In&A Nov 2022

Enjoy luxurious glasses at an affordable price with

Clinic!

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Looking to freshen up your home?

Weather it be something small, like changing the taps /cupboard door handles or a whole new kitchen or bathroom James Cornwell Interiors Ltd have you covered.

Quality craftmanship at an affordable price...

We o er refurbishments to fit your buget and requirements. We are working with ideal4finance.com

o ering a 0% finance* option making that dream home more obtainable. Why not speak to a member of our team about how you could possibly save up 20% o your new bathroom.

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At James Cornwell Interiors Ltd we pride ourselves on our excellent customer service and carry extensive warranties on all of our work.

Come visit our showroom, we’re happy to guide you though or answer any questions that you may have.

Read what our customers’ have to say...

“We couldn’t be happier with the kitchen and the work carried out by your team, the quality and attention to detail is second to none. From the start every time we asked for something we got it with no questions asked, nothing was a problem, every job was planned and organised down to the finest detail. We asked for a wow kitchen and that’s what we have”

to terms

available

conditions

It’s the run up to winter, and we’re officially advertising Christmas events - does this mean it’s finally the festive season? Of course, we have Bonfire Night to celebrate first, and you can get yourself in the mood by sampling our recipe for Spiced Toffee Apple Cake. You could enjoy it while you get snuggled up on the sofa and watch our movie recommendation; this month we’ve reviewed The Woman King.

As we approach the end of the year, we have loads of fantastic events coming up in the Durham area. Flick ahead to page 58 to see exactly what people are up to in November, and to find yourself a fun activity. As always, we have all of the most important news from the local area featured too - you can find it on page 10 and page 16.

That’s all for November! We’ll be back in December to grace you with festive goodness and Christmas delight. Have an amazing time, and we’ll see you soon!

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

Why

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.

24/7 support at the press of a button

For

24/7 support at the press of a button

Our community alarm service helps give you peace of mind. Worried about a loved one, but still keen to retain their independence?

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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

Independence at home is very important, especially as we get older

Care Connect and response service provided by Durham County Council.

A lifeline unit is plugged into the home telephone point. The customer will receive a personal alarm pendant that’s worn around the neck or on a wrist strap.

If they ever need to raise the alarm, all they need to do is press that button and the service automatically knows who they are, where they live and will make sure the right help is sent to them.

Care Connect in three locations in County Durham, all which provide a 24-hour response.

Here’s what Care Connect customer Ken has to say about the service:

“My wife and I use Care Connect often, as she has been falling quite a lot lately. I couldn’t be without them because they arrive very quickly. If it wasn’t for Care Connect my wife and I might be in hospital as we have nobody else. They help us tremendously, they are excellent”.

Our Telecare Responders love their job, like Andrea.

“I have real job satisfaction; no two days are the same! It does require flexibility and the ability to adapt to different situations, however it is a

“Every day I meet so many different customers who benefit from Care Connect. It makes such a difference to each of those individual’s needs - I think helping people remain independent at home with support is really important in our community and I have such a sense of belonging in my job because of this.”

How much it costs

From as little as £5.38 per week + VAT, you and your family could have peace of mind and the reassurance Care Connect provides. There is a one-off connection charge of £33.99 this will be advised at installation.

There can be additional charge of £3.17 per week + VAT if a SIM card needs to be installed in the alarm unit.

Additional features can be incorporated into your support package, at a small charge such as reassurance calls, weekly visits, additional or lost pendants and monitored smoke detectors. We also provide Telecare which are aids around the home such as fall detectors, epilepsy sensors, door and exit sensors. Rest assured, Care Connect will have an option to help.

Bye bye Sunderland airshow

It was the biggest airshow in Europe, and now it’s over. Sunderland Airshow has been cancelled indefinitely, as Sunderland council says it wants to make the city carbon neutral.

The popular event attracted thousands of people to Roker every year and was last held in 2019, as subsequent dates were cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Sunderland Airshow has been officially recognised as England’s Best Tourism Experience, attracting visitors from across the North East and the rest of the country, as well as aviation geeks, for the 30 years it was a permanent fixture in the North East’s calendar.

