Pictured Above: Scouting for Girls with restaurant manager Amanda Pashley


Where else would they have stayed? Chart topping Scouting for Girls played an amazing gig at the Doncaster Racecourse on Saturday evening, and then headed back to the Crown hotel in Bawtry to stay!

Band members Roy, Peter and Greg arrived the hotel and hung out in the Crown bar, chatting to guests and having photos taken with fans that were unaware that the band were staying. Amanda Pashley restaurant manager said “As soon as they checked in, guests who were at the hotel dining and also attending the wedding spotted them straight away! We asked if they would like to be in a quite area of the hotel, but they declined and were happy to chat with our guests and have photos taken. After such a great gig earlier, they just wanted to relax and have a few beers and were really lovely guys!”

The band that has had hits with ‘Heartbeat’, ‘she’s so lovely’ and ‘this ain’t a love song’ then relaxed and stayed over in the hotels luxurious executive bedrooms.

Katey Dent Sales Manager for the hotel arranged for the boys to have some treatments with Harringtons of Bawtry, who the hotel works closely with for guests, and who offer massages and cut throat shaves. Katey said “The guys loved the treatments, and it was a great way for them to relax before they headed off in the morning. Before they left the hotel, they even had a chat with the bride and groom from the wedding the day before, who were fans of the group!”

She added “Guests at the hotel really do not know who they are going to bump into which is really exciting. We have many celebrities who stay at the hotel – they love our product and service and also love being in Bawtry which is busy and lively. We have many more juicy famous guests to come too, so watch this space!”

Pictured Above: The boys from Hollyoaks (Characters Gilly and Warren) with the Crown hotel Bawtry girls Zoe Pask, Carly Freeman, Antonia Dowie, Alisha Frazell , Laura Sanderson, Verity Marriott, Sarah Hamilton and hotel Sales Manager Katey Dent.


Where else would the crew of Hollyoaks crash down during their recent successful charity football match at the Keepmoat Stadium – The Crown hotel in Bawtry of course!

Following a massive list of celebrities to stay recently at the famous four star hotel, the Hollyoaks guys were well behaved and of course caused a stir in Bawtry with the locals!

The Crown was the main sponsor of the Charity match which took place between Hallam FM All-stars v Hollyoaks. The Hollyoaks boys won 3-2 in the exciting match which raised £14,000 for the Cash for Kids charity.

Katey Dent Sales Manager for the hotel said “The day was fantastic, all for a great cause and as the main sponsors; we had the pleasure of picking Newt from Hollyoaks as man of the match!”

After the match the celebrities headed back to the hotel to freshen up and then headed into Doncaster for a night on the town.

Katey added “Locals in Bawtry are now starting to get used to being surprised by various famous faces around the hotel and the area. The hollyoaks guys were happy to chat to regulars and locals in the bar, and also enjoyed a few drinks in the process!! Other recent recent celebrities include Peter Andre, The X Factor stars and Boyzone”.

The Crown Hotel at Bawtry has backed another big winner! They’re sponsoring leading girl jockey Kelly Harrison in her quest to become the top female rider in the sport.
Kelly, 25, has already ridden over 80 winners as an apprentice and will become a fully-fledged professional when she makes it 95 – hopefully later this season.
She aims to emulate the achievements of celebrated female rider Hayley Turner, who has now established herself among the most successful jockeys in the world.
Craig Dowie, The Crown’s Managing Director, is delighted to be backing the Yorkshire-born starlet for the rest of the season. “Our agreement with Kelly enhances our reputation as the region’s leading racing hotel.

“Kelly is already one of the best female jockeys in the business and has the potential to achieve success at the highest level. The team at The Crown is looking forward to helping her to make that next step.”
Middleham-born Kelly lives in Newmarket with her boyfriend, jockey Jean-Pierre (JP) Guillambert, and is apprentice to trainer Bill Ratcliffe. Her father Alan, a former trainer, is her agent.
Her biggest win so far came on leading northern handicapper Collateral Damage at the Boddingtons Straight-mile Championship at Redcar. She is a regular at The Crown’s local track, Doncaster.
As an ambassador for The Crown, Kelly will make a number of personal appearances this season giving guests a unique insight into life as a rising racing star. She will also promote The Crown around Britain’s racing community.
She added: “I race more in the North than the South and I’m looking forward to talking to lots of keen Yorkshire racegoers at The Crown, and at their local course Doncaster, where they are regular sponsors,” she says.
Ends.

