Holdsworth Chocolates unveils fruit twist for Easter 2011

Easter 2011 will be bursting with fruit flavour as Holdsworth Chocolates launches its latest range of luxury eggs.

Each strawberry-flavoured chocolate egg contains an assortment of Holdsworth’s exquisite individual handmade – not just hand-finished – chocolates.

Once inside the 350g egg, will chocolate lovers be able to resist the likes of the decadent Midnight Truffle, the smooth Fresh Milk Truffle or the rich white chocolate of the Clotted Cream Truffle?

Creative director Genevieve Holdsworth said: “Our whole ethos is to create a delicate mix of flavours to give new and exciting tastes and textural delights.

“You can taste the real fruit in our chocolate eggs and nothing can beat biting into each of the exquisite, individual chocolates inside.”

The new egg, which has a recommended retail price of £14.95, complements Holdsworth’s existing milk, plain and white chocolate eggs, chicks, ducks and bunnies.

Over the past three years their expert chocolatiers have won a string of golds in the Great Taste Awards organised by the Guild of Fine Food.

Stockists include Harrods, Selfridges and Waitrose.

Based in Bakewell, in the heart of the Peak District, Holdsworth Chocolates has been producing chocolates using only the finest ingredients since 1988.

The company was created Barbara Holdsworth. Spurred on by a passionate belief in making chocolates by hand she developed her own recipes using only the finest ingredients.

She handed over to daughter Genevieve in 2002 and now the company’s team of dedicated chocolatiers continues to innovate and delight.

Holdsworth Chocolates is based in Station Road, Bakewell, Derbyshire, DE45 1GE. Telephone 01629 813573. E-mail info@holdsworthchocolates.co.uk or visit the website www.holdsworthchocolates.co.uk


Nottingham PR firm Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk

Key recommendations to boost food and drink sector in Leicester and Leicestershire revealed

Local sourcing initiatives, making the most of food and drink linked to tourism in Leicestershire’s market towns, the provision of food grade production units and an increase in vocationally led learning are some of the key recommendations to emerge in a blueprint drawn up to help develop Leicester and Leicestershire’s £600 million food and drink economy.

The ideas are just some of the suggestions included in a draft strategy created to ensure that the city and county have the place they deserve on the UK’s food and drink map.

Commissioned by the Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (LLEP), the strategy has been drawn up by East Midlands business support organisation The Food and Drink Forum in conjunction with the European Food and Farming Partnerships (EFFP).

They consulted the city and county’s food and drink firms, and have come up with a string of ideas which are aimed at helping local food, drink and farming businesses grow and develop.

The draft strategy was unveiled at The Royal Oak, Kirby Muxloe, to more than 50 guests where Stephen Gould, managing director of Leicestershire brewery Everards launched details of a local sourcing pilot scheme that the company plans to trial.

Mr Gould said: “We can act as a conduit for food manufacturers and food processors in Leicestershire to sell their food in our pubs. We want to work in a few of our pubs with several local food producers and manufacturers and blend their ideas onto our pub menus.

“We need to work out how to get the food to the pubs and manage the whole supply chain but I think it’s do-able and we can do it.”

The firm plans a trial in six Everards pubs. It also hopes to provide space for artisan producers and retailers, such as bakers, farm shops and delis, at its premises in line with a similar scheme it has run for micro-brewers.

“This isn’t pipe dream stuff. We want to move forward with our trial,” added Mr Gould.

At the event, held for invited guests who had helped to shape the draft strategy through group and individual consultations which involved farmers, manufacturers, restaurants and hotels, the audience was given an outline of the conclusions and recommendations.

Event delegates were invited for their feedback, before the final copy of the strategy is drawn up.

Gill Smitherman, Programme Manager at LLEP, said the next steps were to finalise and publish the strategy, establish a Leicester and Leicestershire food and drink group, prioritise delivery of the key recommendations, identify key delivery partners and start delivering chosen projects.