Humble Beginnings

The airshow began as part of the sixweek River Wear Festival and saw 250,000 people attend the first show in 1989. To the organisers excitement, the event succeeded all expectations and continued to grow, leading to the decisions that it would become a regular summer attraction.

It took three years before organisers realised the airshow needed two days to really thrive, and

while bad weather did put in an appearance, over 200,000 people still turned out to watch some fantastic displays.

Over the years, Seaburn beach has played host to some major guests, including Concord, and displays have been put on by pilots across the world. Regular guests, such as the RAF Falcons parachute team, became firm favourites, and soon vintage planes began joining the flight.

One Last Flight

While we didn’t know it at the time, the three day event that took place in July 2019 was the last Sunderland International Airshow we would see for a long time. The final acts included The Tigers Army Parachute Display Team, RAF Typhoon, Ultimate Fighters and the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.

The Airshow will be missed by all of us, though we do understand that it’s in the best interest of the planet that it ends. Hopefully one it can make a return, when we’ve worked out an amazing carbon neutral fuel method, we can see the Airshow make a return.

Affordable Luxury with

CONCEPT EYE CLINIC

Tucked away on Saddler Street in the heart of Durham city, you will find a rather different kind of opticians. Eye wear at Concept Eye Clinic (formerly Wade opticians) is chosen carefully serving the wonderfully eclectic palettes of the people who travel here for their eye examination or, who just pop in to browse the latest offerings. Frames here have their own narrative. Retro, luxury and often hallmarked by an unusual design feature and material. The Barton Perreira collection is in a class of it’s own.. It’s acetate is made from an organic, hypoallergenic plastic that is derived from wood pulp and cotton fibres to create durable, flexible, and sustainable frames that will endure a lifetime of wear. After a piece is sculpted, it undergoes a final polishing by hand to ensure a soft, seamless feel from front to temple.

Every Perreira frame goes through a 4-day journey of polishing and tumbling in plastic, wood & bamboo materials, and then a two-step

hand-buffed process for an ultra-smooth and seamless finish. Once a frame is shaped, Japanese artisans add Barton Perreira’s signature touches, from intricate, hand-engraved filigree to stunning accents and patterns achieved through innovative technologies. Each piece is meticulously inspected to meet highest quality standards before it is added to the Concept collection.

They call it a ‘natural instinct’. We like the people behind Barton Perreira. Anarchic curators and innovators of fashion who designed for and inspired Vera Wang, Prada, Miu Miu and Paul Smith and Oliver People.

It’s all about who you are .

Ok, so one can describe the acetate, hinge technology or hand made quality, but holding it in your hands and of course trying a pair cannot replace the visceral experience. The

sheer pleasure. Don’t take this as gospel. You’re very welcome to browse and see for yourself.

Concept Eye Clinic is after all, the ‘art of the optometrist’ –where luxury and probably the best eye care in the region is attentively affordable. Barton Perreira commands it’s own lexicon. This luxury eyewear brand was born out of independence, intuition and freedom.

At Concept we believe that access to the best eye care possible is not just a privilege but a human right. As the cost of living rises, there is no exorbitant premium here on health and wellbeing.

Recognising that contact lens and spectacle wearers are increasingly discerning about value for money in the optical market, Concept offers an interest-free membership programme for continuous care. Each plan is bespoke to clinical need and designed to provide an integrative and affordable advanced luxury eye care and style package for all our patients.

Stockist of of the best high street fashion brands.

Meet Peter Haney; Consett’s eco-friendly window and door fitter

Peter Haney is a leading manufacturer, supplier and installer of energy efficient windows, doors, composite doors, bifold doors and conservatory warm roofs.

As the only manufacturers in Consett, you can guarantee that when you choose to purchase your energy efficient items from Peter Haney, you know you’re choosing the best in the business.

With over 40 years of experience under our belt, it goes without saying that we know our stuff, and we are amongst the most experienced in our business. There isn’t a question about energy efficient doors and windows that we don’t have the answer to, or the ability to learn about.

