Carlisle

Carlisle City Council has announced that the city’s Christmas lights will be switched on Sunday November 15 2009.

The free open air event promises to be a fabulous afternoon that will include live music and the chance to take part in a mass sing-a-long.

CBBC presenters Iain Stirling will join the Mayor of Carlisle to switch on the Christmas lights at 5.30pm. Iain is thrilled to be part of the event, he said:

The BIG Switch On will begin Carlisle’s countdown to Christmas. The programme will start at 3 pm with a reflective celebration for all who have been touched by the special work undertaken by Eden Valley Hospice. The Light Up A Life service will be a chance to remember loved ones, at the time of year when they are missed most. There will be a selection poignant readings and a scattering of popular Christmas carols backed by the ever popular Salvation Army Brass Band. At 3.30 pm the Light Up A Life Christmas tree will be lit by celebrity guest Anne Nolan.

From 3.30 pm the stage will feature non-stop entertainment, hosted by ITV Lookaround presenters Pam Royale and Ian Payne and CFM’s Robbie Dee.

First up is Carlisle Does kara-ABBA-Oke! With what is surely going to be the city’s biggest ever sing-along, a team of singers and dancers will lead the crowd through all of ABBA’s biggest hits, with the lyrics to each song being displayed for all to see on Eddie Stobart’s giant screen.

Next, Disco Diva Anne Nolan will be showing the crowd how to strut their stuff and proving that she’s still in the mood for dancing as she performs a fast moving foot stomping set of disco hits.

The whole show cast and presenters will watch on as CBBC star Iain Stirling and the Mayor of Carlisle trigger the lights at 5.30 pm. X Factor stars, Same Difference will perform the show’s finale.

The final preparations for Carlisle’s Christmas are well underway. A sparkling ten metre tall tree will be the city’s centrepiece and will include colourful decorations and lights. The feature is set to dazzle and delight and is yet another attraction to savour as part of Carlisle city centre’s overall illuminations.

Local children will be treated to some Trembling Tales & Trails this Halloween (Saturday, 31 October) at Talkin Tarn Country Park.

The ghoulish event will include craft activities followed by a Forest Trail and story telling. Held between 1pm and 7pm, the trail will last around 40 minutes and will go through the woods (not on paths) where children will meet an assortment of Halloween characters and will be asked to solve a mission. The storyteller will be one of the characters on the trail.

Suitable for children aged under 10 years old, the refreshments will also be available in the Tea Room with Halloween themed food. Prizes will also be given out for children in the Best Fancy Dress Costumes.

Tickets cost £6 per child and £2 per adult. Children aged 2 years old and under get free entry. Places are limited and must be booked in advance.

Those taking part are advised to bring a torch if they are booked in for evening trails and also bring appropriate clothing in the event of wet or windy weather.

To pre-book a ticket telephone 01697 73129.

Visitors to this year’s Fireshow will be treated to a 12-hour feast of entertainment.

A ‘Love Carlisle Day’, to celebrate the launch of Carlisle Tourism Partnership, will be held as part of the build up to this year’s Fireshow, (Saturday, 7 November) and will include city centre activities between 10am and 5pm.

A cookery theatre and marquee will be the spectacular centre piece and will open between 10 am and 4.30 pm, children’s activities, events and competitions from 12 noon, and amazing street theatre has been organised from 2.30pm. A spectacular finale is planned at 5 pm.

The event will provide yet another reason to visit the Carlisle’s city centre and stick around for an explosive Fireshow event in Bitts Park. The annual Fireshow event attracts thousands of spectators each year and has been an established event for more than 20 years.

The ‘Love Carlisle’ theme will continue as part of the Fireshow and a 40-foot flaming heart will be the centre piece of the bonfire. The theme has been chosen as part of Carlisle’s bid to become UK City of Culture, which is being coordinated by Carlisle Renaissance, showcasing what we have to offer and the sorts of activities that could form part of a year-long programme of events in 2013. Local people are at the heart of the City of Culture bid and the ‘Love Carlisle’ theme and high quality event gives local people another chance to show off how much they love their city, and demonstrate that Carlisle packs a cultural punch.

