News
There is always something going on in Norfolk and in this section you can
find out all the latest news. You can also register to receive regular updates
from VisitNorfolk via email.
This is also the area of the site where you will find regular competitions
with lots of great prizes to be won.
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Shadow Culture Minister Visits Norwich
(26 May 2009)
Tobias Ellwood MP, Shadow Minister for Culture Media and Sport, was in Norwich on Friday 22 May, part of a day in the East of England co-ordinated by East of England Tourism. Mr Ellwood visited Norwich Cathedral where he met The Dean of Norwich, the Very Revd Graham Smith, Cecile Tuddenham (Marketing Manager, Norwich Cathedral), Caroline Jarrold (Chairman VisitNorwich), Chris Starkie (Chief Executive Shaping Norfolk's Future), Michael Nutt (Managing Director VisitNorwich), Michael Timewell (Chairman Norfolk Tourism) and Lydia Smith (Norfolk Tourism Team Manager). The group briefed Mr Ellwood on the tourism industry in the county including opportunities surrounding London 2012.
Photo: L-R Cecile Tuddenham, Keith Brown (EET), Chris Starkie, Lydia Smith, Tobias Ellwood, the Very Revd Graham Smith, Michael Nutt. Photo courtesy of Norwich Cathedral
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New Norfolk Treasure Trails launched ideal family activities for half term!
(26 May 2009)
Treasure Trails Norfolk have launched an amazing series of themed sleuthing trails for all the family to enjoy. Whether its solving mysteries, hunting for treasure or cracking codes, all the trails at www.treasuretrails.co.uk/trails/norfolk/ help you to discover your local area and keep fit. There are 12 locations across Norfolk (in Dereham, Kings Lynn, Castle Acre, Great Yarmouth, Cromer, Sheringham, Old Hunstanton, New Hunstanton, Blakeney, Wells, Holt and Wymondham) with more being added all the time. There are Murder Mystery, Treasure Hunt or Spy themed trails to choose from. Follow the clues and solve the mystery you could win a cash prize!
For more information visit www.treasuretrails.co.uk/trails/norfolk/.
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Explore Broadland by bike and on foot
(18 May 2009)
Get out and about and explore Broadland - grab your bike or walking shoes, and a copy of a new leaflet from Broadland District Council.
The 'Walking & Cycling in Broadland' leaflet includes routes such as the Marriott's Way, Bure Valley Path and the Weaver's Way. As well as information on long distance walks and cycle routes and getting around on public transport, it promotes 25 properties all of which have been awarded or are awaiting inspection for the Quality in Tourism Welcome Walkers or Welcome Cyclists schemes.
Download the leaflet or find out more about walking and cycling in Norfolk.
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Westacre Theatre Company starts its engine for Alan Ayckbourn play!
(12 May 2009)
Westacre Theatre Company are gearing up for a production of the comedy Just Between Ourselves by Alan Ayckbourn, which will take place in May and June. This production, directed by Andy Naylor, begins with Dennis who is trying to sell his car. When the hapless Neil comes along, Dennis thinks hes found a buyer but negotiations dont quite go according to plan Ayckbourn is at the top of his game in this funny, poignant, bittersweet comedy about love and not listening. Never known to shy away from a challenge, Westacre have even gone so far as to include a vintage Volkswagen Golf in the production! For more information and dates, please visit www.westacretheatre.com.
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Wildlife Presenter Returns to Pensthorpe to Open Habitat Garden
(12 May 2009)
Pensthorpe Nature Reserve & Gardens near Fakenham in Norfolk will host its popular annual Gardening, Craft & Food Fair on 6th and 7th June. This year's event promises to be even more exciting because Wildlife presenter Chris Packham will be opening a new Wildlife Habitat Garden which aims to show visitors how they can attract wildlife into their garden with simple hints and tips. Chris, who joined the Pensthorpe-based Springwatch team for the first time this year, will open the Garden at 11am on 6th June. Afterwards, along with Pensthorpe head gardener Imogen Checketts, Chris will be on hand to answer questions and talk about how to attract wildlife into the garden.
At the Fair, visitors will also get the chance to take a behind-the-scenes look at Springwatch, with guided tours around the compound to see where the programme was filmed and the location of the mini cams which captured the wildlife in action.
The Gardening, Craft & Food Fair at Pensthorpe is a highly popular annual event which brings together stunning plants and delicious food. Top nurseries from around the county will attend to show off their plants, while visitors can discover tantalising tastes and aromas in the Food Marquee. The event is open from 10am to 5pm on Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th June. For more information, please visit www.pensthorpe.com.
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Strattons Hotel wins in 'Hotel of The Year Awards'
(07 May 2009)
The luxury boutique Strattons Hotel in Swaffham has won a coveted award highlighting their eco-awareness. The Coniderate Hoteliers Association's 'Hotel of the Year Awards' have recognised the work at Strattons with an award for 'Considerate Green Champion of 2008'. The hotel has won many awards and as well as sourcing local produce works hard to minimise their environmental impact. For more information visit www.strattonshotel.com.
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Norfolk beaches win coveted Blue Flag awards
(07 May 2009)
Norfolk's coastline received a boost recently when Sheringham, Cromer, Sea Palling and Mundesley all gained the Blue Flag award. The award is for clean water, litter-free shores, good facilities and safety - so get out to the coast and enjoy Norfolk's beaches!
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Norwich Shakespeare Festival
(01 May 2009)
Norwich Cathedral Cloisters provides a magnificent and idyllic setting this July for two of Shakespeare's best-loved romantic comedies - A Midsummer Night's Dream and Much Ado About Nothing. Performed in beautiful Elizabethan costumes by the British Shakespeare Company, the shows will include live music and hilarious comedy all set in the stunning natural surroundings that Shakespeare intended for his plays.
Expect a magical open-air festival (16 - 19 July) of love, laughter and amorous adventure, performed by a company that continues to delight audiences and critics alike. For more information and to book tickets visit www.britishshakespearecompany.com.
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May is festival season - but rising performers and musicians get a look-in too!
(29 April 2009)
Norfolk in May-time is awash with creative talents and events - whether it's the long-running international Norfolk & Norwich Festival, it's sister art festival Norfolk Open Studios or Art Alive in Churches.
This year however sees both the return of the Norwich Fringe Festival, championing local musicians, artists and performers, as well as a new event called The Next Stage, which runs as part of the Norfolk & Norwich Festival.
The Next Stage is a showcase of the East's best Escalator Live Literature and Music Talent over three days and featuring musicians and spoken word artists from the East of England destined for national and international acclaim.
Curated and presented by Norwich Arts Centre (venue for the showcases) and Writer's Centre Norwich (formerly New Writing Partnership) The Next Stage features five bright talents from the world of stand-up poetry, spoken word and live literature and seven bands covering acoustic, electronica, contemporary and world music.
May promises to be a busy month!
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Wherry SOS - all hands on deck!
(28 April 2009)
One of the Broads' best-loved and most iconic boats is once again on tour this summer - but this time she is leading an urgent SOS appeal to ensure her and her sisters' future. Wherry Yacht Charter Charitable Trust (WYCCT) needs your help to safeguard the three wherries Hathor, Olive and Norada; this year, Hathor's Farewell Tour will see her visit all corners of the Broads system in an effort to raise funds towards an ambitious but vital target of 100,000.
The tour begins on Friday 1st May and there are still places available during that first week, as well as on the later tours covering the May half term week, early June, and August-September. The extensive itinerary takes in local events and offers extra attractions, allowing you to make a sailing into a real day out if you wish. Open gardens, guided walks, steam railway trips, Broads events and pub lunches can all be combined with a sailing or viewing. But with shorter sailings and free viewings, there are opportunities for everyone to get to know this magnificent vessel and find out WYCCT's work caring for three of the last eight wherries in existence.
