LIFESTYLE
Tees
Lifestyle
BEN HOUCHEN
It caused a ‘political earthquake’ when Conservative candidate
Ben Houchen was voted Tees Valley’s first Mayor by residents of
Middlesbrough, Stockton, Redcar and Cleveland, Hartlepool and
Darlington in May. Amid the dramatic backdrop of HMS Trincomalee
at Hartlepool Marina, Mayor Houchen talks exclusively to Tees Life
co-editor Dave Allan about life on Teesside...
PIC TUR E S BY M A RT I N WA LK E R
TEESSIDE LIFE
The restaurants I love to eat in are… first of all
Muse in Yarm. I used to be a councillor for Yarm,
I live there and it’s a beautiful restaurant, so I
tend to go with my wife quite a lot. I also like the
Brasserie at Hudson Quay and Central Park in
Middlesbrough, and a little further afield I enjoy
the Crathorne Arms. We also enjoy TGI Fridays at
Teesside Park and The Keys in Yarm.
The meal I most enjoy is…the Parmo! I have plans
to get designated status for the Parmo.
My favourite tipple is…a good red wine. I’m not a
wine connoisseur, but I do enjoy a nice, light red.
The stores I like to shop in are…gadget-type,
techy shops. I try to avoid clothes shopping as
much as possible.
I spend too much money on…food. My wife and I
tend to go out quite a lot. We’re both so busy, by the
time we get in that we can’t be bothered to cook.
One place on Teesside I’ve not yet visited which
I’d like to… is the Transporter Bridge. I’ve never
been on it so I should really take that opportunity
while I’m Mayor!
My perfect night in would involve…a takeaway
pizza and a film with my wife.
My perfect night out would involve…meeting up
with friends for a few drinks and a nice meal in a
place that isn’t particularly loud, and then end up
in Yarm at about midnight for a final pint in the
Black Bull.
26
All hands on deck – we spoke to new Tees Valley
Mayor Ben Houchen on board the famous HMS
Trincomalee at Hartlepool Marina.
LIFE’S LOVES
A book I love is…The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas,
I’d recommend it to anyone. I’ve also read the whole series of
Game of Thrones but never watched the programme.
TV programmes I love are…political stuff like The Thick of It and
House of Cards, but Homeland is my thing at the moment.
The songs I love are… from my university days, so bands like
Arctic Monkeys and Maximo Park.
A holiday destination I love is…anywhere off the beaten track
with historical significance is always an attraction. I hate lying by a
beach or a pool.