Archive for the ‘Preston’ Category

The winners of the 2008 Lancashire and Blackpool Tourism Awards were announced at a ceremony at Blackburn Rovers Football Club on Wednesday. The awards were handed out by BBC Radio Lancashire presenter Ted Robbins after Ranvir Singh withdrew due to illness.

The winners were:

Bed and Breakfast/Guest Accommodation of the Year – Number One South Beach, Blackpool
Small Hotel of the Year – Shireburn Arms, Ribble Valley
Large Hotel of the Year – Big Blue Hotel, Blackpool
Small Visitor Attraction of the Year – Farmer Teds Farm Park, Ormskirk
Large Visitor Attraction of the Year – Sandcastle Waterpark, Blackpool
Caravan Holiday Park of the Year – Newton Hall Holiday Park – Blackpool
Self-Catering Holiday of the Year – Beech House, Blackpool
Tourism Website of the Year – Ribby Hall Village, Wrea Green
Taste Lancashire 08 Award – Northcote Manor, Langho
Business Tourism Award of the Year – Barton Grange Hotel, Preston
Sustainable Tourism Award – RSPB Leighton Moss Nature Reserve, Carnforth
Best Tourism Experience of the Year – Morecambe Bay Cross Bay Walks
Tourism Event of the Year, Lancashire Food Festival, Accrington

Work to restore the exterior of Preston’s Harris Museum has been completed. The £200,000 scheme took 5 months to complete and included replacement of damaged stonework and re-pointing.

The Grade I listed building dates back to the end of the 19th century and is one of the oldest buildings in Preston city centre. The work was carried out by Mather and Ellis of Manchester after consultation with English Heritage.

Councillor Anthony Gornall said, ‘The Harris Museum and Art Gallery is a jewel in Preston’s crown and in our stewardship role it’s important we do all we can to preserve it for future generations. Most of the stonework dates back to when the museum was first built and some areas had eroded over time. It was in need of repair to ensure it remained safe and to keep the historic building looking its best. I’m very pleased with the results - it’s positively gleaming!’

The Say Two Touring Company will be performing at some of the North West’s finest locations this summer with their production of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Venues and dates for the open-air, evening performances are:

Pennington Park, near Wigan – June 21
Bank Hall, Bretherton, near Chorley – June 8
Kingswood College, Scarisbrick, near Southport – July 5
Brougham Hall, Penrith – July 11/12
Heskin Hall, Chorley – July 19
Chester Amphitheatre – July 26

Members of the public are invited to audition to take part in the show alongside professional actors. No previous experience is necessary.

For all enquiries telephone 01257 453956.

North West picnic lovers can vote for their favourite picnic spot in a competition being organised by Bolton-based bakers Warburtons. Ten sites in the region have been nominated:

Stanley Park – Blackpool
Lyme Park – Disley, Cheshire
Heaton Park – Manchester
Formby Beach – Merseyside
Beeston Castle – Tarporley, Cheshire
Barley Picnic Site – Pendle Hill, Ribble Valley
Jumbles Reservoir – Bradshaw Valley, Bolton
Beacon Fell – Goosnargh, near Preston
Fell Foot Park – Windermere, Lake District
Crook o’ Lune – Lune Valley, Lancaster

Votes can be registered at www.welovebread.co.uk until May 16 2008. All voters are entered into a draw to win a picnic in Central Park, New York.

The winner will be announced at the start of June and will go compete against the other regional winners for the title of ‘Warburtons Best Picnic Spot 2008’.

Diners in Preston can now check out the hygiene ratings of the city’s restaurants on a new website set up by Preston Council. The Preston FoodSafe site shows the ratings given by environmental health officers and currently lists 790 premises.

Preston’s Museum of Lancashire has been designated a Quality Assured Visitor Attraction by Visit Britain, the official British Tourist Authority. Charlotte Steels, Assistant Keeper said, ‘We are all delighted by this award. The staff work hard to make the museum a welcoming place for visitors and it’s fantastic that we have been given this acknowledgement.’

The chairman of Blackpool’s regeneration company is leaving his post to lead a bid for European funds to build an extension of Blackpool’s tram system to Preston. Professor Sir Peter Hall of ReBlackpool said, ‘After nearly four years in the chair at ReBlackpool, helping to develop the casino bid and then the post-casino regeneration strategy to rebuild the town’s economy, published in our Blackpool Task Force report to government last summer, I think it is time to move on. As ReBlackpool shifts from strategic thinking to delivery my successor will lead on this delivery. Meanwhile, provided our bid is successful, and I am confident that, fully supported by NWDA and other partners, it is more than good enough – I will focus on delivering the next stage of development of the Blackpool Tramway as part of the regeneration of the town.’

The proposed system will utilise a new type of tram developed in Germany that uses a hybrid power system capable of switching from electric to diesel power to run on non-electrified tracks.

Preston will host the national Dragon Boat Championships at the city’s Riversway Festival this summer. Dragon Boat Racing originated in China more than 2,000 years ago. Each boat measures around 40 feet and carries a team of 20 paddlers, 1 drummer and 1 helmsman. The Riversway Festival will be held at Preston Docklands from July 4 to 6 2008.

Preston North End FC has appointed Everton assistant coach Alan Irvine as their new manager after a compensation deal was agreed by the two clubs. Irvine replaces Paul Simpson, sacked last week after a poor run of results in the Championship. Candidates rumoured to be lined up for the vacant position at Everton include Newcastle coach Steve Round and Brian Kidd, currently assistant manager at Sheffield United.

A huge Ferris wheel is to be installed on Preston’s Flag Market as part of the city’s Christmas celebrations. The wheel will be open from November 16 and will offer riders an unrivalled view of the city centre. Other attractions planned for the festive period include an ice rink and Christmas farmers’ market.