Pictured Above: Darren and Jody Knight – The happy couple!

A big congratulations to local couple Jody and Darren who this week won her battle of the brides on Living TV’s cult programme Four Weddings.

Jody and Darren from Gainsborough battled it out with 3 other brides to mark each others weddings, and won the honeymoon of a lifetime to Cuba.

The happy couple held their Classical, shabby chic style wedding at the Crown hotel in Bawtry – one of the top wedding venues in South Yorkshire. Jody looked amazing, and after Champagne and canapés after the ceremony, the wedding guests tucked into a starter of Yorkshire pudding followed by fish, chips and peas!

Katey Dent Sales Manager said “They partied on into the early hours, and guests were entertained by a mixologist with funky cocktails and a magician”.

The brides marked the wedding based on the dress, the food, the venue and the overall experience. In competition with Jody were brides Stephanie with a classic French theme and Georgina who had a wacky Star Wars theme followed by bowling! The shock to the episode was however bride Emma who postponed the wedding during filming – leaving the 3 brides to battle it out!

Good luck to Jody and Darren in their married life together.

Pictured Above: X Factor finalist Jamie Archer with Crown hotel housekeepers Kerry, Julie, Pam and Angie

Where else would the X factor finalists stay during their recent gig at the Doncaster Racecourse – it would have to be the regular haunt to many recent celebrities – the Crown hotel in Bawtry of course!

Jamie Archer, Olly Murs, Lucie Jones and Danyl Johnson all stayed at the hotel last Saturday evening after their amazing performance at the Doncaster Racecourse X Factor music night.

They caused a stir in the hotel bar later in the evening which was heaving with race goers and a wedding at the hotel – the guys all having photographs and chatting with the hotel customers. Katey Dent of the hotel said “They were all lovely people! Jamie Archer’s hair was as big in real life as on the TV! The best part though was our bride from the wedding at the hotel was a massive Danyl Johnson fan, and they surprised her by taking Danyl into the evening wedding reception! She loved it!”

The X Factor finalists are just a few of the many celebrities recently hanging out at the four star hotel located in Bawtry, including Peter Andre, Rav from Crimewatch, Kasabian and the Prodigy.

Katey added “The hotel has become a great place for the celebrities to stay. They love the fact that the hotel is independent and has its own personality. They stay in hotels week in, week out and the chains are all the same. They also love the modern style of the hotel and the staff who really make them welcome”.

Jamie Archer commented on check out that is would be worth coming back to Doncaster just to stay at hotel on a leisure basis. He loved it and thought the bedrooms were amazing!

Watch this space…..

Pictured Above: Hirsty, Danny and Jo Jo from the breakfast team.

Calling all couples who are looking to get married but have just not got round to setting a date!!

Fancy something a little different, and not a ‘traditional’ affair? Fancy doing it in May – THIS YEAR?!

Then two top sister hotels in South Yorkshire are offering the chance not only to win an entire wedding, but also one which will be hosted by Galaxy Radio breakfast team Danny, Hirsty and Jo Jo!!

Sales Manager Katey Dent said “Following on from two previous radio wedding promotions, we were looking to try something different, and this is certainly it! All couples who are interested in the wedding have to do, it to come along to our wedding open days at both hotels on Sunday 9th May 11am to 4pm to register”.

Galaxy Radio will be setting up ‘Love lounges’ at both hotels, and the couples will be videoed explaining why they deserve to win the wedding! Radio listeners will then decide who wins!

All plans for the big day are still to be revealed, but there will be lots of twists and turns during the promotion.

Katey added “Weddings are a big part of our business plan at both hotels, and being independent, we have to think of quirky and interesting ways to raise the profile of our hotels. This promotion is going to be bigger and better than ever!”.

The open days are also a chance to view both hotels set up for a wedding, view the wedding menus, chat to our wedding coordinators and also have a glass of bubbly with us!

