Louth – an idyllic rural setting

The town on the edge of the Wolds is a magnet for visitors who enjoy exploring its independent shops, markets and magnificent architecture – and there’s plenty more to enjoy in the run-up to Christmas.

Louth welcomes Fabuloso
A free festival for residents and visitors featuring illuminations, street theatre and interactive installations is set to bring Louth’s Cornmarket to life between 4pm and 8pm on Thursday 8th December.

Festive Fabuloso is funded by the Arts Council and delivered by East Lindsey District Council to Louth and four other market towns in the district as part of the Council’s Vital and Viable programme.

In preparation for the event, the council has run a series of workshops for children and young people across the district to create artwork that will be on display at Festive Fabuloso. By the end of the workshops, around 350 children will have contributed to the displays for the tour.

Festive Fabuloso will see Alford, Horncastle, Louth, Spilsby and Wainfleet brought to life with illuminations, street theatre and some crazy, creative, interactive installations. As well as the ‘Fabuloso Organ’, which visited all five towns last December as part of a pilot project, there will be a Shadow Puppet stage, a Digital Graffiti station, some very entertaining street performers, food and drink stalls and a brand new ‘Carousel Fabuloso’.

Christmas Tree Festival returns
The popular Christmas Tree Festival in Louth, organised by The Friends of St James’s Church, is making a welcome return in time for Christmas.

This fundraising event to help raise money to support the upkeep of St James’s Church, will be launched with a ticketed evening (£7.50 per ticket) on Friday 2nd December from 7.30pm to 9.30pm with wine and nibbles, music from vocal group Octangle and the sounds of the church organ.

Open from 10.30am to 4pm until Tuesday 6th December, the Christmas Tree Festival will be free to enter each day (donations welcome), with refreshments available, plus a raffle and other events. People are also invited to display a tree or wreath as part of the festival. For further information contact the church team on 01507 604262.

St James is also hosting a feast of music for Advent and Christmas, with Louth Chamber Choir and Lincolnshire Chamber Players on Sunday 11th December at 7.30pm.

Admission for this event is by programme, priced £10 – mulled wine and mince pies will be available during the interval.

Community larder appeal
This Christmas, Louth Community Larder is appealing for donations to help provide food for those in need, to make sure no-one goes without this festive season.

The food bank is run from the Trinity Centre on Eastgate and provides a parcel of healthy, long-life food to those in need – enough to feed a family for three days.

The appeal will distribute Aldi shopping vouchers and a hamper of seasonal treats.

The type of products which will be appreciated for inclusion in the hampers include boxes of sweets and chocolates, Christmas puddings, as well as ingredients for a Christmas lunch including stuffing, mince pies, crackers, pickles and cranberry sauce.

Tinned and dried foods are also everyday essentials, especially tinned meats such as ham or corned beef, tea and coffee which have all increased in price.

The appeal’s ambition is to minimise the risk of people having to make the choice between eating and heating their home as colder temperatures set in.

Donations for the Community Larder can be dropped off at the Trinity Centre or St James’s Church from 9am to 4pm, or left in the drop box within the Newbridge Hill Co-op.

Contact the food bank tel: 01507 605803 or email trinity@teamparishoflouth.org.uk

RELAX, DINE AND STAY AT THE KING’S HEAD
Recently awarded the Trip Advisor Traveller’s Choice 2022, for the third consecutive year, placing this historic Louth coaching inn in the top 10% of worldwide hotels, the team at the King’s Head pride themselves in delivering a quality experience for locals and visitors alike.

Situated in the town centre with ample free parking, the King’s Head, which dates back more than 250 years, has been  sympathetically refurbished to include eight bedrooms in a contemporary style, with en-suite facilities – or for those requiring a longer stay, there is also a comfortable self-contained three bed apartment.

If you’re looking for the perfect place to dine with family and friends or celebrate Christmas get-togethers, the King’s Head has launched a traditional Christmas menu featuring locally sourced fresh produce priced at £29.95 per person, to include mince pie, coffee and mints – bookings only.

For more information and to make your reservation, visit www.kingsheadlouth.co.uk

ARRANGING A PEACEFUL GOODBYE
Established in 1995, R Arnold Funeral Service’s compassionate team strive to support you in helping to arrange a respectful and personalised service.

