Northern Rail magazine Spring / Summer 2013

CK PI E M

'M ,I UP

!

EE FR

Your FREE customer magazine from Northern Rail

Issue eight : spring/summer 2013 northernrail.org

City focus

lorrAine pascale

W IN!

Takes our Q&A

an iPad mini See page 55

GRIFF’S RESTORATION DRAMA

Griff Rhys Jones on saving northern heritage

Also

News from Northern • Around the Peak District • Summer festival guide • AND MUCH MORE...

PLATFORM: EDITOR’S LETTER

Editor’s Letter

2

Griff Rhys Jones... ...has spent his adult life making people laugh – now he wants them to think, too. In fact, he’s a man on a heritage mission and recently headed north in his capacity as both ambassador for the Prince’s Regeneration Trust and President of Civic Voice to lend his support to various civic and countryside campaign groups. We talk to him about his work – and what he loves about our region.

Plus, this edition: Lorraine Pascale’s sweet. No, really – she is. Apart from being a former supermodel and current supermum, Lorraine is also the hottest TV chef this side of Nigella. And not only does she answer our regular Q&A (hop on over to page 54 for a read of that) she also shares with us a fabulous summer dessert recipe. See? How sweet can you get?

We’ve also a run-down of the best festivals in the North this spring and summer – pick the best forthcoming theatre and movie shows, whirl around the Peak District, take a tour of York and get an insider view of the North’s great cities. Phew.

As always, hope you enjoy the journey.

24 16

Tony Greenway Editor

E DI TO R

Tony Greenway tony@scarlettabbott.co.uk

D ES IG N AND P R O D U CT IO N

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

C O N T RI B UTO R S

Jo Haywood Anthony Quinlan

AD V E R T I S I NG

Northern magazine is continually stocked at Northern stations, and is accessible to 100,000 commuters, tourists and decision-makers travelling across northern England.

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.

C O N TACT:

Ian Hall Head of Marketing and Sales ian.hall@northernrail.org

37 PLATFORM

4 6 10

HELLO FROM IAN Northern Rail’s MD, Ian Bevan

NORTHERN LIFE News from around the network INBOX Your Northern views

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.

Cover photo: Rex Features

New FSC logo

6 27

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

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.

IAN

+ It would be great to get

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

PLATFORM: CONTENTS

44

30 50

Contents

54

spring/summer2013 | northernrail.org

FOR THE JOURNEY

12 16 21 22

YOUR STOP

GRIFF RHYS JONES Gets serious about saving our heritage

FESTIVALS The ultimate summer guide

FOOD AND DRINK Lorraine Pascale’s yummiest ice-cream

CITY GUIDE: YORK Follow Jo Haywood. She knows the way

WIN!

northernrail.org

TRAVEL IN STYLE This season’s must-haves

NETWORK MAP Your Northern

FIVE OF THE BEST …miniature and cliff railways

An iPad mini to celebrate the launch of Northern Rail’s new app

27 28 30 33 37 41

55

NEXT STOP …the Peak District. All of it

INSIDER GUIDES City views from people who know

44 49 50 53 54

THE LOWDOWN What’s on in the North CAREERS Join us at Northern ACTIVITIES Run for it!

QUIZ PAGE Hang on. I know this one

JOURNEY’S END Lorraine Pascale takes our Q&A

ALL TOGETHER NOW Community news: cycle hire

When you have finished with this magazine please recycle it.

spring/summer 2013

3

4

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

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

Hello from Ian Welcome !

W

elcome to our spring issue of Northern, packed full of ideas for places to visit and things to do in the coming months, now the days are getting longer and the weather is turning (hopefully!) a little bit warmer.

At Northern, engaging with the communities we serve has always been vitally important to us. That is why we were delighted to be named Overall Winner at the Community Rail Awards last year. Judges recognised our commitment to engaging with and supporting 18 Community Rail Partnerships across our network, developing local rail services and facilities to meet the needs of passengers.

You can now see how your train is running or even buy a ticket while you are on the move with the new Northern app.

Speaking of improved facilities, we know that many of you drive to your local station so we’ve been extending some of our busiest car parks with funding from the Government’s Station Commercial Project Fund and support from our stakeholders.

And, to make travelling that little bit easier you can now see how your train is running or even buy a ticket while you are on the move with the new Northern app available for iPhone and Android devices.

We’ve crammed a lot into this edition. We’ve been excited to talk to Griff Rhys Jones, the actor and comedian, who is now something of a champion of our urban and green areas. He talks to us about northern heritage – and why we should be using buildings that are under threat. Plus we tour the Peak District and York; find out about Newcastle, Sheffield, Manchester and Liverpool from the people who know them best, and chat to top chef, Lorraine Pascale – who also gives us a tasty ice cream recipe.

As always, please write to us at the address on our letters page if you have any questions or views about any elements of our service.

Happy travelling!

Ian Bevan Managing Director

spring/summer 2013

northernrail.org

6

SECTION : TITLE PLATFORM: NORTHERN LIFE

Life

There’s no news like good news, we reckon. So here’s our regular round-up of Northern stories that could seriously help your journey with us…

Appy days!

W

e’re always trying to find new ways to keep you updated and improve passenger experiences – so, in December, we launched our first-ever Northern Rail app.

The app is free to download and allows you to plan any journey in Great Britain – plus save details of up to 20 previous journeys.

You can also purchase tickets through the app, which automatically finds the cheapest available tickets for any journey across the country.

You can then collect your tickets from over 1,000 stations 15 minutes after purchase, with no hidden charges.

And because the app features

Richelle Walsh, our Customer Service Assistant at Greenfield station, was among the glitterati recognised by the Queen in the New Year Honours list. Richelle becomes Medallist of the Order of the British Empire (BEM) for services to the rail industry and to the community in Oldham.

Congratulations!

You can also purchase tickets through the app, which automatically finds the cheapest available tickets for any journey across the country. check for any disruption or delays and even check which platform you should head to at the station.

Customers at Manchester Victoria station get to grips with their new app spring/summer 2013

With Honours

live running time information direct from National Rail, you can monitor journeys,

The app is available on iPhone and Android now.

For more information, visit northernrail.org/app

Out with the old

Following the introduction of a brand new uniform for drivers, conductors and ticket office staff, Northern donated more than 3,000 items of the old uniform to the Salvation Army.

Weighing in at over 629 kilos – more than two thirds of a tonne (that’s the same weight as a baby hippo or female beluga whale!)

– the Northern branded items were collected from colleagues across the network.

The Salvation Army plans to recycle the clothing and send it abroad to disadvantaged countries. northernrail.org

PLATFORM: NORTHERN SECTIONLIFE : TITLE

WINning seminar plays a part in contributing to our Over 60 of our people – men successful and high-performing and women – attended a recent business.” seminar hosted by Women in Northern (WIN) But why is where speakers WIN is about there no ‘Men from inside in Northern’ empowering Northern and outside group? Nikki women to be more the industry Hosty, Head inspired much confident and proud of of HR Support discussion.

Services, has

their skills, experiences

a simple “WIN is about and talents. response. empowering "It’s a fact Northern women that women to be more confident and proud are in the minority at Northern,” of their skills, experiences and she says. “We need women and talents,” says Caroline Wilson, men to work together to help WIN Chair. “Every single person address the imbalance.”

By the way, our new careers website launched recently, and can be found at northernrail.org/careers.

For more information, see page 49!

The new eco-friendly shelter at Mary port station

Green screens

Northern has reduced its carbon footprint by 23% since 2007...

Passengers travelling along the Cumbrian Coast will now be helping to reduce their carbon footprint with every step along the platform at St Bees and Seascale.

Following from the recent installation of a shelter at Maryport, new eco-friendly shelters have been installed at both stations. Each has been produced using ...and is the environmentally sustainable fi rs t rail operato materials, the construction of r in the countr which mirrors the natural y surroundings of the coastal to measure it s community. Passers-by have entire carbo even commented on how they n footprint. remind them of quaint beach huts!

Facebook forum The Northern Rail Cycle Forum – meeting three times a year at various locations around the North – is a platform for members to share good cycle practice, exchange views and engage in dialogue with Northern Rail.

Over the years, it has (among other things), surveyed cycle parking provision at stations, advised on the development and maintenance of Northern Rail’s Cycle Strategy, advised on the placement of cycle stands and shelters at stations and helped with the selection of stations for new cycle hire provision. northernrail.org

Forum members with Norman Baker MP

Membership includes over 100 organisations, local authority officers, cycling organisations, management staff from Northern Rail, tourism officers and Community Rail Partnerships.

And now the forum has its own ‘open’ Facebook group too, to widen access to anyone who

uses a bike and has a point to make about Northern services.

Facebookers can join by clicking ‘add me to this group’.

“The idea behind the Facebook group is that cyclists who use Northern Rail can share their views and ideas and report issues any time they like on the group’s

Facebook page,” says Les Webb, the forum’s Joint Secretary.

Anyone who wants to join the forum itself should get in touch with Les at les.webb@sustrans.org.uk For more details visit northernrail.org/travel/cycling, which also includes a link to the forum’s own website. spring/summer 2013

7

8

PLATFORM: SECTION : TITLE NORTHERN LIFE

ENGINEERING

Northern Stars celebrates those employees who give great service to our customers or colleagues.

W

e know engineering works can be frustrating and we apologise for any inconvenience they cause – but they are essential to help improve and maintain our service to you. Here’s a round up of the major engineering work expected in the next few months.

Phil Whelan,

CRSC, Manchester Oxford Rd Phil stepped in to support industry colleagues and keep services running when fog threatened to leave train crew stranded.

He discovered the 04.30 bus that takes crew from Bolton to Manchester International Airport to start work was cancelled due to fog.

People were worried they’d be late for work and despite having just completed a night shift, Phil took them all the way to the airport.

He was quick to act and avoided the need for multiple taxis.

Phil Smith, Station Team Leader, Manchester Victoria Phil’s response to a customer’s urgent need caught our judges’ attention.

When a customer’s heart monitor became detached from his body while he was passing through Manchester Victoria station, Phil’s response was swift, effective and sensitive. He took the man into an office room for privacy and helped him reattach his important medical monitor. The customer was very grateful for all Phil’s help.

Mick Bryan, Driver, Leeds Mick was recognised for the way he stepped in to support colleagues and keep our services running when a train crew supervisor was taken ill. Not only did he look after the colleague until he could be taken to hospital, he also covered the phones until relief cover could be arranged.

Our judges agreed that Mick’s actions undoubtedly kept trains running.

Dave Dawood, RSA, Deansgate On a busy Saturday afternoon – Rugby League Grand Final day – Dave took the initiative, alerting British Transport Police that the station was filling up. He then went on to provide calm and informative customer service on very busy platforms. Concerned for everyone's safety, he also enlisted the help of colleagues to help manage passenger flow by temporarily closing off a subway until a particularly busy service had departed. Dave impressed the judges with the way he made a high effort to ensure customers got home safely and still managed to delivery excellent customer service under extreme pressure.

The Halo award is aimed at recognising our colleagues who go out of their way to make things better for other people, often in heroic circumstances.

Tony Butchard, Station Team Leader and Alan Jones, Conductor, Liverpool Lime Street Tony and Alan received Halo awards for the way they reacted together when a man threatened to leap from the 12th floor of Liverpool Lime Street station car park.

Their approach was considered, empathetic and effective. The judges wanted to recognise their quick-thinking, compassion and bravery to tackle the situation and help prevent a fatal incident. spring/summer 2013

Chat Moss Electrification

Overnight electrification work will continue throughout 2013. From Sunday 19 May onwards, late night trains will be replaced by buses between Sundays and Thursdays nights.

Salford Crescent

Ongoing engineering work at Salford Crescent will continue into 2013, including Easter Weekend on Saturday 30 and Sunday 31 March.

Lancaster

Weekend engineering work will start on Easter weekend – Saturday 30 and Sunday 31 March and will continue until Spring Bank Holiday on Monday 27 May. Wigan North Western area

From Saturday 13 July until Sunday 21 July, track renewal work will take place between Warrington Bank Quay, Wigan North Western and Preston.

Sheffield to Lincoln

Work to improve the track and signals on the Sheffield to Lincoln route will take place for 16 days from Saturday 20 July until Sunday 4 August, and on several occasions until early September.

Nottingham

Work to improve Nottingham station will take place from Saturday 20 July until Monday 26 August. This work has been ongoing since October 2012.

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 northernrail.org

10

PLATFORM: INBOX

inbox WRITE TO US: at our FREEPOST address EMAIL: customer.relations@northernrail.org FOLLOW US ON TWITTER: @northernrailorg

We like to hear your thoughts about our service.

The letters we receive cover a range of subjects – but there are two specific areas which have attracted the greatest feedback from you recently: fare increases and car parking capacity.

