Later this week properties across England will throw open their doors for free as part of the country’s annual celebration of local architecture, history and culture.

Supported nationally by English Heritage and run locally by an army of volunteers and community champions, Heritage Open Days takes place on people doorstops and is the country’s leading grassroots cultural event.

One million people are expected to take advantage of the four day event, exploring more than 4,000 properties of every style, period and function, many of which are normally closed to the public or usually charge an admission fee.

Participating properties in North West England include:

Barrow – Dalton Castle (Dalton-in-Furness)
Birkenhead – Birkenhead Park, Birkenhead Priory, Lady Lever Art Gallery
Blackpool – Blackpool Tower, Winter Gardens
Bolton – Bolton Steam Museum
Burnley – Gawthorpe Hall (Padiham), Queen Street Mill Textile Museum
Bury – Fusilier Museum, East Lancashire Railway, Peel Tower
Carlisle – High Head Sculpture Valley
Chester – Chester Racecourse, Grosvenor Museum, Little Moreton Hall (Congleton)
Kendal – Abbott Hall Art Gallery, Museum of Lakeland Life, Sizergh Castle
Lake District – Beatix Potter Gallery (Hawkshead), Blackwell (Windermere),
Liverpool – St George’s Hall, Cunard Building, Liver Building,
Macclesfield – Quarry Bank Mill
Manchester – Victoria Baths
Morecambe – Morecambe Town Hall
Oldham – Saddleworth Museum
Penrith – Acorn Bank
Preston – Samlesbury Hall
Rochdale – Healey Dell, Rochdale Pioneers Museum, Touchstones,
St Helens – World of Glass
Stockport – Hat Works, Staircase House, Air Raid Shelters, Bramall Hall
Warrington – Norton Priory (Runcorn)
Wigan – Museum of Wigan Life, Trencherfield Mill Engine

Tongue Tribe perform unaccompanied and unplugged. Their repertoire ranges from Sinead O’Connor to Artisan as well as their own unique arrangement of the classic hit Bring Me Sunshine.

In January 2010 Tongue Tribe received a BBC Choral Fund grant to further their aims as a performance group.

Other Tongue Tribe performances:

• Kendal High Street, Stealth Singing, Saturday 5th June
• Kendal Town Hall, Sing Owt with Tongue Tribe, cabaret style, Saturday 12th June 8.00pm
• Sedbergh FolkFest, Saturday 26th June, 2.00pm
• Staveley Carnival, Sunday 11th June
• Also: Kendal Quaker Tapestry, Singing for Pleasure workshop, Saturday 4th September 10.00 – 4.00

To find out more go to www.tonguetide.biz

Hundreds of tourism professionals and businesses from around the county gathered at Rheged where the evening began with a drinks reception followed by a celebratory dinner. Host for the evening was Stuart Maconie, TV and radio presenter, who announced the winners and entertained the audience with a series of Cumbria related anecdotes.

Fifteen awards were presented on the night, recognising excellence in business, customer service and training and development.

Each category winner received a certificate and specially designed award, individually handcrafted by Jo Vincent of Jo Vincent Glass Designers.

The winners were:

• Taste of Cumbria Ward – The Cottage in the Wood, Whinlatter
• Guest Accommodation of the Year – Number 43, Arnside
• Large Visitor Attraction of the Year – The World of Beatrix Potter – Bowness
• Small Visitor Attraction of the Year – Lake District Coast Aquarium, Maryport
• Sustainable Tourism Award – Elder Grove, Ambleside
• Large Hotel of the Year – Armathwaite Hall Country House Hotel and Spa, Bassenthwaite
• Small Hotel of the Year – Overwater Hall, Keswick
• The Lady Inglewood Award for Training & Development – Roundthorn Country House, Penrith
• Tourism Experience of the Year – Cumbrian Heavy Horses, Millom
• Holiday Park of the Year – Skelwith Fold Caravan Park, Ambleside and Woodclose Park, Kirkby Lonsdale
• Tourism Event of the Year – Great North Swim, Windermere
• Business Tourism Award – North Lakes Hotel, Penrith
• The Sheila Hensman Award for Outstanding Customer Service – Alan Gillon, Learning and Access Officer, The Beacon, Whitehaven
• Self-catering Holiday of the Year – Tottergill Farm Cottages, Brampton
• Access for All Tourism Award – The Beacon, Whitehaven

