NLN More Issue 10

MORENLN

York Yurts

The ultimate in glamorous camping

Don’t forget...An essential festival

survival guide

Thrill seekingWe go off-roadbuggying

JULY 23 2010 VOLUME 2 ISSUE 10 www.northleedsnews.co.uk

Summer TravelHow to save and

spend on holiday

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Sky high pricesT

his may be your last chance to getaway this summer. Families in Leedswill be hit by a soaring increase in AirPassenger Duty (APD), the departuretaxes on flights from the UK, which is

due to rise by as much as 112 per cent inNovember this year.

The government announced in the budget thatfrom November it would be increasing APD -resulting in at least 1.4 million fewer peopleflying a year.

The Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA)says that it will have a bad impact on regionalairports and will affect families and the less well-off the most.

Upping the costFrom November APD will fall into fourgeographical bands depending on the distance ofthe flight.

Band A is for flights between 0 and 2000 milesand will rise from £11 to £12. Band B is for 2001to 4000 mile flights and will rise from £46 to £65.Band C is for 4001 to 6000 miles and will risefrom £50 to £75 and band D is for flights over6000 miles and will rise from £55 to £85.

A survey carried out by Holidayextras.comrevealed that a third of UK travellers wouldcancel holiday plans abroad if an extra £30 in taxwas added onto their fare.

Regional airports will sufferWith many regional airports already struggling –after suffering drastic falls in passenger numbersand the number of flight routes being cut over thepast year - airports like Leeds Bradford Airportare going to be hit by another decrease inpassengers who are unwilling to pay the extracharges.

An ABTA spokesperson said: “Regional airportswill suffer as airlines consider the profitability ofmaintaining routes with an increased tax burdenat a time of declining passenger numbers.”

Not only will the tax increases, which areparticularly high on long haul flights, affect UKand regional airports but they are also likely todamage the economies of many developingcountries that rely on tourism revenue.

Families hitFrom November it will cost £300 in APD for afamily of four to travel to the Caribbean.

Many families may find it a struggle to paythese extra charges resulting in them boycottingtropical destinations and taking holidays inEurope instead.

An ABTA spokesperson said: “These steep riseswill have a disproportionate effect on some of the

poorest countries in the world whose economiesare heavily reliant on tourism as long haul travelbears the most savage increases.”

Cut carbon emissions?The government hopes that the switch in theaviation tax system to a per plane duty willencourage fuller planes.They also hope that it will contribute to cutting

carbon emissions; however government figuresshow that many airlines already meetenvironmental costs.

They say that the APD has a positiveenvironmental impact but the £2 billioncurrently raised from the aviation tax is alreadyconsiderably higher than the environmental costof flying.

The government has admitted that it is also arevenue-raising scheme in addition to addressingenvironmental costs.

Paying the priceAn ABTA spokesperson said: “ABTA accepts thataviation should pay its proper environmentalcost; however, that cost is reflected in the currentAPD level.”

Green Peace is in favour of the increases to APDand also believes that the aviation industryshould pay their fair share.

A spokesperson for Green Peace said: “We arein favour of the increases. Planes are flying roundthe world half-empty at the moment.

“If there was a per plane tax there would be abetter incentive for airlines to fill planes and itwould use less oil to move more people.”

She added: “The aviation industry is the mostpolluting industry in terms of emissionstherefore they should pay their fair share onpollution.”

Strong criticismSome environmentalists, however, have criticisedthe increase claiming that it encouragespassengers to think that they are doing their bitfor the environment, making them less likely tocontribute to carbon offsetting schemes.

Travel Operators and airlines have alsocriticised the government for applying tax raises,with many companies launching campaignsagainst the increases.

Virgin Atlantic has launched a campaign againstthe tax, with all e-tickets carrying messagescriticising the tax increase by the Government.

The message asks passengers to visit aswebsite to protest to their local MP about theincreases.

The Daily Telegraph has also launched apetition against the tax which has more 35,000

signatures so far. Low cost airline Ryanair will cut UK flights by

16 per cent from November in protest to the taxincreases. It will reduce services from manyBritish bases and move a number of aircrafts toEurope where fewer taxes are imposed onairlines.

The UK is the only country in the world to taxflights in this way. With such strong oppositionto the changes George Osborne, Chancellor of theExchequer, has put the decision about the futureof APD on hold with a report due this autumn.

by Rebecca Elvin

The hidden cost of flights

Low cost airlines areadvertising flights for aslittle as £9.99 to populardestinations this summerbut are these offers really a

good deal? Rebecca Elvininvestigates the hidden costs ofthese ‘so-called’ cheap flights.

A budget airline website is advertising flightsfrom Leeds Bradford Airport to destinationssuch as Amsterdam and Prague for just £9.99.When you click to search the dates available forthe cheapest flight to Prague the cheapestoption is priced at £59.99 on the 29th July- £50more than advertised. If you proceed with thebooking you will start to see your flight priceskyrocket.

