Author: Hortoris

Taken T’Cleaners

Otley

What does the phrase taken to the cleaners really mean? One version is ‘Relived of one’s money or aspirations, perhaps by flimflam; easily bested.’ Since the 19th century people have been cleaned out or stripped of there assets by gambling or dishonesty.
The advent of professional dry cleaners brought about a modernization of the earlier phrase ‘cleaned out’.
Of course the Australian cricket team were taken to the cleaners on the recent ashes tour and that is nothing to do with brass or getting green grass stains out of ‘whites’.

Abbey Glen Ltd has been an established, business to business, textile rental operator for over 100 years. The original laundry site was based in Sheffield at the turn of the last century, however, after considerable investment and technical advancement it now operates from more modern sites in Doncaster and Worksop. It is good to see they are still successfully thriving after over 100 years in the industry. This picture shows them moving laundry from the dales back down to Sheffield.

The mill chimney unlike so many soot encrusted chimneys has not suffered the indignity of sandblasting. It is a non-PC black with red trim.

Yorkshire Culture 2011

It is only because I was sent details of these cultural events on the same day that I thought it worth posting them. Doubtless Sheffield, York, Hull etc will have similar claims to our evenings in the first half of 2011.

Georges Bizet’s Carmen at the Leeds Grand is one of the world’s best known operas, with much of the music now hugely recognisable having featured in films, television and adverts multiple times. The story itself is one of passion, sexual obsession and revenge, and has been directed by renowned American director Daniel Kramer.
22, 29 January, 1, 5, 9, 11 February, 7pm £10-£58 Grand Theatre, 46 New Briggate, LS1 6NZ, 0113 222 6222

The Hallé at Leeds Town Hall are Britain’s longest-established permanent professional symphony orchestra. They were set up way back in 1858 by Sir Charles Hallé and since then they have toured across the world. They’re coming to Leeds this February as part of Leeds International Concert Season. For this concert, the Hallé will be directed by Music Director Sir Mark Elder CBE in performances of Elgar’s Symphony No 1 and Mozart’s Piano Concerto No 17 with Berlin-born pianist Martin Helmchen as soloist.
26 February, 7.30pm. £12-£30 The Headrow, LS1 3AD, 0113 247 7989

Hamlet at West Yorkshire Playhouse by Northern Broadsides in partnership with the New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme, this production of one of Shakespeare’s most well-known and revered plays should be one of the best dramatic performances in Leeds this year. Northern Broadsides are known for adapting Shakespeare with a rare wit and energy – and broad northern accents – and their performances seldom draw any less than rave reviews.
19-30 April, times vary, £16-£26 Playhouse Square, Quarry Hill, LS2 7UP, 0113 213 7800

Leeds Art Gallery will host an exhibition by Damien Hirst who has long been recognised as one of the world’s most famous, and controversial, artists. Hirst grew up in Leeds and studied at Leeds College of Art & Design before finding fame in the mid-90s with a series of works featuring animals preserved in formaldehyde. This exhibition, part of the Artist Rooms programme which will see collections of modern and contemporary art held by Tate and National Galleries of Scotland going on display at venues around the country, is the first major exhibition of Hirst’s work in his hometown and will trace his whole career, including the seminal ‘Away from the Flock’.
July – September, opening times vary, The Headrow, Leeds,

Source and for more information see the Leeds Guide
Leeds Grand
West Yorkshire Playhouse

Top Fish & Chips and Seafood

Yorkshire is blessed with the finest fish and chip shops. It also boasts the best restaurants and cafes specialising in seafood and fish and chips.

