Ramside Estates Magazine issue 1 by Allies Group Ltd

RAMSIDE ESTATES MAGAZINE - ISSUE 1

ESTATE PEOPLE PRIME PROPERTIES HIGH FASHION AWARD-WINNING FOOD GRAND GOLF SPA SPECTACULAR SOCIAL EVENTS

RAMSIDE ESTATES MAGAZINE - ISSUE 1

We focus on the most important economy in the world. Yours. Your personal economy represents the health of your whole financial life. It is unique to you, and incorporates all the things you value most â&#x20AC;&#x201C; your family, your home, your passions, your work and your legacy. Come and speak to one of our Premier Relationship Managers today. HSBC Premier is subject to financial eligibility criteria. For more information about Premier charges and interest rates, please consult our price list in branches, online or over the telephone.

We can offer you an interest and charge free overdraft for up to three months taking into account your existing Direct Debits and Standing Orders subject to our usual credit assessment criteria. If you do not want an overdraft or one is not available, we will, within a reasonable time, refund any charges or interest you have had to pay to us due to a delay or mistake made during the switching process. Issued by HSBC Bank plc. MCP46092 03/16 Printed by St Ives Group. ÂŠHSBC Bank plc 2016. All Rights Reserved. AC39410

Ramside Estates Magazine

W E LC O M E John Adamson is Managing Director of the Ramside Estates Group, a family business established by his grandfather.

he Ramside Estates story is very much a family one and we hope our hotels reflect the meaningful values of solidarity, comfort and loyalty. Our properties have gone through incredible and exciting changes since my grandfather Dick Coleman started the business in 1964 and my father, Michael Adamson, took over from him in the 1970s. The hospitality industry is of course an ever-changing one and within the Ramside Estates hotels and businesses we have strived over three generations to maintain and improve standards. The past couple of years have been a time of huge investment and vast change, most notably with the opening of our showcase Spa at Ramside and the new suite of luxury rooms as well as the development of a new 18-hole golf course. They are new arrivals that the ‘family’ is very proud to show off and we’re looking forward to nurturing them for many years to come. The Spa at Ramside in particular offers something show-stopping, new and vibrant for the North East and its location and facilities are unrivalled.

But we understand that an operation like Ramside Estates is nothing without key people. We are proud to employ more than 550 people from the region and many of them have been with us for generations, some joining the business with my father all those years ago. These people are pivotal to all we strive to do within our business. We are hugely proud of County Durham, a part of the world we love to showcase through our properties. In every aspect of the hotel the spirit of County Durham shines through – sometimes literally, with a shot of Durham Gin in your tonic – or more subtly in ingredients in your dinner, the furnishings in your room or the blooms in our award-winning hanging baskets. We hope this, our Ramside Magazine, will inspire you to know more about our beautiful region through our family of hotels. Thanks to the team at Remember Media for safe arrival of our latest addition, we hope you enjoy reading it. John Adamson Managing Director, Ramside Estates

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Directors: John Adamson, Marian Adamson, Helen Roseberry Ramside Hall, Carrville, Durham DH1 1TD (0191) 386 5282 Editorial for Ramside Estates: Sorted PR www.sortedpr.com

Publisher: Chris March; Editorial: Kathryn Armstrong, Jessica Laing; Photography: Nicky Rogerson, Kevin Gibson; Designed by: Remember Media Studio; Sales: Lisa Anderson, Debi Coldwell

Remember Media Ltd, e-volve Business Centre, Cygnet Way, Rainton Bridge South Business Park DH4 5QY. Tel: 0191 500 7860 remembermedia.co.uk

All contents copyright ÂŠ2016 RememberMedia Ltd. All rights reserved. While every effort is made to ensure accuracy, no responsibility can be accepted for inaccuracies, howsoever caused. No liability can be accepted for illustrations, photographs, artwork or advertising materials while in transmission or with the publisher or their agents. All information is correct at time of going to print April 2016.

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CONTENTS 08 16 22 42 50

Welcome to Durham. Discover all the historic city on our doorstep has to offer the visitor.

The spirit of County Durham lives on at Ramside Hall through the paintings of Norman Cornish.

Secret Estates - our spotlight on some of the hidden places within our properties.

A story of steak. Discover why the meat on your plate in our Rib Room restaurants is unrivalled.

Seafood success. Lobsters and oysters are more than just tasty items on the menu. Here's why.

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Say cheese! Just a mile from Hardwick Hall we meet the dairy supplying artisan local cheese.

Spa at Ramside is the UK's first Wellness for Cancer base. Discover why it's so special.

Let us guide you through a social, sporty and sight-seeing season of events to enjoy.

Golf is glorious at Ramside Hall. Meet the man who has to keep those greens groomed.

Wall of fame. See who's stayed and been sketched at Ramside Hall.

SECRET ESTATE

Lightbulb moment This dazzlingly beautiful chandelier takes pride of place in the newly refurbished Bishops Suite at Ramside Hall. Guests will shine as they sip their own sparkles beneath the dramatic light fitting which makes a show-stopping entrance in the reception foyer of the entertainment suite.

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Ramside Estates Magazine Commercial Feature

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A RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT Author Bill Bryson calls Durham ‘a perfect little city’. Steeped in history and packed with charm. Peter Jackson explores its appeal.

Ramside Estates Magazine

urham is a small city but it packs a big punch. A visitor, whether arriving by rail or road, is immediately struck by the views of the magnificent cathedral and majestic castle towering high over the centre. These imposing structures, which dominate the skyline, sitting atop a peninsula around which snakes the River Wear, bear comparison with anything that any of Europe’s great cities can boast. Little wonder that together they have the status of UNESCO World Heritage Site, an accolade shared with the Taj Mahal, Venice, the Alhambra and Notre Dame. The cathedral and castle are at the core of the city – spiritually and physically. The cathedral, which houses the bones of St Cuthbert, is the finest Norman building in the UK and probably Europe and was recently voted the UK’s Number One Landmark by TripAdvisor users. It was used as a setting in the first two Harry Potter movies. The castle, built under William the Conqueror, provided the powerful Prince Bishops of Durham with their seat of secular power in the king’s northern lands. It is now a registered museum as well as a vibrant living and working community, being the home of University College, the founding College

of Durham University and more than 100 students are resident during term. The cathedral and castle face each other across the beautiful Palace Green, along with historical university and ecclesiastical buildings which are not only architectural gems in their own right but also house museums, libraries and visitor attractions. Radiating down from Palace Green are the winding, cobbled streets and intriguing alleyways of the medieval city centre, surrounded on three sides by the Wear, which flows past its glorious tree-lined banks, creating a pastoral oasis in the centre of the ancient city. There is, however, far more to Durham City than architectural splendour and historical glories. It is also a university city, home to 14 colleges, housing 15,000 students from 156 different countries. This lends it a vibrant and youthful edge and a sense of exciting variety where student street musicians entertain the shopping crowds in a carnival atmosphere. It also gives Durham a buzzing nightlife with an eclectic mix of contemporary wine and champagne café-bars, idiosyncratic old pubs with their snugs and taprooms, restaurants which offer everything from tapas to fine-dining and from Thai to Italian – all catering to good-humoured crowds out to party. But the city is also a cultural centre of international significance. It boasts galleries and museums, theatres and studios, festivals and exhibitions. The city’s Oriental Museum is the only museum in the North of England given over entirely to the art and archaeology of

the city is a cultural centre of international significance. it boasts galleries, museums, theatres and festivals

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North Africa and Asia. Its exhibits range from prehistoric to contemporary art and include Egyptian mummies, imperial Chinese porcelain, Japanese samurai armour and weapons and head-hunting swords from Borneo. A new gallery focuses on the Himalayas, India and South East Asia, featuring art and archaeology of the region. The Gala Theatre is a £15m purpose-built building on the banks of the Wear and houses a state-of-the-art modern theatre, a café-bar, two cinema screens, conference facilities and gift shop. Round a bend in the river is the City Theatre, home to the Durham Dramatic Society. But there’s more to Durham than glorious architecture, living history, exciting nightlife and culture – there’s also shopping. And Durham’s shopping history is at least as old as its cathedral and castle, with markets having been held on the site of Market Place since the 12th century. Today there are thriving indoor and outdoor markets with various specialist stalls selling – among other things – local food products, such as fish, cheese, honey and game. Durham, by the way, was the birthplace of English mustard, invented by Mrs Clements and first ground at a mill in Saddler Street in the 18th Century. The city is home to the major high street names as well as independents, boutiques and high quality craft shops. Fowlers Yard, on the banks of the Wear behind the indoor market, is Durham’s new creative quarter. Originally stables, the buildings there have been converted into nine workspaces and studios for professional artists. These

discover thriving markets with specialist stalls selling local fish, cheese, honey and game

studios are open to visitors, allowing them to meet artists and craftspeople and to watch creative techniques such as jewellery design, tapestry weaving, embroidery or printmaking. Durham was built around the river which curls round the peninsula between its wooded banks and the natural beauty has not been obscured, but rather enhanced by the architectural splendours. It is still there to be enjoyed in and around the city. Within a few minutes‘ stroll of the city centre is a charming riverside walk where sun dapples the water, ducks cruise in stately convoy and college rowing teams are put through their paces. Also not far from the centre is the Botanic Garden, which features an alpine garden, winter grove, bamboo grove and wildflower meadow, not to mention the glass houses which include a desert house and tropical rainforest house. It’s home not just to plants but also to bugs, scorpions, tarantulas and a rare breed of Manx Loghtan sheep. Durham is a city for all ages, all tastes and all seasons. No wonder Condé Nast’s Traveller magazine readers voted it the ‘Best city in the UK’ or that best-selling author Bill Bryson called it ‘a perfect little city’.

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Ramside Estates Magazine commercial feature

ACTIV TECHNOLOGY: BECAUSE TECHNOLOGY NEVER STANDS STILL Activ Technology is a local business communications provider, delivering mobile, telephony and IT solutions to small, medium and growing enterprises across the North East. Ian Gillespie, the Managing Director, takes us behind the scenes at Activ. Over the past 14 years Activ has evolved into a complete business communications provider. We’re now able to provide businesses with all of their technology needs with just one point of contact. “Activ have worked hard to forge lasting relationships with partners, network providers and manufacturers to enable us to be truly independent and offer our customers the very best options from the entire marketplace” We’re committed to providing tailored solutions to local businesses – we listen to the needs and pain points of businesses to fully understand their requirements and produce a plan which isn’t “off the shelf” but is built around their unique business needs. Our consultative approach doesn’t stop when we bring new customers on board, our dedication to supporting our clients all the way through their contract with us has resulted in Activ having the incredible retention rate of 96%. We have achieved this rate as a direct result of the high levels of quality customer service we deliver daily, through regular account reviews and site visits to ensure that we’re continuously meeting needs and adapting to our customer’s internal changes. “I believe this approach helps us stand out from the crowd and puts us ahead in the competitive marketplace of business communications here in the North East.” Activ has recently been recognised for their on-going commitment and passion by being awarded the two top prestigious awards from their direct partner, O2. Activ is one of just eight companies across the whole of the UK to have been awarded both the Customer Excellence and Digital Excellence awards in 2016. Achieving these awards means that we have demonstrated exceptional levels of customer service alongside delivering the latest

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Meet some of Activ’s staff: Matt Vairy (Client Director), Michael Hearns (Finance Manager), Lynn Kirtley (Account Manager) and Ian Gillespie (Managing Director). digital portfolio to ensure our customers are benefiting from the latest technology. In addition to our awards from the mobile network provider O2, we have cemented our place in the IT marketplace by becoming a Microsoft Silver Partner. In 2016 Activ has been awarded the Microsoft Small and Midmarket Cloud Solutions competency which recognises our team’s experience and knowledge of implementing and supporting Microsoft’s cloud services, in particular Microsoft Office 365. “We’re proud to be a local provider in the North East, and want to see our community develop – which is why we continue to heavily invest in recruitment.” As a growing business we’re able to invest in the economic development of our region in

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numerous ways, including recruiting the top talent from the North East. Our office is our family, we’re all committed to the same end goals and we work together to ensure that we perform to the best of the team’s ability – there’s very much a family spirit around the office! “Get in touch with Activ Technology and we’ll take care of all your business communications and technology needs, with just one point of contact”

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A R T AT T H E H E A R T The paintings of one of the North East’s most famous artists create an unrivalled heritage art collection on the walls at Ramside Hall.

here are many things you would expect from a hotel – good food, first class service, superb facilities. What may be less likely as you check in, walk to your room or sit in the lounge and enjoy afternoon tea is that you are actually enjoying these activities against the backdrop of an impressive art collection. Ramside Hall is much more than just an award-winning

hotel, it is home to a slice of North East life which may be gone but is definitely not forgotten. For around 15 years owner John Adamson has been collecting the paintings of Norman Cornish, the last of the famous ‘pitmen painters’. These are much, much more than mere pictures however, as they depict life in this region as it was in the past, lovingly recorded by the skilful Norman.

