News that some of the North East's seaside communities are to benefit from a £5m national scheme to regenerate deprived costal areas should come as welcome news to businesses, but it will take more than money to rejuvenate ailing spots along our coastline...

The rich history of the UK gifts us as residents with some very eccentric and outdated laws that are, technically, still in place. You know the ones - the newspapers wheel them out every once in a while so we can all have a laugh - It's illegal to eat a mince pie on Christmas day, it's against the law to die in the houses of parliament, a pregnant woman can legally relieve herself anywhere she wants...

Wait, there's more... did you hear the one about the law that prevents a much-needed market from taking place, because it's possible to reach the proposed location from a neighbouring town by DONKEY RIDE?

Some may remember me as a rather cheeky Come Dine With Me contestant who cut a few corners to present a perfect banoffee pie (but still came last). Others will also recognise me as one of Sunderland's leading entrepreneurs, and director of Wylam Leisure, which owns some of Wearside's top bars and restaurants and employs over 240 people.

In this first posting on my new Journal blog, I intend to pull no punches in making my thoughts clear on the government's proposed introduction of minimum pricing on alcohol...