Darlington Monthly December 18

Issue 65 - December 2018

Your favourite PRICELESS community magazine

What’s Inside to “think local” Feat Reasons ured Ar t i cles and shop in Darlington

Invites for the

homeless on to 10 Darlington Market Christmas be graced with Day new exhibition space

Create & Paint 24 opens new Filmstudio Review - The House with the Clocks in its Walls REVIEW: 38 FILM The Grinch

ARDMORE CRAIG SUPPORTS TEAM GB BOBSLEIGH DRIVER

LOCAL BUSINESSES

LOCAL EVENTS COMPETITIONS

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Welcome to the December edition of Darlington Monthly!

Can you believe we’ve reached the festive season already? It feels like 2018’s New Year resolutions were only being made yesterday.

Naturally, with all of that gift-buying and so many Christmas parties rapidly looming this month, if you haven’t achieved those elusive get-fit ambitions by now, you’ll probably have to give up and save the recommencement of your mission for 2019.

But Christmas isn’t just about the must-dos – it’s also about the love-to-dos! You can find the latest Darlington ‘what’s on’ listings on page 46 of our magazine, or if you fancy heading to your nearest Vue cinema, what about seeing The Grinch? We’ve given our verdict on the latest big-screen outing for everyone’s favourite grumpy green fella on page 38.

Alternatively, of course, you could just stay in your cosy home and flick through your latest copy of Darlington Monthly! Indeed, if you’re the kind of person who also likes to spend rainy days doing puzzles and crosswords, you might be interested to read our exclusive Q&A with one of our own, the TV producer and allround games maestro David Bodycombe on pages 28-29.

Last but never least, we have to say another massive ‘thank you’ to our advertisers. Please do take advantage of their services, and if you fancy joining them in a future edition of Darlington Monthly, don’t hesitate to get on the phone to us via 07500 828 396. Alternatively, email sales@darlingtonmonthly.co.uk, and we’ll tell you all about our great-value long-term plans.

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That’s it for now. From all of us here at Darlington Monthly, have a very happy Christmas, and we’ll see you again in 2019!

Available to read online Visit darlingtonmonthly.co.uk /DarlingtonMonthly

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Disclaimer...

Whilst we take every care to ensure accuracy in this magazine, we regret that we cannot accept responsibility for any incorrect information. All advertisements are accepted in good faith as to their veracity and we are not responsible for views expressed by contributors or other sources. The copying of any material within this publication is strictly forbidden without the publishers or Studio Managers consent. By providing your email address and entering our competitions you agree to receive email communications from the competition sponsor/prize provider.

Congratulations to last month’s competition winners, all winners have been notified. Winners are selected at random. The provider will only receive the winning entries inContact order to fulfil completion of the prize. Email: sales@darlingtonmonthly.co.uk Tel: 07500 828 396 Advertise Darlington Monthly 4 details ofTo

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What's On At The Majestic Theatre 78-80 Bondgate,Darlington, DL3 7JT.

January 2019

March 2019 An Evening of Mediumship with Psychic Tony Stockwell

New Year Party 4th January – 7:00PM – 12:00AM All tickets are £1.00. Join us for an evening of entertainment to celebrate the beginning of 2019 where we have live bands performing, plenty of music for plenty of dancing and more!

5th March – 7:30PM. Tickets starting from £19.50 The popular star of TV’s Street Psychic, Psychic Private Eyes and Psychic Academy, Tony Stockwell has a long established credibility as one of the top Intuitive Mediums and has shared the stage all round the world with international mediums such as Colin Fry, James van Praagh and Lisa Williams. Tony demonstrates his belief that those who have passed can communicate with their loved ones with detailed messages frequently including names, dates and locations and all delivered with emotion, sensitivity and empathy. The evening may include psychometry, photographs readings and psychic prediction.

Fran Garrity 18th January – 8:00PM All tickets are £6.00. Fran Garrity returns with a brand new solo show, following on from his debut sell out run of Secret Agent Fran.

Spectre Detectors 19th January – 9:00PM – 1:00AM £30.00 (18+ only). Join Spectre Detectors - the North Easts leading team of paranormal investigators as they investigate our wonderful theatre. Using the latest technology, they will try to communicate with the spirits linked to the building.

February 2019 Way to the Stage 1st February – 7:30PM & 2nd February – 7:30PM Pay what you decide! From the makers of A Night Amongst the Stars and Majestic Summer Showcase, they are coming together once again to make a thrilling show full of different kind of acts to entertain your evening! Including; Singing, Dancing, Acting and other amazing talent.

History of Rock 9th March – 7:30PM Adult £23.50 - Child £19.50. THE HISTORY OF ROCK is a celebration of ROCK music through the decades.

A jaw dropping night transporting you through the golden ages of ROCK! All Shook Up 16th March – 7:30PM All tickets £10.00. C.P. King Productions proudly presents ‘All Shook Up’. A live musical experience featuring songs from the golden era of Rock 'n' Roll, and paying tribute to the King himself, Elvis Presley!

Coldplace 22nd March – 7:30PM Adult £20.00 – Child £18.00 – Group of 10 £180.00 As the world's leading tribute to Coldplay they have played over 650 shows in 24 different countries. They pride themselves on attention to detail both musically and visually.

