Plymouth Official Visitor Guide 2012
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Plym
Shopping
Industrial Estate
Ferry The historic quayside rd - Barbican Royal William Ya and cobbled streets of the Barbican, little changed from Elizabethan times, are the jewel in Plymouth’s crown. Home to a wide variety of galleries, cafes, bars and restaurants the Barbican is a must for every visitor to Plymouth.
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City Gateways
F2 Plymouth City Museum
South West Coastal Path
G3 City Market H3 Plymouth Arts Centre
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Public/Disabled Toilets
B4 Scott Memorial
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H4 Smeaton’s Tower
Tourist Information Mount Batten Watersports Centre
Mount Batten Peninsula
Charles Cross Police Station PW
Cattewater
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C5 School The Royal Naval Visitor Centre
Oreston
G5 Tinside Lido PW Open-air Pool H2 Peninsula Arts Plymouth University
Mount Batten Tower
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Clovelly Bay Yacht Haven Marina
Barn Pool
F4 National Marine Aquarium
H4 Theatre Royal
3 The Barbican Firestone Bay
G4 Mayflower Steps
H4 Plymouth Gin Distillery
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LA CO MB E R of Interest Places OA D
4 I6 Mount Edgcumbe
Historic Quarter
Parks & Recreational Areas
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Royal Plymouth Corinthian Yacht Club
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Prince Key Rock
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Business Park
Barbican Leisure Park
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Tinside Lido
West Hoe Pier
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Mount Edgcumbe House & CountryPark
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Devils Point
Friary Retail Park
East / A38 Exeter 44 Bristol 121 London 238 A379 Kingsbridge
St Jude’s
Coxside
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Life Boat Station
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The Narrows
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Ferry Terminal (Passenger)
Recreation Ground
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Recreation Ground Library
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Outer Basin
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River Tamar
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Tothill Park
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Barbican
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Charles Church
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Mayflower Marina
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Ferry Terminal
Plymouth is an easy city to get to and travel around once you are here. A selection of train, road and air routes link us nationally. Once here the city is well laid out with good road connections, and the centre is also compact enough to walk from city to sea in a few minutes.
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Main Post Office R E ET Bretonside EX Bus Station
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Brittany Ferries Passenger Terminal
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Continental Ferry Port
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Mount Wise
the centre of Devon and Cornwall
Mount Gould
St Andrew’s ET HOW STREET TIN L A Church Civic PW Guildhall H Centre I M W PL LOOE STREET Prysten E ST PW House Arts Combined Sutton Plymouth Council Y ’S C R Centre Courts Pavilions Harbour The China Courts House MAN Leisure Athenaeum Marina L L P R I N C E S S House I S T R E E T T PALACE STREET S ET R Centre Reel Theatre S T RE L L D ESC E Merchants PW Cinema A A N O T XH House Museum YR NOTTE STREET VAU LBA Plymouth Office PW Uni MIL Sutton T New Custom Gin School Harbour PMS Ark Royal G RAV CRESCENT AVE Distillery PARADE House Anchor YWCA Old Custom House Fish SOUTHS ALFRED ST IDE ST Market RE PO National C I T Marine D A E T L A I C ROAD EAS Plymouth DEL R Plymouth T Mayflower OAD Register HOE Elizabethan Aquarium Marine Office Garden R Millbay OAD Laboratory LAM CASTL Elizabethan Boer War School EHouse Park H ST Pav Lock & Pedestrian 27 Footway RN Barbican AC E Mayflower TERR Sensory LAMTheatre Elliot Steps ER K L Garden B Terrace WA RAF CLIFF Queen Anne’s Battery Drake Armada The & Seasports Centre ROA D 27 Barbican Children’s Belvedere Landing PIE QAB Smeaton’s R West HoeAmusements The Tower Royal Stage Citadel PW Hoe AL ST Park Memorial TR D REE Mayflower N T Deadman’s Garden West Hoe E Royal Western Yacht CE ROA Sailing Club Marines HO Bay Fun Park Club of England
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Ferry Port Entrance
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School
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Cremyll Ferry Terminal (Passenger)
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Beaumont Park
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Stonehouse
Stonehouse Pool
Pannier Market
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City Jigsaw Garden
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School
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Cricket Ground
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City Museum & Art Gallery
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Frankfurt Gate
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VILLE ST Roland Levinsky Building
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Hospital
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Welcome to Plymouth
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Scott Memorial
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Devonport
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With swathes of green open PW views space and stunning across Plymouth Sound, the Hoe will never fail to take your breath away. The city’s School playground and home to Sir Francis Drake’s famous bowling green, this is the place to relax, unwind and enjoy.
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Drake’s Place Gardens
University
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The city’s central shopping Freedom district boasts wide, open, tree- Fields lined boulevards and arguably the best retail offer in the region. You will find international brands alongside unique boutiques and independent traders in a vibrant retail environment that regularly plays host to events, exhibitions and markets.
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Devonport Guildhall
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Plymouth Station
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Devonport Park
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Fire Station
School
To Tamar Bridge, Roborough, Dartmoor & Life Centre (Central Park)
This former Royal Navy victualling yard, set on its School own peninsula, has been brought back to life in recent years. The yard now houses galleries, bars, apartments and restaurants - including River Cottage - at what is fast Victoria becoming one of the city’s Park most desirable addresses.
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Torpoint Ferry to Cornwall Liskeard 20 Lands End D 87
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www.plymouth.ac.uk
To Santander & Roscoff
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Plymouth University started out as a School of Navigation in 1862 and 2012 marks our 150th anniversary. This heritage is our foundation and we continue to grow and develop. Today we are a leading university, with a world class reputation – a university very much on the ascendancy, transforming lives through education with enterprise at the heart of everything we do. Throughout 2012, we’ll celebrate our special anniversary with a series of events and activities open to all. We will show how Plymouth University is making a difference, how what we do here matters and how our approach to partnership is helping create a lasting legacy for our community. We will glance back and look forward.
Join us in celebrating our anniversary during this very special year – a year in which Plymouth University is proud to be one of just 15 universities in the country to be awarded the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher Education.
www.plymouth.ac.uk/150
NMA Plymouth Visitor Guide 2012 repro.indd 1
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Summer Accommodation on campus in Plymouth 21st June – 3rd Sept 2012 n
Prices start from £20 per night
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City Centre accommodation for families, groups and individuals
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Self catering and room only rates, with breakfast available as an optional extra
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No single room supplements or minimum stay
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Free internet access and complimentary gym membership during your stay
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A great place to stay to enjoy Plymouth’s summer festival
Contact us: Email: summeraccommodation@plymouth.ac.uk www.plymouth.ac.uk/summeraccommodation Telephone: 01752 588599 4 Positively Plymouth www.visitplymouth.co.uk
“
It was great. Just what I needed, a comfortable room, private bathroom, low price, in city centre, all the people very helpful, perfect. Mr G B Nieto booked via UniversityRooms.co.uk
”
Contents 7
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Hello and Welcome From Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall
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Plymouth City with past and presence
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Getting to us from the sea
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Plymouth. The Original
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What makes the city unique
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Counter Culture
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Nightlife
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Entertainment Central
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A City With Taste Want to eat out in the uk’s new gourmet hotspot?
Explore The Great Outdoors
Family Friendly and Fun! The Good Hotel Guide Sponsored by the Duke of Cornwall Hotel
Harbour Info
Helpful Info And how to get here
Photograph: Bao Wang
Salute Our Armed Forces
The Good Food Guide Sponsored by the Treasury
26
Stepping Ashore
48 Hours In Plymouth The sights you just have to see
Cover Image: Andy Fox
The Official Visitor Guide is brought to you by the Plymouth Waterfront Partnership. Proudly celebrating the beauty, heritage and vibrancy of our unique waterfront city.
Designed by: Fuel Communications www.fuelcommunications.com
Copywriting and editing: DCA Public Relations www.dca-pr.co.uk
Š The Plymouth Waterfront Partnership. All rights reserved. Material may not be copied, reprinted, reproduced or transmitted in any form or in part without the written consent of the Plymouth Waterfront Partnership. Every care has been taken to ensure the information contained in this publication is correct at time of printing: however Plymouth Waterfront Partnership and/or the editors cannot be held responsible for any errors, omissions or actions being taken on reliance on it. Inclusion does not necessarily imply approval or recommendation. Please check prices and amenities with individual establishments before you visit. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily represent the views or policies of Plymouth Waterfront Partnership or the Editor.
www.visitplymouth.co.uk Positively Plymouth 5
ad180x270_Layout 1 22/12/2011 07:47 Page 1
6 Positively Plymouth www.visitplymouth.co.uk
Photograph: Bao Wang
Hello
and welcome!
As a relative newcomer to Plymouth, I am delighted to welcome you to the city and encourage you to explore its many undiscovered gems. When we first decided we were going to open a new River Cottage Canteen & Deli, I have to admit, Plymouth was not on our list of potential locations. Though I had been to the city occasionally for book signings, and enjoyed a very warm welcome from the Plymothians I met, I had never really had a proper look around. However one visit to the city’s Royal William Yard, with its magnificent Grade 1 Listed architecture, spectacular waterfront views, world class maritime history and food heritage and I had a whole new outlook on the city. Plymouth is, as I am discovering, right at the heart of some of the UK’s most beautiful scenery: the natural amphitheatre of Plymouth Sound, bleak and beautiful
Dartmoor, Cornwall just over the Tamar Bridge and the lovely South Hams to the East. As a city, it’s a community with a big vision: to be one of Europe’s most vibrant waterfront cities. And I have been struck by how much stimulating activity is already here: The Theatre Royal, the new Life Centre, The National Marine Aquarium, renowned 20th Century architecture and the historic Elizabethan Barbican area. It’s also home to a leading University known for its enterprise and marine technology expertise. But what really excites our young team at the River Cottage Canteen & Deli is Plymouth’s remarkably rich food offer: we have access to some of the best fish in the UK, the Tamar Valley is packed with apples, cherries and wonderful market garden produce, and we have discovered some top notch local organic meat and cheese suppliers.
So if, like me, you’ve never thought about exploring Plymouth, come down and take a look. There’s plenty to see and do - and I can promise you a very good lunch along the way!
Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall
www.visitplymouth.co.uk Positively Plymouth 7
Plymouth City with Past and Presence With a rich maritime heritage and a hand in some of Britain’s most famous events, a city as steeped in history as Plymouth has many stories to tell. From 11th Century trade routes to Elizabethan merchants, Naval prowess to Art Deco decadence and Georgian elegance to 1950s post-war optimism, delve into Plymouth’s past and you will be delighted, terrified, moved and enchanted. A settlement since the Bronze age, Plymouth has grown in prominence and size and is now a vibrant waterfront city, with a distinctly European feel. A major trading post in the Roman empire, site of Sir Francis Drake’s victory over the Spanish Armada, the departure point for the Mayflower carrying the Pilgrim Fathers in search of the new world, an important shipping port during the Industrial Revolution and home to the Royal Navy since the 17th Century - Plymouth really has seen it all!
Photograph: Mark Tremain
Our city encircled by moor and by sea has also seen some of the world’s most important explorers set sail from our shores including Scott of the Antarctic, Captain James Cook, Charles Darwin and those two global circumnavigators named Francis: Drake and Chichester.
8 Positively Plymouth www.visitplymouth.co.uk
Plymouth has also nurtured some gamechanging pioneers and revolutionaries including Nancy Astor – the first woman to take a seat in Parliament – and innovator William Cookworthy. Our stunning natural environment and local charm have inspired a wealth of home grown artists, including the world famous Sir Joshua Reynolds – Founder and first president of the Royal Academy, the controversial and eccentric Robert Lenkiewicz, George Passmore of Turner Prize winning duo Gilbert and George and Beryl Cook whose characterful cartoons show such love and affection for the city she called home. If you want to experience Plymouth through the ages, look no further than the city’s architecture, with examples in almost every style. The Elizabethan Barbican is home to over 100 listed buildings as well as the largest concentration of cobbled streets in Britain, little-altered since the time of Sir Francis Drake. The Royal William Yard, built in the mid 19th century is an impressive and imposing example of Naval prowess. Originally a victualling yard and
store, it is now open to the public and home to some of the city’s best eateries including Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s River Cottage Canteen and Deli. Georgian architecture fans won’t be disappointed either, with Saltram House - owned by the National Trust - boasting original Robert Adam designed interiors and regency style landscaped lawns. The 20th Century saw dramatic change to Plymouth due to bombing raids in World War II which razed the city centre to the ground and created a blank canvas for the creation of the striking modernist architecture you will find in the central shopping district today. Even with this evocative heritage, Plymouth is not a city that is happy to stand still and we are still making waves today. Plymouth University is a leading light in marine science, engineering and research and combined with the city’s growing reputation as a centre for creativity, culture and enterprise means that in another 100 years time Plymouth will have an even greater story to tell.
