News from North West England

Visit North West has 2 spare tickets for Madonna’s concert at the MEN Arena on July 7 2009.

The tickets cost £110 each plus booking fee. Due to unforeseen circumstances 2 of us cannot attend so are selling them cheaply at £65 each.

The tickets are Block 202, Upper Tier (first block next to stage).

We can drop the tickets off anywhere in Greater Manchester/Lancashire/North Cheshire or post 1st class recorded delivery.

If you would like them please call David on 0796 0196881.

A new restaurant will open next month at the Concorde Conference Centre at Manchester Airport.

The Ringway Restaurant will seat 120 diners and offer views of the former British Airways Concorde. A takeaway catering to visitors to the Aviation Viewing Park will also open.

The Concorde Conference Centre opened earlier this year. The unique conference venue is housed in a hanger containing the Concorde supersonic passenger airplane.

Wigan is to get a new multi-million pound public leisure and services facility.

The £187 million Wigan Life Centre will be built in the town centre on Library Street, the site of the former Wigan International Pool.

It will feature a 25m swimming pool and library, plus areas offering services from the council, police, NHS, and community and voluntary groups.

Construction is expected to begin shortly, with completion scheduled for the end of 2011.

The East Lancashire Railway Trust has announced a 10 year development plan for the East Lancashire Railway (ELR).

Key features of the plan include:

• Heywood Station – replacement of the existing temporary station with a permanent building.
• Extension to Castleton, Rochdale – extending the ELR from Heywood to Castleton and linking up with the Rochdale Canal.
• Bury Transport Museum – reopening an enhanced ELR Transport Museum in October 2009.
• Rawtenstall Station – the ELR will work with Rossendale Borough Council to offer improved café facilities, a platform canopy and improved links to the town centre.
• Burrs Country Park – the ELR currently passes through Burrs Country Park without stopping. A new stop will be built, linking the ELR with the park’s caravan site and activity centre.
• Buckley Wells Heritage Centre – development of a heritage railway visitor centre.
• Ramsbottom – raising the profile of Ramsbottom as a destination.

The East Lancashire Railway Trust comprises 3 local authorities (Bury Council, Rossendale Borough Council, and Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council) plus the East Lancashire Light Railway Company.

Idyllic Lake District lake cruise company Ullswater ‘Steamers’ has created a special themed cruise evening to celebrate influences from north of the border and raise money for Children in Need.

A Ceilidh Taste of Scotland cruise will take place on the evening of August 7, between 7pm and 9pm. Passengers will be piped aboard by a Highland piper and treated to a real wow factor in the shape of a golden eagle, the sight of which will greet them as they arrive on the wonderful steam heritage boat.

The cruise will depart from Glenridding at the south of England’s most beautiful lake and enable passengers to drink in the beauty of Cumbria’s natural landscape as the sun sinks and night-time sets in.

To keep the spirits alive, entertainment will be provided by a live Ceilidh band. Scottish-themed canapés will be served and washed down with a few drams served as part of a whisky tasting.

Tickets for this glorious Lake District cruise cost £7.50 per person and include refreshments and entertainment. Proceeds from ticket sales and a prize charity raffle will be donated to Children In Need.

To book tickets for this atmospheric evening call 017684 82229.

Simply Red Squirrel Cruises are being organised in the Lake District on Saturday August 1, as the heritage steam cruise boats of ‘Ullswater Steamers’ take to the waters of England’s most beautiful lake to raise vital funds for conservation group Save Our Squirrels.

The red squirrel is arguably the Lake District’s most iconic creature, but one endangered by the spread of the non-native grey squirrel and dwindling alarmingly in population.

To help raise the funds that might ensure the survival of this species, ‘Ullswater Steamers’ is laying on three cruises from its pier at Glenridding, at the southern end of Ullswater, at 10am, 1pm and 4pm.

Tickets for these one-hour cruises cost £8 for adults and £4 for children and allow families to drink in the natural beauty of Cumbria’s mysterious and stunning lake, whilst learning more about red squirrels.

Loveable mascot Sammy the Squirrel will be pointing passengers in the direction of two marquees in which red squirrel focused games, films, craft-ware and stories can all be enjoyed. Purchases made in these marquees will raise funds for Save Our Squirrels and the local Penrith Red Squirrel Group.

This fun day out for all the family is one of the summer’s most nature-conscious experiences, but also revolves around a cruise that is idyllic in its own right.

To book tickets call 017684 82229.

Ullswater ‘Steamers’ is laying on two very special August events that will raise money for good causes, and provide fantastic passenger experiences.

On August 8, three Simply Red Squirrel Cruise sailings on Ullswater will raise funds for conservation group Save Our Squirrels – an organisation committed to ensuring the survival of the iconic red squirrel.

The Squirrel Cruises, offering fun for all the family, depart from Glenridding at 10am, 1pm and 4pm and give passengers an idyllic one-hour on England’s most beautiful lake.

