Where should I go for drinks in Newcastle?

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With a stunning quayside, buzzing nightlife and picturesque surroundings, it’s no wonder Newcastle Upon Tyne is thought of as one of the UK’s best locations for a weekend away. Whether it’s a night out with the lads, the girls, a couple’s weekend or a lively stag or hen do, there’s something for everyone.

Whilst visiting the northern city, it’s only natural to want a taste of the famous nightlife. To make sure you’ve got options – whatever the reason for your trip – Newcastle hostel provider Euro Hostels has gathered together a list of some of the best venues so you can head straight oot on the toon.

For a pint with a view

Name: The Free Trade Inn

Summary: As one of Newcastle’s oldest pubs, The Free Trade Inn caters for real beer and ale drinkers. As well as being a cracking boozer, it also boasts one of the best views of the area – looking down at the River Tyne and its bridges. Make sure to say hi to Craig David, the pub cat, too.

Address: 2 St Lawrence Rd, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 1AP

Website: N/a
Get social:

 Facebook

 Twitter
 Instagram

Trip Advisor rating: Four Stars

Trip Advisor mentions include:

  •   Free jukebox
  •   Pub cat
  •   Good selection of real ales
  •   Beer selection
  •   Famous view

Opening hours:

  •   Monday 11:00 – 23:00
  •   Tuesday 11:00 – 23:00
  •   Wednesday 11:00 – 23:00
  •   Thursday 11:00 – 23:00
  •   Friday 11:00 – 00:00
  •   Saturday 11:00 – 00:00
  •   Sunday 11:00 – 23:00

 

 

For a casual drink that can last all night

Name: Lady Grey’s

Summary: Situated in the centre of Newcastle, Lady Grey’s is a gem of a pub. There is something for everyone – with cask ales, craft beers, wines – and top-notch pub snacks like cheese boards and sausage rolls. Lady Grey’s is perfect for a sneaky pit stop, or if you’re looking to settle in for an hour or two.

Address: Shakespeare Street, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE1 6AQ

Website: www.ladygreys.co.uk
Get social:

 Facebook

 Twitter
 Instagram

Trip Advisor rating: Four stars

Trip Advisor mentions include:

  •   Sausage rolls
  •   City centre pub
  •   Sunday fayre
  •   Guest beers
  •   Real ale
  •   Friendly atmosphere

Opening hours:

  •   Monday 11:00 – 02:00
  •   Tuesday 11:00 – 02:00
  •   Wednesday 11:00 – 02:00
  •   Thursday 11:00 – 02:00
  •   Friday 11:00 – 02:00
  •   Saturday 11:00 – 02:00
  •   Sunday 11:00 – 02:00

 

For gin lovers

Name: Pleased To Meet You

Summary: PTMY appreciates the craftsmanship of the perfect gin and tonic – it’s truly a gin-lovers paradise. Here, you can design your dream G&T – choose from over 50 gins, add a tonic (anything from herbal to lemon) and finish with a garnish of coffee beans, rose petals, cherries and more.

Address: 41-45 High Bridge, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 1EW

Website: www.ptmy-newcastle.co.uk

Get social:

 Facebook

 Twitter

 Instagram

Trip Advisor rating: Four stars

Trip Advisor mentions include:

  •   Gin menu
  •   Great decors
  •   Sharing platter
  •   Great cocktails
  •   Saturday night
  •   Gins
  •   Fab

Opening hours:

  • Monday 11- 01.00
  •   Tuesday 11:00 – 01:00
  •   Wednesday 11:00 – 01:00
  •   Thursday 11:00 – 01:00
  •   Friday 11:00 – 02:00
  •   Saturday 11:00 – 02:00
  •   Sunday 11:00 – 01:00

 

For dining and drinks

Name: Lola Jeans

Summary: When you need a pit stop from shopping, Lola Jeans is the perfect spot for drinks and lunch to re-charge your batteries. This pub is perfect for lovers of a ‘quirky’ décor, with delicious food (gourmet steak sandwich, anyone?) and cocktails at its core.