Here, Ian Bevan, Managing Director of Northern Rail, answers some of your questions.

SUBJECT:

Car parking capacity Many letters we received underlined a lack of available car parking spaces at busy commuting stations. Others felt that car parking arrangements could be improved by reviewing the layout of existing station car parks and marking car parking spaces more clearly for car users.

SUBJECT:

Fare increases Your letters focused on the average fare increase of 4.8%, with some of our more cash-strapped customers, including students, particularly disappointed in the above-inflation rise. Other letters mentioned the fare increases and highlighted that there had been no perceptive improvement in services.

Ian says: The price increases every January are a result of government policy which seeks to sustain investment in the railways by reducing the amount taxpayers contribute – and requiring passengers to pay more.

Money raised in this way, combined with cost efficiencies, is invested in the network. Working with the Department for Transport we have introduced 60 additional carriages to help alleviate crowding at peak

times and we are constantly evaluating how we address increased demand.

We continue to introduce cheaper fares to offer passengers best value for money with our Duo tickets, and we recently introduced Advance tickets which are available online through the Northern website. Plus, don’t forget there are a range of Railcards available offering substantial discounts.

Ian says: Our Estates Team are always busy improving car parking facilities.

There is a continual programme to review parking at all our stations and where improvements can be made these will be addressed.

This doesn’t necessarily mean providing more spaces. At Northern we also consider more sustainable alternatives to travelling to and from the station. During 2013, over £1.5m will be invested to provide improved cycling facilities and a new bike hire scheme at selected Northern stations.

In fact, we have targeted 25 stations to receive our new bike hire scheme during the course of this year.

If you have a suggestion or feedback about anything Northern, please write to us at: Customer Relations Department, Northern Rail, Freepost (RLSL-ABEC-BGUU) Leeds, LS1 4DY

spring/summer 2013

northernrail.org

northernrail.org

spring/summer 2013

12

FOR THE JOURNEY: Griff Rhys Jones

I started to think what an amazing place the North is.

All photos: Gary Carlton spring/summer 2013

northernrail.org

FOR THE JOURNEY: Griff Rhys Jones

Griff GETS SERIOUS

He’s best known as an actor, comedian, writer and TV presenter, but Griff Rhys Jones now has an even more challenging role: as a champion of our heritage, countryside, urban spaces — and of listed buildings that are under threat of demolition. Tony Greenway talked to him.

G

riff Rhys Jones has just come back from a tour of Yorkshire and he’s fizzingly enthusiastic about it. This is nothing new: in the 1990s Griff and his comedy partner, Mel Smith, would regularly go from northern theatre to northern theatre, taking their ‘Smith and Jones Live’ show to packed houses.

But this time it was different. Griff wasn’t in the North for laughs. He was here to lend his support to various civic groups involved in saving important buildings – and to encourage people to get together and speak up for the countryside, for their villages, towns and cities.

In Bradford, for example, he met the group campaigning to prevent the city’s iconic and historic Odeon cinema from demolition.

In Sheffield he saw how volunteers are involved in saving Portland Works, the Grade II* listed building, which was the first place in the world to manufacture stainless steel cutlery; and in Wharfedale he met groups fighting to protect the green belt from development. “What was northernrail.org

interesting,” says Griff, “was that everywhere I went, I encountered different problems.”

Yet his journey north proved to him that there are groups standing up for their surroundings, be it town or countryside; and that community action can affect real change – even when it comes to planning laws – although at times it may feel like a hopeless task. “For instance,” he says, “a tiny little notice goes up on a lamp post that reads: ‘This building is about to be demolished’. You may think: ‘There’s nothing we can do about that. It’s all part of a higher scheme’. But the truth is that people CAN get involved – and if local people value a building then they should use it. Because the biggest publicity (for a threatened building), and the thing that will help save it, is the knowledge that local people want it.

“A recycled, reused building can be more effective than knocking it down and building something new in its place. There’s a lot of talk about ‘community’ these days, and I really feel that people getting together around

the fabric of a building is a wonderful thing.”

Once, Griff admits, he was too busy to notice his surroundings much and used to pass through the North without much of a thought.

“Over the years, Mel and I used to tour,” he remembers. “We’d trundle along in a very inept way – one day we’d be in Bradford, the next in Scotland! We’d go to places we’d only previously read about in Melody Maker. But there we were, actually playing in them.

“Now, in those days, I never really appreciated the extraordinary quality of the North’s urban and wild environments.

But, later, because I presented the Restoration series on TV and because I was given my marching orders by the BBC – literally: they said ‘Go forth and start climbing mountains!’

– I found myself in locations such as Sheffield and yomping up hills and walking across the Pennines. It was only then I started to think what an amazing place the North is.” spring/summer 2013

13

14

FOR THE JOURNEY: Griff Rhys Jones If he had been born 10 years earlier, maybe Griff could have been the seventh member of Monty Python. His career has followed the same Python-like trajectory, after all.

Like some of the Pythons he was Cambridgeeducated, joined its reputation-forging amateur theatrical Footlights Club (he became its vice president in 1976) and then found fame in a cult alternative comedy TV series – although, in Griff’s case, this one was called Not the Nine O’Clock News, and co-starred Rowan Atkinson, Pamela Stephenson and Mel Smith.

Perhaps this is why a dignitary in a northern town – who shall remain nameless – recently mixed him up with Michael Palin, telling him: “Can I just say: ‘I’m a lumberjack – and I’m OK!’” Which, of course, says Griff, is a song the globetrotting ex-Python used to sing.

It’s not the first time it’s happened, either, he says.

“Everywhere I go, people rather respectfully call me Michael Palin,” he told an audience at Sheffield University. “But I’m nothing to do with Michael Palin. I’ve just tried to steal his job over the years.”

Griff on town planning: “We can’t go on saying: ‘Here’s a section of a town which doesn’t seem to be working – so the solution is to clear the ground, start all over again and put in some big motorways.’ Apart from anything else it’s extremely wasteful and destroys in an instant the potential for the imaginative restructuring of an area.”

When Not the Nine O’Clock News came to an end, Smith and Jones started their hit double act. Behind the scenes they also founded Talkback, the TV production company that created such shows as QI, Never Mind the Buzzcocks and The Apprentice, and which they later sold for a reported £62m.

Griff on future TV projects: “I’m making a couple of films (in 2013), although more as a producer rather than in front of the camera. Three Men in a Boat seems to have hit the rocks, however. Well, there you are. We always enjoyed making it – it got good reviews and people loved it – but I think they’re making room for something else.”

So far, so lucrative.

It was about this time, though, that Griff’s career took a surprising and sharp left turn.

After helping raise money to save the beleaguered Hackney Empire in London’s East End, he was asked to present a new BBC TV series called Restoration. This was a show that championed historic buildings that were under threat of ruin or demolition – series one winner was the Victoria Baths in Manchester – and it was a big, if unexpected, hit.

“I got into the BBC’s Restoration series because of the work I’d done in Hackney,” remembers Griff.

“I’m the sort of person who sees a building or an empty plot and thinks they should be reused and rethought, not brushed out of the way. I’ve felt that way all my life.”

So, since Restoration, he’s turned into a sort of roving documentary-maker and champion of both green and

urban spaces, presenting Greatest Cities of the World for ITV, climbing Britain’s peaks for the series Mountain and discovering Britain’s Lost Routes for BBC1 (although he still keeps his comedy hand in by presenting the blooper show It’ll Be All Right on the Night from time to time).

Passionate about all things nautical he’s also made various water-bound trips for the Three Men in a Boat series, alongside Rory McGrath and Dara Ó Briain.

“I’ve been very, very lucky over the last 10 years,” admits Griff. “I don’t know if it will last – we shall see – but I have been able to tramp around Britain. I’ve been sent off with a camera crew to some of the most extraordinary places in the country. And they ARE extraordinary.

I’ve been sent off with a camera crew to some of the most extraordinary places in the country. And they ARE extraordinary.

spring/summer 2013

northernrail.org

FOR THE JOURNEY: Griff Rhys Jones

15

Griff at The Milton Rooms, Malton, for the Prince’s Regeneration Trust

Griff on Leeds:

gate Market, Leeds Kirk

“I would dearly like most politicians to do my job for a bit – although Michael Portillo (with Great British Railway Journeys) seems to be trying to take it over at the moment.

“I think we need most politicians to get out of their constituencies and actually walk in this country. When you see Britain like that you realise that, yes, we’re an overcrowded place but, my goodness, when it works, it works terrifically. We have a range of landscapes from mountains to salt plains to areas of marsh – and we need to be guardians of it. If people stand up and talk about saving the countryside from development or a much-loved building from demolition, it doesn’t mean that they are only worried about the value of their houses or preserving their views,” he says. “It’s actually about having value for a community in general.”

Indeed, Griff wants local communities to help make the places we live in more attractive, enjoyable and distinctive. He feels so strongly

Griff on our city centres: “We have to think of the centre of our cities as being our front rooms.

They are the places for our cultural succour as well as being places to meet, drink and eat.

They’re places to do a bit of shopping but not places to zoom in and out of, or places to pass through at 70 miles an hour.”

northernrail.org

about this that he is currently President of Civic Voice, the national charity for the civic movement which, since its launch in 2010, has welcomed over 65,000 members and is running a series of major campaigns. Griff is also an ambassador for the Prince’s Regeneration Trust which aims to ensure that historic buildings at risk of demolition or decay are preserved, regenerated and reused. One newspaper commentator noted that he was “perilously close to the status of national treasure” – an idea which obviously appals him. Yet his position with Civic Voice and the Prince’s Regeneration Trust was the catalyst for his recent northern tour. “For most of my journey I travelled around by train, dragging my suitcase behind me,” says Griff.

“And it was very enjoyable.”

For example, in Malton, near York, Griff visited the Milton Rooms, a beautiful 1930s theatre which is being saved and restored by the Prince’s Regeneration Trust for community benefit and to develop it into a nationally recognised arts venue. In Bradford, he gave a keynote speech at the official launch of a new Community Benefit Society, Bradford One. In Hebden Bridge he addressed a national conference on civic buildings; in Leeds he spoke to businesses about playing their part in supporting communities, and in Sheffield he visited the Park Hill estate to see at first-hand how it is being given a new lease of life.

“I love Leeds. I spent a long time in Leeds because I did a play there at the West Yorkshire Playhouse – so (this time) I walked about thinking how much I loved the shopping centre and the markets and thinking: what could be done to help Leeds recover from the Loop? If you have a six lane motorway running close to the centre of town, nobody crosses it with a feeling of anticipation.

To me, (making it) easier for people to drive into town also makes it easier for people to drive past it. The great cities which people are attracted to are labyrinths which require you to abandon your car and go on foot.”

He’ll be back. A fan of the North’s big cities, he also loves its glorious countryside. “One of the most marvellous things about living in Manchester or Leeds,” he says, “is that you can go into the Pennines and find yourself in a region as wide open, free and spacious and as in touch with Mother Earth – and I hate to use a phrase like that – as you can get.”

“That contrast between city and countryside – and the fact that you can suddenly find yourself in the most staggeringly beautiful landscape – is wonderful.”

we stop here!

more@ princes-regeneration.org civicvoice.org.uk spring/summer 2013

16

FOR THE JOURNEY: SUMMER SHOWS

Where are the biggest and best summer shows and festivals in 2013? Well, in the north – naturally. Here are some of our ‘don’t miss’ favourites…

Liverpool 70th Anniversary of the Battle of the Atlantic 24-27 May | liverpool.gov.uk

Southport Southport Flower Show 15-18 August | southportflowershow.co.uk

Everything’s coming up roses at the UK's largest independent flower show, returning this summer for its 84th year. Attracting around 70,000 visitors, the four day event will feature garden design, gourmet foods and entertainment – and the theme for 2013 is Pride. Celebrity garden experts and Southport Flower Show patrons, Sir Roddy Llewellyn, Professor David Bellamy OBE and Professor Stefan Buczacki will be making an appearance; plus the show has expanded to include food, books and entertainment, with the inclusion of the North West Food Festival and North West Book Festival.

Southpoartlk) w (15 min

military The Battle of the Atlantic was the longest continuous its tes emora comm event This campaign in World War II. ship tional interna and Navy Royal with 70th anniversary, l visits, a daytime Cathedral Service (26 May), a march Liverpoo et e Naval ant tr Merch through Liverpool by current Naval and Lime S walk) fish.

(10 min personnel and veterans, plus a flypast of Fairey Sword

HArrogate The GreatYorkshire Show 9-11 July | greatyorkshireshow.co.uk

Harrogleate bus)

tt (Free shu

It was, dramatically, cut short last year – but the Great Yorkshire Show returns in 2013, bigger and better than ever, for its 155th outing. More than 130,000 visitors will enjoy the Food Hall with some of the country’s finest food and drink, a cookery theatre, garden show, top-class show jumping and equine classes, plus fashion shows with national and regional designers.