Photograph: ACD&C
“Heroic and beautiful” Post-war Plymouth During World War II Plymouth was subjected to a full-scale Blitz by the German air force. There were 59 raids in total and the entire city centre was flattened. Miraculously, however, the city’s crown jewel – the historic Elizabethan Barbican – escaped relatively unharmed. Rebuilding of the city centre began in 1947. Designed by the architect and planner Sir Patrick Abercrombie, Plymouth city centre is now the most impressive and complete
In Plymouth city centre today there are dozens of handsome buildings in the 1950s style, many of them listed by English Heritage.
Jeremy Gould, Emeritus Professor of Architecture at Plymouth University, gives us the must see 1950s gems: •
•
Plymouth Pannier Market (now Plymouth City Market): This gets the top spot because of its continued use, public accessibility, and soaring blue concrete vaults. The National Provincial Bank (now Royal Bank of Scotland): Second place for its audacity and originality, its extraordinary portico, its blue mosaic (which reflects a shimmering light at night), and its careful use of rich materials (granite, Portland stone, mosaic, copper).
example of post-war architecture anywhere in the country. The new city was on a grand scale, influenced by the plans for New Delhi and Canberra and by the 19th century Beaux-Arts planning that had re-formed Paris. Constructed in handsome white Portland stone, the new city centre was planned on a grid, entirely different from the original city and in accordance with principles of social
•
•
The Guildhall: Its reconstruction shows that conservation wasn’t a dirty word in the 1950s. It’s the best interior outside London and beautifully made. The integration of good applied art (the glass, the sculpture and murals) show that art and architecture went naturally together. Dingles (now House of Fraser): Thomas Tait was one of the great British architects of the 20th century and his work is still not well enough known. This department store was his last major work – he died in 1954 – and is a beautiful essay in the use of stone (Portland and Ham Hill) and a fine piece of civic design.
democracy. Abercrombie and a group of well known architects created spacious and airy boulevards with impressive buildings of stone, brick and glass. Described recently as “heroic and beautiful” by Kevin McCloud - presenter of TV’s Grand Designs and Honorary Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects - the Plymouth built in the 1950s style, is a symbol of hope, pride, resilience and optimism for a brighter future.
Did you know: 1. The largest concentration of cobbles in Britain can be found in Plymouth’s Barbican.
2. Plymouth was the first place in Britain to have a municipal water supply, after Sir Francis Drake ordered the building of a leat (like a tiny canal) from Dartmoor.
3. The Beatles filmed part of the Magical Mystery tour in Plymouth – look out for prints of The Beatles on Plymouth Hoe in the galleries on the Barbican.
4. Native American Princess Pocahontas arrived in Plymouth with her husband John Rolfe before starting her new life as Lady Rebecca Rolfe.
5. Before air travel many American movie stars sailed into Plymouth when visiting the UK. Celebrities on our shores included Walt Disney, Laurel and Hardy and Charlie Chaplin.
Plymouth - there are more than 50 others but only one original There are more than 50 other Plymouths around the world, including Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA: the colony founded in 1620 by the the Pilgrim Fathers, who sailed from here in the Mayflower. There are other Plymouths in the USA, Canada, the Caribbean and New Zealand, but ours is the original!
Download the free walking trail of Plymouth from www.20thcenturycity.org.uk and discover our fantastic city for yourself. www.visitplymouth.co.uk Positively Plymouth 9
Stepping Ashore The stunning natural amphitheatre of Plymouth Sound is the perfect setting for exciting sailing. Hosting the America’s Cup World Series and Rolex Fastnet Race last year is testament to the incredible sailing experience you’ll find here Sutton Harbour Marina, Mayflower Marina, Queen Anne’s Battery and Plymouth Yacht Haven offer some of the best berthing facilities in the country and Plymouth boasts the second highest number of Gold Anchor marinas anywhere in the UK.
Sutton Harbour Marina Discover Sutton Harbour Marina in the heart of the historic Barbican area of Plymouth. Accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week, Sutton Harbour enjoys a superb sheltered location in all weathers, tucked safely away behind lock gates. On arrival, let our experienced team personally welcome you to your berth.
Once you have settled in, explore the vibrant and historic quayside with its wide range of speciality shops, Mediterranean-style café culture, bars and restaurants, and all the amenities of Plymouth city centre just a few minutes stroll away. You can be sure of exceptional customer service at all times and our unique location, combined with the high-quality facilities you would expect from a 5 Gold Anchor marina,
make Sutton Harbour an excellent base to explore Plymouth and the stunning cruising waters that can be found in the South West.
For more information: Sutton Harbour Marina, VHF Ch 12 Web: www.suttonharbourmarina.com Email: marina@sutton-harbour.co.uk Tel: 01752 204702
Mayflower Marina
Photograph: Trevor Burrows
Close to the city centre yet overlooking the picturesque Mount Edgcumbe Country Park, Mayflower Marina enjoys an enviable location at the entrance to the River Tamar. The marina is open 24/7 and visitors are most welcome. Short stay visitors who wish to enjoy our excellent restaurant or use the services provided by our other tenants are permitted a period of free short stay berthing (please enquire for details).
10 Positively Plymouth www.visitplymouth.co.uk
Mayflower Marina has nearly 400 fully serviced berths and offers comprehensive facilities that include free WiFi, an awardwinning restaurant, café/bar, shop, launderette, luxury bathrooms, fuel berth, ample secure parking and all the boat maintenance services one would expect from a first class marina. The area surrounding Mayflower Marina is steeped in maritime history and the park just behind the marina, with an open air
gym, offers the opportunity to stretch legs or walk the dog! For history buffs, 2012 is the centenary of Captain Scott’s fated voyage to the South Pole, and just behind Mayflower Marina on Mount Wise is Scott’s memorial.
For more information: Mayflower Marina, VHF Ch 80 Web: www.mayflowermarina.co.uk Email: info@mayflowermarina.co.uk Tel: 01752 556633
Plymouth is steeped in maritime history and is a centre of yachting excellence.
Queen Anne’s Battery Offering outstanding facilities for yachtsmen and motor cruisers alike, Queen Anne’s Battery is a 5 Gold Anchor marina with 235 permanent berths for boats up to 18 metres and a visitors’ area with alongside pontoon berthing. Located in the centre of Plymouth, Queen Anne’s Battery has been fully renovated for the new season and is home to the Royal Western Yacht Club. Queen Anne’s Battery has played host to the start and finish of many international
yacht races. Close to the historic Barbican and city centre, the marina provides an ideal departure point for those wanting to cruise around Plymouth Sound or further afield along the Devon and Cornish coastlines.
available seven days a week and facilities include a shop selling essential items, as well as a café, bar and restaurant, access to WiFi, chandlery, bath and shower facilities, launderette, a dive shop and school.
As well as providing excellent berthing and marina services, Queen Anne’s Battery has a boatyard and an array of on-site marine companies - perfect for when you need to carry out maintenance work or repairs on your boat. Fuel (petrol and diesel) is
For more information: Queen Anne’s Battery, VHF Ch 80 Web: www.mdlmarinas.co.uk/mdl-queen- annes-battery Tel: 01752 671142
Plymouth Yacht Haven This 5 Gold Anchor marina offers sheltered berthing, comprehensive facilities and exceptional 24-hour service, just minutes from the open water of Plymouth Sound. Plymouth Yacht Haven is set against a peaceful backdrop of Devon hills, the brightly coloured cottages of Turnchapel village and the historic Mount Batten peninsula. Deep water throughout the marina allows the freedom at all states of tide for 450 vessels, accommodates boats of up to 50 metres in length, and a ferry runs every half hour to the shops and restaurants of the historic Barbican. For visitors to Plymouth Yacht Haven, the experienced team will be on hand to assist you 24 hours a day, with round the clock
security, access to facilities and on-thewater diesel, free showers and car parking, a laundry facility, free WiFi throughout the marina, weather forecasts and local information, as well as the Bridge Bar and Restaurant offering fine dining, breathtaking views and a warm, welcoming atmosphere. There is also a boatyard with deep water dock and storage ashore, a wide range of boat repair services, and a well stocked chandlery.
For more information:
Navigation The Queen’s Harbour Master’s website has some really useful information including notices to mariners and the water events diary which can be found at www.qhm.mod.uk/plymouth You can also find a guide to Plymouth’s waterways for small craft at www.qhm.mod.uk/plymouth/ leisure/guide
Plymouth Yacht Haven, VHF Ch 80 Web: www.yachthavens.com/plymouth Email: Plymouth@yachthavens.com Tel: 01752 404231
www.visitplymouth.co.uk Positively Plymouth 11
What to do and where to go Once you have dropped anchor and found your land legs, there is so much to see and do in Plymouth and further afield - you will be spoilt for choice. Using it as a base, moor up in any one of the marinas highlighted and you are just minutes away from the Hoe, Citadel and city centre, all so close to the water’s edge. Plymouth has many boutique shops and big name brands and is well renowned for its vibrant history and culture. Within minutes you can get to local attractions including the National Marine Aquarium, Ski Slope and Snowboard Centre, Drake Circus shopping centre, the Theatre Royal and Pavilions, or the galleries and restaurants of Royal William Yard.
The historic Barbican is home to the Plymouth Gin Distillery and you can discover dozens of places to enjoy a bite to eat or drink with waterfront bars, restaurants and pubs in plentiful supply. Having exhausted all that the city has to offer, why not escape and explore the cruising waters around the Sound, and there are also the rivers Tamar and Yealm right on your doorstep. If you are into scuba diving, Plymouth and its surrounding waters are rich with special places to go under water. You can find the artificial reef HMS Scylla just outside the Sound and not far from there, the James Egan Layne. There are plenty of dive clubs and charter boats that can take you and your buddy out to explore!
Back on dry land, and if walking is more your thing, then Plymouth is the place to start out from. The South West Coast Path takes in the waterfront walkway, where art is used to highlight the city’s history and heritage. From here, you can make your way on the Cremyll ferry and reach Kingsand and Cawsand or maybe walk out to Jennycliff, Bovisand or Wembury Point. More information can be found at www.southwestcoastpath.com. Cyclists are well served by the National Cycle Network www.sustrans.org.uk – route 27, the Devon coast-to-coast, runs right past Queen Anne’s Battery Marina and you can follow the route right up the Plym Valley and beyond.
Anchorages Just a stone’s throw from the city, but you will feel as if you are a million miles away, Plymouth and its surrounding waters offer some stunning naturally sheltered anchorages for you to enjoy. Whether you are looking to drop anchor and enjoy a lazy afternoon or spend a couple of nights in peace and tranquillity, you can’t go far wrong with stop-offs such as Barn Pool, Dandy Hole and spots further up the River Tamar - Devon and Cornwall’s natural border.
Photograph: MDL Marinas
You can find Barn Pool nestled under Mount Edgcumbe and surrounded by Drake’s Island and Devils Point. Once you’ve stepped ashore
12 Positively Plymouth www.visitplymouth.co.uk
you are in the beautiful Mount Edgcumbe Country Park where you can enjoy the house, formal gardens, Orangery restaurant and nearby pub, The Edgcumbe Arms. Up the River Lynher (also known as St Germans River) you will find the deep anchorage at Dandy Hole. A beautiful and often deserted area, it allows many species to thrive including the kingfisher, otter, dipper and black-tailed godwit. Great for wildlife lovers and definitely one to remember!
Designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the River Tamar is rich in history and beauty and is one of the most picturesque places to visit in the whole of the West Country. Kick back, relax and enjoy the scenery and the wildlife around you. While away the hours, watch herons swoop down over the water and take in the breath taking views. For more ideas, inspiration and information, visit the cruising and anchorage pages on the Royal Yachting Association’s website www.rya.org.uk/cruising/anchorage/pages/ default.aspx
Photograph: Ricardo Pinto
Events on the Water Every year, Plymouth plays host to a whole range of exhilarating and visually stunning sailing events. 2012 celebrates the 25th anniversary of the Plymouth Classic Boat Rally taking place 27-30 July, the Port of Plymouth Regatta happens 21-29 July and the
Marine City Festival from 08 -16 September. For other events on the water during 2012, visit www.visitplymouth.co.uk
French Visitors If you are visiting from France, we would like to extend a very warm welcome to Plymouth. We hope that you have a thoroughly enjoyable stay in the city and a fantastic time while you are here.
The city enjoys a special relationship and long-established links with France – it was first twinned with Brest on the north western coast of Brittany in 1963. The two cities share their historical heritage and common interests. There are daily ferry crossings between Plymouth and Roscoff with Brittany Ferries. www.brittanyferries.com
If you are a French national and experience any problems during your time here, the Consul Honoraire à Plymouth is Alain Sibiril, based at the Millbay Docks Ferry Port in Plymouth. He can be contacted on 07774 164145 or by email a.sibiril@mesguen.co.uk
Visiteurs francophones Nous tenons à exprimer une très chaleureuse bienvenue à Plymouth pour tous nos amis outre-manche. Nous espérons que vous passerez un moment très agréable dans notre ville et un séjour mémorable pendant votre visite.
La ville jouit d’une relation spéciale avec la France et tient depuis longtemps des liens importants - il a été jumelée avec Brest sur la côte nord ouest de la Bretagne en 1963. Les deux villes partagent un patrimoine historique et des intérêts communs. Il y a des traversées quotiens en ferry entre Plymouth et Roscoff avec Brittany Ferries www.brittanyferries.com.
séjour, le consul honoraire est Alain Sibiril, qui se trouve aux Millbay docks à Plymouth. Vous pouvez le contacter par téléphone sur 07774 164145 ou par email: a.sibiril@mesguen.co.uk
Si vous êtes de nationalité francaise et vous rencontrez des problemes lors de votre
www.visitplymouth.co.uk Positively Plymouth 13
Plymouth
The Original
With its dazzling waterfront, stunning natural harbour and proud maritime history, Plymouth is the UK’s Original Marine City
14 Positively Plymouth www.visitplymouth.co.uk
Photograph: Robert Pittman
Plymouth holds a very special place in history. It is the place where Sir Francis Drake played bowls before defeating the Spanish Armada; the point of emigration for the Mayflower, its Pilgrims and countless others setting sail for America; where Darwin set sail on the Beagle and birthplace of Scott the polar explorer. It is the city of discovery. We are incredibly proud of our rich maritime heritage, but Plymouth is not a city that lives in the past and today our lively port on the edge of the Atlantic has a distinctly European feel. This comes from our marinas, restaurants, galleries, seafront bars and historic buildings, and from the strong modernist architecture that lines Armada Way, the city’s central boulevard. Of course we’ve also got an impressive natural setting. From Plymouth Hoe the sight of boats, yachts and naval vessels on Plymouth Sound is truly inspiring. The views to the south across Plymouth’s natural harbour to the Atlantic Ocean beyond, and then northwards to Dartmoor, make you want to follow all the vantage points along the Waterfront or even get out on the water for a whole new perspective.
Young people from across the world come to study and work in Plymouth giving the city a contemporary urban buzz, whilst reinforcing Plymouth’s reputation as the UK’s marine city. To round it off we are the regional capital for culture – with events, internationally recognised theatres, galleries and performing arts providing a great cultural experience to add to the laid-back lifestyle. Plymouth boasts one of the best summer events programmes in the UK. In 2012 this will be bigger and better than ever as we welcome the Olympic torch on the first night of its journey to London, commemorate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, host the National Armed Forces Week celebration, mark the Cultural Olympiad with a huge mass participation dance event, wow thousands
of spectators with the British Fireworks Championships, and celebrate Plymouth’s link to the sea with the Marine City Festival. Add to this a reputation for outstanding food and drink – chefs such as Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, Chris and James Tanner and soon Gary Rhodes all making Plymouth home to their restaurants – and you have a city destination like no other. Whether you want to be inspired by history, immerse yourself in culture, feast on fantastic food and drink or simply chill out and watch the world go by, you will discover the Plymouth for you.
www.visitplymouth.co.uk Positively Plymouth 15
Photograph: Plymouth City Centre
Counter Culture Plymouth is a great place for a spot of retail therapy, with many brands you won’t find elsewhere in Devon and Cornwall As well as boasting all the top high street brands, Plymouth has a fantastic range of cute boutiques, quirky independent shops and local traders’ markets which guarantee a truly unique shopping experience.
While you’re there, consider tucking into some of the eateries down that way, which include everything from traditional Greek fare to cakes and pastries, fresh pasta and Asian noodles, or you can simply enjoy a cup of tea in one of the city’s many cafés.
Plymouth is the perfect size city for shopping, it’s big enough to pull in the big brand names, but small enough that everything is in easy walking distance – although there are plenty of great cafés and restaurants if you need to take a break!
If it’s boutique clothing you’re looking for, try Ebrington Street, which has a fantastic array of outlets where you can buy anything from army surplus to vintage clothes, skatewear to evening gowns and you can even have your own clothes altered and customised.
In the West End of the city you’ll find Plymouth’s Independent Quarter, home to over a hundred stores run by independent retailers, where you’ll be able to buy ecoclothing, world foods, unique gifts, local beers, beautiful bags, hand-crafted toys, fancy dress or even treat yourself to a Garra Rufa fish pedicure.
16 Positively Plymouth www.visitplymouth.co.uk
Mayflower Street is Plymouth’s Life and Style area, with The Armada Centre, boutiques, jewellers, salons and the Somerville Gallery for fine art. Folk music star Seth Lakeman, originally from just outside Plymouth, is a big fan of Vibes Music, an independent music store on Mayflower Street.
Why not also head down to The Barbican and its range of independent shops and galleries where you’re sure to find a great range of unigue gifts to take home. The Royal William Yard, accessible by water taxi from the Barbican as well as by bus, car and on foot from the city centre, is also home to some lovely artisan producers. From popup art and craft markets to vegetarian cafés serving tasty treats and established galleries, the Royal William Yard is an emerging destination in the city and well worth a visit. Need to buy a present for your loved one, but stuck for ideas? The Plymouth Gift Guru can help! Just tweet @PlymGiftGuru with your dilemma and they’ll reply with some top tips of where to go in Plymouth to find the perfect present. For more information about shopping and events in Plymouth city centre, visit www.shopplymouth.co.uk – Plymouth’s brand new online guide to shopping in the city, where you’ll find all the latest offers from retailers and up to date news on what’s going on in the city centre.
Shopping Centre If it’s big high street brands, quality independent shops and great food you are after, all comfortably undercover, then Drake Circus shopping mall, right in the heart of Plymouth, makes a great day out. There are more than 70 shops in one building, where you’ll find major retailers and some of the biggest stores in the West Country.
From Marks & Spencer to Zara, Waterstone’s to Build A Bear Workshop and H&M to Hotel Chocolat, there’s something for everyone. The centre’s car park, with over 1200 parking spaces including bays for disabled drivers and parent and baby, boasts a Park Mark safety award. If you are staying in Plymouth, you can park your car overnight, safely and securely, at a special reduced rate.
Drake Circus toilets have won the Loo of the Year Award for four years in a row. There are baby changing facilities and the only Changing Places facilities for disabled customers in the South West. Drake Circus is committed to community, value for money and service, so look out for news about events and special offers on the centre’s website, www.drakecircus.com.
Independent shops Your shopping list of great independent shops: Plymouth City Market - Fresh local produce, speciality goods and unique gifts
Somerville Art Gallery - Fine art
Jama Uneek - Fancy dress and dancewear
Beaux Cadeaux - Gifts and home items
Robins and Moore - Beautiful handmade jewellery and repairs
Roots Clothing - Environmentally friendly clothing
Michael Spiers - Exquisite jewellers, with a comprehensive watch gallery
Havanna’s Specialist Clinic - Spa and Beauty Treatments
Home - Kath Kidston and quirky retro homeware
Moor and More Beer - Local ales Lawson’s - Essentials for home and living
Soft Soles Foot Spa - Garra Rufa fish pedicure spa
Uncle Buck’s Vintage Emporium – Retro clothes, hats and accessories
Whoopee Toys - Traditional and modern children’s fun
Foot Solutions - Footwear and chiropody for comfy feet
Kaya Gallery - Fine Art
“ I’ve been shopping in Vibes Music on Mayflower Street for years. I’ve always bought strings from there and make a point of going in every time I’m back home to stock up on all my essentials.” Seth Lakeman - Folk Music Star
www.visitplymouth.co.uk Positively Plymouth 17
Drake Circus Styling Plymouth, the South West and its Visitors If you are visiting the South West, there’s no need to leave your sense of style at home thanks to Drake Circus – the biggest under cover shopping centre in the South West and found in Plymouth’s bustling city centre. Drake Circus is home to great fashion brands, from Marks & Spencer, Next and Primark to Monsoon, Wallis, Coast, Cult, Topshop/Top Man and H&M - there’s truly something for every fashion-conscious visitor at Drake Circus. For those looking for adventure in the area’s superb natural environment, Drake Circus has a number of stores offering great looks for outdoor activities. Animal, Billabong, Cotswold Outdoor, Mountain Warehouse and Saltrock all have stylish and practical fashions for the great outdoors. If you are looking for gifts to take home with you (or for yourself!) Drake Circus boasts some stunning jewellery stores, from one of the South West’s most successful jewellery businesses, family-owned Drake’s Fine Jewellers, to Fraser Hart, Storm, Swarovski, Inspire, the Blue Wing Gallery and Pandora – the ideal places for some inspired and impromptu purchases. There are other great places for gifts too. Treat the chocaholic in your life at Hotel Chocolat, and what child (both big and small!) could resist a cute offering from Build-A-Bear Workshop.
If a refreshment break is needed, why not take a sumptuous coffee break at Starbucks, BB’s, Marks & Spencer, Juice Moose or Café Curva (which also provides home cooked hot and cold meals)? If you have a sweet tooth, then visit Hosking’s Sweet Shop which sells all those oldfashioned sweeties that remind us of our childhoods. For those on a self-catering break, don’t forget that Boots has everything you need for a sunburn and illness-free holiday, while Marks & Spencer in Drake Circus has one of its biggest food halls in the area. Drake Circus is a light, modern shopping centre with fantastic facilities and a wide range of cafés and eateries – all under cover. The centre boasts an award-winning 1300-space car park on-site which is safe, convenient and easily accessible. All the shops and services in Drake Circus are welcoming and convenient and open seven days a week, 9.00am to 6.00pm except Thursday, when the centre is open until 8.00pm, and Sunday when it is open from 10.30am to 4.30pm – just the thing for a day planned for shopping. For information about all the stores and services in Drake Circus, and for opening times and details about special events, please visit the Drake Circus website at www.drakecircus.com, follow us on Twitter @drakecircusplym, or find us on Facebook.
Nightlife When the sun goes down Plymouth still offers plenty to see and do The cobbled streets of the Barbican come alive in the evening. Pleasure seekers can head inside to bijou bars and cool, slick cocktail lounges, or make the most of long summer evenings at the alfresco tables that pop up outside almost every watering hole along the harbour, creating a European vibe. Revellers pour out onto the historic quayside to a soundtrack of blues, jazz and acoustic from the live music bars, while party animals seek out disco, electro and rock in the nearby nightclubs. For a touch of the eccentric seek out the B-Bar at the Barbican Theatre where a mix of stand-up comedy, live music, salsa dancing and delicious Thai Food come together in a haze of red velvet opulence. For a more contemporary tipple head to Thirst on Vauxhall Street, one of the city’s newest bars, or The Treasury, just off Royal Parade, where the cocktail list is as long as your arm and mixed with flair before your eyes.
