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Weekend Money
Escaping The Snow
Despite the wintery weather hitting the UK hard in the New Year followed closely by Storm Goretti, bringing more snow to the already struggling communities, I consider myself to be extremely lucky ….. so far.
Jasper enjoying outdoor fun
Property Expert Shares Expectations From The Housing Market In 2026
Photo by Monstera Production: Pexels
A property expert has shared his predictions on what he believes will happen in the housing market in 2026. Property expert Jonathan Rolande, the founder of House Busy Fast believes eight key factors will shape the next 12 months. “The UK housing market moves into 2026 after a year of Budget uncertainty that pushed many people to pause their plans,” he said.
P.ublished 19th January 2026
Consumers
Six Side Hustles To Help You Make Extra Money In 2026
Jane Hawkes
Consumer Expert
Photo by Arturo Añez Pexels
With the cost of living still biting many households, and projections of declining disposable incomes for the rest of the decade, many people are looking at ways of making extra cash. And around half of UK adults now have a second job, or a ‘side hustle’. Whilst average earnings are often modest, at around £200 a week, others can do well enough that it becomes their main form of income.
P.ublished 17th January 2026
Four Cleaning Mistakes Millions Could Make This January
Photo: Svitlana Hulko / Shutterstock.com
January is widely considered the perfect time for deep cleaning and decluttering, to ensure homes are refreshed for the year ahead. But this January, experts are urging people to take extra care to avoid common cleaning mistakes that could lead to issues for homeowners such as higher energy bills, or even infestations.
P.ublished 17th January 2026
Weekend Money
2026 Set To Be Solid Year For Buyers, Says Mortgage Expert
Sam Fox
Weekend Money Columnist
Image by Precondo from Pixabay
The UK housing market is heading for a year of steady improvement rather than dramatic change in 2026. Falling interest rates, easing affordability pressures and new mortgage products are expected to support buyers. I warn against expecting a return to ultra-cheap borrowing or runaway house price growth. 2026 should be a great year to buy a property.
P.ublished 17th January 2026
Health
Embrace ‘Blue Monday’ & Boost Your Mood
‘Blue Monday’ falls on Monday 19th January, it was largely created as a marketing gimmick by the holiday industry, but has been embraced by many of us and for good reason.
P.ublished 17th January 2026
Health
Former Firefighter Launches Nootropic Drink Range To Boost Brain And Body Health
A former firefighter has launched a range of health-focused soft drinks designed to provide vitamin supplementation without the need for handfuls of pills. VitClear, founded by Ralph Burrows, offers three nootropic sodas targeting brain health, gut health and active health.
P.ublished 15th January 2026
Yorkshire Water’s Tips To Protect Pipes During Cold Snap
With snow and ice on the ground and further snowstorms predicted for the coming days, Yorkshire Water is urging customers to act now to protect their homes and properties as the cold snap of wintery weather takes hold. The utility is also urging customers to report any leaks spotted in public areas via the Yorkshire Water website.
P.ublished 12th January 2026
Beating The Cold Snap With A Hot Water Bottle? Experts Share Tips To Ensure Safe Usage
With the UK in the midst of a bitter cold snap, many of us are reaching for hot water bottles to help keep warm during the day and through the night. While an effective and affordable way to keep warm, in 2024 nearly 1,000 people were admitted to burn units in England and Wales due to hot water bottle accidents.
P.ublished 11th January 2026
Consumers
How To Get A Refund After Christmas: Expert On Your Consumer Rights
Jane Hawkes
Consumer Expert
Image by Bob Dmyt from Pixabay
This January is set to see UK consumers returning over £1 billion worth of Christmas gifts. Whether it is something you’ve purchased yourself, for a friend or loved one or it’s an unwanted gift, it can be a trying experience. If you’re trying to return something after Christmas, your rights depend on how and why you’re returning it.
