The Tourist

Edition 1 April 2015

‘ADE Andrews’ Nottingham’s folklore son Photo by Craig Hall

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The Tourist

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Town Tours Robin Hood Apple Watch Cycle Live Alea Gary Lineker Roomzzz The Great Food and drink festival Nottingham City Centre Events Diary Food GB Cook Book Fox and Hound Das Kino Raymond Blanc MemSaab RED BBQ The Walton Hotel The Major Oak Strictly Come dancing Dynamo / Olly Murs James Martin Paloma Faith / Imagine Dragons Nott’s Wild life trust Hamilton Pop Art Video Game Arcade Exchange Arcade Nott’s Civil War Nottingham Castle Nottm Castle Rufford Abbey folder) Wollerton Hall Newstead Abbey

The Tourist is a publication of All About Tourism: www.allabouttourism.co.uk

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Nottingham Tours Ezekial Bone Raising the Standard since 1993.

Photo by Nottingham Post

The Tourist

Ezekial Bone is the ‘Spirit of Nottingham’.

Known to many as Nottingham’s resident ghost, he has been haunting the city and shire, in one guise or another, for over 20 years. You may have glimpsed him banging his drums in Sherwood Forest, flying the flag of Nottingham on the streets of our town or possibly summoning the muse in some of the City’s fine watering holes.

Ezekial Bone (the alter-ego of historian, writer, educator and actor Ade Andrews) unearths the dry bones of history and fleshes out his skeletons of historical fact, to bring history to life with each performance.

Nottingham Robin Hood Town Tour was the first show to separate the threads of fact from fiction in the Robin Hood legend in an exciting theatrical presentation which is accessible to everyone. This credible Robin Hood entertains people of all ages with quality interactive storytelling, to paint a picture of the true nature of Nottingham’s folklore son, and is a medium to understand and celebrate Nottingham from medieval times through to the twenty-first century.

Robin Hood Town Tour has become one of Nottingham’s leading tourist attractions.

Travellers from all over the world have been educated and entertained on this unique tour and many have supped ales with Robin Hood afterwards at Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem. What an experience in Nottingham and what a story to take home. Robin Hood lives!

‘After years of waiting, the residents of Nottingham finally have a tourist attraction to be proud of. Ade Andrews brings the history of Nottingham and the legend of Robin Hood alive in a vibrant tour of the city. We thank goodness someone is finally giving visitors the experience they deserve.’ Rehannah Mian BBC TV Current Affairs 2013

Edition 1 April 2015

Magic Lantern Backstage Tour of the Theatre Royal shows the public behind the scenes of this important C.J. Phipps theatre, into areas which are hidden from view. The audience step back in time and are transported from the Opening Night in 1865 to the modern world of entertainment of today in the Royal Concert Hall. You too, can stand on the very same stage that stars of the theatrical world have graced – people like Sir John Geilgud, Sir Laurence Olivier and Ken Dodd!

As you see behind the scenes, you learn how the magic is brought to life and all about the great Victorian architects who built Nottingham’s magnificent monument to the arts. Ade has just written the souvenir brochure for the 150th Anniversary of the Theatre Royal this year, so watch the Press for the upcoming anniversary celebrations.

Nottingham Ghost Guts & Gore Tour looks at the darker side of old Nottingham town. Now in its 13th year, Mr Bone has been regaling people with grisly tales that rise up from the cobbled gas-lit streets of the Lace Market. Hear gruesome tales of murder! Be part of the baying crowd and enjoy the last public execution on the steps of the County Gaol! Grave-robbing in St Mary’s churchyard?! It all sounds too good to be true... But it is true and it just goes to show that the truth is stranger than fiction.

Don’t tell the kids this, but each story is set in the socio-economic context of the times so they are being roundly educated at the same time, about Victorian Nottingham. So, why not join Mr Bone for some horrible history on his terrible truth trail and watch your kids squirm in the Guts & Gore of old Nottingham town?

Great family fun.

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In recognition of Nottingham’s Unesco bid to become City of Literature, 2015 will see more added Gore. Bone’s original Byron sketch is being re-vamped to include Byron’s role as the creator and embodiment of the modern Vampire.

This gothic experience will be delivered in the atmospheric surroundings of St Mary’s Church cemetery. A must for any aspiring Vampire hunters!

2015 will be yet another exciting year for Nottingham with all the cultural activities taking place. You’ll be seeing Ezekial Bone in one guise or another, raising the standard on the streets and, as Ambassador for Experience Nottinghamshire and Visit England, he’ll also be flying the flag of Nottingham on the international stage.

As well as public ‘Turn Up tours, Ezekial Bone is available for private bespoke events. Having worked with English Heritage, National Trust, Sherwood Forest Trust and the ‘Gifted and Talented’ scheme in Notts schools, Ade Andrews specialises in cultural regeneration through Heritage / Community projects .

The originator of Nottingham’s character-led street theatre, Ade has been described as a ‘One man tourism industry’ (Evening Post) and 2014 saw him win Bronze in VisitEngland’s ‘Tourism Experience of the Year’ category. The Robin Hood Town Tour has consistently ‘Excellent’ reviews on TripAdvisor. www.ezekialbone.com @EzekialBone www.FaceBook.com/Ezekial.Bone

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Edition 1 April 2015

‘The Apple of my I’ Developers Start Designing Apps for Apple Watch WatchKit Software Tools Now Available to Developers

Apple announce the availability of WatchKit, software that gives developers a set of tools to easily create experiences designed specifically for Apple Watch— Apple’s most personal device ever.

Apple has the world’s most vibrant and innovative developer community, and now these developers can begin developing WatchKit apps before Apple Watch becomes available. Developers can create innovative WatchKit apps, actionable notifications and Glances, for timely information accessible by an easy, quick look at Apple Watch.

“Apple Watch is our most personal device ever, and WatchKit provides the incredible iOS developer community with the tools they need to create exciting new experiences right on your wrist,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing.

“With the iOS 8.2 beta SDK, developers can now start using WatchKit to create breakthrough new apps, Glances and actionable notifications designed for the innovative Apple Watch interface and work with new technologies such as Force Touch, Digital Crown and Taptic Engine.”

Developers can create notifications that allow users to take action or respond right from their wrist such as turning the lights off after they’ve left the house, quickly accessing flight details at the airport, and rerouting their transit when a train or bus is late. Developers can incorporate Glances, which quickly show users information they care about most, such as the latest news and sports scores, alarm system status or the next step of a favourite recipe.

Developers who have previewed the WatchKit tools and APIs are eager to start building on the personal and immediate experiences Apple Watch will offer users*.

“Fans crave real-time and personal information, and the ESPN app for

Apple Watch gives us the ability to deliver live scores and information for their favorite teams,” said John Kosner, executive vice president of Digital and Print Media, ESPN. “Glances provide fans with a snapshot of live games, and if there is no game taking place, they’ll get valuable game-time information or the final box score. With actionable notifications, the experience becomes even more personal, as fans receive alerts on score changes, news and more.”

“Apple Watch allows us to make the Instagram experience even more intimate and in the moment,” says Kevin Systrom, co-founder and CEO of Instagram. “With actionable notifications you can see and instantly like a photo or react with an emoji. The Instagram news and watch list allows you to see your friends’ latest photos, follow new accounts and get a realtime view of your likes and comments.”

“The American Airlines app on Apple Watch reminds you when it’s time to head to the airport via pre-trip notifications, and provides updates for gate changes, connecting gate info upon arrival, and will notify you when boarding begins if you’re not at the gate yet,” said John Gustafson, American Airlines vice president of Digital. “Travelers can also ask ‘Where am I?’ in-flight and get real-time location information at 30,000 ft.”

The iOS 8.2 SDK beta including WatchKit is available immediately for iOS Developer Program members at developer.apple.com/ watchkit. The WatchKit site includes programming guides, human interface guidelines, templates and more. Starting

later next year, developers will be able to create fully native apps for Apple Watch. * App features are subject to change and may not be available in all regions or all languages. Apple Watch requires iPhone 5 or later.

Apple designs Macs, the best personal computers in the world, along with OS X, iLife, iWork and professional software.

Apple leads the digital music revolution with its iPods and iTunes online store.

Apple has reinvented the mobile phone with its revolutionary iPhone and App Store, and is defining the future of mobile media and computing devices with iPad.

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Edition 1 April 2015

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Entries are now officially open for the Nottingham City Ride which takes place on Saturday 20th June 2015 as part of Cycle Live Nottingham.

The family friendly rides, which consist of a choice of 2.5, 7.5 or 10.5 mile routes, start and finish at Nottingham’s Victoria Embankment and are all predominantly off road, enabling young children and people who are new to cycling to be able to take part.

Chris Simon, Event Director of Cycle Live Nottingham said: “We are delighted to announce that the Nottingham City Ride is returning in 2015. This event has been really well received since we first introduced it in 2012 with a 100% increase in participant numbers last year.

“The flexible nature of the event, with families able to choose their start time and the distance best suited to them means that taking part can fit around existing commitments. It also means that parents can ride with their children on the Saturday before taking part in the Great Notts Bike Ride on the Sunday if they wish.”

Early bird entries for the Nottingham City Ride cost £5 for adults and £1 for children. All riders will receive an event goody bag on return to the event village on Nottingham’s Victoria Embankment.

After finishing their ride, riders will also be able to enjoy the host of activities, entertainment and concessions which form part of the event village all weekend. The weekend culminates with the Great Notts Bike Ride on Sunday 21st June and entries are open for the 25, 50 and 100 mile rides.

For more information on Cycle Live Nottingham or to enter any of the rides, please visit www.cyclelivenottingham.co.uk.

British Number One, Heather Watson, to play in Aegon Open Nottingham.

British No.1 Heather Watson has confirmed she will kick off her 2015 grass court season at the brand new WTA International in Nottingham.

A world class player field from the WTA Tour will join Watson at the Aegon Open Nottingham which takes place between 8-14 June.

Watson has enjoyed a fantastic year so far, winning the Hobart International in Australia, achieving a career high ranking of 38 and leading the Aegon GB Fed Cup Team to a play-off in the Euro/Africa Zone Group l.

Her win in Hobart made her the first British woman to win two WTA Tour titles since Anne Hobbs in 1985.

Tickets now on sale.

