The well-known Arnold restaurant and wedding venue known as ‘The Lakeside’ was put on the market earlier this year (2023), with Christie & Co. listing the Grade II Listed restaurant and wedding venue for sale at £5,450,000 (Freehold).
The business has had a number of owners in recent times with new life breathed into the Grade II listed building by the current owners in recent years, however they closed the property without notice earlier this year.
Pictured: The Lakeside Property (PHOTO: Gedling Eye)
Repeated visits and contact by Gedling Eye earlier this year failed to gain a response from the business and the gated access remained padlocked on the majority of our visits despite the premises remaining advertised on their website as being open Fri, Sat and Sunday from 11.00am – 11.00pm.
Pictured: The Lakeside Entrance (PHOTO: Gedling Eye)
The current owners are believed to be NewEra Lakeside Limited with a Registered Office at Lygon House, 50 London Road, Bromley, Kent, BR1 3RA is registered in England & Wales. Company Number 12341396.
A charge in the sum of £62,462.70 was raised in February 2023 against the property following Newera Lakeside Limited borrowing the sum from Certain Bridge Limited. This payment was due to be repaid either from the sale of the property OR the 16/4/2023 – whichever was the earliest. The charge remains listed as Outstanding on Companies House website https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/companies-house .
Pictured: The Lakeside Property (PHOTO: Gedling Eye)
The beautiful property is described by Christie & Co. as stunningly presented throughout with previous planning for c.30 bed hotel and set in approx. 5.79 acres.
Three drug dealers have been jailed after police read dozens of encrypted messages between them and their suppliers.
Jerome O’Connor, Jahvan Morris and Abdul Aziz conspired to bring tens-of-thousands-of-pounds-worth of cocaine onto the streets of Nottinghamshire.
Officers from Nottinghamshire Police tracked the gang for several months before tailing them to a deal in Suffolk and catching them red-handed on the way home.
Morris had been instructed by gang-leader O’Connor to travel to Ipswich on 9 June 2020 to pick up a consignment of cocaine.
Travelling in Aziz’s taxi to avoid suspicion during Covid restrictions, they were tracked to and from the deal by police, who waited until they were back in Nottinghamshire before pulling them over on the A52 near Saxondale Island.
Inside, officers found a supermarket bag containing nearly a kilogram of cocaine and the pair were arrested.
O’Connor was detained several months later after going into hiding and denied knowing either of the other two men.
He also denied travelling in various cars linked to him by police – including a rental car paid for with his credit card and hired with his driving licence.
Officers had previously used automatic number plate recognition cameras and mobile phone data to tie O’Connor to several previous trips to the same location.
Other unusually brief trips were recorded to locations in Gloucestershire and Sheffield.
Subsequent financial enquiries identified O`Connor had also sought to launder tens of thousands of pounds of criminal cash through his own bank accounts.
O’Connor, aged 36, formerly of Oakley Court, Gedling, later pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply class A drugs and money laundering offences.
O’Connor admitted to playing the leading role in the supply of five kilograms of cocaine and laundering more than £47,000 in cash.
Morris, aged 41, formerly of Elford Rise, St Ann’s, pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and Supplying Cannabis.
Aziz, aged 68, of Tynedale Close, Aspley, played a lesser role as a courier and pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting both O’Connor and Morris.
Appearing at Leicester Crown Court on Thursday they were jailed for 14 years and three months; six years and a three years and nine months respectively.
Detective Sergeant Emma Pollard, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “These men conspired to bring very large amounts of illegal drugs into our communities, so we’re pleased they have been held to account.
“They were exposed by a long and complex police investigation involving dozens of officers and staff and I would like to thank each of them for their hard work and professionalism.
“Illegal drugs are a blight on our communities and bring misery to the lives of often vulnerable people, which is why we will continue to go after those who bring them to our streets.
“Although there was a very clear hierarchy at play in this case, with O’Connor at the top, every one of these men played a key role in a very significant drug dealing operation and will now spend a considerable amount of time in jail as a result.
“I hope, then, that this case serves as a warning to others involved in the sale of illegal drugs.
“You can be as careful as you like. You can even use encrypted messaging platforms.
