Planning application: Armley Grange. Photo: Mark Stevenson
Plans for a new specialist school at the historic Armley Grange site will be one of the issues discussed at a public meeting in Armley.
Grade II-listed Armley Grange has been bought from Leeds City Council by Horizon Care and Education for use as a specialist school for children aged seven to 19 years.
Horizon last week submitted a planning application to alter and refurbish the former day centre building.
Also on the agenda at next week’s Armley Forum will be Leeds Community Homes‘ proposals surrounding a new development on disused land on Mistress Lane in Armley, providing affordable homes for local people.
A potential site of the community-led housing development in Mistress Lane
Policing issues and road safety issues will also be on the agenda.
Armley Forum will be held on Tuesday 21st January 2020 at 7pm in Armley Library/Community Hub. All welcome to attend.
Branmley Buffaloes rugby club will be guests of honour at a special dinner at the House of Lords next week.
On Monday 20th January, The Parliamentary Rugby League Group will be hosting their annual dinner, and the Buffaloes will be the primary sponsor of the body’s annual charity dinner.
The dinner, taking place in the House of Lords, will raise money for Rugby League Cares, which aims to champion and preserve the game’s heritage and offer support to players who need it.
The dinner will also see awards presented to worthy recipients in the game, as selected by Parliamentarians.
Bramley Buffaloes play in the Yorkshire Men’s League Competition, having twice been crowned champions and five-times minor premiers of the National League structure.
The Buffaloes formed from the ashes of Bramley RLFC, who resigned from the professional game in 1999, and this year celebrate the 140th Anniversary of their first game in 1879.
The Bramley club has a strong in the history of the game, being one of the pioneers of the new code of rugby, and in 1893 asking for broken time payments from the RFU.
The club hosted the first-ever international game at the Barley Mow between Bramley and the New Zealand All Golds, featuring the great Dally Messenger.
Other achievements including loaning players to the French in the 1930s, winning the floodlit trophy – in daylight – in December 1973 against Widnes, and becoming the first fans-owned club in the UK in 2000.
On supporting the dinner, director Martyn Cheney said:
“Bramley Buffaloes are proud to be associate members of the Parliamentary Rugby League Group and are honoured to be sponsoring this event in our 140th Year.
“I have long been a supporter of the group. It’s a fantastic body, with passionate MPs and Lords who want nothing but the best for the game.
“I share that passion and having been to several the dinners and seen the money they raise for Rugby League Cares, I thought I would like to offer my support this way to ensure another great evening. I am looking forward to it.”
On making the announcement, Chair and MP for Bradford South Judith Cummins said:
“The group welcomes Bramley Buffaloes as the major sponsors of the our annual charity dinner, particularly in such an historic year for them.
“The dinners allow us to celebrate the past year in the sport, and award those we feel are outstanding in our game. Martyn and the Buffaloes have been a longstanding supporter of the group, and we are grateful to him and the club for their time and effort, and now support.”
The Parliamentary Rugby League Group comprises MPs, Peers, and non-Parliamentary Associate Members who meet regularly to support the sport of Rugby League.
Hello from Linda at Start Birding. I’ve been teaching people about birds since 2001 and I’m so pleased to be writing a regular column in the West Leeds Dispatch.
I hope that readers find my contribution useful. My aim will be to tell you as much as I can about what’s going on in the world of birds and to offer some help and advice to anyone who wants to get in touch.
If you get stuck with your bird ID then, by all means, send me photos or audio files so that I can help you identify any birds you’ve seen and heard.
Big Garden Birdwatch
As I write this article, I’m preparing to take part in the Big Garden Birdwatch.
This annual survey, run by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), has been running for over 40 years. It takes place on the last weekend of January and now runs for three days. It relies on families and individuals counting the birds they see in their garden, for just one hour, at any time that’s convenient.
The survey began in 1979 when the RSPB asked its membership to count birds in their gardens.
Then the Blue Peter editor, Biddy Baxter, decided to feature the idea on one of their programmes and the response was so good that it became a regular feature.
In 2001, the survey was broadened to individual adults and its popularity has grown from year to year.
