Tag: north east

AYP Financial Planning: Divorce

By on 12th April 2016in Local Biz

It’s a fact of modern life that as many as 40% of all marriages in the UK end in divorce. The break-up can be a traumatic time for all concerned and brings with it the need to make financial arrangements that can have ramifications for years after the settlement is made.

There are no hard and fast rules governing how assets should be divided, although there is a broad starting point of 50 : 50. If the divorcing couple are unable to come to an agreement on the division of their financial assets, the court will decide how these should be apportioned between them, based on factors such as their age, earnings ability, property and investments and role in the relationship (e.g. breadwinner or primary carer). The needs of any children of the marriage are always considered paramount.

At AYP Financial Planning we specialise in providing advice on divorce and can offer sympathetic, patient and pragmatic support throughout the whole process. You will need help to decide on your future financial goals, review your mortgage, life insurance, savings and investment plans and you’ll need to remake your will. Post-divorce, reorganising your finances is an essential step in moving forward to a new life.

Contact AYP Financial Planning for a confidential review now. First meeting is without charge but could prove to be the best time you ever spend. We can help, contact AYP Financial Planning on 01434 607808 or email info@aypfinancial.co.uk.

Restaurant Review: Le Raaj, Sedgefield

By on 11th April 2016in Lifestyle

Andy Knowles shares his thoughts on Sedgefield’s newest premium dining experience…

For years I had been driving past the derelict Little Chef building at the round-a-bout between Sedgefield and Stockton. A road I use each evening on my way home from the office in Chester-le-Street so when I noticed the Le Raaj ‘coming soon’ signs appear I was quite excited. Not only is it great to see one of our clients expanding from Durham into my region of Teesside, its also great that a new Indian restaurant was opening as I consider myself an Indian food aficionado.

After many weeks of anticiptation I noticed the ‘we are open’ banners were on display so I made a mental note to organize a babysitter and treat my other half to a night of beer and a curry. Who said romance was dead!

As we arrived at the restaurant the grand entrance looked stunning with a pitched roof and marble pillars that stood out with mood lighting similar to something you might expect to see at an exclusive members club in Mayfair, London. We were both very impressed.

leraaj2

On entering the restaurant there was a great ambience and we were greeted by the polite manager who ushered us to a comfy seating area where we ordered some drinks and were handed the menus that were so new and the ink was must have barely dried. This was going to be a great evening I thought.

After a comfortable and relaxing wait the manager took our orders and we were showed to our table by the window. The restaurant was relatively busy considering it was a Tuesday night and the sound of chatter and music made the atmosphere really great and added to the overall ambiance.

As we caught up with each other on this very rare ‘date night’ the waiter arrived with poppadum’s and pickles and it wasn’t long before we started to break them up and work our way up to the lime pickle.

After another comfortable break it was time for the starters. My wife opted for Tikka chicken paneer that was described as marinated boneless chicken in tandoor and served with homemade Indian cheese. I opted for Onion Baji that was one of the best I’ve ever tasted.

leraaj3

For main course Kelly selected a predictable Chicken Korma and I went for one of the chefs special dishes called ‘Goan chicken’ A classic northern dish, slow cooked with aromatic spices, whole zera, garlic Goan chilli and coconut – spicy dish

We finished off with a nice coffee and complimentary chocolate before heading home after a great evening of good food and exceptional service.

So would I recommend Le Raaj in Sedgefield? Absolutely! And I hope its not too long before we get to visit again.

City Tavern Invites Couples To Tie The Knot

By on 9th April 2016in Lifestyle

A stylish city centre bar is providing a quirky alternative venue for weddings with three unique packages…

The award-winning City Tavern at Northumberland Road, Newcastle, is opening its doors to couples who want to tie the knot in a stylish city centre location.

Offering a range of wedding options is the latest initiative from the bar’s entrepreneurial owner, Dave King, who has put the historic pub back on the map since taking it over two years ago.

The weddings are aimed at smaller, more intimate ceremonies suitable for parties of between 10 and 50 guests.

Couples can choose to say “I do” in the bar’s library or even marry on the City Tavern’s terrace, followed by a reception on the mezzanine level.

