Kelham Hall Beer and Cider Festival set to delight in October

Tess Egginton
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Kelham Hall Beer and Cider Festival set to delight in October
The historic Renaissance at Kelham Hall is gearing up to host the Kelham Hall Beer and Cider Festival, a four-day celebration of the finest beers and ciders from across the country. Taking place on October 23-26, the festival is held in association with CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) and promises an unforgettable experience for enthusiasts and casual visitors alike. One of the key highlights of this year’s festival is the prestigious Champion Beer of Britain judging event. This renowned competition brings together the finest beers from across the nation, evaluated by a panel of esteemed judges. Attendees will have the unique opportunity to witness the selection of Britain’s top beer, showcasing exceptional craftsmanship and brewing excellence. The festival will feature over 150 varieties of beers and 30 ciders, offering a diverse range of flavours to explore. Attendees can look forward to sampling exceptional brews, enjoying delicious food from local vendors, and experiencing live music and family entertainment in the stunning surroundings of Kelham Hall. “We are thrilled to partner with CAMRA and host the Champion Beer of Britain judging event,” said the festival organisers. “Our goal is to create a vibrant, inclusive event that celebrates the rich tradition of British brewing.” There will be complimentary shuttle transfers running from Newark train station throughout the event, and local accommodation can be found listed on the event website. Tickets are available now at www.kelhamhallbeerfest.co.uk.   Image credit: Stock.adobe.com/Mirko Vitali

Great Grimsby’s Christmas Festival returns

Tess Egginton
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Great Grimsby’s Christmas Festival returns
Great Grimsby’s Christmas Festival returns on Saturday 23 November, transforming the town centre for a festive day of free, family-friendly fun. Taking place across St James Square, Riverhead Square, Grimsby Minster, Freshney Place and Victoria Street, this year’s festival promises to be bigger than ever, offering an array of activities and entertainment for all ages. From midday until 7pm, families can enjoy a packed programme of events designed to celebrate the festive season in style which includes:
  • Main Stage: Experience live performances from local bands and solo artists, bringing festive cheer with classic and contemporary Christmas hits
  • Festive Market: Explore a wide range of stalls selling gifts, artisan crafts, and seasonal food and drinks—perfect for Christmas shopping or sampling local treats
  • ⁠Curling Fun: Try your hand at winter curling on the pop-up Curling Lane—a perfect activity for some friendly, festive competition
  • Choir Performances & DJ Workshops: Enjoy the sounds of local choirs performing Christmas carols and festive DJ workshops, where you can learn to mix your own holiday beats
The Great Grimsby Light Parade will also make its way through the town centre – a highlight of the day, before the ⁠Christmas Tree Lighting at 5:45pm culminating in a Christmas party at the main stage. For the parade, you can also create your own festive LED Crown to wear. Join Lucy & Wendy of WhatIfWeCreate to screen print an exclusively designed piece of light-up festival headwear on Saturday 9 November at Top Town Market. Portfolio Holder for Culture, Heritage and the Visitor Economy, Councillor Hayden Dawkins, said: “It’s exciting to see what is planned for Christmas in Grimsby town centre. “From the main stage performances to the festive market, there is sure to be something for everyone. I urge as many people as possible to come and visit as it’s sure to be something you don’t want to miss.” This year’s Christmas Festival is funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund along with sponsorship from Orsted and the 2025 Group. Their support has allowed the event to expand.  
Image credit: North East Lincolnshire Council

Council seeks farmers and landowners to become part of Northern Forest scheme

Stuart Pearcey
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Council seeks farmers and landowners to become part of Northern Forest scheme
Farmers, landowners, nd smallholders are being sought by North Lincolnshire Council to help creating a piece of woodland that will become part of the Northern Forest, an ambitious plan to plant 50 million trees across the country from Hull to Liverpool. The council is looking for any land that can be used to plant trees through its woodland creation offers, which include: • Woodland and hedgerow creation of many shapes and sizes • Shelterbelt creation, protecting areas of land from strong weather, particularly wind • Agroforestry systems – the integration of trees into a farming system • Riverside planting and natural flood alleviation • Gapping-up and replanting of hedgerows and woodland The council works with the Humber Forest, Woodland Trust and the Forestry Commission as well as volunteer groups who will help with planting and aftercare. They have already been involved in several large and small scale plantings across the region, in both rural and urban settings. Newly-planted trees in North Lincolnshire will be registered on the tree counter on the council’s website which keeps track of the ultimate aim of planting 250,000 trees in North Lincolnshire. It is part of the council’s Green Futures commitment to making North Lincolnshire greener, more sustainable and a better place to live and work for generations to come.