The concerts are as popular today as they where back in the 1970s, when they were first established, and regularly attract audiences of around 200 people from across the region.

This year’s programme starts on May 23, with the ever-popular Preston Concert Band. It then continues every Sunday, up to and including September 12.

Over the course of the season, the series will feature the very best of brass, drawn from across the North West. The concerts start at 2.30pm and are free of charge, but donations are welcome.

Situated at the east end of Morecambe’s promenade, Happy Mount Park provides a perfect setting for the concerts and is proud of its reputation of offering attractions for all ages.

As well as enjoying the music, visitors can take a stroll in the attractive parkland setting, sample the delights of the varied menu at the Café in the Park or try one of the park’s other attractions, such as the Happy Mount Express miniature railway, Splash Park or the recently opened adventure play park.

Seating is not provided, but members of the public might wish to take along their own picnic style chair or, alternatively, hire a deck chair at the park.

The full programme is as follows:

May

23 – Preston Concert Band
30 – Morecambe Bay Brass

June

6 – Blackpool Brass
13 – Morecambe Band
20 – Slaidburn Silver Band
27 – Kendal Concert Band

July

4 – Kirkby Lonsdale Band
11 – Kendal Concert Band
18 – Wilsden Band
25 – Morecambe Band

August

1 – Morecambe Band
8 – Morecambe Band
15 – Morecambe Band
22 – Pilling Band
29 – Morecambe Band

September

5 – Burneside Brass Band
12 – Morecambe Band

For more information contact the Visitor Information Centres in Morecambe or Lancaster (01524 582808 / 582394). Please note that the programme is subject to good weather and may change.

Yesterday Full Council agreed that the city council’s Cabinet should set up a special working group to look closely at detailed options on reducing the market’s current deficit of more than £400,000 a year.

These options will include, amongst other options, consideration of a business plan from the market traders, the alternative of a single storey market, alternative market sites and the option of a single trader.

In considering the options the working group will also seek evidence from the existing market traders, the National Federation of Market Traders, the Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of British Market Authorities.

The working group will then report to Cabinet, which will make recommendations to a special meeting of Full Council before March 31 2010.

Coun Stuart Langhorn, leader of Lancaster City Council, moved Cabinet’s budget proposals.

He said: “We all want to see a thriving indoor market in Lancaster but at the same time everyone accepts that the current deficit is unsustainable and is not value for the tax payers of this district.

“The deficit is the result of a number of factors and has grown over the years since the market opened for business in 1995. It is no one’s fault, and to make it clear I do not blame the traders for this situation, but it now falls to us all to make sure that it is sorted out once and for all.

“Council’s decision will allow Cabinet to carefully consider the issues further and involve all those who wish to make a contribution.”

Lancaster Market has a substantial deficit, currently identified as £461,000 2009/10, rising to £492,000 in the next financial year.

The city council, along with other public services anticipates a reduction in the amount of Central Government funding it receives.

More than 60% of the council’s budget is funded by Government grants and, whoever forms the next Government, there is a very real likelihood that the money received in grants will be reduced.

It’s a new year and Arteria with Gallery 23 is off to a flying start with an inspiring showcase of talent from The Art & Craft Guild of Lancashire.