For more information about the wherries and to find out about the tour dates, please see www.wherryyachtcharter.org.
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Wroxham Barns Silver Award England for Excellence 23 April
(27 April 2009)
Wroxham Barns won a silver award in the Outstanding Customer Service category at this year's national Enjoy England Awards for Excellence staged at the National Railway Museum, York on 23 April.
Ian Russell, Director Wroxham Barns (centre) is pictured with Lady Cobham Deputy Chair of VisitBritain, and Michael McIntyre (awards host) - photograph Graham Jepson.
East of England Tourisms Chairman, Dr Derek Langslow commented: "These awards are the highest accolades that the tourism industry can win. We are delighted that the excellence of the region has been recognised and our warmest congratulations go to our silver award winners."
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Westacre Theatre launch summer season
(27 April 2009)
Westacre Theatre is delighted to be launching another packed summer season of theatre, music and workshops which will begin with an especially devised performance to mark the start of the season. The 2009 summer season features a wide-ranging selection of theatre performed in the unusual summer tent as well as the over-subscribed holiday drama workshops and always popular Jazz Sundays. The season will open with May Days on Friday 1 May at 7.30pm, which is a celebration in words and music that will feature some of Westacre Theatre Companys much loved performers together with Eileanora Ni Charthaig and Tap Robinson providing the musical interludes.
For more information visit www.westacretheatre.com.
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BBC Springwatch Returns to Norfolk
(24 April 2009)
Springwatch, the BBC TV programme celebrating UK wildlife and wildlife people returns to Pensthorpe Nature Reserve Fakenham on Monday 25 May. The series will be broadcast on BBC 2 for three weeks, Monday to Thursday evenings at 8pm. Chris Packham is Kate Humble's new co-presenter.
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Last chance to enter this year's East Anglian Dragon Boat Festival!
(23 April 2009)
The fourth annual Dragon Boat Festival comes to Oulton Broad in Lowestoft on Sunday 10th May and there is still time to get a team together and join in the fun! East Anglia's Childrens Hospices (EACH) is the official charity for the 2009 East Anglian Dragon Boat Festival and local companies and organisations are being urged to enter teams and help raise funds for this vital local cause.
Exciting, colourful and great fun, no previous experience is required to take part in the dragon boat racing at Oulton Broad. The ornate 30 Chinese dragon boats and all racing equipment are provided and each crew of up to 11 people is guaranteed a minimum of three races. For more information and an entry form to make sure you are on the starting line for this spectacular local event contact Gable Events on 01780 470718 or visit the Festival website at www.dragonboatfestivals.co.uk/eastanglia. For more information on the vital work of East Anglia's Childrens Hospices, please visit www.each.org.uk.
Image courtesy of Gable Events picture library and AK Event Photography
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Harriet Martineau: Norwich's Forgotten Heroine
(23 April 2009)
Harriet Martineau influenced Darwin, was one of the founders of sociology, was a feminist before Feminism, campaigned tirelessly against slavery in America, and scandalized Victorians with her atheistic views years before Darwin came along. And yet somehow she is unknown in her home city of Norwich.
Stuart Hobday, director of Norwich Arts Centre, will be asking "Why?" in a special event at Dragon Hall on Tuesday 28th April. The talk is a fundraiser for the Grade 1 listed trading hall, which dates back to circa 1430. For more information please visit www.dragonhall.org.
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Norwich Fringe Festival
(23 April 2009)
The Norwich Fringe Festival is back after a spring makeover and will run alongside the Norfolk & Norwich Festival from May 1- 16. The Fringe Festival offers a platform for exciting, innovative work, bringing a smile to the faces of the Norwich public, and an inclusive and street-level atmosphere.
Expect a myriad of musical styles, outdoor sound installations and sonic art, performance poetry, alternative cabaret and comedy, short films and animations and more.
For more information see www.norwichfringefestival.co.uk.
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Norwich Heart develops new cultural tourism project
(21 April 2009)
Norwich Heritage Economic and Regeneration Trust (HEART) has secured 1.15m (1.06m) for Norwich from the European Regional Development Fund for an exciting and innovative new project, which will take forward the successful Norwich 12 initiative in partnership with the Belgian city of Ghent.
SHAPING 24 Strategies for Heritage Access Pathways in Norwich and Ghent is a new cultural tourism initiative that will link together the 12 heritage sites in Norwich that make up Norwich 12, with 12 heritage sites in Ghent. The project seeks to promote and support the 24 sites, raise the profile of Norwich and Ghent as significant cultural heritage cities and increase awareness of the longstanding historical links between this part of England and the Low Countries.
Photograph: St Johns Roman Catholic Cathedral, Norwich (photograph St Johns)
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Bevin Boys National Reunion Maids Head Hotel, Norwich
(21 April 2009)
Fifty former Bevin Boys (aged 82 to 84), representing 50 collieries, plus partners and wives were in Norwich for the Bevin Boys Association national reunion based at The Maids Head Hotel from April 17 to 20.
Bevin Boys are named after Ernest Bevin, Minister of Labour during World War II. He introduced conscription into the mines due to labour shortages in late 1943. Ten per cent of male conscripts aged between 18 and 25 were selected by ballot to work in the mines (48,000 in total).
Photograph: Former Bevin Boys embark on a City Boats river trip
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Wroxham Barns Hosts Minigolf English Open Sunday, May 10
(21 April 2009)
Wroxham Barns 18-hole adventure minigolf course is hosting the British Minigolf Associations (BMGA) English Open on Sunday, May 10. Play starts at 11am with the tournament comprising three rounds of minigolf. This is the first BMGA English Open to be staged in Norfolk.
The entry fee is 15, minimum age 14. Entry forms can be downloaded from the BMGA's website, or picked up at Wroxham Barns.
Photograph: Wroxham Barns mini adventure golf course.
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New Norwich Visitor Map
(21 April 2009)
A new Norwich Visitor Map is available, bringing together three previous maps and guides in just one new title. The new map replaces the old Visitor Map, Shop Norwich map and Park & Ride leaflet. The leaflet has been produced thanks to a partnership between VisitNorwich, the City Centre Partnership, Norwich Attractions and Norfolk County Councils Park & Ride. Download a PDF copy from www.visitnorwich.co.uk.
Photograph: Partners launch new visitor map for the City (clockwise from top left) Peter Mitchell Jarrolds, Clare Packer VisitNorwich, David McMaster City Sightseeing Bus, Tina Rust Park & Ride and Stefan Gurney City Centre Partnership.
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Henry VIII in Norfolk
(21 April 2009)
Wednesday, April 22 is the 500th anniversary of Henry VIIIs accession to the throne. The National Trust in Norfolk has links with the Tudor monarch. Lady Bedingfield of Oxburgh Hall was Lady in Waiting to Catherine of Aragon, Henry VIIIs first wife. Henry wrote to Lady Bedingfield about the funeral arrangements for Catherine. This letter is on show in the King's Room at Oxburgh today. Henry's second wife, Anne Boleyn, has links with Blickling Hall in Norfolk, which was built on the site of her ancestral home. Folklore has it that the ghost of Anne Boleyn appears in gruesome fashion at Blickling each May, on the anniversary of her death. For more information on special events at Bickling and Oxburgh see www.nationaltrust.org.uk
Photograph: Oxburgh Hall (photograph National Trust)
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Norfolk Chosen to host Tour of Britain Cycle Race
(21 April 2009)
The Tour of Britain, the country's biggest cycle race, will come to the roads of Norfolk for the first time in September 2010, thanks to an investment by Norfolk County Council. It is expected that at least 1.5 million of additional revenue will be generated by the event.
