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Here is the Nottinghamian from Friday, December 30:
Hello,
Today's edition of the Nottinghamian takes a look at hospitals across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire declaring a 'critical incident'.
We will also discuss the closure of a much loved gallery and shop on the Sherwood high street as well as a West Bridgford teenager who is set to appear on a cooking show. Plus we have a recommendation on where to spend New Year's Eve.
'Critical incident'
Nottinghamshire hospitals remain in a 'critical incident' as pressure on healthcare services builds ahead of New Year's Eve. Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (NUH), which runs Queen's Medical Centre and City Hospital, and Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Trust (SFH), which runs King’s Mill, Newark and Mansfield Community Hospitals, both declared a 'critical incident' on Thursday (December 29).
Raising the alert enables trusts to prioritise patients with the highest level of need. On Thursday officials at NUH said they were facing a large number of people arriving at the Emergency Department who needed to be admitted to both the trust's hospitals suffering with respiratory conditions, including flu.
This demand has been causing "very long waits" for patients to be seen and long waits to be admitted to a ward, causing overcrowding in ED. The two NHS trusts have confirmed the critical incident is still in place as of Friday, December 30. Read more here.
A 'bereavement'
The owners of a gallery and shop on Sherwood high street have announced the closure of their business in a move they described as feeling like 'a bereavement'. A Room Full of Butterflies, which has been running for 10 years, will close its doors early in the New Year when the lease on the building comes to an end.
The shop, run by Jo Wood and Andy Welch, offered art, creative cards, glass art and gifts as well as a bespoke framing service. In a statement online, the team behind the gallery said that it had been a difficult trading time amid the Covid pandemic restrictions but that it was ultimately the cost of living crisis and changes in consumer confidence that had been the final straw.
However, the art and print business will remain online despite the physical store closure. They added: "Our intention was always to bring colour and creativity to Sherwood, to lift spirits and help you adorn your homes and offices, give amazing presents and experience a great community buzz." A sale is being held on Saturday, December 31, from 10am to 5pm. Read more here.
Weather and trivia
Weather: Any rain soon clearing away east on Saturday. Briefly drier before further rain, locally heavy, arrives from the west, persisting through the afternoon and evening. Breezy. Maximum temperature 11 °C.
UV: Low
Further reading: Seven things to do in Nottingham on New Year's Eve
Trivia question: What is unique about the bell called Little John in Nottingham's Council House?
The answer to today's trivia question is at the bottom of the newsletter.
Recommendation
Name: Cosy Club
Address: 16 -18 Victoria Street, Nottingham, NG1 2EX
There are many ways people like to bring in the new year. From going to the local pub to hitting the town or snuggling up at home. If you feel up for heading into the city for New Year's Eve then the Cosy Club will have you covered.
The opulent venue is hosting a glitzy soiree with a four-course dinner, live music - and of course, plenty of dancing. Tickets are £85 per person, which also includes canapés and a cocktail on arrival, bubbles for midnight and access to a luxury gin bar and champagne lounge.
There will be entertainment all night, with a vintage band and five different rooms to explore. Entertainment includes a close-up magician, casino and photobooth. And for those just wanting to dance the night away, tickets are £25 per person, which includes a cocktail on arrival, bubbles for the midnight countdown, and a table for the evening.
'Amazing opportunity'
A teenager from West Bridgford is set to appear on the new BBC series Young MasterChef. Myles Ahuja, 19, is up against 14 other contestants in the culinary competition.
The young chefs, all aged between 18 and 25, will have their creativity tested to see who has what it takes to make it all the way to the end of the competition. Myles, who has been working as a part-time carer at Lark Hill retirement village in Clifton, confessed he's not a "massive avid chef".
But said: "This opportunity allowed me to develop my cooking skills and encourage me to fall in love with food even more. I’m so excited to be taking part on the Young MasterChef as this is an amazing opportunity and I’m so grateful to my family for giving me amazing opportunities that allow things like this to happen. Some of these cooks are SO good, so just to be here and competing is amazing."
Junior MasterChef starts on January 2, with Myles in the second episode on January 3. Read more here.
Mark of respect
The Vivienne Westwood shop in the middle of Flying Horse Walk remained closed this morning following news of the designer's death. The shop which has been in the arcade for years is one of ten across the UK.
The stylish brand is known for punk couture and cutting-edge fashion. It sells a variety of her trademark tartan items, popular handbags, along with menswear and womenswear pieces. Tributes poured in for Dame Vivienne Westwood as news broke of her death on December 30 at the age of 81.
Staff at the Nottingham store were unavailable for comment. Flowers and safety pins representing the punk movement have been left outside her home in Clapham, London, as a mark of respect.
That's all for this week
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, what is unique about the bell called Little John in Nottingham's Council House, is it has the deepest tone of any clocktower bell in Britain, and it is believed to be the loudest clock bell in the country.
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