Latest news
There is always something going on in Norfolk and in this section you can find out all the latest news. Keep up with the latest Norfolk tourism news - new attractions, events, awards, and information.
Greater Yarmouth Tourism Reveals Seaside Nostalgia Success
(11th December 2012)
Greater Yarmouth Tourism www.great-yarmouth.co.uk launched its 2013 campaign on Tuesday 11 December in the historic Grade I listed St George’s Theatre to an audience of more than 200 tourism professionals, representing businesses in the Borough. St George’s Theatre reopened in November following a £8 million refurbishment programme. Great Yarmouth now attracts more than 5 million visitors to the resort per annum and tourism comprises nearly 30% of the borough’s workforce.
Councillor Colleen Walker, Her Worship the Mayor of Great Yarmouth, unveiled the 2013 brochure. The brochure’s art deco style cover with a modern twist celebrates the increasing interest in the British seaside and growing nostalgia for childhood holidays. The 2013 TV advert, filmed at a range of Great Yarmouth locations over summer also had its première at the event.
Councillor Michael Jeal said: “This year will long be remembered for the success of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations and the Olympic and Paralympic Games. The weather had an impact on the start of the season in Great Yarmouth, but the summer and early autumn saw the resort celebrating in style with the Olympic Torch Relay, Maritime Festival, Heritage Open DaysOut There Festival, the Tour of Britain cycle race and the International Brotherhood of Magicians British Ring Convention.”
“Tourism is vital to the economy of the Borough,” added Councillor Jeal. “It is equally vital for the public and private sectors to continue to work together to capitalise on the renewed interest in the British seaside holiday. We have impressive growth in visitor numbers and employment, but slower growth in the overall tourism income. Money continues to be tight, so we must maintain our focus on improving quality combined with value for money.”
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St Seraphim’s Trust receives Heritage Lottery Fund Grant
(10th December 2012)
St Seraphim’s Trust (est. 2005), based in the former Walsingham Railway Station, home to St Seraphim’s Orthodox Chapel since 1967, has received a stage one Heritage Lottery Fund Grant.
The grant is being used to develop plans for a full Heritage Lottery bid in spring 2013 for funds to interpret and present to visitors the story of St Seraphim’s, a centre for traditional Orthodox Icon painting for more than 40 years, along with the building’s railway heritage (1857-1964).
St Seraphim’s Orthodox Chapel is located next to the coach park in Little Walsingham and is open daily. “Visitors are always very welcome,” said Project Manager Sylvia Batchelor. “We are very interested in finding out how visitors respond to the chapel and our heritage. This will help with the development of our plans.”
St. Seraphim’s Trust aims to build on the long tradition of Orthodox Icon painting carried out by Father David (d 1993) and Leon Liddament (d. 2010) at the chapel for more than 40 years. Their icons were highly regarded and can be seen in churches and homes throughout the UK and worldwide. The icons of early British saints including local saints were an important part of their work
The project will make the chapel and the rest of the building, including the surviving station platform and the large garden behind the platform, fully accessible to all visitors. Plans include a display area for Father David and Leon Liddament’s Icons, and workshop spaces where courses and events will be held to enable people to learn about iconography and its role in the Orthodox Christian faith.
Work has already begun to develop a community garden, a natural space to complement the spirituality of the chapel and provide a calming and natural reflective environment for use by pilgrims and the local community. A viewing hut has been established from which visitors can see all the religious sites in Walsingham. “We particularly need a key volunteer to help manage the garden and volunteers to work on St Seraphim’s archives,” added Sylvia Batchelor.
The story of the Orthodox faith in Walsingham began in the 1930s when emigré Russian priests visited the Anglican Shrine. A Pan-Orthodox Chapel was established at the Anglican Shrine in 1945. But the growth of interest in the Orthodox faith led to the development of St Seraphim’s Chapel in the old railway station in 1967. Father David, the priest in charge led a Lay Brotherhood of St Seraphim and created the Icon workshop. Further growth in the Orthodox community saw the opening of the Holy Church of the Transfiguration in Great Walsingham in 1988.
For more information about St Seraphim’s Trust and the chapel see www.iconpainter.org.uk, or contact Sylvia Batchelor Project Manager, t. 01328 820610, email sylvia@iconpainter.org.uk and Jessica Knights Project Administrator, email jessica@iconpainter.org.uk.
Visit East Anglia appoints Norfolk Brand Manager
(16th October 2012)
Visit East Anglia, recently contracted to deliver the strategic voice of tourism for Norfolk, today announce the appointment of a Brand Manager for the county’s Visit Norfolk brand.
Pete Waters takes up the new post at Visit Norfolk officially on November 1, after three years as editor of the Eastern Daily Press. “It’s a great honour to be able to help represent Norfolk tourism. Norfolk has the best and most diverse range of attractions of any county in the country so we have all the ingredients for a fantastic visitor experience. The challenge now is to find more and smarter ways to capitalise on that,” he said.