The Guild was established in 1986 to provide support to professional artists, designers and makers. The Gallery 23 exhibition promises to be truly special as the members of the Guild are selected as such for their “qualities of originality and excellence in their work and design”

The credible artists, some of which are award winning, exhibit across the UK. The Lancashire based Guild to be showing at the Lancaster based gallery is an event that Managing Director Jane Richardson feels is an important one:

“We at Arteria are so proud to be presenting the work of The Art & Crafts Guild. It gives us great pleasure to champion such high quality local talent.”

Indeed the Guild itself believes this collaboration is a positive move for the creative profile of the North West and is enthusiastic about the Guilds achievements and members as Jane Bell, Chair of The Guild explains:

“The Art and Craft Guild of Lancashire has been in existence for nearly 25 years. running as a co-operative . The Guild seeks out artists and designer/makers who create imaginative art and make unique objects encompassing textiles, jewellery, ceramics, wood and glass. There are a wide range of desirable pieces to satisfy all price ranges. We are very pleased to be exhibiting at Arteria where we have had several successful shows in the past. Lancaster is extremely fortunate to have a such a gallery who continually seek out new makers producing innovative articles.”

The exhibition runs from 12th January until 20th March 2010. Work can be viewed Monday to Friday 10am to 5pm and on Saturdays from 9.30am until 5.30pm.

Contact the Gallery for more information on 01524 61111 or at info@arteriashop.co.uk.

Address: 23 Brock Street, Lancaster, Lancashire, LA1 1UR

The plans, by urban regeneration specialists Centros, included a 97,000 sq ft Debenhams store, 30 new shops, 800 parking spaces, up to 179 apartments and townhouses, and improvements to the Dukes and Grand theatres.

A synthetic ice rink will be at the Dome from December 15 – 24 2009. Sessions will start at the following times:

• Tuesday December 15 to Thursday December 17 – 3pm, 4pm, 5.30pm and 6.30pm.
• Friday December 18 – 9.30am, 10.30am, 11.30am, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm, 4pm, 5.30pm, 6.30pm.
• Saturday December 19 – 1pm, 2pm, 3pm, 4pm, 5.30pm, 6.30pm.
• Sunday December 20 to Wednesday December 23 – 9.30am, 10.30am, 11.30am, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm, 4pm, 5.30pm, 6.30pm.
• Thursday December 24 – 9.30am, 10.30am and 11.30am.

Admission is £4.50 for adults, £3.50 for children, for a 45 minute session.

The rink comes complete with a snow machine and a music sound system to complete the festive atmosphere. Refreshments are also available. Children under 8 must be accompanied by an adult.

The cost per child will be £3.75 and they will receive a special present. All the children will also receive a free drink from the Pavilion Café situated opposite the Ashton Memorial.

For more information please contact Williamson Park on 01524 33318.

The Memorial will see the St Laurence Singers, The Lancaster Singers, The Choir of the Priory Church and The Rushley singers return for a week long series of traditional Carol Concerts.

Join the choirs for an evening of carols and some special guests, including a string quartet and complimentary mulled wine and mince pies at the conclusion of the concert.

• Monday December 14 – The St Laurence Singers – £7.50
• Tuesday December 15 – The Lancaster Singers – £8.50
• Wednesday December 16 – The Choir of the Priory Church – £7.50
• Thursday December 17 – The Rushley Singers – £7.50
• Friday December 18 – The Lancaster Singers – £8.50

All performances begin at 7.30 pm. For further information or to book tickets, please call Williamson Park on 01524 33318.

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 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:

Barrow

Furness Abbey – Impressive remains of a Cistercian monastery.
Barrow Town Hall
Dalton Castle, Dalton-in-Furness – 14th century tower.

Birkenhead

Birkenhead Park – Grade I listed public space.
Birkenhead Priory – The oldest standing building in Merseyside.
Oxton Village
Port Sunlight Museum

Blackburn

Haworth Art Gallery, Accrington – Tudor-style Edwardian house in 9 acres of parkland. Home of Europe’s largest public collection of Tiffany Glass.

