Tag: places to go

Lumiere 2015: Details Of Planned Road Closures

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

With descriptions ranging from breath-taking to bedazzling and world-class to wonderful, why spoil your experience of the UK’s largest light festival by worrying about how to get there?

Lumiere returns to Durham for the fourth time November 12th to 15th, and tens of thousands of people are expected to enjoy another spectacular show, which includes 28 art works.

The festival is an Artichoke production, commissioned by Durham County Council, and to help visitors make the most of the occasion, there will be:

  • Extra and extended Park and Ride facilities – £2 per person.
  • Additional bus services.
  • A live traffic and travel feed from 2pm until 11pm on each of the four days using #lumieredurham.
  • Limited Park and Stride facility at County Hall and DLI (expected to be very busy very early. We strongly advise people to use Park and Ride services).

Dave Wafer, strategic traffic manager at the council, said: “This year we have more than 6,000 Park and Ride spaces available. These include two additional temporary sites at Merryoaks on the A167 and at New College to the north of County Hall. Merryoaks alone can take 2,500 cars.

“Throughout the event we will provide a live traffic and travel feed using #lumieredurham on Facebook and Twitter. This will include information on which Park and Ride sites have spaces, specific highways or traffic issues, major road closure reminders as well as answering as many questions as we can from the public.

“We hope that together these measures will help people get the most from this fantastic event.”

More information on all the traffic and travel options, including the additional bus services and operating times for Park and Ride, can be found here www.durham.gov.uk/lumiere.

During the festival there will also be some significant road closures and restrictions.

 

LumiereRoadRestrictionsMilburngateBridgeAndNorthRoad

On Milburngate Bridge one lane will be closed eastbound for the duration of the festival. This is necessary to keep the many thousands of spectators expected as safe as possible as they cross the bridge.

Barriers will be put in place to separate pedestrians and motorists using the bridge. Unfortunately this will involve closing the eastbound carriageway overnight on Wednesday November 11th from 8pm, so they can be safely installed. The bridge will also close in an eastbound direction overnight on Sunday 15th November so the barriers can be removed before Monday morning traffic.

This year a section of the A690 – between Milburngate roundabout and North Road Roundabout (next to the viaduct) – will be closed from 4pm each day of the festival. This includes the roundabout, which will only allow access for buses. Alternative routes will be sign posted.

 

Dave Wafer again: “Unfortunately you can’t put on an event of this scale without some interruption, but we hope that by providing advance notice people will have plenty of time to plan their routes. We would strongly suggest that people who usually commute through Durham consider an alternative route during the festival.

“We are keeping road closures to a minimum and where they are needed in the interests of public safety, and to provide the best possible festival experience, we would ask for everyone’s support and patience.”

A full list of road closures is available here www.durham.gov.uk/lumiere.

Alex Nelson’s Places To Go: Bradford

By on 27th October 2015in Have Your Say, Lifestyle, Local Biz, Places To Go, Uncategorised, What's New?

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

Chester-le-Track has been promoting Bradford as a fascinating city to visit since 1999. It’s a large (population 528,155), vibrant City in West Yorkshire, reached from the north-east via Leeds on the TransPennine route.

As it happens, Bradford was chosen by Northern Rail for its annual “thank you” event for stakeholders, which I was unable to attend this year. That offered a visit to the Bradford Industrial Museum, lunch in the Abundant Life Centre, and a visit either to the National Media Museum or the Cartwright Hall Art Gallery in Lister Park.

The National Media Museum is a favourite of mine (formerly known as the National Museum of Film, Television and Photography, until the internet came along and threatened an even longer title). They wisely decided to go for National Media Museum, where I saw an excellent Robert Zemeckis film a few weeks ago called The Walk, about the tightrope walker who walked between the twin towers of the World Trade Center on 7th August 1974. It’s on general release now, but looked its best in 3D on a giant IMAX screen.

Bradford rose to prominence during the 19th century as an international centre of textile manufacture, particularly wool. It was a boomtown of the Industrial Revolution, and amongst the earliest industrialised settlements, rapidly becoming the “wool capital of the world”. The area’s access to a supply of coal, iron ore and soft water facilitated the growth of Bradford’s manufacturing base, which – as textile manufacture grew – led to an explosion in population, and was a stimulus to civic investment. Bradford has much listed Victorian architecture, including the grand Italianate City Hall.

