Archive for October, 2006

Work will soon begin on a £5 million transformation of visitor facilities at the Forestry Commission’s Grizedale Forest.

The work will include improvements to the visitor centre, café and the premises of Go Ape and Grizedale Mountain Bikes. New sculptures will also be commissioned for the Sculpture Trail.

The project is due for completion in early 2008 and has been made possible by grants from Cumbria Vision, the European Union, the Lake District National Park Authority Sustainable Development Fund and the DEFRA Rural Enterprise Scheme.

Hilton Hotels have announced they will be opening their first property in Liverpool. The Liverpool Hilton hotel will offer 216 rooms spread over 8 floors and will open in 2008, the city’s year as European Capital of Culture. Other facilities will include 10 meeting rooms, a restaurant and a LivingWell Express.

The hotel will be part of the huge Paradise Street regeneration project.

Blackpool’s infamous Tower Lounge will be holding a pole dancing competition on Saturday. The winners of the unisex Strictly Pole Dancing competition receive a Club 18-30 Holiday for two.

Heysham, a coastal village near Lancaster, has walked away with the gold medal at the international Nations in Bloom competition. The annual horticultural award honours areas that make great use of flowers and plants. The village also won the regional North West in Bloom competition for Best Small Village.

An Iris Recognition Immigration System (IRIS) has been launched at Manchester Airport Terminals 1 and 2. The automated system allows pre-enrolled passengers to clear immigration quickly by simply looking into a camera. Passengers can register on their outward journey after passing through security.

The Big Wheel will once again return to Manchester. Construction will begin today and tickets will be available from the beginning of November.

Manchester’s answer to the London Eye offers visitors the chance to enjoy panoramic views of the city in one of 42 climate-controlled glass capsules.

The wheel is located in the Millennium Quarter, next to Selfridges. For a bit of one-upmanship, hire the VIP capsule with a bottle of champagne, and sneer at the patrons of their Moet Bar.

Proposals to create a gay quarter in Liverpool have moved a step closer after councillors agreed to consider a plan closing a section of Stanley Street to traffic.

Bolton Wanderers have given the world’s tallest professional footballer a month’s trial at the club. Yang Changpeng, who stands at 6 feet 9 inches tall, names lofty Liverpool striker Peter Crouch as his favourite Premiership player.

Sefton Council have refused planning permission to allow controversial statues to remain on Crosby Beach. The exhibit, Another Place, features 100 iron casts of artist Antony Gormley spread along 3 km of shoreline, some almost 1 km out at sea.

Councillors have cited health and safety reasons for their removal as children have been swimming out to the sculptures. They will be removed on October 31 and could next appear in New York.

Gnarls Barkely will be appearing at the Manchester Apollo on November 3 as part of their worldwide tour. They made history when their debut single Crazy reached number 1 on downloads alone. Tickets are available here.