Anyone who would like a copy of the final strategy should register their details with The Food and Drink Forum by email to enquiries@foodanddrinkforum.co.uk

Nottingham PR consultant Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk

Role in major north east regeneration scheme for East Midlands and Sheffield civil and structural engineers BSP Consulting

East Midlands and Sheffield civil and structural engineering firm BSP Consulting has been engaged by housing regeneration specialist Lovell to work on the first phase of a multi-million pound mixed-use development that will transform the riverside area of Stockton-on-Tees.

Engineers from BSP Consulting are working on the first phase of the Home Zone part of the scheme at Northshore, a 23-hectare site with over a mile of south facing riverside front along the River Tees.

Future plans for the £300m Northshore development which is being delivered by one of the counties leading regeneration specialists - Muse Developments - include: new offices, homes, shops, hotels, restaurants, bars, cafes, leisure facilities and a new campus for the University of Durham, and are expected to bring more than 4,500 new jobs to the area.

Lovell are working in partnership with sister company Muse to deliver this first phase of 50 homes, which it is envisaged will kick-start the development of the wider Northshore scheme.

The former heavy industrial and shipbuilding site close to Stockton town centre has been the subject of a major remediation programme supported by the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), and Stockton Borough Council and already features the award-winning Infinity Bridge. Now work is under way on building the first homes on the site.

BSP Consulting engineers are currently designing the details for the drainage and roads for the first phase of the Home Zone, as well as the structural design of the initial 50 plots. The two, three and four-bedroom terrace and semi-detached homes are being designed to Code for Sustainable Homes level 4 and each plot will have its own rainwater harvesting tank.

The roads will slope to a central drainage channel, so there are no kerbs as would be expected in a traditional development, and the streets are designed to be shared between pedestrians and motorists.

“Northshore is a very exciting scheme for Stockton-on-Tees, with tremendous potential for the area, and BSP Consulting is delighted to be a part of it,” said David Sumner, managing director of BSP Consulting, which is based in Nottingham and has offices in Derby, Leicester and Sheffield.

www.bsp-consulting.co.uk

Nottingham PR consultant Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk

Stylish new look for award-winning Anila's Authentic Sauces

Premium curry sauce and accompaniments producer Anila’s Authentic Sauces has unveiled a stylish new branding with peel and reveal labelling that will inspire customers to create fantastic dishes of their own.

The award-winning producer, which sells through delis, farm shops, health food stores and quality food retailers across the UK, has designed new labels to reflect the distinct characteristics of the range.

The labels highlight the concentrated nature of the superb Indian curry sauces – adding water doubles the quantity of curry sauce. The labels also emphasize the authentic great taste …and that the sauces contain only natural ingredients, are free from dairy, gluten, added sugar, onion and garlic, and are suitable for vegans and vegetarians.

And behind the new-look label on each jar is a guide to making the perfect authentic meal using the ingredients of your choice along with serving suggestions and contact details for even more great recipe ideas.

The curry sauces, chutneys, pickles and dips are also being packaged in chic new jars.

“The new labels give a clear message that the products created by Anila’s Authentic Sauces are speciality products, while at the same time highlighting the concentrated nature of the curry sauces,” explained Anila Vaghela, who founded Anila’s Authentic Sauces in 1997.

“What we provide are concentrated curry sauces that consumers use as a base to make a great-tasting, authentic home-made curry, as well as a range of fine, authentic pickles, chutneys and dips. We believe our new look accurately captures the sophistication of our award-winning range.

“The peel and reveal labels are a great way for customers to get even more from our authentic sauces, chutneys and pickles.”

Anila’s produces eight premium concentrated curry sauces, covering most regional tastes of India, handmade in small batches, as well as a range of 16 chutneys, pickles and dips made with single fruits and vegetables. The chutneys and pickles, which are also made using natural ingredients, are delicious accompaniments to curries and cheese, and perfect in sandwiches and marinades.

The firm has won 11 Great Taste Awards from the Guild of Fine Food for its products. Its Goan Green Curry Sauce was named Best Vegan Product in The Veggie Awards 2011 by Cook Vegetarian! magazine, with the judges saying: “Not only one of the best vegan curry sauces we’ve ever tried but one of the best curry sauces available. Its complexity of flavours makes its taste truly sensational.”

