Free cash withdrawals from Hoults reception

We now have a Cash Machine available to use in the Hoults Yard reception. Available Monday to Friday 9:15am to 4:30pm. No charges for withdrawals and mobile phone top-ups available.

Recycle your used HP printer cartridges on the Yard

Always eager to encourage responsible business, we have made arrangements with HP for printer cartridge recycling. There are now two boxes under the bench in the post room – one for Inkjet, and one for Laserjet – please ensure you put your used cartridge in the correct one, and don’t include any packaging. This service is for HP brand only. If you notice the box getting full, just give us a shout at reception and we will get a replacement ordered.

On this note, there is also a general recycling bin at the back of the Kiln. Call into reception for the key and we can point you in the right direction! Any cardboard to go in the big blue skip at the far end of the car park.

Radio4′s Any Questions? comes to the Yard

We’re very excited to be hosting Any Questions for BBC Radio 4 on Friday 28^th October. Radio’s counterpart to Question Time is to be chaired by respected journalist and broadcaster Jonathan Dimbleby, of the renowned Dimbleby dynasty.

We’ve been given the opportunity because Any Questions is keen to reach out to local venues and were interested that our Warehouse34 space also hosts rehearsals for the homeless singing charity Streetwise Opera. So, we’re kindof co-hosting with Streetwise Opera and their singing group will perform some of their work after the live radio bit – when there’ll be a short reception.

We hope you will come along for the evening and add to the entertainment by contributing your questions. With 1.5 million listeners, it’s a great opportunity to get your voice heard – no pressure!

There’s no limit on the number of questions submitted per person – so if you’re interested in current affairs and want to put the panellists to the test – ask away!

I’m instructed that the BBC is not averse to some humour, so light hearted questions are welcomed alongside more serious ones. However, please be aware that though Geordies are the most important people, the programme is UK-wide, so stick to topics of national interest.

The panel is yet to be confirmed, but we will keep you updated. 

You must be present in the hall to put your question forward, so if you want the chance of being broadcast, or just fancy coming along for the fun, please contact me: suzie@houltsyard.co.uk for your free ticket. The doors open at 6:45pm, and you should take your seats by 7:15pm.

Unfortunately we have a limited number of tickets, and it’s first come, first served, so don’t hesitate too long!  Please note that the minimum age limit for audience members is 14.

Background info:

Any Questions? Was first broadcast on Friday 12^th October 1948; for the first eighteen months it was a West of England Home Service Programme, run from Bristol. It moved to London in April 1915, but after 26 years in the capital, it has returned to production offices in Bristol once again. 

Any Questions? is broadcast live on Radio 4 on most Friday evenings of the year following the 8pm news. The programme is repeated on Saturday lunchtimes at 1.15pm, and is followed at 2pm by the Any Answers? phone-in which gives listeners a chance to join in the debate by calling or emailing Jonathan Dimbleby.

The programme travels throughout the United Kingdom, and occasionally to Europe, at the invitation of local organisations. The audience submits questions on the day of the broadcast, and these are then sifted by the producer who selects ten questions across a range of subjects. Normally, four to six of them are included in the actual broadcast. One of the stringent and unchanging rules of Any Questions? is that the panel never sees the questions in advance;  the panellists hear them for the first time at the same moment the audience in the hall and at home does.

The programme has had four chairmen in its history. Freddie Grisewood was the first, steering the programme until December 1967 when David Jacobs took over. David Jacobs was Chairman until July 1983; John Timpson chaired the programme until July 1987 when Jonathan Dimbleby took the chair.

The most prolific panellist currently is Tony Benn, who first appeared in March 1951 and has contributed around 80 times to the programme. Over the years, many figures of note have appeared as panellists, including most past and present leaders of the political parties, plus renowned writers such as Frederick Forsyth, Beryl Bainbridge and Fay Weldon, and many distinguished figures from the worlds of the Arts, Science, Business and other areas of public life. A new generation of columnists and newspaper editors, such as Charles Moore, Max Hastings and Janet Street Porter, also appear regularly.

Currently, around 1.5 million people listen to the programme each week, the majority of them hearing the Saturday lunchtime repeat. The programme has only rarely had to come off air – once through audience disruption, once as a result of sabotage by disaffected schoolboys, and once during the Suez crisis when a Parliamentary ruling was breached. Most recently the programme had to be pulled off the air in April 2011 as a result of an unfortunate disruption to trains which rendered three of the four panellists unable to reach the programme venue in County Durham.

A Taster Evening with ht media

Making the Most of YouTube.

Bring your social media to life with video and make the web stickier for your business. Supported by Northern Net and hosted by Northern Film & Media,  ht media are running a taster evening where you’ll get an overview of the value you can add to your business by making the most of YouTube.

Taking place in The Kiln on Thursday 25 Nov, this is a great chance to gain valuable insights into how to bring your social media to life with video. The brief presentation will be followed by an opportunity to network and make some great new contacts in a relaxed and informal environment.

