In&Around May 2021

Issue 187 - May 2021

WHAT’S INSIDE

Your favourite PRICELESS community magazine

Featured Articles 8

New bowling alley for County Durham

Comedy icon Bob Hope’s birthday

Chester-le-Street is open for business again WHAT’S ON

34

14

Film review: Thunder Force

LOCAL JOBS

COMPETITIONS LOCAL EVENTS In&Around magazine is proudly sponsored by

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ISSUE 187 May 2021

READ ONLINE AT: www.inandaroundmag.co.uk

Welcome to the May issue of IN&AROUND! Retailers and other businesses – both locally and nationally – are flinging open their doors again as the UK transitions to the post-pandemic era. It’s a time to feel optimistic, and we have plenty of feel-good stories packed into this month’s issue of IN&AROUND. The finishing touches have finally been added to Chester-le-Street’s long-gestating flood prevention scheme – we’ve got the lowdown on page 44.

Meanwhile, a new £2m bowling alley will be built near Bishop Auckland – flick to page 8 to read about the amenity before its intended late-2022 opening.

Rather than locking down, things are looking up. We wish you a joyous May!

In&Around magazine is proudly sponsored by Care Connect provides an essential lifeline to vulnerable people across County Durham.

Care Connect is a friendly, local service that supports people of all ages across our region.

We provide a monitoring and response service to people’s homes 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. If you’ve had a fall or feel unwell, at the press of a button you will be connected to our Control Room response staff. To find out more please call 0300 026 2195, email care.connect@durham.gov.uk or visit www.durham.gov.uk/careconnect.

Contents 08, 32, 44

Local News Places To Go

16

What’s on

42

Why Advertise?

When it comes to growing your business, promotion is everything. At IN&AROUND Magazine, we offer a range of advertising packages that put your brand in front of thousands of potential customers.

Our free magazine is delivered to over 20,000 homes and businesses across Chester-le-Street, Derwentside and Durham every month – and our readership continues to grow. With solutions to suit all budgets and requirements, from quarter pages to front page ads, we can help you make an impact. What’s more, with every order, we offer a complimentary design service to ensure that your messages are delivered in the most attractive and eye-catching manner possible.

Whether you’re launching a new product, running a promotion or would like to find out more about how IN&AROUND can work for you, call us on 0191 388 2698.

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THE TEAM

0191 388 2698 | hello@jakhq.com DIRECTORS Benjamin Kerry Joe Crooks MEDIA SALES Val Atkinson DESIGNER Tony Yip ACCOUNTS Victoria Scott

COPYWRITERS Gavin Lenaghan Craig Lenaghan CONTRIBUTORS Alex Nelson Places to Go SPONSOR Care Connect

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The provider will only receive the details of winning entries in order to fulfil completion of the prize.

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IN&AROUND MAGAZINE Unit 4, Station Road, Chester-le-Street DH3 3DY T: 0191 388 2698

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24/7 support at the press of a button Our community alarm service helps give you peace of mind.

More than 11,000 households in County Durham are benefiting from the service, allowing people to remain in their own homes for as long as possible.

For further information: 03000 262 195 care.connect@durham.gov.uk www.durham.gov.uk/careconnect

If additional support is required, numerous types of equipment called Telecare is available, including items for people at risk of falling, support for those with memory loss, or dementia, those

An example of the technology available is a fall detector, an unobtrusive device worn about the person which identifies a genuine fall and immediately alerts the control room so appropriate assistance can be provided.

The service operates 24/7 so staff are always able to offer support and assistance, dispatch responders to someone’s home or contact the emergency services where necessary.

suffering with epilepsy, or those that are deaf or blind. If you don’t want an assessment of your support needs through Social Care Direct, don’t worry.

You can always purchase directly from Care Connect.

pressed for assistance at anytime and this will place a call directly to Care Connect’s control room.

For further information: 03000 262 195 care.connect@durham.gov.uk www.durham.gov.uk/careconnect

Care Connect supports vulnerable people of all ages, providing a monitoring and response service to people’s homes 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, offering assistance and reassurance whenever it is needed. There is a charge for the service and this will be discussed upon enquiry. If you have a relative, neighbour or friend who is vulnerable or socially isolated, Care Connect could provide a vital service.

cimednap 91-DIVOC eht hguorht gnikrow si tcennoC erac Cimednap 91-DIVOC eht hguorht gnikrow eW .tsom ti deen uoy nehw troppus evah uoy erusne ot eW .tsom ti deen uoy nehw troppus ev .dedeen si ti revenehw ecnarussaer dna ecnatsissa reffo .dedeen si ti revenehw ecnarussaer dn eht gnirud degnahcnu niamer lliw uoy ot ecivres ruO eht gnirud degnahcnu niamer lliw u .nwodkcol dnoces eht fo doirep .nwodkcol dno Worried about a loved one, but still keen to retain their independence?

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24/7 support at the press of a button

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elpoep gnivah tuoba yrrow desaercni evah yam uoy woneklpeo W ep gnivah tuoba yrrow desaercni evah y ,syawla sa ytefas ruoy taht uoy erussaer ot tnaw ew dna ,esm yaowhlarusoayyttiesfiv as ruoy taht uoy erussaer ot tnaw ew dn syawla si pleh ,semoh gnitisiv nehw EPP raew lliw ffats llA sy.ayw tirlaoisripprlu eo h s,siemoh gnitisiv nehw EPP raew lliw ffats l ,llewnu ro deirrow ,detalosi sleef wonk uoy enoyna ro uoy ,lle fIw.d nn uarho-ndoeirrow ,detalosi sleef wonk uoy enoyna r .pleh nac tcennoC eraC .pleh n

The service works by having an alarm unit with a pendant installed in the person’s home.

The unit or pendant can be

We know you may have increased worry about having people visit your home and we want to reassure you that your safety as always, is our priority. All staff will wear PPE when visiting homes, help is always on-hand. If you or anyone you know feels isolated, worried or unwell, Care Connect can help.

Christmas can be a worrying time of year, remove some of the stress with Care Connect. The winter months can be a worrying time if you are elderly or have a disability. You may be concerned about falling on ice, and the challenges colder weather brings.

Special Offer For one less worry this Christmas, quote code WINTER2020 for free installation*.

Would you like reassurance for you or a loved one this winter?

24/7 support support at at the the 24/7 press of of aa button button press

Our community alarm service helps give you peace of mind. Care Connect is a friendly, local service that supports vulnerable people of all ages across County Durham, providing a monitoring and response service to people’s homes 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

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Five reasons to join Care Connect

Care Connect is working through the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure you have support when you need it most. We offer assistance and reassurance whenever it is needed.

Our service to you will remain unchanged during the period of the second lockdown.