As a family run business, we appreciate each and every customer who comes through our door and supports our local business. By keeping our business in the family, we work amazingly as a team, and strive to achieve the best results possible. We aren’t just connected by the

business, we’re connected by blood.

We offer free estimates before we complete any manufacturing work or installations, as well as offering a huge variety of styles. Call today and speak to us, so we can show you exactly how our products can help to upgrade the aesthetics of your home.

Peter Haney Energy Efficient Windows Ltd is proud to offer quotes via email, in person or over the phone, when you get in touch with us to book an appointment. You can reach us on 07808795677, or by email at peterhaney@sky.com.

HANEY

Read our great reviews on facebook...

I would highly recommend Peter and team, first class job by very pleasant guys when they replaced both windows and doors. Thanks again Peter Susan

Howzat! Durham Cricket’s First Food And Drink Festival Hailed a Success

A NEW food and drink festival has hit it out of the park – being hailed a huge success.

Durham Cricket’s Chester-le-EATS event took place earlier this month (OCTOBER) and organisers say it was an “overwhelming success”.

Thousands of foodie lovers turned out in the sunshine to enjoy the North East’s finest street food as well as shop for local produce from artisan producers –providing a significant boost to businesses trading as well as to Chester-le-Street.

Rob Warren, Durham Cricket’s Venue Director, said: “It was great to be involved in the launch and delivery of Chester-le-Eats. The concept was born during covid, and we wanted to create an event where the local community could come down to Seat Unique Riverside for a free event and enjoy food and drink from North East vendors, whilst listening to some amazing solo artists and groups.

“To see how well the event was attended in year one was very pleasing and it will act as a stepping stone to future years where we hope to see the event grow and become a must-attend in everybody’s calendar.”

Ythan Sale, Durham Cricket’s Events Manager, said: “It’s been such a pleasure to be a part of the first

annual Chester-le-EATS. From concept to execution, it’s been so much fun producing a new, exciting event for Chester-le-Street. The weekend has been an overwhelming success and we’re already in talks to make the event bigger and better next year. We can’t thank the local community enough for getting behind this.”

On the menu was cuisine from around the world with Caribbean, Greek and Bangladeshi dishes as well as loaded fries and plenty more.

Visitors were also able to pick up everything from homemade piccalilli, Geordie sausages to cupcakes, sweet treats and gin, rum and vodka all made by producers from the region.

Martin Summers, the co-founder of Clarence Spirits –which produces St Mary’s Gin, Rum and Vodka, said: “Wow, what a weekend. Events like this really help us get our brand out there on our home turf in the North East – and are a great revenue stream to businesses.”

Martin, who set up the business with his wife, Julie, added: “The event was extremely well organised, had a fantastic attendance and we’ll 100% be back again next year.”

Solar energy is the future!

The uncertainty we’re all facing with our energy bills at the moment has led to a huge uptake in renewable energy solutions to save people money and future-proof their home. We believe solar is the future for consumers and here’s a just few reasons to consider this for your home...

Generate energy even on cloudy, overcast days

Of course, solar panels are most effective when it’s a sunny, bright day. However, even when just a few rays of sunlight are trickling through to your solar panels, they can continue to generate electricity.

Store excess energy in a solar battery

Adding a battery to your system means you can store excess energy generated by your panels throughout the day and use it later on when your home is more active, which tends to be in the evening.

Make money by exporting excess solar energy

With a battery system in place you can store surplus energy for personal use, or you can even make money from it. Under the Smart Export Guaran tee (SEG), you can earn money by selling excess energy generated back to the Grid. This is a fantastic example of how a solar panel and battery system can simultaneously save and make you money.

At Dream Doors we offer a cost effective, quality, long lasting solution to improving your tired looking kitchen...

