The Navigation Point Businesses and Mandale Properties got together in December and organised a Christmas Raffle for the NSPCC by donating meal and drinks vouchers . Over £2100 have so far been raised.
Revellers were very keen to purchase raffle tickets to win a meal here, a bottle of Champagne there as well as help the NSPCC at Christmas and at a time when many charities are seeing their fundraising efforts thwarted by the economic downturn.
It is also refreshing to see businesses usually competing to attract the same clientele, come together for the sake of helping the local branch of the NSPCC.
As well as the Christmas Raffle, three events took place in December and despite the cold weather, a few children accompanied by parents and grandparents came to visit Santa's Grotto and received gifts.
A few members of The Northern School of Music sang Christmas Carols as Chinese Lanterns were let off into the skies over Navigation Point.
Further events are planned in the future to showcase the jewel in Hartlepool's crown, the Marina in general and Navigation Point in particular.
Since its inception in early 2000, the area has blossomed into a very popular leisure hub, with its various restaurants, cafés and bars. The Marina now attracts visitors from all over the North East and beyond.
NSPCC CHRISTMAS RAFFLE
Navigation Point Part 3
The last Saturday of the Navigation Point Christmas Events may not have been the busiest of the lot but those who attended had great fun.
Santa Claus handed out gifts to eager children while a few young members of the Northern School of Music provided a delightful rendition of the most popular Christmas carols.
Later, thanks to a windless evening, everyone present partook in the setting off of large Chinese lanterns. At one time, the skies above the Marina were filled with floating flickering lights.
The NSPCC Christmas Raffle is going great guns. All the Navigation Point businesses will be selling tickets until New Year's Eve. So far, our three restaurants alone have raised around £1200. Let's hope everyone else has had as much success as we have.
Best Christmas Wishes from Navigation Point...
Navigation Point Christmas Event Part Two
Despite the extreme cold, the second of Navigation Point Christmas Events saw the lighting of Chinese lanterns from the Marina office and more kids visiting Santa's Grotto.
Navigation Point Christmas Event
The first one of Navigation Point's Christmas Events went off with a bang.
At 5.30 Santa arrived on the Marina boat Adventure and followed by two elves he proceeded to his grotto situated in the car park next to a 30ft Christmas tree kindly donated by Mandale Properties.
Under the sound of festive tunes provided by Daniel Brobbel, an orderly queue of thirty to forty children formed in front of the Grotto. For £1 the children got to meet Santa and receive a present while the parents had their names entered in the NSPCC raffle organised by the Navigation Point Business Group, one of the prizes being a boat trip in the New Year.
The Mayor, Mr. Stuart Drummond arrived at 6pm to switch on the Christmas tree lights to loud cheers from the attendance.
Boat rides, walk-on-water and a cup-and-saucer ride provided further entertainment.
Some of the restaurants and bars joined in the fun, by selling such things as banana fritters, mulled wine, mince pies, roast chestnuts and hot chocolate laced with brandy to warm up the visitors.
Each business has pledged a prize towards the NSPCC raffle and so far, over £400 has been raised.
It is certainly heartwarming to see that despite the snowy conditions and very adverse financial crisis, Navigation Point businesses are coming together to help the NSPCC as well promote Hartlepool Marina.
Saturday 11th between 5pm and 7pm there will be more of the same.
The Tall Ships came and went...
What a weekend!
Saturday to Tuesday.
Four days when Hartlepool revealed its beautiful face to the world.
The Tall Ships began slipping into the town as early as Thursday. A Spanish yacht called Hansa from Galicia, with whose crew I shared a few tapas and a beer.
The larger ones arrived between Thursday evening and Saturday lunchtime.
A huge tide of visitors descended on the Marina at around 11am on Saturday and kept on rolling past the berthed ships. The weather was clement to the point of being warm.
Sunday, Monday and Tuesday brought even more visitors laden with cameras and zoom lenses.
All our staff worked very hard and long hours over the four days to cater for twice or three times our usual number of diners.
I enjoyed selling coffee, tea and Sangria outside Casa del Mar. It gave me the opportunity to do some "market research" by asking people where they came from, whether they liked Hartlepool and if they would come back again.
They were unanimous in their praise for our town. Most had never been here and were totally delighted with the facilities and the organization. Those who were re-visiting were pleased with the changes that had occurred over the last twenty years.
The regional visitors promised to come back very soon.
I was so busy that I did not manage to get my camera out so here is a Flickr Group set up to showcase the weekend.
Hartlepool...
What the visitors will discover or rediscover is a town proud of its maritime and historical heritage.
The Marina has led to its regeneration, and despite the recession, is attracting more and more visitors every year.
The Headland with its iconic St. Hilda's church is the real Hartlepool according to its residents. Many towns would dream of having a historical part as beautiful as the Headland.
Weather here, Wish you were beautiful...
This was Hartlepool Marina last week. The temperatures soared to 25 degrees. Alfresco eating outside Casa del Mar. Kids from a local youth club enjoying themselves on the water. And Crocodile Dundee surveys the scene...
You could be anywhere but this IS Hartlepool...
Flamenco at Casa del Mar
This Wednesday, 26th May will see our first LIVE Spanish Music Event at Casa del Mar.
It will feature Mark Boden, an amazing Flamenco guitarist and singer accompanied by Phil Philo on guitar and Kris McConnell on the Cajon (box drum) and percussion.