A major London company ran a textiles conference in Bradford during mid-October, bringing students into Bradford from many colleges and universities. Chester-le-Track was pleased to provide rail tickets for the participants, which was done by getting each institution to ring us with their ticket orders, and the transactions were all billed to the London company’s credit card. Not only did they get the best fares, but it saved all the invoices flying around from the various colleges.

We’re equipped to handle travel to large conferences and events by rail, so just ask us what we can do.

 

There are two good hotels to use for an overnight stay, next to Bradford’s two rail stations. The Interchange station has the Victoria hotel opposite, while the Midland Hotel is close to the other station at Bradford Forster Square. Both stations have direct services to London, with an electric service from Bradford Forster Square (more trains are available from Leeds), and a diesel service from Bradford Interchange four times a day. Trains from Leeds, with connections from the north-east, run into both stations frequently.

As stationmaster, I spend some of my time travelling around the network, frequently accompanied by our apprentices. I also speak to clubs and societies about rail ticketing, most recently at Marton near Middlesbrough, and at Alnwick. I have a particularly good knowledge of London, which is important since 70% of our tickets on the National Rail network are issued to, from, or via London.

I can speak on several railway subjects (including history, time, my adventures in Bradford, and most particularly railway fares), and if you would like to speak to an association of any sort, you are welcome to email me.

Alex Nelson

Lumley Castle Holds Halloween Party For Little Monsters And Grown Up Ghouls

By on 27th October 2015in Entertainment, Events, Local Biz, What's New?, What's On?

One of the North East’s most haunted venues is inviting small spooks – and grown-up ghosts – to two special events this week…

Six-hundred-year-old Lumley Castle, in Chester-le-Street, is holding a children’s Hallowe’en party on Thursday 29th October, with an emphasis on fun rather than fright.

On arrival at the castle, the youngsters will be led to Lumley’s dungeon before being served a three course banquet feast in the majestic Baron’s Hall, while accompanying adults are served a glass of wine.

They will then be entertained by some of the castle’s friendlier ghosts, and a prize will be given to the child with the best fancy dress costume, with all children receiving a small memento of the event before they leave.

The following night, Friday 30th October, it will be the turn of adults, who are invited to a five course banquet, with live entertainment and a late night disco in the four-star hotel’s dungeon.

“Lumley Castle is a perfect Hallowe’en venue,” says Director of Sales and Marketing, Nola Collinson, “and we hope as many diners as possible will enter into the ‘spirit’ and come suitably – and spookily – dressed for the occasion.”

The children’s party is suitable for those aged between 5 and 12, and doors will open at 6.30pm, with the banquet served at 7pm. 

Tickets, which must be pre-booked, cost £16 per child and £29 for each accompanying adult.

The adult Hallowe’en Party on 30th October begins in the Dungeon bar at 7pm, with the banquet at 8pm, followed by a disco until 1am.

The party is for those aged over 16, and tickets cost £41.50 per person.

To book, or for further information, call 0191 389 1111, visit www.lumleycastle.com or email banquets@lumleycastle.com.

5 Half Term Events To Keep The Kids Entertained

By on 20th October 2015in Events, Lifestyle, Places To Go, What's New?, What's On?

Half term is on its way (23rd October until 2nd November), so here are five events to keep the little ones occupied…

 

Saturday 24th October
Atoms To Astrophysics, Hancock Museum
Meet scientists from Newcastle University and learn about our universe with hands on demonstrations and experiments.

Tuesday 27 October
Time Traveller Tuesday, Discovery Museum
Take a journey through the Discovery Museum that even The Doctor would be proud of! Come dressed in your favourite sci-fi costume, go on a Tardis trial, and watch some Doctor Who re-runs in the Great Hall.

Wednesday 28th October
Big Wednesday: Big Draw, Laing Art Gallery
Take inspiration from the beautiful works in the Arts & Crafts exhibition, and help to design giant wallpaper! Create your very own Arts & Crafts room in a box, and join in the Arts & Craft trail through the gallery.

