What's On

The mum of a seriously ill little girl from Milton Keynes is backing two dads’ 130-mile kayak challenge which will raise thousands of pounds to help care for seriously ill children like her daughter. Maria Cater, 49, from Great Linford, Milton Keynes, said she’s delighted that friends Graham Durcan and Richard Nordsted are supporting Keech Hospice Care, which has cared for her daughter Presley Stewart, 12, since she was a baby. “Presley has extensive brain damage caused by contracting group b streptococcal meningitis at just three weeks old. She also has epilepsy and cerebral palsy and is registered blind. “I..

Willen Hospice is set to host its first live music event next month. Willen Live takes place on Friday 9 March at Ousedale School’s Olney Campus and will see four local bands come together to perform in support of the charity. Organisers are promising an eclectic mix of rock, country, indie and pop from loud and raw local talent: Zak & Dan, Secret Genius, Wait for Jude and Bite Me. Events Coordinator Tracey Jago, said: “We are so excited to be hosting Willen Live. It’s a first for us and we believe we have found a line-up that offers something..

Willen Hospice is gearing up for its annual fundraising extravaganza, Blue Week, set to take place next week (5 -11 March). The charity’s army of staff and volunteers will hit the streets holding bucket collections in shopping areas, high streets and train stations across Milton Keynes and surrounding areas in a bid to raise vital funds to support the care provided by the Hospice. Blue Week organisers are calling on local people to support them by teaming up with family, friends or colleagues to become ‘Bucket Buddies’ and take part in collections. Slots are available for just an hour and..

The Parks Trust, the self-financing charity that looks after over 6,000 acres of green space across Milton Keynes wants all keen amateur photographers to enter its 2018 Photography Competition. The competition is open to people of all ages, with youth and adult sections for each of the three categories; Wildlife, Landscape and Parklife. The Parks Trust’s 2018 competition aims to highlight the beautiful and diverse landscapes, features and people of Milton Keynes. Images must be taken in the green space that is managed and maintained by The Parks Trust. The competition begins on Thursday 1st March 2018 and closes on..

One of the UK’s fastest growing pub groups, Oakman Inns & Restaurants Ltd, which operates The Navigation Inn near Thrupp Wharf, Cosgrove has again been voted by their own team as one of the top employers in the UK, coming 17th in The Sunday Times 100 Best Companies to Work For. The 2018 Best Companies list which “celebrates and showcases the very best in workplace engagement” were revealed at an awards ceremony held at the Battersea Evolution venue in London’s Battersea Park last Thursday, February 22nd. Oakman Inns, which currently employs just over 750 people across its 20 pubs, inns..

Application to the first intu Milton Keynes Artisan Market of the year has closed, and now the list of confirmed independent businesses exhibiting on Saturday 3 March can be revealed. 24 retailers will showcase a range of independent handmade products for shoppers at intu Milton Keynes, just in time for Mother’s Day The traders exhibiting at the first of four markets this year, include Tabitha Mary, a digital print designer who is inspired by the railway posters of the 1930’s, Baby Dee & Me  who specialise in slogan tees and monochrome baby clothes inspired by music, The Room Alive  which..

The hunt will be on at Milton Keynes Museum this Easter, as youngsters search for hidden eggs which lead the way to yummy chocolate rewards! The annual search is an egg-cellent way to celebrate the festive period – and the museum's Easter Egg Hunt ensures everyone wins something. And while you search, you get a wonderful tour of the history hub too. It's good traditional family fun suitable for little chicks and older bunnies alike! But the Easter weekend is also choc-full of non-chocolate goods, with plenty of hands-on interaction getting you closer to our past. You'll be able to..

Lakeview Lodge Care Home has a very special reason to feel extra proud today, as it was announced that they are one of the Top 20 most recommended homes in the South East of England! The awards, run by carehome.co.uk, the largest online directory for care homes in the UK, were made based on recommendations from families and residents at homes across the South East. Cheryl Rolt, Home Manager of Lakeview Lodge Care Home, said: “I am extremely pleased and proud that we have won this award. All our staff members are overwhelmed by this achievement and we will decide..

On Sunday 18th February, after three days of intense play, Lisa Curtin walked away with a silver medal after representing England in the U15 European Badminton Championships. When asked about her achievement, Lisa enthused: “I was on the podium receiving my medal and the National Anthem started to play, it was in that moment that I realised what I’d accomplished and felt overcome with emotion. I’d trained so hard in the lead up to the tournament and gave it my all in the eight matches across the three days. I’m so happy that I’ve won a silver medal, and my..

Thanks to funding from the Tesco Bags of Help initiative, The Parks Trust has been able to create a dedicated BBQ site in Campbell Park. The Parks Trust, which looks after over 6,000 acres of parks, lakes and landscapes across Milton Keynes, regularly receives requests for BBQs to be held on its land and needs to have dedicated sites because of the damage that can be caused by them. If placed directly on to the ground, disposable BBQs can leave scorch marks, with each mark costing self-financing charity The Parks Trust around £50 to repair. The new BBQ site at..

One of Milton Keynes’ award-winning restaurants, Calcutta Brasserie, is preparing for a refurbishment to create a new look and feel, part of which management are considering covering up the iconic “The Creation of Adam” mural, originally painted by the famous Michelangelo in the Sistine Chapel, Rome. The mural has been part of the building’s history for 25 years when it first opened as the Moghul Palace, but as Calcutta Brasserie enters its 10th Anniversary in the beautiful 17th Century Grade II Listed Chapel, the manager is looking to refresh the restaurant, including potentially covering over the painting with another piece..

Lakeview Lodge Care Home in Newton Leys recently celebrated Valentine’s Day with a special tea party for residents and their families. Residents had spent the week creating decorations for the lounges which were festooned with heart-shaped bunting, flowers and balloons. They dressed up in their best clothes for the occasion and were served their tea and cakes by the wonderful front of house team at the home. Residents at Lakeview Lodge were also attending the tea party to judge the cakes on offer as part of the Country Court Care ‘Baked with Love’ recipe competition. Residents from all the care..

An Indian restaurant in Milton Keynes has come to the rescue for chicken lovers across the city, following this week’s news that KFCs have temporarily shut, because they have run out of chicken.  From Wednesday 21 February, Maaya Indian Kitchen & Bar in The Hub will be serving deep fried chicken wings as part of its lunchtime buffet available Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays – for no extra cost!  The bottomless buffet already provides 20 dishes from Chicken Tikka Masala to Lamb Rogan Josh, and now customers can enjoy their chicken fix Indian-style. The restaurant has ordered in 10 times the..

Thursday 15th February marked the first of a whole series of 250-year anniversaries for the Cowper & Newton Museum in Olney as William Cowper, the renowned 18th Century poet, took up residence in the building that is now the museum in 1768. Joining the museum trustees to commemorate this event were local dignitaries including Milton Keynes Mayor, Councillor David Hopkins, Lord-Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire, Sir Henry Aubrey-Fletcher and Mayor of Newport Pagnell, Councillor Derek Eastman, plus representatives from local heritage organisations and Milton Keynes Council. The event also started a year-long project funded by a recent £93,800 Heritage Lottery Fund grant..

Two new occupiers are to join the roll call of tenants within the popular Westcroft District Centre at Barnsdale Drive, just three miles outside of Milton Keynes city centre. Air Ambulance and Greggs have both signed new agreements to take space within the scheme and will open later this year.  They will be housed within the former library building, which has been taken back by the landlords of LCP Group at lease expiry and will be split to provide three new retailing opportunities. Simon Toseland, a Director of letting agent Prop-Search, said: “The Air Ambulance has agreed to lease approximately..