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Issue 59 Autumn 2014 £2.75
Awareness of county soars after Le Tour By Josh Timlin PUBLIC opinion and awareness of Yorkshire has rocketed after the county hosted the biggest Grand Depart in the history of the Tour de France. More than a third of the UK's population had their opinions on the destination positively changed thanks to the event, which happened on the first weekend of July. A post-Tour study, carried out by ResearchBods, showed that a quarter of the country now wants to visit the county, and that 75 per cent want Welcome to Yorkshire – the tourism agency responsible for the county's hosting of the event – to bid for more sporting events to be held there. Millions of sports fans, local residents and international visitors stood side by side as 197 of the world’s elite cyclists navigated their way through Yorkshire's rugged countryside and historic locations. Holme Moss – arguably the centrepiece of the two-day Grand Depart and the toughest climb at 1,709ft – was flooded with approximately 60,000 spectators, with many even camping out for two days before the race reached them. Welcome to Yorkshire’s official Tour
de France website generated massive traffic in the run-up to the event, seeing 2.5 million page views over the weekend itself. Visitors from 190 countries were recorded, further boosting the county's profile. Chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire Gary Verity said: “The passion, the crowds and the support that Yorkshire demonstrated to the watching world were mind-blowing. “The economic benefit to the county is being conservatively estimated to be in excess of £100m, but it could well be more after we we all witnesses. “Whatever the final figure, it was the images of Yorkshire and its amazing landscapes being beamed around the world which will prove priceless in the months and years ahead for the county. “It is the start of a journey for Yorkshire, not the end of one. It was a game-changing event and we are only just scratching the surface of the enormous potential that the destination has.” What do you think? Would you like to see the UK hosting more large scale events – and how do you think they would help to boost tourism? Let us know by emailing our editorial team at ce@scriptmedia.co.uk
Families snap up cancelled holidays
Visitors to the Peak District and Derbyshire have been encouraged to take to two wheels and make the most of the area’s cycle routes. With almost 200 miles of traffic-free tracks and greenways in Derbyshire and over 70 miles of traffic free trails and routes in the Peak District National Park, the area’s tourist board claims there is plenty of scope for cycling fans to get on their bike amid some of Britain’s most beautiful countryside. Supporters of the Summer of Cycling initiative include triple gold medal winning Paralympic cyclist Anthony Kappes (pictured).
FAMILIES are making huge savings of up to 70 per cent by snapping up cancelled holidays. Park Holidays UK reports that sales made by its cancellations desk – open for just two hours a day – have rocketed since schools began breaking up. The 23-park company says it is able to offer discounts by not having to re-advertise the holidays. Because this year has seen the highest number of bookings in its 25-year history, director Tony Clish says there are many more cancellations available. He added: “There will always be people who have to pull out of their plans at the last minute, and we immediately mark their holidays down by half price or less. “There are no catches, but starting dates are often a week or less away, and customers have to choose from what is available rather than specify preferences. But if they are prepared to be flexible, the savings can be very substantial indeed.” Examples of savings include a week's stay for six at Waterside Park in Paignton, Devon, which was booked originally for £406 and re-sold as a cancellation for £129 – a 69 per cent saving.
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Games’ organisers thank city’s people By Christina Eccles ORGANISERS of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games have thanked the city and its people for their support of the event and role in making the Games a success. Over 11 days, the city rolled out the red carpet to thousands of athletes, officials and visitors and hosted a fun filled festival of sport and culture on a scale Glasgow has never seen before. During the Games, the Home Nations triumphed in front of excited crowds who raised the roof in packed venues. Key Glasgow 2014 facts included: Nearly 3.5m people passed through Central Station. Over 50,000 cuddly Clyde Mascots sold out. 171,000 attended the Rugby Sevens – a record-breaking number for the sport. Well over 1m people visited the Glasgow 2014 website per day. Over half a million people visited the Live Site at Glasgow Green. Well over 1m mentions of Glasgow 2014 on social networks since the Opening Ceremony. 1.2m tickets sold. Chief executive of Glasgow 2014 David Grevemberg said: “A massive thank you goes to the people of
Glasgow who embraced the Games and welcomed all athletes and visitors with sensational support, smiles and… selfies. For bringing the house down in all the venues with their deafening levels of support. “Our 15,000 clyde-siders: who put the 'friendly' into the friendly Games. “The hundreds and thousands of people across Scotland who gave the batonbearers in their towns and communities a moment to remember and showed that Scotland has the best supporters in the world “To the whole team, the Organising Committee who has always believed these Games are important to Glasgow. “The army of supporters, sponsors, Games Partners, Commonwealth Games Associations and sports federations and officials around the world who have helped deliver an athlete centred, sport focused Games that we can all be immensely proud of. “And, of course the athletes. From the moment they danced into Celtic Park for the Opening Ceremony they have captured our imagination and our hearts. Every day they have inspired us by breaking records and striving to go beyond their personal best.”
Contacts EDITORIAL Judith Halkerston group editor 01226 734639 jh@scriptmedia.co.uk Christina Eccles reporter 01226 734463 ce@scriptmedia.co.uk Josh Timlin reporter 01226 734715 Olivia Taylor reporter ot@scriptmedia.co.uk
PRODUCTION Stewart Holt – studio manager – sth@scriptmedia.co.uk Laura Blackburn – graphic designer lb@scriptmedia.co.uk Scott Firth – graphic designer sf@scriptmedia.co.uk ADVERTISING
Groups can see the night sky spectacularly lit up over Blists Hill Victorian Town, near Ironbridge, on November 1 when the townsfolk will be celebrating Guy Fawkes’ foiled Gunpowder Plot with a fantastic family fireworks display. The gates open at 6pm allowing plenty of time to explore the town’s Victorian streets and atmospheric buildings. The highlight of the night will be the fireworks extravaganza accompanied by music, which will start at about 7.30pm.
