Macclesfield

Thursday 9 – Sunday 12 September
www.heritageopendays.org.uk – fully events listing and details

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

Several attractions and places in North West England could soon be UNESCO World Heritage Sites. A list of 38 entries is currently being scrutinised by the government and around 10 will be submitted to UNESCO next year.

North West entries bidding for status are Chester Rows, Blackpool, Jodrell Bank, and the Lake District.

Councillor Richard Short, Executive Member for Culture and Recreation at Chester West and Chester Council, said: “I am delighted that the Rows have been included – they are synonymous with Chester and known throughout the world.

“Whilst we firmly believe that Chester itself should be declared a World Heritage Site, we were advised that the Rows on their own would stand a better chance of receiving this international recognition.”

Added Councillor Short: “I believe that the Rows are unique – they are certainly amongst the most photographed aspect of Chester – and must rank among Britain’s best-known shopping malls.”

Plans to build a new Discovery Centre at The University of Manchester’s famous Jodrell Bank Observatory have been submitted to Cheshire East Council.

The project, which it is hoped will form ‘phase one’ of a wider redevelopment of the visitor facilities, has a total floor space of 1,000 square metres, and will include:

• A Planet Pavilion entrance building including an orientation centre and stylish glass-walled café with spectacular views of the Lovell telescope
• A Space Pavilion incorporating a multi-purpose exhibition, events and education space
• Landscaping of the Arboretum to create a new Galaxy Maze and a Space Garden.

The planned development has strong support from Sir Bernard Lovell, founder of the Jodrell Bank Observatory and creator of the Lovell Telescope, who lives nearby.

If funding is found, the first building could be complete around 3-4 months after the diggers arrive on site, with all work completed within 12 months.

Current visitor facilities will be kept open as much as possible if the development goes ahead – with a fully booked schools programme continuing over the summer months, alongside a number of events for the public and ‘Friends’ of Jodrell Bank.

Astronomers would continue to carry out observations and world-class science while the redevelopment work takes place.

Sir Bernard Lovell said:

“As the founder of the Jodrell Bank Observatory, I am delighted to hear that there are plans to upgrade the facilities for visitors to the site.

“The very modern design that has been developed reflects the fact that the work of Jodrell Bank is at the forefront of research into astrophysics. The new facilities will pass on the spark of inspiration to the school pupils who are the scientists of the future. I look forward to this development going ahead very soon.”

Consultation and feedback sessions on the plans have already been held for local residents and scientists working on the site.

The architect for the project is Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios. The firm won the RIBA Stirling Prize in 2008 and designed the National Trust’s new headquarters and the visitor centre at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park. Capita Symonds is the project manager.

Jodrell Bank has been instrumental in numerous scientific discoveries, including providing the best test of Einstein’s theory of gravity, General Relativity. In 1957 the Lovell Telescope was the only telescope in the world powerful enough to track the rocket that carried the Soviet satellite Sputnik into space.

The facility’s work has helped astronomers to study how planets and stars form and reveal the nature of supernovae, neutron stars and black holes. It has also played a major role in the discovery of quasars and gravitational lenses, and in understanding pulsars.

Jodrell Bank currently operates the UK’s e-MERLIN network of telescopes on behalf of the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC). Once fully operational, this fast and powerful network of seven radio telescopes will allow astronomers to carry out observations which previously took several years in just a single day.

Jodrell Bank also hosts the global headquarters for the Square Kilometre Array radio telescope – a huge £1 billion international project that will survey the sky thousands of times faster than any imaging radio telescope ever built.

Anyone wanting to keep up to date with progress and latest developments can visit the Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre website.

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:

Barrow

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.

An upmarket bar and restaurant in Alderley Edge will reopen later this year, 13 months after being destroyed in a fire.

Panacea on Wilmslow Road burned to the ground in September 2008, just days after opening.

Rebuilding work is due for completion by the end of September and opening scheduled for mid-October. Panacea is currently recruiting reception, kitchen, restaurant, and bar staff.

Cheshire’s best tourism businesses were revealed at the Visit Chester & Cheshire Awards last night.

The evening at Chester Racecourse saw TV presenter Mark Durden-Smith announce the winning nominations across 14 categories.

The awards were organised by Visit Chester & Cheshire, and supported by the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA), Trinity Mirror and Virgin Trains.

The winners were:

• Event of the Year – Nantwich Food & Drink Festival
• Best Tourism Experience of the Year – Roman Tours, Chester
• Small Attraction of the Year – Arley Hall & Gardens
• Taste of Cheshire Award – Walk Mill, Waverton
• Large Hotel of the Year – Carden Park Hotel, Golf Resort and Spa, Chester
• Small Hotel of the Year – Peckforton Castle, Tarporley
• Bed & Breakfast of the Year – Harrop Fold Farm, Macclesfield
• Sustainable Tourism Award – Carden Park Hotel, Golf Resort and Spa, Chester Excellence in Business Tourism – Carden Park Hotel, Golf Resort and Spa, Chester
• Large Attraction of the Year – Tatton Park, Knutsford
• Access for All Tourism Award – Kerridge End Holiday Cottages, Macclesfield
• Best Tourism Retail Business of the Year – Corks Out, Chester
• Best Tourism Website of the Year – Blue Planet Aquarium, Ellesmere Port
• Self Catering Holiday of the Year – Kerridge End Holiday Cottages, Macclesfield

The Number 15 Wine Bar in Alderley Edge has closed.

The cosy restaurant and bar on London Road had been in business for more than 30 years.