New Year 2013 Year New

| 42 complimentary in-flight your This is home take to or now read to magazine,

DISCOVER ABERDEEN SUPPLEMENT HIGH STREET REVIVAL REDISCOVERING THE BRITISH TRUFFLE

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:

ALL SEASONS AN ARTIST FOR the Yorkshire Wolds Yorkshire the Hunting for Hockney in Hockney for Hunting EASTERN IN-FLIGHT AIRWAYS

Ensure compliance in your decommissioning programme

As offshore decommissioning in the North Sea increases, it is becoming increasingly important that offshore operators and other stakeholder are aware of the legislation concerning these activities. Maintaining complete compliance and operational best practice is fundamental to the success of the decommissioning process. Bureau Veritas has a respected presence in the offshore industry, delivering a broad scope of strategic services in the fields of technical assurance, safety and risk management. Our range of services will ensure that your decommissioning programme is executed and concluded efficiently and in full compliance with UK law.

■ Legal compliance assurance ■ Dismantlement safety case ■ Hazardous materials mapping survey ■ Production of a decommissioning risk ■ Comparative assessment of financial and register technical risk of decommissioning options ■ Recyclable material mapping

Please contact us 0845 600 1828 www.bureauveritas.co.uk [email protected] WELCOME friends andfriends family! copy home and pass itround your Magazine. We invite you to take your Welcome to the Eastern Airways SGIOBA EASTERN chluinntinn. t-seirbheis againn, is mu ar n-iris, a an-còmhnaidh toilichte ur beachdan mun beagan eadar-dhealaichte – tha sinn seirbheis, an dà chuid, cùramach agus Tha sinn an dòchas gum meas sibh ar làn-sheirbheisean adhair clàraichte na RA. Tha Eastern Airways am measg prìomh agus an Roinn Eòrp. luchd-cleachdaidh gu lèir bho Bhreatainn Tha Eastern Airways a’ cur fàilte air ar FÀILTE in thehotelsandhospitalitysector, talktothe vicar who’s We alsosetouttounravelsomeofthechangesgoingon Motors, isourcelebrityinterviewsubject. Kylie Monogue,recently starringinthemovie,Holy certain rental locations. vehicles, suchasthePorschefeatured, are available at Airwayscustomers,under whichprestigeto Eastern of ourhire carpartnerEuropcar’s Prestige offer, exclusive We say“travelinstyle”becausewe’re takingadvantage wonderful iPadlandscapes. to trackdownsomeofthelocationsforDavidHockney’s We alsotravelinstyletotheYorkshire Wolds aswetry truffles andwaystocookthem! have thechancetowinanattractivebookallabout of blackgold–theelusiveGreat BritishTruffle! Readers In thisissueweventure intodeepestSomersetinsearch TÎM EASTERN gwasanaeth ac am ein cylchgrawn. amser yn falch o gael eich sylwadau am ein ychydig bach yn wahanol – rydyn ni bob chi fod ein gwasanaeth yn un gofalus ac lawn o wasanaethau. Gobeithio y gwelwch awyrennau yn y DU sy’n cynnig amserlen Mae Eastern Airways ymhlith y prif gwmnïau Fawr ac Ewrop. un o’n cwsmeriaid ym mhob rhan o Brydain Croeso gan Eastern Airways magazine, i bob CROESO Magazine. Airways Enjoy yourflightandescapewithEastern bar inPrague. beer expert,AlastairGilmour, watchestheregulars ina Harry Pearsonrecounts ataleoflethalbakingandour trip downtheBritishHighStreet. We followinthefootstepsofMaryPortasaswetakea Newcastle’s four-star SandmanHotel. our latestbrain-teasingpuzzle,andatwo-nightbreak at Once again,youcanwinabottleofEnglishwhiskyin a charitabletrustthat’s branchingoutintohotelstays. building asmallchainofboutiquehotels,andhearabout THE EASTERN TEAM EASTERN THE EASTERN-TEAMET om både servicen og magasinet. setter alltid pris på å motta dine kommentarer deg det lille ekstra som er prikken over i-en. Vi fornøyd med servicen vår – og at den tilbyr ledende ruteflyselskap. Vi håper at du vil være Eastern Airways er et av Storbritannias kunder i Storbritannia og Europa velkommen. Eastern Airways magasinet ønsker våre VELKOMMEN 23 years of growth. Does that fill you with confidence.

Brian Potter Managing Director

When looking for a company to handle your business or crew travel requirements, we understand you won’t compromise. At Clyde we’ve been providing personalised corporate, marine and offshore travel solutions since 1989, building on services such as dedicated account management, in-house emergency Out-of-Hours service Aberdeen - Glasgow - Southampton and other travel essentials. Our growing team of seventy staff Kintyre House, 209 Govan Road, Glasgow, G51 1HJ members is not only passionate about travel, but also passionate Tel: 0141 427 9410 Fax: 0141 427 2781 about working for Clyde. You’ll experience it too – give us a try. Email: [email protected] www.clydetravel.com

At Clyde Travel Management we don’t just book flights. We solve. CONTENTS CONTENTS

28 HOT 16 TRUFFLE TREATS 24 WOLDS WAYS

REGULARS COMPETITIONS FEATURES 07 BUSINESS NEWS 19 SNIFF OUT A WINNER 16 TRUFFLE HOUNDS What’s happening in the business Bag a copy of the delicious One woman and her dog have a world around Eastern Airways Discovering the Great British Truffle nose for a culinary treasure destinations 23 PUZZLE PAGE 20 KYLIE MINOGUE 15 PRODUCT NEWS Solve the puzzle and you could We’re very lucky, lucky, lucky, Great gifts and must-have items win a bottle of English whisky lucky to catch up with the for at home or on the move Australian superstar

27 BITTER EXPERIENCE 24 EXPLORATION EXPRESS Alastair Gilmour tastes life in a A picture perfect tour of the Czech bar Yorkshire Wolds

36 BARE ESSENTIALS 28 HOSPITALITY SPECIAL Eastern Airways’ network map, – Stan Abbott finds encouraging passenger information and signs for UK growth in the destination guides sector and meets the new kid on the hospitality block – aged 69! 46 ESSENTIAL GUIDE: – Liz Bestic discovers a Devonian THE HIGH STREET residence that is staying true to its All within easy reach of our charitable roots destinations 49 CITY SLICKER Win a luxurious two-night break 50 THE LAST WORD at Newcastle’s Sandman Signature DISCOVER

Talk of a British food revival leaves hotel ANABERDEEN EASTERN AIRWAYS MAGAZINE SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH VISITABERDEEN a nasty taste in the mouth of Harry CITY POISED FOR NEW FUTURE Destination agency has its eye Pearson on leisure visitors

Yorkshire.com SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT

DISCOVER ABERDEEN Produced in association with

Fly easternairways.com VisitAberdeen VisitAberdeen i

Eastern Airways in-flight magazine is published © December 2012. All rights reserved. No part of this Eastern Airways, Schiphol House, Humberside for Eastern Airways by Gravity Magazines, Abbey magazine may be reproduced by any means, without International Airport, Kirmington, North Lincolnshire Business Centre, Abbey Road, Pity Me, Durham, prior written permission of the copyright owners. DN39 6YH DH1 5JZ Although every effort has been made to ensure the Communications Manager: Darren Roberts www.gravity-consulting.com accuracy of the information in this magazine, neither e-mail: [email protected] the publisher, nor Eastern Airways can accept any Telephone: + 44 (0)8703 669669 Tel: +44 (0)191 383 2838 liability for errors or omissions. Reservations: + 44 (0)8703 669100 Publisher: Stan Abbott www.easternairways.com Design: Barbara Allen ISSN: 2044-7124 For magazine comments: Advertising: Liz Reekie Previously known as e-magazine, ISSN 1477-3031. [email protected] Tel: +44 (0) 7563 796103 / +44 (0) 1434 240947 e-mail: [email protected]

Front cover by Founded, Frontcoverby Hotel imageDartington – Hall, Wolds– Print: Buxton Press 5 you’ve started... Now let us finish

Find out more at magmaproducts.co.uk BUSINESS NEWS FROM EASTERN AIRWAYS DESTINATIONS BUSINESS NEWS BUSINESS www.easternairways.com/route-pass saving £482.00 BRISTOL-LEEDS BRADFORD–sixround trips£1,781.80, £1,770.40, saving£866.00 ABERDEEN-LEEDS BRADFORD–sixround tripsfor saving £972.00. ABERDEEN-BRISTOL –sixround tripsfor£2,015.40, Airways routes. need. TheZonalRoutePassisavailableonallEastern and choosetheirflights,makingasmanychangesthey maximum flexibilityandthefacilityforcustomerstopick The passbringssavingsofupto40percent,alongside customers makingsixormore returntrips. The airline’s ZonalRoutePassenablessavingsfor Saab 2000aircraft. Flights ontheroute are operatedbyhigh-speed50-seater at 1845. from Aberdeen leavesat1735,forLeedsBradford, arriving arriving inBristolat1800.OnSundays,anewdeparture new 1545southbounddeparture onThursdaysandFridays Between Aberdeen andBristolthere isnowaconvenient Bradford, arrivinginBristolat1800. 1705 southbounddeparture onThursdaysfrom Leeds with LeedsBradford andAberdeen. Changesinclude anew AirwayshasrevampedEastern itsserviceslinkingBristol ABERDEEN SERVICE SERVICE ABERDEEN LEEDS-BRISTOL- FOR REVAMP THE ONLY COMPANY WAYTHE TRAVEL FOR UP IS Brewery Wharf, Leeds that Clydehaswon theaward. It isthesecond timeinthree years awards, attheGlasgowThistleHotel. Passenger Agents’Association Travel Agentat theannualScottish Scottish IndependentBusiness Management wasnamed2012 Best Glasgow basedClydeTravel www.clydetravel.com in fivelocations throughout theUK. excess of£45m andemploys72staff and Europe. in Itnowhasaturnover travel forcompaniesacross theUK before growing tomanage business for themarineandenergy sectors, by specialisingincrew management Established in1989,Clydebegan once again.” passengers andwe’re thrilled thishasbeenrecognised have continuedtoinvestinourairportforthebenefitof expectations. Despiteachallengingeconomicclimatewe that ourroutes, airlinepartners andfacilitiesexceedtheir to ensure theirexperience atourairportisenjoyableand “We continuallygoaboveandbeyondforourcustomers Dave Laws,ChiefExecutiveofNewcastleAirport,said: over manyyears.” customer servicetobothpassengersandairlinecustomers successful formula,consistentlydeliveringahighlevelof Airporthasa winningand Newcastle International Simon Buck,ChiefExecutiveofBATA, said:“Clearly airport withuptosixmillionpassengersperyear. theUK’stour operators,votedNewcastleInternational best members includesomeoftheworld’s leadingairlinesand Annual Conference 2012awards ceremony. BATA, whose British AirTransport Association(BATA) attheAOA The honourwasawarded toNewcastleAirportbythe claim thathasagainbeensmashed. awards toholdtheaccoladeforthree consecutive years,a In 2011,theairportbecamefirstinhistoryof (AOA) Awards ceremony forthefourthyearrunning. Airport attheprestigious AirportOperatorsAssociation Airporthasbeen crownedNewcastle International BestUK AIRPORT FOR FOURTH YEAR NEWCASTLE NAMED BEST Newcastle Airport Terminal extension, 7 Subsea_Eastern Airways_AD-Oct12.ai 1 18/10/2012 09:36

C

M Subsea Pipelines Integrity

Y Management Conference, 07 December 2012 CM Subsea 2013, Aberdeen MY 06–07 February 2013

CY Australasian Oil and Gas 2013 CMY 20-22 February 2013

K Subsea Tieback Forum 2013 San Antonio 05-07 March 2013

For more information Tel: +44 (0)845 505 3535 E-mail: [email protected] www.subseauk.com

WHEELY GREAT OFFER FROM EUROPCAR Europcar, Eastern Airways’ car hire of Mercedes, Audi TT, Audi A8, and partner, has announced some great the brand new Range Rover weekend offers on its Prestige Westminster, among others. All range of quality vehicles. Prestige offers can be booked at www.easternairways.com/car-hire All provide the opportunity of a by clicking the Prestige tab. three-day deal at significantly Prestige vehicles are available at discounted rates, giving Eastern some airports and most city centre Airways customers the chance to locations throughout the UK. take a break with wheels that are just that bit special. For example, You don’t need to be flying to take exclusive to Eastern Airways advantage of this and other great customers and members of the offers for Eastern Airways custom- Porsche Club of Great Britain, is a ers from Europcar, from more than three-day hire of a Porsche Boxter 250 locations across the UK. from just £372 – a saving of 35 per To find out more about this and cent on standard rates. other great offers, including up to Other vehicles in the Prestige range 40 per cent discount on Europcar’s include the Mini Cooper S standard range of vehicles and for convertible, for £357 for a three-day full terms and conditions, go to: weekend, as well as a wide range www.easternairways.com/car-hire BUSINESS NEWS FROM EASTERN AIRWAYS DESTINATIONS in Aberdeen, commented: “We truly Mark Higginson,seniorpartneratPwC households withlong-termsavings). for thefuture as theenvironment andproviding income, healthandtransport,aswell Aberdeen performedwellonjobs, GDP indicator. wellbeing ratherthanthecustomary crucial toeconomicsuccessand categories definedbythepublicas The report looksatawiderangeof UK”, wasrankedthird outof36cities. by PwCasthe“happiestcityin for Cities,Aberdeen, already named Coopers andDemos,GoodGrowth In anewreport byPricewaterhouse Belfast, GlasgowandEdinburgh. London, Manchester, Birmingham, city intheUK,comingoutaheadof successfully thanalmosteveryother Aberdeen isgrowing more Independent research shows T See our special supplement, produced VisitAberdeen. inpartnership with beaches ofsilversand. www.cottages-and-castles.co.uk walk fromalongarugged coastlinewithrocky Durness inlets, deepcovesand backs ontoamileandhalflongwhitesandybeachis pretty one-mile Balnakeil House,ontheSutherlandcoast,anine-bedroom Highlandlodge, holidays, conferences, weddings and other special occasions. Pennsylvania Castle (above left) – known as The Penn – is available to rent for Prime for properties that special stay “ABERDEEN IS A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE” PLACE GREAT “ABERDEEN A IS wo new piles have become available on the exclusive use rental market. Dorset’s Competition for Eastern winners magazine Airways 41 David Evans, from Aberdeen, and Ian Lannagan, from Chester-le-Street.Mapominoes games were Shirley McDonnell, from Mansfield, Saik Ooi, fromof Chapter Poole, SixDorset, English Sheila malt Cowie, whisky from were Buckie, Chris Birdsey, from Banchory,Winner of a andtwo Diananight Hancock,break in fromNorthumberland, Ilkley. at Winners Doxford of Hall or Eshott Hall, was Paul Lewney, of Gateshead. Winners

(the percentage of Birmingham. cities ofLondon,Manchesterand conventionally recognised “core” UK Glasgow allrankinghigherthan GDP withAberdeen, Edinburgh and public, there ismore tolifethan The findingssuggestthat,forthe cities’ futures.” City Councilare pivotalplayersin local authoritiessuchasAberdeen “The report highlightsthatfact global energy capital. and realise thecity’s potentialasa if weare tocontinuedrivinggrowth businesses, investorsandfuture talent to sellourvisionforAberdeen to academia isachieved,butweneed the publicandprivatesector collaboration betweenindustry, “It isnotonlyvitalthatgreater place tolive,dobusinessandinvest. and forward thinkingcity, andagreat believe thatAberdeen isadynamic www.thepenn.co.uk its blog at http://souairportblog.com Aberdeen. www.worleyparsons.com first operationalbaseinScotland,at the energy sector, hasopenedits providing servicesandresources to terminal layout and improved shops. security search area, reconfigured through a major refurbishment of the simple and efficient as possible, to make the passenger journey as plans for a £12 million terminal upgrade transformation. undergoing amulti-millionpound the airporttovillage,whichis and highlightthecloseproximity of as aworld-famoustouristdestination to reflect thestatusofJohnO’Groats settlement. Themovewassuggested the UK’s mostnortherlymainland bid topromote itasthegatewayto Wick JohnO’Groats Airportina journey timefromjourney Aberdeen toDubai. service tooffer thefastest end-to-end from Aberdeen connectwiththeDubai agreement withEmirates and services Airwayshasaticketing Eastern Newcastle totheMiddleEastdaily. 400 seatsineitherdirection from The airlinenowoffers more than introduction ofaBoeing777aircraft. Newcastle toDubai,withthe has upgradeditsservicesfrom n n n n n n Development Manager. to the newly created role of Business appointed Kayleigh Stewart, above, gas engineering consultancy, has

Magma Products, a leading oil and Southampton Airport has launched WorleyParsons, aglobalcompany East Midlands Airport has unveiled Wick Airporthasbeenrenamed Eastern Airwayspartner,Eastern Emirates, 9 offshore wind the Port of tyne in north east england is ready to take advantage of the opportunity presented by the world’s largest offshore wind market.

Only 96 nautical miles from Dogger Bank, with land, skilled labour and incentives available, it is set to become a major centre for manufacturing offshore wind turbines along with maintenance and supply chain services.

GAtewAy to oPPortUnity of tyne hectAres250 of AvAilAble lAnd hectAres30 with enterPrise 96nAUticAl miles in the Port’s lAnd And Zone stAtUs And sUPPort distAnce to doGGer bAnK ProPerty Portfolio

DISCOVER THE OPPORTUNITIES AT www.offshorewindtyne.com SPONSORED EDITORIAL / NEWS FROM EASTERN AIRWAYS DESTINATIONS Whisky galore with distillery double Shopeburn, closed about 1840 and was more than 170 years. The last one, first legal distillery in the Western Isles for Dearg, at Uig, on the Isle of Lewis, is the At the other end of the scale, years. opened inScotlandmore than30 first maltdistilleryofscaletobe distillery atRoseisle,Speyside – the Diageo has unveileditsnew£40million by DISCOUNTED FARES FOR THE ENERGY SECTOR ENERGY THE FOR FARES DISCOUNTED T who are employed in the marine or offshore industry. designed to allow special rates and conditions to travellers Marine and offshore fares are specially negotiated airfares airlines’ offshore membership schemes. allowing for changes and refunds, and access to many allowance up to as much as 40kg, fully flexible fares an offshore ticket. These include an increased baggage travellers can reap a number of benefits when travelling on make significant savings on the published fares, but With the correct documentation, not only can companies considerably lower than published airfares. production industry qualify for fares which are known fact that certain travellers in the oil exploration and Despite having been around for many years, it is still a little designed for the offshore and marine workforce. taking advantage of an airfare scheme specifically thousands of pounds off their budgets every year by many companies don’t realise they could be trimming at the forefront of operators’ and contractors’ minds, With business efficiency and cost-cutting still very much on opportunities in energy provinces worldwide. the globe as organisations increasingly look to capitalise seen a rise in the number of North Sea workers travelling combined with the scarcity of quality professionals, has GROWTH within the international offshore sector, ravelling Light

Murray Burnett of Munro’s Travel Group Abheinn : Olympics”, inStornoway. the RoyalNational Mod,or“Whisky Dearg Single Malt waslaunchedat of three-year-old singlemalt. Abhainn 2011 saw the launch of a limited edition The SpiritofLewis,wasreleased, while In 2010,AbhainnDearg New Spirit, Lewis Castle on the site. Metheson, a prohibitionist, who built demolished by its new owner, Sir James industry with a tailored travel management solu Group which provides corporate clients in the energy Murray Burnett is Managing Partner of Munro’s Travel management company. make best use of the skills and expertise of your travel East, Africa, Asia Pacific and beyond, now is the time to remit into new geographic locations across the Middle With an increasing number of companies expanding their rigs and windfarm contractors are also included. submersibles, drill ships, floating production vessels, land In addition to normal offshore rigs, jack up rigs, diving crews providing sub-sea well maintenance. providing ancillary services, such as mud engineers and quarters crew – are also eligible, as are all sub-contractors crews, load-handling crews, and catering or living services – such as geologists, rig managers, drilling engineering, mechanical, scientific and management Anyone employed to work on an offshore rig providing land rigs and deep water drilling. contact-drilling of offshore oil and gas wells, as well as generally the same and includes staff engaged in management companies, but eligibility for their use is airlines and available only to appointed travel The use of these fares is strictly controlled by individual tion.

