Chris Addison 3rd Feb 2012

Chris Addison comes to Harrogate on his "The Time is now, again" tour of the UK. Chris is comming to Harrogate Theatre on the 3rd of February 2011 and tickets are on sale now www.harrogatetheatre.co.uk. or you can check out the tour web site on www.chrisaddison.com. Chris appears regularly on The Thick of It, Mock the Week and Have I got News for You.

The Lady in the Van by Alan Bennett at Harrogate Theatre

This is a Hull Truck production of Yorkshire Playwright Alan Bennett who acquired a very unusual neighbour who lived in a van at the bottom of his garden. This is a true story of how the playwright allowed her to live there as a temporary solution which became a long term arrangement. This is a recollection from his point of view of what happened in his usual witty style a joy for all Bennett fans.
www.harrogatetheatre.co.uk

SJ Watson Crime Writer joins the Harrogate Crime Writing Festival Line Up

www.harrogate-festival.org.uk/crime/ His Debut novel "Before I go to sleep" has sold the world over in 30 different languages and has been acquired by Ridley Scott for film production scheduled for 2011. Watson states that one of the factors that pushed him on to starting his first novel (www.faber.co.uk/academy/) He wrote the book while working as a full time audiologist and came across the obituary of Henry Gustav Molaison who was a real life case where he could not form new memories and he became intrigued about how your life would be if you couldn't form new memories. If you would like to meet this author in person he will be in the panel discussion on Saturday 23rd of July at the Old Swan hotel alongside other debut novelists Julia Crouch, Gordon Ferris, Melanie McGrath and hosted by Val McDermid.

Mercer Gallery Atkinson Grimshaw

www.harrogate.gov.uk/Pages/harrogate-995.aspx Visitor numbers are up by 300% due to the exciting exhibit of Atkinson Grimshaw painter of moonlight which is also pared with Liza Dracup who is a complimentary artist. Due to the extra demand the gallery is opening for extended hours on Sunday until the close of the exhibit on the 4th of September. Places are still available for Colin Wiggins' talk on Friday June 24th at the Old Swan Hotel which will be followed by an exhibition tour and tea at the gallery £10 and phone 01423 556188 or email museums@harogate.gov.uk

Wanted: Budding Crime Writers

www.harrogate-festival.org.uk/crime/
The competition will be judged by author MC Beaton the creator of Hamish Macbeth who is celebrating his 75th birthday this year. To enter use the following sentance - written by MC Beaton as your introduction and finish the story with "She was not snobbish or houseproud but too much blood on the Axminster was more than she could take" The prize is a Weekend Rover Ticket to the festival worth £185 plus to the runner up a bag of books and treats. To enter send your story to Crime Writing Competition, Ackrill Media Group, 1 Cardale Park, Harrogate, HG3 1RZ or email to news@ypn.co.uk with the subject line being Crime Writing Competition. A selection will be published in the Harrogate Advertiser which could also be a good start for a budding author.

New Comedy Club in Harrogate

From Wednesday July 6th a new comedy club called Sitting Room will be launched from the St George Hotel in Harrogate. Big names such as Roger Monkhouse who writes for 8 out of 10 cats, Paul Foot who is behind Never mind the Buzzcocks and Hal Cruttenden who is behind Michael McIntyre's Comedy Roadshow and Royal Variety Performance. Colin Cole and Carly Smallman are lesser knows (now) but are up and comming on the comedy circit. Tickets are avaliable at a price of £10 from the web site www.sittingroomcomedy.com or from the Reception of the St George. If you are thinking of making a night out of it we are a mere 5 minute walk away from the St George and are happy to purchase tickets from their reception on your behalf just let us know when you make your booking.

Harrogate International Festival

www.harrogate-festival.org.uk

The place to be this summer starting from July is Harrogate with cultural events all around the area including Paloma Faith and the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra.

There are events for all the family as this year there is a children's festival 9th and 10th of July.

Criminal Happenings in Harrogate

Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival arrives in Harrogate on the 21st of July till the 24th of July.
www.harrogate-festival.org.uk/crime

The festival is this year held at the Old Swan Hotel famous for the connection with the world famous author Agatha Christie.

Now is the time to get your favourite book signed, gain an insight into writing or simply meet your favourite author and get your questions answered.
We are a mere 7 minute walk from the Swan so are handy for all the events.

Al Murray arrives at Harrogate Theatre 10th October!