Added onto the £59.99 base fare is:

£22 in tax £81.99

£9.99 on luggage £91.98

£4 on online check-in £95.98

£3.99 on seat reservation £99.97

£5.99 on in-flight meal £105.96

£6.50 on travel insurance £112.46

£4.99 on (minimum) booking fee £117.45

After all the taxes and extra costs wereadded onto the flight cost the grand totalwas £117.45. This is £57.46 more thanoriginally advertised and is almost as muchas the base rate. These ‘little extras’ soonadd up and show these ‘so called’ barginflights as a misleading and costly expense.

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Shahzeena Khalid explores how holiday spending can starteven before you board the plane.

When booking a summer holidaythis year you may want toconsider adding a few extrapounds to your spending money.The travel retail business is

booming and airport shopping that what wasonce based on two basic items, alcohol andtobacco, has become a feast of sundries andluxury goods.

When London’s first airport opened in 1920 atCroydon, England, there was only one smalloctagonal kiosk selling newspapers andmagazines. “Only the rich travelled in those daysand they had large trunks with everything theyneeded,” says Frank Anderson, chairman of theCroydon Airport Association. At the opening ofHeathrow in 1946, retail was very very crude.”

You may think your shopping experiences ateach of the world’s airports are the same but thereis no common ground for how the travel retailshopping industry works. The marketing is highlytuned, with brand and product differentiationfrom continent to continent.

In Europe, airport shopping can differdepending on location, to cater for the varyingtypes of holiday maker in different countries.Whereas in the Far East, airports in Singapore andHong Kong offer a shopping experience for whichtravellers make a special stop. Dubai of course has

been at the centre of lavish travel retail fordecades and has set an example to the rest of theworld.

Bob Wilby, CEO of the Moodie Report; a travelindustry news publication for airports, retailersand brands says, “Airports run their ownconcessions, from tobacco to fragrance and luxurygoods. They allow the big brands to trade, inreturn for an airport fee. Different airports havedifferent models for these concessions. There isno one worldwide model.”

Luxury brands have developed products to grabtravellers’ attention. “It’s common for top brandretail companies to have brand specials at theairports alongside their normal items. Sometimesthis is used to showcase luxury items in order tomake people more aware of them or forexclusivity. For example, limited edition whisky,”says Bob Wilby.

The scope for making sales to travellers is amarketeer’s dream. Groups of people confined ina building, sometimes waiting hours to board

planes, are left with little to do apart from wonderaround stores to kill the boredom. Some buyimportant last minute items and plenty of peoplepay above average prices for food and drink.

Dr David Lewis-Hodgson, Director of Researchat Mindlab International, based at the Universityof Sussex, says, “There are a number of reasonspeople behave differently in an airport. They findways of distracting themselves when they are notused to being in limbo.

“Their perception of time changes and somepeople are unsettled by the travel experience.They suffer anxiety which releases adrenaline andgo into ‘hunting’ mode.”

Whether people are travelling for pleasure or forbusiness, they feel they deserve to treatthemselves. It is a case of ‘because I’m worth it’.They give themselves extra rewards. Some peoplebuy high price designer items to establish theiridentity, as at an airport they are a number in amachine being processed,” he says.

Travel retail is largely dependent on the tourismindustry and with millions of travellers goingthrough airports each year, the sales of the giantglobal retail industry are flourishing.

So while listening out for your flight number tobe called, if you are tempted by that perfect watchor a bottle of perfume that smells divine, just keepyour spending budget in mind.

The call of duty free

“Whether people are travellingfor pleasure or for business, they

feel they deserve to treatthemselves. It is a case of‘because I’m worth it’.”

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Abzorb the funby Jonathan Forrester

Sandwiched between farms just outsideHarrogate is a field where somethingexciting is going on. Dirt tracks haveworn away the grass and two parallelfences cut through the field and stop

half way. In the middle sits a small wooden hut- the reception of outdoor activity companyDomination Adventure.

The company was officially opened one yearago by thrill-seeking duo Marc and Dom whoare childhood friends from Harrogate.

Marc Wise, 25, said: “Initially, it was apartnership between Dom and myself. Wewanted to set up extreme activities that werequite unusual, things you didn’t do everyday.”

Equipped with an abundance of energy (andfirst aid certificates), their launching activitywas zorbing - a 100 metre down-hill tumble ina giant inflatable ball.

Two people at a time hop in the zorb and getharnessed in at opposite ends, facing eachother. They slip their feet underneath straps,take a firm hold of some more above their headand wait for the push. The ball then speedsdown a specially-designed course before

coming to a safe and soft stop at the bottom.Marc said: “We’ve put a few twists in the

course and just a few divots to turn it. Youcould go down on your side, or you could spinround and then go forward. It changes themomentum and stops you feeling sick and it’sreally enjoyable.

“We did test the course for longer - rightdown to the bottom of the hill, but everyonejust started feeling ill.”

It may sound like a stomach-churning eventbut Marc insists that no one has been sickduring their zorbing experience so far. Thatdoesn’t mean that running a company in a fieldsurrounded by farms comes without itsproblems though.

Marc said: “We had an issue. It just sort ofhappened - cattle got in and put their feetstraight through the reception’s porch, so wewire fenced it off.”

