Latest news with #Cumbrian
ITV News
3 days ago
- Business
- ITV News
Lake District hotel manager says they 'can't afford to lower prices' as data shows tourism drop
A hotel manager says they 'cannot afford to lower our prices any further' to encourage more footfall, as figures show a 14% drop in Cumbrian tourists since 2019. The sector contributed £4.6bn to the local economy last year, according to Scarborough Tourism Economic Activity Monitor (STEAM) data. Cumbria's tourism industry totals almost 75,000 jobs, equalling 28% of the county's workforce. Hotel General Manager Miguel Sanchez, of Windermere Hotel, says they've shortened their opening hours. He said: "We're seeing an increase in people getting takeaways to the hotel or going across the road to the supermarket to buy lunch. "We have seen wages increase massively in the last couple of years. We have the cost of food, utilities increasing as well, so we cannot really lower our prices more. "We are running the hotel with the same number of staff that we had in the winter. But we are 1% down from last year in occupancy. Typically, in the past, visitors would stay three nights, four nights. Now we're seeing a lot of visitors coming for one night or two nights."The number of visitors fell by 3.3% and night stays also fell by 6.3% last year. Daytime tourists are also down by 4% - a loss of 1.42m. James and Ursula White, tourists travelling from Oxford, believe visiting the Lakes is "almost as expensive as going abroad". They said: "Probably even more expensive at times. But it's worth it. I think younger people will have to cut the costs by perhaps not eating out quite so much." "But if you love the Lakes, as we do, you're going to come anyway. And if you can't afford the hotels, then you're going to stay in the B&Bs, the Airbnb, or you're going to camp. "But the draw is the countryside, the lakes, the mountains - it's the beauty of the place."One tourist said: "We noticed it's a little bit more expensive in some aspects than to back in Canada. But it's like up and down."Another visitor added: "We just always bring the dog up and go for nice walks in the rain." Windermere Lake Cruises say visitor revenue is down by 20% in the last five Cormack, from Windermere Lake Cruises, says visitor numbers do not necessarily translate to business income. She said: "Sometimes the area does seem quite busy, but people are here just enjoying it without doing an attraction and without going into a cafe. So people may not get the pint and the packet of crisps that they once did when they get on the boat, or they'll do a smaller boat trip rather than the full boat trip around the lake. "But we've seen an increase in international visitors. And their spending habits are different - they do spend a lot more. So China and India, the recovery is great. "We've still seen a slow recovery from Japan, and the US was big for us, and now, because of difficulties in the US, that business has stopped as well."
Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Man in his 60s collapses and dies near felled Sycamore Gap beauty spot
A man got into difficulties on Saturday afternoon on a path close to the Steel Rigg in Northumberland National Park, where the Sycamore Gap tree was destroyed last year A walker died after collapsing in the sweltering heat on the path where the Sycamore Gap tree once stood. The man in his 60s, who has not yet been named, needed urgent medical help at Steel Rigg near Hadrian's Wall on Saturday as temperatures hit 30c. But he couldn't be revived, and was pronounced dead at the scene. Northumberland National Park Mountain Rescue Team were called to the incident and said in a statement: "Our thoughts and condolences go to the walker's friends and family." A spokesperson for Northumbria Police said: "At 1pm on Saturday, July 5, we received a report via the ambulance service that a person was suffering a medical episode while on a path close to Steel Rigg car park in Northumberland. Emergency services attended but the person – a man in his 60s – was sadly pronounced dead a short time later. The man's next of kin have been informed. A report into the man's death has been prepared for the coroner." Today, two former workmates are both facing up to 10 years behind bars today after they were found guilty of felling the Sycamore Gap tree. Friends Daniel Graham, 39, and Adam Carruthers, 32, had denied criminal damage to the tree, which was around 150 years old, and Hadrian's Wall, despite overwhelming evidence against them. The news that shocked the nation left people in disgust over the act and the pair have been convicted of two counts of criminal damage. The famous tree had been growing in a dip on Hadrian's Wall in Northumberland for more than 100 years before it was savagely cut down by the pair. A jury at Newcastle Crown Court heard that they had filmed themselves on their 'moronic mission' before boasting about it in text messages. Carruthers was said to have been motivated by a desire to get a trophy from the tree as a 'souvenir' for his daughter, who had been born just 12 days before the tree was felled on September 28, 2023. There has been an application for Graham and Carruthers to appear in handcuffs in the dock. It is a security measure put in place on occasions to prevent defendants attacking each other before sentence is passed. The application is from the firm responsible for dock security; it has to be agreed by the Judge Mrs Justice Lambert. Graham had a grudge against authorities who rejected his bid to live near Hadrian's Wall. He had made an application for a 'Lawful Development Certificate' in 2022. Residents and planning officials from Beaumont Parish Council, a remote Cumbrian rural community, told how they felt threatened by Graham's 'dominant and oppressive behaviour'. When he was charged with felling the tree, a neighbour told of his dislike of the authorities. "When he was refused permission to live there, many people thought he said 'right, I will show them'," said one woman, who declined to be named. "They thought that could have motivated him to do it. His site grew and grew, there were big lorries going back and forth all the time. "He built a mound to hide what was going on there. When we saw all the police vehicles there, after the tree was felled, we initially thought it was to do with the hunt for a missing person. Later, it became apparent that he had been questioned over the tree." She added: "His behaviour did not change once he was arrested. He still had people going back and forth at all hours of the day and night."