Mark has taught music both privately and in schools since 1996. To further his understanding of Spanish music he attended a Flamenco school in the heart of Andalucia, Spain.Mark says: "Flamenco inspires me to dedicate my time and skills as a musician, not for fame, but because I love it. I play Flamenco because of its passion, grace and emotion. I can express my emotions through it be that of happiness, sadness and love."
Personally, I have always loved Flamenco.It is a musical style that hails from Moorish North Africa which I grew up listening to on a daily basis. This music more than any other, never fails to send shivers down my spine.
Why not come down to the Marina for a couple of tapas, a glass of vino and a true taste of Andalucia.
Check out Mark's videos HERE.
Krimo's Silent Night...
5pm on Saturday.
The dreaded news.
A massive power cut on Krimo's side of the Marina meant that the restaurant would not operate that evening.
Dismayed staff arrived only to find out that they had been handed a rare Saturday night off. Most of them did not know whether to smile or to appear sad.
Hayley and I got our mobiles out and began disappointing our diners.
One lady had already begun to get ready for her 7.30 booking. And I had always thought Karen spent too long getting ready.
Although I could discern the disappointment in their voices, most of our prospective customers felt sorry for us and the irretrievable loss of business.
We suggested a change of venue. Portofino or Casa del Mar on the other side of the Marina were untouched by the electrical fault.
A few accepted and did dine satisfyingly at our other two restaurants.
I commiserated with, consoled and cajoled the ones whose special celebration had been spoilt.
Later when I sat down with a glass of wine, I knew that the fault had been repaired, most of our customers had a good evening either in our other restaurants or at home planning another outing.
I also knew that there was no use in shedding tears over spilt milk.
I poured myself a second glass of wine.
Krimo's Midnight Walk...
On arriving the Historic Quay car park, it looked like Hartlepool's entire female population had descended on the Marina.
Daughters, mothers and grandmothers wearing something pink and sporting sparkling antlers warmed up to the sound of dance music, copying the moves of an aerobic trainer assisted by an enthusiastic bobby.
Besides raising money for the Hospice, the Midnight Walk raises awareness as to the work of the Hospice and its dedicated volunteers.
When I first got invited, I imagined myself being trusted with a starting gun and dreading it to go off in the wrong direction causing a bloody massacre. As it happened a harmless pair of scissors was thrust into my hand a few minutes before midnight.
I began the 10-to-1 countdown with the backing of a giant female choir. On reaching "1 and Go!" I theatrically cut the ribbon and quickly stepped aside to avoid the oncoming female tide. The walkers set off on their trek towards Seaton Carew. On reaching the seaside resort, they would turn and head back to the starting post to be rewarded with a medal and a hot bacon butty...
By the time the first one did just that, I was tucked away in my warm bed dreaming of the Olympics.
Krimo's Red Skies...
Red sky at night... A chef's delight.
Hartlepool Marina is my place of work. A wonderful place of work. Not a day looks like the next.
I took this photo on the way back from Krimo's to Portofino. I nearly cause a pile-up trying to park and get out of the car in time to catch this beautiful red sky.
Give me an evening like this and I begin dreaming of the Med, a glass of Rosé and a few sardines.
Just a simple Pavlovian reaction.
Tonight, the Marina was busy and warm. Not a breath of air.
I met and spoke to many people at our restaurants this evening.
A Galician woman and her husband from Middlesbrough celebrating their 30th anniversary.
A woman from Mauritius celebrating her birthday with her Hartlepool husband.
A family from Ayr visiting relatives in town.
Hartlepool, the Centre of the Universe!
Not a day looks like the next.
Krimo's Beautiful Marina
On a fine evening Hartlepool Marina is absolutely gorgeous.
After a couple glasses of wine, many of our customers often say: "You could be anywhere. Puerto Banus, St Tropez...."
I say, I'm sure there will now be a couple sat on a Mediterranean bar terrace saying: "You know what, it feels exactly like...Hartlepool..."
Click on the photo to enlarge.
Hartlepool Marina Shines...
Saturday afternoon, Hartlepool Marina put on its best clothes for the benefit of the Sick Children Trust and showed how businesses can come together to help.
Christine Blakey worked very hard to ensure all the restaurants and cafés participated in this, hopefully first of many events on Navigation Point.
Each restaurants provided samples of dishes for the visitors to enjoy.
There was a lot of singing and dancing throughout the afternoon.
Krimo's Yachting Pictures...
Or Krimo's Yacht in Pictures... Often in the past year, I have referred to HMS Tricomalee as My Yacht...
Krimo's Royal Yacht
Krimo Naval Gazing
Yesterday, as part of HMS Trincomalee Trust fundraising efforts to keep the ship afloat for generations to come, I launched a Flickr group, inviting photographers from all over the world to contribute with their photos of Hartlepool's Own Tall Ship.
The result has been staggering. In less than 12 hours, the group has acquired 20 members and nearly 100 photos featuring the Trinc.
Take a look
If you have or know of anyone who has photos of HMS Trincomalee, we would be delighted if you could post them at the above Flickr group.
Krimo's Winners...
Mr and Mrs Skinner enjoying the Valentine's Day meal they won in our latest draw.
All our restaurants were fully booked last night. I cannot imagine there being a free table in the entire UK.
Many returning regulars but also many new faces.
Hands knotted across tables.
Shared nibbles.
Clinking of glasses.
Smiles.
Whispers.
Chocolates and roses flooded the Marina.
Rosé wines and champagnes led to a pink overload.
I am sure that the same scenes were repeated all over the world last night but for us, Hartlepool was the Centre of the Universal Romance.