Address: 1-3 Market St, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 6JE

Website: www.lolajeans.co.uk

Get social:

 Facebook

 Twitter
  Instagram

Trip Advisor rating: Four stars

Trip Advisor mentions include:

  •   Steak
  •   Triple cooked chips
  •   John Dillinger
  •   Audrey Hepburn
  •   Sharing board
  •   Lovely window seater

Opening hours:

  •   Monday 12:00 – 00:00
  •   Tuesday 12:00 – 00:00
  •   Wednesday 12:00 – 00:00
  •   Thursday 12:00 – 00:00
  •   Friday 12:00 – 02:00
  •   Saturday 12:00 – 02:00
  •   Sunday 12:00 – 00:00

 

 

For a bit of live music

Name: Tyne Bar

Summary: For live music and a choice of real ales, visit the Tyne Bar – located in Newcastle’s Ouseburn. Especially popular on sunny days, this pub has a chilled-out vibe and is situated under a bridge arch, which adds to its independent style.

Address: 1 Maling St, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 1LP

Website: www.thetyne.com

Get social:

 Facebook

 Twitter

 Instagram

Trip Advisor rating: Four and a half stars

Trip Advisor mentions include:

  •   Sunny day
  •   Beers and lagers
  •   Outside seating area
  •   Free jukebox
  •   Excellent atmosphere
  •   Real ale
  •   Lovely food

Opening hours:

  •   Monday 12:00 – 23:00
  •   Tuesday 12:00 – 23:00
  •   Wednesday 12:00 – 23:00
  •   Thursday 12:00 – 23:00
  •   Friday 12:00 – 00:00
  •   Saturday 12:00 – 00:00
  •   Sunday 12:00 – 22:30

 

The top ‘must sees’ for families visiting New York

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New York is a great choice for families. Right from the food – which kid wouldn’t love to eat at a typical New York deli or one its perfect pizza parlours? – to the many attractions, there’s bound to be something to keep your littles ones entertained with a vacation in the Big Apple.

If you’re planning your family visit to the city, here are some ‘must sees’ to put on your list:

American Museum of Natural History

One of the biggest museums in the world, the AMNH is guaranteed to tap into the imagination of your children. The showstopping exhibits that they’ll enjoy most are probably the dinosaurs. Don’t miss the fairly new addition to the fold – the 122-foot long Titanosaur is so big that it doesn’t fit into one room and is the largest creature ever to walk the earth. The 94-foot long blue whale model is pretty impressive too – and the Discover Room is especially good as a hands-on area for intrepid 5-12 year olds.

Broadway

The theater really isn’t just for the adults. In fact, if we’re honest, the best Broadway shows offer a heady mix of fun for all the family. Aladdin, Wicked, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and The Lion King are among the many shows on offer – book yourself in and prepare to be blown away.

Central Park

There’s hours of fun to be had in Central Park – the picturesque heart of this otherwise fast- paced city. Kids will love the ice skating rink in the winter – which doubles as an amusement park – and Tisch Children’s Zoo has a cute collection of potbellied pigs, goats and sheep as well as the opportunity for your little ones to unleash their inner animal by crawling, jumping and climbing until their heart’s content.

Rockefeller Center

From the Lego Store and Nintendo NY through to the NBC Studios tour right up to the awesome views at the Top of the Rock – the Rockefeller Center is full of fun for all the family. In the winter, you can enjoy its world famous ice rink too.

Children’s Museum of Manhattan

If your kids like to get stuck into some creative fun, the Children’s Museum of Manhattan is the place to be. Primarily for younger kids, there are five floors to explore here – offering workshops, exhibits, performances and parties galore.

Coney Island

Coney Island is where it’s at if you’re young – or young at heart. There’s the beach, an amusement park featuring 50 rides and attractions and the New York Aquarium. Oh, and lots of hot dogs. Adults find it fun in a ‘hipster retro’ kinda way, kids just find it fun, period.