Have you recently been bereaved, or do Would you like reassurance you know someone who would benefit for youyou orlike a loved one from 24/7 peace of mind?

Would reassurance for you or a this loved winter? one?

Special Offer For one less 1. A friendly, local service in your community worry this Christmas, Care Connect is County Durham’s emergency contact service. Over 11,000 households across the county quote are signed up to Care Connect. We are available to respond to calls quickly and efficiently, for code example if you forwhen have a fall, our responders will attend your property. Our responders are on call 24 WINTER2020 hours a day to help free installation*. necessary or immediately call emergency services if required.

2. Peace of mind for you and your family Care Connect can provide peace of mind like no other service. Our Control Room responds to an average of Christmas can 60 beseconds. a worrying time of vulnerable year, remove some the stress 98% of calls within If you feel anxious, or your family hasof expressed their concern for your wellbeing, Care Connect could be the months perfect service you. if you are worried about with Care Connect.

The winter canforbe a Or, worrying time if youolder areparents or relatives may a need extra support, wemay are only call away, andabout operate falling 24 hours a day, 7 days a elderly orthat have disability.

You beone concerned on ice, week, 365 days a year.

and the challenges colder weather brings.

3. Extra care and support throughout COVID-19

As lockdown measuresalarm and pandemic restrictions it’s peace more important now than ever you feel you Our community service helps continue, give you of mind.

Care have the care and support you need. Our staff are provided will full PPE (masks, aprons and gloves) if they Connect friendly, local service that between supports vulnerable people of as usual visit homes is andaall Care Connect vehicles are cleaned shifts.

We are providing our service throughout the pandemic and will continue to support you a whenever you needand it. all ages across County Durham, providing monitoring response service to people’s homes 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

4. Easy to install To install the alarm in your home, you need a working telephone line which accepts incoming and outgoing calls and have an electric socket close by. If youthe don’tCOVID-19 have a telephone line, we can install a similar system Care Connect is working through pandemic that has a SIM cardhave fitted. This carries out the same telephone line, but please note this to ensure you support when youfunction need as it amost.

We will incur an additional charge. If you sign up to Care Connect, we can provide a completely contactless offer assistance reassurance whenever it and is needed. installation, minimisingand contact for those that may be shielding are vulnerable to the virus.

Our service to you will remain unchanged during the 5. Remain in your own home period ofindependent the second lockdown.

2020 was year of change, worry and separation from family. Ease your worries in 2021 by installing Care Connect. Our main aim is to help people of all ages remain independent in their own homes. No one likes change, but here Care Connect we will support you fully and puthaving your worries about your health, security We know youatmay have increased worry about people or anything at ease. visit your else, home and we want to reassure you that your safety as always,

isContact our priority.

Alltoday staffand will Care Connect talkwear to one PPE when visiting homes, help is always of our advisors aboutor how we can help: on-hand.

If you anyone you know feels isolated, worried or unwell, Care Connect can help.

Forfurther furtherinformation: information: For 03000262 262195 195 03000 care.connect@durham.gov.uk care.connect@durham.gov.uk www.durham.gov.uk/careconnect www.durham.gov.uk/careconnect

*Offer is for period between 1/11/20 – 15/01/21

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County Durham set for new £2 million bowling alley opening in autumn 2022 A new 14-lane bowling alley is expected to open its doors before the end of 2022, joining 11 other venues run by Superbowl UK around the country.

The firm said the £2 million “family entertainment centre” in West Auckland would include a soft play area, assault course and amusement arcade, as well as a diner and lounge bar.

The ChronicleLive website reported that construction work at the site just outside Bishop Auckland would start this autumn, with an expectation of the venue being open by Christmas 2022.

Excitement about a “distinctive brand of family entertainment” A spokesman for Superbowl UK stated: “Superbowl UK are delighted to bring our distinctive brand of family entertainment to Bishop Auckland. Superbowl UK are an exciting and expanding 10-pin bowling operator.

“Our locations boast a range of facilities including Bowling, Crazy Club Soft Play, Laser Quest, Ninja Tag Active, SEGA Amusement Arcade, Bar & Diner. We achieve our goal by being consistently amazing whilst inspiring our guests and educating our team.

An undertaking that has been a long time coming ChronicleLive reported in early April that a licensing application had been made to Durham County Council to sell alcohol, play recorded and live music, and host indoor sporting events until 12:30am from Sunday to Thursday, and until 1:30am on Friday and Saturday.

The website added that plans submitted with the application showed a games area with a line of diner-style seating, with a lounge bar towards the rear of the building. Meanwhile, a ‘Crazy Club’ soft play area could be seen to the left.

Superbowl UK formally registered for a place at the 130,000-square-feet Bishop Auckland Retail and Leisure Park in February 2019.

“We continually invest in both our unique environment and our team to deliver memorable, fun and safe activities. We can’t wait to get started on bringing The Ultimate Family Entertainment Centre to Bishop Auckland in the near future.”

Kate Quaintance-Blackford, Superbowl UK Company Director, said in a statement at the time: “Superbowl UK Bishop Auckland presents us with an exciting opportunity to bring our distinctive brand of family entertainment to County Durham, where we believe it will prove extremely popular.

It was previously anticipated that the centre, at Bishop Auckland Retail and Leisure Park, would be in a position to open this autumn, only for the pandemic to force a delay to the project.

“The location of the site has been transformed over the past few years to become a major retail and leisure hub and we can’t wait to showcase our offerings.”

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Notable birthday: Bob Hope On 29th May, 118 years will have passed since the birth of one of the true entertainment greats: Leslie Townes “Bob” Hope KBE. While Hope is widely regarded as an icon of American comedy – and accordingly decorated with honours – he was actually born in the UK, in Eltham near London.

The fifth of seven sons of a stonemason and a Welsh former concert singer, he moved with his family to the United States at the age of four, and subsequently grew up in Cleveland, Ohio.

There were early signs of what would prove to be his vocation at 10 years old, when he won a Charlie Chaplin imitation contest. However, with his large family suffering financial strain during his younger years, Hope initially worked various odd jobs to support them, ranging from shoe salesman to amateur boxer.

A remarkable rise to legend status Such a natural talent as a performer couldn’t be kept down for long, though, and from his late teens, Hope embarked on an entertainment career. He went on to perform with a succession of partners in vaudeville, and made his first Broadway appearance in 1927’s Sidewalks of New York.

So began a rise that would see him become one of the most popular comics in America by the end of the 1930s. This period included a failed Hollywood screen test, before he secured his first substantial stage role in the Jerome Kern musical, Roberta (1933).

By the middle of the decade, he was appearing in a series of comedy shorts and gaining ever-more success on radio, a medium that lent itself well to his loquacious style. Further breakthroughs came in 1938, as he first sang what would become his signature tune – “Thanks for the Memory” – in his feature-film debut, The Big Broadcast of 1938, and launched The Bob Hope Show on radio.