Not only is it a first for Norfolk but also the first time a stage of the Tour in its current guise will be held in the east of England region. The exact route to be taken through Norfolk is yet to be decided but, with the stage expected to cover at least 100 miles, it is likely to include many parts of the county, both urban and rural, and take in some of Norfolk's most iconic sights and locations.
Michael Timewell, Chairman of Norfolk Tourism, said: "This is wonderful news for Norfolk. There is of course the direct benefit of a massive increase in visitor numbers in September next year. In addition, the publicity created by this announcement and the ensuing boost in Norfolk's profile regionally, nationally and internationally will begin to take effect long before September 2010, and continue long after the race too."
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The 5th North Norfolk Music Festival
(21 April 2009)
The full programme for the 5th North Norfolk Music Festival has now been announced, and will open on Friday 4 September with two World Premieres.
The Festival was founded in 2005 by Barry Cheeseman and Simon Rowland-Jones, became a Charity in 2009 and exists to bring top level chamber music and world music to the region for the benefit of residents and visitors alike.
The Festival opens on Friday 4 September with two World Premieres with both composers taking part in the concert.
The first new work to be commissioned by the Festival will be a piece viola and piano by Huw Watkins. The second work will be A Variation on a Theme by Brahms composed by Simon Rowland-Jones.
2009 marks two major musical anniversaries - Haydn died 200 years ago and Robert Schumann. One of the world's greatest quartets, The Belcea Quartet will include a Haydn quartet in their programme on 5 September and on Sunday 6 September there will be a recital of songs by Robert and Clara Schumann with the tenor John McMunn and pianist Simon Lepper followed by a performance of "Beloved Clara" an evening of words and music with Lucy Parham, piano and Martin Jarvis and Joanna David as Robert & Clara Schumann.
The Festival will close with a rare recital by the great mezzo soprano Felicity Palmer who has appeared on the stage of every major opera house around the world.
For further information and the full programme of events, visit www.northnorfolkmusicfestival.com.
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Norfolk & Norwich Festival 09
(20 April 2009)
Norwich is the home of one of the UKs top international arts festivals - the Norfolk & Norwich Festival. Visit the city in May and enjoy world premieres, globally renowned artists, spectacular outdoor free events and an exuberant childrens programme.
Headline names include Philip Glass, Ute Lemper, Dawn Upshaw and Wendy Cope performing across the city in venues as diverse as Norwich Cathedral and the regions first Spiegeltent in Chapelfield Gardens.
Full programme details at www.nnfestival.org.uk. Image credit - Raphael Helle / Norfolk and Norwich Festival
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Sign of the times - new mid-week National Gardens Scheme open garden
(16 April 2009)
Lexham Hall is one of the Norfolk National Gardens Scheme gardens that are opening mid week this season, and for the first time, on Wednesday May 13th. Traditionally NGS gardens have always been associated with Sundays. Lexham Hall is a fine C17/C18 Hall (not open). It has parkland with a lake and river walks. It is a formal garden with terraces, yew hedges, roses and mixed borders and a traditional kitchen garden with a crinkle crankle wall. It has a three acre woodland garden with azaleas, rhododendrons, camellias, spring bulbs, and fine trees. Popular for its snowdrop walk, it is a garden for all seasons.
For more information, please visit www.norfolkgardens.org.
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Top Norfolk attractions praised for accessibility
(16 April 2009)
Many of Norfolk's top attractions have been praised in the new Rough Guide to Accessible Britain for the way in which they meet access needs for disabled visitors.
Blickling Hall, the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts and the Bure Valley Railway all were praised for their efforts.
Andrew Barnes, one of the directors of the Bure Valley Railway (BVR), said: "The railway is designed to be fully accessible. We thought it was important to have equal opportunities and quality for all. It was something that was important to us and we did it before the legislation came in." The railway has accessible stations and facilities, as well as railway coaches designed for wheelchair access.
Thinking of coming to Norfolk? - find accommodation graded under the National Accessible Scheme here.
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New visitor attraction opens in Norwich - Hungate Medieval Art
(16 April 2009)
A new visitor centre has opened in the centre of Norwich which aims to promote the medieval art of Norfolk.
Hungate Medieval Art, on Princes Street, aims to promote the beautiful medieval artefacts that can be found in churches across the county of Norfolk. Based in Norwich city centre, in the redundant church of St Peter Hungate, the centre acts as a hub from which visitors are encourage to explore the county. The centre is currently focusing on medieval stained glass with an exhibition, funded by the HLF and curated by Claire Daunton of University of East Anglia. The centre is open Thursday to Saturday 10.00-16.00, and group visits at other times by appointment.
For more information, please visit www.hungate.org.uk.
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Dad's Army museum re-opens
(16 April 2009)
The Dad's Army museum in Thetford opened for the summer on Easter Saturday, following a refurbishment.
The museum hosts an array of memorabilia from the popular sitcom, and you can pick up a Dad's Army Trail leaflet to walk around many of the shooting locations in Thetford. The museum will be open for the summer season every Saturday from 10am to 2pm. For more information please visit www.dadsarmythetford.org.uk.
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Everything Goes at Bure Valley Railway!
(08 April 2009)
May Day Bank Holiday Weekend (2nd - 4th May 2009) will be a busy time for Norfolks longest Narrow Gauge Railway. All of The Bure Valley Railway's five steam engines, three diesel engines will be in action, together with all available coaches and rolling stock. An intensive timetable will be operation throughout the weekend to allow visitors the opportunity to see as many different trains as possible hard at work over the nine miles between Aylsham and Wroxham. To keep younger visitors entertained there will be a competition on the train journey, with a free prize for every correct entry. The Bure Valley Mascot Bear will also be keeping an eye on proceedings to ensure everything runs to time in what promises to be a great day out for railway enthusiasts and families alike.
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Busy O.S. Outdoors Show NEC Birmingham 2729 March
(06 April 2009)
Norfolk Tourism and partners had a very successful visit to the OS Outdoors Show. Ginny Edwards, Norfolk Tourism said: "The Outdoors Show was absolutely terrific. We were rushed off our feet with lots of interest in Norfolk from walkers and cyclists as well as people looking to go camping or caravanning. Having a CoastHopper bus with us was very successful for promoting walking on the Norfolk Coast Path. We also launched the Enjoy the Broads 09 campaign and Broadland District Councils new cycling and walking leaflet. Our three holiday prizes were incredibly popular and we went through boxes of literature."
Norfolk Tourism went to the Outdoors Show with the Broads Authority, Broads Tourism Forum, Broadland District Council, Borough of Kings Lynn and West Norfolk, CoastHopper bus, The Bittern and Wherry Lines (community railway partnership), North Norfolk District Council, Broad House Country Estate Hotel Wroxham and Clippesby Hall Holiday Park.
Visitors to the Outdoors Show had the opportunity to win an online competition to win a break in the Broads via www.enjoythebroads09.com, plus exclusive breaks at the Broad House Country Estate Hotel and Clippesby Hall Holiday Park.
Photograph: Norfolk Tourism partners promote EDP Holiday Here! at the Outdoors Show.
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Enjoy the Broads 09
(06 April 2009)
The Broads Tourism Forum and the Broads Authority have created an exciting multi media campaign to promote the sailing, canoeing, windsurfing, boating, birdwatching, cycling and walking paradise that is the Norfolk & Suffolk Broads.
A spectacular five-minute film at www.enjoythebroads09.com, fronted by TV presenter Nicholas Crane, introduces the winding waterways, quiet lanes and mouth-watering food. Visitors to the website can enter a monthly online competition, from April to September, to win a break on the Broads. There is also a complementary 20-page booklet, enjoy the broads your way, packed with ideas and discount vouchers to make the most of a day out or stay in the area.