Bronx Zoo

With more than 5,000 animals in a 265-acre site, there’s plenty to keep your kids entertained at the Bronx Zoo. The gorillas are a constant favorite – and quite right too – while there’s a chance to feed the penguins and sea lions, see pandas and elephants on the Wild Asia Monorail and ride the bug carousel.

 

By Patrick Vernon.

The Reminders By Val Emmich Book Review

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The Reminders By Val Emmich has a very interesting premise: a man who wants to remember, and a little girl who wants to forget. It is a wonderful concept but not all great concepts make great novels. Luckily for Val Emmich The Reminders does work. It is a novel which is both happy and sad, funny and painful. It is well observed and has just the right hint of melancholy.  It is a beautiful story of an unlikely friendship. The Reminders is ultimately a heart-warming novel that will lift your spirits, while also making you just a little bit sad, but in a good way. Yes, that is possible. Recommended.

 

Overcome with the loss of his boyfriend Sydney, Gavin Winters has set fire to every reminder in their home. A neighbour has captured the blaze on video, turning this little-known TV actor into a household name. Gavin flees LA for New Jersey, where he hopes that ten-year-old Joan, the daughter of a close friend, can reconnect him with the memories of Sydney he is now in danger of losing for ever. 

Joan was born with a rare ability to recall every single day of her life in perfect detail, and in return for sharing her memories of Sydney, Gavin will help her write a song for a local competition. For Joan has had enough of being the girl who can’t forget – she wants to be the girl who will never be forgotten . . .

Charming, beautifully observed, poignant and funny, The Reminders by actor and musician Val Emmich is an irresistible story of the unlikely friendship between a grief-stricken man who can’t remember and a ten-year-old girl who can’t forget.

The Reminders By Val Emmich is available here. 

Dubbed a “Renaissance Man” by the New York Post, Val Emmich is a writer, singer-songwriter, and actor. He has had recurring roles on Vinyl and Ugly Betty as well as a memorable guest role as Liz Lemon’s coffee-boy fling, Jamie, on 30 Rock. Emmich lives in Jersey City, New Jersey, with his wife and their two children. The Reminders is his first novel.

Published 10th August 

 

 

How Are UK Dinner Trends Changing?

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With 66% of all UK adults describing themselves as passionate about food and drink, the UK is becoming a foodie nation. We Brits love our grub, and we’ve got big opinions on our favourite meals, how they should be eaten and with whom. What’s our attitude to dinner in particular? Oldrids & Downtown, providers of dinner sets, finds out.

Britain’s favourite dinners

Opinions differ across the UK when it comes to the nation’s favourite dishes – different surveys tend to reveal different results, so we’ll try and give you an overall picture.

According to the Spruce, Britain’s Top 10 favourite British foods are:

  •   Bacon sandwiches
  •   Roast dinners
  •   A Cup of Tea
  •   Fish and Chips
  •   Yorkshire Pudding
  •   Full English Breakfast
  •   Cornish pasties
  •   Strawberries and cream
  •   Teatime Treat, Crumpets
  •   Beer

 

As reported by The Express, a survey commissioned by Welsh Lamb discovered that British food still came out on top – roast dinners and shepherd’s pie are dishes that UK diners favoured when asked which cuisine they would choose. Italian food scooped second place, with dishes like spaghetti Bolognese and pasta, followed by Indian, Chinese and Thai cuisine. The report also found that 56% of Brits are sourcing their food more locally, and paying more attention to where their food comes from.

Family dinners. 

Whilst we are progressively becoming a foodie nation – it seems traditional meal times are becoming a thing of the past, with research showing that fewer British families than ever are eating together, and those that do so tend to eat in front of the television. Over 20% of British families only sit down to dinner once or twice a week, and one in five has family meals in front of the television.According to 60% of parents, ready meals are a preference, as they provide a quick and simple solution when faced with time constraints.

Should we make time for family dinners?

