Lancaster University Accommodation

Lancaster Uni Accommodation For Students

Lancaster University, renowned for its strong academic reputation and vibrant campus life, offers a diverse range of Uni Accommodation options for its students. Whether you are a first-year undergraduate, a returning student, or a postgraduate, Lancaster University provides a variety of living arrangements designed to suit different needs and preferences. Here’s a comprehensive look at what Lancaster Uni accommodation has to offer.

Types of Accommodation

Lancaster Uni Accommodation is divided into nine colleges, each with its own distinct character and community spirit. Most students live in college-based accommodation, which includes the following options:

  1. En-Suite Rooms: These rooms come with a private bathroom, providing privacy and convenience. They are a popular choice among students who prefer not to share facilities.
  2. Standard Rooms: These are single rooms with shared bathroom facilities. Typically, a number of standard rooms are grouped together, sharing common kitchen and bathroom areas.
  3. Townhouses: Available in some colleges, townhouses offer a more communal living experience. They usually accommodate a smaller number of students, who share a kitchen and living space, fostering a close-knit community feel.
  4. Studio Flats: Ideal for postgraduates or students who prefer more independence, studio flats include a private kitchen and bathroom.
  5. Family Accommodation: Lancaster University also provides accommodation options for students with families, ensuring that everyone can find a suitable living arrangement.

Amenities and Facilities

Lancaster University accommodation is designed to ensure a comfortable and convenient living experience. Here are some of the amenities and facilities available:

  • Wi-Fi: High-speed internet access is available throughout all university accommodation, ensuring students can study and stay connected.
  • Laundry Facilities: Each college has its own laundry facilities, making it easy for students to manage their chores.
  • Security: The university places a high priority on student safety, with secure entry systems, CCTV, and campus security teams available 24/7.
  • Maintenance: A dedicated maintenance team is on hand to promptly address any issues that arise within the accommodation.
  • Cleaning Services: Regular cleaning services are provided for communal areas, ensuring a clean and hygienic living environment.
  • Social Spaces: Many colleges offer common rooms, study areas, and social spaces where students can relax, study, or socialize.

Living in College Communities

One of the unique aspects of Lancaster University accommodation is the college system. Each student becomes a member of one of the nine colleges, which serve as a smaller community within the larger university. This system fosters a strong sense of belonging and identity, making it easier for students to make friends and engage in college-specific events and activities.

Colleges organize a variety of social events, from formal dinners and balls to informal gatherings and sports competitions. This vibrant social life is an integral part of the Lancaster experience, helping students to build lasting friendships and create memorable experiences.

Student Support Services

Lancaster University provides a range of support services to help students adjust to university life and thrive in their studies. These include:

  • Residential Tutors and Advisors: Each college has a team of residential tutors and advisors who are available to offer guidance and support on academic and personal matters.
  • Welfare and Counseling Services: Professional counseling and mental health services are available to all students, ensuring that they have access to the support they need.
  • Academic Support: Colleges also offer academic support services, such as study skills workshops and peer mentoring, to help students succeed in their studies.

Student Application Process

Applying for accommodation at Lancaster University is a straightforward process. First-year undergraduates are guaranteed a place in university-managed accommodation, provided they apply by the specified deadline. Returning students and postgraduates can also apply for accommodation, with allocations made based on availability and individual preferences.

The application process is completed online, with students able to specify their accommodation preferences and any specific requirements they may have. It is advisable to apply early to secure preferred options.

Conclusion

Lancaster University accommodation offers a diverse and supportive living environment that enhances the overall student experience. With a range of

accommodation types, excellent amenities, and a strong sense of community through the college system, students are well-placed to enjoy both academic success and a fulfilling university life. Whether you are embarking on your university journey or continuing your studies, Lancaster University provides a welcoming and comfortable home away from home.

This Article is published by SEO Northwest for Student Housing Lancaster. The Number 1 Choice for Luxury Student Housing in Lancaster.

Summer Storage Solutions for Students Belongings.

Student Storage Solutions

Many university students require storage solutions for their belongings during the summer months when they are away from their term-time accommodation. If your Student Housing Agency cannot assist, and you need summer storage as a university student, here are a few options to consider:

  1. University Storage Services: Some universities offer storage services specifically tailored to their students. They may provide on-campus or nearby storage facilities where you can safely store your belongings during the summer break. Check with your university’s student services or student accommodation office to inquire about the availability of such services.
  2. Self-Storage Facilities: Self-storage facilities are commercial establishments that offer storage units for rent on a short-term basis. These facilities allow you to store your belongings securely and access them as needed. Look for self-storage facilities near your university or your summer location, and consider factors such as size, security, accessibility, and pricing when choosing a facility.
  3. Student Storage Services: Numerous companies specialize in providing summer storage services for students. These services often include pickup, storage, and delivery of your belongings. They may offer various package options based on the amount of storage space you require. Companies like UniBaggage, PingLocker, and LoveSpace are examples of student storage services in the UK, but similar services can be found in other countries as well.
  4. Renting Storage Space from Individuals: Another option is to search for individuals in your area who are renting out storage space. Websites and apps like Storemates, SpareFoot, or even local classified listings may help you find people offering spare storage space in their homes or garages. It’s important to ensure the security and reliability of such arrangements before proceeding.
Summer Storage Solutions For Students

Before storing your belongings, take some preparatory steps:

  • Declutter and pack: Sort through your belongings and decide what you truly need to store. Pack your items securely in appropriate boxes or containers, labeling them for easy identification later.
  • Insurance: Consider insuring your stored belongings in case of theft, damage, or loss. Check if your existing insurance policy covers storage or explore additional insurance options provided by storage facilities or storage service companies.
  • Book in advance: Summer is a busy period for storage services, so it’s advisable to book your storage space or service well in advance to ensure availability.

Remember to remove any perishable items, hazardous materials, or items prohibited by storage facility policies before storing your belongings.

It’s essential to research and compare different storage options, read reviews, and consider factors like cost, security, convenience, and terms and conditions before making a decision.

This Article is published by Student Housing Lancaster. The Number 1 Choice for Luxury Student Housing in Lancaster.

Lancaster and Morecambe Bay Housing Market

Lancaster and Morecambe Bay Housing Market Update

Lancaster and Morecambe Bay Housing Market Update: Spring 2023.

The UK housing market has been experiencing a decline in annual residential property prices, with a YoY decrease of 3.1% in March, according to mortgage lender Nationwide. This marks the biggest price drop since the financial crisis, mainly due to the uncertainty created by last year’s mini-budget in September 2022, which is still being felt. As a result, the housing market is struggling to recover momentum, with weak consumer confidence and household budgets affected by high inflation.

The housing market in the Lancaster and Morecambe Bay area is also feeling the impact of these challenges. However, we have found that transaction levels remain stable and that the volume of new properties coming onto the market is steady. Committed buyers and sellers are slowly returning as morale improves, although there is still some uncertainty about the future.

Despite the challenges, the Lancaster and Morecambe Bay housing market shows signs of resilience. For example, some flexible sellers are more likely to accept below-asking-price offers to hasten the sale of their homes, and stock levels are increasing, thereby providing more space for price negotiations. These factors suggest that the housing market is adjusting to the current challenges and is poised for a more realistic and efficient sale.

One of the factors that is likely to affect the housing market in Lancaster and Morecambe Bay is the level of demand from potential buyers. Although prices are expected to decrease by around 8% this year, bringing them back to 2021 levels, it is unclear how many buyers will be willing to purchase homes in the area. Some may be deterred by the economic uncertainty, while others may be holding out for better deals.