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Edition 1 April 2015

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Edition 1 April 2015

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SALT & LINEKER Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker is one of England’s greatest ever footballers, not to mention an accomplished broadcaster. And you might have noticed him in a few adverts for crisps over the years. In an exclusive chat he talks about balancing the responsibilities of being flavour of the month.

Picture the scene: you’ve had a mishap and are laying in hospital with nothing for company but a bowl of fruit and some tatty magazines. But in the bed next to you is none other than Gary Lineker!

No, the medication isn’t having strange side-effects – it’s the new ad for Walkers crisps… a brilliant new marketing campaign that once again sets Gary apart from his peers. And this is him all over - a career in and around the six-yard box in which he played with a seemingly permanent smile on his face; an apparent seamless transition into someone in front of the camera who could mix effortless professionalism with the ‘boy next door’ image; and an unrelenting passion for prawn cocktail.

Indeed, the wacky Walkers crisps commercials have become so synonymous with Lineker since he became the face of the brand in 1995 that Gary even introduces himself on Twitter account as: “Once kicked a ball about.

Now talk about kicking a ball about. Still flogging spuds.”

And still flogging spuds he is. This latest campaign promotes Walkers MixUps - a classic, crunchy combo of the brands we all love. “I think it’s a great idea to have all of those family favourites in one bag including Monster Munch, Doritos, Wotsits and French Fries. It’ll certainly put an end to the arguments in every family’s household.”

Mention to Lineker that it has been 20 years since his first Walkers advert and he jokes: “That’s great I’ve lasted so long, but in another sense it’s quite depressing as it gives an indication of just how old I am! I guess it’s a part of me now, and I’ve been delighted to be involved with Walkers, although it was never meant to last this long!

“Indeed, the first ad back in 1995 was meant to be a complete one-off, but it was so popular we did another and then another. I couldn’t possibly envisage the longevity the campaign has had, but it’s great to be part of something that has proved popular and successful.”

Lineker, the second highest international goalscorer in England’s history with 48 goals, is often referred to as ‘Leicester’s favourite son’, and it was that connection that first initiated the longstanding association, with Walkers also emerging from the Midlands city. The first advert all those years ago played on Lineker returning home after his football career had finished following an injury-plagued spell in Japan. Does he feel increased loyalty to Walkers because it’s a local Leicester company?

“Well certainly right at the start, in the first advert I was going back, wandering around Leicester and then, at the end, nicking the kid’s crisps, which worked so well. And a lot of the factories are still in Leicester, although it’s now a global brand.”

Lineker certainly balances the demands of his commercial and professional work.

“I could dress up either job as being some hugely important and taxing demand on my time, but the truth is I love both. I’m extremely lucky in what I do and football is such a fast evolving sport that there’s always another story coming round.

“People criticise football because of the money it generates and the wealth that it now holds within its grasp. But when I was playing in the 1980s it was criticism of an altogether different kind – it was all hooliganism, poor facilities and crumbling grounds. You have to ask if it’s really such a bad place now compared to what it was.”

Lineker, who has also welcomed Gazza, Chris Waddle, Stuart Pearce and Gareth Southgate into the Walkers stable, not to mention music icon Lionel Ritchie, is certainly set to be the face of the brand going forward. After all, he even had a flavour named after him!

“Yes the pack was called Salt and Lineker for a while – that was fantastic.

When they changed the name back to salt ‘n’ vinegar it was obviously hugely disappointing! Despite that though, it’s still my favourite flavour!”

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Edition 1 April 2015

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The Great Food & Drink Festival at Nottingham Castle This coming May, 23rd-25th, Nottingham Castle opens its door to The Great Food and Drink Festival. With over 100 stalls and an abundance of activities, there is sure to be something for everyone at the event; from hot food and drink to real ale bars, beer and wine tasting, kid’s cookery classes, outdoor entertainment and live music, what’s not to like?

The Great Food and Drink Festival prides itself on getting the best local produce from around Nottinghamshire on display and for all to try. Once you’ve walked around the beautiful grounds of Nottingham Castle, you’ll be able to relax at the bar, with plenty of seating it’s a prime opportunity to take in the sites Nottingham has to offer.

There will also be cookery demonstrations by none other than guest celebrity chef, Simon Rimmer.

He’ll be taking you through not one, not two but three demos teaching

you how to cook some mouthwatering dishes that you can make in the comfort of your own home. The Sunday Brunch co-host has a real passion for food and your taste buds are sure to be tingling as he makes these dishes in front of your very eyes.

As if that wasn’t enough, there are also stalls selling home and kitchen goods and an array of homemade crafts available to you. Face painting, pizza and bread making and a whole host of rides are available for the children that attend the event, so if a cookery demo isn’t there thing, they will not be short of entertainment.

Don’t miss out and make sure you get your tickets. £7 advance tickets, £8 on the door, £5 concessions, Under 10s are free with paying adult. This includes full access to event plus the castles grounds, gardens, museum and art gallery.

Tickets are available at http://test. greatfoodanddrinkfestivals. co.uk/?page_id=27

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Edition 1 April 2015

Whats on in Nottingham March will see the opening of the UK’s new National Videogame Arcade in Hockley. The new centre will be run by GameCity, and will have five floors of space for exhibitions and activities in the world’s first and only cultural centre for gaming.

Kids break up for Easter in Nottingham from the 3rd to the 15th April, and there’s plenty going on to entertain the kids at heritage sites, and especially Wollaton Hall where there will be crafting and a bunny trail, plus a craft fair too!

The annual St Georges day parade comes to the city on Thursday 23 April, with a chance to see knights on horseback and meet Robin Hood.

The 1940s knees up returns on 4 May with a special celebration to mark the 70th anniversary of VE day. Join us for a nostalgic trip down memory lane exploring the atmosphere of life on the home and military fronts during the 1940s.

Join in on the 9th of May as the University of Nottingham throws open its doors to the local community for Mayfest – an annual free event packed full of fun and things to do and learn about. Find out more at Nottingham.ac.uk/mayfest The Wheee festival comes to Nottingham Lakeside Arts at the end of May, with a fun-filled week of family events and interactive activities including performers from around the world. See the full programme at lakesidearts.org. uk.

Foodies should head to Nottingham Castle for the ‘Great Food and Drink Festival’ which takes place on from the 23rd to the 25th of May. Chefs including Simon Rimmer and Adam Simmonds will demonstrate their techniques, and there’s also live music and delicious food and drink on offer.

No Tomorrow festival returns to Wollaton Park for the weekend of the 6th and 7th of June. Aimed at showcasing fresh new music talents, last year’s line-up featured London Grammer and Sam Smith. Look out for announcements about this year’s line up in the next few months.

June will be an exciting month for Nottingham as top-flight tennis comes to the city. You’ll be able to watch

world class tennis players warm up for Wimbledon at the women’s tennis association tournament from the 8th to the 14th June, followed by the men’s ATP 250 tournament from the 22nd to the 28th June at Nottingham Tennis Centre.

On the 27th and 28th of June, Armed Forces Weekend at Wollaton Park will once again be a celebration and remembrance to honour our Armed Forces past and present - with music and entertainment for the whole family to enjoy.

The biggest music event in Nottingham’s event calendar, Splendour festival returns on the 18th July with another great family day out at Wollaton Park.

This year there’s an expanded kids area including funfair and circus performers as well as some great acts. Citycard holders can get a discounted ticket for just £34 for an adult and children ten and under go free!

As the kids break up in July, the Old Market Square will be transformed into an urban beach as the Nottingham Beach returns to the city with rides, a real sandy beach, a paddling pool and a beach bar.

To find out more about any of the events mentioned, plus many more, visit www. nottinghamcity.gov.uk/whatson.

The Tourist

Edition 1 April 2015

Too many Cooks raise money for charity Local Nottingham city based marketing and Events Company are proud developers of a nationwide online charity cook book.

The hunt has been on to find 200 different and diverse dishes from the 10 regions of Great Britain. The book will be a celebration of this diversified nation, there will be a real variety of Chefs, Styles and foods to thrill any pallet.

This was and huge but very exciting project for all about Tourism in Nottingham to take on said company Director Gary Allen who shares his inspirations and hopes for the Book ‘We came up with the concept 3 years ago and after careful research the project was born. We wanted to combine our love of food and some of the amazing chefs and producers we have come across through the years of working in the industry. We also wanted to do something for charity so all of the book sales will be going to Macmillian Cancer support and Hospitality Action.”

There are 20 recipes from each of the 10 areas of the Great British isles which include England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to name a few, featuring restaurants and Chefs with a dish well worth sharing from Beetroot Cheesecake to Punjabi Salmon.

An essential ethos for the book was not purely to feature AA Rosette or Michelin Star Restaurants and Chefs but to cover a range of different venues that are passionate about food and use innovative and inspiring recipes with local produce.

That being said the book has been joined by some real names in the business, Rick Stein, Michael Caines and Nigella Lawson to name but a few. Adam Symonds, the books ambassador and Great British Menu winner 2014 is a huge supporter of the book, ‘When the guys first came to me a few years ago I knew nothing of this magnitude had been done before and was instantly hooked on the concept, the support from the Chef world has been truly amazing! ’ The book features 50 starters, 100 mains and 50 desserts along with 10 in depth features of unique and traditional trades in the UK. The areas cover Butchery, Fishmongers, Baking, Home Growing, Wine and Beer to name a few, this will be a rare insight into how these traditional trades work in a modern world.

The book is a food journey taking readers through a culinary array of techniques, flavours and origins, sharing much more than your average cook book by using the freedom of the online platform.

The book is available from all the main on-line shopping sites. Or simply visit the website www. thegreatbritishcookbook.co.uk or follow them on Twitter @gbcookbook

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BIOGRAPHY profile chefs. He is Michael Caines is one of Britain’s highest ious 2-star Michelin country based at Gidleigh Park, the prestig or at Chagford, Devon.

Dartmo of edge the on hotel house Brownsword, Michael In partnership with hotelier Andrew of creating a group and Andrew are currently in the process throughout the United hotels ABode e of individual boutiqu l Caines Restaurant, Kingdom which will each have a Michae il Bar, MC Café Bar, MC Michael Caines Champagne and Cockta the first ABode, is Exeter, Boutique and/or MC Tavern. ABode in the Royal Clarence on Exeter wn hometo l’s Michae in fittingly ABodes in Glasgow, further are the city’s Cathedral Yard. There r and London.

Canterbury Manchester and Cheste picking fresh vegetables Michael’s passion for food began with his Mother in the kitchen. from his Father’s garden and helping celebration of West Country His modern European cuisine is a produce from land and sea.