“But that doesn’t mean we aren’t on to you and doesn’t mean we’re not watching your every move and planning when to strike.”
Detective Constable Jason Wood, leading officer in the case, said: “This was a challenging case due to use of the encrypted devices but working with the information supplied by the National Crime Agency we were able to secure the evidence which led to the three defendants
“This was a protracted investigation but the hard work carried out by all officers and CPS staff involved is what secured these convictions.”
During the course of the investigation financial investigators also identified more than £51,000-00 in bank accounts connected to O`Connor – money that was frozen using a restraint order.
When he was sentenced, O`Connor admitted the money belonged to him.
A confiscation timetable has now been set to ensure all these monies and any other criminal funds are confiscated.
An update has been provided over the future of The Lambley pub by owners Star Pubs and Bars – and it’s good news for drinkers, as plans to keep the pub trading are reconfirmed.
In January Gedling Eye contacted The Lambley owners Star Pubs and Bars who told us ‘they hadn’t been informed that the pub was closing’.
In February the chain provided Gedling Eye with an update, confirming that they wanted to get the pub trading again and a spokesperson for Star Pubs & Bars said:
“There is interest in taking on The Lambley from a number of parties because it is a great pub in a great location.”
Pictured: Inside The Lambley (PHOTO: Star Inns & Pubs)
Star Pubs and Bars provided Gedling Eye with the latest update this week saying:
“The Lambley is due to reopen in time to make the most of the Great British Summer. We continue to look for long term operators at the pub.”
The pub continues to be listed on the Star Pubs & Bars website which states that the Lambley has an estimated annual turnover of £565,982 with an annual rent of £34,450.
Pictured: Inside The Lambley (PHOTO: Star Inns & Pubs)
It is described as having a function room, 45+ internal covers with private accommodation.
Anyone thinking of taking over the pub will need a minimum of £10,000 un-borrowed funds to ensure a successful start-up and a deposit of 6 month’s rent will be required for operators trading under a Limited Company with no Guarantors.
Residents living in one of just a handful of Conservative-controlled wards across Gedling borough have shared their thoughts ahead of the May 4 local elections.
There are 41 seats available on the council, covering 19 wards across the borough.
In 2019, when the last election took place, Gedling Labour increased its majority by four seats to 29, eight clear of the threshold to take control of the council.
Meanwhile the Conservatives lost seven seats, bringing the group’s total down to eight.
The Liberal Democrats gained one, bringing the total number of seats on the council to two, and two independent councillors were elected.
Despite Labour’s prowess in the borough, the Trent Valley ward, which encompasses Stoke Bardolph and Burton Joyce, remained blue.
Mike Adams managed to secure 658 votes, or 42 per cent, while Sam Smith secured 595 votes, or a 38 per cent share.
The next closest candidate was Labour’s Margaret Strong, who had 494 votes.
One life-long Labour voter says she is now considering a vote for Mr Adams and Mr Smith due to what she describes as good work in her community.
“I will be voting because I always do, because it is important,” said Dawn Lee, a retired farmer who lives in Stoke Bardolph.
“In this locality the councillors are pretty active. I’m a life-long Labour voter, but I am split.
“For the first time it is a dilemma. They are very involved.
“Previously when we had Vernon [Coaker], he was a very good MP, whereas I cannot say the same for the current one.
“But the councillors, right from being elected, have been in the area a lot getting involved.
“To be honest it is generally a Conservative area, but there is a level of mistrust from top-down.
“The roads are shocking but Mike has been on top of that, he has his links to highways, but you only have to drive around to see we are not alone.”
Angie Robertson, who runs The Barber Shop and Bar in Station Road, Burton Joyce, says her business has been struggling due to soaring overheads.
“Covid has changed people’s habits,” she said.
“Bills, the cost of living, has had a huge impact on people. The young people do not come out in the village, everything has gone up.”
As such she says she does not have “much faith” in politicians at a national level.
But she praised some of the work done locally by councillors.
“They are very involved in the village,” she said.
“They are present, very approachable and personable.
“They are definitely pro-village and want to make it a better place. They have got another crossing put in and there are speed cameras going in.
“It cannot be easy.”
Asked if she believes the Conservatives may again be successful in the Trent Valley ward on May 4, despite what she said was a lack of faith nationally, she added: “I would have thought they would get back in, but you never know.