Blackpool

Blackpool Tower – Guided tour of the aquarium, circus, and ballroom.
Funny Girls – Opened as the biggest Odeon cinema outside London. Now one of Blackpool’s premier entertainment venues.
Marton Mere Local Nature Reserve – Nature reserve on the outskirts of Blackpool.
Stanley Park
Grand Theatre Blackpool – 1100-seat theatre designed by Frank Matcham in 1894.
Winter Gardens
Lytham Hall, Lytham St Annes – Grade I 18th century manor house in 80 acres of mature parkland.
The White Church, Lytham St Annes – Fairhaven United Reform Church.

Bolton

Bolton Steam Museum – Houses 25 steam engines that once drove the cotton mills of Northern England.
Hall i’th’ Wood – Tudor wooden-framed house.
Smithills Hall – Manor house.

Burnley

Burnley Football Club – Tour of Turf Moor, home of Burnley FC.
Oak Mount Hill Engine House – Cotton mill engine house dating from 1887 with recently restored steam engine.
Queen Street Mill Textile Museum
Rourke’s Forge – Watch blacksmiths at work.
Towneley Hall – Historic house, art gallery and museums, natural history centre, woodland walks and nature trails.
Gawthorpe Hall, Padiham

Bury

Bury Transport Museum
Fusiliers’ Museum – Tour of the new museum
East Lancashire Railway – Tour behind the scenes at the East Lancashire Railway, including a ride from Bolton Street station to Ramsbottom.
Peel Tower – Climb to the top of Bury’s famous landmark, built in 1852 in tribute to Bury-born Sir Robert Peel.

Carlisle

Carlisle Castle

Lake District

Beatrix Potter Gallery, Hawkshead – Home to original watercolours and sketches of Beatrix Potter.
Hill Top, Hawkshead – 17th century farmhouse where Beatrix Potter wrote many of her stories.
Townend, Windermere – 17th century stone and slate house.

Chester & Cheshire

Bear & Billet – One of the oldest pubs in Chester.
Chester Racecourse
Grosvenor Museum
Grosvenor Park
Little Moreton Hall, Congleton – Cheshire’s most iconic black and white house.
Beeston Castle, Tarporley – Former Royal Castle perched high on a rocky sandstone crag.

Kendal

Sizergh Castle

Lancaster

Lune Aqueduct – Canal cruise from Lancaster city centre to the Lune Aqueduct.

Liverpool

Britannia Adelphi
Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral – Roman catholic cathedral.
Liverpool Town Hall
St George’s Hall – Grade I listed building opposite Lime Street station.
The Bluecoat – The oldest building in Liverpool city centre.

Macclesfield

Silk Museum
Quarry Bank Mill, Wilmslow – Former cotton mill.

Manchester

Manchester Town Hall
Monastery – Restored monastery in Gorton.
Victoria Baths

Morecambe

Morecambe Town Hall
Morecambe Winter Gardens

Oldham

Saddleworth Museum & Art Gallery

Penrith

Acorn Bank Garden & Watermill – Tours of the herb garden and Acorn Bank house.
Penrith & Eden Museum – Local history museum and Tourist Information Centre.

Preston

Museum of Lancashire – Museum in Preston’s Old Court House.
Samlesbury Hall – Historic house dating back to 1325.

Rochdale

Greater Manchester Fire Museum – Official museum of the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service.
Healey Dell Nature Reserve – Guided walk.
Hollingworth Lake
Rochdale Pioneers Museum – The world’s first successfully operated co-operative store. Now a museum with restored historic shop.
Three Owls Bird Sanctuary – Wild bird hospital.
Touchstones – Arts and heritage centre with museum, art gallery, local studies library, tourist information, shop and café.

St Helens

Dream – Spectacular sculpture designed by world-renowned artist Jaume Plensa.
World of Glass – Explores the history of St Helens and its glass making heritage.