Now over half a million people take part making it the largest citizen science wildlife survey in the world. Over that time, it has been shown that numbers of many common garden birds such as starling, greenfinch, house sparrow and song thrush have decreased dramatically.
Taking part in this survey is a great introduction to the systematic methods used by birdwatchers to record the populations and movements of birds.
If you’ve enjoyed taking part in the past then you can take your contribution a step further by watching your garden every week. By doing this, you’ll provide researchers with more valuable, standardised data than a one-off, random count.
This weekly survey is called, simply, Garden BirdWatch (GBW) and was launched in 1995 by The British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) which is the conservation organisation that is responsible for recording most bird related data.
Virtually all the work is done through a volunteer community of thousands, and the BTO organises a variety of surveys each year. The role of the BTO is invaluable in science, providing academia with specific data sets for research projects.
The BTO Garden BirdWatch offers a chance to watch and record birds and other wildlife in your garden in a more robust and meaningful way.
In return for a small fee to help with administration, participants receive an introductory book, a quarterly magazine and on-line resources. Training courses are also provided. You can start at any time so, if you want to make your Big Garden Birdwatch even bigger, visit the BTO Garden BirdWatch website and get involved.
Linda Jenkinson teaches people about birds in and around Leeds. For details of classes email linda@startbirding.co.uk or call 07778 768719. Visit www.startbirding.co.uk or Start Birding on Facebook and Twitter.
Washington Teasdale's pioneering selfie, taken in the grounds of Kirkstall Abbey. Credit History of Science Museum, University of Oxford
A historic photo thought to be one of the world’s oldest selfies has been recreated more than 130 years after it was first captured by a pioneering Leeds inventor.
The eye-catching original was taken by trailblazing Leeds-born astronomer and engineer Washington Teasdale in the grounds of Kirkstall Abbey back in 1883 and has been reimagined to mark today’s Museum Selfie Day.
Teasdale’s image is believed to be one of the world’s oldest examples of someone both taking and appearing in a photograph, a feat Teasdale could only accomplish because of the exceptionally long exposure time on cameras of his era.
Curator Chris Sharp poses for a recreation of Washinton Teasdale’s selfie in the grounds of Kirkstall Abbey
Museum Selfie Day is a global social media event which sees people taking selfies in museums across the world, raising awareness of the collections and encouraging the public to visit, take a ‘selfie’ and post on social media with the hashtag #museumselfie.
Chris Sharp, Leeds Museums and Galleries’ assistant community curator donned a traditional top hat to follow in Teasdale’s footsteps in the grounds of the spectacular Cistercian abbey this week and help come up with a unique Leeds photo for the day. He said:
“Washington Teasdale was a remarkable person with a truly incredible mind and it was amazing to think that I was sitting in pretty much the same place, taking the same photo he did all those years ago.
“Museum Selfie Day is a really fun and imaginative way of showcasing Leeds alongside collections and venues from across the world. It’s also a real tribute to Teasdale and his extraordinary accomplishments that we’re still being inspired by his work more than 130 years later.”
A copy of Teasdale’s original photo is currently on display at Leeds Industrial Museum in Armley as part of Leeds to Innovation, an exhibition celebrating the city’s best and brightest minds.
After working in India as a civil engineer on the railways in the 1850s, Teasdale came home to Leeds and chaired the Leeds Astronomical Society where he was instrumental in recruiting more female members. The society is still active today.
Curator Chris Sharp developing his own cyanotype, like the one taken by Washington Teasdale more than 130 years ago.
A member of the Naturalist Society he invented his own field microscope to study insects and pushed the boundaries of photography to capture detailed images of the moon through his telescope.
A respected expert on everything scientific, he lived in a house on Hyde Park Road which was filled with a scientific apparatus and works of art.
Leeds to Innovation is open now at Leeds Industrial Museum and features more incredible stories of local inventors and their astounding creations.
Improvements being made to three parks in Pudsey ward are progressing – but vandalism is slowing work down, writes Keely Bannister.