Supporters of new multi-million-pound youth zone visit construction site to see progress

Tess Egginton
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Supporters of new multi-million-pound youth zone visit construction site to see progress
Key stakeholders and major supporters of a new state-of-the-art youth centre in Grimsby – known as Horizon Youth Zone – visited the site of the pioneering project this week to see how construction firm, Hobson & Porter’s work is progressing. Due to open in Autumn 2025, Horizon Youth Zone on Garth Lane is being delivered by national charity OnSide, in partnership with North East Lincolnshire Council, which is contributing to the development as part of the Greater Grimsby Town Deal, and the Department of Culture Media and Sport, through the Youth Investment Fund. Other capital funders include Historic England, National Lottery Heritage Fund, St. James’s Place Charitable Foundation, Ørsted and Greencoats Wind UK. Attending the event were representatives from Cornerstone and Founder Patrons including Allied Protek, DFDS Seaways, Ørsted, Lincolnshire Co-op, myenergi and Prax Foundation Roots. Welcoming the guests on site was Horizon’s Young People’s Development Group; a group of local young people who meet weekly with youth workers, developing their skills through tailored experiences, and who play an integral part in making key decisions about the Youth Zone and its future. The disused site, which was formerly home to the West Haven Maltings and Migar House buildings, is being transformed by Yorkshire and Lincolnshire construction firm, Hobson & Porter. The company is restoring and repurposing the Grade II Listed 19th century maltings and grain stores as part of the project, as well as building a major new sports hall alongside a large outdoor multi-use games area (MUGA). When it opens next year, Horizon will become part of a network of 15 existing OnSide Youth Zones operating across the country and will be filled with energy, inspiration, and highly skilled youth workers who truly believe in young people. North East Lincolnshire’s young people – aged between eight and 19, and up to 25 for those with additional needs – will be able to access over 20 activities each evening. These activities range from sports such as football, boxing and climbing, to creative arts, music, drama and employability training – all for just £5 annual membership and 50p per visit. Lucy Ottewell-Key, CEO of Horizon Youth Zone, said: “We couldn’t deliver this hugely ambitious project without the generous support of the many organisations, local businesses and our Founder Patron donors. “It was therefore an honour to welcome them onto the site so they can see how work is progressing and share our vision for how the development will look and function. We now have a very exciting 12 months ahead as we approach completion.” Jamie Masraff, CEO of OnSide, said: “Our aim at OnSide is to give all young people the chance to thrive and discover their passion and purpose. We already have 15 Youth Zones open across the country, and I can’t wait for Horizon to join the Network and give Grimsby’s young people the exciting opportunities all our Youth Zones offer.” Jason Stockwood, chair of the Horizon Youth Zone, said: “I’m so glad we can welcome our community of supporters onto the site and mark just how far we’ve come – and celebrate as we look to the future. “Horizon Youth Zone will be transformational for Grimsby and North East Lincolnshire; not only will it make a huge difference to young people’s lives, but it will also support the wider regeneration of the area. It’s very exciting to see the building take shape.” Joe Booth, business development director from Hobson & Porter, said: “This is a project that we’re very proud to be working on because it’s going to have a lasting impact on Grimsby and its people. “Our team thoroughly enjoyed hosting so many of the project’s supporters and stakeholders on site and giving them an insight into the complexities and uniqueness of this flagship project. “The delicate and intricate task of combining heritage and conservation works with the new-build elements is creating incredible state-of-the-art facilities which will genuinely change lives for the better and we are incredibly proud to play our part in that journey.” Horizon Youth Zone is an independent charity with a private sector led board, and once opened, it will be part of the OnSide Network of Youth Zones nationwide, which support over 50,000 young people annually. After completion, it’s estimated that Horizon could benefit up to 4,000 young people from North East Lincolnshire each year.