Stockport

Bramall Hall – One of Cheshire’s grandest black and white timber-framed Tudor manor houses.
Hat Works – The only museum in the UK dedicated to the hatting industry.
Lyme Park – Mansion house, gardens, and ancient deer park.
Staircase House
Stockport Air Raid Shelters – Underground labyrinth of tunnels built for shelter during World War II.

Warrington

Norton Priory, Runcorn – 38 acre site with excavated remains of the Augustinian Priory and woodland gardens.

Wigan

Trencherfield Mill – Restored steam engine.

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.

Bella’s menu makeover means that it now offers more choice than ever, so with the summer holidays in full swing, it’s the perfect place to treat the family.

As well as exciting new pizza, pasta and grill options, you can now enjoy an updated selection of salads, risottos and al forno dishes. And the desserts have received a summer shake-up too.

Pasta lovers will revel in the new Fusilli Pollo Spinaci – succulent shredded chicken breast, mushrooms and spinach, sautéed in a creamy gorgonzola sauce. And for the first time, diners can swap any pasta on the menu for a wholegrain fusilli.

Bella’s Mediterranean-inspired salads and paninis are the perfect lighter choice. A must-try is the Panino Pesto Rossa – a medley of sweet roasted vegetables and juicy buffalo mozzarella with red pesto on ciabatta bread, served with a side helping of fries.

Classic Italian risottos are a summer speciality at Bella Italia. Choose between the Zucca – a delicious combo of roasted peppers and butternut squash, and the Asparagi e Pancetta – a mix of crispy pancetta and asparagus. Made with authentic Arborio rice, topped with shaved parmesan and cooked slightly al dente, you won’t be disappointed.

Enjoy a slice of Italy with two new thin-crust pizzas, cooked to perfection. Try the Pesto Rosso Legumi – a feast of leeks, roasted peppers, olives, cherry tomatoes and mushrooms, topped with mascarpone cheese on a red pesto base – bellissimo!

Families with a sweet tooth won’t be able to resist the selection of indulgent summer desserts, such as Bella’s very own light and fruity Berry Tiramisu with red berries and mascarpone cream. Or dip into the zesty and refreshing Torta Limone with a generous helping of cream.

Most importantly, to keep little ones happy this summer (and mums and dads in pocket), a special ‘Bambini Menu’ offers a main course, dessert, drink and an activity book for just £4.95.

Meanwhile, Bella Italia’s wine list offers a great selection of wines from across the Italian regions.

Bella Italia have numerous restaurants across the North West including Blackpool (Church Street and Victoria Street), Ellesmere Port (Cheshire Oaks), Chester (Eastgate), Lancaster (Church Street), Liverpool (Ranelagh Street), Manchester (Arndale, Deansgate, Piccadilly), Salford Quays (Lowry Outlet Mall), and Southport (Ocean Plaza).

Businesses shortlisted include:

Bed and Breakfast/Guest Accommodation of the Year:

• The Ashton, Lancaster
• The Cartford Inn, Little Eccleston
• Howarth House, St Annes
• Little Stubbins Bed and Breakfast, Claughton-on-Brock

Small Hotel of the Year

• Crofters Hotel, Garstang
• Mytton Fold Hotel and Golf Complex, Langho
• West Tower Country House Hotel, Aughton

Large Hotel of the Year

• Best Western Premier Leyland Hotel, Leyland
• The Midland Hotel, Morecambe
• Preston Marriott Hotel

Small Visitor Attraction of the Year

• Chapel Gallery, Ormskirk
• Helmshore Mills Textile Museum, Rossendale
• Lancaster Canal Packet Boats
• Old Holly Farm, Garstang

Large Visitor Attraction of the Year

• Blackpool Tower & Circus
• Blackpool Zoo
• Pleasure Beach, Blackpool
• WWT Martin Mere Wetland Centre, Near Ormskirk