14 | IN&AROUND

Celebrated for so much more than his comedy There was no stopping Hope from there. The 1930s saw the emergence of sound motion pictures and radio that allowed Hope to make a big impact with his brash style of verbal comedy. His persona was a largely unsympathetic character – a smart aleck who cowered at the slightest threat – but allowing the audience to feel superior to him also powered him to long-lasting career success.

Among Hope’s subsequent triumphs were no fewer than seven popular Road pictures – beginning with 1940’s Road to Singapore, and concluding with The Road to Hong Kong in 1962 – in which he co-starred with Bing Crosby and Dorothy Lamour.

Hope is just as well-remembered, however, for his decades of tours during his lifetime for the United Service Organizations, entertaining American military personnel on active duty around the world. Such was his country’s gratitude for his efforts that in 1997, the US Congress passed a bill recognising him as an honorary veteran of the US Armed Forces.

Having retired from public life by the late 1990s, Hope died of pneumonia at his Toluca Lake home on 27th July 2003, just a few months after celebrating his 100th birthday.

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Places to go...

Silverdale for Leighton Hall

“Leighton Moss is home to a wide range of spectacular wildlife”

I

wanted a long journey last August to see how the railway was performing outside the north-east, so I went to tiny Silverdale in north Lancashire, out via Newcastle, Carlisle and Lancaster. Returning the same way would have been cheaper, with a series of three off-peak returns, but I returned via Carnforth, Skipton and Leeds. Silverdale is a rarity these days: a station where the passage between platforms is not by footbridge or subway but directly over the tracks, with no warning lights.

The route to Leighton Moss RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) reserve and Leighton Hall is well-signposted, and before long I was on the straight track east across the reserve and up into the foothills beyond, arriving at the Hall in 50 minutes.

Leighton Moss boasts the largest reed bed in north-west England and is home to a wide range of spectacular wildlife including otters, bearded tits, marsh harriers, egrets and red deer. I could have cheekily peeped into the RSPB hides to observe the wildlife, but I pressed on, up through the field to Grisedale Farm and on the narrow paved road to Leighton Hall. Free Ordnance Survey maps of this area (and anywhere in Great Britain) can be obtained at www.streetmap.co.uk. Request postcode LA5 9ST. Leighton Hall is presently open on Thursday

16 | IN&AROUND

and Sunday 2-5 (groups on other days by appointment) and was not always as peaceful as today. Owner Albert Hodgson became involved in the Jacobite rising of 1715, during which he was taken prisoner, and the house was burnt with Hodgson's possessions confiscated. The present house was built for George Towneley of Burnley, through his marriage to Hodgson's daughter Mary in the 1750s, in Georgian style and passed to the furniture-making Gillow family in 1822 who remodelled the frontage in Gothic style using local white limestone. It’s a comfortable home which the family open up, but pre-booking is essential. The woodland walk was informative, plus the walled garden which featured a large insect hotel and information from the gardener on how to promote wildlife.

Given how many country homes are closed to visitors right now as a result of COVID-19, whether it’s National Trust, English Heritage or private properties, I was pleased to go on the 15.00 interior tour, which was interrupted by a birds of prey display on the front lawns. The tour resumed after the display finished so that visitors could enjoy the whole experience.

Most visitors seemed to stay the full three hours. I finished up the last available strawberry scone in the tea rooms at 16.15, and went to collect my bag from the office of Mrs Reynolds, the current owner..

I retraced my steps back to Silverdale station through a field of inquisitive but not aggressive cows at Grisedale Farm, arriving at the station four minutes before the train. A few extra minutes in hand would have been less stressful! Then south one stop to Carnforth, where unfortunately the iconic “Brief Encounter” clock as featured in the film, was away for conservation. From Carnforth east to Skipton, which I had not ridden before as far as Giggleswick, and a cocktail in Herriots Hotel (very well organised for COVID-19) opposite the station at 1859 - just as Happy Hour was ending. I later had supper in Leeds, to experience the the one-way system introduced

by Network Rail, and a coffee on the top floor Sky Lounge of the Doubletree Hotel near the station’s no longer new south entrance, and a late TransPennine train home to Chester-le-Street.

alexnelson@dunelm.org.uk

www.nationalrail.com

www.leightonhall.co.uk

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Bathrooms & Kitchens Ltd.

Specialist In Kitchens, Bathrooms & Bedrooms Bespoke Bathrooms Bespoke Kitchens Bespoke Bedrooms Showers & Cubicles Bathroom Furniture Wall & Floor Tiles Wet Rooms Worktops & Sinks Mirrors & Accessories Appliances Full Project Management Supply Only Full Installation Free Planning Service Free Estimates

Visit Our Luxury Showroom Unit 2, Abercorn House, Hobson Ind. Est, Burnopfield, Newcastle, NE16 6EA

01207 271 873 jonpyebathroomsandkitchens.co.uk

25

Over Years experience www.inandaroundmag.co.uk | 17

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r.l.c

carpets & upholstery cleaners

T: 07934 707764

E: rlcarpetcleaners@gmail.com

- Fully Trained And Fully Insured - Cleansmart Technician - Cash or Bank Transfer - NCCA (National Carpet Cleaning Association)

Visit our webiste - Specials up to 17.5% off!

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Visit: www.trimdonupholstery.co.uk

AXH ELECTRICAL

Domestic - Commercial - Industrial All work undertaken Free Estimates Free Advice

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK @AXHelectrical

CALL 01207 580815 or 07825 650280 Eamil axhelectrical@gmail.com

Get A Quote - 0191 384 2779

thewheelspecialist.co.uk Unit 10b Belmont Ind Est, Durham, DH1 1TN

Our new opening hours: Sunday - Friday

By Appointment only

9:00am - 7.00pm

Saturday

Open to public viewing

10.00am - 3.00pm

We have 30 years experience in the building trade specialising in wood burning stoves, plastering, brickwork and joinery.

Come and visit our showroom or get in touch

0191 3873672 andrew@arwoodburningstoves.co.uk Unit 32, Birtley Business Centre, Station Lane, Birtley, DH3 1QT 18 | IN&AROUND

HETAS approved

PLEASE MENTION IN&AROUND WHEN CONTACTING ADVERTISERS FINE INDIAN CUISINE

AMAANI AT THE PUMPHOUSE

WE’RE DELIGHTED TO WELCOME YOU BACK! The elegance and beauty of our food is only matched by our location; The Pumphouse can be found opposite Houghall College and the University Sports Centre, boasting a truly stunning backdrop amongst nature’s beauty.

Savour traditional Indian Cuisine and a modern interpretation of classic dishes brought to life with signature Amaani hospitality. The finest ingredients, accomplished chefs and the most authentic flavours are enjoyed against a stylish, contemporary backdrop.