However, there are some positive factors that could help to support the housing market in the area. For example, the Lancaster and Morecambe Bay area is known for its natural beauty and attractive coastline, which could make it attractive for buyers looking for a second home or a retirement property. In addition, the area has good transport links to other parts of the country, which could make it appealing to commuters.

Another potential factor that could impact the housing market in Lancaster and Morecambe Bay is the level of new construction. Although the volume of new properties coming to the market is steady, it is unclear how many of these will be new builds. A significant increase in the number of new builds in the area could help to boost demand from buyers looking for modern, energy-efficient properties.

In conclusion, Lancaster and Morecambe Bay’s housing market faces challenges due to the uncertainty created by last year’s mini-budget and weak consumer confidence. However, there are signs that the market is adjusting to these challenges, with committed buyers and sellers slowly returning as morale improves. Although prices are expected to decrease this year, the future of the housing market in the Lancaster and Morecambe Bay area will depend on a range of factors, including demand from buyers, the level of new construction, and economic conditions more broadly.

We here at CoastnCountry know what it takes to sell for the maximum price and we are happy to advise on any improvements to make your home more sellable. Want to find out more? Please contact kellie or Sarah at coastncountry.co.uk or call 01524 389814. 

Lancaster house prices rise by 1.8%

Coast N Country Lancaster Property Sales

Lancaster house prices rise by 1.8% and buck the national trend.

House prices in Lancaster bucked the national trend in September by continuing to rise.

New figures show they increased by 1.8% – more than the North West average for September,.
The rise contributes to the longer-term trend, which has seen property prices in the area grow by 13% over the last year.
The average Lancaster house price in September was £198,963, Land Registry figures show – a 1.8% increase on August.

Over the month, the picture was different to that across the North West, where prices increased 0.6%, and Lancaster was above the UK as a whole, where prices did not change.
Over the last year, the average sale price of property in Lancaster rose by £23,000 – putting the area 20th among the North West’s 39 local authorities with price data for annual growth.
The highest annual growth in the region was in Warrington, where property prices increased on average by 20.4%, to £266,000. At the other end of the scale, properties in Barrow gained 3.6% in value, giving an average price of £145,000.
An imbalance between supply and demand for properties saw house prices climb across the UK throughout the pandemic.
But typical property values stalled across the UK between August and September, which caused annual growth to slow.

Andy Sommerville, director at property data provider Search Acumen said the latest data is further evidence of “a turning tide for house prices”.
The figures are yet to reflect the full impact of the mini-budget, announced towards the end of September, which sparked volatility in the mortgage market and saw interest rates on new agreements soar.
Nicky Stevenson, managing director at estate agent group Fine and Country said: “Annual house price growth slowed in September against a backdrop of rising interest rates and shrinking disposable incomes.”

First steps on the property ladder.

First-time house buyers in Lancaster spent an average of £175,000 on their property – £20,000 more than a year ago, and £44,000 more than in September 2017.
By comparison, former owner-occupiers paid £222,000 on average in September – 27.2% more than first-time buyers.

Owners of detached houses saw the biggest rise in property prices in Lancaster in September – they increased 2%, to £343,312 on average. Over the last year, prices rose by 14.5%.
Among other types of property:
Semi-detached: up 1.9% monthly, up 13.5% annually, £211,620 average; Terraced: up 1.9% monthly, up 13.2% annually, £172,880 average flats: up 1% monthly, up 8.6% annually, £114,531 average.

How do property prices in Lancaster compare?

Buyers paid 9.2% less than the average price in the North West (£219,000) in September for a property in Lancaster. Across the North West, property prices are lower than those across the UK, where the average cost £295,000.
The most expensive properties in the North West were in Trafford.
The highest property prices across the UK were in Kensington and Chelsea.

Average property price in September.

*Lancaster: £198,963; North West: £219,005; UK: £294,559
*Annual growth to September
*Lancaster: +13%; North West: +9.1%; UK: +9.5%
*Highest and lowest annual growth in the North West
*Warrington: +20.4%; Barrow: +3.6%

First Published November 17, 2022 | Debbie Butler. @ lancasterguardian.co.uk

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Investment Property News

Property Investments

Chronic shortage of private landlord homes continues to push rents higher.

Investment Property News September 2022

Renters are being pushed towards smaller properties and lower running costs in the face of higher rents and rising living costs including rising energy prices, new research shows.

According to Zoopla’s latest quarterly home rental market report, the average rent has increased by £115 per month since last year, reaching £1,051 per calendar month – and accounting for 34.4% of the average income of a single earner. This surge in rents is heavily impacted by a severe supply and demand imbalance with the stock of homes available to rent standing at just half of the five-year average – while the average letting agent currently has just eight homes available to rent.

This chronic supply shortage is also impacted by an increase in renters staying put in their properties to avoid rent hikes and landlords continuing to sell properties in the face of tax and regulatory changes. Currently, approximately 3 in 4 renters will decide to stay in their current property and although they will experience lower levels of rental growth of 4% or less – this will squeeze supply in the market as a result.

There has been an acceleration in demand for one and two-bedroom flats as renters feel the cost-of-living squeeze, and fewer renters looking for two and three-bedroom houses. Outside of London, the average asking rent is £105 lower per month for a two-bedroom flat compared to a three-bedroom house.

Renter demand shifts to 2-bed flats for better value & lower running costs

Renters making decisions about what type of property to rent will also consider running costs and rising energy prices are likely to be playing a role in the shift in demand to smaller homes.

When it comes to energy prices, the amount of gas to heat and run a purpose-built flat for a year is 40% lower than a terraced house and 25% lower for a converted flat. New-build city centre flats are also becoming increasingly appealing to renters seeking out smaller homes with lower running costs.

Rental growth has accelerated over the last 12 months from an annual rate of less than 2% in July 2021 to 12.3% today, while rental growth is out-pacing earnings growth in all regions and countries of the UK. Rental growth is ranging from 7.6% in the North East to a staggering 18% in London – however, there are signs that rental growth is close to peaking.

Despite rents in London rebounding from a low base, the pace of rental growth in London is not sustainable at current levels with average rents in London currently 7.8% higher than pre-pandemic.

In a reversal of a trend seen during the pandemic, rental growth in urban markets (10.5%) is now outpacing that in rural markets (8.5%) as strong employment growth drives demand in cities.

The strongest performing urban markets are London (17.8%). Manchester (15.5%), Glasgow (14.4%) and Bristol (12.9%) – where rental growth is standing above the UK average of 12.3%. Rents are also rising faster at the top end of the market with asking rents for 2-bed flats rising more quickly at the upper end (top 25%) of the market in comparison to the lower end of the market where demand is more price sensitive.

What is the outlook for the rental market?

There is no real prospect of significantly improved rental supply in the near term as private landlords and property investors continue to sell off homes due to tax and regulatory changes. Renters renewing their tenancies will also amplify the fierce supply squeeze and keep upward pressure on rents into 2023.

There is headroom for some renters to pay more, especially outside London and the South East, however overall, we expect the headline rental growth to slowly taper over Q4 and into 2023.

Richard Donnell, executive director at Zoopla, said: “Rents have surged ahead over the last year but there are signs that the pace of growth is peaking and set to slow into 2023. Renters are responding and looking for smaller, better value for money homes to rent with an eye on energy costs as much as rental levels.