If you want to dance till dawn there are plenty of options. Annabel’s Cabaret on Vauxhall Street caters for a mixed crowd with live music, burlesque dancers and DJs. If you want to take your party outside try View2, with a large terrace right next to the water it is the perfect place to make the most of Plymouth’s stunning waterfront location. Fancy an authentic G&T? Head to the beautiful Refectory Bar at the Plymouth Gin Distillery where our world famous tipple is made. If you prefer the larger national night spots then Plymouth caters for you too with Revolution, Oceana, Flares, Reflex, Lloyd’s and Walkabout.
As a thriving university city there are also plenty of underground clubs catering to every possible musical taste from garage to trip-hop and rock to R’n’B. Head to Ride Café on Tavistock Place, neighbouring bars Cuba, Air and Fire Fly just off North Hill. For an alternative night out Plymouth’s Art Centre and the city centre’s Reel Cinema offer a great range of movies from mainstream Hollywood blockbusters to independent art house and foreign films and the quirky Barbican Theatre for cutting edge live theatre, music and dance.
Whether you want to party all night or pop out for a Plymouth and tonic beside the gently lapping waters of the historic harbour, we have the nightlife for you…let the good times roll!
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www.visitplymouth.co.uk Positively Plymouth 19
Entertainment Central As the cultural centre of Devon and Cornwall there is always something to enjoy in Plymouth, from amazing art to world class theatre and brilliant music to fabulous festivals. Plymouth is a city packed with cultural gems and interesting things to see and do. The more you look, the more you’ll find. Here’s just some of what’s on offer:
Celebrate an Olympic Year Plymouth might be a few hours away from the London 2012 venues, but you can still enjoy all kinds of Olympic and Paralympic activity right here in the city. The city hosts the first leg of the Olympic Torch Relay on 19 May as well as one of the region’s biggest Cultural Olympiad events on 14 and 15 July.
Photograph: Peter Curno
On top of all this our big screen on the city centre Piazza will be showing all the action from the Olympic and Paralympic Games so you won’t have to miss a thing.
Olympic Torch Relay 19 May On Saturday 19 May, we host the Olympic Torch on the first night of its journey across the UK to the Olympic stadium in London. Expect a glittering party as Plymouth comes together to welcome the iconic flame on its very first overnight stop.
Cultural Olympiad 14 -15 July - WORLD AT YOUR FEET Plymouth’s contribution to the Cultural Olympiad will culminate with a mass participation dance and theatre performance on the weekend of 14 and 15 July, with performance elements across the city’s dazzling waterfront, incorporating sites with historical links to stories about migration. Delivered by Attik Dance, Barbican Theatre, Plymouth Dance, Plymouth Music Zone and the Theatre Royal, the performance called “World at Your Feet” will celebrate Plymouth’s unique heritage and culture and will bring young people from across the city together in a celebration of the richness and variety of Plymouth’s history. 09-12 August - nowhere island An unusual island in search of its people visits Plymouth this August. Come see what it looks like and find out how you can be a resident of artist Alex Hartley’s Nowhere Island www.nowhereisland.org
20 Positively Plymouth www.visitplymouth.co.uk
BIRTHPLACE OF AN EXPLORER This year we celebrate the centenary of the British Antarctic (Terra Nova) expedition to the South Pole by Plymothian Captain Robert Falcon Scott. Captain Scott and his four companions perished on their 1,600 mile return journey on foot from the South Pole. A range of events are being organised this year to commemorate Scott’s ill-fated bid to reach the South Pole including 29 year-old polar explorer and Plymothian Antony Jinman, who will lead an expedition to Scott’s final resting place on the Antarctic shelf. For details on other events please visit www.isce2012.co.uk
“ A range of events are being organised this year to commemorate Scott’s ill-fated bid to reach the South Pole including 29 year-old polar explorer and Plymothian Antony Jinman.”
Photograph: Andy Camfield
It’s Showtime! Plymouth is home to the nationally acclaimed Theatre Royal, the UK’s largest regional producing theatre, which puts us on the cultural map for the whole country. The theatre is a must if you’re visiting Plymouth. With a main auditorium alongside The Drum – the Theatre Royal’s award winning ‘arthouse’ performance space – the venue gets some of the best shows in the UK and draws ground-breaking companies from around the world to perform here in the city. Thanks to TR2 – the theatre’s innovative waterfront workshop – which designs and makes many of the sets, props and costumes for shows before they start their national run, many shows created in Plymouth carry on to the West End and even end up on Broadway. With a programme including glitzy musicals, famous names, challenging drama, fine children’s shows, cutting edge physical theatre and a big-production panto at the end of the year, you will be spoiled for choice. See the latest programme at www.theatreroyal.com
Plymouth Sounds Plymouth is a city that loves great music. There’s loads of live music happening throughout the week and weekend from big-ticket arena acts to excellent local artists. Plymouth Pavilions is the city’s arena, promoting top pop and rock acts. See the latest programme of events and buy tickets at www.plymouthpavilions.com The Barbican has a host of venues where you can see live music, often for free. Vince Lee – the city’s top blues guitarist – performs weekly at the Blues Bar and Grill on The Parade, while you can enjoy a monthly folkjam at the historic Dolphin pub on Southside Street on the first Sunday of every month. There’s music through the week at the B-Bar too. Just stroll around and you’ll hear something good!
Kurt Perschke’s RedBall UK June 2012 (TBC) Presented by Torbay Council and The Dartington Hall Trust How well do you know your town? Imagine turning a corner one day and seeing it in a whole different light… RedBall UK is a large-scale public art project that invites you to look twice, to explore and to think what if? Following appearances in Sydney, Taipei and Abu Dhabi – among others – the giant, inflatable RedBall is coming soon to Plymouth. Startling, magnetic and playful, RedBall will draw you in and open a door to the imagination. Where will you see it? www.redballuk.co.uk | www.redballproject.com Twitter: @RedBallUK
www.visitplymouth.co.uk Positively Plymouth 21
British Firework Championships 14-15 August, Plymouth Hoe The Firework Championships is one of the highlights of our events calendar, drawing crowds from all over the UK and beyond. Come and enjoy a dazzling two night spectacle held over the stunning natural harbour of Plymouth Sound as the country’s best pyrotechnicians battle it out for the national title. The best place to view this is from the Hoe – bring a picnic and a blanket and make the most of one of our favourite events.
MARINE CITY FESTIVAL 08-16 September Plymouth will stage the inaugural Marine City Festival, designed to celebrate the city’s links with the sea, from science and research to food, fun and entertainment. Plans were still in the making at the time of going to press, but you can be assured a week of fantastic entertainment right across the city’s stunning natural waterfront designed to educate and entertain and help create a more sustainable future for our seas. For more information please visit www.marinecityfestival.co.uk
FLAVOUR FEST 17-19 August, Plymouth city centre Plymouth’s growing reputation for the finest in regional food and drink is celebrated at the city’s annual Flavour Fest event. This is the largest free food festival in the South West and regularly attracts hundreds of thousands of people to the city to experience the best of regional produce alongside demonstrations and food theatre from some of the top names in cooking.
MUSIC OF THE NIGHT 16-20 July, Royal Citadel, Plymouth Hoe A magical mix of military pomp, song and dance, Music of the Night has raised over £600,000 for charities since it was first conceived in 1992. Boasting a cast of hundreds of local amateur singers and dancers of all ages and the professional musicians of the Royal Artillery and Her Majesty’s Royal Marines, the show also features a stunning finale with gunfire from 29 Commando Regiment RA, fireworks and lasers aplenty.
Plymouth International Book Festival 16 - 23 September The city celebrates all things literary when the first Plymouth International Book Festival launches. World renowned authors, poets and illustrators will be sharing their books and stories throughout the week at venues across the city. Visitors will have the chance to meet their favourite writers and take part in fantastic reading and writing activities. Look out for the full programme which launches in May.
GET ON YOUR BIKE 13 May Plymouth’s first ever Sky Ride will be the biggest free family bike ride the city has ever seen! Organised by Sky and British Cycling in partnership with Plymouth City Council, Sky Ride Plymouth will take place along 8km of traffic-free routes, taking in some of the city’s most iconic sites with entertainment on the Hoe Promenade, West Hoe Park and along the waterfront. For more information please visit www.plymouth.gov.uk/skyride
Advance booking is highly recommended and tickets are available at www.plymouthpavilions.com
EVENTS IN THE CITY Style Plymouth: Saturday 17 – Sunday 18 March
Olympic Games Saturday 28 July – Sunday 12 August
Sky Ride Sunday 13 May
British Firework Championships Tuesday 14 – Wednesday 15 August
Olympic Torch Relay Saturday 19 May
Flavour Fest Friday 17 – Sunday 19 August
Lord Mayor’s Day Saturday 19 May
Paralympics Wednesday 29 August – Sunday 09 September
Plymouth Half Marathon Sunday 03 June The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Celebrations Sunday 03 June Mega Ride Sunday 10 June Wimbledon on the Big Screen Monday 25 June – Sunday 08 July National Armed Forces Day Saturday 30 June Cultural Olympiad Saturday 14 – Sunday 15 July Music of the Night Monday 16 – Friday 20 July Port of Plymouth Regatta Saturday 21 – Sunday 29 July Plymouth Classic Boat Rally Friday 27 – Monday 30 July
Last Night of the Proms Saturday 08 September Marine City Festival Saturday 08 – Sunday 16 September Bonfire Night on the Hoe Monday 05 November Christmas Lights switch-on Thursday 15 November Plymouth Winter Festival November to January Peninsula Arts Contemporary Music Festival Friday 10 - Sunday 12 February Visitor Guide accepts no responsibility for incorrect information. All dates correct at time of going to press. For up to date information please see local press or check www.visitplymouth.co.uk
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SALUTE OUR ARMED FORCES National Armed Forces Day Saturday 30 June supported by Babcock Plymouth has been chosen to host the spectacular and ever popular National Armed Forces Day celebrations for 2012. The event on Saturday 30 June will be a unique opportunity to see the armed forces up-close and pay tribute to our heroes past and present and future. It will feature displays on land, sea and air from armed forces, veterans, cadet forces, the Merchant Navy, support agencies and charities. National Armed Forces Day will be the grand finale of Plymouth’s Armed Forces Week and will see visitors from home and abroad join together in the city to honour and celebrate the dedication of our armed forces and their families. This national event has become a regular in the British summer calendar, having been held in Edinburgh and Cardiff in the two previous years.
Plymouth Armed Forces Week runs from 25 June to 1 July, with a packed programme of events and activities marking our proud naval and military heritage in the build-up to the national celebrations right here in the city on 30 June. Armed Forces Minister Nick Harvey said: “The warmth and hospitality Plymouth has shown our armed forces, our veterans, cadets and their families over the years has been outstanding, and truly demonstrates the historic link between the military and the city. “Plymouth is well placed to host the national event, with its superb maritime location, its historic ties, the level of commitment from the local authorities, the local veterans’ community, the general public and serving military personnel.” For details of the National Armed Forces Day event on Saturday 30 June in Plymouth please visit www.visitplymouth.co.uk/ armedforces or www.armedforcesday.org.uk
National Armed Forces Day will feature spectacular displays and give you the chance to get up to and perhaps into some of the most inspiring military equipment around. And in Plymouth we have the Sound the perfect setting for an impressive steam past of British Naval vessels.
www.visitplymouth.co.uk Positively Plymouth 23
Photograph: Bao Wang
48 Hours in Plymouth The sights you just have to see, even if you’re short on time! DAY 1 10.00AM: Make your first port of call the historic harbour setting of the Barbican, watch the comings and goings of boats in the harbour, wander the ancient cobbled streets and browse the shops and galleries. Whilst you’re here visit the Plymouth Mayflower building which houses an exhibition on the city’s history with experienced staff on hand to provide further information.
11.00AM: From the visitor centre wander across the road to the Mayflower Steps where in 1620 the Pilgrim Fathers embarked on the Mayflower voyage to the Americas. Take a picture and drink in the stunning setting of marinas, cobbled streets and the Royal Citadel. From here, head across the footbridge and explore the underwater world of the National Marine Aquarium.