11 © Angus Blackburn IT’S TYNE TO JOIN OUR ADVERTORIAL OFFSHORE REVOLUTION Port Port of Tyne Port Port of Tyne As a growing centre for the offshore energy industries, NewcastleGateshead continues to attract major players in the oil, gas and subsea sector.

Building on its heritage as a leading centre for (to name a few) employ hundreds in the area. engineering, marine operations and technology FLEXLIFE LTD KPMG’s Jon Hurford continued: “The region’s Company name Flexlife (UK) Ltd development, the Tyne’s ideal location near the supply chain exports vital, niche products Functions Subsea integrity and coast, close to major infrastructure and transport project management hubs, means you can be sure your business will into high-profile global projects, and has long Number of employees Circa 100 flourish and your staff will feel inspired. had a reputation as a hotbed of oil and gas expertise. This has attracted the attention of large Turnover Circa £15m NewcastleGateshead is a competitively priced, international companies, both trade and private ANDY LAKE, Flexlife well-networked location with ease of access equity, which are keen to bring such knowledge Ltd director, said: to major project destinations in the North Sea, and skills into their own portfolios.” “Flexlife identified South America, Africa and the Asia-Pacific NewcastleGateshead regions. Complemented by a strong talent pool of Training and development is essential to long- as an ideal location highly-qualified design and project engineers, it is term growth of the industry. Research and to expand its operations. Excellent an integrated business location for the industry. development at both Newcastle and Northumbria Universities and Newcastle College’s Energy transport links, modern office space Global player Bridon International has just Academy (with support from major employers and the talented pool of highly- launched the world’s most advanced wire rope in the offshore sector, including Shepherd skilled and capable engineers manufacturing facility on the banks of the Tyne, Offshore), provide first-class training resources were all very persuasive. We are bringing significant investment and creating and facilities. continually growing and have many jobs. Other recent investment from industry been delighted with our choice of heavyweights, such as Wellstream International Charles Reynard, head of the Eversheds’ location.” and Duco, in the last two years alone feeds an Renewable Energy team in the North, said: “Skills ever-increasing supply chain. acquired in the oil and gas sector are readily transferable to other technologies. The offshore Jon Hurford, corporate finance associate wind sector is one of these. This, together with TECHNIP OFFSHORE director at KPMG, said: “We have certainly seen various other renewable technologies, can be a increased levels of mergers and acquisitions for WIND LTD game-changer for the North East.” Company name Technip Offshore the oil and gas supply chain businesses. This Wind Ltd sector has experienced high growth in recent The service industry needs to be part of this Parent company Technip years, and demand for high-quality products and continual development, as Tim Hill, Eversheds’ Functions Project management, services has resulted in strong performances by partner in the Energy Health and Safety team in engineering, construction and many businesses.” Newcastle, found out the hard way. Obtaining his Basic Offshore Safety Induction and Emergency installation solutions Two recent investors in NewcastleGateshead are Training Certificate involved “spending three days Number of employees More than Flexlife and Technip Offshore Wind. Both have being dunked in a pool to simulate a helicopter 230 bigger operations in Aberdeen, but are growing ditching … which is slightly unusual, even for an JAMES RUSSELL, their businesses on Gateshead Quays, at Baltic energy lawyer!”. Technip Offshore Place. Stuart Hopley, development manager at Wind head of As well as the opportunity to tap into valuable landlord Robertson, said: “We’ve responded to project services, research and development, there are financial Technip Offshore Wind and Flexlife by offering said: “The area has incentives to help de-risk projects. The Tyne’s them an important piece of the logistical jigsaw a rich offshore renewables skills approved Enterprise Zone status (through the here at Baltic Place and both companies base – a vital consideration for a latest UK government initiatives to support have exciting expansion plans. We have a business competing for first-class offshore industry growth) is a clear advantage. supply of competitively-priced quality Grade A employees, allowing us to access Located beside a working river for the offshore accommodation and access to a highly-skilled a new talent pool. The area also industries, NewcastleGateshead has an pool of engineers in the area.” has relatively low operating costs extensive range of portside benefits, with and is extremely well connected The critical mass of the offshore industry network heavy load-out facilities and overhead crane to key business hubs across the in NewcastleGateshead extends to world-class capacity. One of the UK’s major deep sea UK and Europe, which enables port operations (with three major regional ports, ports, Port of Tyne can accommodate 83 per us to integrate in a cost-effective including Port of Tyne, Port of Sunderland cent of the world’s largest cargo vessels. and Port of Blyth) the presence of the Marine way with our offices in Aberdeen Management Organisation and Narec, the Connectivity to the global market is a key and London, as well as our UK National Renewable Energy Centre. The area attribute of the area, with regular flights to and internationally-based business also boasts one of the largest concentrations of London, Aberdeen, major European hubs and partners. In addition to all this, professional service providers outside London, other long haul destinations. In addition to the office facilities are excellent, with many specialist blue-chip consultants, Eastern Airways’ excellent timetabled service, combining great location with space lawyers and insurance brokers all majoring on Newcastle International Airport serves the world and fit-for-purpose facilities. We are offshore-related assignments. SKM, Parsons daily, including a direct link to the Middle East delighted we chose Gateshead as a Brinckerhoff, Mott Macdonald, Eversheds, KPMG with Emirates’ recently expanded Dubai service. place to grow our business.”

NewcastleGateshead Initiative provides a range of tailored support services to really go that extra mile to support your business. 13 www.investNewcastleGateshead.com n @tynetoinvest Baltic Place, Gateshead has already welcomed Flexlife, Seacurus and Technip Offshore Wind, so why not join them?

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Access to an gva.co.uk abundance of 0191 230 2033 skilled engineers 0191 261 2361 TOAD GETS TECHIE The Wind in the Willows has gone technical for Christmas, with the launch of a new interactive iPad and iPhone app, which gives the classic novel a modern twist.

PRODUCT NEWS More than 190 fully illustrated interactive pages bring the story to life like never before. Readers can drive Toad’s motor car, make the tyres squeal, crash it into hedges and plunge it over cliffs.

They can also conjure up butterflies from thin air, smoke Mole out of his hole, make the band of weasels sing and dance, chuck stones off a bridge to sink Toad’s boat, dress him, LOOKING SNAPPY and even create a snowstorm among myriad Leica has announced a range of top- interactive moments. end cameras and optics products at This app has consistently been given five Photokina 2012. Among them are: the stars on the App Store. M-E which offers exceptional image quality combined with the advantages www.TheWindInTheWillowsApp.com of rangefinder photography, and a minimal, discreet design in anthracite grey. Available now at £3,900.

The Leica X2 Edition Paul Smith combines high performance digital VERY APPEALING technology with extravagant styling. This special edition in vibrant orange, green and yellow is strictly limited to 1,500 units, and includes a leather case A round up of the latest must-have products and apps and strap embossed “Paul Smith for Leica”. Available now at £2,000. GOOD ENOUGH FOR APPLE The Apple-certified Bayan 1 speaker dock comprises a compact, modern design (in black or white solid wood) and offering great natural sound quality.

The StreamPort wireless audio adapter (optional, with full compatibility with Apple, Android and other devices) allows you to control your playlist from GET ON THE CASE FOR CHARITY around the home. Is your iPhone or iPad starting to inspiring travel images – guaranteed Available from www.bayanaudio.com, look a little boring? Well, now you to encourage adventure. Amazon, HMV and Tesco. can customise it with a bespoke case featuring your favourite holiday or InspireMyCase charity partner is loved-ones snaps. AngelMule, which uses all funds to buy and deliver sports and music To create a case using the equipment, which is then delivered InspireMyCase facility, you simply by travellers on their holidays, to choose a blank cover and upload your underprivileged children. chosen image. All cases are suitable for iPhone, iPad, The US-based company says 20 per Samsung and Blackberry models, cent of all profits go towards inspiring printed in high resolution and shipped underprivileged children in need all at no extra charge, for delivery in over the world. four working days. Cases start from $39.95. InspireMyCase also offers ready-made cases with a range of quotes and www.inspiremycase.com 15 FOOD

Marion and Mufti out 16 truffle hunting Stan Abbott meets a woman – and a dog – determined to put the British truffle at the centre of the gastronomic map

I must say I was impressed by Mufti’s application: the young Spanish water dog skitted busily between tree roots, scratching in the dense woodland floor in search of black gold.

It was all far more efficient than I’d imagined. My mind had created a picture of truffle gathering that consisted of a dog or a pig identifying, after hours of painstaking search, a promising spot, where a team of swarthy peasants would then arrive to dig a deep pit from which to extract said delicacies.

In fact, the truffles lay surprisingly close to the surface – we’re talking centimetres – and my truffle-gathering guide, Marion Dean, was using a teaspoon to dig them up.

But to describe Marion as a mere “guide” would be misleading: Marion is to truffles in the UK what the late Patrick Moore was to astronomy. Passionate just doesn’t begin describe this woman’s dedication to placing the Great British Summer Truffle at the centre of the gastronomic map. before the fruits of the endeavour can possibly be realised. Maybe It all began when Marion, an active “horsy” woman, found herself ten. However, Marion and Paul do have a small number of six-year- confined to bed with rheumatism. Her eye fell on a magazine old hazelnut bushes that might just give them an earlier start. feature about truffles. “After about five seconds I was a total goner.” “You can go out and pick up a root and look under the microscope, but every time you do that you are losing some But it was only when husband Paul too had a health scare that potential truffles and we don’t have a proven orchard in the Britain the couple decided to put truffles at the core of their life, even yet.” concluding that there would be no option but to move house from Hampshire, to a location where the soil was more suitable for a Which brings us to the other two prongs of the trident that is truffle orchard. Marion’s truffle venture: firstly there’s Truffle Hunters Dog School, of which Mufti is the first graduate, and then there’s Marion’s wild After scouring Hereford, Wiltshire and other parts of Hampshire, truffle hunting activities, aided and abetted by Mufti. they found the ideal spot by the Somerset Levels, at Witcombe, near the attractive little historic town of Langport. It’s a curious Both the former and latter are ancient crafts now being revived by landscape, in which settlements perch on any piece of land that is England’s Queen of Truffles. even slightly elevated above this reclaimed seabed, criss-crossed as it is by drainage channels, or “rhynes”. The roads seem to be “Truffles,” she says, “have declined with the woodland and laid at random and any journey from A to B, inevitably, involves a knowledge of truffle-hunting has declined too. In the world wars circuitous drive via C and D and through times zones some interval there was a lot of manpower lost and people tended to keep removed from the present. their truffle-hunting information top secret. So, if the holder of knowledge died, the knowledge went too. Then you look at post- The farm is generously provided with outbuildings and, behind war Britain and you had the amazing explosion of white goods and these, stands Marion and Paul’s pride and joy. Or, at least, what we all started driving cars so there’s massive building and a lot of will one day, all things being equal, become their pride and joy: the woodland was lost and so was the way of life, including walking truffle orchard. from A to B. You add up all these little factors and truffles were as good as forgotten.” “We bought it as fast as we could in February 2010 and planted the orchard in the first winter,” says Marion. It comprises oak, Before we set off in pursuit of wild truffles, a mycology lesson: one beech, hazel and silver birch, all of whose roots were “infected” of the French truffle varieties likes to bake in a bit of sunshine and with truffle spores before the year-old saplings went in. has been hit by unmanaged woodlands becoming overgrown.

It will be a minimum of five years from planting (“if you are lucky”) >> “But the British black summer Marion ‘Maz ’ dog school and ask if they can truffle, which is indigenous Penington make a living and I say ‘NO!’.” to the whole of Europe, is a The trade in hand-gathered woodland truffle, so it was truffles, it seems, is simply happy to be left alone to get too fickle to build a business on with it,” says Marion. Less around. pungent than, say, a French truffle from Périgord, these Marion’s strategy is to build are the fungi that Mufti will up a clientèle who know and find for us today and which, trust her, ready for when her given a little luck, we shall eat own orchard yields its dusky this evening at the Devonshire fruit. Then she should be able Arms, at the heart of the to supply people on a more Levels. consistent basis, during a season that runs from May to Marion has a few local chef customers for her pickings, including February. Her “list” includes Orlando and a local cheese-producer Orlando Murrin, celebrated cookery writer and co-owner of the who has added truffles to a soft farmhouse cheese. remarkable medieval manor and hotel, Langford Fivehead. See our review, page 31. So how did Marion get Mufti started? “I worked out how to do it for myself, as I have always done: I even had my goldfish trained, “Orlando had a place in France and is very used to cooking when I was a kid.” with truffles. British chefs need to have had some specific truffle exposure to know about them.” She used truffle oil – which is actually a synthetic product – to teach Mufti what to look for and was then surprised to find the Step in Marion Number Two, Marion Penington, better known as dog wandering with a dazed expression on her face. It was Maz and co-author, with Marion Number One, of Discovering the time to teach her to differentiate between truffles and the magic Great British Truffle, of which more later. mushrooms growing in the lawn… “It took a long time for Mufti to learn and for me to learn.” “Maz has developed her own recipes simply because she had a ready supply of truffles.” Pigs, on the other hand, will happily find truffles for you: and eat them themselves, unless you want a fight with a 20-stone pig, high Unlike mushrooms, which, well, “mushroom”, truffles are slow on truffle pheromones. growers, but equally they don’t last too long once picked. And their growth is always prone to factors like the weather. The laws And so to battle. We head across the Levels in Marion’s Mufti- of foraging permit you to take up to 1.5kgs for your own use from mobile. As ever, the lines are far from straight and I’d struggle someone else’s land, and you should be registered with the local to locate where we ended up, even if I was allowed to share the environmental health department before you sell any foodstuff. All location… Eventually we follow a narrow road uphill between high these factors combine to drive the crazy notional price that truffles banks, beneath mature woodland, ending at a knotty little hill, part can reach, of £3 per gram or £20 for a single shaving. In theory of which has been quarried at some point in the distant past. Now then, if you find a truffle that can be anywhere between the size of it’s a mature beechwood, its floor covered in thick ivy. a marble or a cricket ball, you ought to be quids-in. Mufti is efficiency personified and quickly stops, tail wagging. Only The reality, says Marion, is very different. “People come to the if she’s found a truffle does she receive her “wages” and she’s

DISCOVERING THE GREAT BRITISH TRUFFLE Nature’s best-kept secret brought to life for the contemporary kitchen The 200-plus pages of Discovering the Great And then the recipes: in the words of Orlando Discovering the British Truffle are a veritable labour of love Murrin, “Most existing recipes – if indeed you Great British Truffle and one of the most ambitious self-publishing can find any at all among your cookbooks – are Nature’s best kept secret brought projects I have come across. But I submit that likely to be old-school French (think lobsters, to life for the contemporary kitchen you simply won’t find another book like this foie gras, caviar…). Here at last is a collection and, if you live in the southern half of Britain of practical modern, tested recipes that where truffles grow, you may be encouraged demonstrate the extraordinary potential of this to get a hound trained and add them to your remarkable – and subtle ingredient.” foraging repertoire. And so it kicks off with the simplest: truffles Even if you never find a flake of truffle within with scrambled eggs, mushrooms or spaghetti, sniffing distance, you won’t fail to be captivated graduating to barbecued asparagus with by the authors’ easy style as they tell the story truffled mayonnaise, steamed truffles in piggy of their own and Mufti’s part in the Great British jackets and, yes, even truffle chocolate truffles. truffle revival. SA

Marion Dean & Marion Penington Buy on line at Marion’s website www.trufflehuntersdogschool.com 18 quickly in luck, though the competition has arrived before us: the Wild mushroom and truffle risotto – truffle Marion digs up has been half eaten, and not by the traditional one of many delicious recipes in enemies of badgers, squirrels or rabbits. Discovering the Great British Truffle. See below for your chance to win a We soon discover the culprit: a big brown slug so full of truffle that copy of this scrumptious book. Mufti clearly thinks it IS a truffle and feels cheated out of her wages.

After an hour or so we head for home with perhaps half a dozen assorted truffles and bits of truffles.

They aren’t great lookers: unprepossessing little brown bobbly balls. But they scrub up nicely and, cut, they reveal the marbled colouring that marks them out as ripe for the plate. Marion selects the best for supper at the Devonshire.

Meanwhile, at Langford Fivehead, Orlando tells me we’ve been spoilt by truffle oil, whose pungent synthetic aroma is far removed from the subtlety of the real truffle. Delicacy is the watchword here.

The Devonshire Arms menu offers guinea fowl breast stuffed with local truffle mousse. Today, we haven’t gathered enough truffles to stuff a guinea fowl (or indeed, a mousse!) and our truffles are served as the most delicate shavings on our starter. I savour each flake as though it were my last.

Come morning, the Levels have been doused by yet another late summer deluge, and, judging that Europcar will agree that discretion is the better part of valour, I embark on long meanders to avoid the newly arrived floodwaters. It is nonetheless a most alluring part of the world to which I shall return. And the truffle? You can but admire Marion’s dedication.

“I’d like there to be more understanding and get people used to truffles again,” she says simply.

Readers have the chance to WIN one of three gift copies of Discovering the Great British Truffle.

For your chance to win, just answer the following easy question and email to [email protected], with Truffles in the subject field, to arrive no later than Friday February 22.