Bookings now being taken, to secure your table contact us on

0191 384 0832 Email contact@amaanidurham.co.uk

OPENING TIMES: Lunch Thursday & Saturday noon-2pm Dinner Everyday from 5pm

Alternatively download our free app to order takeaway

www.amaanidurham.co.uk Amaani, The Pumphouse, Farm Road, Durham, DH1 3PJ www.inandaroundmag.co.uk | 19

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Don’t neglect your brand’s digital presence after lockdown.

Finally, the UK – and the world – is seeing a way out of the worst of the COVID-19 crisis. Effective and safe vaccines are becoming available, restrictions on our lives are being lifted, and businesses like yours are gradually resuming some level of “normality”.

But what does this mean for your online marketing?

Simple: it means you need to keep up the momentum.

COVID or no COVID, marketing your business effectively on the web remains crucial.

And with the future far from guaranteed, you can already see the evidence of how relevant and robust businesses remain when they take seriously their visibility on the web.

Even after lockdown, and even once the coronavirus is a mere memory, your business’s target audience will be using the web. They will do so via their laptops, smartphones and tablets, searching for and discovering the brands providing the most relevant products and services for their needs.

Will their eyeballs set upon your brand? Here at Jak HQ, we’re determined to make the answer “yes”.

Think back to when the coronavirus pandemic first hit the UK, early last year. Did you decide to cancel that new website, or to reduce your spending on online content? Or did you redouble your commitment, realising that your brand’s digital activities would soon become more important than ever?

The statistics tell their own story about who (probably) got it right.

In February 2020, for instance, Internet sales were less than a fifth (19.1%) of all retail sales in Great Britain. By January this year, they accounted for over a third (36.3%). And the most recent available statistics showed those numbers at a continued high.

So, you can probably imagine what brands reaped the benefits of investing in their digital marketing as the COVID-19 crisis took hold.

Call 0191 388 2698 or email hello@jakhq.com today, to learn more about how we can assist with your business’s branding, social media, SEO, print and content requirements. We’ll even help you get up to 40% off our services.

www.jakhq.com

20 | IN&AROUND

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SILVERTHORN WASTE MANAGEMENT LTD. UNIT 6, APTEC ENTERPRISE PARK, WEST AUCKLAND COUNTY DURHAM, DL14 9PD T : 0191 394 8536

M : 07464 416136 E : skips@silverthorngroup.co.uk www.inandaroundmag.co.uk | 21

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BRITTONS ELECTRICAL SERVICES

SOCKETS & LIGHTING MAINTENANCE & REPAIRS PORTABLE APPLIANCE TESTING REWIRING SERVICE HEAT & SMOKE ALARM INSTALLATION SECURITY ALARMS & LIGHTING FAULT FINDING SHOWERS SUPPLIED AND INSTALLED PERIODIC TEST CERTIFICATES VISUAL CONDITION REPORTS DOMESTIC, COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL

BRITTONS

ESTABLISHED 1979

Office No. 0191 680 72 76 Neil Adamson 07712 898 684 Email: neil.brittons@gmail.com Facebook: /Neil.Brittons

FREE

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www.brittons-electrical-services.co.uk

Two Campuses. One Amazing College.

Our Houghall Campus, in Durham, is the region’s leading specialist land-based college offering course in: Animal Care Arboriculture Forestry Equine Studies Floristry

Horticulture & Gardening Foundation Studies Land & Wildlife Management Veterinary Nursing

Our Peterlee campuses are home to a huge range of vocational course, from engineering and sport studies to motor vehicle maintenance and childcare. Plus our sixth form centre has had a 100% A-level pass rate for the last 5 years!*

edc.ac.uk

*2016-2020, students taking 3 or more A-levels

22 26/11/20 | IN&AROUND EDC in & Around 132 x 96 advert Houghall £30.00.indd 1

DID YOU KNOW? The college has a dedicated FREE bus service, with Arriva, that starts from Burnopfield/ Consett directly to Houghall and a service from Blackfell/ Washington that run directly to the Peterlee Campus.

30/11/2020 15:06

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POP TOP LEISURE VEHICLES With the recent demand for leisure products in the UK and the need to have multi-purpose camper window vans that can be used as every day vehicles and for leisure trips, the PopTop Leisure Company presents a choice of new and used campervans for sale which are competitively priced to suit most people’s pockets. All our campervans are available to view at out North East showroom based in Birtley, County Durham.

As well as providing a range of converted campervans for sale, it is also possible to choose a van from stock which we can then convert for you based on our flexible range of conversion options.

We also offer a roof fitting service at our workshop in Washington, Tyne and Wear. You can visit our workshop in Washington, to discuss the supply and fitting of elevating PopTops and to see vehicles in mid conversion. You can also discuss a conversion of your own with our very own motor caravan converters.

Birtley Showroom: Portobello Road, Birley, Chester-le-Street, Co. Durham, DH3 2SN Washington Showroom: Unit51 Hutton Close, Crowther Ind Estate, Washington, Tyne & Wear, NE38 0AH I 0191 419111 Sale@nulite.com www.poptopcampervans.co.uk www.inandaroundmag.co.uk | 23

VS BIRM

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WEDN

VS NORT

BLAST IS BACK

THIS SUMMER FRIDA FRIDAY 11 JUNE 18:30

BLAST I FRIDA VS YORKSHIRE VIKINGS

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24 | IN&AROUND

MINGHAM BEARS Your summer starts here at Emirates Riverside PLEASE MENTION IN&AROUND WHEN CONTACTING ADVERTISERS

NESAY 23 JUNE

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TICKETS START FROM ONLY £10 @ DURHAMCRICKET.CO.UK www.inandaroundmag.co.uk | 25 SUMMER CONCERTS PROUDLY SPONSORED BY TALENT 84

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5. Acidifying chicken’s water can help control their gut flora. Adding 15mls of apple cider vinegar to their drinking water twice a week will help keep this in check.

in association with

Backyard Chickens 1. Chickens should be provided with a covered area to protect them from wild birds, predators, direct sunlight, wind and rain. This will also be a requirement of letting chickens outside during an outbreak of Avian Influenza.

6. Chickens (like all birds) are inquisitive by nature and so plenty of environmental enrichment is essential.

Mixing the toys up every couple of weeks helps preventing them getting bored. They particularly like red, orange and yellow coloured toys – make your own by adding food colouring to water bottles and hanging them so they swing!

The attached diagram shows an ideal layout for a chicken – as always the bigger the area the better!

Key COOP

2. T wo food and water stations should be provided to prevent bullying. These should be replaced daily and the dishes cleaned out at least weekly.

