The Restaurant Guide

I've been getting a lot of requests from businesses recently asking for me to review their Cafe, Restaurant or Pub. This increasing level of interest in the site is absolutely great and I welcome anyone that takes the time to read the site to contact me, feedback is vital. As a 'foodie' visiting restaurants and sampling beautiful food is a real hardship as you can imagine, but somebody has to do it! What is this blog post about you're asking? Well I am getting to the point, I promise. I wanted to clarify how I do reviews and what my policy is for including places to eat. I want the site to be seen as a personal recommendation from somebody who knows the area well and knows a good meal when he sees one.

Every restaurant, cafe, pub, hotel, B&B, self catering apartment or business that is related to tourism is welcome to be listed on the site and if I've missed you then let me know! I'll sort it out as soon as I can. I won't ever slate somewhere, won't criticise and harm a business just for the sake of it, that goes against everything I stand for. But on the same level, I only want to highlight places that I really like and would feel confident that somebody going there on my recommendation wouldn't be disappointed. I have started a list of places that have invited me to visit them and I will do my best to get round to them as quickly as I can. I would also like to point out that when I do visit somewhere for a meal it is done without the proprietor knowing in advance. I think I should experience a meal exactly the same way any other customer would, otherwise what would be the point? Impartiality and trust is the key.

Unfortunately life and work gets in the way of doing the things I'd really like to spend my time on, but I'll get round to as many places as is humanly possible. I hope that helps to clarify how I go about my 'reviews', it's more of a recommendation service really. Visit the Eat and Drink section of Your Northumberland Guide's website for more information.

Photo Competition

Your Northumberland Guide is holding it's first Photo Competition. The theme is 'Summer', not that we have had a great deal of it, but interpret the theme how you will! To enter, all you have to do is head over to our Facebook Page, 'like' it and then post your photo entry on to the wall. At the time of writing there are already almost 40 entries and some absolutely beautiful shots, head over and have a look. There will be a prize for the winning shot and it will be showcased on the Your Northumberland Guide homepage, so plenty of glory! You have until the 31st August to enter, so get busy!

Dine with Jean-Christophe Novelli at Alnwick Food Festival

Alnwick Food Festival takes place each year in September (Friday 23rd to Sunday 25th this year) and is increasing in popularity every time it is staged. Last year a staggering 20,000 people visited the Festival and enjoyed the 'foodie' atmosphere and events that run around the Town over this most gastronomic of weekends. This year the festival is set to exceed all previous years, both with the quality and number of events and it's headlining chef, Jean-Christophe Novelli.

Now in it's seventh year, the Festival has been extended from it's previous run of two days over the weekend to three so that it includes the Farmers Market on the Friday. It has quickly become one of the North-East's gastronomic centre pieces and should not be missed. There will be over 50 stalls in the Market Place exhibiting and celebrating local food and produce, a community market and a craft market.

Friday 23rd September

Perhaps the most exciting event of the Festival takes place on the first day. The chance to dine with michelin starred Jean-Christophe himself! Taking place in Northumberland Hall and cooked to Jean-Chrisophe's recipes 100 people will see him demonstrate each course before enjoying a fantastic meal. For more information and to book tickets visit the Alnwick Food Festival Website. The Farmers Market will also take place in the Town Centre with the usual host of fantastic locally produced meat and vegetables.

Saturday 24th September

The public part of the Festival really gets going on Saturday with over 50 stalls in the Market Place, a full programme of chef's displays throughout the day, the Beer Festival in Alnwick Town Hall and an Art and Craft Market. A taste of Northumbria will be held in the evening in Northumberland Hall featuring live music and good Northumbrian food.

Sunday 25th September

The stalls, chef's displays and Beer Festival continue through to a second day on Sunday. There will also be a community market on Bondgate Within celebrating local food and the environment.

The Food Festival and the Beer Festival run concurrently and are always an outstanding success, cementing Alnwick's position as the culinary capital of Northumberland. For more information about Alnwick, how to get there and other Attractions visit Your Guide to Alnwick.

Events and What's On Guide for the week ahead

The summer holidays are always a busy time for Events with kids off school and the supposedly better weather. But this weekend in particular is really cram packed with things to do, it's actually a difficult choice of where to go! There are Shows, Seaside Festivals, Food and Drink Fayres, Craft fairs.... all too many to list again so head over to www.yournorthumberland.co.uk/events to have a read through and decide where you'll head this weekend.

We are really sorry to report that Simonside Fair has had to be cancelled due to a waterlogged show ground.