QUESTION The Great British Truffle is: a) An amazing soft chocolate b) A type of apple c) A fungus INTERVIEW: KYLIE MINOGUE INTERVIEW

20 Features Rex : Photo Colin Turner talks to Kylie Minogue on her 25 years in the music business, her recent appearance in the fantasy film, Holy Motors, cancer and children, the secret to her youthful looks and how she’s not ready to hang up her sexy outfits yet…

Congratulations on your silver jubilee… such a special project and that was the icing on the cake for me, Oh, thanks. I think it’s hilarious that the queen celebrated her yeah. It’s a long time. So how we delivered it was different. It diamond jubilee for two weeks and I’ve been celebrating my meant a lot to me that he was up for being part of the project. silver jubilee all year! Let’s talk about the Flower video because everyone’s talking Are you surprised to still be here? about it. Yes, actually, because I’ve experienced some periods that were I’m so happy it’s out there, doing its thing. It was a lot of fun to a bit low. I remember in 1999, I actually bought a house in LA do. Being such a personal song, it made sense for me to direct because I thought “things are not really happening for me at the it. I’ve never really directed a video myself before so that was moment. I don’t know where to go so I’m just gonna go to LA, a first. I was very sure of the images I wanted and thankfully I ’cos LA is a bit like a grown-up playground”. Cut to I release found the right DP who could achieve that for me. Spinning Around and since then it’s been a rollercoaster again. The lyrics to Flower suggest that you are feeling broody, Listening to the new versions of your hits on The Abbey Road according to reports. Sessions, you realise even more why they are great songs. This was written in 2007 but going through cancer means Would you say that part of your talent is having a knack for there’s a lot of unknowns and whether you can or can not have picking good songs? children, cancer doesn’t happen and go away and you’ve done A very small part, I would say, because in the first segment of with it… for a woman – everyone’s story is different. There are a my career I had nothing to do with that. But over time, yeah, I million different versions of a cancer story but for me that was think just by being absorbed in the process you start to learn. something that I had to begin to accept back then, which is not Everything I learned on the job I haven’t studied. I haven’t had a what you want to accept. None of this is really great but yes, I master class in how to write great pop songs. But I have gone on was writing about a spirit that I feel – and this probably translates to write songs – Love At First Sight, In Your Eyes, Slow – that are really badly on paper, I’m not seeing things or anything like that still up there. So somehow I learned and everyone’s still looking – but I just felt like this may or may not be my future. And it’s for the secret but no-one’s ever gonna find out. They won’t. You like a love letter to a child that may or may not ever be. It’s just just have to keep trying. something that’s a feeling inside me. So yeah, it was really kind of heavy stuff but I think the song is hopeful. I haven’t really gone You once said you’re a nice little package: you’re not the best on too much about that being the subject matter because people singer, you’re not the best dancer but put it together and it are gonna interpret it how they will. works. Do you still stand by that? Yeah, I think I missed my era. I would have loved to be around in Is that something that you’re still considering perhaps, having a the 30s, 40s, 50s or even 60s, when they made a lot of musicals, child, whether it’s by natural means or by adoption? where you had to be dramatic, you had to do slapstick, different Yeah, there’s many ways to have a family. I would love to have a types of dance, singing. That’s when I think all that I am would family in the future. have really come into play. I guess I do my version of that now. After your recent return to acting in Holy Motors, do you now It must have felt very special to you that Nick Cave re-recorded have Madonna-like ambitions to direct a film? the vocals for Where Wild Roses Grow. I don’t even know how many videos I’ve made. Videos are very I think my heart skipped a beat because the call’s put out there different to making a film. I’m not ready to do that but perhaps and there is no Wild Rose without Nick. I felt this album was one day I will, I don’t know. I’ve had an inkling for a while that >>

I think I missed my era. I would have loved to be around when they made a lot of musicals…That’s when I think all that I am would have really come into play. KYLIE MINOGUE: MADONNA, AGE AND SENSUALITY

come into it. Madonna is Madonna. She was still Madonna when she was 17, she’s never gonna be anyone else. She’s amazing, she’s an icon. Who is anyone to say “it’s too this” or “it’s too that”. I’ve hated that since while I was working in Neighbours and then I started singing and I was told “you’re an actor, you can’t be a singer”. Then suddenly you’re a singer and you can’t be an actor. Surely we’re more open- minded now?

You look fantastic but you don’t diet, don’t go to the gym… Occasionally… like really occasionally.

So what keeps you looking young? I keep busy for a start. I try to present myself the best way. I don’t roll out of bed like this. There are things that we women do to try and present ourselves in the best way! I also have to accept that it’s been a timely thing to talk about because this year being K25 and doing a lot of reminiscing and looking back, it’s quite confronting to see your youth in front of you and to go “really? I don’t look the same”. So it’s a certain amount of acceptance, be happy with what you have. Trust me, there are days when I just feel like man, gravity is finally taking hold.

Is there a pressure to keep looking 35 forever? The Abbey Road Sessions, Parlophone, October 2012 I hope not because that’s gonna be impossible. It’s as much maybe that’s somewhere in the future but you look at people like pressure as you allow it to be I suppose. It’s the nature of the Barbra Streisand, she did it all. Someone like that is very inspiring game really. Yeah, I could decide to let it all go, become feral to me because, especially back then, as a woman directing your and live life like that but I’m not ready to yet. I like what I do own films and starring in them was pretty admirable. and I like to still be glamorous and wear crazy stage outfits and stuff. But I just hope when the time comes that it’s not She’s someone that’s inspired you. appropriate, I’m pretty confident that I’ll feel it. I would hope Just when I think of people, Madonna included – I think it’s great that I wouldn’t need my good friends to hold an international that she’s taken a step into directing – firstly, I think to get any film summit meeting saying, “we think it’s best that you know made is like a miracle. No-one wants to pay for it, even the best that you’re looking ridiculous!” I’m kind of just going with my film-makers struggle to get financing and blah blah blah, find the instincts at the moment. right people, then everything’s got to be right. So as a film-lover, as someone who can appreciate two hours of entertainment or drama Are you already looking to the next studio album? or sci-fi or whatever it is, I don’t think I’m anywhere near that, but Very tentatively, yeah. This year is just… directing Flower was something in which I just felt that I knew what I wanted. If I gave it to someone else it would be diluting what I felt It’s a celebration. strongly the imagery should be. It is. I’m really glad, especially to have Flower on the Abbey Road album because it is a new song. By next year I can put You appear semi-nude in the video. Some British newspapers are K25 behind me. As fantastic as it’s been, it’s been quite hard saying you’re getting raunchier with age. work, quite mentally and emotionally draining to go through I don’t think it’s raunchy at all. That’s to be expected from certain all that. It’s like moving house and having to go through publications, that’s what they’re gonna write. I didn’t want boxes of photos, things like that. So I think by the time I am something airy fairy. It is about sensuality, it is about a body and in Sydney for the New Year’s fireworks I will be so happy that what a body can produce. There’s symbolism in there that I wanted K25 was celebrated. It could have just rolled away like any to incorporate: looking into a mirror is looking into our soul or into other year, but we’ve really made something out of it which whom our next generation might be or questioning who we are – I don’t know that any other artist’s really gone to town on a which is funnily what I’m singing in Holy Motors, who were we? year-long celebration. It’s been a great year to interact with But no, I’d say it’s a little sensual but it’s definitely not raunchy. fans and I’ve just kind of tried to give them a lot of extra things, trying to give myself extra things, like doing the Anti Madonna seems to be getting a lot of flak for showing too much Tour was a whole other experience and kind of so random but flesh. Do you think that this debate about age and showing your I just thought this is the year to do it. body is relevant? I just think it’s really disappointing that age has to consistently Colin Turner / The Interview People

“…BE HAPPY WITH WHAT YOU HAVE. TRUST ME, THERE ARE DAYS WHEN I 22 JUST FEEL LIKE, MAN, GRAVITY IS FINALLY TAKING HOLD.” COMPETITIONTRAVEL www.englishwhisky.co.uk malt whisky free shop). duty (also airport on sale inNorwich of bottles oneChapter oftwo 6, England’s award-winning finest single Welcome to the Eastern page puzzle Airways and your chance to win PUZZLE PAGE PUZZLE Sponsored by England’s finest whisky by Yves Du Sault 23 24

EXPLORATION EXPRESS THE YORKSHIRE WOLDS YORKSHIRE THE PRETTY AS A PICTURE A AS PRETTY Stan Abbott Europcar’s Prestige fleet. Boxster, courtesy of the wheel of a Porsche locations is conducted at Hockney’s favourite in pursuit of David whizz around the Wolds speedier than usual, as our Express is just a little This issue’s Exploration writes…

reddening from the west, casting the turquoise December evening was puddles were iced over and a crisp contend with; the remaining pools and Now we only had some snowflakes to apocalyptic rains. beneath the Wolds during just the latest attempting to cross the low-lying land previously and we’d have been pilgrimage by one week. Seven days postpone our David Hockney By a stroke of good fortune we’d had to Moors and Dales, or the city of York. is the poorer tourism relation to the to explore this corner of Yorkshire that composed on iPad, that inspires people colours, especially in the pictures It is surely the vividness of the artist’s light and colour as a year evolves. sharing with Hockney the changes of for his locations, come rain or shine, steady procession of people searching RA: A Bigger Picture) there’s been a London early in 2012 (David Hockney Royal Academy of Artists’ galleries in him. Since Hockney’s opus filled the landscape and wide skies that fascinate seasons and their interplay with the the Yorkshire Wolds embraces all the David Hockney’s prolific recent work in luminous pink trails of vapour. warm glow, beneath a sky streaked with rolling fields and stands of trees in a

© David Hockney / Photo Richard Schmidt scenes below. with the writer’s own photographs of the Woods, 21, 23 and 29 November 2006, March, 2006 (main picture), and Woldgate Hockney’s Winter Tunnel with Snow, we are actually on the wrong road… Once locations, until it becomes apparent that immediately struggle to locate the first Heading west from Bridlington, we Hockney’s work, www.yocc.co.uk. site that describes itself as a tribute to and grid references from a nifty amateur print-out of locations, complete with maps comments, we arm ourselves with a However, mindful of the hard-to-locate photography, people! Hang on, this is art, not documentary reality doesn’t quite match the pictures. the locations are elusive or even that their I’ve read comments by other writers that when we detour into Driffield – self-pro It’s December and the days are short and picture) which he painted in each season. Hockney’s trademark tree tunnels (main fro-ing, that we eventually locate one of butcher’s. It is here, after some to-ing and down from an equally traditional village a very traditional village pub, a few doors dozen locations and boasts, in the Old Star, village of Kilham is the epicentre of half a particularly shaped bushes and trees. The up and down a hedgerow in vain search of identify but we do then spend time driving His Woldgate woods location is easy to miles east of Pocklington. broadly between Bridlington and a few identifies no fewer than 25 locations, by Hockneyesque views. The website the Wolds, we find ourselves surrounded that gradually ascends the gentler flank of correctly on Woldgate, an old Roman road - Pictures at Salts Mill, near Bradford and Scarborough and 25 Trees and Other for occasional Hockney works in Bridlington Bigger Picture is currently showing. Watch out Ludwig, Cologne, where David Hockney: A Hockney pictures courtesy of Museum Humberside and Durham Tees Valley. Eastern Airways flies to Leeds Bradford, www.visithullandeastyorkshire.com Hockney, that is now changing. iconography. I sense that, thanks to hills their deserved place in Yorkshire national parks that has denied these gentle awesome grandeur of the Moors and Dales of the Downs and Chilterns. It is only the reflect that this landscape is a first cousin bit by luring us into his beloved Wolds. I By then, however, Hockney has done his the light is already bidding us farewell. claimed capital of the Wolds – for late lunch, . >>

© David Hockney / Photo Richard Schmidt THE YORKSHIRE WOLDS: THE BASE, THE CAR

For our Hockney exploration, we based ourselves at Scarborough. This is a resort whose star is on the rise these days, thanks to the multi-million pound renovation of the Spa complex, the influx of students to Hull University’s Scarborough campus and, on the horizon, the development of the world’s biggest potash mine, 15 miles north.

We visit the small but perfectly formed art gallery, home (until January 6) to Lines of Conflict, an excellent exhibition of works by the Yorkshire Sculptors Group that commemorates the 1914 bombardment of Scarborough. Hockney has been and gone but there are plenty of inspiring Atkinson Grimshaw seascapes to admire.

Next door is the new Woodend centre for creative industries, whose beautiful exhibition spaces are housed in the former home of the celebrated Sitwell family. On the opposite side of this regency crescent and park is base camp, Beiderbecke’s Hotel. The idea of Europcar’s Prestige weekend tiger growl and roar, and guzzle the curves Cosy and just a little quirky, Beiderbecke’s rentals is to enable you to add a special set as they come. usually absent Russian owner looks to live of wheels to that special hotel or romantic his dream of owning a jazz hotel, and we break. The Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK) eat exceptionally well in Marmalade’s transmission system delivers lighting fast bistro to the gentle tones of the resident The Porsche Boxster rental terms are gear changes on the seven-speed jazz three-piece. exclusive to Eastern Airways customers automatic box and there are no fewer than and the Porsche Owners of Great Britain three different ways in which to prompt a Our maître d’ is Basil, of Italian-Egyptian Club. manual gear change. descent, one of whose party pieces involves so-called Jägerbombs, which are Romantic weekend: of course, a couple of A combination of quite conservative the product of an impressive domino- days is all it takes to fall in love with this driving, with just the occasional burst of toppling stunt, in which shots of beautifully-crafted roadster. acceleration, delivered about 30 miles to Jägermeister digestif are launched into the gallon. No car for a family day out glasses of Red Bull. It begins when you turn the key and the (you’d barely find space for the family cat, mid-mounted 2.7-litre flat six-cylinder boxer given that the tiger got there first) but ideal All makes for an enjoyable stay in this engine purrs like a tiger, just behind your seat. to impress the other half for that special friendly establishment. weekend away. On the wide open roads of the Wolds, a www.beiderbeckes.com gentle tap on the accelerator makes this www.easternairways.com/car-hire BITTER EXPERIENCEwith Alastair Gilmour TIME TO CZECH THINGS OUT Pubs and people’s behaviour in them create never-ending scenarios…

I’m having a lunchtime stands unsteadily, places the beer in a Czech herna bar – beermat back into its small basically a pub with gambling holder and heads for the door. attached. I don’t entertain “Staring man” pockets his slot machines, but find their change and takes his beer to drinking sections fascinating. the now vacant seat where the view of the television is A tightening of licensing easier. A black-and-white film legislation means the herna is showing – early 60s, I’d is an endangered species. guess – featuring characters Half will survive the strict new in sunglasses and beautiful laws, but many may be forced blondes. It’s cheesy and “underground”. I’m getting it stagey and the plot is about while I can. a missing body. Surely you lower someone in a deep It’s also the day after the ban sea diving helmet into a lake is lifted on selling spirits over rather than shove him roughly 20 per cent alcohol by volume over the side of the boat? Not anywhere in the Czech in this movie you don’t. Republic – but particularly from city street-corner kiosks. Our man continues to stare, All through late summer, but now his target isn’t the police had been on the trail “action” but the wall below of a gang of fraudsters who the screen. His is indeed a swamped the country with troubled head. He nods for illegal hooch. Several people another glass of beer and by died, with dozens more the time I’ve got to Brechin rushed into intensive care, City v Alloa Athletic he’s up some of them blinded. on his feet and on his way out the door, fleetingly looking In this non-stop (24/7) over his shoulder towards the herna, a middle-aged, casually dressed The one-arm bandits are in a darkened counter as the barmaid growls “ciao”. customer sits down facing the counter; room beyond the bar, half-curtained off. a regular, by the way he has scraped a Lights flash and circle hypnotically. A Two couples enter and sit where “starer” chair over the tiled floor, glanced at the young couple, far too nicely dressed for had originally been parked. Man, do they television on the wall, and nodded to the a joint like this, walk straight in, pausing look fierce. So do their male partners. barmaid. Poker style, he stacks a neat only to order a drink at the counter before The phrases “meet in a dark alley” and pile of coins beside him. Seconds later disappearing into the gloom. Regulars “wouldn’t like to” come to mind, but it’s she brings his beer, reaches into the purse again, I presume. noticeable how unbelievably polite they at her hip and presses his change onto are to each other and how readily they the table. I continue with my beer and my mouth a “dobry den” to the rest of us. newspaper, trying to decipher Czech, One of them reaches into the beermat He glares straight ahead with not one then study a European-wide football container and deals four out like playing glimmer of acknowledgement, not a pools coupon slipped from a pile on cards, just before the – unordered – flicker of thanks or blink of appreciation. the window ledge. Dukla Prague versus foaming beer glasses are brought to the He sits motionless, staring, staring, Sigma Olumec looks like a draw to me, as table. staring. He takes a few sips. This is a man does the outcome of Eintracht Frankfurt who is drinking to forget. Or is he drinking and Greuther Fuerth. They clink and laugh and get caught up to remember? One thing’s for sure, I’m with the midday movie. I wonder how not about to sidle over and ask him what’s Another customer facing me over the MTK Budapest and Ferencváros will get on his mind. waist-high partition drains his glass, on this afternoon.

Alastair Gilmour is a freelance journalist specialising in food and drink. He likes pubs with an “edge”. 27 The hospitality sector is often presented as one of the best barometers of the economy. Stan Abbott finds the

HOSPITALITY: INDUSTRY REVIEW INDUSTRY HOSPITALITY: industry, if not quite set fair, then gently rising at least… If new hotel openings were in themselves evidence that the good times are either back, or just around the corner, then everyone in hospitality would now be wearing broad smiles. Major cities have been adding to their bed stock and some of the big chains are driving forward significant expansion strategies.

