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Here is today's edition of The Nottinghamian:
Hello,
Today's edition of the Nottinghamian takes a look at two Christmas light events which are still going ahead. Many have been cancelled up and down the country due to rising energy costs, but two key displays in Nottingham will still be happening.
We will also discuss a business that was six years in the making and a Beeston cafe's hopes to expand. Plus we have the best street style of the day.
Going ahead
As the cost of living increases and the energy crisis continues, many households will be wondering what to do about the Christmas lights this year. However, two of the most popular Christmas light displays in Nottingham have confirmed that there will be no changes to their events despite the spiralling costs.
The Christmas light show at Wollaton Hall will be going ahead. It has proven to be a popular event with visitors in previous years where 5km of fairy lights with more than 70,000 bulbs create the seasonal display. This year the show will open on Friday, December 2, and run until Sunday, January 1.
Nottingham's Old Market Square hosts the annual Christmas market which has a giant tree complete with hundreds of festive lights. Nottingham City Council has announced there will be no changes to the plans for Christmas lights this year despite the ongoing energy crisis. There is traditionally a 60ft Norway Spruce Christmas tree complete with lights put up in the middle of the square with more than 4,000 bulbs.
Councillor Pavlos Kotsonis said: "There are no modifications to the proposals to take increased energy costs into account - in fact, there are some exciting ideas which, if agreed, will make for an extra special Christmas attraction. Details are still being finalised and will be announced, along with event dates, next month.”
'Worth the wait'
Our life writer Lynette Pinchess paid a visit to the latest addition to Hockley's growing food scene, which was six years in the making. Macaron Marlo is a new shop is bursting with colourful French macarons. Macarons are colourful, meringue-like discs - made with almond flour, egg whites, sugar and food colouring and sandwiched together by a filling of ganache or jam. Described as "luxury handcrafted deliciousness" prices start at £9 for six.
Allena Marlow, co-founder of the company, bakes 1,600 a day, getting up around 3am to head to her bakery in Colston Bassett. There's a rainbow of 12 flavours. Pistachio is the best-seller; the others include raspberry, chocolate, mango, blueberry and lemon. Then there are usually two or three specials which could be anything from Oreo to rose. Brownies with a macaron twist are also on sale.
Macaron Marlo started in 2016. After being made redundant from her job at Specsavers' head office, religious Allena prayed to God and it was her faith that led her to bake - despite zero experience and no training. She couldn't afford to go to pastry college so after the "epiphany moment" she sold a Louis Vuitton handbag that had been a present for her 20th birthday to buy a food processor and hand mixer.
Allena said: "It feels long overdue. I'm ecstatic. We have done so well in other places. We travel quite a bit but it didn't feel right not having a base in Nottingham. We've been to Peterborough, Solihull, Birmingham... so it's doing that that has allowed us to invest in this. It has been worth the wait. The location had to be right." Macaron Marlo has taken over a former opticians and will be open six days a week from Tuesday to Sunday. Read more here.
Weather and trivia
Weather: Bright spells Friday morning with isolated showers. Cloud builds before a band of heavy rain pushes south-eastwards during the afternoon. A few sharp showers follow. Rather warm. Breezy. Maximum temperature 18 °C.
UV: Low
Further reading: Nottingham Greggs stores to stay open late and new items added to menu
Trivia question: The University of Nottingham student’s union was the location for which band's first-ever gig?
The answer to today’s trivia question is at the bottom of the newsletter.
Street style
Josie Lawlor from Woodthorpe was in Nottingham city centre this morning and stood out in her black and white outfit. The 46-year-old described her style as "trying to be in with fashion as much as I can at my age." Josie gets her style inspiration from what other people are wearing online and in person. She tends to buy her clothes from a mixture of charity shops, car boots and clothing stores. When asked to give a piece of style advice, Josie said: "For me, I would opt for something that I know looks good on me."
Outfit breakdown:
- Top - H&M
- Jacket - George from a charity shop
- Skirt - Monki from a charity shop
- Shoes - Adidas from a car boot
- Bag - Marks and Spencer
Hope for expansion
Shoppers in Beeston say they hope a café gets permission to expand and welcome it to the high street. The DoughMother, based at 109 Central Avenue in Beeston, sells freshly-baked cakes, tea and coffee.
Owner Houlia Mola has put forward an application for another cafe in a building on High Road which is currently vacant and was previously occupied by a property service. The application for the new café is pending consideration, but Beeston residents are looking forward to the potential move.
Simon Giles, 49, from Beeston, has visited The DoughMother before. He said: “I think the shop would do well on the High Road, they have some competition but the other cafe is quite out of the way for those who have never been, they’ll have a more central one.” Read more here.
That’s all for today
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, the University of Nottingham student’s union was the location for which band's first ever gig, is Paul McCartney and Wings – on February 9, 1972.
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