Latest news with #Jorvik
Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mirror
'I have invisible chronic condition that stole my balance and way of life'
Steve's life changed after he was diagnosed with a rare balance disorder - Bilateral Vestibular Failure. He was forced to give up his long-standing job and move out of London. However, he has since found hope and confidence again through Jorvik Tricycles. Balance disorders affect more than 1.8 million people - yet many have never heard of them. The 'invisible' condition remains largely unrecognised, both in society and by healthcare providers. For 54-year-old Steve Watkins, a rare disorder changed everything. Once a professional tennis coach and lifelong fitness enthusiast, Steve suddenly found his independence ripped away when his body began to fail him. 'Having been a keen cyclist and my job dependent on my active lifestyle, this change was a complete shock to me and my family both physically and mentally,' he said. It began with short dizzy spells. But within a few years, even walking in a straight line became impossible. 'From what started as short dizzy spells, within a few years I was unable to even walk in a straight line as I went from being an active 50-year-old to being unable to travel anywhere without assistance,' he added. Desperate for answers, Steve underwent tests in January 2020 and was told to begin daily exercises. But nothing seemed to help. Doctors eventually discovered that his vestibular system, which helps the body maintain balance, had dropped to zero out of 100 in both ears. It was then that Steve was diagnosed with Bilateral Vestibular Failure, a chronic and incurable condition that damages the inner ear and disrupts spatial orientation, movement, and balance. The vestibular system is a sensory system crucial for keeping us steady. It helps the brain detect head movements and maintain posture, and when it fails, the impact can be life-altering. Sport wasn't just a part of Steve's career; it was part of who he was, and the idea of losing that part of his identity hit him hard. After nearly four years of battling worsening symptoms and with no known cure, Steve was told he'd have to learn to manage the condition for life. 'When my doctors first told me that staying active was crucial, I had no idea how I'd manage. Struggling to walk in a straight line,' Steve said. Told that physical activity was key to managing the condition, but barely able to stay upright, Steve had to find another way. He was forced to quit his job, and he and his wife relocated from London to Worksop, Yorkshire, to be closer to family and adjust to their new normal. Then came a turning point. In a bid to regain some independence, Steve visited York-based Jorvik Tricycles to test ride an electric tricycle - and something clicked. His wife recalls it was the 'first time he's smiled like that in years.' Discovering Jorvik electric tricycles has been life-changing. Fitness and exercise were my life; losing the ability to be independent and work was devastating,' Steve said. 'This tricycle has given me my freedom back and has been incredible to me mentally to get back outside and boost my wellbeing.' What once seemed impossible has now become part of his routine. Steve regularly cycles along Chesterfield Canal, Clumber Park and the Monsal Trail near Worksop, and is now an active member of a local support group for people living with balance disorders. James Walker, Founder of Jorvik Tricycles, said: 'When we first met Steve, we were touched by his story and determined to help him. We're thrilled to hear that since discovering his Jorvik Tricycle, Steve has regained his freedom and independence and is now regularly exploring and enjoying the outdoors once again.' From feeling like his loss of balance stole his life, Steve has pedalled his way back to independence. 'For those struggling with balance and coordination on a traditional bike, Jorvik Tricycles can offer the chance to maintain freedom and movement without the worry. To date, the business has created tricycles for thousands of customers with mobility worries and additional needs,' James added.
