the North Durham constituency alone.

My role as a Community Fundraiser is vitally important, to raise funds in the North East region to help contribute to supporting as many families living with dementia as possible, as well as continue to fund vital research and campaigns across the country, and ultimately allow Alzheimer’s Society to continue to lead the fight against dementia.

I first became involved with Alzheimer’s Society after I lost my grandmother to Alzheimer’s disease in June 2011. Seeing first-hand what devastating effects the disease had on Nana and our family really spurred me on to give some time volunteering in our local fundraising group in early 2013. From this my interest in fundraising began to grow.

 

The difference we were able to make as a team was great, and I got a real boost from hearing what our total amounted to after every event! Our first big success was raising more than £5,000 at the Chester-Le-Street Memory Walk in 2013, an event that now, in its fifth year, we hope will raise more than £25,000.

I was successfully recruited into the Community Fundraiser role in September 2013, and it’s been so rewarding to watch our efforts go from strength to strength, and see the profile of dementia rise in the North East.

Our Christmas Fair, taking place on Saturday 14th November, has been held at the local Chester-Le-Street office for the last few years, and this festive season we wanted to take it to a bigger level. With the support of the brilliant volunteers across County Durham, we will be taking over the Upper Room of Cornerstones Centre for the Community in Chester-Le-Street from 10am-2pm, with all kinds of stalls and gift ideas to get people in the Christmas spirit.

On the day, attendees can expect to enjoy our special festive raffle, with prizes from Frazer Hart, Maften Hall and Newcastle Gateshead Marriott, in addition to tombolas, Christmas gifts and decorations, and cakes made especially by our volunteers. Plus, we have special guests hosting their own stalls, including Must Have Charms, Sand Art, Gill’s Floristry, The Hat Hut, Little T’s, Usborne Books, Handcrafted Wood, and even Santa will be popping in to say hello!

 

Events like this are so important to Alzheimer’s Society and to the local community. If we can raise £1,000 from the fair, we could help pay for an experienced Dementia Support Worker to spend an hour a week for an entire year with someone affected by dementia, helping them to build their own support network, and feel less isolated.

Services like this are absolutely vital to families, and we want to continue to be there for as many people affected by dementia as possible, as well as to help raise money to reach the ultimate goal: finding a cure.

For more information about Alzheimer’s Society, visit www.alzheimers.org.uk. To find out more about the Christmas Fair, visit the Facebook page.

For fundraising queries, you can contact Rebecca at rebecca.scott@alzheimers.org.uk.

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