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Monthly Archives: June 2010

The UK’s top 10 favourite seaside resorts

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Posted by Paul on June 18, 2010 – 12:01 am
Filed under Miscellaneous

Blackpool is officially the nation’s all-time favourite seaside resort, according to new research from consumer champion Which? Holiday. The North-West resort has been voted number one in an independent survey of over 4,000 members of the general public. Fans love the special atmosphere in the town, as well as the spectacular annual illuminations which were described by one respondent as “simply breathtaking”.

Brighton comes a close second, with the promenade, pier and its proximity to open countryside receiving high praise. Whitby, Bournemouth and Scarborough complete the top five. Bournemouth’s beaches are its main draw, while the other two have been singled out for their scenery and surrounding countryside.

40% of UK adults took a trip to the seaside in 2009, but this is set to increase in 2010.  20% of adults surveyed by Which? Holiday said they will be more likely to visit a UK seaside resort in 2010 than in 2009.

Rochelle Turner, Head of Research for Which? Holiday, says:  “Millions of Brits will be taking holidays at home this year, and it’s certainly one way to ensure you don’t fall victim to volcanic ash.  While Blackpool may not be able to guarantee the weather, with its host of theatres, fairgrounds and every conceivable promenade entertainment, it’s easy to see why the granddaddy of seaside towns still manages to draw the crowds.”

The Which? Holiday Top Ten seaside resorts are as follows:

1. Blackpool
2. Brighton
3. Whitby
4. Bournemouth
5. Scarborough
6. Newquay
7. Torquay
8. St Ives
9. Skegness
10. Great Yarmouth

WWT’s Castle Espie Wetland Centre

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Posted by Paul on June 17, 2010 – 11:28 pm
Filed under Attractions

Voted Northern Ireland’s best view, Castle Espie Wetland Centre is also the best place to see the 35,000 light bellied brent geese that make their heroic journey from Canada to Strangford Lough each winter. And with a three year renovation to restore the local habitat to its former glory, encourage greater numbers of birds to visit, and reconnect Castle Espie and Strangford Lough to their rich history almost complete, there hasn’t been a better time to visit this magical wildlife reserve.

But Castle Espie offers much more than just wildlife, there is also an incredible archaeological history just waiting to be discovered, much of which was unearthed during the recent renovation. This includes: piles of oyster shells left by Mesolithic hunter gatherers over 9,000 years ago; a towering lime kiln that transformed Castle Espie’s unique red and pink limestone into the famous Castle Espie bricks used to build much of the surrounding area; and four different species of nautiloid, distant cousins of the modern giant squid that grew up to 3m long and left a permanent impression in Castle Espie’s layers of limestone as long cone-shaped, fossilised shells.

For Dads who like birds as much as football!

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Posted by Paul on June 17, 2010 – 10:20 am
Filed under Attractions

Take a break from the footie this weekend with a visit to WWT Wetland Centres. World Cup fever is well and truly upon us, and by Father’s Day, England will already have two matches under their belt, and Dad will undoubtedly have no fingernails left, as the nation prepares for the crucial clash with Slovenia three days later. So prize Dad out of his armchair and out into the fresh air for the day to see some birds… and other wildlife of course.

Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT) centres provide the perfect escape from the trials and tribulations of the football and you can wallow in the peace and tranquility of the outdoors with no vuvuzelas to disturb your peace (except for the odd duck quacking)!

So why not visit your local WWT Wetland Centre this weekend to enjoy a whole host of activities and events for the entire family. At WWT Welney Wetland Centre, for example, you can explore the hidden reaches of the reserve by canoe. Led by a professional & experienced canoeist together with their Reserve Manager you can see the habitats and hide-aways of some of their more elusive wildlife on their level.

Hastings Seafood & Wine Festival 2010

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Posted by Paul on June 17, 2010 – 9:30 am
Filed under Events

Organisers of the fifth annual Hastings Seafood & Wine Festival are delighted to announce a celebrity addition to the line up for this year’s September event. Tom Kime, celebrity chef and author, is the latest exciting addition to the festival programme.Tom is a strong supporter of the Hastings Marine Stewardship Council accredited fishing fleet and works hard to promote the use of sustainably caught fish. Sponsored by local chef and restaurateur, Paul Webbe of Webbe’s at Rockanore, Tom will demonstrate recipes from his latest book ‘Fish Tales’ using locally caught fish. On Sunday, members of the audience will be invited to have a go at filleting and cooking under the expert tuition of Paul Webbe. Recipe cards will be available so that even those most wary of fish cookery will come away inspired to try it at home.  This year’s event is set to attract an estimated 40,000 visitors over the weekend so it’s advisable to book your accommodation early for this popular date on the calendar.

St. Paul’s Afrikan and Caribbean Carnival, Bristol

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Posted by Paul on June 17, 2010 – 9:09 am
Filed under Events

This much-loved community carnival – to be held on 3rd July 2010 – promises more music, dance and colourful costumes than ever before. The story of St. Paul’s Afrikan and Caribbean Carnival is one of a community’s success. The event began in the late sixties in St. Werburghs and now many local schools take part alongside a growing number of community groups over the neighbourhood of St. Paul’s in Bristol. The Carnival is a great day out for people of all generations and a major West Country attraction. It aims to promote cultural & community development in St. Paul’s. The Carnival is a glittering pageant of costumes, cultures and Mas/Floats, each reflecting powerful cultural traditions from around the world. It attracts an average of 60,000 people each year and has grown to become nationally recognised. Alongside the famous street parade there are stalls offering a taste of foods from different continents. Expect a lively, colourful and music-filled celebration.

10 top tips for Summer camping

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Posted by Paul on June 17, 2010 – 9:04 am
Filed under Accommodation

Haven Holidays, who have 23 touring parks around the UK have compiled their top ten tips for summer camping holidays with a family.

1. Choose your site carefully. Are you looking for a real back to nature holiday with only basic facilities or somewhere that combines all the fun of camping with plenty on offer by way of activities, entertainment, food, drink and shops?

2. Pack for comfort. Travelling light is all very well for backpackers but if you’re camping with kids they’ll enjoy it more if it’s comfortable. Bring along airbeds and blankets.

3. Don’t forget cooking implements. Cooking over a camping stove is good fun – but you’ll still need at least a tin opener, a sharp knife, a spatula and a wooden spoon. Turning bacon in frying pan with plastic cutlery just doesn’t work!

4. Pack torches as well as lanterns. Kids love the torches that you wind up and you won’t need to worry about batteries. If they wake up in the middle of the night it’s useful for them to have a torch close at hand.

5. Travel cots are much easier for toddlers even if they use a bed at home. It helps to contain them at night and means they are not sleeping directly on the ground. And don’t forget a portable potty!

6. Allow for some meals to be eaten out. Parks that have good value for money restaurants or take away options on hand put less pressure on parents to cook every meal and make it more of a holiday for the whole family.

7. Be realistic about packing wet weather gear – bring macs, wellies and jumpers. And choose a park that has something for the kids to do if the weather is not that great.

8. Fly a flag, or a windmill outside your tent so your kids can find their way back easily. Whilst finding your tent on a campsite is a doddle compared to spotting your tent at a festival, nevertheless it’s good to have a marker so children know exactly where you are.

9. Remember matches, a water carrier and a washing up bowl. A fold up table and chairs makes meal-times easier.

10. Involve your children in the decision-making process about where to go. If you choose somewhere that they’ll enjoy it will make the holiday more fun for everyone.

Haven Holidays offer camping pitches from as little as £8 per night for two people – based on Lakeland Holiday park near the Lake District, or £10 per night for two people at Wild Duck, near the Norfolk Broads or Perran Sands on the North Coast of Cornwall. All prices based on 21st June 2010.

London Dungeon celebrates 35th Birthday with a Summer of Scare!

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Posted by Paul on June 17, 2010 – 8:33 am
Filed under Attractions

To celebrate its 35th birthday The London Dungeon is declaring a Summer of Scare with a 35 day fest of fear-injected fun. Over this period the scare experts will be treating guests to some special birthday surprises – with a Dungeon’s twist. Play Pass the Putrid Parcel with a plague infested peasant, try and stay deathly still in their Musi-Kill Statues game or see how low you can go in Limb-o-less; the back-breaking dance game – just don’t let the Dungeon’s skeleton pole fall on you!! Plus added anniversary scares, gory giveaways and on the Dungeon’s actual birthday on 2 August, the first 35 guests at the doors will receive free entry.