Photograph: Launching Enjoy the Broads 09 at the Outdoors Show
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King's Lynn Celebrates Unique Role in Hanse History
(06 April 2009)
Preparations are almost complete for this year's landmark Hanse Festival (30 Jul-2 Aug) in Kings Lynn. The programme of events ranges from business and history forums to street theatre, classical concerts, lively continental markets and traditional fairground rides, meaning there's something for everyone. The celebrations start with the arrival of the reconstructed 15th century caravel Lisa Von Lubeck on Thursday 30 July.
The Hanse Festival, the largest of its kind to be held on English soil, celebrates King's Lynn's role in the powerful German-based 14th century trading guild, the Hanseatic League and its significance as the only English town in the modern league.
Photograph: Lisa von Lubeck
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De Vere Dunston Hall Golf Course Easter Joy for Greens
(06 April 2009)
All 18 greens are fully back in operation at De Vere Dunston Hall golf course near Norwich. Every green was allegedly destroyed by vandals in July 2007 and required complete refurbishment. Peter Briggs, Golf Manager said: We are very excited about the year ahead. The greens are looking superb and are playing as well as they ever have.
Photograph: An Easter Bunny celebrates the start of the new season on the refreshed 18th green.
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Produced in Norfolk Farmers Market Easter Saturday 11 April
(06 April 2009)
A new monthly Produced in Norfolk Farmers Market, the only one in the county, launches at Wroxham Barns on Easter Saturday, April 11, from 10am to 2pm. Farmers Markets will then take place on the second Saturday of the month.
Photograph: Pat-a-Cake Bakery, Norwich (Produced in Norfolk)
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Uncle Stuarts Brewery and Beer Shop new at Wroxham Barns
(06 April 2009)
Stuart Evans has produced an exclusive Wroxham Barns Bitter to mark the opening of his new Uncle Stuarts brewery at Wroxham Barns. Uncle Stuarts hand-crafted beer uses East Anglian malted barley from Crisps of Fakenham and Muntons, Stowmarket. Stuart Evans beers include Excelsior Best Bitter, Strumpshaw Fen, Local Hero (Nelson), North Norfolk Beauty, Norwich Castle and Norwich Cathedral. He also sells up to 100 bottled beers from other Norfolk and Suffolk breweries.
Photograph Ian Russell (Wroxham Barns) holds large glass of beer with Stuart Evans holding a large bottle of Wroxham Barns Bitter.
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NGS Secret Gardens!
(06 April 2009)
Follow the Norfolk National Gardens Scheme trail this April. Many of the gardens hold the mystery as in the book The Secret Garden and admission for children is often free. Parents and children are invited to peep over the garden gates and explore. A lot of the gardens have many features that interest children, woodland walks, nature conservation and vegetable plots and the special secret garden look. There are also tropical gardens, Aladdins Cave garden, secret rooms and a new one with a Spinney. The Norfolk National Garden Scheme spring garden trail provides gardens of high quality and interest and a variety of garden designs. There is the opportunity to pick up few garden tips from the owners and often plant sales to help create your garden to the NGS standard. Home made cakes and often soup help complete a relaxing garden day out while contributing to worthwhile charities.
Four new gardens open this spring, Spinney Lodge, Gayton April 19th, Burgh House, Aylsham, May 10th & 17th, Ryston Hall May 17th and Conifer Hill, Starston May 24th.
Visit your local Tourist information Centre or garden centre to pick up a Norfolk 2009 leaflet or visit www.norfolkgardens.org and follow the Norfolk National Gardens Scheme garden trail.
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Pensthorpe Announces CBeebies Star Jelly to Open Wild About the Wensum Event
(05 April 2009)
Pensthorpe Nature Reserve, home of BBC Springwatch and famous for nature and conservation in Norfolk, is hosting the third action-packed Wild About The Wensum day on Saturday May 16th from 10am to 5pm.
Opening the event will be CBeebies star Jelly from The Story Makers and Green Balloon Club. Jelly says: I can't wait for the wonderful Wild About Wensum event because there's going to be so many naturey things to do. And it is really important to care for nature and our environment, because it is SO amazing. So join me in finding out that no matter how big or small you are (like me) we can all do something to make a difference!"
Visitors will find local craft demonstrations, mobile making, face painting, a bird radio tracking game, bird identification sessions with local experts and many more games and adventures. Music will be provided by folk band Rig a Jig Jig. There will also be a hog roast and barbecue.
Admission to the Pensthorpe and the event is free on the day, with a nominal 4 car parking charge per vehicle to help make it financially sustainable and to encourage car sharing. The species being supported by this years event will be the Barn Owl.
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Discover art alive in Norfolk's churches!
(31 March 2009)
Art Alive (23rd to 25th May 2009) links churches and arts and crafts of all kinds from stone and wood carving to visual animation, story telling and poetry writing. All the churches involved have a particular link with an art or craft.
For more details, download the Art Alive in Churches leaflet from our Brochure page, or visit the Diocese of Norwich website.
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Make a splash and enter a team in the East Anglian Dragon Boat Festival!
(30 March 2009)
Now in its fourth year, The East Anglian Dragon Boat Festival in aid of East Anglias Childrens Hospices (EACH) is one of the largest charity events in the region. The Festival takes place on Sunday 10th May on Oulton Broad, Lowestoft with more than 50 crews expected to battle it out over the 200m race course watched by several thousand spectators.
Exciting, colourful and great fun, no previous experience is required to take part, just plenty of team spirit! The dragon boats and racing equipment are provided and each crew is guaranteed a minimum of three races. The Festival offers a full day of entertainment on land and water and is supported by Suffolk County Council, Waveney District Council and The Beach who will have a roadshow at this years event. The event attracts a wide cross section of the East Anglian community from companies to sports clubs and groups of friends and represents great value for money at less than 45 per person!
For further information or to request an entry form please visit
www.dragonboatfestivals.co.uk/eastanglia or call Gable Events on 01780 470 718.
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Classic Car Rally is all set to get engines revving at Pensthorpe in May
(30 March 2009)
Pensthorpe Nature Reserve, famous for BBC Springwatch and many conservation and wildlife projects is hosting a Wymondham Old Timers Car Rally on Sunday 3rd May 2009.
The public is welcomed to come and marvel at the classic and vintage cars, from Rolls Royces to Austin 7s, belonging to the Wymondham Old Timers at this FREE event. The rally is being held at Pensthorpe near Fakenham from 10.00am to 5.00pm.
For more details about Pensthorpe telephone 01328 851465 or visit www.pensthorpe.com.
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Enter the Norfolk Facebook page 'Pass The Parcel' competition
(26 March 2009)
To celebrate the 3 month birthday of a new facebook page 'Norfolk: a great place to live, work and visit,' we are delighted to announce a fun, online, pass-the-parcel competition to promote the site.
You can win one of a range of fabulous prizes, including a stay at the boutique Broad House Hotel, a BeWILDerwood day pass, 3 night break at Kelling Heath, tickets to a Norwich City home game and more!
Just follow the link in the words at the top of the Facebook Norfolk page to play!
...and pass the parcel onto all your friends, colleagues and family
Good luck with the game!
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David Turner's Brief Encounter - Twenty One Years at Wymondham Station
(25 March 2009)
Michael Timewell, Chairman Norfolk Tourism and Councillor Margaret Dewsbury, Chairman South Norfolk Council presented a plaque to David Turner on Tuesday, March 24, during British Tourism Week, to mark his 21 years of service to tourism in Norfolk.