“What the rental market needs to combat these challenges is more new homes for rent. Greater regulation has seen less new investment and a small but growing number of landlords selling up, meaning the rental market has stopped growing since 2016. There is a risk that more regulation to improve standards or potential new measures to dampen rental growth, as proposed in Scotland, may compound the supply problem which is pushing rents up in the first place. Policymakers need to tread a careful path between protecting consumers and ensuring a decent supply of homes for rent.”

Hannah Gretton, lettings director at LSL’s Your Move and Reeds Rains brands, commented: “We are experiencing high levels of demand for rental properties with homes being snapped up within hours of hitting the market. With over 270 lettings branches nationwide, it’s a picture that is reflected up and down the country with particular demand in urban areas.

“On average, we are seeing double figures of enquiries per property with a one-bedroom property in Manchester last week receiving over 100 requests to view, highlighting just how busy our branches are and the challenges renters face when it comes to finding an appropriate property”

First Published September 13, 2022 | Marc da Silva. @ propertyindustryeye.com

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The cheapest UK cities to flip a house

Property Investments Lancaster

Revealed – the cheapest UK cities to flip a house – Property Investment Lancaster.

There has been a significant increase in demand for move-in-ready homes and CIA Landlord Insurance has taken the liberty to research which UK cities are most cost-effective to buy and renovate a home for those looking to maximise their property’s profits.

Using the average rate of tradespeople to disclose the cheapest cities in the UK to ‘flip a home’, the study also looked at the demand for these workers and availability to show the cities that may have more access to certain trades.

London vs Lancaster

The research shows that London is £596 per day pricier than Lancaster when hiring tradespeople and renovating a home in Lancaster would total to £1,723 – a combined day rate of the 10 tradespeople essential to flipping a home.

Structural changes are of particularly good value in this area too as it has the lowest day rates for builders (£173), plasters (£158), and handymen (£56).

When the study turned its attention to London, the data shows that this would be the most expensive city to renovate a home, with the average daily rate of hiring the necessary tradespeople being £2319.

This could largely be because of the higher cost of living here, as well as the need for workers to cover the costs of any equipment, transport, and tools.

Tradespeople in demand

Based on Google search volume, plumbers are the most in-demand tradespeople in the UK, with over 20,000 searches made per month. Another 5,000 searches were recorded for electricians and nearly twice as many as gardeners.

Whilst there are differences across the UK in how much it will cost, and how long it will take to renovate a home, landlords can increase the marketability of their property by doing so making it a worthwhile, long-term property investment choice.

Article By Mine Lombard
Article Published Date: 12 August 2022 – Property Investor Today propertyinvestortoday.co.uk

morecambe woman makes 35k On Property Show

Morecambe woman stars on George Clarke's new £100,000 property TV show

Morecambe woman makes £35K on Channel 4 George Clarke’s Flipping Fast

A woman from Morecambe has the chance to win £100,000 on a new TV property show hosted by popular presenter George Clarke.

Harriet Swan from Morecambe is one of the contestants on the new property series of ‘George Clarke’s Flipping Fast’ on Channel 4 where teams battle it out to win a £100,000 cash prize.

harriet Swan Flipping Fast
Harriet Swan pictured on the new Channel 4 property show Flipping Fast

Harriet, 28, is competing against five other people or teams from around the UK in a battle to see who can make the most profit from buying, refurbishing and selling properties. 

Whoever makes the most profit by the end of the series, wins the £100,000.

Harriet topped the leader board after the first episode, having bought a one-bedroom flat in Morecambe for £67,750, renovated it with the help of family members, and sold it for £99,000, making £18,807 profit after costs were deducted.

“I can’t believe it!” she said.

“I am happy and proud of myself but I do think there’s still a lot to play for.”

The series aired on Channel 4 TV.

It showed Harriet looking at and renovating properties in Morecambe, and on Princes Crescent in Bare (see above, credit George Clarke’s Flipping Fast, Channel 4). 

Harriet, whose maiden name is Muckle, works as a sports journalist and TV presenter.

Flipping Fast continues on Channel 4 on Wednesdays. The programme is hosted by George Clarke, and property experts Scarlette and Stuart Douglas (below). Tune in to see if Harriet can win the £100,000!

Flipping Fast Morecambe Property with George Clark
Harriet Swan pictured on the new Channel 4 property show Flipping Fast

First Published in Beyond Radio By Greg Lambert. Thursday, May 26th, 2022

Dance Dress Code

Dancewear Dress Code

Dance Schools Are Updating Their Dress Codes to Become More Inclusive

Catalyzed by the national reckoning on racial injustice last summer, much of the dance world began to ponder some tough questions, one being: “Who does traditional dancewear leave out?”

Brands heard the growing calls for a greater range of options and have begun producing and promoting new lines of flesh-tone shoes and tights. Meanwhile, dance schools working to become more inclusive have realized their dress codes—particularly for ballet classes, which have traditionally mandated pink tights and shoes designed to complement white dancers’ lines—are an obvious place to start.

A Wake-up Call

Like many, Darla Hoover, artistic director of Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet and Ballet Academy East’s pre-professional division, calls the death of George Floyd “an awakening.” “We realized that those of us who consider ourselves anti-racist need to do more,” she says.

Both Hoover and Allie Beach, the director of youth programming at Broadway Dance Center, say changing their dancewear dress codes to allow flesh-tone dancewear a year ago was an immediate and easy adjustment to make, and they regret not seeing the need earlier.

“Honestly, it’s just something we should have done a long, long time ago and didn’t because we just stayed with that colonial idea that pink is the standard,” says Beach.

Outdated practices are often excused as part of the art form’s long history. Beach says it’s time to challenge those archaic traditions. “It’s a white-supremacist ideal tied back to when Black and brown people were not represented in the ballet world,” she says.

Of course, the need for inclusive dancewear options isn’t a new conversation. Dance Theatre of Harlem first debuted flesh-tone tights and shoes in 1974. As conversations about racial equity have grown in recent years, more organizations have followed suit. Boston Ballet School, for instance, has allowed flesh-tone shoes and tights since May 2019.

Other schools are now attempting to move at a pace best suited to their students’ needs. At Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music, all dancewear for performance will transition from historical pink to flesh tones at the start of the fall 2021 semester to give students time to purchase new items.

The Impact of Inclusive Dress Codes

Beach says she not only hopes the new dress code allows students to wear what authentically represents them, but that the change has broader implications: “We have a heavy responsibility in cultivating these kids and the types of human beings that they are, not just teaching them dance.”

At the Center of Creative Arts in St. Louis, Missouri, co-artistic director of dance Kirven Douthit-Boyd says the department made it mandatory for its 14- to 18-year-old advanced dancers to wear flesh-tone tights and shoes in classes and performances in 2018.

“What was most gratifying when we made the shift was seeing how they looked and how it made them feel,” says Douthit-Boyd. “To see the continuation of the line and clarity of form on their Black and brown bodies was almost like them looking at a new person.”

Douthit-Boyd says the shift is a large one for his school’s community and he didn’t want to “rip the Band-Aid off.” So the older dancers serve as an example while the younger students gradually understand and become accustomed to skin-tone dancewear, before COCA implements the same policy in its lower levels.

Embracing Gender Inclusivity

Meanwhile, in support of their LGBTQ+ students, some schools are updating their dress codes and class terminology to be more gender-inclusive.

Juilliard’s dance division simply asks that dancers wear formfitting clothes and makes no distinction in dancewear between genders. Director of dance Alicia Graf Mack says ballet classes are historically gendered, but there are ways to challenge this norm. Alongside a growing number of schools, Juilliard no longer uses the term “men’s class” and instead offers an “allegro class” to all students. Pointe classes are open to all dancers.