12.30PM: Return to the Barbican and explore the antiques markets near Island House which hosts the list of names of the Pilgrim Fathers, then visit Plymouth’s oldest street, New Street and its Elizabethan House and Elizabethan Gardens, transporting you
back over the centuries with its cobbled streets. Head along Southside Street to the Blackfriars Distillery, home to the world renowned Plymouth Gin, where you can take a tour and enjoy a sample of what is in our opinion, the world’s finest gin!
LUNCH: Stay on the Barbican to enjoy a traditional Devon cream tea, some fresh local seafood or a quick snack in one of the many harbour side restaurants, many of which offer scenic waterside views. If you prefer something a little more exotic, the B-Bar at the Barbican Theatre serves up delicious fresh noodles, curries and Thai specialities. With main course dishes from £4.95 this is a tasty and great value lunch.
2.00PM: From Plymouth Gin, cross over Notte Street and head northwards toward the city centre to explore further shopping, including hundreds of fabulous independent shops in the city’s west end and big brands and high street favourites on New George Street, Armada Way and in the Drake Circus Shopping centre.
4.00pm From the city centre shopping district, a five minute stroll south along Armada Way will take you to the stunning Plymouth Hoe, our waterfront park. Offering panoramic views across Plymouth Sound over towards Mount Edgcumbe, the tended gardens of the Hoe are home to the city’s war memorials, the iconic Smeaton’s Tower Lighthouse and the famous green where Sir Francis Drake played bowls awaiting news of the Spanish Armada. You’ll find plenty of places to stop for refreshment and enjoy the stunning views. For an even better vantage point take a ride on the 60m high Wheel of Plymouth for unrivalled 360 degree views of the city, coast and surrounding countryside.
DINNER: After a quick break back at your hotel why not head out again for a fine dining experience in one of our many local restaurants. Choose from city centre dining, including Tanners, the AA award winning restaurant or walk along the heritage trail at Sutton Harbour to enjoy a selection of sea food, Italian, Spanish, Asian, Moroccan or good ol’ British food.
DAY 2 10.00AM:
2.00PM:
7.00PM:
After a leisurely breakfast take a relaxing boat trip from the Barbican along the foreshore and the River Tamar to view our fine naval heritage and beautiful scenery along the Tamar Estuary.
Plymouth is a city with huge swathes of green space, a leisurely afternoon at one of our nearby country parks will show you a more relaxed side to our vibrant city. Take the Cremyll foot ferry (foot passengers and bicycles only) over to Mount Edgcumbe Country Park, visit the National Trust’s Saltram House or head up to southern Dartmoor to experience the wild expanse of the moors and see the ponies. If your idea of relaxation is a little more adventurous try a mackerel fishing trip, sailing, windsurfing or Jet Ski lessons at the Mount Batten Watersports Centre.
Plymouth Pavilions, the Theatre Royal, Plymouth Arts Centre and the Barbican Theatre all provide a great range of theatre, dance, film and music performances for your evening entertainment.
LUNCH Take a Discovery Tour of Plymouth on board Beryl the vintage bus to explore the city’s heritage. Visit Royal William Yard and stop for lunch in one of the restaurants or cafés. You’ll find Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s River Cottage here, although you may need to book in advance.
DINNER Chloe’s on Princess Street, just a couple of minutes walk from the Theatre Royal and Plymouth Pavilions, offers fine dining, daily specials and a bistro menu making it the perfect venue for a pre-theatre supper.
24 Positively Plymouth www.visitplymouth.co.uk
10.00PM: When the sun goes down there’s still plenty to keep you entertained in our fair city. The bars on the Barbican really hot up later in the evening, with live music, stand-up comedy and dancing. Night owls in the mood for late night grooves should head to Annabel’s Cabaret on Vauxhall Street – a funky little club which combines live music with burlesque performance on one floor and a DJ spinning tunes to dance to on another – enjoy!
The
Good Food Guide
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A City with Taste Want to eat out in the UK’s new Gourmet Hotspot? You’ve come to the right place... With our wide menu of mouth-watering places to eat, we can offer exquisite dining to fun family food; tempt you with global cuisines and we can whisk you from cute coffee joints to top-table elegance. TV chefs are based in the city, we land fish for the nation at our quayside and we are geographically surrounded by some of the best food producers in the country. Branded by Condé Nast Traveller as the UK’s new Gourmet Hotspot, of course, we’re going to serve up something fantastic.
2012 – the year of the celebrity chef In 2012 Plymouth will be gaining two new celebrity-owned eateries – Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s River Cottage Canteen in the Royal William Yard and Gary Rhodes’ new venture, Rhodes West, in Plymouth’s Waterfront Dome. The River Cottage Canteen opened its doors to customers in November 2011, a 120-seat restaurant located in the Brewhouse building with a menu which makes the best of local produce – over 90% of the food comes from within a 50-mile radius of the city. The River Cottage Canteen joins recently established restaurants Seco Lounge and Prezzo to firmly put the Royal William Yard on the map as one of the top places in Plymouth to head to for a quality meal. One of Britain’s best-loved celebrity chefs, Gary Rhodes, will be putting the disused Plymouth Dome to good use when he opens Rhodes West in the summer. With stunning views overlooking the Sound, Rhodes decided it was the perfect location for his newest restaurant, which will serve light bites and teas and coffees during the day, and delicious meals using freshly prepared local ingredients for lunch and dinner. The two newcomers join established Plymouth favourites the Tanner Brothers to give Plymouth a fantastic line-up of celebrity chefs to add to the great range of independent cafés and restaurants that make the city such a fantastic place to dine out.
Fancy something a little exotic? If you want to go from local to global, Plymouth has something from all corners of the world – among the different styles of cuisine represented in Plymouth are Greek, Italian, Spanish, Indian, Middle Eastern, Mexican, Thai, Chinese, Japanese, French and even Hungarian and Kurdish . With so many great places to eat out, you really are spoiled for choice – the only problem you might have is deciding where to go first!
IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHERE TO EAT - ASK THE LOCALS! Café Kiss is a great newcomer to Plymouth – everything is homemade and all at very reasonable prices M. Nash, Architect Tanners Restaurant is one of my favourite places to eat in Plymouth. Fresh local produce, great service and all with celebrity chef flair. A. Mashhadi, InPlymouth.com The Thai Palace is a long term favourite for eating out in Plymouth. It never ceases to deliver tasty Thai dishes and the staff are always friendly and helpful. L. Hartwell, Online Marketing Consultant
Photograph: Trevor Burrows
The best burgers on the Barbican are from Rocky’s – they also serve steaks and grills, but the burgers and home made chips are our favourites. K. Day, Office Manager Bistro One has a wonderful charm, largely beholden to Stephen Barrett’s inspired, delicious and locally sourced menu (and his knowledge of wine!) Its informal and intimate atmosphere always makes it a special dining experience you want to repeat. J. Geran, PR executive The Treasury is great for a chic lunch, after work drinks or a fantastic evening meal. And being just off Royal Parade it is the perfect pit stop when out shopping with the girls. H. Smith, Beauty Therapist
Celebrity chef Gary Rhodes
26 Positively Plymouth www.visitplymouth.co.uk
Morgan’s never fails to deliver great food, whether eating from the a la carte, pre-theatre or from the fantastic Roast menu on a Sunday. The friendly, chilled-out atmosphere means I can go with someone special or the whole family, either way it’s a great dining experience. D. Uncles, Advertising Exec
Photograph: Trevor Burrows
Work up an appetite at the Waterfront The Waterfront is the area of Plymouth with arguably the richest history, and is also a great place to eat and chill out. Ancient Plymouth created a community around Sutton Pool, fortifications including The Citadel followed to defend this prize, and the Pilgrim Fathers spent their last night here (in what’s now the Plymouth Gin Distillery building) before taking The Mayflower to the New World. This is a favourite strolling destination for people who live here, as well as tourists, and boasts some great eateries including The Watering Hole and Cap’n Jaspers. Whether you want to have a sit-down meal of just grab a quick snack, there’s something to please everyone from jazz bars, to Chinese, Italian and great ice cream parlours. For anyone with a sweet tooth, a visit to Ice Cream Studio 54 on Southside Street is a must for a range of ice creams, cakes and cupcakes, all freshly made on the premises. Owner Nick Greenwood says: “I make all our ice cream flavours from scratch, which means we have a few more unusual ones that you won’t find elsewhere, such as strawberry and black pepper and maracuja and pomegranate. We also make all our own cakes and cupcakes – the most popular by far is the ‘Chocolate Waist Expander’!” Nick strongly believes that the Waterfront should be top of the list for visitors to Plymouth who are looking for a bite to eat. “The Waterfront has a really good, really diverse selection of restaurants, from Cantonese and noodle bars to some fantastic fresh fish restaurants – there’s something to suit every taste.”
Flavour fest,Plymouth City Centre 17th/19th August 2012 Flavour Fest continues to whet the appetite of food lovers young and old alike with the finest regional food, drink and cookery. Taking over the city centre for three days from 17-19 August, Flavour Fest is expecting to attract 150,000 visitors to Plymouth where you will be greeted by a bustling continental-style market full of many local suppliers ready to tempt your taste buds with their delicious wares. Now in its 9th year Flavour Fest has become the biggest food and drink festival in the South West. With over 100 regional producers and chef demonstrations on the Kitchen Theatre Stage throughout the three day event it’s definitely not to be missed! To find out more: www.shopplymouth.co.uk
Top ten food and drink tips
1.
Pick up a pasty - it’s our world-famous street food
2.
Visit Cap’n Jasper’s down on the quayside - try their half a yard of hot dog
3.
Take a tour round Plymouth Gin and taste the botanicals in this scrumptious Plymouth product
4.
Have a big breakfast at Elvira’s in Stonehouse before heading over the Tamar to Mount Edgcumbe House and Gardens
5.
Eat Thai noodles from a box at the B-Bar in the Barbican Theatre
6.
Enjoy some excellent French cuisine from Chloe’s on Princess Street before seeing a show at the Theatre Royal
7.
Visit the Royal William Yard – with a great selection of eateries in a stunning setting, this is one of the city’s hot spots
8.
Try our original Celebrity Chefs Tanner Brothers, at either their eponymous restaurant in the historic Prysten House, or the Barbican Kitchen within the Plymouth Gin Distillery building
9.
Take a water-taxi to Mount Batten and Turnchapel and have lunch looking back at Plymouth
yourself to afternoon tea at The 10. Treat Treasury
www.visitplymouth.co.uk Positively Plymouth 27
The Theatre Royal Plymouth brings the biggest and best shows to the region including musicals, dance, opera, ballet and drama direct from the West End and Broadway. We make and produce our own shows and work extensively in our community with our education and outreach programme. To find out what shows are coming up or for more information go to www.theatreroyal.com Box Office 01752 267222 Book Online www.theatreroyal.com
0845 146 1460 28 Positively Plymouth www.visitplymouth.co.uk
www.plymouthpavilions.com
www.visitplymouth.co.uk Positively Plymouth 29
ll St Vauxha
Quay Rd
The Barbican Sutton Harbour
Souths ide St
n ica Barb The
New St
Castle St
The Barbic an
OPEN TUESDAY TO SATURDAY 10AM-4PM
Mayflower Steps
Hoe Rd
Lite Bite Breakfasts, Sandwiches, Fresh Coffee and Teas, Soups, Stews, Desserts, Cakes and Pastries! Madeira Rd
Enquiries & Preorders 01752 266347 Kitchen Café, 60 Southside Street, The Barbican, Plymouth. PL1 2LQ
PLYMOUTH GIN DISTILLERY
THE ULTIMATE GIN EXPERIENCE
TOUR THE DISTILLERY AND SEE HOW OUR UNIQUE SMOOTH GIN IS MADE, VISIT OUR COCKTAIL BAR AND EAT IN THE AWARD WINNING RESTAURANT.
drinkaware.co.uk
“PLYMOUTH GIN IS THE BEST. HERBAL, MELLOW, AROMATIC: IF YOU KEEP GIN IN THE HOUSE THIS IS THE ONE TO HAVE.” NIGELLA LAWSON OPENING TIMES Mon to Sat - 10am to 5.00pm Sun 11am to 4.30pm Blackfriars Distillery, 60 Southside Street, The Barbican, Plymouth. PL1 2LQ.