Mr Turner is celebrating 21 years of caring for Wymondham Railway Station. Mr Turner runs his own piano repair business and the Brief Encounter Restaurant at the station. He actively promotes local tourism and has won many awards for his work including his famous annual floral displays. Wymondham was named 'Small Station of the Year' in the National Rail Awards 2006 and was highly commended in the Station Excellence category, HSBC Rail Business Awards 2008.
Michael Timewell said: "Wymondham Station is a superb gateway to the town and surrounding area, providing a top quality welcome for both visitors and local residents. David Turner has worked incredibly hard to raise the profile of Wymondham and Norfolk. I salute his dedication in providing such an excellent service for his customers."
Photo left to right Councillor Margaret Dewsbury, David Turner and Michael Timewell
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Norfolk Tourism Heading for the O.S. Outdoor Show stand OU760
(25 March 2009)
Norfolk Tourism and partners from the Bittern Line Community Rail Partnership, the Broads Authority and Broadland District Council gathered at County Hall to load the new CoastHopper Bus that is going to the O.S. Outdoors Show. The gathering also marked British Tourism Week and the Eastern Daily Press Holiday Here! Campaign.
Other Norfolk Tourism partners at the show, which take places at NEC Birmingham from Friday, March 27 to Sunday, March 29 are the Broads Tourism Forum, West Norfolk Borough Council, North Norfolk District Council, Broad House Country Estate Hotel and Clippesby Hall.
Lydia Smith, Norfolk Tourism Team Manager said: "Norfolk is a great destination for water sports enthusiasts, birdwatchers, cyclists, long distance walkers and gentle strollers. The county is the UKs premier bird watching destination and The Broads, Britains largest wetland, is a sailing, canoeing, windsurfing, boating, cycling, bird watching and walking paradise. We expect to be very busy at the Outdoors Show and are delighted to be working with our industry partners."
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British Tourism Week Special Tea Delivery in Parliament Square
(25 March 2009)
To mark British Tourism Week, Ian Russell MBE. Director, Wroxham Barns and Janet Sharp, who has baked scones at Wroxham Barns for 25 years, travelled to London on Tuesday, March 24 to deliver a Wroxham Barns cream tea to Norman Lamb MP for North Norfolk. Tea was taken on Parliament Square at 4pm close to Winston Churchill's statue.
Photograph left to right: Norman Lamb MP, Janet Sharp, Ian Russell MBE
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Easter Eggspress Steams Ahead . . .
(24 March 2009)
It's all aboard for the Easter Eggspress at the Bure Valley Railway over the Easter weekend, 10th - 13th April, for an eggciting family day out. Norfolk's longest Narrow Gauge Steam Railway is giving a free Easter Egg to every child when accompanied by a fare-paying adult (maximum 2 children per adult). Under 5s travel free. An intensive service will be operating from both Aylsham and Wroxham. More info at www.bvrw.co.uk
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Urban Birder Rates Norwich
(17 March 2009)
David Lindo (BBC The One Show) writes an Urban Birder column in Bird Watching magazine. He covers Norwich in the March edition of the magazine highlighting trips to UEA Broad, Mousehold Heath and Whitlingham Broad. On his travels he spotted a flock of waxings, common warblers, firecrests, long-tailed tits, tufted ducks and a female scaup, plus several other species and was impressed with his birdwatching haul.
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Norfolk & Norwich Festival Programme Launched
(17 March 2009)
Norwich will be buzzing with 16 days of extraordinary music, dance, theatre, cabaret and circus as scores of world-class performers converge on the city from May 1 to 16, for Norfolk & Norwich Festival 2009. International stars will take up residency in the city's theatres, music venues and open spaces. Tickets are now on sale more information at www.nnfestival.org.uk.
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Bespak Grand East Anglia Run
(17 March 2009)
Norfolk's largest 10k road run, the Bespak Grand East Anglia Run will takes place on Sunday, May 3 in King's Lynn. The race begins in Tuesday Market place at 10.30am - more information at www.grandeastangliarun.co.uk.
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The Bear Necessities Wins the Day!
(06 March 2009)
Bure Valley Railway has had its best ever February, thanks to out new childrens event during the half term holiday, The Teddy Bear Express, and the help of a new member to the staff, our Railway Bear. Over 4,000 passengers, plus lots of teddies, were carried during the 9-day event. Our Railway Bear took centre stage on Sunday, 15 February, when BBC Radio Norfolk came to Bure Valley Railway in search of finding the treasure in Treasure Quest. Presenter Becky Betts was very surprised to find the treasure underneath a bear bottom!!
Bure Valley Railway has lots more exciting events planned during the year, including the Easter Eggspress (10th - 13th April) and Everything Goes! (2nd - 4th May). For further details, see www.bvrw.co.uk.
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Chinese Dragons race to The Mall in Norwich!
(06 March 2009)
The fourth East Anglian Dragon Boat Festival in aid of East Anglia's Children's Hospices is being launched with an exciting promotion inside The Mall shopping centre in Norwich this Saturday 7th March. Organisers Gable Events are displaying a full size Chinese dragon boat in St Johns Place adjacent to Argos and New Look. The exhibition is to drum up trade for the spectacular Chinese Dragon Boat Festival, which takes place at Oulton Broad, Lowestoft on Sunday 10th May. There will be a display and information about the Festival's nominated charity, East Anglia's Children's Hospices (EACH) and the Roadrunners from Festival media supporter, Radio Norwich, will also be giving out goodies between 12pm and 2pm.
The 2008 East Anglian Dragon Boat Festival was a spectacular success with over 50 teams participating, watched by several thousand spectators, and over 30,000 raised for East Anglia's Children's Hospices.
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Filmed in Norfolk - The Duchess wins Academy Award
(24 February 2009)
The Duchess, which was filmed on location at Holkham Hall by ex-UEA graduate Director Saul Dibb, won an Academy Award at the Oscars, for Costume Design.
Ben Gladstone, Location Manager on The Duchess said: "Filming in the East of England was, as always, a pleasure. The Duchess spent two weeks in Norfolk filming in and around Holkham Hall and we could not have had a better experience. The grandeur of Holkham fitted the epic scale of the Devonshire's life perfectly, and the unspoilt surrounding countryside of North Norfolk gave us breathtaking pastoral backdrops". News courtesy of http://www.screeneast.co.uk.
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Dragon Halls dragon features in new historical animation
(24 February 2009)
Hot on the heels of the first ever Norwich Dragon Festival, comes the launch of a new short animated film featuring the famous carved dragon that resides in the Great Hall in Dragon Hall.
The five-minute film features a virtual reality version of the dragon coming to life and flying around the building as he talks about the history of Dragon Hall and the re-discovery and restoration of the buildings. He talks to Robert Toppes, the merchant who built Dragon Hall as a trading hall in the fifteenth century by the river Wensum, as he prepares some of his goods to trade with the Low Countries.
Find out more and view the film at www.norwich12.co.uk
News & image courtesy of HEART
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Norfolk Finalists - National Enjoy England Awards for Excellence 2009
(23 February 2009)
Congratulations to Wroxham Barns and Byfords, Holt, both finalists in the national Enjoy England Awards for Excellence, the annual tourism Baftas. The awards ceremony is at the National Railway Museum, York on Thursday, April 23.
Ian Russell, Director, Wroxham Barns has been shortlisted in the Customer Service category and Byfords, renowned for its Posh B&B, is a finalist in the best B&B/Guest House category.
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Holkham, North Norfolk Coast Best Beach 2009
(20 February 2009)
Holkham Beach is Coast Magazine's best beach 2009.
One of the magazines Coast Awards, the best beach category was voted for by readers who selected Holkham for its miles of dunes, windswept sands and maze of creeks and saltings.