The sparkling spectacular will take place on Saturday, 7 November and will be the 23rd Fireshow event staged by Carlisle City Council. More than 2,000 spectacular fireworks will ensure that the event goes with a ‘bang’.

Pre-entertainment, provided by Carlisle Leisure Limited, will start at 6.30pm and the bonfire lit at 7pm. The whole event is likely to last more than one hour. Admission is free, although collections will be made for the Mayor’s Charity Fund and Rotary Club Carlisle (South).

More than 35,000 people are expected to attend the City Council event, organised in conjunction with the Black Powder Monkeys. Carlisle Leisure Limited, Carlisle Renaissance and Cumbria Fire & Rescue Service are sponsoring the Fireshow event. Support is also received from Alexander Sawmills, Brampton Pallets, Brown’s Haulage, BSW Timber, Carlisle Scaffolding, Cumbria Waste Pallets, Crown Bevcan, Edmundson’s Electricals, G J Campbell, Premier Papers, Stobart’s, Story Construction and Wallace Oils.

The North West’s top tourism businesses and professionals were honoured in Blackpool last night.

The 2009 Northwest Tourism Awards ceremony was held at Blackpool Tower and organised by the Northwest Regional Development Agency.

18 winners received awards fro BBC presenter Ranvir Singh:

• Bed and Breakfast of the Year – The Ashton, Lancaster
• Large Hotel of the Year – The Lowry Hotel, Manchester
• Small Hotel of the Year – Gilpin Lodge Country House Hotel, Windermere
• Self Catering Holiday of the Year – Hall Hills, Dalston, near Carlisle
• Holiday Park of the Year – Castlerigg Hall Caravan and Camping Park, Keswick, Cumbria
• Large Visitor Attraction of the Year – Imperial War Museum North, Manchester
• Small Visitor Attraction of the Year – Arley Hall & Gardens, Northwich, Cheshire
• Taste of England’s Northwest – Low Sizergh Barn Farm Shop, Kendal, Cumbria
• Tourism Experience of the Year – Farmaggedon, near Ormskirk, Lancashire
• Tourism for All – Kerridge End Holiday Cottages, Macclesfield, Cheshire
• Tourism Event of the Year – Blackpool Illuminations
• Public Space Award – Pier Head Public Realm and Canal Link, Liverpool
• Tourist Information Centre of the Year – Wigan TIC
• Travel Journalist of the Year – Stephen McClarence, The Observer
• Outstanding Contribution to Tourism Award – Nigel Haworth, Northcote, near Blackburn
• Excellence in Business Tourism – Arena and Convention Centre, Liverpool
• Excellence in Customer Service – Christina Dixon, Jurys Inn, Liverpool
• Sustainable Tourism Award – Arena and Convention Centre, Liverpool

Each will represent the North West in next year’s national tourism awards.

The 2009 Northwest Tourism Awards will be held at Blackpool Tower on September 28.

The event will be hosted by BBC presenter Ranvir Singh and is being organised by the Northwest Regional Development Agency.

The finalists are:

Large Hotel of the Year

Carden Park Hotel, Golf Resort and Spa, near Chester
Castle Green Hotel, Kendal, Cumbria
Preston Marriott Hotel, Preston, Lancashire
The Lowry Hotel, Manchester
Malmaison Liverpool, Liverpool

Small Hotel of the Year

Peckforton Castle, Tarporley, Cheshire
Gilpin Lodge Country House Hotel, Windermere, Cumbria
Mytton Fold Hotel and Golf Complex, Ribble Valley

Bed and Breakfast of the Year

Harrop Fold Farm, Macclesfield, Cheshire
Storrs Gate House, Bowness-on-Windermere, Cumbria
The Ashton, Lancaster, Lancashire
Brooklands Lodge, Sale, Greater Manchester
The Ambassador Townhouse, Southport, Merseyside

