Latest news with #LeahCollins
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Writer on Waking the Dead behind fascinating exhibition in Bolton
A screenwriter behind series such as Waking the Dead and DCI Banks, has recently shifted his focus to sculpture, unveiling his debut exhibition at the P5 Gallery on Bolton Train Station. Heralding from Painswick in Gloucestershire, Laurence Davey moved to South Manchester five years ago after accepting a position at Bolton University (now the University of Greater Manchester) teaching the undergraduate course for Film and Television Production. SCENE took Laurence around a year to fully complete. (Image: Leah Collins) The opening night for his debut exhibition, SCENE, which was unveiled at the P5 Gallery on Bolton Train Station, was a roaring success. The monumental wood ensemble, the tallest being 12 feet high and eight feet across, has evoked powerful and conflicting feelings in spectators. SCENE was unveiled on May 22 at the P5 Gallery on Bolton Train Station. READ MORE: There is a fascinating tension exuding from the exhibit. Laurence's 10 sculptures are made from trees all over the UK, including his hometown. One of the key themes that SCENE explores is the idea of bringing the rural back to one of the centres of the Industrial Revolution, to the train station that once brought so many rural people to cities to make commodities and perhaps be commodified. Laurence said: 'I've had a life-long interest in sculpture, but I decided to study English Literature at Oxford University, which put me on a different path entirely. 'Growing up in Painswick, famous for its 99 Yew trees in the Churchyard next to my primary school, these trees left us frightened and enchanted. They were menacing and had presence. "Each sculpture is made from a different wood; Sycamore, Birch, Holly, Apple wood, Cherry wood, Pine, Walnut wood. The sculptures are vastly different in size, with each one made from a different type of wood. (Image: Leah Collins) 'I used power tools in addition to gouges to create the sculptures, which were then finished with a beeswax polish. I'm a father of two and have a full-time job, so this was certainly a jobs" target="_blank">work in progress. Overall, it took around a year to complete. 'Initially, I sketched an outline, two orbs pulling away from one another but still connected. In this piece, the sculpture as made from a walnut log from Staffordshire. 'I wanted to create this feeling in the viewer when they held the sculpture, interacting with it, of a solid form that becomes fragile and infantile – a collision of protectiveness and violence. 'One of my personal favourites is the maternal figure, placed on the left of the circular exhibit. It has a womb-like body with a protective hand-like figure protruding from it. A mother turned out violent and religious with wings. 'The largest of the figures, passive and male, I first took inspiration from the idea of a crown. It's made from a sawn up birch tree. This figure is mounted on a steel bolt to give the appearance that is erupting from the void.' The largest of the figures was initially inspired by the form of a crown, Laurence adds. (Image: Leah Collins) Each sculpture is placed on a suspended black circular base, which Laurence says was painted with an expensive paint, the closest to military-grade Vantablack in order to absorb the surrounding light and create the impression of a 'void'. Laurence added: 'SCENE explores the return of animism; the combined sculptures are anthropomorphic and zoological. 'It's also uncanny; there's resonance between structures of our sentience – perhaps aspects that we would rather deny. There wasn't a direct inspiration for SCENE and each viewer responds to the sculptures differently. 'Part of the meaning of SCENE comes from the space in which it is exhibited: trees have been bought into Bolton Railway Station. The viewer experiences various encounters with Guardian Trees, Sentinel Trees and Trees of animism.' SCENE is available to view at the P5 Gallery on Bolton Railway Station until June 15.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Yahoo
Hidden gem is the perfect brunch spot with the most glorious views
In my ongoing quest to find the perfect brunch spot, I literally stumbled on a hidden gem during a visit to Belmont, writes Leah Collins. Lotties, on Belmont Road, is nestled in the picturesque Pennine Moors, just outside the picturesque village of Belmont. Lottie's of Belmont opened in 2018. (Image: Leah Collins) The café, which opened in 2018, offers delicious breakfast, brunch and lunch options, alongside an array of delicious desserts and home made sweet treats - and the most perfect view. Inside, Lottie's features a cosy and ambient vibe, complete with twinkling fairy lights and rustic décor. Outside the windows are views of the Lancashire countryside, rolling hills and all. Lottie's boasts cosy and rustic décor inside. (Image: Leah Collins) Although I was brunching alone, I was instantly put to ease by the friendly members of staff. READ MORE: The place was also bustling with people, but the service was immaculate. My order was taken and my food bought to me in the space of no more than fifteen minutes. I ordered the Mediterranean goats cheese salad and a