Darlington’s oldest and widest-distributed community magazine
What’s Inside Issue 88 January 2021
Darlington Monthly is proudly sponsored by:
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Places to go: City of London
32
YORKSHIRE LOFT LADDERS
Former police station to become hotel hotspot
FSC approved
36
Film Review: The Prom
We’re doing our part, are you?
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These days most homeowners suffer from a lack of storage space. So many precious items that need to be kept – but where to store it all? That’s where Yorkshire Loft Ladders come in. The company, based locally, offers homeowners the opportunity to maximise their storage space with a loft ladder, 50 sq ft of boarding and a light all fully fitted in less than a day from just £277 + VAT. But it’s not just the affordability of the package the company offers that makes Yorkshire Loft Ladders stand out as manager Warren Ingleson explains: ‘Our watchwords are Quality,
Integrity and Value. Quality in the materials that we use for all our installations and the fact that all our loft packages are fitted by time served tradesmen so our customers are assured of the best job. Integrity in that we will turn up at the time we say and make sure the house is spotless when we leave, and Value in that we offer our services at a price people can afford. Our business relies on referrals and we got a huge amount of our calls from people who have been referred to us by our existing customers - that simply wouldn’t happen if we didn’t adhere to our overriding principles.
lead to more happy customers is true and we work hard to make that happen for every installation we carry out!’ So, if you want to make use of your loft space, however big or
small, call Warren on 0800 612 8359 and he’ll be happy to pop round and give you a no obligation quote so you too can make use of your loft!
At the end of the day the old adage that happy customers
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Welcome to the January edition of Darlington Monthly! So, it’s finally here. 2020 is behind us and we can start to look toward the New Year with as much optimism as we can muster. It may not have been the Christmas time that we all wanted, however we hope that you all made it as merry as possible! Flick to page 14 for a heartwarming tale about how a mother and son honoured the memory of a beloved uncle by taking part in a ‘Santa Run’. Or, if you’re looking for a film to watch over winter why not take a look at our ‘The Prom’ - reviewed by one of our Copywriters, Georgia Paskell (Page 36).
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Slow cooker beef stew with dumplings
Read about Northallerton’s next new hot spot on page 32 - the stunning Georgian building that used to serve as Northallerton police station is to undergo a multimillion-pound transformation into a pub/hotel combination. If you love a challenge, you’ll find our monthly word search and Sudoku puzzles on page 30...
We hope 2021 is a great year forThis all ofslow you, and we’ll see you in February! cooker beef stew recipe doesn't require you to brown the perfect time Yorkshire Loft Laddersbeef, is thewhich proud makes sponsoritofa this saving dinner. month’s Darlington Monthly.
As a renowned local company, Yorkshire Loft Ladders would be delighted to provide youPrep: with the 25services mins – including loft hatches, ladders, flooring, boarding and lighting – that would enable you to get greater wor th out of this sometimes neglected part of the house.
Ingredients
Call the team now for free, on 0800 612 8359, or • 2 tbsp. vegetable visit www.yorkshireloftladders.co.uk for oil fur ther • 1 onion, roughly chopped information and a no-obligation quote. • 2 medium parsnips, cut into 2.5cm pieces
YORKSHIRE • 2 medium carrots, cut into 2.5cm pieces LOFT LADDERS
• 1 large leek, cut into 1cm slices • 3 tbsp. tomato purée • 1 .2kg braising steak, cut into 4cm chunks
• Plain flour, to dust • 200 ml red wine
Available to read• online
600 ml beef stock
• 3 fresh rosemary sprigs
Visit darlingtonmonthly.co.ukFor the dumplings /DarlingtonMonthly
Competitions
• 1 tbsp. dried parsley @DarlingtonMonthly
• 60 g suet
• 125 g self-raising flour
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Cook: 5 hours
6 Servings
26
Directions
1/ Put the oil, vegetables and tomato purée into the bowl of your slow cooker. Dry the beef pieces with kitchen paper and dust with the plain flour (tapping off excess). Add to the slow cooker together with the wine, stock, rosemary and some seasoning. Stir to combine. 2/ Cover and cook on high for 5 hour or until the beef is tender. 3/ After 5hrs of cooking, make the dumplings. Sift the flour into a large bowl and stir in the suet, parsley and lots of seasoning. Add 100ml cold water and stir to make a soft (and slightly sticky) dough.