In 2009 Anila’s Spicy Korma Curry Sauce scooped a “Free From” Food Award.
Dairy-free, gluten-free and with no added sugar, the curry sauces are suitable for vegetarians and vegans. They also don’t contain onion or garlic, which make them ideal for families with differing dietary requirements.

Anila’s Authentic Sauces is based in Walton-on-Thames with a unit in Hounslow, and is run by Anila and her husband Dan.

Anila’s products are sold at John Lewis Oxford Street and John Lewis Bluewater, and top quality gourmet stores, such as Harrods, Wholefoods and Planet Organic, plus hundreds of other outlets that include health food stores, garden centres and gift shops, as well as smaller independent stores such as Budgens at Ascot, Shepperton and Crouch End. Anila’s also sells direct to the public at around 20 farmers’ markets across Surrey, Berkshire, and Buckinghamshire, including Guildford, Walton, Windsor, Maidenhead, Ascot, Ripley, Reading, Beaconsfield and Farnham, and online via www.anilassauces.com

Anila’s will be at the following events over the next few months:
The East of England Food Festival, 16-17 April, Knebworth House, Knebworth
Badminton Horse Trials, 21-25 April, Badminton, Gloucestershire
The Grow Your Own Show, 1-2 May, Loseley Park, Guildford
Food & Farming Fair, 1-2 May, Singleton, West Sussex.
Malvern Spring Fair, 12-15 May, Malvern, Worcestershire
Surrey County Show, 30 May, Guildford, Surrey
The Petersfield Food Festival, 4-5 June, Petersfield Town Centre, Hampshire
The Garden Show, 10-12 June, Stansted Park, Rowlands Castle, Hampshire
BBC Good Food Summer Show, 15-19 June, Birmingham NEC
The Great Yorkshire Show, 12-14 July, Yorkshire Showground, Harrogate
The Holkham Country Fair, 16-17 July, Holkham Hall, Norfolk

Recent customer comments about Anila’s range include:
“Your Hot Methi Curry was amazing!”
“I am in raptures of pleasure, your sauce is a triumph, I cannot praise it enough. The word exquisite does not do it justice.”
“Anila's Goan Green Curry Sauce tastes amazing, as good if not better than much of the food I ate whilst travelling in India a few years ago.”

The recommended retail price of Anila’s Curry Sauces is from £4, with the pickles, chutneys and dips from £3.30.

www.anilassauces.com

Nottingham PR consultant Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk

Polish politician joins English classes at Nottingham Language Academy

Polish marshal Marek Sowa – the Polish equivalent to a UK mayor - has spent three weeks at Nottingham Language Academy on an intensive course to improve his English.

As the Marshal of the Malopolska region of Poland, based in Krakow, he wanted to increase his knowledge of English and be able to communicate more fluently in the language.

So he opted to join classes at Nottingham Language Academy to help him deal more effectively with his role, which currently involves dealing with EU funding, investment and regional development and strategy.

“English is very important for my job,” said Marek. “I take part in meetings with other European regions and countries and I started learning English three years ago. Then I decided to come to England for a three-week intensive course.”

Marek stayed with a Woodthorpe family, and had six hours of lessons every day at Nottingham Language School.

“I found the lessons very interesting,” he said. “My English has improved and I had a good time. I was very happy with it and the teachers were good.”

He hopes the course will help him in his role as marshal.

“I’m involved in regional politics and development,” explained Marek. “Last year there was a lot of flooding in the region and we are now dealing with the damage. I also deal with EU funding, investment and regional development and strategy.”

Nottingham Language Academy, which is based in The Ropewalk, was recommended to Marek by a friend who owns a language school in Poland and who was taught English by one of the teachers at the academy.

“We were very pleased to have Marek as a student,” said Linda Walker, who is a Business Language Champion in the East Midlands and who launched the Nottingham Language Academy in September last year.

“He was a model pupil and it’s extremely satisfying for us, as well as for him, that his English has improved so much during the three weeks he spent with us.”

The school, which offers tuition to individuals and businesses, teaches English as a foreign language, alongside the modern languages of French, Spanish, German, Italian, Japanese, Greek and Mandarin.

Classes are run during the day, evenings and at weekends, and are designed for people who want to improve their job prospects, travel and see the world, live and work abroad, gain a place at university or learn something new for the fun of it.