Taste Lancashire Award

• The Carmen Rose, Ribchester
• The Fisherman’s Retreat, Rossendale
• Homestead Farm’s Shop, Holmeswood
• La Locanda Ristorante Italiano, Gisburn

Business Tourism Award of the Year

• Pleasure Beach, Blackpool
• Preston Marriott Hotel
• Ribby Hall Village, Wrea Green

Sustainable Tourism Award

• Clough Bottom Farm Cottages, Bashall Eaves
• Malkin Tower Farm Holiday Cottages, Blacko
• Number One, South Beach, Blackpool
• Sandcastle Waterpark, Blackpool

Access for All Tourism Award

• Grand Theatre, Blackpool
• Oswaldtwistle Mills Shopping Village
• Sandcastle Waterpark, Blackpool
• Wyresdale Wheels for All Partnership, Wyre

Best Tourism Experience of the Year

• Dukes at Williamson Park, Lancaster
• Farmaggedon at Farmer Ted’s Farm Park, Ormskirk
• Ribble Valley Food Trail
• Sandcastle Waterpark, Blackpool

English Lakes Hotels owns and operates five hotels in Cumbria and Lancashire. This arrangement will enable the Midland Hotel to benefit from their experience and bring the benefits of being part of a small group of high quality hotels in wonderful locations.

Bryan Gray, Chairman of Urban Splash Hotels said, ‘This is a great deal for everyone. The Midland will benefit from English Lakes Hotels’ experience and their excellent marketing. Urban Splash will retain ownership of The Midland and will work with English Lakes Hotels to promote the hotel and Morecambe’.

Simon Berry, Chairman of English Lakes Hotels said, ‘The Midland fits perfectly with our other hotels and, for the first time, gives us a seaside location. Urban Splash has done an outstanding job in restoring The Midland to its former glory and we’re now looking forward to building on the success of this iconic hotel.’

Originally built in the 1930s, The Midland was once a favourite haunt of celebrities like Coco Chanel, Wallace Simpson and Lawrence Olivier. Its restoration by Urban Splash has resulted in a beautiful 44 bedroom hotel, which overlooks the uninterrupted coastline of Morecambe Bay with views across to the Lake District.

Tom Bloxham Chairman MBE of Urban Splash added, ‘We are very proud of the Midland Hotel and all that has been achieved since it opened in June 2008.’

English Lakes Hotels is a family owned and run group of hotels. The existing hotels are five very individual properties, four of which are situated in the Lake District (Low Wood Hotel, Waterhead Hotel, Storrs Hall Hotel, Wild Boar Hotel) and one close to Lancaster (Lancaster House Hotel).

Urban Splash, a Manchester-based development company, purchased the decaying Art Deco building in 2003 and after a multi-million pound redevelopment project, reopened the hotel in 2008.

English Lakes Hotels is a family-run hotel group. They own 5 hotels in the North West of England:

• Lake District: Low Wood Hotel, Waterhead Hotel, Storrs Hall Hotel, Wild Boar Hotel
• Lancaster: Lancaster House Hotel

The new Lancaster Visitor Information Centre is located at the Storey Creative Industries Centre on Meeting House Lane.

It has been funded by Lancaster City Council, the Northwest Regional Development Agency, and the Lancashire and Blackpool Tourist Board.

James Berresford, Director of Tourism at the NWDA said, ‘Our aim is to have a modern network of well located visitor information centres across the Northwest, which provide visitor focused information and the highest levels of service. Lancaster’s new VIC is in a great spot close to the castle and the railway station, a strategic location that will ensure it is able to maximise its contribution the visitor economy.’

The Travelodge will offer 115 rooms and will be situated on the site of the former Regal Cinema on King Street.

Construction is expected to begin in the first half of 2009.

The offer is available on this special page on their website and is valid for bookings made now for stays between February and April 2009.

Rooms for other dates are also available from £19 and £29 provided bookings are made 7 and 21 days ahead respectively.