Business embraces Restart a Heart Day with Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance

Tess Egginton
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Business embraces Restart a Heart Day with Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance
Staff from GXO received crucial life-saving skills today as part of the annual Restart a Heart Day. Crew from Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance (LNAA) visited GXO’s Newark branch to conduct workshops in the training of the life-saving technique known as Cardiopulmonary Resucitation (CPR). LNAA believes everyone has the potential to save a life. People just need to know how.  Paramedic Rob Fillmer said: “Cardiac arrest can happen to anyone, anywhere, at any time. By learning how to perform CPR and use an automated external defibrillator (AED), you could be the difference between life and death for a work colleague, a friend, family member, or even a stranger.” One of the team at GXO who benefitted from the day was Ang Jevon Saunders. She said: “We have learnt so much more how to perform CPR correctly including the importance of chest compressions and how the technique differs on different age groups. If someone requires CPR, I will now know what to do and will not feel afraid to perform this procedure.” Restart a Heart Day is an annual initiative led by Resuscitation Council UK which aims to increase the number of people surviving out-of-hospital cardiac arrests by helping more people learn CPR. In 2024, LNAA crews responded to 287 cardiac arrests in Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire and this year have already attended 224 patients suffering a cardiac arrest. Rob summed up: “Around 80% of cardiac arrests happen at home with only 1 in 10 people surviving. By starting CPR and using a defibrillator until the emergency services arrives, you can more than double the patients’ chance of survival.”

Charitable donation enables hospital patients to stay connected in an emergency

Tess Egginton
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Charitable donation enables hospital patients to stay connected in an emergency
Hospital patients needing emergency care can now keep in touch with loved ones thanks to a charitable donation. Mobile phone charge banks have been installed in the Emergency Departments at Lincoln, Boston and Grantham hospitals to enable patients and visitors to charge their mobile phones free of charge. The United Lincolnshire Hospitals Charity funds the extras not provided by NHS budgets. Hearing that patients and their families often need to charge their mobile phones in the Emergency Departments, the charity agreed to fund the banks. These are able to charge six devices at any time in safe and secure lockers. The first patient to use the bank in the entrance to the Urgent Treatment Centre at Lincoln County Hospital was Shirley Churchill. Shirley said: “I think this is a marvellous idea. It is absolutely fantastic. It will get a lot of use and make such a difference. It means that people can always stay charged and connected so that they can let everyone know what is going on. “My phone battery was getting a bit low and so it was such a relief for me to be able to plug it in the locker, lock the door and return to the waiting area. It really is wonderful and takes away that added stress that you really do not need when you are here in an emergency.” General Manager for Urgent and Emergency Care, Blanche Lentz, has been involved in the planning from the start. She said: “We know that coming to hospital at any time must be a worry, but particularly in an emergency. Being able to keep loved ones and family informed is so important. “This is a massive donation by our charity, but I know that it will make such a difference to so many people like Shirley every single day and for many years to come. They were used more than 300 times across our three hospitals in the first few days.” Lincoln Emergency Department Sister, Karen Kefallinos, added: “This is a really good idea as phone charging is something patients and their relatives often ask the staff about. We all have a phone these days and when you are coming here in an emergency you don’t have time to check how much charge you have. Unfortunately, some of our patients do experience long waits and it is so important that they are able to keep their loved ones informed. “It also means relatives at home can speak directly to their loved one, rather than having to call the department for updates. It puts everyone’s minds at rest and enables the staff to continue providing care. “We are so grateful to the charity for funding these banks.” The banks have cost a total of £71,000, including maintenance and service charges for future years. They are really easy for people to use. You simply find one of the empty lockers, plug in your phone and then shut the door, lock it and take the key with you. Charity Manager, Ben Petts, said: “It is a really simple idea that will enable patients and their relatives to charge their phones free of charge in a safe and secure way. “It is brilliant to see the banks being used straight away. It demonstrates the need is there and that they are going to make a real difference for our emergency patients and their loved ones.”   Picture shows Shirley Churchill using the new phone charge bank at Lincoln County Hospital. Image credit: United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust

First major event at revamped Grantham Market Place to take place this weekend

Tess Egginton
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First major event at revamped Grantham Market Place to take place this weekend
The newly refurbished Grantham Market Place is set to host its first major public event this weekend. Over 500 people have been involved in the creation of lanterns and decorations which will light up the town during the Festival of Community this Saturday, 19th October. It follows improvements made with part of a £4.1m Grantham Future High Streets Fund awarded by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. The free festival will take place throughout the day and into the evening and will include exhibitions from local artists, street performances, a community stage and light show projections that will fill the Grantham Market Place. Cllr Paul Stokes, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure, South Kesteven District Council, said: “We are looking forward to welcoming everyone into Grantham to celebrate the town’s rich heritage and community spirit. “The Festival of Community will be a busy day showcasing everything that the town has to offer, from our local artists and performers to the fantastic creativity shown during lantern making workshops in the summer.” The daytime celebrations start at 10am with a pop-up art exhibition from where local Grantham artists will exhibit their work and chat with visitors about their artistic practice. Over on the Community Stage, the Harrowby Singers will perform from 10am as part of a series of performances showcasing talented artists from the area. Further performances include:
  • 10.30am – Lewis Pittam
  • 11am – Tobias Robinson
  • 11.30am –  Grantham Amateur Dramatics Group
  • 12pm –  Grantham School of Dancing
  • 12.30pm – St Wulfram’s Church Choir
  • 1pm – Hermione Johnson
  • 1.30pm – InVoice
Street performances from Boondog Balladeers, Earth Bound Misfits, Artizani and Mishap Theatre will appeal to the whole family with Grantham-inspired stories and songs. Heading into the evening, light projections will illuminate Lindpet House with stories of Grantham’s Past, Present and Future. Visitors will have the chance to play with the spectacle of sound with The Fabuloso Organ, an interactive electronic instrument that enables the public to create their own soundscape. The Punjabi Roots Academy will bring rhythmic celebration to the evening with a DJ set and Dhol drumming throughout the evening. The group will also lead the main event, a community parade, through the town from 7pm. The Community Parade will walk from Westgate to the Market Cross as a celebration of the heritage and community of Grantham today. It will feature handmade lanterns and animal decorations created with support of Grantham Arts CIC during summer craft workshops.   Image credit: South Kesteven District Council

Landowners urged to become part of Northern Forest

Tess Egginton
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Landowners urged to become part of Northern Forest
Farmers, landowners, people with small holdings, or even just a couple of acres, can put down roots this season by creating a piece of woodland that will become part of the Northern Forest. North Lincolnshire Council is looking for any land that can be used to plant trees through its woodland creation offers, which includes: • Woodland and hedgerow creation of many shapes and sizes • Shelterbelt creation, protecting areas of land from strong weather, particularly wind • Agroforestry systems – the integration of trees into a farming system • Riverside planting and natural flood alleviation • Gapping-up and replanting of hedgerows and woodland Help and advice is also available, including: • Guidance on woodland management • Guidance on available grants/agreements • Guidance on biodiversity net gain The council works with the Humber Forest, Woodland Trust and the Forestry Commission as well as volunteer groups who will help with planting and aftercare. They have already been involved in several large and small scale plantings across the region, in both rural and urban settings. The Northern Forest is an ambitious plan to plant 50 million trees across the country from Hull to Liverpool. Newly-planted trees in North Lincolnshire will be registered on the tree counter on the council’s website which keeps track of the ultimate aim of planting 250,000 trees in North Lincolnshire. It is part of the council’s Green Futures commitment to making North Lincolnshire greener, more sustainable and a better place to live and work for generations to come. If you own, or know of, any land that may suitable, or want more information, please contact woodland@northlincs.gov.uk

