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Nottingham News, Notts Leisure

Nottingham is classed as a ‘must visit’ city – not just by UK residents, but by many travellers, from worldwide origins, too. Numerous shops (including designer fashions), independents and high street names, are located in Nottingham. World-class entertainment and venues, including the National Ice Centre, Motorpoint Arena Nottingham, attract many visitors. The Old Market Square has events and various markets throughout the year, being transformed at Christmas time, with its own ice rink adding to the splendour. With the Castle, Robin Hood, Caves, River Trent, Sports, plus inns, taverns, eateries and restaurants, there is something for everyone, all year through.

I had a particular recommendation for fine-dining at The Maharaja’s Retreat. Close to the Castle, Old Market Square and the Theatre Royal & Royal Concert Hall, it is ideal for pre and post-theatre dining, also. Utilising the most finest and freshest food and ingredients, The Maharaja’s Retreat is often booked well in advance.

Authentic Indian regional dishes include Chicken Tikka, Tandoori Lamb Cutlets, Punjabi Vegetable Samosa, Amritsari Masala Fish and more. I chose Tandoori Mango Prawns (King prawns in a marinade of fresh mango, Kashmiri chilli, ginger, garlic, fresh coriander). This proved to be an excellent start to the evening’s dining, with the taste buds duly recognising and appreciating the complementing flavours.

Timeless classics and favourite main courses include South Indian Seafood Biryani. I opted for Chicken Tandoori (Fillet of chicken breast marinated over night with an eclectic mix of freshly pounded herbs and spices, hung yoghurt and cold press mustard oil. Served with fresh leaf salad and a side sauce). The flavours for this dish were outstanding. Absolutely, ‘Compliments to Chef’.

Gulab Jamun with Pistachio and rose water kulfi delivered the ‘end of meal sensation’, perfectly.
The range of drinks has something for all palates – including Maharaja’s Lager (4.9ABV). Vegetarian and vegan dishes are available also, as are rice, breads and sundries, plus Chefs Specials, collections, deliveries and gift vouchers. The 20% ‘early bird’ dining discount is an added bonus. Many thanks to Shindi and Savita for exemplary service throughout. Highly recommended.

The Maharaja’s Retreat, 28 Maid Marian Way, Nottingham, NG1 6GF Tel: 0115 958 0115
E-mail: info@maharajas-retreat.co.uk www.maharajas-retreat.co.uk

Nottingham News, Notts Health & Care

Dr Keith Girling (Medical Director), Carol Drummond (Interim Director of Midwifery) and Michelle Rhodes (Chief Nurse) at Nottingham University Hospitals Trust gave a progress report on their maternity services to the County Council’s Health Scrutiny Committee today. In October 2020, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) undertook a review of maternity services at Nottingham University Hospital (NUH) and in December 2020 published their report in which they re-rated NUH from ‘Requires Improvement’ to ‘Inadequate’ – along with regulatory notices requiring the Trust to take immediate actions to make the service safe for mothers and babies.

This topic was last on the agenda of the Health Scrutiny Committee on 9 March 2021 when Members heard that the Trust accepted there was evidence of longstanding concerns about maternity services and it had taken a range of actions to improve oversight of maternity services even before the ‘Inadequate’ rating had been issued, given the Prevention of Further Deaths Report issued in September 2020. In addition, the Trust’s Improvement Plan has the ambition to move to a ‘Good’ rating by the end of 2021.

Dr Girling, Carol Drummond and Michelle Rhodes attended today to update the committee on their action plan, which included a range of measures such as:
• recruitment of additional midwives including a substantive Director of Midwifery due to start in post on the 21st June
• daily escalation meetings to ensure staffing safe for the women needing care
• additional training on fetal heart rate monitoring (approx. 500 staff) progressing well with expected completion by end of May
• purchase of 51 new fetal heart rate monitors, which are being rolled out into clinical areas as they are configured and training is complete.
• new IT devices being deployed across the service with improvement in community WiFi, to be supported by newly appointed digital midwives.

Councillor Sue Saddington, Chair of Health Scrutiny Committee, said: “I am grateful to the representatives from NUH for coming to update us today, but what I’ve heard and read does give me some cause for concern. I feel that the report we have seen today is not detailed enough and I would like to see much more at our meeting in October, such as the level of training the new midwives have, what type of incidents have taken place, details about after care. We need to make sure that ladies and their babies are safe.”