The open days are also a chance to view both hotels set up for a wedding, view the wedding menus, chat to our wedding coordinators and also have a glass of bubbly with us!

Pictured Above: The Housekeeping Team at The Crown Hotel Bawtry with Peter Andre

Bawtry was buzzing with the excitement of Mr Peter Andre staying at the Crown Hotel Bawtry!

Peter was on his ‘The Revelation Tour’, at the Doncaster Dome, and stayed of course at the number one hotel in Doncaster – The Crown!

Katey Dent Sales Manager of the hotel said “Pete’s brothers arrived the day before and hung out in Bawtry, having coffee and working out at Bawtry Health and Fitness. Pete arrived the following day after a fabulous performance at the Dome, and the staff attended to his every need. What a genuinely lovely guy! They all were. They were even joking around – Peter was knocking on his brother’s door saying “room service!””.

The tour has seen Peter performing live with his band and the audience treated to tracks from his new album including top five single 'Behind closed doors'as well a number of his previous classic hits. Peter's album has shown how he has developed as an artist and has really shown a more musically mature approach to his lyrics. The his lyrics. The tour will give Peter the chance to prove to everyone that he is not only a brilliant studio artist but also a talented live vocalist and musician.
Katey added “The Crown is a regular hang out for many celebrities, including recently Dizzee Rascal, The Prodigy, Kasabian and Boyzone. They love the modern style of the hotel, and also the location”.

Pictured Above: (Right) 2nd year student Faye Patterson who designed the dress BA (Hons) Fashion and Textiles, and (left) Laura Green Lecturer in Pattern cutting and Garment Manufacture, and Course Leader for Postgraduate Diploma in Creative Pattern-cutting.



Style has definitely arrived at The Crown Hotel in Bawtry!

The newly designed stylish hotel reception uniforms have been chosen, delicately designed and tailored by 2nd year student Faye Patterson of University Centre Doncaster College. Faye’s design was chosen over other students in the year by the hotel director Craig Dowie and Sales Manager Katey Dent.
“The hotel has good links with the college, and when we decided to look at a new uniform for the team, we thought this would be the only place to start looking! Most uniforms out there are too corporate, and we wanted something fun, stylish and comfortable for the team. All the students ideas were great, but Faye’s really caught our eye, and the proof if the sample garment!” says Katey.

Slate grey material matches the theme of the hotel’s reception area slate floor, while the purple edging and buttons match the internal walls of the hotel.

Laura Green commented “This has been a great opportunity for the University Centre Doncaster College to work closely with an established company within South Yorkshire.

The students have taken the brief from initial design work through to final garment manufacture, giving them a unique opportunity to understand the challenges of participating in a live brief.
The most exciting outcome for the students and the University Centre is that their talent will be showcased on a daily basis within the reception areas of both The Crown Hotel Bawtry and sister hotel The Rutland in Sheffield”.
Being such a huge success, the hotel is now looking to expand this by looking at uniforms for other areas of the hotel.

Guests at The Crown Hotel in Bawtry are feeling fitter, thanks to a new partnership with the local gym. An exclusive one-day pass is now available to all hotel guests to the Bawtry Health and Fitness Studio which is less than 100 meters from the hotel.

Gym owner Luke Walker adds: "We had pop group Boyzone using our facilities when they stayed at The Crown during their tour rehearsals earlier in the summer, and they loved it. Other guests are really enjoying using our equipment and we have an in-house personal trainer to help those who are more serious about their fitness."

When it comes to getting into top shape, the England rugby team is in a league of its own! The team, who stayed at The Crown in October, tried out the first class fitness facilities at Bawtry Health and Fitness Studio ahead of their 34-12 victory in the Four Nations clash against arch rivals France at the Keepmoat Stadium.

Luke says: ‘The team trained on the Friday morning and afternoon and I even opened the gym first thing on Saturday morning especially for them to be able to train before their big game.’

However Luke was delighted when in return they posed for photos and presented the Health and Fitness Studio with a signed shirt.

Picture caption:-
England Rugby League Team with Harriet James - a new member of the Gym staff and a goalkeeper for Doncaster Belles

Bawtry Town Football Club was re-established in 1992 and after several successful seasons in the Gainsborough Saturday League moved up to the Doncaster Senior League, being promoted to its Premier Division in 2001 .