Oh, and the Royal Signals Motorcycle Display Team – The White Helmets – is the Main Ring attraction.

Book with Northern Rail and receive a further £2 off the advance ticket price of your Show Ticket when you purchase your rail ticket at the same time. To take advantage of this offer, visit any staffed railway station from 19 May. Trains run every half an hour between Leeds and Harrogate and every hour between York and Harrogate. Then use the FREE shuttle bus.

spring/summer 2013

northernrail.org

FOR THE JOURNEY: SUMMER SHOWS

17

Driffield Driffield Show

Whitehaven

17 July | driffieldshow.co.uk

Whitehaven Festival

en Whitehwaavlk)

21-23 June | thewhitehavenfestival.co.uk

(5 min

The Whitehaven Festival has been a popular fixture on the Cumbrian coast since 1998; and while estimates vary from year to year, organisers work on the assumption that between 200,000 and 300,000 people will turn out to see it. There’s a good reason it’s well-attended because Whitehaven always comes up trumps with a mix of street theatre, air shows, visiting ships and – of course – live music. This year there’s a 1970s vibe in the air, so put on your stack heels, your gold lamé catsuit and your eyeliner (and, ladies, we invite you to do the same) because, on 22 June, glam rock gods Slade and Sweet are in town. They’ll be sharing a bill with post-punk band From the Jam (Bruce Foxton, minus Paul Weller).

Driffieldbus)

ttle (Free shu

South Pennines

Tatton Park

Walk & Ride South Pennines Festival

RHS Flower Show Tatton Park

7-22 September | walkandridefestival.co.uk

A festival that does what it says on the tin with over 100 opportunities to get out into the great outdoors and explore the stunning landscape of the South Pennines on foot, on cycle or on horseback.

25-28 July | rhs.org.uk

Dig in (literally) because this year, the show will be split into four separate zones: Grow, Escape, Inspire and Feast.

Each zone will feature exhibits which reflect its theme – plus expect the usual vibrant floral displays and non-stop gardening inspiration.

Various

site (See webiils) for deta

Buxton Buxton Festival

5-21 July | buxtonfestival.co.uk

Knutsfoardlk) w (10 min

Bradford Bradford International Film Festival

11-21 April | nationalmediamuseum.org.uk/BradfordInternationalFilmFestival

Including a celebration of the 100th anniversary of Indian cinema, plus a Widescreen Weekend with screenings devoted to the 60th anniversary of 20th Century Fox’s cinematographic process, CinemaScope. Slumdog Millionaire’s Oscar-winning screenwriter Simon Beaufoy will present a masterclass to young film students in the Filmmakers’ Weekend, and film critic Mark Kermode returns with his skiffle Bradford e g group, The Dodge Brothers.

Interchan northernrail.org

An entertaining country show with a varied programme, year-on-year.

Plus, don’t forget the Driffield Game and Country Fair on August 24 and 25.

walk) (10 min

A summer celebration of the very best opera, music and literature, in the Buxtonlk) heart of the beautiful Peak District. a (5 min w This year will be the 35th Buxton artists with ctions Festival, bringing top-quality produ mme. and speakers of worldwide reputation in a varied progra operas by tic roman ing The Festival Double Bill consists of two sparkl is La finta ction produ opera l festiva Gounod and Saint Saens; the other s over feature series y Literar ned renow ally nation The t. giardiniera, by Mozar Melvyn , Toksvig 30 talks by speakers including Ann Widdecombe, Sandy Duke of Devonshire.

Bragg, the BBC Political Editor Nick Robinson and The

WIN!

talk Buxton Festival is offering two competition tickets for the entitled y, ograph

by Ann Widdecombe on her new autobi Strictly Ann, on 16 July at 10.30am in the Pavilion Arts n Centre in Buxton. Simply answer the following questio g: winnin of e chanc a with in be to

Q: Towhich political party does AnnWiddecombe belong?

n Rail: Ann Widdecombe To enter: Submit your answer by email – marked ‘Norther Competition’ – to liz@buxtonfestival.co.uk ombe Competition’ – to Buxton Or by postcard – marked ‘Northern Rail: Ann Widdec 6AZ. SK17 ire, Derbysh Buxton, Square, The 3 Office, Festival Competition closes: Friday 31 May 2013.

be the winner. The Editor’s decision is final and Terms and conditions: The first correct entry drawn will ble and no cash alternative will be offered. no correspondence will be entered into. Prize is not transfera or applied to tickets already purchased.

Prize cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer

spring/summer 2013

18

FOR THE JOURNEY: SUMMER SHOWS

Clitheroe

Southport

Clitheroe Food Festival

Southpoartlk)

Southport Food and Drink Festival

10 August | clitheroefoodfestival.co.uk

w (10 min

31 May-2 June | visitsouthport.com

A gorgeous little Lancashire market town with a buzzing food festival.

Lots of tasty fun for all the family..

Fresh produce, lots of local restaurants, excellent drink and a selection of the region’s best chefs demonstrating their kitchen skills.

Hexham Hexham Book Festival

Hexham alk)

w (10 min

22 April-2 May | hexhambookfestival.co.uk

The jewel in Northumberland’s literary crown returns, launching early with a one-off special event on 27 March with author Kate Atkinson. The main festival includes Edward Stourton, Michael Frayn and Edwina Currie, followed in mid-May by some exclusive talks at Alnwick Playhouse and Alnwick Castle and Garden with Lionel Shriver and Dan Snow, among others.

Clitheroalke) (5 min w

Beverley tival Beverley Folk Fes yfestival.com

Beverleaylk)

w (15 min

WIN!

of events and special children’s activities (FREE for ages up to 11) guarantee a great time for everyone.

Come along and see why the Beverley Folk Festival has been shortlisted for Best Family Festival at the UK Festival Awards in 2010, 2011 and 2012.

Located at Beverley Racecourse just a short walk from the town’s historic centre, close to the local train station with regular Northern services running from Hull, Bridlington, Scarborough and other locations, plus a shuttle bus service is available.

Tickets and info – beverleyfestival.com 01377 217569

Weekend Passes + Northern readers have the chance to win a pair of Full please. Simply answer Camping worth £200, so you can come and go as you e of winning: chanc a with the following question about the festival to be in

Q: How old is the festivalthisyear?

com Entries) page of the festival website: beverleyfestival.

Submit your answer via the Contact Us (Competition on Friday 24 May. website festival the on ced announ be will winner Competition closes: Friday 17 May 2013. The ndence will be be the winner. The Editor’s decision is final and no correspo Terms and conditions: The first correct entry drawn will with any other offer e will be offered. Prize cannot be used in conjunction entered into. Prize is not transferable and no cash alternativ or applied to tickets already purchased.

IS THIS not enough for you? Buy train tickets to anywhere in Great Britain at northernrail.org spring/summer 2013

Festival of the North East June | festivalne.com

21-23 June 2013 | beverle

The Proclaimers, Show of Hands with Miranda Sykes, Oysterband, Gretchen Peters, Steve Forbert, John Shuttleworth, Patrick Monahan and Ian Rankin plus around 60 more acts make the Beverley Folk Festival the place to be this June.

Three nights and two days of music, dance, comedy, film, spoken word, children and youth events, workshops, craft, music, food stalls, real ale bars, camping, plus much more. Everything required for a great day or full weekend away. Held in the beautiful East Yorkshire market town of Beverley each June, visitors from across the globe flock to the festival, now in its 30th year. One of the best small, family-friendly festivals in the UK, its diverse programme

North East Celebrating the creativity and innovation of the region with a jam-packed programme of over 200 free and ticketed events Variouste si (See webils) throughout June. This first-ever Festival for deta of the North East takes in arts and science, heritage and history, industry and technology, provocation and debate, making it one of the largest and most eclectic festivals in the UK.

Settle-Carlisle Ride2Stride

30 April-6 May | ride2stride.org.uk

Various

A festival of walks (from moderate to site (See webils) for deta strenuous), talks and music along the Settle-Carlisle railway line. Walks will be led from stations by experienced walk leaders, and the pubs will be alive with music and song. Great scenery, great beer and a sing-song – where do we sign up?

carlisle Cumberland Show 8 June | cumberlandshow.co.uk

Carlislelk)

wa (40 min

How about this for an anniversary?

It’s the 175th Cumberland Show, celebrating farming, food and countryside. A grand family day out – and it all happens on Carlisle Racecourse.

Photo Credit: c/o Cumbrian Newspapers

northernrail.org

Hexham Book Festival 2013 March/April/May

Joe Simpson

Claire Tomalin

Edward Stourton

Dan Snow

Gavin Hewitt

Lionel Shriver

For full details, please see our website;

www.hexhambookfestival.co.uk Box Office 01434 652 477 Show_Piece_Northern_Rail_Ad.pdf

1

22/02/2013

09:08

SAVE ÂŁ2

off the ad van price wh ced purchasin en g a rail tick with et *See websi

te for detail

s

www.greatyorkshireshow.co.uk or call 01423 541222

She was flabbergasted.

She didn’t realise there was so much to see and do.

Driffield Show July 17th Such a great day out!

Discounted advance tickets:- www.driffieldshow.co.uk AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY

Search ‘National Media Museum’ For more information and to sign up to our mailing list please visit:

www.bradfordfilmfestival.org.uk Box Office 0844 856 3797 National Media Museum, Bradford. BD1

5BEST OF THE

FOR THE JOURNEY: 5 OF THE BEST

Here’s an idea: take a trip on our trains to visit some smaller ones.

Some MUCH smaller ones...

2

Crewe Heritage Centre Miniature Railway

Crewe Heritage Centre – approximately a 15 minute walk from Crewe station – is home to a miniature railway (run by volunteers) which is 600 yards long. Not only that, it has three stations and is pulled by two locomotives: one battery powered and one steam powered. One free ride per visitor is included with admission to the site. creweheritagecentre.co.uk

3

South Garden Miniature Railway, National Railway Museum, York

You’d expect the National Railway Museum to have a miniature railway – and it does: a 7" gauge train in the South Yard which runs every day (weather permitting). There’s also a Road Train which runs from the museum to the Minster. All aboard! nrm.org.uk

5

Scarborough Central Tramway and South Cliff Lift

4 1

Saltburn by the Sea Cliff Tramway

You’re not going to mistake the oldest water-balanced cliff tramway in Britain for the Big Thunder Mountain ride at Disneyland, that’s for sure. This is a very sedate way to travel, trundling down the cliff from the town to the pier, 120 feet below. But it’s a sensible way to get from the top to the seaside (the cliff at Saltburn is VERY steep) and it looks simply beautiful. By the way, Saltburn also has a 15" gauge miniature railway running from the sea front through the Valley Gardens to the Italian Gardens, Tea Lawn and Woodland Centre.

northernrail.org

Pleasure Beach Express, Blackpool

A family ride which does what it says on the tin: this is a 21" gauge railway around the famous Pleasure Beach in Blackpool, pulled by three rather handsome locomotives.

A great way to get around the site when you’re tired of walking. Children have to be accompanied by an adult.

Off to Scarborough this spring and summer? Then don’t forget to take a trip on the South Cliff Lift.

This was the first funicular railway of its kind in the UK (it opened in 1875) and it’s a remarkable 284ft long – and high, come to that, so you get great views. Then there’s the Central Tramway between Foreshore Road and Marine Parade which isn’t quite as old (it opened in 1881), but it’s still going strong and is as pretty as a picture.

blackpoolpleasurebeach.com spring/summer 2013

21

22

FOR THE JOURNEY: YORK

CityFocus Y OR K

we stop here!

Secrets

city

and the

Jo Haywood unearths the historical gems and modern marvels hidden in York’s snickelways.

The Minster and Treasurer’s House from the city walls

spring/summer 2013

northernrail.org

Photo: Paul Crossman/VisitYork

FOR THE JOURNEY: YORK

Clifford’s Tower, originally built by William the Conqueror to subdue the northern rebels

t 200ft high, 500ft long and 100ft wide, York Minster is difficult to miss.

It remains the tallest structure in the city, dominating the skyline since 1472, but it’s not the be-alland-end-all of what the white rose county’s historic capital has to offer.

A

York is crammed – literally in the case of the marvellously haphazard Shambles – with fascinating ephemera and long-lasting

cultural gems. There are museums, attractions, shops, restaurants, pubs and examples of magnificent architecture at every turn, but not all are as obvious as the Minster.

Some, like the Micklegate Bar Museum and Richard III Museum, are tucked away in the city walls above and beyond the direct gaze of pavement-bound visitors.