Dr Keith Girling, Medical Director at NUH, said: “This is all about women and all about babies and making this service right for them. I’m pleased to report we have made a number of appointments into midwifery – 39 since September last year. We are still working with other local providers at recruitment opportunities to fill the remaining gaps. We have been working to hear the voices of women throughout this process and have much better links with mothers about their experiences.

“We have had some progress since our last time in March; the CQC revisited us a few weeks ago and have removed the section 29 improvement notice on the basis of the improvements they have seen. We’re very mindful that there’s still much that needs to be done and that this is not something that’s going to be quick to fix. We are now looking at a transformational programme to create a culture that is safe for women, safe for babies and safe for staff.”
NUH will report back to Health Scrutiny Committee in October (date to be confirmed). In the meantime, NUH representatives have invited Committee members to visit maternity units at their Queen’s Medical Centre and City Hospital Campuses.

Nottingham News, Notts What's On

The Autumn weather has definitely got off to a mixed start, is there a good mix of things to do in and around Nottingham to match? Read on to find out…

Firstly, Heritage Open Days return (10-19 Sept) England’s largest festival of history and culture. Every year in September places across the country throw open their doors to celebrate their heritage, community and history. It’s your chance to see hidden places and try out new experiences – and it’s all FREE.

The Nottingham Green Festival will be held (Sun 12 Sept) at The Arboretum. You can enjoy free live music, outdoor entertainment and activities plus community stalls with refreshments, ethical products and energy-saving technologies.
Roll up, roll up because the circus is in town as Gandeys returns with a sensational new production for 2021! (10 – 13 Sept) You can catch the premiere of “The Double Acrobatic Swing” which promises to be an act that will truly have you on the edge of your own seat.

You can also enjoy non-stop events and activities, as The Festival of the Horse offers a fantastic experience for the whole family at Belvoir Castle (11 – 12 Sep)
Get ready for the 2021 Nottingham Mini Mela! (10-12 Sept) Enjoy a weekend full of free activities, music, dance, poetry, family friendly events, storytelling, workshops, art, giant puppets and more at The New Art Exchange
Nottingham Pride takes place (Sat 11 Sep) With a colourful parade, live music, inspiring speeches and performances; come along and celebrate as Nottingham’s streets come to life with a rainbow of colour, vibrant music and dancing.
Bands in the Park Arboretum take place during September (19, 26) The Arboretum is Nottingham’s oldest public park and the closest park to the city centre. There are also Bands in the Park concerts at Victoria Embankment
Stagger around the Nottingham Ale Trail. With over 40 breweries in Nottinghamshire and nearly 50 pubs serving cask ale in the city centre, the event remains central to Nottingham’s pub scene with a month-long celebration of local pubs, breweries and cask ale. (3 Sept – 3 Oct)

Thoresby Park Craft and Artisan Food Market returns (3 Oct), offering a range of stalls from homemade dog treats and homemade bee products to gin, chutneys, jewellery and much more.
If you’ve missed live music, look no further than the Theatre Royal and Royal Concert Hall. Put on your red shoes and dance to the Bowie Experience (10 Sept), Boyzone and Westlife unite for an evening of classic hits (12 Sep) and of course, we’ve missed our musicals! Nominated for 5 Olivier Awards including Best New Musical, the sell-out London smash hit SIX visits the Theatre Royal (7-12 Sept). From Tudor queens to pop princesses, the six wives of Henry VIII finally take to the mic to tell their tales, remixing five hundred years of historical heartbreak into an 80-minute celebration of 21st-century girl power.

Willy Russell’s legendary Blood Brothers is also back telling the captivating tale of twins who, separated at birth, grow up on opposite sides of the tracks, only to meet again with fateful consequences (14-18 Sept).
Enter a world of magic and fantasy as Disney’s classic movie Bedknobs and Broomsticks makes its world premiere as an exciting new stage musical Star Wars fans should head to Nottingham Playhouse for It’s A Trap – The Improvised Star Wars Show. The show explores untold stories of the Star Wars universe. A handful of audience suggestions creates a unique episode before your eyes – complementing and breaking the canon in unexpected and ingenious ways! “May the Forst of October be with you!” (1 Oct)

(6-10 Oct). Down the road at the Motorpoint Arena, The Dreamboys promise a raunchy night out (10 Sept), The Specials hit the road again (17 Sept). ‘The One More Haim Tour’ will see the band performing their biggest UK shows to date. A welcome return for the Californian sisters (24 Sept).
If it’s comedy you’re after, The Canalhouse Comedy Night is back featuring a mixture of new acts and established acts trying new material (8/22 Sep)

Unless stated, always assume there is a charge for the event. I would still recommend you ring ahead or check online before making any journeys, and adhere to and respect any social distancing measures that remain in place.
All details are correct at the time of going to press.

