Northern Rail magazine Autumn / Winter 2013

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Your FREE customer magazine from Northern Rail

Issue nine : autumn/winter 2013 northernrail.org

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N I W

ON THE BALL Northern footie club tours

ON YOUR BIKE

an e iPhon 5c See page

We've got your ticket to ride

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Rachel Khoo’s Little French Kitchen Exploring

SHOBNA GULATI's North West and

Jane McDonald's North East

Also

BRIAN BLESSED • THE NIGHTS BEFORE CHRISTMAS • What’s on in the North • Shopping, eating, markets & more...

PLATFORM: EDITOR’S LETTER

Editor’s Letter

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PLATFORM: CONTENTS

As someone... …who can’t even boil an egg without having to redecorate the kitchen afterwards, it’s hard not to be impressed by Rachel Khoo, presenter of the BBC’s Little Paris Kitchen (and our cover star this time around).

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After giving up everything she knew in the UK for a tiny – and I mean tiny – flat in Paris, Rachel has become a soughtafter TV chef and cookery writer. In this edition, she gives us the lowdown on her life as a gastronomic whizz and how she managed to accomplish it in a mini-kitchen with just two gas rings and a teensy oven. She also gives us a winter warming recipe from her new book, My Little French Kitchen, which I’ll attempt just as soon as I’ve repainted the walls from last week when I tried out a Gordon Ramsay.

As ever, we’ve lots to cram in. Loose Women presenters Jane McDonald and Shobna Gulati tell us about their different sides of the same place – we mean the North, of course – and why they love it so much; we find out the best venues for Christmas shopping, eating and drinking; check out some behind-the-scenes football club tours; and meet a Gargrave shop-owner who is taking a traditional business into the 21st century. Finally, the brilliant Brian Blessed tells us about his favourite parts of the North VERY LOUDLY INDEED. Hope you enjoy the journey.

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Tony Greenway

E D IT O R

Tony Greenway tony@scarlettabbott.co.uk

D ES IG N AND P R ODUCTI O N

scarlettabbott creative communications and design scarlettabbott.co.uk northern@scarlettabbott.co.uk

CO N T RI B UTOR S Rebecca Marsden Anthony Quinlan

AD V ERTI SI NG

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It’s easy to order your advert today and get your message seen exclusively by this powerful consumer group. Call 01904 633399 for further details.

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autumn/winter2013 | northernrail.org

PLATFORM

FOR THE JOURNEY

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HELLO FROM ALEX Northern Rail’s MD, Alex Hynes

NORTHERN LIFE News from around the network

CO N TA CT:

Gabriella Ellison Head of Marketing and Sales gabriella.ellison@northernrail.org

All rights reserved copyright Northern magazine 2013. The views expressed herein are those of the individuals concerned and not necessarily of the magazine. All information correct at time of going to press. Whilst every effort is taken to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein, Northern magazine cannot be held responsible for any mistakes or omissions. Articles and other contributions in the magazine may be reproduced only with permission from the publisher.

Customer Relations Department, Northern Rail, Freepost (RLSL-ABEC-BGUU) Leeds, LS1 4DY.

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YOUR STOP

RACHEL KHOO What’s cooking with the TV chef

CHRISTMAS NIGHTS The North’s cities are festive hotspots

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MIND THE APP Travel and train smartphone apps

+ It would be great to get

Northern Rail is operated in joint venture by Serco and Abellio (formerly NedRailways).

This joint venture combines Serco’s world-class service credentials and Abellio’s unrivalled transport industry expertise. Serco has run the highly successful Docklands Light Railway since 1997 while Abellio delivers bus and rail services to over 650,000 passengers in the UK, Germany and the Czech Republic every day.

In addition to Northern, Serco and Abellio have the 25-year concession for Merseyrail, which provides urban train services in Merseyside.

Contents

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Editor

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your feedback on our magazine, so send in your opinions and thoughts to northern.magazine@ northernrail.org

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JANE McDONALD’S NORTH EAST Home sweet home for the Yorkshire-born singer

WIN! an iPhone 5c

northernrail.org

northernrail.org

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SHOBNA GULATI’S NORTH WEST The former Corrie star’s favourite places

FIVE OF THE BEST …firework displays. Whoosh!

NETWORK MAP Your Northern

WHERE TO GO IN THE NORTH FOR… …half-term fun, carol concerts and more

BUSINESS Bringing old-fashioned sweets up-to-date

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THE LOWDOWN What’s on in the North CAREERS Join us at Northern

GAME ON!

The North’s must-see sporting events

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QUIZ PAGE Oh, go on. Give us a clue JOURNEY’S END Brian Blessed takes our Q&A

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STADIUM TOURS Rebecca Marsden goes behind the soccer scenes

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BIKE & GO Register for Bike & Go cycle hire When you have finished with this magazine please recycle it.

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SECTION : TITLE PLATFORM: HELLO FROM ALEX + It would be great to get your feedback on

our magazine, so send in your thoughts to northern.magazine@northernrail.org

Our network will benefit from the biggest investment in the railway since Victorian times.

Hello from Alex W

elcome to our latest issue of Northern magazine. As usual it is crammed full of ideas for places to visit and things to do in the coming months.

So what is new? Well me for starters! I joined Northern as Managing Director at the end of the summer (yes we had one this year!) and I’m making the most of opportunities to get out and about around our vast network meeting customers, colleagues and local communities. It is giving me the chance to see what we do well and, just as importantly, the areas where we need to improve to deliver a better service for you.

It’s a great time to be joining Northern. Our network will benefit from the biggest investment in the railway since Victorian times. From station improvements (big and small), to the electrification of lines in the North West, which will deliver faster journey times and newer trains, there is a lot going on.

I’m determined to make sure that we are working hard to improve the things that matter to you, our customers, so whether it’s more reliable services, cleaner trains or better information I’m keen to hear from you.

For now, I hope you enjoy the magazine and as I’ve moved back to the north of England after 15 years away, I’ll be picking up tips on the best bonfire bonanzas and cracking Christmas shopping!

All the best

Alex Hynes Managing Director

If you have a suggestion or feedback about anything at Northern, please write to us at: Customer Relations Team, Northern Rail, Freepost (RLSL-ABEC-BGUU) Leeds, LS1 4DY or email at customer.relations@ northernrail.org and follow us on twitter: @northernrailorg

autumn/winter 2013

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PLATFORM: NORTHERN LIFE

PLATFORM: NORTHERN LIFE

A ‘EUREKA!’ moment

Our regular newsy round-up of stories and snippets which could help your journey with us…

Members of our Engineering Team, along with Unipart Rail, paid a visit to Eureka!

The National Children’s Museum in Halifax recently.

The day kicked off as every day should, with a quick game of rounders. Then it was off for a spot of train cleaning…

“Mooove along please”

Jolly good show!

Once again we provided extra trains and carriages to our services to Harrogate for this year’s Great Yorkshire Show.

Having us in stitches The Cawthorne Dragon at Barnsley station was at the receiving end of some special treatment when textile craft students from the University of Huddersfield wrapped him up to promote their latest project.

Stitch the Line, a unique art project funded by the East Peak Innovation Partnership and sponsored by the Penistone Line Partnership and Northern

Rail, saw stations from Stocksmoor to Barnsley decorated by a range of work produced by the students and local craft groups. Crocheted seat covers were spotted at Penistone; cushions appeared at Stocksmoor and colourful bunting and quilted panels popped up at Dodworth.

Students travelled on-board a Northern Rail service from Huddersfield to Barnsley,

The Great Yorkshire Show attracts thousands of people every year, from all over the country and Northern transported many of them

Textile students at Barnsley station

discussing the work on display with passengers and handed out copies of a free arts and crafts directory.

Themes differed at each of the stations, with some reflecting local history and the rural nature of the communities with the project aiming to raise awareness of local craft studios and galleries along the route.

to Harrogate station where show organisers put on a free shuttle bus to take them to the showground. As a result of Northern’s partnership with the Great Yorkshire Show, visitors travelling through staffed railway stations received £2 off their ticket price.

“As the busiest station in the north of England, our customers at Leeds need as many

autumn/winter 2013

opportunities as possible to purchase tickets,” says Richard Allan, Area Director for Northern Rail.

“These new machines will improve the experience of the increasing number of customers booking online and collecting their tickets at the station. Our machines print quickly and are exclusively available to collect pre-booked tickets, thereby helping customers avoid queues.”

Cleaning duty at Eureka!

“Read all about it”

He’s got a ticket to ride northernrail.org

For the third year running, Northern worked with Rochdale Borough Libraries and World Book Night organisers to help distribute one million books to members of the northernrail.org

public across the UK.Titles this year included Damage by Josephine Hart, The Road Home

by Rose Tremain, Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal

by Jeanette Winterson, and The No1 Ladies’ Detective Agency

by Alexander McCall Smith.

“It was fantastic to see so many of our passengers engaging with

Northern Rail has reiterated its commitment to sustainability by scooping the ‘Environment’ title at this year’s Rail Industry Innovation Awards.

The award is the result of our commitment to conserving water at train wash plants and for making a real difference in reducing water consumption activities at our four depots across the North.

In fact, we’ve reduced our water consumption by up to 70%.

Good books

Commuters passing through Rochdale station were surprised with a gift of words from Rochdale Borough Libraries who had been chosen as World Book Night ‘givers’.

The teams split into three and carried out a heavy cleaning of the coach interior, an exterior clean of the coach and the locomotive, plus a tidy up of the surrounding grounds – which included painting of the wood fencing on what had become a very unusual hot summer’s day!

The green team!

Just the ticket at Leeds Northern Rail has installed three ultra-fast ticket machines at Leeds station, making it quicker for online customers to collect their tickets to travel. The Ticket on Departure machines, provided by Parkeon, are placed at key points throughout the station as ‘collect only’ terminals, designed to make it quicker and easier for customers who have already booked in advance online.

Upwards of 1,000 children a week use the coach and locomotive at Eureka! (which was refurbished by Northern in 2010) to play in, learn about railway safety and munch through a packed lunch or two.

the World Book Night ethos,” says Zainib Ahmed, Northern Rail’s Community Ambassador for Rochdale. “Our conductor on the 18.36 from Rochdale to Sowerby Bridge made sure everyone was aware what was happening and it was great to see passengers getting stuck into their books as soon as they could!”

Stuart Draper, Director of Engineering for Northern Rail, says: “This award recognises our commitment to sustainability and acknowledges the success of this project, which was focussed on improving the cleanliness of our trains whilst also improving our impact on the environment.”

“Water great result!”

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PLATFORM: NORTHERN LIFE

PLATFORM: NORTHERN LIFE

On the go Available on all smart phone and tablet devices, our mobile website displays the most relevant content from our full website, giving you all the information you need whilst on the go.

It’s really easy to use and some of the great features include live train times and journey information, offers and latest news. You can also plan any journey from your nearest station and buy a ticket to anywhere in Great Britain.

Picture this Mike Tomlinson launched a unique competition for participants in this year’s Walk For All Yorkshire Dales Walking Festival. Walkers were asked to take pictures of their ramble and send it to Northern’s Twitter team (@northernrailorg) for the chance to win £250-worth of shopping vouchers and a donation towards their nominated charity.

The annual Yorkshire Dales Walking Festival took place on Sunday 18 August and saw the return of our special J‘ ane Tomlinson’ train to take walkers from Leeds station to the rolling

hills of Settle. All proceeds from the train go directly to the Jane Tomlinson Appeal.

“We were thrilled that Northern Rail once again supported the Yorkshire Dales Walking Festival,” says Mike.