Vandalism at Queens Park, Pudsey. Photo: Keely Bannister
Tyersal Park, Swinnow Moor and Queens Park are each being kitted out with a trim trail made up of a multi-purpose composite hard-wearing track with distance markers
They’ll also have eight pieces of gym equipment, which will each target a different muscle group meaning that people will get a free gym experience.
Gym equipment in Queens Park, Pudsey.
There will also be a community orchard in each park made up of 22 fruit trees. Other improvements (benches/bins) will follow and are not part of the original scheme.
As previously reported by The Dispatch, originally Swinnow was going to be the first park to be improved, but wet weather meant that Tyersal was actually the first to see work done.
Continued wet weather is slowing progress at Tyersal down – as is vandalism.
A big issue currently is people misusing quad bikes and other motorised vehicles, causing damage on grassed areas and football pitches with repairs having to be prioritised before work can continue on Tyersal Park’s trim trail.
Work: Tyersal Park.
At the local councillors insistence, Leeds City Council’s parks department are carrying out the work, but they are being pulled away when needed elsewhere to carry out emergency works.
Councillor Trish Smith has been told that all works in Tyersal should be completed by mid-February – weather depending – at which point the team will move straight on to Swinnow Moor, which will hopefully be done by Easter at the latest.
Queens Park will be worked on when the football season has finished.
The multi-purpose track at Tyersal Park. Photo: Keely Bannister
Pudsey councillors (Trish Smith, Simon Seary and Mark Harrison) are hoping completing works in Tyersal and Swinnow before moving onto Queens Park will show the councillors are committed to all the communities throughout the ward after years of what she describes as investment being “too Pudsey Town Centre-centric”.
Cllr Smith showed The Dispatch progress so far at Tyersal as well as a tour of exact locations of where developments will be completed in the other two parks. She said:
“Health in Green Spaces: this is the Pudsey motto. An idea was brought up by Cllr Seary to build a walking path around the parks so people didn’t have to get covered in mud and that then evolved into a bigger project to include the gym equipment by Cllr Mark Harrison. It’s been a group effort by all three councillors to make this happen.
“The track is being dug out deep, then a membrane is added, then the hardcore is put down, before the top coat is added which will be gold in colour.
“It’s going to be a proper job. The track will be wide enough for two people to pass each other or a wheelchair or pram to travel along. There won’t be any edging on the track to avoid any trip hazards and to help with mowing.
“The trees that will make up the orchard will be substantial in size, not whips, to avoid any vandalism. The gym equipment will be dotted around the track. People will be able to get a full gym work out for free.
Community Infrastructure Money (CIL) is funding the multi-purpose track, gym equipment and community orchards and money from the Outer West Housing Advisory Panel (HAP) will install a new main entrance gate suitable for disabled people and pushchairs into Swinnow Park. Cllr Smith added:
“I’ve also arranged for a dropped kerb to be put in outside Swinnow Community Centre and the entrance gate at the park to make access easy. The Pudsey councillors believe that community spaces should be accessible for all and it’s our job to ensure they are.”
In terms of layout, the multi-purpose track at Tyersal has already started being laid out towards the back of the park and will continue round the football pitch, and the community orchard will be in the space behind the bowling green.
Swinnow Moor, near Wellstone Drive. Photo: Keely Bannister
The track at Swinnow will go around the play area at the Swinnow Lane end of the park – linking to the two secondary entrances at Wellstone Drive and Wellstone Rise so people don’t have to walk across the grass if they choose not to.
The community orchard is being planted in the area of the junction between Swinnow Lane and Wellstone Drive.
Queens Park will see the football pitch slightly realigned, the track going around the football pitches and the orchard behind the muga where the ground tends to be wettest. The three pieces of gym equipment already in situ will be remaining, with eighr new pieces being added.
What does the community think of these investments?
While walking around Tyersal Park, a resident named Jo Domenech approached Cllr Smith to ask about the improvements. Ms Domenech said:
“I’m looking forward to the gym equipment because I’m pre-diabetic and just to be able to walk round that field [where the multi-purpose track is being laid] and not get full of mud. The fruit picking: it’s going to be amazing!”
Dispatch readers will be updated with any new developments including when all improvements are completed and ready to use so make sure you are signed up to our daily e-mail.
Fascinating photos capturing life at what was once the world’s biggest woollen mill have been revealed ahead of a new museum project celebrating the Armley community.
The historic images show machinery, staff and owners of Armley Mills through generations, illustrating in remarkable detail the changing face of what is now Leeds Industrial Museum.
A 19th century water wheel
The pictures, taken over the course of more than a century, have been released as the attraction launches a unique new offer giving the people of Armley the chance to explore the former mill for just a pound.
As of today, entry to the museum will be a pound per person for anyone with an LS12 postcode, meaning residents in the Armley community – including those living in Farnley and Wortley – can find out more about a site that was once the beating heart of the city’s textile trade.
Visitors can also take the opportunity to see the museum’s current Leeds to Innovation exhibition, which looks back at 300 years of Leeds inventors and their creations from lighthouses to board games and miniature cars.
Armley Mills in the late 50s or early 60s
Originally a fulling mill from at least the early 1500s, the site was bought in the late 1700s by Colonel Thomas Lloyd, a Leeds cloth merchant who expanded operations dramatically, so much so that Armley was soon home to the world’s largest woollen mill.
The original buildings later burned down, but were rebuilt in 1805 by noted industrialist Benjamin Gott, the owner of several mills in the area.
Although production ended in 1969, the site reopened as Leeds Industrial Museum in 1982 and today showcases an incredible array of vintage machinery including traditional looms and other textile equipment, some of which is still operational.
Farming pigs during World War Two at Armley Mills
John McGoldrick, Leeds Museums and Galleries’ curator of industrial history, said:
“Leeds Industrial Museum has played a huge part in establishing Leeds as a global industrial power and a leader in production and innovation.
“But it’s also been part of the Armley community for more than 300 years and has grown, developed and changed alongside the local area, developing a really strong connection with the people who live here that still exists today.
“We’re really pleased and proud to be giving those people living in Armley a chance to find out more about a place that’s such a key part of their local heritage.”
Over the February half term, Leeds Industrial Museum will also be hosting family-friendly activities including classic films in one of the UK’s smallest cinemas and a chance to build and code programmable Lego.
Entry for a pound for those with an LS12 postcode is per person and available with proof of address such as a recent utility bill, passport or driver’s licence.
Plans to serve alcohol at an “adventure golf club” in West Leeds are being challenged by the congregation of nearby Redeemed Christian Church of God, who worry such a move could bring anti-social behaviour to the area, writes Richard Beecham.
Applicant Bull Hoof Ltd wants permission from Leeds City Council to serve alcohol at Ghetto Golf in Falcon House, Weaver Street, Burley, which is expected to operate as an “adventure golf venue with cocktail bars and restaurant/bar meal facilities”.
The applicant wants permission to play films and live music as well as serving alcohol every day from 10am to 1am.
The applicant stated it would have a ‘comprehensive CCTV system’, a strict 18-plus policy, door supervision and a ‘zero tolerance’ policy on drugs.
Many believed granting such permission would lead to crime, disorder and even “endanger the lives” of children who attended church services.
A total of 28 of the 35 letters of complaint each outlined four similar concerns, all slight variants of:
“1 – The business will bring or encourage crime and disorderliness in our neighbourhood. 2 – This will result in public nuisance. 3 – This will also result to compromise in public safety in our neighbourhood. 4 – This will endanger the lives of our children that come to church services.”
Another letter, sent on behalf of the church’s board of trustees, stated:
“Though we are in a light industrial area, the licence that Bull Hoof Ltd are applying for is of great concern to us. We anticipate that a lot of social vices will be taken (sic) place in the glaring eyes of little children who come to our church services.
“We are even of more concern about the profile of persons that will be coming very close to us; and some of them will wander into our own premises when they are drunk, and we share the same wall demarcation and side entrance.”
The applicants sent the council’s licensing department a list of 17 proposed conditions which it would include to uphold licensing laws.