With new security came a new activity. Offroad buggies are Domination Adventure’slatest addition. Guests are split into two teams,red and blue, and go head-to-head around amud-filled course on 160cc dirt buggies.

Once they have mastered the track it is timefor the upgrade - a 260cc GS Moon buggy thatis road-legal and reaches 60mph. Each guest isgiven the opportunity to set the best timearound the course, with points deducted forhitting cones that mark the track.

With two adrenaline-fuelled activities firmlyin place, Domination Adventure is gainingmomentum and attracting people of all ages.Marc said: “We get big stag groups and henparties and when they come they get fourhours to do what they want - zorbing andkarting, have a barbecue, just make it for themreally.

“We’ve got some other ideas in the pipelinetoo. We try to keep everything quirky. With allof the customers that come it’s always ‘let’s tryto do something fun, new and exciting’. That’swhat we want to do.”

A package of zorbing and buggying is currently£49.99 per person.

For more information or to book your day out,visit www.dominationadventure.co.uk

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“We did test thecourse for longer -right down to thebottom of the hill,but everyone juststarted feeling ill.”

Thirsty for thrills?

With the Dales on its doorstep and rivers winding through, Yorkshire is the

perfect setting for anyone looking for a rush of adrenaline. Scattered all

over the region are adventurous indoor activities, meaning you can brave

the entertainment rather than the elements.

The Leeds Wall

The Leeds Wall is a modern training facility for climbers of all abilities. It

provides a wide range of climbing routes, from gentle slabs to curved

overhangs. The centre is a great place to learn the basis skills of climbing

and develop new skills in an exciting and controlled environment. A full

range of courses are available throughout the year. The Leeds Walls is open

Monday to Friday from 10am to 10pm and 10am to 8pm on weekends.

www.theleedswall.co.uk

PPIK

Pole Position Indoor Karting is a half-million pound indoor karting circuit

in Leeds. The 580m long high-spec tarmac track is the longest indoor circuit

in Yorkshire. It has tunnels, bridges, elevated pit areas and an underpass

creating a totally unique driving experience. PPIK offer packages for all ages

and abilities. The ‘Exclusive’ package allows groups to have exclusive use

of the circuit, karts and facilities for the duration of the race. The ‘Open’

package is ideal for small groups on a budget who race with other drivers

and groups at the same time. PPIK is open seven days a week from 10am

on weekdays and from 9am on weekends.

www.ppik.net

Xscape Castleford

Xscape has a world of adventure all under one roof with an indoor real

snow slope, rock climbing, adventure golf, bowling, laser games, a state of

the art Cineworld cinema and a selection of restaurants, bars and urban

clothes shops. SNO!zone has a 200 metre long main slope with over 1700

tonnes of fresh snow complete with two poma lifts. There is also a beginner

slope dedicated solely for lessons. Whether it’s skiing or snowboarding there

are lessons and coaching available for all abilities. There are also fun family

activities like sledging and ice sliding. The snow slopes open at 9am and the

centre closes at 2am most nights. Opening times of each business may vary.

www.xscape.co.uk/castleford

Overalls? Check. Helmet? Check. A mud-filled courseloaded with twists, turns and bumps? Check.

As the latest add-on to Domination Adventure’sactivities, off road buggying is a great idea for birthdayparties, stag dos, or even a little get together.

Buggies usually intended for the general public can belimited to speeds of no more than 15 mph, but not these.

The 160cc buggies are simple to use but pack a punch -you can put your accelerator pedal to the floor and glidearound corners with speedy ease. Their low suspensionalso mean you are in for a bumpy ride.

Next up comes the 260cc GS Moon buggy. The road-legalvehicle comes complete with a supervisor at your side andis made for a more tactical ride.

Ease off on the corners, don’t overplay the steering andyou can smile as the buggy hugs the inside of the track andspeeds over the straights. It even comes with a switch tokill the engine - just in case.

The karts offer visitors a perfect combination of fun andcompetition. You can go head-to-head with your friendson the smaller buggies but then focus on achieving thequickest lap with the larger one.

ROAD TEST: Buggies

INFLATED: Marc (left) andDom (right) pose with a zorb.

Festival summer

Now firmly installed as one of the biggest festivals in Europe,Leeds Festival raised a few eyebrows this year when it an-nounced its headliners back in March. Taken at face value, thechoice of three bands, Arcade Fire, Blink-182 and Guns N’ Roses,may seem unusual, especially given that none of them have

headlined a festival main stage in the UK in the last four years. The return ofAxl Rose to Leeds, eight years after a bizarre headline set at Temple Newsam,where the band turned up well over an hour late, will be interesting to saythe least. Stripped of every original member, bar the controversial singer, itremains to be seen how much weight the former rock titans still hold, espe-cially given the lukewarm reception to their last album. They will take to thestage, hopefully on time, as the closing act on Sunday night.