Tickets on sale from 19th of May at the price of £25.50 per person I would suggest booking early as will sell fast.

Britain's best loved pub landlord is going back to basics by returning to many of the intimate venues where he made his name.

Ring 01423 502 116
www.harrogatetheatre.co.uk

Atkinson Grimshaw Painter of Moonlight

This exhibition is on at the Newly Refurbished Mercer Art Gallery in Harrogate. Over the last 40 years Atkinson Grimshaw has emerged as one of the most popular artists of the Victorian Age. This exhibition the first majour show in the last 30 years brings together more than 60 paintings from his earliest Pre-Raphaelite inspired works up until the impressionist seascapes of his last years. There are also Photographs, drawings and manuscripts on loan from public and private collections and decendants of the artist.

The collection is also accompanied by a majour new book called Atkinson Grimshaw: Painter of Moonlight paperback £20.00.

The address for the Gallery is The Mercer Art Gallery, Swan Road,HG1 2SA

www.harrogate.gov.uk/museums. (for more infomation)

Spring Flower show in Harrogate

From the 14th to the 17th of April the Harrogate flower show comes to town. This year is their Centenary year and they have something really special planned.

There will be the Centenary Show garden, hundreds of plants available for purchase. Exciting and innovative flower arranging as well as a strong cookery theme. For more information see their own web site which is far more comprehensive.

www.flowershow.org.uk

What is Flugtag?

This is an amazing event organised by Red bull and this year is being held in Leeds! The date is 17th July and it will be held in Roundhay Park. If you are one of the uninitiated in this event it is a sponcered flying competition which is marked not only on distance flown but creativity of the craft and perfomance. Marks are also given for the efforts of the ground crew working to gain you support with the crowds who will gather in their thousands to watch. Flugtag - means flying day in German. www.redbull.co.uk/cs/Satellite/en_UK/Red-Bull-Flugtag-2011/001242980500328

Cookery School in Harrogate (and its Not Betty's!)

Award Winning Patisserie Chef Charlotte Marrifield (that's amazing cakes for the uninitiated) is now offering cookery school classes in her Station Parade Premises Sugar Therapy. Cup Cake Decorating Class - Junior and Adult on a Sunday Morning 2 hours including refreshments and take home cup cakes - £25. Chocolate Master Class - Adults Monday Daytime and weekday evenings 4 hours including refreshments, Patisserie tastings and take home desserts £80. Private Tuition - Adults on Mondays 8 hours from £150. Book on 01423 563676 or visit the web site http://www.sugartherapy.co.uk/ and read the Tasty Blog for more information.

Spoiler for the 2nd Week of the Dales

In this episode we meet Alex Wilkes who is taking her Thoroughbred cows to compete in the Yorkshire Show in Harrogate and how cows are prepared for showing at this top level event. We go back to see Philip Mellin who at 16 is part of a two person team running the family farm and today is the day he learns how to shear a sheep which is no mean feet as the average sheep ways 150 pounds (a bit less after sheering!) and it is a physically demanding task. We also meet Tom Orde-Powlett heir to the Bolton Castle estate learn about his estate and the things he is doing to move it into the 21st century and make it economically viable. For more information on this historic Castle just follow the link to see the year round events. http://www.boltoncastle.co.uk/metadot/index.pl

A new link to the Dales

http://itv.com/presscenter/presspacks/thedales/default.html

Pictures of Room 1 at the Camberley

I may put in a before and after shot of this but this is how it looks now. Took 1 week between decorating and getting all little bits to match up but all in all I am very pleased with it.

The Dales on ITV

It is unlikely that you would association Adrian Edmondson with the mild mannered persona he presents in this new feature dedicated to the Yorkshire Dales. This 12 part series follows a selection of people who live their lives and earn their living in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. For example Tom Orde Powlett who at 32 is a modern lord running Bolton Castle and its 12,000 acres and bringing it into the 21st century with all that entails to run an estate like this in the modern age. Jackie & Margaret the mother and daughter team who are running the first community pub in the Dales which is now owned by the villagers. This is a new and innovative way to preserve local pubs and shops for the local community by the local community. This series is aimed at showing the public the vast natural beauty of the Dales which is said by locals to be our best kept secret. Now however the Dales are coming out of the closet for all to see and we hope this influences your decision to join us here. http://www.yorkshire.com/yorkshire-dales