There are a number of benefits in sitting down to eat as a family, according to Health.com.

  •   Children may eat their vegetables. Research has found that children who eat with their families are more likely to eat fruit and vegetables.
  •   More fruit and vegetables means a healthier family. By eating together, a family has a greater chance of eating fruit and veg – making them healthier overall.
  •   Get time to catch up on your day. Eating dinner together as a family is time well-spent. It gives everyone a chance to catch up on their day and talk and listen to each other’s news.
  •   Save money by cooking dinners. As well as being healthier for you, cooking nourishing family meals is much cheaper than eating out. With a little planning – and a little batch cooking – you can make sure you grab a bargain and prepare nutritious meals.

Dinner parties

The formal-style dinner parties of the 80s and 90s has disappeared, according to the Telegraph. Traditional dinner parties of the past had a focus on everyone eating the same meal, with prawn cocktail and fondue on the menu and wine on the table.

As trends shift, dinner party menus are more flexible now to incorporate dietary requirements, with diet-conscious salads, meat and grains and locally-sourced ingredients.

Throwing a dinner party

Despite the shift to a more relaxed, informal style of dining, dining with friends is still popular with Brits. Here are a few tips to hosting a 2017 dinner party.

 

  •  Go for food you can prepare earlier in the day so you can spend time with guests. Stick something in the slow cooker like a stew or curry that can cook while you enjoy yourself.
  •  Put everything in serving dishes and let guests help themselves. Think big salads, rice dishes, assorted meats and sides.
  •  Don’t be afraid of short cuts. If it’s easier for you to buy the bread and use shop-bought pastry just do it.
  •  Make a playlist to set the mood. Cater to your guests and make it varied and fun – you can even include some songs for a sing along/dance off, depending on the liveliness of your guests.
  •  Relax. If you’re at ease, your guests will feel at ease, and everyone will have a better time for it.

 

Sources:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/597667/Family_Food _2015-09mar17.pdf

http://www.express.co.uk/life-style/food/694587/Britain-top-five-favourite-cuisines-revealed-food- roast-dinner

https://www.thespruce.com/britains-top-favourite-foods-drinks-435511

https://www.thesun.co.uk/archives/news/183424/more-than-a-quarter-of-uk-families-dont-eat-a-meal- together/

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/food-and-drink/features/death-of-the-dinner-party-the-ultimate-guide-to- hosting-a-modern/

 

In the World’s Shadows By Christopher Hamilton | Recommended Books

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In the world's shadowsSYNOPSIS

In the World’s Shadows is a testimony to the redemptive power of love, creating hope in the bleakest of times.   It follows Christopher’s life, from a young child in colonial India, who moves with his glamorous mother to South Africa during World War II.  After she gets involved with a domineering, heavy drinking businessman, Christopher is packed off to England, to boarding school and a father he can’t even remember, a father whose lack of warmth stems from his own suffering in fighting against the Japanese in Burma and taking the surrender of the Japs at Kuala Lumpar in 1945.

While telling the story of a family, the book sets their individual tragedies (and comedies) in the context of momentous events of the 20th century. It is told through people who lived with the tribulations wrought by the abhorrent evils of World War II and of Apartheid. It is largely a story of South Africa, recognising Mandela’s tortuous path to freedom for his beliefs. It shows the suffering of the black peoples, but also the dedication of some whites, such as Christopher’s Aunt Babs, in working to support them in their quest for survival and freedom.

In England, Christopher hungers for his beloved South Africa, his family, the farm he knew.

Eventually he does return, bereft after the loss of his beloved wife, Anne, taken by a crippling illness. He must now attempt to find a new path through life, alone.  His desperate grief leads him to take many wrong turns, but family and friends – not least Aunt Babs, now a nun, offer Christopher a glimpse of a less troubled, more bearable, future. Finding inner strength, he is able to offer support to Sarah, a woman trapped in her own unhappy world, and they build a new life together – not a “happy ever after” ending but a loving relationship that makes life worth living.

