Southport

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

Ocean Parcs, owners of Pontin’s Ltd, has revealed plans for a multi-million pound redevelopment of its holiday park in Southport.

The investment at Pontin’s Southport Holiday Park will be in excess of £100 million, subject to planning approval. Over 250 park jobs and 600 construction jobs will be created.

The plans will create a holiday and leisure facility, unique in the UK and will include:

• The next generation of eco friendly, highly efficient and comfortable holiday accommodation set in a seaside holiday village environment
• A hotel and conference facility
• Shops, bars, restaurants and cafes
• An iconic lido leisure facility and sports/health club

It is intended that the facilities will also be available to non-guests.

Ocean Parcs also announced that the Pontin’s Blackpool Holiday Park will close at the end of the 2009 season.

Ian Smith, Chief Executive of Ocean Parks, said ‘In commencing our strategic long term development plans, it is with regret and sadness that we will not be extending the development plans to our Blackpool Holiday Park. It was not an easy decision for the Board to make but the level of investment required for a short period of time and a reduction in holiday bookings at the park, which is the reverse of the trends at our other parks, means that it is not commercially viable to continue beyond the end of the current lease.’

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.

A famous rollercoaster has returned to its original home in the North West.

Pleasureland in Southport closed in 2006 and the Wild Cat ride was dismantled and put into storage.

Sefton Council purchased the site in 2007 and leased it to leisure operator Normal Wallis who subsequently opened New Pleasureland.

New Pleasureland bought the ride back and it reopened yesterday. The first to ride it was Peter Crompton, who famously demonstrated against the park’s closure by climbing the historic Cyclone ride.

A unique new theatre production that takes Elvis Presley fans on a musical journey through the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll’s career is heading to Southport.

‘Elvis Through The Decades’, which was the brainchild of producer Penny Betney, takes to the stage at Southport Arts Centre on Friday, August 21, before travelling to theatres around the country, including Stockport, Colne and Newbury, up until April 2010.

Having been a fan of Elvis Presley’s music from an early age, Penny was inspired to create the show after attending an Elvis tribute artist competition. Her aim was to produce a show that focused on many of the highlights throughout the idol’s career, including his past in 1950’s rock and roll, his popular movies, his 1968 comeback and his renowned Las Vegas years.

Award winning Elvis’, Ricky Aron, Chris Connor, Paul Malloy and Mike Nova have been chosen as the four stars while their musical accompaniment comes in the form of one of the world’s top Elvis Tribute Bands, Red Alert.

The show comes to Southport Arts Centre on Friday, August 21. Tickets are priced £15 (no concessions). Call the box office on 01704 540011.

Things are hotting up at Bella Italia, with a range of new summer dishes that celebrate Italy’s finest flavours.

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).

The best businesses in Liverpool region’s £1.3bn a year visitor economy were honoured at The Mersey Partnership’s Annual Tourism Awards last night.

More than 520 guests joined the celebrations to recognise and reward the best of the best during a black tie dinner at the BT Convention Centre on the city’s UNESCO world heritage waterfront.

The Awards were organised by The Mersey Partnership (TMP) as the region’s official tourist boaard and this year’s event attracted record entries.

Eleven of tonight’s winners now go forward to represent the destination in North West regional awards and the chance to compete for national honours.

The annual event, organised by TMP and sponsored by the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA), Merseytravel, Liverpool ONE, ACC Liverpool and BBC Radio Merseyside, celebrates quality and excellence in a sector now supporting 23,000 jobs across the City Region. BBC TV presenter Ranvir Singh hosted the ceremony.

The winners were:

• The Mersey Partnership Special Award – Liverpool City Council for Liverpool European Capital of Culture 2008
• Guest Accommodation of the Year – The Ambassador Town House, Southport – Highly Commended: Mere Brook House
• Self Catering Accommodation of the Year – Premier Apartments Liverpool
• Hotel of the Year – Malmaison Liverpool – Highly Commended: Crowne Plaza Liverpool
• Small Visitor Attraction of the Year -Acorn Farm Knowlsey – Highly Commended: Mersey Tunnel Tours
• Large Visitor Attraction of the Year – Liverpool Cathedral
• Excellence in Customer Service – Christina Dixon, Jurys Inn
• Excellence in Business Tourism – BT Convention Centre Liverpool
• Taste Liverpool – Delifonseca Liverpool
• Tourism Experience of the Year – National Museums Liverpool for Art in the Age of Steam – Highly Commended: Liverpool Biennial
• Tourism Event of the Year – Creamfields Halton
• Student in Hospitality & Tourism – Stephanie Arnold, St. Helens College
• Performance Venue of the Year – Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
• Bar of the Year – Alma De Cuba Liverpool
• Tourism Marketing Project of the Year – National Museums Liverpool for Art in the Age of Steam
• Tourism Retailer of the Year – The Beatles Story Liverpool – Highly Commended: Lady Lever Art Gallery Shop
• Sustainable Tourism – Arena and Convention Centre Liverpool

The third annual Southport Food and Drink Festival will be held between May 14 and 17 2009.

The event will be centred around the Town Hall Gardens on Lord Street and feature a pavilion hosting cookery demonstrations and a local producers’ market.

Cookery demonstrations include:

• Thursday May 14 – The Falstaff, Marine Brasserie @ Ramada Plaza Hotel, Dining Rooms on West Street, Nostalgia Tea Rooms, Cloisters
• Friday May 15 – Starbucks, Cinnamon Bar and Lounge, Pizzeria Italia
• Saturday May 16 – The Barking Frog, The Wine Cellar,
• Sunday May 17 – La Vie Francaise, Tom Bridge, Roberto’s

Entry to the festival is free.

Merseyside Police have arrested a 16-year old boy in connection with a fire earlier this week at a Southport tourist attraction.

On Tuesday night a blaze destroyed the River Caves ride at the New Pleasureland amusement park.

Budget hotel operator Travelodge is currently offering rooms at just £9 per night.

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.