“The Festival encompasses three different walks for all abilities so it’s a great day out for all ages. And as we know, God’s Own County has the best views of, arguably, anywhere in the world, so we’re expecting some fantastic photos.”

The winning picture will be featured in our next issue.

Park life A £1million improvement scheme to two of Calderdale’s local stations’ car parks has been completed. Todmorden and Sowerby Bridge stations have both received additional spaces in projects worth £400k and £560k respectively.

Watch this space – there's more parking

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The stations, managed by Northern Rail, have received the welcome additional spaces through the Stations Car Park Fund, run by the Department for Transport and in partnership

with Metro (West Yorkshire PTE).

Todmorden’s parking facilities have increased by 18 spaces, bringing a total of 86 to the station, and at Sowerby Bridge there are now 37 additional spaces and a total of 115 to the station overall.

Crossflatts, a popular commuter station into Bradford and Leeds, also benefited from a £550k investment, adding an extra 62 spaces to bring the total number to 162, offering more opportunities for locals to travel by train. northernrail.org

These were colleagues who had really shone during the year, giving great customer service and each winning either a Northern Star or Halo award in the 12 months leading up to the event. But there could only be a handful of overall winners…

RISING STARS Keith Harmer, Conductor, Harrogate A customer wrote in to commend Keith’s actions and his organised, professional and calm approach when there was a tragic incident on the line. Keith kept communicating with his customers to keep everyone safe and informed, also enlisting the help of willing passengers, including a doctor.

Brian Dixon, Conductor, Middlesbrough While visiting Whitby on a day off, Brian stepped in to help out during major disruption and bad weather conditions. Brian’s actions meant that bus coordination was carried out to best effect and passengers completed their journeys with much better results.

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ngineering works are frustrating for passengers and we do apologise for any inconvenience they cause. They are essential to help improve and maintain our service to you, however – so here’s a round-up of works expected in the next few months.

Northern Star of the Year 2013 Lilian Charnock,

Retail Supervisor, Buckshaw Parkway When severe snow hit Lancashire in January and trains were cancelled, Lilian helped passengers find alternative methods of transport to get home.

As the weather worsened, Lilian had helped all her customers leave the station safely but could no longer get her own vehicle out of the snow and had to spend the night at the station.

For putting others before herself, Lilian was named our Northern Star of the Year.

Left: Lilian with her award

Dale Smith, Conductor, Skipton Dale carried two separate groups of passengers who had missed their steam charter excursion train to York. He liaised with the steam train guard and arranged to transfer the passengers, including two in wheelchairs, to their intended steam train.

Southport to Wigan

Overnight engineering work will take place from Mondays to Thursdays until December 2013.

Replacement buses will run between Southport and Wigan/Parbold.

Manchester Victoria station

Station renovation work will continue until summer 2014. The station will be closed late night on 24 December until 2 January to allow electrification work to take place. Trains from the east will terminate at Rochdale, Moston or Littlebrough, and trains from the west will terminate at Salford Crescent and Manchester Oxford Road.

Please check for more information about replacement buses closer to the time.

Holme Tunnel Blockade

From 9 November 2013 until 23 March 2014, major repair work will be carried out on Holme Tunnel. Trains will not be able to run between Hebden Bridge and Burnley Manchester Road and replacement buses will be provided.

Conisbrough Tunnel

Right: Alan with his award

Halo of the Year 2013 Alan Johns, Driver, Sheffield Alan worked sensitively and tirelessly to support one of his colleagues through a prolonged time of need. Alan’s level of dedication was described as outstanding.

Congratulations to all our winners and nominees! northernrail.org

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ENGINEERING

In August, 40 of our employees were recognised at the Northern Stars Celebration event, 2013.

Stay in the know Smart phone users are now able to access up-to-date information on our trains whilst on the move, thanks to the launch of our new mobile friendly website m.northernrail.org

PLATFORM: NORTHERN LIFE

From 5 January until 9 February 2014, engineering work will be taking place in Conisbrough Tunnel. Trains will not be able to run between Swinton and Doncaster.

Replacement buses will run between Swinton and Doncaster, and express buses will run between Sheffield, Meadowhall and Doncaster.

Engineering work can happen at any time, but it usually affects weekend or bank holiday services. It’s always a good idea to check before you travel by phoning 08457 48 49 50 or visiting northernrail.org/disruption autumn/winter 2013

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FOR THE JOURNEY: Rachel khoo

FOR THE JOURNEY: Rachel khoo

Rachel Khoo

swapped her life in the UK for Eight years ago, a small apartment in Paris, opening a pop-up restaurant in her tiny dining room and becoming an acclaimed TV chef, broadcaster and cookery writer in the process. She talks to Tony Greenway – and shares a recipe from her latest book, My Little French Kitchen.

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FOR THE JOURNEY: Rachel khoo

FOR THE JOURNEY: Rachel khoo

I said: 'Please! I won’t get in the way!'

They were super nice and let me in.”

“When you test and write a cookbook in such a small kitchen... well... first of all you go CRAZY.”

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V chef Rachel Khoo has been living in the North for the last eight years.

The north of France, that is.

Rachel – a fashion student who graduated from Central Saint Martins College in London – gave up a career in design and her home in the UK for a tiny flat in Paris and a place on the French capital’s famous Le Cordon Bleu cookery course.

It was a life-changing move.

To help research The Little Paris Kitchen cookbook, Rachel, 33, opened a pop-up restaurant called La Petite Cuisine à Paris in her own miniscule (21 square metre) apartment in the 19th arrondissement. For such a small flat (it’s the size of a double bedroom) it was a big hit, impressing Parisians and welcoming a string of curious international diners, who lapped up and loved the dishes she served in such ‘bijou’ surroundings. That’s no mean feat when you consider that she did all this with just two gas rings and a mini oven.

But hang on. Think it sounds glamorous to Now the glamorous expat is the author of four give everything up to make cakes in Paris? cookery books (two in French, two in English) Think again. “It was tough,” says Rachel. and has also become a TV star: the television “I’d say the first four or five years were about series to accompany her third best-selling book, asking: ‘Have I got The Little Paris Kitchen, was a ratings success enough money to pay for BBC2 last year and sold all over the rent this month?’ the world, including the US, So yes, it sounds New Zealand, South Africa, romantic but I was Poland, Iceland, Germany, getting up at six in Sweden and Brazil. the morning to peel The Guardian called Rachel kilos of carrots “an engaging presence”; in a vegetarian The Observer said she restaurant and imported “French joie de working all day vivre… sans food snobbery.” on my feet.

The Radio Times noted that Then there was she is “winningly down to Rachel's first all the knocking earth” and “the real deal.” book – The Little

on doors, cold calling and trying to get work.

In Paris, you have to be ‘recommended’ and it took me a while to fit into the scene.”

Now, though, Rachel’s culinary career is blooming. This year, she publishes a new cookbook, My Little French Kitchen, which is a gastronomic tour of the whole country and a must for foodies everywhere. “When I finished The Little Paris Kitchen, my publisher asked me what I wanted to do next,” Rachel tells us.

“I said that I really wanted to explore the rest of France, so I hopped on the train or plane – I even drove a minibus at one point with the photographer, art director and stylist aboard – and did just that.” She cooked with French grandmas, met asparagus farmers in Bordeaux (“Have you ever harvested asparagus? It’s really difficult. The farmer wasn’t best pleased with me.”), visited oyster shacks, fished for lobster and baked with expert patisserie chefs in Alsace.

And everywhere she went, she collected recipes for My Little French Kitchen.

“They don’t know me in France,” says Rachel.

“The Little Paris Kitchen TV series didn’t come here – although the book did – so I was just this British woman ringing and asking: ‘Can I come and look around your asparagus farm?’ Occasionally it took a bit of convincing. I wanted to go to this amazing patisserie/bakery in Alsace just before Christmas but, of course, that’s their busiest time.

There won’t be a TV series to accompany My Little French Kitchen although, when we speak, Rachel is deep in talks about making another television show. “It’s a series,” she says, “but different from last time although with the same spirit. I get a bit bored so I like doing something for an intense amount of time and then moving onto something else. That’s why when people ask: ‘Are you going to open a restaurant?’ I always say: ‘No!’ You’ve got to have such commitment to do that.”

But wasn’t opening her teensy apartment to the general public like opening a restaurant? No, she says. Space in the flat is so limited, it only had room for two diners – so that didn’t count. “Plus I could open it whenever I wanted. And it wasn’t difficult to fill two seats.” And anyway, she only did it as a way to test out her recipes without wasting all the food she was cooking. “It was intimate!” she says. “There was no hiding. Although I did explain to people that it wasn’t just about sitting down and having a meal in my apartment.

They did have to participate and have a conversation because I wasn’t going to do a monologue for three hours.” Unfortunately, if you’re wanting to book a table, you’re going to be disappointed because Rachel has now closed La Petite Cuisine à Paris.

ON... ...TRAIN TRAVEL: “I love trains! They’re so efficient and fast.

It’s my favourite kind of travel. Plus you can work and read a book, so it’s comfortable.”

...BRITISH FOOD: “If you look at a supermarket in the UK now the choice of ingredients is staggering.

But growing up in the 1980s, it was even hard to get soy sauce.”

...HER FAVOURITE FOOD: “It’s difficult because it depends on what mood I’m in.

The Malaysian side of me loves dumplings and the Austrian side of me loves cakes.

But then I love an English roast, too...”

Yet she wasn’t exaggerating when she called her kitchen ‘Petite’. “When you test and write a cookbook in such a small kitchen... well... first of all you go CRAZY,” says Rachel. “Secondly, you HAVE to keep recipes simple because you can’t chuck everything in the dishwasher – there isn’t one! – and you don’t want to be using loads of pots and pans. Plus, my oven is tiny, too. I was testing a cake recipe and every time it ballooned up it stuck to the top of the oven. Nightmare.”

If writing the book in such confined surroundings was hard, filming the TV series was even worse. “The camera crew ended up storing all their equipment in the bathtub because there was no room for anything,” she says.

“So it was cosy, let’s put it that way. I’ve since had a few people say to me: ‘That’s not real. You filmed that series in a studio somewhere.’ But, no. It IS real. It’s my apartment!”

The Little Paris Kitchen TV series was Rachel’s idea.

After she had finished researching and writing the book, she met with various production companies and convinced them that it would make a good prime time cookery show: a way to demystify hallowed French cuisine. (“It wasn’t just about me being a pretty face in front of the camera.

I had ideas and I wanted to be involved.”) But she was new to TV and didn’t know what to expect – and didn’t get any media training, either. “They just plonked me in front of a camera and said: ‘OK, Rachel... cook!’

Cooking on TV looks easy but it’s not. You have continuity to think about, so the crew were saying: ‘Rachel, you picked up the knife and chopped the carrot in two on that first take… not three,’ while, at the same time, the director is shouting: ‘More energy, Rachel!

More energy!’ It was a learning experience.”

These days, of course, after her success, Rachel must now be living in palatial splendour somewhere while using a kitchen of Nigella-sized proportions.

She snorts. “I haven’t moved!” she says. “I’m still in my Little Paris Kitchen, although I do travel between the UK

“When people ask: ‘Are you going to open a restaurant?’ I always say: ‘No!’ You’ve got to have such commitment to do that.”

Rachel Khoo: French inspiration

Paris Kitchen

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FOR THE JOURNEY: RACHEL KHOO and France much more now. No, my cooking means I’ll never have a glamorous kitchen like Nigella or a hi-tech one like Heston (Blumenthal). I do want to move into a bigger flat that has a kitchen with a real oven but you don’t need that much to cook. It just has to be a kitchen that’s ‘accessible’ so that (when people see it on TV) they can say: “I’ve got a kitchen like that.’”