The former is often described as one of York’s best-kept secrets –

A Roman soldier takes a breather by a statue of Emperor Constantine outside the Minster

Y ork is crammed –

literally in the case of the marvellously haphazard Shambles – with fascinating ephemera and long lasting cultural gems. despite being located at one of the busiest entry points to the city – and is a great jumping off point (not literally) for a walk along the city walls. Micklegate Bar has stood guard over the main road from York to London for around 800 years and, to this day, whenever a royal party pays an official visit to the city, they pass through this gate.

Thankfully, they are no longer greeted by traitors’ heads adorning the battlements, but the whole gory story is still laid out in glorious technicolour – most of it blood-red – inside.

Visitors to York are usually on a mission to tick off the biggies – the Minster, York Dungeon, the National Railway Museum, the Jorvik Viking Centre, Castle Museum and Clifford’s Tower –

Photo: Kippa Mathews/VisitYork

northernrail.org

often at the expense of some of the smaller, lesser-known attractions.

If you have time it’s well worth expanding your tour to include Margaret Clitherow’s house, a tiny place in Shambles (the oldest shopping street in Europe, commonly known as 'the Shambles'), transformed from a former butcher’s shop into a peaceful shrine to this selfless Roman Catholic; Barley Hall, a meticulously restored medieval townhouse; Mansion House, which has been home to the city’s lord mayors since 1725; Treasurer’s House, famous for its ghosts; Merchant Adventurers’ Hall, which has stood largely untouched for more than 600 years; York’s award-winning independent brewery (yes, you can taste the products); and the city’s Cold War bunker, the first of its kind to be designated a scheduled monument.

Overleaf, where to shop, stay and dine, and five random things to do in York… spring/summer 2013

23

Shopportunities History and culture are all very well, but sometimes you just want to shop till you drop (then dust yourself off and shop a little more).

atth aM ipp K to: ho

ea ak sm per Shop

Shambles is one of the bestpreserved medieval shopping streets in Europe; Stonegate has an array of top class shops, including Whistles and the worldfamous Mulberry Hall; Coney Street is chock-a-frock with high street fashion; and the cobbled streets of the Swinegate Quarter are liberally peppered with quirky independents.

P

Shopping is one of York’s main attractions, with a fantastic range of independent and designer boutiques nestled snugly amid department stores and major brands in its mainly pedestrianised streets. sitYork ews/Vi

Photo: Paul Crossman/VisitYork

FOR THE JOURNEY: YORK

A fine vintage Retro retailing is all the rage in York, where there are now almost as many vintage fashion stores as tea rooms (which is no idle boast when you consider the tidal waves of Yorkshire Tea supped in the city on a daily basis). un ch tim e)

24

If you have a few shillings left to spend and enjoy looking back in time for your future fashion favourites, you could try on a tea dress or n two at Vintage Emporium in Fishergate (vintageemporiumyork.co.uk), ea yl rly db e k And if you’ve still got some which specialises in clothing, accessories and homewares from the Thirties sta ac rt in lly p a Shamb money left, there’s always York to the Sixties; Glory Days Vintage in Walmgate (glorydaysvintage.co.uk) for u s u les (it’s Designer Outlet, Clifton Moor and Monks fantastic bridal wear; and Priestley’s in Norman Court off Grape Lane, a high-end Cross for a little out-of-town shopping. retro haven with cocktail dresses, beaded bags and (whisper it) the odd fur.

where... ...to eat and drink ...to stay York was recently crowned the UK’s best gastro destination by Trip Advisor, so rest assured it’s not all Yorkshire puddings and stewed rhubarb. In fact, it has a veritable smorgasbord of restaurants, cafes, bistros, bars, pubs and tea rooms to choose from. on most people’s list (judging by the ever-present queue) * FisirstBettys (bettys.co.uk) in St Helen’s Square, where plates of

Fat Rascals – a magical combination of bun and biscuit – are delivered by some of the best serving-staff in the business.

*Fossgate seven years after dropping his first delicious F-bomb Michelin-starred chef Jeff Baker is still creating quite a buzz in

in the city (that’s F for flavour, by the way). J Baker’s Bistro Moderne (jbakers.co.uk) offers either a set bistro menu or a selection of tasting plates.

food of a different but no less pleasing note, El Piano *FinorGrape Lane (el-piano.com) offers fully-vegan, nut-free,

gluten-free but flavour-packed fare.

if you fancy eating fabulous fresh fish in a former brothel, *Ayound can free-wheel down Fossgate to The Blue Bicycle (it’s the

one with the blue bicycle outside), where chic and cheek are extremely happy bedfellows.

They might never sleep in New York, but this is Old York – Ye Olde York, in fact – where you can sleep in comfort and style, no matter how deep your pockets.

Z

Z

Z

At the top of the shop is The Cedar Court Grand Hotel & Spa * (cedarcourtgrand.co.uk) in Station Rise. Built in 1906 as the

North Eastern Railway headquarters, it is now a five-star hotel with 107 individually designed bedrooms, an indulgent spa and a fine dining restaurant. star down the luxury ladder is The Grange in * JustCliftonone(grangehotel.co.uk).

This four-star, grade II listed

hotel offers elegant accommodation and a double helping of award-winning food in its Ivy Brasserie and New York Grill. if you fancy the luxury and comfort of *a And four-star hotel but also want the space and

freedom of self-catering, then Monkbridge Court (monkbridge.co.uk) could be the place for you.

This city centre hideaway comprises three awardwinning boutique apartments that can be rented for weekends, midweek breaks or longer (once you see those complimentary toiletries, you might never leave).

Photo: Gareth Buddo/Visit York spring/summer 2013

northernrail.org

FOR THE JOURNEY: YORK

5

1

RANDOM THINGS TO DO IN

York

25

A lot of cities run historical tours, but how many have their own Historic Toilet Tour? This rather specialist jaunt through the pungent history of the public toilet takes in Viking (ahem) facilities, Roman conveniences and garderobes (that’s a medieval toilet to you).

It’s run by York Walk (yorkwalk.co.uk), which also hosts a Choccy and Sweetie Tour as well as a Graveyard, Coffin and Plague Walk.

2

The International Ghost Research Foundation (yes, it does exist) announced in 2002 that York is officially the most haunted city in Europe. There’s Mad Alice, who was hanged at York Castle, Roger de Clifford, whose body was displayed in the city for a year and a day, a whole legion of Roman soldiers; heck even M&S has a ghost. But the most ghoulish place is allegedly 35 Stonegate (hauntedhouseyork.co.uk). Eek!

3

Photo: Kippa Mathews/VisitYork

And they’re off York is home to one of the best racecourses in Europe, taking the Flat Racecourse of the Year award and bagging top spot on The Times survey of all UK courses.

As many as 360,000 people cheer on the winners in a season at York Racecourse

It recently announced record prize money of almost £6m for the 17-day 2013 season, which runs from 15 May to 12 October.

Men are required to wear a jacket, collared shirt and tie in the County Stand, but there’s no formal dress code for women. Most, however, go for the smart wedding look.

5

If you want the best view of York, you have to look heavenward. Climbing the steep, narrow and numerous steps of York Minster’s central tower (yorkminster.org) might not be everyone’s idea of fun, but the view from the top is the answer to every sightseer’s prayers.

Why not join the 2.5 million people who walk the 3.4km round York’s city walls each year?

There’s a more relaxed atmosphere in the Grandstand, Paddock and Course Enclosure, where racegoers have even been known to wear shorts and T-shirts to soak up the five minutes of sunshine we get each summer. Bare chests are not acceptable though (even if you’ve more@ had your chest hair waxed into a visityork.org hirsute tribute to Frankie Dettori).

: oto

an/VisitYork ossm l Cr u Pa

e th nd sa York’s riverside bar

If you’re worried about what to wear, don’t be – the racecourse has an easy-to-follow dress code that doesn’t involve cravats, top hats or silver-topped canes.

4

It’s all too easy to go a bit potty in York. First of all there’s Rainbow’s ceramics (rainbowsceramics.co.uk), a few minutes from the Minster. This is a paint-your-own pottery studio, perfect for kids’ birthday parties – or hen parties, come to that. Then there’s the Mansion House (mansionhouseyork.com) which has the earliest surviving silver chamber pot in the UK. It was used by George IV and is put in front of the presiding Lord Mayor at private dinner functions (whether they like it or not).

Ph

Sightseers take a boat tour along the River Ouse past Skeldergate Bridge

Why not have a bun with a nun? The Bar Convent in Blossom Street is England’s oldest convent, founded in 1686 and still active today with a resident religious community. The 18th century buildings now house a museum, library, meeting rooms, guest house accommodation, a shop and a devilishly good cafe.

Gu ild hal l

from Ouse Bridge

YORK not enough Buy train tickets to anywhere in Great Britain at northernrail.org for you? northernrail.org

spring/summer 2013

FOR THE JOURNEY: TRAVEL IN STYLE

Travel in Style 1. RSPB monocular

3. Cufflinks

£99.95. rspb.org.uk

The iPod Nano has been restyled by Apple into the thinnest iPod ever. At just 5mm, it features a 2.5-inch multi-touch display, built-in Bluetooth for wireless listening and 30-hours of music playback. Built-in fitness features include a pedometer and support for Nike+ and it comes in seven new colours. Yes please.

Chaps: even if you’re off to work in a boring suit, you can still make a fun summer style concession with these little beauties from The Nautical Company which have been hand-decorated on an English bone china tile.

All hands on deck. £28. thenauticalcompany.com

3

Approx £129. apple.com

HIGH-TOPS

FOR

HIM

Feeling blue? Then you need these vivid casual high-tops from River Island which do come in more sensible colours.

But, hey: who wants to be sensible? £35. riverisland.com

FOR

HER

highst/highfashion splash out It’s VERY bling, but then this isn’t just an iPad/ tablet case.

It’s a metallic London leather digital case from Burberry. Hence the tag. £295.

From burberry.com

WEDGES

Everything’s bright this summer, even your shoes. No, make that ESPECIALLY your shoes. These dazzling wedges from Next give a whole new meaning to ‘well-heeled’. £40. next.co.uk

northernrail.org

1

2

If you’re out and about in the countryside this summer and want a close-up of the wildlife, this 8 x 20 RSPB monocular will help you see things more clearly. It’s great for studying butterflies, bees, birds and dragonflies – and because it has a 1.6m close focus you can get a really good look, without disturbing them.

Available from the RSPB online shop, as is a great range of binoculars.

2. iPod Nano

Don’t leave home without them.

bargain buy Supersmart and superneat, this Oxblood iPad/tablet case is just the job from House of Fraser. £30.

From houseoffraser.co.uk spring/summer 2013

27

FOR THE JOURNEY: NETWORK MAP

our network map

28

Find our featured towns and cities easily with our network map spring/summer 2013

6

FORFOR THETHE JOURNEY: JOURNEY:NETWORK NETWORKMAP MAP

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

4

1

2

2

1

3

4

5

Bradford The Bradford Film Festival – a highlight of our festivals run-down.

York Jo Haywood whirls around Yorkshire’s tourist hot-spot.

6

p22

Peak District So much to see, so little time.

Our guide can help you cram it all in.

p33

Newcastle Getting fit for – or just gearing up to watch – the Great North Run.

p50

Sheffield Griff Rhys Jones visits the Park Hill Estate and Sheffield Uni.

5

3

p16

p12

Liverpool What it’s really like to be a tour guide in this great city. spring/summer 2013

p38

29

FOR THE JOURNEY: SUMMER TREATS

30

Food & drink

Ice, Ice Baby For a summer treat, ice cream is always licked but never beaten. Anthony Quinlan finds out why a gelato offers such wonderful cold comfort – while TV’s Lorraine Pascale shares a frozen recipe from her latest book.

I

don’t know about you, but I can eat pretty much my own body weight in ice cream.

My children can do the same – as can all my family and friends.

In fact, do you know anyone who recoils in disgust at the thought of a raspberry ripple, double-choc chip or a strawberry sundae and says: “Bleurgh! Ice cream! No thank you.”

No. Nor do we.

Dawn Argyle is the owner of York parlour LICC – the Luxury Ice Cream Company (on Back Swinegate) – which hand-makes 200 flavours of ice cream on its premises (24 flavours are permanently on display in the shop) from old favourites such as vanilla, chocolate and strawberry right through to English Trifle, Caramac and Bakewell Tart.

In summer, says Dawn, she simply can’t make enough of the stuff. She can work through the night with her team, put it in the LICC display cabinets the next morning… and, by the afternoon, it’s gone. All of it. The good people spring/summer 2013

“It doesn’t matter what age you are, what nationality you are, what gender you are, everybody likes ice cream.” of York snaffle every last bit.

“It doesn’t matter what age you are, what nationality you are, what gender you are, everybody likes ice cream,” she says.

“It’s an affordable luxury.