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4/ Remove the lid and discard the rosemary sprigs. Pinch off walnut-sized pieces of dough, Disclaimer... gently roll into a ball and place on top of the Whilst we take every care to ensure accuracy in this stew, spacing apart. Recover and cook for 1hr magazine, we regret that we cannot accept responsibility for more. the seasoning and serve are with anyCheck incorrect information. All advertisements accepted mashed potatoes. in good faith as to their veracity and we are not responsible for views expressed by contributors or other sources. The copying of any material within this publication is strictly forbidden without the publishers or Studio Managers consent. By providing your email address and entering our competitions you agree to receive email communications from the competition sponsor/prize provider.
Congratulations to last month’s competition winners, all winners have been notified. Winners are selected at random. The provider will only receive the winning entries inContact order to fulfil completion of the prize. Email: sales@darlingtonmonthly.co.uk Tel: 01325 776225 Advertise Darlington Monthly 4 details ofTo
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An exceptional range of high quality stoves available in the heart of the town centre. Owner Stephen Airey and his engineers have many years experience in the heating and fireplace industry. The showroom boasts an array of traditional and contemporary woodburning and multi fuel stoves from leading manufacturers. From bespoke inglenook designs to modern freestanding versions, JTA Fires Stoves and Heating will endeavour to make your dream a reality. We have a fully qualified installation team that cover HETAS approval for solid fuel applications, Gas Safe for gas fires and central heating systems, and also OFTEC for oil boiler installations. JTA Fires Stoves and Heating also supply and install inset hole in the wall gas and solid fuel appliances for a minimalist look. Alternatively, we can cater for those wanting a traditional focal point fireplace in either solid wood, marble or stone. Many of these fireplace designs can be tailor-made to your own specifications. We offer a free site survey with absolutely no obligation to purchase. We pride ourselves on our vast knowledge and experience, and welcome you to call in to see what we have on offer - you won’t be disappointed. Our showroom at 9 Duke Street, Darlington is open Monday to Saturday 9.30am-5.00pm. Sunday opening is by appointment only. If you would like to arrange a free site survey either call into the showroom, or get in touch on 01325 389238 or email jtafiresandstoves@ icloud.com. A warm welcome awaits at JTA Fires Stoves and Heating.
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About Darlington Mind’s dementia day care service The local mental health charity Darlington Mind was established in 1979 – and, in the time since, has provided a wide range of wellbeing and recovery services for people experiencing mental health issues. These people include adults suffering from dementia who need assistance in order to live as independently and enjoyably as possible.
a range of daily activities – all customised to individuals’ choices and interests – are implemented by mental health professionals. Darlington Mind’s satisfaction surveys show how much its dementia day care service is especially appreciated by families who care for their dementia-affected loved ones right round the clock and highly value the “me-time” the day care service enables them to enjoy. The charity works closely with families, carers and other professionals to ensure that it can deliver co-ordinated services for their loved ones in its care.
At Darlington Mind’s day care hub, hot food and fresh fruit are provided for dementia patients, who can also For these people, the charity offers a dementia day benefit from the transport provided in the form of a care service. Anyone from Darlington, County Durham, new adapted minibus. The charity also keeps the day care Hambleton or Richmondshire suffering from early onset facility’s rooms, furniture and equipment meticulously or age-related dementia can expect a reassuring, friendly clean, helping to ensure a COVID-safe environment in full welcome at Darlington Mind’s day care centre, where compliance with government advice.