3. A lthough they are not the best fliers, chickens like to perch and providing perching space is absolutely ideal!

4. C hickens also really enjoy a dust bath! Adding some diatomaceous earth to the baths can help prevent parasites.

If you would like to check that your pet is a healthy weight, or need advice on how to help your pet lose or gain weight, why not book an appointment on 0191 410 9674 for a weight check with one of our Veterinary Nurses?

Full range of veterinary services treatments available Fulland range of veterinary services and treatments available

26 | IN&AROUND

Outside run (Ideally with additional covering in places) Covered run Outside perches Water points Feeders Dust bath

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OPEN NOW

Book online www.thevirtualgolfcentre.co.uk

Or call us 07729 856 482 Pay per simulator not per person

The Virtual Golf Centre is Washington’s newest state of the art virtual golfing experience. Play courses from around the world, practice on the driving range, complete a gapping session or come for a fun experience.

Open to all golfing abilities We have 2 simulators in the centre, SkyTrak & FlightScope Mevo + along with a 3 hole putting green.

@virtualgolfcentre

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Bring your own clubs or use the centre’s for free. www.inandaroundmag.co.uk | 27

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is an organisation with 80 successful years of supporting local communities to make positive and lasting changes to their lives.

The charity is a specialist in providing education, training, employment and welfare support services for individuals from 11+, businesses and their employees, Veterans, those in Military service and their families. Our training schemes and apprenticeships respond to the needs of the people we work with to fulfil their training needs and prepare them for employment. We reinvest funding, trust and support into individuals who need a helping hand to reach their full potential. We specialise in supporting Veterans, disadvantaged young people and those furthest from the labour market.

The charity is currently working on the development of a community garden on the Mandale Business Park at Belmont Industrial Estate and are actively looking for volunteers to support this and other projects that are running. The current roles are: Garden Supporter: The garden is in the early stages of its development and there is lots of work still to be done.

If you enjoy spending time outdoors the greener things in life this could be the role for you. With groundworks underway it wont be long before there is lots of planting to be carried out and there is also a greenhouse to build!

Peer Mentors: Finchale work with a wide range of client groups in a variety of subjects from bricklaying to willow weaving. Peer Mentors can offer added value by sharing their skills or a trade, offer an impartial listening ear or provide support with key skills.

28 | IN&AROUND

Finchale Supporter: from administration and events to fundraising and social media we’re always grateful for the value that volunteers can add to our day to day work. If you’re looking for an opportunity to share your skills and support a local charity at the same time we’d love to hear from you.

If you’re interested in joining the Finchale family through any of the above opportunities or would like to find out more about the work that Finchale do please contact our team on : 0191 386 2634 or email enquiries@finchalegroup.co.uk

PLEASE MENTION IN&AROUND WHEN CONTACTING ADVERTISERS

People + Learning = Success

Finchale specialise in supporting individuals furthest from the labour market and military veterans"

Award winning training provider and registered charity

Our expert team of specialists provide: – Apprenticeships – Business & Enterprise Support – Construction Multi-skills – Employment Support – Fork Lift Truck – Volunteering – Wellbeing

Finchale + You = Life Changing Results Find out more

Learning + People = Success

T: 0191 386 2634 E: enquiries@finchalegroup.co.uk www.finchalegroup.co.uk

Find us on: www.inandaroundmag.co.uk | 29

PLEASE MENTION IN&AROUND WHEN CONTACTING ADVERTISERS

Our brewery is open to the public

Like us on

Mon to Sat 12.00pm - 4.30pm

• Flexible hours that suit you!

• Fully Insured

07711 184 396 | 01207 563 793 stanshadyman24@ gmail.com

www.stanscleaningservices.co.uk

home from home childminding

We are Durham's newest and smallest brewing company. Producing small batch flavour forward American style pale ales, ipa's and bold decadent stouts alongside other unique beer styles. Brewed, packaged and labelled by hand.

Quality Childcare in Newfield, Chester-Le-Street Less than 100 metres from Roseberry Primary School for pick up and drop offs Large outdoor space to learn and play Half term and summer holiday club 0-12 Years old Free funded places Enrolling for September

Charlotte BA (Hons) T: 07419 838519 E: hfhchildmindingne@gmail.com

W:www.homefromhomechildminding.info

Be seen.

0191 375 9615 devilstonebrewingco@gmail.com www.devilstonebrewing.com

0191 3882 698

cTc consett TILE centre

FOR ALL YOUR TILING NEEDS Ceramic - Mosaics Porcelain - Natural Stone We have a wide variety of tiles to choose from Public and Trade Welcome

Tel: 01207 580 895

Email: sales@consetttilecentre.co.uk Unit 17b, Number One Industrial Estate, Medomsley Road Workshops, DH8 6SY 30 | IN&AROUND

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MONDAY - FRIDAY

Full Days 8am - 6pm Half Days 8am - 1pm / 1pm - 6pm

SATURDAY 9am - 5pm

Greencroft Dog Day Care is a new day care facility for Dogs based in Greencroft Industrial Park. Our facility consists of a large indoor area and secure outdoor area including separate rest and feeding areas and also a separate puppy area if required.

Grooming Services Available

First half day induction is FREE for all new dogs coming to our Day Care for Dogs.

We look forward to meeting all your beautiful Dogs.

FULLY LICENCED BY

ANIMAL WELFARE

OUR LOCAL BUSINESS, IS RUN BY LOCAL PEOPLE HERE TO SUPPORT THE LOCAL COMMUNITY

BOOKING HOTLINE: 0191 389 8353 Follow us on Facebook

Greencroft Dog Day Care

david.lowes@greencroftdogdaycare.co.uk

greencroftdogdaycare.co.uk UNIT 11a, Greencroft Industrial Park, Parkhead, Stanley, Annfield Plain, DH9 7YB www.inandaroundmag.co.uk | 31

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McDonald’s opening new drivethru restaurant in Gilesgate As IN&AROUND went to press, the fast-food giant McDonald’s was set to open the doors of its latest drive-thru restaurant in County Durham, with a recruitment drive also announced.

The new site is close to Durham City on Dragon Lane, Gilesgate, and was set to open this month.

Local newspaper The Northern Echo reported that the restaurant was already looking to hire for both full-time and part-time positions.

It is expected that the new St Andrew’s Park eatery, which has been under construction for several months, will trade on a 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week basis.

News of the latest McDonald’s branch was first confirmed in 2018. The company previously indicated that the restaurant would open in “early 2020”, before providing a May 2021 date last year.

32 | IN&AROUND

Providing the area with a welcome jobs boost A McDonald’s UK spokesperson said: “We’re delighted to be opening this new restaurant and we’re so looking forward to getting to know more of the local community.

“We’d like to thank our hardworking crew and our new customers in advance for their support and patience as we continually adapt to the safest ways of working during the pandemic.”