8 large scallops Chopped chives Micro herbs Olive oil Lemon juice

www.michaelcaines

PEA PUREE 500gr frozen peas 50gr butter Salt & pepper SHALLOT & BACON VELOUTE 250gr shallots, sliced 300gr fish stock 200gr smoked bacon trimmings

Executive Chef, Gidleigh Park

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WITH PEA PUREE AND A SHALLOT

PREPARATION

INGREDIENTS

NES MICHAEL CAI.com

lops Pan-fried Brixham scal N VELOUTE

50gr cream 250gr milk 70gr butter 1 bay leaf 1 sprig of thyme (large) Salt and pepper

Pre-heat the oven to 200°C/ gas 6 . Place First, make the shallot and bacon veloute together in the bacon trimmings and the milk ely, Separat boil. the a saucepan and bring to a pinch of sweat the shallots with butter and rent. Then salt and cook until soft and transpa e to add the thyme and bay leaf and continu add the Finally s. minute 2 sweat for a further with fish stock, cream and the infused milk boil and the bacon trimming and bring to the remove simmer for 20 minutes. After this time, leaf and bay and thyme gs, trimmin the bacon r and blende a pour the liquid and shallots into through a blend until very smooth, then pass d. fine sieve. Set aside until require water until Next, cook the peas in boiling salted a skimming soft, remove from the water using cool, Once water. iced spoon and refresh in to strain off the water and leave the peas a food into 400gr Place while. drain for a little pass the processor and blend to a purée then skins outer the remove to sieve a purée through Warm and and place the purée into a sauce pan.

AND SMOKED BACO

salt mix in the butter then season with the and pepper. Just before serving add remaining peas. salt and with Now cook the scallops. Season oil in a pepper on both sides, heat some olive into the s scallop the non stick pan and place for 2 hot oil. Place into the pre-heated oven e to minutes and then flip over and continu careful not cook for a further 2 minutes, being and oven the from remove to over cook. Now squeeze lemon juice over the fish. and salt Gently warm the veloute, season with using a pepper and add a knob of butter then Place effect. hand blender create a cappuccino place the a tier of pea purée onto a plate and froth from scallops onto the purée. Spoon the some the sauce around the fish, dress with e! micro herbs and serve. Bon appetit

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TONY SINGH

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Edition 1 April 2015

ALL ABOUT FOX The phrase ‘hidden gem’ is probably a little over-used these days and frequently employed to describe an impossible to locate cafe sitting in a maze of Moroccan souks or halfway down a Cornish cliff.

But Nottinghamshire has it’s own fabulous, if hard to find venues down less travelled roads and one such jewel is The Fox & Hounds at the wonderfully named Blidworth Bottoms.

Nestling in the North Notts countryside this quaint 18th century farmhouse has all the comfort and style you want from a Great British pub without all the pretence that none of us really need. Although only 5 minutes from Newstead Abbey and surprisingly close to Nottingham it’s not somewhere you’d normally drive past, the once thriving village is now just a few houses surrounded by rolling fields, woods and trails.

David Cole has run the pub for 15 years ‘we get lots of walkers and people that have looked us up but we’re not exactly on the way to the shops, we’re happy like that, people come and see us again because they like it here. We like to do things properly but not be overbearing and we’re also very proud of our award winning flowers in the garden’.

He’s being modest of course, they do have a small beer garden at the front, but the rather larger garden to the rear would be better described as a ‘beer field’, space to relax is obviously not an issue on warm days.

The warm welcome is exactly as you’d expect from a family run pub, English ales adorn the bar and the food constantly receives rave reviews. Diane looks after the kitchen and the food has a home-cooked style with generous pubsize plates ‘we’ve often gone to pubs where the food is fantastic but you leave

feeling a bit unfulfilled, then some where there’s just too much filling out or just too much full stop. It’s actually not that complicated to cook decent sized dishes of quality food.

And in a world of soulless supermarket deliveries, being ‘stuck’ in the middle of the countryside has its advantages.

The menu is full of pies, steaks and vegetables from surrounding farmers and growers, some of them are regulars at the bar, and the main ingredient of the hugely popular fish & chips is delivered fresh from the dock in Grimsby.

‘Chef loves his daily specials and we have a great tapas menu for the summer but people keep coming back to the old favourites. We’re a traditional country pub with a great atmosphere and a rubbish phone signal’ Perfect Fox and Hound Blidworth foxblidworth.co.uk

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Das Kino Oscar & Rosie’s is an independent concession restaurant currently in its second incarnation as a resident popup up at the Das Kino ping pong bar on Fletcher Gate (about which, more later).

Originally the part time labour of love of a disenfranchised legal aid lawyer, O&R’s first location was in the Picnic Basket sandwich shop by the train station where it operated on weekend evenings.

Olly Hunter, the man behind Oscar & Rosie’s is clear as to his mission. “My girlfriend ordered us delivery pizza from a well-known chain. A large pepperoni was £16 which seemed a bit much so I ordered a medium at £12 and had high hopes for it at that price point. On arrival I opened the box, paused for a moment, looked up and said ‘I’m going to open a pizza restaurant’. I started to notice that everyone seemed to love pizza but moan about what was available, and at this point I knew I was on to something”.

Their unique brand of offbeat toppings and re-spun classics, attention to detail and preference for award winning, free range and locally sourced produce, quickly gained them cult like status (as well as critical acclaim) amongst the foodies of Nottingham. Before long they attracted the attention of the Das Kino developers and agreed a residency at the new venue.

Das Kino sits in a major renovation of a landmark building at the heart of Lace Market. Inspired by the artful derelict ruins of Berlin, the interior is a work of art in its own right. Industrial chic is set off against dilapidated German movie posters and vintage Parisian furniture, with a 3,000 sq. ft. ping pong hall at the rear end. A dizzying array of German draft beers, obscure international craft ales and flamboyant cocktails keep the clientele well watered.

Since moving in O&R have expanded their menu from their signature Famous 14” pizzas (Olly is at pains to tell us that they are at least 14 inches but often come out over 15 inches) to include a daily lunch menu and the most infamous of all Nottingham pizzas….The Metre. “We wanted to offer an oversized party pizza for our swanky new location and were inspired by ‘Il Metro’, an Italian classic” says Olly. “Truth be told, in the madness of the kitchen build and the opening, we didn’t make our first one until the 2nd day we were open! We had a pretty good theory as to how we would do it but didn’t know if it would work until we’d actually made one. There was a lot of hi fiving in the kitchen as it went out.

The table who ordered it will never know what a close run thing it was.”

Nottingham has benefitted from a wave of exciting restaurant and bar openings over the last 18 months and Oscar & Rosie’s at Das Kino has made a notable contribution to this mini-revolution.

Where else can you get a cocktail, a metre of pizza and a game of ping pong in such stylish surroundings? www.oscarandrosies.com @oscarandrosies

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Brilliantly Blanc In 1972, Frenchman Raymond Blanc moved to England, finding work as a waiter at the Rose Revived restaurant in Oxfordshire. When one day he was forced into the kitchen by a chef taken ill, Blanc’s career suddenly changed direction. Since then, the self-trained chef has earned himself Michelin stars, opened his own restaurants, and established The Raymond Blanc Cookery School. Now the chef explains how this came to be, and what British food means to him.

The Tourist

Q: What was British food like when you first moved to the UK? Thirty years ago, England was a very different place. Food was class-led and luxury was exclusive. The British separated food from everything. It had become a mere commodity, which was produced intensively, heavily processed, heavily branded and marketed. For the majority, food was devalued, it was a fuel to feed the body and the cheaper the better.

Q: So what’s changed?

There’s a quiet revolution going on.

People are starting to understand again that food connects with everything with your environment, society, farm, home, family values, the health of the nation. It is truly exciting to see people start to respect food, enjoy food and give it value.

Q: As a self-taught chef, was food and cooking always a passion?

I became a chef at the age of twentyseven. I had never worked in a professional kitchen – just a few months in a pub. At the beginning, I was never great company when it came to eating with friends. In fact, in the early days – all the time, my mind was constantly preoccupied with ideas for recipes, or preoccupied by the scents and tastes of ingredients.

Q: Did this lack of training work to an advantage?

As I was untrained I had so much to catch up with and a whole world of food to discover. How could I do that dish? What if I did this to that? I was obsessed – in trying to conquer and catch up as well as to go further and discover new tastes and experiences when it came to cooking and eating. Sometimes it was hard work and sometimes the ideas just came out of the blue – I think that combination is important.

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Q: What is it that makes your restaurant Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons so special?

Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons is the most dynamic, creative place and the people who work here have ownership.

Yes, it is my vision, but I work very hard for them to own it as much as I do – emotionally, aesthetically, intellectually, and business-wise.

I try to teach young people to open up to new ideas and be curious. I want them to ask thousands of questions. Everything is based on knowledge – our people are trained to know anything you may ask them. They have to understand the vision, share it, own it and pass it on.

Q: Is there a consistent theme to what you are trying to achieve in a ‘Raymond Blanc’ restaurant?

When I was creating Belmond Le Manoir, it was and still is a labour of love. My vision was actually to create a place with republican values. I come from a working class background and I wanted it to have an inclusive luxury. The first thing I did was to kill table protocol.

Q: What did that involve?

I told the young commis to engage with the guests, then I started to remove jackets and ties - people were dressed up to the hilt and I did not want them to be uncomfortable. We were the first to have a full a la carte menu for vegetarian and vegan guests. We also actively welcomed children. You have no idea what a battle that was..!

Q: What makes a ‘restaurant’?

A restaurant used to be an appendage with no connections. Now a restaurant is part of society as important as any university, museum or cinema. It brings people together. Because we have so little time for family life, restaurants will increasingly become a way to enjoy time together and celebrate. All this is the basis of our success and it has had huge commercial consequences. So, the look and feel of Le Manoir – is welcoming and inclusive in all ways.

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MemSaab Restaurant is Nottingham’s premier Fine Dining Indian Restaurant.

The 200 seater restaurant with it’s contemporary design and furnishing has been established since 2002.

Owner, Amita Sawhney’s passion for perfection in terms of cuisine, hospitality and ambience has been rewarded by the recognition of many food bodies and food critics. Here, the myth of ‘Curry and Lager’ has been dispelled and Indian food is truly ‘Fine dining’. Amongst the traditional dishes that can be seen on the Menu, can be seen Steamed Monkfish, Tandoori Ostrich, Venison Infused Kebab and Pan Fried Seabass!