The modern foreign languages courses are linked to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, which now forms the basis of language teaching and learning in most European Union countries.

Nottingham Language Academy is based at 8 The Ropewalk, Nottingham. For more information visit www.nottinghamlanguageacademy.co.uk or call 0330 333 6192.

Nottingham PR consultant Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk

Leicestershire independent pub company The Orange Tree to open its first club

East Midlands independent pub group The Orange Tree is to bring something new to Leicester’s nightlife with the opening of its first club.

The group has taken over the site formerly occupied by The Basement in Wellington Street, Leicester, and plans to transform the premises into a flexible venue with an alternative feel and offer.

The club, which will retain the name The Basement, will be true to the style of the group’s other outlets – The Orange Tree in High Street, the O Bar in Braunstone Gate, The Lansdowne in London Road, which are all in Leicester, and The Orange Tree, Loughborough, and The Orange Tree, Nottingham.

It will be a live music venue some nights, a late night bar on others and at weekends The Basement will have a more traditional night club feel but in intimate and personalised surroundings.

Ben Hings, managing director of The Orange Tree Group, said: “The Basement will be an eclectic mix of all the elements of our other establishments. Our aim is to create a venue that’s flexible in what it offers, and that is centred on the same principles, ethos and standards that have made the O Bar, The Orange Tree and The Lansdowne successful and popular with customers.

“The fact that we are expanding is good news for the company and good news for the nightlife in Leicester, which will be gaining the type and style of venue that we felt was missing in the city.”

Work is now underway to transform the 170-capacity club, with an expected opening date due in late spring or early summer.

The Basement has a licence to open until 6am, which the Orange Tree Group plans to operate at key times of the week.

The independent pub group was founded by Ben Hings and Gareth Smith in October 1997 when they opened The Orange Tree in Leicester. This was followed by The Orange Tree, Loughborough, a year later and then the O Bar in Leicester in 2001. The group’s Orange Tree in Nottingham opened in October 2003, followed by The Lansdowne in December 2004.

www.orangetree.co.uk

Nottingham PR consultant Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk

Nottingham Language Academy launches intensive exam revision classes in French, German and Spanish for Easter

Nottingham Language Academy is launching intensive revision classes this Easter as anxious pupils compete to secure university places before tuition fees rise to as much as £9,000 a year.

As pressure on higher education places mounts, the language school, based at The Ropewalk, in the city, is offering help at both A level and GCSE in French, German and Spanish during the school break.

Students starting university this September will be the last intake before higher tuition fees are introduced in 2012.

Nationally, more than 600,000 people have already applied through the University and College Admissions Service but the number of places available has been restricted to last year’s level of 487,000.

Demand for university places is being further fuelled by pupils who are cancelling planned gap years to beat the rise in fees.

The Easter holiday revision classes will be held at Nottingham Language Academy on April 18, 19, 20, and 21 and on April 26, 27 and 28.

“We want to give as much help as possible to pupils – and parents – concerned that missing out on a place later this year could cost them thousands of pounds,” said Linda Walker, who is a Business Language Champion in the East Midlands and who launched the Nottingham Language Academy in September last year.

“If pupils have to re-sit A levels they could end up in the first wave of students charged up to £9,000 a year in tuition fees.

“While some youngsters will be shutting themselves away to study at home for the Easter holidays, others may feel happier with a professionally structured approach and a classroom environment to help them revise more effectively. Nottingham Language Academy is here to help.”

The school, which offers tuition to individuals and businesses, also teaches English as a foreign language, alongside the modern languages of French, Spanish, German, Italian, Japanese, Greek and Mandarin.

Classes are run during the day, evenings and at weekends, and are designed for people who want to improve their job prospects, travel and see the world, live and work abroad, gain a place at university or learn something new for the fun of it.

The modern foreign languages courses are linked to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, which now forms the basis of language teaching and learning in most European Union countries.

Nottingham Language Academy is based at 8 The Ropewalk, Nottingham. For more information visit www.nottinghamlanguageacademy.co.uk or call 0330 333 6192.

Nottingham PR consultant Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk