Posted by Paul on June 23, 2010 – 1:10 pm
Whilst the England football team might not be producing the level of World Cup performance expected, one family from Brazil has just increased its numbers in time to cheer on the samba-loving soccer kings. The family of pygmy marmosets at Lakes Aquarium has welcomed a new fluffy delivery in the form of a tiny little baby. Pygmy marmosets are the smallest monkeys in the world, so the new arrival is absolutely minute and estimated to weigh about one ounce.
The little baby has been christened Pele – not just because this is Brazil’s most famous soccer player, but also because it’s an anagram of peel – something the marmosets love to do with their fruit and their dextrous, tiny hands. As it is too soon to know whether this is a boy or a girl marmoset, the name chosen could be suitable for either gender.
Pele’s Mum and Dad first arrived in the rainforest zone of the global-themed attraction in 2008 and gave birth to their first litter in September 2008. Pele is their third baby and Dad is proudly carrying his baby around on his back, before handing over to Mum when it is time for some suckling.
Pele’s tiny little face, gorgeous eyes and furry, ball-like body have all the girls swooning and children are ecstatic when they spot the little cutie on his father’s back. The marmosets might only measure a few centimetres in length, not counting their tail, but they certainly make a massive impact.
Posted by Paul on June 23, 2010 – 11:33 am
Matthew Somerville has created an impressive Google Maps mash-up that shows a live train map for the London Underground thanks to data made available by the UK governement. An impressive use of the Web, we think, and it’s something that would be nice to see on a national level if National Rail would entertain opening their data to everyone.
Useful links:
Hotels in London
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Posted by Paul on June 22, 2010 – 12:08 am
The 2010 Exmoor Food Festival, which will run over ten days from Saturday 2nd to Sunday 10th October 2010, provides a showcase for local produce from a variety of independent food and drink producers based in the scenic Exmoor area. Visitors will be able to experience a taste of the very best in local produce from this beautiful part of the West Country.
A tasty programme of around 50 events will include food fairs, farmers’ markets, tasting platters, themed evenings, cookery courses, farm visits and indulgent cream teas. Some events will take place every day throughout the festival, while others will be on specific days. Local inns and eateries will also be offering special Exmoor Breakfasts and food festival menus over the ten days.
Since the festival dates coincide with the North Devon & Exmoor Walking Festival (1st – 4th October) there will also be several food themed walks. Other special events include a celebration of apple day and planting an edible hedge, both around Porlock; pumpkin carving sessions in Minehead ready for Halloween at the end of the month; chocolate making demonstrations in Dunster; a tour of the Victorian kitchens at Dunster Castle and mountain bike rides to help fit foodies work off the calories.
Events the first weekend will take place mainly around Lynton and Lynmouth on the North Devon side of Exmoor, while the second weekend will see emphasis on the Minehead, Dunster and Porlock region in West Somerset.
Click here for hotels in Minehead or hotels in Dunster.
Posted by Paul on June 21, 2010 – 11:43 pm
A stylish new brochure and website, bringing together some of the best-known and finest accommodation in the Cotswolds under one collective banner, is likely to tempt even more discerning travellers to the area. The collection featured in the lavish, new 28-page Cotswolds Finest Hotels brochure introduces the visitor to a choice of privately owned and individually managed accommodation, where the overriding emphasis is on a philosophy of good service and great quality.
Members of the Cotswolds Finest Hotels group include some of the best-known names in the industry, including: the multi-award winning Calcot Manor, near Tetbury; Lords of the Manor in Upper Slaughter, with its Michelin-star restaurant; The Feathers Hotel, in Woodstock; Thornbury Castle in south Gloucestershire; and Three Ways House in Mickleton – the ‘home’ of the famous Pudding Club, which will also be celebrating its 25th anniversary with its guests throughout 2010.
New entries for 2010, meanwhile, include:
*Barnsley House, which offers contemporary design in a traditional manor house set within Rosemary Verey’s world famous historic garden;
*Bibury Court, a 16th century Jacobean mansion boasting an eclectic mix of traditional period features and cutting edge design;
*The Village Pub in Barnsley, near Cirencester, with its beautifully restored dining rooms and a focus on modern British food, fine ales and wines;
*Manor House Hotel in Moreton-in-Marsh, with its award winning 2-rosette Mulberry Restaurant;
*The Hotel in Cheltenham, set in a lovingly restored Georgian mansion;
*And one of the many true ‘finds’ of The Cotswolds – The Cotswolds Plough in Clanfied, set in a former 17th century wool merchant’s house.
Providing, in effect, an “insider’s guide” to the best of The Cotswolds, the new website and brochure gives a description of each one the 22 hotels, inns, country houses, and castles in the group. Prices per room start from £95.
Posted by Paul on June 21, 2010 – 3:01 pm
From 24th to 27th June 2010, the Highland Showgrounds at Ingliston, Edinburgh will be holding the 170th Royal Highland Show. This celebration of Scottish farming, food and rural life is sure to attract foodies from near and far. Over 100 Scottish food and drink exhibitors will attend alongside gourmet suppliers from across the UK. There will also be cookery demonstrations and produce competitions with plenty of opportunities to sample along the way. The Royal Highland is one of Scotland’s major events with an attendance in 2009 of 176,522 people!
Useful links:
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Posted by Paul on June 21, 2010 – 9:05 am
Returning to Bristol for its third year, the Bristol Wine & Food Fair promises to be even bigger and better in 2010, with some great new features for visitors to enjoy. The Wine & Food Tasting Lecture Theatre will be one of the main attractions, with some of the industry’s leading wine experts sharing their knowledge and love of wine. Food lovers can also attend the Chef’s Master Class Theatre. Free to all visitors, the theatre will be hosted by some of the top chefs in the South West. New for this year is the “Bristol Young Chef 2010” competition, organised in partnership with Bordeaux Quay Cookery School. As well as fine wines there will also be the Food & Drink Pavilion and the Food & Drink Producers Market. This year, visitors will be offered the extra delight of an International Dining Area showcasing different cuisine from around the world. This 3 day wine and food extravaganza runs from Friday 2nd to Sunday 4th July 2010.
Posted by Paul on June 21, 2010 – 8:44 am
Immerse yourself in Asian culture, colour and cuisine with a unique Taste of Asia experience break in Bradford, hosted by The Midland Hotel and featuring celebrity chef Gita Mistry, with cultural tours escorted by Yarnspinners Tours.
Book a weekend away and discover Asian culture, with exciting activities from cookery demonstrations, insider culinary tips and award winning cuisine, to exclusive cultural tours and vibrant Bollywood entertainment. There’s also time to explore Bradford’s free city centre attractions, from the National Media Museum and Bradford Movie Trail, to the Bradford Industrial Museum and heritage of Little Germany.
And don’t forget Bradford’s many towns, which are just a short train ride away. From David Hockney’s 1853 Gallery at Saltaire UNESCO World Heritage Site, to the cobbled streets of picturesque Haworth, home to the Bronte Parsonage Museum and the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway (KWVR), with its Railway Children connections, to the ‘Walkers are Welcome’ countryside of Ilkley.
Your host for the weekend is the iconic 90-bedroom Midland Hotel, Bradford, which is one of the oldest and most recognised landmarks of the city. Only 100 metres from the Bradford Forster Square train station, it offers some of the finest Victorian interiors in the city and a great base to explore the diverse attractions of the region.
The two-night break which includes accommodation at The Midland Hotel, Taste of Asia activities and all meals (except Saturday lunch) can be booked for just £195.00 per person, with an optional Executive Room upgrade for only £25.00 per person.
For ideas on what to see and do across Bradford see Visit Bradford’s website or see our own extensive details on Bradford attractions.
Posted by Paul on June 19, 2010 – 5:05 pm
Food fans looking to catch a great deal on accommodation during Pembrokeshire Fish Week can look to luxury self-catering cottage resort Celtic Haven, which is offering short breaks during the festival from as little as £149 per person. The price is based on a three or four-night stay and also includes a two-course evening meal and a 25-minute spa treatment.
Pembrokeshire Fish Week this year runs from the 26th June – 4th July 2010, offering visitors the opportunity to sample marine delights from across the county. Now in its 11th year, the festival regularly attracts up to 25,000 visitors and hosts activities and events throughout the week including cookery demonstrations, master classes and tastings with celebrity chefs, fishing and boat trips and children’s workshops.
There will also be the opportunity to sample and buy locally caught fish and shellfish, such as crab, lobster, mackerel and turbot, fresh from the Pembrokeshire coast.
Posted by Paul on June 18, 2010 – 2:24 pm
A stylish new eco style self-catering property has opened in Warton Mill, Devizes, Wiltshire offering high quality accommodation that is friendly to the environment. Willow Tree Barn officially opened its doors to the public this spring and has immediately won four gold stars for its superior quality accommodation and commitment to the environment. The contemporary styled barn can sleep up to six people in three bedrooms with prices starting from just £110 per night for the entire property.
The owners are focused on energy saving without compromising comfort and have used a number of methods to transfer water and sun into heat. These include:
• A water sourced heat pump which powers the under-floor heating, providing heat via ceramic tiles throughout
• Pond mat located in Semington Brook which as the water flows across it sends energy to the heat pump
• Solar panels to provide hot water during the summer months
• An immersion heater is also provided for additional use when necessary
Other measures such as the provision of eco cleaning and washing products are provided for guests use to ensure that the renovation and creation of this innovative new holiday accommodation does not impact on the environment. Other features at the property include a wet room, mood lighting and herb garden for visitors use. Furthermore all visitors are presented with a homemade cake and bottle of wine on arrival.
Posted by Paul on June 18, 2010 – 9:11 am
Brunel’s ss Great Britain celebrates the 40th anniversary of the epic salvage of the ss Great Britain from the Falkland Islands and return to Bristol in 1970. Celebrations start with a new exhibition from 17th July 2010 (which will run to 2011), ‘The Incredible Journey’. Turn back the clocks and listen to the memories of those who rescued the ship from the Falkland Islands and witnessed her return, and view the stunning new animated film. Families become ‘salvage heroes’ and discover the story behind the world’s most ambitious ship rescue in the ‘The Incredible Journey’ family trail. And on 17th and 17th July 2010 there are the 1970 home-coming celebrations. Keep your eyes peeled for the free fridge magnets featuring Mr Brunel celebrating in a suitably 1970s-style John Travolta pose! Meet Britain’s greatest engineer Mr Brunel (24th July to 31st August 2010, except Mondays). Step back in time to ride the authentic steam carousel for the Bristol Harbour Festival (30th July and 1st August 2010).