“You see on the village Facebook group people saying good things, but you do not know about people who do not say anything and how they are feeling.”
However, Rhea Lindley, whose family runs nine Lindleys Autocentres branches across Nottinghamshire, says she has always been disengaged with politics both locally and nationally.
“Politics is not really for me, my other half is well into politics though,” she said.
“I know I should. It is not that I do not want to be interested, I am just too busy.
“I’ve got two children under two.”
The election will be the first time voters must bring photographic ID to polling stations to cast their ballot.
The candidates standing for two seats in Trent Valley are as follows:
People across Gedling borough are getting ready to celebrate the coronation of King Charles III in style. From Calverton to Carlton, and Netherfield to Newstead, Nottinghamshire County Council has revealed a list of streets that have applied for road closures for street parties over the long weekend, from Saturday May 6, to Monday, May 8.
King Charles III’s coronation will take place on Saturday, May 6 at Westminster Abbey in London. The service will be televised live on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, and will be available to watch in many countries across the globe as households come together to watch the historical moment. The public are being urged to adopt a community spirit by getting involved in events around them – from volunteering activities to partying with the neighbours.
Pubs, bars and clubs across England and Wales will also be able to stay open for an extra two hours on the Friday and Saturday to help you make the most of the coronation weekend.
Here is the full list of road closures and street parties in Gedling borough over the bank holiday weekend:
A total of fourteen community organisations in Notts are to share £90,000 in funding to improve residents’ access to affordable and healthy food – and three of the successful recipients are from Gedling borough.
The Core Centre, Calverton will receive £6,830 – the centre runs a food redistribution scheme to help prevent food waste as well as supplement residents’ weekly shop. Funding will be used towards food stock, equipment, and volunteer expenses/training as part of a wider drive to increase the number of food boxes it provides from 25 to 100 per week.
Bethesda Ministries, Netherfield will receive £1,420 – the money will be used to source nutritious low-cost food as part of a wider plan to include a food redistribution scheme and extend opening hours within its existing foodbank.
Hope Nottingham CIO, Carlton will receive £8,460 – to establish a food redistribution scheme in Carlton with access to wide ranging advice and support. The project aims to reach 300 residents in the year. Funding will be used towards set-up costs of the club including equipment, rent, and worker costs.
They will receive the money from Nottinghamshire County Council’s newly launched Food Redistribution Grant Scheme to enable them to set up or extend schemes to help families and households access affordable, good quality and nutritious food.
The money is the first round of funding as part of a three-year scheme, which is being delivered through the County Council’s Local Communities Fund (LCF).
Two further rounds are planned, with £65,000 to be shared among organisations in the second year (2024/25) and £55,000 made available in 2025/26.
The new support package forms part of the County Council’s continued commitment to support vulnerable residents, ease the financial worries for families facing cost-of-living pressures and develop healthy and sustainable places.
Mark Walker, the County Council’s Interim Service Director for Place and Communities, said: “Nottinghamshire’s community and voluntary sector plays a crucial role in providing a lifeline to some of the most vulnerable and hard-to-reach residents and is well placed to deliver food redistribution schemes in their local area.
“We are acutely aware that low-income families and households across Nottinghamshire continue to experience challenges associated with cost-of-living pressures.
“Therefore, the new Food Redistribution Grant will mean more people will receive extra support to access affordable and nutritious food.
“The scheme will also enable community organisations to work with those people who need help the most and this package of funding reaffirms our ongoing drive to reduce health inequalities across the county.
“The quality of the applications we received was excellent and I would like to thank everyone involved in the process for their support as we’ve rolled out this new grant scheme.”
Newstead-based novelist Jim Gibson has revealed he is working on a new book which he hopes will be released ‘soon’.
Local author Jim Gibson, known for his book of short stories titled “The Bygones” is currently working on the draft of a new novel called “The Warren”.
Under consideration by its publisher, the book was heavily influenced by his first compilation of short stories.
Expected to be structured in a similar manner, readers will also find a similar style of writing where the characters are directly addressing them.
He said: “It definitely was influenced by The Bygones as through the short story form I have honed my craft and managed to find my voice, as they say.