In recent years participation in the club has increased and it has been
decided to set up a reserve team for 2009/10 season primarily to enable younger players to develop into open age football and this team will play in the Doncaster Senior League Division One.

The Crown is working in partnership with the local football club and as a result has agreed to sponsor the team kit, as well as hosting a monthly committee meeting for the club. The club also held a fundraising race night and end of season presentation evening at the hotel
Which helped towards the club improving its on the field performance and financial stability for future seasons.

Anyone can play polo! That’s the message The Crown is helping to get over following a sponsorship link-up with the Misson based Vale Of York Polo Club. They will now proudly wear the distinctive burgundy and gold colours of the hotel for future fixtures. The Club is currently enjoying the start of their Beach polo season with the first chukka starting around 2pm at Cleethorpes promenade every other Sunday.

From the start of the new 2010 season The Crown will be backing a new ‘Midweek Challenge’ to be played the last Wednesday of every month at Misson. Polo Manager Paul Piddington enjoyed his 15 minutes of fame when he appeared on the BBC’s ‘Ladettes To Ladies’ series, teaching a bunch of young tearaways the art of hunting!

Picture Caption:- Sales Manager Katey Dent, Hotel Director Craig Dowie with Polo Manager Paul Piddington

Pictured: Julie McGuigan, owner of ‘Lux at the Crown Hotel’, in the new salon

Luxury rooms, great food - and now even a haircut with a difference! The Crown Hotel has it all.
Bawtry's award-winning hotel is delighted to announce the opening of a new hair salon 'Lux at The Crown Hotel', which also offers a range of luxurious complimentary rituals.

Lux, formerly of Dower House Square in the town, is providing stress-relieving hand, scalp and shoulder treatments using natural, organic products by AVEDA, as well as hair make-overs for all occasions.

Owner Julie McGuigan, announcing her link-up with the Crown Hotel, says: "Our service is unique - we're not just a hair salon. Customers can relax in special massage chairs while we pamper them with our pure flower and plant based range of products by AVEDA.
"They can choose from a range of treatments and products while having their hair done for special occasions such as weddings, parties and days out at the races," adds Julie, who has over 30 years' experience in the hair and beauty industry.

Craig Dowie, managing director at The Crown, says: "Lux are specialists in bridal and wedding hair-ups and styling so their presence in the hotel adds an invaluable service to our wedding parties. There is also a wonderful aroma throughout the hotel from the scented candles in the salon."

The salon, which currently has four fully trained stylists, re-located to The Crown at the end of July and is open six days a week, including Sundays for bridal parties.

Tell us about your family life
I'm actually a twin. I'm a scorpio,so although I'm quite laid back I do have a sting in my tail! I'm a farmer's daughter and live in Harworth with my husband Nigel. We will be celebrating our 20th wedding anniversary next year. We have two children, who are 16 and four. My daughter Laura works in the restaurant as a waitress and hopes to work on the airlines one day on the cabin crew. My twin Sue has taken a very different career path. She's a HGV lorry driver!



How did you become a chef?
I started as a commis chef at the age of 18 after doing a two-year course at Worksop Catering College. By the time I was 21 I was second chef and got promoted to my current position about six years later.

Are you part of a big team?
Yes, we have a pretty large team as it is a very busy kitchen. We have eight chefs plus five kitchen porters. It's like one big family, really. I love the job and couldn't imagine working anywhere else.

What is your daily routine?
I'm always in the kitchen for 7.30am, as there is such a lot of preparation to get through. I usually leave the hotel at about 2.30pm for a few hours' break but I'm back in the kitchen again from 6pm until about 10.30pm. Sometimes later ... Occasionally I get the chance to promote the hotel. For example, I've been on BBC Radio Sheffield's 'Saturday Kitchen', talking through some of me recipes and sampling some of our dishes.

What makes a good Head Chef?
Being calm! My kitchen is nothing like some of the ones you see on television, when everyone seems to be shouting and screaming. I must admit I'm the calmest chef you could ever meet. I'm also hardworking - there's no other way. To get the best results you must appreciate and respect your team, it's as simple as that.