Those included a CCTV system and member of staff working at all times who would be able to use the system, as well as a strict over-18s policy and a challenge 25 scheme at the bar.
It added that door staff would be employed when needed, no drinkers would be allowed to leave the premises and that polycarbonate drinking vessels (“plastic glasses”) would be used on the site.
Ghetto Golf already has three sites around the country. Its website described its Liverpool venue as: “a seriously twisted 18-hole crazy golf experience, an exceptional cocktail bar, top local DJs and captivating graffiti artwork.”
The Dispatch reported last month on the submission of a planning application at the site, which include associated bar and food and drink uses and an external terrace at first floor.
The church has also objected to the planning application, which is still to be decided by Leeds City Council.
An influential panel of councillors heard renewed calls for a publicly run bus service in Leeds, with one calling the city’s bus system “pathetically awful”, writes Richard Beecham.
It was claimed passengers had been ‘failed’ by three decades of buses being run by private businesses, with some suggesting services could better adapt to environmental and passenger needs if they were once again run by local authorities.
It follows 11 recommendations which were made by the Leeds climate jury – a group made up of 25 members of the public, which was tasked last year with producing a report on how Leeds can meet its targets to become carbon neutral by 2030.
The recommendations, which included bringing bus services back into public ownership, went before a meeting of Leeds City Council’s climate emergency advisory committee.
Committee member Neil Buckley (cons, Alwoodley) asked the meeting:
“What makes public ownership a guarantee of a greener bus service? Why didn’t the panel say ‘we would like very a green, eco-friendly bus service’? And why would this be a recommendation on a panel that is supposedly non-political?”
Cllr John Illingworth
He was met with a robust response by fellow panel member Coun John Illingworth Lab, Kirkstall), who said:
“I go London fairly often to see the kids – they are in well-paid jobs, but they routinely, every day, go on the bus – because that’s what you do in London.
“It’s so much better, and I look at our pathetically awful bus system in Leeds. It is not about ownership, it is about control. Transport for London sets the routes and the service frequency.
“The other companies tend to supply that service, but they are firmly under the thumb and do what Transport for London tells them.
“It is 200 per cent better than it is in Leeds.”
The introduction of the Transport Act in 1986 saw bus services become privatised, meaning they could no longer be owned and run by local authorities like Leeds City Council.
Coun Illingworth continued:
“You need to accept that the private ownership model has been extensively field tested since 1986 to the present day, and it has failed – failed, failed, failed – it doesn’t work.”
The debate took place as both First and Arriva’s bus services in West Yorkshire are up for sale, with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) is currently investigating how realistically it could take over and run some services itself.
Committee chair Coun Neil Walshaw (Lab, Headingley) said:
“I think you can’t really dismiss that as just politics – the bus act was implemented in 1986, fewer pieces of public policy have been given a fairer crack of the whip, and few things have failed quite so comprehensively as a deregulated privatised bus network.
“It doesn’t work, and the people of Leeds recognise that.”
Cllr David Blackburn
Coun David Blackburn (Green, Farnley & Wortley) added:
“Having public transport in public ownership is not going to be perfect, but there is much more chance of them being responsive to public will than a private company that is run for profit.
“Start lobbying your MPs about giving us the funding to help us do our job – we can make a major difference.”
The Leeds Climate Change Jury was set up following Leeds City Council’s climate emergency declaration last year, and saw 25 members of the public meet to discuss what Leeds needed to do to help tackle climate change, while listening to academic experts in the field.
The group sent a report containing 11 recommendations back to Leeds City Council, among which were the introduction of an Oyster card-style universal public transport payment system, the retro-fitting of houses to be energy efficient and investment funds to encourage green industry.
The climate emergency committee noted the report.
Paul Matthews, Managing Director of First West Yorkshire, said:
“First West Yorkshire, Leeds City Council and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority have entered a four-year deal in Leeds, with the shared objective of doubling passenger numbers by 2030 and securing compliance with air quality limits. First is investing £71m in 284 buses; the local authorities are investing in five bus corridors, city centre improvements and four new or extended Park & Rides.
