Archive for August, 2007

The Mathew Street Festival in Liverpool is back on, albeit on a smaller scale with no outdoor venues. The event was cancelled last week due to health and safety concerns.

Following discussions between Liverpool City Council, Liverpool Culture Company and other parties, the festival will now take place at more than 40 indoor venues across the city. Total capacity of the venues will likely be around 20,000 people, significantly less than the 100,000 expected for the outdoor festival.

American film director Quentin Tarantino will attend a preview of his latest movie Death Proof at Liverpool’s FACT on Tuesday September 11. Following the screening he will answer questions from the audience.

Mike Stubbs, Director and CEO of FACT said, ‘This event is a huge coup for Liverpool, in that Quentin Tarantino specifically asked to come here. FACT is a multi-art venue with a strong programme and the power to attract international artistic stars like Pipilotti Rist in 2008, and now a Hollywood megastar and cult icon like Quentin Tarantino.’

Tickets go on sale today (August 9) and are available from the box office at FACT or by calling 0871 704 2063.

The Hawkshead Agricultural Society has cancelled the Hawkshead Show 2007 due to poor weather conditions and the recent outbreak of foot and mouth disease. The show was due to be held in Hawkshead on August 21.

An American broke the Guinness World Record for non-stop rollercoaster riding yesterday. Richard Rodriquez has riding the Pepsi Max Big One at Blackpool Pleasure Beach since July 27 and beat the previous record of nine and a half days yesterday lunchtime. He intends to stay on the ride for around two weeks.

Amanda Thompson, Pleasure Beach Managing Director, said ‘Huge congratulations to Richard for this superb record break, his stamina during this toughest challenge yet has been incredible. Pleasure Beach is the rollercoaster capital of the world with 11 classic and modern coasters, so it’s only right that the world record should be held right here in England.’

Blackpool Pleasure Beach is offering unlimited ride wristbands for a reduced price of £20 throughout August, a saving of £8 on the regular gate price. Wristbands must be booked in advance through their website (www.blackpoolpleasurebeach.com) and allow unlimited all-day access to over 125 rides and attractions, including Infusion.

Liverpool’s Mathew Street Festival has been cancelled due to concerns about health and safety at the event. The festival as due to take place over the August bank holiday weekend and herald the start of the city’s 800th birthday celebrations.

Organisers of the event, the Liverpool Culture Company, asked health and safety experts Capita Symonds to carry out a safety review of the event in July. They advised that the extensive regeneration work taking place in the city centre had reduced Liverpool’s capacity to host the vent safely.

The eleventh hour cancellation is a great blow to the credibility of Liverpool as a tourist destination. Thousands of tourists planning to visit the festival will now have to revise their plans.

Manchester Pride has announced the line-up for this year’s Big Weekend in the Gay Village. Acts appearing at the 4-day event include Belinda Carlisle, Gareth Gates, Betty Boo, Nicki French, Four Poofs and a Piano from the Jonathan Ross TV show.

Andrew Stokes, chairman of Manchester Pride said ‘The acts that perform on the main stage during the Big Weekend have to cater for a wide variety of ages and tastes. The line up we’ve got for this year’s event certainly does that and I’m sure will be a big hit with the crowd. And there’s more to come. The team at Manchester Pride HQ are still working hard to get even more well known faces and artists to appear on stage. In true Manchester style, we’ll be working right up to the last minute to make sure everyone has an amazing time. If we can fit another few acts in, believe it, we will!’

The Big Weekend runs from August 24 – 27. Tickets are priced at £15 and can be purchased from See.