And chefs at the venue have also created an imaginative range of menu options including dishes such as canapés of seared tuna and caviar tartlets and tempura king prawns, with main courses of Northumbrian beef, steamed mussels, ‘gold leaf’ flatbread and vegetable and apricot tagines.

“The City Tavern is unique as it’s a venue with a really historic feel and a sense of tradition,” said Mr King.

“It’s perfect for more intimate weddings for people who like somewhere truly original and for couples who find a city centre venue really appealing.”

The packages on offer include a range of extras for the couples, including candle-lit candelabra in the library windows, PA system for the speeches and a variety of drinks options.

The bar is also able to provide everything from personalised wedding crackers to individual cupcakes, to add a real “wow” factor to the day.

“We are an unconventional venue but we find that more and more couples like that,” said Mr King.

“And we promise anyone who does choose to get married here a really memorable day.”

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

City Tavern’s wedding packages include a range of options. Details and prices can be found at http://www.citytavern.co.uk/weddings/

Truly Tempting To Hold Budding Chocolatier Masterclass

By on 8th April 2016in In & Around

Budding chocolatier’s, both young and young at heart, can enjoy a taste bud-tingling masterclass at one of the region’s biggest food festivals this month…

Bishop Auckland Food Festival (BAFF), which boasts 150 producers and traders, returns for a weekend of foodie fun April 23 and 24, with a range of fantastic masterclasses at its heart. BAFF is a Durham County Council event and is partnered by The Auckland Castle Trust and Bishop Auckland Town Council.

Amongst those set to provide mouth-watering entertainment will be Truly Tempting Chocolate. Their indulgent classes will offer would-be chocolatiers a flavour of what it’s like to work with one of the world’s most loved ingredients. There are separate sessions for adults and children for just £5 per person.

They’ll be run by David and Wendy Sanderson from Darlington who pride themselves on using only quality Belgian chocolate for all of their products, sourcing as many natural ingredients as possible and making many of the added flavours themselves like peanut butter and crystallised ginger.

Looking ahead to another fabulous festival Wendy said: “Bishop Auckland Food Festival is a great event as it’s local to us and we have family that live nearby. Also the quality and variety of food produce is excellent and as most of the stall holders are the producers of the food that is great.

“The best thing about working with chocolate is being creative and coming up with new products and flavours as well as the tasting, it’s also great when customers try our products and the lovely reactions and feedback we get from them.”

With his masterclass planning complete David can reveal exactly what participants can expect: “We run two different chocolate workshops, one for adults and one for children.

The adults get to make two different kinds of chocolate truffles and the children make a chocolate lolly and a chocolate caterpillar.

“We have a lot of fun doing the workshops and really like educating people about good quality chocolate and how it’s made from the cocoa beans, and just having fun and getting messy with our groups as everyone loves chocolate.”

Cabinet member for culture and regeneration, Cllr Neil Foster, said: “The festival masterclasses have proven to be a real hit with foodies and this year we won’t disappoint.

“We are offering 13 different workshops across 26 sessions, ranging from chocolate and charcuterie to cheese and craft beers, but don’t forget to book your place because tickets are selling like hot cakes!”

Details on the full range of classes can be found at http://www.bishopaucklandfoodfestival.co.uk

Tickets for workshops can be purchased in person from Gala Theatre and Cinema box office in Millennium Place in Durham or by calling 03000 266600.

Sedgefield Primary School Are DJs For A Day

By on 7th April 2016in In & Around

Pupils from Sedgefield Primary School were DJs for a day as a reward for being the sustainable travel stars of the winter term…

As part of this year’s ongoing MEGA Motion campaign, supported by Durham County Council, children at schools across south Durham have been using healthier and more environmentally friendly ways of getting to school. Earning points every time they walked, scooted, cycled, car shared or took public transport, Year 6 pupils from Sedgefield Primary accrued the most between October and December 2015 and were rewarded with their own media day with Star Radio.

This saw youngsters, helped by staff from the station, research, plan and then record their very own radio show to be broadcast on Star Radio at 7pm on Easter Sunday.