How have things changed?
The Crown has always been a traditional hotel serving traditional food, but we have introduced a modern twist which has been a huge success. Another important development has been the introduction of local produce and we enjoy an excellent working relationship with our dedicated suppliers. Progressing from a three-star to a four-star hotel has taken a massive amount of work but it is a fantastic achievement by all the staff. I've worked alongside Craig (Dowie), the boss, for six years and we have a great deal of mutual respect for one another.


Biggest cooking influence?
Mum – always something on the table day and night.



Favourite celebrity chef?
It's got to be Gordon Ramsey. he's much louder than me but what you see is what you get. He's entertaining and very passionate about his food, which is the most important thing.

Key to the restaurant's success?
Team work is vital and I enjoy an excellent relationship with our Restaurant Manager Amanda Pashley. The service in our restaurant is impeccable and everyone is given individual attention from the moment they arrive. Apart from our regular menu we offer a range of specials which help to keep things interesting.

If you got a Saturday night off what would you do?
Go into Bawtry with my girlfriends for a few drinks or order a Chinese, open a bottle of wine and watch a movie. Pretty Woman is my favourite!

What do you most enjoy out of work?
I love a day at the races. The Crown works in partnership with Doncaster Racecourse so I often get the chance to represent the hotel when we sponsor a race there. If I'm not going to the races I love going out for a Chinese meal.

Guests at The Crown Hotel in Bawtry are feeling fitter, thanks to a new partnership with the local gym.

The award-winning hotel has joined forces with Bawtry Health and Fitness Studios to offer visitors the chance to work out during their stay.

Guests can now purchase an exclusive one-day pass to the Church Walk gym, which is less than 100 meters from the hotel.

Crown managing director Craig Dowie, who took part in a world record breaking fitness marathon at the studios in June, said: "The facilities at Bawtry Health and Fitness Studio are second to none, and the day passes are already proving a big hit with our health conscious guests."

Gym owner Luke Walker adds: "We had pop group Boyzone using our facilities when they stayed at The Crown during their tour rehearsals earlier in the summer, and they loved it. Other guests are really enjoying using our equipment and we have an in-house personal trainer to help those who are more serious about their fitness."

Bawtry Health & Fitness Studios are located in the redeveloped 19th Century Methodist Chapel. The gym is set over three levels, offering modern training facilities in a relaxed and helpful environment.
The 35-station club is also equipped with Technogym cardiovascular equipment, resistance equipment and a selection of free weights. Downstairs is a relaxation room for pre and post workout stretching and floor exercises.
Bawtry Health and Fitness Studios are open from 7am - 9pm weekdays and 9am - 3pm at weekends.

Pictured above: Second year students during a visit to the Bawtry hotel to get a feel for their task


Staff at The Crown Hotel will be looking even more fashionable this summer, thanks to a group of Doncaster students.

Youngsters on the BA Hons Fashion & Textile Design course at Doncaster College have been challenged to create new uniforms for The Crown Hotel, Bawtry and its sister hotel, The Rutland Hotel in Sheffield.


"I want them to come up with something that is smart but trendy, reflecting the contemporary style of both The Crown and The Rutland," says Hotel Director Craig Dowie. "They have already developed some exciting ideas and I am looking forward to seeing my staff wearing the new designs later this year”.

Already the Doncaster College students have proven they have the flair to rise to just about any challenge. They designed an evening dress for opera singer Claire Groom's performance at the Royal Opera House in London; theatrical attire for the complete cast of The Marat Sade, which toured around Yorkshire; and even completed the design and manufacture of the Doncaster Dragons Rugby Club mascot.

The students also showcased their latest work at the annual Doncaster College and University Centre Doncaster Fashion Show on 21st and 22nd May which the Crown Hotel were delighted to support in their commitment as partner to the Doncaster College. The event was attended by buyers, stylists, Saville Row tailors, local and national press and designers including Simon Parchment, who has worked with Dizzee Rascal, Minni Driver and Kelly Rowland.

Boyzone, who will perform at the Sheffield Arena on Saturday (6th June), became Bawtry residents during rehearsals for their eagerly-awaited 'Better' tour.