The University of Southern California Glorya Kaufman School of Dance made similar changes after one of its nonbinary students suggested a gender-neutral dress code and classes based on technical focus rather than gender.

“We do not want to be this ivory tower that doesn’t change with the times and is not open to understanding the multitude of people and identities that exist,” Mack says.

The Way Forward

While dancewear dress-code changes can serve as a starting point, school directors acknowledge there is more work to be done. Hoover says her next mission is making dance training accessible to young dancers from all backgrounds. “It has to start in the beginning,” she says, “so we can develop more dancers in the first place to be hired into companies who will then move on to be teachers and directors.”

Originated & First Published by Breanna Mitchell April 26, 2021 in dancemagazine.com

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Global Dancewear Market

Dancewear

Global Dancewear Market Is Expected to Reach $1.7 Billion by 2030: Says AMR

An increase in the use of dancewear by consumers in schools, universities, and public institutions and a rise in sales of dancewear in speciality stores drive the global dancewear market. Based on end-user, the women segment contributed the major share in 2020. By region, the market across Asia-Pacific would manifest the fastest CAGR throughout the forecast period.

Portland, OR, June 06, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — According to the report published by Allied Market Research, the global dancewear market was estimated at $1.1 billion in 2020 and is expected to hit $1.7 billion by 2030, registering a CAGR of 4.8% from 2021 to 2030. The report provides an in-depth analysis of the top investment pockets, top winning strategies, drivers & opportunities, market size & estimations, competitive scenario, and varying market trends.

An increase in the use of dancewear by consumers in schools, universities, and public institutions and a rise in sales of dancewear in speciality stores drive the global dancewear market. Moreover, emerging economies such as India and China have witnessed significant adoption of dancewear, owing to increased awareness about the benefits of dancing, which has supplemented the market growth even more.

Covid-19 scenario-

  • The outbreak of the pandemic had a harsh impact on the apparel industry and consequently, the dancewear market was also impacted negatively throughout the pandemic.
  • The disrupted supply chain, scarcity of labour, economic slowdown, and travel bans kept on worsening the market condition. However, the market is slowly getting back to normalcy.

The global Dancewear market is analyzed across product type, application, end-user, distribution channel, and region. Based on product type, the bodywear segment accounted for nearly half of the total market share in 2020 and is expected to rule the roost by 2030. The accessories segment, however, would garner the fastest CAGR of 6.1% throughout the forecast period.

Based on end-user, the women segment contributed to more than half of the total market revenue in 2020 and is projected to lead the trail by 2030. The children segment, on the other hand, would exhibit the fastest CAGR of 6.1% during the forecast period.

Based on region, the market across North America held the major share in 2020, garnering around two-fifths of the global market. The Asia-Pacific region, simultaneously, would manifest the fastest CAGR of 6.1% throughout the forecast period. The report also analyzes other regions that include Europe, and LAMEA.

The key market players analyzed in the global Dancewear market report include Bloch International, Flo Dancewear Pty. Ltd, Wearmoi Dancewear, Grishko Dance S.R.O, Provins Business Co. Ltd., Onward Holdings Co., Ltd., Revolution Dancewear, LLC, Bullet Pointe, LLC, Ballet Makers, Inc., and SF Dancegear Waterloo.

Source: Allied Market Research

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Dancing & Show News

Sam Ryder

All the latest dance, theatre, and stage news from Dincwear Dancewear.

Sam Ryder “couldn’t be happier” following record-breaking Eurovision success with SPACE MAN.

Sam Ryder has said he “couldn’t be happier” to return home after his record-breaking success at Eurovision over the weekend.

The TikTok star came in second place in Eurovision with the song SPACE MAN – not only the UK’s best-performing entry since Imaani in 1998, but with a total of 466 points, also became the highest-scoring UK Eurovision entry of all time.

Now, Sam has made the journey from Space (well, Turin) back down to Earth, as he returns home having re-invigored the country’s belief in Eurovision and that when we try our best, we might actually be…whisper it…good at it. “It’s just lovely to come home and feel that joy and love we’ve felt the whole time,” Sam told press at Heathrow Airport. “Though I am tired now – just want to focus on having a nice sleep tonight.”

SPACE MAN became the highest-scoring UK entry in the history of the competition.

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Alfie Boe and Sarah Brightman to release God Save The Queen duet.

The regal record will be a double-A-side, with the new duet sung by Alfie Boe and Sarah Brightman along with the NHS Care Choir on the A-side and the original recording of God Save The Queen from the Queen’s coronation on the B-side. The song was first released on LP in 1953 and was then later reissued on CD in 1997.

SarahBrightman also revealed that the single’s proceeds will be donated to the British Red Cross, of which the Queen is a patron. The classical singer said: “It’s for, what I’m told is, one of the Queen’s favourite charities, which is the British Red Cross, which helps people in crisis all over the world. They’re an amazing charity.” She added: “It’s been such a pleasure to do and we’ve had fun putting it all together with wonderful producers and everybody on the record.”

Speaking on live television, Brightman praised the Queen ahead of the Jubilee celebrations, saying: “What’s so lovely is it’s for an amazing woman who has reigned for so long and done such an amazing job and worked so hard. “She’s there for us when things are not good and we feel secure with her. In a way, she’s the backbone of this country. “And I feel very, very proud, and I know Alfie does, to be British because of her.”

The NHS Voices of Care Choir features the voices of health service employees and was originally put together by music producer James Hawkins.

}—–{

Former Emmerdale star Adam Thomas ‘signing up for Strictly Come Dancing’.

Former Emmerdale actor Adam Thomas is rumoured to be the first celebrity to ‘sign up’ for this year’s Strictly Come Dancing.

Adam, 33, is said to be in talks with BBC bosses to star in series 20 of the dance competition show, which will air in autumn this year. He played Adam Barton in the ITV soap until his departure in 2018, and his brother Ryan, 37, stars in Coronation Street.

The star came third in the 2016 run of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! And In 2019, Adam was announced as the host of the I’m A Celeb spin-off, Extra Show.

A source told the press: “Adam has got what it takes to win and is already practising his moves. And he’s got a big female fanbase. “This has been a little while in the making but it’s happening this year.”

It is also reported that Strictly bosses were also looking to sign Adam’s older brother Ryan, who played Jason Grimshaw on the cobbles of Coronation Street for 16 years.

}—–{

Cast for Bugsy Malone tour announced.

Presented by Theatre Royal Bath Productions, Birmingham Rep and Kenny Wax, Alan Parker’s stage show features a score by Paul Williams and is based on the 1976 movie of the same name. Songs include the likes of “You Give A Little Love”, “My Name is Tallulah”, and “Fat Sam’s Grand Slam”.

Sean Holmes directs the show, which has choreography by Drew McOnie and design by John Bausor. Also in the creative team are Franny-Anne Rafferty (associate director), Phil Bateman (musical supervisor, arranger and orchestrator), Phil Gladwell (lighting designer), Ben Harrison (sound designer), Connagh Tonkinson (musical director), Leanne Pinder (associate choreographer), Richard Weedon (orchestral manager), Verity Noughton (casting director for the unders), Will Burton (casting director for the overs) and Susannah Peretz (wig designer).