As a local family run business, we go the extra mile to take the stress and hassle out of getting a new kitchen. Our team were proud to receive a record number of positive Checktrade reviews in September from delighted customers. So, If you would like to find out why so many customers recommend us to friends and family, then get in touch!

now for

showing what

you and your kitchen

With hundreds of colours and styles to choose from, as well as being able to produce doors and panels in any shape or size, we can create stunning made to measure kitchens to suit any taste!

Young Hero Awards Durham Constabulary

On Sunday 9th October 2022 Officers from Chester-Le-Street police station made an unannounced visit to an address in Chester-le-Street to surprize two Young Heroes with a bravery award. These two young boys had to deal with their father who had collapsed and needed immediate medical help. They called the ambulance and other family members that they needed help!

Their mother Lynsey Leitch contacted us and told us the following,

Their bravery and resilience have amazed me, and I am so proud of them. Kieran plays for a local football team and last year, just after Chris died, we held a charity match for CHUF where we raised over £1700 and this year, we did the same, raising over £500 for St Cuthberts hospice who provided us with bereavement support. The club had a trophy made in Chris’s honour and we hope to hold a charity match each year for the Chris Leitch cup.”

Young Heroes are, Kieran aged 12 years and his brother Ethan aged 7 years. Pictures, Adrian, Ethan, Kieran, and Lynsey Leitch

Officers who looked at the nominations for Young Heroes and selected these two amazing boys were.

PCSO Adrian Richards, Chester-Le-Street police

Acting Sergeant Nick Minto, Chester-le-Street police

DEGREESWITHADIFFERENCE ONYOURDOORSTEP

Study for a degree with New College Durham University Centre! NCD offers the perfect way to gain higher level qualifications whilst staying local.

And the benefits go far beyond convenience. Students love studying at NCD University Centre so much that in the latest National Student Survey, the college received an impressive 89 per cent rating for student satisfaction - a massive 13 per cent higher than the average overall satisfaction score for most colleges and universities.

Learning at NCD University Centre is delivered in informal classroom settings and class sizes are kept small to provide a supportive and friendly learning experience.

BSc Sport & Exercise Development student, Lynsay agreed: “The tutors on the course are brilliant, they go above and beyond, and I couldn’t praise them enough.”

NCD University Centre offers over 50 different courses. This includes their popular BA (hons) in Social Work and BSc (hons) in Podiatry. Those studying on the Podiatry degree can access a learning support fund annually of between £6000 - £8000 to support with study costs. They also learn in the college’s own clinical facilities in Bishop Auckland and Durham.

Other courses available range from creative courses such as visual arts, graphic design and media, to performancebased courses such as music and performing arts; and from professional courses such as business and IT, to caring courses such as counselling and health and social care.

Explore the full range of courses and apply now at www.newcollegedurham.ac.uk/ university-centre

PLEASE MENTION IN&AROUND WHEN CONTACTING ADVERTISERS and where not possible, choosing the most recyclable on the market i.e. buster collars, microchips, syringes

in association with

Sustainability, the Wrights way...

Currently there is a significant drive towards being green, reducing our carbon footprints and being environmentally sustainable. The veterinary industry produces a lot of waste every year. One of our main objectives at Wrights’ Vets is to be as sustainable as possible. We do this by:

• Choosing an electricity company that uses 100% renewable sources

• Attempting to replace written communication with our clients with text or email

• Working on making all of our consent forms electronic and signed digitally

• Ensuring our staff pension schemes are invested in sustainable industries

• Finding alternative materials to plastic where possible i.e. bamboo litter trays and feeding bowls,

• Normally using gloves made from biodegradable nitrile, rather than plastic

• Recycling our used syringes, packaging and even empty and washed pet food packets

• Reducing our medicine and consumable deliveries to help reduce our carbon footprints

• Using anaesthetic machines that recycle more of the exhaled gas allowing less to escape into the environment

• Having uniforms made from recycled plastic bottles

• Planting trees in Yorkshire to offset the impact of cremation after euthanasias

• Many of the fixtures and fittings in the practice have been recycled from the building’s previous tenants

If you can suggest other ways that can help us in our aim to become as green as possible please speak to one of the team.

range of veterinary services and treatments availableFull range of veterinary services and treatments available

Get into your loft, and into the Christmas Spirit, safely this year!

