Radio 1 has announced that their annual free music event, the Big Weekend, will take place at Preston’s Moor Park on May 19 & 20. Details of artists performing have yet to be confirmed and tickets will only be offered to people living in the Preston area. The event will also be broadcast live on Radio 1 and BBC Three.
Take That have announced details of their forthcoming Beautiful World Tour. The UK leg starts at the Birmingham NEC on November 16 and finishes at the MEN Arena in Manchester on December 19.
The full schedule is:
Birmingham NEC – November 16 - 20
Glasgow SECC – November 22 - 24
Newcastle Arena – November 26 - 27
London 02 – November 29 - 30, December 1, 3, & 4
Manchester MEN Arena – December 10 – 19
Tickets are available from 9 am on Friday March 2 from Seetickets.
After losing the super casino license to Manchester, Blackpool has been dealt another blow by its neighbour. The Conservative Party has just announced that they have chosen Manchester over Blackpool as the venue for their 2009 summer conference.
City Cinemas, Carlisle’s last independent cinema will close next week. Owner Alan Towers has decided not to renew the lease when it expires on March 1.
A decision to close the Tourist Information Centre in Clitheroe has been put on hold for 12 months. The centre looked likely to get the axe as Lancashire County Council considered measures to cut costs. However, councillors meeting to discuss the budget this week decided to postpone any decision on its future until next year.
Blackpool’s Norbreck Castle Hotel has put a £15 million investment project on hold because many of its rooms stand to lose their sea view. Plans to expand leisure and conference facilities have been shelved because planning permission has been given to build a block of flats on land adjacent to the hotel.
Blackpool Pleasure Beach is the most popular tourist attraction in the UK according to 2006 visitor statistics released by the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions (ALVA). The amusement park saw 5.73 million visitors last year, beating the Tate Modern into second place by over 800,000. Other popular attractions in North West England included Chester Zoo (1.16 m), Tate Liverpool (557,000), Blackpool Tower (526,000), World Museum Liverpool (524,000), Merseyside Maritime Museum (439,000), Walker Art Gallery (248,000), Imperial War Museum North (236,000), Lady Lever Art Gallery (202,000) and the Anderton Boat Lift (128,000).
Chef Paul Heathcote has announced plans for a new Olive Press restaurant in Clitheroe. It will cost over £1 million and will be able to accommodate around 100 diners. The new restaurant will be situated on York Street and is expected to open in April. The Bolton-born chef already operates Olive Press restaurants in Preston, Warrington, Bolton, Liverpool and Manchester.
Liverpool Football Club and Liverpool City Council are holding a joint exhibition to showcase plans for the new football stadium and regeneration of the park. It will be held at the Vernon Sangster Sport Centre on February 26 and 27 and will give local residents and other interested parties the opportunity to speak with project leaders.
George Gillett and Tom Hicks, the new owners of Liverpool FC, promised to make funds available for the new stadium when they purchased the club earlier this month. It will hold 60,000 fans in quality surroundings and feature a new museum, tour centre, shop, underground car park and café. It is expected to open for the start of the 2009/10 Premiership season.
The regeneration of the park will involve repair of park structures, such as bridges and wall and the Isla Gladstone Conservatory. New facilities will also be built, including a games area, tennis courts and a lake.
Liverpool’s Summer Pops 2007 festival is back on, just days after being cancelled. The 16-day event will now be held at Aintree Racecourse under a new agreement that includes sponsorship by the Liverpool Echo and requires only £100,000 of taxpayers’ cash.
The event is being organised by CMP Entertainments. Promoter Chas Cole said, ‘CMP are thrilled to announce The Pops will take place this summer thanks to the support of Liverpool City Council and the very generous support of the Liverpool Echo.’
Several of the acts performing will be announced next week.