The lead roles will be performed by three young casts of seven in rotation. Bugsy Malone will be played by Shaun Sharma, Gabriel Payne and Amar Blackman, Blousey Brown by Mia Lakha, Delilah Bennett-Cardy and Avive Williams, Fat Sam by Albie Snelson, Isham Sankoh and Charlie Burns, Tallulah by Taziva-Faye Katsande, Jasmine Sakyiama and Fayth Ifil, Fizzy by Aidan Oti, Jamie Northey-Dennis and one other performer (yet to be announced), Lena/Babyface by Cherry Mitra, Kayla-Mai Alvares and Ava Hope Smith and Dandy Dan by Rayhaan Kufuor-Gray, Kit Cranston and Desmond Cole.

They are joined by adult ensemble members: Georgia Pemberton, Alisha Capon, Lucy Young, D’Mia Lindsay Walker, Jessica Daugrida, Alicia Ally, Alicia Belgarde, Esme Bacalla-Hayes, Luchia Moss, Kalifa Burton, Rory Fraser, Andile Mabhena, Thomas Walton, Ru Fisher, Mohamed Bangura, Marcus Billany, Luke Mills and Will Lucas.

Based on Lyric Hammersmith’s five-star revival of Parker’s seminal musical, the show will open at Theatre Royal Bath with performances from 2 July 2022, followed by Birmingham Rep from 27 July 2022. After that it will visit Newcastle Theatre Royal, Mayflower Theatre, Southampton, Leeds Grand Theatre, Glasgow Theatre Royal, Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, Oxford Playhouse, Sheffield Lyceum Theatre, Leicester Curve, Milton Keynes Theatre, Theatre Royal Plymouth, Hull New Theatre, Nottingham Theatre Royal, Manchester Opera House, Edinburgh Playhouse, Southend Cliffs Pavilion, Cardiff’s Wales Millennium Centre and Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury with more venues to be announced.

Famous for casting children in adult roles, the musical is set in prohibition-era New York and features a gang of mobsters, showgirls, a penniless boxer, a seductive songstress and a plethora of flying custard pies.

The touring production will comprise of a young company of 39 actors, including three teams of seven kids.

}—–{

Footloose performance at Malvern Theatres cancelled amid safety concerns.

An opening night performance of Footloose at Malvern Theatres on Monday, May 16 was cancelled after the audience was already seated.  A spokesperson from Malvern Theatres said: “Regrettably, last night’s performance of Footloose the Musical was cancelled due to the touring production team facing technical obstacles which resulted in the performance being unable to go ahead.

“All customers who attended are being offered a full refund, as well as complimentary tickets for another performance of Footloose, or any other show of their choice this year.

“We empathise with all of our customers who visited us last night and experienced the disruption and inconvenience, for which we apologise. “The touring company did not have enough time to fully install all the set, and it was a decision made on behalf of the cast and crew’s concern for health and safety. “Those who attended have been offered a free refund for last night, plus tickets to another show at Malvern Theatres, either to another performance of Footloose (it runs until Saturday, May 21) or any other show we’re hosting this year.”

The show is based on the 1980s film and is currently starring Jake Quickenden best known for the X-Factor, I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here and Dancing on Ice.

A spokesperson from the show said: “Based on the 1980s screen sensation which took the world by storm, Footloose sizzles with spirit, fun and the best in UK musical talent. “With cutting edge modern choreography, you’ll enjoy classic 80s hits including Holding Out for a Hero, Almost Paradise, Let’s Hear It For The Boy and of course the unforgettable title track Footloose.

“City boy Ren thinks life is bad enough when he’s forced to move to a rural backwater in America. “But his world comes to a standstill when he arrives at Bomont to find dancing and rock music are banned. “Taking matters into his own hands, soon Ren has all hell breaking loose and the whole town on its feet.”

 Dincwear Dancewear will keep watching the news and bring you further updates in the next edition.

View The Strictly Stars Wearing Dincwear Dancewear

From all the news team at Dincwear Dancewear, See you all next week!

This post has been created by the Dincwear Dancewear Team.

History of Workout and Dancewear

Dancewear, Activewear and Wolrkout Wear Trends

How the Leotard Dress Code of the ’80s Set the Stage for Your Yoga Pants.

What we wear to work out (and hang out) has a surprisingly feminist backstory. History of Workout wear and Dancewear.

Over the past decade, women have gradually embraced living their lives sheathed in spandex. The shift from so-called “real clothes” to athleisure has long been a polarizing one, with critics lamenting both our collective dressing down and the fact that wardrobe staples like workout leggings hug the body so tightly we might as well be walking around naked. “We may be able to conquer the world wearing spandex,” an opinion editor wrote in The New York Times in 2018, “But wouldn’t it be easier to do so in pants that don’t threaten to show every dimple and roll in every woman over 30?” Ouch.

Given the tenor of that criticism, the story of how workout wear became street fashion is a surprisingly feminist one. It’s a story of women ditching their girdles and so-called “ladylike” attire in favor of comfort and freedom of movement, and it reveals a profound evolution not only in the way women move through their lives, but also in how we think about our own bodies. And it traces back to Gilda Marx, an ambitious aerobics instructor to the stars, who almost single-handedly launched the leotard dress code of the 1980s.

In the mid-1970s, while Jazzercise and small studios across America were bringing aerobic dancing to the masses, Gilda was teaching her own version of dance fitness to Hollywood’s elite at Body Design by Gilda, a penthouse studio in Los Angeles painted shades of peach and blue. (Think Body by Bunny from Apple TV’s Physical, but much more LA.)

Credit: Shutterstock

Gilda attracted A-listers from Bette Midler to Barbra Streisand, who paid homage to Gilda in the 1979 romantic comedy The Main Event with a campy workout scene shot at the studio. “There were some classes where it was almost like a meeting of the gods,” studio manager and instructor Ken Alan told me. “You know, the two biggest names in movies would be three feet from each other.” Gilda’s studio even launched the queen of fitness herself: Jane Fonda became hooked on its group classes in the late ’70s; by ’82 she had opened her own workout studio and released a mega-bestselling fitness book and home video.

But Gilda’s influence would extend far beyond the rich and famous when she embarked on a quest to transform the era’s universal exercise uniform. She wanted to build a better leotard.

As someone who spent most of her time in leotards (she was a professional dancer before taking up aerobics), Gilda appreciated how they moved. But it bugged her that, for anyone who wasn’t built like a prepubescent ballerina, leotards weren’t always flattering — or comfortable. The garment hadn’t changed all that much since its introduction by French acrobat Jules Léotard in the 19th century. By the 1930s, leotards dyed pink or black were dancers’ rehearsal outfit of choice. But the leotards of mid-century America were still made of natural fiber blends, which meant they rode up in places they should stay down and sagged in places they should stay up.

Gilda knew there had to be a better design, one that supported, flattered, and fit properly. “I wanted to create a beautiful garment that would inspire my students to want to exercise,” she wrote in her 1984 exercise book, Body by Gilda. One that was “flexible, functional and fantastically glamorous.” She would soon discover that the key lay in one of the DuPont chemical company’s newest synthetic fibers: Lycra. The company had spent decades developing Lycra in a quest to design a better girdle, but thanks to Gilda, its triumph would come not from restricting women’s bodies but setting them free.

Credit: Courtesy

In the 1940s, when DuPont launched its multimillion dollar effort to invent the perfect sturdy-but-stretchy fiber — or spandex, as engineers began to call it, which was an anagram of expands — it had one objective: to revolutionize and then dominate the girdle industry. That’s because, at the time, pretty much every woman over the age of 12 was wearing one.

“In the period when Dupont was casting around for new synthetic fiber opportunities, it was taken for granted that a woman should not appear in public, and hardly in private, unless she was wearing a girdle,” writes the anthropologist Kaori O’Connor, who in the early 21st century gained rare access to the company’s archives and in 2011 published Lycra, an investigation into the birth of the fiber. Girdles were a “hallmark of respectability” and a prerequisite for looking good in clothes.