In March 2015, the supreme accolade was given by the AA - Two Rosettes for Culinary Excellence! This is the first time such recognition has been given to an Indian Restaurant in the East Midlands.

MemSaab has been named the British Curry Awards 2014 Best Restaurant in the Midlands – nicknamed a ‘Curry Oscar’ by The Prime Minister, David Cameron! This is the first time in the Awards’ history, that it has been bestowed upon a restaurant in Nottingham.

The Observer Food Monthly Awards has named MemSaab as Best Restaurant Runner Up 2001, 2014, 2013 and 2014, alongside Nottingham’s only Michelin Star Chef, Sat Bains – great company to be with!

It’s no wonder that the restaurant’s Award Winning Chefs are often seen serving culinary delights for distinguished patrons of the restaurant. These include politicians, celebrities and eminent businessmen and women including the Australian Prime Minister, Chris Tarrant, Sir Ian Botham, Geoffrey Boycott OBE, Jayne Torville OBE and Christopher Dean OBE! MemSaab hosts many unique Events throughout the year including Champagne and Food Pairing Evenings (the only ones held in the Country), Wine and Food pairing Evenings, Charity evenings and a Diwali Festival Week serving Indian Street Food!

Twice Michelin Star Chef, Atul Kochhar from Benares, Mayfair, was the Guest of Honour at the last Charity Event. Atul performed live cooking, oversaw the menu and took time to do a book signing. He helped Amita raise over £20,000 in one evening for some great causes: Great Ormond Street Hospital, Kenyan Chidren’s Centre and the Heart of Experian Charity Fund.

The total raised by the restaurant over the years is in excess of £127,000!

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Let There Be Meat The much talked about authentic American smokehouse brings us a gospel brand of low and slow smoked meat to the city for the first time, making home in the former FOPP Records store on Queen Street.

The two year-old company, owned by restaurateurs, James Douglas and Scott Munro, is investing more than £1.1m developing the former Boots headquarters. They have transformed the 5,500 square foot building include the brand’s signature open-plan kitchens, giving diners in the 160 cover restaurant the chance to watch the Pitmasters in action, preparing and smoking the meat and tending the open-fire pits, while they eat.

A ‘post apocalyptic trailer park’ design theme weaves throughout the building, providing a unique dining experience.

The restaurant features split-level and private dining booths, dedicated bar and takeout area, a stage to host regular live music events and even a decommissioned tattoo studio.

Customers are able to order from an extensive ‘regional celebration of true barbecue’ menu. The low and slow style of cooking, found across the southern states of America, takes huge cuts of pork, beef, chicken and sausage and dry

rubs and marinades it for 24hrs before being cooked indirectly over fruitwoods and oak in bespoke-made smokers.

Red’s Nottingham is the company’s fourth site in the UK. The business, which hails from Leeds, has two sites in its home city and a third in Manchester.

James Douglas, co-founder of Red’s, said: “Both Scott and I have spent many a night out in Nottingham and have always thought if the right location came up we had to open here; it’s a cool city, with loads going on.

“The local area around us is already buzzing with cool eateries, and we think the addition of Red’s will continue to help transform this part of Nottingham into a brilliant destination for a great day or night out.

The award-winning smokehouse is well known for its blend of traditional and quirky takes on American barbecue.

Dishes include Memphis-dry St Louis ribs, Black Angus brisket, 16hr smoked pulled pork and its now famous Donut Burger; two 100% steak burgers, melted double cheese and smoked peppered bacon, all between two sweet glazed donuts.

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It’s been just over a year since new owner Alice Shelton took over the reins at The Walton Hotel on the edge of the historic Park Estate in Nottingham.

‘The Tourist magazine’ catch up with Alice to check on progress and hear about the future plans as she breathes life back into this prestigious Nottinghamshire venue.

How have you found the past year at the hotel?

What improvements have you made so far?

The past year has been a real voyage of discovery to learn about the business and how it operates. It has allowed me to discover what works and doesn’t work and invest in improvements both to the building and the services we offer.

Most of the work so far has been largely behind the scenes, upgrading the back office areas and IT infrastructure so we can operate more efficiently and offer guests a superior level of service and facilities. We have started our room renovation program, which is uniquely tailored for each room furnishing and decorating them in the original style of the 19th century hunting lodge. All rooms will have Smart TVs along with business grade broadband/Wifi and telephone facilities.

We have met so many people who have fond memories of the hotel and bar in its heyday when it was a popular meeting place for drinks and relaxing on the sun terrace. I’m determined to restore the hotel to its former glory and already we are seeing guests return who haven’t visited the hotel or bar for years.

How is the renovation/restoration of the progressing?

We are working through the whole hotel in stages to minimize disruption to our guests and ensure we can continue to operate. The main part of the building is a Grade II listed former hunting lodge with many original features still intact or yet to be uncovered & repaired by previous unsympathetic works here.

I gained a lot of knowledge restoring an old Priory in Leicestershire that was a great learning experience not least understanding all the do’s and don’ts when restoring listed buildings. You have to source the right products and much of the work requires expert tradesmen who specialize in each particular field.

What other facilities do you offer?

We have recently introduced several dedicated Serviced Apartments alongside the hotel that allows us to offer short and long stay packages with a variety of room options such as dedicated or shared kitchen/dining facilities. In addition, we also now have a self-contained annex called The Walton Lodge adjacent to the hotel, which is ideal for company away days or conferences. We can offer a range of catered packages such as cold/hot buffets, canapés or full business lunches with our private dining facilities.

What plans do you have for the main public areas such as the bar and restaurant?

We have spent a long time evaluating the best strategy for both the bar and restaurant. We decided to see how it

operated first, finding out what customers wanted and researching the local market.

It is clear that the demand has fallen away from formal dining towards simpler ways of serving good food at any time of the day. With this in mind we reduced the complexity of menus on offer at set times and instead offer a more informal all-day dining experience throughout the bar and restaurant.

Our day starts with popular dishes such as Eggs Benedict, Porridge or Pancakes and snacks like Freshly baked pastries and muffins through to lunchtime.

We then serve our full menu from midday through till 9pm with popular choices such as The Walton Burger with Olgeshield cheese and Fish with Triple Cooked Chips and Minted Crushed Peas.

Our specials board showcases our fresh local produce arriving each day and allows our chefs to show off their creative flare with the ever-changing ingredients on offer.

For those with bigger appetites, our list of desserts includes classics such as Sticky Toffee Pudding and our Head Chef’s speciality Elderflower Posset that featured recently in the Nottingham Cook Book.

Our Sunday Lunches are also extremely popular, serving from midday until 6pm.

Bookings are advised at the weekend and on special occasions. Call 0115 947 5215 or visit the website www.thewaltonhotel. com

The Tourist

The Major Oak Recently crowned England’s Tree of the Year by the Woodland Trust, this ancient oak is located just a ten minute walk from the Visitor Centre. Come and visit one of the world’s most famous woods!

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The Major Oak is a Quercus Robur, English or Pendunculate Oak, thought to be between 800-1000 years old and is situated near the village of Edinstowe in Sherwood.

Just a hop, skip and a jump from Sherwood Forests Visitor Centre, the Major Oak was crowned ‘England’s Tree of the Year’ in a public vote run by the Woodland Trust. The tree will now represent England alongside the winning entries from Scotland and Wales Association, which takes place in February 2015.

According to local lore, its hollow trunk was used as a hideout by Robin Hood’s men. But not long after to house the now illegal sport of cock-fighting in the early 18th century, providing the tree with its earliest recorded name ‘the Cockpen Tree’, but this was soon changed to the Queen Oak. In 1790, Major Hayman Rooke, a noted antiquarian from Mansfield Woodhouse, included the tree in his popular book about the ancient oaks of Sherwood. It thus became known as ‘The Major’s Oak’ and later the simply ‘The Major Oak’.

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Because of its national importance, conservation measures to the tree have been carried out continually since 1908.

In Edwardian times, metal chains were used to support its weighty branches, and lead sheet attached to protect the trunk.

In the late seventies, these measures were replaced by large wooden struts, supporting the heaviest branches.

Today, slender steel poles prop the sprawling limbs of this forest giant. Tree surgeons check the oak periodically and carry out remedial work as needed. The world famous tree is now said to weigh an estimated 23 tonnes, its circumference is 33 feet (10m) and its branches spread to over 92 feet (28m) You can visit The Major Oak anytime the nearby Visitor Centre is open: 10:00am – 5:00pm : Summer 10:30am – 4:30pm : Winter

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Sherwood Forest National Nature Reserve contains some of the oldest trees in Europe, veteran oaks five centuries old and the worldfamous Major Oak, still producing acorns after standing at the heart of the forest for an estimated 800 years!

The 450 acre country park is part of the Sherwood Forest National Nature Reserve, designated in 2002 by Natural England, the Government agency responsible for safeguarding our natural environment.

The forest was also home for Nottingham’s most famous outlaw, Robin Hood. The tales of Robin Hood have been told for more than 700 years. Our fascination with this world-famous outlaw continues into the 21st century.

Sherwood Forest holds a quality award from the Visit England Visitor Attraction Quality Assurance Scheme.

The romantic image of Robin Hood is of a medieval hooded figure in Lincoln Green, a master bowman with a quick mind and mischievous sense of humour. Dispossessed by greedy Norman overlords, he is forced to live beyond the law in the leafy depths of Sherwood, a royal hunting forest. From his forest lair he ambushes rich travellers, fights corrupt officials, and shares the spoils of his outlawry with poor, oppressed peasants.

The ecology here is fascinating. The natural decay of fallen timber means the woodland teems with insect life and fungi, which in turn provide food for varied species of birds and bats.

The site is managed by Nottinghamshire County Council and maintained by our country park rangers, working to a woodland management plan drawn up in partnership with English Nature.

Each year we welcome around 350,000 visitors to Sherwood Forest Visitor Centre, which is located near the village of Edwinstowe.

Admission to the park is free.

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STRICTLY COME DANCING THE LIVE TOUR 2015 MARK WRIGHT, CAROLINE FLACK AND ALISON HAMMOND CONFIRMED FOR TOUR

The next lot of celebrities to join the hugely popular Strictly Come Dancing Live Tour 2015 have just been announced.

Mark Wright, Caroline Flack and Alison Hammond will join the 2015 celebrity line-up.

