Cumbria Times

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5 Portable Crafts Perfect For Summer Crafting

Sophie Roberts
Crafting Correspondent

Sophie summer embroidery.

If you want to spend more time crafting this summer, portable crafts are a great way to do just that. Of course, portable crafts work well all year round, but for this particular season where you can be out of routine, not at home, trying to grab opportunities where you can, they can be particularly effective.

P.ublished 1st August 2026

Cumbria's Food And Drink Producers Shine In Great British Food Awards 2026 Shortlist

Andrew Palmer
Group Editor

Hawkshead Relish and The Lake District Tea Co. among the county's finest as national judges name their finalists for this year's awards, Andrew Palmer reports Cumbria's food and drink producers are celebrating a strong showing in the Great British Food Awards 2026, with Hawkshead Relish and The Lake District Tea Co.

P.ublished 12th August 2026

It's Showtime!

Allison Lee
Smallholding Correspondent

Cattle

I really enjoy the summer months in the North Yorkshire countryside, as almost every village hosts its own show, so there is somewhere to visit most weeks! Often kicking off as early as May, country shows offer something for everyone.

P.ublished 8th August 2026

food and drink

Grasmere Distillery Wins A Second Medal At The Global World Whisky Masters

Grasmere Distiller

Grasmere Distillery has done it again. The tiny Lake District distillery's Single Malt New Make Spirit has taken silver at the prestigious Global World Whisky Masters, following last year's gold with back-to-back recognition on the world stage. The Global World Whisky Masters exists to find the best whiskies on the global market.

P.ublished 6th August 2026

“Leeds - Your Next Date Needs To Be Here!”

As a lifelong Leeds lad, I didn’t think there was much I didn’t know about the city. Then I discovered The Hole in Wand nestled right next to St John’s Park. I’d seen a glowing review from a friend, and looking for a fun date venue with my partner, decided to book its immersive wizard-themed mini golf experience.

P.ublished 5th August 2026

World Firework Championships Head To Blackpool

World Fireworks Championship Blackpool return for 2026 Dates have now been confirmed for this year’s spectacular World Fireworks Championship Blackpool, one of the resort’s most iconic autumn events. Three countries will compete across three nights: Saturday 12 September, Saturday 26 September and Saturday 10 October.

P.ublished 4th August 2026

food and drink

Mâcon-Igé Blanc 2022: White Burgundy Without The Price Tag

Mâcon-Igé Blanc François Carillon 2022. White Burgundy has long been the benchmark for Chardonnay. At its best, it combines ripe fruit with bright acidity and the unmistakable mineral character that comes from Burgundy's limestone soils.

P.ublished 1st August 2026

Out and about

Kynren The Storied Lands

After years of planning, design and construction, Kynren – The Storied Lands one of the country's most ambitious new visitor attractions Is a must to visit Created by the team behind the award-winning Kynren – An Epic Tale of England, the new daytime attraction transforms a 150-acre site in Bishop Auckland into a series of immersive worlds where history, myth and legend are brought to life thro…

P.ublished 1st August 2026

food and drink

Limited Edition Whisky For Yorkshire Day

Joe Clark

The team at Yorkshire’s first single malt whisky distillery, Spirit of Yorkshire, will launch a limited edition special release whisky to celebrate Yorkshire Day at its forthcoming Open Weekend on 1st and 2nd August. Filey Bay Yorkshire Day 2026 Special Release is the seventh bottling in a limited run of releases that are launched annually to celebrate the iconic day.

P.ublished 1st August 2026

Health

Understanding Skin Cancer… What To Look Out For This Summer

Photo: The Mole Clinic

Throughout the summer months, as we spend more time outdoors, it’s a good moment to pause and think about protecting our skin. Skin cancer is one of the most common cancers in the UK, and rates have been rising in recent years.

P.ublished 1st August 2026

Sourcing A Smallholding

Allison Lee
Smallholding Correspondent

Land comes in all shapes and sizes.

Sourcing the right smallholding can be a nightmare. Anyone who has ever been house hunting will know that what looks ideal on paper rarely proves so in reality. When you are looking for more than a house, in the form of a smallholding that might be needed to start a business, keep animals, and maybe grow crops, the problems intensify, and the search can sometimes seem impossible.

P.ublished 1st August 2026

From Cattle Trailer To Countryside Icon: The Flower Belt Celebrates Its 5th Season

Allison Lee
Smallholding Correspondent

The Flower Belt lies between the Howardian Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (Howardian Hills Natural Landscape) and the North York Moors National Park. It’s just a 40-minute drive from York, a region rich in cultural, historical, and natural attractions, and only a couple of minutes’ drive from Helmsley.