Tony Barry sales and marketing director 01226 734605 CIRCULATION Kelly Tarff 01226 734695 kt@scriptmedia.co.uk Web: www.destination.uk.com
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Refurbished hostel offers a stylish place to stay AWARD winning Smart City Hostel in Edinburgh has undergone major refurbishments to provide guests with a more stylish place to stay. The hostel now boasts five stylish premier double rooms, along with new dedicated stag and hen party rooms. The addition of five boutique doubles, which feature quirky designer wallpaper and high quality furnishings, offer a unique hostelling experience, while larger dorms have been developed into bespoke party
rooms. Every room will also feature an individual piece of artwork created by local digital artist Kevin Allen. Smart City also has an on site bar and restaurant for guests. Hotel manager Ruth Kerr said: “Smart City Edinburgh has been at the forefront of luxury hostelling since opening in 2006, winning numerous awards. The latest overhaul of rooms will assure it continues to set the pace for the ‘Flashpacker’ market.”
Children of all ages can now enjoy the Macdonald Aviemore Resort’s new £600,000 state of the art activity centre. Designed by Wiltshire based company, Tiger Play, the activity centre boasts themes for all ages, from soft play areas for 0-two year olds, to a relaxation zone exclusive for teens’ use, including iPod stations, TV and lounge seating. Chief executive officer at Macdonald Aviemore Resort Chris-Wayne Wills said: “We are very proud to offer guests and non-residents alike the chance to experience the Aviemore Activity Centre; surely one of Scotland’s most imaginative, hightech and age-diverse activity centres offered within one dedicated site.”
Travel firm improves its online service AN award-winning chain of hotels has launched a new website. Daish's Holidays, which runs hotels on the Isle of Wight and south coast of England, has improved its online service in a bid to make it easier for holidaymakers to book the break they want. The new-look website includes extensive information on all Daish's destinations, which include Shanklin, Torquay, Bournemouth, Newquay, Eastbourne and Weymouth. Local information covers visitor attractions, excursions and sample menus. Featuring more imagery and
a simple search box at the top of every page, the site introduces a 'special offers' page with details of last-minute bargains. Director of sales and marketing at Daish's Holidays Matt Jobson said: “Our new website has been designed to reflect the quality of experience customers can expect from us. “As well as projecting the beauty of the resorts and the unrivalled standard of our hotels, we are making it easier than ever for customers to choose their holiday, whether it is a family trip or a group getaway.”
Gulliver's Hotel in Warrington
Excellence award for hotel A WARRINGTON hotel has received a certificate of excellence from TripAdvisor. Gulliver's Hotel, which opened in 2012, caters for families and individuals with a range of familythemed suites designed to extend the fun of a theme park experience for children. The accolade – which is only given to establishments who consistently achieve outstanding reviews – honours hospitality excellence in the 4
industry. Businesses must maintain an overall TripAdvisor rating of at least four out of five to qualify for the award. Managing director of Gulliver's Julie Dalton said: “This is a real boost to the entire team at our Warrington hotel – it's testament to their hard work and fantastic customer service. “Thank you to every guest who took the time to complete a review. There is no greater seal of approval.”
Dog worries spoil Britons’ holidays By Josh Timlin MORE than half of Britain’s 8m dog owners have sacrificed a holiday because of their pets, according to new research. The Kennel Club, which looked at dog owners’' holiday habits during a study, also found that 71 per cent would be more likely to go on holiday if they could take their dogs with them. Over half who opted to leave their beloved pooches at home admitted to missing their family and friends while they were on holiday – but they missed their four-legged friends more. Caroline Kisko, secretary at The Kennel Club, said the research is “worrying”. She added: “People feel really guilty and upset when they leave their dogs to go on holiday, which is
why the majority of dog owners surveyed would tend to opt for a ‘staycation’ so they can take their dog along with them. “That is why it is so frustrating that the UK continues to fail miserably next to other European countries when it comes to dog friendliness, with our anti-dog stance stopping almost five million dog owners from enjoying British services and holiday destinations.” The Kennel Club – which wants businesses to have a dog-friendly attitude – think having that approach will have a knock-on effect and attract more dog-owning customers. Caroline added: “Businesses are missing an opportunity because our research has shown that four out of five businesses with a dog-friendly policy say it has helped them attract more customers.”
City to host cheese festival BATH will play host to a mouthwatering mix of the UK’s leading artisan cheese makers at the Fine Cheese Co. Festival, which takes place on October 25. Bath Soft Cheese, Keen’s Cheddar, Ticklemore Cheese and Trethowan’s Dairy are among the cheese makers taking centre stage at The Octagon in Milsom Place to show off their
delicious, award-winning cheese. Director of Milsom Place Sarah Mansfield said: “We love working with the Fine Cheese Co. on this event and all look forward to welcoming the UK’s top cheese makers back to Bath. Milsom Place is a hub of foodie activity and this is one of the highlights of the Great Bath Feast during October.”
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Spinnaker Tower encourages educational groups to visit
The tour centred around the area's wildlife, history and landscapes.
Package tour launched to entice people to Alderney A NEW package tour has been launched to entice people to the island of Alderney. The location, which is the most northerly of the Channel Islands, is offering a tour centred around the area's rich wildlife, history and stunning landscapes. Guests on the two-day 'Living Islands' trip will be escorted by the guides on orientation tours of Alderney's finest landmarks, including the World War Two German bunkers, Fort Tourgis and several
Roman outbuildings. There will be a wealth of wildlife spotting opportunities along the way including a tour of the Longis Nature Reserve, wildflower walks, hedgehog and bat walks and a seabird safari. Visitors will also have their own time to get to know the Island on foot, or with hired bikes, and to savour the stunning views of rugged cliffs and dramatic seascapes, as well as relaxing and enjoying some of the island’s exquisite cuisine, including its famed seafood.
A NEW discount incentive has been offered by the Spinnaker Tower to encourage more school and college groups to visit. Classes of 15 or more will receive half price entry during October and November. To accompany a school visit, educational resources covering key stages one to three are free to download from the attraction's website and provides teachers with an easy-to-use learning programme, which includes visit worksheets and risk assessments. Teachers can also take advantage of free activity boxes which offer an interactive way to introduce pupils to integral areas of the key stage two geography, English and numeracy curriculum. Visiting leisure and tourism and business studies college groups will benefit from a key stage four resource pack which looks at the various aspects of the Spinnaker Tower business and its relationship with the tourism industry. New business coordinator at the Spinnaker Tower Jane Chivers said: "Our autumn schools offer is a great chance for schools or colleges to give a visit a try and understand how we work to provide an enriching and rewarding educational trip for groups of all key stage levels.”