P.ublished 10th January 2026
Health
Health-Conscious Brits Turn To Tech To Meet New Year Fitness Goals
Better App Live Better
According to new research, over a third (37%) of people living in the North West intend to use a health and fitness app to help reach their 2026 fitness goals. Almost half say the main benefit is the motivation it provides, with 43% citing reminders, progress tracking and goal tools as key to helping them stay on track.
P.ublished 10th January 2026
Festive Treats For The Goats
Allison Lee
Smallholding Correspondent
The goats investigating the Christmas tree
For the last few years I have bought Christmas trees with a root ball so that I can plant them outdoors once the festive season is over. Whilst this is great for the tree, it does have a downside from a smallholding point of view, as Christmas trees, fir, pine and spruce are an excellent source of healthy snacks for the goats.
P.ublished 10th January 2026
food and drink
Hydes Announces Its 2026 Seasonal Ale Range With A Year-Long Celebration Of Iconic Hairstyles
A selection of pump clips from Hydes new themed ales for 2026 including Hairy Porter, on bar throughout January.
Salford-based brewer Hydes has revealed its new ale line-up for 2026, a 12-month celebration of creative hairstyles brought to life through a series of characterful cask releases. Each monthly release delivers a carefully brewed style supported by bold pump clip designs that reflect the theme. Bar runners and posters feature the strapline ‘a style for everyone’.
P.ublished 7th January 2026
Happy New Year From The Smallholding
I’m not really one for New Year’s resolutions, probably because, on the few occasions when I have made a resolution, it has been broken within a couple of days. For me, resolutions are a bit like ‘Dry January’. What’s the point in committing to something you know you will find impossible to stick to?
P.ublished 3rd January 2026
From Resolution To Reality: Credit Tips To Help Achieve Your 2026 Financial Goals
As another year closes, many will be thinking about how to improve their financial well-being in the year ahead, from saving more and reducing debt, to improving their credit scores. Equifax UK data reveals a clear seasonal uptick of consumer spending during November and December.
P.ublished 3rd January 2026
Health
Age Well This Winter: Bluceira’s Guide To Supporting Your Body & Mind As You Age
After a strong year of boutique wellness retreats and glowing guest feedback, Bluceira is closing 2025 by encouraging people, particularly those embracing the later chapters of life, to embrace winter as a season for restoration, reflection and gentle routine-building.
P.ublished 27th December 2025
The Donkey Sanctuary
As the owner of three miniature Mediterranean donkeys, I have a vested interest in these amazing animals. Their gentle nature and loyal companionship make them incredibly magical to be around. Donkeys are intelligent and fun; they make wonderful pets, and I am continually fascinated by their adaptability.
P.ublished 27th December 2025
Why Looking For A New House On December 26 Isn’t The Rightmove
Sam Fox
Weekend Money Columnist
Image by Jens Neumann from Pixabay
It’s the day of the year when soaring numbers of people are looking to buy a home. For many, logging onto Rightmove on Boxing Day will be as important as tucking into the leftovers and getting in early for the High Street sales. Experts say we gravitate towards Rightmove and other property platforms as our mind begins to turn towards New Year aspirations.
P.ublished 24th December 2025
Grasmere Distillery Wins A Gold Medal At The Global World Whisky Masters
Paul Abbott founder Grasmere Distillery Photo:Sheenah Alcock
Grasmere Distillery is delighted to announce that its Single Malt New Make Spirit has been awarded a Gold Medal by the prestigious Global World Whisky Masters, part of the Global Spirits Challenge. The Global World Whisky Masters is designed to identify the most notable whiskies currently available on the global market.
P.ublished 23rd December 2025
Health
How Not To Be Lonely This Christmas
Lynn Crilly
Wellbeing Correspondent
Our mental health expert has issued her advice on how to avoid feeling lonely during the festive season.
P.ublished 20th December 2025
Weekend Money
Financially Resilient Festivities: How Families Can Balance Budgets And Make Christmas Count
Image by Alexander Stein from Pixabay
This year, households across the UK are entering a festive season marked by significant financial pressures. Annual research carried out by Fair4All Finance, the not-for-profit financial inclusion organisation, has revealed that 10 million people saved less or stopped saving entirely this year.