Tel: 01752 665 292 www.plymouthgin.com 30 Positively Plymouth www.visitplymouth.co.uk
CHLOE’S RESTAURANT
www.visitplymouth.co.uk Positively Plymouth 31
Morgans
32 Positively Plymouth www.visitplymouth.co.uk
If you’re lookIng for the cheapest and easIest way to explore plymouth, hop on board the bus! Whether it’s getting around the city, or exploring a little further afield, travel by bus has never been more convenient or better value, thanks to the extensive service operated by Citybus. citybus operates a fleet of 170 buses, serving all corners of the city and carrying more than 14 million passengers every year. there is a great range of ticket options so there is something to suit everyone, from single journeys to weekly and even annual passes for unlimited, environmentally friendly and stress free travel. It’s also never been easier to explore plymouth by bus, whether you’re here for a day, a weekend, or longer! many of plymouth’s must see sights are accessible by bus including the barbican, the hoe, royal william yard, saltram house, the historic cremyll ferry to mount edgcumbe and of course the city centre shopping district.
For a one off trip, adult singles start from £1.30 and returns from £1.70, with young persons and student tickets charged at a flat rate of £1.00 for single or £1.50 for return. heading out for the whole day? why not pick up a dayrider ticket for £3.50, which allows you to travel on as many buses as you like, as many times as you like, throughout the day – perfect if you’re planning a sightseeing tour of the city and surrounding area!
There are also great discounts if you’re travelling with friends and family, with the Dayrider Duo and Group Dayrider – two people can travel for £5, or 4 people can travel for £7 – saving up to £7 on the normal price. the new citybus travel centre in debenhams on new george street is a fantastic and convenient place to head for routemaps and timetables, you can purchase tickets here too. you can also pick up ‘the key’ – an electronic smartcard - at the travel centre, which you can top up online or in store, cutting out the hassle of carrying cash. If you’re here for a week or more you can purchase a period pass with the new key card, allowing you to travel from one week up to a year. If you’re travelling by bus several days a week, this is a great way to save money and means you’ll never find yourself short of change for the fare. you can pick up a key card for free from the debenhams travel centre, or by visiting the citybus website, www.plymouthbus. co.uk, where you can also find timetables, routemaps and ticket information, along with the latest discounts and offers.
www.visitplymouth.co.uk Positively Plymouth 33
Explore the Great Outdoors Nestled between the ocean and the moors, Plymouth’s natural setting is truly inspiring No visit is complete without time to explore the vast swathes of green and blue that encircle the city. Where else can say they are one third green open space, surrounded by water on three sides and moors on the other?
And whilst Plymouth is the perfect place to unwind and chill out, the spirit of exploration and discovery is alive and well. Inspired by those famous adventurers who departed from our shores, every year hundreds of thousands of people take to Plymouth’s green open spaces, waters and to the moors to explore and delight in our impressive natural environment.
Put your best foot forward Walkers and hikers will find Plymouth the perfect place from which to explore Devon and Cornwall. Our coastal walking ranks as some of the best in the UK. The South West Coast Path runs right through Plymouth, offering fantastic destinations and vistas within the city and beyond into Devon and Cornwall. The coast path in and around Plymouth takes in the historic Cremyll Ferry at Stonehouse, many of Plymouth’s historic Naval and maritime buildings, the colourful village of Turnchapel - home to a couple of great local pubs, the great Mew Stone out near Wembury Point, the chocolate box charm of twin villages Noss Mayo and Newton Ferrers, the 17th Century tower at Mount Batten and Fort Bovisand built in Victorian times to defend the city. 34 Positively Plymouth www.visitplymouth.co.uk
If you prefer Moor to Sea then Plymouth, in the foothills of Dartmoor, gives you access to over 450 miles of public rights of way and an abundance of walking routes up on the moor to suit all tastes and abilities. Wherever you leave your footprints, you can feel like you’re walking in the country whilst still within the boundary of our vibrant city.
Where to walk www.southwestcoastpath.com here you’ll find maps, detailed information about routes and audio files describing many of the walks. www.plymouth.gov.uk where you can find out about Plymouth City Council parks and nature reserves www.friendsofdevonportpark.co.uk information about Devonport Park Need to buy hiking kit? Want to pick up a map?Get a tasty packed lunch? Plymouth city centre has all the shops to supply everything you need for your trip to the moorland. Visit www.shopplymouth.co.uk for details
Photograph: Gary Burge
"I have never before, in my long, eclectic career, been gifted with such an abundance of natural beauty as I experienced filming War Horse." Steven Spielberg, on filming in Dartmoor
Perfect for Cyclists Plymouth is positioned perfectly for the pedalling visitor. We’re on the crossroads of National Cycle Network routes and in the foothills of Dartmoor affording riders some of the best off-roading in the UK. You can even begin your cycle tour of France and Spain from here, thanks to our ferry routes to Roscoff and Santander.
The gentle 10 mile cycle ride through Plymbridge woods, along the route of an old Great Western Railway track from the outskirts of Plymouth to the edge of Dartmoor is suitable for all the family. Taking you through glorious oak woodland emerging into stunning open countryside, across breathtaking viaducts and through Leighbeer Tunnel, cut out of solid rock by railway engineer, Isambard Kingdom Brunel, to Dewerstone Woods and back again, this ride is great all year round, but particularly stunning in early summer when you can spot peregrines and their chicks nesting in the cliffs near Cann Quarry.
From Plymouth you can also connect with other National Cycle Routes like the Westcountry Way and the Tarka Trail, which offer fantastic cycling around North Devon and into Cornwall too. Spectacular scenery, great health benefits - it’s the way to go! Find out more about cycling in and around Plymouth online here: www.sustrans.org.uk www.cycledevon.info www.cycle-route.com www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-plym_ cycle_trail.pdf
www.visitplymouth.co.uk Positively Plymouth 35
Photograph: Trevor Burrows
Step back in time Plymouth is not short of world famous mansions to match the dazzling natural environment! Two of our National Trust properties have featured in star studded movies. Saltram House at Plympton - with its fine interiors and sweeping parkland - was the backdrop for the 1995 film Sense and Sensibility, featuring Emma Thompson, Hugh Grant, Kate Winslet and Alan Rickman. Just across the River Tamar, in South East Cornwall, Antony House was the location for Tim Burton’s version of Alice in Wonderland. Explore its grounds, landscaped by Repton, that include formal gardens with topiary, a knot garden, modern sculptures and the National Collection of Daylilies. The Woodland Garden at Antony has outstanding rhododendrons, azaleas, magnolias, camellias and magical Tamar Views. Mount Edgcumbe, also on the other side of the River Tamar, on the Rame Peninsula, offers gentle walks around its gardens and offers stunning views back towards Plymouth. For the more adventurous a walk along the coast from Mount Edgcumbe to Kingsand and Cawsand and you will discover unspoilt villages full of character and charm that will transport you back to a simpler time. The best way to reach Mount Edgcumbe is via the historic Cremyll Ferry from Stonehouse. A crossing has existed at this point on the River Tamar for over 1000 years. Make a trip across today aboard the Northern Belle, a vessel built in 1927 for this very route, and which played its part in the evacuation of Dunkirk during World War II. 36 Positively Plymouth www.visitplymouth.co.uk
Wembury: a world beneath the waves Wembury Beach is a wildlife magnet. Its rocky cliffs are home to nesting sea birds, while a rocky shore, slate reefs and massive wave-cut rock platforms provide one of the UK’s best spots for marine plants and animals. Wembury is a Marine Conservation Area and the Wembury Marine Centre is the ideal place to learn about the surrounding area and its wildlife through interactive displays, aquaria and regular rockpool rambles. Admission is free. www.wemburymarinecentre.org
“ Mount Edgcumbe, also on the other side of the River Tamar, on the Rame Peninsula, offers gentle walks around its gardens and offers stunning views back towards Plymouth.”
Life’s a beach Plymouth is surrounded by some of the most stunning beaches in the uk. Our position at the centre of Devon and Cornwall gives you a choice of great beaches. Go east and you get Wembury, Mothecombe Estuary and Wonwell Beach, Bantham (one of Devon’s best surf beaches), and Bigbury Bay with Burgh Island. Head west and you get the breathtaking arc of Whitsand Bay, with its sands, surf spots, rocks and pools. Or visit Seaton and Downderry sands, on the way to the archetypal seaside, beachfront town of Looe. The twin villages of Kingsand and Cawsand are a great beach day out, offering you pebbly beaches in picturesque surroundings. You can even get a foot ferry from the Barbican directly to Cawsand Beach. National trust information Get exact opening hours, facilities and special event information from the National Trust online here www.nationaltrust.org.uk Saltram - 01752 333503 Antony - 01752 812191 Mount Edgcumbe Information Get opening times and details of special events online at www.mountedgcumbe.gov.uk or call 01752 822236 For information and timetables for ferries over to Mount Edgcumbe visit www.cremyll-ferry.co.uk
Positioned within the city centre and surrounded by an inspirational natural environment, the University is embedded in the physical and cultural landscape that defines Plymouth and the South West region. Our Marine Institute is the largest in Europe, through partnership we train doctors, dentists, teachers and nurses, and our work with thousands of businesses and voluntary organisations is helping to diversify the economy, create jobs and develop social enterprise. With our research tackling real world issues, we are deeply connected to our community. Plymouth is the ninth biggest university in the country, with over 30,000 students, many of who study at partner colleges across the region. Each year, around 12,000 of our students engage in some form of work-based and placement learning activity, with even more making a significant local contribution through volunteering. We continually seek opportunities to enhance our students’ experience and graduate employability, supporting through a central Student Gateway and proactive Students’ Union. We provide an important cultural dimension to the city though our public arts programme, Peninsula Arts - a diverse programme of art exhibitions, music, theatre, dance, public lectures and cinema primarily hosted in our award-winning Roland Levinsky Building.
Distinguished by our commitment to sustainability, the work of our staff and students contributes to the environmental and cultural fabric of the city, working with schools and colleges to raise aspirations; showcasing award winning student work; offering space for the development of business ideas through Formation Zones linking with a wider network of Innovation Centres and the Tamar Science Park; and staging significant cultural events open to the wider community. Now in our 150th year, the University’s pioneering approach creates a melting pot of energy, passion and imagination. Through partnership, the University is crossing the ‘artificial’ arts-science divide, building a culture of ingenuity, diversity and distinctiveness that reaches out into the community, industry and the economy at large.
Join our 150th celebrations throughout 2012 which include: 10 – 12 February 2012 Peninsula Arts Contemporary Music Festival ‘Explore Dream Discover’ 22 March 2012 Community Research Awards 19 May 2012 Community Open House and Lord Mayor’s Day, linking with the Olympic Torch Relay 8 – 16 September 2012 Plymouth Marine City Festival 10 September 2012 Official opening of the new marine building 15 September 2012 Vice-Chancellor’s 150th Anniversary Enterprise Awards 2012 16 September 2012 150th Anniversary Service 22 September 2012 Peninsula Arts Distinction Concert ‘Sound to Sea’ 27 October 2012 150th Anniversary Concert A series of prestige lectures and so much more!! For more information please visit www.plymouth.ac.uk/150
Family Friendly and Fun! There’s loads for families to discover in Plymouth Action and activities that involve parents and kids are plentiful - as are rainy day outings. If stories of gnarly seadogs whet your appetite for adventure out on the big blue sea there are plenty of opportunities to explore by water. Plymouth Sound and the rivers that flow into it bustle with crafts large and small and a fantastic network of water taxis, foot ferries, sightseeing tours and fishing trips offer great family friendly ways to explore. From Stonehouse make the ancient crossing to Mount Edgcumbe via the Cremyll Ferry. The ferry route here dates back to the 11th century and carries passengers over the River Tamar to the beautiful country park, ideal for a day exploring or relaxing, with plenty of room to kick a ball, ride bikes or fly a kite. Join a Tamar Cruise from the Barbican to experience Plymouth from the water and discover the weird and wonderful wildlife that calls our waterfront home. If you prefer a little more adrenaline then the Mount Batten Watersports Centre, accessible via the Mount Batten Ferry from the Barbican, offers sailing, kayaking and special family fun days.