Alison Hammond is best known for her role as the showbiz reporter on ITV’s This Morning which has led to her interviewing some of the biggest stars from the world of music, film and TV. Mark Wright found fame on ITV2’s The Only Way Is Essex in 2010. Since then Mark has presented ITV2’s Take Me Out: The Gossip, as well as guest presenting on ITV’s Daybreak and This Morning. Caroline Flack has previously appeared on our screens as the co-presenter of ITV2’s I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here NOW! and The Xtra Factor.

They will be joined by Strictly favourite Zoe Ball, who will host the tour. Zoe appeared in the 2005 TV series and also hosted the 2011 tour. We can also announce that our tour celebrities will be dancing with the following professional dancers: Frankie Bridge with Kevin Clifton Thom Evans with Iveta Lukosiute Alison Hammond with Aljaž Skorjanec Caroline Flack with Tristan MacManus Mark Wright with Karen Hauer

On announcing her place on the tour, Alison Hammond said: “After the wonderful, warm reception I received from taking part in BBC’s Strictly, I’m thrilled to be part of the Live Tour. It’s going to be great fun to strut my stuff all across the country, but I am particularly excited that we will be opening the tour in Birmingham. I am counting on a great home crowd to get us off to a sparkling start!”

Mark Wright added: “I’ve had the most incredible time on Strictly and I’m delighted that my Strictly journey won’t end quite yet. I can’t wait for the tour to start in January – if Blackpool was anything to go by, being able to perform in big arenas in front of thousands of people really is going to be FAB U LOUS! I’m going to make sure I put everything I have into each and every performance, so I need all the Strictly fans to come down and cheer me on!”

Caroline Flack also commented: “My Strictly experience so far has been amazing. I’m enjoying every minute of the TV show and doing the tour lets me carry on dancing a little bit longer.

I hope that those who have been so lovely and supported me each week will come along to see the show. Dancing for people who took time to vote for me will be an honour.”

Strictly fans watch the celebrity dancing couples competing live for the judges’ votes and then get to vote themselves with their mobile phones.

The tour has received rave reviews in the national newspapers since it began in 2008 – the Daily Telegraph said: “Lose yourself in Strictly’s stylishly choreographed wonderland”. The Mail on Sunday awarded the 2013 tour a 4 Star review and has previously said of the tour: “Pure Strictly magic, and as good as it gets!”, while The Sunday Express has said: “7000 of us raised the roof. Does it get much better? Not often.”

The television format, also known as Dancing With The Stars, is one of the most successful TV formats ever created and has been sold into over 50 countries around the world.

The show spectacular will visit Capital FM Arena Nottingham 20-21 January 2015 with tickets priced at £50.40 and £72.80 (includes administration fee).

Tickets can be booked online at https:// w w w. c a p i t a l f m a r e n a . c o m /O n l i n e / strictly, via 0843 373 3000 or in person at Ticketing & Customer Services, Bolero Square, The Lace Market, Nottingham, NG1 1LA.

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SECOND DATE FOR OLLY MURS CONFIRMED Capital FM Arena Nottingham is pleased to announce that due to overwhelming demand, a second date for Olly Murs has been confirmed. The second date has been confirmed as 1 May 2015.

His first date at Capital FM Arena Nottingham on 30 April 2015 has almost sold out and only a handful of standing tickets remain for this date.

Tickets for the extra date are on sale now priced at £33.04, £44.24, £61.60 & £145.04 (includes administration fee).

There is a maximum of six tickets per person.

DYNAMO TO CAST HIS MAGIC OVER Due to high demand, following the announcement earlier this month that Dynamo would be embarking on his first ever live tour, it has been confirmed today that his tour run has been extended and now includes the Capital FM Arena Nottingham 2-6 December 2015.

Tickets go on sale at 9am on Friday 31 October 2014 priced at £36.40, £44.24 and £110.88 (includes administration fee).

Tickets can be booked online at www. capitalfmarena.com/online/dynamo, via 0843 373 3000 or in person at Ticketing & Customer Services, Bolero Square, The Lace Market, Nottingham, NG1 1LA.

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JAMES MARTIN Celebrity chef James Martin has spent the past fifteen years teasing the taste buds of telly watchers across the UK. A man with a clear passion for the dishes he produces, Martin’s engaging TV presence has seen him consistently on our screens across the years. From Ready Steady Cook to today’s Saturday Kitchen, the Yorkshire man may alternate from Red Tomato to Green Pepper but he’s remained one of TV cooking’s most recognisable faces. We spoke to the chef about his tools of the trade…

Growing up on a pig and cattle farm, James Martin discovered his aptitude for the culinary world at an early age. He may have struggled with undiagnosed dyslexia during his school years, but in enrolling at catering college at 16, found himself thrice awarded Student of the Year and at just 22 was appointed head chef at Hotel du Vin in Winchester.

Martin’s spent the past six years hosting Saturday Kitchen, and when he’s not whipping up dishes against the clock, you’ll find the chef devising cookbooks or collaborating with his long term cookware partner, Stellar.

“Stellar approached me and asked if I’d like to work with them. I said ‘I will if it’s actually beneficial to you, if I can help you develop stuff,’ and that’s where we’ve come from. It’s not a matter of ‘there’s the product, stick your name on it’, it’s been a relationship we’ve had for 16 years – they come to me with ideas, and I come to them with ideas.”

Martin’s partnership with Stellar has seen him produce wide ranging kitchen products.

“Firstly pans, then we worked on knives, cutlery, an accumulation of a lot of things from salt and pepper mills to pizza wheels to all manner of different stuff.”

A professional chef, Martin obviously needs equipment that will serve him well in the kitchen, stressing, “we really try to find the best quality that people can afford. And that’s a tall order when you’ve got everybody else doing cheap, cheap, cheap…

“Take baking tins; whenever you get a cheap tin it’s flexible, the minute you apply strong heat or anything it’ll twist and then you end up wrecking your cake.

So it’s gotta be made out of a decent material, now that comes from how we develop that material, knowing what we want, what it needs to do, what it needs

to work like. And then they come back and say ‘what about this…?’ and it goes back to the drawing board again. And then we eventually come to a medium where we are both happy and off we go.”

Like any creative process, there exists an element of trial and error. Take Martin’s custom knives, for example. “I can’t do my job without them!” he tells us, but the product took time to perfect.

“When we were looking at knives to sell retail wise I originally asked for the handle to be too thick. When I gave it to my mother and friends to test, they turned around and said, ‘it’s a nice knife, it’s great in the dishwasher, but the handle is too thick.’ So we went back to the drawing board with a thinner handle…”

Now, Martin’s baker’s dozen range covers just about everything you can think of.

“It’s all the stuff that I’ve worked with over the years of being a pastry chef put into one collection so you’ve got muffin tins that you can do Yorkshire puddings in, to Swiss roll tins to cake tins...”

And with shows like The Great British Bake Off causing a nation of amateur bakers to jump for their rolling pins, Martin agrees that “baking’s still a huge, huge thing. Not as big as it is in America by any means but it’s getting there.”

Though whether or not people are routinely kneading their own bread is another question…

“They’ll have a go and probably make a cock up of it and don’t bother again!”

Happy that people are getting back into the kitchen, Martin warns against premade supermarket produce.

“It’s not the stuff chefs are cooking on TV that’s unhealthy, it’s all the crap that Joe Public’s eating from burgers to

readymade pizzas to bought in lasagnes to all that stuff. What makes you fat is the stuff that’s in fizzy drinks, all the hidden stuff that’s everywhere, not the food on your Sunday lunch table.”

Sceptical about recent research recommending people should eat ten different fruit and veg a day - “Well good luck to anybody who wants to try that one…” the chef laughs – Martin reveals his own food heaven and hell to use before he’s off – “crab and horseradish!”

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PALOMA FAITH AT FOREST LIVE Paloma Faith is set to embark upon an Arena tour in March with a date at Capital FM Arena Nottingham on 23 March 2015. Today the singer has announced a welcome return to seven spectacular woodland locations this summer as part of Forest Live, the Forestry Commission’s outdoor concert series, having performed to sell-out crowds in 2013.

Tickets for Paloma Faith’s Forest Live event on 28 June 2015 at Sherwood Pines Forest, Nottinghamshire and 10 July 2015 at Cannock Chase Forest, Staffordshire can be purchased via Capital FM Arena Nottingham from 9am on Friday 23 January 2015. Tickets are priced at £42.35 (includes admin fee) plus £1.95 postage.

Tickets can be booked online at w w w. c a p i t a l f m a r e n a . c o m /o n l i n e / ForestPalomaFaith via 0843 373 3000 or in person at Ticketing & Customer Services, Bolero Square, The Lace Market, Nottingham, NG1 1LA.

Please be advised the Forest Live shows are separate to Paloma’s Arena show which takes place at Capital FM Arena Nottingham on 23 March 2015. Tickets for the Arena show can be purchased online at www.capitalfmarena.com/ online/palomafaith Paloma’s third album ‘A Perfect Contradiction’ was one of the huge success stories of 2014 and her fastest selling album to date, certified platinum and scoring hit singles with, ‘Only Love Can Hurt Like This’ and ‘Can’t Rely On You’. As a side project she notched up her first number one collaborating with British drum and bass duo Sigma on the single ‘Changing’. Debut album ‘Do You Want The Truth Or Something Beautiful?’ and follow-up ‘Fall To Grace’ have also contributed to sales of over 1.7 million in the UK alone; no mean feat for an artist only three records into their career.

Forest Live is an independent programme organised by the Forestry Commission to bring forests to new audiences.

Income generated from ticket sales is spent on protecting, improving and expanding England’s forests and woodlands and increasing their value to people and wildlife. Over Forest Live’s 14 year history, money raised has contributed to a wide range of projects, from wildlife conservation to making improvements for visitors.

With everything required for a great night out, including full catering and bar facilities, the gigs are renowned for their relaxed atmosphere.

Commenting on the forest shows, Paloma Faith said, “I am so excited to do the forest tour. I did it before and had such a wonderful time. We are very lucky in Britain to have such a beautiful and diverse landscape and I am excited to play for you there again. See you all in the summer. ”

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A Wild Time in Nottinghamshire Nottinghamshire is home to some fine natural landscapes and pristine fragments of wildlife habitat and the Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust is committed to caring for many of these and championing the country’s wildlife.