Approximately 1,000 people a year are hurt when decorating their homes for Christmas each year according to RoSPA. Injuries include; children biting into glass baubles, adults falling whilst using unstable chairs instead of ladders to put up streamers and ceiling decorations, and, of course, falling out of lofts whilst looking for the Christmas decorations!

For many home owners, the loft is an underutilised area because it can be difficult and dangerous to reach. Durham based loft ladder installer

Access4Lofts (whose slogan is ‘creating space the easy way’) can change all that, often in less than a day! For extra peace of mind, Access4Lofts is an approved Which? Trusted Trader which means they have been assessed by Which? and passed their stringent checks.

Access4Lofts can help minimise the risk of injury by installing a sturdy loft ladder, so you can safely and easily access your loft. “Of course, you’ve always got to be careful when using any sort of ladder, but you’re certainly taking the safer option by using a loft ladder rather than balancing on a chair to climb up into your loft” says Simon Dovaston from Access4Lofts. “And, with our range of telescopic loft ladders that fit even the smallest of loft spaces, there’s no excuse for a dangerous balancing act this year!”

A Quiet Afternoon in the Scottish Borders RESTON for AYTON CASTLE

On

many journeys north over the border, I have admired the red brick baronial style castle on the north side of the railway line a er the train turns inland from Berwick. I established from Streetmap that I was looking at Ayton Castle, in private ownership and not generally open to the public. e two gentlemen from London who own the Castle have, however, opened a railway line in the grounds in and the Ayton Castle Railway now runs on occasional dates from the Eyemouth Road entrance to the Castle where there is a tea rooms with attractive railway ephemera.

Reston Station reopened for business on 23rd May 2022, and I combined a visit there and to Ayton Castle, on 27th August. e station is a minor stop on the East Coast Main Line and opened a er a £20 million investment, replacing an earlier station that closed in 1964. e large car park never had more than ten cars in it, and many of those were using the electric charging points rather than connecting with trains.

If you take an irregular rail service and combine it with irregular bus service, surprise surprise that they do not connect up. I had given up waiting for the 253 at 1251 and set o on foot but met it at the other end of Reston

village. Five minutes later I was in Ayton, walking up from the South Lodge to nd the 10 1/4in gauge railway for the short ride to Castle View Halt, and a pleasant chat with the lady in the tea rooms dispensing co ee and cake in the Station Bu et which is inside the Castle. e locomotive which plies the line is known as Lloyd and local volunteers keep the line running.

e line is not long at 500m and, with no access to the Castle on a tour, which I would have enjoyed, I walked back to the South Lodge. I was uncertain what to do in the remaining 4 ½ hours before my train direct back from Reston to Chester-Le-Street - a real treat when most trains from my local station run no further north than Newcastle.

However, it is a long time from 1500 to 1942, and my best option seemed to be the Travelsure bus from Ayton to Duns, which is a small Scottish town I had not visited before.

Unfortunately, I would only have twenty minutes from arrival to departure on the same and last bus.

So there was no time to have more than the briefest view of mostly closed shops and facilities. Duns is the home of the Jim Clark Motorsport Musuem, dedicated to the

Formula 1 racing driver killed in 1968 a er an illustrious career on the track, who came from the area (not open Wednesdays) but no time to do that.

I took the bus back to Auchencraw and spent a couple of hours in the pub, and booked a Pingo (a demand responsive bus service in Berwickshire) to run me back to Reston for the train. When these little buses run about with only one or two people, it’s di cult to conclude they are nothing di erent to a cheap taxi with more empty seats. It turned up on time such that back in Reston I walked alongside the Eye Water, and met a man testing out his new drone in his front garden. I sat on the station platform until the direct train to Chester-le-Street came in (other stations are available). Sometimes it’s just a case of me making the journey, so you don’t have to.

Bewick Mobility

Bewick Mobility is a family run business and started in 1981 as a specialist driving school, assessing and teaching in adapted vehicles.