“Infrastructure works to deliver these improvements and environmental change are largely the cause of current difficulties for all transport in Leeds, but will bring huge benefits in future.
“We are convinced that the quickest, cheapest and best way to improve bus services is through positive and proactive partnerships. Local authorities and bus operators working together can positively impact congestion and air quality, provide more services, deliver patronage growth and better support local economies.
“Franchising risks being a serious distraction, wasting time and effort which would be better spent improving services for passengers and tackling the fundamental problems of congestion, air quality and reliability.
“Comparisons with London, which is now seeing significant passenger decline and network cuts, are unhelpful given the public subsidy which goes from local people to fund the regulated network in the capital.”
A new bay window in the basement and two light wells to the side and rear of a house in Bramley could get planning permission later this week – despite local opposition.
The plans, for 47 Westover Road, will be considered by members of the south and west plans panel at Leeds Civic Hall on Thursday.
Cllr Kevin Ritchie
Bramley councillor Kevin Ritchie (Lab) asked that the panel consider the plans, following 18 objections from neighbours.
The initial submission as originally advertised related to the change of use of the property to a seven-bed House of Multiple Occupation (HMO), including alterations to basement level.
The application was then later revised and the seven-bed HMO has been removed from the application and the internal floor plans now show a six-bed HMO. Further to the reduction in bedrooms, the provision of a six-bed HMO in this area does not require planning permission.
Local opposition includes concerns about the lack of parking, and increase in refuse, noise, and potential for anti-social behaviour. people also say they do not want another HMO in the area.
Planning officers have recommended the plans for approval, subject to a number of conditions. They say that the use as an HMO is not relevant to the revised plans. Their report concludes:
“The proposal before members is considered to comply with both national and local planning policy.
“It is considered the current scheme preserves the character and appearance of the Conservation Area, and protects visual and residential amenity. It is therefore recommended that this application is approved, subject to the suggested conditions set out at the head of this report.”
“I requested the application to come to Plans Panel as the creation of additional rooms enabled by this application, creates additional demand for on street parking, when the location is already at its practical capacity. This is to the detriment of the free & safe operation of the local highway network thereby contrary to CS Policy T2 & UDP Policy GP5 & the guidance contained within the NPPF which seeks to ensure the highway impacts of development are acceptable.
“Despite the Permitted Development rights for the conversion to HMO, I still believe the highways issues warrant a refusal and am hopeful based on a recent appeal dismissal for an application in Alwoodley ref 19/00385/FU which, whilst the extension was policy compliant, N&E plans panel refused (contrary to officer recommendation) based on highways issues, which the planning inspectorate agreed with when dismissing the appeal.
“We are seeing a worrying increase in HMO applications in Bramley & Stanningley so I am seeking a review of Article 4 direction to ensure the entire ward is covered which would remove Permitted Development Rights for these types of conversion.”
Swinnow Primary School provides a ‘good’ education for its pupils – but there are areas where it could improve, Ofsted inspectors have said.
The school, which had been rated as ‘outstanding’ since 2007, has been rated as ‘good’ for its quality of education, behaviour and attitude of its pupils, personal development and leadership.
There is also praise for its curriculum and safeguarding.
The ‘harmonious atmosphere across school’, pupils’ behaviour and the school’s planning and teaching of phonics, reading, writing and mathematics are also singled out for praise.
But its early years provision has been highlighted as requiring improvement by inspectors during their visit last month. The report adds:
“The nurturing provision in early years supports children’s personal development well. Staff provide sensitive guidance to children. This helps children behave well.
“Staff successfully support children’s social and emotional needs. Consequently, children feel safe and settle well into school.
“However, the planning of the early years curriculum is not as well sequenced as in other parts of the school. Consequently, children’s achievement in reading, writing and mathematics has not been high enough.
“Not enough children have been well prepared in these subjects to start Year 1. Leaders are taking relevant action to address this. They have visited schools to identify effective practice. Staff are now developing curriculum planning and new staffing arrangements are in place.”
The full Ofsted report of the Swinnow Road school can be read here.
Bramley’s Caroline Nardone has overcome personal eyesight health challenges to set up her own thriving food business: The Kitchen at Haley’s Yard, writes Josie Armitage.
Caroline officially opened The Kitchen on 1st June 2018, based at her home on the beautiful and historic Haley’s Yard in Bramley.
This was an unplanned change of direction for the chef following serious personal eyesight health challenges.
Caroline Nardone in action. Photo: Josie Armitage
How did you
overcome your eyesight challenges and come up with the idea for your business?
Caroline moved to Leeds from Liversedge to study almost 20 years ago. She had suffered from detached retinas since her 20s and undergone many operations and treatments.
Her professional life was going well and she had built a 10-year career as a HR Business Partner for Lloyds Bank “a truly tremendous employer”.
In 2007, Caroline again suffered from a detached retina firstly in her right eye and then in her left ‘seeing’ eye. Over a three-year period, she had 20 procedures and 10 major eye operations to try to save her eyesight.
In 2015, she began to lose her eyesight and was registered as partially
sighted for a couple of years. This was
a scary time for Caroline.
During this time, Caroline took some time off work to recover and reflect on what she should do going forward. She was able to take advantage of a redundancy opportunity and left Lloyd’s Bank.
With her redundancy money she had the advantage of being able to think about what she enjoyed doing and wanted to do something worthwhile. Caroline said:
“I have always enjoyed cooking and baking and found this both relaxing and therapeutic when I was struggling with my eyesight issues.”
In 2017, Caroline went to Dorset to do a fast-track course to re-train as a chef at the prestigious White Pepper Chef Academy where she also later did a Master Class in Patisserie under a fantastic Michelin star tutor, Mark Treasure. She qualified as a chef and returned home to Haley’s Yard.
Newly-qualified: Caroline Nardone
In March 2018, a small miracle happened for Caroline. After her 10th eye surgery, she
was finally able to get some glasses! She says:
“This was the best day ever! I went to the White Rose Centre with my mum and dad and picked up my glasses. I walked around the centre reading all the signs out loud just because I could read them.”
How did you
start the business?
Caroline was at a decision point in her life. She could go out more as she could see and was growing in confidence. She thought about what she could do to fit with her changed lifestyle.
Could she do anything from home? She was unable to be employed as she didn’t know what was going to happen with her health.
She decided to trial her cookery skills with Take Home healthy gourmet
takeaways. Caroline says:
“I wanted to provide chef prepared dishes which people could eat in the comfort of their homes.
“Customers would know the ingredients that had been used to prepare their meals. I wanted to help people who found it difficult to go out for a variety of reasons or those who wanted a takeaway but couldn’t afford to go out.”
Caroline carried out a lot of research with questionnaires to find out what potential customers might want and carried out an Indian Take Home trial.
She asked for 20 volunteers via Facebook who could choose dishes from a set menu for free in return for feedback on the food, what price they would be willing to pay, the packaging and which Take Home cuisines they would buy in future.
The trial was successful and many of the volunteers are now regular customers.
Caroline registered with the Environmental Health and using her
redundancy money, transformed her domestic kitchen into a working kitchen. She says:
“The Kitchen was born on 1st June 2018 and has grown from strength to strength over the past 18 months. I have taken each stage at a time and evolved the business based on what my customers want and the local market.”
What are the main areas of your business?
Caroline started off doing regular Weekend Take Homes with set menus for customers to choose meals from different cuisines such as Thai, Oriental, Indian and pie with guest Take Homes such as Jamaican and American.
She enjoys cooking different cuisines and makes sure that when she goes on holiday, she does a local lesson. Her last holiday was in Singapore and on her return she provided a Singaporian guest Weekend Take Home.
She also caters for hot or cold buffets up to 100 people, dinner parties
at home and business lunches. The most popular are hot buffets for parties at
home for 20-40 people. Caroline says:
“In consultation with the customer, I find out what they want including dietary requirements, what their budget is and work with them to develop a menu.
“I usually go along to the party, set everything up, warm the food up and make sure everything is ready. I fill up the plates while guests are eating and then leave them to enjoy the party.”