P.ublished 25th July 2026

food and drink

Behind Captain Von Trapp's Kitchen Door

Edward Bennett freely admits he gets pleasure from cooking and making meals. “I’d love to do more of it, but unfortunately pressure of work doesn’t allow me the time," says Edward, who is currently playing Captain Von Trapp in Opera North’s production of The Sound of Music. “That’s why I really appreciate staying in an apartment during the run of the show.

P.ublished 25th July 2026

Weekend Money

Mortgage Holidays Can Offer Valuable Breathing Space, But Understand The True Cost First

Mortgage holidays can offer valuable breathing space, but those taking one need to understand the true cost, a leading mortgage expert has warned. A mortgage holiday can be a genuinely useful tool for the right circumstances, so long as borrowers go in with a clear picture of how the debt, and the interest it accrues, will be repaid afterwards.

P.ublished 25th July 2026

No Occasion Needed: Flying Flowers Guide To Gifting Blooms

With endless occasions to celebrate throughout the year, finding the right gift can often feel overwhelming. But showing your appreciation doesn’t have to be complicated, and nothing speaks louder than a fresh, vibrant bunch of flowers as an unexpected gift.

P.ublished 22nd July 2026

food and drink

Five Glasses That Explain Why Port Deserves Far More Than Christmas

There are few more atmospheric wine experiences than descending into the Sandeman cellars on the banks of the Douro in Vila Nova de Gaia. Behind the famous silhouette of the caped Don logo lies a labyrinth of granite tunnels where port has matured for generations, surrounded by bottles dating back well over a century. The first thing you notice is the coolness.

P.ublished 18th July 2026

Ticked Off: Why Ticks Are Thriving This Summer — and How to Stay Safe

Allison Lee
Smallholding Correspondent

Sheep dogs with the sheep

With the hot weather of recent weeks, we have been inundated with ticks in the paddocks. It hardly seems like a day goes by without us extracting a tick from one of our four dogs after they have been out for most of the day.

P.ublished 18th July 2026

food and drink

Behind the Kitchen Door Luke Baker

Liz Coggins
Features Editor

Luke Barker as Frankie Valli

Luke Baker sees food as more than something to fuel your body with – in fact, it's true to say that Luke loves everything to do with food. The actor, singer and musical theatre star, playing the marathon role of Frankie Valli in the 20th anniversary tour of Jersey Boys, traces his love of “all things food” back to his childhood.

P.ublished 18th July 2026

Tackling PTSD

Christopher Paul Jones
Phobia Expert

Feeling overwhelmed Image: Pixabay

Many associate PTSD with soldiers returning from war, but trauma can come from many different experiences; I have worked with people affected by accidents, medical trauma, violence, domestic abuse, loss, workplace incidents and repeated exposure to distressing situations.

P.ublished 18th July 2026

Health

Supporting A Local Homeless Charity During The Hottest Week Of The Year

Claire Kenny
Features Writer

Columnist Claire Kenny has been supporting Focus4Hope as its team delivers emergency support across West Yorkshire. I had a thought the other week: We talk at length about dogs in heatwaves – but why aren’t we talking about its impact on humans too?

P.ublished 18th July 2026

Health

Many Neurodivergent Women Hide How They Really Feel During Pregnancy

Birth Trauma Awareness Week rightly encourages important conversations about difficult births and traumatic deliveries, but as both a midwife and a neurodivergent woman, I believe we also need to pay greater attention to what happens long before labour begins.

P.ublished 11th July 2026

Steven Nesbitt And Rusty The Bull

Steven Nesbitt is a fourth-generation farmer. His grandfather lived to 96, and his father is 93, so he was confident his healthy lifestyle of exercise and fresh air would see him through to a ripe old age. That was until April 2025, when, to his astonishment, he was diagnosed with heart problems and told he had to change his lifestyle immediately.

P.ublished 11th July 2026

Summer Party Drugs - What Every Parent Should Know

Summer party drug use among young people peaks over the warmer months with end of exam celebrations, parties, festivals and increased socialising with peers. So what should parents and young people be aware of? Party drugs are psychoactive substances used in social settings to heighten energy, mood, and sensory perception.

P.ublished 11th July 2026

food and drink

Everyone's an Influencer – Whether They Know It or Not

If you believed social media, you'd think the hospitality industry now revolved around people photographing every meal before taking a bite, carefully angled cocktails and people announcing they're "collaborating" with a café in return for a free brunch. The word ‘influencer’ has become one of the most overused labels of the last decade.

P.ublished 11th July 2026

food and drink

Brits Have Been Eating Strawberries Wrong: Chef Reveals

Image by Th G from Pixabay

As Wimbledon takes centre stage and millions of Brits tuck into the nation's favourite courtside snack, Gousto's Lead Recipe Developer Sophie Nahmad says many people are missing a simple trick that can dramatically elevate the flavour of fresh strawberries.

