North and South Hykeham

Though located in the shadow of the busier and bigger city of Lincoln, you will find lively communities with excellent amenities right on the doorstep.
It may be only a small town with a population of just over 14,000 people, but North Hykeham is constantly expanding and is a much sought after area for both businesses and residents.

Dissected by the busy main Lincoln to Newark road, it has good shopping, great facilities and a forward-thinking community and the most convenient access routes.

It has its own swimming pool and leisure centre, boasts five parks, three churches and four pubs as well as a theatre, and even has its own railway station giving easy access to the cities of Lincoln and Nottingham and the town of Newark.

The old village dates back to the Angles, Germanic invaders who occupied much of Britain after the Romans left in 4AD, and according to the Domesday Book (1087) it consisted of just fifteen households and a fifty-two acre meadow.

Its first parish council meeting was held in 1894 in the village school but after the Second World War, North Hykeham experienced a housing boom and as it grew in size and population, it took on the persona of a town resulting in three new primary schools and two secondary schools being built.

It is fortunate to have its own multi-functional performing arts centre. The Terry O’Toole Theatre on Moor Lane is a collaboration between North Kesteven School (A High Performing Specialist Academy for the Performing Arts), Lincolnshire County Council and North Kesteven District Council. It is used by amateur and professional companies alike and offers a wide range of entertainment, from drama and dance to music.

The theatre, which was opened in 2002 by award-winning Lincolnshire born actor Jim Broadbent, is named in memory of former NK headteacher Terry O’Toole, who was an unfailing supporter of the arts.

Following a massive £3.6m refurbishment last year, the 42-year-old popular North Kesteven Sports Centre has been re-invigorated with a bright new cheery, more family-friendly appeal. Seen nowhere else in Britain, an interactive waterslide is a key attraction at the ONE NK sports centre.

As well as the sweeping interactive I-Slide with press buttons, lights and sounds, where users can theme their ride and have photos taken as they shoot down, the refurbishment also included a toddler-focused splash zone inspired by Magna Carta, featuring castle walls, secret doors, horses, slides, water spouts and shallow paddling pool; more space around the swimming pool and an expanded new gym, dance and cycling studios offering state-of-the-art equipment.

There is a new open plan reception with café, new multi-sport outdoor 3G pitches and all-round improved heating, lighting and air-conditioning.

North Hykeham is blessed with a diverse range of independently run shops and businesses catering for all needs. It has two small shopping centres, a 24-hour major supermarket and another due to be completed shortly.

North Hykeham is also home to a business which has become known as the Aladdin’s Cave of Lincolnshire because of its large and varied amount of stock it has.

Hykeham DIY & Building Supplies was set up in 2006 on Newark Road by Richard Whiteman and has been growing ever since – so much so that just under five years ago, he opened a new store on Lincoln Road, North Hykeham in the former House of Shah Furniture store which became Hykeham DIY Building and Leisure. It is the largest family run business in the town and stocks more than 5,000 items in twenty departments.

Richard’s son Henry joined the company and his daughter Amelia started working for the business in 2014 running its outdoor and indoor lighting showroom, Ilumi-bright. That has now been incorporated into the latest acquisition to the business, Amelia Alice Interiors, which is run by Amelia in the converted Plough public house building.

The town is in the process of preparing to welcome visitors from its twin town of Denzlingen in south-east Germany. Hykeham Twinning Association has been twinned with Denzlingen for more than twenty-five years. Visits take place between the two Associations, each travelling to the ‘twin’ town on a biennial basis.

The two communities were twinned in 1988 and the official signing of the ‘Twinning Oath’ by the Mayors of the two towns took place on 22nd April 1989. The Twinning Association is an independent group but is supported by North Hykeham Town Council and South Hykeham Parish Council. The visit by the Denzlingen Twinning Association takes place at the end of July.

Adjoining North Hykeham is its smaller sister village South Hykeham, which is home to the long-established Pennells garden centre, its very own beauty spa which is open to the public seven days a week and two pub/restaurants as well as a business park.