For what is traditionally a rock festival, Leeds, and big brother Reading,have incorporated an ‘indie’ day over the past few years with a mixed recep-tion. Arcade Fire will have their work cut out headlining the first night. Aband that are adored by a loyal army of fans and critics alike, it will be one ofthe weekend’s biggest talking points if the band can make the step up to bonafide main stage headliners. There is no doubt this will be the biggest gig oftheir lives.

Of course like any festival, Leeds should be judged on its entire line-up. Abrief glance over the traditional yellow poster is enough to see that this is afestival with plenty of strength in depth. The line up features current rockroyalty with the likes of Queens of the Stone Age, Biffy Clyro and Lost-prophets, as well as nostalgia trips in Limp Bizkit, Cypress Hill and Weezer.For British fans one of the most eagerly anticipated acts will be the festival

return of The Libertines, newly reformed after years of bickering. Perhaps the biggest cheer of the weekend will be saved for returning dude-

rock three-piece Blink-182. Back together after a hiatus and drummer TravisBarker’s near-fatal plane crash in 2008, the band will be eager to make upfor lost time. Fans will be expecting a hook-filled greatest hits set with sometraditional Blink-182 shenanigans thrown in.

The Radio 1 stage features a more dance driven line up this year, with threeof the biggest acts in the world headlining the prestigious tent. Pendulum,Klaxons and LCD Soundsystem will provide a welcome alternative to an armyof guitars.

The one remaining question will be the weather. The weather has been gen-erally quite kind to the festival in recent years, one huge downpour in 2008aside. What is certain is that no amount of rain will dampen the spirits of theBramham Park crowd. The festival takes place over August Bank Holidayweekend August 25-29.

.Friday

Arcade FireThe LibertinesDizzee Rascal

The CribsThe MaccabeesModest Mouse

Saturday

Blink-182ParamoreWeezer

Cypress HillLimp Bizkit

You Me At Six

Sunday

Guns N’ RosesQOTSA

Biffy ClyroLostprophets

NOFXBilly Talent

The main stage line up

by Richard Simpson

Boots No.7 Dual Protection Tinted MoisturiserSPF 15

£11.00Claim: To protect skin all day long from the damaging effects

of the sun and pollution with a patented multi-antioxidant

component.

Testing: This sheer tinted moisturiser gives the skin a dewy

appearance that looks natural when first applied. It doesn’t

give much coverage to spots and blemishes so a concealer can

be used over the top. However, towards the end of the day

there was hardly any left on my skin.

5/10

The Body Shop Flawless skin protecting SPF 25

£12.00

Claim: The foundation is a mineral based foundation that

makes your skin less prone to imperfections after use. The

light diffusing particles instantly brighten the skin and help

reduce the appearance of fine lines.

Testing: This foundation does cover up imperfections well

and leaves you with an elegant flawless finish. The yellow

base in the makeup dilutes the fake appearance of

foundation allowing you to appear less orange and more natural.

7/10

Foundation Testing Keep a perfect complexion this summer

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Don’t be a festival

victim this yearOften the most tiring part of any festival is not the

lack of sleep but moving in and out of the site. With

many campers starting their journeys in the centre of

cities, travelling light is important. When packing it is

important to ask yourself, “How essential is essen-

tial?” Don’t waste strength and energy on bulky items

like a cool box when beer keeps cool inside a tent.

Queuing can become a torturous process, with every

bit of weight needing to be picked up and moved,

metre by metre, as you slowly file into the site.

Luke Haran, 22, of local Leeds band Sharp Darts, came up with a novel idea for

getting into the festival: “Me and a couple of mates bought a trolley from a DIY

shop with two wheels and two big handles. We wrapped our tent, bags and beer

in clingfilm and strapped it to the trolley. It meant we didn’t have to lift anything.

I’d never go to a festival without it now it’s a complete lifesaver.”

When you arrive, tired and in need

of a drink, think carefully before you

pitch up your tent. Simply finding the

first available space and setting up is

often not the best idea. Take into ac-

count that the campsite, although

barren and empty to being with, will

soon become a living, breathing com-

munity. Make sure not to camp right

on the edge of pathways, as this in-

creases the amount of noise you will

have to endure, as well as the risk of

your tent being trampled. Also take

into account

your positioning

in relation to

bins, toilets and

burger vans.

Greg Jones,

27, of Leeds

band Harley

Street said:

“You always see

people who

camp in stupid places. I’ve seen peo-

ple camped on 45 degree slopes or

right outside the toilets. You just

think ‘why?’ If you are by a path then

everyone is walking past at all hours

and your tent is more likely to get

fallen on or broken.”

Being prepared for every

eventuality is important at a

festival. Anyone attending

Leeds Festival in 2008 will re-

member all too well how

bone dry pathways became

quagmires within hours as

the heavens opened. The

ankle-deep mud was so bad that supply trucks could not

get in to restock stalls with wellies.

Gianluca Puzzella, 21, of Bradford and Leeds-based band

Dark Horse, remembers: “The paths were so muddy you

couldn’t actually walk without your shoes coming off. There

were huge queues for wellies because if you didn’t have

them you were in trouble. But the stupid thing was the

weather was really nice apart from one big downpour on

Wednesday, which meant you needed sun cream and

wellies.”