But the experience of wearing a girdle was hellish. This was partly due to the fabric, which was made from a stiff rubber-covered thread that makes today’s Spanx — even more extreme waist trainers — seem forgiving by comparison.

When DuPont surveyed American women about their dream innovations, they consistently asked for more comfortable girdles, and the company saw the potential for massive earnings. Eventually, in the early 1960s, a DuPont chemist named Joe Shivers revealed a fiber that was lighter than rubberized thread but had much more restraining power. The company named it Lycra. Cut to: stretchy girdles aplenty.

At first Lycra girdles were a hit, and demand outran supply. Then, a curious thing happened. Despite the fact that the first massive wave of baby boomers were becoming teenagers — the age when most women began to purchase figure shapers — girdle sales started to fall. DuPont and the rest of corporate America had assumed that the young baby boomer women would shop and dress like their mothers. Instead, as the 1960s unfurled, they were faced with what legendary Vogue editor Diana Vreeland dubbed the “youthquake” — with miniskirts and Mary Quant and a full-on fashion rebellion.

Throughout the decade, DuPont poured resources into trying to keep women in girdles. They even launched an item called a “form-persuasive garment” aimed specifically at the teen market, in case it was the word girdle to which teens were averse. (It wasn’t. And adults felt the same.) Despite popular legend, few women in the late ’60s and early ’70s burned their bras, but most actually trashed their girdles. When the president of the undergarment giant Playtex called up his marketing firm in a panic to report that his own wife had thrown away her girdles, according to the 1997 book Rocking the Ages, the end seemed nigh.

“‘Getting rid of the girdle’ emerged as a significant cultural moment, in every sense a defining act of ’emancipation,'” writes O’Connor. “Its abandonment was political action on the personal level, an act of liberation through stuff.”

By 1975, girdle sales were half of what they had been a decade earlier. With American women now moving about happily unbound, warehouses filled with unwanted girdle fabric, rolls upon rolls dyed a rainbow of vibrant colors. Gradually, small professional dancewear manufacturers and seamstresses began to snatch it up to make garments that, they discovered, “hugged the body and moved with it in a way that had never been possible before.”

But it was Gilda Marx who would bring these new leotards to the masses.

Credit: Courtesy of Gilda Marx

Gilda teamed up with a manufacturer who until then had specialized in car seat upholstery; her home was converted into a leotard laboratory where she experimented with different Lycra blends until she landed on her holy grail.

In 1975, she introduced the Flexatard, a nylon-Lycra blend leotard with all the support of a girdle and none of the cultural baggage. Flexatards came in long-sleeved, cap-sleeve, and spaghetti strap versions. And they came in dark, chic colors (red and burgundy and navy) and later, yellow and peach and green and raspberry.

She opened a small boutique in her penthouse exercise studio and began selling Flexatards to students who served as a kind of instant focus group for her products. “One day I looked at the back of my class and saw Bette Midler with arms, legs, and everything flying,” she wrote in Body by Gilda. “She was having a wonderful time” — and wearing a Flexatard. “After the class a panting Divine Miss M bounced up to me and said, ‘I absolutely adored this workout and this leotard is great. It is the first leotard that was ever able to support my chest.’ To a leotard designer, that was the ultimate challenge and the ultimate compliment.”

Gilda incorporated as Flexatard, Inc., and before long, women in aerobics classes across the country would be wearing her garments. Dancewear giants Capezio and Danskin got in on the game, too, and began making their own colorful Lycra-blend attire for aerobic dancers. In Britain, a former model named Debbie Moore was building her own dance empire at the Pineapple Dance studio. She built on Gilda’s designs, working with DuPont to blend cotton with Lycra and release an even more comfortable line of leotards and dancewear. Her footless tights became predecessors to today’s leggings.

RELATED: Colorful Leggings Are Back — See How Celebrities Are Wearing Them Right Now

When anthropologist Kaori O’Connor interviewed women about their memories of slipping into Lycra leotards and leggings for the first time, they told her it felt exhilarating. The fabric bonded women exercisers, they said, by serving as a kind of collective aerobics uniform that “seemed to free the body and hold it, cover it and yet expose it.”

By the early ’80s, Lycra leotards and leggings would burst out of the studio and onto the street, as Gilda and other designers introduced tops, skirts, and shorts that allowed women to come and go from aerobics class without having to change. Dancewear also became popular among women who liked their fresh, edgy “fashion look.” (Think: Jennifer Beals in Flashdance and early Madonna.) In 1984 alone, American women purchased 21 million leotards. An aesthetic that still feels like textbook ’80s was born.

This represented a paradigm shift in the way women viewed their physicality. “Lycra became the second skin for a new life in which self-confidence would be rooted in women and their bodies, not in rules, dress codes, wearing clothes that were ‘appropriate’ for age or social status, and especially not in wearing girdles,” writes O’Connor. “What had been the ultimate fiber of control now became the defining fiber of freedom.”

Credit: Getty Images

In the years that followed, middle-and upper-class Americans’ wardrobes became increasingly dominated by activewear, as signaling that one cared about working out was as important as actually working out (a trend that lives on, especially in fashion). “Now all the world was a gym and our closets were fast becoming lockers,” wrote the journalist Blair Sabol in her 1986 book The Body of America. “In fact, jock couture was probably the first time American designers became an honest fashion force. We had the handle on sweat and lifestyle, while Europe continued to runway sleek and fantasy.”

By the 1990s, workout leotards and tights were increasingly replaced by Lycra sports bra tops and bike shorts, as girls whose moms had worn Gilda Marx’s Flexatards came of age and put their own spin on sweat couture. Buns of Steel frontwoman Tamilee Webb appeared in the iconic early ’90s home workout video series in a sports bra and bikini bottoms, all the better to show off her aspirational hard body; in the 1995 movie Clueless, Cher (Alicia Silverstone) goads Tai (Brittany Murphy) to sculpt her own body in Tamilee’s image while both women don bike short silhouettes. Princess Diana helped to make the bike short fashionable as everyday wear, often pairing graphic tees and sweatshirts with colorful Lycra bottoms.

As yoga exploded across America in the second half of that decade, it birthed yet another booming Lycra apparel industry (much to the dismay of yogis who taught their disciples to seek spiritual rather than material wealth). The supermodel yogi Christy Turlington launched her own line of proto-athleisure in the mid-’90s, and Lululemon was founded in 1998; its iconic fabric, luon, is a blend of nylon and Lycra. Madonna, once again, helped to take gym fashion from the studio to the street when she became a poster woman for yoga with her 1998 album Ray of Light, an homage to her practice. Yoga pants were here to stay.

Most recently, the pandemic has ushered in an era of unprecedented sartorial comfort, as women, confined to their homes, now swaddle themselves in whatever stretchy, forgiving fabrics bring them pleasure. Contemporary athleisure — or “athlivesure”as InStyle recently dubbed it — is less its own distinct look than an amalgam of the past few decades’s styles; we’re wearing sports bras and bodysuits and bike shorts and yoga pants in whatever way feels good. In something of a full-circle moment, today’s trending workout wear is also hewing back toward the look of corsetry. It’s important to note, though, that this is a result of a new form of sexy dressing kicked off by Bridgerton more than a prescriptive requirement to be cinched. (Kardashian-beloved waist trainers are somewhere between the two; they promise shape-related “results,” but they don’t hold nearly the cultural grip on women’s bodies as their forerunners did.)