However, many developments are the manifestation of plans laid when it was reasonable to presume that talk of recession would now be behind us, and the rise in supply means that yields have not fully recovered to pre-slowdown levels. Indeed, there are signs that some smaller niche establishments are suffering in the face of aggressive pricing by the majors. There is also evidence that the “Olympic effect” – while it may have dragged the country back into growth overall – had a negative impact on the hospitality sector. Certainly this seems to be the case outside London: unrealistic room rate aspirations in the capital scared off early-booking overseas

Radisson Blu’s £22 million hotel on the Pegasus Business Park, near East Midlands Airport

28 visitors who then failed to visit the UK at all – said 66 per cent of operators reported visitor DoubleTree by Hiltons in Leeds, while Mints and to make customary tours to other parts numbers down on last year. Reason for in Birmingham, Bristol and Glasgow are now of the country. optimism can be found in reports of strong in the Hilton Garden Inn collection. forward bookings for Christmas and New But let’s get back to the good news! Year. Indeed, nearly half of hoteliers feel Few cities can match Newcastle and positive about 2013. Gateshead for growth in hotel beds over Longitude Research for example, reports the last 12 to 24 months, thanks to an that “business outlook is not as bleak as Strongest evidence of industry feel-good, investment boom underpinned by the it was at the start of the year. The second as indicated by investment, can be found city’s high occupancy rates (driven by its quarter has witnessed a bump in confidence in the Aberdeen and Newcastle areas, both entertainment and cultural offer) in recent with companies in this sector optimistic of which have boasted above average years. The growth has come across the about meeting revenue targets.” occupancy rates in recent years. quality spectrum, including the first UK appearance for the Canadian Sandman Regional chain Peel Hotels achieved a small In Aberdeen, the Park Inn Radisson, Signature brand, on the one hand, and the rise in pre-tax profits for the nine months to Bauhaus and Rox are all refreshing recent new minimalist economy boutique brand, August, prompting Chairman Robert Peel to arrivals in the city centre. Sleeperz, which has also opened in Cardiff. declare that “in provincial terms” the bottom of the cycle was now behind us. The well-established Simpson’s Hotel has “We saw a great market in the UK,” said been acquired by hoteliers Graham and Newcastle Sandman Managing Director, Peel slashed its debt and reported profit Gillian Wood, with ambitions to replicate Mitch Godlardi. Deterred by “astronomical” before tax of £45,049, up from £32,998, their luxury five-star boutique offerings in London prices in 2007, the brand turned its on turnover up 4.7 per cent. It reported Edinburgh and Glasgow (Graham is a son of focus on provincial cities. “The main points I turnover of £8.2 million and a £424,816 cut Aberdeen entrepreneur, Sir Ian Wood). There was after there were established destination, in net debt, and revenue per available room are also plans to demolish the old council good transport links, a good mix of tourist increased 2.6 per cent, although occupancy offices, St Nicholas House, and the four and business traveller, an area with business fell marginally. shortlisted projects for the prime city centre generators (business school, hospital, site include hotel ambitions. stadium), a population of 2-400,000, and Although many of the nine hotels in the Newcastle pretty much ticked every box. group’s portfolio did not derive any benefit The city’s beach area also boasts a new from the Olympic Games, Peel said Doubletree by Hilton. The Doubletree by “We’ve been open 13 months, it’s performed that Olympic football in Newcastle drew Hilton franchise arrival reflects ambitious to budget and people enjoy the product that increased footfall to its Caledonian Hotel, growth across the Hilton brand portfolio, we bring.” in the fashionable Jesmond district. “We’ve driven by both acquisitions and franchising. >> just completed four beautiful new suites at the Caledonian which puts it on a par with A freshly baked, warm chocolate chip the best in London,” he added. cookie with walnuts is presented to each guest at check-in and is used to differentiate Some of the strongest negative Olympic the Doubletree brand, launched in 2006. impacts were felt in the Lake District, which reported mass cancellations by the The brand arrived in Europe two years later customary Japanese parties in search of with its first opening, in Cambridge. The a dose of Beatrix Potter. Cumbria tourism acquisition of Mint Hotels has seen new Rose and Crown, Teesdale Maldron, Cardiff

With more players in the market comes revamp of Darlington’s King’s Head as the than £20 million to break its lease terms. more aggressive pricing, bringing joy Darlington Kings Hotel (another A range of upmarket hotels, including for the consumer but pain for some: the Cairn Hotel Group venture to complement Redworth Hall, in County Durham, the independent boutique Grey Street Hotel, in its new at nearby Scotch Queens, in Leeds, and the Palace, at central Newcastle, entered administration Corner). Three more venues will open soon, Buxton, are now under Puma’s own brand. in early November, citing difficult trading increasing the brand’s footprint to 75 hotels conditions. in the UK. Other Pumas include the Lygon Arms, at Broadway, in the Cotswolds, Billesley The 50-room hotel, which has been open for Jonathan Sheard, Mercure Managing Manor, near Stratford-upon-Avon, and ten years, is trading normally while a buyer Director of Operations, said: “We’re Combe Grove Manor, near Bath. is sought. committed to significantly growing our Mercure hotel portfolio by 2015 and this Just to prove there is still space for Ken Ellington, joint chair of the North East will largely be driven through our growing independents in the sector, John Robinson, Hotels Association, commented: “We’ve franchise development in the UK.” his wife Ann and their family, owners of probably seen 1,000 rooms open in the Headlam Hall, near Bishop Auckland, have past eight to 12 months, and that will have Mercure (a brand of Accor) claims to be acquired one of the North of England’s best the second largest mid-scale hotel chain undoubtedly affected the occupancy figures known country hotels, the much-lauded outside North America – with a network of because there are far more rooms to fill.” Rose & Crown, at Romaldkirk, in Teesdale. 724 hotels in 51 countries. Elsewhere in the region, the 48-room David Lee, manager at sale agent Christie As Accor advances, the Spanish-owned Derwent Manor Hotel has been put on & Co, said: “The sale of the Rose & Crown Barceló group has bowed out of the UK the market for a modest £1.9 million, demonstrates that despite the difficult market, paying owner Puma Hotels more having been rescued from the doomed wider economic conditions, quality well- performing hospitality businesses are still of Swallow portfolio in 2006. Set in 20 acres interest to purchasers.” of countryside, near Consett, it is marketed under the Best Western brand and includes VAT’S NOT THE WAY The Rose & Crown is a 12-bedroom country self-catering cottages, a swimming pool, The hospitality sector wants to see the inn and one of only 200 Inspectors’ Choice sauna and gym. Government’s warm words about the hotels to be awarded red stars by the importance of tourism translated into AA. The Rose & Crown is also endorsed And the luxury Seaham Hall Hotel has been action, with the slashing of VAT to a new by The Good Hotel Guide, The Good Food sold by the liquidators of the Von Essen five per cent rate. The campaign is back Guide, The Good Pub Guide and Michelin, portfolio for just a quarter of the £20 million by a number of major players, including and is a member of Great Inns of Britain, it cost to create. VisitBritain, and cites independent Fine Individual Hotels and Romantic research, suggesting that cutting VAT on Retreats. Other recent openings in the region are tourism would: concentrated in Newcastle and Gateshead Uncertainty in the financial sector, which and include a 148-bed Hotel Indigo, a • create 80,000 jobs, many for the young had fuelled hotel developments in Leeds, second , a Ramada Encore and a and unemployed saw ambitious plans for a skyscraper hotel four-star Doubletree by Hilton, at Newcastle • generate a surplus of £2.6 billion for the at Portland Crescent, on the northern edge Airport, operated by the locally based Cairn Treasury over ten years of the city centre, put on ice. Now a new Hotels group. At least another six city centre planning application seeks to revise the hotels are already at planning stage or more A report by Professor Adam Blake, using existing approved proposals, moving it from advanced, including a Radisson Blu and a the Government’s own Computable four to five star standards as a possible 230-room Travelodge. Whether all will now General Equilibrium model, which he Hilton. materialise remains to be seen, although helped build, concludes that cutting VAT work continues behind the scenes to realise on tourism is one of “the most efficient, The new plans propose a rooftop bar with the city’s ambitions to develop a major if not the most efficient, means of views over the city, and a glazed external lift, conference facility, which would eventually generating GDP gains at low cost to the also serving a new glazed rooftop restaurant fuel demand. Exchequer that we have seen with the in 45.7-metre tower, housing 206 rooms. CGE model”. and is close to A new campaign website aims provide Radisson Blu has just opened a 218-bed acquiring Old Shire Hall, Durham, to create a background information on the rationale £22 million hotel on the Pegasus Business second Hotel du Vin in the region. for lowering VAT on tourism goods and Park, near East Midlands Airport. The hotel services. www.bha.org.uk/vat-campaign is being billed as one of the greenest in 30 Also expanding is Mercure, with a £8m the UK, designed to produce 87 per cent fewer carbon emissions than conventional hotels. Features include rainwater harvesting, THUMBNAIL REVIEWS OF HOTELS VISITED BY a combined heat and power generator run on plant oil, and motion-sensitive lighting. OUR WRITERS RECENTLY…

Another “green” venture is at the University of Nottingham, which is behind a £20 ABERDEEN YORK million 202-bed upmarket development on ROX MIDDLETHORPE HALL, University Park, adjacent to the East Midlands Refreshing reinvention on Market Street, This National Trust property gives guests Conference Centre. with just 32 very nice bedrooms. the chance to sample life “behind the red www.roxhotel.com ropes that usually place historic “bed The hotel will feature photovoltaic panels, chambers” out of bounds in historic ground-sourced heat and lower-energy PARK INN RADISSON houses. Excellent spa, comfy sitting assisted-cooling ventilation, as well as Light, airy and business-like feel in this accessible rooftop terraces, green roofs and room and fine dining make this a funky building on Justice Mill Lane. maximum use of natural daylight. not-to-be missed experience not far from www.parkinn.co.uk/hotel-aberdeen York racecourse. The launch of the 174-room £24 million Hotel www.middlethorpe.com La Tour, in Birmingham, is set to kick-start the City Park Gate development, part of plans to NEWCASTLE regenerate the Eastside district. The Hotel La SANDMAN SIGNATURE HAMPSHIRE Tour group announced plans for five UK hotels Bringing some of the best features of a MONTAGU ARMS, BEAULIEU in five years, and was due to start with one at North American hotel, not least the A great option if on business in Central Quay, Glasgow, for which a detailed superb breakfast in the Shark Bar (a Southampton or Bournemouth. In the planning application was submitted. sports bar befitting its location across the heart of the New Forest, close to the Solent and handy for the National Motor Australian StayWell Hospitality Group has road from Newcastle United). Generous Museum at Beaulieu. Fine rooms, fine announced its UK debut in 2014, when the wet rooms, rather than baths, but suites dining. www.montaguarmshotel.co.uk Park Regis Birmingham opens. have a fully equipped kitchen area. Great views over the city. Cardiff’s newest and largest hotel marks a UK www.sandmansignature.co.uk debut for the Irish Maldron chain. Cardiff’s SOMERSET three-star £25 million Maldron Hotel boasts ROSEBERY LANGFORD FIVEHEAD 216 rooms over 12 floors, on the site of the Irresistible charm at this private hotel in Orlando Murrin was editor of BBC Good former Central Hotel. Jesmond, filled floor to ceiling with quirky Food magazine for six years until 2003, bric-à-brac finds to create an offbeat when he and partner Peter Steggalls set The Welsh capital currently attracts 18.6m French feel. www.roseberyhotel.com up Le Manoir de Raynaudes, in south visitors a year, up 98 per cent on 1998 figures, according to Cardiff & Co, which promotes the west France, which went on to earn a DOUBLETREE BY HILTON city across the UK and abroad. prestigious reputation in France and the Far more than just any old airport hotel: UK. Orlando and Peter’s return to the UK Southampton’s prestigious Ocean Village cosy bar, customised breakfasts, is partly a reflection of the frustrating hotel proposal is another phantom generous rooms and, of course, hot seasonality of the business in France and development. cookies on arrival! partly of the sensational find that is http://tinyurl.com/cr94u38 Langford Fivehead. A 15th century manor Back in 2006 permission was granted for house, with delightfully manicured a large four-star hotel on the promontory. It SLEEPERZ gardens, in the strange world that is the was anticipated it would be operational by Strategically located near Westgate Road Somerset Levels. Highly individual rooms 2010 and would be a Millennium & Copthorne bars and Central Station, Sleeperz (also share a common coziness and Hotel. in Cardiff) is courting the budget- atmosphere is relaxed and informal. conscious business traveller, as well as According to Marina Developments Ltd, Superb individual breakfasts, with leisure trade. Lobby reading matter which operates the marina, the project will still gourmet weekend dining option. Orlando includes aspirational Wallpaper and happen at some point, as part of an ongoing and Peter have acquired a reputation for Condé Nast Traveller, but clientèle leisure £70 million re-development of Ocean Village. Langford Fivehead’s exclusive use house rather than business. Two-speed Wi-Fi parties and there can be few better Planning permission for the hotel was (you pay more for hefty download locations for that special birthday or extended in 2011, but then Harbour Hotels requirements) a good idea and compact intimate reception. announced plans to build a much smaller rooms have all you need. www.langfordfivehead.co 76-bed £25 million hotel in Ocean Village, www.sleeperz.com alongside a residential and commercial development, to make the scheme viable. Langford Fivehead Ocean Village’s car park, however, was named the UK’s best new car park in 2008, so that’s all right then!

What is real is the arrival of a Pig in Southampton: the Pig in the Wall is a 12-bedroom mini-boutique hotel that brings the Pig in the Forest into the city from Brockenhurst. CHARITY BEGINS AT HOME Liz Bestic visits Dartington Hall, which has followed the National Trust in DARTINGTON HALL DARTINGTON developing a hospitality model to support its charitable aims…

32 When a fabulously wealthy American heiress marries an English country parson and decides to buy a country estate deep Mount Kate in the Devon countryside you might expect a combination of Downton Abbey and Brideshead Revisited.

True, the Dartington estate has everything you could want from a country pile, including a 1,200-acre estate, links to Richard II, a quadrangle of buildings dating back to the 1300s and the remains of a medieval great hall with a hammer beam roof. “EAT, DRINK, SLEEP AND THINK” IS THE SLOGAN

But when Dorothy and Leonard Elmhirst EMBLAZONED ON THE SIDES OF ALL THE DELIVERY bought the place in the 1920s it was in a VANS AT DARTINGTON HALL AND THOSE WORDS sorry state, with the great hall open to the sky and many of the historic buildings used SUM UP THE VALUES OF THE PLACE. as cowsheds. They immediately set about restoring the estate to its former glory and The school is now closed, but the Visitors to Dartington Hall can walk a mile landscaping the grounds in a series of Dartington Hall Trust continues to run along the river Dart into Totnes. The town ornamental gardens sprinkled with exotic projects aimed at supporting the arts, the has a reputation as a centre for alternative trees. promotion of a fairer society and living (the “Hebden Bridge of the south”) sustainability. The hotel and conference and is certainly the place to buy a Tibetan Dorothy and Leonard had no intention of centre is now a social enterprise and wind chime or a crystal or two. It also has a playing at being lord and lady of the manor. ploughs all its profits back into the Trust’s great farmers’ market and as many The couple shared a passion for change various enterprises. That may sound a bit vegetarian restaurants as anyone could and experimentation. They were particularly woolly but visitors will find this is no green wish for. In the summer months you can interested in progressive education and lentil outfit. take a ferry down the river to the slightly rural reconstruction and in 1935 they posher yachting town of Dartmouth. established the Dartington Hall Trust to The hotel has been completely refurbished deliver their charitable vision and run the and the rooms are beautifully decorated – What is really striking is the attitude of the estate. many of the pieces of furniture are originals staff. They really are enthusiastic about from the Trust’s collection. One even has an Dartington and will extoll the virtues of the They launched a series of ventures aimed antique Spanish bed you need to clamber social enterprise and the Trust’s various at reviving the depressed local rural up on to before snuggling down for the projects – not something you would get in economy and experimenting with liberal night. And it all makes financial sense. This the average country house hotel. and creative education. The various year the social enterprise put £800,000 restoration projects provided jobs and back into the Trust’s programmes. training for local craftsmen, while their ventures ranged from cider-making to “Eat, drink, sleep and think” is the slogan weaving and, of course, the establishment emblazoned on the sides of all the delivery of the famous Dartington Glass factory. vans at Dartington Hall and those words sum up the values of the place. Visitors will The eccentric couple encouraged and find the creative legacy of the Elmshirsts supported an eclectic mix of artists, everywhere. There is a Henry Moore statue dancers, sculptors and musicians to come in the gardens, a print-makers’ workshop and work there and support their ventures, and one of the few places where you can including some of the greats of 20th learn bookbinding. century arts world, among them Peter Piers, Bertrand Russell, Paul Robeson and And in the grounds there is a fabulous white Benjamin Britten. 1930s modernist house, originally built for the headmaster of the school but now run But it was the establishment of a by the National Trust. For lighter progressive co-educational school that entertainment there is even a cinema built caught the public’s attention. Children into a medieval barn – but in the spirit of could choose what classes to attend and Dartington it is run as a service to the local were involved in decisions about how the community. On the edge of the estate there school was run – while the press had a field is an Arts and Crafts Shopping Village with day telling tales of drugs and skinny- all profits supporting the Trust’s work. dipping in the River Dart. Clockwise from left: the Great Hall, High Cross House, Moore bedroom, aerial shot of courtyard. Great Hall image © Alice Carfrae HOSPITALITY: ROBERT PARKER ROBERT HOSPITALITY:

A BROAD CHURCH APPROACH A 69-year-old former vicar funded by the multi-million-pound sale of his care home business is the unlikely new kid on the boutique hotel block. Stan Abbott catches up with him…

Robert Parker’s first concern is how he latter department since staying at collier, Robert Parker was inspired to might come across in print: a concern Eshott and Doxford and enjoying there join the Church on hearing a sermon at that’s been fuelled by a Mail on Sunday a very particular quality of service and the age of 15. treatment that he senses focuses attention. unnecessarily on the perceived paradox “I spent almost 20 years working of a man of the cloth having a lot of “Two things drive me,” he says. “Firstly, full-time for the Church of England, in money. people will always seek out quality, in Sheffield steel works and in Yate, in terms of food, reputation, and staff Bristol, and at Cheltenham College. I suggest we let his own words do the service, which has to be second to Then I was offered a job in Church talking and see if we can find out what none. Secondly, these have to come at House for five years and after all that I makes the owner of Guyzance Hall, a fair price.” decided there should be a change and I Eshott Hall and Doxford Hall, in Northumberland, and (most recently) So how did a life in the priesthood wanted to do something different. Dalhousie Castle, near Edinburgh, tick. prepare him for the cut and thrust of business, be it in care homes or the “But I wanted to be involved in people It’s soon very clear that Mr Parker is no hospitality sector? and caring, and a care home seemed to more an “ordinary vicar” than he is an meet the need. We developed nine ordinary hotel owner. I’d wanted to find Born the son of Derbyshire homes, all in the West Midlands, around 34 out more about his strengths in the schoolteacher and the grandson of a Shrewsbury.” “We” is Robert and wife, Gina, whose refugees, needed help adjusting to a life in bored, having worked 70 or 80 hours a grandfather was a Danish sea captain. the UK. week and suddenly finding I had hours and They have three daughters, a son and nine hours on my hands. I’m not the huntin’, grandchildren. “I spent some time badgering Cheltenham shootin’ and fishin’ type, so this was a way Council that we should play our part and of finding a new reason in life, to contribute, I’m curious how Robert might have they provided me with an old block of flats. and I enjoy it as well.” amassed sufficient savings to start a chain The boys from the college refurbished them of care homes while working as a priest, and we brought in nine Ugandan families. In retrospect, he says, it may have been and the answer is he didn’t. He then tells a We found them jobs, taught them English “slightly foolish” to acquire the two new story of banking largesse in 1986 that is in and then I persuaded the college we should properties at the same time, particularly as stark contrast to banking practice today. raise £25,000 towards building a house at a running hotels in Northumberland, with its And indeed in marked contrast to the Pestalozzi (a children’s educational trust) sparsely spread population, does present hoops the Parkers have had to jump Children’s Village, in Scotland. marketing challenges. However, he adds: through more recently to acquire the “We have some fine managers and great finance to support the acquisition of the “These fresh ideas were coming often and staff.” * former Von Essen property, Dalhousie. when I went to Bristol I persuaded the Dean to remodel the church as a seven-day-a- Both properties, and indeed Dalhousie, “The bank (NatWest) were very keen in week living.” Out went the chancel and continue to demand investment: “We still August 1986. They made it clear we had a other church trappings; in came a have a lot of work at Doxford and long relationship and they felt they knew playgroup five days a week, with the church consolidation at Eshott. Eshott was a blank me and agreed to back me 100 per cent. reoccupying at the weekend. canvas and we are still working hard at it to They gave me a wonderful start.”