“There is already some great promotional activity taking place, particularly on the coast, for the Broads and in the city, but the sum of our parts across all of Norfolk is our biggest strength. We must work collectively, public and private sector together, to ensure Norfolk becomes top of mind when people are thinking where to take their holidays, short breaks and day trips,” he added.
Norfolk at Christmas Exciting Festive Events
(21 September 2012)
Norfolk has an exciting array of special Christmas events to raise the spirits and put you in the festive mood.
The Thursford Christmas Spectacular in North Norfolk is the biggest and most exciting Christmas show in Britain and runs from November 9 to December 23, with two shows a day at 2pm and 7pm, www.thursford.com. Experience this popular blend of Christmas entertainment, with dazzling dancers, beautiful costumes, Christmas songs, carols, including outstanding music and singing from a cast of more than 100. Each show is a pageant of spectacle and colour – the music a seamless transition from an up-beat dance routine to a choral rendition of a Christmas carol – a show that would not be out of place in London’s West End.
Thursford Santa’s Magical Journey
November 17, 18, 24 & 25 and December 1, 2, 8, 9, 15 to 23.
Visit Father Christmas in the magical setting of Thursford. The magical journey takes you past the penguins and polar bears to see all the giant sized teddy bears ready to load Santa’s sleigh and past the busy elves, hard at work in the toy factory taking in the wrapping machine. Meet lots of fantasy characters including the snowman family but watch out for the snowballs before you make your way though the magical forest to reach Santa’s House and meet the man himself, www.thursford.com
Sandringham Christmas Craft, Food and Gift Fair, Sandringham Park,
November 23-25, www.craft-show.co.uk
Bure Valley Railway, Aylsham to Wroxham
Santa Specials Saturdays and Sundays from November 24 to December 9 and daily December 14-24, www.bvrw.co.uk.
Fakenham Parish Church 12th Christmas Tree Festival
November 29 to December 6, daily 10am to 8pm,
www.fakenhamparishchurch.co.uk.
Cromer Pier’s Pavilion Theatre stages its Christmas Seaside Special from December 1 to December 30, check www.cromer-pier.com for show times. Now in its 8th year, the show features Norfolk comedian Olly Day, a youth choir, the Christmas Quartet and dancers choreographed by Di Cooke.
North Norfolk Railway, Sheringham
Santa Specials, Saturdays and Sundays December 1 to December 16 and December 21-24, www.nnrailway.co.uk.
Mid Norfolk Railway, Wymondham to Dereham
Santa Specials, Saturdays and Sundays December 1 to December 16 and December 22-24, www.mnr.org.uk.
BroadsTours Wroxham
Santa Cruises Saturday and Sundays December 1 to December 23 and December 24, 11am and 1pm, www.broadstours.co.uk.
Deepdale Christmas Market, Dalegate Market, Burnham Deepdale
Christmas goodies on the NorthNorfolkCoast, December 1 and 2, 10am to 4pm, www.deepdalechristmasmarket.co.uk
Christmas at Holkham Hall
December 1,2 8, 9, 11am to 5pm, adult £12, child (2-16) £8, family (2+2) £36
See the Hall dressed for Christmas, meet the Victorian characters dressed in their splendid costumes filling the hall with story-telling, dancing, carol singing and tales from Christmas past. Father Christmas will welcome children to collect a gift and leave him their special Christmas wish, www.holkham.co.uk.
Dragon Hall Norwich Medieval Christmas Market
Saturday, December 1 and Sunday, December 2, www.dragonhall.org.
Dickleburgh Church, nr Diss - 50 Christmas Trees in a Church
Christmas Tree Festival - Sunday, December 2 to Sunday, December 9 www.50christmastrees.com.
Great Yarmouth Minster, Christmas Tree Festival
December 5 to 9, 10am to 4pm (open to 7.30pm on 5 and 7 December) www.sncpt.co.uk.
King’s Lynn Corn Exchange, Pantomime – Aladdin
December 7 to 31 www.kingslynncornexchange.co.uk (check website for times).
Gorleston Pavilion Theatre
Smile it’s Christmas, December 8, Christmas concert with Nigel Boy Syer, Country Company and Lisa Marie at 7.45pm, www.gorlestonpavilion.co.uk.
Father Christmas at Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden, South Walsham
Meet Father Christmas in his woodland yurt with his reindeer, plus children's crafts in the elves workshop, live music and mini-Christmas market. Father Christmas arrives on his lawnmower at 11am. December 9, 11am to 5pm, www.fairhavengarden.co.uk.
Meet Father Christmas at the National Trust’s Oxburgh Hall,
December 8, 9, 15 and 16, 11am to 4pm, £4 per child (includes present), www.nationaltrust.org.uk/oxburghhall.
Gorleston Pavilion Theatre
Mother Goose, December 12 to January 5, check times on website, www.gorlestonpavilion.co.uk.
Pensthorpe Nature Reserve nr Fakenham
Father Christmas and floodlit feeds, booking essential, December 15-23, adult £3, child £6 (includes present) www.pensthorpe.com.