Times
07-05-2025
- Times
11 of the best restaurants in York
Nine million tourists visit York each year to marvel at the Minster, walk the city walls, go trainspotting at the National Railway Museum and travel back in time at the Jorvik Viking Centre. Increasingly, some just come to eat. The city of York can trace its history back almost 2,000 years to when the Romans set up camp by the confluence of the rivers Foss and Ouse, but its status as a foodie destination is rather more recent. Over the past ten years, nationwide chains and staid tearooms have been edged out of the city centre by independent restaurants and quality street-food vendors. Of course it helps York's food scene that the city sits within England's largest county, with access to wild game from the North York Moors, meat and cheese from the Yorkshire Dales, and fish and seafood from the North Sea coast. But there's more to eating out in York than Whitby scampi and Wensleydale cheese, and today local ingredients are likely to end up in everything from charcuterie to shakshuka as ambitious chefs look for inspiration beyond their county's borders. And you can still find a 'reet proper' Yorkshire pudding too. These are some of the city's best places to eat. This article contains affiliate links, which may earn us revenue 1. The Star Inn the City, Lendal Bridge ££ | BOOK AHEAD | BAR | Best for alfresco dining with a view Andrew Pern's Michelin-starred the Star Inn at Harome is such a Yorkshire institution that when a fire devastated the thatched building (now rebuilt), the Archdeacon of York phoned the chef to offer condolences. This brasserie spin-off offers gastropub-style cooking with local ingredients to the fore, with dishes such as Whitby crabcakes, North York Moors venison, and Yorkshire rhubarb and almond tart. The star attraction, however, is the view through wraparound windows of the River Ouse and medieval city walls, which is best appreciated in fine weather from the suntrap terrace. The landmark you can't see is the Minster, but that's on full glorious show from the terrace of Pern's other York restaurant, the York Minster Refectory. Advertisement 2. Bettys, St Helen's Square £ | BOOK AHEAD | Best for grand afternoon teas slap-bang in the centre of town Opened by the Swiss immigrant Fritz Bützer, Bettys has been at the centre of York life in every sense since 1937. Be prepared to queue outside in all weathers for a seat in the Café Tea Room for savouries and sweets such as Yorkshire rarebit and vanilla slices. The full-works afternoon tea is served upstairs in the bookable Belmont Room, where tiered stands of finger sandwiches, fruit scones and exquisitely wrought patisserie are brought to the beautifully laid tables by staff in interwar-style attire while a pianist tinkles in the background. The palpable sense of local pride (Bettys' five outposts are only in Yorkshire) means that the experience feels authentic, not ersatz. Don't forget to take something home from the shop afterwards: the chocolates are just as good as the cake. 3. Roots, Marygate £££ | BOOK AHEAD | Best for Michelin-starred wizardry from one of Yorkshire's top chefs Advertisement If Cornwall has Rick Stein and Cumbria Simon Rogan, then Mr Yorkshire could well be Tommy Banks, the farmers' son who turned his family's produce into Michelin-starred gold. If you can't make it to his duo of outposts on the edge of the North York Moors (the Michelin-starred Black Swan at Oldstead and the Abbey Inn gastropub opposite Byland Abbey) then Roots serves up a feast of foraged and family-farmed ingredients a short walk from York railway station. Two tasting menus follow the seasons in visually ravishing plates such as lamb with morels and sheep's yoghurt, while pickles, ferments and charcuterie fill any gaps in the farming year. Wine pairings are just as thoughtful as the food, and come in either grand and classic or experimental and adventurous. For the higher-end Signature Menu, figure on upwards of £145 a head without drinks — pricey, but well worth it. 4. Pearly Cow, Bootham ££ | BAR | Best for glorious Sunday roasts In boutique hotel No. 1 York — part of the small hotel chain GuestHouse — Pearly Cow is well worth a look by non-residents. (Although the tall Georgian windows of its bright and inviting dining room may already have you considering checking in for the night.) Seafood served on ice and meat cooked over flames are the two specialities, and on Sundays you can enjoy two or three courses that tick all the boxes. Start with a round of North Sea oysters ahead of a roast such as 45-day salt-aged beef sirloin, but also roast chicken or a wild mushroom and butternut squash Wellington. Expect a mound of trimmings, including fluffy Yorkshire puds and crisp roast potatoes to drown in gravy. If you somehow make it a triple, then bread and butter pudding with custard will all but guarantee the weekend finishes with an afternoon snooze. • More great boutique stays in York Advertisement 5. Cresci Pizzeria, Piccadilly £ | BAR | Best for authentic pizzas to please the whole gang Pizza is a no-brainer for keeping the whole family happy but at this Italian-run independent you can also be happy that everyone is getting the genuine