The last few years have, after all, seen major workout wear brands, from Athleta to Lululemon, begin to feature models in a wider range of sizes, as our cultural understanding of what a “fit body” looks like is evolving and we are reconsidering our aversion to “dimples” and “rolls.” While truly size-inclusive workout wear is still limited — with a few shining exceptions — we appear to be inching closer to a place where all women can have access to the kind of physical liberation and pride that straight-sized women have been experiencing since Gilda led them away from girdles into leotards’ light in the 1970s. Now we just call yoga pants “flare leggings,” and we wear them wherever we want.

Some, still argue that Lycra clothing — especially of the compressing, control-top variety — is merely a girdle by a different name. But personally? I’d much rather slip into spandex designed to help me dance, run, sweat, and generally move with ease than a figure shaper meant to cinch my body into one socially acceptable form. Fashion that expands often allows women to do the same.

Danielle Friedman is the author of the new book Let’s Get Physical: How Women Discovered Exercise and Reshaped the World, a cultural history of women’s fitness.

Article By Danielle Friedman: Originally Published on instyle.com , Jan 13, 2022 @ 1:45 pm.

Danielle Friedman is the author of the new book Let’s Get Physical: How Women Discovered Exercise and Reshaped the World, a cultural history of women’s fitness.

Other Related Dancewear Topics.

Morecambe Named Investment Hotspot

Lancashire is one of the top areas in England to invest in a holiday home for staycations, particularly Lytham, Morecambe and Clitheroe.

With house price growth currently at 7% year on year, and an average annual rental income of nearly £23,000, the county offers excellent long-term potential for anyone looking to invest – particularly in popular tourist spots such as Lytham, Morecambe and Clitheroe.

Lancashire ranks second on Sykes Holiday Cottages’ list of top investment hotspots in England, behind only Tyne & Wear, with Shropshire rounding out the top three.

Looking at the UK overall, Lancashire ranks in ninth behind destinations throughout North and South Wales. Blaenau Gwent in South East Wales topped the list, followed by Denbighshire and Rhondda Cynon Taf.

The Holiday Let Outlook Report 2022 analyses Sykes’ revenue data, alongside current house prices and house price growth, to drill into the long-term investment opportunities within holiday letting across the UK.

Location and amenities are two of the most important factors in a holiday home property investment success, so within the regions listed, any property must also be in a good location and offer desirable facilities to strengthen the investment potential.

The report also contains consumer research, Sykes’ booking figures and insights from rental data and analytics company AirDNA, to paint a clear picture of the UK’s holiday let market.

Property Investment Morcambe
Morecambe is one of the top areas in England to invest in properties for holiday homes staycations

According to the poll of UK holiday homeowners commissioned for the report, a quarter (25%) only started letting during the pandemic, with the staycation boom fuelling a rise in people entering the market – including investors, as well as those renting a second home already owned, setting-up glamping accommodation or transforming part of their home.

In fact, bookings for Sykes’ holiday lets in 2022 are up 35% compared to pre-pandemic levels – with bookings to Lancashire 76% higher this year than in 2019.

Graham Donoghue, CEO, Sykes Holiday Cottages, said, “The shift towards staycations had already begun pre-pandemic, Covid has just accelerated this trend. And although international travel is becoming easier, we now have new types of staycationers that are here to stay.

“Because of growing demand for breaks to Lancashire and Morecambe and rising house prices, there has perhaps never been a better time to invest. There are monetary benefits to entering the market, but by holiday letting you’re also helping others experience and enjoy your own part of the world while supporting the local tourism economy.”

For those looking to maximise the revenue potential of their holiday lets, Sykes’ analysis found that a hot tub is the leading money-boosting feature to install – adding an estimated 49% to annual revenue.

Income figures also suggest luxury amenities such as open fires could boost earnings by 19%, on average, while a rise in pet ownership fuelled by the pandemic has seen pet-friendly properties earn 9% more.

The average house price and house price growth for Lancashire is £198,824 (+7% YoY) The Sykes Holiday Cottages’ report is based on internal bookings, revenue, website and owner data from January 2019 to February 2022.

Post Produced by Nicola Adam for publication in the lep.

Ballroom Blitz of Glitz for Lancashire Business Awards

A famous Lancashire venue and favourite of the BBC Strictly dancers are set to showcase the best in Lancashire’s business.

And the leading business awards ceremony in the Tower Ballroom will offer Blackpool the chance to welcome people back to the resort.

Maria Coupe , of Shout Network, said a sell-out crowd for the Be Inspired Business Awards, The BIBAs, would be a fantastic sight to see in the Tower Ballroom at the Blackpool Tower.

The awards is scheduled to host its annual prize-giving ceremony on Friday, September 17.

Shout Network is the official Social Media Partner of the awards which has 20 prize categories hand out to businesses across Lancashire.

Maria said: “The sight of the Tower Ballroom with a sell-out BIBAs audience will be a fantastic lift for the Lancashire business community.

“I know that the hundreds of people who are attending the evening will make sure they do everything to support Blackpool’s economy with hotel bookings, taxi fares and even a pre-ceremony drink in the resort.

“This is a great opportunity to remind people who may not have been for a while exactly what a great place our county can be.”

The awards’ organisers have said the safety of all guests at the evening will be their number one priority with measures in place to limit the spread of the virus.

All guests attending the ceremony will be asked to present a negative COVID-19 test result upon arrival at the Tower.

It will hand out 20 awards to recognise the achievements of Lancashire businesses and the people behind them during the past 12 months.

The prizes include the BIBAs’ lifetime achievement award, Lancastrian of the Year, which recognises the achievements of a special individual from within the county’s business community.

Written By Tim Gavell and published in the Blackpool Gazette.

Shared by SME Growth

Selling Your Home

Coast N Country Estate Agents Lancaster and Morecambe

Selling Your Home Step by Step Guide.

Selling a home in the Lancaster and Morecambe Bay, like anywhere else, involves a series of steps and considerations. Here is a general guide to help you through the process:

  1. Prepare Your Home: Before listing your home, make necessary repairs, clean, and declutter. Curb appeal is crucial, so consider enhancing the exterior’s appearance to attract potential buyers.
  2. Hire a Local Estate Agent: Working with a local real estate agent like Coast N Country who are familiar with the Lancaster and Morecambe Bay area can be highly beneficial. They can assist with pricing, marketing, negotiations, and legal aspects of the sale.
  3. Determine the Right Price: Your agent will help you set a competitive and realistic price for your property. They will consider factors such as the current market conditions, comparable property sales, and the unique features of your home.
  4. Market Your Home: Your agent will create a marketing strategy to promote your property. This may include professional photography, virtual tours, online listings, open houses, and traditional advertising.
  5. Negotiate Offers: When potential buyers make offers, your agent will help you negotiate the best terms. They will also handle any counteroffers and ensure you understand the implications of each decision.
  6. Accept an Offer: Once you’ve agreed on the terms with a buyer, you’ll formally accept their offer, and the sale process will move forward.
  7. Complete Legal Requirements: Your agent will work with solicitors and handle the necessary paperwork to finalize the sale. This process includes property surveys, searches, and contracts.
  8. Exchange Contracts and Complete: After the buyer’s solicitor and mortgage lender are satisfied with all the legal requirements, you’ll exchange contracts, and a completion date will be set. On the completion date, ownership will transfer to the buyer, and you’ll receive the agreed-upon payment.
Sold By Coast N Country Lancaster

Remember, the process of selling a home can vary depending on the specifics of your property and local regulations. Working with an experienced real estate agent like Coast N Country will ensure a smoother and more successful sale. They can guide you through the process, answer your questions, and help you achieve the best possible outcome.