Large Visitor Attraction of the Year

Tatton Park, Knutsford, Cheshire
Walby Farm Park, near Carlisle, Cumbria
Blackpool Tower and Circus, Blackpool
Imperial War Museum North, Manchester
Liverpool Anglican Cathedral, Liverpool

Small Visitor Attraction of the Year

Arley Hall & Gardens, Northwich, Cheshire
Wordsworth House and Garden, Cockermouth, Cumbria
Helmshore Mills Textile Museum, Helmshore, Lancashire
Museum of the Manchester Regiment, Manchester
Acorn Farm, Liverpool

Self Catering Holiday of the Year

Kerridge End Holiday Cottages, Macclesfield, Cheshire
Hall Hills, Dalston, near Carlisle, Cumbria
Clough Bottom Farm Cottages, near Clitheroe, Lancashire
Blue Rainbow Apartments, Manchester
Premier Apartments Liverpool, Liverpool

Holiday Park of the Year

Castlerigg Hall Caravan and Camping Park, Keswick, Cumbria
Sunset Park, Hambleton, near Blackpool

Business Tourism Award

Carden Park Hotel, Golf Resort and Spa, near Chester
Warwick Mill Business Village, near Carlisle, Cumbria
Ribby Hall Village, Wrea Green, near Blackpool
The Lowry Hotel, Manchester
BT Convention Centre, Liverpool

Taste of England’s Northwest

Walk Mill, Chester
Low Sizergh Barn Farm Shop, Kendal, Cumbria
La Locanda Ristorante Italiano, Gisburn, Lancashire
The Modern, Urbis, Manchester
Delifonseca, Liverpool

Tourism Experience of the Year

Roman Tours, Chester
Silverband Falconry, Penrith, Cumbria
Farmaggedon, near Ormskirk, Lancashire
Costumed Performers, Museum of Science and Industry, Manchester
Art in the Age of Steam, National Museums Liverpool, Liverpool

Customer Service Award

Janet Bradshaw, Tatton Park, Knutsford, Cheshire
Jennifer Taylor, The Archway Guest House, Windermere, Cumbria
Hannah Lee, The New Holly, near Preston
Mahendran Mayan, Renaissance Hotel, Manchester
Christina Dixon, Jurys Inn Hotel, Liverpool

Sustainable Tourism Award

Carden Park Hotel, Golf Resort and Spa, near Chester
Langdale Leisure Ltd, Ambleside, Cumbria
Malkin Tower Farm Holiday Cottages, Blacko, Lancashire
Radisson SAS Hotel Manchester Airport, Greater Manchester
Arena and Convention Centre Liverpool, Liverpool

Tourism for All Award

Kerridge End Holiday Cottages, Macclesfield, Cheshire
Ullswater Steamers, Glenridding, Cumbria
Sandcastle Waterpark, Blackpool
The Trafford Centre, Greater Manchester

Tourism Event

Nantwich Food and Drink Festival, Cheshire
Westmorland County Agricultural Show, Milnthorpe, Cumbria
Blackpool Illuminations, Blackpool
Manchester Pride, Manchester
Creamfields, Merseyside

Public Space Award

Cockermouth Market Place Regeneration Scheme, Cumbria
County Square Environmental Enhancement Scheme, Ulverston, Cumbria
Pier Head Public Realm and Canal Link, Liverpool

Tourist Information Centre of the Year

Congleton TIC, Cheshire
Coniston TIC, Cumbria
Cleveleys TIC, Lancashire
Wigan TIC, Greater Manchester
St Helens TIC, Merseyside

Travel Journalist of the Year

Chris Moss, Time Out
Craig Fleming, Blackpool Gazette
David Atkinson, Freelance
Paul Croughton, The Sunday Times
Stephen McClarence, The Observer

Heritage Open Days allow visitors free access to properties that normally charge an entrance fee or are not usually open to the public.

The event starts tomorrow and runs until Sunday September 13.

Hundreds of attractions and properties in the North West are taking part. For more details visit the official Heritage Open Days website.