Ramside Estates Magazine

They are certainly a talking point for hotel guests, who get their first taste of Cornish’s work at the Ramside reception where The Pit Road hangs in pride of place. This painting, depicting men walking to the mine to start their day’s work, is a particular favourite of John Adamson. “It makes you realise how hard people had it in the past,” he said. “It’s an incredible painting which really recalls a life in the North East that just doesn’t exist anymore. “That’s what Norman was best at, really capturing the way things were back then.” There are around 15 Norman Cornish paintings around the hotel, most of which – not surprisingly – hang in the recently renamed Cornish Lounge. The hotel decided to honour the painter, who died in 2014, with his family attending a special event to unveil a plaque. Norman’s son John joined John Adamson on the day, notably touched by the lasting

my father had a knack for capturing life in spennymoor in a unique way. ramside's collection showcases that

memorial to his father. “My father had a knack for capturing life in Spennymoor in his own unique way and Ramside’s fine collection showcases that brilliantly,” said John Cornish. “The way the pictures are presented complement the lounge perfectly and it’s a great tribute to my father’s legacy.” One of John Adamson’s other favourite Cornish paintings evokes a very personal memory.

Ramside Estates Magazine

of the hotel also feature prints of the work of another Spennymoor artist – John Smith, who has also drawn his inspiration from Norman Cornish. “What all of the art we have at Ramside does is give us a feel for another era,” said John Adamson. “It’s a life that is now gone but through the work of these artists we’ve got a real opportunity to remember how the North East was. “They are a great talking point for guests and although they’re a personal collection, it’s fantastic to be able to share them with everyone who comes to stay at Ramside.”

what all of the art we have at ramside does is give us a feel for another era

Visitors to the reception can view The Bar Scene, showing men in flat caps enjoying a pint while a number of half full glasses are on the bar. “In the 1960s my dad had had a pub in Whitley Bay and at the time on Sundays the bar could only be open from noon to 2pm,” he recalled. “I remember the queue out the door and how there were always lots of half full glasses on the bar waiting to be topped up, with about two feet of cigarette smoke hanging in the air. “Every time I see that painting it reminds me of that.” It’s not just Norman Cornish’s paintings that can be seen at Ramside however. Enter the hotel through the old reception and visitors will come face to face with the 8ft by 5ft picture entitled Gallowgate Hoppings, painted in 1875 by Newcastle-born painter, Wilson Hepple. The painting depicts the famous annual travelling fair which still comes to Newcastle, in the days before it took up residence at the city’s Town Moor. Originally hanging in Newcastle Brewery, it is on permanent loan to Ramside giving everyone the opportunity to see this amazing work of art. And that’s not all. The rooms and corridors in the new wing

ESTATE PEOPLE John Brewster Painter and decorator What do you do? I’m one of the hotel’s three in-house painters and decorators. I’ve been working at the hotel for 52 years. I paint anywhere and everywhere; the hotel bedrooms, the hotel’s exterior and the private house. I tried retiring at Christmas 2015, but somehow I’m still here! I work two days a week now. Favourite thing about the job? How much it feels like home. There’s been a few times over the years when I’ve been offered other jobs, but I’ve always loved and remained loyal to Ramside and the Adamson family. The hotel is like my second home. I really enjoy the variety of work that my job brings, too. There’s always plenty to do - it keeps me on my toes! Memorable moment? I’ve been to a lot of great parties at the hotel over the years and I’ve made some great friends here. We’ve had so many laughs and I’ve made a lot of fond memories that will stay with me forever.

Ramside Estates Magazine commercial feature

ADVISING THE ENTREPRENEURS Andrew Wilson of Newcastle based accountancy and advisory firm UNW celebrates the opening of Ramside Hall’s new spa with owner John Adamson. The Spa at Ramside Hall Hotel is a fantastic new resort that brings the very best in health, beauty and relaxation to the area, following a £16m investment and the creation of 60 new jobs. A major project that required a considerable input from a range of advisors before the hard work of construction work even began, UNW accountancy and advisory firm, based in Newcastle, worked with the directors to determine the value and risks of this significant investment and the tax implications to the organisation. John Adamson, owner of Ramside Estates explained; ‘The spa has been a major investment for us, one that was not without considerable

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risk. The team at UNW worked to assess the risks involved and ensure that the complex and important tax issues – including the capital gains and corporate tax liabilities had been considered and properly managed.’ Andrew Wilson, Managing Partner at UNW added; ‘We’ve been delighted to provide the expertise on financial issues to support this family-owned, entrepreneurial business in pursuit of the considered growth of their businesses through well-managed investment. We work with many similar family-run businesses in the region – entrepreneurs who put the needs of the business first and ensure they continue to develop a sustainable business that gets the balance right and generates a good return.’

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A retro barbershop moment Chaps, you’ll enjoy the shave of your life at the very cool Man Corner barbershop within the Reef hair salon at The Spa at Ramside. It’s managed by Eoin James Burrell, a chap who is top of the game when it comes to grooming and contemporary male hairdressing. Eoin specialises in beards and haircuts and is a very safe pair of hands – which is good to know when you’re facing a cut-throat razor! A great range of shaves and facial treatments is available at The Man Corner – try something different! Book on 0191 386 3055 www.reefsalons.co.uk

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RAMSIDE HALL Somewhere to return time and time again, Ramside Hall is a place of splendour to relax, revive, feast - and flourish on the fairway.

Ramside Estates Magazine

hoever said it is better to travel hopefully than to arrive, had clearly never visited Ramside Hall Hotel. For, there is, quite simply, no more pleasurable destination. County Durham’s only silver awarded, AA rated and four star hotel, it is surrounded by 350 acres of private grounds, with two, 18-hole championship golf courses, a purpose-built spa complex, four bars and award winning restaurants. The perfect venue for both business and pleasure, it is a place in which relaxation and luxury go in hand and where no expense has been spared to provide the finest possible facilities and service. Take its 127 bedrooms, for example: all sumptuous,

none more so than The Celebration Suite. Believed to be the most lavish hotel room in the region, it boasts a free-standing round copper bath, a 90 inch television screen and a seven-feet-wide Hypnos bed, along with a separate walk-in shower room, dressing area and a personal dining area. It also has a number of Juliet balconies with uninterrupted views over one of the hotel’s two championship golf courses. Alternatively, for those who prefer pampering to putting, The Spa at Ramside is unarguably the finest in the region, with no fewer than five pools, including a 25 metre swimming pool, outdoor vitality pool, balcony infinity pool and one of the UK’s largest hydrotherapy pools. There is also a thermal suite comprising a herbal infusion sauna, Himalayan salt steam, aroma steam, caldarium and a sunken amphitheatre sauna, not to mention a specialised sleep sanctuary retreat with soundwave therapy beds. And, for those with energy to burn, a state-of-the-art Fitness Suite offers a programme of more than 40 classes every week. Once exercise has whetted the appetite, guests have a cornucopia of culinary delights from which to choose. They can opt for the pan-Asian Fusion restaurant within The Spa, try Pemberton’s Carvery, head to the golf resort’s Clubhouse or visit the highly acclaimed Rib Room Steakhouse & Grill for steaks, sourced from neighbouring farms and hung in a meat locker for a full 28 days. The ability to cater for any taste or occasion is one of the

a venue which offers the lot; soothing body and soul in The spa and turning mealtimes into memories

Ramside Estates Magazine

reasons Ramside Hall Hotel is popular, not just with leisure guests, but also with corporate clients and wedding couples. Others include its unparalleled choice of meeting, conference and function rooms, which can take from 30 to 500 delegates and, in the summer months, its marquee, which can seat 200 and can be extended to accommodate 2,000 people. Combined with Ramside Hall Hotel’s location - on the outskirts of Durham, with major rail and road links - and 500 free car parking spaces, it is an obvious and desirable choice for any social or corporate occasion. In fact, any visit to Ramside Hall Hotel is an occasion in its own right, for this is a venue which offers the lot; soothing body and soul in The Spa, turning mealtimes into memories in its many restaurants and providing the sweetest of dreams in bedrooms fit for royalty. There is, in short, nowhere else in the region quite like it.

ESTATE PEOPLE Karen, Katherine, Beverley and Julie Reception What do you do? Katherine I specialise in reservations. I’m usually on the phone, speaking to our guests. I deal with all emails, reservations, bookings and general enquiries. There is a lot of interest surrounding the Spa at Ramside, as well as the new golf courses and bedrooms, so the phone never stops ringing! Karen I’m responsible for the finance side of things, though I do help Katherine and Julie with golf and reservations, too. I’m also the one who deals with anything technical or that needs to be fixed - I’m the troubleshooter of the group! Beverley I oversee the whole department; my main role is to ensure that everything is running smoothly. I also take care of the banking and am in charge of recruitment. I make sure we have the best team possible. Julie I do a bit of everything! I mainly deal with golf enquiries though, and do a lot of the early morning shifts. Favourite thing about the job? Knowing that our guests have enjoyed their stay; getting positive feedback from them gives us a lot of satisfaction. We also genuinely enjoy working together. We’ve been alongside each other for years - since we were young girls - and have become very close friends. Memorable moment? Celebrating the hotel’s 50th anniversary was really fun and it was so exciting when the Spa at Ramside opened. We were also acknowledged when we completed 25 years of service - we received some beautiful gifts.

One of Banks Group’s latest developments is the Mount Oswald site at Durham

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DERE STREET HOMES Dedicated to developing homes of character and integrity.

or many of our people, the lure of County Durham has proved overwhelming with families and couples relocating to this beautiful part of the region. Now, there’s an opportunity to buy your dream home, quite literally on our doorstep. Formed in 2001, Durham-based Dere Street Homes has built up an enviable reputation for the creation of not only small and exclusive developments, but also larger properties using a range of two, three and four-bedroom house designs. While the projects may have differed, Dere Street Homes’ adherence to the very highest standards of quality, design, construction and finishing have remained constant throughout and its latest development is built and finished to the same high standards as previous successful schemes. Dere Street Homes’ Hill Top Farm development is set on a

plateau, overlooking the new cathedral golf course, and offers 13 architecturally-designed farmstead luxury homes set in a beautiful courtyard setting. With the superb five-bedroom Farmhouse show home now open to the public, the quality of the homes can be seen by visitors, with the interior design making the most of the light-filled spaces with contemporary furniture and fittings that match the modern feel of the home perfectly. Each luxury home comes complete with one year’s complimentary membership to both the Golf Club and Ramside Hall Hotel’s new Spa and Leisure Club. Prices currently start from £425,000. For more information, visit www.derestreethomes.co.uk or contact on-site Development Sales Manager, Jan Gill, on 07983 080952.