And the bank indeed backed a winner: PEOPLE WILL ALWAYS SEEK OUT QUALITY, IN when the Parkers decided to sell as the second 20-year-itch needed scratching in TERMS OF FOOD, REPUTATION, AND STAFF 2006, the business sold for £140,000 a bed, when the industry norm was half that. The SERVICE, WHICH HAS TO BE SECOND TO NONE… sale delivered the Parkers £43 million, half of which is the personal wealth from which AND THESE HAVE TO COME AT A FAIR PRICE.” the new hotel group is being forged.

“The philosophy that all our care home staff “I also built a brand new church and I came get it where we want to be. We would like to were asked to embrace was a very simple up with the idea that all functions in life take the bedrooms up to 25 or 30 and the one: if the service is not good enough for happen around a kitchen and every local council seems to be pretty supportive, your own mother, then it’s not good enough meeting space could be served from the though we’d like to see where it is in 12 for anyone. kitchen and space could be opened out to months before we spend a couple of house 450.” million.” “When we sold, we spent about eight months reviewing the bids and making sure So Robert Parker is a man who does it his I sense there’s a lot of drive left in Mr Parker those who were making the offers were way. But how does that translate to the as his 70th birthday approaches, suitable and had the resources, and we felt hotel venture? “My wife is from the North notwithstanding his assertion that “Church Barchester most nearly met our East and she was very keen that we have and family are the most important part of philosophy.” some kind of presence there, close to her my life”. Indeed, he is with his extended roots, so it began with Guyzance Hall, family at their home in Dordogne when we Barchester wanted Robert to stay on the which we acquired six years ago.” speak. team after the sale but he was keen to devote all his energies to a new venture. However, it soon became clear that the hall He still does, he says, “quite a lot” of work would have a capacity to eat money at a for the Church and he also indulges a So does he simply have an instinct for speed that would demand it acquire its own passion for music and culture, having twice doing things the right way? Or does the income stream. The hall is now available on funded ambitious classical music festivals secret lie in his Church experience? an exclusive use basis, for weddings and at the three Northumberland properties. other events, and “it is now able to deal “I’m not really sure if the Church prepared with its own running costs”. “I do believe that in life, the more you have, me – I think it’s more about personality. the more you are required to give back, and When I was chaplain at Cheltenham “It became clear fairly quickly that there the music festival is trying to give back, and College, without any previous training, that was a demand for and need for some make culture available to people. We try to side came to the fore and began to make exclusive upmarket functions and when ‘give back’ in a range of ways.” its mark in the life of the college.” Eshott Hall and Doxford Hall came on the Specifically, he felt the college and its market fairly quickly we thought ‘if it works * This interview took place before the tragic pupils needed a more tangible involvement at Guyzance and we have the right formula death of David Hunter, 59, Manager of with society outside its walls and he saw then it could work elsewhere’. Doxford Hall, following a minor accident. this as a central part of his ministry. At that He will be greatly missed by all involved in time, families were fleeing Uganda and, as “Also, I had taken retirement and I was tourism in North East England. WELCOME TO OUR BARE ESSENTIALS Here you can find information on our routes, fleet, passenger BARE ESSENTIALS experience and a host of suggestions for what to do when you arrive at your destination.

OUR DESTINATIONS SCATSTA

Scheduled Routes ANGEAVST R

Charter Routes WICK JOHN O’GROATS

STORNOWAY

ABERDEEN THE FLEET GLASGOW

NEWCASTLE

DURHAM TEES VALLEY LEEDS BRADFORD EMBRAER ERJ145 HUMBERSIDE

Three aircraft Length 30m (98ft) EAST MIDLANDS Seats 49/50 passengers Typical cruising speed, Two turbofan engines 450 knots, at 35,000ft Wingspan, 20m (65ft) NORWICH

CARDIFF BIRMINGHAM

FI BRISTOL SOUTHAMPTON

EMBRAER ERJ135

Two aircraft Length 26m (86ft) Seats 37 passengers Typical cruising speed, Two turbofan engines 450 knots, at 35,000ft Wingspan, 20m (65ft)

JETSTREAM 41 SAAB 2000

18 aircraft Length 20m (63ft) BORDEAUXEight aircraft Length 26.7m (89ft) Seats 29 passengers Typical cruising speed, Seats 50 passengers Typical cruising speed, Two turboprop engines 280 knots, at 20,000ft Two jetprop engines 370 knots, at 28,000ft 36 Wingspan 19m (60ft) Wingspan 24.3m (81ft)

TOULOUSE ESSENTIAL TRAVEL PASSENGER EXPERIENCE

After booking your Eastern Airways flight items of hand luggage by the aircraft via a travel agent, the airline’s website or steps. Your hand luggage will be awaiting AIR TRAVEL in-house reservations call centre, you will you on the valet baggage cart at your SHOULD BE MORE OF have noticed that Eastern Airways uses destination airport. e-tickets. It was in fact one of the airlines A PLEASURE AND to pioneer ticketless travel over nine Once on board, our highly trained cabin years ago. attendants offer a friendly and personal- LESS OF A CHORE ised in-flight service including compli- Queues at check-in are short and the mentary drinks and branded snacks. On process is swift as is the experience arrival our aircraft allow for quick Our aim is to make your travel as pleasant through the security channels. This is disembarkation, enabling passengers to an experience as possible. possible thanks to a ground-breaking make their way swiftly onwards through initiative called Fast Track, which is the terminals. Have an enjoyable trip. available at Aberdeen, Leeds Bradford, South­ampton, East Midlands, Newcastle, Glasgow, and is a dedicated security channel for Eastern Airways passengers STAMPING OUT DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOUR to use and avoid busy airport terminal security queues. While the vast majority of passengers flying globally behave impeccably, there is a greater awareness of isolated incidents of disruptive behaviour, also known as “air With Eastern Airways operating the largest rage”. While this isn’t a major problem for Eastern Airways, the safety and security of number of scheduled services from our pass­engers and crew is our number one priority. Aberdeen, a dedicated business lounge is available for all its customers flying from We don’t want our customers to experience any behaviour that makes them feel the airport and is located next to its uncomfortable, or be put in a situation that compromises safety. Disruptive behaviour departure gates. Executive lounge access can include smoking, drunkenness, aggress­ive behaviour or abusive language towards is also offered at Glasgow, Birmingham, a customer or a member of crew. Our crews are fully trained to deal with any incident of Leeds Bradford, Bristol, Norwich, this type. Southampton and Cardiff for passengers travelling on fully flexible tickets. Disobeying a command, which is lawful by a crew member, is committing an offence under the UK Air Navigation Order. Offenders who persistently misbehave on As you board your aircraft you will a flight will be handed to the appropriate authorities on arrival and may face arrest and a notice we have a fleet of liveried valet heavy fine or up to two years imprisonment. Severe restrict­ions will also be placed on baggage carts for you to place larger their future travel with Eastern Airways.

ESSENTIAL GOINGS ON…

MAKING CONNECTIONS Celtic Connections will celebrate 20

ESSENTIAL GOINGS ON years as a cornerstone of Scotland’s cultural calendar with a stellar programme, which will celebrate the ethos and artists that have seen the Glasgow festival become a global phenomenon. Some of the biggest names in folk, roots, world, traditional, indie, blues and jazz will perform between January 17 and February 3.

Among the artists appearing are Duncan Chisholm, The Mavericks, Transatlantic Sessions with Mary Chapin Carpenter, Old Crow Medicine Show, Salif Keita, Kate Rusby, Carlos Núñez & the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Amy WICK’S HISTORY GETS NEW LEASE OF LIFE Helm, Dougie MacLean, Roddy Hart Following an extensive refurbishment, white fish as it offered more permanent and the Lonesome Fire, Fiddlers the Fishing Hall of Wick Heritage employment. The final years of the Bid, Le Mystère des Voix Bulgares, Museum will be ready for visitors when town’s association with the herring Aimee Mann, Caravan Palace and the museum reopens at Easter. industry were a short period after Bellowhead. World War Two. Wick was once Britain’s largest herring www.celticconnections.com port, producing one fifth of the The award-winning museum, run by the country’s landings. The fishing peaked Wick Society, has extensive displays of around 1860 when records show that herring-related activity including 1,100 vessels were engaged in the coopering, kippering, fishing and summer herring season. trading, as well as a restored 19th century fishing boat. Men and women came from across the Highlands and from the Western Isles There are also a number of period to crew the boats and to work in the room displays, a large collection of herring curing yards. historic photographs of the area and the complete optical and mechanical The herring shoals became scarce in working of Noss Head Lighthouse. the 1930s and fishermen began to turn to the emerging seine net fishing for The Wick Heritage Museum Lieve Boussauw Lieve

BIRMINGHAM GETS BULLISH ABOUT ITS HERITAGE A new gallery space has opened at two world wars, these new galleries Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery will give visitors access to hundreds of uncovering the social and industrial artefacts, many of which have never heritage of the city. been on public display before. From its origin as a medieval market A major element of the new area is town, through to its establishment as Your Birmingham, in which objects workshop of the world, Birmingham: donated by Birmingham residents and Its People, Its History uses hands-on local organisations are on display. This exhibits, personal stories and modern includes poet Benjamin Zephaniah’s displays to showcase the pivotal role first typewriter, pieces from the Hadron the city has played in creating and collider donated by Brandauer and shaping our modern world. boxing gloves from Britain’s first black heavyweight boxing champion, Bunny From Medieval metalwork and 18th Johnson. century decorative arts through to Victorian costume and objects from the www.bmag.org.uk 38 Image courtesy of Nottingham Post

PICTURES FROM THE PAST A major photographic exhibition inspired changes in contemporary photography by the Alan Silitoe novel Saturday Night and focuses on working class culture in and Sunday Morning is running at the Fifties and Sixties. Nottingham’s Lakeside Arts Centre in the Neil Walker, curator, said: “Saturday Night Djanogly Art Gallery until February 10. and Sunday Morning…helped to define Saturday Night and Sunday Morning a particular moment in time and was a – The Authentic Moment in British hugely important and popular cultural Photography focuses on post-war event for Nottingham”. Nottingham which was used as the Some 200 photographs are on show backdrop for the novel and the film including never-before-exhibited stills adaptation directed by Karel Reisz. It from the film as well as work by so- followed a year in the life of Arthur Seaton, called Young Meteors, John Bulmer and played by Albert Finney in the film, who Graham Finlayson, who worked for feted worked in the Raleigh bicycle factory in newspapers such as The Manchester the city in the late fifties. Guardian and the latest print media magazines. Taking seminal moments from the book Albert Finney with co-star Shirley Anne Field and film, the exhibition explores social www.lakesideartscentre.org.uk outside Nottingham Council House

CHOCOLATE UNWRAPPED An exhibition exploring the history, mystery, magic and science of one of the nation’s favourite products runs at Bristol’s M Shed from February 2 – May 6. In 1847, the Fry’s chocolate factory, founded by Joseph Fry (1728-1787) and located in Union Street, Bristol, moulded the first CHINESE NEW YEAR ever chocolate bar suitable for widespread consumption. Chocolate! reveals the stories of those who made the confectionery in Bristol over the last 250 years, following its evolution in the city from medicinal drinking. Drawing from the museum’s collections and some special loans, the interactive multi-sensory experience hopes to inspire visitors through sound, smell, taste and touch and addresses the question of why chocolate tastes so good. There will also be a range of family activities and events to support the displays. mshed.org Bristol Museums, Galleries & Archives

KUNG HEY FAT CHOI ! n Stavanger holds its 15th wine festival from NewcastleGateshead hosts one of the April 17-20 featuring ten of the city’s best largest Chinese New Year celebrations restaurants and over 20 of Europe’s premier north of Manchester and every year the winemakers, chefs and suppliers. Events festivities attract thousands of people include a wine train which will make 12 stops into the city centre. for wine tasting, food and the opportunity to This year it takes place on Sunday, meet manufacturers and importers. February 10 with a free public event in www.stavangervinfest.no the heart of Newcastle’s China Town on and around Stowell Street. Celebrating n At the time of going to press the the year of the snake, the festivities unconfirmed dates for the next Leeds Loves include a children’s marquee, traditional Food Festival were May 25-27. As part of the Dragon and Lion and Unicorn dances, festivities, Millennium Square will become crafts, dance, martial arts, food and drink, home to around 100 stalls offering food from games, and special events inspired by the city’s restaurants while elsewhere there’ll Chinese traditions at Dance City. be events from cocktail master classes to www.newcastlegateshead.com/CNY pasta making workshops. 40

BARE ESSENTIALS : DESTINATIONS

Destinations ESSENTIALS BARE where to to do what go you when and get there... –how to get and destinations there Airways Your to Eastern guide www.aecc.co.uk selling out a tour of the Soviet Union during the Cold War in 1959. 1940s, becoming the first basketball team to play in Europe and cultural barriers – featuring on the cover of Life magazine in the as breaking basketball records, the teams have broken social and the team’s legacy which began in 1926. Over the years, as well thousands of people in hundreds of countries every year, continuing of-a-kind family entertainment, the Harlem Globetrotters perform to Renowned worldwide for their top class basketball tricks and one- show of which is also at the AECC on February 19 andGary 20. was head judge on The X Factor reality TV series, the live is a wonderful show to kick-off a year of fantastic thrilledlive music to athave the the Venue.” chance to see such a prolific performerthat Gary liveBarlow in willconcert! be performing It at the AECC and Brianare sure Horsburgh, his fans AECC’s will be Managing Director, commented: “We are delighted his two critically acclaimed solo shows at the Royalwhich Albert sold Hall out in within 2011. 20 minutes of tickets going on-sale.been added The totour the follows star’s UK tour schedule which startedBarlow’s in November Aberdeen and concert is one of eight extra January dates that have Feburary 6-7 and rang host to a wide variety of events over the coming months Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre (AECC) plays ing from Gary Barlow on January 11, Subsea UK 2013 on the Harlem Globetrotters on March 27.

www.regionstavanger.com Tourist/Local Info +47519755 Southampton, Wick Leeds Bradford,Newcastle,Norwich, Durham Tees Valley, EastMidlands,Humberside, Glasgow, Newcastle.Onwardconnections to toAberdeen, Airwaysflightsdirect Eastern www.avinor.no/en/airport/stavanger Airport +4767031000 Kjeringholmen, 4001Stavanger. Norwegian Petroleum Museum, that overlookstheLysefjord; Pulpit Rock–anaturalrock formation page. For carhire seeEuropcar infoonback and isservedbyaregular shuttlebus. airport isjustninemilesoutoftown the country’s south-westcoast.The Norway’s fourthlargest citylieson Wine Festival, Apr 17-20. Apr Festival, Wine Stavanger 24-27; Jan Jazzforum, Stavanger 2013, TradJazzWeekend ongoing; Oljemuseum, Norsk exhibition, divers Sea North Nedre Strandgate. traditional Norwegianfood;Tango, Sjøhuset Skagen–specialisesin Skagen 14. Dickens, Skagenkaien;Newsman, centre is just 7 miles south of Stavanger. Kvadrat, Norway’s biggest shopping airport. Strand Hotel,onthebeach,near Brygge, allinthecitycentre; Sola The Clarion,ThonMaritim,Skagen VISIT WHERE COMING UP COMING EATAT AT DRINK AT SHOP STAYAT STAVANGER

Wine Festival Wine SHETLAND SCATSTA STORNOWAY WICK JOHN O’GROATS

Fire Festival Aladdin, An Lanntair Castle of Mey

WHERE WHERE WHERE Twenty four miles north west of Lerwick, To the east of the town. Taxis and car One mile from the centre of Wick, Shetland’s principal town, and five miles hire are available at the airport. No half-an-hour’s drive from Thurso. south-west of Sullom Voe oil terminal. The weekend flights.Mackinnon Self Drive: Main bus and rail stations are near to village of Brae is about eight miles to the 01851 702984. Wick centre serving most places in south. For hire car visit www.boltscarhire. Caithness. Trains to Thurso and co.uk or call 01595 693 636 (no on-airport VISIT Inverness. Post bus operates facilities) Stornoway Museum, Francis St; Thurso-Wick-Airport. Car hire: Stornoway Fish Smokers, Shell St; Dunnets offers airport pick-up and VISIT Woodlands Centre, Lews Castle drop-off, 01955 602103. Mareel, Lerwick; Muckle Flugga, Unst, grounds; An Lanntair Arts Centre, the northernmost tip of Britain; Shetland Kenneth Street, Stornoway. VISIT Museum, Lerwick; Jarlshof, Grutness Wick Heritage Museum; St Fergus (both mainland). STAY AT Gallery, Sinclair Terr; Pulteney Hotel Hebrides, Tarbert; Royal Hotel, Distillery, Huddart St. STAY AT Cromwell St; Scarista House, west Busta House Hotel, Brae; Saxa Vord Harris; Auberge Carnish, Uig. STAY AT Resort, Unst; Orca Country Inn, Sandwick. Ackergill Tower; Mackays Hotel; The SHOP AT Brown Trout Hotel, Station Rd, SHOP AT Callanish Jewellery, Point St; This Watten, near Wick. Shetland Fudge, Lerwick; Jamieson ’n That, Cromwell St; Borgh Pottery, & Son Knitwear, Lerwick; Valhalla Brewery, Borgh (20 miles). SHOP AT Saxa Vord. John O’Groats (pottery, knitwear); DRINK AT Rotterdam St, Thurso (20 miles). DRINK AT Clachan Bar, North Beach; Hebridean Mid Brae Inn, Brae; The Lounge Bar, Bar, South Beach; Whalers Rest, DRINK AT Lerwick; Kiln Bar, Scalloway. Francis St. Ebenezer’s, Mackay’s Hotel; and Camps Bar. EAT AT EAT AT Busta House Hotel, Brae; Monty’s Bistro, Digby Chick, Bank St; Golden Ocean, EAT AT Lerwick; Saxa Vord Resort, Unst. Cromwell St; Thai, Church St. Bord de l’Eau, Market St; Le Bistro, Thurso; Captain’s Galley, Scrabster COMING UP COMING UP (22 miles). Up Helly Aa, Shetland’s biggest Viking fire Aladdin, An Lanntair, Jan 16-19; Pipe festival, Lerwick, Jan 29; Shetland Folk Major Donald MacLeod Memorial COMING UP Festival, May 2-5. Piping Competition, Caladh Inn, Burns Supper, Latheron Hall, Jan 26; Stornoway, Mar 29 (TBC). Caithness Science Fair, Assembly Rooms, Wick, Mar 23.