We fitted our first set of hand controls in 1991 and have since grown into the North East’s leading vehicle adaptation and barrier free living specialists.

showroom in Blaydon is fully stocked with mobility scooters and electric

of all sizes from folding to large 8mph.

Motability accredited and operate the PWSS Motability lease scheme for qualifying clients. We have fully adapted vehicles for driving assessment by our qualified instructor. There is so much available to help with your independent driving be it illness or amputation.

Lanchester

Protect yourself this winter with the u jab

Winter is coming and we all know what that means... Don't worry, however, because the best way to help protect yourself from catching and spreading u is to have the u jab. Due to recent events surrounding COVID-19, this is more important now than ever before - don't leave yourself open to the risk.

means

We o er everything imaginable in print from day to day business stationery to invitations for birthdays, weddings and parties of all kinds.

Need promotional items for your business or event…we’ve got you covered there too

We can also design and build you the website of your dreams with our in-house tech savvy developers... and even help you to get funding towards the cost

Jak has been in Chester Le Street for over 17 years, our door is always open and the kettle is always on, drop in and see what we can do for you.

Estabulo Rodizio Bar & Grill is a brand new authentic Brazilian Rodizio dining experience located on The Riverwalk, Durham. When we were invited to attend the restaurant’s official opening night, we couldn’t wait to experience the true taste of Brazilian Rodizio for ourselves.

With a dark, lavish interior, sumptuous lighting, and a welcoming atmosphere, you know right away from the moment you arrive at Estabulo that you're in for a fine dining experience like no other. We were met with incredible customer service and shown to our table which provided panoramic views over the river Wear and Durham Castle. It wasn't long before our eyes detected the heavenly food that we’d soon be tucking into all night long.

Estabulo is unlike any other restaurant: inspired by traditional Rodizio, the fixed price offers diners an unlimited table-side service of 15 different cuts of meat, unlimited sides, and access to a fancy salad bar and hot buffet. Drinks could be ordered from the touchscreen menu system on the table. The salad bar served up a delicious selection of cold meats, salads, sushi, sauces and other appetising picky bits to go alongside the 15 cuts of exquisitely grilled meat.

When seated in the remarkably decorated dining area, knowledgeable staff seamlessly moved to and from our table with huge skewers of meat which they offered to carve off in as little or large amounts as we wished. Upon arrival, a card shaped like a beer mat is provided to help indicate whether or not you want some more meat. When flipped on its green side, staff stop and offer to carve you one of their many showstopping slices of meat - the mouth-watering meats include an assortment of beef steaks such as sirloin and beef skirt, chicken, lamb, and pork. When you need a break, you can

simply turn your card to its red side.

It’s fair to say that we ate like kings and certainly filled our boots with some of the finest grilled meats that had been cooked in traditional Churrascaria style. If that wasn’t enough, we were also delighted to be offered a plethora of sides to compliment the succulent steaks. From classic potato fries to finger-licking halloumi fries and possibly the tastiest garlic bread ever, we felt there was so much choice of food and were stunned by the level of service from everyone involved.

Brazilian carnival dancers, upbeat music and constant assistance throughout the night made an already fantastic experience even better - we didn’t want to leave. Deserts were also at our disposaland they looked stupendous - but we’d already filled ourselves on boatloads of steak and halloumi fries. Overall, the taste of Brazilian Rodizio certainly didn't fail to impress. It was an unforgettable experience that served up so much more than just delicious, mouth-watering food and drink - everything was top-notch.

Book a consultation with our trichologist today and move forward with a treatment plan just for you.

Auton hair clinic is a trichologist led hair loss clinic, we offer a range of products and services.

Trichology consultation- an in depth review of causes of hair loss and scalp disorders, creating a treatment plan to suit your needs.

Neal Bullock and Andy Platts are shaking up the food scene with their growing catering firm

- and it all started with a “chance meeting over a pair of Adidas”.

They’re opening new venues across the region, And they’ve just got the keys to one of the area’s most popular places - The Derry at Long Newton. Greedy Soul, is absolutely flying. But rewind just two years ago, and it was a very different story for Neal.

