All stitched up.

Celebrating Yorkshire.
Guerrilla knitters stitch up Saltburn Pier. Again.

Baggins me a room in Liverton holiday haven.

Fans of Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit can now experience a bit of the hobbit’s homeland, The Shire by visiting the North York Moors. 

 

Golden Hill Farm near Liverton in the North York Moors National Park has just completed a new underground holiday cottage that has been inspired by the stories written by English author JRR Tolkien.  

 

Owners Carol Hopkinson and Karl Wragg – with the help of £15,000 of tourism-related funding from the North York Moors National Park Authority and Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council* plus a start-up loan from Teesside charity Five Lamps – have stuck closely to Tolkien’s description of the underground hobbit holes which became instantly recognisable following the release of the films. 

 

The result, Potts Corner, would have done Bilbo Baggins proud with its green round porthole-like door, stained glass windows and grass roof. 

 

As befits the residence of one of the most respected hobbits, Potts Corner, which sleeps six, doesn’t skimp on any of the comforts either, offering a cosy retreat with cooking facilities, lounge including log burner, roll-top free-standing bath and luxury organic wool mattresses made by Leeds firm Harrison Spinks. 

 

The couple, who are already employing four apprentice hobbits to help run the growing business, now plan to continue the transformation of their campsite into North Shire by recreating the fabled Hobbiton setting, a first on UK soil. 

 

Already plans are afoot to start work on a further couple of hobbit holes this year adding to the longer term vision of having seven hobbit residences and a replica of the Green Dragon inn within a wildflower haven.

 

Potts Corner holiday home is available to rent for £650 for three nights or £850 for seven nights for up to six people.  

 

Carol explains: “We are delighted to be opening our first hobbit hole and our thanks go to the members of our family and the various organisations that have helped provide financial support along the way. This has given us the confidence to press on with our plans to create a magical setting for families where they can get back to nature and have fun, and which encourages children to start reading fairy tales and adventure books. 

 

“Importantly, we’re also planning to expand our Apprentice Academy, giving young people opportunities to train in the tourism, horticulture, business and catering sectors. 

 

“It’s also great to think that we’re helping re-connect the whole Lord of the Rings legacy with Britain, in-line with JRR Tolkien’s English roots.” 

 

Councillor Carl Quartermain, Cabinet Member for Jobs, Skills, and Leisure at Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council, said: “The council is delighted that the Coastal Communities Fund can be put to good use in such a unique way. It really is the spirit in which it is intended.

 

“These Hobbit Houses must be the only examples in the North East, if not the country, and they will be a great place to spend a weekend away in The (North York)Shire. 

 

“I also look forward to seeing the Apprentice Academy really take off, the council is committed to seeing young people in work or training, and Carol’s plans sound like they will be a great addition to the area.”

 

For information and booking Potts Corner please look on www.northshire.co.uk

 

Taste Buds Tickled at Saltburn Food Festival

Thousands turned out to sample a wide variety of tasty delights at this year’s 3rd annual Saltburn Food Festival.

The town was packed out with visitors who were able to enjoy the tastes and smells from more than 70 local traders, as well as experience a variety of cookery lessons and displays on Sunday.

Event organiser Lorna Jackson, who runs family business Real Meals in the town, was delighted the festival keeps going from strength to strength three years after its launch. "What an amazing day,” she said.

"It is very humbling to see the people flock to the festival today. There is a real sense of community surrounding the festival and we are really humbled at the support and encouragement we receive from the people of the town who get behind it.

“This really shows the town at its best and I’m incredibly proud to both live and work here.”

Visitors were able to take advantage of a distinctive vintage bus for the festival’s park and ride scheme to ensure as many people as possible could enjoy the day.

Special guests, including TV chef Peter Sidwell, Richard Ingram, Gilly Robinson and BBC Tees foodie expert Catherine Hill, were cooking up a treat at a live outdoor cookery theatre.

TV chef Peter Sidwell said: “It’s my first visit to Saltburn and an amazing town it is. The festival is just incredible and the place has been absolutely buzzing all day long.”

Richard Ingram, a chef and lecturer at Middlesbrough College, said: “Last year was just incredible and today has just been amazing yet again. The crowds have been a great support all day long, and it has just been a great joy for me and the team from the college to have been part of an amazing day.”

The free festival also included a vibrant street market with around seventy of the best independent food producers from the North East and North Yorkshire, a children’s kitchen academy, live music, world street food, outdoor dining and picnic areas.

Saltburn-born food writer Catherine Hill said: “What an absolutely fantastic day, wonderfully overwhelming, not just fantastic. It is incredible to have a festival like this on our doorstep – it was absolutely wonderful all day long.”

Saltburn Food Festival Returns with More Tasty Treats

Saltburn Food Festival will be back for a third helping on August 2 with even more tasty treats.

Organisers of the popular event promise that the town’s Milton Street will again be buzzing with around 70 producer stalls, a kitchen academy for children, live music, world street food and outdoor picnic and dining areas.

Special guests, including TV chef Peter Sidwell, Richard Ingram, Gilly Robinson and BBC Tees food expert Catherine Hill, will also be cooking up a storm at a live outdoor Cookery Theatre sponsored by Middlesbrough College.

The free festival, which runs between 10am and 4pm, builds on the town’s popular monthly farmers’ market.

