Latest news with #WestBridgford
Yahoo
13-07-2025
- Yahoo
I was scared to take the plunge at new Nottinghamshire attraction Saunahood but I've never felt more alive
I love a good hot bath. It's my favourite way to unwind at the end of a busy day. Failing that, a steaming hot shower. Cold water? No thank you. Thinking back to Wim 'The Iceman' Hof a few years ago, it gave me palpitations when his programme Freeze the Fear saw a number of celebrities immersing themselves in icy water. So why I agreed to visit a new Nottinghamshire attraction that combines a sauna with a plunge in cold water I do not know. I've no worries over the sauna part. I've sat and sweated my socks off in a wooden cabin many times although I've never understood why the Finnish ruin the ritual of a nice hot sauna by rolling in the snow afterwards. Each to their own. Running through the essentials to take to Saunahood, the website lists a towel, swimming costume, flip flops and water bottle. The latter is to stay hydrated but it did cross my mind to take a hot water bottle to warm up afterwards. READ MORE: Bramley's in Nottingham is not a restaurant I'd think to visit but now it's in my top ten READ MORE: Susanna Reid's 'stunning' red Next dress ideal for UK heatwave priced at £36 I feel as rigid as a block of ice when I pull up at the site at Holme Pierrepont Country Park's campsite, off Adbolton Lane, West Bridgford, for my first session of 'contrast therapy' as it's known. The new venture opened six weeks ago. Tucked away in a leafy green part of the park are two plunge steel baths in front of the sauna. "Don't dip your hand in," says founder Ellen Tobin as I go to test the water. "It'll put you off later." Ellen explains that contrast therapy simply means alternating between hot and cold environments, switching between the sauna that's around 70-80°C and the plunge pools which are set at 10°C. That sets my mind at ease at little - at least it's not sub zero. But why? "When your body is in the hot environment your blood is pumped to the skin away from your core to try and cool you down - this is called vasodilating. In the plunge pool your body vasoconstricts - your blood goes to your vital organs and your core to protect you. "Both of these scenarios put your body under a small amount of stress - you are kicking your heart into action to work harder and giving your vascular system a great work out. The idea is that when you experience stress in life your body will be much more adept to dealing with it, and can keep you stable as it's been exercising the stress response with contrast therapy." Benefits from the heat include loosening the muscles and joints, a detox, improved cardiovascular function, lowering stress hormones and better sleep. The cold element reduces muscle soreness and swelling, boosts mood, builds mental resilience and stress tolerance and activates the parasympathetic nervous system so you experience a post-cold "calm". That's the science but what about the reality? Changing into my swimming costume as slowly as possibly to delay the inevitable, the time has come to step inside the sauna within a beautifully restored horse box. Until now the only revamped horse boxes I'm familiar with are the ones selling pizza or prosecco. It's a roasting hot day but it's even hotter inside with the wood-fired stove pumping out intense heat. I'm joined by Ellen, who hands me a pixie-like cap which protects the ears and head from the heat - particularly useful if you're bald. After five minutes or so, it's time to switch. I ask if it's better to dip your toe in and take it steadily or just go for it. As I fear, it's the latter. The water is every bit as horrendously cold as I imagine... so cold it hurts. The trick is to stay as still as possible because the more you move around the worse it is. As I grimace throughout, Nottinghamshire Live's photographer Joe tells me to imagine it's warm. It doesn't help. I brave it for longer than I was expecting though. Then it's back to the sauna and repeat several times within the 50-minute session, which ends with a final dip in the plunge bath. It's just as cold as the first time but it's more tolerable and I'm actually laughing and enjoying looking up at the blue sky and trees in the scenic setting. The contrast of hot and cold is said to speed up recovery after workouts or endurance events, improve circulation and regulate your body's stress response. It sounds like something serious athletes and high-pressured business executives would book themselves into it but it's attracting all demographics and ages, from a medal-winning para canoeist (who takes a book to read in the plunge bath) to families. Ellen said: "Guests are on day-dates, celebrating birthdays, looking for a way to unwind and reset at the end of the week - or just get time out for themselves. It's been a real joy to welcome people and see everyone embracing the ancient art of sweat bathing - coming together to cleanse the body and reset the mind." A maximum of eight people can book a private session or six for a communal session, costing £15 each for 50 minutes. Ellen said: "Feedback has been amazing. People are leaving glowing and talking about how lovely they feel and also making connections with others. The sound of laughter coming from the sauna and guests saying 'lovely to meet you' as they leave is really heart-warming. "It's about connection with others, time away from technology and all the distractions and stresses of life. Guests are coming back time and again and building contrast therapy into their weekly routine. I can't ask for more than that." The experience is undoubtedly life-affirming. Before I tried it I thought I would hate every second. Afterwards I feel amazing; energised but with an inner calm. I'm glad I stepped out of my comfort zone and, even though I thought it would be torture, it was fun. I might even return in the winter when it snows. Saunahood is open on Friday from 12pm to 6pm and weekends 10am to 4pm. Book online at
BBC News
29-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
New Bridford Park equipment vandalised while under construction
New equipment at a park in West Bridgford has been vandalised while still under construction, a borough council has benches were graffitied and fencing was damaged in order to gain access to the site at Bridgford Park over the weekend of 24 and 25 Borough Council said it was now increasing security patrols at the park while the work Jonathan Wheeler, the authority's portfolio holder for leisure & wellbeing, said it was "exceptionally disheartening" that the features were vandalised before even being used. "We have worked hard with Nottinghamshire Police to lower anti-social behaviour in the area in recent times including using CCTV to identify culprits."In the last 12 months police have also been engaging with young people that in some cases led to home visits to speak to parents and saw arrests of those who refused to curb their criminal behaviour," he Che Sands, from Nottinghamshire Police, said they took reports of vandalism at the park "very seriously" and they were working with the council to ensure high-visibility patrols were taking place routinely."Bridgford Park falls under a Public Spaces Protection Order, meaning any anti-social behaviour or criminal damage offences will be dealt with by either criminal or financial punishment regardless of age."We will not tolerate this kind of behaviour in West Bridgford and continue our work to clamp down on it," he council has urged anyone with information on the vandalism to contact authority said the new features were still due to open in the coming weeks following a £300,000 include a new climbing structure as well as a "balancing trim trail, social hammocks and inclusive equipment".