South Hykeham is described in the Domesday Book as ‘Hichum’ and consisted of fourteen households and two fisheries. The parish is now split into two distinctive areas: the old village, which is still very much a rural area with a small parish church, primary school and areas of farmland, and the newer part which has grown up along Newark Road and is a much larger area made up of many new homes and businesses.

Pennells was founded in 1780 by Richard Pennell and today it is run by a seventh generation member of the family. Its first nurseries were situated on what at the time were the outskirts of Lincoln next to a small stream called Gowt’s Beck which is now the site of the current Pennell Street.

The nursery was further developed at Gowt’s Bridge during the second half of the nineteenth century but by the early 1900s, that land was sold for housing and the nursery relocated to Brant Road.

It became Pennell’s first garden centre in 1966 and between 1969 and 1971, a purpose-built garden centre was established at South Hykeham and was redeveloped in 2008/2009 to what it is now, with new retail areas and a restaurant.

South Hykeham also has its own Beauty Spa located at the Bentley Hotel. It is open seven days a week as well as for hotel guests. It started out in 1999 as the Beauty Spot salon when the hotel opened but the business grew to such an extent that more facilities were needed, so it moved into a brand new extension and became the luxury spa it is today.

Offering 200 different treatments, from individual ones to full spa days, the spa has a thermal suite with an aromatherapy steamroom, salt vapour room and foot spas to name but a few facilities.

HYKEHAM’S YOUNGEST MAYOR
North Hykeham is one of the few towns around that can boast its own mayor and the current one, Susannah Spencer, has the distinction of being the youngest Lady Mayor since the council was formed in 1894.

In fact, she is one of only six lady mayors to have served North Hykeham, the first one being elected in 1985.

Born in the town in 1974, she attended the former Fen Lane Primary School and then went on to secondary education at North Kesteven School. After a short spell living in Lincoln, she returned to North Hykeham to raise her family.

“Being the Mayor of the town in which you were born is a bit surreal and was never something I had ever envisaged doing,” she said.

“But it has been a wonderful experience to date. I feel that I have used my term to be a good ambassador for the town and I have helped to raise the profile of the town within neighbouring towns and districts.”

With both a professional and personal interest in Dementia, Susannah knows how difficult it can be for people to live with the condition and their carers in turn to find the right support and guidance

“My term as Mayor has given me the opportunity to set up a group called ‘Precious Memories’, where we aim to bring people with dementia and their carers ‘meaningful life, social and fun times together’,” she said.

“I’m working towards setting up a support group in the town to provide this aim and will use any of the fundraising monies I raise as Mayor to support this to happen.

“There is a National Dementia Challenge and part of that is communities becoming ‘Dementia Friendly’, as it’s important that people with dementia do not feel isolated.

“I have also set up a local Dementia Action Alliance Group and the interest from local businesses, services and individuals affected by dementia has been overwhelming. I will continue to grow this and work towards North Hykeham being one of the first towns to achieve the admirable status of being a Dementia Friendly Community.”

During her Mayoral Year, Susannah has travelled around the county representing North Hykeham and has attended many varied events.

“It continues to amaze me, how many wonderful people we have in our community, people who run community groups, charities and support services, all in the name of helping others and especially to help individuals to remain socially engaged,” she said.

THE GARDEN TEA ROOM
North Hykeham has many hidden gems and one of them is The Garden Tea Room, which is situated in a conservatory off Moor Lane behind Flowers by Suzanne. It also has a summerhouse named the Potting Shed which offers extra seating.

Now run by Dawn Wilson and her niece Jade, The Garden Tea Room serves Stokes tea, coffee and hot chocolate together with homemade cakes, scones and pastries. Its food menu includes paninis, wraps, sandwiches, jacket potatoes and bagels and it also offers a gluten free option as well.

“Afternoon tea is served daily with all homemade cakes and scones and fresh sandwiches and we offer daily specials which change every week,” said Jade.

“During the summer, we have the garden seating area, which allows dog walkers to pop down to us as well.