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As well as promoting and protecting all types of wildlife, the Trust cares for 67 of nature reserves which offer fantastic free days out.

Attenborough Nature Reserve This beautiful complex of flooded former gravel pits and islands provides an exceptional range of habitat for a wide range of plants, birds and other wildlife. The Nature Reserve is nationally designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and the award-winning Nature Centre is an ideal gateway to this natural haven and the wildlife of the Erewash Valley. Attenborough offers amazing potential for wildlife sightings, including the elusive bittern, kingfisher and the odd otter! There is a fantastic café were you can to enjoy refreshments overlooking the water.

Attenborough Nature Reserve is situated just off the A6005 between Beeston and Long Eaton at NG9 6DY. Entry is free, car parking provided (with suggested donation).

Idle Valley Nature Reserve This spectacular wetland site covers an area of 450 hectares following the River Idle northwards. The size of 600 football pitches, it is one of the largest sites for nature conservation in the East Midlands.

The Idle Valley has a natural play area for children where families can picnic and children can run through willow tunnels and over the musical bridge before embarking on a journey around the site.

The Idle Valley café provides locally sourced refreshments, using fairtrade and organic ingredients where possible and all proceeds support the Wildlife Trust.

The reserve is located off North Road, Retford at DN22 8SG. There is car parking with a suggested donation.

Restoring Sherwood Forest A number of our reserves lie in what is perhaps Nottingham’s best known landscape: The legendary Sherwood Forest. Famous the world over as the home of Robin Hood and home to magnificent oaks such as the Major Oak, today, Sherwood Forest is home to an abundance of wildlife. Sadly though, what remains of the Forest is fragmented and under threat from pressures such as development, agriculture and climate change. The Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust are working hard to restore the landscape which is a mix of heath and woodland. Why not spend a day visiting our three fantastic sites to see restoration in action and learn more about this historic landscape: Rainworth Heath offers some great chances of spotting lizards basking, or of course seeing our Hebridean sheep in action; helping us to restore the site by replicating traditional grazing practice.

Strawberry Hills heath nearby offers a glimpse into medieval Sherwood and Foxcovert Plantation near Calverton is a great example of a site where heathland is being restored. Details of the sites and how to get there visit http:// championsofsherwood.org/ All our reserves are free to access and dogs are welcome on a lead. For more information or to see more of our reserves please visit http://www. nottinghamshirewildlife.org/naturereserves/

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Iconic works by celebrated Pop artist, Richard Hamilton, displayed at Nottingham Lakeside Arts Works by one of the most important printmakers of the late-twentieth century, Richard Hamilton, are on display at Nottingham Lakeside Arts’ Djanogly Gallery from 7 March.

Following his major retrospective at Tate Modern in 2014, Richard Hamilton Word and Image: Prints 1963-2007 focuses on Hamilton’s career as a printmaker.

Dubbed the forefather of Pop Art, the themes and concerns of Hamilton’s paintings and drawings were also pursued in his graphic works on which he collaborated with some of the greatest master printers of the twentieth century.

The selection of 43 works on display represents the full range of his technical accomplishments from traditional engraving, etching and aquatint, to screenprinting in the 1960s.

The exhibition ends with the newly emergent digital media embraced by the artist in his later years. Hamilton set no limits on the technical realisation of his subjects and frequently combined several different printing processes within the same work.

Neil Walker, Head of Visual Arts Programming at Lakeside says, “Through his exploration of different printing techniques and choice of everyday subject matter, Richard Hamilton broke down the barriers between printmaking and contemporary life” His use of imagery from popular culture is reflected in such early prints in the exhibition as Adonis in Y fronts 1963, and the 1991 laser print Just what is it that made yesterday’s homes so different, so appealing? The original 1956 collage on which the latter work is based featured a muscle man surrounded by various

consumer goods of the modern home and is one of the most iconic images of the Pop Art movement.

Equally famous was Hamilton’s series of prints titled Swingeing London. They depict Mick Jagger hand-cuffed in the back of a police car following his arrest for drugs possession in 1967. Hamilton also designed the Beatles ‘White Album’ and the exhibition includes a digital reinterpretation of a folded collage of the Fab Four that was originally sold within the record sleeve. Made in 2007, it proved to be the artist’s last print.

Contemporary and political issues provide the subjects for other of Hamilton’s prints including a number of works concerning the troubles in Northern Ireland. The Citizen 1985 makes reference to the ‘dirty protest’ by IRA prisoners in the Maze H Blocks in the late 1970s. Others depict a parading Orangeman and a patrolling British soldier.

The exhibition has been organised and toured by Barbican International Enterprises. The exhibition runs from Saturday 7 March – Sunday 31 May 2015 and admission is free. For information on talks and events, please call the Box Office on 011

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The National Videogame Arcade by a special exhibition guide written by Professor James Newman, author of Teaching Videogames (Routledge, 2013).

World’s first dedicated cultural centre for games opens in Nottingham, Saturday 28 March www.gamecity.org/nationalvideogame-arcade

array of interactive experiences - from vintage arcade machines and home computers to experimental new works and unique location-specific installations.

• Five-storey building in the heart of Nottingham’s Creative Quarter to promote the diverse cultural, educational, economic and social benefits of games

Through innovative cultural partnerships and education programmes, the NVA will connect new audiences with the UK’s heritage as a world-leading innovator in games development, to inspire and empower game-makers of all ages and backgrounds.

One permanent feature of the NVA will be A History of Games in 100 Objects.

This interactive exhibition will map the history of videogame culture in Britain - from the appearance of the world’s first game-playing computer at the 1951 Festival of Britain, to the newest virtual reality experiences on Oculus Rift.

“Videogames are pioneering new forms of creative expression and engagement with technology,” said NVA Co-Director Jonathan Smith. “A new generation is growing up with games that shape their fundamental conceptions of social interaction, creativity and learning. At this incredibly exciting time, The National Videogame Arcade invites

The NVA is a project of GameCity, which has worked since 2006 to bring videogames to the widest possible audiences through the internationallyrenowned GameCity Festival and GameCity Prize, along with innovative public engagement projects such as Off The Map, in collaboration with The British Library.

everyone to share in the discovery of new ways for people to play together.”

Iain Simons, Co-Director of the NVA, said: “Since announcing the opening of The National Videogame Arcade in October last year we’ve been overwhelmed by the support we have received locally, nationally and internationally. We simply can’t wait to open our doors at the end of March.”

• A mixture of permanent and constantly-changing exhibitions suitable for all ages • First major exhibition Jump! examines the history and craft behind one of the medium’s most fundamental pleasures • A History of Games in 100 Objects tells the story of videogames in Britain from 1951 to the present day The National Videogame Arcade (NVA), the world’s first permanent centre to celebrate and explore games culture, will open in Nottingham on Saturday 28 March, coinciding with the start of the Easter holidays.

Supported by Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham City Council and the Confetti Institute of Creative Technologies, the NVA showcases and makes accessible the widest imaginable

The NVA’s special exhibition programme opens with Jump!, an in-depth exploration of this elemental gameplay action. Examining the history and spirit of jumping from Donkey Kong (1981) to Destiny (2014) through a series of innovative interactive exhibits and playable games, Jump! is accompanied

For more information, gamecity.org

visit:

www.

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The Exchange in 2015 The Exchange has been at the very centre of Nottingham retailing for over 85 years, and is now home to an unrivalled mix of exclusive brands and unique independent stores. Housed adjacent to the city’s historic Council House, The Exchange is a nationally celebrated Grade II* listed building with an impressive central dome, and offers a stylish and atmospheric shopping experience.

The Exchange Buildings were constructed between 1927 and 1929 as part of a major civic building project which included the Council House, and replaced the former Nottingham Exchange which was the main office of the Nottingham Corporation. It was the city’s first true shopping centre and was opened on 22nd May 1929 by the Prince of Wales, later Edward VIII. Originally, the arcade was principally occupied by Joseph Burton Esq, who operated an upmarket food emporium similar to London’s Fortnum & Mason.

The centre enjoyed an unbroken record of retailing in the city over the next 50 years, but by the early 1980s was in need of updating. A major refurbishment was subsequently undertaken to provide 17 retail units in high quality, atmospheric surroundings, which was completed in 1985.

The Exchange Buildings also house a magnificent 200ft high dome, beneath which there are four fresco murals which depict the history of Nottingham. Each mural was the work of Nottinghamshire artist Noel Denholm Davis, who used local celebrities as models. The building’s architect Thomas Cecil Howitt himself appears in the guise of William the Conqueror’s surveyor, and legendary Notts County goalkeeper Albert Iremonger is depicted as Little John. The inscription around the base of the dome reads: ‘The Corporation of Nottingham

erected this building for counsel and welcome, and to show merchandise and crafts’.

This cathedral-like space is The Exchange’s principal feature and one of the most photographed sights in the city. In 2014, the centre undertook a major £150,000 refurbishment of the main arcade’s stone floor, with 25 tonnes of newly cut York Stone replacing the original 85 year old slabs. Blending perfectly with the Portland Stone from which the main building is constructed, the new floor returned the arcade to the look which greeted its first customers over 85 years ago.

Today, The Exchange houses 19 stores, incorporating some of the UK’s best known fashion brands including Radley, Jaeger, Austin Reed, Karen Millen, Dr Martens and Oasis, as well as a selection of independent retailers in fashion, jewellery, eyewear and fine wine. Food is also still very much a part of the centre, with Patisserie Valerie and Pret a Manger providing a tangible connection to Joseph Burton’s original store.

The Exchange is unquestionably Nottingham’s most exclusive speciality shopping venue, and continues to uphold the unbroken history of retailing in the city for which it is justifiably renowned.

The Exchange High Street Nottingham NG! 2DD www.theexchange.uk.net

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Newark historical ‘blockbuster’ set for small screen Hollywood came to the streets of Newark last year with the filming of a historical blockbuster boasting fabulous story lines and incredible special effects. (see picture of filming in Newark church) But you won’t see the final result on the big screen – quite the opposite in fact!

Dramatic costumed scenes will be used in a cutting edge ‘augmented reality ‘ National Civil War Trail app for visitors that is set to wow visitors.

It is one of the most ambitious uses of this technology so far in the UK. A cast of one hundred actors recreated episodes from Newark’s pivotal role in the 17th century British Civil Wars, adding eyewitness reflections on a turbulent time.

Leading parts included the dashing but illfated Prince Rupert and Henrietta Maria, King Charles’ wife and self-styled female “generalissimo”.