As experienced and dedicated funeral directors, husband and wife team Lindsay and Richard Arnold, owners of R Arnold Funeral Services at 161 Newmarket in Louth, take time to talk to each client and listen to their individual needs, while also looking after and guiding you every step of the way.

As well respected members of the British Institute of Embalmers and National Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors, they offer a range of funeral plans to help cover costs.

“As one of the most rewarding services you can offer, our compassionate, approachable team take time to talk to each of our clients, listening to their individual needs and looking after and guiding you every step of the way, offering guidance whatever time of day or night that you might need us.”

For more information visit www.rarnoldfuneralservice.com

WHAT IS THE WOLDS CARE CENTRE?
Located on the outskirts of Louth, The Wolds Care Centre offers luxury residential accommodation with care and support for up to 66 people within four small specialist communities.

Imagine a home where everything is taken care of, from your individually bespoke care package, to the daily pleasure of delicious, freshly prepared food.

Our wonderful team ensures that residents are not only safe and cared for, but that they enjoy the camaraderie of being part of our family.

At The Wolds Care Centre, we believe that your later years should be as enriching as any other, and that being cared for shouldn’t mean that your quality of life is compromised – whatever your age, whatever your condition.

Our carefully selected staff and the design of our care centre – combined with our diligent approach to each and every resident – affords you or your loved one the opportunity to flourish, make new friends, maintain contact with their local communities and live a life rich with possibility.

Maybe it’s an afternoon tea in the garden and a stroll with family, or perhaps a cosy film night with friends. The Wolds Care Centre gives you the freedom to make the most of every day.

We all believe in family values and those who choose to live with us immediately feel part of something individual and special.

The Wolds Care Centre is committed to quality in everything we do. You will feel this in the kindness

Delivering exemplary residential, nursing and dementia care, we are proud to have achieved the platinum status Gold Standard Framework for our End of Life Care Provision, the only service in the Louth area to achieve this national award.

For more information visit www.hica-uk.com/care-homes/the-wolds-care-centre

ENJOY LUXURY SELF-CATERING AT LINCOLNSHIRE COUNTRY COTTAGES
Lamyman Worlaby Farms is a fourth-generation family farming business near Louth, renowned for pushing arable yields to new heights. Its first venture into diversification was the purchase and conversion of Woody’s Top from a youth hostel into a luxury self-catering holiday cottage.

Woody’s Top was opened in August 2018 and the demand for this type of accommodation has been incredible. Two opportunities then arose in 2021 to expand the farm’s diversification portfolio:
Park Cottage, right in the centre of the farm, became vacant in February 2021.

Originally Park Cottage was three semi-detached cottages converted into two semi-detached cottages in the 1970s.

After some consideration, the decision was made to convert Park Cottage into a single dwelling, aiming at a luxury holiday cottage for peak demand times.

Park Cottage opened in April 2022 and the feedback from customers has been incredibly heart-warming; the unique picturesque setting, unbelievable amount of space and facilities were beyond all of the customers’ expectations.

Brockdale Barn, right in the middle of the north side of the farm was a redundant barn that had been used for pig rearing and game rearing. A fantastic opportunity to go big and bold.

Opened in October 2022, Brockdale Barn – sleeping up to 14 people in six ensuite bedrooms, including one with a fully accessible bathroom – contains all the best parts of Woody’s Top and Park Cottage and much more. A stunning size games room containing an 8ft American Pool table, 7ft air hockey, table football, 75-inch television, PlayStation 5 and a selection of traditional board games.

If you are an outdoor type, then Brockdale Barn is the place for you. Inside the courtyard, a 900 sq ft patio with swim spa, outdoor table tennis and large range of outdoor furniture.

Outside is a large area of grass for playing any number of sports you desire. To back this up, guests are offered a lockable bike shed and a dehydration fan in the hallway to allow faster drying of wet clothes.

The property has easy access to local footpaths and if you fancy cycling up and down some of the steepest hills in Lincolnshire, it is a short distance away from the Lincolnshire Wolds Cycle Route.

On arrival all guests receive the warmest welcome and are supplied with a lovely Lincolnshire pack, including Myers’ Plum Bread, Pipers Crisps and Grantham Gingerbread.

It has always been important that all guests are given a fantastic experience staying, with special attention to detail making it the most enjoyable and relaxing stay.

For more information visit www.lincolnshirecountrycottages.uk

Photographs: Mick Fox



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