Food has always been important in the Khoo family. Rachel’s dad is Malaysian and her mum is Austrian. “My mum did a lot of baking with me when I was a kid,” she remembers. “In Austria they have beautiful cakes, sachertorte and strudel. And whenever I visit my family in Malaysia, they don’t ask me: ‘How are you?’ the first thing they say is ‘Have you eaten yet?’ My dad and my cousin don’t stop talking about the best places for wonton dumplings.”

ON...

“I’ve had people say to me: ‘That’s not real.

You filmed it in a studio somewhere.’ But, no.

It IS real. It’s my apartment!”

Career-wise, Rachel Khoo doesn’t rule anything in or out. She never has. “Because I come from an art college

background it’s always been about creating ideas and putting them into action,” she says.

“I love illustrations – I did them for The Little Paris Kitchen book – so maybe I’ll design again. At the moment, though, I’m really enjoying what I’m doing. I’ve just been all around France! I can’t complain: it’s brilliant.”

Velouté au potimarron avec du Chantilly et les oignons confits

Rachel Khoo's Pumpkin Soup with Chantilly and Onion Confit from the book My Little French Kitchen

PUMPKIN SOUP WITH CHANTILLY AND ONION CONFIT

Serves 4 Preparation time: 30 minutes Cooking time: 45 minutes

1kg chestnut pumpkin, pumpkin or butternut squash, chopped into large pieces 4 cloves of garlic, left whole in the skin 4 tablespoons pumpkin seeds (or use the seeds from the pumpkin) olive oil salt and ground black pepper 1 large onion, peeled and thinly sliced 1 tablespoon butter 1 litre hot vegetable stock 100ml whipping cream

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Place the pumpkin, garlic cloves and some of the pumpkin seeds on a baking tray, toss with olive oil and a pinch of salt. Roast for 30 minutes at 180°C, or until tender (roasting the pumpkin might sound like a bit of a pain but it’s well worth it, as the pumpkin takes on a rich sweetness). Leave to cool before scooping the flesh from the pumpkin pieces into a pot. Squeeze out the garlic from the skin and add to the pot.

Clean the seeds of any strands of pumpkin and add to a separate pan with the onion and butter. Place on a medium heat and fry for about 10 minutes until the onion begins to caramelise. Stir occasionally.

Meanwhile, finish the soup by adding the hot vegetable stock to the pumpkin and garlic. Blend until smooth then taste and season. Whip the cream with a pinch of salt and plenty of black pepper, to taste.

To serve, ladle the soup into bowls and divide the caramelised onions and pumpkin seeds between the bowls. Add a dollop of the whipped cream to finish.

...THE GREAT BRITISH SANDWICH: “The British know how to make a sandwich.

It’s so funny because a Marks and Spencer has opened on the Champs-Élysées and during the week you see the French queuing up for sandwiches.”

...COOKING: www.northernrail.org

“I always say: If you’re new to cooking, pick out an easy recipe – something which doesn’t have too many ingredients.

Then imagine you’re doing a TV show. Weigh out all your ingredients, prepare them and put them in nice bowls.

By having everything laid out in front of you, you won’t be frantically looking for things while your sauce is burning.

Being organised and tidy helps. And practice makes perfect. Then follow the recipe! I have the disasters (while researching the book) so you don’t have to.”

www.northernrail.org

www.northernrail.org

My Little French Kitchen is out now, published

by Penguin, £20. rachelkhoo.com

northernrail.org

spring/summer 2013

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FOR THE JOURNEY: CHRISTMAS NIGHTS

FOR THE JOURNEY: CHRISTMAS NIGHTS Leeds' Victoria Quarter

Do you REALLY want a silent night? In the run-up to Christmas, the North’s cities transform into winter wonderlands – so get your glad rags on (or your skates), get in some seasonal shopping and make the most of some fantastic urban eateries...

TOWN!

Newcastle's Metro Centre

ester's Piccadi ly G nch Ma a s en rd

Hull's St Stephen's

Christmas

York's Ice Factor

Shopping

"You’ve got to start off with a bit of Christmas shopping...

Just promise us you’ll pace yourself." autumn/winter 2013

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You’ve got to start off with a bit of Christmas shopping (of course) because it’s never too early to start. Just promise us you’ll pace yourself.

can’t exchange corn, but where you can buy a rather nice suit, among other things), and the Arndale Centre. Give yourself plenty of time. You’ll need it in there.

In Liverpool you should rake the rails and scan the shelves at the frankly massive Liverpool One and then have a peak around the iconic Albert Dock (The Beatles Story’s Fab4 Store is memorabilia central).

In Manchester, it’s off you pop to Corn Exchange (where you

Manchester also has its own Harvey Nicks, on New Cathedral Street; but then so does Leeds where it looks very much at home in the ultra-swish Victoria Quarter.

Down the road, check out the brand spanking new Trinity Leeds, which has everything

northernrail.org

from an Apple store to a Victoria’s Secret. Over in Hull?

Then it’s ‘good afternoon’ Princes Quay and St Stephen’s.

In Newcastle Gateshead you really can’t miss Eldon Square and Metrocentre; and in Sheffield you NEED to visit Meadowhall and the boutiquey Devonshire Quarter.

Now. You could probably do with a drink and something to eat after all that – right?

Want more... liverpool-one.com albertdock.com cornexchangemanchester.co.uk manchesterarndale.com v-q.co.uk trinityleeds.com princes-quay.co.uk ststephens-hull.com eldonsquare.co.uk metro-centre.co.uk meadowhall.co.uk autumn/winter 2013

FOR THE JOURNEY: CHRISTMAS NIGHTS

FOR THE JOURNEY: CHRISTMAS NIGHTS

Eating & DRINKing It’s nigh on impossible to list our favourite bars and restaurants in the North for a spot of preChristmas nosh because we’ve got hundreds of them. Naturally, with the season to be jolly just around the corner, lots of them will be typing up their Christmas menus around about now, so here’s a word of caution: parties will be everywhere from early December (or even late November) onwards, so it’s ultra-sensible to book ahead.

(We KNOW you know that.

We’re just saying.)

Bradford

Trinity Leeds

So where to go?

Obviously all the big shopping experiences – Liverpool One, Manchester Arndale, Meadowhall in Sheffield, Trinity in Leeds etc – are overflowing with choice eateries. But if it’s some city institutions you want to sample, we’d recommend the following…

I n Sheffield: Devonshire Quarter, Ecclesall Road, Little China Town on London Road, Leopold Square, St Paul's Square and Kelham Island in the old industrial heartland.

I n Manchester: Northern Quarter, Deansgate Locks (for bars and a comedy club) and Spinningfields, plus the Curry Mile in Rusholme.

I n Newcastle Gateshead: we love the Quayside, plus Stowell Street where you’ll find fab restaurants and buffets in China Town.

I n Leeds: explore Call Lane, Greek Street and around the Corn Exchange.

I n Liverpool: Hope Street Quarter, Cavern Quarter, Baltic Triangle and China Town.

Spinningfields, Manchester

I n York: the city centre is full of cafes, bars and restaurants – or ‘do’ the backstreets and hot-foot it to Swinegate and Grape Lane.

I n Bradford: the city centre has some of the best Indian restaurants in the country – plus there are some great cafes and restaurants in Saltaire, too.

Arch, Liverpool rial pe

Or, alternatively, just ignore all of that advice and follow the sound of the music and raucous laughter.

MARKETS

In Manchester, the markets return from the 15 November – 22 December; although, at the time of writing, the Christmas Light Switch-on was still to be announced. It’s always a popular event, attracting bigname artists (last year, for example, The Wanted and Misha B played to the crowd).

This year is the 15th anniversary of Manchester’s first Christmas market which remains the biggest in the UK. It's now expanded to nine sites across the city centre with more than 300 stalls and some exciting anniversary-linked surprises.

Manchester's Deansgate locks Image: Marketing Manchester northernrail.org

liverpool-one.com

Christmas Who doesn’t love a traditional Christmas market with their food stalls, gift ideas and gluhwein?

y night rk b Yo

autumn/winter 2013

Skating

Now you’ve rested up a bit, it’s time to burn off some calories with a bit of skating in one of our city’s seasonal rinks. In York, for example, try out the excellent Ice Factor; and in Newcastle slip, slide or glide around the wondrous Skating@Life at the Centre for Life. In Manchester, the ice rink returns to Spinningfields, around mid-November until early January theicefactor.co.uk (date TBC); and in Liverpool it's life.org.uk skates on at Liverpool One for a touch of the Torvill and Deans. spinningfieldsonline.com

Im

18

northernrail.org

In Sheffield, the Christmas markets come to Fargate from around mid-November (times TBA); and in Newcastle the continental markets will return 18-31 December to the Monument area (and there will be a switch-on event, too, so check press for times).

In wildly picturesque Lincoln, the traditional Christmas market returns from 5-8 December with around 250 stalls in the medieval square and surrounding area. In York, St Nicholas Fayre (28 November – 1 December) is one of the key dates in York’s tourism calendar, with visitors flocking to the city to buy gifts, crafts, and local farm produce; followed by the fabulous York Festive Fayre (4-22 December).

St Nicholas Fayre, York

Buy train tickets to anywhere in Britain at northernrail.org

autumn/winter 2013

19

FOR THE JOURNEY: MIND THE APP

You’re always on the go, y ou are. So here’s our round-up of some nifty train and travel apps for your smartphone and tablet so that life is e asier for you – on the move.

Tricks & treats...

1. Northern Rail Well of COURSE we were always going to mention our own app, which is free to download and allows our customers (that’s you) to plan any journey in Great Britain – plus save details of up to 20 previous journeys.

When you book with the Northern Rail app there are no booking fees, no credit card fees and no delivery fees. You can collect your tickets from over 1,000 stations and they're ready for you within 15 minutes.

Also, because our app features live running time information direct from National Rail, customers can monitor their journeys, check for any disruption or delays and even see which platform they should head to at the station (where the data is available).

...two more reasons to get out and about with a Saveaway this Autumn.

Saveaways are cheap, off-peak tickets which are perfect for travelling to family days out by train on the City Line. And they can leave you with change for treats all round! No tricks!

To plan your next trip visit merseytravel.gov.uk or call Traveline on 0871 200 22 33

MT_Saveaway_200x120mm_Autumn_2.indd 1

19/09/2013 16:58

COST: FREE PLATFORM: iPhone/Android/iPad. WHERE? northernrail.org/app

3. Tripit Travel Organiser

2013 edition

2013 edition 2013 edition

Explore

Discover

Discover

by train with a

Yorkshire and the North East by train with a Day Range r or Round Robin ticket

r or with a Day Range ticket Round Robin

off Hop on and all day for one set price

Hop on and off all day for one set price

Hop on and off all day for one set price

Visit our website to

Visit our website

to Knaresborough

viaduct

Visit our website

to

Now here’s a great idea: a way to keep all your travel docs in one handy place.

Simply forward your booking confirmations – tickets, hotels, rental cars, restaurants, activities, etc – to plans@tripit.com. The app then organises all your travel details and creates one itinerary for you... and away you jolly well go. Literally. There’s also an advanced Pro version costing £2.99.

You love food, we love food.

So wouldn’t it be good if there was an app that didn’t just rate restaurants (there are lots of those) but could find or rate particular dishes?