Ullswater ‘Steamers’ mascot Sammy the Squirrel will also point ticket holders in the direction of two marquees in nearby Jenkins Field, which are full of games, craft stalls, films and storytelling focused on red squirrels.

Wares available for purchase will raise further funds for both Save Our Squirrels and the local Penrith Red Squirrel Group, providing vital sums for the important conservation activities undertaken by these groups.

Tickets cost £8 for adults and £4 for children and can be booked by calling 017684 82229.

On the evening of August 7 there is an opportunity to help raise money for national charity campaign, Children in Need, by buying a ticket for the two-hour Ceilidh Taste of Scotland cruise.

This cruise leaves Glenridding at 7pm and offers entertainment from the Eden Ceilidh Band, along with Scottish-themed canapés provided by the Inn on the Lake hotel. These can be washed down with a dram of whisky thanks to tasting provided by Oddbins of Kendal, during the two-hour sailing.

Guests will be piped on board by a Highland piper and greeted by a stunning golden eagle brought along by award-winning experience provider, Silverband Falconry.

They will also have the chance to make a contribution to the children’s charity by buying a ticket for a fund-raising raffle.

Prizes currently donated include a horse riding experience at Rookin House equestrian, a season ticket for historic house Dalemain, a National Trust family membership, a fox walking experience with Wetherigg Animal Rescue and a luxurious Scottish hamper from Smiths Hotels.

Tickets for this cruise cost £7.50 per person and can be bought by calling 017684 82229.

Ullswater ‘Steamers’ Rachel Bell says: “We want to raise as much money as possible for these great causes and would urge the local community to help us support them.

“Both events are very different, so even if you have sailed with us before, you will discover something new whilst out on stunning Ullswater.”

The message is to buy tickets now, to avoid disappointment and ensure a seat on these atmospheric cruises. Doing so will assist two causes that really rely on the generosity of the public and organisations like Ullswater ‘Steamers’.

A £100 million scheme to upgrade Blackpool’s tramway has been granted full Government approval.

The project will include new trams, replacement track, extra stops and a new tram depot.

This investment comprises £68.3m from the Department for Transport and £33.4m from Blackpool Borough Council and Lancashire County Council.

The Tramway, which is owned by Blackpool Council, has been operating since 1885. It runs from the town along the Fylde Coast into Lancashire, serving Cleveleys and Fleetwood.

Completion is scheduled for Easter 2012.

The £3.5million Clitheroe Castle Museum Complex is to receive a Royal opening.

His Royal Highness The Duke of Gloucester will tour the site and unveil two plaques on Tuesday, June 23.

The museum complex opened to the public last month after a two-year refurbishment funded by Ribble Valley Borough Council, the Heritage Lottery Fund and several private and public sector partners.

The refurbishment features a glass atrium linking the museum and North West Sound Archives on two levels, a café, exhibition space, interactive display facilities, education suite and several multi-media exhibitions depicting the history of Ribble Valley.
His Royal Highness will visit the site at 12.30pm on Tuesday, June 23, and unveil plaques at the museum entrance and creative activity space.

Ribble Valley Mayor Beverley Jones said: ‘We are delighted that His Royal Highness The Duke of Gloucester is to visit it the Clitheroe Castle Museum Complex, which is the jewel in Ribble Valley’s crown. We look forward to giving him a warm welcome him to this splendid new facility in the historic market town of Clitheroe.’

Clitheroe Castle has dominated the Ribble Valley skyline since its construction in the 12th Century by Robert de Lacy to protect the administrative centre of his vast estates.

The Clitheroe Castle Museum Complex is owned by Ribble Valley Borough Council and run by Lancashire County Council’s museum service. It is open from 11am to 5pm daily throughout the summer, but will open from 3 to 6pm on June 23.

More than 300 bands have been booked to perform at this year’s Mathew Street Music Festival in Liverpool.

Plans are well advanced for the two-day August Bank Holiday music extravaganza - the largest of its type in Europe.

This year’s event will feature 90 bands performing on six outdoor stages on Sunday 30 and Monday 31 August from 11am to 6pm.

There will also be indoor performances at another 50 bars and clubs across the city centre until late.

New for 2009 will be ‘themed stages’ focusing on cultures which have influenced Liverpool music including America, Ireland, country and western as well as 80s and rock.

There will also be stages for Beatles tribute bands, Merseybeat music (Liverpool Then), and the city’s best up-and-coming acts (Liverpool Now).

The Mathew Street fringe festival, which debuted last year, is to be repeated and expanded with around 40 venues taking part.

Around half of the acts performing at the Festival are new to the event, with many travelling from across the world to perform.

This year, there will also be a stage dedicated to the memory of Radio City broadcaster Phil Easton, who died earlier this year. It will feature some of his favourite music performed by original and tribute acts.

The outdoor stages will be located at:

• Queensway (Birkenhead) Tunnel entrance
• Derby Square
• Williamson Square
• Tithebarn Street
• Exchange Street
• Water Street - at Drury Lane

Full details of the bands performing at this year’s festival will be revealed in July, along with a brand new website.