Box Office: 01325 633296 Purchase tickets at Email: Office@majestictheatre.org.uk www.majestictheatre-lee.com Find us on Facebook: DarlingtonMonthly Visit us online: www.darlingtonmonthly.co.uk

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JTA Fires and Stoves have recently opened a brand new showroom in Darlington.

Owner Stephen Airey and showroom manager Neil Fawcett have over 30 years’ experience between them in the heating and fireplace industry. The showroom boasts an array of traditional and contemporary woodburning and multi fuel stoves from leading manufacturers.

From bespoke inglenook designs to modern freestanding versions, JTA Fires and Stoves will endeavour to make your dream a reality.

We have a fully qualified installation team that cover HETAS approval for solid fuel applications, Gas Safe for gas fires and central heating systems, and also OFTEC for oil boiler installations. JTA Fires and Stoves also supply and install inset hole in the wall gas and solid fuel appliances for a minimalist look. Alternatively, we can cater for those wanting a traditional focal point fireplace in either solid wood, marble or stone. Many of these fireplace designs can be tailor made to your own specifications.

We offer a free site survey with absolutely no obligation to purchase. We pride ourselves on our vast knowledge and experience, and welcome you to call in to see what we have on offer - you won’t be disappointed.

Our showroom at 9 Duke Street, Darlington is open Monday to Saturday 9.30am-5.00pm.

Sunday opening is by appointment only.

If you would like to arrange a free site survey either call into the showroom, or get in touch on 01325 389238 or email jtafiresandstoves@ icloud.com.

A warm welcome awaits at JTA Fires and Stoves.

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To Advertise Contact Darlington Monthly Email: sales@darlingtonmonthly.co.uk Tel: 07500 828 396

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Ardmore Craig Supports Team GB Bobsleigh Driver North East-based engineering and design consultancy, Ardmore Craig, is thrilled to have teamed up with British number one bobsleigh driver, Mica McNeill.

As well as providing funding towards Mica’s training and travel costs, Ardmore Craig are involved with component design for the bobsleigh.

The firm teamed up with Mica following a talk at an entrepreneurial event earlier this year where she discussed her career so far and the challenge she faced when her funding was withdrawn by British bobsleigh’s governing body, inspiring her to set up a crowdfunding campaign to get her to the Winter Olympics.

Using existing runners as a reference point and with a pair of officially certified blanks, the team has developed the first set of runner profiles in its 3D CAD package, with prototypes having been manufactured using a 3D printer to verify the geometry.

Andy Stevenson, managing director at Ardmore Craig, said: “It’s clear when listening to Mica speak that she is really passionate about what she does, so when we heard about the challenges she was facing with her funding, we identified an opportunity to help.

“Whilst our previous experience has focused predominantly on offshore and industrial projects, our ethos is that we are engineers who love to solve problems. As such, we thought there was a great opportunity to put our expertise to the test within the design of a bobsleigh and its components and came up with the idea of offering the cost-effective manufacture of the runners following an extensive design scope examination.”

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The 3D model will be used to machine the blanks in the North East of England prior to being tested on the ice later this year.

Andy continued: “Our hope is that the further development work and runner designs will support our goal of enabling improvement in Mica’s performance over the course of the winter season and in doing so, also open doors to new challenges for our expert team of engineers.”

To find out more about Ardmore Craig, visit www. ardmorecraig.com or call the team on 01325 344150.

To Advertise Contact Darlington Monthly Email: sales@darlingtonmonthly.co.uk Tel: 07500 828 396

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Mangobean Darlington invites in the homeless for Christmas Day If you are looking for a Christmas miracle, Darlington might just be the place to find it.

It was reported by The Northern Echo in January this year that the number of people asking Darlington Borough Council for help with homelessness had risen by 7.3%, with 1,202 people having presented as homeless or at risk of homelessness in the space of mere months.

This helps to explain why Mangobean Darlington, a coffee shop in the Feethams Leisure development, has made the decision to once again open its doors on Christmas Day to those who are sleeping rough, struggling with the cold weather or simply having a tough festive season.

This is the third year the coffee shop has ran the project, giving visitors the opportunity to enjoy a free meal and a hot drink between 12noon and 2pm.

Donations invited for the less fortunate Mangobean Darlington has a fantastic array of cakes, sandwiches, coffees and smoothies available for visitors throughout the festive season.

The café commented on Facebook: “Mangobean would normally be closed on Christmas Day, but we’ve decided to open for a couple of hours between 12pm – 2pm.

“Any donations would be amazing. Whether it’s some food for the day or just a word of support please don’t hesitate to drop into our store!

Kindness from the heart Despite the cafe only being open for a few hours, the staff of Mangobean Darlington fully intend to decorate the premises to help bring in the holiday cheer.

From a small Christmas tree to tinsel and Christmas themed plates, this family owned business is determined with its decorations to continue its tradition of welcoming in the homeless, an endeavour in which it has been extremely successful in the last few years.

Many of the Darlington townspeople have taken note of this kindness and are generously donating their time to help out with the festivities.

If you wish to volunteer to assist on Christmas day, Mangobean Darlington would be more than happy to have your assistance, but you should be sure to alert them beforehand so that they can arrange a pre-meeting and get to know you.

They can also provide you with some help in understanding the day’s timetable, as well as what help is needed – or what jobs need to be fulfilled – to keep the schedule running smoothly.