cherry smoothie. (Image: Leah Collins) I decided to opt for the Mediterranean vegetable and goats cheese salad, with vegetables in herb oil, tossed with a baked goats cheese, salad leaves and topped off with a balsamic glaze. To wash down my salad, I ordered a fresh 'Cherry-poppins' fruit smoothie, which contained sour cherries, raspberry, blackcurrant, mango and bananas. Overall my dish came to a grand total of £16.90 (the salad was priced at £10.95 and smoothie £4.95), with the price backed up by the food's quality. For those who fancy something more substantial, Lottie's offers an array of delicious dishes, including vegetarian, vegan and gluten free style options. American style pancakes, traditional breakfasts, smashed avocado toast, French toast and eggs royale are all but some of the breakfast options. The lunch menu also proves fruitful, offering burgers, chicken quesadilla, vegan curry, pizza style flat breads, sandwiches and wraps. A delightful selection of cakes were also on offer. (Image: Leah Collins) After my brunch, I was tempted to try one of Lottie's homemade cakes, which looked absolutely delightful. There was cherry, blueberry, lemon and Oreo style-sponges, as well as freshly-baked scones on offer, so I was spoiled for choice. The special coffee of the day, the iced popcorn latte, also caught my eye – so I'll definitely be back to sample that this summer! View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lottiesofbelmont (@lottiesofbelmont) The private hire room upstairs is also available to rent out for functions. Overall, I was really happy with my experience at Lottie's and would definitely return for a future brunch date and enjoy the glorious views again. It is the perfect spot to dine alone, with company and is situated in one of most beautiful parts of the region.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Traditional butchers with award winning sausages is a cut above with its customers
One of Bolton's well-known premium butcher's which specialises in in-house cuts from local farms has been nominated for a Bolton News Best Farm, Deli or Butchers Shop Award 2025. (Image: Leah Collins) The Farm Shop at Ryders Farm in Manchester Road, Kearsley, is a family-run business owned by the Hamblett family; David, Veronica and their daughter, Jennifer. The family has been in the business for over three decades. Veronica said: 'David previously worked as a butcher until the 80s when he began jobs" target="_blank">work as a builder. This farm was actually the last building he did! Ryder's specialises in in-house freshly-rolled pastry. (Image: Leah Collins) 'I previously worked as a medical secretary and took voluntary redundancy to help run the business – it has been our pride and joy ever since.' The speciality of Ryders is its in-house freshly-baked pastries, pies and produce. The business uses high-quality meat from local red-tractor stamped farms, whilst the pastry is hand-rolled to perfection. A selection of freshly-cooked local meats are also available. (Image: Leah Collins)David added: 'I would say that our award-winning sausages are our most popular item, these live up to their title and come in natural casing which is free from any plastics – something often sound in supermarkets. 'I often buy premium Welsh pedigree black cattle, which can be butchered as people want it. We focus on making the cuts as bespoke as possible to suit all tastes.' Joints and roast-meats, as well as dry aged meats, some of these up to 100 days old, are available for purchase at Ryders. The business also stocks Greenhalgh's pasties and pastries on weekends. The business also offers gluten free sausages, burgers and a selection of wines to accompany meats. Customers can choose their cut to order. (Image: Leah Collins) As well as an abundance of meats, the Farm Shop also specialises in freshly-made ready meals as a healthier (and tastier!) alternative to takeaways that can be made to order. The above beef has been aged for 55 days at Ryder's. (Image: Leah Collins)Veronica said: 'The frozen ready meals are extremely popular; I would say the chicken curry is one that always does really well. 'It's an alternative to takeaways, we have an open kitchen so people can see us making the ready meals to go, they can see the meat that we use and customers always know exactly what they're getting. 'As someone who is passionate about traditional home-cooked meals, I grew fed up of throwing food in the bin. I wanted to make things that people could eat and enjoy, that passion is something that we want to come across to our customers. An array of pies and pastries are available at Ryder's. (Image: Ryder's Farm Shop) 'All of our food is fresh. You know what you're getting and there's a quality there that can't be beaten.' 'We couldn't have done it without the help of our loyal customers, they're our friends and most of them have been coming to us for years. 'To win the Bolton News award would mean everything to us, we've prided ourselves the business and feel blessed to serve the local community. We're extremely proud of what we do and just how far the business has come. 'Our customers know that they're getting good quality produce - we've already started getting Christmas orders!' To vote pick up a copy of today's paper.