“This ‘voice’ is a mixture of things but often comes down to the characters talking directly to the reader to remove any barriers into the world that’s portrayed, and this makes the scenes more immersive.
“Not only this, but I approached each section as short stories, not as conventional chapters of a book, as I didn’t want to write a book that takes a straight trajectory, I wanted it to be as fragmented as daily life.”
Working on other different projects, Gibson revealed having recently published a short story with Nightjar Press as well as doing collaborations with two photographers.
Not knowing what to expect when his first novel was published, this author was surprised since the feedback was positive leading to a higher popularity than he imagined.
The Bygones recently found itself on the front cover of the LeftLion Magazine which significantly helped raised readership levels around the city of Nottingham.
Whilst the numbers are encouraging, this local author will continue to write for pleasure no matter what happens.
He said: “A lot of people in the local area have bought copies and I also noticed a copy in our local café for people to read whilst they are having some snap which I was really happy with.
“There was even talk of them being stocked in the local pub.
“My plans are to carry on as I have done, writing the kind of work that I enjoy reading and playing around with the written word.
“If people want to read more, then I’ve got it there but even if they don’t, I’ll still be here writing it anyway.”
Whilst Gibson started writing The Bygones 10 years ago as a hobby, he is looking forward to seeing what the future brings.
UK families are facing increased financial pressures as the cost of running household appliances has skyrocketed by 58% over the last 18 months, according to research by consumer champion Which?
This comes as a major blow during the ongoing cost of living crisis in the country.
Which? investigated the running costs of some of the most popular sizes and types of appliances, such as washing machines, tumble dryers, dishwashers, fridge freezers, TVs, and ovens, using standard variable tariff rates from October 2021 to April 2023.
Their findings revealed a yearly cost increase from £283 to £447 for someone using a medium amount of energy.
The research follows the end of the UK government’s £400 energy discount on 1 April, which provided households with a £67 monthly top-up to help cover energy bills.
Which? has released the results of its lab tests along with advice on how to save money and use appliances more efficiently.
The study found that the average annual cost of running a 9kg capacity washing machine increased from £49 in October 2021 to £77.47 in April 2023.
Typical home appliance
October 2021
April 2022
October 2022
April 2023
Washing machine
£49
£65.34
£79.34
£77.47
Heat pump tumble dryer
£43.95
£58.60
£71.16
£69.49
Dishwasher
£60
£80.01
£97.15
£94.86
Fridge freezer
£62.19
£82.93
£100.70
£98.33
TV
£19.07
£25.42
£30.87
£30.15
Built-in oven
£48.71
£64.95
£78.87
£77.02
Total
£282.92
£377.25
£456.09
£447.32
To reduce costs, Which? suggests washing clothes at lower temperatures, as 30°C washes use 38% less energy than 40°C washes, and 20°C washes use 62% less energy.
The cost of running a 9kg heat pump tumble dryer increased from £43.95 in October 2021 to £69.49 in April 2023.
Despite higher upfront costs, heat pump tumble dryers are more energy-efficient and can be cheaper in the long run compared to condenser dryers.
Dishwasher running costs rose from £60 to £94.86 per year on average.
Using an energy-saving or eco program and ensuring the dishwasher is properly filled can help reduce energy consumption.
Built-in single electric ovens saw running costs rise from £48.71 to £77.02 per year.
To save energy, cooking in bulk, defrosting frozen food in advance, and using smaller appliances like air fryers or combi microwaves are recommended.
Fridge freezer running costs increased significantly, with integrated models now costing £139.90 per year, up from £62.19 in October 2021.
To improve efficiency, clean the condenser coils, replace damaged door seals, and let food cool completely before refrigerating.
TV running costs increased from £19.07 to £30.15 per year for a 40-43 inch model.
TVs are generally cheaper to run than other appliances, but larger models are more costly.
Emily Seymour, Which? Energy Editor, said: “Our research shows running costs for common household appliances have risen by a huge amount – putting yet another dent in household finances when so many are feeling the pressures of the cost of living crisis.
“The good news is that there are things you can do to cut back on energy costs linked to these appliances and applying some or all of these tips could make a difference to your bills.”
Whilst it has been 60 years since The Great Escape was first released, there has been another Great Escape a lot more recently, and a lot closer to home.