Join Mangobean Darlington for Christmas!

You are more than welcome to join Mangobean Darlington’s blossoming family and help to welcome the less fortunate into the café. You can find out more about the coffee shop by visiting www.mangobeanfranchise.co.uk or visiting @ mangobeandarlo on Facebook.

“We want to invite anyone who’s homeless or just anyone who’s having a tough time through Christmas to come to Mangobean and have a meal and hot drink on us.”

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To Advertise Contact Darlington Monthly Email: sales@darlingtonmonthly.co.uk Tel: 07500 828 396

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Established. 1998

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Star of Bengal Indian restaurant and takeaway established since 1998.

After 20 years we have relocated to 24 Duke Street, Darlington.

Join us for an enhanced dining experience serving our much loved dishes in our new spacious and contemporary restaurant. Fully licensed and fully air-conditioned.

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Enquire for fantastic January deals on all Granite, Quartz & Corian Worktops, including up to 50% off template & installation costs throughout the month.

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email: enquiries@graniteworktopsdarlington.co.uk Website: www.graniteworktopsdarlington.co.uk To Advertise Contact Darlington Monthly Email: sales@darlingtonmonthly.co.uk Tel: 07500 828 396

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4 Address: 4 6 Fran Garrity 9 1 2 An established & independent local b 18th January – 8:00PM 3 4 £6.00. Fran Garrity 1 returns with a All tickets are History of Rock Robson Granit brand new solo show, following on from his debut Postcode: 5 sell out runVisit 8 Influence Premier Granit 9th March – 7:30PM at 74 Skinnergate, of Secret Agent Fran. Cafe We THE have the m Adult £23.50 - Child £19.50.

HISTORY of Post House Wynd.

3 which is on 4 the 7 cornerEmail: teamthrough of templa is a celebration of ROCK music the d A jaw dropping night transporting you throug the Darlington Spectre Detectors 9 5 Monday 1 to 7 Saturday 4 Open 8am to 6pm | Sunday 9am 5pm most competit goldento: ages oftoROCK! Please send all entries Competition 19th January – 9:00PM – 1:00AM skill and exper Department, 4 £30.00 (18+ only).

6 Join 2 Spectre Detectors - the North Unit 4, Station Road, Like us on Facebook Visit us on Instagram All Shook Up Chester-le-Street, DH3 3DY. Easts leading team of paranormal investigators as they Enquire for f 4 5 Using Competition investigate 7 our wonderful theatre. the latest End16th Date: 20th– December all Granite, Q March 7:30PM

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A live 13 exper Find us on Facebook: DarlingtonMonthly Visit us online: www.darlingtonmonthly.co.ukmusical featuring songs from the golden era of Rock

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Avoiding winter’s icy grip: advice on how to keep your car safe With the arrival of winter, comes the seasonal worry about what will happen to our Darlington roads when the rain, sleet and ice take over for the holiday season.

You should always keep cautious if you need to take your car out over the winter season, as you cannot know for sure what sort of weather or traffic problems you may encounter while on the road.

The dangers of winter It can be extremely dangerous to drive in the winter, especially when you need to face icy roads, queuing traffic, dark conditions and billowy gusts of snow, sleet and rain against your car.

The areas that tend to be worst affected are bridges and overpasses, tunnels, steep hills, acceleration and deacceleration points, cobblestone and brick pavements and sharp curves in the road.

Take these steps to minimise the risks When driving on a winter road and even before your journey, it is the small things that will often most help to keep you safe.

Local police officers are advising motorists to always carry out important checks, such as tyre pressure and oil level checks, to ensure their vehicles are fully road ready.

If you find when driving that all of the roads are icy, it may be worth using an alternative route on the return journey, as nightfall with its associated temperature drops could make the roads even more dangerous.

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Before you hit the road, another suggestion that officers are making is to stock up your car, just in case you do have a breakdown. Does your vehicle contain the basic items of bottles of water, food and blankets to keep everyone warm inside the vehicle?

Inspector Darren Breslin, from the Cleveland and Durham Specialist Operations Unit, has said: “It is really important that if someone has a break down or an emergency in their vehicle that they have the essential items to stay safe, particularly during the winter months when lighting can be poor, and it can get extremely cold outside.”

If you are heading out for a long journey on an icy road, you could even prepare a hot water bottle to keep against your body to make sure you remain toasty throughout your trip.

What else do you need to know to stay safe?

If you have to drive during the winter period and are not able to take public transport, you must at least make sure you are fully awake while on the road. Remember that in more adverse conditions, it will typically take a greater distance and longer time to bring your vehicle to a halt, so you should take care to allow a decent gap between your car and the vehicle in front of you.

Finally, if driving conditions become too difficult, you must find a safe place to park. Your safety is more important than any trip – however urgent you may feel it to be.

To Advertise Contact Darlington Monthly Email: sales@darlingtonmonthly.co.uk Tel: 07500 828 396

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New restaurant and takeaway Royal Grill opens in Darlington Do you fancy something to eat? Perhaps you like the idea of a chicken meal such as chicken shawarma, chicken skewers, chicken wings or roast chicken? Alternatively, you might prefer lamb or burgers. All of these are among the most popular meals available from the recently opened Royal Grill in Darlington.