article. Not only is Cresci owned by the southern Italian natives Armando Imparato and Berardo Caggiano, but it is the only pizzeria in York certified as true Neapolitan pizza by the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana. That translates as pizza cooked in the open kitchen's wood-fired oven, with sourdough bases and toppings such as fior di latte cheese, San Marzano tomatoes and sweet Napoli salami. Ingredients are sourced from Italy, adding to the authentic charm of a buzzy, light-filled local around the corner from Jorvik. • Best hotels in York • Best hotels in Yorkshire 6. Coconut Lagoon, Bootham £ | BOOK AHEAD | Best for South Indian curries on a backpacker budget If you ever want to know where to eat, ask a taxi driver — which is how three of the city's Keralan cabbies came to open this restaurant after the umpteenth request for an authentic south Indian in York. Vibrantly spiced vegetarian dosas can be sampled alongside veggie, meat and fish curries, plus regional specialties and all the parathas and puris anyone could need to mop up every last drop of creamy coconut sauce. If you can't find a table here, try sibling Kalpakavadi in the centre of town, and be thankful that neither restaurant requires forking out for a taxi to get to. Advertisement 7. Skosh, Micklegate ££ | BOOK AHEAD | Best for fun fine dining and top-notch mixology Neil Bentinck's tightly packed dining room defies categorisation. It serves small-plate fine dining, but instead of a no-choice tasting menu, guests can mix and match their meal from the 30 or so dishes prepared by the chefs tweaking and tweezering in the open kitchen. What's more, the influences are as likely to be Asian or Mexican as they are British or European, and possibly all colliding on the same thrilling plate: try the Whitby crab tostadas with avocado, blood orange and radish. Nearly all the wine list is available by the glass and there's a bar for diners too, mixing cocktails every bit as creative as the cooking. The overall effect is of a restaurant serving serious modern food that also happens to be one of the most fun nights out in York. 8. 22 Yards, High Petergate ££ | BAR | Best for global flavours Advertisement Grab a seat by the window at 22 Yards, a wine bar, shop and restaurant that offers first-class food pairings, and soak up the view of York Minster. It brings a soupçon of the Parisian bistronomie movement while serving a menu of globally influenced small plate and sharing dishes. Choose from over 70 wines by the glass — from everyday easy-drinkers to boutique champagne and vintage burgundy — to go with local Haxby Bakehouse sourdough and a plate of cheese or charcuterie. Or uncork a bottle from the 150-strong list to partner torched mackerel with hollandaise, picanha steak and cauliflower curry. Small but perfectly formed, 22 Yards takes its name from both the length of the venue and a wicket, say the cricket-loving owners. 9. Partisan, Micklegate £ | Best for brunch amid art and antiques While much of what you see at Partisan is available to buy — from the art on the walls to the antique furniture on the floor — much of what you eat comes from the talents of the Argentinian chef Florencia Clifford and her partner Hugo Hildyard's farm on the edge of the Yorkshire Wolds. All the brunch classics at this quirky, daytime-only spot are present and correct — from bacon sarnies to a full veggie — but it's with the international outlook of dishes such as shakshuka or chicken shawarma that the kitchen excels. There's a short wine list, but Monmouth coffee suits Partisan's breezy brunch vibe better. The couple also own Brancusi restaurant a few doors down, a breakfast, lunch and suppertime spot with a similarly globetrotting attitude. 10. Los Moros, Grape Lane £ | Best for North African cooking by way of North Yorkshire The Algerian owner of Los Moros, Tarik Abdeladim, still runs his original North African street food stall in Shambles Market but has expanded to this bricks-and-mortar site. The name means 'the Moors' in Spanish and while the tiles and archways call to mind a chic souk, produce comes from closer to home: a Yorkshire equivalent of halloumi made in Huddersfield and flecked with za'atar for a lunchtime small plate, say, or the Yorkshire Dales Meat Company for a supper of chicken tagine heady with saffron. Pickles and lemon are preserved in house and the merguez sausages and chermoula made by Abdeladim himself. Wash it down with a Los Moros Pale Ale made specially by the craft brewer Brew York. 11. Robinsons, Bishopthorpe Road £ | Best for gut-busting breakfasts Bishopthorpe 'Bishy' Road is where to go for a taste of York without the tourists. Just beyond the city walls south of the centre, this indie enclave is home to Flori bakery, Trinacria gelateria, the Good Food Shop deli and Robinsons café, easily identifiable by the queue snaking along the pavement. If the line of would-be diners makes you worried that you won't eat until lunchtime, fear not — it moves quickly and the wait is definitely worth it. Healthy options of fruit-topped granola or smashed avocado hit the spot, but more is more is the menu's mantra — and the banana and caramel pancake stack is the stuff of Yorkshire legend, basically a banoffee pie in fluffy batter form. And you've got all day to walk it off after. • Read our full guide to the UK • The best of England