Well there is: Foodspotting. You can search for your favourite food (or for something you'd like to try) recommend dishes and ‘share’ dishes, too. A very tasty app that can help you find the best grub in any city you’re in.

COST: FREE PLATFORM: iPhone and iPad, tablet, Android, Blackberry and Windows Phone 7.

WHERE? tripit.com

COST: FREE PLATFORM: iPhone, Android, BlackBerry and Windows Phone.

WHERE? foodspotting.com

northernrail.org AW_Day Ranger Half page AD 200x120.indd 1

16/09/2013 11:33

4. Foodspotting

2. TripAdvisor Last year it was revealed that the TripAdvisor app had surpassed 15 million total downloads across all platforms and devices. That was back in February 2012, so goodness knows how many times it’s been downloaded since – but at one point it was going like the proverbial hot cakes at an average of 25 times per minute.

It is the business, though: a simple interface makes it easy-peasy for travellers to access millions of reviews and opinions on TripAdvisor.

You can see top ranked hotels, restaurants and attractions and plenty more besides in a particular location – and then use filters to make comparisons and choices. Simples.

COST: FREE PLATFORM: iPhone, Android, Windows Phone 7, Nokia and Palm smartphones, Android tablets, iPad. WHERE? tripadvisor.co.uk

5. Packing Pro Forget your tickets?

Your wallet? Your trousers?

You need Packing Pro, then, which helps you make your own customised packing list or offers sample item checklists. It also features before-youleave-home reminders such as watering the plants. A three-times-in a-row finalist at the Best App Ever Awards, Packing Pro isn’t just handy – it’s a downright essential travel tool.

COST: £1.99 PLATFORM: iPhone and iPad. WHERE? quinnscape.com autumn/winter 2013

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FOR THE JOURNEY: JANE'S NORTH EAST

Jane’s favourite restaurant: “The Three Acres at Emley (near Huddersfield).

When I have a really special night planned, we all go up there. And I love Bibis in Leeds.”

FOR THE JOURNEY: JANE'S NORTH EAST

Jane’s favourite city: “York. I love it. I love the Designer Outlet – McArthurGlen. That’s a day out for me with Graveley’s fish and chips. York’s a lovely city – The Shambles and all the little lanes.

And I love Leeds, too.” mcarthurglen.com

3acres.com bibisrestaurant.com

Jane's North East Singer and presenter Jane McDonald can’t leave her beloved Yorkshire behind. She’s tried, she tells us, but the pull of the North is just too much for her…

t’s not as though Wakefield-born and based singer Jane McDonald hasn’t tried to live somewhere else. She has.

When she was appearing in a show in the West End, for example, she bought a flat in London, but didn’t last “two minutes”.

I

“I thought: ‘I can’t do this. I’ll rent if I need to stay over’,” she says. “My family and friends are up here – and I know this is a cliché but home is where the heart is. It’s such a northern thing.”

So Jane is happy and glorious in Wakefield and commutes on the train three times a week. (“I’m very much a train buff.”)

Jane’s favourite rural spot: “I’m quite lucky because I live in Wakefield – so 15 minutes that way I’m in Leeds and I’m just five minutes away from the glorious countryside of Denby Dale – and I’ve got the Blacker Hall Farm Shop nearby. It’s just idyllic.” blackerhallfarmshop.co.uk autumn/winter 2013

northernrail.org

This year has been a madly busy one for Jane, who first found fame back in the 1990s on the hit BBC fly-on-the-wall docusoap, The Cruise. First of all there are her continuing appearances on the panel of cult show Loose Women, where the likes of Jane, Carol McGiffin, Carol Vorderman, Janet Street-Porter and Denise Welch discuss topical issues, live and loud, on daytime TV. Then ITV gave Jane her own series, Star Treatment, which was shown over the summer; plus she has decided to tour again this autumn (see her dates, right) and record a new album, doing the vocals in LA. northernrail.org

And – we hate to bring it up – she turned 50 in April. She was a bit depressed about this, she admits, until the Loose Women girls took her out for the evening. “They did me proud,” she says. “They always do. But since reaching that milestone, the year has taken off. So I don’t think age is the big drawback any more.

And I couldn’t sing the songs I’m singing about on my (forthcoming) album if I was in my thirties because it’s about reflection.

They’re songs for someone of my age.”

Shobna Gulati, former Coronation Street actress, is now a regular on the Loose Women panel (see our interview with Shobna on pg 24).

“Shobna is adorable and gorgeous,” says Jane.

“And she’s far too thin to sit next to me.”

The trick to appearing on Loose Women, says Jane, is arguing your case and not worrying what the other members of the panel or audience think of your opinions. “You can’t think: ‘The public aren’t going to like this’,” she says, “because as soon as you do you might just as well get your coat. You’ve got to sit there and debate something and stick to your guns. I’ve always been the one who says: ‘I think you’re talking a load of tosh.’”

She is forthright, is Jane, but there isn’t the slightest bit of ‘diva’ about her. Yet this is a woman with a fiercely loyal fanbase, numerous top 10 albums (and a number one double platinum album) who has sold out the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, the Royal Albert Hall and the London Palladium (three times).

“But I never take it for granted,” she says.

“It’s very easy to get complacent in our industry and think: ‘I’ll always be able to do this.’ And this business is so fickle. I seem to have kept fingers in a lot of pies. I do produce, write, record, tour and present, just in case something drops out. I’ve always been a ‘Plan B’ type of girl.”

On stage, she loves a bit of banter between songs and learnt how to work a crowd the hard way.

“That’s doing summer seasons in Skegness,” she laughs. “I learnt my trade on the coalface, if you like. When I was at Chapel St Leonards with 2,500 people in every night someone said to me: “Can you go out and fill for 10 minutes?” There was a look of blood draining from my face – but I had to go out and do it. That was how I got the gift of the gab and the dry humour. Every single thing I’ve done – clubs, cruise ships, whatever – has taught me everything I need to know to be working at this level.”

Jane Mcdonald: Autumn Tour 2013 26 October Skegness, The Embassy Theatre embassytheatre.co.uk 9 November Blackpool, Opera House wintergardensblackpool.co.uk 16 November Leeds, Grand Theatre leedsgrandtheatre.com 22 November Southport Theatre atgtickets.com 24 November Buxton, The Opera House buxtonoperahouse.org.uk

autumn/winter 2013

23

FOR THE JOURNEY: SHOBNA'S NORTH WEST

Shobna’s North West She left Coronation Street in April, but Shobna Gulati – actress, presenter and now writer – is busier than ever and loving life in the North West.

f actress and presenter Shobna Gulati thought her life would slow down when she left Coronation Street, she was dead wrong. In fact, she’s been busier than ever.

I

First of all, she’s still a regular on our screens as a panellist on ITV’s speak-your-mind daytime chat show, Loose Women; plus, with her writing partner, Tracy Dell, she’s been working on a sitcom (draft seven and counting) which she can’t say much about.

“On Coronation Street, I had a routine,” Shobna tells us. “True you’re either ‘in’ the current storyline or not, but you get used to that over the years. So when you leave that routine, it’s strange. These days I find myself writing, having meetings, doing voluntary work at, say, the mental health drop-in centre, handing out certificates in schools… lots of things I couldn’t do before.”

As every Corrie fan knows – and there were around 12million of them at last count –

Shobna on Oldham: “I still live in Oldham, just down the road from my mum. Mum was born in Southport, moved to India and then came to Oldham when she was 19 – and hasn’t moved since. She’s a big part of the community.” autumn/winter 2013

Oldham-born Shobna played Sunita Alahan for over a decade (on and off: she joined the Street in 2001, left in 2006 and then returned at the end of 2009) – before the character was finally killed earlier this year by (boo hiss) nasty Karl Munro.

The Street gave Shobna some meaty storylines; but, before Corrie came calling, she had established her comedy credentials in Victoria Wood’s award-winning sitcom, Dinnerladies, playing the nice-but-dim Anita Shah.

Writing her own sitcom has given Shobna a newfound respect for comedy writers. “Previously I’ve written sketches,” she says. “But this is the first time I’ve ever attempted anything of length.”

Victoria Wood has been a huge inspiration.

“She’s a genius writer,” says Shobna. “Comedy is a very specific art. I had a lovely time with Vic in Dinnerladies and learnt so much from her and the other people on the show, like Celia Imrie and Anne Reid. I also got to work with Thora Hird and Eric Sykes. These kind of people only come around once.”

Shobna got the part on Dinnerladies, she thinks, because she made Victoria Wood laugh in the audition. “Plus, I do a lot of study – I’m very academic – and Vic thought it was fun that this young, academic actress would want to play someone like Anita who wasn’t that bright.”

FOR THE JOURNEY: SHOBNA'S NORTH WEST

Yes: talk about casting against type.

Shobna – who trained in Indian dance – has, among other things, a degree in Arabic and Middle Eastern politics from the University of Manchester and an Honorary Doctor of Letters from the University of Huddersfield. In Oldham, she founded a four-language theatre company (Urdu, Punjabi, Bengali and English), became a part-time lecturer in dance at what is now Manchester Metropolitan University and is currently Oldham Children’s University Chancellor.

As an actress, she is much more than just Sunita and Anita; on stage she’s done everything from Shakespeare to the musicals of Gilbert and Sullivan.

Shobna’s favourite places:

Shobna's favourite restaurant:

“It’s Manchester – and GREATER Manchester, actually. I love Lancashire to be absolutely honest which, especially around the Pennines, is stunning.

That landscape, those Moors – I can’t do without them. I find them bleak, frightening and beautiful all at the same time.”

“Kabana on Back Turner Street in Manchester in the Northern Quarter, which specialises in Pakistani cuisine. It used to be one of the daytime cafes which historically served the people who came from India and Pakistan and were working in the city’s textile industry. At home, I’ve recently gone back to my rustic roots and really enjoy cooking Punjabi food.”

It helps that Shobna comes from a cultureloving family. Her late father, a doctor, was “always singing” and her sisters performed in a disco Bollywood pop band. “We had an open, artistic upbringing in Oldham,” says Shobna. “I played the piano, sang in choirs, and enjoyed watching Indian dance with mum. That and panto at Oldham Coliseum!”

Now Shobna’s 18-year-old son is training to be an actor too. What did she say when he told her what he wanted to do with his life?

She laughs. “I said: ‘Why can’t you be a doctor? Or a lawyer or a dentist?!’

Acting is a precarious profession and I’ve been homeless and on the edge on account of it. But if he loves it – and when he performs you can see the joy in him – then I’m there for him, because you can’t put monetary value on that.

“He’s sweet. He brought me a cup of tea the other day and he said to me: ‘You know, mum, You are the most remarkable woman.’”

Shobna Gulati suddenly bursts out laughing. “I don’t know WHAT he wanted...”

more@ For more details, visit shobnagulati.co.uk northernrail.org

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Photo credit: Joseph Scannlan

24

northernrail.org

autumn/winter 2013

5BEST OF THE

FOR THE JOURNEY: 5 OF THE BEST

Whizz! Pop! And – indeed – bang! Where are some of the best places for you to remember, remember the 5th of November?

We have a few suggestions...

2 SHEFFIELD

3 LIVERPOOL

There are two top council-run fireworks displays to see in Liverpool: one in the historic 200-acre Sefton Park; and the other in Newsham Park, home to the Grade II-listed Newsham House, where Queen Victoria once stayed. Would she be amused? Both events take place on 5 November.