Nottingham News, Notts Leisure, Notts What's On

Dino Kingdom, Nottinghamshire 15-31 October 2021

A rare chance to walk among the dinosaurs on a Jurassic journey of discovery in a brand new immersive outdoor experience is coming to Nottinghamshire. Dino Kingdom takes over Thoresby Park for two weeks this autumn with 100 prehistoric beasts set to be unleashed to roam across the plains and woodlands of the beautiful historic landscape.
The epic adventure will bring ancient history back to life with jaw-droppingly realistic dinosaurs including the gigantic T-rex, King of the Jurassic era, and all kinds of other animatronic creatures that can move and roar!

Coming from the creators of the award-winning Lightopia Festival, this will be a chance to journey back millions of years to the time when these majestic beasts reigned over the land and see them as they would have lived in a natural outdoor habitat.

Technology will bring the prehistoric world to life with loads of innovative features packed into the state of the art experience from 3D anatomy mapping to a nerve jangling encounter with holographic dinosaurs hiding amongst the ancient woodlands. Offering a perfect blend of education and entertainment, Dino Kingdom visitors will discover all kinds of things about these amazing creatures inside and out as they are brought to life in a completely new and exciting way. A Dino Kingdom app has been created for the Jurassic journey with loads of content to give a unique insight into how dinosaurs lived, millions of years ago.

As well as the natural outdoor setting, there will be indoor activities including lots of fun interactive features from designing a dinosaur to see it come to life in a virtual kingdom or feeding the hungry beasts in a Dino Keeper VR experience.

An excavation sand pit for budding paleontologists, dinosaur eggs, fossils, smouldering volcanoes, a giant dinosaur skeleton head and a walk-through fossil tunnel as well as fairground rides for all ages and plenty of family friendly food and drink look set to make this an unforgettable experience. With more than two thirds of the tickets for the inaugural Dino Kingdom opening in Manchester already sold three weeks ahead of the opening date, organisers are confident the event will be welcomed by dinosaur fans of all ages when it arrives in Nottingham.

Dino Kingdom creator Ian Xiang said: “We can’t wait to bring our Dino Kingdom to Nottinghamshire as we know how much families and friends will appreciate the chance to enjoy a safe outdoor experience together that will capture the imagination of all ages. Forget the dusty museums of old, this is a totally new way of getting up close and personal to these fantastic beasts that will last long in the memory.”

A sign up page offering access to early birds tickets is now live . Sign up here www.dinokingdom.com to secure a 20 percent discount on tickets, and to keep with all the latest updates. Dino Kingdom Thoresby is coming for two weeks only from 15 to 31 October 2021 with pre-booked timed slots available every day. Advance tickets are priced at £15 for adults, £13 for children (under 3s are free) and £54 for a family ticket.
Join the Jurassic journey here:
www.dinokingdom.com
Facebook
www.facebook.com/dinokingdomuk
Instagram
www.instagram.com/dinokingdomuk

Nottingham News, Notts Leisure

Rural Action Derbyshire is based in Matlock and for 15 years has been running a scheme called Wheels to Work. The scheme provides transport solutions for people who struggle to get to work or training because of a lack of suitable public or private transport. This problem can be particularly acute in isolated rural communities. Wheels to Work already offers moped loans, reconditioned bicycles, and help towards transport costs in some circumstances. The addition of six electric bikes will be welcomed by users needing to travel greater distances and in hilly terrain.

We have contributed £52,500 to help fund Wheels to Work this year and some of the money will be used to pay for this initial e-bike pilot. Laura Mitchell, Wheels to Work Project Manager said: “There are many well-known benefits to e-bikes, from environmental to health, but for us, it is the opportunity to offer an affordable transport solution to people in rural Derbyshire.” Derbyshire County Council Cabinet Member for Highways Assets and Transport, Kewal Singh Athwal said: “The introduction of electric bicycles to the Wheels to Work fleet is an excellent addition to their current offer. As well as improving transport options for people in Derbyshire it also helps Derbyshire County Council meet its environmental commitment to cut carbon emissions and encourage the use of more sustainable modes of transport.”