38 Positively Plymouth www.visitplymouth.co.uk
Get below the waves over at the National Marine Aquarium where the whole family can get up close and personal with the fascinating underwater world from the shores of Plymouth to the coral reefs of the tropics. Want to get up close and personal with a whole menagerie of animals? Pay a trip to the soon to be world famous Dartmoor Zoo, just a few miles outside Plymouth. The Zoo is the inspiration behind the new Cameron Crowe movie ‘We Bought a Zoo’ starring Matt Damon and Scarlett Johansson, released in the UK in March 2012 and is bound to be a popular choice for animal lovers of all ages. In the spring of 2012 the doors open to the much anticipated Plymouth Life Centre, the best indoor sports and leisure facility in the South West. The centre includes a 50 metre swimming pool, a kids’ play pool with its own beach entry, 15 metre climbing wall, fitness suite, health suite, crèche, soft play and café area.
RAINY DAYS AND FUN DAYS Here’s our pick of the spots to visit when the raindrops fall. Cinema: www.myvue.com/plymouth http://plymouth.reelcinemas.co.uk www.plymouthartscentre.org Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery: www.plymouthmuseum.gov.uk Indoor play, Plymouth Jump: www.123jump.co.uk Skating rink, Plymouth Pavilions: www.plymouthpavilions.com National Marine Aquarium: www.national-aquarium.co.uk Clayart, Southside Street, The Barbican: www.clayart.co.uk Plymouth Life Centre www.everyoneactive.com/plymouthlife
The
Good Hotel Guide
Sponsored By
The Duke of Cornwall Hotel Millbay Road, Plymouth, PL1 3LG 01752 275850 www.thedukeofcornwall.co.uk
A Victorian Grade 2 Listed Building the New Continental, Plymouth’s largest independent hotel is situated between the city centre and Plymouth’s Historic Hoe, adjacent to Plymouth Pavilions and close to the Theatre Royal. If you are planning to stay or just visiting our health and leisure complex, sampling the delights of the new restaurant and bar or attending a function for a special occasion, we look forward to meeting you and ensuring your time with us is everything you want it to be.
99 en-suite bedrooms Private Car Park Indoor Leisure Complex with pool Steve’s Brasserie Weddings Conference Facilities
13 Elliot Street, Plymouth, PL1 2PR e-mail: reservations@strathmorehouse.co.uk Tel: 01752 276797 Fax: 01752 227013 www.strathmorehouse.co.uk
Suitable for short or extended stay corporate lets, self catering holidays, or even a city break. Service apartments are fast becoming the popular choice for the discerning traveller. Situated just moments away from Plymouth Hoe and within a short walking distance to the City Centre, Theatre Royal and Plymouth Pavilions, Strathmore House offers a choice of one, two and four bedroom apartments.
40 Positively Plymouth www.visitplymouth.co.uk
All apartments are furnished and include everything you need for a home from home. A fully equipped kitchen with washer/dryer, oven and hob, microwave, fridge/freezer, dishwasher and all the utensils you could ever need. The lounge has comfortable sofas, digital HD flatscreen, TVs, DVD and dining table and chairs. Free wi-fi and car parking (subject to availability).
the
Grosvenor p
l
y
m
o
u
t
Situated just 50 yards from Plymouth's stunning waterfront and only 200 yards from its bustling & vibrant city centre, The Grosvenor Plymouth is the ideal base for a quality and affordable stay.
• • • • • •
h
rooms from
£49
29 Newly Refurbished Ensuite Rooms Licensed Bar & Lounge per night Free Unlimited Business Quality WiFi Extensive Evening Menu (room service available) and that includes Locally Sourced Breakfast Menu breakfast! Sky Sports Lounge
100% Best Price Guaranteed
01752 260411 www.grosvenor-plymouth.com
follow us on:
When booked directly with us (or you stay for free!)
Prices from
£50
per room per night
Plymouth: 01752 701000 www.futureinns.co.uk * Subject to availability
www.visitplymouth.co.uk Positively Plymouth 41
Churchwood Valley
Wembury Bay, Plymouth PL9 0DZ T: (01752) 862382 E: info@churchwoodvalley.com www.churchwoodvalley.com
We have 55 comfortable timber cabins and lodges set in a beautiful wooded valley just a short stroll from Wembury Beach and the South West Coast Path. Each cabin has its own secluded patio and the park is a haven for wildlife.
We work hard to look after our environment and are 16 times Gold Award winners of the Bellamy Conservation Scheme and also Silver award winners in the Green Tourism Scheme. Special weekend and midweek breaks available.
We welcome pets. There are stunning walks nearby, Plymouth is just a short drive away and many other attractions can be reached within an hour.
Bovisand Lodge Estate
Bovisand Lodge Estate
Beachside Holiday Park
Rita Hart, Bovisand, Nr Plymouth, Devon PL9 0AA T: 01752 403554 F: 01752 482646 E: stay@bovisand.com www.bovisand.com
Heritage Apartments and Cottage
Also, New for 2012 Bovisand Luxury Lodges, Stylish, 3 bedroom, contemporary self catering accommodation with sea views of Cornwall (www.bovisand.co.uk)
Peaceful, family run Holiday Park, situated within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, opening onto a safe sandy beach 12 Double glazed and centrally heated, luxury along the SW Coastal Path, with 12’wide mobile holiday homes, all less than 4 stunning sea views. years of age, within the grounds of a Historic Our environmental credentials make Country House. us an ideal location for families and Rating: 4 Star, Rose Award, Self Catering Prices from £300 - £1025 per week. Sleeps 2-6.
nature lovers. Indoor heated pool to enjoy. Only 7-miles from Plymouth. Sorry no pets. Short breaks available out of school holidays.
42 Positively Plymouth www.visitplymouth.co.uk
Rita Hart, Bovisand, Nr Plymouth, Devon PL9 0AA T: 01752 403554 F: 01752 482646 E: stay@bovisand-apartments.co.uk www.bovisand-apartments.co.uk
Beautifully furnished luxury apartments located in the wing of our Grade 2 listed country house. Plus, a delightful 3-bedroom detached cottage with extensive grounds, including Napoleonic reservoir (www.bovisand-cottage.co.uk).
Rating: 4 star self-catering prices from £315 - £1025 per week. Sleeps 2 - 6 Children over 5 within the apartments.
Situated in an idyllic peaceful valley within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, along the SW Coastal Path. Spectacular views of Plymouth Sound and the Cornish Coast. Indoor heated swimming pool to enjoy. Short breaks available out of school holidays.
Haddington House Apartments Fairfax and Lucy Luxmoore 42 Haddington Rd, Plymouth Devon. PL2 1RR M: 07966 256984 T: 01752 318087 E: Fairfaxluxmoore@gmail.com www.plymouth-self-catering.co.uk
Haddington House Apartments are the ideal choice for 4 star equivalent self catering apartments. For holidays or work we offer flexible lets from 3 days to several months.. There are 4 apartments near the Torpoint ferry and Devonport Park, sleeping 1 to 5 people. On the Hoe there is one apartment sleeping 6 people.
Devonport Carriage Tours
Celebrating 25 years of hospitality
Feel aotme h
in the heart of Plymouth a warm welcome awaits you at the copthorne Hotel Plymouth. centrally located, with on-site parking, the hotel is situated in the perfect location to explore the shops, bars and restaurants of the historic, maritime city of Plymouth.
RooMS FRoM
ÂŁ49 PER NIGHT
Devonport Carriage Tours arranged for Parties of up to 14 guests in Devonport Regency Quarter and Museum. Saltram House and Plymouth Hoe from May 2012
To book NoW call
01752 224161
Email: reservations.plymouth@millenniumhotels.co.uk www.millenniumhotels.co.uk www.visitplymouth.co.uk Positively Plymouth 43
Berkeley’s of St James
4 St James Place East, The Hoe, Plymouth PL1 3AS T: +44 (0) 1752 221654 F: +44 (0) 1752 221 654 E: enquiry@onthehoe.co.uk www.onthehoe.co.uk TM
Gold Award Winner of Guesthouses Plymouth in Bloom Discover the features which set Berkeley’s of St James apart – making it rather special – and giving it that extra touch. Jackie and Jeff welcome you to our delightful elegant Victorian guest house, furnished to a very high standard. Perfect location – situated in a secluded quiet Square on Plymouth Hoe. Easy walking distance for promenade, historic Barbican, City Centre,
Theatre/Pavilions, university, ferry port, coach and railway stations. Ideal for touring Dartmoor, Devon & Cornwall and the Eden Project. Attractive and comfortable bedrooms on ground and first floor only (4 en-suite, 1 private shower/WC) hairdryer, Digital TV, complimentary beverage tray. Private and secure parking. Special breaks available. Excellent traditional breakfast using local organic/free range food where possible. Fresh fruit and fish. Vegetarians welcome.
Kynance
107 - 113 Citadel Road West, The Hoe, Plymouth PL1 2RN T: (01752) 266821 E: office@kynancehouse.co.uk www.kynancehouse.co.uk
Kynance House provides bed and breakfast accommodation conveniently situated between Plymouth Hoe and the city centre. All bedrooms are en-suite and have TV, free wireless Internet and coffee/tea making facilities. Whether you are in Plymouth for a one night stay or a week’s family holiday we aim to provide a high quality service to make your stay an enjoyable one.
44 Positively Plymouth www.visitplymouth.co.uk
Group bookings are welcome, just contact Maggie, Jenny or Colin who will be happy to discuss your requirements. Early and late arrivals, Bar License and Car Parking. Easy distance from the Hoe and Seafront. Close to the Barbican, town centre, bus station, Pavilions Conference Centre and the National Marine Aquarium.
ideal for both business & leisure FREE guest parking with the railway station only 4 miles away. The bar and restaurant offers service throughout the day. Between May and September, enjoy the heated outdoor pool or relax with a drink on the terrace. We have Sky television in our lounge. Our spacious, relaxing and adaptable, bedrooms are truly a place for living, perfect for all your needs. Our standard bedrooms comprise a spacious room with en-suite bath or shower, a sofa bed, a useful work area with broadband connection, TV with pay movies, and hair dryer along with tea and coffee making facilities. Up to 2 adults and 2 children can beaccommodated in each of our 100 bedrooms, making our accommodation perfect for that family break. Two of our rooms have full disabled access. Our stylish and contemporary restaurant offers an extensive range of delicious meals from 6pm to 10pm, whilst our relaxing bar offers snacks and a wide range of beverages to enjoy in the bar or on the terrace between 8am and 10pm. We also have a 24 hour snack menu available.
The Legacy Plymouth International Hotel
Restaurant Facilities Open to non-residents Non-smoking Air conditioning Children's meals Highchairs available Serves brunch/light snacks Capacity: 100 Capacity for functions: 150
Marsh Mills, Plymouth, PL6 8NH Tel: 08444 119 097 Fax: 08444 119 098 Int Tel: 0330 333 2897 Fax: 0330 333 2898 res-plymouthinternational@legacy-hotels.co.uk www.legacy-hotels.co.uk
thelegacyplymouthinternationalhotel
The Legacy Plymouth International...
www.visitplymouth.co.uk Positively Plymouth 45
Jewells Guesthouse
SeaBreezes
220 Citadel Road, The Hoe, Plymouth PL1 3BB T: 01752 254760 E: jewellsguest@btconnect.com www.jewellsguesthouse.com
28 Grand Parade, West Hoe, Plymouth PL1 3DJ A luxury seafront guesthouse with an excellent reputation offering Stylish surroundings and friendly service. All rooms are en-suite, serviced daily and have: Refreshment Trays, Freeview TVs, Wi-Fi, Hairdryers etc whilst others benefit by Seaviews.
The Jewells Guest House is a warm and friendly, family-run establishment with an excellent reputation. The Jewells Guesthouse is within walking distance to city centre of Plymouth, Historic Hoe, Barbican, Ferry Port, Theatre Royal and Pavilions Leisure Centre.
After your choice of breakfast take a stroll along the promenade to the Barbican or across The Hoe into the City Centre for shopping, Theatres etc otherwise visit Dartmoor/Cornwall or walk the Coastal Path.
Our Plymouth Guesthouse Bedrooms offer a high standard of comfort and breakfasts are served in a pleasant dining room. For further information and details please don’t hesitate to contact Keith or Sally who will be more than pleased to offer any other information.