MANCHESTER Make your bonfire night go like a rocket in the seriously lovely Heaton Park and/or Platt Fields Park, which is where the big council displays in Manchester can always be found. Just one thing: at the time of writing, dates were still to be confirmed at both of these locations (fireworks displays don’t always take place on the 5th, you know) so check the council website, the parks’ websites or local press for details before you travel. We’d hate you to miss it… heatonpark.org.uk plattfields.org northernrail.org

donvalleystadium.co.uk The Stray

liverpool.gov.uk

1

Wow! Sheffield’s smoking hot After Dark event returns to the Don Valley Bowl on 5 November with a Real Radio stage, a giant fun fair, a bonfire (naturally) which will be lit at 7.30pm, food stalls, a live music stage and – get this – 20,000 spectators looking skywards, waiting to be dazzled. Just when you think it can’t get any better the fireworks go ‘bang’ at 9pm – and they’re set to music.

They call it the biggest firework spectacular in Yorkshire... and you can see why.

Liverpool City Council

CARLISLE 4 Set in Bitts Park on 2 November, this isn’t just one of the best bonfire and firework displays in the North – it’s one of the best in the country (no wonder it draws a crowd of around 35,000) and is so popular it even has a proper name: Fireshow.

First there’s a bit of pre-display entertainment at 6.30pm before the bonfire is lit at 7pm.

The fireworks are set to music and the show lasts for about an hour.

It’s free, but donations are greatly received for The Mayor’s Charity. Pyrotechnic heaven, people. discovercarlisle.co.uk carlisle.gov.uk

5 HARROGATE

The gorgeous grassiness that is The Stray in Harrogate looks lovely between October and March because the trees are festooned with fairy lights. On November 2, though, The Stray will be illuminated with fireworks when The Harrogate and District Round Table light the fuse on their big bonfire night extravaganza. Penny for the guy, mister? harrogateroundtable.co.uk

DID YOU KNOW? If fireworks aren’t your thing, the city of York, home of Guy Fawkes – the man who started it all – has a digital arts and lighting festival, called Illuminating York (30 October – 2 November). illuminatingyork.org.uk visityork.org autumn/winter 2013

27

FOR THE JOURNEY: NETWORK MAP

our network map

28

Find our featured towns and cities easily with our network map autumn/winter 2013

FORFOR THETHE JOURNEY: JOURNEY:NETWORK NETWORKMAP MAP

Plus, there's even more on your map...

1

Manchester The best places for pre-Christmas spending. p17

2

2 6

York Get your skates on for a festive night out. p19

5

3 3

4

Wakefield Why Yorkshire is tops for Wakefield-born Jane McDonald.

p22

Sheffield Including Sheffield’s hot, hot, hot After Dark event. p27

1

5

Hull Sea life at this popular east coast attraction. p31

4

6

Gargrave Why business is candy-coated for Linda Hartell. p34 autumn/winter 2013

29

FOR THE JOURNEY: WHERE TO GO IN THE NORTH

ere to go h W in the

North

...fishing

for...

...everything from sports adventures and carol concerts to half-term fun ns. and New Year celebratio little So make a note of this lot in your diaries.

The Deep, Hull

...half-term fun Where to start, really? Apart from the plethora of museums, galleries and sports centres right across the North which have workshops and activities for the kids (check your local venue before travelling), there is loads to do in the half-term break. Try out a city walk or city tour, take in a kiddy-friendly show (at the West Yorkshire Playhouse, for example, Charlie and Lola’s Extremely New Play, 30 October – 2 November will keep them amused), or visit venues such as the National Media Museum in Bradford or Eureka! The National Children's Museum in Halifax which are full of interactive exhibits.

More info: wyp.org.uk

Well, when we say ‘fishing’, we don’t mean it literally because you can’t dangle a rod and line into the water in the following locations (believe us: you really, really CAN’T). But if it’s sealife-spotting you’re after then The Deep in Hull, the Sealife Centres in Blackpool and Scarborough and the Lake District Coast Aquarium at Maryport are all top-notch.

More info: thedeep.co.uk visitsealife.com coastaquarium.co.uk

...trainspotting The National Railway Museum in York is the UK’s tippest, toppest spot for all things locomotive, including the record-breaking Mallard (and the Flying Scotsman is here, too, awaiting an overhaul).

And, you don’t have to be a trainspotter – or even like trains – to enjoy a day out at the NRM because there’s so much to see and do with activities for the kids, a playground, a miniature railway, cafes and a restaurant.

Full steam ahead, basically.

NRM, York

More info: nrm.org.uk leford Xscape, Cast

Xscape, Castleford

...extreme sports Fancy doing something a bit wild? A bit edgy?

Then put down that pizza (ALL of it) and hand over the TV remote. It’s time to get physical.

For instance, Xscape at Castleford has a real snow slope, a dizzying climbing wall, an adrenaline-pumping Skyride (suspended – arrgh! – 15 metres above the main entrance) and an indoor surfing venue – really!

In Manchester, wrap up for the Vertical Chill ice wall at Ellis Brigham Mountain Sports – and watch where you’re putting those pitons.

nationalmediamuseum.org.uk

More info: xscape.co.uk

eureka.org.uk

vertical-chill.com

northernrail.org

autumn/winter 2013

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FOR THE JOURNEY: WHERE TO GO IN THE NORTH

32

...a BIG cinema show

Some passions never end

...carol concerts

There’s nothing like seeing a film on the big screen – and IMAX screens are HUGE. We’re lucky to have various IMAX cinemas in the North: at the Media Museum, Bradford (which was the UK’s first-ever); the Metrocentre, Gateshead; Liverpool One, Liverpool; The Printworks, Manchester; Cineworld, Sheffield and Cineworld, Nottingham. Vast images and huge sound – it’s enough to make you drop your popcorn. More info: imax.com

‘Tis the season to be jolly (almost), so get in the festive spirit with a carol concert in glorious surroundings. York Minster has various hugely popular events in the run-up to Christmas including its famous Christmas Carol Concert (5 and 6 December) and the Chapter House Choir singing Carols by Candlelight (18 December).

Become a Patron of the National Railway Museum

On 10 December, Beverley Minster will be holding a carol concert in aid of Macmillan, the cancer charity; plus there will be lots of events and services at Beverley where you get the chance to join in (so check the website for details).

As a Patron you will be at the heart of the Museum, enjoying our world class hospitality and intellectual resources. Patrons have exclusive access to Britain’s National Collection and our expert curatorial staff, as well as a tailor-made programme of events and dinners.

Your annual patronage makes a real difference to our work, ensuring we are able to tell the story of the railways. Your support helps us to inspire the next generation and influence the way people connect with the National Railway Museum now and in the future. There has never been a more exciting time to become a Patron of the National Railway Museum.

Patronage levels start at just £500 a year.

National Media Museum, Bradford

More info: beverleyminster.org.uk yorkminster.org

For more details contact The National Railway Museum, Development Team, Leeman Road, York YO26 4XJ. Tel: 01904 685774. development@nrm.org.uk

Save

We’re a teensy bit spoilt when it comes to great art venues.

Just some of our favourites include the fabulous Hepworth Wakefield (it has great galleries with huge windows, perfectly framing the views); the Baltic at Gateshead; Dean Clough in Halifax; the Bluecoat, Walker Art Gallery and Tate, all in Liverpool; Manchester Art Gallery; and the Graves and the Millennium in Sheffield.

More info: hepworthwakefield.org

balticmill.com

museums-sheffield.org.uk

thebluecoat.org.uk

liverpoolmuseums.org.uk

deanclough.com

10%

in the gift shop at Beverley Minster when you travel by train

Beverley Minster

...see in the New Year

Photo © Iwan Baan

Hepworth Wakefield

Photo © Mervyn King

...art

Visit the Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway on the Cumbrian Coast

How do you normally see in the New Year? With a bottle of cava and half a plate of vol au vents in front of Jools’ Hootenanny, probably. Well, this year mix it up a bit – and get the kids involved, too – by joining in with the family-orientated celebration and parade in the Haymarket area of Newcastle.

The event takes place in the late afternoon and early evening, so check local press for details.

Save £4.00* when you travel by train *Saving based on buying a combined Northern Rail and Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway adult ticket.

More info: newcastlegateshead.com

National Rail Enquiries call: 08457 48 49 50 Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway call: 01229 71 71 71 ravenglass-railway.co.uk

BUY TRAIN TICKETS ONLINE AT NORTHERNRAIL.ORG

northernrail.org/rer autumn/winter 2013

northernrail.org

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FOR THE JOURNEY: THE SWEET LIFE

THE

SWEET LINDA HARTELL

autumn/winter 2013

Linda Hartell runs an old-fashioned sw eet shop in the picturesqu e village of Gargrave on the Pennine Way. Anthony Quinlan finds out how Linda is usin g 21st century methods to sell a tantalising flavour of the past.

T

hese days – have you noticed? – sweets come pre-weighed and pre-packed and, frankly, the process of buying them isn’t terribly exciting. There’s no magic, no thrill. You pluck a bag off shelves in a supermarket or from racks in a petrol station, and it’s a soulless, joyless experience.

But in Linda Hartell’s sweet shop – the Dalesman Café & Sweet Emporium in the pretty village of Gargrave on the Pennine Way – memories of a bygone sweet-buying era come flooding back.

Everywhere you look there are vintage sweet tins, children’s toys and antique signs from the 1930s and 1940s along with (most importantly) 150 varieties of traditional sweets displayed in glass jars: everything from lemon sherbets to rosy apples and Pontefract cakes. The sweets are weighed out on an old ‘balance’ weighing scale before being tipped into paper bags and there’s even a big brass Victorian till from 1890 on the counter.

The Dalesman Café & Sweet Emporium building dates back to the late 1700s. It’s been a butcher’s and a stationer’s until it became a café in the early 1960s, frequented by walkers and cyclists on their way to the Dales.

Southport-born Linda bought the café 14 years ago on the spur of the moment. “We were living northernrail.org

35

Photo s © Vicky Matthers

LIFE

FOR THE JOURNEY: THE SWEET LIFE

in North Wales at the time,” she remembers.

“We had a narrow boat and were coming through the locks at Gargrave. It was raining hard and we came to the café for a drink, saw that it was for sale and started thinking about what we could do with the place. We put in an offer – and lo and behold it was accepted.”

There was also a sweet shop attached to the café – but Linda has since radically increased the variety of sweets she stocks while ramping up the vintage décor (her partner, Philip Carrol, is an antique dealer).

From an outside perspective, the sweet business looks like a win-win. Linda is always going to get children through the doors – it’s a sweetshop, after all – but also people of (shall we say) a certain age who remember buying gobstoppers and white mice ‘the traditional way’ when they were kids and love the nostalgia of the place. “We had a chap in today, a walker, who spent £11.80 on sweets,” says Linda.

“Yes, some people will just buy a 50gram bag of bon-bons; but others stockpile.”

Locationally, Gargrave is a good fit with the old-fashioned sweet trade. “To walk the Pennine Way, you have to go past our door,” says Linda.

“We can throw a stone into the River Aire from where we are; we’re also on Sustrans’ National northernrail.org

Route 68 – the Pennine Cycleway; and a short journey from Gargrave train station.”

Yet Linda knows she can’t run a 21st century shop in an old-fashioned way. To keep up with the times the shop now has a Facebook page, and Linda is developing other strands to the business. Nine months ago, for example, she created something called Sweetzas, which are tailor-made ‘pizzas’, but made out of sweets set in icing sugar on a cakeboard. “We’ve also developed the Sweetzagram which has greetings messages made out of sweet letters,” says Linda. “And there’s a Sweetzanagram, where the letters are jumbled. We send them

“Yes, some people will just buy a 50 gram bag of bon-bons; but others stockpile.”

in a 12-inch pizza box by mail order, or people can pick them up from the shop.”