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Mother and son complete Santa Run in memory of beloved uncle In December, mother Sasha Warr and her son Oscar participated in St Teresa’s Hospice’s annual Santa Run – in 2020, a socially-distanced affair – in memory of her uncle Peter Willis, who had been a popular volunteer at the Darlington charity’s High Row shop but recently died of a short illness. “My mum was in St Teresa’s a few years ago and it was one of the few places she was able to feel comfortable and relaxed,” Ms Warr, of Hurworth, revealed shortly after Peter’s death. “So, I’d always intended to take part in the Santa Run – and, this year, it was more important than ever, as COVID has had such a big impact on the hospice. “We signed up for it shortly after Peter was taken ill and never thought for a moment he would not be there to watch.” Unfortunately, Peter passed away before the run took place – but she revealed that she and her son decided, as a result of his death, to dedicate their run to him. Ms Warr, a trustee and board member of the hospice, set up a JustGiving page where, so far, over £1,300 has been raised – more than 1300% higher than the original fundraising target of £100. “He was such a lovely man and was the backbone of our family,” she reflected about her late uncle, adding: “He volunteered after retiring and was so welcoming in the shop where he would work with my aunty Rose. He really was the nicest, kindest and most considerate of people.” Ms Warr, who also heads the consultancy Outsourced HR, trained with Oscar before the pair completed their run together on 6th December in South Park.
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They were just two of over a hundred runners who this year participated in St Teresa’s Santa Run, albeit its first ever virtual outing. Traditionally, the annual event has been held at West Park Academy, where hundreds of runners across the age spectrum have ran the fundraiser while dressed in Santa outfits. However, the need for social distancing in the pandemic ruled out a traditional Santa Run this year. St Teresa’s Hospice chief executive Jane Bradshaw commented: “We are all mourning the loss of one of our own and our hearts go out to Rose and her family.” While the COVID-19 crisis has devastated an array of traditional fundraising efforts, the hospice still needs to raise £3 million yearly to fund free inpatient and community care for Darlington, South Durham and North Yorkshire residents who live with life-limiting illnesses or people who do. The JustGiving page set up by Ms Warr can be found at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/SashaWarr1, while St Teresa’s Hospice has established its own emergency fundraising page on the same site at www.justgiving.com/campaign/hugtostts.
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Slow cooker beef stew with dumplings This slow cooker beef stew recipe doesn't require you to brown the beef, which makes it a perfect time saving dinner.
Prep: 25 mins
Cook: 5 hours
6 Servings
Ingredients
Directions
• 2 tbsp. vegetable oil
1/ Put the oil, vegetables and tomato purée into the bowl of your slow cooker. Dry the beef pieces with kitchen paper and dust with the plain flour (tapping off excess). Add to the slow cooker together with the wine, stock, rosemary and some seasoning. Stir to combine.
• 1 onion, roughly chopped • 2 medium parsnips, cut into 2.5cm pieces
• 2 medium carrots, cut into 2.5cm pieces
• 1 large leek, cut into 1cm slices • 3 tbsp. tomato purée • 1 .2kg braising steak, cut into 4cm chunks
• Plain flour, to dust • 200 ml red wine • 600 ml beef stock • 3 fresh rosemary sprigs For the dumplings
• 1 tbsp. dried parsley
2/ Cover and cook on high for 5 hour or until the beef is tender. 3/ After 5hrs of cooking, make the dumplings. Sift the flour into a large bowl and stir in the suet, parsley and lots of seasoning. Add 100ml cold water and stir to make a soft (and slightly sticky) dough. 4/ Remove the lid and discard the rosemary sprigs. Pinch off walnut-sized pieces of dough, gently roll into a ball and place on top of the stew, spacing apart. Recover and cook for 1hr more. Check the seasoning and serve with mashed potatoes.