P.ublished 11th July 2026

Weekend

Lily's, Manchester: Proof That Vegetarian Indian Cooking Needs No Apology, And Neither Does A Shopfront

Andrew Palmer
Group Editor

Lilys

There is a particular kind of restaurant snobbery reserved for buildings. We are trained, whether we admit it or not, to expect that good food arrives behind good glass—that the promise of the meal should be legible in the frontage before a single poppadom has been ordered.

P.ublished 11th July 2026

Beautifully Illustrated Greetings Cards With A Range So Extensive There Is The Perfect Card For Everyone

The beautifully illustrated range of cards from Driftwood Designs is so extensive that it is easy to find the perfect card to suit your loved one – a card with an image that evokes memories personal to the two of you.

P.ublished 9th July 2026

Kendal Farmers' Market Food School Serves Up Special Q&a With Local Food Experts

Kendal Farmers Market Photo: Ailish Adams

Visitors to Kendal Farmers' Market are invited to discover the stories behind their food when the popular Food School returns on Friday 10th July, featuring a packed programme of guest speakers with an interactive question-and-answer session led by two experienced nutritionists.

P.ublished 7th July 2026

Health

The Real Cost Of Alcohol This Alcohol Awareness Week (6th-12th July)

This Alcohol Awareness Week (6th-12th July), Mental Health Expert Noel McDermott looks at how alcohol is costing us more than just money. Alcohol is a drug, and one that creates physical dependency, and drinking too much creates health problems. Everyone knows this, and many people tell themselves they will stop drinking if they experience negative health consequences.

P.ublished 4th July 2026

food and drink

Beyond Port, Discovering The Red Wine That Defines Portugal

Porto is often introduced through its namesake fortified wine, but that does the city a disservice. Spend a long weekend here and you quickly realise that food, rather than Port, is the heartbeat of northern Portugal.

P.ublished 4th July 2026

food and drink

An Authentic Taste Of Thailand

Step into the stunningly refurbished independent Thai restaurant Sukhothai, and you’ll be blown away by the ambience, the food and the service.

P.ublished 4th July 2026

How To Keep Crafting When Your Routine Changes In Summer

Just when you think you’ve settled in to a nice routine, things change again. It might happen with warning or unexpectedly. Summer is one of those times routines change for a lot of people. It can be easy for your crafting hobby to fall by the wayside whether you have children or grandchildren off school, demands shift at work or you’re planning your own holiday, for example.

P.ublished 4th July 2026

Progress On The Wildflower Meadow

Allison Lee
Smallholding Correspondent

Regular readers of my column will know that, with my husband’s help, I sowed wildflower seeds in one of our paddocks towards the end of last year. To be honest, I wasn’t expecting much this year, as sowing seeds in a grassy area can be notoriously difficult. Given that we had decided to sow just two patches in a paddock of almost an acre, I thought I might be asking for too much.

P.ublished 4th July 2026

Hoof Care For Goats

Allison Lee
Smallholding Correspondent

Goats in their shelter waiting for hoof trimming

There is no fixed schedule for trimming goats’ hooves. Much depends on the ground they are kept on. For example, if they are kept in wet, grassy paddocks, their hooves will require trimming more often than if they are kept on rough, rocky terrain where the hooves can wear down naturally.

P.ublished 27th June 2026

food and drink

Bring A Taste Of France To Your Table This Bastille Day, Courtesy Of Bavette

Andrew Palmer
Group Editor

Head Chef Sandy Jarvis & Restaurant Manager and Sommelier Clément Cousin

There's a particular kind of nostalgia that comes with good French cooking — the sort that conjures lazy lunches, clinking glasses, and the easy theatre of a proper bistro kitchen. As Bastille Day approaches this July, we've been getting reacquainted with those classics courtesy of Horsforth's much-loved neighbourhood bistro, Bavette.

P.ublished 27th June 2026

food and drink

Brasserie Blanc, Leeds: Where The Garlic Went Missing

Andrew Palmer
Group Editor

There is a particular kind of Saturday lunch that announces itself before you've even sat down — the kind where the sun is doing something uncharacteristically Mediterranean to a British city centre, and the diners on the terrace have already decided the working week is somebody else's problem.

P.ublished 27th June 2026

food and drink

Behind the Kitchen Door: Nick Hayes - Priscilla Queen of the Desert

Nick Hayes admits he is “a giant foodie”. “I regard food as not just sustenance but a form of entertainment." Nick, who is playing the role of Felicia/Adam in the tour of Priscilla Queen of the Desert, admits this is a very demanding role.