Eighteen months ago, Linda also cleared an area in the café to stock vintage garden implements.

Plus, Linda sends her secret recipe Dales fruitcake, teas and award-winning handmade fruit jellies to customers by mail order; and she was using a replica Model A Ford van to take sweets to children’s parties.

All this has been necessary because – like most businesses in today’s climate – Linda wants to make the most of what she has. That means being creative. “It’s about thinking ‘what else can we do?’,” she says. “I’ve already paid my business rates and insurance so rather than opening another sweet shop in another town, I want this property to work as hard as it can.

Something like the Sweetzas, for instance, is using the stock we already have but in a different way.”

It is hard work admits Linda, but running her own business in a lovely part of the North means that, for the most part, life is sweet.

Explore Gargrave!

Northern Rail offers low price Advance Purchase tickets to Gargrave from Leeds autumn/winter 2013

FOR THE JOURNEY: PITCH PERFECT

Middlesbrough’s Riverside Stadium was built in just 32 weeks.

When it opened fo r the start of the 1995-96 season , it was the bigge st new football stadiu m to be built since the wa r.

s venues. rt o p s g in z ama ally a series of uintessenti q to e e th m o to h g e is ’s somethin Racecours The North re e e e tr th , in s A d s e u mo in Le otball fans, From the fa gley Cricket Ground fo r fo t u B . in d es ute English Hea cross the Northern ro seats, it can sometim r for ea stadium tou for everyon es and high demand a , m e th r pric e. Fo bs they lov with ticket lu c e th en… e e to s ecca Marsd b e R s be difficult y a s r, e answe could be th

The other side of the Lakes

If you like the Lake District, you’ll love the Western Lake District.

The real beauty lies in the undiscovered places where you can really get away from it all – the panoramic fells, rugged coastline and tranquil lakes.

Whether you’re looking for award-winning attractions, great places to stay or outdoor adventures, you’ll find it all in the Western Lake District.

Isn’t it time you discovered the other side of the Lakes?

And it’s all easily accessible by train using Northern Rail’s Cumbrian Coast Line.

– Newcastle ark St James’ Park takes you

le rk, Newcast St James' Pa

James’ P A tour of St history of through the ey rn u jo a on access to United. Get before, Newcastle er have seen ev n ’ll u yo areas , players’ ssing room like the dre nel famous tun lounge, the out. g u d nager ’s and the ma lts u d A for It costs £10 ncessions.

St James’ Park is the oldest football co r fo 7 £ and stadium in the North East and is – n atio More inform gulp!

– a bit too close for comfort to nd can be fou the spot where the city's execution k at nufc.co.u gallows used to stand. Don’t worry, though: a hanging hasn’t been carried out here since 1844…

For all you need when planning your holiday or short break go to: www.western-lakedistrict.co.uk www.facebook.com/WesternLakeDistrict

northernrail.org

More venues overleaf... autumn/winter 2013

37

38

FOR THE JOURNEY: PITCH PERFECT

r Mancheste ord – Old Trafldf Trafford Stadium through

endary O . View the See the leg themselves rs ye la p , take e th uson Stand the eyes of Sir Alex Ferg e und the th ro a m o lk fr stadium m and wa o ro g in ss to e dre a seat in th be upgraded . Tours can h itc ed p R s e u o th fam seum, y to the mu by include entr Old Trafford to l a iv rr a en ev n a d r adults d Café, an rt at £25 fo a st s . ce ri P boat! e age of 16 ren up to th ild ch r fo 8 £1 etails on m for full d o .c td u n a Visit m available. all the tours

Leeds United is on e of the few clubs that allows fans to go behind-thescenes on the da y of a home gam e.

Only 40 places ar e available for each tour, so early booking is advised.

of Light dgeable m iu d a t S – le Sunderlanadge’ at the Stadium of Light.alwHeaaysdedpobpyulaknrowwith ‘backst atch our and are Take a peek place on m around an h st la rs u ey don’t take to th to avoid e h d g th u , ea o h es a lth id n a gu re you pla and old – g su n u ke a yo m s, iv te is g en to ickly, so supporter book up qu tour certifica t to h g d Li under n f te o d n m days a for children l Stadiu t. An officia r adults, £5 fo en 0 tm 1 in £ o p re p a n). disa Tickets nd 2 childre ho attends. t (2 adults a ke everyone w tic ily m fa 5 for a om 16, and £2 nd at safc.c can be fou s il ta e d ll Fu

The design of the Stadium of Light in Sunderland drew inspira tion from Sunder land's indust rial glass-makin g, shipbuildin g and coal-mining heritage. Its capacity is 49,000, mak ing it the fifth -biggest football stad ium in England. autumn/winter 2013

Some other clubs on the Northern route who’ll also let you see behind the scenes…

Old Trafford, Manchester

Leeds United – Elland Road (leedsunited.com) Blackpool – Bloomfiel d Road (blackpoolfc.co.uk) Middlesbrough – Rivers ide Stadium (mfc.co.uk)

Liverpool – Anfield

at Anfield the scenes Go behind Anfield g in rd-winn s of on the awa the footstep in w llo Fo r. u layers’ To p Stadium down the ends, walk g le field’ sign, l n o A o is rp Live us ‘This o m fa e th soak tunnel, touch m dressing room and a te t o K rs fi in the p. visit the e as you sit er h sp o tm a museum, up the Liverpool FC a o and ls a s e’ Ther onic players the club’s ic re. g a w tin er ra b lv le si ce impressive e m and so lts g u n wo ad displayi mily ticket (t fa a r fo 3 4 It’s £ n up to 14). com two childre liverpoolfc. ation, visit rm fo in re o For m

Don’t forget: You can buy train tickets online at northernrail.org northernrail.org

40

FOR THE JOURNEY: BIKE & GO

FOR THE JOURNEY: BIKE & GO

”We developed Bike & Go because we wanted to help our customers across the network complete the last mile of their journey...”

To use Bike & Go – which is a cashless, subscription-based scheme – you will first have to register on the Bike & Go website.

Simply visit bikeandgo.co.uk and click on the ‘register’ button. Fill in your contact details and your preferred method of payment (either bank or credit card) – and... well... that’s it.

“After that, your Bike & Go membership card will be sent to you by post,” says Margriet Cuypers, General Project Manager for the scheme. “Once it arrives, you can go to any of the 50 Bike & Go stations and show your card to a member of staff at the booking office. They’ll hand you a key for a bike, which will be kept at the Bike & Go shelter on the station.

You unlock it… and off you go.”

When you return the bike to the station you picked it up from, you also return your key.

For more information about Bike & Go a nd to registe r for your me mbership card, log o nto bikeandgo.c : o.uk

Remember to take your card with you so you can always use the Bike & Go scheme – and you can check online to see how many bikes are available at your station. On the Bike & Go website, there’s a short film which explains details of the scheme and how to register for it.

“We developed Bike & Go because we wanted to help our customers across the network complete the last mile of their journey,” says Margriet. “Passengers have been very interested to learn more about it, firstly because the bikes look really good and because the £3.80 per day hire charge is so low. The feedback we’ve been getting is really good.”

An innovative national bike hire service – called Bike & Go – is rolling out to passengers at 50 Northern Rail, Merseyrail and Greater Anglia stations. This is a subscription-based scheme and, to use it, you first have to register online – it's so simple.

Anthony Quinlan finds out more.

Are you on route to a Northern Rail station but still have a mile or so to travel once you get there? Don’t want to take the bus and don’t fancy going by Shanks’ Pony, either?

The cost couldn’t be more straightforward, either.

The annual subscription fee for Bike & Go will be £10 with a 24-hour rental fee of just £3.80 – the price of a return bus ticket.

Then pedal power could be the answer. On a bike, there’s no waiting, no fuss – and you go where you want to go quickly and easily.

Bike & Go is a national bike hire scheme which will soon be available to passengers at Northern Rail stations – and Merseyrail and Greater Anglia stations (train companies which are co-owned and owned by Abellio, respectively).

All together, bikes will be available at 25 Northern Rail stations, 15 Greater Anglia Keep an ey stations and 11 e on our web Merseyrail stations site – and, on average, for launch dates: 10 bikes will be northernrail .org available per station.

That’s why Abellio – joint owner of Northern Rail – are launching Bike & Go, an innovative station bike hire scheme. For a small charge, travellers arriving at selected Northern Rail stations will be able to hire a bike for a day and use it to cycle to their final destinations – then bring it back before making their return train journey. Easy. autumn/winter 2013

Look out for these Bike & Go posters

northernrail.org

northernrail.org

41

autumn/winter 2013

YOUR STOP: THE LOWDOWN

DEC

4-20

JLS

Only

£3.80 per day

Well, that was quick. After a mere five years on the pop scene, the JLS boys have gone all A-ha on us and decided to call it a day.

That’s your lot, JLS fans: there is no more – just this Greatest Hits Tour to bid everyone ‘adieu’. Expect tearful farewells and much weeping and wailing.

Want more... 4 December – Capital FM Arena, Nottingham (capitalfmarena.com) 9 December – Echo Arena, Liverpool (echoarena.com), 10 December – Motorpoint Arena, Sheffield (motorpointarenasheffield.co.uk), 12 December – Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle (metroradioarena.co.uk), 14 December – Phones4u Arena, Manchester (phones4uarena.co.uk) 20 December – First Direct Arena, Leeds (firstdirectarena.com)

The Key Lowdown Gigs Movies Comedy

THERE’S BIKE & GO Hire a bike for only £3.80 per day. Find participating Northern Rail stations and register now at www.bikeandgo.co.uk

Nottingham, Liverpool, Sheffield, Newcastle, Manchester and Leeds

Events Art Musical Theatre

TheLowdown A U T U M N

W I N T E R 2 0 13

The what´s on highs - and lows - of the next few months

21

opens

NOV

By ‘eck. Yorkshire lad Simon ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ Beaufoy wrote the screenplay for this blockbusting sequel, which finds Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) and Peeta (Josh Hutcherson), fresh from their victory in the 74th Hunger Games – and targets of the Capitol as a result. Watch what you’re doing with that bow and arrow, Katniss. You’ll have someone’s eye out.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire Various venues northernwide

www.bikeandgo.co.uk

CO SO M O ING N

Please check with venues to confirm times and dates before travelling.

northernrail.org

autumn/winter 2013

43

YOUR STOP: THE LOWDOWN

YOUR STOP: THE LOWDOWN

20

opens

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

22 -30

NOV

VARIOUS DATES

Various venues northernwide

The Grand Gesture Huddersfield, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Liverpool, Scarborough and Halifax Halifax-based Northern Broadsides, led by actor-director Barrie Rutter, specialise in performing classic texts in a uniquely Northern voice, and particularly Shakespeare (it was Northern Broadsides who gave us Lenny Henry’s acclaimed version of Othello a few years ago). Broadsides' Associate Director Conrad Nelson (who played Iago to Len’s Othello) and playwright Deborah McAndrew now bring their brand of Northern inventiveness and humour to update Nikolai Erdman’s dark comic classic The Suicide from 1920s Russia to 21st century Britain. A satirical sideswipe at austerity.

Want more...

22-26 October – Lawrence Batley Theatre, Huddersfield (thelbt.org) 12-16 November – Liverpool Playhouse (everymanplayhouse.co.uk) 19-23 November – Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough (sjt.uk.com) 26-30 November – Viaduct Theatre, Halifax (deanclough.com)

Quite how director Peter Jackson is going to spin three mega-movies out of JRR Tolkien’s slim novel remains to be seen: but here’s the second one, with hairy-footed hero Bilbo (Martin Freeman) taking a stand against scary dragon, Smaug (silkily voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch). Ian McKellan co-stars – of course – as Gandalf.