• 60 g suet • 125 g self-raising flour
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(C) Chapter of St. Paul's Photo: Graham Lacdao
Places to go...
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City of London In
this time of restricted travel for many, one of the most accessible places to visit is the City of London (Tier 2 at the time of writing), the financial capital of the UK. It is just over one square mile, west of Tower Bridge and ending between Blackfriars and Temple, all on the north side of the River Thames. The map, produced by the City Corporation, shows the area. Some of the attractions are expensive e.g. £25 for the Tower of London. But there are ways around this: book in advance for the Ceremony of the Keys inside the Tower at 2130 every night. The fascinating St Pauls is £17, but no charge is payable to attend a service. St Paul’s was rebuilt after the Great Fire of 1666, but a church has been on this site since its foundation in 604. The Whispering Gallery, inside the dome, is world famous. Some attractions are genuinely free, though. Just walking round the streets, spotting blue plaques about interesting people. The Museum of London at the Barbican is free, and even has a Docklands equivalent which is also free. Cheaper than the sight-seeing boats to get there is the river bus, which has been rebranded this year from the MBNA Thames Clipper to the Uber Boat by Thames Clippers, which run from Woolwich
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Thamesclippers.com
Arsenal to Putney, and most regularly between North Greenwich (the O2) and the London Eye. You can pay to go up the Shard, but the Sky Garden at 20 Fenchurch Street, known as the “Walkie Talkie” is free to access as long as you book in advance. It’s on the right of the photograph of St. Paul’s. The Bank of England has an interesting museum which is normally free but closed at the moment. A few weeks ago, I tried to get to the cashier’s desk to exchange an out-of-date £5 banknote in good condition, which they will exchange, Security staff told me that the desk was closed and gave me a form to complete and send in my note. A fortnight later the £5 appeared in my bank account but it was not quite the same as walking out on to Threadneedle Street carrying a crisp new fiver. Many City churches have lunchtime concerts and recitals for City workers and visitors are welcome too. Another place to book is the Bloomfield London Mithraeum which is free, a Roman place of worship at Walbrook, close to Cannon Street station and the Mansion House. The Guildhall Art Gallery is presently open only Friday to Sunday but is also free, and there is no
Stpauls.co.uk
Skygarden.london
charge to wander round the brutalist Barbican Centre, or Leadenhall Market, entry to Diagon Alley in the first Harry Potter film. At the moment it is always wise to check opening times on the appropriate websites, and plan your travel carefully. I saw no point in booking a rail trip to London during the 23-27 December period, when the vast majority of people would want to travel on the first and the last day, especially when King’s Cross was closed for major engineering works over the days between Christmas and New Year. Best to pick a time, as government restrictions allow, to travel in the off peak periods of January and February, which are the best times for the cheapest fares all year. LNER and Grand Central run direct from the north east into King’s Cross. You can find the best combinations of fares at nationalrail.com making use of the entire reservations database. Happier travelling in 2021!
alexnelson@dunelm.org.uk
www.nationalrail.com
Londonmithraeum.com
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Always here for you
As the colder months continue, Elderwood provides individual care for older people in warm and friendly surroundings. Our care home has the benefit of a ‘Jolly Trolley,’ which is a portable method of providing stimulating activities and interactive entertainment for our residents. We are able to change our ‘Jolly Trolley’ to different themes such as the seaside, Church services and reminiscence, depending on our resident’s preferences. We use this throughout Elderwood to support our resident’s communication and expression. Within our home, we have The Elderwood Arms pub area, where our residents can meet up and socialise. Our pub is as authentic as possible, with pub tables, pub chairs and music. Each Wednesday lunchtime, we offer our residents an Elderwood Arms pub meal, where they are able to select their choices from a menu. We appreciate that mealtimes are sociable and pleasurable highlights of the day. Our home-cooked food is always enjoyed. Our menus are developed with our residents and 20
we cater for specific dietary requirements and preferences. We take great pride in the range of high quality, seasonally focused and nutritionally balanced meals available to residents on a daily basis. We understand that a home from home is important, so we provide a warm welcome for new residents. Our friendly carers spend the initial settling in period getting to know our residents, ensuring that our care is person-centred and encompasses their desired lifestyle. From the moment a new resident steps into our home, they can be assured that their care and wellbeing is our priority.