Scunthorpe walk to ‘Reclaim the Night’

Tess Egginton
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0
Scunthorpe walk to ‘Reclaim the Night’
Local people, community groups, local organisations, pubs and clubs are all invited to come together on Friday 25 October from 6pm for the Reclaim the Night and Safer Nights event in Scunthorpe town centre to unite together to end violence against women and girls and celebrate all safety initiatives in the town.  The evening will start outside Church Square House in Scunthorpe at 6pm with music and key speakers to open the event, and free t-shirts. The procession will then leave Church Square at 6.30pm to walk up the High Street towards the barriered area at Britannia Corner. Here, there will be street food vendors, mocktails, giveaways and venues promoting the safety initiatives.  Various safety initiatives have been introduced in Scunthorpe and across North Lincolnshire by the North Lincolnshire Community Safety Partnership (CSP) to improve safety and help people feel safer including Ask Angela, ByStander, SOS Help Points and WalkSafe app.   The event is a chance for both men and women to come together in solidarity to speak out against misogyny, sexual violence, hate misogyny and harassment in public settings as part of the Reclaim the Night campaign. It also enables people to have conversations about their concerns, show their support and highlight some of the safety initiatives that have been rolled out as part of the Safer Nights campaign across North Lincolnshire.   Safer Nights brings together representatives from nighttime economy venues, taxis, takeaways and hotels, and daytime venues such as cafes and coffee shops.  Cllr John Davison, cabinet member for community wellbeing (urban – Ashby, Bottesford and Scunthorpe), said: “No one should feel unsafe in their community, and we want to ensure people are kept safe and well when they are out and about in North Lincolnshire. “This event is about bringing people together to make a stand, and we are working with the nighttime economy to do this. I would encourage anyone to come along and show their support.   “The town centre walk to support women to reclaim the night has taken place for many years but this year we have made the event even bigger and have linked in with Safer Nights to showcase the amazing schemes in place to improve safety.   “North Lincolnshire Community Safety Partnership is making great strides in protecting our communities in North Lincolnshire.”  Jonathan Evison, Humberside Police and Crime Commissioner, said: “The Safer Nights initiative is a great project to ensure residents and visitors in our area can safely enjoy the nighttime economy. “The Reclaim the Night event will strengthen the work that is already being done to help end violence against women and girls. Please come along on 25 October, join the procession and find out more about the Safer Nights campaign.”  Many of the nighttime economy venues in North Lincolnshire are members of Pubwatch and have signed an online Safety at Night Charter, which is a pledge to show venues take the safety of everyone in the nighttime economy seriously.   The Safer Nights campaign sees venues being trained in ByStander training, bleed kits, first aid, Ask Angela, spiking and ‘One Punch’ awareness.     Image credit: North Lincolnshire Council

Long-established Yorkshire and Lincolnshire builders’ merchant placed in administration

Tess Egginton
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Long-established Yorkshire and Lincolnshire builders’ merchant placed in administration
Builders’ Merchant Company, a builders’ merchant retailer business with outlets in Rotherham, Hull, Goole and Scunthorpe, has fallen into administration. The company, which was headquartered in Scunthorpe, was the subject of a winding up petition last month. On 9 October Andrew Mackenzie and Laura Baxter of Begbies Traynor were appointed joint administrators after attempts to sell Builders’ Merchant Company through the accelerated mergers and acquisitions (AMA) process failed to secure a buyer. All 26 employees of the business have been made redundant and the joint administrators are hoping to sell the freehold property and assets of the business. Founded in Scunthorpe in 1928, Builders’ Merchant Company was the largest independent timber and building supplies supplier in Lincolnshire. Between 2016 and 2019 the business opened branches in Hull, Rotherham and Goole. Joint administrator Andrew Mackenzie, of Begbies Traynor, said: “Unfortunately the construction industry continues to face extremely challenging conditions and the knock-on effect of that is being felt by suppliers including Builders’ Merchant Company. We are now working hard to maximise the value of the company’s assets and ensure the best possible return for creditors.”   Image: Andrew Mackenzie of Begbies Traynor
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