Airport 01806 244900 Airport 01851 702256 Airport 01955 602215 www.hial.co.uk/stornoway-airport.html www.hial.co.uk/wick-airport.html Frequent daily charter service to Aberdeen, operated by Eastern Airways for the Integrated Eastern Airways flights direct to Aberdeen. Onward Eastern Airways flights direct to Aberdeen. Aviation Consortium connections to Bristol, Durham Tees Valley, East Onward connections to Bristol, Durham Tees Tourist/Local Info 01595 98 98 98 Midlands, Humberside, Leeds Bradford, Newcastle, Valley, East Midlands, Humberside, Leeds www.visit.shetland.org Norwich, Southampton, Wick Bradford, Newcastle, Norwich, Southampton, Tourist/Local Info 01851 703088 Stavanger, Stornoway www.visithebrides.com Tourist/Local Info 0845 22 55 121 www.wicktown.co.uk www.visithighlands.com 42

Glasgow: Scotland with style BARE ESSENTIALS : DESTINATIONS 9-10. Exhibition andConference Centre, Mar 3; Scotland’s BestOutdoors, Aberdeen Story, Aberdeen ArtGallery, untilMar March 2013;Silver:TheAberdeen Aberdeen’s winterfestivalrunstill Paula McEwen,Great Western Road. Cinnamon, UnionSt;Manzil,King Stage DoorRestaurant,NorthSilverSt; Queens Rd;Prohibition, LangstanePl; Simpson’s Hotel,BarandBrasserie, Balaclava Bar, LochSt. Silver St;TigerTiger, ShipRow; Lounge, DeeSt;TheGlobe,North The MonkeyHouse,UnionTerr; Pearl College St. St; Aberdeen AntiqueCentre, South Juniper (gifts,jewellery),Belmont Thistle’s three hotels. Hotel suites,variouslocations;anyof Rox Hotel,MarketSt;SkeneHouse Rendezvous Gallery, Forest Ave. Shiprow; Talbooth Museum,CastleSt; Aberdeen MaritimeMuseum, info back page. the city centre. For car hire see Europcar centre, off the A96. Regular buses into Seven miles north-west of the city WHERE COMING UP COMING EATAT AT DRINK AT SHOP STAYAT VISIT ABERDEEN www.aberdeen-grampian.com Tourist/Local Info Airways Eastern Airport www.aberdeenairport.com Southampton, Stavanger, Stornoway, Wick. Leeds Bradford,Newcastle,Norwich, Durham Tees Valley, EastMidlands,Humberside,

0870 0400006

flights direct toBristol,Cardiff, flightsdirect 01224 288828 Aberdeen ArtGallery

I J Mellis (cheeses), Great Western Rd. Lane; Relics antiques, Dowanside Lane; Starry Starry Night (retro), Downside Bath St. Penthouse Hotel, Union St; Saint Judes, Radisson Blu, Argyle St; Grasshoppers Ashton Lane. Ashton Lane; Tchai-Ovna (tea house), Chip, Ashton Lane; Brel (Belgian), Balbir’s (Indian), Church St; Unbiquitous Byres Road; Rio Café, Hyndland St. The Bier Halle, Gordon St; Òran Mór, Gallery, University Avenue. House at the Hunterian Museum and Art Museum, Argyle St; the Mackintosh Park; Kelvingrove Art Gallery and The Burrell Collection, Pollock Country hire see Europcar info back page. easily reached by taxi or bus. For car rail station Paisley Gilmour St, one mile, centre linking main rail stations. Nearest Glasgow. Regular shuttle service to Around eight miles from the centre of Mar 14-31. ComedyFestival, Glasgow International 3; GlasgowFilmFestival,Feb14-24; festival, variousvenues,Jan17-Feb Celtic Connections,wintermusic DRINK AT DRINK AT SHOP STAYAT VISIT WHERE COMING UP COMING EATAT GLASGOW www.glasgow.gov.uk www.seeglasgow.com Tourist/Local Info Airways Eastern Airport www.glasgowairport.com

0844 4815555

flights direct toStavanger flightsdirect 0141 2044400 Celtic Connections

Sage Gateshead. Gateshead QuaysfortheBalticand Discovery Museum,Blandford Square; hire seeEuropcar infoonbackpage. Taxi fare tocity, approx £12.Forcar Sunderland. Half-hourlybusservice. minutes tothecity, Gatesheadand centre. Metro raillinkeveryfew Seven milesnorth-westofthecity www.visitnewcastlegateshead.com 0191 2778000 / 01914784222 Tourist/Local Info connections toStornoway, Wick Cardiff,Stavanger.Birmingham, Onward toAberdeen, Airwaysflightsdirect Eastern www.newcastleinternational.co.uk Airport 08718821121 Feb 17. for Contemporary Art, Gateshead, until Shaw, The Rinse Cycle, Life Science Centre, until Feb 24; Jim Skating @ Life, Times Square, outside Newcastle, LeRaaj,ChesterMoor. Newcastle; CaféLive,LiveTheatre, Zen, CourtLane,Durham;Blackfriars, Collingwood St;TheForth,PinkLane. Crown Posada,theSide;Florita’s, Sunderland andDurham. Square, Newcastle;Van Mildert, Jules B,Jesmond;Cruise,Princess Street. Newcastle; LumleyCastle,Chester-le- Newcastle; JesmondDeneHouse, Sandman Signature, Gallowgate, VISIT WHERE COMING UP COMING EATAT AT DRINK AT SHOP STAYAT NEWCASTLE

BALTIC C Skating @Life entre DURHAM TEES VALLEY HUMBERSIDE LEEDS BRADFORD

mima Ferens Art Gallery Harewood House

WHERE WHERE WHERE Five miles east of Darlington and 10 miles Fifteen miles east of Scun­thorpe, 20 miles Nine miles north-west of Leeds city centre, west of Middlesbrough.There is a regular south of Hull, 16 miles west of Grimsby, 30 seven miles from Bradford. Regular Airlink bus shuttle to Darlington rail station, 6 miles miles north of Lincoln. Regular bus services 757 bus from bus and rail stations to away on main line to Scotland and the to Hull, Grimsby, Scunthorpe, Doncaster terminal. Taxi time 20-25 mins. For car South. Taxi fare to Darlington approx £8. and Sheffield. Barnetby Station three miles hire see Europcar info on back page. For car hire see Europcar info back page. from airport with Intercity connections via Don­caster. Approx taxi fare to Hull £26. For VISIT VISIT car hire see Europcar info, back page. Royal Armouries, Leeds; Leeds City mima (Middlesbrough Institute Museum, Millennium Square; National of Modern Art) Centre Square; VISIT Media Museum, Bradford, Harewood Locomotion, the National Railway Museums Quarter, Hull’s Old Town; The House, 7 miles north of Leeds. Museum at Shildon; Hartlepool’s Maritime Deep, Hull; Lincoln Cathedral; Ferens Art Experience, Historic Quay. Gallery, Hull. STAY AT Double Tree by Hilton, Leeds; Radisson STAY AT STAY AT Blu, The Headrow, Leeds; the New Rockliffe Hall, Hurworth on Tees; Forest Pines Hotel, Broughton; Cave Ellington, Leeds; Dubrovnik boutique Walworth Castle, near Darlington; Castle Hotel, Brough; Best Western hotel, Oak Avenue, Bradford. Headlam Hall, near Darlington; Crathorne Willerby Manor Hotel, Willerby; The White Hall Hotel, Yarm. Hart, Lincoln. SHOP AT Retro Boutique, Headingley Lane, Leeds; SHOP AT SHOP AT Harvey Nichols, Briggate, Leeds; Victoria Psyche, Linthorpe Rd, Middles­brough; Bailgate and Steep Hill area, Lincoln; Henri Quarter, Leeds. The House, Yarm High Street; Leggs, Beene (Menswear), Abbeygate, Grimsby. Skinnergate, Darlington. DRINK AT DRINK AT Baby Jupiter, York Place, Leeds; Fudge DRINK AT The Wig & Mitre, Steep Hill, Lincoln; Ye Bar, Assembly St, Leeds; Haigys, Lumb George and Dragon, Yarm; Black Bull, Olde Black Boy, High St, Hull. Lane, Bradford. Frosterley. EAT AT EAT AT EAT AT Figs Restaurant, Cleethorpes; Mumtaz, Clarence Dock, Leeds; Brasserie Sardis, Northgate, Darlington; Brackenborough Hotel and Restaurant, Blanc, Sovereign St, Leeds; Ujala Tandoori, Dun Cow Inn, Sedgefield; The Orangery, Louth; Winteringham Field, Winteringham; Manville Terrace, Bradford. Rockliffe Hall. Pipe and Glass, South Dalton, Beverley. COMING UP COMING UP COMING UP 1913: A Year Without Qualities, exhibition, A celebration of the life and art of Ten Drawings by Leonardo da Vinci, Ferens Henry Moore Institute, until Feb 24; Teesside artist David Mulholland, Dorman Art Gallery, Hull, until Jan 20; Cottingham Northern Art Prize exhibition, Leeds Art Museum, Middlesbrough, until Jun 2; Music Festival, Cottingham Church, Jan Gallery, Mar 28-Jun 16; Bradford Stockton Calling, all day music 28-Feb 2. International Film Festival, National Media spectacular, Mar 30. Museum, Apr 19-29.

Airport 01325 332811 Airport 01652 688456 Airport 0113 250 9696 www.durhamteesvalleyairport.com www.humbersideairport.com www.leedsbradfordairport.co.uk Eastern Airways flights direct to Aberdeen. Eastern Airways flights direct to Aberdeen. Onward Eastern Airways flights direct to Aberdeen, Onward connections to Stavanger, Stornoway, connections to Stavanger, Stornoway, Wick Bristol. Onward connections to Stavanger, Wick Tourist/Local Info 01482 486600 Stornoway, Wick Tourist/Local Info www.visithullandeastyorkshire.com Tourist/Local Info 0113 242 5242 01642 729700 / 264957 www.visitlincolnshire.com www.leeds.gov.uk www.visitmiddlesbrough.com www.yorkshire.com www.leedsliveitloveit.com www.yorkshire.com 44

M Shed image: Chris Bahn BARE ESSENTIALS : DESTINATIONS hire seeEuropcar infoonbackpage. short bus/taxi ride from EMA. For www.eastmidlandsairport.com Airport 08719199000 01332 255802 / Tourist/Local Info connections toStavanger, Stornoway, Wick toAberdeen.Onward Airwaysflightsdirect Eastern www.experiencenottinghamshire www.visitderby.co.uk phy Festival, Mar 8-Apr 7, Derby. 20-23; FORMAT International Photogra Feb 28; Derby Winter Beer Festival, Feb ham lace industry, various venues, until Lace:here:now, celebrating the Notting Hot Buffet, GooseGate,Nottingham. Loch Fyne,KingSt,Nottingham;Red Canal St,Nottingham. Nottingham Castle;TheWaterfront, Ye OldeTrip toJerusalem,below jewellery,, artwork),Arnold Nottingham; TheArtisan’s Studio(gifts, Paul Smith,MiddlePavement, St Mary’s Gate,Derby. Nottingham; CathedralQuarterHotel, Lace MarketHotel,HighPavement, Quarter, Derby. cafe barandartsworkshop,Cathedral Park, Derby;QUADgallery, cinema, Marian Way; ElvastonCastleCountry Cross; Tales ofRobinHood,Maid Nottingham Contemporary, Weekday Eaton, Not Rail stations Nottingham, Twelve miles from both Derby and WHERE COMING UP COMING EATAT AT DRINK AT SHOP STAYAT VISIT EAST MIDLANDS EAST

­tingham and

just off theM1junction24. Derby WinterBeerFestival Lough

08444 775678

­borough, Long Derby are a Nottingham. car .com - - Show Live 2013, NEC, Apr 3-7. Antiques Fair, NEC, Jan 18-20; Gadget Gallery, until Jan 13; National Fine Art & from Tate, Birmingham Museum & Art Love and Death: Victorian Paintings www.visitbirmingham.com Tourist/Local Info08448883883 toNewcastle Airwaysflightsdirect Eastern www.bhx.co.uk Airport 08712827117 St. Cornwall Restaurant, BishopsgateSt;Opus, San Carlo,Temple St;Peppers Factory; TheBoilerRoom,Vyse St. Gas St;TheMedicineBar, Custard Bank, BrindleyPl;TheTap andSpile, (Mailbox). Selfridges (Bullring);HarveyNichols Rotunda. Marriott, HagleyRd;StayingCool, Holloway Circus, Queensway; Hotel Indigo,TheCube;RadissonBlu, Cadbury’s World, Linden Rd, Bournville. Jewellery Quarter, Vyse St, Hockley; Chamberlain Sq; Museum of the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, see Europcar infoonbackpage. Birmingham andCoventry. Forcarhire Stationfortrainsto International Link monorailsystemtoBirmingham of theM42.Connectedbyfree Air-Rail Six mileseastofthecity, off Junction6 COMING UP COMING EATAT AT DRINK AT SHOP STAYAT VISIT WHERE BIRMINGHAM

Selfridges www.bristolairport.co.uk Airport 08713344444 Narrow Quay;SSGreat Britain,Great M Shed,Harbourside;Arnolfini, info onbackpage. super-Mare. Forcarhire seeEuropcar return. AlsolocalservicestoWeston- city centre,time30mins.£6 journey Coach serviceapprox half-hourlyto Eight milessouth-westofBristol. www.visitbristol.co.uk Tourist/Local Info 03333210101 Stornoway, Wick Leeds Bradford.Onwardconnections to toAberdeen, Airwaysflightsdirect Eastern Blues Festival, Colston Hall, Mar 1-3. 2-May 6; Bristol International Jazz and Chocolate, exhibition, M Shed, Feb Museum & Art Gallery, until Jun 2; Globalised World, exhibition, Bristol No Borders Contemporary Art in a Chandos Road;LidoBristol,Clifton. Caines, CollegeGreen; Culinaria, Pieminister, StokesCroft; Michael Pool andLoungeBar, ParkSt. brewery, ColstonSt;TheElbowRoom Zero Degrees award-winning micro- at Cribbs Causeway; Cabot Circus. Markets and Broadmead; Mall Galleries Clifton Village and Park St; St Nicholas merchant’s houseinClifton. Almondsbury; No38Clifton,Georgian Aztec Hotel&Spa,West, Western Dock VISIT WHERE COMING UP COMING EATAT AT DRINK AT SHOP STAYAT BRISTOL

­yard.

The MShed CARDIFF NORWICH SOUTHAMPTON

The Wolf Inside The Broads Outdoors Boatjumble, Beaulieu

WHERE WHERE WHERE Twelve miles west of Cardiff, 10 miles Three miles north of the city. Hourly bus Five miles north of city. Parkway Station from Junction 33 on M4. Rail link, every service into the city centre. Approx taxi beside terminal, three trains hourly to hour, connects airport to Cardiff Central fare to Norwich £7. For car hire see Southam­pton and London Waterloo. and Bridg­end. For car hire see Europcar Europcar info on back page. Buses hourly to the city. For car hire info on back page. see Europcar info on back page. VISIT VISIT Norwich Cathedral, The Close; Norwich VISIT Cardiff Castle; Wales Millennium Centre, Castle, Elm Hill; Sandringham Estate, Solent Sky, Hall of Aviation, Gilbert Cardiff Bay; Cardiff Bay Visitor Centre Norfolk; Norwich Puppet Theatre, Road South; Maritime Museum, Town The Tube, Harbour Drive; Norwegian Whitefriars, Norwich. Quay Rd; Spinnaker Tower, Portsmouth. Church Arts Centre, Cardiff Bay. STAY AT STAY AT STAY AT The Maids Head Hotel, Tombland; De Vere The White Star Tavern and Dining Rooms, Peterstone Court, in the Usk Valley; Dunston Hall Hotel & Golf Club, Ipswich Oxford St; De Vere Grand Harbour Hotel, St David’s Hotel & Spa, Havannah St, Rd; Marriott Sprowston Manor Hotel & West Quay Rd; Montagu Arms, Beaulieu; Cardiff Bay. Country Club; Barnham Broom Hotel & Chilworth Manor, Chilworth; Carey’s Spa, Honingham Rd. Manor, Brockenhurst. SHOP AT St Mary Street for specialist shops; Splott SHOP AT SHOP AT Market (weekends), SE of city centre. Jarrold’s, London Street; Soho Hip, WestQuay, city centre; Bargate Centre, Pottergate; Ginger Ladies Wear, Timberhill. East Bargate; Antiques quarter, Old DRINK AT Northern Rd; Gunwharf Quays, Pen and Wig, Park Grove; Park Vaults, DRINK AT Portsmouth. Park Place. The Fat Cat, West End St; The Adam & Eve, Bishopgate; The Wine Press, Woburn DRINK AT EAT AT Court, Guildhall Hill; The Last Wine Bar, The Dolphin, Osborne Road South; The Champers, St Mary’s Street; La Fosse, St Georges St. Frog and Frigate, Canute Rd; Ocean The Hayes; Bosphorus Turkish & Collins, Vincent’s Walk. Restaurant, Cardiff Bay. EAT AT Tatlers, Tombland; Mambo Jambo, EAT AT COMING UP Lower Goat Lane; Umberto’s Trattoria Olive Tree, Oxford St; P.O.S.H. The Wolf Inside, exhibition, National Italia, St Benedicts St. Queensway; The Purbani, Botley. Museum Cardiff, until Feb 24; RBS Six Nations 2013: Wales v Ireland (Feb 2), COMING UP COMING UP Wales v England (Mar 16), Millennium John Sell Cotman: Norman Connections, Special Exhbition: Titanic the Legend, Sea Stadium; Fashion Week Wales, various exhibition by master water colourist, City Museum, until Aug 30; Boatjumble locations, Mar 1-3; Children’s Literature Norwich Castle Museum and Art Gallery, – over 1,000 stands of all things boating, Festival, Cardiff City Hall, Mar 20-24; Apr 1- Sep 30; The Broads Outdoors Beaulieu, Apr 28; Seawork Internatonal, 2014 World Cup Qualifier: Wales v Festival, May 4-19. Jun 25-27. Croatia, Millennium Stadium, Mar 26.