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Ramside Estates Magazine

BOWBURN HALL Once home to the colliery agent of a nearby mine, Ramside Hall's sister property, Bowburn Hall these days combines grandeur and a welcoming warmth.

hey say the most precious things come in small packages and, when it comes to Bowburn Hall Hotel, that is certainly true. This charming and welcoming family-owned hotel is a gem; an English stately home in miniature, where Edwardian elegance conceals all the facilities and luxuries a 21st century guest might expect. Originally built as a showpiece home for the colliery agent of the nearby mine, it sits in five acres of beautifully landscaped gardens at the heart of County Durham, fewer than three miles from the city itself. And this close proximity to Durham â&#x20AC;&#x201C; designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO â&#x20AC;&#x201C; is just one of the reasons Bowburn Hall Hotel holds such appeal for guests. After all, what could be nicer after a day spent exploring the Cathedral, wandering along the banks of the River Wear or

Ramside Estates Magazine

in lengthy business meetings, than this small stately home, with comfort at its heart? Where you can watch the sun sink over the walled gardens as you enjoy excellent, home cooked food and carefully chosen wines in the comfort of its Durham restaurant or in the light and airy surroundings of its conservatory. Where, when it’s time for bed, you can retire to one of 19, individually styled bedrooms, each of which beautifully marries tradition with contemporary design to ensure you get the best of both worlds. And, on the subject of marriages, it is not surprising that Bowburn Hall Hotel, with its beautiful grounds, superb catering and timeless interior, is one of County Durham’s best loved wedding venues. Licensed for both civil wedding and partnership ceremonies, it is intimate and impressive in equal measure – a venue grand enough to rise to the occasion, yet so welcoming each guest will feel instantly at home. The hotel’s policy of only holding one wedding a day means from the moment the bride throws open the curtains of her bedroom, to her first sip of Champagne

dine on produce grown in our gardens and on hand-reared free range chickens

in the rose covered pavilion to her last dance in the exquisite blue and gold ballroom, her wishes will be met. Indeed, all guests, whether they are attending a wedding, enjoying a holiday or mini break in the area or visiting on business, can be assured of the very highest standards of care and service at Bowburn Hall Hotel. They can dine in the comfortable Lounge bar or Conservatory on produce grown in the gardens of its sister venue, neighbouring Hardwick Hall and on its hand-reared free range chickens. They can enjoy all the comforts of home and all the peace and tranquillity of the English countryside, along with superb access to major road and rail networks. Guests can host their meeting or conference in the well-equipped meeting room, which offers full AV connectivity, or celebrate a special family event, such as a christening or birthday, enjoying Bowburn Hall Hotel’s unique blend of style and comfort. And its ongoing calendar of entertainment and activities will ensure they are never short of a reason to return. Whatever your reason for visiting Bowburn Hall Hotel, its highly trained and experienced team will do their utmost to make your stay a delight from start to finish. Because Bowburn Hall Hotel proves this to be true – that small is very definitely beautiful.

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Ramside Estates Magazine

HARDWICK HALL Surrounded by lush parkland, Hardwick Hall, a sister property of Ramside Hall, is a place where business meets pleasure.

eep in the heart of the Durham countryside something rather amazing is happening. Hardwick Hall, a privately-owned hotel, is making a very good name for itself indeed – winning national awards and developing a reputation for offering the finest of, well, everything. The four-star, family-owned Hardwick Hall Hotel, at Sedgefield, is a rarity in the hotel world; a venue with personality and with excellence, across all areas, firmly in its grasp. While most hotels have restaurants, for example, few are

destinations in their own right. Yet diners travel from far and wide to eat at The Rib Room, where succulent steaks are prepared and cooked from Durham-raised Hereford Beef, matured for 28 to 32 days and hung in the Rib Room Meat Locker – you can ask to see them if you wish. And, when it comes to corporate events, Hardwick Hall Hotel firmly believes in the benefits of mixing business with pleasure. Within easy access of both major regional road networks – the A1(M) and A19 – the hotel is one of the most

Ramside Estates Magazine

Artist Mel Holmes created this mural featuring Hardwick Hall’s owner and friends – among them former prime minister Tony Blair whose home in his Sedgefield constituency was close by. Back row: Rita Martins, George Bolam, the late Michael Adamson, Tony Blair, Geronimo Martins. Front row: John Adamson, Freddie Watson, Chris Dawson, Robin Ward, Denis Craggs, the late Frank Craggs, John Wade.

conveniently situated in the Tees Valley: close to Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Stockton-on-Tees, Darlington and Durham. Not only does it boast extensive conference facilities with free Wi-Fi and ample parking, for private parties, business meetings and corporate events, but it is surrounded by the magnificent Hardwick Country Park. This spectacular setting is just one of the reasons why Best Western Hardwick Hall Hotel is also one of the North East’s leading wedding venues. Licensed to hold civil ceremonies, the hotel’s choice of function rooms and suites means it is perfectly placed to host everything from small, intimate weddings to large-scale celebrations. During the summer months the Paddock Marquee with its own private garden and lovely views is a special venue for a traditional summer garden wedding and larger marquees – able to seat up to 1,500 guests – are available during selected months of the year. In fact, these large marquees are one of the reasons that Hardwick Hall Hotel has become one of the North East’s major events destinations. Their capacity has enabled the venue to stage spectacular festivals and fund raisers and its Lobster Charity Ball, Hardwick Live and annual North East Oyster Festival are now firm fixtures in the region’s social calendar, attracting hundreds of partygoers keen to enjoy a night to remember.

a venue for spectacular festivals and fund raisers such as the oyster Festival and lobster Ball

And, when the party is over, business concluded or the last glass of after-dinner port has been drained, Hardwick Hall Hotel has a choice of 50 stunning and luxurious bedrooms. Lavish and individually designed, luxury is evident at every turn – from the exceptionally comfortable beds to the extra large baths and walk in showers – not only meeting, but exceeding, the expectations of even the most discerning guest. But of course a good hotel is always more than the sum of its parts and, as excellent as they are, the facilities at Hardwick Hall Hotel are only part of the story. What is really impressive is the attention to detail, the imagination and the energy that positively crackles around this venue – all of which ensure that people don’t just visit it; they remember it – and they return. Why don’t you join them?

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Ramside Estates Magazine

SECRET ESTATE

Playdays Your little monkeys will love the great big monkey who camps out in the gardens at Bowburn Hall offering loads of playtime clambering fun in the gardens.

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Ramside Estates Magazine

R AW TA L E N T A slab of prime beef is a thing to be treated with respect. At the helm of The Rib Room, head chef Paul Beckwith is a man who’s at home in the meat locker, as Kathryn Armstrong discovers.

very week at Ramside Hall’s Rib Room, the meat men cometh. Their job? To fill the restaurant’s meat locker with prime Hereford beef. The mighty meat locker acts as a working showcase for the beef which is the menu mainstay at the Rib Room. On a busy weekend that might mean satisfying the appetite of some 800 diners who want their version of the ultimate steak. That might mean a blood-red rib-eye, a medium rare fillet or a ‘push-the-boat-out' celebratory Chateaubriand carved at the table for two. Nothing fazes chef Paul Beckwith when it comes to meat (though it nearly makes him weep to have to send a well-done steak out of that kitchen). His workstation is butchery paradise. Paul started out at 14 working in a butcher’s shop and honed his skills with saw, knife and cleaver. The tools of his trade are not to be messed with. Heavy steel knives that he manages with the deft touch of an expert, lifting these mountains of meat as though they were a feather. Meat is pride of place in The Rib Room as the name suggests. The restaurant takes as its starting point a French brasserie-style which is reflected on walls which are lined with vintage wine lists and labels as well as chateau signs and posters. ‘Beaujolais Nouveau est arrive!’, proclaims one. The provenance of meat in the restaurant is important – and of course, the key to a great steak. Local butchers provide the Hereford beef and it is hung for

dinner might mean a blood-red rib-eye, a medium rare fillet or a ‘push-the-boat-out' chateaubriand carved at the table for two

Ramside Estates Magazine

A bit of steak know-how Sirloin From the middle back, this is well-marbled with tasty fat. Hanging it adds depth of flavour as does cooking on the bone. Flash fry or griddle on a super-hot grill. Rib-eye A trendy cut. This comes from the fore rib and thanks to a marbling and a central piece of fat it is very tasty. Nice one on the barbecue – make sure the griddle is very hot. Best cooked medium rare. Fillet The chi-chi lightweight! The fillet comes from inside the sirloin and is muscle that doesn’t do any work, hence it is tender and fat-free. It needs little cooking and is best served rare with a peppercorn, mushroom or bluecheese sauce to add punch.

28 days before being prepared, cooked and served. In the glass-fronted meat locker, diners can see for themselves the meat hanging from hooks as it matures. From here it goes to a butchery area where the different cuts are prepared. Says Paul: “My own background in butchery means I know good beef and can train up the kitchen in the different cuts – but more than that, with the bones and fat we have the starting point for the best stock and fat for dripping to use elsewhere in the kitchen. “The starting point for any good steak is the animal and how it is reared before it gets to us. The meat we use comes from good welfare farms close to us. “The meat we have hanging is dark and marbled with yellow fat – nothing like you would see in a supermarket – the fat is as delicious as the flesh itself and a great part of the steak you are served. “Of course we serve fillet which is very lean – and a steak preferred by many people – but the cuts like

rib room speciality is a mighty 20oz rib-eye which would give fred flintstone a run for his money

Rump The steak-eater's steak. This is full of flavour. It comes from the backside and should be well hung. It's a huge steak, so order if you’re feeling hungry. T-bone/porterhouse The Fred Flintstone of steaks. A retro classic! From the lower middle of the animal, these cuts are part sirloin and part fillet. Chateaubriand Essentially a fillet joint. Apparently named for being the favourite food of the French politician François-René de Chateaubriand. A thick cut of the tenderloin, flavoursome and tender.

rib-eye have so much more intensity of flavour thanks to that fat.” The diners agree – the Rib Room speciality is a mighty 20oz rib-eye which would give Fred Flintstone a run for his money. Frequently as many as 40 of these are served up on a busy week at the Rib Room. “There isn’t really anywhere doing what we do with the meat in terms of the locker that diners can see and

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Ramside Estates Magazine

ESTATE PEOPLE

Paul Beckwith’s life in food Childhood food memory? Making pineapple upside down cake with my grandma. She loved to cook and from being about four I always wanted to help. Inspiring chef? Anthony Bourdain. He’s great to watch and really skilful. I met Marco Pierre White when he hosted an evening at Ramside. He had a sandwich in the kitchen! Favourite restaurant? I like Asian food so it’s good having Fusion in the Ramside Spa and I like Nudo in Newcastle. Favourite ingredient? Not a specific one but I love spices and experimenting with them. Favourite tipple? Craft beers at the moment – I like Wylam brewery and a trip to Brewdog in Newcastle for a bit of experimentation! Last meal? It’s got to be shepherd’s pie.

the way we hang the meat in our kitchens and use as much of the beast as we can”, maintains Paul. “We use Hereford cattle for our steak. It is a stocky animal with a good ‘fat to flavour’ ratio. It has a natural marbling of fat, which dissolves during the cooking process to give beef that is succulent and full of its own unique flavor”, he adds. But it’s not just about the steaks. Paul likes to scatter some French-influenced dishes throughout the menu – such as

chicken livers with puy lentils for a starter alongside cheese soufflé or baked scallops mornay. “The restaurant serves traditional dishes which have to be top of their game because diners want some ‘wow’. “It can be hectic and madness in that kitchen when it’s something like Valentine’s Day but we thrive on that and know that in terms of our meat prep that nobody does it like us!”