Organiser Lorna Jackson says: “The last two food festivals have been amazing, really, a fantastic street party celebrating locally produced food.

“Milton Street was pretty much transformed into a village in itself and there was a wonderful sense of community around both days, with people coming in and out of the festival all day long.

“All the traders share our passion for good, local food. They love the people here and can’t wait for the day to come along.

“Above all, though, I think the festival is a real tribute to all the people of Saltburn who get behind the day, reflecting a real sense of optimism and community spirit that shows the town at its best.

“We’re currently smack bang in the middle of our final preparations and we hope we can do the town proud again this year.”

The festival’s guest chefs are all set to share some fabulous recipes and kitchen tips with visitors.

Peter Sidwell, author of the Simply Good cook books, says: “I’ve heard the festival is an amazing day, full of people who share my passion for good local food, so I jumped at the chance to be involved and I’m looking forward to being part of a really top day.”

Richard Ingram is making a welcome festival return after being part of it last year. The chef and lecturer at Middlesbrough College says: “Last year was just incredible – ridiculously busy but in a wonderful way.

“I didn’t need asking twice when I was invited back again this year. Some of the best new chefs from the college here are looking forward to a fantastic day.”

It’s set to be a festival homecoming for fellow guest chef Gilly Robinson, who grew up in Eaglescliffe and is now head tutor at Malton Cookery School.

Previously senior tutor at TV chef Rosemary Shrager’s Cookery School in Kent, Gilly says: “We have a lot of customers from Saltburn and the rest of Teesside and East Cleveland who come to visit us in Malton, so I’m really looking forward to coming to see them on home ground for a change.

“I know the festival is going to be buzzing all day long and I can’t wait!”

A Whitby Vintage Bus will be on hand to carry people into the heart of town on the day as part of the festival’s park and ride scheme.

Cars will be able to park free on the old council coach park opposite Saltburn Golf Club and at the Saltburn Learning Campus (formerly Huntcliff School) and an all-day bus ticket will cost £2 for adults with under 16s going free.

Savannah's Summertime Charity Night

 

Don't miss out on a fun-filled summery evening at Savannah's Saltburn Charity Night on Friday 7th August.

The event will be hosted at the exclusive Saltburn Golf Club and popular UK band The Happy Cats will be entertaining guests with LIVE music!

 

A whole bunch of prizes are also up for grabs in an exciting raffle, including;

• 2 night stay for 2 at Ald White Craig Cottage, Northumberland

• 2 night family stay at YHA National Forest with a day at Conkers

• 6 month leisure pass for Everyone Active, Redcar

• Middlesbrough Football Club tour

 

Tickets cost just £15 and include a pie and pea supper. All proceeds go to Teesside Hospice! For tickets please call 07708925063.

 

 

Engineering His Future

Saltburn's hugely popular Cliff Lift, one of the areas biggest tourist attractions, welcomes its

first ever apprentice in time for the summer season.

 

Learning the ropes at the unique attraction is eager apprentice, 18 year old Ryan Mapp, who will be working at the Cliff Lift for the coming year.

The water-balanced lift, an iconic piece of engineering, has been in operation since 1884 and is believed to be the oldest working funicular of its kind in the UK.

Ryan, whose apprenticeship is through Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council with day releases at

Middlesbrough College, spoke of his unique experience and said that one of his favourite parts of the job is the people he gets to meet every day.

He said: “I’m really enjoying it; I get to meet lots of new and friendly people, many of them have never seen anything like the lift.”

Ryan added: “The skills I’m learning on this apprenticeship will be invaluable for when I become an

engineer one day.”

In the summer season Ryan’s job is customer service based, and he can often be seen on the tracks carrying out daily inspections with a member of staff prior to opening. In the winter months he will be working with Cliff Lift engineer, Paul Wakeford, assisting with the winter maintenance programme.

The Cliff Lift now welcomes volunteers to help with the daily running of the Saltburn attraction,

including Stella Coombe who works on Tuesday's.

 

White Rabbits, and Adventures in Wonderland - The Yarnstormers Return.

They're back. Overnight the mysterious yarn bombers have returned to Saltburn Pier. This time it's a real tea party. Mad Hatters and all.

The secret knitters have struck again, this time celebrating 150 years since the publication of Lewis Carroll’s classic Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland.

Characters from the much-loved book have been wonderfully recreated in wool - with the enigmatic knitters working through the night to bring them to life in a magnificent display.

Working under the cover of darkness, the elusive team stitched their latest creations to the railings on the town's historic pier.

Figures include the famous grinning Cheshire Cat, which sits perched along the pier’s railings alongside other favourites like the Mad Hatter, the white rabbit - complete with his trusty stopwatch and black hat - and the chubby, argumentative twins Tweedledum and Tweedledee.

Other fun characters include the playing cards, loyal servants to the Queen of Hearts and of course, Alice herself takes centre stage amongst teacups and teapots from the famous Mad Hatter’s Tea Party and other popular symbols from the book.

The latest yarnbombers’ creation has been displayed just in time for the Bank Holiday weekend.

Previous displays produced by the secret knitters include knitted characters for the World Cup, Queen’s Jubilee and a display to coincide with the London Olympics in 2012.

Thousands of people have travelled from around the country to see their creations but the identity of the knitters remains a mystery.