Highlights include:

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Furness Abbey (more…)

Visitors looking for a cheap place to stay in North West England next year (or indeed the rest of the UK, Ireland or Spain) should take note that Travelodge today launched an amazing offer on budget rooms.

The budget hotel chain is offering 50,000 rooms at only £12. The rate applies for stays between January 1 and April 1 2010. Rooms are also available from £19 (book 21 days ahead) and from £29 (book 7 days ahead).

To take advantage of this amazing offer, visit this page on their website.

Carlisle’s city centre is set to host the ‘Carlisle Food Fair’ this August bank holiday (Thursday, 27 August – Monday, 31 August).

The city centre’s festival of spectacular mouth-watering delights will include the return of the popular Continental Market throughout the five-day event and a Local Producers’ Market on Friday and Saturday (28 and 29 August).

The Continental Market, arranged by the Market Place Europe Ltd, will feature a host of traders from the far reaches of Europe and beyond. Goods will include charcuterie specialist meats, freshly baked pastries, a Spanish trader cooking authentic paella and beer merchants from Poland and Germany. “Aarons” will also attend selling a wide range of exotic and rare meats such as alligator, ostrich and springbok.

Green – fingered shoppers will not be disappointed, as the market will include the ‘Flying Dutchman’, Dick van de Wardt, one of the largest plant, flower and bulb specialists from Holland.

A variety of crafts stalls will also be on show, ranging from Asian jewellery to traditional Russian Dolls.

The Local Producers’ Market includes traders selling local produce such as Cumberland Sausage, Cumberland Mustard, preserves & pickles, cakes and truffles. Cumbria is full of such culinary masterpieces, from simple loaves from local bakeries to dishes in Michelin starred restaurants, real ale and damson gin. The programme will also include daily entertainment on the bandstand.

An ancient Proclamation will be recited at the Market Cross on Saturday, 29 August. A procession including The Mayor of Carlisle, Cllr William Graham, Sword and Mace Bearers and other Civic Dignitaries will make its way from St. Cuthbert’s Church to the Market Cross in the city centre. Once there, Carlisle City Council’s Deputy Chief Executive, Dr Jason Gooding, will recite an ancient Proclamation at 10am. The Proclamation will mark the official opening of the Carlisle Food Fair.

The winners of the Cumbria Tourism Awards 2009 were announced a ceremony at the Castle Green Hotel in Kendal last week.

Each winner received a certificate and a specially designed award, handcrafted by Jonathan Stamper of the High Head Sculpture Valley.

The successful businesses were :

• The Sheila Hensman Award for Most Outstanding Customer Service – Jennifer Taylor, The Archway Guest House, Windermere
• Unsung Hero – David Rhodes, Graythwaite Manor Hotel, Grange-over-Sands
• The Lady Inglewood Award for Innovative People Management – Chris Carss, Rothay Garden, Grasmere
• Large Hotel of the Year – The Castle Green Hotel, Kendal
• Small Hotel of the Year – Gilpin Lodge Country House Hotel, Windermere
• Bed & Breakfast of the Year – Storrs Gate House, Bowness
• Self Catering Holiday of the Year – Hall Hills, Carlisle
• Holiday Park of the Year – Castlerigg Hall Caravan and Camping Park, Keswick
• Tourism Website of the Year – The Ambleside Salutation Hotel, Ambleside
• Large Visitor Attraction of the Year – Walby Farm Park, Crosby on Eden, Carlisle
• Small Visitor Attraction of the Year – Wordsworth House and Garden, Cockermouth
• Taste of Cumbria Award of the Year – Low Sizergh Barn Farm Shop, Kendal
• Tourism Experience Award – Silverband Falconry, Kirkby Stephen
• Sustainable Tourism Award – Langdale Leisure Ltd, Great Langdale
• Business Tourism Award – Warwick Mill Meeting Rooms, Carlisle

Car parking fees will shortly be introduced at Talkin Tarn by Carlisle City Council.

Visitors parking their cars at the popular Brampton beauty spot between 10 am and 6 pm will have to pay a flat charge of £1 from next month.