Restaurants to Visit

  • The Drum and Monkey has been a Harrogate favourite for over 30 years. Not the cheapest but one of the best inland fish restaurants in England. Lobster, Dover sole, oysters, halibut and sea bass and a range of other seafood is delivered daily.
  • Graveleys also of Harrogate on Cheltenham Parade has been gaining a reputation since new owners took over last year. Great Fish and Chips plus other seafood favourites and a selection of fine wine.
  • Crab and Lobster at Asenby, Thirsk is open every day but Sunday. Generous portions are promised and there are other dishes available for none seafood eaters.
  • Livebait Leeds claims to ‘only serve fish that is ethically sourced and we are proud to support sustainable fishing policies in line with the Marine Conservation Society, bringing you the freshest seafood with minimal impact on the environment’. The only disappointment I have had has been the volume of customers but you get to expect that from a chain that has to get in as many covers as possible.
  • The Magpie Cafe in Whitby doesn’t serve Magpie,  unless it have been eaten by one of the ginormous fish they serve. When I talk about a busy seafood emporium at Livebait it is nothing compared with the queues at the Magpie. Still it has always been worth the wait.
  • The Golden Grid in Scarborough has fine views over Flamborough Head from the upstairs windows. For canny Yorkshire folk there is a 10% off voucher by clicking here.
  • Loch Fyne is a chain with restaurants in Harrogate, (update the Harrogate branch has disappeared hook line and sinker!)Walmgate York and City Square Leeds Enough said – not one of my favourites.

Eat In Fish & Chip Shops

Premiership Yorkshire Three Teams 2009/10?

It is 19th April and the top Yorkshire football teams are striving for Premiership football next season. Hull City AFC deserve to succeed after promotion last year and warming the cockles of so many hearts at the beginning of the season as they triumphed over complacent so called top teams. Unfortunately the great start faltered a bit in 2009 but I have every confidence that they will get the points to keep them up.
Sheffield United are in touch with an automatic promotion spot but have the play offs as a fall back position. Sadly Sheffield Wednesday can’t now get into a play off spot so ‘Come on The Blades the premiership needs you!’
Ten days ago it looked all over for Middlesborough but a doughty performance in the last couple of games gives them every chance of getting away from relegation. So my prediction is ‘3 Yorkshire teams in the Premiership’ but even if it is none the supporters will remain loyal.

Now it is off to the cricket with Yorkshire threatening to demolish Durham this afternoon! Well sporting enthusiasts live in hope.

 

Craven Cravendale and Milk

Well to me filtered milk is not milk and Cravendale is not a Dale. But Branders can’t be choosers – Oh yes they can and I suppose this is a canny name from Arla Foods the Leeds based dairy food specialists. Filtered milk has had ‘the bits taken out’ so is it still milk or white water? Then it is pasturised and bottled in an opaque container.  Generically, this type of product is known as Extended Lifespan (ESL) milk. Arla the owners of Cravendale are too craven to go the whole 9 yards and create UHT an even longer life milk.

Only thing is sure it is better than the old Sterilized milk that came in tall crown Stoppered bottles or that cloudy plasticated creamer you get in little plastic pots.

new-picture-6

Craven District

The Craven Museum and the castle above in Skipton are well worth a visit followed by a cup of tea in the Organic cafe with real milk.
Craven District encompasses an area twice the size of Singapore and half the size of Luxembourg yet is one of the most sparsely populated areas in England to say nothing of being one of the most beautiful. One third of the Craven district is within the Yorkshire Dales National Park. The Craven District Council seems to be appropriate for the rural community it serves with Environmental, Planning and Leisure services for Skipton, Settle, Bentham and Ingleton amongst others. Some Council services are provided by North Yorkshire County Council.
The Craven Herald and Pioneer is the useful local media with a wide ranging whats on events guide from Belly Dancing classes at Craven College to Boxersise and Yoga.

Continue reading Craven Cravendale and Milk

Hull Trucks New Talented Playwright Nick Lane

Nick Lane has been directing the Christmas Shows at Hull Truck Theatre in both the old and new premises for over 10 years. Recently Nick has continued to develop scripts after his autobiographic, comedy success with ‘My Favourite Summer’.
Nick Lane’s second major comedy ‘Me and Me Dad’   still retains the autobiographical context; ‘When Andy Green’s mum dies, Andy does the decent thing – he takes a month off work and moves back home with his dad to teach him how to cook. Fighting memories – and occasionally each other – and risking the sanity of friends and neighbours, not to mention Andy’s new girlfriend, the pair boil pans, set grills on fire and worse in an attempt to prevent a diet of pickled beetroot and jam sandwiches. Can their relationship survive? Or is this one kitchen nightmare even Gordon Ramsay couldn’t fix?’ Read more in the Yorkshire Post

Nick Lane complete guide to works produced in and around Yorkshire.

 

Get out to your local theatre more often. The cost is very reasonable compared to a football match or night out at your local restaurant and it beats the telly hands down. In fact why not make a weekend trip to a new venue to see something a bit different like ‘Me and Me Dad’