The special day was the latest MEGA Motion event, which comes under the wider Local Motion campaign, promoting sustainable transport throughout south Durham. The campaign aims to encourage children to try greener and more sustainable journeys to school, making them aware of the health and environmental benefits from an early age.

Cllr Neil Foster, Cabinet member for economic regeneration, said: “MEGA Motion is a brilliant scheme that encourages our children, in a fun way, to be healthier and more environmentally friendly every day. We’d like to congratulate Sedgefield Primary School on being the first term winners this year and encourage pupils from other schools to keep up the good work and see if they can be the next!”

Further Durham City Roadworks Begin 11th April

By on 6th April 2016in In & Around

Major works on the main route through Durham City will start on Leazes Bowl roundabout in April which will result in easier journeys in the future…

Durham County Council’s £2.5m SCOOT system will see traffic lights installed on the Gilesgate and Leazes Bowl roundabouts during 2016. The installation of the traffic lights will also see improvements to pedestrian and cycle facilities on both roundabouts.

With work progressing well on Gilesgate roundabout, work on Leazes Bowl roundabout will get underway on Monday, 11 April. Although all measures are being taken to minimise the impact on traffic, motorists should be aware that disruption is likely while the work on Leazes Bowl is carried out.

As well as the installation of traffic lights, the improvements will also see the configuration of the roundabout changed with the number of lanes being increased. Paths will be widened with dropped kerbs installed to improve accessibility and two new eastbound bus stops will be installed, set back from the carriageway.

The work will be carried out in a number of phases over the next 25 weeks to help reduce the impact on people travelling through the city.

From 11 April, the first phase of work will see the eastbound approach to Leazes Bowl roundabout reduced to one lane from just past Milburngate Bridge on the A690 for the first part of the week. However the restriction will be removed during the evening rush hour – between 3.30pm and 7.00pm.

Heading westbound on the A690, there will only be one lane open on the approach to Leazes Bowl roundabout, through the works and over the roundabout for the duration of the week. However the restrictions will be removed during the morning rush hour – 7.00am to 9.30am. All lanes over Milburngate Bridge will remain open and the approach to Leazes Bowl roundabout from New Elvet will also be reduced to one lane at the junction with the roundabout throughout the week. The subway under the bridge will be closed with pedestrians diverted over Claypath.

Future phases of the work will be publicised closer to the time.

People can see full details at either www.durham.gov.uk/LeazesBowl or www.durham.gov.uk/Gilesgate which also includes changes to bus services, links to traffic cameras that people can check before setting off and tips to avoid delays. Motorists are also advised to keep up to date with the latest on social media using #LeazesBowl and #Gilesgate.

Adrian White, Durham County Council’s head of transport and contract services, said: “Once installed the SCOOT system promises to improve journeys for everyone travelling through the city in addition to improving the roundabouts to make life easier for pedestrians.

“While we’ve taken all measures to minimise disruption, we are working on the major route through Durham City so people should be aware there may be delays. We would like to thank everyone for their patience while we carry out these important improvements.”

The work at Gilesgate roundabout is expected to last until May with the work at Leazes Bowl finished by autumn 2016.

Once installed, the new traffic lights will be coordinated with those already in place on the Milburngate roundabout to better manage the flow of vehicles through the city. This will mean much more predictable travel through Durham City at peak times making journeys easier for motorists and helping bus operators to plan services.

It will also enable the council to more effectively deal with the impacts of incidents and planned events on the road network. The council hopes to start using the SCOOT system in 2017.

Olympian And Author Join Runners In Upcoming Sunderland Marathon

By on 5th April 2016in In & Around

Former Olympian Steve Cram and author Terry Deary joined runners gearing up for the Sunderland City 10k and Half Marathon…

Steve’s company, Events of the North, is organising the races on May 1, which are both sponsored by development company Siglion.

A 5K run was held on the beach at Seaburn, led by Steve and Terry, the author of the Horrible Histories books, with running clubs and members of the public training for the Sunderland races. It was one of a number of Start Me Up for Sunderland training sessions being organised around the city, in the lead up to the events.