“North Hykeham has a true community spirit since we took over in January and we have been included by everyone from the start. They want small businesses like us to succeed and do well.”

Both born and bred in Lincoln, Dawn and Jade come to the business with years of experience under their belts.

“We have been talking about this for a few years now and everything just came together for us when the business was advertised for sale in December,” said Jade.

Jade has twelve years of experience in the food industry working for tearooms and coffee houses in Lincoln as a barista and chef, while Dawn was a member of the bar team at the David Lloyd gym and a receptionist before taking over the tea room.

“We are very committed to bringing people together in the community in our little hub here,” said Jade.

“We are striving to make the best coffee and cake in town and we have just taken on an apprentice called Katy who has no experience of the trade, so we’re teaching as well as serving which is a great experience and Katy will gain her NVQ as well.

“We are aiming to keep this a family friendly, quaint tea room with friendly faces and a calming atmosphere.”

AMELIA ALICE INTERIORS
North Hykeham may be small but it has a diverse range of shops and businesses catering for all needs and its newest has already made a big impression.

Amelia Alice Interiors on Lincoln Road opened back in November last year and offers a full range of modern, contemporary and traditional lighting and home furnishings in a showroom which has been converted from the town’s former Plough public house.

Despite being only 18, owner Amelia Whiteman is already well-known in the area having worked in her family’s well-established business, Hykeham DIY & Building Supplies, with her dad Richard and brother Henry.

She did art and textiles at GCSE level and completed a first year accountancy course on day release.

“I am really enjoying it and we have lots of plans for the place and lots of surprises to come,” said Amelia.

”There is going to be a new outdoor lighting showroom and we are working on plans for the upstairs which at the moment has furniture such as dressers, tables and chairs stored there.”

Amelia ran the business’ indoor and outdoor lighting showroom, Ilumi-bright, at the crossroads on the busy Newark Road. This proved so successful, Richard acquired the Plough building in October 2016 to expand it. It has now been incorporated into Amelia Alice Interiors.

“We have nearly finished the front, there is just a little bit more to do, and the long-term plan is to have a licensed tea room at the back,” said Amelia.

“New products come in every couple of weeks and we have a lot of British made and local products.”

It also sells Colourtrend paints – Ireland’s leading decorative paint brand – which provides a wide range of premium quality paints in a huge array of colours and finishes, to suit any interior and exterior surface, perfect for every design scheme.

The site is blessed with a large car park which caters for Amelia Alice Interiors and Hykeham DIY which is located just across the road from the lighting showroom.

THE LINCOLN TEA AND COFFEE COMPANY
‘There are few hours in life more agreeable that the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea.’ – Henry James.

Afternoon tea is one of my favourite treats. Freshly baked scones, delicate cucumber sandwiches and hand selected leaf tea in a china cup. You just can’t beat the experience of the finest produce being traditionally served to create a magical experience. Here at The Lincoln Tea and Coffee Company we are passionate about this English custom and are excited to be working with local tea rooms and hotels to help enhance the delight of afternoon tea in Lincolnshire.

We are proud to be working with Will Battle, the author of The World Tea Encyclopaedia to hand pick a selection of teas perfect for afternoon tea. Will has travelled the tea world and his twenty years of experience in sourcing and blending tea is the perfect partnership for us. The Lincoln Tea and Coffee Company have just finalised a new blend of black tea, which has been blended to brew particularly well in our local hard water. Lincolnshire Tea™ will be available this summer.

For any enquiries please telephone 01522 681838 or email enquiries@thelincolnteaandcoffeecompany.co.uk

FOR ALL YOUR PRINT NEEDS
Appy Print are a leading family run T-shirt printer in Lincoln, Newark and surrounding areas.

An established company with a reputation for excellence, they offer a great range of printed clothing and personalised gifts.

They have a wide range of clients throughout the Lincolnshire area, offering first class printed products and service alongside highly competitive pricing.

Just a few of the products and clothing they can print onto include T-shirts, polo shirts, hoodies and sweaters, hi-vis clothing, sports tops and football shirts, mugs and coasters and mouse mats.