Center Parcs top travel firm CENTER Parcs has been named as the top travel company in an annual list. The UK Customer Satisfaction Index, run by the Institute of Customer Service, is the national measure of consumer satisfaction based on a six-monthly online survey. Just five travel firms made it on the 50-strong list, with Center Parcs being the first travel company to feature, appearing in 13th place with a score of 83.3.
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The Spinnaker Tower.
The findings used information supplied by 10,000 customers and 40,000 individual customer experiences. Operations and development director at Center Parcs Paul Kent said: “We are delighted to have been featured as the number one travel company for customer service in the UK. We pride ourselves on our excellent service to guests and it is part of the overall high quality experience we offer.”
Boutique Lake District getaway, The Brimstone Hotel, has teamed up with Head to the Hills to create an exhilarating wild swimming escape for guests. Wild swimming escape guests will benefit from a package including free top-of-the-range kit hire from Brimstone’s Berghaus Room, access to Langdale Estate’s gym, pool and spa facilities, two nights’ accommodation in one of Brimstone’s rooms and a lavish in-room breakfast each morning. The escape is available until the end of September and costs from £325 per person based on two people sharing.
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Follow in Paddington’s footsteps VISITORS to London will be able to follow in the footsteps of iconic children’s character Paddington Bear as part of a new tourism trail. Prior to the release of a new film about the character, VisitLondon. com, the NSPCC and STUDIOCANAL have teamed up for the Paddington Trail, which will see 50 Paddington
Bear statues – designed by a host of artists, designers and celebrities – placed across the capital, taking in museums, parks, shops and landmarks. The statues will then be auctioned later in the year to raise money for charity partners including the NSPCC.
Family audio tours at Houses of Parliament FOLLOWING the successful launch of new audio tours earlier this year, the Houses of Parliament have added a new self-guided option created especially for families. Aimed at children aged seven to 12, whilst also appealing to accompanying parents and grandparents, the family audio tours have an engaging commentary delivered in the style of a ‘live’ news broadcast. Time travelling reporters are called upon throughout the tour to ‘report from the scene’ on stories associated with this iconic and historic building. Highlights of the tours include St Stephen’s Hall, Royal Gallery, the majestic Lords Chamber, Central Lobby, Members’ Lobby, and the Commons Chamber, scene of many lively debates. Tours begin and end in 900 year old Westminster Hall
where both Guy Fawkes and King Charles I stood trial. The family audio tour takes just over an hour and there are a number of places to sit down, absorb the stories, and perhaps even discover the link between Central Lobby and a hippopotamus. For Houses of Parliament audio tours, one child is admitted free with each paying adult. Tickets for additional children are £7 and adults are £17.50 (£15 for over 60s). Tours are on a timed basis and take place every Saturday and on most weekdays during school holiday periods. Alternative audio commentaries are offered in English (for grown-ups), French, German, Italian, Spanish, Russian and Mandarin. The popular ‘Blue Badge’ guided tours are also still available.
London’s biggest attraction ticket seller has won two awards in this year's Group Travel Awards. Encore Tickets, who retained their 'Best Group Ticket Agency' crown for the third year running, also triumphed in the 'Best Group Supplier' category. Head of sales Jo Batchelor said: “These awards are a huge vote of thanks from our group partners. Winning the awards is a real plus and we are very proud.”
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Two venues shortlisted for tourism accolade By Josh Timlin TWO historic venues have been named as finalists at the UK's biggest tourism awards. Sheffield City Hall and Scarborough Spa have both bagged nominations at Welcome to Yorkshire’s White Rose Awards, which celebrates the county's best attractions, hotels, B&Bs and restaurants. The pair – both operated by SIV Events – are two landmarks in their respective cities and both go headto-head in the business tourism category. Sheffield City Hall, a grade II listed venue, first opened its doors in 1932 and underwent a major refurbishment in 2005. It is home to multi-function and entertainment spaces, attracting over 250,000 visitors every year.
Project members who took part in the inaugural meeting.
Scottish areas join to benefit from funding By Josh Timlin VISIT West Lothian has partnered with East and Midlothian Council to secure funding from VisitScotland. In a bid to promote and enhance the region's tourism, the three areas were awarded £11,900 to target the travel trade market. Following the inaugural meeting at historic Newbattle Abbey, the Lothians came together to finalise how the funding will be used to tap into the potential travel market. The project will focus on a range of promotional activities over the coming year, including the development of a new website and attendance at a number of key trade shows. Plans for next year include a focus on local food and drink, with businesses such as Macdonald Houstoun House and Glenkinchie Distillery already on board to showcase the facilities available to would-be visitors.
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There will be no shortage of remarkable attractions and activities on offer to keep groups with different interests entertained. Ian Gardner, from the project steering group, said: “We are delighted to have brought the three Lothian areas together to secure funding from VisitScotland. “The partnership will allow us to build on the successes we have achieved individually to date and continue to encourage tourism to the area. “We hope to entice more groups to the Lothians and encourage them to stay longer and explore the vast range of attractions we collectively boast.” Manuela Calchini, regional director at VisitScotland, added: “It is terrific to see that the three Lothian regions have joined forces to such great effect, pooling their resources and promoting the many wonderful things to see and do in each of the areas.”
Luxury hotel offers medieval magic ONE of the North East’s leading luxury hotels is offering visitors a little medieval midweek magic. 600-year-old Lumley Castle in Chester-le-Street – near the historic city of Durham – has launched a medieval retreat
package. Guests can enjoy an à la carte dinner in the hotel’s renowned Black Knight restaurant, an overnight stay in a courtyard bedroom and a full English or continental breakfast the following morning.
Welcome to Yorkshire won Europe’s leading marketing campaign for the third time.
Yorkshire bags travel Oscar
Tower Ballroom to host awards
By Josh Timlin
MARKETING Lancashire has revealed this year’s Lancashire Tourism Awards will be held at the Blackpool Tower Ballroom on Thursday November 6. The awards include categories for accommodation, venues, attractions and events, with new categories for this year including the Visitor Experience of the Year Award. Chief executive of Marketing Lancashire Ruth Connor said: “Following the huge success of last
YORKSHIRE'S summer of celebrations has continued after the county bagged a 'travel Oscar' at an awards ceremony in Greece. The destination – which hosted the Grand Depart of the Tour de France in July – has now been named as Europe's leading destination at this year's World Travel Awards. Yorkshire held off competition from European cities such as Florence, Geneva and Rome to triumph at the
year’s event at Blackburn Cathedral we are working hard to raise the bar again and deliver an event not to be missed. “The Blackpool Tower is an iconic world famous landmark that over the years has provided millions of visitors with special memories and it is only fitting that we pay homage to the anniversary by hosting our celebration to tourism in The Blackpool Tower Ballroom.”