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Up-to-date technology enables Skype, Facetime or Zoom calls with family and friends, which has made a positive difference to our residents and provides reassurance to their families. Technology also enables us to participate in a weekly virtual Quiz and Bingo with other Anchor care homes across England. Our care home is operated by Anchor, which is part of the Anchor Hanover Group. The Anchor Hanover Group is England’s largest not-for-profit provider of care and housing to older people. We have more than 50 years’ experience in the sector and we are England’s most compliant large residential care provider.
Elderwood is currently offering two weeks free* for new residents joining us on a permanent basis. We are here to answer any questions you may have regarding our high quality residential and residential dementia care. More information can be found on our website at www.anchor.org.uk/Elderwood You can arrange a virtual show round, simply by contacting us on 01325 776432. Follow us on Twitter at @ElderwoodCare . Elderwood is located at Westmoreland Street, Darlington DL3 0FB. *T&C’s apply. Please see website
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ISAs: What are they and how do work?
stocks and shares ISA. There are also some specialist ISAs to choose from. Here is how they work:
Cash ISAs These are typically interest paying accounts which may offer instant access or a fixed term which An ISA is a tax free savings account - ISA means generally will offer a slightly better rate. Generally, Individual Savings Account. Cash ISAs do not have any risk to capital. Every tax year you have an ISA allowance in the UK, Stocks and shares ISAs which allows you to save or invest money up to a These are stocks and shares investment accounts certain amount without paying tax on your returns. which use your ISA allowance as a wrapper to make The ISA allowance for the 2020/21 tax year is them tax efficient. They do not provide a rate of ÂŁ20,000. The tax year runs from the 6th April to the interest, instead you potentially get a return on the 5th April the following year. This means you have underlying assets that are held within the selected until the 5th April 2021 to use up your ISA allowance fund where the money is invested. However, your money is at risk, but these types of ISAs could give for this tax year. you a better return than cash ISAs. When a new tax year starts you will have a brand new ISA allowance. This happens on the first day of Other ISAs are available for child savings, or adults under 40 saving for their first home. every new tax year. If you do not use all of your ISA allowance before If you would like to discuss new or existing ISAs it the end of the tax year it will be gone. You cannot may be appropriate to contact a financial adviser. carry forward any unused ISA allowance from one year to the next. You will not pay any income tax on money saved in an ISA, as long as you do not pay in more than your ISA allowance each tax year. What types of ISA are there? There are two main types of ISA: a cash ISA and a
Feel free to contact Adrian Peacock or Gary Neale at Acumen Investment & Pension Solutions on 01325 482585 or call in at 21 Grange Road Darlington (Imperial Quarter)
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New County Durham homes set to fund overhaul of nearby Raby Castle The medieval castle Raby Castle, famed as a hotspot in the sixteenth-century rebellion known as the Rising of the North, is in line for an extensive overhaul – with this work to be funded by two housing developments planned for the nearby County Durham villages of Gainford and Staindrop. The improvements intended for the castle, which is located near Staindrop and was originally built in the late 14th century, include a new cafe, car park and visitor centre. Work is also set to take place at the Raby site’s walled gardens and riding school. All of these plans have recently been approved by Durham County Council – as have the two housing developments which Raby Estates, the Raby Castle site’s owner, has claimed are necessary to raise the almost £3 million that will pay for the redevelopment work to that site. Raby Estates chief executive Duncan Peake has called the site’s developments “hugely important both for the regional economy and for the historic fabric.” However, he added that “they can only be achieved through ‘enabling developments’ in Gainford and Staindrop.” He declared: “Raby has always been a central part of our local communities in Teesdale, and we’re determined it should remain so by ensuring housing development is of the highest quality.” Mr Peake delivered these words at an early December meeting of the council’s county planning committee. The meeting, which was held by videolink and broadcasted via YouTube, saw the panel assess two separate planning applications Raby Estates has submitted for 79 Gainford homes, to be built off Spa Road, and 72 Staindrop homes to be sited near Grice Court. 26