The Irish chart toppers, who kicked off their tour in Belfast last week, spent four nights at The Crown Hotel, Bawtry and even worked out at the Bawtry Health and Fitness Studio during their second stay in the town.

Head Chef Caroline Rhodes, who is pictured above cuddling up to Ronan Keating, said: "The boys were great. They remembered the staff from when they stayed with us last year and made a real fuss of our restaurant manager Amanda Pashley.

"They were happy to chat to residents after their long rehearsals and the female members at the local gym couldn't believe their eyes when they turned up to keep their lovely bodies in shape."

Boyzone, who arrived in Bawtry with a fleet of tour buses and took up more than 50 rooms at The Crown, were rehearsing at the same secret location near Doncaster they used in preparation for last year's re-union tour.

Fans who flock to Sheffield Arena will see the full original line-up of Ronan Keating, Stephen Gately, Shane Lynch, Mikey Graham and Keith Duffy. Formed in 1994, the Irish superstars racked up 16 consecutive top five hits including six number ones, and have sold over 15 million albums.

Pictured above (from left to right): Mark Goodwin, Abbey Eyewear of Tickhill; Gill Starr; Simon Boguszewski, Vice Chairman of the Yorkshire Kidney Research Fund and Craig Dowie, Crown Hotel of Bawtry.

Crown Hotel boss Craig Dowie is pinching an inch to play a part in a world record attempt this summer.

Craig intends to slim down his expanding waistline by taking part in a 125-mile night cycle ride at Bawtry Health and Fitness Studio.

The 24-hour event on Friday 19th and Saturday 20th June is part of an Ultra Fitness World Record attempt to benefit the Bawtry hotel's adopted charity supportsimon.com, which aims to raise vital cash for the Yorkshire Kidney Research Fund.
"As I never have time to exercise properly, my 36-inch waist trousers have become very tight and I realise I need to do something about it," said Craig, whose hotel will raise funds for supportsimon.com throughout 2009 through a host of fundraising events. "This is a great opportunity to get involved in a record-breaking challenge, get fit and at the same time raise some money for a brilliant charity."

Craig, who will be joined and coached by Crown housekeeper and former Bawtry Health Club worker Gill Starr, is looking for sponsors to back him for every mile he pedals - or for every inch he loses off his waistline during the nine-hour marathon, and sponsorship forms for both Craig and Gill's challenge can be downloaded from the hotel's web site crownhotel-bawtry.com.

Supportsimon.com is a unique fundraising web site launched in 2007 by Simon Boguszewski and his daughter Jasmine, who at the age of nine recovered from a life-threatening kidney illness.

Since her recovery Simon, Jasmine and their family, of Bawtry, Doncaster have worked tirelessly to raise much-needed money for the Yorkshire Kidney Research Fund and aim to top their target of £6,000 by the end of the year.

Simon, together with fellow gym member Mark Goodwin, plans to work his way through a punishing 24-hour fitness schedule to set the new Ultra Fitness World Record - and the Crown's managing director Craig will be helping them on their way by pedalling back into a smaller suit.

Apart from the cycle ride, Simon and Mark will run a half-marathon carrying a 50lb rucksack, which they will also carry on a 10km speed walk. They will then x-train a full marathon, row a half-marathon, and complete a series of grueling work-outs including 1,000 press-ups , 1,250 bench step-ups and a lift of 250,000lbs (113 tonnes) of weight.

The big event will be followed by a Father's Day Sports Persons Dinner at The Crown Hotel on 21st June to raise more vital funds, and the charity is appealing to local businesses to provide auction prizes or to sponsor the world record attempt. Already supporting The Crown and Bawtry Health and Fitness Studio are Abbey Eyewear of Tickhill, Bawtry Mayflower School, Bawtry Church Hall and Yorkshire Wildlife Park.

The Crown Hotel at Bawtry provided the setting for the most unusual and talked about wedding of the year – but it was a race against the clock!

After beating thousands of hopefuls to win a dream wedding lucky listener Trina Middlebrook won Hallam FM's 'Get me to the church on time' contest for a £20,000 all-expenses-paid dream wedding to fiancé Shaun Hill.