You can walk through the streets with it, sit at a café table with it, buy it in whatever size you like, and buy it in tubs and have it at home. It’s convenient.”

Cream at Hathersage and Yorkshire Dales Ice Cream near Bolton Abbey to the Harbour Bar at Scarborough

you ? know

DID

In the North, we’re fortunate to have some excellent ice cream makers from Hope Valley Ice

According to the Ice Cream Alliance, each person in the UK eats nine litres of ice cream every year.

(home of the Alonzi family) – and LICC, of course. Plus, last year, Ryeburn of Helmsley was awarded the Champion of Champions accolade by the Ice Cream Alliance – the trade body for the UK’s £1bn ice cream industry. In fact, there are hundreds of excellent makers out there, and you and yours will be taste-testing plenty of their wares this summer, no doubt, from shops, parlours, freezers and vans.

Here’s the thing though. The secret of a great ice cream, as opposed northernrail.org

FOR THE JOURNEY: SUMMER TREATS

Lorraine Pascale's

Photo: Myles New

frozen raspberry ripple parfait ‘ cream ice We asked former supermodel turned superchef Lorraine Pascale (also see our Journey’s End interview on page 54) for a heavenly ice cream recipe. Well, it IS summer, after all…

No ice-cream maker required! This dessert is simply heavenly – so, so soft, rich and tasty. You can serve it on its own or with hot melted chocolate. Not technically a proper ice cream but it is delicious all the same.

A bit of bowl juggling is required in the making of this recipe and it also should be made the day before you need it. Once it is made and frozen, I always remove it from the freezer 10 minutes or so before serving, so it is easier to cut into slices.

Serves FOUR (v) Ingredients 250g frozen raspberries, thawed 110g caster sugar Two very fresh egg whites or 125g pasteurised egg whites (available from the supermarket and best if serving this to young children or the elderly) to a good one, is what’s in it and how fresh it is.

Ingredients are everything.

“We have great milk and cream in Yorkshire,” says Dawn.

“And add to that beautiful fruits and sugar – and you can’t lose.”

Yep: it takes some licking.

200ml double cream or whipping cream Seeds of one vanilla pod and a couple of drops of vanilla extract Fresh raspberries, to serve

Equipment 16 x 8cm loaf tin

more@ For more details, visit liccyork.blogspot.co.uk northernrail.org

Method

Line the loaf tin with clingfilm so it hangs over the sides and set aside.

If the clingfilm keeps lifting up when lining the loaf tin, I find it sticks a bit better to the tin if I wet the tin first with a spray of water. Blitz the berries in a blender, then put a sieve over a bowl and pour the berry mixture into it. Squish the berry mix through the sieve with a wooden spoon, then set it aside.

Discard the pips in the sieve.

Put the sugar into another bowl and add half of the egg whites.

Whisk like mad until the mixture is stiff. Add the rest of the egg whites and keep on whisking until the mixture is very stiff, brilliant white and super shiny.

Set aside.

In another bowl, whip the double cream until it is thick, then add

the vanilla. Spoon the cream into the egg white mixture and fold together. Pour in the raspberry mixture and fold together roughly to give ripples. Now tip the mixture into the prepared loaf tin, smooth over the top and place in the freezer until firm.

To remove from the tin, take out of the freezer 10 minutes before serving, lift out of the tin using the clingfilm, invert onto a dish or board and serve in slices with some fresh raspberries.

Home Cooking Made Easy by Lorraine Pascale: HarperCollins, £20. spring/summer 2013

31

explore on Your next...

For a Great...

or Simply To...

To Be...

Then head To...

supported by spring/summer 2013

FOR THE JOURNEY: NEXT STOP...

33

Next Stop...

The Peak District

Ladybower Reservoir

Best View

I

t’s one of the most gorgeous places in Britain with lots to see and loads to do. Where to start, then, if you’re new to the Peak District?

Our guide is designed to help you…

Best Picnic Area Bugsworth Basin, accessible from Whaley Bridge, provides a lovely secluded spot for a picnic beside majestic longboats.

There’s also a small shop and interpretation centre on site.

Ho pe kel Cros ren s Photo: Karen F

Lace up your walking boots and alight at Hope station to hike up to the top of Win Hill, some 432 metres above sea level.

Stunning views await you in all directions including the Hope Valley, Vale of Edale and out across the Ladybower Reservoir.

Bugsworth Basin

we stop here!

penninewaterways.co.uk/peak/pf9.htm Photo: Wandering Duck

GET ‘APPY! Northern Rail’s new app allows you to plan any journey in Great Britain, check live running time information and purchase the cheapest available tickets.

Download it free now! For more details, visit northernrail.org/app northernrail.org

spring/summer 2013

34

FOR THE JOURNEY: NEXT STOP...

Best Pub There are lots of fabulous pubs in the Peak District.

Chinley is the stop for a CAMRA-award-winning 16th century inn called The Old Hall, at Whitehough.

Apart from being voted Best Cask Pub in East & West Midlands for the last three years running, it holds regular events and festivals, too. old-hall-inn.co.uk

Best Festival The Buxton Festival (5-21 July) is hard to beat for high art, music, opera and literary buffs – but then the town is something of a cultural hotspot. This year’s event (the 35th) features everything from Mozart, Britten and Saint Saens to AN Wilson, AC Grayling and Ann Widdecombe (see the competition in our festivals run-down – page 17). Talk about eclectic. There’s also the Y Not? music festival (2-4 August) in the Peak District National Park, which ‘does’ everything from country folk to indie rock and is so good it won Best Small Festival at the UK Festival Awards. buxtonfestival.co.uk ynotfestivals.co.uk

eum Best Mus llery delves

Art Ga useum & gy of the Buxton M and geolo y g lo o e a h play of rc a d autiful is into the e b a s re le and featu lack Marb area and Ashford B rt exhibitions a changing . stallations in d n a k u v. e.go / derbyshir xton_ leisure/bu m museu

Don’t Forget Your PEAKS ROVER! Explore the Peak District and the surrounding areas with a Coast and Peaks Rover ticket.

It’s great for family days out and – because you can hop on and off as many times as you like – it’ll save you money.

For terms, conditions and more information about all kinds of Ranger and Rover tickets, visit northernrail.org spring/summer 2013

Best Historic House It’s tricky, because there are so many: Haddon Hall, Hardwick Hall, Chatsworth... Frankly you could spend weeks visiting the Peak District’s stately piles.

Still, the 1,300 acre estate of Lyme Park is beautiful and just 1/2 mile from Disley station.

It’s also where Miss Elizabeth Bennett almost jumped out of her corsets when approached by a dishy – and sopping wet – Mr Darcy (aka Colin Firth) who had been taking a dip in Lyme Park’s lake, if you please. nationaltrust.org.uk/lyme-park

Lyme Park Photo: National Trust Photo Library

northernrail.org

FOR THE JOURNEY: NEXT STOP...

Lose Hill and the Vale of Edale Image: Karen Frenkel

Best Walks

There are many walking festivals in the area: the Peak District Walking Festival (26 April-12 May); the Chesterfield Area Walking Festival (11-19 May) and the National Forest Walking Festival (18-30 May). There’s also Jane Tomlinson’s Walk for All event (28 April), offering walks to suit all abilities from a five-mile Mini-Trekker to a 25-miler known as the Dambuster. It’s also for a good cause: profits are donated to the Jane Tomlinson Appeal, which was established by the remarkable Jane Tomlinson who raised so much money during her lifetime for charity, despite having terminal cancer.

Chatsworth House

Peak

Viewing

forallevents.co.uk

Seen these Peak District locations somewhere before?

That might be because they have featured in some famous films and TV series…

Kedleston Hall Imposing, neo-classical house, once the home of the influential Curzon family, and setting for The Duchess (2008) and Jane Eyre (BBC series, 2006). nationaltrust.org.uk/kedleston

Longnor This sleepy village starred in ITV’s medical drama Peak Practice in the 1990s.

Best For Kids Ha

pe tej one s.co. uk

There’s a choice of four show caverns at Castleton (Peak Cavern, Speedwell, Treak Cliff and Blue John), as well as the Norman Peveril Castle, overlooking er sa the village. Plenty of places to eat and gift te@ ge outd : pe o shops where you can buy the rare gemstone, t o oor pool Ph Blue John, which is unique to the area.

th

For a bit of alfresco splashing about, try Hathersage’s beautiful outdoor heated swimming pool, which opened in 1936 as a part of the King George V Memorial Field. Not many swimming pools we know have a veranda and more@ a bandstand. This one does.

For further information, visitpeakdistrict.com visit visitpeakdistrict.com hathersageswimmingpool.co.uk

northernrail.org

Classic home of the Dukes of Devonshire, and backdrop for Pride & Prejudice (the 1995 BBC series and the 2005 film), The Duchess (2008) and The Wolfman (2009). Owwwwww-ooooooo! chatsworth.org

Matlock The Sky One TV comedy series Starlings, starring Brendan Coyle and Lesley Sharp, was filmed here.

Hardwick Hall This Elizabethan masterpiece was the inspiration for the dastardly Malfoy Manor in Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows (2010). nationaltrust.org.uk/hardwick

You can now buy tickets online at the Northern Rail website to destinations around Great Britain – not just the Northern network. For more details, visit northernrail.org

rd Ha

THE PEAK DISTRICT not enough for you?

Chatsworth

wi ck

Hal l

spring/summer 2013

35

booK oNLINE SAVE 5%

TAKE A STEAM TRAIN OVER

ThE FAMOUS SETTLE & CARLISLE RAILWAY EVERY WEDNESDAY12 JUNE to 28 AUGUSt 2013 Departing from:

L A N C A S T E R , P R E S TO N, B L AC K B U R N, C L I T H E R O E , LO N g P R E S TO N Enjoy a fantastic steam hauled return journey through the Yorkshire Dales and over the spectacular Settle to Carlisle Railway, including the great viaduct at Ribblehead, with time for afternoon sightseeing in historic Carlisle.

PRICES FRoM oNLY: £69 (Family discounts available) CoNNECt FRoM YoUR LoCAL StAtIoN WIth NoRthERN RAIL FoR JUSt £5* REtURN (*terms & conditions apply)

FoR A bRoChURE oR to booK 0845 310 2458/2489 WWW.StAtESMANRAIL.CoM

Explore. The other side of the Lakes

Western Lake District Explore the lakes and fells or head to our stunning coastline for inspiring views and adrenaline filled pursuits. From ghyll scrambling, kite surfing and fell walking to coastal walks and birdwatching, our corner of England is the perfect location for your next adventure.

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

For more information and the chance to win a fantastic break in the Western Lake District visit: www.western-lakedistrict.co.uk

FOR THE JOURNEY: INSIDER GUIDES

INSIDER

Guides

Who better to give us a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the North’s great cities than the people who know them best?

Four city tour guides tell us what they love most about where they live...

Manchester

Anne Beswick

Anne has lived in Manchester all her life and has been guiding for about five years.

What do you love about Manchester?

Town Hall Manchester

You can do anything here and be whoever you want to be.

There’s lots of cultural stuff – theatre, the arts, music of all sorts – plus popular stuff like football, good food and drink and obscure stuff, too. You can join classes or groups for sports or interests that hardly anyone has heard of; and then there’s the countryside all around us.

The world is on your doorstep.

What do you recommend new visitors see?

The Town Hall is a must.

Then it depends on your interests.

The Museum of Science and Industry (mosi.org.uk) for kids and adults alike, John Rylands Library (library.manchester.ac.uk), great shopping and we have some

northernrail.org

MOSI football teams that many people find amusing. A great start is a Discover Manchester tour that the guides do every Saturday, Sunday and bank holiday from the Information Centre in Piccadilly (£7/£6).

Do you have a favourite café/restaurant?

There are so many. I like Katsouris (katsourisdeli.co.uk) on Deansgate for a good value quick lunch.

Abode (abodehotels.co.uk) has good food for a posher dinner and Room (roomrestaurants.com) is a lovely restaurant in the old Reform Club; a great building.

Do you have a favourite museum or arts venue?

MOSI, the Museum of Science and Industry, has something for everyone. It’s in the world’s first passenger railway station so has lots of railway stuff but also lots of other machinery.

I love the smell of mineral oil in the Power Hall. Staffed by very enthusiastic volunteers, too.

Just get them talking!

John Rylands Library

What’s the best thing about being a guide in Manchester?

I love guiding. I love explaining my city to people, putting it in context.

Even locals don’t know how significant Manchester has been over the years, or why it became an important city.

more@ For further information, visit manchesterguidedtours.com visitmanchester.com

spring/summer 2013

37

38

FOR THE JOURNEY: INSIDER GUIDES

Newcastle Pat Lowery Pat is an ‘adopted Geordie’ (“born 11 miles down the road”) but has lived in the city for 46 years.