As these two applications had both been designated ‘enabling applications’, the estimated revenues of £1,958,813 to be raised from the Staindrop proposals and £980,593 from the Gainford plans would be put towards offsetting the costs of the Raby Castle improvements. The committee approved all three applications. Councillor John Clare called the Raby Castle development scheme “fabulous”, while Cllr Fraser Tinsley hailed it as “really positive as we come out of COVID and come out of Brexit.” He claimed: “Raby Castle is going to be critical to developing our tourism offer in County Durham and critical to our overall economy. To see investment on this level is transformational, it will be an attraction on a European level.” Cllr George Richardson similarly stated he was “very supportive of this development at Raby”. This particular plan was passed unanimously, while members approved both of the housing development schemes following a vote of four votes to three.
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New Year Resolutions: If you are anything like me then the last days of December are spent thinking about the year that has gone by and what you resolve to improve upon next year. Along with the usual suspects of getting into shape and turning off your phone in the evening - making progress with finances is something that is frequently on the ‘must do better next year’ list. The difficulty with new year resolutions and undoubtedly the secret to their ongoing popularity is that by mid-January most of them have been abandoned. In 2018 according to Strava, the social network for athletes, the second Friday in January is quitter’s day. This is when most people will give up on their newfound resolutions and revert to their previous habits. The net result of this is that we often end up making precious little progress towards our goals due to the short-term nature of efforts. James Clear in his book Atomic Habits argues that it is the compound effect of a couple small improvements in our habits which will make dramatic improvements in our lives. If we are to be successful in effecting long term change, we must instead look to our habits and try to understand how to improve these behaviours. Habits are akin to the brain being on autopilot, these engrained behaviours we have in response to queues and cravings which provide us with rewards. If you haven’t read the book I would definitely recommend it. In attempting to develop a new habit we should look to make the behaviour obvious, make it desirable, make it easy to do and make it rewarding. When we think about finances and perhaps the task of saving money, we are fortunate in that there are a number of systems out there that we can use to make this even easier by automating the process of saving money.
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Setting up a direct debit or standing order to your savings can be a powerful way to ‘make it easy’ in turn ensuring you make it happen. To make it rewarding make a point of keeping track of your savings balance and your progress towards your goal. Remember to treat yourself every so often for sticking to your savings effort in the knowledge that you have set funds aside for your future. Most of us have a number of outgoings lined up and waiting to be paid each month as pay day comes around. Think of automated saving in terms of paying yourself first… you’re putting your financial future at the front of the queue. Sandringham Financial Partners Darlington provide advice on a number of different ways to build up funds for your financial future including ISAs, General Investment Accounts and Pensions. We can set up policies with both lump sums and regular savings. Where funds are invested, we recommend a minimum expected holding period of 5 years.
If you are interested in exploring setting money aside for your financial future please do get in touch. T: 01325 808075 E: darlington@sandringham.co.uk
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Wordsearch
PUZZLE PAGE Simply complete one of the competitions below, fill in the entry form and send to the postal address provided.