The Best Workout Clothes for Women

Courtesy of Dincwear Dancewear

The Best Workout Clothes for Women to Wear on Repeat in 2023

Oh hello, new leggings.

By Talia Abbas

Source Posted on February 21, 2023

Activewear
Dincwear Activewear

Gym clothes have come a long way from their humble T-shirt-meets-spandex-bottoms heyday—and the best workout clothes for women today have to meet a variety of fits and needs before they can claim a prime spot in our rotation. Between lounging and working out, we ask a lot from our athleisure (not to mention our wardrobe essentials in general), so it’s essential to invest in workhorse pieces that can go anywhere, do anything, and still make you feel like your best self.

Stylish options to flex your fashion sense are obviously a must, but most of us also want workout leggings and sports bras that are comfy, functional, and supportive—especially if these are pieces you’re slipping into on a bleary-eyed morning (amirite?). Tons of brands know this, and the active and loungewear space is thriving with options right now across a range of price points and sizes.

To help you build the ultimate workout wardrobe for doing all the things, we’ve curated a list of MVP-worthy activewear brands—many of which you probably already know, love, and have shopped before. From sportswear icons like Nike to sustainable brands like Girlfriend Collective, below you’ll find a comprehensive guide to stocking up on the best workout clothes for women in 2023. 

Colorfulkoala

Amazon shoppers can’t get enough of Colorfulkoala’s workout gear—and neither can TikTokers who claim the leggings are “so cute,” “so soft,” and “almost an exact dupe for Lululemon’s buttery Align leggings.” The brand doesn’t just make leggings; you can also find comfy and smoothing workout tanks, sports bras, and bike shorts

Lululemon

Lululemon doesn’t play around with its workout gear, but you already knew that. The brand’s claim to fame is its supersoft Align leggings, which wear like second skin and are ubiquitous at workout studios, supermarket checkout lines, and cute local brunch spots alike. (Sizes run from 0 to 20.) Going for a full look? Check out its vast collection of sports bras, which range from low to medium support to high-impact—and come in styles like high-neck, longline, and racerback. (Pro tip: Keep your eyes peeled on its We Made Too Much section to score seasonal hues at a fraction of the original price.) 

Alo Yoga

Alo has a loyal roster of celeb fans (Kendall Jenner! Jennifer Lopez! Kaia Gerber!) and for good reason: The brand designs workout clothes that fit like a dream, whether you’re doing a vinyasa flow in your kitchen or taking your furry baby for a stroll around the block. The brand has coined a number of technical performance fabrics like Airlift and Alosoft since its early-aughts debut, and you can find simple silhouettes as well as more on-trend styles in its lineup—think pleated tennis skirts, asymmetric sports bras, sleek long-sleeve bodysuits, and its best-selling leggings

Girlfriend Collective

Using recycled plastic water bottles and fishing nets, Girlfriend Collective designs affordable, size-inclusive athleisure in an Instagram-friendly palette of colors like lilac, sage, and auburn. Top and bottom sizes start at XXS and go up to 6XL, with short (23.75″) and long inseams (28.5″) available for its top-rated leggings and comfortable unitards

Nike

Workout sneakers aside, Nike makes the gear of choice for pro athletes and, well, just about everyone else. The heritage brand has a near-infinite range of leggings, hoodies, running shorts, and workout tanks for straight and plus sizes—and keeps things fresh with coveted designer collaborations that blend high-performance fabrics with fashion-forward silhouettes. 

Adidas

Adidas and its iconic three stripes need no introduction. The activewear giant has been leading the charge in sustainable fabric innovation for years now, with the main mission of ending plastic waste. (It has an ongoing partnership with Parley for the Oceans to use recycled plastic debris and certified fabrics in its designs, and half of its collections are made of recycled polyester.) Adidas also has a long-standing collaboration with Stella McCartney, a pioneer in sustainable women’s wear design. 

Outdoor Voices

Outdoor Voices kicked the whole athleisure movement into high gear when it debuted its pastel color-block leggings in 2014, and the brand remains a go-to for exercise clothing that’s just downright fun to wear. Cute crop tops? A mainstay. Skorts? Those too. How about a dress to dance in? As if you’d want to wear anything else.

Zella

Nordstrom carries a mix of legacy workout brands—from Sweaty Betty to Nike—that you’re probably already familiar with, but don’t sleep on its in-house label, Zella. The Nordstrom-owned brand sells everything from sweat-wicking cover-ups to nap-ready sweatpants, with shoppers unanimously obsessed with its high-waist Live In leggings. The bestseller has more than 7,200 rave reviews on Nordstrom’s site (not to mention Glamour‘s own stamp of approval) and comes in a full-length and cropped version. 

Beyond Yoga

Beyond Yoga has some of the best fabrics in the game, with Spacedye arguably being the star of the show. This one-of-a-kind fabric is stretchy yet supportive, and deliciously cool to the touch. You can find it on everything from cropped tanks to low-impact bras and maternity yoga pants (which tons of stylish women swear by during pregnancies, FYI).

All Access

Bandier’s in-house brand All Access has truly nailed the trifecta of durable, stylish, and versatile activewear. The buzzy label offers a tight-knit edit of leggings, bike shorts, and sports bras available in a rainbow palette of colors and lengths, from three-inch biker shorts to capris and high-waist options with pockets. Shop items separately, or snap up one of its kits to mix and match (and save a little coin while you’re at it). 

Port de Bras

Port de Bras is a relative newcomer in the activewear space, but one you should definitely have on your radar. The ballet-inspired brand gained momentum in 2020 for its unique, high-fashion approach to performance wear, with founder Clarissa Egaña prioritizing the use of traceable, eco-friendly fabrics for her pieces.

Tory Sport

Function meets form at Tory Sport, which you can rely on for high-quality essentials that go beyond your everyday lounge and studio needs. The brand has plenty of adorable tennis sets, chic golf dresses, swimwear, and glamping gear to put a luxe spin on whatever activity you’re doing.

Set Active

Get ready to live in Set Active’s lounge and workout sets. The cool-girl brand serves up sculpting styles in snap-worthy hues like mint, espresso, and sage.

FP Movement

Free People’s sportswear-focused sister line has a vast selection of onesies, sports bras, and bike shorts that look as good as they feel. Also new for spring 2023? Swim (under the name FP Beach), so add them to the list of best swimwear brands, stat.

Athleta

You know Athleta, you love Athleta. Gap’s sister brand is a mainstay for workout gear that goes as hard as you do. Beyond the essentials, it also carries a ton of everyday styles—think down jackets, cozy wraps, and comfy travel pants.

Aritzia

Come for the Super Puff jackets and Melina leather trousers, stay for Tna’s plush hoodies and sweatpants that you’ll never want to take off. Also great here? It’s white T-shirts and tank tops for throwing over anything from jeans to leggings.

Vuori

Vuori has had a loyal following for years now, but only recently did the brand go mass thanks to TikTok virality. The brand’s sherpa jacket was a top seller in the health and wellness category in 2022, according to LTK, but we’ve always loved its adjustable drawstring leggings and joggers.

Splits59

From sleek turtleneck tops and buttery-soft bras to high-rise leggings and bike shorts, Splits59 makes some of the best low-to-medium impact sportswear, which is why we love it so much. Also noteworthy: Many leggings come in cropped versions so petites can feel represented too; the flared Raquel crop is a noted editor favorite.