The Victorian Scarborough Spa, located in the popular seaside resort’s South Bay, is another grade II listed venue which hosts 105 days of business tourism events every year. Chief executive of SIV Steve Brailey said: “Awards are a great endorsement of our work and we are delighted that the success of Sheffield City Hall and Scarborough Spa over the last 12 months has been recognised with two nominations. “It puts the venues right up there with Yorkshire tourism royalty, as both venues are extremely important to the local economy and attract a combined 500,000 people each year.” A location for this year’s awards will be announced in the coming weeks.
awards ceremony in Athens. Welcome to Yorkshire, its tourism agency, capped off the night by winning Europe’s leading marketing campaign for the third time. Gary Verity, chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, said: “It is a tribute to the 12 months of hard work that has gone into making this year the most successful of all time for the county. These awards are some of the biggest in international tourism, so it makes me very proud to see Yorkshire at the top.”
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Promotion gives travellers a taste of Kent’s summer By Christina Eccles TRAVELLERS passing through London’s St Pancras International have been treated to a taste of the Garden of England, as well as an insight into what they can discover along the Kent coast and Medway, thanks to a Visit Kent promotion. Representatives from key attractions, food producers and popular visitor destinations have been displaying their wares, handing out free samples and running fun competitions from three eyecatching colourful beach huts on the station concourse. Potential visitors have also been given copies of The Summer Times, a newspaper from Visit Kent, packed with colourful photographs and the latest information about top places to visit, events and cultural attractions. The promotion, backed by transport partners High Speed One, Southeastern, Arriva and Stagecoach also included special offers on attraction tickets and refreshments to everyone travelling into or around the county by public transport. Chief executive of Visit Kent Sandra Matthews-Marsh said: “Popup Kent is creating quite a stir at the station.
Theresa Bruton, Kent County Council head of regeneration projects; Barbara Thomas, Southeastern passenger services director; Nicola Shaw, High Speed One chief executive; Mark Dance, Kent County Council cabinet member for economic development; Sandra Matthews-Marsh MBE, Visit Kent chief executive; and Robin Cooper, Medway Council director of regeneration, community and culture. “Different tourism partners are taking advantage of the brilliant beach huts during the campaign to promote their specialities. So regular travellers are treated to changing displays and can see what a wide range of treats can be discovered in the Garden of England on London’s doorstep. “And we are handing out 8,000 copies of each of the two issues of
The Summer Times which is proving very popular. People are taking it on their trains and browsing through all the current and forthcoming events making the season special in Kent. “Once again, Visit Kent is demonstrating how tourism businesses and local authorities can make a really big marketing impact when they join forces and work in partnership.”
Freya McCann has joined SuperBreak as sales executive, North West and Yorkshire. Freya brings with her 11 years of experience working her way up at Garstang Travel, starting a modern apprenticeship in 2003 and most recently as senior travel advisor. Reporting to Graham Balmforth, national sales manager at SuperBreak, Freya’s responsibilities include visiting travel agents in her area to provide product information and training.
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An upturn in business confidence and staff recruitment has seen strong early demand from groups for key Christmas party dates at Hedsor House in December. Set in 100 acres of beautiful grounds at Taplow, Buckinghamshire, the Georgian country house has become a firm favourite among companies wanting to share some festive cheer. The venue, which recently starred as the exclusive location for Dustin Hoffman’s critically acclaimed movie Quartet, has a capacity of up to 150 for a traditional three-course dinner and for larger parties of up to 300 for canapé and bowl food.
Festive theme for chocolate tour A POPULAR chocolate attraction in York will undergo a festive makeover this winter. Visitors to York's Chocolate Story, situated in King's Square, will learn more about the role the sweet treat played in the historic city's Christmas past. The venue's master chocolatiers will also create a variety of Christmas-inspired flavours to
sample, as well as a chocolate mulled wine. A spokesperson said: “The tours will be themed around the connection chocolate has had with Christmas in the past, from what life was like in the factories to the role it played in the trenches of World War One. “Visitors can even craft their very own seasonal creations.”
A Christmas to remember at Castle Howard ENJOY a Christmas to remember with a group visit to Castle Howard in Yorkshire this festive season, when the house opens its doors between Saturday November 22 and Sunday December 21. Built over 300 years ago for the Howard family, today the house is still hand decorated by the Hon Simon and Mrs Howard. Traditional baubles, trees, wreaths, garlands and flickering candles transform the stately home into a truly magical place, where you’ll create Christmas memories to last a lifetime. Lose yourself in the festive season with roaring log fires, soaring trees laden with thousands of baubles and lights twinkling in every room. Explore the gardens which take on a wintry beauty of their own before enjoying a private
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Christmas lunch by the open fire in the elegant Grecian Hall. Alternatively, enjoy delicious, seasonal favourites in one of the cafés. Groups can join a wreath making class with Castle Howard’s own florist, whose elaborate floral arrangements will be on display throughout the house, in a private workshop (must be pre-booked). The tree lined drive leads to the Stable Courtyard, where groups can pick up all the Christmas gifts they need; from an array of baubles and carefully selected gift ranges in the gift shop, book shop and garden centre to tasty local treats and festive specialities in our farm shop. Christmas markets with stalls selling a range of handmade crafts and local produce add to the festive feel on selected dates.
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Nutcracker to stop off at cities
The Sooty Show will be one of the attractions at the indoor Christmas theme park.
Winter Wonderland returns to city WINTER Wonderland is returning to EventCity in Manchester for the 2014 festive season, organisers have revealed. Following the success of its initial run last Christmas, the UK’s largest indoor Christmas theme park is back from December 13 2014 to January 4 2015. Complete with over 40 family rides and attractions, the event will also
include The Sooty Show, games’ stalls and a vast array of food and drinks stalls, as well as meet and greet with Santa Claus. Tammy Silcock of Kingpin Events, the organiser of Winter Wonderland, said: “We are delighted to be returning with Winter Wonderland to EventCity after the huge success of our first event last year, this year we aim to be bigger and better and
provide a fun-filled day out for families, whatever the weather. “This is entertainment on a huge scale with lots of rides and attractions, even The Sooty Show, Santa Claus will be part of Winter Wonderland and all included in the entry price, there is even free parking, so I would urge families to book their places early to avoid disappointment!”