The project - backed by £300,000 from Nottinghamshire County Council – will complement Newark’s new £5.4m National Civil War Centre and together they will provide a massive boost to tourism.

“We have taken the concept of a town history trail – printed storyboards, map and leaflet - and launched it into the space age,” explained Deborah Johnson, project manager at Newark and Sherwood District Council.

Holding up a smart phone or tablet camera to a so-called ‘trigger scene’ will result in historical characters coming to life on screen. Not just the great and the good, but the ordinary people of Newark who endured a terrible plague and deadly shell fire. Deborah continued: “The technology uses wi-fi, GPS and the video capabilities of smart devices to produce an amazing effect. Point your camera at Newark Castle from the bandstand and historical figures will leap into life on screen, perfectly framed.

Elsewhere, King Charles will berate his nephew Prince Rupert.

This is not about using technology for it’s own sake – it is an extraordinary way of transporting people back in time. The British Civil Wars were the deadliest in the nation’s history, shaping so much of our modern world. Our mission is to link people with their past in the best and most enjoyable way.”

Filming was done Nottingham-based film production company, Spool, and the app itself desgined by Oakley Mobile.

Key to the project is the high bandwidth wireless technology being piloted in Newark by communications firm O2 Telefonica as part of a ground breaking agreement with the council. By providing fast and free wi-fi across the town centre and at outlying historic locations such as the Queen’s Sconce earthen fort, O2 Telefonica will refine the technology before rolling it out elsewhere in the UK. Newark will benefit from a valuable ongoing legacy.

Deborah Johnson added: “The National Civil War Centre and trail app will tell the story of Newark’s defining role in the conflict. People spending time exploring the town will also mean increased footfall on the High Street, which is great for local businesses. This is pretty much pioneering stuff, but the hardest thing has been deciding what stories to leave out of the trail as there are so many.”

A traditional hard copy town trail leaflet will also be produced. The free app will be launched mid April, but before then you can download a preview from Googe Play or the itunes app store. Just key in the words National Civil War Trail and find out why everyone is so excited by this stunning project.

People’s War – Newark’s lost archive

The British Civil Wars were a period of massive upheaval.

Opposing Parliamentary and Royalists forces often swept through the same areas many times causing tremendous disruption, not least to record keeping.

That makes the discovery of rare period documents in Newark just a few years ago in cardboard boxes even more important.

Amost the find of a lifetime!

Civil War expert Stuart Jennings, from Warwick University, was called in to examine them by Newark and Sherwood District Council.

“By the time I got to the third box I could see that we had something unique here,” he explained. “On individual sheets of paper were accounts, petitions and bills, the kind of things generated by everyday life in 1640s Newark. This kind of material does not normally survive the Civil War, so we are getting a rare glimpse into ordinary lives. We have records of poor relief detailing how money was raised and to whom it was paid during the third siege. There is a petition from a man with seven children whose house was blown up by cannon fire and receipts for food and medicine for plague victims. The church records are also complete from 1640 – 1660, both in Newark and in a nearby village. These records are an historical gold mine.”

But how did these documents survive?

Unlike many other towns, Newark was held by the Royalists continuously and did not change hands numerous times. When it was surrendered, plague was endemic and Parliamentary and Scottish soldiers stayed clear of the town rather than plunder or exact revenge for the Cavaliers’ defiance.

Much of the anger had dissipated by the

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time it was fully occupied and by then the garrison was drawn from Nottingham, rather than from the besieging army who may have had scores to settle.

reduce wastage, the coins bare the legend Newark OBS – an abbreviation from the Latin for under siege. Glyn Hughes continued:

Information gleaned from the new archive will be used by the National Civil War Centre to tell the story of Newark’s sieges from the perspective of ordinary civilians. Stuart Jennings has also written a book based on his findings called “These Uncertain Times: Newark and the Civilian Experience of the Civil Wars 1640-1660” published by Nottinghamshire County Council.

“The cash hoard was buried – the owner never returned to reclaim it. That tells its own story about the disruption caused by the war. Some of the other coins found locally date from the heyday of Charles’ reign. These golden “Unite” coins from the 1620s marked the unification of the crowns of England and Scotland. The King was at the height of his fortunes – yet in little more than a couple of decades he would lose his head and the country would become a Republic.”

Relics of the past to go on display for the first time Fearsome weapons and rare siege coins are just some of the period relics set to go on display at the National Civil War Centre.

Over 5,000 artefacts from the conflict are kept under lock and key by Newark and Sherwood District Council. Many will go on show for the first time bringing history to life for visitors.

Glyn Hughes, Collections Team Leader at Newark and Sherwood District Council, said: “Some of the personal items are incredibly moving, including a gold ring with an inscription which reads “Let no calamity separate our amity” found near a Parliamentary position besieging Newark. (See picture of ring )We also have period pamphlets, which were essentially propaganda sheets produced by both sides and which talk of a great fight at Newark, while another puts a spin on the disaster of the King’s surrender.”

Amongst the fabulous array of objects is a hoard of ‘siege’ coins minted in Newark.

(See picture of silver coins) With the town sealed off the only way to keep the economy going and pay troops was to make currency locally. Coins were fabricated out of silver plate donated by local wealthy citizens, ‘liberated’ from the church or even plundered by the Newark Horse from Leicester before the siege began. Cut into a diamond shape to

The Old Magnus Building This remarkable Grade II* building has been given a new lease of life to house the nation’s first centre dedicated to telling the story of the 17th century British Civil Wars.

It dates back to 1529 when England was experiencing another turbulent period - the break with the Catholic Church.

Reverend Thomas Magnus, a native of Newark, took the astute decision to provide money for a free grammar school to be built in the town. An act of philanthropy doubtless, but also a way of currying favour with Henry VIII’s regime and protecting his assets.

The Tudor Hall survives and has been joined by a later Georgian town house extension and Victorian school hall, adding to the challenges of conservation and restoration.

Newark and Sherwood District Council has worked with Woodhead Heritage, a specialist division of Robert Woodhead Ltd, based in Edwinstowe, Nottinghamshire, and architects Purcell to ensure the transformation into a 21st century museum and visitor centre is a success.

Work has involved re-roofing the building and stripping back leadwork to reveal the ancient oak beams and rafters for conservation. New floors have been

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laid, the staircase remodelled, brickwork conserved, along with the installation of an elevator and creation of a reception area, modern galleries and gift shop. (See picture of Michael Constantine, Business Manager at the National Civil War Centre, with stripped back roof).

Traditional crafts have been be used throughout.

Where re-pointing was required a lime mortar mix was used similar to that employed by Tudor masons 500 years ago. Heritage skills are in short supply and the project has provided an opportunity to involve apprentices and inspire young people to consider heritage crafts as a career option.

A major challenge has been the conservation of graffiti dating back to the 1600s found in the Tudor building. Carved into plaster walls by ‘naughty’ school-boys, the names include an ‘R Disney’ - thought to be a distant ancestor of Walt Disney of movie making fame, whose family roots are in the area - and ‘W Darwin’, thought to be related to the evolutionist Charles Darwin, author of “Origin of Species”.

Simon Butler, Heritage and Conservation Manager with Woodhead Heritage, explained: “What is remarkable about the building is just how well the Tudor part is constructed.

The foundations go much deeper than the later additions and we have been highly impressed by the skill of our 16th century predecessors. We have worked on some very high profile projects, including Lincoln Castle, home of the Magna Carta, and the National Civil War Centre is another flagship scheme for us.”

Although many of Newark’s buildings were destroyed in the Civil War, the Old Magnus Building came through unscathed. It was the headquarters for the town’s Mayor, charged with the unenviable task of doing what he could for hard-pressed residents tormented by disease and cannon fire.

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Nottingham Castle

The Long Gallery

Nottingham Castle Caves

Standing high on Castle Rock overlooking the city, Nottingham Castle is visited by over 270,000 visitors each year. Many visitors question where the castle is, as they expect to find a traditional English castle. Instead they find the first Duke of Newcastle’s Ducal Palace. However, the prospect house that remains is as precious as any historic structure in the country and is unique and enchanting in its own right. The building is protected

by Grade One listed status, whilst Castle Rock and the cave system within it, is a Scheduled Ancient Monument.

This gallery is currently part of the Trent to Trenches exhibition.

Beneath Nottingham Castle a labyrinth of manmade caves and tunnels continue to tell the turbulent story of this historic site. Enjoy a memorable tour discovering the secret passageways, King David’s legendary dungeon, the Duke of Newcastle’s Wine Cellar or Mortimer’s Hole.

This space houses a permanent display of the best of the museum’s fine art. The painting collection covers British and European art ranging in date from the 11th century to the present day. Highlights include: a group of 17th Dutch and Northern European paintings; paintings by important Nottingham artists Paul Sandby, Richard Parkes Bonington, Thomas Barber, John Rawson Walker and Henry Dawson; a 20th century British collection including works by William Nicholson, Ben Nicholson, Winifred Nicholson, Dame Laura Knight, Harold Knight, Edward Burra, Edward Wadsworth and Tristram Hillier, Mathew Smith, L.S. Lowry, Ivon Hitchens and Stanley Spencer.

Take a tour to experience the caves for yourself, learning on the way the gruesome tales of Roger Mortimer or King David II of Scotland. With some of the caves dating back to medieval times, the tour is strenuous with over 300 steep steps. However, for those who wish to descend through hundreds of years the tour is a must.

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Mortimer’s Hole The famous tunnel known as Mortimer’s Hole is carved into the sandstone outcrop on which the Castle stands. The passage way is eerie enough but is made all the more so by the reputed presence of the ghost of Sir Roger Mortimer himself.

Mortimer, the Earl of March and lover of Queen Isobel, was probably her accomplice in the murder of Edward II. On the night of October 19 1330 the Queen and her lover Mortimer were staying at Nottingham Castle. Seeking to bring his father’s killer to justice and expose his feckless mother, the young King Edward III entered a network of secret tunnels that led ultimately into the Castle itself.

With a band of loyal supporters the King burst into his mother’s bedroom and surprised the lovers. Edward himself is said to have seized Mortimer. The now doomed monarch killer was led away, so legend has it, to Isobel’s mournful cries of “Fair son, have pity on the gentle Mortimer.”

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Sir Roger was imprisoned in the Castle, taken to London and executed as a traitor.