Theft and crime are unavoidable at a festival. It pays to be prepared and to adopt a safety first mentality. If you

leave a camping chair or stove out overnight don’t expect it to be there in the morning. Many tents have a separate

porch area, yet despite being zipped away, leaving items in there does not guarantee their safety. Valuables such as

your phone and wallet should ideally be kept as close to your person and as far back in the tent as possible. It is not

unknown for people to padlock their tents while they are watching the bands during the day. It goes without saying

nothing of importance should be left in your tent when you aren’t around.

Sophie Dean, 25, of Guiseley, was caught out at Leeds Festival by an opportunist thief: “A few years ago my purse

was zipped away in my tent but I still woke up one morning and found it had been stolen. It had my phone and my

car keys in it and it ruined my festival. Whoever it was just opened my tent and took it. It’s a scary thought.”

It can often be tempting to litter in the campsite as across

the weekend the state of the site will worsen dramatically.

Yet rubbish is not only an eyesore, too much litter in and

around your tent is not only horrible underfoot, it will

attract wasps. 2009 saw a huge resurgence of wasps to the

campsites of Leeds Festival.

George Wall, 20, of Headingley, was

one such festivalgoer forced to watch

his back: “A couple of my mates got

stung but I was constantly getting

wasps flying around my head or land-

ing on me. We littered everywhere

too so the problem just got worse and

worse. We learnt a few lessons for this

year but it’s also nice to take a bit of

pride in your campsite.”

Going to the toilet at a festival can often be a daunting

prospect. Options are limited to cubicles

perched over a large pit or lines of portable

toilets across the site. Each has its advantages

and disadvantages but conventional wisdom

shows that toilets are in much better shape in

the opening days of the festival.

Jason Wakefield, 28, of Yeadon said: “The

nicest toilets are in the arena. Campsite toilets

have been solidly used for two days (Wednes-

day and Thursday) before the bands even

start. You have to get in there early because

after that they become disgusting very quickly.”

Women suffer twice as much as the men in this de-

partment. Top tips from female festivalgoers all centre

on the importance of having toilet roll with you at all

times and just getting on with it. Don’t touch anything,

hover, don’t get caught short, and don’t use up your

entire toilet roll in one day, is the general consensus.

Don’t leave anything on show

Be prepared for allweather conditions

Toilet tactics

Positioning is everything

Travel lightKeep your area clean

by Richard Simpson

Bobbi Brown skin foundation

SPF 15

£28.00Claims: This award winning liquid foundation offers sheer cover-

age that looks natural. Its long-wearing and moisturising formula

broadly protects skin from the damage of UV rays minimising long

lasting skin damage.

Testing: This liquid foundation is very runny but sheer upon ap-

plication. Its light constituency gives an unnoticeable finish and

they have a great range of shades. However, after wearing it for a

few days I noticed it was blocking pores and causing spots.

6/10

Clinique City Base foundation

SPF 15

£18.99Claims: This oil-free, cream-to-powder compact foundation

controls shine and protect from sun damage. It provides mod-

erate-to-full coverage and work great for all skin types.

Testing: This glided on as a cream, and then turned into a sheer

powder leaving my skin with a natural, matte finish. You can

choose the foundation to suit your skin type, which helped me

choose the right one for my skin. It’s easy to apply and carry around because

of its compact case.

8/10

using sun protecting foundations by Chloé Doyle

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Let’s go glamping

Nestled away in three acres of land, 20 minutes outside Yorkcity centre, is the home of Yorkshire’s only yurts. Circular,trellis-walled, portable and tent-like, these unusualstructures originate from Mongolia and are the ultimate inglamorous camping, or ‘glamping’ as it is known.

I was blown away when I first stepped into the yurt – it was like nothingI had ever seen before. Daylight streamed in from the covered “window”in the canvassed roof and candles filled the air with a welcoming scent,one that was in keeping with the yurt’s nature. The pictures don’t do itjustice as it is the smells and sounds that really make the experiencespecial.

Campsite owner, Sara Easy, 44, launched York Yurts last year afterlooking to set up an alternative to a B&B. “A friend of mine told me aboutthem and a guy down in Surrey imports them from Mongolia,” she said.“I got two of the yurts from him and two off eBay.

“I just thought it would be something different and there aren’t any uphere. I think people are tending to go for shorter breaks in this countryrather than staying in a hotel abroad and they’re looking for analternative experience.”

The spot feels secluded, which is helped in no small part by the fact thatthere are just four yurts and one “funky caravan” at the site, with no plansto expand. There are two separate bathrooms – one is a toilet in what canonly be described as a wendy house, which is a very novel experience,and the other is a roll-top bath and shower in a stable. Also resident inthe stables is a hot tub complete with twinkling fairy lights and candles.

There is no electricity in the yurts, which means no lights, but insteadthere are candles that can be lit when night falls. Although it was warmenough on the night we stayed not to light them, there are wood-burningstoves in every yurt, which enable the site to stay open all year round. Itall makes for a very quirky and romantic night’s stay.