On Friday 20th March the bride, Trina Middlebrook of Rossington, with the aid of Michelle from the Hallam FM breakfast show, trecked all the way from Gretna Green to the Crown Hotel and arrived at 2.25pm where the groom and all her friends and family were waiting. Arriving 25 minutes late meant that she had to walk down the isle to 90’s pop tune Mmm Bop by Hanson and all the Champagne was replaced by budget lager.

It was an amazingly exciting day for everyone but especially Trina who not only blagged a free lunch from a service station and free train tickets from York but also rode in huge monster truck and was delivered to the wedding on the back of a Harley Davidson along with a convoy of Harley Davidsons.

Craig Dowie, Director of The Crown Hotel, who helped to put the competition together, adds: “The build-up and the response to the day has been amazing. I can’t thank the Hallam FM team enough and all the companies that supported us on the day. I am sure we will be talking about this wedding for a long time to come.”

See Trina and Shaun's big day on www.hallamfm.co.uk

The wedding is this Friday 20th March.

Listen out every morning to find out the what sneeky twists we have in store for the bride if she doesn't arrive on time!!!

So we know they're getting married this friday but who are Shaun & Trina?!!

The story so far

We've been together for 12 years and we have two great kids, Jack aged 9 and Luke aged 7. They're absolutely gorgeous. Obviously they take after their mother but Shaun, for some strange reason thinks that they take after him. We also have our family dog Obi (from star wars).

Four years ago now, we eventually got engaged. It was really romantic, down on one knee, the ring a total surprise and then went out for curry...told you it was romantic!!

So who is Shaun Hill ?!

Age: 37 (& a half)

Occupation: Site Manager/Joiner & Trinas labourer (slave)

Hobbies: Collecting tools never to be used, Music, Sci-fi models (saddo me)

Dislikes: Shopping, Pink stuff, Tuna pasta bakes, Own voice on radio, Trina on Lips xbox 360

Likes: Barbecues, Sky+, Adventures and days out, Cooking (usually for Trina), Gardening, Painting/drawing with kids, Not shopping. Oh nearly forgot....Beer and wine . . . Rum, Cider, Lager!!

So who is Trina Middlebrook ?!

Age: 32

Occupation: Payment Authorisation Co-ordinator & Shauns taxi service (and boss)

Hobbies: Shopping, Shopping, Music (not shauns crap)

Dislikes: Spiders, Anything else with more than four legs, Cooling towers - they freak me out, Gardening, Own voice on radio, Alton towers (large rides)

Likes: Reading, Bike riding with family, Swimming (every now and again), Eating out / Eating in (basically eating), Doing chores (not), Lips (great singer) xbox 360 (if you believe that), Oh shopping I forgot to mention that!

Dinosaurs have descended on The Dome - and won't be leaving for a few weeks yet!
That's because the Doncaster venue is staging the BBC Walking With Prehistoric Life Exhibition, which runs until Sunday 15th March 2009.

The man responsible for bringing the exciting exhibition to the town is acclaimed naturalist Nigel Marven, who is well known for creating and presenting many wildlife television programmes including Incredible Journeys and Life Of Birds.

Nigel stayed at The Crown Hotel, Bawtry, before officially opening the Exhibition, and is pictured here with restaurant manager Amanda Pashley.

The event brings together for the first time all of the BBC's 'Walking With ...' exhibitions, taking visitors back to a time when dinosaurs, prehistoric beats and cavemen walked the earth. For more details check out www.the-dome.co.uk

The Crown Hotel was first past the post once again on Monday (16th February) when racehorse Sills Vincero won the Betdaq Handicap at Wolverhampton.

One of a team of horses sponsored by The Crown, the three-year-old filly defied a wide draw and a difficult passage to take the five-furlong sprint in the hands of top northern jockey Paul Hanagan.

Sills Vincero, trained by Derek Shaw at Newark and owned by Simon Mapletoft Racing, may now re-appear in a similar race at Wolverhampton on Friday night.

Simon, whose colours carry the Crown Hotel logo, said: "It was a very impressive performance, as she was pushed wide around both bends but still got up to win well. She had run with promise at Kempton previously and can hopefully build on this."

The filly, by successful sprint sire Piccolo, is pictured with Crown Managing Director Craig Dowie at the stables.