‘Doncaster is a great place to be entertained’

Ann, who moved to the borough in 2002 with her husband John and son Simon from a previous marriage, has worked at Doncaster-based MyMedic as a business support for nearly three years.

She has, however, had various jobs throughout her life including an estate agent, personal assistant and police community support officer, to name a few.

These are her favourite places in Doncaster.

Doncaster Racecourse

My husband and I love going the to the races, especially the St Leger Festival. It’s one of those times when you can really get dressed up and enjoy all the racecourse has to offer.

We also attend some of the many music evenings that take place there, so far we have been lucky enough to have seen Madness, Tom Jones, Scouting for Girls and Spandau Ballet.

The New Woolmarket

At the Woolmarket there is an excellent range of food and drink stalls and several retail units. It’s a great place to relax and enjoy the summer evenings, sitting outside enjoying a glass of your favourite tipple, whilst listening to the live music playing.

Walking

There are some lovely riverside and nature walks right on the doorstep. One of my favourites is a walk along the River Don from Doncaster to Conisborough.

It’s a really nice section of the river, with weirs, nature reserves, bridges and locks to see along the way. The walk also includes a visit to Sprotborough Falls. This is a great place to stop for a rest and enjoy the rushing water and visit The Boat Inn for a quick refreshment.

Entertainment

The Dome is one of the region’s premier sports, leisure and entertainment destinations. I love a good comedy show and a visit to The Dome for their live comedy nights is a winner.

You can make a full night of it by booking a meal in their restaurant as part of an entertainment package. The development of the new theatre, Cast, in Waterdale in the town centre has been a great addition to the entertainment in Doncaster, bringing in different genres of shows such as theatre, dance and comedy. We have recently seen Rhod Gilbert at The Dome and Frank Skinner and David Baddiel at Cast.

The Frenchgate Shopping Centre

Look no further for all your shopping needs than the Frenchgate Centre. Here you have more than 120 stores on your doorstep including Debenhams, Next, Boots and many more. There are also lots of places to eat and relax once your shopping is done. In addition, most of the shopping centre is undercover, so it’s a good place to shop when the weather is bad too.

Woodfield Squash Club

I am a member of a local squash club and gym, which is situated about half a mile from where I live. I play in a squash league, where the leagues change on a monthly basis, so you get to play different people of different standards.

I have met many new friends from being a member of this club and feel part of a local community. I also attend a fitness class twice a week and me and my husband also attend the gym together at weekends.

Yorkshire Wildlife Park

With nearly 400 animals and 70 different species of animal, the Yorkshire Wildlife Park in Branton is a fantastic place to experience a truly breathtaking walk through a wildlife adventure. Some of the animals they house there are lions, leopards, polar bears and meerkats.

One the most exotic animals I have ever seen there is the giant anteater, which is nothing like I had expected. It is a shaggy looking mammal, measuring up to about 2m in length and 7ft in height.

A further attraction there is live events on a Friday and Saturday evening, where you can dance the night away and enjoy food from an all-you-can-eat buffet with live cooking stations.

I would say this is a must-visit place if you are coming to spend some time in the Yorkshire area.

Surrounding areas

Doncaster is a very central place and has a very good rail link to places like York, Sheffield, Manchester, Leeds and even London, which is great for visiting my Simon, who now lives in London.

We have been to York several times which is good for a weekend away. We also visit Sheffield and Leeds on a regular basis for a day out shopping and visiting the many bars and restaurants they have to offer.