SCOTTISH Ballet will present Peter Darrell’s The Nutcracker this winter; touring Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Inverness and Newcastle. After a fun-filled Christmas party full of magic and celebrations, young Clara falls asleep and dreams that she helps the Nutcracker Prince to defeat an army of giant mice. She is rewarded by a visit to the glittering Land of Ice and Snow where snowflakes come to life sparkling as they dance and the magical Kingdom of Sweets – the enchanted Realm of the beautiful Sugar Plum Fairy. Peter Darrell’s magical world of The Nutcracker has been reimagined by Olivier Award winning designer Lez Brotherston, adding layers of Victoriana and traditional festive fare to the 1973 production. Dates: Festival Theatre Edinburgh (December 13 2014 – January 3 2015), Theatre Royal Glasgow (January 7-10), His Majesty's Theatre Aberdeen (January 14-17), Eden Court Inverness (January 21-24) and Theatre Royal Newcastle (February 11-14).
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Portsmouth Historic Dockyard’s festive celebrations. Photo credit Portsmouth Historic Dockyard.
Event returns for 15th year GROUPS can enjoy discounted rates at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard’s festive celebrations if they book up to 10 days in advance. Parties of 15 people or more can get up to 25 per cent off day tickets for the attraction’s Victorian Festival of Christmas, which returns for a 15th year from November 28 to 30. As part of the event, visitors will be magically transported into a bygone
era of real snowy white streets, with seasonal carols, the ever raucous Fagin’s Tavern, local produce, catering and the Christmas gift market. An event ticket also includes entry to the Mary Rose Museum, National Museum of the Royal Navy, HMS Warrior 1860, HMS Victory, Action Stations and Harbour Tours (weather permitting).
Ballroom to become market THE Hilton London Wembley is transforming its Grand Ballroom into an authentic European Christmas market, offering guests a unique party venue with a touch of continental flair. Catering for groups of all sizes with a choice of packages, the hotel will
draw together delights from across Europe, bringing to life the sights, scents and celebrations of Christmas. For guests wishing to join a larger, inclusive celebration, the hotel is offering joiner parties or larger groups can enjoy a private Christmas party package.
Longleat to stage ‘Festival of Light’ LONGLEAT is getting ready to host a spectacular Festival of Light, featuring hundreds of enormous illuminated Chinese lanterns. Starting in November and running into January, the Christmas spectacular will take the age-old tradition of the Chinese lantern and completely transform it for a modern audience. About six months of planning has already gone into the event, with Longleat working closely alongside a team of world-
renowned experts from Zigong in China’s Sichuan province. As part of the Festival of Light, visitors will also be able to enjoy the experience of traditional Chinese ‘face-changing’ opera where performers magically transform elaborate masks in an instant. The event will run alongside Longleat’s traditional Christmas celebrations which include the Santa train, giant musical Christmas tree, pantomime characters and outdoor ice skating rink.
Norwich to celebrate with tree trail and app NORWICH is set to celebrate the Christmas season with a new event and an interactive Discover Norwich app. As part of the 2014 festivities, the city will play host to a real Christmas tree trail, where visitors will discover narrow streets and winding paths, cobbled hills and medieval alleys as they search for the beautifully decorated trees following a 12 Days of Christmas theme designed by local artists and schools. Also new for Christmas 2014 is the Discover Norwich app. The app is packed full of useful information and features at the touch of a button including an interactive Norwich map, detailed event listings and directories by interest for shops, restaurants, bars and accommodation. The festivities kick off on the evening of November 20 with an atmospheric lantern parade leading from one of Norwich’s most beautiful heritage buildings, Norwich Cathedral. The parade will then wind through the streets of Norwich to arrive at 12 City Hall where spectators will be
treated to live performance, winter food stalls, music and the big Christmas Lights Switch On. Other highlights will include this year’s pantomime, Peter Pan, at Norwich Theatre Royal.
Visitors to Ightham Mote can celebrate Christmas traditions old and new – including the ground floor of the house dressed for a Victorian and 1950s American Christmas. Highlights of the festive season include an open weekend from November 28 to 30, where there will be a local produce market, seasonal refreshments and an appearance from Father Christmas.
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Superbreak predicts another great year for Billy Elliot the Musical SHORT break specialist, SuperBreak, is predicting another bumper year for hit musical Billy Elliot as the show puts a further 375,000 tickets on sale, taking the booking period to December 19 2015. In addition, Olivier award-winning actor Ruthie Henshall has recently joined the cast as Billy's dance teacher Mrs Wilkinson. Henshall has performed many iconic roles in musicals both in the West End and on Broadway including Velma Kelly and Roxie Hart in Chicago, Fantine in Les Miserables
and Ellen in Miss Saigon. National sales manager at SuperBreak Graham Balmforth said: “Billy Elliot the Musical is a key show for us in the West End and is popular for customers young and old. With dates now on sale until the end of 2015, this really does give agents the opportunity to tap into the lucrative theatre break market and forward sell into next year. “Ruthie Henshall is a well-known actress and I have no doubt that she will be a big draw for many. “She has performed in many of the
iconic shows and this casting is perfect for her.” Based on the Oscar nominated film, Billy Elliot the Musical is an inspirational story of one boy's dream to realise his ambitions against the odds. Set in the North East of England against the background of the historic 1984/85 miners’ strike, the show follows Billy's journey as he stumbles out of the boxing ring and into a ballet class where he discovers a passion for dance that inspires his family and whole
community and changes his life forever. Billy Elliot the Musical has now been seen by over 9.5m people worldwide, and in May next year the internationally celebrated show will celebrate its 10th birthday. Billy Elliot the Musical features music by Elton John and book and lyrics by Lee Hall. Stephen Daldry directs with choreography by Peter Darling. Prices start from £88.50pp
For more information on SuperBreak visit www.superbreak.com/agents
News from around the theatres ... By David Thomas
LOVE is in the air in London’s West End, with Shakespeare In Love opening to rave reviews – and if you love your shows there is plenty to make your hearts beat faster in the coming months. In fact, Something Gold, Something New, Something Borrowed ... and something Blues! Something gold: To the London Palladium for the launch of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cats, which will be opening at the world’s most famous theatre in December for a strictly limited run (opening night December 11 – final performance February 28) The show that first put the British musical on the world stage back in 1981 has been out of the capital for 12 years, but it only took a few tingling opening bars, and the sight of a sleek feline slinking across the stage, to make the memories come flooding back. The composer (flanked by the show’s director, Trevor Nunn, and choreographer, Gillian Lynne) spoke of updating some of the classic numbers, including the possibility of The Rum Tum Tugger becoming a rap –but I’m not sure how Macavity would cope with Closed Circuit TV 14 and CSI! With Lloyd Webber’s other
1968 strike)
musical masterpiece Evita, starring Marti Pellow, also arriving at The Dominion Theatre (opening night September 22 – final performance November 1) visitors to London’s West End are bound to strike gold this Autumn/Winter.