The book is an unflinching record of human cruelty and frailty, but also of resilience, love and the ultimate victory of hope over despair.

Reviews:

The novel is an easy read, with writing that creates vivid pictures of various places and people depicted. It movingly describes quite a lot of suffering, directly through the experience of Christopher as he grows up, and indirectly through the background of war, apartheid and debilitating illness. However, it is not a depressing read, but is a book of hope and faith and humour.

Pauline Ashall’s review on Goodreads

When I read the Synopsis of “In the World’s Shadows” by Christopher Hamilton I immediately wanted to buy a copy. I was not disappointed. The novel is well written with an easy style. It is a very moving story and whilst if depicts the suffering and grief of a young boy growing up in different continents, it is a story full of hope, love and comedy with a “Happy Ever After” ending.                                                                                                       It was an amazing book which I couldn’t put down. When my grandfather read the book for a second time he said it was even better than the first.

Tori Burman’s review on Amazon

The Synopsis and Preface are a great beginning to a story that gripped me more as I kept turning the pages. I found tit compulsive and comfortable reading. Very soon I had a good knowledge of the real characters from saint to sinner, sending out a message of cruelty, despair, love and hope. The novel depicts the suffering and grief. It is also a story full of hope, passion, love and comedy, with a “Happy Ever After” ending. The author paints a picture as vivid as any film. My family and friends will be buying the book at the Launch Party on July 19th in Bath.

George Morgan’s review on Austin Macauley (publisher)

 

“In the World’s Shadows” author Christopher Hamilton (nom de plume for Chris Doveton-Gerty) is published by Austin Macauley and is out now.

The book will be available in Hardback (ISBN 9781787108226) Paperback (ISBN 9781787108219) E-Book (ISBN 9781787108233)

 

A Break From Business: Holiday Reading: Jane Cable on fiction from Cornwall, her adopted county

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The question I’m asked most frequently since moving to Cornwall is ‘so are you going to write a Cornish book now?’ The answer is that I’m in no hurry to, but in that I seem to be alone and with so much fiction set in the county I thought I’d pick out a few which would make great holiday reading.

Old favourites

I would have to start with Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca, in many ways the ultimate in romantic fiction with a seriously heavy twist of suspense. The beautiful house by the sea, the spooky aged retainer and the dear departed wife in the background, it has it all – especially as it didn’t resolve in the way I expected.

Also a classic is Rosamunde Pilcher’s The Shell Seekers which is in part set in Cornwall and known to readers of this column as my favourite book. The characters are so superbly drawn they could break – or make – your heart every time. But almost as good and often forgotten is Pilcher’s Coming Home, a saga which starts in Cornwall in the late 1930s and follows the heroine and her adopted family through the Second World War.

Another writer from my youth associated with the county is Mary Wesley. Camomile Lawn is her most famous Cornish novel and always a popular choice but I enjoyed Harnessing Peacocks far more. I like her heroine Hebe’s unconventional take on life – it seems especially suited to a backdrop in Cornwall.

In a totally different vein is Patrick Gale’s Notes From an Exhibition which perfectly captures (for me, anyway) the artist community at St Ives. The book tells the story of a family coming to terms with the dazzling genius of their late mother. At times a harrowing tale of depression, the wonderful language Gale uses lifts us and takes us to a completely different place.

New friends

Cornwall is now famous for chicklit and romcoms, a trend surely started by Judy Astley with her Just for the Summer, a sharp, witty read about Londoners who decamp to their Cornish second homes for the holidays.

Among those new out this summer, which means I haven’t actually read them but they may well appeal, are these:

Confetti at The Cornish Café by Phillipa Ashley – the third book in this hugely successful series sees the café become a celebrity wedding venue. Described as warm, funny and feel good by doyenne of romantic fiction Katie Fforde.

The Returning Tide by Liz Fenwick – the latest from a writer who has a built a career based on Cornish novels, this time with a saga of sisters and a wartime betrayal that spans the generations.