The chain already has a presence in the Durham City area, in the form of a drive-thru restaurant at the Arnison Centre.

The newspaper stated that the combination of full and part-time roles the company was advertising came with an April start date.

The jobs were described as “fully flexible”, and were reportedly on offer to anyone over 18 years old, with salaries rising in line with the minimum wage.

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Shop Local

from your independent electrical retailer Price Match Guarantee | Super Service | Expert Knowledge | Contact-Free Delivery 800 Watt Microwave Oven

Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner

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Forsters (Radio & TV)

Victoria Road, Consett, DH8 5AZ 01207 502616 Facebook.com/ForstersConsett

*Terms and Conditions apply. Sold as an agent of Euronics Limited. All rights reserved. All offers are subject to availability while stocks last. Delivery & Installation charges may apply Exclusions and Radius Apply. See in store for full details. Images for illustration purposes www.inandaroundmag.co.uk only. Copyright Euronics 2020. E&OE 2020. | 33

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FILM REVIEW

The comedic superhero has become a strong trope in film – with comic-book adaptations like Deadpool, Shazam! and The Lego Batman Movie delightfully puncturing holes in the customary self-seriousness of the superhero genre. However, even many of its “serious” additions in recent years – see Ant-Man – are noticeably self-knowing about the inherent ridiculousness of random, Lycra-clad members of the public taking it upon themselves to apprehend criminals.

As a result, any new comedy superhero film has its work cut out to find something fresh and witty to say – something that the Netflix-exclusive Thunder Force, starring Melissa McCarthy and written and directed by her husband Ben Falcone, resolutely fails to do. In an interview, Falcone has said that his intention was simply to fill a superhero film with jokes rather than poke fun at the genre itself – but, even as a broad comedy, Thunder Force falls flat.

It doesn’t help that Falcone dedicates about the first 45 minutes to a needlessly convoluted and elaborate preamble that leaves little room for effortless humour.

In the alternate 1980s recalled by scientist Emily (played by Octavia Spencer as the straight woman to her bumbling friend, McCarthy’s Lydia), cosmic rays struck the world and imbued numerous sociopathic individuals with superpowers.

Later scenes work better, if only slightly. Lydia’s flirtatious run-in with “the Crab”, a pincer-handed half-Miscreant portrayed with a literal wink by Jason Bateman, echoes the hero-villain romance between Batman and Catwoman. Meanwhile, Bobby Cannavale plays a corrupt Lex Luthor type who has secretly recruited Miscreants to help him with his bid for the Chicago mayoralty.

Those people became known as “Miscreants” – but as the cosmic rays apparently and inexplicably left the “good guys” untouched, Emily has since worked hard to develop a formula that could give them superpowers and counter the Miscreant threat. Alas, after Emily finally perfects the formula, and only enough of it for one person at that, Lydia is accidentally injected with it during a visit to Emily’s Chicago lab.

However, these subplots reflect the core problem with Thunder Force: it hews so reverently to the established superhero film playbook that it struggles to find much it genuinely wants to mock. Rather than engaging with much of the silliness specific to superhero films, it’s more interested in Lydia talking with a mouth full of raw chicken slices or a minor character repeatedly messing up the delivery of a knock-knock joke. There’s little thunder to Thunder Force, but it lamentably feels forced all right.

The ensuing scenes as Emily helps Lydia to develop her newfound super strength are almost as laugh-free as the training montages in the purposefully po-faced Rocky films. The closest Thunder Force ever gets to truly funny here is when Lydia finds out to her dismay that, while she must take a series of torturous injections to hone her strength, Emily has to do little more than swallow a pill to gain the power of invisibility.

34 | IN&AROUND

Craig Lenaghan Copywriter

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Misted Glass? Draughty Windows?

Sticking Doors? Broken Locks/Handles?

We Repair Rather Than Replace, Giving You Better Value From Your Existing Windows and Doors.

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ASK MIKFOR E

J.E.D. DOUBLE GLAZING REPAIRS & INSTALLATIONS Making the most of your windows and doors www.jed-window-repairs.co.uk

SEASONED HARDWOOD LOGS WARD TIMBER LTD, ROGERLEY SAWMILL, FROSTERLEY, COUNTY DURHAM DL13 2QE Call us on 01388 528 362 or email sales@wardtimber.co.uk

Collection only www.inandaroundmag.co.uk | 35

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Free laptop for degree students at New College Durham At New College Durham, we’ve introduced a brand-new rewards package so students on our university level courses can get their studies off to the best possible start.

From September 2021, all new students starting a full-time higher education course will be given a free laptop. There’s also £100 to spend on study material at the college’s on-site shop so you can stock up on any books, stationery or art materials you need for your course. To make sure your first day at college goes smoothly, our free welcome pack comes complete with an A4 notepad, pen, highlighter and post-it notes, so you have everything you need right at hand.

New College Durham offers a varied range of degrees, HNCs/HNDs, higher apprenticeships and professional qualifications in a wide selection of subject areas. When studying with us, you’ll get the same high-quality qualification you would at a university but your experience along the way will be very different.

36 | IN&AROUND

We have smaller class sizes so you can have more support from you tutor. We hold lectures in classrooms for a more informal feel. Our part time study options mean courses can fit around your family or work commitments. Our modern campus is big enough to have all the facilities you need, yet small enough to feel you belong. As this is all on your doorstep, you don’t have to go far to get a first-class education.

To find out more about the exciting range of courses on offer come along to our Explore NCD event on Thursday 27 May from 4pm-7pm.

You can enjoy tours of our industry standard workshops, studios and teaching spaces, chat with course tutors, meet current students and speak to our experienced ASC team for careers and funding advice. Places are strictly limited, and booking is required. To secure your place go to www.newdur.ac.uk

PLEASE MENTION IN&AROUND WHEN CONTACTING ADVERTISERS

AT EXPLORE NCD Join us on-campus for our first ever interactive student showcase and advice & guidance event. >> Tour our industry standard workshops, studios and teaching spaces

>> Chat to our dedicated A-Levels team about our Sixth Form Centre

>> Enjoy shows from our talented music and performing arts students

>> Find out more about our wide range of hands-on courses and T-Level qualifications

>> Watch demos from our current students

>> Discover how you can earn while you learn with an apprenticeship

>> Take your career to the next level with one of our fantastic degree level courses or professional qualifications

>> Speak to our experienced ASC team for careers and funding advice

Thursday 27 May, 4pm-7pm Secure your place now at www.newdur.ac.uk.

Places are strictly limited, and booking is required. Booking closes at 12 noon on Tuesday 25 May.

LET’S GET YOU THERE www.inandaroundmag.co.uk | 37

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COMPETITION CORNER YOU HAVE THE CHANCE TO WIN...