The restaurant and takeaway opened in October and serves a wide range of tasty cuisine. The choices include Margherita pizza, and grilled burgers – and you can enjoy all of these at the Royal Grill outlet on Northgate, or by ordering through www.myroyalgrill.co.uk.

High standards in both the food and service

There’s no doubt that, whichever way you buy food from Royal Grill, it will be high in quality. At Royal Grill, the staff constantly strive to improve their service and dishes. As a result, customers can enjoy amazing quality in not only the cuisine, but also how it is served.

If you would like to drop by the restaurant at its Northgate premises, its opening hours are from 10:30am to 8pm every day of the week. However, you can also stay in the comfort of your own home and order online, as the Royal Grill website shows the eatery’s entire takeaway menu.

It is also while on the website that you can peruse your favourite dishes, as well as a range of other delicious options. Furthermore, Royal Grill can quickly deliver your food to your door – it all adds up to a fast, convenient and easy-to-use online takeaway service.

You can opt to pay online as you place the order or pay in cash when you receive your food. Royal Grill delivers online orders during the hours of 11:30am to 6:30pm – meaning that however you order, you don’t have to wait for long to receive truly tasty food in Darlington.

ing you We are inevwitest Fast to the n taurant Food Res gton! in Darlin Here at Royal Grill we are constantly striving to improve our service and quality in order to give our customers the very best experience. As a result, we are finally proud to unveil and introduce our latest improvement, our new online ordering website! You can now relax at home and order your favourite, freshly prepared meals from Royal Grill, online.

You can even pay online!

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To Advertise Contact Darlington Monthly Email: sales@darlingtonmonthly.co.uk Tel: 07500 828 396

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Exciting news!

Mount Vale Care Home has a stylish new look!

Following significant investment, Mount Vale has a brand new look which we’d love to show you.

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A strong foundation: the public’s quest to preserve and enhance Darlington’s South Park Darlington takes the preservation of its gorgeous green spaces seriously, and it’s fair to say that South Park is no exception. This much has been confirmed yet again by the formation of a new foundation, Darlington South Park Foundation, which comprises members of the local business community, the Friends of South Park group and Darlington’s Roundtable.

Improving South Park “for many more generations to enjoy” Nick Clark, foundation member and Community Services Officer for Darlington Bondgate Round Table, stated: “The South Park Foundation is an exciting development for Darlington that we as a local organisation are proud to be a part of.

The foundation will strategically look for ways to enhance the park and ensure its sustainability for the long-term future - a task of particular urgency, given such incidents as vandalism in February 2017 that saw a children’s play area in the park destroyed.

“Green spaces are essential for everyone and this foundation promises to help maximise what is already a great park.”

Looking to the future with optimism The aforementioned damage was remedied by a crowdfunding appeal set up with the help of Groundwork NE & Cumbria that saw £24,000 raised within four months.

However, the incident served to highlight the importance and significance of the park, as well as the support of local people and businesses if this vital green lung of the town is to be kept in the best possible condition.

Darlington South Park Foundation has therefore been created with backing from Groundwork NE & Cumbria and Darlington Borough Council, and will engage with the public to gather thoughts on what the priorities for the park should be.

The foundation’s work will help to ensure the park’s Green Flag status is preserved and key areas of the park enhanced, and is set to encompass crowdfunding, donations, sponsorship, activities and events.

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Councillor Nick Wallis, cabinet member for leisure and the environment at Darlington Borough Council, added: “The response from local residents and businesses after the vandalism last year was fantastic and it’s great that this new foundation has been established.

“We look forward to working with its members, Groundwork NE & Cumbria and others to help maintain and enhance South Park for many more generations to enjoy.”

How can I help out?

One of the Darlington South Park Foundation’s first tasks has been to set up a questionnaire, requesting responses from anyone who uses the park or would be interested in volunteering. Feedback gained from the survey will help to establish the group’s priorities for the future.

The questionnaire can be filled in and submitted at www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/TBXZLFB. Alternatively, if you would like to find out more about the current work of the foundation, you are welcome to call 01642 815663.

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Create & Paint opens new studio in Darlington’s Cornmill Shopping Centre If you have often enjoyed dropping by the arts and crafts studio of Create & Paint in Darlington’s Skinnergate area, there’s great news: Create & Paint has opened a second studio in the County Durham town, where you can enjoy activities including painting ceramics and making a teddy!

Create & Paint has long been a welcome presence in Skinnergate, where the company runs a creative studio, café, and shop offering creative gifts all under one roof.

This has made Create & Paint an appealing one-stop shop for arty people across all ages, abilities and interests.

even pick up a vase for that personalised gift and choose from plenty of seasonal items that are on sale.

Lots of creative fun to be had at a new shop The Skinnergate shop remains open, but Create & Paint has now opened a second store in the town’s Cornmill Shopping Centre. The new outlet allows its visitors to take part in a range of exciting activities - they just have to drop in during opening hours to join the fun!

At the Cornmill studio, Create & Paint will also soon introduce a new upstairs space, a Teddy party room, with the stairs themed as a magical forest. It will all make a great backdrop to a special birthday experience for your children and their friends.