Steve said: “The seafront section in both the half marathon and 10K routes is always very popular with runners and spectators alike, and we love being able to showcase that Sunderland is a city by the sea. “This year’s Start Me Up For Sunderland sessions have all been really successful and this was no exception, thanks in no small part to the contributions of Siglion and Terry.”

John Seager, chief executive of Siglion, said: “The training session was really well attended.

“It was a great opportunity for people who have perhaps never run at Seaburn to take advantage of the wonderful stretch of beach and seafront location.

“There was the added bonus of training with Steve Cram and Terry Deary, who is from Seaburn, and is supporting our plans to put the area back on the map as a major leisure destination for the North East.

“Sunderland is a fantastic city by the sea and we’re lucky to have a location like Seaburn, which can attract people into Sunderland.

“Our proposals for Seaburn are very much geared towards turning the area back into a great destination for local people and visitors alike.”

To find out more about the two runs visit www.sunderlandcity10k.com.

Film ReVue: Batman V Superman

By on 5th April 2016in Entertainment

Zack Snyder returns to the DC cinematic universe with Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, and the hype for its release has been exponential since its announcement in 2013. A follow up to Snyder’s Man of Steel, BVS marks to start of a yearly Justice League franchise and sets the pace for DC’s movie legacy. While elements of the movie are groundbreaking, BVS ultimately falls flat and fails to live up to the hype, but whether its successors will do the same remains to be seen.

Henry Cavill reprises his role as the righteous wonder-boy Superman and Ben Affleck takes up the mantle of the Dark Knight in a much grittier superhero movie than we’ve seen before. Also featuring Gal Godot as Wonder Woman, BVS follows up the devastating events of Man of Steel which saw the destruction of Metropolis by Kryptonian invader General Zod. Now, Superman must face the consequences of his actions and consider whether the world really needs him. Bruce Wayne, Gotham City’s eccentric playboy billionaire and secretly Batman, is among the victims of Superman’s consequential destruction, and vows to stop him at all costs. A number of DC’s well known comic book characters weigh in, including Lex Luthor (Jesse Eisenberg) who seeks to gain knowledge of the mysterious Kryptonite and assume control of Superman. Pitting him against Gotham’s brutal masked avenger, we see the two forces clash in a dramatic fight that answers once and for all: who will win.

There are some moments in BVS that live up to its great expectations. Among the highlights are Jeremy Irons’s portrayal of Alfred, Batman’s trusted accomplice and family butler. There is definitely a sense the two have been at it for a long time and their on-screen chemistry is engaging . Something Snyder’s captures very well is the inner turmoil of the Dark Knight; flashbacks of his parents’ murder haunt Bruce Wayne as he avenges the injustices of the world. Batman’s character in this film is given the perfect amount of back story, setting him up well for the films to come, and Affleck delivers a good performance, if not everyone’s cup of tea. Cavill delivers a convincing Superman, but still there is no development of his secret identity Clark Kent, who is essentially reduced to a cameo. Gal Godot’s Wonder Woman is perhaps the finest character in this film, and although her screen time isn’t considerably long she is set up nicely for the rest of the cinematic franchise. The most interesting performance, however, is in Jesse Eisenberg’s Lex Luthor. A different character entirely to the portrayals of Gene Hackman and Kevin Spacey, he is both interesting and detestable.

Unfortunately, BVS is a convoluted mash-up of characters and story lines. Scenes are short and hard to follow, and the overall pace of the movie is questionable. Half the time BVS feels like a Batman standalone; other times a Man of Steel sequel; not quite a Lex Luthor origin story, not quite a Wonder Woman standalone. There is no consistency, and while Snyder creates a distinct look he has failed deliver a coherent story. Characters often feel crammed in, and other times BVS’s main heroes seem like polar opposites to their cherished comic book depictions.

BVS:DoJ begs the question whether it was worth pitting Batman against Superman in the first place. Moments of awesomeness are few and far between; there are some, but they are scattered and easily forgotten. With a lacklustre story and confusing premise, Snyder fills DC’s cinematic void with more questions and hardly any answers. The Justice League heroes are teased in this movie but ultimately we’ll have to wait a long time to see them in action. If nothing else, Gal Godot as Wonder Woman in her upcoming standalone is shining ray of hope after a disappointing start to DC’s cinematic universe.