P.ublished 20th December 2025
Celebrating Christmas On The Smallholding
Christmas is my favourite time of the year. Whether we have family to stay, or if it’s just my husband and I surrounded by all our animals, I always try to make it special. I love everything about Christmas, from the decorations to the feast, and I always tend to go a little over the top with it all!
P.ublished 20th December 2025
I’m A Head Chef – Here Are My Lesser-Known Top Tips For Cooking The Perfect Christmas Dinner
The Milner York’s Head Chef, Aaron Craig, Shares His Insider Secrets for Crispy Roasties, Juicy Turkey, Perfect Gravy and Other Festive Favourites With Christmas fast approaching, Aaron Craig, Executive Head Chef at much-loved, four-star hotel, The Milner York, has revealed a host of pro…
P.ublished 20th December 2025
The Soap Opera: How A Yorkshire Business Park Hides France's Best-Kept Secret
Unit 14 gives nothing away. Behind an ordinary door in a modest North Yorkshire business park lies what might be the most pleasantly surprising olfactory experience you'll have all week. Step inside French Soaps, and the fragrance hits you – but not like those high street assaults that have you gasping for air three shops away.
P.ublished 20th December 2025
food and drink
A Yorkshire Blue Cheese Odyssey
When a hamper of Shepherds Purse blue cheeses arrived, an impromptu tasting evening with friends seemed the only proper response. What unfolded was a revelation in texture and flavour that elevated an ordinary midweek gathering into something memorable. The selection showcased the impressive range within the blue cheese family.
P.ublished 18th December 2025
Wreath Making On The Smallholding
Allison Lee
Smallholding Correspondent
Accessories to Decorate the Wreaths
Every year, at the beginning of December, I start to think about making my Christmas wreaths. Wreaths can be very expensive to buy from garden centres and shops, and they are both fun and easy to make. I start by collecting swathes of ivy, holly branches, and small bundles of evergreens when out and about on dog walks.
P.ublished 13th December 2025
food and drink
Restaurant Review: The Historic White Swan
Liz Coggins
Features Editor
Tucked away between Briggate and Lands Lane in cobbled Swan Street is one of the city’s hidden gems. What may come to mind immediately is the City Varieties – the famous music hall and the oldest working theatre in the country – but this theatre would not have existed without the landlord of the White Swan in the mid-1800s.
P.ublished 13th December 2025
Weekend Money
Property Expert Predicts House Prices In North Of England For The First Quarter Of 2026
Photo by AS Photography: Pexels
A property expert had shared his predictions for the housing market in the first three months of 2026. Mish Liyanage, Founder and CEO of Mistoria Group, is optimistic about steady growth in house prices as the number of sales return to pre-pandemic levels.
P.ublished 13th December 2025
food and drink
Behind Kitchen Door: Amy J Payne
Liz Coggins
Features Editor
Amy J Payne as June Spoon in Opera North's production of Pass the Spoon. Photo: Tom Arber
Amy J Payne will never forget having dinner on the romantic island of Ischia. “My boyfriend and I were on holiday on this romantic Italian island and had just had a fabulous meal of fresh fish, salad, fruit and a delicious dessert. After the meal he suggested we go down to the beach.
P.ublished 13th December 2025
Health
Facing A Fear Of Christmas
We all know that Christmas carries its fair share of stress—the preparation, the rushing around, the family dynamics—but for some people, it goes far deeper than being ‘a bit overwhelmed’. For certain individuals, Christmas itself can trigger a full phobic response, no different from a fear of public speaking, flying, or spiders. It even has a name, Christougenniatikophobia.
P.ublished 13th December 2025
food and drink
Cumbrian Restaurants Triumph in National Rankings Despite Industry Headwinds
Two acclaimed Cumbrian restaurants have secured prestigious positions in Harden's Top 100 UK Restaurants for 2026, underscoring the county's emergence as a culinary powerhouse beyond the capital.