BBC News
15-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Calls for Nottinghamshire County Council to move back to old HQ
Labour has called for Nottinghamshire County Council to move back to its former council officially relocated to Oak House near Hucknall in March under the Conservatives, who argued County Hall was too costly to UK has since taken charge of the authority at the local elections, and the new council leader has expressed an interest in holding meetings at the old base in West Bridgford.A motion due to be discussed at the first full meeting of the new administration next week says County Hall is "recognisable to residents across the county and is easily visited by hundreds of members of the public each month, thanks to its location and excellent transport links". "In comparison, Oak House is a costly and unsuitable replacement as the civic centre of Nottinghamshire, located remotely and without sufficient transport links," it says. The motion, tabled by Labour group leader Penny Gowland, would commit the council to exploring how County Hall could be maintained as the passed, the authority would also look at options to dispose of Oak House or lease some of the space, "the proceeds of which can be used to fund other areas of council business".Speaking earlier this week, incoming council leader Mick Barton said he had asked if next week's meeting could be held "at this magnificent council chamber" [County Hall], but was told the microphone system had already been moved to Oak House."I shall be looking at the whole raft moving forward of where we feel we need to be based," he group leader and former council leader Sam Smith said it would cost about £50m to keep County Hall functional."When proposing the motion next week, Labour will have to set out what libraries they propose to close, which waste recycling centres they'll close, what roads and pavements they will not resurface and what schools they will not build in order to fund the £50m renovation," he for the future of County Hall have never been confirmed, but it has previously been suggested it could be turned into housing, restaurants and 22 May meeting, due to be held at Oak House, will also see Barton formally confirmed as the authority's new leader.
BBC News
13-05-2025
- BBC News
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Dan Martin BBC News, East Midlands Nottinghamshire Police Clive Hawker set fire to a wheelie bin and then the flames spread, police said An arsonist has been jailed for setting fire to his Nottingham home while there was a woman inside. Nottinghamshire Police said Clive Hawker started a fire at his home in Lingmell Close, West Bridgford, in the early hours of 19 July last year, which spread across the porch and front door. The force said a police officer, among the first to the scene, entered the rear of the smoke-filled house after being told a woman was inside and remained with her in an upstairs bedroom until firefighters arrived. Hawker was jailed for 11 years and one month when he appeared at Nottingham Crown Court on Monday. The 55-year-old had admitted charges of arson with intent to endanger life and arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered. The woman was subsequently taken to hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation and later made a full recovery. Nottinghamshire Police Clive Hawker deliberately started a fire in a bin which then spread Detectives said their investigation found Hawker had set fire to his home after igniting a blaze in a wheelie bin which then spread to the building. They said the bin was placed in a way which ensured it quickly spread to the door and blocked the exit of anyone attempting to escape. Following the sentencing, Judge Nirmal Shant KC made a judicial commendation for PC James Cantrill, who entered the burning house to find the woman. The judge also handed two neighbours a High Sheriff's award for their bravery after they also entered the building to try to help the woman. 'Immense bravery' PC Cantrill said: "I managed to gain access to the home and locate the woman through thick smoke. "She was lying on the floor and in a confused state. "I'm pleased to have helped her, and she was very grateful. "It was a great relief to discover she had not suffered serious injury and has made a full recovery." Det Con Tony Tonks described Hawker as a "dangerous individual" and said the actions of PC Cantrill and the neighbours had helped prevent serious injury to the woman. "Both PC Cantrill and the two neighbours demonstrated immense bravery in entering a burning building through dense smoke," he said. "I have no doubt the officer's quick thinking and decision-making saved the woman's life." Related internet links HM Courts & Tribunals Service
