Back to Blog

A SMART NEW LOOK AT THE CROWN AND CROSSED SWORDS

We can’t express how excited we are to invite you back to the Crown and Crossed Swords, we hope you like our new look! We would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has visited us so far.  It’s great to have welcomed our regulars back into the bar and to see so many new faces too.  We would also like to thank you for respecting our new guidelines we’ve put in place, keeping everyone as safe as possible while still being able to enjoy yourself. And Oleys burgers will be av...

IT'S A FULL HOUSE AT THE GARAGE BAR AND GRILLE

Wow!  Again I had to nip back to work to help out our fantastic team.  Every table we have was in use and we had to turn people away.  So PLEASE call to book so we can fit you in.  It was lovely seeing lots of old and new faces. And you get 50% off up to £10 per person too!  Our kitchen and bar both open Monday to Friday from 12 noon and weekends from 10 a.m.  Please call 01207 528 999 to book! Thank you, Joanne at The Garage Bar and Grille....

WELL DONE DERWENT MANOR HOTEL!

We must say we are proud as punch for achieving this for the sixth year in a row.  Our hard work and dedication to make you happy and have truly memorable stays is this great award!And Saturday on our extended Terrace and Beer Garden we have the fabulous local talent of The Buskers performing live for us at 5 p.m. - socially distant summer vibes with street food, live music and ice cold drinks. What more could you want on a sunny Saturday?  Booking is advisable to ensure we can sociall...

CAFÉ SHRUB AND SHOP RE-OPENS!

Lots of people have been asking when can they sit inside café shrub again to eat - so you will be pleased to hear we are now open for both take-away and table service.  Our chef will be preparing fresh food every day using local produce as always, including Afternoon Fillers, Derwent Deli's, Butterfly Bridge Bites, Shrub Sides, Kid's Menu and of course our freshly baked sweets and Beckleberry's Ice-creams. So please take a seat and enjoy a delicious café shrub lunch or treat with a cuppa....

YOU CAN NOW ORDER AFTERNOON TEA TO TAKEAWAY AT ISABELLA'S COFFEE SHOP

Isabella's Coffee Shop - perfect for a special occasion at home or a family treat.  We require 24 hours notice as everything is prepared fresh and there is a 10% discount applied on our takeaway menu. Click here for more information. And our Book Club is on the last Monday of every month from 7 p.m. to 8.30 p.m. and is hosted by Annette Hendry. Tea, Coffee and a Pudding will be served at a cost of £5 per person. New members welcome.  You'll find us on Front Street, Shotley Bridge....

BEAMISH MUSEUM IS OPEN!

It's great to be back open again!  Here's a look back at our first week, thanks to everyone who has visited us so far.  Please visit our Facebook page for our videos!Entry timeslot tickets for 10th to 16th August (inclusive) will be available to book from Monday, 3rd August at 10 a.m.  Please click here to find out more about how to book tickets, Unlimited Pass enquiries and our COVID-19 Secure safety measures.  Thanks so much to everyone for your amazing support, we can't wa...

BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER TO ACHIEVE MORE

Land of Oak & Iron has been a success because of the dedication, commitment and support of its wonderful volunteers.  A staggering 21 full time working years has collectively contributed towards many projects, and we are forever grateful to each and every person who has been involved.Groundwork National Lottery Heritage Fund....

ONE MONTH IN & 400,00 STEPS COMPLETED TOWARDS MY ONE MILLION STEP CHALLENGE

Still a lot to do & all donations are very welcome. Thanks for your support!Brenda...

SHARRON ADDS VALUE TO YOUR BUSINESS

Being small enables us to offer a highly personalised “throughout the year” service to our customers, as we recognise that businesses need support all year round, not just once a year when the accounts and tax are due. We make customers feel valued by treating them as individuals; speaking in plain English in a down-to-earth, friendly manner!I thought this article from Xero might be of interest to DBN Members (please see below).Sharron at Westwood AccountancyXERO CALLS ON UK SMALL BUSINESS M...

NATHALIE'S DAILY FRENCH CHALLENGE FOR CHILDREN - JOUR 100

Nathalie's videos are always a very popular feature in our weekly updates and we're delighted to bring you another one.  Daily French challenge jour 100 for children.  Check out Nathalie's earlier 99 challenges here.  Today: practice wishing someone a good journey in French....

DERWENTSIDE COLLEGE ENROLMENT WEEK

DATES & TIMES OF THE DROP-IN AT THE COLLEGE: Monday, 24th - Friday, 28th August 2020 - 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. JOIN YOUR LOCAL COLLEGE AND NEVER LOOK BACK . . . Just click here to visit our Facebook page for more details....

CAN YOU HELP JOANNE CHOOSE A FAVOURITE?

Help a lass out with a project would you?Which is your favourite? Or if your favourite is one I've NOT included in that wee grid, let me know.  Now, don't vote for your own pooch if it's in there, that's cheating, and it goes without saying that's your fave! Thanks very much.  There IS a purpose, I promise!...