There are a limited number of electric bicycles available now on a first-come first-served basis. There is a small loan charge of £30 a week (£25 for students) and the scheme is open to anyone who is struggling with access to education, training, or employment in Derbyshire.

Nottingham News

More summer capacity on tourism bus route as staycations lead the way The Hope Valley Explorer summer bus service will return to the Peak District from Saturday 24 July. Following a successful pilot season in 2019, the service was paused during the Covid-19 restrictions of 2020 but will now operate from 24 July to 30 October this year.
The Peak District National Park has again partnered with regional operators Stagecoach to offer the service across weekends and bank holidays throughout the summer, with onward links via bus and train to Sheffield, Manchester and Chesterfield.

Although the route will no longer take in Edale, larger capacity buses will be in use to allow more visitors to benefit from the service and provide traveller confidence following the impacts of Covid-19. In line with government guidance, Stagecoach and the National Park Authority are encouraging people to continue wearing face coverings when using the service.

For the first time, space for two bikes will also be available on the service – via racks – on a first-come, first-served basis.
Stagecoach and the Peak District National Park have also confirmed that ticket prices have been frozen at 2019 rates – starting at £4 for a single journey and including £6 return and a £12 family ticket. Some additional Stagecoach passes also apply.

The Hope Valley Explorer aims to reduce the number of car journeys within the National Park during its busiest season and the school summer and autumn holidays. As well as a flexible hop-on, hop-off service, the Explorer continues to feature an audio commentary of the rich natural and cultural history of the area; from its extensive cave network and wildlife, to the Dambusters of the Derwent Valley. The route will include key stops at Castleton, Hope and Fairholmes visitor centre in the Derwent Valley. Iconic locations like Winnats Pass, Mam Tor and the Great Ridge will all be available to enjoy from the route.

The initial three-year, seasonal pilot scheme (now extended to 2022) – funded by the National Park Authority – will assess the viability of running similar services long-term, to help ease pressure from private vehicles in the National Park and support linked sustainable transport by the use of rail services. Andrew McCloy, chair of the Peak District National Park Authority, said: “We’re delighted to be bringing back the Hope Valley Explorer with our partner operators Stagecoach this summer, especially as so many people may be looking closer to home for days out and a holiday break.

“That’s why we’ve worked to provide increased capacity across the service in 2021, which we’re pleased will run through until the October half term. “With onward bus links and the chance to join via train from Sheffield and Manchester along the route, the Explorer is a great car-free choice to discover a wonderful corner of the Peak District this year.

“Our continuing aim is to support a reduction in private car journeys in these areas and help promote more sustainable ways of getting to, and enjoying, the UK’s first ever National Park.” Further information is available at www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/hopevalleyexplorer or by post by calling Peak District National Park customer services team on 01629 816200.

Nottingham News

Detectives have released an image of a man they would like to speak to in connection with a robbery at a service station. It was reported a man walked up to the counter of the Total Service Station in Nottingham Road, Selston, and intimidated a staff member into giving him money.

No-one was hurt during the incident.
The suspect is described as white, around 30-years-old, 5ft 8ins tall and of skinny build.
The robbery happened at around 8.45pm on 22 August.

Detective Sergeant David Prest, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “This incident has left the victim incredibly shaken and we are currently pursuing a number of lines of enquiry to find the person responsible for this distressing crime.
“The force will always investigate reports of robbery and these are treated very seriously. We continue to strive to put suspects before the courts and seek justice for victims.

“As part of our ongoing enquiries we would like to hear from anyone who recognises the man pictured as we believe he may be able to help us with our investigation into this matter.”

Anyone with information or who recognises the man pictured is urged to call Nottinghamshire Police on 101, quoting incident number 748 of 22 August 2021. Alternatively people can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Nottingham News

Here at McCullochs,’ we aim to showcase our intricate bespoke products that are designed and created within the store by our talented fifth-generation jeweller Has de Silva. As well as offering a service where we can restore unique vintage pieces which hold a lot of sentimental value within our customers’ hearts, in addition to the comfort that the repairs are continuously carried out within our in-house workshop. Within the store we also offer a wide variety of jewellery – something for everyone, at exceptional prices. Another service we also offer here at McCullochs’ include remodelling, upcycling, and creating a whole new purpose for any old and sentimental jewellery to create one-of-a-kind pieces. We can reuse materials, reset a gemstone, or use the essence of the original pieces as inspiration for something new.

