Something Very Different Is Coming to Newgate Street
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FREE Your FREE independent community magazine for Morpeth FEB/MAR 20 Your latest... TOWN CRYER! Pages 29-32 STATION REVAMP NEARS THE END OF THE LINE Something very different is coming to Newgate Street SUCCESS OFF THE PITCH AS WELL AS ON IT inside Morpeth 1 www.ravenkitchendesign.co.uk T: 01670 785722 E: [email protected] SHOWROOM: New Kennels, Blagdon Estate, Northumberland NE13 6DB 2 inside Morpeth Blagdon Kitchens_Inside Morpeth_Advert_Autumn_AW.indd 1 23/09/2016 11:07 15 16 22 5 BOOKSHOP TURNS NEW PAGE MORPETH There can be no arguments about Morpeth being one of the most attractive town centres in the region. The history and 8 MARQUEE’S ON THE BALL! heritage that’s all around; a unique mix of shops many of which are independently run and trade alongside the big name chains; an unrivalled choice of cafes, coffee shops and restaurants catering for so many different tastes; and, of course, the beauty of the town centre summer floral displays that have been so highly acclaimed in local and national 12 PRIDE IN STATION REVAMP in-bloom competitions, all make Morpeth such an attractive place to shop and spend time. Perhaps it was no great surprise then that a local television news report recently picked out Morpeth as a town it suggested is bucking the national trend of declining and failing high streets. 20 BEST LOCAL EVENTS’ GUIDE Over the past decade determined attempts have been made by the local councils, the Chamber of Trade, groups of traders and businesses to work together to ensure that remains the case and that Morpeth continues to rank among the very best market towns in the North East region. 22 BUCKING THE RETAIL TREND? Those efforts are continuing as we report in this edition, to not only persuade visitors to travel into Morpeth but equally importantly, to encourage local residents to use the town centre for shopping and recreation in the broadest sense of the word. There is plenty going on as we also report and it is pleasing to note that Morpeth Town Football Club is venturing out beyond 29 LATEST MORPETH TOWN CRYER being just a venue for the game, with an exciting programme of events in the new marquee it has installed pitch-side at its Craik Park ground, to help it become a true community club. Morpeth needs new initiatives such as this as well as a continuation of its strong trading environment if the town is to 46 ABDUL BACKS JUNIOR FOOTBALL continue to prosper and thrive at a time when traditional high streets are facing perhaps their greatest ever challenges. Front cover: Partners Ben Sabin and Danielle Dickinson who are opening a Ian Leech Mums and Babies 'hub' in Morpeth. Picture by Paul Stephenson Editor of Inside Morpeth Editor: Ian Leech, Tel: 07968 102 547 Email: [email protected] Advertising: John Matthews Distribution: Katherine Brodie (TYD) 07540 804 069 Inside Morpeth is a community magazine published by Ian Leech Publicity Services. All rights reserved. Every care is taken to ensure the accuracy of material published in Inside Morpeth. All information is accurate at time of going to press. The publisher does not endorse any advertising material published in INSIDE Morpeth. No parts of the publication can be reproduced without the prior written permission of the publisher. INSIDE Morpeth c/o The Lodge, Carlisle Park, Morpeth NE61 1YD TO PROMOTE YOUR BUSINESS IN THE NEXT ISSUE CALL US ON 07968 102 547 inside Morpeth 3 Morpeth Station Ranges include Karndean, Penthouse, Victoria, Westex & many more YOUR LOCAL FLOORING EXPERTS FREE ESTIMATES EXCELLENT CUSTOMER CARE COMPETITIVE PRICES For a no obligation FREE estimate call us on 01670 516815 Come and visit our showroom at Unit 2a Pegswood Industrial Estate, Morpeth NE61 6HZ OPEN: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday 9am - 5pm, Thursday 9am - 7pm, Saturday 10am - 4pm Play Co Play in the company of Mums and babies! The former bookshop that was a fixture of retailing in Morpeth for more than a century but which has stood empty for the past five years, will soon be occupied once again with the new owners bringing a very different offering to the town centre writes Ian Leech. The Appleby’s bookstore at the junction of Newgate Street and Manchester Street, is re-opening in March as what the new owners are describing as a ‘mother and baby hub.’ Play Co as the venture is being called, will include within the building a soft play area, a sensory room for youngsters with special needs, a coffee bar and café serving healthy food. snacks and drinks, Ben Sabin and his partner Danielle Dickinson about to open Play Co in the former Appleby’s bookstore a function room for mother and baby classes as well as a retail space selling host classes in baby yoga and massage edge of the town centre which has now children’s clothing, books and good-old- and Danielle and Ben are also looking at been stylishly redeveloped and is being fashioned wooden toys. perhaps organising story telling sessions marketed for use as a restaurant. with local children’s writers - as he put it The venture is the brainchild of partners When Danielle and Ben inspected the ‘to pay homage to the shop’s past.’ Danielle Dickinson and Ben Sabin who shop they agreed it was a perfect site for say there is currently nothing like Play The Newgate Street premises date back launching their new venture. “Our plan is Co anywhere on any high street in to the mid-1860’s when they were first to encompass all mother and baby needs the region. At a time when retail and used as a paper shop, greengrocers and under one roof from birth right up to planning experts are saying that high stationer’s. For 130 years, however, teenage years but particularly focusing on streets will have to diversify away from the premises were famously known the under six year olds,” said Danielle. simply housing shops, offices, cafes throughout Northumberland for housing “What we want to create is a relaxed, and restaurants if they are to survive Appleby’s bookshop. The business had warm and welcoming, safe and secure and prosper into the future, what the been taken over from former owner environment where mothers can spend couple are planning in Morpeth is a bold Alfred Appleby in 1980 by William and time with their children and also enjoy and imaginative departure from more Anne Wallace who were joined in the the company of friends while their conventional town centre trading. shop by their son Tim. children are playing together.” Work is now underway fitting out Five years ago the family reluctantly The couple are already well used to Play Co in time for a mid-March launch closed the business in the face of stiff providing facilities for young children as when it will be open seven days a week competition from among others on-line together for nearly five years they have from 9am to 6pm. A play space frame sellers and digital book readers, and owned The Little Swimming Company in has been especially commissioned last year the shop was bought by local Cramlington which teaches youngsters from a company called Tigerplay which entrepreneur David Nicholson and his almost from birth, how to swim. specialises in designing and delivering Zonic Investment’s company who had state-of-the-art play spaces which in also earlier brought back into use another As Ben said: “We are really excited about the new facility we are bringing to the case of Play Co will be tailor-made iconic Morpeth store run for generations Morpeth and can’t wait to open our doors to exclusively fit the room for it on the on Bridge Street by the Smail’s family. for the first time. It will be something Morpeth shop’s ground-floor. The former hardware store is now, of very different so far as Morpeth is Upstairs Play Co will have the largest course, the very popular Lollo Rosso concerned and hopefully it will be sensory room in the North East that will Italian restaurant. David Nicholson’s welcomed by Mums – and Dads – as benefit children with special needs, while third Morpeth investment has been to somewhere safe to spend time and have on the same floor the function room will purchase the former RAFA Club on the fun with their children.” inside Morpeth 5 Wansbeck Garden Centre Spring is almost upon us... writes Nic Crofts of Wansbeck Garden Centre February feels like a turning Before the frenetic spring activity kicks in Remove faded flowers from winter point in the garden. It's still make sure to check your tools are sound pansies to stop them setting seed. This cold outside, but there are and your garden machinery is working. will encourage a flush of new flowers Giving your tools and equipment the once when the weather warms up. signs of spring's imminent over and applying a little TLC to anything Start chitting early potatoes by standing arrival everywhere we look. that needs it now will save you valuable them on end in a module tray or egg Bulbs are slowly emerging from time later on in the year. box and place them in a bright, cool, the ground, and the days are Blitz any perennial weeds in the garden frost-free place. getting longer at last. By mid- or allotment. Dig them up, roots and all, Cut autumn-fruiting raspberry canes March, we're ready to welcome to get a head start on them before the to the ground to stimulate new canes, the start of spring and there's weather warms up.