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Ramside Estates Magazine

SECRET ESTATE

Tea temptations We all know that a cuppa is good for us but Camellia’s Tea House blends take that to another level with real health and wellness benefits in every brew. Blends of herbs, flowers and botanicals create bespoke teas which target specific worries and make everything better with one little sip – or as far as it’s possible. Studies have shown that drinking two to four cups of tea a day has approximately the same antioxidant ‘potency’ as eating six apples! Camellia’s Tea House blends are available exclusively in the Spa at Ramside so you can try for yourself. Blends include Bobby Marley Blend - a real ‘chill-pill’ to calm your nerves during the day and chill you out at night. Post-gym, how about Aching Muscles Tea - a deliciously light and refreshing infusion thought to be ideal for aching or strained muscles. Or give yourself a boost with a pot of Happiness Tea - a delightfully tasty and uplifting infusion which helps to clear the senses and revitalise the spirit. We sell our exclusive own blend too - ask at spa reception for further details.

Ramside Estates Magazine

SEAFOOD SPELLS SUCCESS

ysters and lobsters â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the loveliest things in the sea â&#x20AC;&#x201C; have a special place in the hearts of the Ramside Estates team. Every year The Lobster Ball and Oyster Festival at Hardwick Hall raise many thousands of pounds for local charities, Butterwick Hospice Care at Bishop Auckland and Daisy Chain, a charity to support

people with autism and their families. Both charities have enjoyed the long-standing support of Ramside Estates through The Lobster Ball and Oyster Festival. John Adamson, owner of the hotel group, is recognised as a corporate partner with the charities and has supported their fund raising efforts for many years.

Find out more about the charities via their websites. www.daisychainproject.co.uk www.butterwick.org.uk

The next Oyster Festival will be on 30 September 2016 at Hardwick Hall. For details see www.theoysterfestival.co.uk

Ramside Estates Magazine

Taste this… Lobster and Fillet Surf & Turf is a favourite dish served up at the annual Lobster Festival. Here’s the recipe from Ramside head chef, Paul Beckwith.

Lobster and Fillet Surf & Turf Serves two Ingredients 1 x 1lb lobster 2 x 8oz fillet steaks 3 baked potatoes Salt & pepper Vegetable oil Dressing 1 tsp wholegrain mustard 50ml white wine vinegar 300ml vegetable oil Garlic butter 3-4 crushed garlic cloves Handful of parsley 100g butter, room temperature Salad garnish Salad leaves, any kind Handful of cherry tomatoes Cucumber Carrot Method Mix together the wholegrain mustard and white wine vinegar in a bowl while slowly trickling in the vegetable oil. Store this in the fridge until needed for salad dressing. Mix together salt and pepper, a handful of parsley and 3-4 cloves of crushed garlic. Add in the warm butter. Steam lobster for 6 minutes in boiling water then refresh in cold water before taking off the claws. Cut the lobster in half to wash out the coral inside and crack claws open. Put the claws inside of the lobster and pour on some garlic butter before grilling for four minutes so the butter melts. Cut the three baked potatoes into squares then cut each square into four pieces. Blanche at 175° for ten minutes until they turn soft. Wash the salad leaves and cut the cherry tomatoes in half. Peel and de-seed the cucumber and julienne the carrot. Mix together. Trim the sinew and excess fat off the steak fillets while heating a pan with oil. Season the fillets with salt and pepper and then sear for 1½ minutes each side. Add a knob of butter before putting the steak in the oven for 5 minutes at 210°. Refry the chips in hot fat for 1 minute until crispy and add dressing to salad. Serve on a plate with lobster gently resting on the top of steak fillet. Pour on any remaining garlic butter.

Ramside Estates Magazine

S AY C H E E S E Parlour Made is a flourishing artisan cheese-making dairy less than a mile away from Hardwick Hall. Its award-winning cheeses are on the menu throughout the Ramside Estates properties.

he early morning milk journey from cow to churn must be all of 15 feet at Village Farm in Mordon near Sedgefield. And that pretty much sums up the unique selling point of Parlour Made artisan cheese. On cheese-making days in their dairy, you’ll find farmer Neil Peacock one side of a wall milking the cows and ensuring the freshest of milk finds its way through a pipe into the dairy vat where Carol is waiting on the other side of the wall. The two rooms are certainly places of contrast. The milking shed, is muddy, dusty and farmyard-ish as you’d expect; then the cheese-making side of things, as scrubbed-down, white and pristine as it should be. The end result is the Parlour Made range of cheeses that

satisfies some of the region’s finest chefs and restaurants. They are the very essence of ‘artisan’, a word defined in the dictionary as: ‘a person or company that makes a highquality or distinctive product in small quantities, usually by hand or using traditional methods’. Parlour Made can tick the box. At her kitchen table a short stroll from the dairy, Carol insists that the hands-on, small-scale, cheese-making operation is about maintaining quality and being flexible. Not to mention a lot of love in every chunk of cheese. “We are able to have control over every aspect of the cheese-making. We are the only cheese-maker in County Durham that has the cows and the cheese-making operation on site together, using their own dairy herd. “It is hard work but so rewarding – we get very excited when we go somewhere and it’s a Parlour Made cheeseboard. If we see someone eating it we strain our necks to hear what they’re saying about it!” Probably good things. The Mordon Blue was their first cheese, launched in 2011 when it immediately won awards. Since then they have also won accolades for the Mordon Mediterranean, a feta-style salad cheese. Business is thriving but it has been very hard work – and success means their son Joe can carry on the family farm too. This was one of the reasons for diversifying into cheese in the first place. “When Neil left school there were 40,000 dairy farmers in the UK, now it’s around 10,000, it’s a tough game. “Our son Joe always wanted to farm so the cheese-making was a way of ensuring he could continue on the farm with some hope of an income. “We had help through a farm diversification grant and it has been a massive learning curve but now we have a closed herd, which means we rear all our cows. We have 250 cattle in total and a 6am – 7pm working day. “It’s such a rewarding job. We often get emails from people saying they have enjoyed our cheeses and ‘well done you’ – which is so lovely”, says Carol. She was a cookery teacher in adult education when they decided to take the cheese-making plunge five years ago.

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Ramside Estates Magazine

The cheeses Mordon Blue Blue veined soft cheese with a mild flavour and creamy texture. Winner of a bronze medal in the 2012 British Cheese Awards and winner of two Gold Stars at the 2013 Great Taste Awards. Durham Camembert A soft-surface, mould-ripened cheese which develops a full flavour over time. Farmhouse White A hand made traditional farmhouse white cheese made to a Cheshire-style recipe. It has a mild flavour and a slightly crumbly texture. This cheese is ripened in the same store as Mordon Blue and develops a natural rind. Mordon Ruddy A new traditional hard farmhouse cheese. A lovely red colour this cheese is traditionally made, cloth-bound and matured for 5-6 months to achieve a fuller flavour. Mordon Mediterranean A soft white cheese with a tangy, salty flavour. This cheese is cured in a brine solution over time and is great for use in salads. Cream Cheese Soft cream cheese is made with the evening's milk to give it a creamy texture and flavour. Also varieties with chilli flakes, black pepper and herbs.

Neil and Carol spent months planning their venture knowing that they could make a very special product with their own farm-assured milk. It was vital that all of the cheeses would be fully traceable with handling and packing done on the farm – the only food miles are incurred at delivery stage. Carol decided to attend agricultural college in Cheshire to learn the art of cheese-making under the expert eye of Christine Ashby and they still call her in when they have an idea for a new cheese. The cheese-making process starts with fresh warm milk piped straight from the cows into the cheese vat at 6am every morning; they pasteurise the milk for all of the soft cheeses in the vat before the cheese-making process begins. Once the curd has formed it is cut with special curd knives and stirred before being packed into moulds and turned regularly. Then the cheese is stored for 4-5 weeks until matured. All of the blue cheeses are hand-pierced to encourage the blue veins to develop. The final stage is hand-wrapping and labelling before the

it’s more of an art than a science and it means that if a chef rings then i know what’s ripe and ready and good

cheese begins its journey to local farm shops, delis, hotels and restaurants. Carol makes cheese two to three days a week and it takes six weeks for soft cheese to be ready and 2-5 months for the hard cheeses. “I taste and from taste know it’s ready”, says Carol. “It’s more of an art than a science and it means that if a chef rings and asks what we’ve got then I know what’s ripe and ready and good – and it can be at the restaurant that day. “Chefs will ring and ask for suggestions for a cheese that might be good to bake or deep fry and they know they’re talking to the person who made it and therefore knows best. “With the unpasteurised cheese we think there are more complex flavours coming through – they really taste like they are made on the farm and we like that – they have ‘farmyard notes’ in the taste”, she laughs. The newest cheese in the Mordon stable is Mordon Isle, a sweeter Gouda-like cheese which is matured for two months for a deep flavour. “Nice on burgers”, say Neil. And how much cheese do they actually eat for pleasure these days? Carol laughs: “We used to love having a cheeseboard when we went to a restaurant, now that just feels like work so it’s definitely a pudding.”

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Ramside Estates Magazine commercial feature

T H E K E Y TO E F F I C I E N C Y I S T H R O U G H G R E AT S AV I N G S Growing a successful business requires many attributes, not least a team of talented staff, good business contacts and a dedication to providing fantastic customer service. That’s a healthy combination for boosting profile, reputation and, ultimately, revenues.

However, chasing turnover is not the only important factor. Preventing wastage through inefficient operations and poor cost control is also a vital aspect of running a profitable business. That’s why Great Annual Savings Group (GAS) was launched in 2012. The Seaham-based firm helps companies to save money on a wide range of variable costs, which can include insurance, water cost management, telecoms, fire safety, energy procurement and energy management. GAS has now launched six new services to help business customers manage their variable costs relating to security and surveillance, IT services, waste management, office equipment, private medical insurance and heating, ventilation and air conditioning. In the last four years GAS has assisted companies across a diverse range of sectors – and Ramside Hall has been one of the biggest beneficiaries after the two companies formed a three-year partnership. As part of the agreement, GAS undertakes regular reviews of Ramside’s variable business costs and identifies where potential savings could be made.

So far, the results have been staggering. Following the renegotiation of Ramside’s electricity and gas contracts, the company has saved more than £60,000 on its energy bills and over the three years that figure is expected to grow to around £250,000. The savings will allow the prominent leisure venue to reinvest money in other parts of the business and drive forward a £16m investment programme, which has already seen the opening of a brand new luxury spa, a second championship golf course and a new wing of 47 premier rooms with state-of-the-art bathrooms. This expansion has allowed the company to create around 100 jobs, a move that has increased its total headcount to more than 400. John Adamson, managing director of Ramside Estates, said: “We’re certainly well on the way to establishing our venue as one of the most exciting leisure destinations in the region. However, while we’ve invested a significant amount of money in new facilities we’re also conscious of the need to keep costs under control, which is why our partnership with GAS is so valuable.

