Latest news with #StephenAndrews
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Daily Mail
The six best things to do in York
The hotel An easy direct train ride from Newcastle, Peterborough, Doncaster or London (book with York makes a great weekend break – with smart hotels including Elmbank Hotel ( doubles from £109). It's a handsome mansion from c1870 with original Art Nouveau details – roses in the restaurant's stained glass, a balustraded stairway by a Charles Rennie Mackintosh contemporary. There are special-occasion glam suites with claw-foot tubs; tea in the Peacock Bar can roll into whiskies until late. The restaurant Grape Lane was, in the 17th century, the heart of York's red-light district, known then as Grope Lane. It's gone upmarket since and, at trendy indie restaurant Fish & Forest ( the proof is in the pudding: ask for the heady chocolate delice with bay-leaf ice cream and oat-biscuit crunch. Young owner-chef Stephen Andrews is a whiz with mains, including sea bass in a Jackson-Pollocky swirl of cream and tarragon. If you like oysters, you'll love the cold, white Lindisfarne variety to kick off with. The cocktails You've got to love a place where you're greeted by a funky bartender with a pitch-black statement hairdo, accessorised with a broad smile. The Fossgate Social ( is that place. There's something edgy about its Gothic-dark, oblong dimensions, but all is offset by a chattery crowd, winking red fairy lights, table candles and a drinks list notable for spicy honey (or alternatively mango) margaritas that would stun an ox. Handily, there's a courtyard to crash in. The Sunday roast In a city said to have 365 pubs, worthy highlights include The Blue Bell ( the city's smallest: a shoebox of bric-a-brac and heavenly draughts. But our money's on The Ackhorne (@_theackhorne, above), down an alley outside the city walls. It's a woozy haven of low tables and stools, dogs and dad rock (ELO, Billy Joel). Families pile in for sensational Sunday roasts. The beef was unforgettable: tons of it, piled in rare-pink blankets, with a UFO of a Yorkshire pud and floods of pour-me-more gravy. The tour For some eerie, entertaining history, join The Bloody Tour of York (£12, for discounts see led by Lady Peckett, above. With a theatrical flourish, she shares some shuddery tales: of Roman soldier ghosts in the Treasurer's House; the trade in leeches in the plague years; and heads on spikes, including, they say, the Grand Old Duke of York's, in the Wars of the Roses. The 1586 execution of one Margaret Clitherow, crushed to death for harbouring Catholic priests, sounds truly grim. The neighbourhood Bishopthorpe (unofficially 'Bishy') Road is dubbed 'the Notting Hill of York'. It's certainly a barometer of city style: for gifts, Frankie & Johnny's Cookshop (no23) has beautifully patterned Polish tableware, and birthday cards by York artists; see also The Bishy Weigh (no1), selling local rapeseed oil, honey and chocolate. When it's time for brunch, do pancake stacks (above), at Robinsons (no7). Visit and for more independent stores across the city.