Bloody brilliant for 35 years and still the original scare attraction in the UK, The London Dungeon promises a whole host of frightening fun bringing centuries of history’s horrible bits to life. New for 2010 is Bloody Mary: Killer Queen, featuring one of England’s most feared rulers – Mary Tudor, the deadliest daughter of Henry VIII. With thirteen other twisted experiences from Jack the Ripper to Sweeney Todd – PLUS two chilling rides and live actors intent on scaring anyone in their path, there’s plenty of blood, gore and more to endure!

Situated in the dark heart of the Capital, just a stone’s throw away from the River Thames, The London Dungeon is open seven days a week. Tickets are £22.50 for adults, £16.50 for children with birthday packages also available.

Have a cracking time in South Devon

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Posted by Paul on June 17, 2010 – 6:35 am
Filed under Eating & Drinking, Events

South Devon crab is the focus for a major new national food tourism campaign recently launched by the Visit South Devon tourism partnership and the celebrity seafood chef and award-winning restaurateur Mitch Tonks. The “Have a cracking time in South Devon” campaign will encourage visitors from across the UK to come to South Devon to enjoy one of most delicious yet undervalued great natural local resources, South Devon crab.

Two thousand tonnes of crab are landed in the South Devon Bay area every year yet more than sixty percent of the crab is exported to France and Spain. South Devon crab is believed to be the best in the world and its stocks are plentiful and sustainably fished.

Mitch Tonks launched the “Have a cracking time in South Devon” campaign from his renowned seafood restaurant The Seahorse in Dartmouth. Mitch believes that South Devon crab is unique and that it will be a great hit with visitors to the area: “South Devon crab is without doubt the finest in the world- an unsung hero and a joy to eat. If I could get everyone that comes to South Devon to share the experience of eating freshly boiled crabmeat with mayonnaise I know they would absolutely love it and that would be my job done!”

Renowned Teignmouth- based Chef Tim Bouget who runs the Ode restaurant in Shaldon is also backing the campaign.

Brown crabs and spider crabs are fished in pots in South Devon but the majority that are landed are brown crab. This season starts in May and brown crabs are at their best during the autumn months when they are at their biggest.  The Visit South Devon tourism partnership will be promoting South Devon crab at a number of events across the summer and whole day of crab workshops and events will be given over to South Devon crab at the Dartmouth Food Festival from 20th – 24th October 2010.

Escape the World Cup with Barceló UK

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Posted by Paul on June 17, 2010 – 12:09 am
Filed under Accommodation

Sick of hearing about injuries, penalties and WAGS? Barceló UK has the perfect way to escape from the commotion of the World Cup this summer. Enjoy a football-free two night break at any of the group’s 21 four star UK hotels from just £149.50 B&B per person, with Champagne and chocolates on arrival and dinner on the first night. Guests will also be treated to lunch on the second day of their stay and either a mini pedicure, mini manicure, mini facial or back, neck and shoulder massage at the fabulous spa.

Ladies can indulge in a relaxing girlie getaway to make the World Cup seem like just a distant memory. This fantastic spa package includes a one night stay at any Barceló UK hotel with a mini spa treatment and a delicious dinner for just £89 per person per night.

The hotel group is also offering golf breaks for men who are more Tiger Woods than John Terry. Aspiring golfers can stay at the stunning Barceló Shrigley Hall Hotel, Golf and Country Club in Cheshire from just £99 B&B per person per night with a complimentary round of golf at the hotel’s 18-hole championship golf course. Guests will also be treated to dinner at the hotel’s award winning Montague’s restaurant and a bottle of beer on arrival.

Barceló UK has 21 UK hotels ranging from traditional country and coastal retreats to vibrant town and city getaways from Scotland to Torquay.  Prices are based on two people sharing a twin or double room. See website for terms and conditions.

A good omen for England in the World Cup?

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Posted by Paul on June 16, 2010 – 4:11 pm
Filed under Miscellaneous

A Mediaeval find made in a sandstone wall in Coventry bears an uncanny resemblance to the England football team’s famous ‘three lions’ crest.  It was discovered just recently by Caroline Rann, a member of Warwickshire County Council’s archaeology projects group, who said “This has been hidden for hundreds of years and for it to appear now has to be a sign that England will go all the way in the World Cup”. Let’s hope she’s right!  The item is still being assessed and catalogued but isn’t thought to be valuable.