A Jack and the Beanstalk climbing frame, designed by an 11-year-old girl and the only one of its kind in the world, has been unveiled at a park known as the home of children’s play.The new playground attraction at Wicksteed Park, Kettering, is already proving popular with local children, who played on it for the first time today (Sunday, March 24).The launch event also marked the completion of the park’s @play heritage project, which was supported by a grant of £2,089,800  from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.The new climbing frame was designed by Mia Opoku Agyeman from Northampton as part...

25 March, 2024

An experienced hospitality expert overseeing the rebrand of one of Northampton’s best known hotels has outlined his vision for the high street having been appointed to the board of the town centre’s Business Improvement District.James Simpson, hotel manager at the Northampton Town Centre Hotel – soon to become the four-star ‘Mercure Northampton’– will now work alongside a number of other business leaders to oversee the BID’s work as it looks to make the town centre a better place to work, live and visit.He said: “With the current redevelopment works that are taking place, Northampton is a town that has an...

25 March, 2024

Northampton will soon benefit from around £9.4m Government investment into electric buses as part of a more sustainable public transport network.The Department for Transport (DfT) today announced it was awarding £9,365,523 to West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) and Stagecoach as part of its Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas 2, (ZEBRA 2), initiative.Introduction of electric buses onto the Stagecoach network will help reduce carbon emissions and pollution in Northampton, which currently has six Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs).The 51 new buses will cover a variety of routes across Northampton including Ecton Brook, Kingsthorpe, Duston and Camp Hill.Cllr Phil Larratt, WNC Cabinet Member for...

22 March, 2024

Northampton’s commitment to creating a dynamic, secure and vibrant evening and night time economy has been formally recognised with the confirmation of its Purple Flag accreditation.Mark Mullen, operations manager at Northampton Town Centre Business Improvement District (BID) was on hand to collect the globally recognised award at a ceremony in Nottingham, alongside Charlie Childs, Markets and Urban Activities Manager at West Northamptonshire Council.This prestigious award highlights Northampton's blend of night time entertainment, dining, and culture, all while ensuring the safety and well-being of residents and visitors.Purple Flag, similar to the Blue Flag for beaches, aims to raise the standard and...

22 March, 2024

HEALTH and safety consultancy Acorn Safety Services is continuing to strengthen its team with the appointment of two key members of staff.Craig Matthews and Abbie Bruce both joined the team in March, with Abbie based at the company’s Moulton Park office, while Craig is based in Wolverhampton.Craig is the company’s new Legionella Risk Assessor, bringing with him more than 15 years’ experience of carrying out legionella risk assessments and remedials. Abbie is Acorn Safety Service’s sales administrator, responsible for looking after new clients. These latest appointments come just weeks after Zeynep Guzelkasap was promoted to the role of Operations Manager,...

22 March, 2024

The Rising Stars Network is a brand-new networking group for the future leaders, managers, partners, or directors of professionals. Professionals could mean anything from bankers to financial advisors to estate agents to lawyers and so so much more.Networking always seems to be aimed at the more senior employees, the managers, the owners, or the partners of any given profession. Attending networking events for the first time can be daunting and some events are just not right for those just starting out.We want to create a networking group where more junior employees who aspire to be leaders can meet amongst their...

21 March, 2024

Through the summer and beyond, Royal & Derngate presents a wide-ranging programme of drama, music, comedy, dance and family entertainment for Northampton audiences.While there is still time to snap up tickets for The Time Machine and Life of Pi, and the theatre’s Made in Northampton production of seafaring adventure Moby Dick, drama highlights for the summer include the deliciously naughty and timeless comedy The School for Scandal. This masterclass in social satire and the art of gossip stars Joseph Marcell, best known for The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and no stranger to Northampton’s stages. The summer season also includes a...

21 March, 2024

Plans to transform the vacant Market Walk shopping centre in Northampton town centre have been given the go ahead by West Northamptonshire Councillors at the Strategic Planning Committee this week (19 March).Leisure developer STACK’s planning application will see the creation of an exciting and innovative entertainment hub with independent street food outlets, bars and a dedicated space for interactive games. The scheme also includes a main stage, which will be used for live music and entertainment.The facility is set to be the first in the Midlands and will enhance the town’s vibrancy and vitality, supporting both the daytime and night-time economy...

21 March, 2024

To coincide with English Tourism Week, a brand-new tourism strategy for the county has been launched by North Northamptonshire Council (NNC) and West Northamptonshire Council (WNC).The Northamptonshire Tourism Strategy sets out a vision and approach to nurturing and enhancing the county’s visitor economy and aims to improve pride in place, generate inward investment and create new employment opportunities as well as reduce carbon emissions in line with both councils’ sustainability goals.The strategy, which has been developed over an 18-month period and co-produced by WNC and NNC alongside partners and stakeholders from across the public, private and voluntary and community sectors,...

20 March, 2024

Get one step closer to a luxury summer holiday with the newly launched Cynthia Spencer Hospice Step into Summer Raffle.Support the hospice by purchasing tickets in the raffle for just £1 each to be in with a chance of winning the top prize of a seven-night getaway in Lanzarote.The week-long luxury trip will include self-catering accommodation and airport transfers, as well as an extensive tour of the island and a choice of numerous fun activities including snorkelling, wine tasting, surf lesson, escape room or swim coach.Second prize is a huge £1,000 and five runners up will take away £100 each.Tickets...

20 March, 2024

The Weetabix Northamptonshire Food and Drink Awards are back for a sixteenth year of shining a spotlight on local culinary excellence. Recognising and celebrating the county’s brilliant people, places and producers, the Awards fly the flag for buying and supporting local, and as spending pressures continue, that support for independent and local is more important than ever.With a sensational set of sponsors, and eighteen categories, this year’s Awards are a toast to all that is great about the county’s experiences, produce and drink; a reward for those who work so hard locally – rising to not insignificant challenges facing the...

20 March, 2024