For over five decades, previous owners made McCulloch’s known but did not endeavor to meet the needs of a forever changing society in an evolving world, especially the importance of having an online presence. Within the next chapter of Mcculloch’s we will continue to provide the absolute best customer service and strive to become the best Independent Jeweller within Nottinghamshire. Due to our recent success of being the finalists for two categories at the UK Jewellery Awards, we now have a passion to continue to strive and compete with the best of the best.

An intense passion for gemstones and jewellery making has been the driving force in Has de Silva’s life since he was a child, where he frequently visited his Father’s gem mines in Sri Lanka which is where it all began. Has de Silva began training in his passion at the University of Kent in Canterbury where he gained a (BA) in Jewellery Design and Manufacturing. Previously, Has de Silva comes with excellent credentials having worked in several prestigious jewellers including Mayfair, London, and Winchester before taking on McCullochs here in Beeston, Nottinghamshire.
“I wish McCullochs to be exceptional in every viable way… we are passionate about creating unique, beautiful pieces – we strive to be two jewellers that stand out in everything we do, from the moment we even source a stone, and begin the designing process to revealing the final piece to the customer.”

We remain a fiercely independent family-run business built upon our daily ethos created with integrity, trust, and inclusion – from the moment a customer walks into our shop floor, they become a part of our McCulloch family.
We are extremely honoured and grateful to be recognised in our industry nationally as the Bespoke Jeweller of the Year award 2021, this would not have been possible without our committed and hard-working team as well as the continuous support from our customers. We also gained an almost perfect 98 percent mystery shop score, an independent industry specialist judging panel has overwhelmingly agreed that we at McCulloch jewellers offer a “truly personal bespoke service.”

Our business is now beginning to be recognised for our bespoke jewellery service, we are passionate to continue our journey and strive for excellence with more dedication than ever before.

Nottingham News

A man has been arrested after a woman returned home from a night shift to find her conservatory window had been left ajar. Officers from Nottinghamshire Police attended the house in Beech Avenue, Newark, shortly after 8.20am on 6 September.

The window was wide open and a key had been moved from inside. Nothing had been taken and it is not believed the offender had gone into the main house. A 32-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of burglary in the early hours of Friday morning (10 September) following police enquiries.

Detective Sergeant Andy Hall said: “Reports of burglary will always be dealt with thoroughly and treated seriously. Officers have remained committed to this investigation and as a result we have now arrested a man as part of their enquiries. “Burglaries can hugely impact on victims. Not only are they left without certain items, which can be physically or sentimentally valuable, but it is also a complete breach of privacy in the place that most people consider their safe space.

“We encourage people to ensure their homes are left secure and for neighbours and other residents to report any suspicious activity to us as soon as possible.” People with information can call Nottinghamshire Police on 101 or alternatively Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

For home security advice, please click here: https://www.nottinghamshire.police.uk/document/advice-home

Nottingham News, Notts What's On

Ashfield District Council are pleased to be bringing Hollywood back to Ashfield with four free outdoor cinema screenings over the next two weekends. The popular events are back following the success of the first outdoor cinemas in 2019. This year the screenings will take place across the first two weekends in September in Kirkby, Hucknall, Selston and Sutton. Each location will be showing two blockbuster films as voted for by residents; a family friendly film from 2.30pm and an evening showing from 6.30pm.

The cinema events are on:
Saturday 4th September – Kirkby Plaza, showing Trolls: World Tour and Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again!
Sunday 5th September – Titchfield Park, Hucknall, showing Raya & The Last Dragon and Rocketman
Saturday 11th September – Selston Country Park showing Tom & Jerry: The Movie and Grease
Sunday 12th September – Sutton Lawn, showing The Lion King and Bohemian Rhapsody

Cllr Jason Zadrozny, Leader of Ashfield District Council, said “The outdoor cinema screening events will be a real celebration for Ashfield, a chance for us all to come together and enjoy time with friends and family. We know how much residents loved the outdoor cinema events when we first introduced them in 2019, and if it wasn’t for the pandemic, we would have held them again last year. “These screenings will be better than ever with two film options to suit everyone’s tastes. We have invested over £2million into our parks and green spaces over the past two years so these events are the perfect chance to show them off.”

Cllr Arnie Hankin, Ward Councillor for Selston, commented “We are so pleased that Selston Country Park is able to host an outdoor cinema screen this year, as we have big plans to improve the park and café. We are holding a public consultation event at the Selston screening and we would love residents to give their opinions on the plans for Selston Country Park, before or after they enjoy the films”.