Tag: north east

Sound Advice From AYP Financial Planning

By on 2nd April 2016in Lifestyle

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.

AYP Financial Planning 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.

Master Glaze NE: What Makes Our Business Stand Out

By on 1st April 2016in Local Biz

Local biz Master Glaze tell us what makes their business special…

Master Glaze NE Ltd is a small family run business, established in 2001. We are proud to be FENSA registered, assuring our customers of our high standards, and as a member of the Glass And Glazing Federation offer an insurance backed guarantee with our installations.

Keeping the company small ensures that we can stay with our customers every step of the way on their journey to having new windows, doors or maybe a conservatory. We specialise in traditional sliding sash windows, and also offer a totally unique composite bespoke design service if your looking for the wow factor at the entrance to you home, or something a little more traditional we have a huge range of door and window designs to choose from in a fantastic rainbow of colours.

We can help with planning and design where required to take some of the leg work and pressure from our customers. We recycle all of our waste products and so are working towards a greener environment.

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We also work closely with landlord and letting agency’s, offering a repair and remedial service. So everything from a failed/misted unit to a broken lock.

We use all local suppliers and can offer our customers a hands on visit to our showroom in Birtley where they can see the quality and range of products available.

We offer genuine quotes and great prices for the highest quality products we use Duraflex diamond plus profile is a market leader.

We do not employ salesmen so no hard sell from us either.

If you would like some advice or for one of us to pop out and see you then just TEXT windows and we will call you back or call on  Graham 07947804983 /  Dawn 07904501431 / 01207 231481.

Or email us on masterglazene@gmail.com and we will get right back to you.

Canny Beds Celebrate Newly Opened Team Valley Store

By on 31st March 2016in Local Biz

Leading North East furniture supplier Canny Beds are celebrating the opening of their brand new store…

We all know how difficult it can be to find good quality furniture and beds at prices you can afford, which is why Canny Beds & Furniture believe they have brought together the best possible furniture at down to earth prices.

Whether it is the bedroom, dining room or living room you’re looking to add beautiful furniture to, you can rest assured that you’ll find it here for the best price online.

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Canny Beds’ brand new store is now open in Team Valley, which means you can choose between that or the Chester-le-Street store to pop in and find your new furniture. Want to check availability beforehand? Call 0191 410 9994 to chat to one of their staff in advance.

Testimonials:

“Seamless ordering and delivery. Bed of good quality and assembled easily. Great price.”

“Brilliant communication, bought bed for my 3 year old and it is excellent quality and very easy to assemble. All round excellent product for price.”

“Speedy delivery and the cheapest I found the bed anywhere!”

“Brilliant. Lovely comfy mattress. Great price and service.”

Seaham Solicitor Calls For Care Fees Cap In Budget

By on 30th March 2016in Lifestyle

A Seaham solicitor is calling on the Chancellor to end the worry about the unlimited cost of old age care by finally introducing his long promised and much delayed cap on personal care fees in the Budget…

Andrew Simpson, Lead Panel Solicitor with Seaham-based legal and financial planning specialist Ensure Inheritance, says that introducing a cap on costs for personal care would allow people to make plans for their long term care and reduce the widely held fear of being forced to sell the family home to pay for it.

He says: “A cap of £72,000 for personal care costs was to have been introduced this April (2016), but has been delayed until at least 2020. I would like to see the Chancellor stick to his earlier promise and bring in the care fees cap next month.

“With current legislation demanding that anyone owning assets valued in excess of £23,250 is required to make a 100% contribution towards the cost of their care, it’s no wonder that this a major concern for older people.

“Although this legislation also prevents people from deliberately moving their assets in order to avoid paying care fees, it is possible to protect the family home by using a Wealth Preservation Trust, provided the owner is in relatively good health and not presently intending going into long term care, and has genuine concerns about who will benefit from their assets.

“Unfortunately the lack of a care fees cap has meant that there has been little provision or take-up of insurance products for care, so establishing a trust for estate planning purposes is being increasingly used by people keen to avoid sacrificing the family home to pay for their care.”

Ensure Inheritance has produced a booklet which provides further information on Wealth Preservation Trusts. For a free copy, please contact Ensure Inheritance on tel. 0191 338 5143, via email at info@ensureinheritance.co.uk or via its website www.ensureinheritance.co.uk.

Based in Seaham in County Durham, Ensure Inheritance provides a range of legal and financial planning services which help protect financial assets to provide their clients and their loved ones with peace of mind. In addition to long term care planning and wealth preservation trusts, services include Wills and Estate planning, funeral planning, inheritance tax planning, powers of attorney, court of protection deputyships, and probate.

Film ReVue: Allegiant

By on 29th March 2016in Entertainment

Vue Cinema’s Ivan Davison shares his thoughts on the latest film release…

By Ivan Davison.