Each yurt comes equipped with its own uniquely designed king-sizebed and memory-foam mattress, guaranteeing even the lightest sleepersa wonderful night’s sleep. “A girl stayed here who was an insomniac. Shehadn’t slept for more than five hours a night for the last four years butshe slept all night here,” said Sara’s partner, Darren Dickinson, 44. “I don’tknow what it is about them, maybe it’s the fact that they’re round ormaybe it’s the fresh air and peacefulness. Whatever it is, it has workedfor Mongolians for all these years.”

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It’s camping – but not as we know it.Stephanie Burns takes a trip to York Yurts.

The site is clean and tidy but by no means immaculate – and youwouldn’t want it to be. This is not another swanky chain hotel and,although it is more glamorous than a standard campsite, it is still veryrural. “We get women turning up in stilettos and no coat in the middleof winter. For some people this is as far into their outrageous zone asthey can go as they’re used to five star hotels,” said Sara. “But mostpeople have either been camping or like the idea of camping but don’twant to have to sleep on a lilo.”

There is a cooking tent and barbecue next to each yurt and a largercommunal kitchen, which has a fridge, sink and camping stove, withoven, which meant preparing our dinner was not that different from ourown kitchen. But for a truly relaxing experience, meals can be delivereddirectly to the yurt. Guests are emailed a menu before their stay and theyspecify what they would like from the home-cooked options – from beefbourguignon to steak to homemade burgers, as well as a full vegetarianmenu. They can even choose to have breakfast in bed.

The yurt did get a little stuffy at times but on a hot summer’s day thiswas only to be expected and was soon remedied by propping the doorsopen. Even with the gypsy-style doors open fully the sense of privacy

was not diminished and the masses of space between each yurt ensuredthat we were never looked in on. There is a communal tent withbeanbags, sofas and games to enjoy with your fellow campers if you arefeeling sociable, or the whole site can be hired for you and a bunch offriends to enjoy by yourselves.

They are almost completely booked until the end of August so you’llbe lucky to get a slot before then, which is impressive considering thatthey don’t formally advertise anywhere and their reputation has mostlyspread through word of mouth. However, it is not surprising based onthe experience we had. “It is the perfect place to come for a romanticbreak,” said my partner, Edward. “It is really rustic and the atmosphereis magical.” I couldn’t agree more, the tranquil retreat is perfect for thoseseeking an escape from city life or just a change of surroundings and wewill definitely be returning.

Prices range from £55 to £70 per yurt per night.

For more information and to book visit www.yorkyurts.com or call 01759380901.

Government efficiency savings could

have a catastrophic effect on our

region’s galleries and theatres,

according the government agency

responsible for arts funding in

England. The Arts Council has warned that, if

proposed cuts of between 25 and 40 per cent are

given the go-ahead in the autumn spending

review, up to a quarter of art institutions could

be forced to close.

“It’s clear we are facing significant cuts. We’re

being asked to model for a reduction of up to 30

per cent in our funding,” said Tamsin Curror,

spokeswoman for the Art Council in Yorkshire.

She said that a cut of 10 to 15 per cent would

be the “tipping point” for most arts organisations,

severely compromising what they are able to

offer, adding: “With cuts of 25 per cent possible,

some organisations may have to close.”

Arts institutions in Yorkshire have already had

to plug 0.5 per cent funding cut worth more than

£130,000 as well as cuts in the amount they receive

from local authorities. Leading figures in the

industry warn that the proposed Arts Council

funding cuts, which could run into the millions,

would cause fundamental and long-lasting damage

– jeopardising Yorkshire’s economy and tourist

industry, as well as its cultural heritage.

“The likelihood is that cuts on that scale would

lead to the closure of a huge range of arts

providers, venues, attractions and cultural

institutions,” said Antony Dunn, head of

communications at Yorkshire Dance. The

company, who receive £200,000 a year from the

Arts Council, were able to adapt to the 0.5 per

cent cut in funding announced earlier this year

but are worried about the size of the proposed

further cuts.

“Looking ahead to the 25 per cent to 40 per

cent cuts being proposed is altogether more

alarming,” he added.

Similar views were echoed by other cultural

institutions in our region. Sheffield-based

performing arts company Forced Entertainment –

who receive over £250,000 from the Arts Council

to help fund their alternative theatre productions,

which they perform across Europe – said they

had managed to absorb the 0.5 per cent cut in

funding “relatively easily”. But their spokesperson

said they were uncertain about what decisions

they will have to make to ride out a much more

drastic cut.

The Yorkshire Sculpture Park, who had there

funding slashed by almost £7,500, said they have

had to completely re-evaluate their business

model to absorb the cuts in funding. Their press

officer, Eleanor Bryson, said that the

internationally renowned sculpture park, which

receives just under £1.5 million a year from the

Arts Council, is anxious about the outcome of the

government spending review and the potential

damage it might have on them.

But as well as the £27 million of regular funding

at risk, the Arts Council also provide one-off

grants for new companies and post-specific roles,

which may also be threatened if the proposed cuts

to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport’s

budget are implemented.