There was more recognition for Holkham as, Bringing the Outside In, was runner up in the best new business by the sea category.
The White Horse Brancaster Staithe was runner up in the best shoreline B&B or hotel category.
The Coast Awards, launched last year, were established to recognise the people and places that represent all that is innovative, valuable and exciting around the British coastline.
Photograph courtesy of Holkham Estate
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New Trains for West Norfolk
(20 February 2009)
Kings Lynn and West Norfolk is set to benefit from a new super express 125 trains by 2013. For the full story see Eastern Daily Press Business Online.
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Norfolk Tourism at Essex Travel and Leisure Show
(20 February 2009)
Norfolk Tourism, with partner West Norfolk Borough Council will be promoting Kings Lynns
Hansa Festival, at the Essex Tourism and Leisure Show, Thursday 26 February, International Hall, Brentwood Centre. This special celebration during the weekend of July 30 to August 2 is just one of many ideas for days out, short breaks and longer visits to the county.
Group travel organisers will be able to pick up a copy of the Norfolk Travel Trade Manual 2009. The travel trade manual is packed with information on places to visit and stay, meal stops, guided tours and special events.
The Kings Lynn Hansa Festival is a maritime extravaganza celebrating Kings Lynns historic links with the Hanseatic League. The star attraction will be the arrival of the 15th century replica sailing ship the Lisa Von Lubeck.
Festival highlights: visits to the Lisa Von Lubeck, sea shanties on the quayside, street theatre, food fair, Hanseatic exhibition at the Custom House, puppet shows & story telling, maritime craft demonstrations, heritage walks and live music on King Staithe Square.
Lydia Smith, Norfolk Tourism Team Manager said: Norfolk is a wonderfully diverse county. We have 90 miles of stunning coastline and the beautiful Norfolk Broads, as well as peaceful countryside with atmospheric medieval churches, picturesque villages and historic market towns. We have a great mix of attractions plus Norwich, a top-five shopping destination that is easy to explore on foot, with fantastic historic buildings round every corner.
Norfolk Tourism will also be at The Outdoors Show, NEC Birmingham, March 27-29.
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Norfolk's Whisky Launches Top Attractions 2009 Brochure Campaign
(13 February 2009)
Norfolk Tourist Attractions' Association (NTAA) Chairman, Peter Williamson celebrated the publication of NTAA's 2009 brochure at St Georges Distillery, with David Fitt, Distillery Manager of the associations newest member, The English Whisky Company.
Some 500,000 NTAA brochures promoting the county's top attractions will be distributed to more than 3,500 outlets throughout the East of England, and to the national Tourist Information Centres network. The English Whisky Company is the only registered whisky distilling company in England and will be releasing its first batch of three year-old malt whisky in December. St Georges Distillery offers daily guided tours, including tastings of its new spirit liqueurs and creams, such as Norfolk Nog and Norfolk Blueberry Liqueur.
Photograph left to right Peter Williamson David Fitt and Lydia Smith, Norfolk Tourism Team Manager and toast the launch of the brochure with a glass of the English Whisky Company's spirit.
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Jolly Sailors Re-opens
(13 February 2009)
The Jolly Sailors Brancaster Staithe, which has held a liquor licence since 1789, has re-opened following refurbishment under new management. The pubs new owner is Cliff Nye, who runs the White Horse, also in Brancaster Staithe.
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Junior Farm Wroxham Barns Collects National Farm Attractions Award
(13 February 2009)
Junior Farm Wroxham Barns was runner up in the 75,000+ visitors category in the National Farm Attractions Network Awards 2008. Eileen Calverley, Farm Manager received the award at the farm attractions networks annual conference in Tamworth.
I am thrilled to have received this award from the Farm Attractions Network, said Eileen Calverley. Junior Farm only covers two acres and to have achieved runner up in a competition featuring large farm parks is a great tribute to all my staff who work so hard looking after our visitors and of course the animals. Our aim is to give children and families a top quality taste of the real countryside. This award is a wonderful endorsement of our efforts.
Photograph Eileen Claverley (centre) with Gary Richardson, Chairman of the judges and Chief Executive, the Countryside Foundation for Education and Baroness Byford, President of the National Farm Attractions Network.
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New Broads Marketing Campaign
(13 February 2009)
The Broads Tourism Forum and The Broads Authority are combining to develop a multi media Enjoy the Broads 2009 campaign comprising a new website, a video featuring the Broads, with TV presenter Nicholas Crane, and a 20-page visitor brochure. Click here to view the five-minute video:
View the new Broads film (5 minutes) to give you a taste of visiting the Broads
Please note: If the film does not load and play correctly you may need to download and install the latest Adobe Flash player software from - http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/
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Kelling Heath Holiday Park - 25 Years
(13 February 2009)
The UK's most environmentally pioneering holiday park, Kelling Heath in North Norfolk, is celebrating 25 years of the Timewell family's ownership. A number of events and new initiatives are being launched on Saturday, April 4 with the unveiling of an informative Timeline, taking centre stage in the Village Square. Guests will also have the chance to walk a new trail, showing how the landscape has changed over the years and, more importantly, how it could have been without Kelling Heath's strong environmental management plan.
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Norwich, Norfolk Broads & Countryside Launch
(13 February 2009)
The 2009 VisitNorwich accommodation and visitor guide, Norwich, Norfolk Broads & Countryside, was launched on the Hostry building site, Norwich Cathedrals new 10 million visitor and education centre, due to open late September.
Photograph: The Dean of Norwich, The Very Reverend Graham Smith (right) and VisitNorwich Managing Director, Michael Nutt, took delivery of a giant brochure on site.
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NGS new brochure - a must for all garden lovers!
(11 February 2009)
The National Gardens Scheme Norfolk has published its 2009 brochure featuring 70 gardens with nearly 100 open days for charity. The brochure is available at Tourist Information Centres.
The National Garden Scheme in Norfolk launched a new look 2009 Norfolk NGS leaflet at Bagthorpe Hall on Tuesday 3rd February by kind invitation of Mr & Mrs Donald and Gina Morton. Nearly fifty garden owners and sponsors attended the event followed by a snowdrop walk. (Bagthorpe Hall and Lexham Hall snowdrop walk are open to the public on the 8th February). The leaflet still features the design of the traditional National NGS Yellow book, the bible of garden visiting. However the map leaflet now has been replaced with an A5 colour leaflet with more garden images to entice more visitors to peep over the garden gate.
Norfolk now receives the highest volume of NGS garden visitors in East Anglia compared to the other counties. The open gardens have increased in number to nearly seventy with nearly a hundred open days this summer.
Visit your local Tourist information Centre to pick up a Norfolk National Gardens Scheme 2009 leaflet or visit http://www.norfolkgardens.org/ to download the booklet.
Image L - R Gina Morton, Bagthorpe Hal, NGS County Organiser Fiona Black. Credit - Archant
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Academy@UEA
(09 February 2009)
Following the success of Academy@UEA over the last six years, The University of East Anglia will be repeating the study holidays for summer 2009 and promises to be bigger and better.
Staff within the Residences and Services Division will offer eight courses over two weeks in August. New courses this year include The Green Man and The Norfolk Broads Swallowtails and Round Towers.
Anna-Marie Deere, Marketing Manager says Academy @ UEA is an important part of the university offer to the wider community. It offers something quite unique to it's participants; the opportunity to study and learn about interesting and unusual topics with informed and professional tutors, while enjoying a relaxing and entertaining holiday in the beautiful surroundings of East Anglia and the UEA Campus. Its continued success is tribute to our tutors and staff who make it such an enjoyable experience for all who participate.