You have the chance to win... a meal for two up to the value of ÂŁ40 Courtesy of... Santorini Greek Restaurant www.santorinirestaurant.co.uk 5 Crown Street, Darlington, DL1 1LU. Tel: 01325 462 092
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Former Northallerton police station building to become hotel A Georgian building that once stood as Northallerton’s police station has been acquired by The Inn Collection Group, which intends to undertake a multimillionpound refurbishment transforming the Grade II listed building into a pub housing 32 bedrooms. The building, located in the heart of the North Yorkshire town, served as its police station for over three decades before new police headquarters were taken up in Alverton Court at the opposite end of Northallerton. The old building, however, still includes custody cells and the police reception desk.
The group has stopped short of revealing the price tag for the redevelopment work, which is scheduled to start in 2021 before the hotel’s expected opening the following autumn.
Before becoming Northallerton’s police station, the Georgian building was used as a library and also contained local council offices. In its new phase as a pub, the building will create up to 50 full- and part-time jobs, according to the Inn Collection Group.
However, the group says that the new Northallerton site will be its 18th roomed pub overall and fourth in North Yorkshire – adding to the existing freehold sites of the Stables in Whitby, the Black Swan in Helmsley and the King’s Head in Newton under Roseberry.
The hospitality group’s managing director Sean Donkin said: “We are delighted to have completed on the police station in Northallerton, it’s a site we have been working together with our vendors and our design partners on for a considerable period of time.
The Inn Collection Group employs up to 500 staff in total and, for the second consecutive year, was named the Best Pub Employer in the Publican Awards.
“We are excited to be broadening our customer base and presence here in North Yorkshire with the addition of a Northallerton location to our group. It is a great country town that is full of character with good access and visitation, while the venue itself is superbly located.
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“We have a proven track record for repurposing and enhancing historic buildings. We’re looking forward to applying that here and creating an exciting new venue in the heart of Northallerton and being a part of the community, providing year-round food, drink and accommodation services and, of course, employment opportunities at a critical time.”
The company adds that its eat, drink, sleep and explore portfolio includes locations in County Durham, Northumberland, Lancashire and the Lake District. The company has also started building work on a new 40-bedroom hotel on Sunderland’s seafront.
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Green Lodge Care Home
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What’s on is sponsored by:
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RnB Club: George Shovlin & The Radars 21 January – 19:00 – The Forum Music Centre The band that performed under the name of the George Shovlin Blues Band from 1995 to 2005 will soon be back in Darlington.Today, the same band is known as George Shovlin and The Radars and is strongly intent on establishing itself on the UK blues scene. The Guns N Roses Experience 23 January – 19:30 – The Majestic Theatre, Darlington
The Guns N Roses Experience is such a faithful tribute to the eponymous American hard rock band that the Experience musicians have been asked by members of Ballet Masterclasses with Northern Ballet’s the real Guns N Roses to join them on stage. Naturally, Gavin McCaig fan-favourite songs like “Welcome to the Jungle”, 10 January – Various Times – Darlington “November Rain” and “Sweet Child o’ Mine” will Hippodrome feature in this Darlington show. Northern Ballet’s Gavin McCaig has taught ballet at the Royal Academy of Dance and Northern Ballet Academy’s outreach scheme, and will now be visiting the Hippodrome to help up to 15 participants per class to learn and perfect an array of ballet moves. A Night in with Ella Risbridger 19 January – 18:30 – Darlington Hippodrome Food writer Ella Risbridger will, at this live-streamed talk attendees can watch from the comfort of her homes, chat about the new paperback version of her acclaimed book Midnight Chicken. Tickets – with or without a copy of Midnight Chicken – can be bought through the Darlington Hippodrome website at darlingtonhippodrome.co.uk. A Night in with Kate Mosse 20 January – 18:30 – Darlington Hippodrome Another live-streamed online talk for which you can book tickets via the Hippodrome’s website, this will be an insightful conversation with the bestselling novelist Kate Mosse and mark the international English-language publication of The City of Tears, the second book in her The Burning Chambers series. A Night in with Dr Shola Mos-Shogbamimu 21 January – 18:30 – Darlington Hippodrome Activist and political commentator Dr Shola MosShogbamimu’s very timely new book This is Why I Resist, arriving after the Black Lives Matter movement captured headlines around the world last summer, calls on its readers to make a more concerted effort to challenge day-to-day racism.