P.ublished 11th December 2025
Pigs In The Wood
As the owner of three pot-bellied pigs, I have always been fascinated by these extremely intelligent animals, and I was therefore interested to find out more about the work carried out by Pigs in the Wood, a non-profit sanctuary for pigs and other animals that have been rescued from various situations, often having been abused and mistreated.
P.ublished 6th December 2025
Weekend Money
Top Ten Tips To Secure The Best Mortgage In 2026
As the clock ticks down to the end of the year, many will soon be making resolutions to kick-start their 2026. Some will focus on keeping fit, living a little healthier and taking up a new hobby. Yet for others their New Year vows will be a little closer to home - owning one to be precise.
P.ublished 6th December 2025
Consumers
Six Ways To Grab FREE Stocking Fillers For Christmas.
Jane Hawkes
Consumer Expert
Image by Monika from Pixabay
It is possible to pick up freebies for stocking fillers and get Christmas dinner bargains if you know the right places to look. The average person will spend over £1,100 this Christmas on gifts, food, drink and going out – a significant chunk of most people’s monthly pay at a time when we’re all feeling the pinch from the cost of living,” says Jane.
P.ublished 6th December 2025
food and drink
Behind Kitchen Door: Anne Hegerty
Liz Coggins
Features Editor
Anne Hegarty
Anne Hegerty sees food as a “treat” and “not just something to fuel the body with”. Known as The Governess in ITV’s
The Chase
, this Christmas Anne will once again be in pantomime this year, playing Fairy Rose The Good Fairy in
Beauty and the Beast
at Scarborough Spa Theatre.
P.ublished 6th December 2025
food and drink
Yorkshire Whisky Distillery Named As One Of The Top 50 Spirits Producers In The World
(L-R)Steve Marson Amy Teasdale David Thompson Jenni Ashwood and Joe Clark Members of the Spirit of Yorkshire team
The team at a North Yorkshire whisky distillery is celebrating after being named one of the top 50 spirits producers in the world. Hunmanby Single Estate, single malt whisky distillery, Spirit of Yorkshire, was awarded the accolade by the IWSC (International Wine & Spirit Competition) on account of its consistent quality, excellence and success in the last three competitions.
P.ublished 5th December 2025
Grasmere Distillery Launches The Pioneers Club
Founder & Distiller Paul Abbott, Grasmere Distillery Photo: Sheenah Alcock
Grasmere Distillery has announced the launch of The Pioneers Club, inviting whisky enthusiasts to secure a rare opportunity: ownership of the first three releases of the distillery’s inaugural English single malt whisky.
P.ublished 2nd December 2025
food and drink
Cumbrian Bakery Named The County's Best In National Awards For The Third Consecutive Year
The team at Cumbrian bakery Lovingly Artisan, based at Plumgarths near Kendal, recently learned that they had been named Cumbria’s Best Bakery for the third consecutive year in the annual National Bakery Awards. They join 91 other county champions from across the UK in the annual Bakery Business Magazine National Bakery Awards.
P.ublished 1st December 2025
food and drink
Yorkshire Single Malt Whisky Distillery Releases Eagerly Awaited Special Festive Bottling
Fresh from being noted as one of IWSC’s top 50 spirits producers in the world, distillers at Yorkshire’s first whisky distillery have revealed details of their annual Sherry Cask Reserve release. For 2025, the sixth release in this highly regarded series marries whisky that has been aged in ex-Oloroso Sherry Casks.
P.ublished 1st December 2025
Finding the Perfect Artificial Christmas Tree With British Garden Centres
The moment the Christmas tree goes up marks the true start of the festive season, transforming homes with instant warmth and sparkle. For many households, artificial trees have become the practical choice, offering the beauty of a real fir without the maintenance, while still serving as the centrepiece of festive celebrations.