Yahoo
27-04-2025
- Yahoo
REVIEW: The hidden waterside café on popular nature reserve
With summer around the corner, what better time to review my go-to lunch place, situated within a tranquil beauty spot. The Hide Coffee House is nestled along the waterside of Pennington Flash nature reserve is one of my favourites in the area and it's not difficult to see why. The Hide Coffee House opened in 2023 (Image: Leah Collins) The coffee house, which is a council-run venture, opened in 2023 as part of a £2.7 million makeover of facilities at the nature reserve, with accessible toilets installed along with upgrades to parking, including electric vehicle charging points. It's also dog-friendly, making it perfect for those out walking their pooch to pop in for a sit-down. As someone who lives for a sweet treat, The Hide Coffee House is a haven of delicious choices. The wildlife-themed venture combines a menu using local suppliers, which imbues it with an authentic feel. This is one of my favourite places to visit and I often opt to read a book by the water, with a sweet coffee in hand. The Hide Coffee House is surrounded by beautiful views of Pennington Flash. (Image: Leah Collins) The extensive food menu includes a range of breakfast barms, which include vegan options, a soup of the day, bagels, sourdough toast, pastries, pancakes, waffles and paninis. The coffee house is popular, especially with the weather warming up. (Image: Leah Collins) There's also Cheshire Farm ice cream, which is particularly popular in the warmer months. On my latest visit I was delighted at the options for cakes, cookies, brownies and pies. From a quick glance at the front counter, these included Victoria cronuts, rocky road, berry and yoghurt flapjacks, double chocolate fudge cake, apple and blackcurrant crumble jack and my own personal favourite, Biscoff millionaire slices. There were lots of options for sweet lovers. (Image: Leah Collins)READ MORE: Drinks-wise, there are numerous hot and cold options that cater to all age groups. The Mini Egg Easter hot chocolate did stand out to me, as well as the Baileys hot chocolate. There was an array of freshly made smoothies, milkshakes and of course, iced coffee flavours. The cafe offered seemingly endless sweat treats! (Image: Leah Collins) In the end, I opted for a lotus millionaire slice and a green smoothie in a bid to remain somewhat healthy. I was not disappointed, although I will say that the Biscoff slice was one for the ultra-sweet-tooths, so those who don't like too much sugar might be more suited to some of the other (endless!) options. The lotus millionaire slice was delightful. (Image: Leah Collins) As the weather is warming up, I would definitely recommend a visit to the Flash if you haven't already. It makes for a lovely family day out, a popular hangout with friends or even if you just want to amble there alone to relax, as I do. With Pennington Flash formally declared a National Nature Reserve in October 2022, James Winterbottom said that this has been a "key catalyst" for the council to push ahead with developments that will attract people to the Flash while preserving its natural beauty. The Hide Coffee House is open 9am to 4pm from November to March, and 9am to 7pm from April to October.
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
'We've enjoyed every minute of it': Hundreds out for Good Friday Easter hike
The skies might have been cloudy, but spirits were certainly high as hundreds of families gathered at Rivington Pike this morning to take part in the Good Friday hike. The event takes place every year where people from all around the area turn up to touch the corners of the pike for Easter. Among those who made it to the top of the Pike were Diane and Carol. Carol (left) and Diane (right) were among the hikers to reach the top of the Pike. (Image: Leah Collins) Diane said: 'We come up here to do the walk over Easter every year! It's been windy this time, but worth it as it's a lovely route!' Kelly, Wayne and their 14-week-old puppy, Teddy, were also among the hundreds taking on the hike. Kelly said: 'It's been windy, but we've enjoyed every minute of it. Wayne, Teddy and Kelly also climbed to the top of Rivington Pike. (Image: Leah Collins) 'It's Teddy's first time going up the Pike, safe to say he's enjoyed it – although he did have to be carried up towards the end!' Stalls were set out for people to enjoy drinks, bacon and sausage barms and ice cream as a post hike treat. Many gathered for a post-hike treat at the stalls. (Image: Leah Collins) The Fika Café at the top was also serving coffees, cakes and pastries to visitors. Among the stalls was Bolton Mountain Rescue Team, who attend the fair every year to raise awareness and collect donations. Bolton Mountain Rescue Team representative Bryan Carr said: 'We come out here every year on Good Friday, people always come up to us for a chat and there's always a large turnout. The Bolton Mountain Rescue Team were among stallholders. (Image: Leah Collins) 'It costs a lot for us to keep up the good work and keep the team going, so it's important for us to raise awareness about what we do and to promote the cause.' The Grade II listed Pigeon Tower was open between 10am and 3pm and people were asked to give a donation to support the upkeep of the Terraced Gardens. Pigeon Tower was open between 10am and 3pm. (Image: Leah Collins) The Pigeon Tower was built in about 1910 by Robert Atkinson to Mawson's design, according to the tower's official list entry, with the top floor said to have been used as a sewing room by Lady Lever. Beautiful views from the top of Rivington Pike (Image: Leah Collins) Mark and Liba also braved the hike despite the windy weather. (Image: Leah Collins) Leba Burgess and Mark Lilley were also among those who made it to the top. Leba said: 'The weather has been windy this morning, especially at the top of the Pike! But it's rewarding to have finished the hike and we're glad to have visited the area this morning.' After the hike, many families choose to spend the rest of the day strolling around the Terraced Gardens or relaxing at Rivington hall barn, which was also providing refreshments.