“As a result of their assistance we’ve secured a much better deal on our utility bills, which has given us extra security and cashflow visibility at a time when energy prices are quite volatile. We’ve improved our financial performance and been able to set aside more cash for our investment programme, which is bringing a host of top-class facilities to this part of County Durham. “We’ll continue to work with GAS to further improve our business model – and that will be great news for the hundreds of customers who enjoy the Ramside experience.” For further information on The Great Annual Savings Group, call 0191 500 5757 or visit www.greatannualsavings.com

Left, John Adamson, managing director of Ramside Estates, and Bradley Groves, chief executive and chairman of Great Annual Savings Group.

v 0191 500 5757

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Ramside Estates Magazine

R E A S O N S TO R AV E A B O U T R A M S I D E S PA The stunning Spa at Ramside offers guests an unrivalled experience in terms of luxury treatments, pampering time-out and state-of-the-art therapies. The lavish suite boasts facilities not seen elsewhere in the North East, with spa-goers having access to superb well being experiences.

Ramside Estates Magazine

ESTATE PEOPLE Sarah Davison Reasons to rave....

Spa at Ramside reservations manager

The full size 25m swimming pool for fitness lengths and meaningful, strengthening swimming and four more pools to plunge in.

What do you do? Responsible for spa bookings and making sure treatments run like clockwork! Making sure clients get the most from their stay and feel pampered and special.

A do-you-good hydrotherapy pool with water jets that pummel the stresses away with powerful jet forces on your shoulders. Bliss. Six thermal experience rooms including a glass sided amphitheatre sauna. Time to get steamy. A fully-equipped life fitness gym and two exercise studios with a weekly programme of over 40 varied classes. See the world that bit differently with aerial yoga classes. Few things rival the decadence of an outdoor pool beneath the stars. Lie back and luxuriate – and take in the fresh scents of the Spa Herb Garden as you do. Pampering privacy in the luxurious Beauty Snug where you can share snuggly sofas, manicure thrones and even hire a personal balcony infinity pool with your special people – be they prom princesses or chilled-out chums. Lovely locks at Reef Hair Salon next to the Spa. Experts can offer the finishing touch after a pamper day and before you dress for dinner with a bouncy blow-dry, a sharp new style or a glossy new colour.

Favourite thing about the job? I am privileged to work alongside some great staff members. We all started together and have become a very close work family and I have enjoyed watching the place grow and the staff grow with it, some old friends I have worked with for years and new friends who I hope to work with into the future. Everyone is so friendly and really thrive on their five star service, over the telephones and face to face. The place itself is absolutely amazing, I started here when it was still getting built and to see what it has turned out like is breathtaking! I sometimes think back to the times when it was still under construction and think it is amazing how far we have come. Memorable moment? The day we opened was a very memorable day and I was so proud to hear the phones ringing from a few weeks before as people were so interested and eager to come along and visit us.

Ramside Estates Magazine

Reasons to rave ... Pampering packages ensure that everyone has access to bespoke treatments – from prom-girls to pregnant mums. Tailored spa packages mean that you can be rested, revived or re-invigorated with meaningful, effective therapies. Sort that sleep – if shut-eye evades you, then the Sleep Solution treatment might help – with inspiration from exotic Eastern treatment methods. Clove & lavender salt exfoliation, a warm herbal poultice massage and crystal scalp massage might stop you counting sheep. Thai & Mighty says it all. The ultimate Thai massage can sort those knotted shoulders and make you ready to face the world. For girls who just want to have fun, the bespoke ‘Girl’s Night’ package is tailored just for you. Six to ten people can share the Ramside luxury farmhouse, enjoy a continental breakfast hamper then spend the day in the spa doing what girls do best. Chaps aren’t forgotten. Golfers can have limbs soothed postgame with the Golfer’s Tonic treatment – massage directed at tired back, neck, legs and feet. Or try a reviving facial from the ESPA treatment range or the popular deep-tissue massage.

ESTATE PEOPLE Laura Laidlaw Wellness for Cancer Ambassador What do you do? I’m one of the spa therapists here at Spa at Ramside. We offer our guests a jam-packed menu of top-ofthe-range treatments, including luxury facials and massages, signature body treatments, ladies’ grooming, makeup and nails. I’ve been here since we opened back in August 2015. Favourite thing about the job? I love being hands-on with clients and helping them to relax and unwind. I also love it when they fall asleep – it’s a big compliment! Memorable moment? When we launched our Wellness for Cancer programme. We were the first spa in the UK to offer the programme, which was a huge honour for us. We were only a small team at the time and it was really exciting to be able to set the benchmark for other spas in the country.

Ramside Estates Magazine

Reasons to rave... Go wow with the brows. Give your brows some TLC and make a statement with perfectly-groomed brows. The beauty team from Mii know how great eyebrows can transform your look. The treatment includes eyebrow wax and shape, tint & pencil to finish. Sort your sleep in the dark relax room, with soundwave therapy and sleep pods. You might want to hibernateâ&#x20AC;Ś Make it muddy in the super-cleansing Rasul mud chamber, which can be enjoyed by groups of up to four people. Celebrate in style. The Celebration Suite is one of the most lavish hotel rooms in the region. Sink into the free-standing round copper bath, gaze at the 90-inch television screen and then lounge on the seven-feet-wide Hypnos bed. Feast of the East. Fusion restaurant adjoining the Spa is a voyage of food discovery with delicious Asian fusion specialities and an amazing afternoon tea offering blends traditional and exotic. The Spa has been recognised by industry experts. The Good Spa Guide awarded the spa a five-bubble rating, its top accolade, despite it only being open for a short period of time.

Ramside Estates Magazine

TO U C H I N G T H O U G H T S The Spa at Ramside is the UK flagship for the global Wellness for Cancer movement and will be the base for unique mindfulness retreats.

e all know that a heartfelt hug works wonders when life gets tough but the power of touch and mindfulness in the care of people with cancer takes this to another level. Spa therapists at Ramside are opening their arms to this holistic care for people who have had a cancer diagnosis. In the bad, or shall we say, less enlightened days, it was the case that spa clients who had been treated for cancer would be denied the very treatments that might have done them the power of good, such as massage. This was largely born out of ignorance and fear and thankfully today things are changing in the spa world. The Spa at Ramside is ahead of the game. They are offering a refreshing new approach, one which embraces wellness and the therapeutic power of massage and mindfulness. The spa is among the first in the country to team up with the American-based Wellness for Cancer organisation which offers the world’s first accredited programme for the spa industry. Staff across the spa have undergone specialist training to ensure that anyone dealing with cancer, or in remission, will have a positive experience. The scheme at the hotel has already won the backing of nurses working for Macmillan Cancer Support, who have praised the knowledgeable staff and their ability to make those going through a difficult time feel at ease. The Wellness for Cancer training involved all staff learning about the disease and the importance of bringing ‘mindfulness’ elements – a technique which helps people deal with anxiety by living in the moment – into play. The therapists at Ramside have also undergone Wellness for Cancer’s training in massage and manicures and pedicures which have been created to ensure those suffering from the disease will feel relaxed and comfortable. Jill Russell, Spa director at Ramside says; “Our philosophy is to be able to provide wellness for all in a nurturing environment so that

anyone going through cancer at any stage would be able to escape from their illness for a day.” “We would never turn anyone away and we believe there will be some kind of treatment for everyone.” Julie Bach is the founder of Wellness For Cancer and believes there is a real need for cancer awareness to become mainstream for everyone – from workplaces to spas. “Cancer touches everything we do. Everyone will be affected in some way – we think of cancer as medical but when someone comes to a spa they don’t want ‘the oncology massage or facial’, that’s not compassionate. That’s not what we do. “We want wellness but we do not live in a well world so we have to meet clients where they are in terms of their health. “A person is a person, a human being, not defined by their illness or state of heath at that time.” Spa staff are given thorough training in therapies for people with cancer. Touch, mindfulness and breathing are key says Julie. “Compression or mindful touch has long been used in hospitals”, says Julie Bach. “That is simply touching the body and a therapist feeling the breathing then working in unison with the client’s breathing so they go into a state of deep relaxation.

we want wellness but we do not live in a well world. we meet clients where they are in terms of their health

Cancer patient Sarah Harrison, who was the first person to enjoy the Wellness For Cancer programme at Spa at Ramside.

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Ramside Estates Magazine

They feel nurtured and if they can’t have a massage it still calms the nervous system”, she says. The provision of this holistic, mindful spa offers a welcome service to patients. Julie talks of instances where individuals with cancer were turned away from spas because therapists didn’t know how best to work with those who had the disease. Spas were fearful they would inadvertently hurt those with cancer, so they turned them away, as emotionally damaging as could be for a vulnerable client. Julie’s aim with Wellness for Cancer was to change this by showing spa providers that there was a way to properly and compassionately serve people with cancer at their spas. Julie’s own encounter with mindfulness and the trigger for her cancer work was meeting mindfulness teacher, Felix Lopez, who helped her deal with the loss of her own parents from cancer and the aftermath of grief. “Felix taught me to transform this negative energy into something positive that would steward others in their journey. So it was a shift in energy, was healing for me as well, and it continues to create a ripple effect”, she says. She recalled hearing from a client whose doctor told them to go and get a massage because they had anxiety from their cancer diagnosis, only to be turned away at a spa. “This cannot happen. I am very passionate about this. This happens because of the fear being created in the industry about working with clients who have been touched by cancer. A lot of it is lack of information and training. “Wellness for Cancer’s role is to teach what a therapist can do safely, when they should refer to a specialist, and when to reschedule an appointment”, insists Julie.

Laura Laidlaw is one of the spa therapists who has undergone training with Wellness for Cancer. “It works because it means no-one suffering from cancer will be turned away from our spa. It doesn’t matter what stage of cancer treatment a person may be at; they can still come along and enjoy some pampering. They don’t need a doctor’s note or anything like that. There are so many myths surrounding treating people with cancer, but at Ramside, anyone can visit.” All the Ramside therapists had intense training to prepare for working with cancer sufferers; it was an online course, which included 60 hours of modules. “Training ensured that we were all confident in what we were doing. It’s important that we all felt ready to make clients feel comfortable and safe – in the best, professional hands. “I’m not going to lie; cancer is an emotional subject. For everyone. Everyone knows someone affected by cancer. I have clients who are terminal – it’s hard. But we are here to make them feel as good as they can through the best treatments money can buy. We’re not nurses or doctors – our job is not to better their health – but we are there to hopefully boost their mood and wellbeing – and to also treat them like anyone else. We use skills like ‘grounding’ techniques during treatments – positive, mindful thinking that reminds clients to be present and ‘in the moment’ – we encourage them to let go of any negative emotions during their time with us. “Having a treatment here is like escaping for an hour. Cancer sufferers want and need to relax and switch off as much as anyone else – even more so I think. “We get a lot of satisfaction from our work – knowing that we’ve helped people feel better in some small way. You can feel helpless at times, but it’s great when we get lovely feedback from clients. “We’re playing a small part in making them feel happier and that’s wonderful. It’s great that we don’t have to tip-toe around them and treat them differently. They’re no different to anyone else; they’re people with jobs, with families, with everyday lives. We’re very against labelling – they’re simply our guests. And that’s from the minute they arrive to the moment they leave. “We look after them the same way we’d treat a pregnant guest. With extra care, but not differently.”

there are myths surrounding treating people with cancer, but at ramside, anyone can visit

Unique Retreats Julie, left, and Felix Lopez will be holding a Wellness Retreat at the Spa at Ramside in June 2016. 23-24 June: two-night retreat. 24 June: Silent Night evening meditation 26 June: one-day workshop Private sessions also available with Felix 23-26 June. Details from Spa reception.