Simply complete one of the puzzles on this page and fill in the entry form below.

wordsearch

2 Course Meal for 2* Courtesy of

Fabios 191 Front Street, Chester le Street T: 0191 597 7039 *Takeaways Only

sudoku

easy

barbeque beach

diy

family friends

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Name: Address:

Postcode: Email: Competition end date 20th May 2021.

The winner will receive a letter from Jak HQ within 14 days of the competition closing date.

Send all entries to: Competition Department, Unit 4, Station Road, Chester-le-Street, DH3 3DY 38 | IN&AROUND

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ADVENTURE VALLEY INVESTS IN NEW FACILITIES TO MAKE WELCOME RETURN The North East’s biggest family adventure park, has invested almost £200,000 to ensure families are welcomed back with an experience that was worth waiting for.

Adventure Valley in Durham has utilised its downtime to invest in brand new state-of-the-art facilities for families and children to enjoy after months of lockdown, including £100,000 on a mini train ride that can take up to 14 passengers.

To utilise more of its outdoor space, the park has also invested £80,000 in a new external play dome, complete with a climbing pyramid with three-dimensional nets at thrilling heights, bouncing routes, climbing walls and slides as well as £15,000 on a new outdoor aqua blaster, where children can fire water at different targets.

Owner, Marco Calzini said: “Lockdown restrictions over the past 12 months have been an incredibly difficult time for us, yet we haven’t stood still. We wanted to ensure that when families do return to us, we give them an experience that was worth waiting for and even more fun and thrilling adventures. We are relieved to finally be opening our doors once again and cannot wait to welcome people back.”

BUSINESS

Adventure Valley gained business advice from Robson Laidler Accountants in Durham, who successfully secured the park the full amount of a Business Interruption Insurance Claim due to Covid-19, as well as strategy planning and cashflow forecasting to make investment decisions to futureproof the business.

Marco said: “The business advisors at Robson Laidler are an integral part of our investment planning strategy, helping us to secure suitable funds and manage cashflow to enable us to make these decisions.”

Robson Laidler director John Holbrook said: “It’s been difficult to see successful businesses such as Adventure Valley have to close their doors and stop trading due to the pandemic. We have worked closely with Marco to help his business not only survive during these times but prepare to come out the other side and thrive. Our aim is to make a positive difference to our clients and the greater community, and we are confident in the financial gain that this investment will bring to the business as well as the positive impact it will make to many families who are excited to have fun days out together again. As a father myself I cannot wait to bring my family to the park and try the new activities.”

ADVISORS

IF YOUR BUSINESS NEEDS PLANNING, CASHFLOW OR FUNDING ADVICE, PLEASE VISIT:

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Enjoy Your conservatory all year round Conservatories are a fantastic space to enjoy whilst looking out onto your garden, they are bright, spacious and give you a great sense of closeness to the outdoors. However, as most conservatory owners will know that, whilst they bring all of those benefits, it is usually short lived and can only be enjoyed for two or three months of the year, the rest of those months being either freezing cold or blisteringly hot.

At Thermos Roof, we have been insulating conservatory roofs since 2005 for two main reasons, the first to increase its insulating performance and secondly to enhance its internal aesthetic appearance.

Experience will have shown you that in the winter as soon as you open the door the heat is sucked out of your room into the conservatory, and during the summer it becomes a dazzling sauna that’s so hot you need a fan to cool you down. At Thermos Roof we can transform your conservatory from a room you barely use into a room that you can enjoy all year round because the temperature is comfortable and constant, you will even be able to watch TV or use a computer without sunglasses.

What is most impressive is that we can do this all in one day! With no mess!

We retain your existing polycarbonate or glass roof and insulate it from the inside, finishing it in an attractive gloss white tongue and groove PVC cladding that matches perfectly with the rest of your conservatory construction. The materials we use are lightweight, therefore no roof strengthening is required, no planning application is necessary and no long periods of mess and upheaval in your home. In addition to this the look and finish of your Thermos Roof will be as fresh in 10 years as it is now.

The performance of the lightweight insulation system will equal that of vastly more expensive options, with less mess and waste, and less time to install saving you thousands of pounds and allowing you to enjoy your conservatory immediately.

We can install a Thermos Roof to conservatories of any size or shape transforming them into a flowing extension of your living space wherein its use is not dictated by the external weather conditions, it will become warm in winter and cool in summer.

In addition to the above benefits, our team will eliminate mould and condensation, reduce rain, noise and serve to cover up an unsightly dirty roof. The gloss white finish will make it brighter in the evenings by reflecting light and will give your conservatory that WOW factor, making it a great place to relax or work.

All installations come with a 5 year warranty and we guarantee that you will be amazed with both the improved appearance and the insulating performance of your new roof.

We offer a free quotation service for the installation of your Thermos Roof and should you require it we can also undertake maintenance works to repair or replace gutters, fascias, soffits, window sills, roof panels and leaking roofs.

Please give us a call today to start the ball rolling to making full use of your Conservatory!

Call Steve on 01670 828 695 or 07901 506 645 or visit our website www.thermosroof.co.uk 40 | IN&AROUND

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HAGGERSTON CASTLE HOLIDAY PARK Luxury holiday home / Private let / Dogs welcome Quiet location / Terrace overlooks golf course Call Carrie: 07495 040307 / Email: janandcarrie88@gmail.com The Retreat Haggerston Castle

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What’s on

BALTIC Open Submission

Online This major open-call exhibition at BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art, Gateshead features works by more than 150 artists and makers based in North East England, selected through an open-call application process. The exhibition showcases a wide range of artists and media, including painting, drawing, print, sculpture, ceramics, installation, video and sound works. Visit www.baltic.art for a 3D virtual tour of the exhibition, which runs until 5th September 2021.

People Make Lumiere: the festival behind-the-scenes

Online While the UK’s largest light festival is not set to be held again on the streets of Durham until 18th to 21st November 2021, in the meantime, this online exhibition remains available to sate your appetite. It features 42 previously unseen works by photographer Matthew Andrews, taking a look “behind-the-scenes” at past Lumiere festivals. In the process, it celebrates the many unsung heroes – ranging from technicians and engineers to artists and audiences – who make this complex event happen. The online gallery is available to view at www.lumiere-festival.com.

Boogie On Up with Bonnie and The Bonnettes

Online The dynamic, foot-stomping drag trio Bonnie and The Bonnettes have joined forces with Newcastle’s Live Theatre to help stave off that remaining lockdown boredom, with a new eight-part series of barnstorming, pant-wetting and glitter-throwing

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performances. In addition to the four episodes that are already online at www.live.org.uk, further instalments will go live on the afternoons of Friday 14th May, Wednesday 26th May, Monday 14th June, and Saturday 26th June. All episodes are free, and approximately three minutes long.

