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SCUNTHORPE TELEGRAPH Thursday, October 1, 2009 17

SPOTLIGHT ON ...

OUT & ABOUT

Little treasures in Leeds

Sure, Leeds is famous for its four-day festival and for being the regions cricketing capital, but has the city got what it takes to stand up and be counted in terms of clubbing, culture and culinary delights? Telegraph reporter Selina Maycock took time out to dig deep into the heart of the city to discover what treasures could be found on our doorstep. Whenever Ive been to Leeds its either been for shopping, a gig or drinking. In the daytime I devote all my attention to the high street must-haves, while by night it is beer goggles and bars. Its only when you plan to spend a weekend break in the city that you realise the abundance of activities lurking within the Leeds inner-loop road. Leeds is home to five renowned theatres, 83 restaurants, 133 bars and pubs and 38 nightclubs. ACCOMODATION Staying in the centre of Leeds is a must do and we were primly positioned at Queens Hotel (www.qhotels.co.uk) straight outside the railway station, just a couple of hundred yards from Millennium Square. The room itself was smart with all the mod cons and the comfiest bed overlooking City Square (from 79 per night). Long stay parking can be tad expensive in any city, so what better way than to opt for a hassle-free ride by booking parking with the hotel theres no need to clock watch or super sprint back to the car ahead of the parking attendant. Plus, your car is on hand whenever you need it. Attractions: Fancy meeting a knight in shining armour? Then look no further than the Royal Armouries (www.royalarmouries.org.uk) for there are plenty of sword fighting shenanigans to keep you on your guard and cases of collectible war commodities to browse. One show which is sure to get you in a flap is the falconry display just sitting among the feathered friends is enough to make you appreciate species of falcon, owls and hawks alike. DINING Lunch Theres no finer way to experience the real Italia than to enjoy a lunch at the Casa Mia Millennium (www.casamiaonline.com), situated off Millennium Square. The villa style caf-restaurant radiates gorgeous

THEY say in Leeds you have to live it to love it, but is the Yorkshire city a rising little gem or a nightmare drive up the M1?

someones face you have to see it to believe it. DANCE Ballet has gone a long way since its stereotype of powder pink leotards and matching tutus. It was refreshing to see such a sorrowful tale such as Dracula, performed by the Northern Ballet Theatre, being re-inacted into a surprisingly good piece of dance. Pushing the sexual boundaries, the tale, directed by David Nixon, captured the physical emotions of the characters and spun them into a dramatic piece, softened with ballet moves. The intimate setting at West Yorkshire Playhouse, celebrating its 40th anniversary season, (www.wyp.org.uk) meant that not a moment was missed, as the cast brought the piece to life metres from your eyes. NIGHTLIFE We opted for the cheesy chatty clubbing spirit which radiated from the courtyard of Queens Court. With Freshers back in force it was time to fight your way to the bar for a well-earned drink and with free entry on many bars, we came home with our party purses jingling. GORGEOUS: Casa Mia is a fine way to experience real Italia, with great food and a friendly atmosphere. food and service with a choice of alfresco dining. The atmosphere was oozing with friendliness. Evening meal The Fig, Alea (www.aleacasinos.com) a snazzy setting for a classy steak meal, which was both excellently presented and tasted out of this world. Theres nothing better than to finish off with a huge bowl of strawberry ice-cream complete with fresh juicy strawberries draped around the sides one word delish! Afternoon lunch Cosmopolitan Hotel Restaurant (www.peelhotels.co.uk) it has to be the best restaurant for service, leisurely three-course dining and splendid lamb shank with all the trimmings. I have never experienced a meal at which the restaurant manager gave such special attention to ensuring everything was okay and even got involved with serving the food and drinks excellent example of being hands on. ARTS Strolling around the Hughie ODonoghue exhibition is a great way of soaking up a deeper meaning for art and its artists. Whether you know your Van Gough from your Da Vinci, It is inspiring to see an array of pieces which you can spark a connection with or simply comprehend its creativity. ODonoghues work represents men/ women laying down, but the way he uses photographs to depict the bigger picture is somewhat smart. On first glance some paintings seem nothing but a smudge, but as you turn back to take a second look, the smudge becomes a blemish on SHOPPING The Corn Exchange (www.cornx.net) was surprisingly more vacant that I expected it to be, with just a select number of outlets to wander around. Nevertheless, the centre of Leeds made up for the boutiques and bakeries sprawled across the city at Victoria Quarter, Clarence Dock and The Light. And with bargains to be had, the boot was brimming with shopping bags.