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Alex Fawcett Band 29 January – 19:00 – The Forum Music Centre The blues rock outfit Alex Fawcett Band takes its cues from such big names as Gary Moore, Rory Gallagher and Stevie Ray Vaughan. You can expect an electrifying show peppered with tunes from some of the band’s favourite artists as well as sought-after original material. Horrible Histories: Barmy Britain 30-31 January – Various Times – Darlington Hippodrome You’ve read the books and seen the TV series, but Horrible Histories will soon return to a theatre. Henry VIII, Guy Fawkes, Boudicca and Queen Victoria will be among the historical figures brought to eccentric life in this production to be staged at 11am on both days and 3pm on the Saturday.
Got an event coming up? Let us know and we’ll help spread the news. Email details of your event to: sales@darlingtonmonthly.co.uk
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FILM REVIEW:
THE
The Prom is the newest Ryan Murphy and Netflix collaboration to hit the big screen. Adapted from a 2018 Broadway production of the same name, this musical comedy boasts a talented cast of ‘old hats’ doing what they do best and ‘newbies’ making their debuts. Unfortunately, though, in several respects, The Prom ends up rather falling short. The musical follows the story of a small-town teen named Emma (Jo Ellen Pellman). The teenager wants to go to prom with her girlfriend, which causes upset due to the school’s rule of students having to attend with a date of the opposite sex. Down-on-their-luck Broadway giants Dee Dee Allen (Meryl Streep) and Barry Glickman (James Corden) rally behind the teens and we’re promised a cheesy and heart-warming storyline, just like a good musical should be…. right? The Prom has all of the elements: the razzmatazz, the catchy anthems, the corny dialogue. It even has a beautiful storyline about being LGBTQIA+. However, it really does drop the ball. The Prom’s downfall is that it just goes on, and on, and on… and on. And don’t get me started on how Nicole Kidman’s expertise was done dirty! After barely getting any dialogue, Kidman’s Angie Dickinson bursts into a Bob Fosse-inspired number which 36
urges us to “give it some zazz”. Anyone who likes musicals knows that, with Fosse (think Chicago and Cabaret), it’s all about the long kicking legs and the jazz hands. So, why Ryan Murphy chose to only film this number from the waist up, we will never know. It is no surprise, really, considering that Murphy is the infamous creator of Glee, that this film would be full of cheese. The cast bring the film to a close with a catchy end number that all musicals deserve. The song is inclusive and just darn cute. What I can say for sure is that it is by no means the worst musical film adaptation out there (that pleasure would categorically go to Cats), but it is very much not the best either. That being said, after a drink or two, it was a fairly enjoyable watch – and the sentiment of the film was well-intentioned and downright needed. Though there could certainly be at least an hour of unnecessary plot cut from this film, the most exciting performers in this cast of who’s-who in Hollywood have to be the newcomers Jo Ellen Pellman and Ariana DeBose. Their natural chemistry is unparalleled, while their rendition of “Dance with You” is guaranteed to send chills down your spine and warmed even my cynical heart.
Georgia Paskell Copywriter
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CALLING ALL START-UPS! Are you venturing out on your own in the Darlington business world? Exposure early on is absolutely crucial for success, so why not speak to Darlington Monthly about our NEW advertising opportunities?
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Sympathy Flowers • Wreaths • Crosses • Coffin sprays Letters • Heart • Hobbies & Favourites Following the loss of a loved one, the following days gives you the daunting task of arranging their final journey. We offer a home visit to discuss floral requirements with you and your family, offering help & advice with choosing flowers for your loved ones. With over 20 years' experience, our compassion, quality and service is second to none, and at a fraction of the cost of what is offered in a funeral package! Biodegradable option is available.
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