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John and Suzanne Adamson with Kevin Keegan unveiling the new Spa at Ramside plaque

S TA R P L AY E R North East footballing favourite Kevin Keegan joined the Ramside team to officially open the luxurious spa.

evin Keegan is one of the North-East's best-loved sporting stars. As a player and manager he earned adopted-Geordie status for his impressive achievements with Newcastle United. To this day he remains a popular pull as a speaker at sporting dinners in the region and is a regular at events at Ramside Hall where he quietly tries to play down his 'legend' moniker. He was an obvious man to invite to mark the official opening of Ramside Hall's state-of-the-art spa. Kevin unveiled a special plaque at the multi-million pound Spa at Ramside, as part of an official opening ceremony.

it's great to mark the hotel’s newest addition with the help of such a regional icon

“I’ve been a frequent visitor to Ramside Hall over the years and it just gets better and better,” said Kevin. “The spa is absolutely amazing, as good as any I’ve seen anywhere in the world.” “We’re absolutely delighted and honoured that Kevin Keegan agreed to officially open our new Spa,” said John Adamson, owner of Ramside Hall Hotel. “The facilities that our spa offers really are among the best in the region, so it’s great to be able to mark the hotel’s newest addition with the help of such a regional icon.”

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W E L L F E D, A N Y T I M E , ANY PLACE Party picnic, blow-out gala dinner or hearty hog-roasting? Ramside Event Catering has the food to fit your fun.

hether you’ve been a guest at a wedding, attended a business event or partied the night away at one of the North East’s top venues, chances are you have already discovered Ramside Event Catering for yourself. One of the largest privately-owned catering companies in the North East of England, Ramside Event Catering can cater for anywhere between 20 and 2000 people – wherever and whenever they are needed. In fact, the list of events catered for is as long as the list of dishes and menus on offer. Fancy a hog roast? In a field? No problem. If you can provide the field, we can provide the food. Indeed, Ramside Event Catering’s Durham-bred, farm-reared pigs are slow-cooked for more than 12 hours in speciality ovens and served with everything from floured bread rolls and apple sauce to goose fat roasties and salads. Weddings, too, are a speciality. Because, while many venues have on-site catering, many don’t – and that’s where Ramside Event Catering comes in. So, if you would like to treat guests to a formal wedding breakfast in a marquee in your own back garden, or opt for something less formal, such as fish and chips served straight from a van - we can make that happen. Ramside Event Catering is also proud to provide catering at the prestigious Alnwick Garden with an impressive variety of catering options. These include the Pavilion Café, Pavilion Room (operating for weddings, conferences and events), Dishy Fishy Chip Shop just outside the main entrance and two log cabins, one selling ice cream the other, Pura, selling sandwiches and smoothies).

Other properties using Ramside Event Catering include Hexham Racecourse, Spennymoor Town Hall, Crook Hall, Durham and Hexham Winter Gardens, to name but a few. Flexibility also makes Ramside Event Catering a popular choice for corporate events as the teams can turn their hands to everything from canapé drinks receptions and working lunches in the boardroom, to buffets for the AGM and seated banquets for gala dinners. Ramside Event Catering also operates a fleet of mobile catering units meaning they can follow you wherever you decide to go, providing informal dining at events such as county shows and village fairs or giving corporate delegates and wedding guests a quirky alternative to standard catering options. Then there are parties – sometimes celebrating special occasions, such as christenings, birthdays or Christmas ….and sometimes for no reason at all. Whether you opt to hold yours in a marquee, town hall, historical building or your own home we will see to the food side of things, so you can concentrate on entertaining your guests and enjoying your party. Whatever the event and whichever the venue, Ramside Event Catering never loses sight of the fact that each and very client is unique, with different ideas and aims for their event. They know that what works for one will not work for all so, from the outset, the catering teams work with clients so that, on the day – or evening – they can relax and enjoy the occasion, safe in the knowledge that everything really is catered for.

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A L L Y O U N E E D I S LO V E … When it comes to weddings, one County Durham couple certainly proved love is all you need.

elen Storey, 34 and Joncharles Gott, 39, headed to Hardwick Hall Hotel for a summer celebration inspired by their favourite band; The Beatles. Following their church wedding in their home village of Esh Winning, the couple arrived at the venue in a vintage 1966 Jaguar, while their parents and bridesmaids followed behind in a classic VW camper van. Around 80 friends and family members gathered in Hardwick Hall’s charming Paddock marquee with its own private garden and lovely views over the surrounding parkland.

“We wanted a simple, laid-back, summer feel,” said Helen, a teaching assistant, “and I made almost everything myself, from the hessian chair trims, to the bunting and even the favours; little glass jars filled with heart-shaped soaps and Beatles transfers.” Helen sourced her flowers from her local florist and then arranged them herself in small glass bottles to create pretty table centrepieces. Helen’s sister Janine and best friend Lyndsay were her bridesmaids in blush pink dresses. “I tried on dozens and dozens of dresses in the run up to the wedding,” said Helen, “but then I saw this one hanging

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up on its own in Debenhams and just thought it was lovely – it was the perfect dress for me.” Chefs from Hardwick Hall created a formal, three course wedding breakfast for the wedding party. As the sun went down over the marquee, guests danced into the night to a disco. “It was the most perfect summer day,” said Helen. “The weather was fantastic and it was everything we could have wished for.” “Our wedding day was beautiful and proof that you don’t need to spend a fortune. You just need to be creative – and choose a setting like Hardwick Hall.” Images: Helen Russell www.helenrussellphotography.co.uk

it was the most perfect summer day, weather was fantastic - all I could have wished for

ESTATE PEOPLE

Graham King Concierge and chauffeur What do you do? I deal with any requests our guests may have. I greet many of them on arrival, before taking their bags to their rooms and to their cars after they’ve checked out. I’m also the hotel’s chauffeur; I drive and maintain our hotel’s company car, which is a 2014 Bentley. Favourite thing about the job? Driving our guests around. Most of them like to be driven to Durham and I’ll give them a potted history about the city on the way. I also take our VIP guests to and from the airport. I love the variety of tasks that my role involves. Memorable moment? Taking students to Palace Green, Durham, for their graduation. Everyone stopped to stare at the Bentley, all eager to see who was inside. The car is certainly a crowdpleaser and it’s great to be able to call it your company car!

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SECRET ESTATE

Nail it Revel in a rainbow of colours at the very eye-catching nail salon at the Spa at Ramside with a wall of nail polish that’s like a super-shiny paint colour chart just made for pampering those fingers and toes. Gel colours by Artistic Colour Gloss have been created by world renowned nail artists with a soft soak-off gel system that applies like polish and gives 2-3 weeks of fabulous, glossy nail colour. The ultimate pedicure is the signature Salt of the Earth pedicure where nails are filed before feet and lower legs are gently exfoliated with luxurious Shea Butter salt scrub before a creamy soufflé mask is applied to remineralise and nourish. Feet are placed in warmed herbal booties followed by a heavenly massage for the softest skin ever. Finish it off with a nail polish and those toes are red-carpet ready. Book at spa reservations on 0191 3753088

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A F E S T I VA L O F S U M M E R SOUNDS & STYLE Down To The Woods music and arts festival at Hardwick Hall brings a whole new relax-vibe to festival weekending.

he mix of music, luxury tents, cool pastimes for kids and the aroma of great street food. Pretty much the perfect package for a music festival. Add to the mix the parkland surroundings of Hardwick Hall and you’re perfectly placed for a weekend of chilled-out pleasures. Down To The Woods follows on from the hugely successful Hardwick Live festival and has been crafted as accessible alternative to the more mainstream festivals on the summer circuit, with an eclectic two-day mix of live performances and activities. Headlining the first event in the grounds of Hardwick Hall on August 13 & 14, 2016, are international rock act Primal Scream and multi-platinum selling dance act Chase & Status. They will be joined by some of the biggest names in modern music throughout the weekend, including Brit awardwinners Catfish and the Bottlemen, who are being lauded by Radio One and widely regarded as the country’s most promising new band. “Primal Scream are one of the most amazing bands to see performing live,” says event organiser Jonathan Woodliffe. “We’re ecstatic to have them topping the bill with Chase & Status, who haven’t performed at this type of event for a number of years. “To be bringing such amazing talent to the North East, alongside acts like Catfish and the Bottlemen, who themselves are already playing more established events like Wireless, is a great coup for us and bodes well for future events.” Primal Scream, whose hits include Movin’ On Up, Rocks and Loaded, have maintained a constant assault on the worldwide charts since winning the first Mercury Music Prize

in 1992, and continued their international domination with the result of their 11th album, Chaosmosis, in 2016. Drum ‘n’ bass stars Chase & Status, aka Saul Milton (Chase) and Will Kennard (Status), have also enjoyed a string of club and mainstream hits and earned an enviable reputation as festival crowd-pleasers since hitting the scene in 2008. Catfish and the Bottlemen, who were named Best Breakthrough Artist at the Brit Awards 2016, join the line up as extra special guests ahead of the release of their hotly-anticipated second album later this year. All three acts will be appearing on Down To The Woods’ Grand Arcadia stage, alongside Liverpool stars, Echo & The Bunnymen, whose crowd pleasing anthems include The Cutter and Bring On The Dancing Horses. “We’re giving music fans the chance to see some of British music’s biggest stars performing on the North East stage and welcoming many acts that are about to become household names,” said Jonathan. “It’s ideal for those who want to get ahead of the curve and be able to say ‘I saw them first at Down To The Woods 2016.’” Down To The Woods will also boast a host of activities for all ages, including arts and spoken word, creative classes for younger visitors and a fairground. To help keep festival-goers fuelled throughout the weekend, the grounds of Hardwick Hall Hotel will be awash with food outlets, ranging from Thai and Chinese to Mexican, fish and chips and a Smokie Dokie Smoker, as well as a Champagne marquee, Real Ale Tent, Gin Palace, Mojito Tent and several other themed bars.

Down To The Woods weekend tickets for 2016 are £99 per adult, £28 for young people aged 13 to 16 and £15 for children aged three to 12. Day tickets £55. www.downtothewoodsfestival.co.uk Further details can also be found by searching Down To The Woods on Facebook or Twitter.

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Hardwick Live presents

£99

T ADUL ND E WEEK ET TICK

13th & 14th August 2016 A special kind of music festival

(SATURDAY HEADLINER)

THE GRAND ARCADIA

(SUNDAY HEADLINER)

MORE ACTS TO BE ANNOUNCED ECHO & THE BUNNYMEN

KWABS - VANT - CLEAN CUT KID - THE SELECTER THE JACQUES - THE AGE OF L.U.N.A. - LUCY SPRAGGAN BLAENAVON - HIDDEN CHARMS

FOXES FOLLY THE SUNSHINE UNDERGROUND - PETER HOOK & THE LIGHT KAGOULE - KLOE - PIXEL FIX - HOLY ESQUE

FRONTEERS - INHEAVEN - WHITE - FACE - JOE CROOKALL NO HOT ASHES - TEMPESST - THE BARMINES - THE AMERICAS JOE TREACY - BROKEN WITT REBELS - WHITE NEGROES

BADGERS DEN DJs and comedians stage to be announced.

