A town of great traditions

The busy market town of Newark continues to attract tourists and shoppers alike, taking time to browse the fine Georgian Market Square and its adjoining lanes and streets.

Newark has always benefitted from its excellent main line train links and location on the A1. Good news was announced recently that funding will be made available to fully dual carriageway the town’s bypass in an effort to alleviate traffic congestion which regularly builds up. The historic streetscape makes an ideal backdrop to many seasonal events, especially this month when the Christmas lights really add their magic to the atmosphere.

Despite the loss of some high street names, Newark has a wide offering of independent retailers who are ready to help with not only a choice of high quality brands but also provide outstanding customer service.

Lincolnshire Life has been looking at some of the forthcoming highlights of the festive season which will be staged in and around the town.

Market dates for your diary
Newark has been a location for regular market days since the Middle Ages and these traditional gatherings of stallholders and traders continue as a popular focus for the town. The Saturday, Wednesday and Friday general markets in particular are bustling with locals and visitors coming to wander through the stalls offering fruit and vegetables, local fish and dairy produce, clothing, jewellery, baked goods, fabrics, bedding, flowers and plants and much, much more. During the rest of the week there are themed antique and collectors’ markets on Monday and Thursday.

During December there are some special dates for your diary. On Sunday 8th December there will be a Christmas Market in the Market Place followed by a Winter Food Festival on Saturday 14th December and two further Christmas Markets on Sunday 15th and 22nd December.

Light up a Life
Beaumond House, the community hospice for Newark and district, will be holding their Light up a Life service on Thursday 19th December at St Mary Magdalene Church, Newark at 7pm.

Christmas is a time of year during which many who have lost a loved one can reflect on both sad and happy memories. Light up a Life is intended to give a time of reflection and comfort to those taking part.

Supporters and the public are invited to meet at Beaumond House on London Road at 6pm. From there the collective walk will make its way to the Parish Church with the opportunity to light a lantern to illuminate the way. The service will begin at 7pm. You can find further information at www.beaumondhouse.co.uk. where you can make your dedication and donation.

Join the Santa Run
This year Nottinghamshire learning disability charity Reach is hosting its second Santa Run which will take place on Sunday 1st December at Sconce and Devon Park, Newark. This is an accessible family friendly event. Participants can walk, jog or run the 2km course, which winds around the beautiful Sconce Park. All runners will receive a free Santa suit or hat, mince pie and a medal.

There will be prizes for the best fancy dress in three categories: best fancy dress child, best fancy dress adult and best fancy dress dog. Places for this event will be limited so book soon to avoid disappointment.

Reach needs to raise £300,000 a year in voluntary income to keep its services at current levels. The charity supports over 200 adults with learning disabilities a week from its day centres in Newark, Mansfield and Southwell and its horticultural social enterprise Flower Pod. It also runs a separately managed care support agency and recently opened a community café in Balderton, near Newark. Money raised from the Santa Run will help Reach to continue to deliver person-centred activities and courses that enable people with learning disabilities in Nottinghamshire to enjoy a happier, healthier life in their community. https://reachuk.org/fundraising/santa-run/

Sleeping Beauty at the Palace Theatre
The Palace Theatre has a long heritage of staging family friendly pantomimes and this year is no exception. The Imagine Theatre Company are bringing the magic of the story of Sleeping Beauty to the stage with local children who have won a place in the junior ensemble also performing.

The classic tale tells of the wicked fairy Carabosse’s evil curse, which causes the Princess to prick her finger on a spinning wheel and fall into an enchanted sleep. Can anyone rescue her from the magical slumber before it is too late?

The show stars Coronation Street’s Nick Cochrane as King Hugo and is full of stunning scenery, sparkling costumes, hilarious slapstick and bags of panto magic.

Sleeping Beauty opens on Tuesday 10th December and runs until Saturday 4th January 2020. Ticket prices range from £2 adults to £18.50 for concessions. Family tickets £68 to £74.

Salon celebrates First anniversary
As the Blossom Tree Aveda salon marks its first year, the business continues to grow, going from strength to strength.

When Sarah the salon owner was setting up The Blossom Tree in Long Bennington, the most important things were to create not only a relaxing spa like feel but to keep it modern and sophisticated with the best and most talented team members around. Mainly using only products from the earth, this gives the salon an extra edge within the hair and beauty industry.

The Blossom Tree are experts in all areas of hair and beauty, however they have an art for colour, especially balayage – trained by top UK balayage expert to the celebrities, Tia Lambourn.

The atmosphere at The Blossom Tree makes guests feel totally relaxed and in safe hands. From the Aveda tea served or the chakra fragrance as you enter to the extensive hot drinks menus… you will feel pampered from the minute you walk in. Sarah explains: “Our success has come from getting the right team on board which in any business is vital. It will make or break a business. I can honestly say I feel so lucky to have these incredible human beings within the salon. They are the best of the best and it shows, growing and ‘Blossom’ing within weeks of joining The Blossom Tree. Most of the comments we receive mention what a fantastic feel there is to the salon. One of genuine care and ease with expert knowledge.”

Bespoke interiors by Clark & English
“Achieving a successful room interior is about more than decorating. We ask you to think about who you are, who do you want to be, how will you use your space? Whatever the answers and whatever the budget, we can help you create a space you will want to spend time in, feel comfortable in and be proud to invite others into.”

Clark and English has decades of successful projects behind it, drawn from generations of experience furnishing all sorts of spaces. The team are experts in achieving that classic English country house style. When asked to describe the Clark and English service, director Sarah Clark said: “I can’t improve on what a client once said, we create the set for the movie of your life.”

Sarah explained how the size of the job, large or small, makes no difference to the commitment to the clients end goals. “We are comfortable with all briefs. We are just as happy with working to a brief that must retain Granny’s furniture and the portrait of Great Uncle Rupert as we are with a blank canvas and new style direction. We can measure up to any size of job and welcome those with a small project wanting to test out what more Clark and English can offer compared to the high street retailer.

“We offer a free measure and initial consultation across Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire.”

In their onsite workroom, the skilled creative team produce handmade curtains, blinds and soft furnishings and re-upholstery of those cherished antiques.

Their showroom stocks thousands of samples from top end brands including Little Greene paint, Colefax & Fowler, Osborne & Little, Zoffany, Designers Guild, Sanderson, Harlequin, Romo, Clarke & Clarke and many others.

Offering up to 20% off many of these brands in January, why not start the New Year with an interior makeover?

Christmas at the Castle
On Sunday 1st December, locally based non-profit organisation HUG (Help Us Grieve) will be hosting Christmas at the Castle from 3pm to 6pm. This will be their first Christmas mini market set within the walls of the ancient Newark Castle.

Local businesses will be manning stands with a wide variety of gifts and goods at special prices so that you can grab a Christmas bargain. To fight off the winter chill there will be seasonal refreshments including mulled wine, hot chocolate and gingerbread. The charity supports anyone who needs help following the loss of a baby and funds raised will be used to continue their work. Entry to this family friendly event is free so wrap up warm, bring friends and listen to Christmas carols with the HUG team as you wander around the market.

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