Travel
2 days
from

75.00

Chester & Christmas Shopping

Here is a festive break where you can shop until you drop with visits to Manchesters breathtaking 1.5 billion, 230 store Trafford Centre, which is truly magical at Christmastime. Price includes: Return coach travel, one night's bed and English breakfast at the Holiday Inn Warrington, visits to Chester and the Trafford Centre and the services of a Tour Manager.

STAYING IN?
As brave hobbits Frodo and Sam attempt to destroy the all-powerful One Ring in the fires of Mount Doom, Gandalf, Aragorn and the rest of Middle Earths freedom fighters make a last stand against the forces of darkness. Peter Jacksons audacious, wildly imaginative and thrilling adaptation of JRR Tolkiens The Lord Of The Rings trilogy is a masterpiece. Action sequences attain dizzy heights, particularly the (middle) earth-shattering final confrontation, which sees the camera swoop among more than 600,000 warriors as they fight to the death. It won 11 Oscars, more than any other fantasy film. Jacksons next movie, The Lovely Bones, is due for release next year. Starring Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Viggo Mortensen, Sean Astin, John Rhys-Davies, Billy Boyd, Dominic Monaghan and Orlando Bloom. Scheming Prime Minister Cao Cao proposes the invasion of land to the south and west under the control of Liu Bei and Sun Quan, thereby unifying China. Liu Bei and his three generals, Zhao Yun, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, are quickly overwhelmed by Cao Caos military might. So Liu Bei dispatches brilliant strategist Zhu-Ge Liang to seek a coalition with young and impetuous Sun Quan and his powerful viceroy, Zhou Yu. The massed forces of the two leaders congregate on the banks of the Yangtze River at Red Cliff where Sun Quans loyal general Gan Xing galvanizes his men into action. Meanwhile, Zhou Yus wife Xiao Qiao and Sun Quans sister Sun Shangxiang assume pivotal roles in the mission to undermine Cao Caos assault. Red

Departs 5 December 2009

at the Trafford Centre

TV The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (Saturday, Channel 4, 7.05pm)

Cliff is the most expensive Chinese language film in history, set during the rule of the Han Dynasty in 208 AD. The scale of John Woos historical epic is jaw-dropping, featuring a cast of thousands and more aerial shots of arrows raining down upon legions of unsuspecting victims than the entire Lord Of The Rings trilogy. Certain breathtaking sequences, such as a naval stockade of 2,000 ships sailing up the Yangtze River, can only be accomplished with digital trickery. The computer-generated effects dont always pass muster, but when Woos camera is in the midst of the meticulously choreographed hand-to-hand combat, the film is truly a feast for the eyes. The script hammers home the underlying themes of nobility and fraternal bonding with lots of lingering glances between Leung and Kaneshiro.

Warwick Castle Crafts Fair & Worcester Christmas Fayre

2 days, departing 28 November 99.95pp
A Victorian era conjured up in the grounds of a Medieval Castle... Intrigued? Then come with us at Christmas time to Warwick Castle, to enjoy its hugely popular Craft Fair. And enjoy a visit to Worcester Christmas Fayre too! Included visit to Warwick Castle Crafts Fair A visit to Worcesters Christmas Fayre Overnight stay at a 3 or 4 star Midlands area hotel with dinner and full English breakfast Return coach travel from Cleethorpes, Grimsby & Scunthorpe

59.95 1 Adults 15 1 Kids

3 days from

DVD Red Cliff (Cert 15)

The famous man in the white suit whose concern over sleaze at Westminster brought him world fame and a temporary seat in Parliament, is on the warpath again. He is of course Martin Bell, the distinguished former BBC war correspondent who, standing as an Independent on an anti-sleaze ticket, successfully opposed the sitting MP Neil Hamilton in the safe Tory seat of Tatton in 1997. Bell, who adopted a white suit as his trademark, rather like Churchills cigar, is extremely annoyed about the current flood of Westminster scandal. In his new book, A Very British Revolution, he describes the effect of the current expenses scandal as a 21st-century version of the Peasants Revolt an uprising of the people against the political class and its practices and patterns of corruption.

BOOK A Very British Revolution, by Martin Bell, by Icon Books, priced 11.99.

New Year at Disneyland Paris

Enjoy the fun and fireworks at Europes Happiest Place! Price includes: Return coach travel & Channel crossings, two nights bed & continental breakfast accommodation at a Paris area hotel, a visit to Disneyland Resort Paris with one days admission to the Disneyland Park (Hopper tickets to include admission to Walt Disney Studios Park are available at a supplement) and the services of a representative at Disneyland Resort Paris. To book or for a brochure, call local rate quoting code GET:

Departs 30 December 2009

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