News From The North

Your Northumberland newsletter... Issue #1

Hello and welcome to the first (of hopefully many), News From The North updates. I shall be sending these type of posts out on a Sunday evening, to give you a snap shot of what is happening in and around Northumberland. From seasonal inspiration to brand new ventures, I hope to bring you information on how to make the most of Northumberland.

Photo by Andrew Ridley on Unsplash

Most of my current audience are Northumberland based, but I do know there are one or two of you who live elsewhere. You never know, I may be able to tempt you up to our little corner of the UK at some point over the coming year…

Please let me know if you do have any Northumberland holidays booked!

Growing up, we lived in the Cotswolds. I loved it down there and still do. However, our family holidays every summer were at a campsite on the Northumberland Coast, just north of Bamburgh. Little did I know at the time that this would soon be the county I was to call home, and that we would be able to visit Bamburgh in a short thirty-five minute drive. How lucky.

Because Northumberland is so varied, and much more vast than people expect, I always recommend breaking your days out/visit into north, south, east and west of the county.

In todays message to you, I want to tell you about TWO brand new ventures that have arrived in Northumberland, which you need to try out in 2023.

The first takes us to the south west of the county to The Twice Brewed Inn, which is in Bardon Mill near Hexham. Use postcode NE47 7AN.

The Twice Brewed Inn

- has opened its Planetarium, which will now feature in all stargazing sessions at the pub's burgeoning observatory. This looks so exciting and is perfectly located to observe the famous night skies of Northumberland.

The observatory opened in 2020 however the addition of the Planetarium will enhance the star gazing experience even more. A series of captivating experiences are available to enjoy inside the planetarium, offering visitors the chance to journey around the Aurora;  take a tour of the Universe; soak up the science behind the Sun; travel through Nebulas; get among Saturn's rings; and much more. 

With capacity for around 35 people to make themselves comfortable on a variety of reclining chairs and bean bags – while enjoying the warmth of the underfloor heating – The Twice Brewed’s planetarium will now feature in all stargazing experiences. 

To book and for more information, head to The Twice Brewed Inn website.

Lilidorei - The Alnwick Garden

A VERY exciting new adventure playground is coming to the Alnwick Garden, north Northumberland, in 2023. Reports suggest that Lilidorei is set to open in the spring, which would be great timing for the Easter Holidays. You can enter your email address at this website for updates on what is happening, with this, the worlds biggest children’s play park.

The forest village, costing £15m, will also feature a settlement of earthy wooden houses with every clan having a unique and specific house.

Visitors will be transported into the everyday lives of the troublesome clan members through the unique use of immersive sound and zip wires, slides and climbing walls will connect each area.

What are your first impressions? I am torn I think… on the one hand I think it is brilliant and will do wonders for the tourism and trade of other businesses in Alnwick. On the other hand I can’t help but think that is an awful lot of money and I hope it meets the expectations of many.

Two exciting things to add to your Northumberland bucket list and I can’t wait to see what else crops up as the year goes on.

I’m off now to finish a piece of work for a client, whilst sipping my hot chocolate and mentally preparing for back to the school run tomorrow morning.

All the best,

Beth