Something new: You may not have seen the film Shakespeare In Love, the movie starring Gwyneth Paltrow, Joseph Fiennes and Judi Dench that won five Oscars in 1999 including Best Picture and Best Screenplay. You MUST see the play Shakespeare In Love starring Tom Bateman and Lucy Briggs-Owen that opened at the Noel Coward last week (The Telegraph called it 'The best British comedy since ‘One Man, Two Guvnors’.) Of course, if you HAVE seen the film you will know that the story is a million miles away from the stuffy Shakespeare served up in English Literature lessons up and down the country, and in this production you are transported into a wonderfully alive, ravishingly beautiful and, most importantly, a thoroughly modern world populated by some of funniest and finest-acted characters since Will hung up his quill. With only 14 weeks to go before its World premiere at London’s
David Thomas Adelphi Theatre (previews from October 9 – opening night November 5) Made In Dagenham looks set to join the list of original British musicals which have taken the theatre world by storm. Directed by Rupert Goold (Enron) and written by Richard Bean (One Man, Two Guvnors) made In Dagenham stars Gemma Arterton (St Trinians, The Quantum of Solace) in the role of Rita O’Grady, leading the machinists of Ford’s Dagenham plant in the battle for equal pay for women (the show, like the film before it, is based on the real life
Something Borrowed and Blues: Tony Award winning musical Memphis opens this September at the Shaftesbury Theatre (previews from October 9 – opening night October 23) starring two of the brightest new stars in the West End firmament. Beverley Night (The Bodyguard) and Killian Donnelly (The Commitments) are undisputed experts in The Great Night Out, and this electrifying tale of the birth of rock and roll (and the troubled times it sprang from) boasts a potent mix of Blues and Rock composed by Bon Jovi keyboard player David Bryan. It is too early to announce casting for Beautiful, The Carole King Musical, which will be coming to London next February. However the show, which magically brings to life the incredible story of one of the greatest songwriters of all time, is jam-packed with classic numbers such as “Up On The Roof,” “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’” “I Feel The Earth Move,” and “You Make Me Feel Like (A Natural Woman) and so I am sure that the cream of the West End’s musical talent will be battering down the producers’ door for the chance to be in the show which is already the toast of Broadway!
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Smash-hit Broadway musical MEMPHIS comes to London DIRECT from its smash-hit Broadway run and a triumphant 55-city North American tour, the multi awardwinning musical MEMPHIS is set to be London’s hottest new destination when it begins performances at the Shaftesbury Theatre from 9 October 2014. Winner of four 2010 Tony Awards® including Best Musical, MEMPHIS has a Grammy® Award-winning original score by Bon Jovi founding member David Bryan and book by Joe DiPietro. Inspired by true events from the underground dance clubs of 1950s Memphis, Tennessee, MEMPHIS follows the fame and forbidden love of a radio DJ who wants to change the world and a club singer who is ready for her big break. Send your clients along on their incredible journey to the ends of the airwaves – filled with laughter, soaring emotion and roof-raising rock ‘n’ roll. Starring the Queen of British soul, multi-award-winning recording artist Beverley Knight (The Bodyguard) as club singer ‘Felica Farrell’ and West End star Killian Donnelly (The Commitments, Billy Elliot the Musical, Les Miserables) as radio DJ ‘Huey Calhoun’, MEMPHIS will leave
your clients feeling exhilarated by its explosive blend of electrifying music, soaring emotion and roof-raising energy. “David Bryan evokes the powerhouse funk of James Brown, the hot guitar riffs of Chuck Berry, the smooth harmonies of the Temptations and the silken, bouncy pop of the great girl groups of the period,” wrote Charles Isleworth in
the New York Times. Directed by Christopher Ashley and with choreography by Sergio Trujillo, MEMPHIS also boasts scenic design by David Gallo, costume design by Paul Tazewell, lighting design by Howell Binkley and sound design by the Olivier Award-winning Gareth Owen. “A fantastic evening that makes you think and feel as much as sing.
What more could one ask of a night at the theatre?” added The Huffington Post. With generous group and tour operator rates available on midweek performances, there is no reason why you, your clients and your groups won't love MEMPHIS. For more information or to make a booking, please contact your preferred ticket supplier.
Beverley Knight stars as club singer ‘Felica Farrell’ in MEMPHIS.
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More casting announced for Made in Dagenham FURTHER casting has been announced for Made in Dagenham, which will open at the Adelphi Theatre on November 5, with previews from October 9. Based on the hit British film, this new musical comedy will star international stage and screen actress Gemma Arterton in the lead role of Rita O’Grady, with Adrian Der Gregorian playing her husband Eddie. Joining Gemma and Adrian are Steve Furst playing US Ford executive Mr Tooley, Mark Hadfield
as Harold Wilson, Sophie-Louise Dann playing Barbara Castle, Sophie Stanton as Beryl, Heather Craney as Clare, Sophie Isaacs as Sandra, Julius D'Silva playing Ford Dagenham boss Mr Hopkins and Naomi Frederick as his wife Lisa. Director Rupert Goold said: “We have in this show some of the best original music around and a cracking script and to know that it will be performed by this multi-talented, wonderful, diverse, rowdy bunch of actors makes me keener than ever to get into the rehearsal room.”