She’s been a city guide for 22 years and she’s also a Blue Badge guide for the North East.

Liverpool

Paul Beesley

Paul was born and bred in Liverpool and has been a self-employed tour guide since 2007.

What do you love about Liverpool?

Do you have a favourite café/restaurant?

It’s the atmosphere, vibrancy and excitement of the place.

There’s always something going on.

It’s a really easy city to move around because it’s compact – and that’s great from a visitor’s point of view.

One of my favourite parts of the city has to be the waterfront: the Pier Head (liverpoolwaterfront.org).

It’s an important part of Liverpool.

What makes Liverpool unique is that it’s been willing to embrace different cultures – and they’ve all come into the city via the port.

Gusto (gustorestaurants.uk.com) at the Albert Dock, an Italian restaurant. And on Bold Street – which is a great place for bijou stops – there’s a little café called Leaf (thisisleaf.co.uk) that has a great atmosphere.

Do you have a favourite museum or arts venue?

Any visitor needs to go to the International Slavery Museum (liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/ism)

What do you recommend new visitors see?

The two cathedrals, both of which are free of charge, and connected by Hope Street (Anglican: liverpoolcathedral.org.uk and Roman Catholic: liverpoolmetrocathedral. org.uk). You can walk from one end to the other in about 5-10 minutes.

Stop for a coffee along the way or a beer in the Philharmonic Hall (liverpoolphil.com). The waterfront has the brand new Museum of Liverpool (liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/mol) which is free to visit. Oh, and of course the Albert Dock (albertdock.com). spring/summer 2013

What do you love about Newcastle?

at Albert Dock. Slavery, sadly, played such a part in Liverpool’s life. It’s a free museum that really tells the story well and in a no-holds-barred way.

And, arts-wise, I’d go to the Bluecoat (thebluecoat.org.uk), one of the oldest buildings in the city centre, which is a haven away from the hustle and bustle.

What’s the best thing about being a guide in Liverpool?

First-time UK visitors especially come here with a preconceived idea of what they’re going to get. So I love seeing how astounded they are by the place. The amount of times I hear: “I didn’t realise the city was like this! We’re coming back for a longer stay.”

It’s very diverse and even though it’s an old city it’s very forward-thinking. So there’s a lot of heritage and there’s a real continental culture here.

I love Grainger Town – but my favourite building, which dates from 1825, is the Literary and Philosophical Society (litandphil.org.uk), which is a private library – although members of the public are welcome to go in at any time.

It’s close to the central station and has the most magnificent library: over 160,000 books.

You can have a coffee and a look around. You don’t have to be a member.

more@ Merseyside useum Maritime M

For further information, visit seeliverpool.co.uk visitliverpool.com

northernrail.org

Photo: Sally Ann Norman.

FOR THE JOURNEY: INSIDER GUIDES

What do you recommend new visitors see?

Lit and Phil Library

I’d start in the centre of the city at Grey’s Monument. It’s very close to the Tourist Information Centre and, from there, you can walk down to the Newcastle Quayside (newcastlequayside.co.uk), through Roman and medieval parts of the city to 21st century Newcastle. At the Quayside you can look across to The Sage Gateshead (thesagegateshead.org), the BALTIC (balticmill.com) and the Millennium Bridge. All the bridges on the Tyne are magnificent at this point.

Do you have a favourite café/restaurant?

I couldn’t recommend just one – but our Italian and Chinese restaurants are a good bet. We have a wonderful Chinatown with an arch partly funded by the Chinese community.

Do you have a favourite museum or arts venue?

Again, we have lots – and most are free. If you want a museum that tells you about the life of Newcastle, it has to be the Discovery Museum (twmuseums.org.uk).

What’s the best thing about being a guide in Newcastle?

Showing off my knowledge! To be honest, I love talking to people and showing off Newcastle and the surrounding area to locals and visitors from all over the world.

more@ For further information, visit newcastlecityguides.org.uk

rary and Central Lib Gallery Graves Art

Sheffield Alan Brailey

Alan has been promoting Sheffield for years and coordinated the bid for the World Student Games. A native of the city, he now works as a tour manager for a travel company and also as a city guide for Welcome to Sheffield.

What do you love about Sheffield?

Do you have a favourite café/restaurant?

We have the facilities of the fifth largest city in the country but have some of most beautiful countryside close by: The Peak District National Park. In fact, we’re the only city which has a National Park within its boundaries. And of course I love the friendliness of the people.

The best place to go is Ecclesall Road, where there are lots of cafes and bars. Nonnas (nonnas.co.uk) is a favourite. Also, anywhere run by Richard Smith. He runs several pubs and restaurants around Sheffield.

What do you recommend new visitors see?

Newcastle Quayside

Millennium Galleries, Sheffield

The Millennium Gallery (museumssheffield.org.uk) which has lots of history. I’d also recommend Kelham Island Museum (simt.co.uk) which shows Sheffield’s background and how it developed as an industrial city – but changed and now bases itself around sport. Plus there’s the Devonshire Quarter which has lots of little independent shops and lovely pubs where you can sample local beer. It’s an oasis within the city.

The city centre is being redeveloped and parts, like Tudor Square where the Crucible and Lyceum are located, are really lovely.

Do you have a favourite museum or arts venue?

The Millennium Gallery for me.

And the Graves Gallery, above the library (museums-sheffield.org.uk).

What’s the best thing about being a guide in Sheffield?

Bringing people here who have never been before and shocking them with how fantastic it is.

The one fact I always tell people is that, after London, Sheffield has the biggest retention of students of any city. In other words, people come to our two universities and stay.

more@ For further information, visit welcometosheffield.co.uk

northernrail.org

spring/summer 2013

39

FOR THE JOURNEY: ALL TOGETHER NOW

All Together Now Because by working together, we can make things better...

Twowheel drive

Northern joint owner Abellio is launching Bike&Go this summer, a new station bike hire scheme aimed at making it easier for cycle-loving train travellers to reach their final destinations. Anthony Quinlan finds out more.

Lately, more and more of us seem to be getting on our bikes. And while we can’t all be Bradley Wiggins, Victoria Pendleton or Chris Hoy, Team GB’s cycling success in London 2012 has led to something of a pedal power surge.

No wonder: apart from being a cheap and fun way of getting around, cycling is also fabulous exercise.

Many northern cities have excellent cyclepath networks, The new Bike&Go livery

northernrail.org

too – such as York and Leeds – so two-wheel-drive is being actively encouraged by many councils.

That’s why Abellio, joint owner of Northern Rail, is developing Bike&Go, a station bike hire scheme to be launched in July.

It will be a cashless subscriptionbased scheme. After subscribing via the internet, travellers arriving at selected stations will be able to hire a bike for a day for a small charge and use it to cycle to their final destination.

They bring it back later that day before making their return

We wanted to offer our customers a means of transport that’s a quick way of getting from A to B. We were thinking of commuters when we began looking into the scheme... journey and the payment will be settled electronically afterwards.

“We wanted to develop a bike hire scheme across the network that aims to help with the last mile of a traveller’s journey,” says Margriet Cuypers, General Project Manager for the scheme. “When customers take the train to work or to see family or friends, almost everybody has ‘a last mile’ to complete from the station.

“So we wanted to offer our customers a means of transport that’s a quick way of getting from A to B. We were thinking of commuters when we began looking into the scheme – but, of course, the bikes can be used for leisure purposes too, so they are available to anyone.”

The Bike&Go scheme will be rolled out at stations from east to west, with passengers from Merseyrail and Greater Anglia (train companies co-owned and owned

by Abellio, respectively) also offered the service. All together, bikes will be available at 25 Northern Rail stations, 15 Greater Anglia stations and 10 Merseyrail stations – and it’s estimated that, on average, 10 bikes will be available per station.

Margriet explains that the aim is to make the cost competitive with a return bus ticket – so the annual subscription fee will be £10 with a 24-hour rental fee of £3.80.

“Abellio has been operating a similar bike hire scheme at stations in the Netherlands, and it’s proved to be extremely spring/summer 2013

41

42

FOR THE JOURNEY: ALL TOGETHER NOW popular, with currently more than 125,000 subscribers and over 1.25 million rentals a year,” says Margriet.

“We think Bike&Go will be successful in the UK as well, because we know that passengers like to have a choice of onward transport from their stations. And because cycling is becoming more and more popular in the UK, it’s a very good addition to the forms of onward transport currently available.”

more@ For more information,

!

N I W

… a two-course meal for two at the outstanding Indian restaurant THE 1875 Anglo-Indian Restaurant at Menston Station.

log onto: northernrail.org

Coast to Coast How about this for a fantastic journey?

Five intrepid colleagues from Heaton Traincare Depot’s Heavy Maintenance Team, plus friends, recently cycled 140 miles from Whitehaven on the west coast to Tynemouth on the north east coast during one blustery weekend.

“We raised £2,500 in aid of the Children’s Kidney Fund at Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary,” explained organiser, Ian Swinbank.

“It went smoothly, apart from a few punctures and a couple of acrobatic cycling mishaps!

“Many thanks to all who sponsored us, back up drivers John Lowes and Frank Thomson, and Northern who assisted with the transport.” The cyclists were Ian, Chris Flannigan, Steve Nicols, Steve Graham, Peter Newham, (all from Northern Rail), plus friends Chris Spedding and Peter Finlay. Well done all! spring/summer 2013

THE 1875 – on the first floor of Menston station, a short journey from Ilkley, Leeds or Bradford Forster Square stations – is NOT a curry house nor an average Indian Restaurant.

Its masterchefs are hand-picked from India’s top five-star hotels which rank amongst the best in the world. And its dishes are totally authentic. “There is no such thing as baltis, karahis and madras dishes in India,” says owner, Manjinder Singh Sarai. “THE 1875 will only offer dishes that are available in India and each dish on the menu states its origin with a wine recommendation.”

THE 1875 has a deserved reputation for innovative dishes, world firsts, excellent gastronomic experiences, MasterChef classes and food festivals celebrating events in the Indian calendar.

THE 1875 also offers corporate packages for groups and companies – and, during the day, the 50-cover, classically designed restaurant is hired out for various uses. In addition a new 'Take Home' menu and Sunday Lunch with an Indian Twist will also be launched in the Spring.

THE 1875 is offering three prizes to Northern readers to celebrate Indian Independence Day on 15 August. To be in with a chance of winning, simply answer these two questions:

1 What does the word ‘vindaloo’ refer to?

2 Where does the name ‘THE 1875’ come from?

Answers can be found on THE1875.com. Email your answer to restaurant@the1875.com (Please also leave a mobile contact number.)

1st prize – Two courses for two for Sunday roast or evening dinner (food only) 2nd Prize – Two-for-one for Sunday roast or evening dinner (food only) 3rd Prize – Complimentary bottle of Indian wine when four dine from à la carte Competition closes: Friday 31 May 2013.

Terms and conditions: The first three correct entries drawn will be the winners. The Editor’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. Prize is not transferable and no cash alternative will be offered. Prizes are subject to availability and cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer – and must be used by 30 September 2013. Data will only be used by THE 1875 for marketing special events,promotions, etc

THE 1875 Anglo-Indian Restaurant 1st Floor, Menston Railway Station, Menston, West Yorkshire LS29 6JH T: 01943 871811

more@ For information, visit THE1875.com

northernrail.org

Buy your train plus bus tickets together PLUSBUS is available for 60 towns & cities across the Northern rail network, including: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

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

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

get together with completes train travel

Information at www.plusbus.info

44

YOUR STOP: THE LOWDOWN

26

opens

April

Iron Man 3 At cinemas northernwide

Robert Downey Jr gets clanking again as the hi-techsuperhero with the incredible airborne armour.

This time he goes into battle against his deadliest foe: the Satsuma. Oh no, hang on: the Mandarin.

Sorry. Ben Kingsley co-stars.

Want more... marvel.com/ironman3

Gigs Movies Comedy Festival Art Musical

TheLowdown S P R I N G

S U M M E R 2 0 13

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

VARIOUS DATES

5-19

APR

The Key Lowdown

Meat Loaf:

Last at Bat Farewell Tour Various venues northernwide

Mr M Loaf, esq, takes to the stage for what he says is the last time. Even if he had just recorded 1977’s Bat Out of Hell album and done Please check with venues nothing else, Meat Loaf would have been one of to confirm times and dates before travelling. the most successful recording artists of all time (Bat Out of Hell has never left the charts in the UK).

He’s done rather more than that of course, and this last set will include his greatest hits – and then Bat Out of Hell in its entirety.

Theatre

Want more... 5 Apr – Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle (metroradioarena.co.uk), 14 Apr – Capital FM Arena, Nottingham (capitalfmarena.com), 17 Apr – Manchester MEN Arena (men-arena.com), 19 Apr – Motorpoint Arena, Sheffield (motorpointarenasheffield.co.uk) spring/summer 2013

northernrail.org

YOUR STOP: THE LOWDOWN Andrew Lloyd-Webber’s musical opened in 1981 and has since become a theatrical phenomenon, playing everywhere from Buenos Aires VARIOUS DATES to Singapore.