It’s becoming increasingly important to get your brand out on the web. YouTube is the world’s second largest search engine after Google, with over 2 billion hits per day! The presentation will show you how to get the most out of video, either by using services like ht media’s or learning how to create effective video with affordable technology – without damaging your brand.

Open to anyone working for a limited company, a public body, a partnership or HMRC registered as self-employed or a sole trader, the evening will give you a quick overview of ht media’s weekly workshops and an insight into best social media and video production practices from the perspective of TV and media professionals.

Wine and food will be provided and all they ask is that you attend and enjoy your evening.

When: Thursday 25 November

Presentation: 6.00pm – 7.00pm

Networking: 7.00pm – 8.00pm

Thanks to the support of Northern Net there is no charge for this event. To register click here

Northern Film & Media, Studio 2, The Kiln, Hoults Estate, Walker Road, Newcastle NE6 1AB.

HYBY Habit

Work and play

After six years of unique settings and playing host to international DJs across Newcastle, Habit are ending on a high with two final parties here at Hoults Yard.  

Now for the long goodbye. We salute you! And we don’t want to see habit leaving without a bang.

For the full sob statement and details of the final two parties click here.

So Long (Part 1)

Saturday the 4^th of December sees the Habit residents take over our intimate clubbing space – ThinkTank.

So Long (part 2)

Monday 27^th of December with Steve Bug & Âme Live until 4am up in Warehouse 34. 

For die hard fans Habit will be distributing a free completion, made solely for the closing parties with highlights from the last six years. Details to follow – keep checking the website.

Thanks go to Habit for setting the bar and we’ll see you soon for the final dance.

Daymon Britton – another HYBY hero

Daymon and his business partner Jamie Hutchinson of Pyramid Media got themselves on the cover of The Journal this weekend. Great coverage – and great Hoults Yard fans.

Check out the full story:

http://www.journallive.co.uk/lifestyle-news/newcastle-features/2010/09/11/actor-s-latest-role-as-tinsel-town-success-61634-27243703/

Hoults Yard paves way for Andy’s warrior adventure

A NORTH EAST couch potato turned modern day warrior has been commissioned to film a documentary about his experience – with Hoults Yard Byker taking centre stage.

Local film maker Andy Smith will be the focus of the ‘Is it cos I’m fat’ documentary, which tracks a personal challenge set by weapons-fighting legend Lynn Thompson to live an adventure, rather than watch one, and will be shown as part of Northern Film & Media’s community documentary scheme, Capture.

Self confessed geek Andy was planning to stay firmly out of the action and behind the camera lens when he first met the life-long practitioner of martial arts, but after agreeing to the challenge, news at creative hub Hoults Yard spread and now he not only has the support of HYBY-based Northern Film & Media, but also of production company Vita Nova films, also at Hoults.

Sunderland University educated Andy, who has a fear of violence after being attacked and bullied in the past, is spending many a waking hour training with kettlebells, weaponry and boxing at Hoults Yard – not only the location of aptly named training space ‘The Fridge’, but also home of his day job at digital media company Mere Mortals, where he uses every lunch break and evening to hone his skills.

Hoults Yard managing director Charlie Hoult said: “Who’d have thought we’d have our own tomahawk-throwing range in Byker? Pure genius.

“This project is one of those fantastic leftfield opportunities that come to Hoults Yard on a regular basis, like Streetwise Opera in the cafe for LateShows, or BritArtist Gillian Wearing using our dungeon or the Uraguayan artist wanting to recreate a French Revolution guillotine scene.

“We want to support this kind of project because it will put the North East on the map as a place of real creativity.

“It’s all part of the buzz at the yard and the reason we’re cementing our reputation as the region’s creative hub. We love a whacky project because it gives us something to discuss in the café.”

The heavy training all leads to Andy’s participation in the Cold Steel Challenge, California, in September – an internationally renowned weapons tournament for the best of the best, where he will be fighting with sticks, swords and knives.

Andy, who has added axe-throwing and stick fighting to the training mix, said: “I really didn’t expect my adventure to get so much attention. What started out as a personal challenge to overcome my fears of violence has become a real community focus.  The reactions I’ve had from people have been so encouraging. The training’s tough, but I hope the film will be something that resonates with a lot of people.

 “It’s not going to be a film about violence. It’s a film about confidence, and I hope that comes across. I am 32, heavily overweight, insecure and something of a geek, and I’d never dreamed of picking up a sword before. But I was fascinated by the warrior lifestyle people like Lynn lead and after he challenged me to stop hiding behind my own stereotype, I really wanted to see what I was made of.”

 “I can’t praise the guys at Hoults Yard enough. When I first approached them for a training space, I was hoping for an office at the most. But what they gave me was awesome – it’s more like a batcave.

“I’ve got plenty of space to train with my tyre stack and punch bag; I have a place to throw my axes and it’s perfect because it’s 24 hour access.”

Picture caption: Andy Smith (right) trains in stick fighting in The Fridge at Hoults Yard Byker.

More TV in the region… backed by NFM

NFM continue to be busy: check out their website for news. Or, see another highlight below:

 

ITV to make major new drama in the North East

Monday 21st June, 2010

TV drama has continued its resurgence in the North East after confirmation that ITV Studios will make a series of feature length episodes of Vera this summer.