Sold-out show set to return FOLLOWING a sold-out run in spring 2014, the hit revival of Oh What A Lovely War will return to the Theatre Royal Stratford East in January 2015, before embarking on a national tour. Oh What A Lovely War, a satirical musical about World War I, originally premiered at Theatre Royal Stratford East in 1963. This production, directed by Terry Johnson, opened at the theatre in
February 2014, to public and critical acclaim. Due to popular demand, it returns again in 2015 Artistic director of Theatre Royal Stratford East Kerry Michael said: “We’re delighted that following a sell-out success earlier this year, Oh What A Lovely War will be returning to us before heading out on a national tour. It’s a hugely important show that everyone should see.”
Fans of the musicals will be able to enjoy sing along sessions of a classic film and a modern favourite at the Princess Theatre in Torquay next February. On Saturday February 7, visitors will be treated to a screening of Disney’s Frozen, complete with on screen lyrics, followed by the classic Julie Andrews’ film The Sound of Music. Fans are also encouraged to come in their best fancy dress costumes.
Significance and variety of London theatre revealed LONDON is the most significant theatre capital in the world, with a huge variety of types and sizes of theatre across its boroughs, a new report has claimed. The London Theatre Report, commissioned by the National Theatre and the Society of London Theatre and authored by Alistair Smith, discovered the size and vibrancy of the London theatre sector and provides a baseline for future analysis. Findings included: London has 241 professional theatres with a seating capacity of more than 110,000. In 2012/13, more than 22m people attended London theatre performances. In 2012/13, London theatre took £618.5m at the box office, more than was taken by London cinemas. Theatres range in size from the 30-seat Lord Stanley Pub to the 3,600-seat Hammersmith Apollo. At any one time, London’s theatres engage more than 3,000 performers. In 2012/13, the average theatre ticket price paid in London was 16
London is the most significant theatre capital in the world. £27.76. This was down on 2011/12. Independent producer and former SOLT president Mark Rubinstein said: “This is the first time we have had the opportunity to consider the activity of all professional theatre and theatres across London and really map their size, range and engagement. This is a fantastic resource which acts as a snapshot of the theatrical ecology today and provides a benchmark for charting the evolution of London’s theatre scene in years to come.”
The new production is set within a fantasy world of Imperial Russia.
Newcastle to host Cinderella NORTHERN Ballet is bringing its new production of Cinderella to the Newcastle Theatre Royal this October. A new interpretation of the ultimate rags to riches fairytale, this production by David Nixon is set within a fantasy world of Imperial Russia. Cinderella’s life is turned upside down following the death of her father. Subject to the coldness and
cruelty of her step mother, and kept as a servant by her family, her life is transformed once again following a magical encounter in a market place. As romance blossoms, can Prince Charming see beyond the servant girl and fall in love with the real Cinderella? Cinderella appears at the theatre from October 21 to 25.
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Show welcomes 12 millionth visitor DISNEY’S award winning musical The Lion King has welcomed its 12 millionth visitor at London’s Lyceum Theatre. Winning over 70 theatre awards worldwide, the stage production follows the adventures of the young lion cub Simba, as he struggles to
accept the responsibilities of adulthood and his destined role of King. The show will celebrate its 15th anniversary in October in London, where it remains the West End’s best-selling stage production. Tickets are currently on sale until March 29 2015.
A new production of The Importance of Being Earnest is currently playing at the Harold Pinter Theatre, with performances until September 20. Dubbed by Oscar Wilde ‘a trivial comedy for serious people’, the production is directed by Lucy Bailey, with a cast including Nigel Havers, Martin Jarvis, Cherie Lunghi and Siân Phillips.
Theatre Royal backstage to Castle hosts Shakespeare plays get a major refurbishment Arundel Castle hosted Shakespeare as part of Arundel Festival.
ARUNDEL Castle once again welcomed the GB Theatre Company for alfresco Shakespeare as part of the Arundel Festival. One of Shakespeare’s earliest plays, The Comedy of Errors, and the tragedy Macbeth were performed in the Collector Earl’s Garden by a troupe of actors. Leading them was Barrie Palmer, artistic director of GB Theatre Company, who said: “We were
thrilled and honoured to return to Arundel Castle for a double celebration this year; 2014 marks the 450th anniversary of William Shakespeare’s birth and our fifth year as a touring theatre company. “We brought together a superb cast for what were three highly entertaining evenings against the beautiful backdrop of Arundel Cathedral on the aptly named ‘Oberon’s Palace’ stage.”
THE backstage areas of Newcastle’s historic Theatre Royal, including the green room and dressing rooms, are set to undergo a major refurbishment. The work is scheduled to take just over a year,with a completion date of September 2015. It will be the first time the backstage area has been refurbished or decorated since 1988, when the whole Grade I listed building was redeveloped. The work is the second act in a
major facelift, ‘act one’ being the theatre’s award winning £4.9m auditorium restoration which took place in 2011. Theatre Royal chief executive Philip Bernays said: “We’ve wanted to refurbish our Back-of-House for a long time now, but as we are a charity it’s been a question of waiting until we had enough money to do a good job. When we were left a generous legacy we were delighted to be able to allocate it to this.”
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Visit York introduces advertising digiBike By Olivia Taylor
Leicester will host next year’s UKinbound convention.
City to host major tourism convention THE city of Leicester will host 250 leading tourism businesses at a major convention next year. UKinbound, one of the UK’s leading tourism trade associations, is the latest national body to select the Midlands location to host its convention. The organisation, which represents over 300 tourism businesses, is the only one that focuses solely on the interests of the UK’s inbound tourism sector. Its members include tour operators, hoteliers, attractions, retailers, restaurateurs, transport providers and other suppliers who offer services for inbound tourists to the UK.
HOT on the heels of the Tour de France’s arrival in Yorkshire, Visit York has introduced a new advertising and information service for the city streets of York in the shape of a four wheeled bicycle. The Visit York digiBike boasts two state of the art smart TVs and an onboard sound system to promote visual advertising. Throughout the year, the bike will travel around the city centre stopping at key tourism hotspots such as York Minster, St Helen’s Square, National Railway Museum, Parliament Street and Union Terrace coach park. Three newly appointed Visit York digiCyclists will also distribute
leaflets, provide directions and expert local knowledge to visitors and residents. This new service aims to ensure visitors are better informed and encourage a richer experience, enabling visitors to explore all the city has to offer, as well as ensuring they don’t miss out on real time events. Head of Visit York Kate McMullen said: ‘‘The digiBike is a high visibility way to promote York’s tourism businesses and at the same time offer help and advice for visitors and residents. “And by meeting and greeting coach passengers first thing in the morning, we’re adding to the friendly warm welcome York is so famous for.’’
