The voice of business in the Tees region | 103
/ HARTLEPOOL NEWS
The Tees Valley mayor and combined
authority have taken control of an annual
devolved budget of around £29.5m to
deliver adult education provision across
the region.
#TalkingUpTeesside #TalkingUpTeesValley
ACQUISITION WILL BRING
DOUBLE-DIGIT GROWTH
Black Olive owners James
Pennington (left) and Mike
Racz have invested £60,000
in refurbishing their popular
Hartlepool Marina bar.
Black Olive celebrates £60,000 makeover
F
or a truly memorable wining and dining
experience, Black Olive at the Marina,
Hartlepool is hard to beat.
The luxurious champagne cocktail bar/
restaurant changed hands a little over two
years ago and re-launched this summer under
the care and guidance of enthusiastic owners
James (JP) Pennington and Mike Racz.
Hiring an upmarket interior designer, the
pair pumped £60,000 into a lovingly thought
out refurb.
The result is that the new look Black
Olive oozes comfort and luxury and rivals
any city bar with its lush interior, boutique
seating in classy shades of mustard and
blue, plus a feature old school whisky bar as
a centrepiece.
“We wanted to create a bar that is highly
£15M INVESTMENT
COMES TO THE BOIL
A giant boiler has arrived under police
escort to be installed at Venator’s
Greatham site as part of a multi-million
investment programme.
The boiler was transported from
Barton, near Darlington, to Greatham in
Hartlepool and installed at the Venator
site.
This major investment, totalling over
£15m, highlights Venator’s commitment
to manufacturing at the Greatham site
and brings benefits to the local, regional
and national economy.
It’s one of four new boilers to be
installed at Venator’s Greatham site on
Tees Road.
Instagram-able,” explains JP.
“A place where the core focus is to sit
down, relax, enjoy – and take great photos.
“Hartlepool Marina is an upmarket space
already, but we want to continue to attract
more of the right clientele which is not only
good for us but for the local area too.
“To get to the bar you need to drive and
leave your car; take a taxi or walk. We are a
drinking experience and we want people to
stay for the night and really enjoy their time
with us.”
As well as a cocktail list to rival that of
established bars such as The Alchemist and
The Botanist, Black Olive serves a mouth-
watering selection of food from breakfast
until 6pm; refreshing draught beer, luxurious
wines and premier spirits.
Medical manufacturer Hart Biologicals
has been acquired by a new investor
who aims to welcome in a new chapter
for the business.
Alexander Ebinger, former head of
research and development, has been
appointed as the Hartlepool company’s
new managing director, replacing founder
of the company Alby Pattison. Thomas
Ebinger and Chris de Pijper will act as
consultants for Alexander.
The company, which employs around
50 people at its site in Hartlepool’s
Rivergreen Business Centre, will now
look to increase its sales and presence
in developing markets in Africa, Asia and
South America.
Able underlines world leader
status as giant rig arrives
Able UK executive chairman Peter
Stephenson has revealed that the Tees
company was selected to dismantle the giant
25,000 tonne Brent Bravo oil rig platform
ahead of 130 competitors.
The Brent Bravo, which stands 410ft tall
and 230ft wide, arrived on Teesside this
summer, ahead of a huge dismantling and
recycling process.
Mr Stephenson, who was also founder
of Able UK, described the successful arrival
of the platform at Able Seaton Port as a
demonstration that the firm is “a world leader
in the marine decommissioning industry”.
Major investment in Hartlepool
film and media opportunities
An exciting new creative industries
development programme is being
kick-started with backing from the Tees
Valley mayor and Combined Authority,
in partnership with top agency Northern
Film + Media.
Tees Valley Screen is being set up
to provide support to individuals and
businesses in the region who work, or are
looking to enhance their work, within film,
television and moving imagery.
Regular networking events, training,
and access to industry experts will be
held as part of the scheme, providing
opportunities for funding.
It is anticipated that the initiative will be
run from Hartlepool’s new BIS centre.