The 49-year-old was furloughed from his job and wasn’t quite sure what to do next. “I was at home thinking ‘I’ve really got to look at my future’,” says Neal, a ‘Middlesbrough lad’ who now lives in Ingleby Barwick.

“I sat in the bedroom and came up with a business plan, I thought ‘I’ve got to do something’ for myself’. Liam Gallagher’s song Greedy Soul came on the radio, I’m a big fan, so that was itthat’s where the name came from.”

He’d known Andy for a while and they both “shared a passion for Adidas trainers, “He posted some trainers on social media, the LEGO Adidas, and I messaged him saying I was gutted I couldn’t get that particular pair. He said he had some for me - so I got in the car to go and get them.

Andy already ran several businesses including Roseberry View Lodge Retreat at Great Ayton. “I knew he was a successful businessman in his own right,” says Neal, “and I respected his judgement. I showed him the plan and he went really quiet. He didn’t say a dickie bird, for about ten minutes. I’m sat there thinking ‘there’s something not right here’.

“The next day, he phoned me and said ‘I’m in’. I said ‘what?’ - he said ‘I’m in, let’s go for it’.

They started looking for premises, and in the 18 months it’s been established, Greedy Soul has taken on community based pubs including The Fountain in Ormesby, The Huntsman in Woodham, The Derry in Long Newton and now the Gate at Framwellgate moor.

Each of the premises that we have taken on are all community based pubs that have either lost their way or failed for one reason or another, “we want to establish these pubs as the heartbeat of the community once again’.

The ethos of Greedy Soul is a simple one offer great service and food at an affordable price and give the community a pub to be proud of.

We are extremely excited at the prospect of re opening the Gate, it’s a fantastic pub in a great area, we have big plans for the outside space and can’t wait for the summer to come.

The reopening is planned for early December just in time for the world cup.

Spiced Toffee Apple Cake

Try a twist on traditional toffee applessugared, spiced and very very nice!

cook

Ingredients Directions Step one...

200g dates , roughly chopped 200ml milk , plus a splash 250g butter , softened, plus extra for greasing

280g self-raising flour 200g light soft brown sugar

½ tsp baking powder 4 large eggs

1 tbsp mixed spice

2 tsp vanilla extract 3 small red apples squeeze lemon juice handful of toffees a little icing sugar , for dusting

Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Grease and line a 20 x 30cm baking tray with baking parchment. Put the dates and milk in a small pan and bring to a simmer. Remove from the heat and set aside for 15 mins to cool.

Step two...

Whizz the date mixture to a smooth purée in a food processor or blender, then scrape into a large mixing bowl. Tip in the butter, flour, brown sugar, baking powder, eggs, mixed spice and vanilla, and set aside while you prepare the apples.

Step three...

Quarter and core the apples,

then slice quite thinly, tossing in a little lemon juice as you go. Quickly beat together the cake ingredients with an electric whisk until smooth, then scrape into the baking tray. Arrange the apple slices, overlapping in rows, on top of the cake – you should be able to get 3 rows lengthways down the tray. Bake for 45-50 mins until a skewer poked into the centre of the cake comes out clean. Cool in the tray.

Step four... Put the toffees in a small pan with a good splash of milk and gently melt, stirring, until runny. To finish, dust with a little icing sugar, then drizzle sauce all over the cake. Cut into squares or slices to serve.

THE WOMEN KING

John Boyega and Viola Davis star in this epic directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood. Set in the 1800s, the film centres around the Agojie warrior women who were the protectors of Dahomey, a former West African  kingdom.

The opening scene quickly sets a violent precedent. Although The Woman King is quite a gory film it thankfully never feels gratuitously so. It is simply a demonstration of the fierceness of the Agojie women as they contend with enemies including slavers and their complicit allies the Oyo Empire, who abduct Dahomey people to sell onto the trade.