Cutting Crew And Blurred Vision Tour Together For First Time

By on 4th April 2016in Entertainment

On April 29th Cutting Crew’s main men, vocalist/founder Nick Van Eede and guitarist Gareth Moulton, head out with Blurred Vision as one unit to play a handful of selected UK dates…

Sometimes it takes a chance meeting, sometimes a span of years, sometimes it’s plain old synergy. Then sometimes it’s simply that old chestnut, six degrees of separation. There’s an argument for all points of view here.

When UK based Canadians Blurred Vision, founded by Iranian born brothers Sepp and Sohl Osley, met world rockers Cutting Crew it was their producer, the renowned Terry Brown, who made the introduction.

The Crew were just one of a host of luminaries that Terry had worked with. Always drawn to a cracking song – he produced the mega hit ‘(I Just) Died In Your Arms’ amongst others – he was instinctively drawn to Blurred Vision. The two groups met through him and, regardless of age gap existed, the music was on the same page.

Fast forward to 2016 and a one off merger of like minded souls and superlative musicians…

All the hits will be featured along with new material from both bands’ recent albums. The dates also mark the 30th Anniversary celebration of ‘(I Just) Died In Your Arms’. With the first leg of the tour already on sale, subsequent dates will be announced shortly.

Cutting Crew have sold millions of records world-wide and their huge radio play continues to grow. Their new album ‘Add To Favourites’ has already been called the ‘best of their career’ (Discussion magazine). Alongside his work with the band, Nick Van Eede is an in-demand song writer with credits including Pixie Lott, Mika, Marillion and Cher amongst others.

Blurred Vision have already caused quite a stir. Their version of ‘Another Brick In the Wall’ led to world-wide acclaim and a ringing endorsement from Pink Floyd founder Roger Waters. Their debut album ‘Organised Insanity’ was hailed by Team Rock UK as “one of the best of 2015” while Record Collector Magazine praised their live show as “Stadium/Arena sound with intellectual clout”.

The first leg of the tour has just been announced including the following venues: The Forum, Tunbridge Wells (April 29); Stockton ARC, Stockton On Tees (May 6) http://bit.ly/CC-BV-StocktonARC; The Fleece, Bristol (May 7) http://bit.ly/CC-BV-TheFleece; 100 Club, London (May 8) http://bit.ly/CC-BV-London;

Tickets are priced £12.50 – £15 and are on sale now from all venues.

It could be said there’s a blurring of lines between old and new, but the cutting edge stays the same. The message is clear…this is going to be one unique show!

Sunderland Bridges Hosts Fashion Weekend

By on 3rd April 2016in Lifestyle

Top trends from leading retailers will be on show this month as Sunderland’s leading shopping centre hosts its Fashion Weekend…

From April 21 – 24 the Bridges will be holding daily fashion shows, showcasing the exciting new looks being offered in a range of the centre’s shops.

Already a whole host of major names have signed up to participate including Debenhams, Miss Selfridge, New Look, Next and Primark.

Also taking part in the shows are Roman Originals, Select, Swarovksi, Topman, Topshop and TX Maxx, with the promise of others signing up to showcase their latest looks on the catwalk.

“We have a wide variety of retailers at the Bridges with clothes for both men and women and for all ages,” said Andy Bradley, Centre Director.

“The Fashion Weekend gives us a fantastic opportunity to showcase what we have to offer in what promises to be a number of fun and exciting shows.

“We are delighted to see so many of our leading retailers getting behind the event and we look forward to welcoming lots of fashion conscious visitors.”

Daytime shows will run at various times throughout the Fashion Weekend (April 21-24).

A fashion show will also feature as part of the Retail and Style Awards being held at the Bridges on Saturday April 23, in an evening which includes a black tie dinner and performances by top musical acts Lawson, Izzy Bizu and the Lake Poets.

ADVERTISERS