You’ve probably seen it already, but here’s another chance to jog your – ahem – Memory.

45

VARIOUS DATES

Rutherford and Son

JUN

APR

2 -8

Cats

JUN

APR

2 -1

Northern Broadsides Various venues northernwide

Want more... 2-20 Apr – Manchester Opera House (atgtickets.com/opera-house-manchester), 23 Apr-4 May – Bradford Alhambra (bradford-theatres.co.uk), 6-18 May – Hull New Theatre (hullcc.gov.uk), 28 May-8 Jun – Sunderland Empire (atgtickets.com/sunderland)

17

opens

MAY

Star Trek: Into Darkness Various venues northernwide

We cannae hold her, Captain! JJ Abrams’ re-booted Star Trek franchise boldly goes on another adventure, with Chris Pine as Kirk, Zachary Quinto as Spock and Simon Pegg as Scotty. The onboard glamour – set your phasers to ‘stun’ – is provided by Zoe Saldana and Alice Eve. VARIOUS DATES

JUN

MAY

4 -7

Eddie Izzard: Force Majeure Various venues northernwide He started dabbling in stand-up comedy at Sheffield University.

Now, whether he’s in a dress and fullmake-up or wearing trousers and a beard, Eddie Izzard is one of the sharpest and funniest comics on the stand-up scene, and has been for the last 20 years.

‘Surreal’ doesn’t even begin to describe his hilarious flights of fancy. Fab. Want more...

4 May – Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle (metroradioarena.co.uk), 5 May – Echo Arena, Liverpool (echoarena.com), 10 May – Motorpoint Arena, Sheffield (motorpointarenasheffield.co.uk), 22 and 23 May – Capital FM Arena, Nottingham (capitalfmarena.com), 6 and 7 Jun – Manchester MEN Arena (men-arena.com) northernrail.org

Dr Jonathan Miller – of Sixties satire Beyond the Fringe and the landmark TV series The Body in Question – hasn’t directed a theatre production for six years; but it’s just one of the things he does in his incredible repertoire, along with staging opera, writing books, sculpting and being generally intellectual. So it’s good to see him team with Halifaxbased Northern Broadsides to direct this production of Githa Sowerby’s powerful play about class, capitalism and gender. Barrie Rutter – Northern Broadside’s Artistic Director – leads the cast.

Want more...

2-13 Apr – West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds (wyp.org.uk), 16-20 Apr – The Lowry, Salford Quays (thelowry.com), 23-27 Apr – Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough (sjt.uk.com), 21-25 May – Liverpool Playhouse (everymanplayhouse.com), 28 May-1 Jun – York Theatre Royal (yorktheatreroyal.co.uk)

TheLowdown continues... spring/summer 2013

YOUR STOP: THE LOWDOWN

Eric Clapton

Want more...

14 May – Manchester MEN Arena, (men-arena.com)

Manchester

NOV

26 -3

Thomas Scheibitz BALTIC, Gateshead Two hundred works from the leading German artist of his generation, drawing upon themes from everyday and popular culture in the form of film, literature, music, advertising and architecture. Dazzling.

Want more... balticmill.com

VARIOUS DATES

18-28

MAY

VARIOUS DATES

12 -16

JUL

The word ‘legend’ is bandied about a bit too freely these days, but it’s a fitting description for guitar hero Eric Clapton. Expect songs from the Yardbirds, Cream, Derek and the Dominoes (well, one song anyway) and some new material.

MAY

JUN

14

opens

JUL

46

Rihanna Manchester and Sunderland Robyn Fenty – or Rihanna to you – is now one of the world’s biggest recording stars.

Does she ever stop touring, though?

Because here she is again with another worldwide live show – just, like, months after the last one.

Want more...

12 and 13 June,15 and 16 July – Manchester MEN Arena (men-arena.com), 20 June – Sunderland Arena (livenation.co.uk)

14 Man of Steel opens

JUNE

At cinemas northernwide

Alicia Keys

Various dates across the North from May She’s not really called ‘Keys’ you know (it’s Alicia Cook, actually): but when you play the piano (hence the name) and sing like she does – and then shift 30 million albums and 30 million singles – you can pretty much call yourself what you like. Have you got a ticket? Well enjoy...

Want more...

18 May – Echo Arena, Liverpool (echoarena.com), 19 May – Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle (metroradioarena.co.uk), 24 May – Manchester MEN Arena (men-arena.com), 28 May – Capital FM Arena, Nottingham (capitalfmarena.com) spring/summer 2013

Gone are the days when cartoon superheroes were happy and carefree. Now they’re brooding and angsty – and, on this evidence, the most famous of them all, Superman, is no different. He’s still wearing his underpants over his trousers, but otherwise he gets the mean and moody Dark Knight treatment from producer Christopher ‘Batman’ Nolan and director Zack Snyder. Brit actor Henry Cavill puts on the specs as Clark Kent and the cape as the Man of Steel.

Want more... manofsteel.warnerbros.com northernrail.org

TheLowdown

YOUR STOP: THE LOWDOWN

47

Previews

Read...

The Hive by Gill Hornby Little, Brown Book Group

12

opens

JULY

Monsters University At cinemas northernwide

Want more... monstersuniversity.com

9 The Lone Ranger opens

AUGUST

At cinemas northernwide Who was that masked man?

Well, it was the Lone Ranger, since you ask.

Johnny Depp might ‘only’ be playing his sidekick, Tonto, but gets top billing; the less-stellar Armie Hammer, meanwhile, stars in the title role while Gore ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ Verbinski directs.

northernrail.org

Journalist Gill Hornby is the sister of Nick Hornby, best-selling author of Hi-Fidelity and About a Boy, and wife of Robert Harris, best-selling author of The Ghost and Enigma. So does a way with words run in the family? Publisher Little, Brown thinks it definitely does and is calling Hornby’s debut an “irresistible, brilliantly observed novel – warm, witty and true”.

The plot is about the feuding mothers of primary school children.

Also, looking towards autumn, William Boyd will be the latest author having a stab at writing a James Bond novel. This one, as yet untitled, takes the superspy back to the 1960s.

Listen to...

Lady Gaga: Artpop Katie Perry: 3rd Album Jessie J: 2nd Album Have you noticed a theme here?

The biggest recording artists in the world at the moment are all female. There’s Rihanna and Adele, of course, who could sing out numbers from the phonebook and have a hit album.

But don’t forget the world-beating triumvirate of LADY GAGA, KATIE PERRY and JESSIE J. All three will be releasing albums in 2013 – although, at the time of writing, dates were still to be confirmed.

Rest assured, though, that each will be huge, underlining that Girl Power (copyright: The Spice Girls) is here to stay.

Perry’s as yet untitled third album is due for release in summer, while Jessie J has said that her album – her second – will be “eclectic”.

And Lady Gaga? Well, we do know that her fourth album will be called Artpop and be with us in the spring, released in two volumes. spring/summer 2013

Photo Yoshika Horita

This prequel to Monsters Inc (which, as any mum or dad will tell you, must be one of the best cartoons ever made) promises to be top-notch entertainment for the kids. It tells how lovable monsters Mike and Sulley met at university and, after a gruesome start, became best friends. A sort of When Mikey Met Sulley, if you like.

Release Date: 23 May

48

YOUR STOP: Corporate Season Ticket

Not JUST the ticket!

Northern’s Corporate Season Ticket Scheme has been a big success with companies and their staff, because it offers a huge variety of benefits for both employer and employee alike.

Here’s what companies have said about Northern Rail’s Corporate Season Ticket scheme “Since the launch of our Season Ticket Scheme in July 2009, we have developed our relationship with Northern Rail to an extent where they are now seen as a key partner in our staff benefits programme.

They are efficient, supportive and reliable and we look forward to continuing our relationship over the coming years in support of our staff requirements.”

Leeds Building Society

H

ow about this for a smart way to travel to the office and back? The Northern Rail Corporate Season Ticket Scheme, launched in September 2009, was designed for companies around the Northern network – and their employees who commute to work by train every day.

It’s not just smart, however. It’s popular, too. In a recent survey of Northern’s Corporate Season Ticket holders, 91 per cent of those questioned said they would recommend the scheme to friends or colleagues.

Businesses like it because it’s quick and easy to introduce. Companies simply provide their staff with an interest-free loan to purchase an Annual Season Ticket, which is then repaid through monthly deductions from their salary. Also, the scheme is free to set up and Northern provide free marketing materials in order to launch it. And, these days, with more and more employees demanding staff incentives, it’s a great way to attract and retain staff.

Plus, employees win because there are a number of perks included. For instance, the Annual Season Ticket can be used on any train operator’s service between chosen stations – and at any time, including weekends. “Also, it offers 12 weeks of free travel, so it’s a very cost-effective way for employees to save money,” says Elissa Robinson, Northern’s Sales Manager.

It’s not just the ticket. It’s a whole lot more besides.

more@ For further details or to arrange an appointment with our Sales Team, email corporate.sales@northernrail.org or visit northernrail.org/corporate spring/summer 2013

“The discounted Annual Northern Rail Season Ticket Scheme is very popular among our colleagues as it offers good value for money and spreads the cost over the year. From a corporate perspective, we are happy to support initiatives that help reduce carbon emissions and congestion at our site and in the wider community.”

Reward Advisor, Asda “Looking to support our Sustainable Travel Plan and associated interest-free loan scheme, we identified Northern Rail as a potential business partner in relation to their Corporate Season Ticket Schemes provision in 2009. We have not been disappointed! They are now our most popular travel to work ticket provider, allowing the purchase of tickets for all train operators and providing a highly reliable and quality service.”

University of Manchester northernrail.org

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?

Our new careers website launched recently, check it out at

northernrail.org/careers The new site features: • video footage of some of our people who talk about their role and what it’s like to work for Northern • lots of useful hints and tips about applying for a role • guidance on compiling a CV and preparing for an interview • links to our social media sites, like Twitter.

Typical roles with us include: • Customer Service roles (throughout our stations) • Drivers

Becky's story

• Conductors • Cleaners • Fitters, Technicians and Electricians • Office, Administration and Finance roles.

ruitment Janine Hinson Rec plained: Advisor in York, ex

a Why not take give to lf se ur yo peek hand g in lp you that he with a career at Northern?

“The new site aims to engage with people from different backgrounds across our communities and give people a real insight into some of our people’s daily working lives.”

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.

The website features Becky Bedford who works as a Skilled Team Member at our Neville Hill Depot in Leeds.

Becky has worked for Northern for four years and joined Northern after serving in the Army for seven years.

Becky says that the team spirit at the depot is great, and that she is always learning something new.

Find out more about Becky’s story at northernrail.org/careers

Be Proud to be Northern

northernrail.org

spring/summer 2013

49

50

YOUR STOP: WHAT TO DO

s e i t i v i t c A what to do

Talk to your GP before starting any new fitness programme.

Going the

Distance Distance E C N A T IS D A T IS D Distance Running is good for body, mind and soul and thousands of us love it, judging by the numbers taking part in Great Run events in the North in the next few months. So go and support the runners and – who knows – if you’re a beginner, maybe get inspired to have a go yourself…

I

nspired by the Brownlee brothers’ medal-winning success at the Olympics last August?

Well, don’t get carried away.

Yorkshire-born and bred Alistair and Jonathan Brownlee, you may remember, took part in the gruelling triathlon event during London 2012: a swim across open water, followed by cycling and then a 10km run. Alistair got the gold and Jonathan scooped the bronze. The thing is, the Brownlees are supreme athletes in peak physical condition – and you, possibly, aren’t.

In fact, just the running part would have most of us on our knees. Yet running is a great way to get fit and healthy, and it clears the mind, too. So if you’re interested in taking it up, then Bupa, who sponsor the Great North Run, Great Manchester Run and Great Yorkshire Run (among others) have some important tips for you first... å Talk to your GP before starting any new fitness programme. å Strengthen your core muscles.

DON’T FORGET YOUR DAY RANGER AND ROUND ROBIN TICKETS. Explore the great cities of the North with Day Ranger and Round Robin tickets.

These are great for family days out and – because you can hop on and off as many times as you like – will save you money.

For terms, conditions and more information, visit northernrail.org spring/summer 2013

Core stability is the ability to control and stabilise your spine, pelvis and shoulder blades, allowing your limbs to work more efficiently.