Like the Skinnergate studio, the Cornmill studio offers a wide range of ceramics ideal for painting or covering with foam clay, as well as trinket boxes, money banks, heart plaques and baubles for little people. You could 24

Visitors can also take a look at Create & Paint’s new Teddy Corner, a great place for children to create their new friend. Your little one can fill their bucket from the stuffing tree, stuff teddy, place a heart in and then seal teddy with a wish. With in excess of 35 teddy skins and outfits available at any one time, there is something for every boy and girl.

The digital marketing agency Jak HQ, based in Chesterle-Street, has also created a new logo and new signage for Create & Paint, which held a grand opening for its Cornmill studio in October.

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Ceramic Painting, Foam Clay Decopatch, Create a Teddy, Clay Pottery Sessions

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Darlington town centre’s ‘free after three’ parking scheme is back for Christmas!

Christmas is unquestionably one of the most exciting times to be in Darlington - especially the town centre - but there’s equally no doubt that parking charges can be off-putting when you’re already on a tight budget and looking to save money on gift shopping or event attendance.

This is why Darlington Borough Council has brought back its ‘free after three’ scheme for the festive period. It means that for every day of the week until Wednesday 2nd January, visitors will be able to park for free after 3pm in all council short and long-stay car parks.

What else do you need to know about the scheme?

The ‘free after three’ scheme was only available during previous years on Thursdays. However, councillors agreed that this year, it should be extended to enable as many people as possible to take advantage during the festive period.

Just imagine being able to do your Christmas or January shopping across Darlington’s extensive range of stores, or even while away the hours in any of the town centre’s many fine bars, cafes or restaurants, without having to worry about forking out for a minute of parking! Well, it’s possible in 2018 and into 2019.

What’s more, this Christmas parking offer is running alongside such existing parking offers in the town as £2 for all-day parking in East Street car park above Wilkos, and two hours’ free parking in all council long-stay car parks.

parking from 1pm every day for the entirety of the ‘free after three’ promotional period.

No previous Darlington parking offer “as generous as this one” Councillor Nick Wallis, cabinet member for leisure and local environment, commented: “In all the years I’ve been a member of this council I don’t think we’ve had a Christmas parking offer as generous as this one.

“If you combine the ‘free after three’ offer with the two hours free parking, it offers a substantial period of time that people will be able to come into Darlington to shop and eat and make the most of what the town has to offer at Christmas.

“We hope families will take advantage and come down straight from the school run or that shoppers on a Saturday feel that they have that extra time to enjoy themselves.”

The perfect opportunity to enjoy Christmas in Darlington Such a wealth of free parking at a time of year when - let’s face it - most of us will be busy and doing a great amount of travelling, could be hugely beneficial if you are considering shopping, meeting friends or relatives or taking in any of the enthralling events that will be held in the town this festive season.

We certainly can’t wait to make the most of it here at Darlington Monthly!

This means that if you choose to park in one of the town centre’s long-stay car parks, you’ll be able to enjoy free

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A Conversation with...

David Bodycombe David Bodycombe is an English puzzle author, games consultant and TV producer who has contributed to popular game shows including The Krypton Factor, The Crystal Maze, Only Connect and Treasure Hunt ‘Puzzle author and games consultant’ sounds like a lot of people’s idea of a dream job. How did your involvement in such a specialised industry come about?

I started by sending in a few ideas to TV shows and puzzle magazines. In particular, I had some games designs accepted for the original version of The Crystal Maze, which enabled me to obtain my first book contract. Over time, I saw there was a bit of side money to be made and after a few years, I had enough projects to leave my full-time job and go freelance.

Is being a puzzle author and games consultant ‘just for nerds’, or are there other aspects of the job that people don’t always know or appreciate?

It depends on which fields of puzzling you go into. For people who design crosswords, primarily it’s a desk job. I work mostly in publishing and television, so I spend some of my time in offices and studios. Someone I know is a labyrinth expert and has designed a maze for the side of a skyscraper in Dubai, as well as many outdoor corn and hedge mazes.

You were born in Darlington; how do you feel your northern English background informed your subsequent choice of career?

When I graduated in the 1990s, there weren’t many opportunities to enter TV production. That’s now changing, with more production hubs and independent TV companies being supported by a ‘Nations and Regions’ quota at the public service broadcasters, although they are still based around the largest cities.

You studied mathematics at the University of Durham; how do you think you would’ve used your degree if you hadn’t got involved in devising puzzles and games?

I probably would have gone into computer games development in some capacity. It’s great to see that the

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North East has a strong record in programming and games development these days.

Is there an ‘art’ to coming up with a great puzzle or games format?

It’s both an art and a science. You need an artistic streak to come up with a concept that hundreds of people before you haven’t found. But then you have to make that concept work. That requires a deep understanding of maths, logic, psychology, physics, script-writing and many other areas.

Your line of work doesn’t necessarily sound very dramatic. What is your typical day like?

You can have some hairy moments in TV studios. I’ve had some contestants on Treasure Hunt look in vain for a reference book that had been stolen at lunchtime, and another contestant turned up for a reshoot with her hair cut and dyed! The number of things that can go wrong is infinite...

Of your TV projects, which ones most surprised you in terms of their success or failure?

A near-miss was Codex, an ambitious history quiz filmed in the British Museum at night, which never quite added up to the sum of its parts. I’ve tentatively started working on some projects on YouTube, and a show I devised with my friend Tom Scott – called Lateral – blew up to over one million views. We’re now trying to work out what to do about series two.