For more information or to request a brochure, please call UEA Conferences on 01603 591111 or refer to our website www.ueaconferences.co.uk.
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Clippesby Hall AA Campsite of the Year 2009
(05 February 2009)
Clippesby Hall Holiday Park, located in the Norfolk Broads, has been selected by the AA as Best Campsite of the Year 2009. The award covers England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. The reviewers commented on the delightful setting of the park within the lovely grounds of Clippesby Hall country house and that it offers an all-round holiday experience for all ages in all weathers. The award is made following a review process that looks at all aspects of more than 1,000 campsites across Britain. Clippesby Hall gained a maximum five-pennant rating from the AA in 2007. Park owner John Lindsay said: "We have been very lucky to win some local and regional awards over the past few years, but to gain national recognition is fantastic and a great tribute to our hard-working team that puts in so much effort every year to try and ensure that every visitor has an enjoyable holiday with us."
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Norfolk Top 10 English County
(29 January 2009)
Norfolk came 8th in Country Life's league table ranking England's counties on the quality of life on offer. The survey results were published in Country Life magazine on January 28. Each county was assessed on a number of areas including heritage, landscape and wildlife, pubs, restaurants and local food. Commenting on the survey result, Michael Timewell, Chairman of Norfolk Tourism said: "Tourism is a very competitive business and to be featured in Country Lifes Top 10 English Counties is a great boost to our industry and a valuable endorsement of Norfolk as a quality destination."
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That's Yer Lot! Poppy Line Anniversary Steam Gala
(19 January 2009)
North Norfolk Railway, The Poppy Line, is staging a steam gala to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the closure of most of the Midland & Great Northern Joint Railway system on February 28, 1959. The gala runs from Friday, February 27 to Sunday, March 1 and on Saturday, March 7 and Sunday, March 8. The title of the gala, That's Yer Lot!, is taken from the placard displayed on the last Leicester-bound train.
Thanks to sponsorship from Steam Railway magazine, five visiting engines are scheduled to appear, together with three of the railways regular performers. Passenger rolling stock will include the 1924 wooden-bodied Quad-Art train and the railways new RBR-equipped dining train.
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Re-instatement of Sheringham Level Crossing Delayed
(19 January 2009)
Construction logistics and the calendar have conspired to delay the North Norfolk Railway's reinstatement of Sheringham level crossing until early 2010.
Electricity suppliers EDF require three months notice for the crucial move of their power cables. This means that the work cannot begin until Easter at the earliest and the Poppy Line does not want to greet Easter and May Bank Holiday visitors with the inconvenience of construction works in progress. Neither the railway nor the highway authorities are comfortable with a road closure in the holiday season, so the work has to be postponed.
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Diss Thomas Paine Bicentenary
(13 January 2009)
Diss is marking the bicentenary of the death of Thomas Paine (1737-1809) with a festival. Paine, the son of a Thetford corset maker, was actively involved in the American and French revolutions and his major works Common Sense, Rights of Man and The Age of Reason challenged the 18th century order and helped shape the democracies of the modern world. He lived and worked in Diss from 1765-66 making leather for the corset industry.
The Diss Thomas Paine Festival features a special exhibition at Diss Museum opening in mid March. Events include an 18th century ceilidh with Horses Brawl on March 21, performances by Norwich Early dance group on April 11 and a tour of radical Diss with Peter Clark, author of The Lefties Guide to Britain on May 10. The museum has also produced a CD, Thomas Paine: A Man For All Reason.
Contact: Basil Abbott, Curator Diss Museum tel. 01379 650618 or Diss Tourist Information Centre tel. 01379 650523.
Photograph: Planting a Liberty Tree in Diss Park on New Year's Eve, with Gary Alexander (left) as Thomas Paine.
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Norfolk NGS Launches 2009 Open Gardens Season
(09 January 2009)
The Norfolk National Gardens Scheme will launch their open garden season at Lexham Hall, Litcham near Swaffham (PE32 2QJ) and Bagthorpe Hall between Fakenham and Kings Lynn (PE31 6QY), with two popular snowdrop walks on Sunday, February 8. Both gardens are open from 11am to 4pm.
Last year Lexham Hall welcomed nearly one and a half thousand visitors including adults, children and dogs, to enjoy the snowdrop walk and garden. Bagthorpe Hall was also delighted to receive the increased visitors, who enjoyed home made soup, cakes and purchased snowdrops
NGS county organiser Anthea Foster said: Few people realise that 2 million is raised each year for nursing, caring and gardening charities through NGS open gardens. Since 1927 the NGS has raised more than 40 million (22 million in the last 10 years). Most of the 3,600 gardens are privately owned including nearly 70 in Norfolk with 100 open days.
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Norfolk Tourism Chairman Interview BBC Radio Norfolk
(05 January 2009)
See BBC Norfolk to read a summary of Norfolk Tourism Chairman Michael Timewell's interview with BBC Radio Norfolk on 30 December about prospects for Norfolk's tourism industry 2009.
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Swanton Morley Lincoln Festival
(02 January 2009)
The Friends of All Saints Church, Swanton Morley, are organising a Lincoln Festival from February 12 to July 19, to mark the bicentenary of the birth of US President Abraham Lincoln (February 12, 2009). Links with the US Army Airforce during World War II will also be celebrated during the festival.
Samuel Lincoln (the five times great grandfather of Abraham Lincoln) was among a group of Puritans who left Hingham, Norfolk for Massachusetts in the 1630s. Samuel's grandfather, Richard, lived in Swanton Morley. It is unlikely that Samuel would have gone to America had it not been for a bitter family quarrel about Richards will.
Events include talks in Norwich Cathedral Library and in the Archive Centre at County Hall, small exhibitions in the Norfolk & Norwich Millennium Library and Dereham Library, and a major exhibition in All Saints Church from June 13 to July 19. There will also be a concert of American music in All Saints Church on Saturday, June 27, incorporating a specially commissioned cantata In Memoriam Abraham Lincoln based on the Gettysburg Address.
See VisitNorfolk What's On for details of all events or contact David Stone tel. 01362 637592 for an events list.
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Excursions Norfolk Tourism on the Road
(02 January 2009)
Norfolk Tourism, with partners Borough Council of King's Lynn & West Norfolk and Bure Valley Railway, are heading to Excursions, Alexandra Palace, London on Saturday, January 17, to promote the county armed with the Norfolk Travel Trade Manual 2009. The travel trade manual is packed with information on places to visit and stay, meal stops, guided tours and special events.
Lydia Smith, Norfolk Tourism Team Manager said: Excursions is an important show for us. It is a great opportunity to meet and talk to group buyers and the travel trade in the south. We will be distributing the new Norfolk Travel Trade Manual at the show. It is the essential group guide to exploring our rich and diverse county. We have 90 miles of stunning coastline and the beautiful Norfolk Broads, as well as peaceful countryside with atmospheric medieval churches, picturesque villages and historic market towns. We have a great mix of attractions plus Norwich, a top-five shopping destination that is easy to explore on foot, with fantastic historic buildings round every corner.
Norfolk Tourism will also be at The Essex Travel & Leisure Show, Brentwood Leisure Centre on February 26 and The Outdoors Show, NEC Birmingham, March 2729.
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Norfolk Wildlife Trust Online Wildlife Calendar
(02 January 2009)
Norfolk Wildlife Trust has created an online monthly wildlife calendar. The calendar highlights wildlife that can be spotted around the county every month and also features information on each species, and conservation tips for protecting and enhancing wildlife at home.