The Cornish Hotel by the Sea by Karen King – a heart-warming novel from my April Business of Books guest. Ellie returns to help her widowed mother keep the family hotel afloat, but will she succeed or will love intervene?

Dying to Take The Tour by Chrissie Loveday – a murder mystery set against the backdrop of a Poldark sightseeing tour. Cosy crime from a writer who I have to admit is a Cornish neighbour and is also published by Endeavour Press.

 

 

Figure 8 Railway Set And The Record Listen & Light Station From Hape

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When it comes to toys for children you can never go wrong with Hape. You can also not go wrong with a railway set. So the Figure 8 Railway Set is a great present for little ones. Easy to build and well made, it sparks your childs imagination and gives hours of fun. The set comes with a figure eight track, a bridge, three rainbow trains, and two trees. The Frost toddler loved it.

For charming and characterful railway sets look no further then Hape and their extensive range for children 3 Years +.

Over the bridge and through the woods guide the little rainbow train around and about with the Figure 8 Railway Set from Hape. It makes the perfect starting point for any little train enthusiast to begin their exciting adventure as this set grows alongside your child, build and make it your own, helping inspire new ways to play and imaginations to grow. Children can explore real life situations with The Hape Figure 8 Railway Set available online from Amazon for £19.77 suitable for 3 Years +.

Add a great finishing touch with The Record Listen & Light Station. A wonderful little set which includes an authentic light up station, ticket machine, train timetables and station clock. Children can record their very own personalised greeting for those passengers entering the station. It is an adorable and well made set. A perfect addition to any rail set.

All aboard with The Record Listen & Light Station from Hape.  What railway wouldn’t be complete without this adorable set? The Hape Record Listen & Light Station is available to buy online from Amazon for £10.83 suitable for 3 Years +.

 

Last Chance for Fiz in Soho…

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We all dread the toll of the bell when “Last Orders” are up, but we’re here to give you plenty of notice to try out Fizbar in Soho for one last time before they close there doors this Saturday. London’s first sparkling wine bar opened it’s doors 9 weeks ago for a 10 week residency at iconic London haunt, Lights of Soho. Started by three friends, their quest was to bring a hint of Barcelona’s backstreet Cava bars to London. With a playful and eclectic list of international fizz, the aim was to take a step away from the pretentious wine bars and over-priced, bourgeois culture associated with drinking sparkles in the Capital. As well as a damn good list of drinks to make your way through, the food here is also well curated and carefully selected to pair with your drinks. The atmosphere here is like no other, you can enjoy your bubbles whilst watching the Chef’s cook your food to order right at the bar.

Just to give you an example of how eclectic this wine list was, we made our way from House Fiz which was a crisp Cava at £4.5 a glass all the way to the unusual ‘Black Queen’. Hailing from Barossa Valley Australia, Black Queen is a red fizz with hints of dark cherry and fruit. Not for the faint hearted, this was described by one of the owners as the Marmite of Fiz. There are of course a few Proseccos that feature on the menu but our stand out fizz by far was a lot closer to home, all the way from Kent. Balfour Estate by Hush Heath winery in Kent was an example of something very elegant, dry and sophisticated. The production of this fizz is very similar to Champagne and is unsurprisingly award-winning. If an adventurous journey through fizz is more of what you’re after, there is something for everyone at Fiz, alongside the sparkling red, there is an Italian Sparkling wine with notes of lemon and lime and also something from Brazil too. The wines on the list go from £4.5-£10 a glass to give you an idea of how casual and affordable this joint is. The food offerings include a cheese board, a meat board and a selection of sliders to name a few, we recommend the Pastrami which we are told is made on site. As well as a bottomless brunch available on the weekend. We really enjoyed the little quirks and added extras to the place including a couple of alcoholic ice pops to choose from and of course the striking backdrop that is Lights of Soho featuring many neon light designs.

We highly recommend you checking out Fiz before they close there doors this Saturday before they move on to their next location so stay tuned for more info…

https://www.fizbar.com