Want more... thehobbit.com

Anchorman: 20 DEC The Legend Continues opens

Various venues northernwide When the first Anchorman movie became a cult comedy success it was inevitable that a sequel would turn up sooner or later. This is it (although it’s here later rather than sooner). Will Ferrell again stars in the title role as Ron Burgundy (think a less intelligent, more egotistical American version of Alan Partridge – if that’s possible) and watch out for a host of Hollywood cameos.

Want more... anchormanmovie.com

DEC

American Hustle Various venues northernwide To say this crime movie has ‘an all-star cast’ is underselling it somewhat.

Jennifer Lawrence, Amy Adams, Bradley Cooper, Christian Bale, Robert De Niro and Jeremy Renner star in the 1970s-set tale of a conman (Bale) who is forced to work with an FBI agent (Cooper). Renner’s hairdo is so bouffant, it should have its own trailer.

26

opens

DEC

Jack Ryan Various venues northernwide With all the interest in Jason Bourne and a certain Bond... James Bond, Jack Ryan has been rather overlooked of late. In case you need a reminder, he’s Tom Clancy’s CIA spy hero who has been portrayed by Alec Baldwin, Harrison Ford and Ben Affleck in other films; but, in this movie, Chris ‘Captain Kirk’ Pine slips on Ryan’s shoulder holster. The really strange casting is behind the camera, though: Kenneth Branagh – who plays the bad guy – is also the director.

13 JAN

Maroon 5

They hit the ground running years ago with a best-selling album (Songs About Jane) which spawned the massive singles This Love and She Will Be Loved. But now look.

After the worldwide radio smashes Payphone and the annoyingly infectious Moves Like Jagger, they’ve really got the wind in their sails. World domination awaits for Maroon 5 – aka lead singer Adam Levine and his pals – and resistance is futile.

Phones4u Arena, Manchester

Want more... 13 January – Phones4u Arena, Manchester (phones4uarena.co.uk)

26

opens

DEC

Love Punch

VARIOUS DATES

09 -3

Singin’ in the Rain

There are your Mamma Mia and your We Will Rock You jukebox musicals, of course; but the old ones are the best ones. This classic, based on the Gene Kelly MGM film, is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser, with numbers that include Make ‘em Laugh, Good Morning and, of course, the splishy splashy title song. This production is direct from the West End. Want more...

9-30 November – Manchester Opera House (atgtickets.com) 14 January -1 February – Sunderland Empire (atgtickets.com/sunderland) 4-15 February – Nottingham Theatre Royal (trch.co.uk) 22 April -3 May – Liverpool Empire (atgtickets.com/liverpool)

Various venues northernwide Emma Thompson and Pierce Brosnan – now THERE’S a match made in cinematic heaven – star in a light comedy caper. Let’s see: Pierce, Emma and lots of lovely French locations? What’s not to like? autumn/winter 2013

45

MAY

DEC

NOV

13

opens

OCT

44

TheLowdown continues... northernrail.org

northernrail.org

autumn/winter 2013

The Wolf of Wall Street Various venues northernwide

7

opens

Miranda Hart Nottingham, Manchester, Newcastle, Leeds, Liverpool, Sheffield

Nicey-nicey New York stockbroker Leo DiCaprio refuses to get caught up in Wall Street mob corruption in this crime thriller based on a true life tale. Jonah Hill and Matthew McConaughey co-star – and the movie-making legend that is Martin Scorsese directs.

VARIOUS DATES

6 -6

APR

VARIOUS DATES

JAN

MAR

17

opens

YOUR STOP: THE LOWDOWN TheLowdown

YOUR STOP: THE LOWDOWN

Feb

RoboCop Well, everything else has had a reboot – Bond, Batman, Superman, Star Trek, Spiderman – so why not RoboCop? You know what to expect if you saw the clunking 1980s original: a New York cop is fatally wounded by the bad guys and then brought back to life as a revenge-wreaking cyborg who shoots first and takes down particulars later. A sort of Iron Man with attitude. Joel Kinnaman (in the title role), Samuel L. Jackson and Gary Oldman star.

Jack Whitehall

Want more...

8 March – Phones4u Arena, Manchester (phones4uarena.co.uk), 9 March – Echo Arena, Liverpool (echoarena.com), 11 March – Capital FM Arena, Nottingham (capitalfmarena. com), 13 March – Motorpoint Arena, Sheffield (motorpointarenasheffield.co.uk)

autumn/winter 2013

Watch...

Man of Steel

Brit actor Henry Cavill dons the blue bodystocking (although, DVD and Blu-ray release date: 2 December actually, the costume department have made Supe’s suit look a LOT cooler than before) for a hi-octane, slam-bang superhero adventure about THAT man with the cape and the great big S on his chest. Produced by Batman director Christopher Nolan, it’s more thoughtful than other Man of Steel outings (our hero is tortured by the thought of having special powers), but the action, when it comes, is out of this world. Russell Crowe and Amy Adams co-star.

8-13

Want more... 6-8 March – Capital FM Arena, Nottingham (capitalfmarena.com), 14/15 March – Phones4u Arena, Manchester (phones4uarena.co.uk), 19/20 March – Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle (metroradioarena.co.uk), 21/22 March – First Direct Arena, Leeds (firstdirectarena.com), 24 & 25 March – Echo Arena, Liverpool (echoarena.com) 5/6 April – Motorpoint Arena, Sheffield (motorpointarenasheffield.co.uk) northernrail.org

VARIOUS DATES

28 -17

APR

We can remember the time, not so long ago, when Miranda Hart was a humble bit-player on a CBBC sketch show called Stupid.

Now she’s the queen of TV comedy after appearances in Lee Mack’s Not Going Out and, of course, her own hit sitcom, Miranda. The fact that she is now able to play strings of dates in arenas up and down the country – “in my, what I call, live show” – is a testament to her, what we call, “vast popularity”.

MAR

He’s a little bit cheeky, is Jack Whitehall.

Rude even – but he’s also so beguiling that Manchester, Liverpool, Nottingham and Sheffield you can’t possibly take offence at his jokes. His stand-up is still going strong (look: he’s selling out ARENAS now) and he also appears to have taken over every TV programme on earth, from Have I Got News for You? and Would I Lie to You? To Fresh Meat and Bad Education. Proof that posh boys can be funny.

Previews

Various venues northernwide

MAR

46

Torvill and Dean’s Dancing on Ice: The Final Tour Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham and Sheffield Just like JLS, Torvill and Dean know when it’s time to bow out gracefully. Yep: this January, ITV will screen the last-ever series of Dancing on Ice: so no more D-list soap stars falling over, no more Phil and Christine and no more cutting remarks from the now luxuriously follicled Jason Gardiner. Will our Sunday nights ever be the same again? Fittingly, this live show comes to T&D’s home town of Nottingham during this, the final tour.

Want more... 28-30 March – Phones4u Arena, Manchester (phones4uarena.co.uk), 4-6 April – Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle (metroradioarena.co.uk), 8-10 April – Capital FM Arena, Nottingham (capitalfmarena.com), 15-17 April – Motorpoint Arena, Sheffield (motorpointarenasheffield.co.uk) northernrail.org

Read...

Mad About the Boy

by Helen Fielding Jonathan Cape

Release date: Out now

The terminally single Bridget Jones is back, unlucky in love – and, indeed, unlucky in most other areas of her life, too. Helen Fielding’s character has been a long-time away, so it’s easy to forget just how popular Bridget was/is.

Fielding’s first novel, Bridget Jones's Diary, was an international bestseller and named as one of the 10 novels that best defined the 20th century.

Now, though, Bridget is a very 21st century kind of girl, grappling with social media, skinny jeans and over-complicated TV remote controls. A hoot.

Listen to...

Justin Timberlake: The 20/20 Experience (2 of 2) Release date: Out now Not content with being a global dance-pop-hip-hop superstar, Justin Timberlake is busy carving out a career as a movie actor, too (like his role in Runner Runner – pictured – released in September).

Here, though, JT goes back to his musical day job and releases part two of his 20/20 Experience album. The first part was released back in March and went straight to number one. Expect this one to do the same, frankly. autumn/winter 2013

47

YOUR STOP: CAREERS

Careers at Northern Rail At Northern we offer a range of careers to people with varying skills and backgrounds.

If you’re hard working, flexible and good with people, why not join us?

In return for your commitment we’ll: • offer support and training to develop your skills • encourage career progression • provide an amazing range of benefits that you’ll rarely find elsewhere • welcome you into our friendly team, who work closely together • empower you to make decisions during your working day, that will benefit our customers.

Typical roles with us include: • customer service roles (throughout our stations) • drivers • conductors • cleaners

autumn/winter 2013

Go online

Our new careers website launched recently at:

a Why not take give to lf se ur yo peek g in hand you that help ca with a reer at Northern?

northernrail.org/careers The new site has been up and running since the start of the year, and the Recruitment Team has seen a big increase in people visiting the site since its launch. In fact the new site has attracted nearly 60% more visitors in the first six months of 2013.

If you visit the site, you can view current vacancies, and you can also sign up to receive a vacancy alert when the next suitable vacancy becomes available.

The careers website features: • video footage of some of our people who talk about their roles and what it’s like to work for Northern

• fitters, technicians and electricians

• lots of useful hints and tips about applying for a role

• office, administration and finance roles.

• links to our social media sites, like Twitter.

northernrail.org

• guidance on compiling a CV and preparing for an interview

Amriz's story The website features Amriz Khan who works in the Control Team, as part of our support services function. Amriz joined Northern just over two years ago in a part-time role within Control, and has since been promoted into a full time position.

Find out more about Amriz and his story at northernrail.org/careers autumn/winter 2013

49

GAME ON!

YOUR STOP: WHAT TO DO

YOUR STOP: WHAT TO DO

TAKE PART!

Photo credit: sportssunday.co.uk

50

Whinlatter Off Road Duathlon Cumbria 10 November

Football, rugby, snooker, racing… The North is the place for some key sporting events in the next few months.

Here’s our pick of the must-see (and do) bunch.

RUGBY LEAGUE WORLD CUP

Williamhill.com UK Championship York Barbican 27 November - 8 December

Fourteen nations square up to each other in two groups of four… and England are drawn against rivals Australia, Fiji and Ireland in Group A. It all kicks off in Cardiff on 26 October when England play Australia – and ends at the end of the November in Manchester. Here are some of the main northern matches.

This should delight snooker loopy fans: a new format for 2013 means that all players on the professional tour will start in the same round… so established names such as Mark Selby, Judd Trump and John Higgins could come up against up-and-comers early on. yorkbarbican.co.uk

Fiji v Ireland 28 October Spotland Stadium, Rochdale

Ryan Mania, jockey of 2013 Grand National winner Auroras Encore.

Image by John Grossick.

England v Ireland 2 November John Smith’s Stadium, Huddersfield

Scotland v USA 7 November Salford City Stadium, Salford

Tonga v Italy 10 November The Shay, Halifax

Australia v Fiji 2 November Langtree Park, St Helens

N ew Zealand v Papua New Guinea 8 November Headingly Carnegie Stadium, Leeds

Quarter Finals 15 November Headingley Carnegie Stadium, Leeds

P apua New Guinea v Samoa 4 November MS3 Craven Park, Hull

E ngland v Fiji 9 November Kingston Communications Stadium, Hull

RACING

York

Main events at Newcastle include the ITPS & Cellular Solutions Raceday (15 November) and the StanJames.com Fighting Fifth Hurdle (30 November), the highlight of the jumps season. The Northumberland Chase Christmas Raceday (21 December), meanwhile, has a Christmas market attached. Bet and buy.