The latest and third instalment of the popular YA series Divergent, Allegiant, continues to follow the struggles of Tris (Shailene Woodley), Four (Theo James) and their group of genetically modified Divergents as they survive during a power struggle between various conflicting factions in a post apocalyptic Chicago. This film, unlike the previous sequel, quickly finds the group escaping and venturing into a new & unexplored territory, namely a scorched earth located outside the boundaries of their city, known as The Fringe.

Whilst here they encounter an advanced society, named the Bureau of Genetic Welfare, led by the enigmatic David (Jeff Daniels). The society’s goal is to end the conflicts happening in Chicago and work towards rebuilding the world to what it that once was, and they see Tris as their best chance at leading them into the new future they propose. However as Four delves deeper into the workings and methods of the Bureau, he discovers that their intentions may not be as peaceful and well intentioned as they are leading others to believe.

Meanwhile the conflict in Chicago escalates when Johanna (Octavia Spencer) forms her own faction, named the Allegiant, in order to try and usurp the previous films antagonist and Four’s tyrannical mother, Evelyn (Naomi Watts).

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The film makes the wise decision early on to show the group entering new landscapes and situations, which gives the film a much more epic scale, and allows for some stunning visuals of the Fringe (which is very reminiscent of last year’s surprise breakout hit, Mad Max:Fury Road) as well as the Bureau’s headquarters, Providence. It also leads the plot to explore more of the world in which these characters inhabit more than previous instalments did, and explores bigger themes and more complicated concepts than just the conflict happening in their home city.

The two leads develop their relationship throughout the film, continuing to build on the excellent chemistry they have with each other, and its interesting to see that relationship strained at certain times due to David’s influence on Tris and Four’s weariness of his agenda, with both actors giving convincing performances. The film’s best performance by far however, comes from Miles Teller who plays Peter, as he injects such much needed humour into the film, whilst also giving his character an dark undertone in the second and third act that will hopefully be utilised in the next film in the franchise. Jeff Daniels also shines as the film’s newest antagonist, playing David as a trustworthy father figure rather than a monster, and his knowledge of Tris’ past gives her the much needed backstory she needs, as well as creating a multi-layered character that is can be both sympathetic and menacing in equal measure.

Fans who have followed the series may find themselves a little tried by the lack of action scenes compared to the previous two films in the series, but the amount of plot development, foreshadowing and build up will certainly mean that the next and final instalment of the franchise, Ascendant (due out next June) certainly will excite and entice those awaiting the final battle between the factions, and the addition of the Bureau into the mix adds a new layer of danger and intrigue to the coming war in Chicago. Its safe to say the all out war in the finale will be something viewers will be salivating to see.

Our Allegiant review was written by Vue Cinema’s Oliver Cobb. For more information on the latest cinema releases, or to book tickets, visit www.myvue.com.

Click here to book tickets for Allegiant.

Film ReVue: 10 Cloverfield Lane

By on 29th March 2016in Entertainment

“Crazy is building your arc when the flood has already come…”

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By Oliver Cobb.

From director Dan Trachtenberg (Kickin’, Portal: No Escape) and producer J.J. Abrams (Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens) comes 10 Cloverfield Lane, a ‘spiritual successor’ to 2008’s monster-thriller Cloverfield. While you’d not be crazy to think this a direct sequel, Trachtenberg takes a very different approach to filmmaking and storytelling to bring us a movie that is both unrelated and far superior to its predecessor.

After walking out on her, presumed, fiancée, Michelle (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) finds herself in a car crash heading west of her home in New Orleans. Waking up chained in a dingy basement room, Michelle discovers that she has been rescued from a terrible apocalyptic attack on planet Earth. Her captor Howard (John Goodman), who has spent years preparing for such an event, assures her safety from the ‘poisonous’ air above in his fallout bunker. Along with Emmett (John Gallagher Jr.) the three must learn to survive in close quarters with a limited supply of food, air and water. But all is not quite as it seems, when Michelle and Emmett become leery of Howard’s suspicious past. Suspense and uncertainty ensue as we discover the truth in this gripping, claustrophobic feature.

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Perhaps the finest moments of drama and tension in this movie come from John Goodman, whose character Howard is mysterious and frightening. With almost no warning, the atmosphere of a scene can change from light-hearted and uplifting to devastatingly terrifying; Goodman’s abounding voice and eerie presence lend to the uneasiness of 10 Cloverfield Lane, and as his intentions are slowly uncovered the audience shares with his captees a sense of dread. At their first meal at the table, we experience Howard’s hot temper, which Goodman delivers effortlessly yet convincingly. Winstead and Gallagher are solid in this acting threesome. Despite its small ensemble, 10 Cloverfield Lane captures moments of genuine emotion, as is the case in a scene with Michelle and Emmett discussing his troubled past. Something Trachtenberg does so masterfully is convey the human condition, and although there are moments of cinema-screenplay-tropes they are outshined by the outstanding acting in this movie.