Forbes
21-04-2025
- Automotive
- Forbes
Test-Riding The Jorvik JET-E16 Electric Tricycle
In the car world, three-wheeled vehicles are far from the most stable option but when it comes to bikes, tricycles are inherently much sturdier. While electric bikes have seen a massive boom in recent years, Jorvik Tricycles is planning to bring the benefits of electric bikes to all riders regardless of mobility or ability. The Jorvik JET-E16 electric tricycle is a folding model designed to be easy to mount with its low frame, compact enough for holiday makers, or easy to put in the car to drive to your riding destination. Speaking about the brand's goals, James Walker, founder and managing director of Jorvik Tricycles, said, 'The aim was simple: to supply reliable, supportive, and stylish British-designed tricycles, providing an option for people of all abilities to enjoy the freedom and independence of cycling. This meant adapting to the growing demand for e-bikes and affordable commuter options with payment plans, multiple colours, and a range of models, from mountain trikes to foldable options perfect for city cycling.' On any terrain the Jorvik is highly capable. Jorvik Tricycles At first, the sensation of riding a tricycle feels quite bizarre. Looking forward, you're at the same height and position as you might be on a folding commuter bike, albeit with a much more comfortable seat. Since you can't see the rear wheels, instinctively you want to lean as it turns but it only needs minimal input from moving the handlebars to go where you want it to. Once you build up the confidence in its stability and handling dynamics, it's easy to ride. Walker said, 'The typical Jorvik customer is aged 40+, with the oldest user of a Jorvik tricycle being 102! Those between the ages of 35–54 make up around 60% of our customer base. However, despite having a strong customer base among the over-40s, there is growing interest from younger riders, with around a quarter of customers aged between 18–34. Understanding the diverse needs of our riders, we offer a range of Jorvik Tricycles options to cater to different abilities. Choose a low-step frame for easy mounting, a folding frame for convenient storage, or dual batteries for an extended electric range.' The JET-E16 is surprisingly powerful and, unlike two-wheeled electric bikes, needs minimal pedaling input on smooth flat terrain. A few pedals here and there helps it to tick along nicely. You can control the amount of assistance using plus and minus buttons on the left handlebar and this can almost be used like a braking function as well, reducing the assistance as you come towards a junction for example. When you need to move away from a standstill, there's a handy button that gives you a boost of electric power to get you going. It will also do this in reverse which makes it easier to maneuver around a garage. As the JET-E16 is a folding tricycle, its handlebars and frame feature easy clips to make it more compact for travelling. The battery sits behind the seat post. Jorvik Tricycles With the click of one button, the JET-E16 has one of the easiest startup processes: press the on button and hop on. The LCD display screen lights up to show speed, battery charge and the level of electric assistance. It's easy to see on the go and the buttons are very responsive. To effectively manage the three-wheel configuration, the JET-E16 is fitted with a rear differential which makes cornering much easier. It comes with integrated front and rear lights with a rear brake light as well. As standard the tricycle comes with a rear storage basket which can be used to store all manner of things from shopping to a dog. Jorvik's mountain trike models feel like the ideal gardening companion for riders with large gardens who want to store a few pruning or planting tools in the rear compartment. The company even offers a mountain trike trailer with chunky tires for riders wanting to carry more. The Jorvik JET-E16 sits towards the lower end of Jorvik's model lineup priced at £2,999 ($4,000). Its entry level model features a similar low frame design with slightly bigger rear wheels and a front basket. In the UK, Jorvik has an indoor test track at its showroom or offers home visits for test rides and its models can be shipped worldwide. At the upper end of its range, the company has a number of different mountain trike variants. The Jorvik dual battery mid drive electric folding mountain trike JMT13 with 500W of power tops the range at £4,599 ($6,100). Walker added, 'Jorvik Tricycles is focused on expanding across the UK and the EU. With a growing customer base in the south of England, we've set our sights on opening a new bespoke showroom and indoor test track by summer 2025. Launching a new, expertly designed mobility range alongside a second showroom marks a huge milestone for Jorvik Tricycles.' Price as tested: £2,999 ($4,000) Drivetrain: Chain with Bafang 36v 250W rear motor Battery: 36V 16Ah Samsung Cell Lithium Battery Charge time: 5 to 6 hours Range: Up to 30 miles / 48km Weight: 31kg with battery