Dubbed ‘the new Frost’ by ITV Director of Television Peter Fincham and Director of Drama Laura Mackie, a £30,000 Northern Film & Media investment in the initial pilot helped secure an extended 3x 120 minutes run for the eagerly anticipated show.

Starring Brenda Blethyn OBE as an obsessive, workaholic detective called Vera Stanhope, each instalment will see her fight personal demons and tackle a new crime in modern-day Northumberland and Newcastle. The series is attracting other stellar artists, including BAFTA award winner Gina McKee.

The move is a significant boost to the North East TV drama industry, once the home of household titles such as Auf Wiedersehen Pet, Spender and Byker Grove.

Northern Film & Media has led a campaign to revive major production in the North East through a series of negotiations and investments. The move is starting to pay dividends as programme makers return to the region.

Hit BBC children’s drama Tracy Beaker was the first returnable TV brand to bring production to the North East post Wire in the Blood. Filming of the new series will return to the former La Sagesse convent school in Newcastle this summer.

Company Pictures’ Inspector George Gently starring Martin Shaw ended the BBC show’s long exile in Northern Ireland to return to the North East, where the screenplay was always set, after £150,000 investment from the agency earlier this year.

Kevin Whately and Robson Green were later reunited in the North East thanks to a £60,000 investment from Northern Film & Media in Mammoth Screen’s Joe Maddison’s War. The drama single will be shown on ITV this autumn.

A 4×120 minute series of Vera including the original pilot will be shown on ITV1 earlier next year.

ITV Director of Drama Commissioning Laura Mackie revealed the broadcaster’s vision for Vera;

“With the demise of A Touch of Frost we are keen to introduce new crime dramas into the mix and to create the iconic detectives of the future. Brenda’s portrayal of the sharp but shambolic Vera Stanhope is a wonderful addition to our slate.”

Northern Film & Media CEO Tom Harvey identified the regional significance of the move;

“TV and film production is annually worth about £7m to the North East. Major drama’s like Vera provide vital work for our crews and facilities and a significant boost to the wider economy. They also provide a fantastic opportunity for our locations and people to be seen across the UK and beyond.

The recovery of the North East TV sector is wonderful news for the region as senior BBC and ITV executives put their faith in our locations and talent.”

Life and Soul move into Hoults Yard

A FORMER investment banker is treading into company expansion territory as the runaway success of his trendsetting trainer company has fuelled a move to new premises.

 SoleHeaven has been supplying collectors with their kicks for two years from Tynemouth but now the company has signed on the dotted line to rent part of the Ford building at creative media hub Hoults Yard in Byker, Newcastle.

 The company’s team of four – and thousands of retro trainers – will make the move into new 900 sq ft office at Hoults Yard, which was formerly the Tyneside Pottery Malings and has been in the Hoults family for generations, in July.

 Dale Parr set up SoleHeaven after leaving the world of finance to follow his sole passion in the North East and is now celebrating the firm’s growth and second birthday with a new office.

 SoleHeaven managing director Dale Parr said: “Following the success SoleHeaven has experienced, we needed to find a larger property for the growing stock and number of employees.  The move forms one phase of our new development plan.

 “After hearing about Hoults Yard while in an art gallery in Ouseburn, I knew the property would be perfect.  The place has a great buzz about it.

 “Finding our new site wasn’t an easy job because of the logistics of our stock intake.   As our company is based online it relies upon large stock deliveries so we required a street level office with easy access to air, rail and road networks.  Being a former haulage yard, Hoults Yard has the infrastructure already in place for the demands of our business. The site ticked every box.” 

 Hoults Yard managing director Charlie Hoult said: “SoleHeaven is another coup for the yard, and joins a number of like minded companies based here. 

 “From picture framer Bruce Reid, curtain maker Nicola Fionda to furniture restorer Richard Zabrocki, SoleHeaven will be neighbour to a cluster of fashion and furnishing firms.

 “There are also a number of online retailers already set up at Hoults Yard, who like Dale, saw the huge benefits of the yard’s ability to provide safe storage for stock with an adjacent office.

 “This sign-up proves that Hoults Yard is a very adaptable space and the durability of the buildings, architecture and accessibility to transport networks are a huge draw for many businesses.”

 At present all business is channelled through SoleHeaven’s website: www.soleheaven.com, which was designed by Newcastle digital company Orange Bus.  

 However, SoleHeaven wants to expand its business beyond the online market and the new premises will allow the team to encourage North East sneaker lovers to pop in and buy trainers from their Byker office.

 

Maling Pottery – Ouseburn heritage walk, Jun29

I think we’ve missed the Visit to the Byker Wall, organised by Ouseburn Trust for Jun15.

However, it’s not too late to mark your diary for Jun29, when there’s a walk through Ouseburn to tell the story of Malings Pottery.

The event starts at 7pm at The Ship, on Stepney Bank, and winds its way through Malings’ three pottery sites. We’ll end up at Hoults Yard (nee Malings Ford B Pottery) for refreshments.