One museum worker from Leeds, who wishes to

remain anonymous, said she feared for the future

of her job, which is directly funded by the Arts

Council. She said: “My museum is a hub museum

and my post is specifically funded by the Arts

Council. We have been told that our status as a

hub museum will end at the end of the financial

year as well as the funding that goes with it.

“The Arts Council’s funding makes up the

majority of our exhibitions budget so it doesn’t

look promising,” she added.

Similarly, Alan Lane, the artistic director of

Leeds-based theatre company Slung Low said he

would have struggled to set up his company

without the Arts Council start-up grant he

received.

The Government has previously talked of the

need for arts institutions to emulate the US model

of funding, putting greater emphasis on securing

the backing of philanthropic organisations to help

plug the expected shortfall in public funding. But

arts figures believe this is unrealistic. The general

director of the West Yorkshire Playhouse, Sheena

Wrigley, said: “Just how much money is there to

go around, even in a city which boasts one of the

biggest financial and professional service sectors

outside of the capital?

“Some longstanding corporate supporters have

themselves had to lay off staff and even those

weathering the storm have confided that this is

not the time to be seen spending on arts

sponsorship,” she added. “There are six-figure

sums to be found and we are not the only

organisation in this city competing for such

philanthropic investment.”

The Arts Council’s Tamsin Curror pointed out

that Britain’s arts industry only costs the average

taxpayer 17p each a week. “The arts put more

back into the economy than they take out,” she

added. VAT receipts from England’s cultural

institutions also generate more than the Arts

Council budget costs the taxpayer. Theatres alone

generate more than three times the Arts Councils

annual budget in England, so the Treasury may

end up worse off if funding for the arts is cut.

10 NLN MORE

by Adam Edwards

Funding frieze

“With cuts of 25 per

cent possible, some

organisations may

have to close.”

Ph

oto

: A

me

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Be

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MOREreviewNLN MORE 11

The plot of this movie where “your mindis the scene of the crime” could beconjured up in a peculiar dream.Breaking into the mind and stealingsecrets is not relaxing work and

Christopher Nolan’s latest is not for those whowould prefer to fall into a calming slumber.Inception is an action packed, cleverly-constructed thriller that keeps your attentionfrom start to finish. Make sure you don’t miss asingle moment though, as the plot will leave youbehind.

Dom Cobb (Leonardo Dicaprio) adopts the leadrole as an experienced “extractor” who delves intothe psyches of his victims and either plantsthoughts in their heads or extracts importantcorporate secrets. Dicaprio opens the film in anaction-packed scene where Cobb and right-handman Arthur (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) run throughcrumbling buildings before the scene suddenlyjumps to a Mombassa flea market. The jerkyjumps in scene and landscape perfectly mirrorreal hypnic jerk dreams where you are shockedback into consciousness.

The film centres around a trip inside thesubconscious of wealthy businessman RobertFischer (Cillian Murphy) to plant an idea, insteadof stealing one, is a risky job for the team,requiring the recruitment of various skilledindividuals.

Cobb hires Ariadne (Ellen Page), a studentarchitect able to create the landscape of a dreamfrom scratch and Eames (Tom Hardy), a forgerable to assume peoples’ identities. Saito, (KenWatanabe) an influential business man also jumpsonboard as he needs this mission to succeed.

This movie is packed with high-end action andcomputer generated imagery galore. Expect theusual staples of action cinema, like gun battles andcar chases but also eye-gluing special effectstrickery that literally turns the dream world thatNolan has created, on its own head.

There is layer upon layer of complexityconcerning the mind and the unlocking of thesubconscious packs a powerful punch. Just asgoing deeper into the mind proves moretroublesome, going deeper into the film soonreveals to the audience that there is more to itthan just planting a secure idea into someone’sthoughts.

The British director may have proved himself inHollywood with Batman Begins and The DarkKnight but don’t be fooled by these previous titlesas Inception won’t give you such an easy ride.

Inception wouldn’t be as enjoyable in these earlyscenes without Hardy’s bickering banter with therest of the cast, as the film explores an array ofserious situations. Cobb and the team infiltrateFischer’s brain under three layers of subconscious

dreams, which prove difficult to crawl out of.Everything must go like clockwork and as thingsget deadly serious there is a chance that they maynever wake up.

The characters are constantly running throughshattering buildings, which contrast with thebeauty of seaside landscapes and snowymountains designed by Ariadne.

Sending his plot spiralling into four differentlevels of slumber, Nolan sets his characters aseries of life or death challenges that need to be

solved in driving rain, high-altitude snow and azero gravity realm. Nolan deviously includes Mal(Marion Cotillard) in all the action, Cobb’s ownghost from the past who stalks him in hissubconscious and aims to sabotage his plans.

This summer block buster has made $62.8million in its opening weekend proving to Nolanthat dreams really do come true.

Inception is out now.

More scores 9/10

THE FILMInception 12A (148 mins)by Chloé Doyle

It’s easy to forget that the biggest agents ofchange are often the people working behindthe scenes. Nadine Cuddy and RoxanneYeganegy have been exposing new musicalacts and creating a platform for unsigned

talent in the Leeds music scene over the last foryears, even though many don’t realise it.