Evening Standard
4 days ago
- Evening Standard
Are Mallorca, Croatia and Provence too hot for summer holidays now? Here's where to book instead
You might not believe that the Lake District could sub in for Provence but let's break this down: both have rolling landscapes topped with photogenic old villages, and Roman ruins, and a rich creative legacy (Turner vs Van Gogh, Beatrix Potter vs Peter Mayle). And in summer the seas of purple heather on Cumbrian slopes are every bit as photogenic as the lavender fields of the Luberon. Your top Insta-perfect villages to try? Ambleside for boat trips, Grasmere for the former home of William Wordsworth and Hawkshead for general cobbled loveliness.
Daily Mirror
7 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Everyone who played in Newcastle's behind closed door game after Elanga transfer
Newcastle played in their first friendly of the summer but new signing Anthony Elanga only watched on from the sidelines as Eddie Howe's Magpies got back to work on Saturday Anthony Elanga was finally confirmed as Newcastle United player on Friday evening but his first responsibilities in black and white were not to be featuring in the club's first friendly. The Magpies made their return to action on Saturday but not in a game that had supporters clamouring for their first sights ahead of a new season. Eddie Howe and co had arranged a behind closed doors match against Carlisle United as part of their early preparations ahead of the Premier League season. Stars such as Elanga, Bruno Guimaraes and Alexander Isak were not involved in the game, with a longer break anticipated following international duty last month. But Joelinton made his return after seeing his 2024/25 season cut short due to injury. And the Brazilian was able to play his part as the Geordies came away 4-0 victors against Mark Hughes' side at the club's training centre. Newcastle boss Howe made use of two different XIs, one for each of the two halves against the Cumbrian opposition. Each side was a blend of youth and Premier League experience. It should be little surprise that familiar names dominated the scoresheet. Sean Longstaff was the first to get on it with a long-range strike as he featured, despite interest from Leeds in securing a transfer - the Whites have fallen short in their offers thus far. Joelinton then found the net in the second period, with Elanga watching his new team-mates from the sidelines. The Brazilian midfielder's typical work-rate saw him win possession after pressing high and then send the ball into the net. Jacob Murphy, sure to want to make a good impression with new competition arriving in the shape of Elanga, then rounded Carlisle's goalkeeper to make it three after Harvey Barnes cut the ball back. The duo were involved once again as the Magpies sealed victory. Barnes switched to Murphy who played in a cross for 20-year-old Ben Parkinson. It was the youngster's flick that had started the move and he showed creativity to finish it with a backheel from Murhpy's ball in. But crucially, Newcastle will be pleased to see their stars get pre-season underway ahead of their Champions League campaign. Mirror Football details the players involved below: First half): Nick Pope, Kieran Trippier, Jamaal Lascelles, William Osula, Joe Willock, Sean Longstaff, Alex Murphy, Lewis Miley, Trevan Sanusi, Leo Shahar, Sean Neave. Second half: John Ruddy, Sven Botman, Fabian Schar, Joelinton, Harvey Barnes, Matt Targett, Jacob Murphy, Joe White, Harrison Ashby, Ben Parkinson, Travis Hernes. Newcastle next face Celtic as their pre-season friendlies get underway in earnest next weekend. Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
New Penrith bosses optimistic as new season draws closer
Penrith AFC's new management team are in optimistic mood two weeks before the big Northern League kick-off. Jim Nichols and assistant Alan Inglis are preparing the side for the start of a new Division One campaign. Penrith's young side performed encouragingly in drawing 1-1 with Workington Reds in last weekend's friendly, and on Saturday they host Charnock Richard in another pre-season game. Inglis told the News & Star that he and Nichols were pleased with what they have inherited so far. 'We've been really looked after by everybody at Penrith, and with the team, we've managed to keep the majority if not all of the ones that we were really targeting to keep,' he said. 'A number of our more experienced players have been on holiday – the likes of Luke Hunter and Connor Hammell – so they're missing chunks of the pre-season, but we're really, really happy with what we've got. 'We've got two more friendlies, a few more training sessions, and the lads are working really hard. 'Then it's a case of us all looking forward to that first game of the season.' Nichols replaced Darren Edmondson at the helm this summer, and Penrith battled well to hold Edmondson's new club Workington last time out, with DJ Taylor cancelling out Steven Rigg's opener. 'It was really positive,' added Inglis. 'What we've identified straight away is how young our team are. There's nobody over 27 or 28, and the majority aren't over 23, so it could have been a long afternoon, but they worked so hard. 'The tempo that they put in was pleasing, so was the effort that they put in, and when they got the opportunity to get it down and play, we were able to do so. 'Because of their work rate, because of how well-drilled the boys were, and how well they worked for each other, we limited them to very little, really. Penrith held Workington Reds to a 1-1 draw last weekend (Image: News & Star) 'With a young side, it's always the worry that if you concede one, it can go to two and three quite quickly, but it didn't, and it was good to be able to weather that storm for a couple of minutes, and then get ourselves back into the game.' The Bonny Blues fielded Carlisle United goalkeeper Thomas Randall against Workington, and are weighing up a work experience loan move for the teenager. Penrith's league campaign starts on Saturday, July 26 with a trip to West Auckland Town. The Cumbrian club, meanwhile, have been handed a trip to Pickering Town in the FA Cup extra preliminary round on Saturday, August 2. The winners will host Easington Colliery or Boro Rangers in the preliminary round. Fellow Northern League Division One club Carlisle City go to Marske United in the extra preliminary round, and will then face a trip to either Whitley Bay or Heaton Stannington if they progress. The FA Vase first round qualifying sees Penrith go to Campion, with the winners at home to Padiham or Sunderland RCA. There is a Cumbrian derby in the preliminary round of the FA Youth Cup, meanwhile, with Workington hosting Penrith. The winners will host Spennymoor Town in the first round qualifying.