Place your bets for Old Roan Chase Day at this historic course on 26 October; and then get involved with a Family Funday on 27 October.

Betfred Becher Chase Day (7 December), meanwhile, is an established Grand National trial – and it’s also the final raceday in Aintree’s 2013 calendar before April’s John Smith’s Grand National, the most famous race in the world.

A quick Grand National note for your diaries, then: the Grand Opening Day takes place on 3 April; Ladies’ Day is on 4 April and Grand National Day itself is on 5 April.

At Doncaster, the Betfred November Handicap is on the 9th while the National Hunt season begins in style on 29 November.

Race-lovers shouldn’t miss the jump racing of the National Hunt Christmas Raceday (14 December) or the New Year’s National Hunt Raceday (29 December), come to that.

newcastle-racecourse.co.uk

aintree.co.uk

doncaster-racecourse.co.uk

Doncaster

Newcastle

northernrail.org

16 November DW Stadium, Wigan 7 November 1 Halliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington

Kielder Forest Park in Northumberland is the setting for this 7k trail run, 24k mountain bike and 6k trail run. Ideal for who those who are new to duathlons or aiming to compete in their first off road event. highterrainevents.co.uk

R ugby League World Cup Final 30 November Old Trafford, Manchester rlwc2013.com

PREMIER LEAGUE FOOTBALL Doncaster

Aintree

autumn/winter 2013

DUATHLONS

Kielder Off Road Dualthlon Northumberland 1 December

SNOOKER

Mark Selby

Part of the High Terrain Events duathlon series, this is a tough off road duathlon in Whinlatter Forest Park, consisting of a 6.5k multi-terrain run, an 18k mountain bike (incorporating the Altura and Quercus trails) and a 5.5k trail run. Aimed at experienced and novice competitors alike.

northernrail.org

After some top Premier League action?

Here are just some of the Premiership footie fixtures taking place in the top half of the country...

November 2 Newcastle United v Chelsea 23 Everton v Liverpool December 1 Hull v Liverpool 4 Liverpool v Norwich 4 Manchester United v Everton 7 Liverpool v West Ham 7 Manchester United v Newcastle 21 Manchester United v West Ham

21 Liverpool v Cardiff 28 Newcastle v Arsenal January 11 Stoke v Liverpool 11 Newcastle v Manchester City 28 Liverpool v Everton February 8 Liverpool v Arsenal 22 Liverpool v Swansea March 1 Manchester United v Manchester City 8 Liverpool v Sunderland 15 Manchester United v Liverpool premierleague.com autumn/winter 2013

4

7

8

10

5

Who won Britain’s Got Talent this year?

9

Which 2013 Oscar-winning film features this dialogue: “If I'm doing a fake movie, it's gonna be a fake hit.”

13

14

16

15

17

18

19

20

21

5 6

What nationality is singer Caro Emerald?

Ben Stiller stars in the new movie The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, out this December (pictured). Which 2001 film starred Stiller as a vain male supermodel?

7 8

Who played Matthew Crawley in Downton Abbey?

Which American comedian and actor voices the character of Gru in Despicable Me and Despicable Me 2?

22

9

Who released a surprise album in 2013, called The Next Day?

5

1

8 5 6 3 5

8 2

8

6 9

6

7

ANSWERS:

7 8 5

1 4

Question 6

1 4 2

4

9 1 7 1

What’s the name of BBC1’s whodunit crime series, filmed on the fictional Caribbean island of Sainte-Marie?

8 9 3 4 2 6 7 6 5 9 1 3

3

7 4

2

1

3 6 9

in Fill in all the squares row, the grid so that each each 3x3 each column, and the digits all ins nta co square from 1 to 9.

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SUDOKU

northernrail.org

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Information at www.plusbus.info

1. Taking a hopeful view (8) 2. A long journey, usually walking (4) 3. Scottish dish (6) 4. Secret (6) 5. You need this to counteract poison (8) 6. Small village festival or event (4) 8. Alan Ayckbourn lives in this seaside resort (11) 13. Gone on board (8) 15. A mad rush (8) 17. Craving for a drink (6) 18. Reluctant, discinclined (6) 19. A watch has one of these – and so do you (4) 20. Will you deck yours this Christmas (4)

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autumn/winter 2013

SUDOKU:

completes train travel

Down

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Who had hits with Troublemaker, Dear Darlin’ and Dance with Me Tonight?

TV & FILM QUIZ: 1) Robson Green, 2) Olly Murs, 3) Attraction, 4) Argo, 5) Dutch, 6) Zoolander, 7) Dan Stevens, 8) Steve Carrell, 9) David Bowie, 10) Death in Paradise CROSSWORD: Across - 7-Perhaps, 9-Ounce, 10-Ink, 11- Grapevine, 12-Ideas, 14-Buttons, 16-Mobster, 18-Arena, 19-Furniture, 20-Hop, 21-Chess, 22-Hasseled Down - 1-Optimism, 2-Trek, 3-Haggis, 8-Scarborough, 4-Covert, 5-Antidote, 6-Fete, 13-Embarked, 15-Stampede, 17-Thirst, 18-Averse, 19-Face, 20-Hall

get together with

7. Maybe (7) 9. Measurement of weight (5) 10. Liquid used in writing (3) 11. Marvin Gaye heard it through one of these (9) 12. Notions, plans (5) 14. Cinderella's friend (7) 16. Gangster (7) 18. Musical venue – Leeds has a new one (5) 19. Tables and chairs (9) 20. Jump on one leg (3) 21. Board game (5) 22. Troubled, bothered (7)

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PLUSBUS is a travelcard that you buy with PLUSBUS is great value – our ticket prices your train ticket at any station ticket office or start from £2 a day. online at: www.northernrail.org Students with a 16-25 Railcard (and holders of It gives you unlimited bus and tram travel (on other national Railcards) get 1/3 off the price participating operators services) to and from of our day tickets. the rail station and around the whole urban area of the town that’s at the start or end of Commuters can save up to £160 a month, for your train journey. details visit: www.cheapercommuting.com

Across

Which Geordie actor presents the Channel 5 show, Extreme Fishing?

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Accrington Blackpool Chester Darlington Durham Grimsby Hull Leeds Liverpool Manchester Newcastle-u-Tyne Preston Rochdale Rotherham Sheffield Stockport Warrington York

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TV , FILM & MUSICQUIZ

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PLUSBUS is available for 60 towns & cities across the Northern Rail network, including:

Stuff CROSSWORD

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Buy your train plus bus tickets together

YOUR STOP: QUIZ STUFF

YOUR STOP: JOURNEY’S END

End

Journey’s

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Brian Blessed

Hello, Brian!

HELLO! Is that the Archbishop of Canterbury?

Er, no. It’s Northern magazine.

What are you up to at the moment?

Too much! I’m doing voiceovers, having adventures, climbing mountains – and I’m going to be working on a big series for the BBC about trees for two years.

It’s all about the meaning of trees, their importance and why we need to save them. We’re going to Russia, Canada, South America, Antarctica... all over the world.

Where are you based?

Northern Rail’s headquarters is in York.

Did you know that, at York University, there’s a room called the Blessed Room? (Students have christened it: the Brian Blessed Centre for Quiet Study – Ed).

Ironically, of course. I haven’t been to it but people keep asking me to come and ‘speak very quietly in your quiet room.’

Photo credit: Steve Cowell

T

he ultra-enthusiastic Brian Blessed – actor, adventurer, mountaineer, would-be spaceman, Prince of the Hawkmen and Yorkshireman – talks about Mars, the North, his forthcoming BBC TV project... and (shhhhh!) being quiet.

(in I, Claudius) and I’m the oldest man to reach the North Pole.

5c An iPhone

And – even better – you’re the voice of Grampy Rabbit in the Peppa Pig cartoon.

How do you choose your projects these days?

I’m 50 per cent explorer, 50 per cent actor. At the age of six, I was besotted by Mars and I’ve always been slightly heartbroken that we’ve never been there. In those days we had radio – no television – and at the cinema we had the Flash Gordon serial. I always came out pretending to be Vultan, Prince of the Hawkmen – never dreaming I would actually BE Vultan one day.

(Brian played Vultan in the cult 1980 Flash Gordon remake – and uttered the immortal words: “Gordon’s ALIVE?!” – Ed).

You’ve also trained as an astronaut in Moscow…

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N I W

I was doing a talk the other day and there were a lot of kids in the audience. Someone said: ‘All the children can’t believe it, Brian – you’re Grampy Rabbit!’ I only had to say two things: ‘Peppa Pig’ and ‘Gordon’s ALIVE!?’

“Yes, I've done centrifuge-training,

I've flown in MIG-29s and I've tested

Yes, I’ve done advanced new suits for Mars centrifugetraining, which cost about seven million I’ve flown in MIG-29s and pounds each.

I’ve tested advanced new suits for Mars which cost about seven million pounds each. I was talking to Joe So if you got the chance to go into Pasquale about this (now space, would you jump at it?

THERE are two voices Yes, I probably would – I’m one of on opposite ends of the reserves, so I could be called. the spectrum – Ed).

One of the reasons they gave me Because of my the training was that I went so high training I meet on Everest – 28,400 feet without top scientists and oxygen at the age of 62. astronauts – and Do you still love acting? marvellous I think it’s the bravest of all the arts. things are Ninety per cent of the time you’re going on.

What’s your favourite place in the North?

”

shot down by the critics, so you have to have the courage to get back on stage again or appear in front of the camera again. It’s a must for me. But going to Everest or the North Pole like I did... that is LIFE. Aspects of acting can’t quite compete with that.

But I combine the world of acting with the world of adventure very well. I’ve got the record for the longest death scene on camera northernrail.org

Haworth. Aged 15, I headed off with my good friend Patrick Stewart on a week’s drama course in the Calder Valley.

There were top teachers there... and just up the road was Haworth.

Top Withens and Wuthering Heights... I feel it’s the centre of the earth.

Thanks, Brian.

Lots of love. Go and find my quiet room.

AND KEEP QUIET!

more@ cnp.org.uk northernrail.org

To mark the launch of Northern Rail’s new mobile friendly website, we’re giving away an amazing iPhone 5c.

Our mobile friendly website (m.northernrail.org) contains most of the content from our full site but prioritises providing the information you need whilst on the go. It’s really easy to use and some of the great features include live train times and journey information, station access information, offers and latest news. You can plan a journey from your nearest station and buy a ticket to anywhere in the Great Britain.

For your chance to win, simply visit northernrail.org/mobile

You love our green spaces don’t you?

Yes! I was President of the Campaign for National Parks for seven years. I’m now Vice President. We don’t beat the drum enough: our National Parks are a great success story right across the country from the South Downs, Yorkshire, the Peak District and the Lake District... Marvellous!

YOUR STOP: SECTION COMPETITION : TITLE

Closing date for entries is 28 February 2014. *Terms and conditions apply, see website for details.

Get in Contact Customer helpline For comments, enquiries and complaints telephone: 0845 00 00 125 email: customer.relations@northernrail.org

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National Rail Enquiries

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telephone: 08457 48 49 50 textphone: 0845 60 50 600 nationalrail.co.uk

British Transport Police telephone: 0800 40 50 40

Lost property telephone: 0845 00 00 125 email: lost.property@northernrail.org

northernrail.org autumn/winter 2013

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