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Here is the Nottinghamian from Friday, December 16:
Hello,
Today's edition of the Nottinghamian takes a look at the success an Arnold cake business has had after winning Aldi’s ‘Next Big Thing’. They have been working around the clock to keep up with the demand.
We also take a look at a charity Christmas tree being vandalised again and how the community is helping restore it. Plus we have one new restaurant in the city as well as a loss for West Bridgford's high street.
Success
The Arnold couple who won Aldi’s ‘Next Big Thing’ on Channel 4 have been overwhelmed with orders and are “working around the clock” following their success. Colin Harrison and Paulette Griffiths have been baking for up to 20 hours a day at some points but they are grateful for the attention they have received from across the world.
Collin, 69 and Paulette, 59, both from Arnold, have been working together since 2015. Paulette recalled the moment they won the competition and said: “When it aired, we were here [at home], our website had crashed and everything’s been crazy since the show finished. After the final, we had about 500 orders straight away.”
The couple’s living room and dining area had to be converted into a packing station, with family and friends helping with orders. In one day, the couple can make up to 70 large cakes and then over 90 small ones. With thousands of cakes being sold since the show was aired, the couple is facing the Christmas rush, will have a break and then get ready for Valentine's Day.
Angry, frustrated, devastated
A Nottingham baby loss charity has said it is "hugely grateful" for the support it has received after its Christmas tree was vandalised again. Forever Stars, which supports parents through stillbirth and infant loss, has a Christmas tree set up in Highfields Park. At the beginning of December, "senseless" vandals cut the Christmas tree's lights "around 20 times".
More than £2,000 was raised to help the charity reinstall the lights. Yet on December 13, Forever Stars' fundraising manager Jo Sharp discovered the lights were cut again. The charity has had to pay for another new set of lights. Local companies have been showing their support by providing security fencing around the tree free of charge and a security company is now doing regular patrols.
Talking about how the vandalism made her feel, Jo said: "Angry, frustrated, devastated. All of the above. It should never have to be the case. It is a Christmas tree, something to bring joy and comfort to everybody and specifically the baby loss community. It is just devastating to know you have to put these measures in place. If it means we can continue with the lights and keep them until the new year, then it's a small price to pay."
Weather and trivia
Weather: Dry and very cold at first on Saturday, with any freezing fog patches only slowly clearing. Clouding over in the north, with some outbreaks of rain, sleet and hill snow. Slightly milder. Maximum temperature 5 °C.
UV: Low
Further reading: Christmassy streets across Nottinghamshire and the touching stories behind the displays
Trivia question: Where in Nottinghamshire was the birthplace of the Quaker religion in 1647?
The answer to today's trivia question is at the bottom of the newsletter.
Recommendation
Name: Binks Yard
Address: 1 The Great Northern Close, Nottingham, NG2 3BJ
Cuisine: Bar with pizzas, grill and small plates
Celebrate the run up to Christmas in style at one of Nottingham's newest bar and restaurant. The canal-side Binks Yard offers all-day dining, drinks and entertainment. The bar is in the newly-built Island Quarter which aims to bring a fresh lease of life to the area.
Binks Yard is currently beautifully decorated with large Christmas trees inside and out. The stylish on-trend bar is welcoming and serves a selection of real ales, wines and cocktails. The menu has a variety of options with food that is grilled, cured, wood-fired.
The industrial style feels warm and welcoming, with plenty of large and small tables for socialising. In summer, Binks Yard will serve drinks and small bites in kiosks and feature live performances on an all-weather bandstand. The venue is also home to the largest outdoor screen in the East Midlands set to show all the biggest sporting events.
During the festive season, Binks Yard is hosting live entertainment every evening from DJs, live solos, duos and bands. Christmas menus are also now on offer, meaning it's the perfect time to try out one of Nottingham's newest venues just before the big day.
Mash-up
Nottingham's newest restaurant is a mash-up of all things hip hop as fried chicken meets street art. Mollis is the creation of Michelin Star chef Alex Bond, who also owns Alchemia, the upmarket restaurant next door.
Street art lines the walls of the restaurant on Derby Road which has been decorated with creations from some of Nottingham's best-known graffiti artists. The menu boasts "the best-fried chicken you've ever had" with bone-in or out options such as Gochujang buffalo and blue cheese, pineapple or Chimochurri with fresh herbs, charcoal butter with quince chutney or sea buckthorn nahm jim, fermented cabbage.
Alex said: "We wanted to do something that was more casual. If it wasn't here then it wouldn't have opened anywhere because it's right next door so it made sense. I love fried chicken and soft-serve ice cream so I wanted to use those things. It's just another side of what I do as my life doesn't revolve around fine dining." Take a further look here.
Difficult decision
A West Bridgford bar and antiques store is closing its doors for the final time, less than a year after opening. The Blue Camel Cafe in Bridgford Road, confirmed that it will cease service tomorrow (December 17) in an emotional Facebook message.
Staff said the decision was a "very difficult and sad" one and told fans to look out for their offers before they shut for the final time. The store opened in February 2022 and is a sister store to Hopkinson Vintage, Antiques and Art Centre in Nottingham city centre.
A Facebook post issued by staff read: "Thank you and goodbye. We have made the very difficult and sad decision to close our Blue Camel site. A massive thank you to everyone that has been a part of the Blue Camel and made it what it is, our regulars and everyone who has spent time here. Do visit our other two sites @hopkinson21 and @cobdenplace to shop local and independent always. X."
That's all for today
Thank you for joining me for today's edition of The Nottinghamian. I hope you enjoyed it, and if you did why not sign up to receive it directly in your inbox every weekday by clicking here.
The answer to today's trivia question, where in Nottinghamshire was the birthplace of the Quaker religion in 1647, is Mansfield.
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