You were the question editor for the first eight series of Only Connect. What are your greatest memories from your time on the show?

It was wonderful to be involved in something that started from a very small, obscure show on BBC Four to a major property that graduated onto BBC Two just after I left. In particular, it was great working with Victoria Coren Mitchell, who cared about the questions as much as I did. It’s a very

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David Bodycombe exacting show, so it can’t be helmed by someone who goes “Well, you’re not correct... but I like you, so I’ll give you the points anyway”.

You are also a leading author of Sudoku puzzles.

What do you think is behind the fundamental and enduring appeal of Sudoku among such a wide range of audiences?

There was clearly a gap in the market for a type of puzzle for people who wanted to do something equivalent to a crossword, and didn’t necessarily enjoy the wordplay or have the general knowledge required by a cryptic. While Sudoku may not have the wit or memorability of a logic puzzle, it gives new audiences a chance to test their brain each morning.

What projects have you been involved in that you think people would be surprised to hear about?

Do you ever cheat or use technology to solve problems?

I regularly do the Times Crossword, and although I think I have a reasonably good vocabulary, quite often there’s an archaic word that I simply don’t know and can’t work out from the clue.

In that instance, I may resort to a wordfinder or a puzzle blog to find the answer if I can’t solve it within a reasonable time.

Have you ever had a literal Eureka moment, when an answer to the problem you’d been thinking about came out of the blue?

Quite often, puzzle ideas jump out at you from nowhere.

My most popular puzzle, which has since gone viral several times, involves looking at a car in a car park. The idea came from noticing a particular series of numbers in a car park when I was on holiday in Portugal.

Have you ever done an escape room?

I’m a two-time winner of the World Creative Thinking Championships! Run by the newspaper columnist William Hartston as part of the Mind Sport Olympiad, it’s a competition where you’re tasked to come up with inventive answers to strange questions like “What useful things could you do with an odd sock?”

I’ve actually helped to design an escape room called The Book of Secrets at Clue Adventures in East London. It’s based on a magic theme, and incorporates several illusions designed by the site’s owner, a professional magician called Paul Andrews. I hear it is receiving rave reviews!

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Places to go...

LEEDS CASTLE

The phone rang in the office of a coach operator in the Midlands.

“Hello”, said the driver of the day excursion with a full load of passengers for Leeds Castle. “I’ve got to Leeds. Now, where’s the Castle?”

Leeds is a regular day visit away from the north east with TransPennine Express, but Leeds Castle is adjacent to the village of Leeds in the middle of Kent. To get there, you’ll need to travel beyond London and on to the South Eastern (SE) service to Bearsted near Maidstone, from where a local company, Spot Travel, offers a minibus transfer to the Castle. I took my parents, both 87, there in late September. They very rarely travel by train. We met up at Bromley South about 1030, and Mum and Dad were impressed with one of the newer trains on SouthEastern, and found the lifts to change platforms at Bearsted very convenient. The minibus (a taxi) met our arrival, and we were the only passengers. Although we had to pay £10 each way for the minibus, I had used my Annual Gold Card to get 1/3 off my own and their fares (they don’t have Senior Railcards of their own), and Leeds Castle offers 2 for 1 admission for visitors coming by rail.

Elsewhere, leaflets containing vouchers for the 2 for 1 offers are often available, but to save paper SouthEastern expects customers to download internet vouchers in advance, which I had not. So, on arrival at Leeds, I had to find a mobile phone signal (round the back of Costa Coffee was recommended) strong enough to find the SE website and get the necessary voucher code for the ticket office. I achieved this after 15 frustrating minutes - I should have done this from home beforehand - but it did have the benefit of saving one senior admission price at £22.50 so was worth the effort. Admission allows repeat visits for the year.

A ride on the land train had us from the entrance to the Castle in a few minutes, once promoted as the “loveliest Castle in the world”, which is arguable but its position is indeed stunning. It has been open to the public since 1976, but a castle has been on the site since 1086. In the 13th century it came into the hands of King Edward I, for whom it became a favourite residence; in the 16th century, Henry VIII used it as a dwelling for his first wife, Catherine of Aragon. The castle today dates mostly from the 19th century and is built on islands in a lake formed by the River Len to the east of the village of Leeds. An independent charitable Trust administers the Castle since its last owner, Lady Baillie, died in 1974, since she had no heirs and did not want the Castle to be transferred to the National Trust.

There are other attractions such as a falconry display and an immersive experience “Battle for the Skies” which my father especially enjoyed since he witnessed the Battle of Britain first hand as a nine year old.. The Castle is open for the winter 10-5 from now until March, closed only on Christmas Day. There’s a Dog Collar Museum, and plenty of play equipment for children. We kept the Castle itself until last and the minibus was waiting for the return trip to Bearsted station. I was a first time visitor, but it was a prime example of how a discounted rail fare and the 2 for 1 admission makes a trip by train an attractive option for a memorable day out.

Alex Nelson nationalrail.com

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Former owner of Joe Rigatoni’s takes on new venture Paolo Arceri operated the well-known Joe Rigatoni’s restaurant chain, which had a prime position off Darlington town centre’s Grange Road, with a reputation to match.

However, the 50-year-old businessman took the decision to close the Italian eatery in Darlington and Middlesbrough before refurbishing the sites to re-open as soul and Motown cocktail bar, Macy Brown’s, in 2017.

His retro bar venture has since moved into the cellar of the Imperial Centre on Grange Road in Darlington – the former site of Quinn’s Café, Bar & Bistro and Joe’s Rigatoni’s and Joe’s bar.

The upstairs portion of the unmistakable building has since been transformed into Mr Arceri’s new restaurant – San Paolo.

Mr Arceri said: “I have over 30 years of experience of working in the restaurant business and it’s exciting to be bringing a new concept to the town centre.

new Italian team on board, we will be priding ourselves on quality and the authenticity of the food.”

Mr Arceri’s Joe Rigatoni’s restaurant become a popular choice for diners in Darlington as it stood for two decades on the corner of Grange Road, Blackwellgate and Coniscliffe Road.

The eatery promises an “authentic” Italian experience, with the menu offering breakfast, lunch and dinner, alongside Italian style tapas known as cicchetti trattoria.

San Paolo opened with a soft launch earlier this month, however the town is expected to come together to celebrate a rebrand of the area and all it has to offer.

The Imperial Centre has proved the inspiration for the new Imperial Quarter in Darlington, bringing together the town’s nightlife, restaurants, café culture and couture shops.The new quarter was officially launched on Grange Road on November 29, with an event which was open to the public.

“Cicchetti trattoria is traditional Italian food, but with a modern twist and it’s already proving a hit with our customers.

San Paolo is open daily from 10am and tables can be booked by calling 01325-489444.

“We are offering something a bit different and with a

We look forward to seeing you there!

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H O T E L

Mains Roast Rib Of Beef with a port and stilton glaze

Cold Crown Of Turkey Whole Poached Dressed Salmon Roasted King Edwards In Garlic And Thyme (v) Wedges Of Potato (v) with cheese and spring onion

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recipe by H O T E L

Chestnut stuffing It’s definitely worth the effort of making your own stuffing for Christmas dinner, and Mary Berry’s chestnut version with apricots is a winner. This recipe is easily doubled.

Ingredients.

Method.

• Preheat oven 200C/400F/Gas 6.

Butter a shallow ovenproof dish.

1 Large Onion, Coarsely Chopped 225G/8Oz Dried Apricots, Snipped Into Small Pieces 225G/9Oz Fresh White Breadcrumbs 75G/3Oz Butter Or Olive Oil 225G/8Oz Frozen Chestnuts, Thawed, Roughly Chopped Generous Bunch Fresh Parsley, Chopped Salt

In the remaining butter, fry the chestnuts over a high heat until lightly browned. Tip into the bowl with the breadcrumbs. Add the apricots, onion and parsley to the bowl. Season with salt and pepper.

• Add 600ml/1 pint water into a pan with the onion and apricots. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for about five minutes. Drain. • Turn into a buttered, shallow ovenproof dish and bake in a preheated oven for about 25-30 • Put the breadcrumbs into a minutes until crisp and hot right large bowl. Melt the butter in a frying pan and pour half of through. this onto the breadcrumbs.

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Rating: 3/5

FILM REVIEW: The Grinch It’s not easy being green, so popular culture has led us to believe – and with the festive season now well underway, there’s a particular green guy now in an even fouler mood than Kermit and the Incredible Hulk. We’re referring, of course, to the Grinch, the Scrooge-like Dr. Seuss character who is back in a new, computer-animated film adaptation and now voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch. So, is this film a case of “treat ‘em green, keep ‘em keen”, or is the Grinch now simply a “has-green”?

In many ways, the story of the Grinch is like America’s version of A Christmas Carol: it’s teaching essentially the same message, and has become ingrained in public consciousness due to the multitude of page-to-screen adaptations. The basic synopsis of the original children’s book, written and illustrated by Seuss and published in 1957, is that a hairy and miserly creature called the Grinch wants to nab festive items from residents of the town of Whoville to ruin their Christmas cheer.

studio Illumination reveals how the Grinch’s spitefulness grew after lonely festive experiences as a child. Fast-forward to his hate-filled adulthood, however, and after chance encounters with Cindy Lou Who, a young Whoville resident concerned about the struggles of her overworked mother Donna, the Grinch’s inner darkness starts to dissipate…

There’s a lot to like about this fresh reinterpretation of the classic Grinch tale. For a start, it looks beautiful, with sweeping shots of the metropolis of Whoville giving the homes the look of meticulously-decorated gingerbread. Meanwhile, the “Whos” – the residents of Whoville – are adorable in their button-nosed glory, with the exchanges between Cindy and her sweet-natured mother, voiced respectively by Cameron Seely and Rashida Jones, particularly heartwarming.

Seuss oversaw just one screen adaptation of the story: a 26-minute animated special with horror-film actor Boris Karloff voicing the mean green one. In the 105-minute live-action take in 2000, Jim Carrey portrayed him similarly chillingly as more backstory and new rhymes were brought to the table – as they have also been in the new film, which nonetheless jettisons much of the sinister tone.

There do remain a few missteps in attempts to modernise the familiar story. Some of the humour – particularly that involving fat reindeer Fred – veers too close to slapstick, while the soundtrack has a strong hip-hop infusion that might sound very 2018 but won’t age well. Besides, the biting lyrics of “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” – a song originally from the Karloff adaptation and reworked here by rap star Tyler, the Creator – don’t seem quite as apt for this new, more sympathetic Grinch.