Family Activities at Durham University Library and Collections

Online While Durham University’s three museums – the Oriental Museum, the Museum of Archaeology and Castle Museum – remain closed at the time of typing, there are still plentiful resources to access online that bring the collections to you and your household.

These include simple craft activities that can be tried at home, and that are generally suitable for children aged from five to 11 years, with a grown-up’s assistance. Point your browser to www.dur.ac.uk/4schools/learningonline/ familyactivities/ to find out more.

Central Park

Times Square, Newcastle upon Tyne From late April, Newcastle’s Times Square is set to be transformed into Central Park, ushering in the return of the Great British Summer. This pop-up park in the heart of the Toon will serve as the North East’s biggest beer garden every weekend in May, and daily throughout June and July. A fully transformed performance square, it’ll be the perfect place to enjoy the best summer sport on a gigantic LED screen, along with craft beers, cocktails and tasty street food.

You can find out the latest information – and book your table – at www.centralparknewcastle.co.uk.

Get money towards your advertising...

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The funding can be used for : In&Around ads, Websites, Social Media, branding and Print!

Speak to our funding experts to find out how we can help.

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£6 million Chester-le-Street flood prevention scheme now completed Work has now finished on a major scheme designed to attract more visitors to a County Durham market town, while minimising the risk of flooding.

The project has opened up a 90-metre stretch of the Cong Burn, which has run underneath the town’s Market Place for over half a century.

The scheme has not only helped to make the reoccurrence of past flooding problems in the area less likely, but has also allowed for a more attractive public area to be created, including new seating and open spaces.

Joint funding for the undertaking came from Durham County Council, the Environment Agency, and the European Regional Development Fund.

“An economic boost to the town” Durham County Council leader, Councillor Simon Henig, commented: “This is a very significant scheme for Chester-le-Street. Not only will it reduce the risk of flooding to the town, but it will also help to reinvigorate the town centre.

“The market has moved forward to a much more prominent position closer to the front street and the whole area has a much more welcoming feel.

“With businesses set to open following lockdown, we’re hoping the refurbished market place will 44 | IN&AROUND

offer an economic boost to the town, supporting the recovery process.

“And, looking further ahead, the potential to hold events in the market place offers an added opportunity to attract visitors who may not have considered coming to Chester-le-Street before.”

Helping to combat a longstanding flooding risk Chester-le-Street is no stranger to flooding; in June 2012, for instance, a severe storm affected more than 100 homes and businesses.

The Cong Burn, also often referred to as Chester Burn, has been partly blamed for the problem.

The local authority and the Environment Agency therefore decided to carry out the flood prevention scheme, in partnership with Esh Construction. The project has included works near Cone Terrace and Menceforth Cottages, as well as the extension of the flood wall to the west of the viaduct.

Another part of the work has been the removal of a large combined sewer from the culvert downstream of the market place – a move that has boosted flow capacity and lowered the risk of blockages.

The Market Place itself, meanwhile, has had its fixed market stalls removed, the area also being landscaped with new footpaths and seating.

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Weighing up your options?

We want to help you reach your weight goals but in a healthy and sustainable way. That's why, at Lanchester Pharmacy, we pair our pharmacists’ ongoing support and advice with a prescription medication treatment to help you lose weight in a safe way.

Lanchester P H A R M A C Y

Pop in store and ask our pharmacist to find out more Visit our website to find out more at

www.lanchesterpharmacy.co.uk 15 Front St, Lanchester, Durham DH7 0LA www.inandaroundmag.co.uk | 45

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Strawberry Shortcake Slice Layer biscuits with strawberries and cream and they'll soften to create an indulgent no-bake dessert. Super easy and delicious, it's a fabulous summer treat

Prep: 25 mins

Easy

Plus overnight chilling

Ingredients

Directions

• 600ml double cream

Step1

• 1 tbsp vanilla bean paste • 1 tbsp orange blossom water • 125g icing sugar , plus 2 tbsp • 500g shortcake biscuits, plus 3 crushed • 350g strawberries, sliced

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Line a 20cm cake tin or dish (either a square or rectangle works well) with cling film, leaving an overhang. Whip 500ml of the cream, the vanilla, orange blossom water and 125g icing sugar with an electric whisk until thick and billowy.

STEP 2

Add a layer of biscuits to the tin, and spoon over some of the cream, about 1cm thick all over. Add a layer of strawberry slices, then repeat with the cream, biscuits and strawberries until you fill the tin, finishing on a layer of biscuit. You’ll have some strawberries left over to serve.

Press everything down well so every biscuit is covered in cream. Cover and chill overnight.

Makes 14

STEP 3

To serve, flip the tin onto a serving plate, and remove the cling film. Whip the remaining 100ml cream with 1 tbsp icing sugar and dollop on top of the cake, swirling it around. Top with the remaining strawberry slices in lines, sift over the remaining 1 tbsp icing sugar, and sprinkle the biscuit crumbs in between the rows of strawberries. Cut into slices to serve.

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AN award-winning home care brand delivering care to the residents of Durham and beyond.

Liz, her son Tom and daughter Roberta are the proud owners and operators of Blossom Home Care Durham. The Chapmans were all born and raised in County Durham and have worked in the North East for a number of years, so they know the area well and are really proud to be part of the Blossom family.

Established by John and registered Nurse Fiona Leggott, Blossom Home Care deliver high-quality home care to adults with home care needs through a minimum 50-minute call, set visit times and individualised care plans. A holistic approach ensures client needs are fully met and the 50-minute minimum call also means Carers have time to interact with clients and do all the things that really matter to them. Electronic records are also visible through the feedback system to consented relatives which provides transparent care.

Working alongside Allison Carrel their experienced, qualified Registered Manager, are a team of handpicked Carers capable of delivering the quality experience clients expect from Blossom Home Care. The team follow a strict recruitment process which means only Carers who believe in delivering

“The care and wellbeing of our clients are at the heart of everything we do” Liz, Tom and Bobbie Chapman ‘just bloomin’ good care’ are employed. Roberta commented: “We are committed to ensuring that client needs are at the centre of everything we do, and to recruiting the very best carers so, if you are a carer who wants to be rewarded for the job you do so well give us a call. We want to recruit the very best carers those who are kind, caring and skilled, with no criminal record and exceptional references, as this safeguards clients and, offers them the peace of mind they deserve.”

The Chapmans look forward to demonstrating personally how their commitment to care quality standards set Blossom Home Care Durham apart from the rest. They are fully committed to delivering bloomin’ good care in the city, towns, villages and farms across the county of Durham and beyond. If you’d like to know more about Blossom and the bloomin’ good care on offer, call 0191 389894, visit www.blossomhomecare.co.uk or email durham@blossomhomecare.co.uk.

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