“It is wonderful to be able to bring so many of our members to Leicester,” said Deirdre Wells OBE, chief executive of UKinbound. “I hope the visit will showcase their fantastic tourism, increase the profile of the destination to our tour operator members and therefore boost the number of international visitors flocking to the city in years to come.” Mayor of Leicester Peter Soulsby added: “When 250 of the UK's most influential travel industry representatives arrive in Leicester in February, they will find a city buzzing with excitement.” The convention will run from February 11-13.
More than a dozen new exhibitors have committed to WTM 2014.
New location for UK and Ireland prompts exhibitor sell-out Groups enjoy a traditional cream tea as part of the Secret Cottage tour.
Tour drops in on popular events
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VISITORS to the North Cotswolds can now take part in a new tour, which includes a trip to a secret cottage and the chance to drop in on some popular local events. The six-hour tour takes groups to the cottage for coffee, lunch and a cream tea, as well as showcasing lots of picturesque hidden villages rarely found by tourists.
Visitors can also watch food being prepared and cooked in an Aga, especially the scones – an essential part of the traditional cream tea. No tour is ever the same and depending on the time of year, activities could include watching Morris Dancers at a local pub, shopping in a local town or visiting a village fete.
WORLD Travel Market, the leading global event for the travel industry, has announced strong interest in its UK and Ireland region, with confirmed attendance from new and returning exhibitors meaning the area is almost completely sold out already. This year the UK and Ireland region is being relocated towards the middle of the North Hall and will be found between the Global Village and Europe. The move is in response to requests and feedback from exhibitors and an increase in footfall is expected as a result. More than a dozen new exhibitors have committed to WTM 2014. These include V6e, a Bristol-based specialist in multi-language commentary systems for sightseeing tours. The business has taken a stand for the first time, as it looks to add more clients to its roster which
includes tour operators from Moscow to Las Vegas via Dublin and Paris. Other new exhibitors include Star Tours, Chasing Tiles – Great Guides, CHR Travel LLP and On the Avenue. Many returning exhibitors have taken even more space this year after a successful WTM 2013. Hotels and More, a B2B partner for group tours and individual travel to Great Britain and Ireland, is taking a larger stand as its German parent company looks to increase its presence in the UK inbound market. One of London's newest and most exciting attractions, The View From The Shard, is taking a stand which is 60 per cent bigger than last year, while Vox Tours, a provider of wireless equipment for tour guides, is upping its presence by more than 40 per cent.
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Even the holidaymakers need a holiday ... By Deirdre Wells OBE FTS THE great thing about working in the tourism industry is that whilst everyone else gets to “go on holiday” we get to “sample the product” – ie, we get to relax and have a good time and call it research. Imagine if our career choices had been different – does a chef get a thrill from rustling up beans on toast à la famille? Does the taxman look forward to filling in his tax return? (Answer, probably yes!) Whether it’s a city break, a traditional bucket and spade sea-side excursion, camping or glamping, once a year we in the tourism industry get to sample the delights which we spend the rest of the year waxing lyrical about. Loving holidays is what drew me to working in this fantastic industry. But whilst I love the holidays, I must confess to loathing the build-up. Here’s why… “Are you looking forward to the holiday?” If Himself asks me that question one more time, I shall cheerfully beat him around the head with the Easy Read 2013 Road Atlas Large Scale. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not normally a violent person, but who, after being married for longer than a murder sentence, will ask his wife, with ONE WEEK TO GO, if she’s looking forward to a family holiday? That question was only allowable in 1998 BC – no, not in the Dark Ages (even I know that there was a time when hunting and gathering was a slightly more successful industry than tourism) – but in the holiday days Before Children.
Deirdre Wells OBE FTS Then, you could look forward to it, one week out, your only dilemma being how many floaty numbers you could squeeze into your designer luggage, or whether you had got the balance right between worthy but poolside-cred-gifting literature and the chick-lit that you might actually enjoy (thank God for the arrival of ereaders!). One week out from a holiday with the children sends me into a paroxysm of angst. Will my boys become another sad obesity statistic given the number of bags of sweets I’ve purchased for the journey, or is it worth it to gum up their jaws and not hear the dreaded words “Are we nearly there yet?” How do I stop them (Himself included!) wearing every item we’ve bought for the holiday before we go and then expecting them to be magically washed, laundered and back in the case before Saturday? First aid kit – should we bring the entire medicine cabinet and look like hypochondriacs or risk humiliation and mystified
© Photographee.eu – Fotolia.com
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expressions when you try to explain tree pollen rash to a bored French pharmacist? Don’t get me wrong – Himself is not totally unreconstructed. He’s doing the Man-prep: getting those funny things for the headlights (how long does it take to fit those?!!); studying said Easy Read Atlas a lot (are we planning a holiday or an invasion?); and announcing frequently that he will Pack the Car. Excellent, that’s just four suitcases, tennis racquets, footballs, DVDs, books, sun-cream, clothes, passport, tickets and money for me to prepare for the great Packing of the Car. Seems fair. So it’s lists, lists and more lists. Reminding vague Teenage Thing One that yes, he will need to bring pants and socks, and to stop Thing Two wanting to bring everything he possesses. And all the while the question goes round and round my head: “When they said on the house description that they had le wi-fi, did they mean it? Please God, let them have wi-fi or Thing One will never forgive me”.
But once we pull out of the drive, with two weeks of no alarm clock stretching before us, my fun begins. I am in control of the CD player – it’s going to be all Abba and silly Irish childhood songs for the next six hours. And there are, of course, those worthy books, the sun, the sights and the time to stop and be a family again to look forward to. At the risk of being cheesy, it’s the latter which makes holidays so important – more than the opportunity to open our minds to new cultures and to sample the heritage and the food, is the chance to play stupid games (we play Happy Families to win!), to laugh, relax and enjoy being together. So, much as I loathe it, the preparation, lists and angst will be all worth it once I switch off the Blackberry and switch on the CD player. Just don’t ask me if I’m looking forward to it for another six days, three hours and 45 minutes… Deidre Wells is a Tourism Society Board member and CEO of UKinbound.
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