Great Yarmouth Hippodrome 11th Christmas Spectacular with its special water show and top international circus acts, runs from December 15 to January 13 (check website for times), www.hippodromecircus.co.uk. The historic hippodrome (built 1903) is Britain’s only surviving sole circus building and is one of four venues in the world that converts to stage a water spectacular.
Theatre Royal, Norwich Pantomime – Aladdin
December 18 to January 19 (no performances Christmas Day and New Year’s Day) www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk.
The Maddermarket Theatre, Norwich – The Railway Children
December 19 to, January 5 (no performances December 24, 25 and January 1), www.maddermarket.co.uk.
Click here for a full list of Christmas Events
Visit East Anglia appointed to manage Visit Norfolk
(17th September 2012)
Norfolk County Council is pleased to announce the appointment of Visit East Anglia to manage the development of tourism in Norfolk. The agreement will run until early 2015 and follows a tendering process overseen by New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership and Norfolk County Council.
Visit East Anglia will be responsible for providing a strategic voice for Norfolk’s tourism industry, and for promoting all that the county has to offer at the local, regional and national level under the VisitNorfolk brand, with a dedicated brand manager. It will develop promotional campaigns, including some in partnership with neighboring counties.
To read the full press release please click here
Benjamin Britten Centenary 2013
(6 September 2012)
Benjamin Britten was the most celebrated British composer of the 20th century. His roots were firmly in Norfolk and Suffolk and his music was inspired by the landscape and sea. Born in Lowestoft on 22 November 1913 and schooled at Gresham's Holt, he gave many performances in Norwich and lived most of his life in Aldeburgh. Britten himself said: "My music has its roots in where I live and work.”
These deep connections with Norfolk and Suffolk form the basis of Familiar Fields www.familiarfields.org, a promotional platform co-ordinating and promoting performances and events by music and arts organisations across the two counties, during the 12 months leading to the centenary on Britten’s birth. More than 80 organisations are involved in Familiar Fields. Events range from small chamber music recitals to operas in churches and concerts halls in four main centres, Aldeburgh, Lowestoft, Norwich and Holt.
EDP Norfolk Tourism Awards Open for Business
(16 August 2012)The eighth EDP Norfolk Tourism Awards, in association with Hoseasons, are open for business.
There are 12 categories plus the Outstanding Achievement Award. New this year are the Best Young Tourism Talent and Best Event of the Year categories.
Tourism businesses and EDP readers, are invited to make nominations. For a full list of categories and to enter, go to http://norfolk.tourismawards.co.uk/. The closing date for entries is 30 September.
Mark Durrant, Chairman Norfolk Tourism, commenting on the awards said: “The EDP
Tourism Awards have always proved hugely successful, showcasing the very best that Norfolk has to offer in terms of quality service and sustainability and I am delighted that Archant are supporting the awards again. Year-on-year we have seen standards improve, where tourism businesses are looking to not just meet but exceed their customers’ expectations.”
Fifty-Four Holiday Years at Searles Hunstanton - A Record?
(16 August 2012)Searles Leisure Group http://www.searles.co.uk/ believes it may boast the country’s longest staying holiday lodge owner at its park in Hunstanton. Fred Grange had already been coming to Searles for holidays for some time before he brought his very first static caravan to the park 54 years ago.
Fred has seen many changes and developments since his original caravan, an inheritance of his wife’s, arrived on the site in the late 1950s. At that time facilities were rather limited, with entertainment provided by a black and white TV in a shed.
Fred, who hails from Wisbech St Mary in Cambridgeshire, watched all the changes, getting newer caravans as the years passed. He now has a lodge on Fairway Court, part of Searles Country Park area. “I’ve watched the Searle children grow up and take over the running of the business, and seen the facilities grow into the wonderful Park that exists today,” added Fred.
Norfolk on the Orient Express
(7 August 2012)Norfolk Tourism combined with Visit Suffolk and Visit East Anglia to promote the region at a Visit England media event on the Orient Express on Tuesday 31 July to coincide with the Games.
More than 100 journalists were taken on a journey on the Orient Express from London Victoria. Ian Russell, Wroxham Barns, Ros Green Festivals Suffolk and Rachael Paddick from Jungle PR represented Norfolk and Suffolk on board.
Rachael (pictured) was painted by Norfolk-based body-paint artist Cat Finlayson, with iconic Norfolk and Suffolk landmarks and themes to create a visual representation of both counties.
Chocolate brownies, Norfolk honey shortbread and Norfolk lavender shortbread made by Kel Norton, pastry chef for Chris Coubrough’s Flying Kiwi Inns http://www.flyingkiwiinns.co.uk/, were enjoyed by the journalists on the train.
Archived news items
Click here to access news items from April to September 2012
Click here to access news items from the first quarter of 2012
Click here to access 2011 news items
What's on in Norfolk?
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Celebrate the life and music and explore the local roots of one of Britain's finest composers
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Entertainment and cultural events in Norfolk this Spring
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Hundreds of events for this year's cultural extravaganza
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