When I last spoke to the leaders of Carlton Town at the end of February, the outlook was not great. Deep within the throes of relegation, they could not win at home, and they had a goal drought to boot.
What a change a couple of months can make.
PICTURED: Millers manager Tommy Brookbanks
Relegation has been fought off, Step 4 status is secure, and a cup final is around the corner as well. A Great Escape indeed.
“You look at it from January 7, nine games we got four points. From March 7, nine games we got 19. Now that is playoff form,” says Tommy Brookbanks, co-manager of The Millers.
Carlton managed to shake off their relegation form pretty soon after I spoke to them last, with a win away at Hebburn Town, the third-placed team whom they had lost to that day. “Did I not say to you that day that I felt we’d beat them away from home,” says Mark Harvey, Tommy’s co-manager.
I joined The Millers at their last training session of the season, and there’s a jovial atmosphere all around. The coach keeps reminding them: “Last bit of work for the season,” as they enjoy their game at the end, but what a season it has been.
Relegation was avoided by virtue of North Shields failing their ground grading, but this was a very precarious situation whereby Carlton did not know if they would have to play a relegation playoff or not.
The managers were actually at the training ground when the got the call, three days before they would have had to have played said playoff.
Tommy said: “The lads were coming in for 7:30pm, we got the call from the secretary and we stopped the lads from coming in because we wanted to give them a rest.
“Last Saturday was surreal in the fact that you’re celebrating the win, you’re pretty sure that you’re up because no one has ever won an appeal against not getting the ground right, but we don’t 100% know, so you couldn’t fully let go.
“It was hell waiting to hear from them.”
But what was it that inspired The Millers to get out of their rut? For the managers, it seems that there was not too much concrete change, but just a dressing room lift and a belief in their squad that they could do what they needed to do.
Mark said: “After the North Shields (March 4, which they lost 2-1), we spent all weekend on the phone as we thought the only chance we had was to get a couple of lads in. And it wasn’t that we didn’t think the squad was good enough, because the squad has proved its good enough.”
“I think the dressing room needed a lift more than anything. Following that weekend we got Charlie (Marzano) and Alex Troke in, which gave the dressing room a lift, and we went and won our next game.”
Tommy added: “We thought as managers, I think this is where the experience comes in. We’ve been doing this longer than most me and Mark.
“We didn’t panic, we didn’t say we need wholesale changes because honestly, we believed in them.”
And whilst Mark and Tommy passionately highlighted how important their dressing room cohesiveness has been in surviving, they were also quick to highlight the pivotal role the support played in keeping them on track.
“The support has been magnificent,” says Tommy. “They could have turned on us. But they still turned out for every home game. A lot of supporters would have turned, but they’ve been brilliant.
“Private messages we’ve had off them as well which has lifted us. You’re never too old or been in the game too long to need a lift yourself. Fans are what this lot are, they’re there through and through.
“They’ve had some good times and bad times, but the support last Saturday, it was amazing coming off the pitch.
Mark continued: “I can’t thank them enough to be honest. The way they have stayed and cheered us through. Away from home at Ossett it was incredible to see so many people had travelled there for it.”
Away from the Great Escape, there are some more positive events on the horizon for Carlton Town. A trip to Eastwood for the Nottinghamshire Senior Cup Final against Newark on Tuesday (May 2) promises to be a big night for them. It is a competition which they have not lost in for four years.
And whilst they may have a perfect track record, Tommy was adamant that it was not getting to their heads.
“We’ve just grounded them. Newark are very similar to the teams we’ve been playing in the EvoStik. They’re direct and physical and we have to approach it like we’re playing Forest, otherwise, we’ll lose.
“There was one game in this 10-game run, away at Lincoln, where we were super confident, and we were complacent and we lost. Every other time we knew we’ve had to earn the right to win, and that’s what we’ve just forewarned them.”
It seems then that, especially compared with where they were two months ago, everything has turned out pretty well for the Carlton boys. Whilst there still lingers the question of which league they will be playing in next season, the managers are assured in the fact that whatever league it may be, they will be prepared for it.
And as for what they hope the outcomes for the next league season could be, Mark put it best: “Win it!”