Much like the Star Wars prequels attempted to humanise the usually shadowy Darth Vader by showing how Anakin Skywalker eventually succumbed to the Dark Side, so this vehicle from

As Tyler amusingly raps in some of the new lines: “Who is this mean fellow/With his skin all green and his teeth all yellow?” A surprisingly easygoing addition to Christmas, that’s who.

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A new cafe with a difference opens on Skinnergate Influence Cafe which has just opened in the heart of Darlington Town Centre is a cafe with a difference.

Formed by husband and wife team, Catalin & Mariana Cirimpei, they bring a wealth of experience to the new business as both have worked in the industry for over 15 years.

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for other local artists who would like to display their artwork in the cafe.

The couple are delighted to be bringing a new kind of cafe to the town and hope to expand in the near future. Mariana said, ‘We’ve always wanted our own cafe and to do something a bit different. We use different blends of coffee and everyone needs to try the hot sand ones.’

The cafe which is located on the corner of Skinnergate & Post House Wynd used to be the site of Greenwoods and the first floor is now a Turkish themed room. For more information head over to their Facebook page, Influence Cafe.

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Catalin, who has worked in many top establishments including Rockliffe Hall, is also an artist and around the walls his own work is displayed. He is also looking

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Influence Cafe is a NEW cafe which has now opened in the heart of Darlington town centre.

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What’s on December Darlington Football Club 01 Dec - 15:00 Chester vs Darlington 08 Dec - 15:00 Darlington vs Nuneaton Borough 22 Dec - 15:00 Altrincham vs Darlington 26 Dec - 15:00 Darlington vs York City 29 Dec - 15:00 Darlington vs Ashton United Home games are played at Blackwell Meadows, Grange Road, Darlington, DL1 5NR. For tickets visit: darlingtonfc.co.uk

Christmas Garland Workshop 15 DecemberDec 2018 11:00 - 16:00 Making spirits bright, the centre invites shoppers to create their very own statement Christmas garland*.

Used to bring festive cheer to the home, your personalised Christmas garland can be draped over your mantel, wrapped around your banister or laid across your table. *Limited to one garland per family.

4 Seasons Fun Runs – Darlington Santa Run 02 December 2018 10:00 - 13:00 - West Park Academy Darlington Santa Run 2018 is all about having a bit of festive fun!Every participant will receive a free Santa suit, or a hat for children, and there is no entry fee for anyone under five, or for dogs.You can complete your circuit at your own speed, and as an early Christmas present you will receive a medal and refreshments when you cross the finish line.

Santa at the Station 16 December 2018 10:00 - 16:00 Meet Santa in Head of Steam’s magical grotto and receive a Christmas present. Entertainment includes face painting, mini train ride, Christmas music, arts and crafts and Christmas themed trail.

Darlington College Christmas Market 04 December 2018 11:30 - 14:30 - Darlington College Join Darlington College for their Christmas Market, bringing together local handpicked exhibitors and products from across the region.

Meet the Reindeer at Raby Castle 08 December 2018 10:00 - Raby Castle Meet the reindeer during a weekend of festivities at Raby Castle’s Festive Market. Children will love meeting Father Christmas’s reindeer and Elvis the cheeky Christmas pony who will be lending a hand to shoppers. As well as the reindeer, there will be stalls selling gifts, food and drink and decorations.

Ice Sculpture Festival 08 December 2018 10:00 - 17:00 - Market Square An ice sculpture festival takes over Darlington town centre.

Friends of the Denes Christmas Fayre 09 December 2018 12:00 - 15:30 - The Denes Friends of the Denes holds a Christmas Fayre, featuring Santa, make your own Christmas wreath, raffle and more.

Darlington Bondgate Round Table Christmas Float From 09 December 2018 16:30 - Sadberge Village Hall The Darlington Bondgate Round Table Christmas Float visits Middleton St. George. www.santasatnav.com/ Christmas Dinner Menu at The Glasshouse Restaurant 13 December 2018 18:00 The Glasshouse Restaurant holds its Christmas Dinner menu.To reserve a table, call 01325 503030.

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Christmas Party in the Park 16 December 2018 13:30 - 15:00 A special sensory music, movement & sign session Christmas party, featuring all of the magic of the Wriggles & Giggles sessions with some extra magic added.

Take a trail to find Mr & Mrs Claus and Elf on the Shelf, as well as some other Christmas characters and return to the education room for a special session with someone special.

Beer and Carols Night 21 December 2018 20:00 - 22:00 Enjoy a drink while singing along to traditional carols at The Spotted Dog. Richmondshire Leisure Trust Christmas Fair 22 December 2018 10:00 - 15:00 - South Park Richmondshire Leisure Trust is holding a Christmas Fair featuring a variety of stalls, a raffle and a tombola, as well as food, hot and cold drinks and cakes.

Sleeping Beauty 27 December 2018 12:00 - 14:00 - Harrowgate Club and Institute Ltd Gerry Graham Touring presents the classic story of “Sleeping Beauty” with all the slapstick comedy of a traditional pantomime.

New Year’s Eve at The Model T 31 December 2018 18:00 A family friendly New Year’s Eve at The Model T, including a free buffet and a free glass of fizz for adults at midnight.

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