The team at Appy Print are always happy to discuss your requirements, so if you have a particular item in mind get in touch with them. If you have your own clothing, they can print onto them as well, which is perfect for home, work, stag and hen parties and events.

They are Appy by name and happy to help by nature.

HEADOFFICE COLOUR SPECIALIST HITS THE HEADLINES
It is fifteen years since Marie Sibilska established her popular and reputable independent hair salon, HeadOffice on Newark Road, North Hykeham. The business is an accredited L’Oreal Profession salon where the talented team offer a service for ladies and gentlemen.

Marie and her staff are always investing in updating and extending their skills. In addition to cutting and styling they are hair extension specialists, offer YUKO Permanent Straightening and Global Keratin treatments.

Stylist Kelly Clayton has recently been hitting the headlines as Lincolnshire’s only L’Oreal Colour Specialist and has been selected to be part of the L’Oreal Innovation Team, representing the North East.

She said: “It is an exciting opportunity for me to work with this outstanding brand, to push the boundaries of its haircare products and services. I am very excited to be involved.”

HeadOffice also have a walk-in barber service on Wednesdays 9am-8pm and Sundays 9am-3pm. Stylist, Hayley has just completed her two day Diploma of Barbering Excellence at the renowned Sid Sottung Academy.

Readers of Lincolnshire Life can enjoy a 15% discount when they visit HeadOffice, valid until 31st July 2017. The offer can be redeemed any day with any stylist, off all services except the cost of hair extensions. The cost of fitting is available for the discount.

HeadOffice is located at 310 Newark Road Tel: 01522 687950 and open 7 days a week, including late nights.

SKIP HIRE LINCOLN
Skip Hire Lincoln (LRCS) are a local, family run company that has gone from strength to strength, starting out as a house/office clearance business and expanding into skip hire, with a skip filling service also offered.

Skip Hire Lincoln are registered waste carriers and specialise in skip hire and house/office rubbish clearance in Lincoln and surrounding villages, offering the finest solutions for both residential and commercial clients.

The amount of waste we produce is considerable and has a huge impact on the environment, which is why it is important to reduce, re-use and recycle the materials we use wherever possible.

As operators of their own waste management facility, they are committed to recycling and will ensure your waste is disposed of properly at their licensed waste management facility.

Be it skip hire, office or house clearance, Skip Hire Lincoln have a well-informed, experienced friendly team who are more than happy to give advice and direct you to the right service.

WALTERS OPTICIANS
Walters Opticians is an independent family business established by Roy and Anna Walters in January 1998, with practices located in Market Place, Gainsborough and Hykeham Green Shopping Centre, North Hykeham, Lincoln.

We offer a comprehensive eye examination, backed up with an extensive range of ophthalmic equipment including retinal photography.

Contact lens specialist Karen Everatt will work with you to give advice and recommend the best contact lenses for you, both clinically and to suit your needs and lifestyle. Contact lenses have many advantages, especially when taking part in sports and outdoors activities. They can be particularly good for children and teenagers, helping with self-esteem issues often associated with spectacle wear.

Walters Opticians maintain an extensive range of spectacle frames, from budget to designer options. Frames include Tom Ford, Gucci, Radley, Tiffany & Co and popular with the gents is Starck and Tag Heuer. One of the qualified dispensing opticians will help you choose the right frame for you and give advice on the best options for your lenses, which may include: anti-reflection coatings that will cut down on the glare from headlights and artificial lights or Transitions lenses that change with the light. Prescription sunglasses as well as non-prescription designer sunglasses are available. Ray Ban and Oakley are among the most popular ranges.

New for 2017 is the Dry Eye Clinic. Dry eye disease is a reduction in the volume of tears and the quality of the tear film, it effects one-third of the UK population. There are many different possible causes of dry eye disease, such as lifestyle, prolonged computer use, stress and poor diet, extended contact lens wear and certain eye surgeries. The Dry Eye Clinic is now fully up and running, call one of the practices now for more information and to book your consultation.

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