Tickets: Adult Weekend £99 - Young Person £28.00 - Children £14.00 - Camping £30.00 (up to 6 berth)

DownToTheWoodsFestival.co.uk Hardwick Hall, Sedgeﬁeld, Co Durham TS21 2EH

Ramside Estates Magazine commercial feature

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England, set against the rugged coastline, and is located within a bar of the same name with 500 litre pot still, Gracie, taking centre stage. Being on public display allows drinkers to see how the spirits are carefully crafted, before being bottled, labelled and wrapped by hand. You can sip it while seeing it being made right in front of you! Keeping the processes as visible as possible gives the unique opportunity for drinkers to not only enjoy a tipple, but to understand what goes in to making it and well as demonstrating the small batch, artisan scale they produce on. They can make up to 400 bottles per cycle of their namesake Graceful Vodka, as well as the brand’s award-winning Old Tom Gin and Northern Dry Gin, all in view of visitors at the Poetic License bar. Poetic License has been designed to appeal to more discerning drinkers and so-called wild spirits, who do not conform to the norm. So when it comes to their handmade spirits, expect the unfamiliar. Additions here and omissions there have transformed the original you know so well, into something with much more character which have already started turning heads and gained critical acclaim. Their Northern Dry Gin (43.2%) is the gin-drinker’s choice and was specifically crafted to stand-out in many gin-based cocktails. It uses a mix of 13 botanicals to produce a punchier flavour

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G R E E N D AY S It’s not blood but grass running through the veins of Roger Shaw, manager of Ramside’s two showpiece golf courses, the Prince Bishops’ and Cathedral.

Ramside Estates Magazine

ove golf as he does, you won’t find Roger Shaw with a club in his hand. It is years since he’s actually taken a swing but that doesn’t mean he’s not obsessed by the game. Or more to the point, everybody else’s game. Roger’s passions are aroused by ensuring that his golfing guests are going to be playing from smooth-as-carpet greens surrounded by lush fairways with inviting and challenging holes. And that is so much more than a full-time job. Roger and his team are up with the larks seven days a

week to set in motion a well-oiled, greens-keeping machine that keeps the courses pristine and game-ready all season. With as many as 200 demanding golfers on the course each day, the quality has to be consistent for members and hotel guests. “I am more hooked on greens-keeping that I am on golf”, laughs Roger. “My life revolves around my job and the golf course – that is where my interest and enjoyment lie.” It is a relentless task, keeping the courses maintained without intruding on the games being played. Every day Roger and his team of 13 greens-keepers and two

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mechanics ensure that grass is cut and holes are changed. Roger, 58, has been at Ramside since 1993 and the changes he has overseen have been huge. Plenty of grass has grown beneath his boots and under his stewardship two new showcase courses have risen at Ramside. Roger lives and breathes the course and clubhouse life and is happy to still count among this friends the very first club members, Bill and Joyce Allchurch. “Bill is 96 now and still here with us”, laughs Roger, an avuncular and quiet man who you sense just gets on with the job without a fuss. His own son and son-in-law are now part of his team too, very much reflecting the family

established landscape. The new course makes the most of our location in terms of views and valleys with open countryside. They are courses in contrast to one another but which cater for a broad spectrum of players. “We set our sights high and now I always try to encourage the team to take pride in their work and make sure every job is done to the best of their ability. “If you look back at a job and think it could have been done better, go back and do better! Always try and see things from a golfer’s perspective I tell them.” Roger’s time with Ramside has been memorable and full of remarkable achievement. “Watching the hotel and its golf facilities evolve over the years and come on in leaps and bounds has been satisfying. Saying goodbye to the old 27-hole course was bittersweet – it was the end of an era – but it’s great to see how well

ethos that is celebrated at Ramside. It was Michael Adamson, father of John and Helen who now run the hotel and golf complex on the Ramside Estate, who first gave Roger a job. “I’ve got this land and I want to build a golf course, can you help me do it?”, he asked me. “I had been working at a committee-run golf course and thought a career change would be good. I never looked back – it was the best move I could have ever made. “Working here is like being part of a family where people stand by each other.” Work on developing the two courses could not have been more different though. The Prince Bishops’ Course, designed by Jonathan Gaunt was a dream to create and the build went smoothly – by comparison, the weather wasn’t a friend when the Cathedral Course was being built with work constantly thwarted by appalling weather conditions. But the end result was a pair of golf courses each with their own personality. “The older course was in familiar surroundings: mature woodland and the holes built to make the most of the

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the two new courses are doing and to have seen the hotel flourish over the years into the fully-fledged resort it is today.” Roger does notice the change in the game since he first started as player and as greens-keeper. “We have to keep on the move with golf now. Technology and equipment have made it a faster-paced game and the young players are sharp. “The hotel facilities now mean we have a great corporate and member offering – we can gear the golf day from a shotgun start to a full gala ball at the hotel. “We can often have as many as 200 people playing the courses at one time and that has to be managed well to ensure that our team can keep the facilities as good as they can be while ensuring the golfers get the best game they can. “The future looks good too – we are building a pitching performance green which is a synthetic green with an underlying shock pad to imitate a challenging course – lots of tournament pros are having these installed in their own homes so they can go and practise a short game. “We’ve invested a lot of money in this and there aren’t any others in the area. “People will be able to hire it out for some fun or some serious practise or just to have a go if they have never played golf before.” Enquiries on golf membership call 0191 3869514

we set our sights high and i always encourage the team to take pride in their work

Roger Shaw

ESTATE PEOPLE

Golf course manager What do you do? I’m responsible for the two 18-hole golf courses we have at Ramside. I joined the hotel in 1993, back when we were building the original 27-hole course. My day-to-day duties include servicing our own equipment in our workshop and, with the help of 11 greens-keepers, preparing and maintaining the courses for membership play and corporate and visitor golf. The summer months are the busiest; the courses are constantly busy and we have to work hard to keep them looking pristine for our guests and members. Favourite thing about the job? Working with a such a dedicated team of individuals. I always try to encourage the team to take pride in their work and make sure every job is done to the best of their ability. If you look back at a job and think it could have been done better, go back and do better! Always try and see things from a golfer’s perspective. Memorable moment? Watching the hotel and its golf facilities evolve over the years. It’s come on in leaps and bounds. Saying goodbye to the old 27-hole course was bittersweet – it was the end of an era – but it’s great to see how well the two new courses are doing and to have seen the hotel flourish over the years into the fully-fledged resort it is today.

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G R E E N TO G O Sharp shots are made with sharp golfwear. Galvin Green is one of the foremost names in golfwear for men, women and juniors. Stocked at the Ramside club shop.

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Ramside’s Prince Bishops’ Course celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2016 So, 20 reasons to celebrate...

1 The course is named after the powerful Prince Bishops who ruled County Durham as virtually an independent state and were more or less the 'Kings of County Durham' in the 11th Century. 2 The Prince Bishops’ Course measures 6,851 yards (just over 6km). 3 The course has a variety of different terrains including areas with water, sand and paths amid 50,000 mature trees. 4 The par 72 course was opened in 1996. 5 The course was designed by Jonathan Gaunt. 6 Prince Bishops’ Course gives a true sense of adventure for golf lovers with 16 water hazards, reachable par 5s, driveable par 4s and short holes to test shot-making skills from wedge to woods. 7 Each hole is named after a popular Geordie or Northumbrian saying to reflect the course’s Northern roots. 8 Views from the course include the spectacular Durham Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage site. 9 Keen golfers Ant & Dec have played the course. 10 Bill and Joyce Allchurch were members number 1 & 2 and are still regular visitors. 11 Future plans for the course include a state-of-the-art ‘pitching performance green’.

12 Roger Shaw, the golf course manager, keeps the course in check with the help of 14-strong team. 13 Alan Shearer has played the course. 14 PGA Professional, Kevin Jackson, is the club’s head golf pro. 15 Originally a 27-hole course, the course was rebuilt as an 18-hole course. 16 The Prince Bishops’ Course has been the host of several regional PGA Tournaments and top amateur championships. 17 The course is a favourite of pro-celebrity and charity golf day organisers. 18 The Prince Bishops’ Course keeps with golfing tradition in its dress code. Men can wear slacks, tailored shorts and shirts with sleeves and collars; women can wear sport shirts, tailored shorts, skirts, slacks, skorts and shirts that must have a collar. 19 Water is incorporated into ten holes and there are nine doglegs on the card, demanding good strategy and the ability to move the ball both ways if you are to score at your lowest. 20 The course is fair for all and any standard of golfer can enjoy Ramside’s challenge.

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D AY S TO R E M E M B E R Throughout the year there are so many ways to fill your diary during a stay in the Durham area. Diary dates for heritage & culture Shoes: Pleasure and Pain, Bowes Museum Bowes Museum is the only UK venue outside of London to host this exhibition before it tours internationally. Shoes: Pleasure and Pain, tells the story of designer footwear over 2,000 years. See more than 200 pairs of historic and contemporary mens’ and womens’ shoes by 70 named designers including Prada, Christian Louboutin, Jimmy Choo and many more. Footwear associated with names such as David Beckham, Queen Victoria and Sarah Jessica Parker are also on display making this a must for fashion and footwear lovers. 11 June - 9 October 2016 www.thebowesmuseum.org.uk

Durham Miners’ Gala One of the largest events for the city and the biggest trade union event in the UK, the 132nd Durham Miners’ Gala is a true spectacle. More than 150,000 people fill the city’s streets to join the procession which celebrates the region’s coal mining heritage. Expect the streets to be bustling by 8am with banners of former collieries, live music, dancing and marching brass bands. 9 July 2016 www.durhamminers.org

British history through the eyes of the North East. It is the biggest and most ambitious open-air, live -action show in the UK costing £31 million with 1,000 cast and crew, a 7.5 acre stage with full-size lake, pyrotechnics, lighting and water effects. There will be 14 cinematic performances staggered across the summer, with each performance delivering 90 minutes of action-packed, stunning scenes. July - September 2016 www.elevenarches.org

Teesside Skylive Airshow at Durham Tees Valley Airport With activities and entertainment on the ground and breathtaking excitement in the air, there's something for everyone. 28 May www.skyliveevents.co.uk

Tall Ships Blyth More than 30 magnificent tall ships sail into port for a four-day party involving live music and grand parades. This maritime celebration takes place during the 60th anniversary of The Tall Ships Races and the event ends with a race from the Northumberland coast to Gothenburg, Sweden. 26-29 August 2016 www.tallshipsblyth2016.com

Flying Scotsman and the Shildon Shed Bash The famous locomotion, Flying Scotsman makes a visit to Shildon and will be centre stage for a four-day festival – alongside a host of impressive engines. Lots of talks, activities, children’s hands-on events to enjoy. July 23-31 2016 www.nrm.org.uk Kynren, Auckland Castle A spectacular show taking place in the Vale of Durham with the perfect backdrop of the Auckland Castle. Drama at its boldest and best as Kynren tells the story of 2,000 years of

Somme 1916: From Durham to the Western Front, Palace Green Library, Durham The battle of the Somme is one of the most notorious offensives of the first world war, with over 1 million casualties. This exhibition explores the battle through the eyes of men and women from County Durham, whether it be fighting on the front line, nursing the wounded or working in factories to support the war effort. Until 2 October 2016 www.dur.ac.uk/palace.green

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The Moscow State Circus With a beautiful venue of Raby Castle, Moscow State Circus shows its latest production, ‘7 Zhelaniy’ or 7 Wishes. Known for beautiful choreography, amazing set design and breathtaking stunts. 1 - 4 September 2016 www.moscowstatecircus.com Wolsingham Show Wolsingham Show is the oldest agricultural show in the country. Attractions include sulky racing, fur and feather exhibits, falconry displays, brass band, a parade of champions and many side shows. 3 - 4 September 2016 www.wolsinghamshow.co.uk