A staple of The Kitchen are Caroline’s freezer meals. She says:
“These are delicious and nutritious diet plan freezer meals using only the best fresh fruit and vegetables from Sutcliffe’s of Farsley, finest meats from Bentley’s of Pudsey and milk, eggs and cream from Aiden, the local milkman. It’s important to me to use local quality produce.
“I work closely with all three of these local businesses who all deliver which I am grateful for as I am unable to drive. We all promote each other’s businesses and recommend each other to new customers.”
Caroline produces freezer meals to cover a variety of diets,
intolerances and customer requirements. These
include:
Keto Kitchen – low to zero carb, high protein and fat, gluten free – suitable for those following a ketogenic lifestyle and for diabetics.
Slimmer’s Kitchen – low calorie and low fat, cooked with fry light, all visible fat removed, packed with veggies, counted as ‘zero naughtiness’ on the UK’s most popular diet plan
Vegan Kitchen – as above with zero animal products, perfect for those taking on the Veganuary Challenge.
Caroline herself follows a ketogenic lifestyle. She says:
“I personally eat the Keto Kitchen meals! My favourite is the cauliflower, pepperoni and jalapeno pizza casserole. Along with regular exercise, these keep my mind and body feeling tip top!”
The Keto Kitchen is the most popular.
Caroline works with her customers to make meals that meet their dietary
requirements and will advise and make meals specifically for customers with
different needs. She says:
“I love helping people to be able to eat home cooked meals that work around their intolerances and advise them as to what alternatives they can eat. Customers are appreciative of the advice and the meals that I specifically prepare for them.”
What are
the highs and lows of running your own business?
Caroline says:
“I can honestly say that I have never worked as hard at a job in my entire life as I do in this one.
“It is definitely worth it as it is my business and I am my own boss. I love being responsible for everything – cooking food, marketing and social media, designing menus, researching and buying in season produce and of course helping my lovely customers. I believe in using leftovers and minimising waste as I believe that this is important. I am especially proud of my 5* Hygiene rating.
“I love seeing everything come to fruition, everything is cooked and ready for delivery or pick up. I am proud when customers put positive comments and reviews on my Facebook page.”
A benefit to Caroline is being able to work from home. She added:
“I love being able to work from my home in Haley’s Yard. This is a great place to live and most of my neighbours are customers and some of them help me to deliver meals.”
Caroline is unable to drive any more due to her eyesight issues but has a network of neighbours, family and friends who help her deliver meals to customers who need this.
Who are
your main customers?
Regular customers for my frozen meals are people who find it hard to get
out for a variety of health reasons, those following specific dietary plans and
lifestyles and those who are too busy to cook healthy and nutritious meals.
My Weekend Take Homes are popular with people who want to enjoy a
healthy takeaway where they are confident of the ingredients and know what has
been used to prepare it. Caroline says:
“These meals are popular with couples who have children at home, as they can put the kids to bed and still enjoy a special restaurant quality meal.”
Charity work
When Caroline has time she likes to help charities. This includes donating cakes or gift
vouchers. On occasion, she has donated
cooked food to Helping Hands and Homeless Street Angels.
As a Take Home, she cooked 44 Christmas dinners for paid customers. She was able to provide 3 x 4 course
Christmas dinners which were surplus requirements to a local family who were
struggling to provide a Christmas dinner.
What’s next
for you and The Kitchen?
Caroline says:
“My main focus for January and February is my healthy frozen meals as customers are on diets or trying to eat healthily. Customers can order these from my menus by contacting The Kitchen at Haley’s Yard Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/hayleysyardkitchen/“
I can recommend the Lamb Dhansak from the Slimmer’s Kitchen and the Hungarian
Beef Goulash from the Keto Kitchen.
Caroline kindly gave me these to try and these are delicious. Knowing they are healthy will encourage me to
order and try further meals.
Caroline will be providing one Weekend Take Home each month after that with the next one being Chef’s Bistro for Valentine’s Day.
The Take Homes will then start back up from the first week in March with Caroline’s most popular, Indian. Caroline has buffet, dinner party and business lunch bookings already throughout the year. Contact the Facebook page for more information.