Airport 01446 711111 Airport 01603 411923 Airport 0870 040 0009 www.cwlfly.com www.norwichairport.co.uk www.southamptonairport.com Eastern Airways flights direct to Aberdeen, Eastern Airways flights direct to Aberdeen. Onward Eastern Airways flights direct to Aberdeen. Newcastle. connections to Stavanger, Stornoway, Wick Onward connections to Stavanger, Stornoway, Tourist/Local Info 0870 121 1258 Tourist/Local Info 01603 213999 Wick www.visitcardiff.com www.visitnorwich.co.uk Tourist/Local Info 023 8083 3333 www.southernwales.com www.visit-southampton.co.uk THE HIGH STREET ESSENTIAL GUIDE ESSENTIAL GUIDE The great British high street is fighting back against its out-of-town and on-line rivals

Lincoln 46 MarshallKen © Fotolia.com- News that residents of Totnes, Devon, Scotland Northern England had seen off plans by Costa to open on their high street, has highlighted the The Scottish Government recently launched BERWICK UPON TWEED fight-back of the great British high its own National Review of Town Centres, led Berwick sits on the north bank of the River street. by Edinburgh-based architect, Malcolm Tweed, yet still in England – just! The town’s Fraser, and intended to be more inclusive than magnificent Elizabethan town walls bear Traditionally at the centre of the the Portas review. testimony to its turbulent past. They were built nation’s life, the classic high street to keep the Scots out, but since then the town offers a vibrant mix of small indepen- Meanwhile, plans to help bring empty high has welcomed visitors, including the artist LS dent retailers meeting the needs of street properties back into use have been Lowry, of matchstick men fame. Visitors can local communities. So much more announced by Local Government Minister now follow the Lowry trail to see his favourite than just a place to shop, it is where Derek Mackay. The Fresh Start initiative will haunts. The town has many fine Georgian people meet up with friends, catch up see new occupants of shops or offices that buildings and regular markets. It was a winner on the latest gossip over a coffee or have been empty for at least a year able to in the Portas competition and now has a trade gossip at the local butcher’s. apply for a 50 per cent discount on their Beautiful Berwick vision to use local builders business rates for 12 months. and artists to further improve shop fronts and But over the last 20 years many high invest in Berwick’s Wednesday and Saturday streets have faced the howling winds The Town Centres and Local High Streets markets. of change. Big out-of-town retail parks Learning Network supports people and Nearest Eastern Airways airport – Newcastle have drawn customers from the high organisations wanting to make town centres street. Once flourishing high streets and high streets more vital and vibrant. The NEWBIGGIN-BY-THE-SEA have become shadows of their former network gives practical help to organisations The local Town Team at this “Portas town” on selves with a mix of boarded-up shop and individuals involved in decision-making the edge of industrial South East fronts and down-market charity outlets and providing front-line services. Northumberland has identified five key issues and bargain stores. In other areas the to kick start regeneration. These are transport, high street has survived, but an influx LERWICK marketing, empty shops, money leaving the of chain stores and coffee shops has Being an island community is one of the best town and the need for businesses to work led to the development of “identikit” guarantees against losing your diverse high together. Work has begun on the transport streets that have lost their distinctive street: Shetland capital, Lerwick, has just two scheme, local buy-in, and the empties and character. And the rise of internet empty units in the Commercial Street area, marketing projects. means that a lot more shopping is whose offer includes lots of independent Nearest Eastern Airways airport – Newcastle being done from the comfort of retailers. These include bakers, food stores, people’s sitting rooms. It began to look tailors and specialists, like music and camera STOCKTON-ON-TEES as if the traditional British high street shops or the esoteric Clives records. Stockton boasts the country’s widest high might be lost forever. Nearest Eastern Airways airport – Scatsta street and some fine Georgian buildings, including the world’s oldest Georgian theatre, In 2011 the Prime Minister responded TORRY dating from 1766. It was also the terminus of to these concerns by announcing that Retail Rocks is a regeneration initiative that the Stephenson’s Stockton and Darlington he had asked Mary Portas, TV’s assists entrepreneurs who want to start their Railway, with the oldest railway station Queen of Shops, to undertake a own business on the High Street of this building in the world. Following the Portas review of the English high street. Aberdeen district, funded by The Scottish Review, the town has won money to Government’s Town Centre Regeneration regenerate its centre and open up new links to David Cameron said: “The high street Fund. Mnemonic Photography was among the River Tees. There are plans for live should be at the very heart of every winners of a competition for new business entertainment at the Globe Theatre to boost community, bringing people together, proposals for vacant high street units. The the evening leisure economy alongside providing essential services and company received a unit free of charge for up specialist High Street and evening markets. creating jobs and investment.” to 18 months, along with business mentoring, Nearest Eastern Airways airport – Durham Tees Valley Following the review, towns around and is already having a positive impact on the England entered a government street. Nearest Eastern Airways airport – Aberdeen SKIPTON competition to get grants where small Skipton – “the Gateway to the Dales” – sits businesses and independent retailers WIGTOWN AND beneath the Pennines and boasts a long can thrive. CASTLE DOUGLAS history, castle, cobbled streets, ducks and Specialised high streets use a high canal boats, attracting thousands of tourists. The winning towns will be able to learn concentration of distinctive products and It is also the main market town for the area from those high streets in other parts special events to attract visitors. In 1998 and there are big outdoor markets on Monday, of the country that have managed to Wigtown became Scotland’s National Book Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Car parks maintain their character and prosper. Town. It now has more than 20 book fill with muddy Landrovers and there are businesses and a popular annual book plenty of sheepdogs sitting by the fires in the Our Essential Guide highlights some of festival, enticing visitors specifically interested local pubs. If you don’t want out be outdoors the very best high streets all over in books. Nearby Castle Douglas has try Craven Court, the Victorian style shopping Britain and beyond, and some of those specialised as a “food town”, where food and arcade, praised by Prince Charles for its that are just starting to turn themselves cooking-based events serve to create another architecture. around with a little help from the distinctive place to visit. Nearest Eastern Airways airport – Leeds Bradford Government. Nearest Eastern Airways airport – Glasgow 48 Norfolk Tourism / VisitNorwich Ltd LINCOLN Nearest Eastern Airways airport – Birmingham Den-style project to support entrepreneurs. of the money will be used for a Dragon’s its best bits and tell people what’s on. Most “contemporary town criers” to shout about Portas with its idea of introducing showcase their work. The city wowed abandoned buildings to trade and will be given grants to move into under its Portas initiative, new businesses of empty shops in the country, and so, Wolverhampton has the fifth highest level WOLVERHAMPTON Nearest Eastern Airways airport – East Midlands setting up locally. budding business owners to consider reinvigorate their high street and encourage involve students from the University to Portas Town Loughborough plans to LOUGHBOROUGH Midlands Nearest Eastern Airways airport – Humberside Sausages and Lincoln Blue Cheese Lincolnshire Plum Bread, Lincolnshire up some local specialities, such as city’s aptly named Steep Hill. You can pick the medieval Bailgate, to the foot of the Quarter stretches from Newport Arch on crafts shops to restaurants and bars. The retailers with everything from arts and Cathedral Quarter has a mass of specialist the Medieval Bishop’s Palace, Lincoln’s Besides the lure of cathedral, castle, and

1507. changed since it was rebuilt after a fire in most famous is Elm Hill which has hardly to vintage clothes and retro furniture. The selling everything from books and antiques The area is filled with small businesses, back alleys, known as the Norwich Lanes. shoppers is the medieval streets and small the city centre. But the real treat for and a castle and a regular market right in university, all the big shops, a cathedral Norwich has a bit of everything – a major NORWICH Nearest Eastern Airways airport – Birmingham businesses to the area. in the high street and encourage new its efforts on tackling the high vacancy rate Leamington’s Portas team plans to focus LEAMINGTON SPA Nearest Eastern Airways airport – Birmingham BIRMINGHAM Nearest Eastern Airways airport – Norwich schools, colleges and retailers. mentoring scheme in conjunction with attract local people, and establish a create a Town group discount scheme to Another Portas Town, Lowestoft, which will LOWESTOFT Nearest Eastern Airways airport – Norwich course, there’s the curry! never see in your local market. And then, of selling fruits and vegetables you would fabric and fashion shops and food stores extraordinary collection of Asian jewellers, areas, the Triangle is home to an the Sparkbrook, Balsall Heath and Moseley city’s large Asian community. Centred on come to the Balti Triangle, the hub of the But venture just outside the centre and you filled with all the famous high street names. Birmingham has a main shopping centre

Princes Street, Norwich

branches of Argos and Weatherspoons. have run successful campaigns to stop The local people value their high street and chain stores and franchised coffee shops. town has been threatened by the arrival of recent years the distinctive character of the been running since the 13th century. In leads to the town quay. The market has down towards the water. A cobbled section street runs from a 12th century church seriously large yachts. The pretty high centre with several marinas packed with edge of the Solent, it is now a major sailing Southampton and Bournemouth. On the town, close to the New Forest, between Lymington is a small Georgian market LYMINGTON Nearest Eastern Airways airport – Bristol the Cotswolds”. as calling Stroud “the Covent Garden of not surprising that Jasper Conran is quoted locally produced meats and cheeses. It is and vegetables there are stalls selling farmers’ market. As well as the organic fruit from miles around to Europe’s largest stores. And on Saturdays people come cafes, bookshops and arts and crafts The centre is full of small independent and still has a bohemian and bucolic feel. famous by Laurie Lee’s Cider with Rosie edge of the Cotswolds. It was made Stroud is a thriving market town at the STROUD South of England Nearest Eastern Airways airport – Cardiff winning oak-smoked meat and fish. Black Mountain Smokery for its award- Black beef, while gourmets flock to the butcher sells local Welsh Lamb and Welsh small businesses selling local produce. The agricultural and the high street is full of other. The surrounding area is largely arches on one side but only 12 on the bridge in Wales. It manages to have 13 River Usk, reputedly the longest stone curious 17th century stone bridge over the preserved Georgian town is famous for its edge of the Black Mountains. The well Beacons National Park, at the southern The historic town sits in the Brecon CRICKHOWELL Wales Nearest Eastern Airways airport – Southampton

COMPETITION

WIN A LUXURIOUS TWO NIGHT BREAK AT SANDMAN SIGNATURE Our prizewinner and their guest will be Eastern Airways Magazine has teamed up with the luxurious able to spend two nights at the hotel, Sandman Signature Hotel, in central Newcastle, to offer one including breakfast, and take dinner in the Shark Bar on one evening. The prize lucky reader and their companion the chance to win a two- will be subject to availability. Eastern Airways flights to Newcastle, where night city break, including dinner on one night. required, are included. For your chance to win this wonderful short break, just The 170-bedroom hotel is a member of the Sandman answer the following question: Hotel Group, Canada’s fastest growing, privately owned After what fish is the Sandman leisure organisation, whose portfolio includes more than 40 Signature Hotel’s gastro bar named? hotels, resorts, inns and suites across the country. Send you answer to competitions@ The four-star, contemporary, boutique-style hotel gravity-consulting.com, with “Sandman incorporates an impressive variety of room types, including competition” in the subject field. Please many fully-furnished, self-catering, luxurious suites. provide name, address and phone number and the flight number and date Special features include bunk beds in family suites of your last flight with Eastern Airways. and king-sized or super king-sized beds in each of its Or send on a postcard to Gravity, Imex thoughtfully designed rooms. Business Centre (Bizspace), Abbey Road, Pity Me, Durham, DH1 5JZ. The state-of-the art property is just a stone’s throw from Closing date, February 22, 2013. St James’ Park, home of Newcastle United, while historic Prize to be taken by November 30, 2013. Terms Grey Street, the Theatre Royal, China Town, Eldon Square and conditions apply. Prizes are not transferable. and the city walls and castle keep are with easy walking The Editor’s decision is final. Employees and distance. The Great North Museum, Centre for Life, close associates of Eastern Airways and Gravity Discovery Museum and Laing Art Gallery are among other attractions. St James Consulting may not enter. Metro station is over the road and Newcastle Airport is just 15 to 20 minutes’ drive.

Amenities include two on-site conference rooms, complimentary high-speed internet throughout the hotel, complimentary coffee and tea and 24-hour room service. The lobby level is home to the Shark Club Gastro Bar; a Canadian institution when it comes to great food and even better service.

See our review of the Sandman Signature on page 31

www.sandmansignature.co.uk Eastern Airways flies to Newcastle from Aberdeen, Birmingham, Cardiff and Stavanger

THE LAST WORD with Harry Pearson COOKING DOESN’T GET MUCH SCARIER THAN THIS…

Thanks to various TV programmes there Mr Lister – true to the Yorkshire has been a lot of talk recently about stereotype – was incredibly careful with the revival of “old-fashioned British “THE MACAROONS his ingredients. Neither the introduction baking” with folk cooing about gooey of rationing nor its repeal had made the cream slices, groaning at scrumptious HAD PROVED slightest difference to his recipes. When Battenbergs and going all weak at the you bought a currant bun from Mr Lister knees over butterfly cakes so light they IMPERVIOUS TO you got just that – a bun with a currant “literally” float in the air. Unfortunately in it. The filling ran through his apple I do not share this wistful view of our GERMAN SHELLS pies like a Chinese whisper, you needed culinary past. That is because I grew up a bloodhound to find the meat in his in the 1960s, in a Yorkshire village that AND HAD WROUGHT pasties. had an old-fashioned British baker’s shop in it. UNTOLD HAVOC TO Once he offered my mother a fruitcake she’d ordered, with the memorable The baker’s name was Mr Lister. His DENTISTRY words, “It got a bit burned, but I’ve shop was next to a greengrocer’s whose took the black off with a cheese grater” proprietor was suspected of placing THROUGHOUT before graciously offering to knock a his finger on the scales when weighing penny off the price. out your sprouts. Mr Lister had no THE 1930S.” need for such subterfuge. He made the Mr Lister’s pastry was the colour of a hardest, heaviest and densest bread in drowned man’s limbs and the texture the universe. If you’d placed it on an “I of chipboard. Police authorities across speak your weight” machine it would form the impression when they went in the land bought his French sticks as have said “Ouch!” My grandfather had the shop, that it was not Mr Lister who truncheons, his Shrewsbury biscuits a hernia lifting one of Lister’s rolls; a had spoken to them, but the plate of were like a discus, only you couldn’t woman down the road cracked her hazelnut macaroons that sat on the left throw them quite as far. husband’s skull open by hitting him with of the counter, gathering dust. one of his finger rolls after he spent the In the 1970s, the arrival of a housekeeping in the bookies. These macaroons, I should add, were not for sale, but were an supermarket selling sponge cakes you Mr Lister was a short, toad-faced man, historical exhibit. They had served as didn’t have to cut with a band-saw put whose hair was curled up on his head supplementary armoured cladding on paid to Mr Lister’s business. His shop like a stuffed ferret. He walked with a the hull of the HMS Hood, when it was closed down and he retired to Filey. The pronounced stoop – the result, I expect, battling the Bismarck. The macaroons only people who mourned his passing of lifting his own teacakes. He talked – had proved impervious to German were the manufacturers of protective when he could be bothered – as if he shells and had wrought untold havoc footwear. had an invisible cigarette stuck in the to dentistry throughout the 1930s. side of his mouth, a habit that gave Mr Lister’s Eccles cakes were the The historic macaroons were sold off to his speech a ventriloquial quality, so inspiration for Barnes Wallis’s bouncing a local builder who used them to crazy- pave a patio. © neonfizz - Fotolia.com - neonfizz © that unsuspecting visitors would often bomb. 50 WE KNOW HOW… YOU TELL US WHEN AND WHERE

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Eastern Airways serves no fewer than 12 destinations from Aberdeen, which as this supplement reveals, is so much more than WELCOME the UK’s energy industry capital. We talk to Steve Harris, the former oil industry man charged with EASTERN AIRWAYS breathing new life into Aberdeen’s tourism offer and bring you the low-down on prospects for both business and leisure tourism in the MAGAZINE IS DELIGHTED city and the wider region. TO BRING YOU THIS SPECIAL With more daily departures from Aberdeen than any other airline, Eastern Airways has a major interest in the prosperity of the city’s SUPPLEMENT, PRODUCED visitor market. Our routes include the important link to Stavanger, and frequent domestic services to Wick, Stornoway, Newcastle, Durham Tees Valley, Leeds Bradford, East Midlands, Humberside, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH Norwich, Bristol, Cardiff and Southampton. Our partnership with Emirates also offers fast connections to and from Dubai, via VisitAberdeen TO MARK THE Newcastle.