P.ublished 27th June 2026

Weekend Money

Mortgage Rates Are Falling, But Experts Warn Borrowers: Don't Wait For Perfect

Property expert Sam Fox, founder of the UK Mortgage Centre, says a new wave of rate cuts is likely before the end of June, driven by falling funding costs, intensifying competition between lenders and the start of the busy summer moving season. However, he is urging borrowers not to let optimism tip into complacency.

P.ublished 27th June 2026

Nutrition For Small-Breed Pigs

Whilst pot-bellied pigs are extremely affectionate and endearing, it is important to remember that caring for these small-breed pigs requires understanding and dedication. Pot-bellied pigs have wonderful personalities and are very clever animals; in fact, they are thought to be among the top five most intelligent animals in the world and are often considered much smarter than dogs.

P.ublished 20th June 2026

food and drink

Pubs Have Championed Social Networking For Centuries

There’s no escaping it now: artificial intelligence has well and truly arrived in hospitality. From the moment a guest starts searching for somewhere to stay or eat to the follow-up review after they’ve gone home, AI is increasingly shaping the journey. It promises smoother bookings, sharper recommendations, and smarter marketing.

P.ublished 20th June 2026

The Last Bell: A Five-Step Guide To Clearing School Clutter Before Summer

Cher Casey
Decluttering Correspondent

Use this opportunity to chat with your kids about the school year, and what they think is special and representative.

It's that exhilarating time of year when schools are about to break up and the summer holidays are just around the corner. Kids are buzzing while parents are equally buzzing and bracing themselves. As a mum, I can’t wait for chilled mornings, fun in the sun, and our family holiday.

P.ublished 20th June 2026

food and drink

The Ivy Still The Hottest Dining Ticket In Town

Liz Coggins
Features Editor

In 1917 The Ivy first opened its doors on West Street in London’s West End, and since then it's become synonymous with exceptional service and food. I remember when I worked in London meeting with colleagues for a quick bite to eat before going on to review a West End show.

P.ublished 13th June 2026

Health

Adding Martial Arts Can Take Your Fitness Routine To The Next Level

Clive Payne

Workouts can sometimes feel repetitive or uninspiring, and many people are turning to martial arts to reignite their motivation and transform their fitness routines.

P.ublished 13th June 2026

Consumers

Top Tips To Navigate The Energy Price Cap Rise This Summer

Jane Hawkes
Consumer Expert

Image by Lelsey Barker from Pixabay

We normally think of summertime as a time when we don’t worry so much about energy bills. Brits are now being urged to pay attention to their summer energy bills if they want to remain savvy about savings. From July 1st Britain’s energy price cap is set to rise by 13.5% for an average household – or £221 from the previous level.

P.ublished 13th June 2026

food and drink

Did We Find The Perfect BBQ Wine In Birmingham?

English wine has spent the past two decades proving it can rival Champagne. Now, a handful of ambitious producers are asking a different question altogether: can England make a genuinely great red wine for everyday drinking? Under a railway arch in the heart of Birmingham, Midland Press believes it can.

P.ublished 13th June 2026

Feeding Laminitic Horses And Ponies

Whilst most owners of horses and ponies are aware that spring grass and frosty paddocks can be dangerous to their animals, some are unaware that the problem persists year-round and is simply exacerbated in spring, as grass is high in sugar and fructans.

P.ublished 13th June 2026

food and drink

Cumbria Dominates National Restaurant Awards As Region Claims Top Honours

Two Cumbrian restaurants have emerged as the standout story of the National Restaurant Awards 2026, with The Cottage in the Wood and Simon Rogan's L'Enclume group between them collecting a string of honours at Monday's ceremony at The Magazine in London's Docklands.

P.ublished 10th June 2026

Gone Fishing - Ted

Regular viewers of the BBC’s Gone Fishing programme will be familiar with Ted, the Patterdale cross dog who was given as a surprise Christmas present in 2012 and then abandoned at the New Year, at just six months old.

P.ublished 6th June 2026

Health

Men’s Health Week - How Roles And Routines Mask The Hidden Struggles Of Men’s Mental Health

iStock photo courtesy of The Cabin, Drug and Alcohol Rehab

With Men's Health Week approaching (15th- 21st June), Ryan Erispe, Head of Clinical at The Cabin, Drug and Alcohol Rehab in Thailand highlights the lesser-known aspects of men’s mental health struggles.

P.ublished 6th June 2026

food and drink

In Praise Of German Beer

Andrew Liddle
Guest Writer

Image by LetsBhpy from Pixabay

German beer thoroughly deserves its high reputation for reliability and consistency and for being clean, balanced and refreshing. German brewers have long worked from the assumption that beer’s purpose is not simply to quench thirst but to accompany conversation, improve an evening and, in a modest way, enhance quality of life.

P.ublished 6th June 2026

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