Thursday 29th October
Young People’s Art Workshop, Hatton Gallery
This sketchbook workshop allows youngsters to explore their creative side. Specifically designed with teenagers in mind. Free, but booking is essential!

Sunday 1st November
Diesel Day, Stephenson Railway Museum
See both of the museum’s heritage diesel engines in action! The 08 class will be hauling the passenger service, and the 03 will be out in the yard. This is also the last day of the year that you’ll be able to drop in for heritage train rides.

A Smile For A Child: Getting In Gear For Charity Bike Ride

By on 20th October 2015in Events, Local Biz, What's New?, What's On?

Cyclists of all ages are being urged to get on their bikes and do their bit to help a County Durham charity…

Schoolchildren from Barnard Castle and members of the public are invited to take part in a special fundraising bike ride at the recently refurbished Teesdale Leisure Centre on Wednesday 21st October.

The challenge involves cycling a mile, using either a normal bicycle or one of the leisure centre’s new state-of-the-art exercise bikes, to help complete a total of 300 miles across the day to raise money for local charity A Smile for a Child.

Christopher Read, from Barnard Castle, set up the charity three years ago to provide grants for disabled and disadvantaged children so they can take part and progress in sport.

He said, “I started working part time as a sports coach and wanted to do something different and give something back to society in my spare time.

“I decided to set up the charity and run it on a voluntary basis. It has gone from strength to strength and last year we raised over £100,000.

“The cycle challenge at Teesdale Leisure Centre is a great way to support the work we do and I would encourage as many people as possible to take part.”

Pupils from Montablo, St Mary’s and Green Lane primary schools will be invited to get involved in the challenge.

Cllr Maria Plews, Cabinet member for leisure, Durham County Council, said: “We are pleased to be supporting this event, which is a great opportunity to get active while helping a really worthwhile cause.”

The event takes place between 10am and 5pm and anyone who signs up for a gym membership on the day will receive a month for free.

For more information visit www.durham.gov.uk/leisure.

Wynyard Christmas Fayre Set To Be Bigger Than Ever

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

Champagne, carols and a Continental Christmas market are coming to one of the North East’s most popular events next month…

The annual Wynyard Christmas Fayre, at Wynyard Hall, Tees Valley, has become a firm favourite with shoppers keen to snap up locally sourced food, jewellery, fashion, gifts and homeware.

It is now set to be even bigger and better than ever, with 160 stalls and an avenue of German-style, fairylit, wooden chalets lining the route from the hall itself to the Grand Marquee at the edge of the recently opened Walled Garden.

Throughout the three day event, from 20th to 22nd November, visitors will be able to enjoy mulled wine or afternoon tea in front of open, log fires in the Hall’s state rooms, while singers perform traditional Christmas carols.

Meanwhile, those looking to give themselves an early Christmas treat can head to the Hall’s Mirror Room, where therapists from the hotel’s lakeside Spa will shape and paint their nails over a glass of sparkling wine for £15.

They can then either make their way on foot through the outdoor Christmas market, or take a shuttle bus to the Grand Marquee, where there will be further stalls and the chance to explore the adjacent Walled Garden’s visitor centre and café.

There, they can choose from a wide range of food and gifts sourced from suppliers in the North East and North Yorkshire and enjoy a light meal or snack overlooking the garden.

Those wishing to walk from the Hall to the Grand Marquee and Walled Garden should wear appropriate footwear.

 

The Wynyard Christmas Fayre will take place from 10am to 5pm on Friday 20th and Saturday 21st November and from 10am to 4pm on Sunday 22nd November.

There will also be a special preview evening on Thursday 19th November between 5.30pm and 9pm for holders of advance tickets purchased from the hotel’s website.

Tickets for the Fayre cost £4 if bought in advance and £5 on the door and can be purchased by calling 01740 644811 or via www.wynyardhall.co.uk.

While entry to the visitor centre is free, there is a £5 charge for entry to the Walled Garden and bookings are now being taken for Afternoon Tea at the Hall.

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!

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.

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.

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