GREAT ANNUAL SAVINGS GROUP - GOING FOR GROWTH!

We're so proud to see so many candidates aspire to be a part of the GAS expansion.If you'd like to join us for the next phase of our success you can still sign up to receive job alerts – just click here....

WILLOW BURN HOSPICE

Between now and the 18th September 2020 we are asking all of our wonderful friends and supporters to vote for our Children and Young People's Bereavement Service to win up to £100,000!  Helping Willow Burn is so easy, all you need to do is click here and share the post with your friends.Even better - you can vote once every single day!And thanks to a grant from Newcastle Building Society’s Middle Street branch in Consett, Willow Burn Hospice has installed a new pergola in the garden for ...

SHARE YOUR NEWS WITH ROBSON PRINT

Newsletters are a great way to stay in touch with your community, employees and customers.  We are delighted to have been able to keep producing these vital forms of communication during these difficult times.  If you need help or advice on design and print please get in touch.We are starting work on the next edition of the Hexham Pocket Guide, there has been so much happening in town over the last few months - if you are a local business or part of a community group then let us know w...

JANE ANDERSON ASKS - ARE YOU HOME-STITUTIONALISED?

Tired of domesticity but apprehensive about going out?  Worried that you've lost your social nerve?  Distinctly uncomfortable in proper work clothes? If the answer is yes to any or all of the above, you've probably become home-stitutionalised like many of us who've been cooped up for the last few eon-months. In her latest blog, Jane Anderson tells us how she has emerged from home-stitutionalisation.Please click here to read Jane’s blog....

AUGUST ADVENTURES AT LAND OF OAK & IRON

Our heritage fairies have been busy putting together activity packs to spark your family's imagination whilst they explore the beautiful outdoor spaces surrounding Land of Oak & Iron Heritage Centre.We can provide café shrub picnics too - so you can walk, explore, create and eat in the great outdoors! Your activity pack comes in a customisable cotton tote bag and provides materials so you can create your own curious clay face - you can add natural materials gathered on your family walk.  T...

THERE'S AN APP FOR THAT . . . BUT IS THERE ONE FOR YOUR CUSTOMERS?

The smartphone era has rapidly become part of our everyday lives, from selfies & shopping to planning holidays & making reservations."A sign of our times" . . . it’s not uncommon to see someone browsing from their small screen whilst standing in a queue.  No longer are people waiting to get home to their computer, if they have one . . . the smart phone has become their ‘on-the-go’ personal computer.  Businesses and companies are recognising this compact form as the gateway to rea...

IT'S COMPETITION TIME WITH HEAD TO TOE AESTHETICS

Would you like to win a £50 gift card for you and one for your friend?All you have to do is find the spelling mistake in one of the banners  . . . zoom in on the pictures! Private message me the mistake, tag a friend in post; you can tag as many friends as you want for more chances to win!  The winner will be drawn at random on Saturday 29th August.The gift card will be valid for six months and has to be used for a treatment, it can not be exchanged or transferred to another person. G...

GILLIAN'S TOP TIP OF THE WEEK

Gillian's top tip video of the week is . . . to accept what you cannot change.You can view Gillian's video here....

DERWENT WALK INN ARE CHAMPIONS FOR THE LOCAL ENVIRONMENT

Thank you so much to our local MP Richard Holden & the volunteers who came along this morning and helped with the litter pick on Ebchester Bank & along the Derwent Walk.  We managed to collect a lot of rubbish and make our area a lot more cleaner to use.In the words of our 6 year old, "Mam, why do people throw their rubbish on the ground & not put it in the bin or take it home?"  A very good question.  So please the next time you are using the Derwent Walk please take your rubbish...

DBN MASTERCLASS VIDEOS!

We're delighted to report that the DBN members video library is now open.  The first batch of videos of our Masterclasses are now available to our members.  The four Visual Marketing Masterclasses are only available to the delegates who signed up for the programme but all the rest will be made available to our members as an exclusive members benefit. The material in the videos represents the hard work of our members who created the masterclasses for fellow DBN members and we'd really a...

UPDATE FROM THE 7th AUGUST 2020

One of the benefits of having online meetings is our new ability to bypass geographic boundaries and bring like-minded businesses together from a wider area. Thanks to everyone who came along to our Meet the Neighbours event earlier this week, a joint event with Darlington, Northallerton and Richmond business networks.  Our very own James Ibbitson was one of the four guest speakers and topics covered were tips for great videos, successful PR campaigns, marketing after Covid-19 and e-marketi...

DBN NEWSLETTERS FOR AUGUST 2020

DBN NEWSLETTER - 7th AUGUST 2020 - click here to read. DBN NEWSLETTER - 14th AUGUST 2020 - click here to read. DBN NEWSLETTER - 21st AUGUST 2020 - click here to read.DBN NEWSLETTER - 28th AUGUST 2020 - click here to read....

NORIKO'S LATEST CARTOON - 'HAPPENINGS'

...