Stylistically, 10 Cloverfield Lane is simple yet effective. Taking place almost entirely in Howard’s safe house, cinematography is convincingly claustrophobic. Despite its homely facade, the bunker is a prison that’s prisoners would risk certain death to escape. In a scene where Michelle climbs through an air vent to fix the filtration system, we are reminded of the characters’ isolation as she looks longingly through a window to the outside world. Trachtenberg brilliantly evokes that sense of entrapment that frightens and worries his audience.

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Thinking about the tag line ‘Monsters Come in Many Forms’, it becomes clear that Trachtenberg is uninterested in the ‘real monsters’ of 2008’s Cloverfield. Conversely, the monsters in 10 Cloverfield Lane are found in the inhumanity of its characters, and in the imaginations of its audience. With a comparatively low budget of $15m, Trachtenberg shows how much he can do with so little. In fact, 10 Cloverfield Lane’s strengths are in its cinematic simplicity, making it one of the strongest releases of 2016 thus far.

Regrettably, Trachtenberg has not received the same PR limelight that producer Abrams has. Whose name is at the top of the poster? You guessed it. A little film called Star Wars may have had something to do with that.

Our 10 Cloverfield Lane review was written by Vue Cinema’s Oliver Cobb. For more information on the latest cinema releases, or to book tickets, visit www.myvue.com.

Click here to book tickets for 10 Cloverfield Lane.

Independent Distillery Finds Magic Number Of Botanicals

By on 26th March 2016in Local Biz

A new independent small batch distillery, based in the North East, has found the magic number for crafting award-winning gin…

Poetic License, which launched at the Roker Hotel, Sunderland late last year, uses 13 botanicals for its Northern Dry Gin and its Old Tom Gin – both of which won accolades in the Gin of the Year competition at the Craft Distilling Expo 2015.

The majority of the Northern Dry Gin’s botanical bill is made up of juniper berries, imported from Italy, as well as coriander seeds and cardamom pods, which are hand-crushed on site to create a greater surface area for oil extraction.

These are combined with 10 additional botanicals, including rose petals, cubeb pepper, Persian dried limes and Angelica root, to give Poetic License’s Northern Dry Gin (43.2%Vol.) a punchier flavour than many others on the market.

Similarly the brand’s Old Tom Gin (41.6%Vol.), which took first prize in its category at the Gin of the Year awards, combines majority juniper and coriander with 11 other botanicals, including hibiscus and black pepper, cassia bark, liquorice root, lime leaves and rose petals.

This gives the finished product a natural sweetness, without the need for added sugar.  After distillation the gin is rested in oak, to produce a rose gold colouring.

Luke Smith, Distiller for Poetic License, said: “While Northern Dry and Old Tom are both true to their gin style we’ve also worked hard to make them unique.

“Putting our own spin on the original idea has given the spirits far more character and we hope they will appeal to those free-thinkers, who don’t necessarily conform to the norm.”

Poetic License, so-named for its wild spirits designed to appeal to discerning drinkers, was first launched by North East entrepreneur, Mark Hird, in September 2015.

The micro-distillery, one of only a handful in the region, currently produces three core products – Northern Dry Gin, Old Tom Gin and Graceful Vodka – all of which are distilled on site and bottled by hand.

“From the very beginning I wanted Poetic License to produce something completely different to the gins and vodkas already on the market,” said Mark.

“Not only are our processes very artisanal, but we have also experimented widely with various botanicals to ensure our flavours really pack a punch.”

Poetic License products are currently being stocked in bars, hotels, restaurants and retailers across the North East, with plans to expand throughout the UK and internationally in the near future.

For more information visit www.poeticlicensedistillery.co.uk or contact Luke Smith on 0191 5103564 or luke@poeticlicensedistillery.co.uk for all trade sales enquiries.

Prom Princesses To Be Pampered At Ramside

By on 25th March 2016in Lifestyle

Prom princesses can now get pampered and preened on the lead up to their big night at a luxury North East spa…

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The £8m Spa at Ramside, at Ramside Hall Hotel near Durham is opening its doors to school leavers with three special prom packages.

The packages, which are valid from May to July, include the ultimate Prom Princess package, the Dazzling Divas package and the Mii & My Prom make-up package.

Girls opting for the Prom Princess package can expect two indulgent sessions of pampering on the countdown to the big day, with the option to add on a third session with the in-house team at Reef Hair Salon.

The initial session will include a personal consultation with Ramside’s beauty experts, body exfoliation to prepare the skin for any tanning and an express booster facial for added radiance.