Davis’ performance as the battle-hard ened General Nanisca, the leader of the Agojie women, steals the show. Her with its arc with trauma, makes her character one of the most compelling. The dynamic between her and Boyega’s King Ghezo is believable as Nanisca is performed with a sense of dignity that warrants deep respect.

However, it is probably Nawi (Thuso Mbedu) that you root for most throughout the film. Nawi is a young upstart, who is taken to the Dahomey palace and offered to King Ghezo by her father for being too disobedient. She aspires to become a great Agojie warrior but she must face many obstacles along the way (including winning Nanisca’s respect).

Izogie (Lashana Lynch) and

Amenza (Sheila Atim) are two seasoned Agojie who are excellent additions to the cast. The film could have explored their back stories in more depth but there are many plot points to be covered within its runtime of just over 2 hours.

The Woman King’s main weakness is arguably its use of some tired tropes including a particular plot twist and training montages. That being said, seeing these tropes used in the context of a historical drama that is focused on a part of Black history which may be lesser known to western audiences keeps things

The hardest parts of the film to sit through are the scenes depicting how the slave trade operated at the time. Although it’s uncomfortable viewing, it is important that such atrocities are not shied away from and are not merely seen as a plot point to add jeopardy.

Luckily film strikes the right balance when covering this difficult

Ultimately, with its themes of overcoming trauma and its solidarity, The Woman King is an excellent, uplifting film and hopefully Hollywood tells more stories like this in future.

Long Live the woman king!

Tessa Bury Copywriter

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What’s on

Chester-le-Street CC Fireworks - Abba Themed

4th November - 5pm - Chester-le-Street Cricket Club

Enjoy the sky light up while you indulge in some drinks, snacks and hot food with your nearest and dearest. This year, Chester-le-Street Cricket Club are treating us to an Abba themed fireworks display, so you can hear your favourite tunes, popularised by the film Mamma Mia, while enjoying some of the most exciting pyrotechnics on offer. Book your ticket today: facebook.com/clscricketclub

Festival of Remembrance

12th November - 7.30pm - Durham Cathedral

The annual moving concert makes its return in 2022, commemorating all who have given their lives in service to the Armed Forces. This year, the theme of the festival is the Falklands War, and includes an emotional mix of music and spoken word. As always, the festival culminates with the poignant Muster and Act of Remembrance, as thousands of poppies fall silently from the central tower. Book your tickets today: durhamcathedral.ticketsolve.com

Christmas Fair 2022

18th November - 10am - Beamish Hall Country House Hotel

See Beamish Hall at its festive best and peruse the stalls displaying their specialist wares from pretty ornaments and gifts to scrumptious treats and drinks. Not only is there a selection of amazing stands to shop from, you can also head over to The Stables

once you’ve finished browsing and enjoy a fantastic meal. At just £5 per ticket, you can’t go wrong: beamish-hall.co.uk/events-christmas

A Christmas Carol: A Ghost Story

27th November - 2.30pm - Gala Theatre, Durham

Enjoy the magic of theatre on the big screen. The Nottingham Playhouse production of A Christmas Carol, which was filmed for cinemas in 2021, will be broadcast at Durham Gala this month, ready to get us all into the Christmas spirit. Be frightened and excited in equal measure, at the Gala Theatre this November: galadurham.co.uk

Durham Christmas Lights Switch On 27th November - 4pm - Durham Market Place

Christmas begins in Durham when the lights are switched on. Join us for the most defining event of the year, where Durham Market Place, Prince Bishops and more will become a haven of Christmas light and joy. Have fun with the whole family and who knows? You might even see Father Christmas!

Christmas Family Fun Day

3rd December - 1pm - The Durham Centre, Belmont

The festive season is officially in full swing. Why not spend the first Saturday in December getting into the Christmas spirit? Support Emmanuel Church, and come down to the event (which has free entry), to enjoy a rodeo reindeer, bouncy castle, inflatables, a Santa’s Grotto, film room, crafts, face painting, refreshments and more! For more information, head to emmanuel.org.uk

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.

Sales: 0191 410

Showroom:

Hutton Close,