Durham Book Festival Always a real beacon for book buffs and literary lovers, Durham Book Festival brings in some of the biggest names in the writing world – past speakers have included Bill Bryson, Philip Pullman, Lauren Laverne, Mary Portas, Vince Cable, Sean O’Brien, and Pat Barker. 7 - 16 October 2016 www.durhambookfestival.com Winter Wonderland, Hardwick Hall The Christmas spirit comes to life with a fabulous family festival that brings out the magic of the season. Walks, activities, sparkles and seasonal treats – and of course, a visit to Father Christmas. Dates to be confirmed www.hardwickhallhotel.co.uk Durham Traditional Christmas Festival Durham City’s annual Christmas festival returns once again. Based around the cathedral and castle the craft and gift marquee located on Palace Green will feature 190 stalls, while 30 regional food and drink producers will be spread out around the Durham cathedral area. Plus classic outdoor markets and more than 50 traders in Durham’s market hall. Live music performances, carol services in the cathedral, reindeer and the traditional Children’s lantern procession. City Centre, 3 - 4 December 2016 www.thisisdurham.com Durham Cathedral Christmas with Cathedral Choir As festive as it gets. Listen to the talented culmination of the boy, girl and men’s choirs as they perform festive songs and Christmas carols in the stunning candlelit Durham cathedral. 10 December 2016 www.thisisdurham.com

If you’re the sporty sort Oar-some The 183rd Durham Regatta brings the River Wear to life attracting over 2,000 competitors from across the UK. Watch the Grand Challenge Cup, the most coveted prize in the North. A great atmosphere with food and drink stalls, brass bands and classic cars. 11 - 12 June 2016 www.durham-regatta.org.uk Roof of England cycling sportive 2016 The Roof of England is a must for any cycling enthusiasts. Boasting the challenging Winking Sheep route which includes a climb of 9,000ft and a distance of 90 miles around the North Pennines. The sportive features the highest roads in the country. 28 August 2016 www.roofofenglandcycling.co.uk

Plate Day, Newcastle Racecourse Sport meets social at the three-day Northumberland Plate Festival. This is the raceday 'biggie' in in the North East. Big hats, big prizes. 25 June 2016 www.newcastle-racecourse.co.uk

On your bike Hamsterley forest is the largest forest in County Durham covering over 2,000 acres of land. It’s a really outdoorsy spot with activities such as high-octane mountain biking, horse riding or heart-pumping walks and trails. www.forestry.gov.uk/hamsterleyforest

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International cricket at Durham As well as plenty of cricket fixtures throughout the summer Durham’s home cricket ground, the Emirates ICG, will also host the second test match between England and Sri Lanka. It will be the first time that the team will have played the stadium since winning the Ashes in 2013 with a spectacular display. 27 - 31 May 2016 www.durhamccc.co.uk Clay pigeon Shooting Test your aim at North East Shooting. The site located just 15 minutes outside of Durham boasts an impressive range of guns, ammo and events for all levels. www.northeastshooting.co.uk

If a ramble’s your thing Definitely the gasp-factor. Highforce waterfall is the largest single drop in the UK. Embark on a scenic stroll through the lush forest surroundings at the heart of the Durham Dales, situated in the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Beauty. Take in an array of wildlife, towering trees and wildflowers along your path before you come face to face with the biggest waterfall in England. www.highforcewaterfall.com The remains of Finchale Priory on the banks of the River Wear, lie in a beautiful wooded setting. It was founded in 1196 on the site of the hermitage of St Godric, a retired sailor and merchant, who settled here after a life of adventure and travel. The priory was an outpost of Durham Cathedral and functioned as a holiday retreat for the monks of Durham until its suppression in 1538. www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/finchale-priory

If you’re a social type Ladies' Day at Ramside Hall is one of the most popular events at the hotel. It’s a real ‘let your hair down’ event full of fun, music and dancing. Arrive midday for reception drinks served by the fabulous butlers in the buff. A two course lunch is served then there’s entertainment throughout the day including Joe Lawson, Josh Daniel and Re-Take That followed by Starlite Disco until 6pm. 10 July 2016. £29 per person www.ramsidehallhotel.co.uk The North East Oyster Festival in autum is the region’s corporate and social event of the year. Just like Ascot - it's a day at the races without the horses! The North East Oyster Festival was created in 2004 by the Ramside Estates team and is now recognised as one of the events of the year in the North East's social and corporate calendar. Ladies dressed to impress and gents in their smart suits

There’s a ‘top of the world’ feeling about walking in Weardale and plenty of trails to discover for a day or afternoon’s walking. Discover hundreds of miles of public footpaths, former industrial railway lines and quiet country lanes. From peaceful family strolls along the riverside to strenuous hill walking and long-distance trails. www.discoverweardale.com Trek the stunning Durham Coastal Path, an 11-mile walking route following the England Coast Path National Trail from cliffs and on sands. Discover and explore spectacular grasslands, superb coastal denes and uncover the rich heritage that has shaped this coastline into a unique and fascinating place to be. www.durhamheritagecoast.org

arrive for a champagne reception and the entertainment begins. The 2016 event is set to be a glamorous event including cocktail reception, a fabulous fruits de mer menu, oyster stalls as well as complimentary lager, beer and wine. 30 September 2016 Call 01740 620253, or email info@ hardwickhallhotel.co.uk www.theoysterfestival.co.uk North East Ladies’ Day is an event that brings together high-profile women speakers for a charity lunch and day of stylish shopping and networking. Held at Hardwick Hall, Sedgefield, the day includes designer stalls, charity profiles and a celebrity speaker. 28 September 2016 www.neladiesday.moonfruit.com

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Ladies’ Day, Hexham Races means best dresses, hot hats and manicured hands to clasp that champagne – and your winnings. A great day out in stunning countryside, Hexham Racecourse is one of the prettiest courses in the country and there’s a great atmosphere for Ladies’ Day. 19 June 2016 www.hexham-racecourse.co.uk/ladies-day-package

Sounds of Music

Durham Shopping Extravaganza brings together a host of designer pop-up shops under one roof at Ramside Hall to raise money for charity – and make Christmas shopping SO much easier. Individual designers bring unique products – from bags to beers to cheese and charming jewellery. All in aid of local charities. 5 - 6 October 2016 www.durhamshoppingextravaganza.co.uk

Down To The Woods Enjoy a glorious outdoor music event with live entertainment and a friendly crowd. Down To The Woods builds on the successful reputation of Hardwick Live with a relaxed alternative to mainstream music festivals. The festival in the grounds of Hardwick Hall will bring some of the best heritage and new acts in the country. Bands already signed up incude Primal Scream and 80s favourites Echo and The Bunnymen. But that’s not all. Comedy, dance DJs, spoken word and art will be there too. Add to the mix bars, food outlets and fairground rides. 13 - 14th August 2016 www.hardwicklive.co.uk/tickets

Simply Red Anniversary Tour, Emirates Durham ICG With an impressive career spanning 30 years, 11 albums and a number of top hits including Holding Back the Years, Mick Hucknall and Co embark on their 2016 anniversary tour. Playing just a small number of shows the iconic band will be visiting the home of Durham County Cricket Club. 3 June 2016 www.durhamccc.co.uk Aled Jones’ Cathedral Tour, Durham. Debuting on the BBC aged just 12, with 30 albums under his belt and over 8 million records sold, Welsh singer Aled Jones will be performing at Durham Cathedral as part of his 2016 tour. 10 June 2016 www.durhamcathedral.co.uk

Try a taste of this Taste of Teesdale at Raby Castle Held on the castle grounds, the Taste of Teesdale brings together all of the best artisan food, drink and crafts the region offers. Meet and buy from local producers whilst chefs prepare a variety of delicious dishes. Stock up on quality local products from the huge number of unique stalls and watch a number of demonstrations throughout the day. 24 July 2016 www.tasteofteesdale.co.uk

Taste of Teesdale Christmas Market, Raby Castle The Taste of Teesdale is known for providing some of the best food, drink and craftsmanship the region has to offer all in one place. Expect to find all that and more at their Christmas market with festive additions such as the Christmas tree stall. 29 November 2016 www.tasteofteesdale.co.uk

Official dealers

MTS Group

Your Official Club Car Partners

MTS Group

Bobcat Plant Hire Specialists

MTS Group are your official hire and sales providers for Club Car golf and utility vehicles. We are proud to be suppliers to Ramside Hall Golf & Hotel, one of the North Easts largest golf resorts. MTS also supply many other golf courses up and down the UK including St Andrews Links and The Gleneagles Hotel, as well as many local golf clubs and individual buggy owners.

MTS Group are specialist providers of Bobcat plant hire, and are proud to supply Ramside Hall hotel & golf resort with a range of equipment for maintenance and repair work on both the Cathedral and Prince Bishops courses. At MTS Group we work with and range of industries, and offer a hire fleet consisting of Bobcat skidsteer and tracked loaders, mini excavators , telehandlers and specialist attachments all of which are available for long and short term hire.

MTS Group - Co Durham

MTS Group Branches:

Shadon Way, Birtley, Chester-Le-Street, Co. Durham, DH3 2RE T: 01914 102 432 Co. Durham - Yorkshire - Lancashire - Scotland

E: info@mtsgroupltd.co.uk - W: www.mtsgroupltd.co.uk

Shadon Way, Birtley, Chester-Le-Street, Co. Durham, DH3 2RE T: 01914 102 432 Co. Durham - Yorkshire - Lancashire - Scotland

E: info@mtsgroupltd.co.uk - W: www.mtsgroupltd.co.uk

FURNITURE & LIGHTING FROM ANDY THORNTON

QUALITY CATERING FOR THE NORTH EAST

Contract furniture and lighting specialists Contemporary and traditional designs Exceptional style and value 01422 376000 | andythornton.com

Double Row, Seaton Delaval, Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear, NE25 0PP Tel: 0191 237 2858 Email: sales@caterpak.com

Caterpak

www.caterpak.com

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Ramside Estates Magazine

LO C A L H E R O E S Award-winning Wallsend-born caricaturist, Paul Slattery captures the great and the good guests who have stayed at Ramside Hall. His drawings line the walls of the Bar of the Stars - grab a pint and take a look. Locals Jack Charlton, Brian Johnson, Ant & Dec, Paul Collingwood, Brendon Healey, Alan Shearer, Denise Robertson Other celebrities The Jackson 5, Ann Widdecombe, Olly Murs, Freddie Flintoff, Keith Lemon, David Gest, Kevin Keegan, Marco Pierre White, Martin Shaw, Les Dawson, Roy Keane

On the draw Caricaturist Paul Slattery attended Whickham Comprehensive and Newcastle College before going on to work in London and Amsterdam as a graphic designer and illustrator. He started working as live caricaturist in 1991 and achieved the world’s first Guinness World Record of its class for the ‘largest caricature’ of Alan Shearer in 1999. Paul is now providing a live Mix & Mingle caricature entertainment service in Newcastle, which involves him creating impressionist paintings and live caricatures for weddings, corporate events and other functions. www.paulslattery.co.uk

#ThatsPulman

Delivering a fantastic customer experience.

Fantastic Brands

New & approved used

At Pulman, we have 4 award-winning Brands to choose from: Volkswagen, SEAT, ŠKODA & Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles.

With Volkswagen, SEAT & ŠKODA cars available from new, we also have a huge range of approved used cars available with a range of exclusive benefits.

Fleet & local business

Aftersales & accessories

With a dedicated Fleet department, we can provide local businesses with fantastic personal & contract hire rates for all 4 brands.

We’re commited to delivering a fantastic customer experience, our aftersales & parts departments, will be there for you throughout the ownership of your car.

Bespoke Café Open to the public and located within the flagship Pulman Volkswagen & Pulman ŠKODA showrooms in Durham. Café Dafté offers a fantastic breakfast and lunch menu, all freshly prepared on the day.

0800 0720 228 www.pulmangroup.co.uk Locations in Durham & Sunderland

Pulman

Volkswagen

Commercial Vehicles

Delivering a fantastic customer experience.