Posted by Paul on September 23, 2009 – 11:46 pm
This winter tourism bosses in Wiltshire are hoping to encourage a new type of visitor to the county, especially a younger affluent crowd who would take an interest in ‘off the wall’ performances offered by the arts community.
Highlights for the forthcoming season include:
Is that a bolt in your neck? – This dark comedy follows three actors playing over 20 roles in a story about what happens when they all seek refuge in a big old house during a storm. The play is showing at The Arts Centre in Swindon on 2nd October 2009 and tickets are available for £10.
Calne Music & Arts Festival – from 2nd – 11th October 2009, the 35th annual Calne Music & Arts Festival begins, offering a range of performances, recitals and exhibitions. Events change daily with entry prices starting from as little as £2.
Arsenic and old lace – this black comedy comes to Salisbury Playhouse between 29th October – 21st November 2009. The play tells the story of two lovable maiden aunts whose charitable good deeds include entertaining gentlemen callers with elderberry wine with a difference. Seats are available from only £10 if you booked for the first five nights.
The way you look tonight – from the 10th December 2009 to 16th January 2010, enjoy an evening of musical celebration as Salisbury Playhouse dedicates a show to the songs of composer Jerome Kern. Songs include Smoke gets in your eyes, The way you look tonight and A fine romance.
A full list of Wiltshire’s music and arts venues, including details of forthcoming performances can be found here.
Posted by Paul on September 23, 2009 – 7:24 pm
It has emerged that Pope Benedict XVI is to visit the UK next year. It will be the first papal visit to the UK for more than 25 years, following that of Pope John Paul II back in May 1982. Details of the trip are yet to emerge but it is already being speculated that his visit might include Northern Ireland, something that was absent from his predecessor’s tour, when sectarian violence was more prevalent.
Posted by Paul on September 23, 2009 – 6:10 pm
Visitors to Exmoor between 2nd and 11th October 2009 will be able to experience a taste of the very best in local produce from this beautiful part of the West Country at the eighth Exmoor Food Festival. The tasty programme of around 40 events will include food fairs, farmers’ markets, tasting platters, themed evenings, farm visits and indulgent cream teas. Some events will take place every day throughout the festival, while others will be on specific days.
The festival kicks off on Friday morning at Minehead Farmers’ Market, while in the evening there’s a Caribbean themed supper at The Avenue Creamery, Minehead (£22.50 per person) or a four-course home-cooked dinner at the Yarn Market Hotel, Dunster celebrating local produce (£30pp).
Some highlights over the ten days include a pony trek through the beautiful Doone Valley returning to Cloud Farm for a cream tea overlooking Badgworthy stream on Saturday, 3rd October priced at £20pp; a hearty breakfast at Moorland Hall and self-guided walk to Dunkery Beacon, Exmoor’s highest point on Sunday 4th and 11th October (£6 adults and £4 children) and a nostalgic journey on the West Somerset steam railway with high tea at the new Turntable Café at Minehead station on 6th, 7th and 8th October.
Posted by Paul on September 23, 2009 – 10:35 am
Coinciding with the York Food & Drink Festival, English Heritage will this weekend return to the days of King Henry VIII with a display of the food and drink that the Tudor monarch would have had for his Royal breakfast. Discover some of the surprising secrets of Tudor cookery including just how much food King Henry and his entourage would have consumed. Prices: Adults £3.50 / Concessions £3.00 / Children £1.80 / Family Ticket £8.80. English Heritage Members: Free.
Posted by Jennifer on September 23, 2009 – 9:00 am
Today’s picture of the day is of Leighton Hall in Lancashire. The award winning Hall offers picturesque gardens and stunning grounds. It is home to the Lancashire family and guests can get an insight into its fascinating history. There is a children’s play area and a welcoming tea room.
Posted by Paul on September 22, 2009 – 1:04 pm
With prices from as little as £179 for a family of six, a half term break on a Haven holiday park works out at less than £30 per person. Haven say, ‘If you’re a typical ‘Mum and Dad with two kids’ family – bring along the grandparents – the accommodation will still cost the same!’
If you haven’t tried a caravan holiday home – or last stayed in a caravan when the water had to be collected from a standpipe – expect to be surprised. Today’s caravans have come on a long way in terms of design and facilities. Expect contemporary styling, a comfortable lounge area with colour TV or DVD player, a well-equipped kitchen (easy to cook for six – or make use of Haven’s restaurants, cafe-bars or take-away options), two or three bedrooms, separate shower and loo. Many top of the range ‘Prestige’ holiday homes even include ensuite facilities. There’s more than enough space to share with the grandparents.
Posted by Paul on September 22, 2009 – 1:01 pm
The Royal Air Force Museum is trialling audio tours at its London site, beginning in the Bomber Hall. The tours are delivered via the visitor’s mobile phone: he or she calls a number and then presses a sequence of keys for an exhibit. There is an introduction to the Bomber Hall and an entry for each aircraft.
The tour recordings are also available on the museum’s website so users can download them to their mobile device before the visit if they don’t want to use their call minutes for audio tours, but do want to hear them.
It’s hoped that the device offers huge potential to increase the visitor experience. There can be several recordings for each exhibit which can be ‘layered’ and pitched at different levels. Therefore it can act as an introduction for the newcomer, add fresh insights to a student or an in-depth view for the enthusiast.
Posted by Jennifer on September 22, 2009 – 9:00 am
Today’s picture of the day is of Dart Pleasure Craft. It operates twice daily between Totnes and Dartmouth in Devon. In the summer you can sail along the coast and see the seals.
Posted by Paul on September 21, 2009 – 10:58 pm
The first Padstow Arts Festival from 2nd to 4th October 2009 will celebratethe life and works of two former eminent Padstow residents, Sir Malcolm Arnold and Sir John Betjeman. Both were among the most vital and creative spirits in post-war Britain, with a real genius for engaging with their audiences.
The beautiful Cornish town of Padstow welcomes Festival participants including Cornish-born, international opera singer Benjamin Luxon, John McCabe, the prestigious British composer, the Salieri String Quartet and, to open the Festival, the Truro Cathedral Choir, celebrating the anniversaries of Mendelssohn, Purcell and Haydn and singing a rare choral work by Malcolm Arnold.
Posted by Paul on September 21, 2009 – 10:52 pm
Low-cost airport transfer coach operator, easyBus, will be the only direct public transport link from Gatwick’s North Terminal to London for the next seven months, when the airport’s terminal transfer transit is taken out of service for a major overhaul lasting well into the summer of 2010.
Passengers who might otherwise have used the rail service to London, which operates from the South Terminal building, can enjoy a massive fare saving too, if they take advantage of easyBus’ lowest online fare of £2, available to early bookers – a saving of nearly £15 on the rail fare. BAA Gatwick are quoting connecting times of 20 minutes for the replacement bus service to the South Terminal, so there is no real time disadvantage to passengers opting to take the easyBus instead of the so-called express rail option. Journeys can take less than an hour to London, though slightly longer times can be expected during busier periods.
The new inter-terminal transit system at Gatwick Airport is being installed as part of the airport’s £1 billion investment programme. From 28 September 2009 until May 2010, a replacement bus service will operate between Gatwick’s North and South Terminals. The service will run every three minutes during the day (04.00 to 18.00) and every six minutes at night.
