New Darwen live music venue - 3 in a Bar

A new live music venue is opening its doors for the first time in Darwen on Friday 28th May.

The venue, called 3 in a Bar, is located on Belgrave Square in the centre of Darwen and will feature live music from bands playing jazz & soul music.

Whilst opening the doors for the first time this Friday, the bar will be welcoming a number of acts to co-incide with Darwen Music Live including:

Sunday
Blackburn with Darwen Brass Band Quartett (12pm-1pm)
John Wickam Trio (1.50pm - 2.30pm)
Cherry B's (2.45pm-4.30pm)
Paul Rigby & The Northern Jazz Orchestra (11.30pm - 2am)

Monday
NJ4 Jazz Quartett (2pm - 4.30pm)
Mundo Jazz (2.45pm - 4.30pm)
Lemon Soul (7pm - 8.45pm)
Swing Commanders (9.30pm - 11pm)

Builders in Darwen - Halsall Construction UK Ltd

 

Established in 2007, Halsall Construction UK Ltd provides an extensive range of construction related solutions including maintenance contracts and major works.

Halsall Construction UK Ltd are proud to offer a complete construction service from design & construction to refurbishments and maintenance.

If you're looking for a builder in Darwen or anywhere throughout the UK, be sure to give Halsall Construction a ring to find out how we can help.

Man Lee Chinese Restaurant, Darwen

Our opening hours are:

Mon-Thurs: 5.30pm - 10.30pm
Fri & Sat: 5.00pm - 11.30pm
Sundays: 3.00pm - 10.30pm

In addition we are open for
BUSINESS LUNCH:

Thursdays & Fridays 12 noon - 2.00pm

OPEN ALL BANK HOLIDAYS 4.30pm - 10.30pm

MUSIC FESTIVAL SPECIAL
Darwen Music Live 2010

Why not have a walk up to the Man Lee Chinese Restaurant whilst you're at Darwen Music Live. Within walking distance of the main stage, we can provide affordable food from our specials menu and will provide a special drinks offer - BUY 2 GET ONE FREE! 

10% off À la carte menu when you quote DARWEN ONLINE
(Sunday & Monday, during Festival)

Move to improve Darwen shop front appearances

“Terrible” shop shutters along the main route through Darwen are making the town look derelict, according to town councillor John East.

He suggests that one way to brighten things up a bit would be to paint the shutters, improving shop exteriors and says the town council should be coming up with ideas to give Darwen a better appearance.

The development committee of Darwen Town Council is now looking into the possibility of a carrying out the painting scheme.

Read more

What are your thoughts on schemes like this? What would you like to be done to improve the towns appearance?

Conservative candidate Jake Berry wins Darwen seat

It was declared early this morning that Conservative candidate Jake Berry is the new MP for Rossendale and Darwen after receiving 41.7% of the vote.

Mr Berry, who replaces Labour's Janet Anderson following 18 years as MP for the consituency, has promised to serve the residents - whatever their political persuassion and thanked the previous MP for the work she's done since 1992.

Full local results as follows:

• Jake Berry (Conservative) 41.7%, 19,691 votes

• Janet Anderson (Labour) 32.1%, 15,198 votes
• Robert Sheffield (Liberal Democrats) 18.1%, 8,541 votes
• David Duthie (UK Independence Party) 3.4%, 1,617 votes
• Kevin Bryan (National Front) 2.2%, 1,062 votes
• Michael Johnson (English Democrats) 1.4%, 663 votes
• Tony Melia (Impact Party) 0.5%, 243 votes
• Mike Sivieri (Independent) 0.2%, 113 votes

Darwen Soul Night, Friday 23rd April

Fri 23rd April @ 8.30pm
DJ LESTER’s Soul Night

At Hollins Grove Liberal Club, Falcon Avenue, Darwen

Tickets £3.00
Tel Vince on 07970958275 or Pay on the Door

Janie brings a ‘wee’ bit of Scotland to Darwen Market

Business is booming at Darwen Market with three new traders recently taking up pitches.

One of those, Janie Cookson, recently opened a Scottish food stall, Wee JJJs, after trips north of the border gave her the seed for the idea.

Says Janie: “I had a friend who gave me £50 whenever I went to Scotland and told me to bring back some bread, haggis or other Scottish food. I did some research and discovered that, according to the 2001 census, 26 per cent of people in Darwen are Scottish. That seemed like an interesting niche so I decided to go for it.”

Janie, whose background is in catering, set up the stall with the help of No Limits, support for new businesses.

Determined to keep things authentic she forged links with suppliers north of the border and now has produce sent direct from Scotland. She says: “I source the food from Edinburgh, Glasgow, all over really. The deliveries usually take about two days; all the produce comes down fresh and chilled.”

So far, business has been good. Says Janie: “Feedback from customers has been good, they’re happy there’s a stall like mine here. The most popular items have been Scottish morning roles, Scotch pies and puddings.”

With her stall now up and running, Janie is looking forward to the future. She adds: “The is the first stall I’ve had on Darwen Market. I’m happy to be here though, it’s good place to do business from.”

Darwen market boasts over 90 stalls under cover, offering an amazing variety of produce and specialist items. Parking is also free.

Visitors can expect to receive a warm and friendly welcome and an attentive and uniquely personal service from the stall holders, many of whom have long standing associations at the market; sometimes stretching back through generations.

You’ve got a friend with new Shadsworth ‘buddy’ scheme

Good Morning Shadsworth is a new scheme offering a phone call every week to anyone who is in need of a friend to talk to.

A ‘buddy’ will call you at your preferred time on Mondays to have a chat - you can choose the subject and it's free. They will ring you so you will not be charged.

Your buddy will stay on for as long as you like, whether it is two minutes or 20 minutes.

Volunteer Angie Allen will be manning the phones every Monday, and said she is looking forward to chatting to other residents: “We will be ringing people who can’t always get out of the house and help them get more involved.

“I will be asking the people if they are OK, if they know what is going on in the area, and what sort of things they want to talk about.

“Everyone is invited to come to the coffee morning at Shadsworth Community Centre once a month, where they can sit and talk to other residents.

“People can also tell us if they are not feeling very well and we will immediately call their next of kin, so we can make sure they are OK.”

Mrs Elsie Price from Shadsworth, who has signed up to receive the phone calls, said she hoped to get a chance to talk about issues concerning her in Shadsworth: “I want to talk about Shadsworth, and what is going on here. I think it will be good to know more about what is going on because it can be hard to get out and about.”

Mrs Pamela Blackburn, also from Shadsworth, said: “I think this is a really good idea, especially for people with disabilities who can’t get around very well and want to feel more involved in the community.”

A partnership between the Council and Twin Valley Homes (TVH), Good Morning Shadsworth is based on research by the University of Manchester, which found that the phone calls were one of the best ways to reach people who are not able to get out of the house much.

Anyone who is interested in becoming somebody’s volunteer buddy or in receiving the phone calls from a buddy, please contact Lesley Fox on (01254) 503203.

Jean Thompson, TVH support community worker, said: “We value all our tenants and we are delighted to be working with Blackburn with Darwen Council on this really important scheme. The Shadsworth project is a pilot and we hope that residents Shadsworth will find it useful. If it is a success we will be looking to roll it out to other areas of Blackburn with Darwen.”