P.ublished 1st December 2025
food and drink
A Grate Day Out: Festive Cheese Adventures In The Yorkshire Dales
The invitation landed like a perfectly aged Wensleydale – impossible to resist. A chance to explore the Wensleydale Creamery's new festive offerings? I was there faster than Wallace could spot a wedge of his favourite cheese. Winter had wrapped the Yorkshire Dales in its most theatrical costume.
P.ublished 29th November 2025
Kicking Off Christmas With Great Wine
Nathan Lane
Wine Correspondent
The Corney and Barrow Christmas tasting in Leeds had the sort of atmosphere you only get when people who genuinely enjoy wine gather under one roof. Aspire was dressed for the season, with lights on the columns, the usual hum of the room softened by mince pies and the steady carving of a Christmas ham.
P.ublished 29th November 2025
Health
Expert’s Seven Tips On How To Avoid Pre-Christmas Anxiety
Lynn Crilly
Wellbeing Correspondent
Image by shirish salve from Pixabay
With statistics showing over two in five Brits have felt stressed during the festive season, I have put together a plan to help people cope with the additional pressures the season brings. Despite it being such a happy and exciting time for most, one in four of us have said we struggle with anxiety or depression at this time of year.
P.ublished 29th November 2025
Winter Stabling For The Donkeys
Allison Lee
Smallholding Correspondent
The donkeys enjoying a treat
With the early arrival of snow last week, I decided it was the right time to get the donkeys’ stabling ‘winter ready’. The drop in temperatures, sleet, snow and ice were a sharp reminder that winter is well and truly on its way, after an incredibly hot summer and an unseasonably warm Autumn.
P.ublished 29th November 2025
RHS Reveals Expert Tips For Choosing And Caring For Your Christmas Tree
Image by Liana Gori from Pixabay
With Christmas fast approaching, as the festive light trails return to RHS Gardens and Christmas trees go on sale at RHS Plant Centres, the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) shares its definitive guide to choosing and caring for Christmas trees – helping households keep their trees looking fresh, fragrant and full throughout the festive season.
P.ublished 29th November 2025
food and drink
Behind The Kitchen Door: Robin Simpson
Robin Simpson looks upon food as more than just a necessity. “I really enjoy food,” he freely admits. Playing Nurse Nellie, the dame in York Theatre Royal’s pantomime production of
Sleeping Beauty
, “is relentless,” says Robin.
P.ublished 29th November 2025
Newcastle Restaurant Features In Top International List For The First Time
On Monday (24 November), teams from Newcastle restaurateur Kenny Atkinson’s two city-centre restaurants discovered they had been included in the tenth-anniversary edition of La Liste, the prestigious international ranking that highlights the world’s top 1,000 restaurants across 200 countries.
P.ublished 28th November 2025
food and drink
Lakes Restaurant Recognised In Top International List For The Third Consecutive Year
On Monday the team at Cumbria’s The Old Stamp House in Ambleside learned that the restaurant has been included in the tenth-anniversary edition of La Liste, which highlights the top 1,000 restaurants across 200 countries. This marks the third consecutive year that the Lakes restaurant has featured in what is widely regarded as one of the world’s leading culinary rankings.
P.ublished 26th November 2025
Planting For Pigs: Creating Summer Shade On Our North Yorkshire Smallholding
This summer was all about getting to know our land. Having moved to our current smallholding in North Yorkshire at the end of 2024, this was our first year, through the seasons, and it was an important time to get to know what worked and what didn’t. One of the things we did notice, during the long hot summer, was the lack of shade in the pig pen.
P.ublished 22nd November 2025
Creepy Insects Invading UK Homes: Expert Offers Advice To Prevent Infestation
Silverfish Photo: Shutterstock
In the past 30 days, searches for ‘how to remove silverfish’ have soared across the UK by 5,000%. As colder temperatures begin to creep in across the UK, many will be turning their heating on, increasing humidity levels in the home, and creating the perfect environment for silverfish.
P.ublished 22nd November 2025
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