Western Telegraph
25-05-2025
- Business
- Western Telegraph
Thousand Islands fishing and wildlife trips out of Fishguard
Thousand Island Expeditions has been running tourist trips along the north Pembrokeshire coast from Fishguard to Strumble Head for some years now. This summer the company is adding fishing trips to its repertoire, giving guests the chance to fish for mackerel and more off the north Pembrokeshire coast. (Image: Stephen Andrews) The trips will run on the company's Blue Shark boat; a 33ft Lochin Sport Fisher, built to a high commercial specification by Lochin Marine and renowned for its fantastic seakeeping characteristics. Onboard amenities include a toilet, and facilities for making hot drinks The outings are suitable for families, large groups, first time fishers and for more experienced anglers. Thousand Islands supplies everything needed for the trips, so all passengers have to do is worry about catching their dinner. (Image: Darcy Lawrey) Blue shark is the only dedicated fishing charter vessel within the area and offers a range of fishing trips which are suitable for all abilities and experience levels. There are longer, full day trips over the weekend, and shorter trips throughout the week in the fully equipped Blue Shark, manned by an experienced skipper and crew members who have a vast knowledge about the waters and fishing. Due to the closure of St Justinian's slipway, this season all fishing trips will be running from Fishguard Harbour. 'We are pleased to announce an exciting update for the 2025 season,' said Thousand Island Expeditions. 'This season, we will be using our traditional vessel, Blue Shark, for the Fishguard Bay and Strumble head wildlife trips, but also, we will be now running our popular fishing charters from Fishguard. 'For the keen fishers out there, we supply everything for your trips, so all you have to do is worry about catching your dinner.' For those not bothered about fishing for their supper, Thousand Islands will also be running wildlife viewing trips out of Fishguard Harbour. The fully guided, one-and-a-half-hour boat trip will delve into the fascinating history of the Fishguard port and town, before heading off on an exploration along the coast towards Strumble Head. Visitors will view the fascinating prehistoric rock formations and an abundance of remarkable wildlife on this stretch of coast, as well as the landing site of the last invasion of Britain. Among the wildlife that can be spotted are auks, kittiwakes, and fulmars, gannets, chough and peregrine falcon as well as Atlantic grey seals, harbour porpoises common and bottlenose dolphins, and occasionally Risso's dolphin. These excursions, suitable for all ages, will operate regularly from Fishguard throughout the summer season, running from 8am to 6pm, subject to demand. For more information ring 01437721721, email info@ or visit linked above.
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Fire Bureau reveals cause of explosion that destroyed Greece home
Investigators have determined that natural gas build-up is to blame for an explosion that leveled a Greece home last fall. But, according to a report from the Monroe County Fire Bureau, the exact cause of the incident was deemed "undetermined." Here's more on the explosion and report: A house at 843 Stone Road was leveled by an explosion just before 5 a.m. on Nov. 11, 2024, according to the Barnard Fire District, the lead agency that responded to the scene. Neighbors said they saw the three residents crawling out of the house shortly after the blast. The trio - a woman in her 20s and her parents - were hospitalized with burns, said Barnard Fire Chief Stephen Andrews. All three were hospitalized after the explosion and had suffered "varying degrees of injuries," and two been asleep at the time of the explosion, according to the report. The third told fire officials she saw a "huge amount of fire enter the bedroom she was in as part of the explosion. The trio had only lived in the house for about three months at the time of the explosion, according to the report. The front cover plate of the Cape-Cod-style home's natural gas meter was "not in place," according to the report. All eight screw holes on the plate for the meter body were empty and the undamaged cover was found on the basement floor just below the meter. The internal part meter sustained fire damage. An undamaged cordless drill was also found in the basement, but the missing retaining bolts were not, according to the report. "If the front cover plate to the body of the natural gas meter were to have fallen off due to the retaining bolts being absent, this would have provided for a steady flow of fugitive natural gas into the residence, thus contributing to the cause of the explosion," the report read. The homeowner told fire officials that he had been renovating the kitchen and was preparing for the installation of new countertops, set to take place the same day the explosion ultimately happened. The homeowner reported that no work had been done in the basement - other than painting the walls - since his family moved into the home in August. The natural gas appliances in the basement were in the basement when the moved in and appeared to be working normally, he told fire officials. All three residents did frequent the basement - typically to do laundry, they told fire officials. The daughter confirmed she woke to a strong and "bad odor" on Nov. 11, but did not recognize the scent to be natural gas, according to the report. Fire officials also noted that all three residents said they did not remove bolts or the cover from the gas meter. It is possible the cover was not secured and fell off, but that remained unknown. While nothing appeared to be malicious, any human involvement with regards to the removal of the plate remained unknown, according to the report. Fire officials confirmed that natural gas filled open areas of the home, and was particularly concentrated in the basement. Rochester Gas and Electric last year tested for deficiencies and released a report noting that the explosion was not sparked by a natural gas line. This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Fire Bureau reveals cause of explosion that destroyed Greece NY home