As “bosses” of No-Title, a non-profitorganisation dedicated to promoting Leeds’ up-and-coming music scene hopefuls, they overseethe production of No-Title magazine, promote theevents that fund it and deal with floods of demosand gig review requests from unsigned bands.

Walking into Roxy’s basement office ahead ofNo-Title’s “Under the Radar” event tomorrow – ashowcase for new musical acts in Leeds – thereare signs of activity everywhere. In one corner, aPhD thesis outline hangs from the wall. In another,several boxes of flyers sit precariously on top ofone another. A film of pink glitter covers her desk,the result of crafting decorations for the many liveevents the pair curate.

Since they took over production of No-Titlemagazine in 2006, the project has taken over theirlives. Splitting their time between tirelesslychampioning new music and a part-time job inNadine’s case, or working towards a PhD inRoxy’s, they rarely have a second that isn’t filledwith some kind of work.

As No-Title evolved from a small magazine in toa fully-fledged organisation which stages gigs andorganises events, Nadine and Roxy suddenlyfound themselves not only scrabbling for financebut also at the centre of some fairly hostileattention from a music scene that was, at times,not accepting.

“I came to Leeds very wide-eyed: ‘I wanna workin music, everything’s gonna be great’. And veryquickly I realised that people don’t want to let youin if they can help it a lot of the time,” says Roxy.

“We got so much criticism at first. Just awful.You’re trying to work your backside off and there’sabsolutely zero money. Roxy was going to live in asquat. I had nothing, going to my friends’ for tea. Ijust think ‘God’ - the amount of tears there were,”says Nadine.

Rising above criticism has given Roxy andNadine a healthy perspective on dealing withpeople who throw insults their way. Along withthicker skins, they’ve developed the attitude thatpeople slating your efforts, no matter how hard-fought is part and parcel of the work they do.

“If you’re not getting criticised then you’re doingsomething wrong. As soon as you do somethingpublic you’re inviting people’s opinion and wedon’t hear from the people that actuallyappreciate us. People are much more likely tomoan than they are to say something nice,” saysRoxy.

Part of the problem was the po-faced nature ofthe Leeds music scene, which so many hadassociated with guitar-based indie bands like thePigeon Detectives and the Kaiser Chiefs. Nadineand Roxy found that the city was much morevibrant and multi-faceted than most peoplerealised, and wanted to provide a platform for themany types of act that contribute to the city’smusical landscape.

“When I looked through [now-defunct Leedsmusic magazine] Sandman it just looked likewhite boys with guitars, the same demographic ofpeople,” says Roxy.

Their left-of-centre take on the Leeds musicscene means that the pair have been able toestablish a number of regular events covering avast range of musical styles. These will reach theirpeak in November with “Raise the Roof” (RTR) –a “festival of culture” comprising food and drinkstalls, displays by local activist groups and a bandroster featuring everything “from dubstep tobrass-backed punk”.

Roxy takes charge of RTR preparation, which isalready well underway months ahead of the event.She’s been hitting summer festivals across thecountry, flyers in hand, in order to spread theword. Even with several RTR events behind her,planning the event has become no less time-consuming.

She says: “I find Raise the Roof gets easier withtime. Not in terms of stress or worry – that justincreases with the budget – but in terms ofthinking of ideas, and the branding, the more you

chip away the closer you get to the end point,whatever that may be.”

Despite the energy-sapping, ceaseless nature ofwhat they do, Roxy and Nadine insist that all thehard work is worth it. According to them, thesatisfaction and freedom they get far outweighsthe lack of financial reward.

“In most “normal” nine to five jobs you’re kindof a cog in this anonymous machine. Doing stufflike this you see one hundred per cent theoutcome of your own work, and you’re workingfor yourself. Something like that just motivatesyou forever because there’s nothing mundaneabout it,” says Roxy.

Even without a boss looking over their shoulder,they still hold themselves to rigorous standards.Nadine says: “You just always want to make thenext one better, whether it’s an event or an issueof the magazine. I can’t go to the next gig and havethe same décor and everything. I want to havesomething else new added to it every time.”

Given the pride that Nadine and Roxy take intheir work, it’s not surprising that the suggestionof them “letting it go” completely is met with thesame reaction you might expect from a motherwhen her child leaves home.

“Giving it away would be a huge step for us,because it’s ours. When you care about somethingso much you don’t want to let it go.”

Even though recognition and appreciation aresometimes rare, Roxy and Nadine remainpassionate, hard-working and completely devotedto what they do - they’re breathing new life into acity music scene that was in danger of turningstale before they came along.

More info at: http://www.notitlemagazine.com

12 NLN MORE

This is the last issue of 2010

NLN More will return in Spring 2011

Keep checking the website for new material.

Issue ten edited by Chloé Doyle and

Stephanie Burns

www.northleedsnews.co.uk

Champions of local music Nadine Cuddy and Roxy Yeganegy speak to Tom Richardsonabout fighting to be recognised, balancing work and life and bringing a new slant to theLeeds music scene.