Strengthening your core muscles may help to maximise your performance and potentially reduce your risk of injury. å Start running injury-free. If you have an unresolved injury, it’s important to see a physiotherapist or sports medicine doctor. å Make sure you keep well-hydrated to maximise your performance. å A decent pair of running shoes is essential. Go to a specialist running shop that will review your running style and help find the right shoe for you. northernrail.org

YOUR STOP: WHAT TO DO å If you’re training for a specific running event, make sure you research it – and your training requirements – well.

Try joining a club or running with friends for advice and support. å Make sure that recovery is built into your training plan, keep your training consistent with your schedule and, to reduce risk of injury, include other types of cardiovascular exercise. å Include strength training as part of your regular exercise routine.

å Listen to your body by including rest days when you need them and looking out for injuries.

more@ bupa.co.uk/running Log on for more information for beginners, including a free online running health check, training programmes, tips on motivation, hydration and nutrition, injury prevention and recovery, and advice on preparing for a race.

There are lots of running events taking place in the North in the next few months, including three giants of the Great Run series. Go out and cheer on the runners!

Great Manchester Run Weekend

29 SEPTEMBER

The baby of the Great Run family, this 10k event is just six years old, but has grown into a must-see Sheffield highlight which includes the Bupa Junior & Mini Great Yorkshire Run, plus live music throughout the course and across the city centre.

This new marathon was a big hit when it was held last year – so it’s out of the blocks again for a second time. Held in conjunction with the Sunderland City 10k, it starts and finishes at the Stadium of Light on the north bank of the Wear.

More info: marathonofthenorth.co.uk

Plusnet Yorkshire Marathon

25-27 MAY

20 OCTOBER

Great North Run Weekend 14-15 SEPTEMBER

Entrants to Bupa’s famous Great North Run get a great view of the North East: the event starts in Newcastle, crosses the Tyne Bridge, jogs on through Gateshead and finishes in South Shields.

This half-marathon has changed over the years.

When it first started in 1981, 12,000 runners took part. In 2012, there were over 55,000 accepted entrants from over 100,000 applicants. The weekend includes the Bupa Junior & Mini Great North Run, Bupa Great North 5k and the Great North CityGames.

Xx x

Great Yorkshire Run

The Marathon of the North 28 APRIL

Run for It!

Since it was first staged in 2003, over 250,000 runners have taken part in this 10k run and an estimated £22m has been raised for good causes. The Great Manchester Run, which was created as a legacy event following the 2002 Commonwealth Games, has now grown into a weekend festival of sport.

Over the years it has welcomed top athletes including the world’s greatest distance runner Haile Gebrselassie (who has won the event an unprecedented four times) and Britain’s Jo Pavey, (who has won the women’s event twice).

The weekend includes the Bupa Junior & Mini Great Manchester Run and the Great CityGames.

Also look out for…

more@ greatrun.org

A beautiful, historic city? Check. Eyepleasing, surrounding countryside? Check.

This is the first marathon based in and around York and it’s been very popular with runners who have snapped up all the places. Never mind: there’s always 2014.

More info: theyorkshiremarathon.com

Plus:

Blackpool Half Marathon, 7 APRIL Chester Half Marathon, 12 MAY Leeds Half Marathon, 12 MAY Sheffield Half Marathon, 12 MAY Hadrian’s Wall Half Marathon, 16 JUNE Humber Bridge Half Marathon, 30 JUNE

Get ‘'appy!

Northern Rail’s new app allows you to plan any journey in Great Britain, check live running time information and purchase the cheapest available tickets.

Download it free now! For more details, visit northernrail.org/app

You can now buy tickets online at the Northern Rail website to destinations around MANCHESTER, NEWCASTLE, SHEFFIELD and SUNDERLAND NOT ENOUGH FOR YOU? Great Britain – not just the Northern network. For more details, visit northernrail.org northernrail.org

spring/summer 2013

51

2013 edition

2013 edition 2013 edition

Explore

Discover

Mallerstang on Settle and Carlisle Line Š John Brown

to Visit our website find out more.

Ravenglass

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

Hop on and off all day for one set price

off Hop on and all day for one set price

Š Sam Dixon

Discover

The north of England by train with a Rail Rover

Lake District Cumbria, the West by train and the North r or with a Day Range ticket Round Robin

Hop on and off all day for one set price

Visit our website to find out more.

Knaresborough

viaduct

Visit our website to find out more.

YOUR STOP: QUIZ STUFF

Stuff TV , FILM + MUSIC QUIZ 1 5 6 2 7 8 3 9 4

In the 2000 BBC TV remake of cult Sixties show Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased), which comedy double act played the title roles?

5 8 7 3 5 6

7

9 2 4 6 8 3

3

In a forthcoming movie, Angelina Jolie (pictured) plays the role of the villain from Disney’s Sleeping Beauty. What is her name?

4

3

9

1

8 7 2

2

5

7 3 1 9

9 7 1

Who had hits with ‘Running Up That Hill’, ‘Wow’, ‘Cloudbusting’ and ‘Babooshka’?

Question 8

CROSSWORD 3

1

Who played the lead role of Arthur Kipps in the 2012 horror thriller, The Woman in Black?

Who plays Chummy Browne in TV’s Call the Midwife?

2

6

Whose album is entitled Our Version of Events?

Which famous rock ‘n’ roller plays Captain Jack Sparrow’s dad in the Pirates of the Caribbean movies?

1

SUDOKU

Fill in all the sq uares in the grid each column, an so that each the digits from d each 3x3 square contains row, 1 to 9. all

Which band features Adam Levine on lead vocals?

Which movie features this dialogue: “Fraulein, were you this much trouble at the Abbey?” “Oh, much more, Sir.”

53

4

5

6

7

8

Which actor took over the lead from John Nettles in Midsomer Murders – and what is the name of his character?

Photo credit: Greg Williams

Across

1. Menacing (11) 9. The connections you have with friends and family (13) 10. Happened (8) 12. List of dishes (4) 14. Breakfast meat (5) 15. Our location (5) 19. Yorkshire port and city (4) 20. Merry-go-round (8) 22. One who studies birds (13) 24. Attacked, beseiged (11)

ANSWERS:

16

17

19

18

20 21

22

23

northernrail.org

ANSWERS:

SUDOKU:

24

2. Name of computer in 2001: A Space Odyssey (3) 3. Outside (8) 4. Tool for gardening and plastering (6) 5. Slang word for food (4) 6. Group who had hit with ‘Wild Young Hearts’ (9) 7. Something which establishes the truth (5) 8. Edition (5) 11. Throw down the gauntlet (9) 13. Sounds with the same pitch (8) 16. Hurl, fling (5) 17. Fabric wrapped around the waist, worn by men or women (6) 18. Fine grained rock, used for roofing (5) 21. Swelling at edge of eyelid (4) 23. Frozen water (3)

spring/summer 2013

Sudoku

15

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

14

4 7 2 7 25 63 6 1 5 9 8 8 1 7 2 8 6 9 9 8 1 7 3 3 4 5 5 6 2 1 5 9 8 2 6 4 3 9 1 7 4 3

Down

13

52 8 35 13 79 7 9 24 41 33 5 1 76 69 95 4 89 36 41 6 2 53 74 67 6 1 98 22 9 67 85 14 7 26 3 5 11 98 88 2 3 42 57

12

9 6 9 61 3 1 5 8 8 2 4 27 7 2 5 13 2 38 6 5 8 74 1 9 8 3 42 4 7 59 5 6 1 96

11

TV, FILM & MUSIC QUIZ: 1) Vic (Reeves) and Bob (Mortimer), 2) The Sound of Music (1965), 3) Keith Richards from The Rolling Stones, 4) Miranda Hart, 5) Maroon 5, 6) Emeli Sandé, 7) Daniel Radcliffe, 8) Maleficient, 9) Kate Bush, 10) Neil Dudgeon playing DCI John Barnaby

10

CROSSWORD: Across - 1-Threatening, 9-Relationships, 10-Occurred, 12-Menu, 14-Bacon, 15-North, 19-Hull, 20-Carousel, 22-Ornithologist, 24-Beleaguered Down - 2-Hal, 3-Exterior, 4-Trowel, 5-Nosh, 6-Noisettes, 7-Proof, 8-Issue, 11-Challenge, 13-Monotone, 16-Throw, 17-Sarong, 18-Slate, 21-Stye, 23-Ice

9

YOUR STOP: JOURNEY’S END

End

Journey’s

54

S

he’s the supermodel-turned-cook with a top-rated telly series. So after asking Lorraine Pascale for a recipe for our food pages (see page 31), we also coaxed her into answering our regular back page Q&A…

Lorraine Pascale

Q: Everyone always points out that you’re a foodie with a supermodel’s body. Like we’ve just done there (sorry). They don’t talk about Gordon Ramsay’s body, though.

A: I know, it’s the same old story isn’t it? Boring beyond belief but there’s no point getting too hung up about it.

Q: How did you get into modelling?

A: I was scouted in London’s Covent Garden when I was 16.

I loved it. It was a fabulous life – for a while. But it became too difficult when I had my daughter, Ella, and ultimately it was rather unfulfilling as there’s a lot of hanging around. I worked with all the top designers (Chanel, Lagerfeld, John Galliano, Versace, Donna Karan, etc) but I used to particularly like doing the Next catalogues. They paid well and sent us on some great trips.

found my passion. It was a real light bulb moment! I was pretty good at it from the moment I started. Everything just ‘fitted’.

It was a fabulous experience.

Q: How did you make the transition to TV? A: There was some good press coverage when I opened my cupcake bakehouse in Covent Garden and this brought me to the attention of a TV production company.

Q: The TV series has really struck a chord with people.

A: I like to think it’s because I’m cooking food that people really can fit into their busy lives.

The title of my new book sums it up pretty well – Fast, Fresh and Easy Food.

Q: Were you immediately a natural in front of the camera?

A: I think my modelling background certainly helped and I’ve also done a bit of acting.

Q: But supermodels and cakes don’t really go together.

Have you always loved food?

A: Always – even To me, supporting a charity isn't when I was a model. about turning up at parties but about They used to call me ‘hollow legs’ as they from many rolling your sleeves up and getting different countries. couldn’t see where I put all the food I ate!

He does an amazing properly involved with their various lasagne and I put it Q: What got you in my second book as initiatives and projects. off the catwalk My Dad’s Really Very Good Lasagne. and on the road to TV foodiedom?

Q: You’ve cooked with your dad on Q: Do people recognise you a A: A short course at Prue Leith’s TV. Has he taught you any recipes? lot now? (the top cookery school). From the A: They do, yes. It’s weird and A: My dad is a wonderful cook. minute I started it, I knew I had I’m not sure I’m used to it yet!

He’s well-travelled so has influences

Photo credit: Myles New

“

”

spring/summer 2013

Q: You were adopted as a child.

Tell us a bit about the work you do with fostering and adoption charities Barnardo’s and TACT. A: I like to work with them in a very hands-on, direct way. To me, supporting a charity isn’t about turning up at parties but about rolling your sleeves up and getting properly involved with their various initiatives and projects. northernrail.org

!

N I W

YOUR STOP: COMPETITION

To celebrate the launch of Northern’s new app, we’re giving away an amazing iPad mini.

Our app is available to download on iPhone, Android and now iPad. Our app will help you to:

INI AN iPAD M

Q: If you could only have one of your sweet recipes to take with you to a desert island – or even a dessert island (see what we did there?) – what one would it be?

A: Oh gosh, I don’t know… maybe Strawberry and Mint Mojitos as they seem just perfect for a desert island!

Q: Do you do much train travel for work?

A: I love travelling by train.

My publisher always wants to order a car for me but I say, no, I’m going by train and it’s SO much more relaxing – and quicker!

Q: Do you have a favourite city in the North? What is it and why?

A: Manchester: LOVE the Shopping…

LORRAINE’S NEW BOOK..

Lorraine’s new book Fast, Fresh and Easy Food is published by HarperCollins.

more@ lorrainepascale.com northernrail.org

• plan any train journey in Great Britain • b uy tickets for any train journey in Great Britain • v iew real-time running information for all train services in Great Britain.

When you book with our app there are no booking fees, no credit card fees and no delivery charges.

You can collect your tickets from over 1,000 stations and they’re ready to collect within 15 minutes.

For your chance to win, simply visit

northernrail.org/app Closing date for entries is 31 May 2013. *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

Fares and service information

follow us on Twitter: @northernrailorg

National Rail Enquiries

Access, disabled and cycle information freephone: 0808 156 1606 email: assistance@northernrail.org textphone: 08456 045 608

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 spring/summer 2013

55

Vodafone Red Business.

Why limit yourself?

Unlimited calls. Unlimited texts. Plus a landline number on your mobile. Stay in touch with customers and take your business further. For a better way of working, make yours a Red Business. vodafone.co.uk/redbusiness

Minutes to UK mobiles and landlines (starting 01, 02, 03), standard UK texts. Terms apply. Subject to credit check.