T: 01752 667205 E: info@plymouth-bedandbreakfast.co.uk www.plymouth-bedandbreakfast.co.uk
The George Guest House 161 Citadel Road, The Hoe, Plymouth PL1 2HU T: 01752 661517 E: info@georgeguesthouse.com www.georgeguesthouse.com Owned by the same family for 62 years, facing Plymouth Hoe our 3 star guest house has 6 well appointed bedrooms (4 en-suite) ideally situated for City Centre, Theatre, Ferry Port and Sea Front with three celebrity chef restaurants minutes away. Breakfast served to 11.30am. Limited secure parking.
Directory Lisitngs
Caraneal Guest House 12/14 Pier Street West Hoe, Plymouth, PL1 3BS T: 01752 663589 E: caranealhotel@hotmail.com www.caranealplymouth.co.uk The CARANEAL is a long established guesthouse where you are assured of a warm welcome from Max & Veronica. We are ideally situated just off the seafront, opposite West Hoe Park, with not-too-distant views of Smeaton’s Tower standing proudly on the Hoe, within easy walking distance of the City and the Barbican. Plymouth Pavilions and Theatre Royal are only a few minutes walk away. Brittany Ferries Terminal is only minutes away. All rooms are en-suite with 2 on the ground floor. Secure on site parking available.
46 Positively Plymouth www.visitplymouth.co.uk
Athenaeum Lodge Guest House Berkeley’s of St James Bovisand Lodge Estate Holiday Park Bovisand Lodge Estate Apartments Caraneal Guest House Copthorne Hotel Plymouth Churchwood Valley Edgcumbe Guest House The Firs Guest House Futures Inns Gallery Guest House The George Guest House The Grosvenor Plymouth Haddington House Apartments Invicta Hotel Kynance Jewells Guesthouse The Legacy Plymouth Int. New Continental Hotel
01752 665005 01752 221654 01752 403554 01752 403554 01752 663589 01752 224161 01752 862382 01752 660675 01752 262870 01753 701000 01752 660801 01752 661517 01752 260411 01752 318087 01752 664 997 01752 266821 01752 254760 08444 119 097 01752 276797
Plymouth University
01752 588599
The Rainbow Lodge The Rusty Anchor SeaBreezes Strathmore House Apartments
01752 229699 01752 663924 01752 667205 01752 276797
us@athenaeumlodge.com enquiry@onthehoe.co.uk stay@bovisand.com stay@bovisand-apartments.co.uk caranealhotel@hotmail.com reservations@milleniumhotels.co.uk info@churchwoodvalley.com enquiries@edgcumbeguesthouse.co.uk thefirsguesthouse@hotmail.co.uk www.futuresinns.co.uk info@galleryguesthouse.com info@georgeguesthouse.com www.grosvenor-plymouth.com fairfaxluxmoore@gmail.com info@invictahotel.co.uk office@kynancehouse.co.uk jewellsguest@btconnect.com res-plymouthinternational@legacy.co.uk events@newcontinental.co.uk www.plymouth.ac.uk/summeraccommodation info@rainbowlodgeplymouth.co.uk enquiries@therustyanchor-plymouth.co.uk info@plymouth-bedandbreakfast.co.uk reservations@strathmorehouse.co.uk
Athenaeum Lodge Guest House 4 Athenaeum Street The Hoe, Plymouth PL1 2RQ T: 01752 665005 E: us@athenaeumlodge.com www.athenaeumlodge.com The Athenaeum Lodge is a family owned and run Guest House situated in the heart of the City close to Plymouth Hoe, the Barbican and seafront. The Theatre Royal, International Ferry Port, Pavilions, University and Drake Circus Shopping Centre, are a short walk. Free use of the in-house computer for Internet access and also a Wi-Fi connection is available, enabling you to keep up with your emails or surf the web. Limited free private parking. Street parking is free between 6pm and 10am. Concessionary parking permits are available for other times.
Gallery Guest House 66 North Road East Plymouth PL4 6AL T: 01752 660801 M: 07715 002994 E: info@galleryguesthouse.com www.galleryguesthouse.com Gallery Guesthouse is a Victorian Townhouse of considerable character and architectural interest, maintaining many of its original features from 1887, when it was built. Ideally situated close to the University of Plymouth and all the good stuff Plymouth has to offer, the Guesthouse has incorporated an Art Gallery as well as providing calm and comfortable accommodation. An ideal place to stay for business or leisure. Special/ Seasonal offers available. Please contact direct quoting “Plymouth Visitor Brochure”.
The Firs Guest House 13 Pier Street, West Hoe, Plymouth PL1 3BS T: 01752 262870 E: thefirsguesthouse@hotmail.co.uk www.thefirsinplymouth.co.uk It is conveniently situated just 150 yards from the famous Hoe Seafront. Within about a mile radius, is a wealth of local interesting spots including: The Hoe, The Pavilions, The Barbican, Plymouth University, Plymouth Aquarium, the Theatre Royal and a fine selection of modern city centre shops. We cater for large groups (15 Beds ) and are pet friendly. We can also arrange fishing trips
Edgcumbe Guest House WE ARE HERE
50 Pier Street, West Hoe Plymouth PL1 3BT T: 01752 660675 E: enquiries@edgcumbeguesthouse.co.uk www.edgcumbeguesthouse.co.uk Friendly guest house offering superb complimentary toiletries, biscuits, tea bed and breakfast in lovely surroundings and coffee. Ground floor rooms availadjoining Plymouth Hoe and Seafront. able. We also have a luxury king size four poster en suite bedroom. Ideally situated within easy walking distance of the City Centre, Barbican, Full central heating and double glazing. Plymouth Pavilions and The Theatre Royal. Free unlimited Wi Fi throughout. Limited free private parking. Street parking is Our generous English breakfasts are plentiful and free of charge from 4p.m. freshly cooked to order. Special diets until 10a.m. Concessionary tickets are catered for. available at other times. Own keys are provided giving you access to rooms at All rooms are en suite and are clean, all times. comfortably furnished, bright and airy and have flatscreen digital colour Book online or phone/email. televisions with Freeview, hairdryers,
www.visitplymouth.co.uk Positively Plymouth 47
Harbour Info MARINAS Plymouth Yacht Haven: 01752 404231 www.yachthavens.com/plymouth VHF Ch 80. Sutton Harbour: 01752 204702 www.suttonharbourmarina.com VHF Ch 12 Queen Anne’s Battery: 01752 671142 www.mdlmarinas.co.uk/mdl-queenannes-battery VHF Ch 80 Mayflower Marina: 01752 556633 www.mayflowermarina.co.uk VHF Ch 80
USEFUL TELEPHONE NUMBERS Emergency Services: 999
Torpoint Ferry Regular 24 hour service Tel: 01752 361577
HM Customs: National advice line: 0845 010 9000
Cremyll Ferry Cremyll Ferry operates a regular service from Stonehouse to Mount Edgcumbe country park. Tel: 01752 822105
SAILING INFORMATION Popular cruising destinations (approx. distances in nautical miles from Plymouth) Dartmouth - 36 Falmouth - 39 Fowey - 22 Isles of Scilly - 95 Looe - 12 Penzance - 65 River Yealm - 5 Salcombe - 22 St Helier - 108 St Peter Port - 89 Torbay - 40
Holidays begin
FERRIES Leave the car at home and explore Plymouth by foot ferry and water taxi. With ferries connecting the Barbican with Mount Batten and Royal William Yard as well as Stonehouse with Mount Edgcumbe Country Park there is plenty of opportunity to make a trip on the water part of your Plymouth experience.
HM Coastguard: 01803 882704 Longroom Port Control: 01752 663225 Local police: 08452 777444 HM Customs: Yacht Line: 0845 7231110
HM Customs: Confidential hotline: 0800 595000 Plymouth Tourist Information: 01752 306330 and www.visitplymouth.co.uk Medical: NHS Direct: 0845 4647
Mount Batten Water Taxi The water taxi operates a daily service from the Barbican landing stage.
Cumberland Centre (minor injuries): 0845 155 8003
Royal William Yard Ferry Departs from the Barbican Landing stage daily Easter to September.
Emergency dentist: 0845 155 807
Cawsand Ferry Departs from the Barbican Landing stage daily Easter to September.
Derriford Hospital: 0845 155 8155
Plymouth City Council: 01752 668000
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Plymout mouth
Roscoff
With a choice regular of sailings, getting to France or Spain with your car couldn’t be easier.
Santander
brittanyferries.com 0871 244 1430
48 Positively Plymouth www.visitplymouth.co.uk
where holidays begin
Helpful Info Need to know the best places to go? Plymouth’s Tourist Information Centre is conveniently located in the heart of The Barbican, Plymouth’s historic maritime quarter
Services available: • Local accommodation booking service • National ‘Book A Bed Ahead’ service (local conditions apply) • Comprehensive information on attractions, accommodation, events, public transport and facilities in Plymouth • Free maps and guides to the area • Ticket agent for events and attractions • Booking agent for the Theatre Royal • Holiday Information Service - the Centre stocks a wide range of destination guides and offers a brochure ordering service for the UK
Location and contact details: Plymouth Mayflower Centre 3-5 Barbican, Plymouth PL1 2LR Tel: 01752 306330 E: barbicantic@plymouth.gov.uk
Opening Hours: April to October: Monday - Saturday 9-5, Sunday 10-4 November to March: Monday - Friday 9-5, Saturday 10-4
Getting here Plymouth is easy to get to, whatever mode of transport you’re using. Road - head for the South West on the M5 from Bristol to Exeter, then the A38 Devon Expressway to Plymouth. Drive-time from both London and Birmingham is around three and a half hours.
• Public transport information and timetables • RADAR keys and access information for disabled visitors • Regional information on attractions, accommodation, events and transport • Discount tickets and vouchers for local attractions • The Tourist Information Centre has a well stocked shop with Plymouth branded merchandise, maps, books and local gifts. Find the perfect gift to take home for your family and friends or buy yourself a momento to remind you of your time in the city.
From Cornwall head for the Saltash Tamar Bridge on the A38 heading East or the Torpoint Ferry on the A374. A £1.50 toll is required for both bridge and ferry routes. For more information visit: www.tamarcrossings.org.uk Park and Ride: Plymouth has three Park and Ride schemes on the A38 and A386 main access routes into the city. For details and locations please visit www.plymouth.gov.uk or call 0800 600 1420. Rail: Services from both London Paddington and Birmingham New Street to Plymouth take roughly three and a half hours. There’s also an overnight sleeper train service from London. Direct services also run from South Wales, the Midlands, the North of England and Scotland. For details and tickets visit www.nationalrail.co.uk or telephone 08457 48 49 50. Coach: National Express coaches from London Victoria and Birmingham both take approximately four and a half hours. Visit www.nationalexpress.com for more information.
Getting around Plymouth Plymouth Citybus and First provide bus links in and around the city. www.plymouth.gov.uk/buses
Traveline For further information about public transport in Plymouth and the South West please visit www.travelinesw.com
Ferry: Access mainland Europe during your visit to Plymouth. Crossings to and from Roscoff in France and Santander in Northern Spain run out of Plymouth by Brittany Ferries. Plymouth’s ferry port in Millbay is close to the city centre making it easy to explore on foot, bike or even car. Make bookings at www.brittany-ferries.co.uk or call 0871 244 0744. Hike to our city! The South West Coast Path National Trail 630 miles of superb coastal walking - takes in the historic quarter of Plymouth. Find out more here: www.southwestcoastpath.com Cycle: Plymouth is part of the National Cycle Network, with several routes leading to and from our city, including the Devon Coast to Coast ride between Plymouth and Ilfracombe. Explore cycling options here: www.sustrans.org.uk
Also located within the Plymouth Mayflower Building is an exhibition telling the story of the Pilgrim Fathers’ famous voyage aboard the Mayflower to the New World and the story of Sutton Harbour through the ages. The exhibition (set over three floors) uses interactive graphic panels to explore tales of military harbour and emigration to the New World. Start your journey by stepping onto the balcony on the top floor to enjoy a fantastic panoramic view of today’s busy Barbican.
Plymouth. The original.