On the second visit, just before – or on the day itself – the treats continue with a polish and shine for hands and feet and a brow fix by in-house cosmetics company Mii. Guests can then either opt for a make-up tutorial prior to prom or choose to have their make-up done on the day.

For the girls wanting to pamper with pals, the Dazzling Divas package includes a polish and shine for both hands and feet.

Females wanting to focus on their face can go for The Mii & My Prom package, which includes brows by Mii and either a make-up tutorial prior to prom or make-up on the day.

“With proms being such a huge highlight for school leavers, we wanted to ensure that we provided packages that will add a bit of extra sparkle to prom night,” said Jill Russell, Spa Director.

“Proms are often compared to weddings in terms of preparation, so the Spa at Ramside aims to provide a memorable experience for young girls and really make them feel special for their first ‘big day’.”

Prom packages can be booked by calling 0191 375 3088 or going to www.ramsidespa.co.uk. Book before April 30 to receive a free gift on day of arrival.

Sunderland Hilton Hotel Nears Completion

By on 24th March 2016in Local Biz

The North East’s newest hotel is nearing completion, marking a Northern landmark for one of hospitality’s biggest brands…

The Hilton Garden Inn Sunderland will open adjacent to Sunderland’s Stadium of Light later this spring.

It will be the first Hilton Garden Inn property to launch in Northern England and the only one to date between Birmingham and Glasgow.

“It is a real coup for us to be bringing the Hilton Garden Inn brand to such an exciting location just opposite the Stadium of Light,” said Kim Kelso, Hilton Garden Inn Sunderland’s General Manager.

“The new hotel will help to fill a gap in the market catering for the growing number of people coming to work and play in Sunderland.”

The Hilton Garden Inn Sunderland, created by Gateshead-based architects, Redbox Design Group, will offer high quality, good value accommodation, with two wings housing 141 en-suite guest rooms.

Each room will boast the brand’s signature bedding with fresh, white duvets and crisp linens, as well as a spacious and clutter-free work desk with an ergonomic desk chair, in-room mini fridge, individually controlled air conditioning, flat screen TV and access to complimentary WiFi.

Construction on the H-shaped property, which began in summer 2015, is being managed by professional service provider, Turner & Townsend and led by Tolent Construction Ltd.

Key contractors include Opus Building Services, based in Sunderland, Walker Modular, based in Yorkshire and Swandene Specialist Contract Interiors, based at Washington, Tyne and Wear.

“We are delighted to have been involved in this project and have worked hard to reinvest in the local economy by utilising our own locally-based workforce and regional subcontractors as much as possible,” said John Wood, Tolent Chairman.

The Hilton Garden Inn Sunderland, which is expected to launch in early May, is already accepting bookings and looking ahead to a busy first quarter.

“Once completed, we’re confident that the Hilton Garden Inn will make an ideal base for tourists exploring the sites of Sunderland and the surrounding area,” said Kim Kelso.

“It will also offer an accommodation option for those attending events at the Stadium of Light, including football, weddings, corporate events and the performance by Beyonce in June.”

For more information about the Hilton Garden Inn Sunderland please visit  www.hgisunderland.hgi.com or www.safc.com/hotel  or email enquiries@hgisunderland.com.

Classical Violinists To Join Katherine Jenkins In Sunderland Performance

By on 23rd March 2016in Entertainment

A classical music concert in the North East is adding two new strings to its bow, with the inclusion of a violin playing double act…

Vladimir and Anton Jablokov, originally from Slovakia, have been announced as special guest performers for Katherine Jenkins’ highly anticipated appearance at Herrington Country Park, Sunderland on Friday May 6.

The brothers, who now live in Ireland, hail from four generations of professional musicians and have been playing together for more their 20 years, as well as pursuing successful solo careers.

In 2014 they joined forces for Two Brothers, a hugely successful stage show highlighting their individual talents as dazzling violinists and improvisers, as well as their almost telepathic skills as sibling musicians.

An album of the same name was released in 2015, with the duo paying tribute to the great composers of the past, as well as more modern favourites from the stage and screen.

Vladimir and Anton will now join Katherine and The National Symphony Orchestra for the first in a series of summer concerts being staged in Sunderland by The Northern Sessions, with more big names still to be announced.

“During the past decade Vladimir Jablokov has established himself as one of the leading lights in Ireland’s classical music scene,” said a Northern Sessions spokesperson.

“Since joining forces with his younger brother Anton their career has gone from strength to strength and we’re absolutely delighted that they will be crossing the sea to perform in Sunderland alongside Katherine and the National Symphony Orchestra.”

Tickets for Katherine Jenkins supported by National Symphony Orchestra and Vladimir and Anton are priced at £33 each and available from www.thenorthernsessions.co.uk.

For more information please visit the website, follow @thenorthernsess on Twitter or search The Northern Sessions on Facebook.

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