Fresh Hope for Alnwick Playhouse

There was bad news earlier in the year about Alnwick Playhouse and the Northumberland Theatre Company (NTC) were under threat with cuts to their funding. The Arts Council rejected their joint bid that would have secured programmes until 2015. The loss was devastating, particularly to the Northumberland Theatre Company who relied heavily on the Arts Council Funding. Things were looking bleak for NTC who travelled around the County taking theatre to places that had no access to it.

Fast forward almost six months and things are looking somewhat brighter and more positive. Joanne Potts has been appointed as the new Arts Centre Manager and she has 'great aspirations' for the Playhouse, she said in an interview with the Northumberland Gazette:

"The Arts Council may not have selected us as a National Portfolio Organisation but I hope to raise our profile nationally through the touring programme and seek out suitable projects which can platform the community work on a national level also. I'm confident we can navigate our way through the current funding climate. I have a committed board of Trustees and staff to work with and it will be a full team effort to ensure the Playhouse, this little gem of Northumberland will shine brightly both nationally and locally."

From a personal point of view, Alnwick Playhouse has played a large part in the community of Alnwick and the County for the whole of my life, from getting involved with Schools right up to recent performances and exhibitions. Losing this vital service would be a huge loss and we can only wish the Playhouse the best of luck in these difficult times.

Police Investigate Bizarre Music Festival Accident

Police are still investigating how an elderly woman managed to injure five people and destroy stalls during the annual Alnwick Music Festival yesterday. The 80 year old driver apparently clipped another car and then lost control, careering into people and stalls.

The Great North Air Ambulance was scrambled, which landed in Alnwick Bus Station to rush one person to hospital. I'd like to take this opportunity to publicise a little the amazing work that the Great North Ambulance Service do and remind everyone that it is entirely run on public donations and fundraising. They save lives on a daily basis and get no government funding whatsoever. Whilst this accident is clearly awful and I wish the injured a speedy recovery, I hope it serves as a reminder that if we don't help fund the Air Ambulance, we could lose this vital service.

For more information about The Great North Ambulance Service, or to make a donation visit their website. For more information about Alnwick, the Music Festival and local Events visit Your Northumberland's Guide to Alnwick.

Events and What's On Guide for the week ahead

That time of the week again when we release your Events and What's On Guide. There's loads going off this weekend and you really shouldn't leave the house without having a read! There's the Powburn Show on Saturday, Alnwick Music Festival comes to a climax at Alnwick Playhouse and there's loads of things for the kids to do in the holidays. Check out your guide at www.yournorthumberland.co.uk/events

Festival marred by Car Accident

A bizarre and very serious accident has happened in Alnwick Marketplace today during the International Music Festival. Usually a place of enjoyment, traditional music and dance, this afternoon the marketplace was turned into a nightmare when a car ploughed through the square, hitting several pedestrians and stalls. The vehicle apparently hit four stalls and came to halt when it hit the fifth. One person has been confirmed as airlifted to hospital and several people have been wounded by the accident. Witnesses said the car was being driven by an elderly lady.

I honestly have no idea how this kind of accident could have happened, the marketplace was full of stalls and there shouldn't have been cars in there anyway. Thank goodness the weather was bad, otherwise a lot more people could have been hurt. I think in future there needs to be barriers in place to make the Square completely pedestrianised during these festivals. Good to see the Northumbrian spirit in action though, cafe and shop owners were seen to be looking after the shocked and wounded with drinks and food.

Read more about it at the Northumberland Gazette Website

Budle Bay and Waren Mill

What could be more beautiful than one of the most important bird watching bays in the United Kingdom? Waren Mill sits on the edge of Budle Bay, at low tide it is a vast expanse of mud-flats, home to literally thousands of migratory birds in the winter. At high tide in the summer, the bay is filled with watersports enthusiasts enjoying kite surfing and jet skiing in one of the most naturally beautiful, and safe, venues around. Your Guide to Budle Bay and Waren Mill is complete and can be read here http://www.yournorthumberland.co.uk/area-guides/budle-bay-waren-mill

Embleton Guide

Yet another new Guide is ready and this time it's the beautiful coastal Village of Embleton. The Guide also covers Embleton Bay, one of the most beautiful, clean and safe beaches in the whole of the Country. The Guide covers Things to Do, where to eat and drink, golf, walking, amenities.... everything you need to plan a visit to the area. Have a read and let us know what you think. http://www.yournorthumberland.co.uk/area-guides/embleton

Northumberlandia - Art or a giant nude?

Some people may have seen on the BBC1 programme The One Show tonight the feature about Northumberlandia. It will be the largest human sculpture in the world and will measure 34m high (taller than the Angel of the North) and some 400m long. Some people have criticised the project as just 'a giant naked lady' but it will also be a vital visitor attraction in South East Northumberland and a 29 hectare public park. What do you think? Take a look at some pictures here and let us know. http://www.hjbanks.com/northumberlandia/2_1.htm