LAUNCH OF THE CITY’S OWN Eastern Airways also operates a dedicated private charter shuttle service from Aberdeen to Scatsta, Shetland, on behalf of the oil DEDICATED DESTINATION industry’s Integrated Aviation Consortium. MARKETING ORGANISATION. THE EASTERN AIRWAYS TEAM

This publication is produced as a supplement to Eastern Airways Magazine. Published for Eastern Airways by Gravity Magazines, Abbey Business Centre, Eastern Airways is one of the UK’s leading independent airlines and an important Pity Me, Durham, DH1 5JZ. player in the offshore energy sector. www.gravity-consulting.com Tel: +44 (0)191 383 2838. Publisher: Stan Abbott Design: Barbara Allen Copies of this supplement have been produced as a stand-alone publication, distributed by VisitAberdeen, the destination marketing organisation for Advertising: Liz Reekie Tel: +44 (0) 7563 796103 / +44 (0) 1434 240947 Aberdeen. e-mail: [email protected] Print: Buxton Press www.easternairways.com VisitAberdeen ISSN: 1477-3031 © December 2012 iii Q & A: Steve Harris Born in London, Steve Harris spent much SA: What kind of resources have you SA: How will you develop the product? of his early life in a variety of cities across got? SH: I have a very strong view that the the world, as his father, Jim, worked in SH: Our first full year of operation will be successful small cities and large towns marketing for British Airways (he was 2013-14 and we know that we will have in a tourist sense have very successful eventually Director of Marketing). He was a budget of somewhere in the region of festivals that run through the year and educated in Senegal at a school run by £800,000 to get us going and that gives become known as events that people DISCOVER ABERDEEN: STEVE HARRIS Roman Catholic nuns and at boarding us an opportunity to get a significant want to visit. We already have a number school in England, before graduating in operation under way. Part of my job will of these festivals here, most of which Business Studies at Coventry University, be to leverage funds from elsewhere to need more support and all of which then Lanchester Polytechnic. try and increase that budget over time need more marketing support, so our He has spent his career in marketing, so as to make a really significant impact first job will be to try and develop those events that are already good about lobbying and communications, with on the region. Our USP is to really focus Aberdeen, and the second will be to try spells at Orient Express owner, Sea on the city and be a “proper” marketing and bring more events here, be they Containers, running his own restaurant, organisation, and by that I mean we will leisure events or business conferences. and, latterly, in the oil industry, first spend roughly 50 per cent of our energy with offshore oil and gas industry on the product and try to support and Events like the Aberdeen International body, UKOOA (now Oil & Gas UK) and develop product, and half of it trying to Youth Festival are excellent products most recently, with Shell. He moved to market and sell it. but they don’t have the resources to Aberdeen in 2003. market themselves wider and I think SA: What attracted you to the job? SA: Who are your backers and partners that’s one of the roles that we play. SH: I was in a situation where I was and will you recruit members? I was researching the British Chess commuting to London every week and SH: The primary funders will be the city championships, which have been to I didn’t want to do that and so I was council and the Business Improvement just about every city in UK over their looking for an opportunity. There were District and obviously they will want to long existence, but never Aberdeen. The Baker Hughes 10K brings in 4,000 one or two oil and gas opportunities but see good value from their investment. I people: if places as varied as Loch this was more exciting because it was a have made a conscious decision not to Ness and London can manage to run complete change and the opportunity to be a membership organisation because marathons, we really ought to be able come in on the ground floor and shape it’s quicker to get set up this way and to, and we need to work with the right a new organisation and make a real get going. I am not saying we will rule people to do that. difference to the city’s prospects as far it out for ever, but if you look at the as tourism was concerned. organisations that are funding the body, We are very lucky to have the they are already making a contribution Conference Centre, and Offshore SA: What’s your brief? and have already paid their dues to be Europe in particular demonstrates the SH: To put Aberdeen back on the map members, and I think that the amount city’s ability to put on really big events as a tourism destination. It’s clear that, of energy required to run a membership really well. There aren’t many cities with before the oil and gas industry was here, organisation at the moment would not conference centres. We can’t pretend there were marketing campaigns based be the optimal way of getting started. that we will compete with Glasgow, around people visiting Aberdeen. But but it puts us ahead of most other since oil and gas became so dominant We are obviously going to work places. in the area, tourism has become one of with our colleagues in the Shire and All Energy is our second biggest the poor cousins, so the brief of the new other agencies in Royal Deeside and conference and our challenge is organisation is to reverse that and try Banffshire Coast Tourism Partnership, to try to attract conferences that and start to get people thinking about and it’s important that we work with run over weekends because that’s Aberdeen as an exciting and interesting them to maximise our resources. when there is capacity and there place to visit. are plenty of these, such as party >>

iv STEVE HARRIS, 56, IS THE FIRST

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF THE DISCOVER ABERDEEN: STEVE HARRIS NEWLY-CREATED DESTINATION MARKETING AGENCY, VisitAberdeen. STAN ABBOTT CAUGHT UP WITH HIM AT THE AGENCY’S TEMPORARY HOME, COURTESY OF ABERDEEN & GRAMPIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE…

v DISCOVER ABERDEEN: STEVE HARRIS

“THE OFFERING IS TOO COMPLEX TO BOIL DOWN TO A FEW WORDS, SO GOOD IMAGES WILL TELL OUR STORY.”

political conferences. The Lib Dems SA: Where do you see your markets? SA: What would be the biggest win for have been to Dundee, so why would SH: We hope that we will draw people Aberdeen? they not go to Aberdeen? from Scotland and the rest of the UK, SH: Apart from sorting out something for especially the north. Access is crucial Union Street, it would be a new football SA: How will you deliver? and the airport is absolutely vital in that stadium and conference centre together, SH: The organisation will be set up we are very lucky to have an airport because I think that would give the city a with a business tourism department of that has so many destinations for a city real cutting edge – I am a big fan of what two and a leisure tourism department of our size. Locally we tend to think Coventry have done with their stadium of two, and a marketing services of the airport as giving opportunities and conference centre. department that will deal with the brand to travel for business or leisure, and and image issues. We have no brand we have historically neglected the fact SA: How do you relax? yet. It’s something that we are going to that people live at the other ends of SH: I am a season ticket holder at do quite a bit of work on. these routes. So we will be looking to Aberdeen, though I support Wolves, attract our market at places that have It’s really about how do we get the who were playing against Southampton good access to us. We will be working balance between all component parts in the first match I attended with my with the airlines, including Eastern of what Aberdeen has to offer and that father. He wanted me to support Airways, to try and maximise the pull of is where we will spend effort making Southampton, who won 9-3, but Aberdeen in the destinations that they sure our story’s right, rather than on I’ve supported Wolves ever since. I serve. It’s something that’s not been fancy logos. Most straplines irritate as also watch cricket, American football done for a very long time and we need many people as they encourage. The and horse racing and owned ten per to move on from just being the energy offering is too complex to boil down to cent of a horse called Porridge, but capital of Europe, towards what an a few words, so good images will tell he damaged himself beyond repair exciting part of the world this is from an our story. at Kelso and we’re looking for a activity and artistic point of view. replacement. One of the first tasks will be to look at Aberdeen as a weekend break I also have a large vinyl collection and SA: How easy do you think it will be? destination. Aberdeen remains my wife Edel and I delve into the back SH: We are really well supported and expensive during the early part of the catalogue when we host parties. I have been hugely encouraged in the week because of the success of oil first few weeks by the messages of and gas industry so it does not make SA: Where is home? good will from the business community itself an obvious holiday destination. At SH: Edel and I live in Stonehaven – she is and city council. I am not at all worried weekends it’s different and Aberdeen Chief Executive of a social care company, about lack of support from influential offers as good value as any other Cornerstone. I have two stepsons, both people: if we ask for support I am destination. of whom have left home now. confident we will get it. My background in the oil industry means I know a lot of vi people who are influential in that area. ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE FUTURE PROSPERITY OF ABERDEEN RELIES ON TRANSPORT INDUSTRY by COLIN PARKER, Chief Executive, Aberdeen Harbour Board

Scotland relies on a comprehensive contributing to record annual traffic figures, Board invested more than £60 million and, transport network that encourages inward Aberdeen Harbour handles more than 26 in 2012 alone, investment worth £24 million investment and provides the means to do million tonnes of shipping, and around five was planned, including a large programme business in the 21st century. million tonnes of cargo, worth £1.5 billion, of work at Torry Quay, with Phase One annually. Activity at the port generates more now operational and Phase Two set for The Aberdeen business community and the than £500 million to the region’s economy completion in the first half of 2013. This will general public depend on having access to each year and helps sustain about 11,000 deliver deep-water berthing and a modern robust infrastructure that fully supports their full-time equivalent jobs. fit-for-purpose quayside. A £5.2 million needs, particularly when it comes to the programme of work to widen and improve energy industry. Maintaining this transport network and the entrance to the port has also been consistently investing in our services It is essential to have a first-class harbour completed, and has already seen the arrival continues to be at the heart of Aberdeen that delivers the services and facilities of the North Sea Giant, a dive support Harbour Board’s future outlook. The port required to annually accommodate the vessel that had previously been too wide to is a vital component of the network for the thousands of visits by vessels serving visit Aberdeen. the offshore industry – just as having an import and export of materials, for travel A major feasibility study into the potential international airport, served by airlines between Aberdeen and the Shetland and expansion of facilities at the port has also providing vital links to key hubs, is critical Orkney Isles, and for support of the oil and been launched, to help us understand the for the industry’s businessmen and women. gas sector. options open to us to meet the greater, Aberdeen Harbour is one of the UK’s Continued growth in energy sector-related changing demands of industries we busiest ports and the centre of activity for traffic and cargos is expected for decades support. the energy industry’s marine operations to come, and the harbour has also been in north-west Europe. With trading links outlined as a potential hub for offshore We have an obligation to our customers and to more than 40 countries throughout the wind developments within the National to the business community of Aberdeen world, the port is a key regional resource Renewables Infrastructure Plan. It is and the North East of Scotland to anticipate and a vital part of northern Scotland’s also likely to play a strategic role in the their future needs and provide the services infrastructure. decommissioning sector. and facilities required to ensure the continuing success of this region, and the With a wide range of industry sectors From 2008 to 2012, Aberdeen Harbour industries it supports. FUN FOR ALL

DISCOVER ABERDEEN: LEISURE THE FAMILY

viii Aberdeen has long been tagged Britain’s oil and energy capital. Now the city, recently named the happiest in the UK, is turning its attention

to getting itself back on the tourism DISCOVER ABERDEEN: LEISURE map as a fun place to visit.

The Granite City boasts top hotels and a great range of entertainment venues, as well as excellent shopping, great food and both traditional and modern watering holes.

It is also superbly located, with fine sandy beaches to the east, and Royal Deeside and Grampian Mountains to the west. So whether your game is surfing, fell-walking or just tootling round country houses and galleries, Aberdeen makes a great base to stay…

Aberdeen may not boast huge showpiece museums, but it does have some smaller, perfectly formed ones www.aagm.co.uk.

Aberdeen Maritime Museum recounts the city’s long relationship with the sea and is appropriately located on the historic Shiprow, partly in the 16th century Provost Ross’s House and partly in a contrasting, glazed link building. Its collections tell the story of shipbuilding, fast sailing ships, and fishing and it claims to be the only place in the UK where you can see displays on the North Sea oil and gas industry.

Provost Skene’s House dates from the same period but is rather larger. Its period rooms illustrate life in the city in the 17th, 18th and early 19th centuries. The vaulted cellar houses an atmospheric café- bar.

The Gordon Highlanders Museum is committed to preserving and sharing the legacy of the world-famous Gordon Highlanders and is housed in the beautiful former home of prominent Scottish artist, Sir George Reid.

Aberdeen Art Gallery is a very impressive example of the municipal genre and boasts works by many of the heavyweights of British art history, including Raeburn, Hogarth, Ramsey and Reynolds, as well as the likes of Paul Nash, Ben Nicholson, Stanley Spencer and Francis Bacon and the French Impressionists and their successors.

Its modern collection includes works by Damien Hirst and others and it’s especially renowned for its applied art – ceramics, costume, furniture, glass, jewellery, metalwork and textiles. All this is in the context of the city’s own evolution, including work by early silversmiths in Aberdeen.

There is also a thriving commercial art scene: the Rendezvous Gallery has become a familiar landmark in the city’s West End since 1975. It deals in post-1880 art, including contemporary Scottish works.

It also deals with decorative arts ranging from jewellery, glass, silver, bronzes, ceramics and furniture, with a particular interest in Scandinavian designed pieces from the 1950s onwards including furniture and decorative objects. www.rendezvous-gallery.co.uk >> page XI ix x

DISCOVER ABERDEEN: LEISURE Merc Quart HISTORIC BUILDINGS. HISTORIC FINEST CITY’S THE OF SOME IN DRINK AND FOOD LEISURE, MUSIC, CULTURE, OF MILE SQUARE A IS QUARTER MERCHANT ABERDEEN’S hant er His Majesty’s Theatre Aberdeen MusicHall fashion clothes,andindependentmusicshops. offering bohemianboutique, contemporaryandretro Quarter’s “Green” onthesiteofhistoricmarket, looking foramore original experienceinMerchant The Quarter’s independent shopssatisfythose restaurants andeighthotels. to wanderaquarter-square-mile, boastingadozen and speciallighting,makesitagreat area inwhich Its streetscape, featuring wide cobbledthoroughfares free liveentertainmenton FridayandSaturday nights. Nonetheless, itdoesboast19bars,halfofwhichoffer festivals throughout theyear. an endinitselfandishometovarietyofevents of Aberdeen, where drinkingisanaside,ratherthan important shoppingarea, itisthe“grown-up” area Sitting betweenthecity’s transporthubanditsmost Music Hall,TheLemonTree andtheArtsCentre. ment venuesincludingHisMajesty’s Theatre, The In andaround thearea are thecity’s majorentertain- << page IX Gallery Heinzel specialises in contemporary Scottish art from its base in Aberdeen’s West End and features a continually changing exhibition of work by some of the 80 artists it represents in its West end base. www.galleryheinzel.com

Bridge View is a key design building, in the commercial centre of Aberdeen. It houses both prestigious office accommodation, but also a contemporary art gallery, which is open daily to the public. www.bridge-view.co.uk

Peacock Visual Arts is the main contemporary visual arts DISCOVER ABERDEEN: LEISURE organisation in Aberdeen and the wider region and is supported by Aberdeen City Council and Creative Scotland.

It organises national and international contemporary art exhibitions, as well as talks, critical debates and workshops, as well as providing “the widest range of media openly available anywhere in Scotland”, including the hire of video equipment and the use of printmaking workshops and photography darkroom. www.peacockvisualarts.com

You don’t need to venture far from Aberdeen to find more delightful galleries and museums – the little country town of Alford is home to both the Alford Heritage Centre, dedicated to the story of rural life, and to the Grampian Transport Museum, which has some quite eccentric exhibits in its Cars for the Future display – and a 2ft narrow gauge steam railway!

Gallery i, at Inverurie, boasts northern Scotland’s largest collection of contemporary art, while Ellon is home to the Tolquhon gallery of contemporary Scottish art.

Al fresco dining

Of course, if drinking really is your aim, you can choose between bespoke wine and whisky trails, the former taking in ten of the city’s quirkiest and most hospitable bistros, bars and brasseries and the latter, 12 venues divided into Smooth and Mellow , Woody and Spicy, and Smoky and Peaty venues. Smooth and Mellow venues offer chilled ambience in sophis- ticated surroundings, Woody and Spicy are the most traditional bars and pubs, while Smoky and Peaty offer more lively entertainment. www.merchantquarter-aberdeen.com

‘Nawalgarh Main Bazaar’ mixed media ‘THREE JOURNEYS’

An exhibition by LIZ MYHILL 1st – 22nd December 2012

THE RENDEZVOUS GALLERY 100 Forest Avenue Aberdeen AB15 4TL Tel 01224 323247 www.rendezvous-gallery.co.uk Carmelite Hotel [email protected] xi BID FOR SUCCESS Aberdeen is hewn from the stone of its famous granite industry and buoyed by its role as Europe’s oil capital. Now a new commercial model is making its mark on city. The city’s Business Improvement District (BID) is a business-led initiative in the city centre, aimed at adding a new spark to the area. Businesses within the BID zone pay a levy to the scheme, with proceeds used to fund projects aimed at improving the heart of the city.

DISCOVER ABERDEEN: BUSINESS The BID concept has been rolled out across the UK and in Scotland, from Edinburgh to Lerwick. Now it is gathering momentum in Aberdeen, after being founded last year following a vote by city centre businesses. A number of schemes have already been implemented using levy revenue, including aesthetic improvements and marketing activity, while a comprehensive business plan maps out the future, including a multi-million-pound investment strategy. Chief Executive Susan Bree, who previously led the Dunfermline BID, is relishing the challenge of making Aberdeen city centre a more vibrant and appealing destination. “There is an enormous amount of knowledge, enthusiasm and skill within Aberdeen’s city centre businesses,” she said. “Our role is to harness those qualities and to utilise them as part of our plan for an exciting and inspiring future. “I have been hugely impressed by the team work at Aberdeen BID, from directors and staff through to levy payers, and with such great support we hope to make a real impact in the years ahead.” Aberdeen BID installed Richard Noble, a director of commercial property specialists FG Burnett, as Chairman at its annual meeting in November. The board includes experts from the arts, retail and commerce and cooperation between key figures in the city’s business community is crucial to the project’s success. www.aberdeeninspired.com

SUPPORT FROM NORWAY Norwegian sub-sea company Ocean Installer is A MARRIAGE MADE IN HEAVEN cementing its place in the Aberdeen community through its support to initiatives in the city. IS HOW BRIAN HORSBURGH, The company, which came to Aberdeen in May,has THE MANAGING DIRECTOR OF completed successful offshore contracts for compa- nies including Shell, Nexen, E.on Ruhrgas and Xcite ABERDEEN EXHIBITION AND Energy. It has also become a sponsor of the 2012-13 SCIP Programme, which aims to help young people CONFERENCE CENTRE, MIGHT to make the transition directly into work upon leaving school, and worked with Iceberg Arts, a social enter- BE TEMPTED TO DESCRIBE THE prise supporting the work of the Cyrenians. UK Managing Director, Martin Sisley, said: “Since May INAUGURATION OF isitV Aberdeen we have employed 25 local professionals and hope to be 100 by the end of 2013.”

www.oceaninstaller.com xii CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE DISCOVER ABERDEEN: BUSINESS

Brian Horsburgh suggests his hugely important facility has These and business events are all cementing Aberdeen’s succeeded in the past almost despite the absence of a place in the overall conference and exhibition calendar. dedicated destination marketing agency in the city. “We don’t pretend to be SECC (Scotland’s major exhibition The new impetus that VisitAberdeen can be expected to space, in Glasgow), but I think that the good thing for us bring is, therefore, music to his ears. is that we see ourselves as a world-class centre within the city and we specifically identify ourselves as the national “The one thing that we have been constrained by up energy exhibition centre because so many of our events are until now is not having an effective destination marketing related to the oil, gas and renewables sector and we house organisation in Aberdeen. We have done very well despite 30 or so major events in that field. that, but our effort has been somehow fragmented. “But it’s not just about energy, oil and gas: we also do a lot “The fact that the organisation and resource are now in one of national and international events in areas like bioscience place means it will be much more effective going forward.” and the marine sciences, so there’s a degree of diversity that reflects the city’s strength in research, with its two As Brian says, AECC has done a pretty decent job over the universities and other research institutes.” years, and is now pre-eminent as a venue for the energy sector’s most important conferences and exhibitions. The centre’s permanent exhibition space amounts to 9,000 The jewel in the crown is Offshore Europe, the biennial square metres, but temporary structures boost that to more European oil and gas bonanza that alternates with than 45,000 square metres for Offshore Europe. Stavanger’s ONS and attracts 50,000 visitors to the AECC. AECC also stages major concerts and Lionel Ritchie will But All Energy, the renewables exhibition, now attracts draw 5,000 to its arena. Darts tournaments are one of the 10,000 annually, while the Brian and his team also host biggest draws, while basketball, snooker and American other major energy sector events, such as the World Heavy wrestling are among other sports staged. Oil Congress. www.aecc.co.uk xiii WICK STORNOWAY STAVANGER

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WHETHER YOUR EVENT IS FOR TWO OR 2,000 PEOPLE, YOU CAN COUNT ON US! explore your imagination ABERDEEN AND AECC, A GREAT COMBINATION FOR YOUR NEXT BUSINESS EVENT; BIG OR SMALL. Save the Dates! 10–12 May 2013 For more information, The University of Aberdeen call Steve on 01224 330413 May Festival or visit us at www.aecc.co.uk Aberdeen, Scotland 10–12 May 2013

The University of Aberdeen will be launching a brand new Festival in 2013 to celebrate and showcase the very best of what it has to offer. The May Festival will be like no other festival in Scotland, offering events in music, film, science, Gaelic, literature, and more. It will also celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the Rowett Institute for Nutrition and Health with food-related events, displaying the talent and produce the north east of Scotland is famed for.

A special Children’s Festival (11–12 May) will also allow families to enjoy workshops and fun activities together – there really will be something for everyone.

With the University’s own talent and a few famous faces, it is guaranteed to be an exciting weekend.

Save the dates and keep an eye on the website for more information IT’S ALWAYS THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE THE EVENT www.abdn.ac.uk/mayfestival or email [email protected]

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