He was hung, drawn and quartered on the 29 November 1330 and his wretched remains skewered on spikes and left to rot on traitors gate ‘Tyburn’.

The tunnel that led to Sir Roger’s downfall became known after him and is still called “Mortimer Hole”.

Hauntings at the Castle Throughout the centuries Nottingham Castle has experienced both drama and mystery aplenty, so it’s probably not that surprising to hear that tales of hauntings are rife.

There are other ghosts connected with the Castle. In 1212 King John held some 28 sons of Welsh noble families hostage in the castle. The boys, some as young as 12, lived at the castle for some time, and were allowed free rein within the walls. Then one day, the precise date is unknown, King John ordered all the hostages executed.

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A chronicler states that the boys pitiful cries rang around the Castle as one after the other they were taken up on the ramparts and hanged in a row. Their ghostly pleas for mercy are still said to be heard within the Castle precincts.

Significant Event Dates Wedding Fair 12th April 11am-4.30pm 1940s Knees Up 4th May 11am-3.30pm Great Food & Drink Festival 23rd-25th May 10am-5pm Wedding Open Day 7th June

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Rufford Abbey In 1146 Gilbert de Gaunt, Earl of Lincoln, founded the Cistercian abbey of St Mary the Virgin.

The monks of this order, also known as the ‘white monks’ because of their habits of undyed wool, believed in the value of an austere life based upon prayer and hard work. Rufford Abbey was moderately wealthy and able to sustain a community of monks between its completion in about 1170 and its suppression in 1536.

Rufford was one of the first abbeys in England to be affected by the suppression of the monasteries, and the whole estate was quickly acquired by George Talbot, fourth Earl of Shrewsbury.

The conversion of the west range of monastic buildings into a house (1560– 90) was undertaken by the sixth earl, who was the fourth and final husband of the indomitable Bess of Hardwick, from whom he was then bitterly estranged.

In 1610, a new projecting wing was added to the northern end of this range.

The estate was inherited in 1626 by Mary Talbot, sister of the seventh and eighth Earls of Shrewsbury, and it passed to her husband, George Savile.

The Savile family William Savile, George’s successor, made Rufford Abbey the seat of the Savile family after he burnt down the Saviles’ original home in order to prevent its being occupied by a Parliamentarian garrison during the Civil War. In 1679, the Savile family constructed a new north wing on the site of the abbey church, containing reception rooms and

a long gallery. They also built the large stable block to the right of the house.

The surviving roofed southern service wing (currently used as offices) was also added by the Saviles in the 17th century.

In 1938, the third Baron Savile inherited the Rufford estate as a minor, but his trustees split it into lots and sold it off.

The 20th century The abbey and park were bought by Nottinghamshire County Council in 1952, and the north and east wings were demolished in 1956. The remaining west range and south service wing were put into the care of the Ministry of Works at the same date.

The abbey is approached from the car park over the 19th century Jacobeanstyle bridge.

The roofed porch formed the original main entrance to the Earl of Shrewsbury’s 16th century house. The inner double doors lead into the now ruined Brick Hall, which formed a grand initial reception room for the post-suppression house.

This area of the building originally formed the lay brothers’ dormitory.

Features include a fine late 14th century window, with a surround of carved heads and foliage and the medieval night stair, which leads down from the ground-floor dormitory to the area of the cellar.

Original Abbey site Immediately in front of the night stair is a large area of open lawn – this was the location of the original abbey church and the 1670s northern wing of the house.

To the right is the entrance to the original cellar and monks’ refectory. This cellar, a well-preserved example of Cistercian architecture, is plain with simple rounded and octagonal columns supporting the vaults. Traces of the day stair and of alcoves for holding the linen and spoons for use in the refectory have survived in the front wall.

The Abbey is open all year round (excluding Christmas day), 10:00am – 4:30pm and free for all ages to enjoy.

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Wollaton Hall Wollaton Hall was originally designed by Robert Smythson and built for Sir Francis Willoughby, being completed following eight years of building work in 1588- the year of the Spanish Armada.

The building is in the English Renaissance style and its flamboyant design is considered to be a masterpiece. Following a fire in 1642 the interior was extensively remodelled, and again radically redesigned by Sir Jeffry Wyatville in the late 18th and early 19th centuries for the 6th Lord Middleton. The exterior remains little altered since its construction and is as stunning as it was in 1588.

A programme of restoration at Wollaton Hall, Gardens and Deer Park was completed in April 2007. Costing ÂŁ9million, the project was partly funded by the European Union European Regional Development Fund and the Heritage Lottery Fund.

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Natural History Museum

Insect Gallery

Since Wollaton Hall opened to the public in 1926, it has been home to the city’s natural history museum. On display are some of the best items from the three quarters of a million specimens that make up its zoology, geology, and botany collections.

Spectacular butterflies, moths, beetles and bugs from around the world are on display here. Focusing on the biology and life-cycle of insects, this gallery also includes a section on social insects including a Caribbean cloud forest diorama showing some of the birds and mammals that depend upon termite colonies for food and nest sites. Live insects are also featured - these include stick insects from Borneo and Papua New Guinea, and a colony of Madagascan hissing cockroaches.

Natural Connections Gallery This gallery explores the relationship between the natural world and ourselves.

One of the central themes in the gallery is extinction, and a number of extinct and near-extinct species are on display.

These include a passenger pigeon and a flightless parrot from New Zealand - the kakapo. Recent additions to the gallery include the extraordinary duckbilled platypus, a giant anteater and a rare maned sloth. Other popular exhibits include an orangutan skeleton, a hippo skull and a Humboldt penguin, together with many other mammals, birds, reptiles, fish, insects, and fossils.

Bird Gallery Recreated in the style of a 1930s natural history museum display, this gallery contains taxidermied Victorian birds and game heads, alongside more contemporary specimens.

Many of the birds were collected in Ethiopia and Sudan by the 19th century Nottinghamshire explorer Mansfield Parkyns. These include one of the first two specimens of the shoebill, or whalebilled stork, brought back to Europe in 1850. Other exhibits include a pelican, a bird-of-paradise, and a red kite.

Mineral gallery Image Mineral Gallery This gallery showcases some of the 5,000 specimens that make up the rock and mineral collection. It includes some the original Nottingham Naturalists’ Society collection and fine displays of classic minerals from the North of England (early 20th century) and Cornwall and Devon (19th century). You can also get up close to some giant ammonites fossilised coiled shells of ancient squidlike sea creatures.

Africa Gallery The Nottingham Natural History Museum’s famous gorilla and giraffe specimens can be seen here, together with a splendid cheetah - the fastest land mammal. The gallery also features a walk-through waterhole scene complete with zebras, leopards, hyenas, antelopes, warthogs, ostriches, a porcupine and even a fruit bat. An interactive panel enables visitors to hear the sounds made by some of the better-known African animals.

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Significant Event Dates Napoleonic Event 3rd-4th May 10am-4pm AutoKarna 31st May No Tomorrow Festival 6th-7th June Armed Forces Weekend 27th-28th June 10am-4pm Splendour Music Festival 18th July Outdoor cinema screening 28th-30th August Great Food and Drink Festival 28th/29th November & 5th/6th December

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Newstead Abbey The Abbey was founded as a monastic house in the late 12th century, and to this day the house retains much of its medieval character. The most famous survival is the iconic West Front of the church that dates from the late 13th century and is now a scheduled ancient monument.

Inside the house the medieval cloisters, Chapter House (now the Chapel) and a collection of medieval stone carvings and manuscripts enable visitors to discover the Abbey’s early history.

Heralded by many as the greatest romantic poet of his time, Lord Byron lived at Newstead Abbey at various times from the autumn of 1808 to the autumn of 1814. Visitors may visit the Abbey to discover the Byron collection.

The collection includes: • objects and furniture which belonged to the poet • letters written by Byron • manuscripts and portraits of Byron, his family and friends • the poet’s magnificent gilt wood bed, which Byron brought with him from his student rooms in Cambridge when he moved into Newstead Abbey • Byron’s very own pistol and the desk at which he wrote much of his poetry Visitors are also invited into the ‘Dressing Up Room’ to try on for size replicas of period dress or Lord Byron’s favourite clothes and be transformed into a romantic hero!

The house also features a collection of items that span the centuries, from when Newstead Abbey first became a private house, right up to the present day. It includes paintings, objects, letters, maps and photographs associated with the estate, including a collection of the eighteenth century views of Newstead Abbey by artist Pieter Tillemans. Visitors can linger over displays and reading material in the Gothic Revival Library, or marvel at the expansive panelling in the Great Hall, all reputed to have come from a single oak tree.

Newstead Abbey Gardens Newstead Abbey’s landscape owes much of its beauty to the River Leen, which feeds the lakes, ponds and cascades that ornament Newstead’s gardens. The grounds provide the perfect place for a relaxing outing all year round, with fabulous wildlife including peacocks, swans and geese.

Visit in the spring and enjoy the spectacular displays of colour from the rhododendrons, picnic by the lake in the summer, see the stunning Japanese maples in autumn or take an invigorating walk in winter.

Admission Prices The charge for visitors is just £6 per vehicle. This includes entry to the grounds and gardens at Newstead Abbey and covers all passengers within the car.

Monday 3rd November - Friday 13th February 2015, free weekday parking Excludes school holidays, weekends and special events.

Entry to the House is available on Saturday and Sunday afternoons, 12noon - 4pm for an additional £5 per person and £4 for children (14 and under).

Visitors entering the park and gardens on foot. Motorcycle or by bicycle are charged £1 per person.

Gardens only visitors can still access the Cafe at the Abbey.

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Significant Event Dates May Day Craft Fair 3rd-4th May 11am-4pm Wedding Fair 10th May 11am-4pm Spring Bank Holiday Dog Show 24th May 11am-4pm Flower and craft Festival 26th-28th June Great Food and Drink Festival 29th-31st August

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23 RD -25 TH MAY 2015 NOTTINGHAM CASTLE

A FABULOUS ARRAY OF FOOD & DRINK, COOKERY DEMO’S, REAL ALE BARS, FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT, AND LIVE MUSIC

Tickets

£7 advance £8 on the door, £5 concessions, Under 10s are free with paying adult.

LIVE DEMO’S FROM CELEBRITY CHEFS

SIMON RIMMER, ADAM SIMMONDS, SEAN WILSON* & DEAN EDWARDS*

*Check website for full chef listings and times

GREATFOODANDDRINKFESTIVALS.CO.UK