News & Features

Volunteers from the Northallerton Detachment of the Army Cadet Force will be on hand at Lewis & Cooper in the town for the gourmet food and wine firm�s Christmas Food & Drink Festival on Sunday, November 7, 10am-4pm.
Some will also be in store this coming Saturday [30] to help sell advance tickets for the event and to help pack shoppers� bags.
Proceeds from their efforts, and from ticket sales and entry on the day to the festival, will go to Help For Heroes, which supports servicemen and women wounded in the service of their country.
Lewis & Cooper has raised tens of thousands of pounds over the years with Pre-Noel shopping events.
Each year, on the first Sunday in November, it charges shoppers for the privilege of sampling offers and tastings from scores of producers. There are also cookery demonstrations, competitions and a chance to get a head start on festive food, drink and gift ideas.
Discounts on offer on the day include 10 per cent off wines from the award-winning drinks department (excludes spirits and existing offers), 10 per cent off brochure hampers and 15 per cent off purchases in the gift department upstairs, where the tearoom will also offer special dishes.
This year, the ticket-only event has been re-named the Lewis & Cooper Christmas Food & Drink Festival to reflect its growing popularity as a celebration of great produce from Yorkshire and beyond.
General manager Victoria Howard said: �Help For Heroes was a very popular choice among staff when we were choosing this year�s good cause. It does a fantastic job helping wounded servicemen and women and we are delighted to support its work.�
She said the pre-Christmas festival had grown to become the high point of the firm�s calendar and a real celebration of suppliers, ranging from local kitchen table producers to international brands.
The event, on Sunday, November 7 (10am-4pm), is set to be formally opened by John and Sandra Hyde. Their son, L Cpl Ben Hyde, was one of six Royal Military Policemen killed in Iraq in 2003. He was 23. The Hydes, from Northallerton, have since set up a memorial trust in Ben�s name to benefit a wide range of causes.
Tickets for the event are on sale now, priced £2 in advance, from Lewis & Cooper�s stores in Northallerton and Yarm, by calling 01609 766602 or emailing [email protected]. Entry on the day is £2.50.