Photograph: Pink footed geese at Holkham, photographer Barry Madden
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Norwich Dragon Festival
(02 January 2009)
The first Norwich Dragon Festival, an exciting celebration of dragons in the history and culture of the city, runs from January 31 to February 22. There is a packed programme of storytelling, puppet shows, film, art and craft activities, exhibitions, talks, sculpture along with a Dragon Trail round the city. Most of the activities are free and many are located in Norwich's most beautiful and historic buildings. Click here to download the Norwich Dragon Festival leaflet, or see our What's On page for Norwich Dragon Festival events.
Photograph: A dragon at Dragon Hall, Norwich
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Norfolk's Tourism Industry Positive Outlook for 2009
(02 January 2009)
Norfolk's Tourism businesses are optimistic for a good 2009, attracting both European and UK visitors to the county. See the full story at Eastern Daily Press Business online.
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Elton John at Holkham
(22 December 2008)
Elton John has announced a special outdoor summer show at Holkham Hall, north Norfolk, on Sunday, June 14th. In a departure from his normal touring schedule of seated arenas and sports stadia, Captain Fantastic will play in a picnic-style setting with an early show which will finish by 9pm, allowing his audience plenty of time to get home.
Elton John will perform over two hours of classics from his incredible back catalogue including 'Your Song', 'The Bitch is Back', 'Are You Ready For Love', 'Dont Let The Sun Go Down On Me', 'Daniel', 'Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting', 'Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word' and many others.
Sir Elton said: "There's something very special about playing at such a historic site. One feels very grand with a stately home as a backdrop! I love playing in Britain on a warm summers evening and having an enormous picnic under an open sky is the perfect way to start. We'll be pulling out all the stops to make it a fantastic show."
Ticket hotlines: 0871 231 0835, 0844 847 2493, 0844 338 8000.
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Norfolk & Norwich Festival 2009 Headline Events
(19 December 2008)
Norfolk & Norwich Festival has announced headline events for next Mays festival. Cabaret star, Ute Lemper, whose 1998 performance in Londons West End production of Chicago won her an Olivier Award, gives her only confirmed UK performance at Theatre Royal, Norwich on Saturday, May 16. World-renowned soprano, Dawn Upshaw performs with the Brodsky Quartet at Norwich Cathedral on Thursday, May 14. The world premiere of a major new choral work by composer Jonathan Dove will be performed by the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra with the Norfolk & Norwich Festival Chorus at St Andrews Hall, Norwich on Saturday, May 2. Finally, leading dance ensemble, les ballets C de la B, are bringing their latest work, Ashes, to Norwich Theatre Royal on Monday, May 11.
Festival artistic director, Jonathan Holloway said: Our reputation for bringing extraordinary events and performance into the UK and into this region has already firmly established the organisation as the international arts festival for the East of England. Next years programme is overflowing with remarkable and magical experiences for adults and children alike and we expect it to bring new audiences from far and wide into the heart of this region.
Tickets for the four events are on sale from Thursday, January 9, tel. 01603 766400 or visit www.nnfestival.org.uk.
Photograph: Ute Lemper courtesy Norfolk & Norwich Festival
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Norfolk Travel Trade Manual 2009 Launched at Thursford Christmas Spectacular
(17 December 2008)
Norfolk Tourisms Travel Trade Manual 2009, the 10th edition of the essential guide to group travel in the county, was launched at Thursfords Christmas Spectacular on Tuesday, December 16.
The travel trade manual, which is packed with information on places to visit and stay, meal stops, guided tours and special events, is mailed to 6,000 contacts. Group buyers can also pick up a copy and meet the Norfolk Tourism team at Excursions, Alexandra Place on January 17, The Essex Travel & Leisure Show, Brentwood Leisure Centre on February 26 and The Outdoors Show, NEC Birmingham, March 2729. Alternatively, go to www.visitnorfolk.co.uk/groups to plan itineraries or order a copy of the manual.
The Thursford Spectacular, the largest Christmas show in England, now in its 32nd year, was yet again a sell-out with coach groups heading to the North Norfolk venue from all over the East of England, the Midlands as well as Yorkshire and the South West. The 2009 Thursford Spectacular runs from November 7 to December 23 and groups are advised to book early to secure their chosen date, tel. 01328 878477.
Photograph: Thursford dancers left to right Hazel Beauchamp, Natasha Keeley and Sam Boyers
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Train Excursion Day Trippers Flock to Norwich
(17 December 2008)
Saturday, December 20 is set to be one of the busiest shopping days in the calendar and in Norwich shoppers will be joined by nearly 1,000 visitors arriving on two special charter trains. Steam Dreams, who operate a year round Cathedrals Express programme of days out by steam train, are bringing 497 passengers to the city. Their visit will include a special afternoon carol concert at Norwich Cathedral. On the same day Gloucestershire based Pathfinder Tours are also bringing 400 passengers to the city on the Great Eastern Western train tour departing from Swindon.
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Norwich International Airport New Managing Director
(17 December 2008)
Richard Jenner, Managing Director of Norwich International Airport, is leaving on December 31 after four years in the post. Current Deputy Managing Director, Elliott Summers, will succeed him.
Airport Chairman, Dr Godfrey Ainsworth, who also chairs the Board of owners Omniport Holdings Limited, said: During Richards tenure the passenger traffic at Norwich Airport has risen by around 40% and investment has exceeded 14m. He leaves the business in a strong position and I wish him well in the future.
Elliott Summers added: Although the economic climate is challenging, and in particular for the aviation sector, I embrace the opportunity of taking the airport forward to the benefit of our customers, staff and shareholders alike. We have a relatively new management board team supported by a large core team of highly skilled and loyal staff. With their help and support, coupled with the continued excellent relationship with our customers, I am certain that the long-term future of the airport will be prosperous.
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Neighbours star visits Wroxham Barns
(15 December 2008)
Theatre Royal Norwich pantomime and Neighbours star, Caitlin Stasey, popped into Junior Farm at Wroxham Barns, on Sunday 14 December, on a trip down memory lane with her grandmother, Shirley Crocker and younger sister, Victoria. Caitlin used to visit Wroxham Barns with her grandmother when she lived in Norwich as a young schoolgirl.
Caitlin gave Casper the pygmy goat an additional name, Snowy, as a reminder of her Snow White role in The Theatre Royals pantomime. She also came to face with Rosie the Berkshire cross sow and Wilbur the Kune Kune and met the donkeys in the Christmas barn.
Photograph
Caitlin Stasey meets Rosie
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Santa's Winter Wonderland in Great Yarmouth
(15 December 2008)
Santa's Winter Wonderland is at The Windmill on Great Yarmouths seafront. The walk through exhibition is open in tandem with The Hippodrome's 8th Xmas Spectacular, which runs until January 4.
Winter Wonderland is open daily, 12noon to 6pm, and features a disappearing Santa, the elves magical workshop and toy factory, cuddly giant polar bears, penguins and reindeer. There is a charge of 6 for children, including a present from Santa and 2 for adults. All adults who buy a ticket for the Hippodrome's Xmas Spectacular get a free ticket to Winter Wonderland.
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Dean Spanley Norfolk On Screen
(12 December 2008)
Dean Spanley, the new film starring Jeremy Northam, Peter OToole and Sam Neill, on general release from Friday 12 December, was filmed on location in Norfolk. Both Holkham Hall, home of the Earls of Leicester on the North Norfolk coast, and Norwich Cathedral feature in this period drama set in 1904.
Brian Iles, Cabinet member for Economic Development at Norfolk County Council said: "We're delighted that the producers of Dean Spanley chose Norfolk for some of the locations in this excellent film. Norfolk has many iconic locations that producers are really beginning to appreciate and I am sure there will be many more features making a bee-line for the county in the future."
Dean Spanley was backed by the Screen East Content Investment Fund, funding award from the European Regional Development Fund Objective 2 Programme administered by GO East, Government Office for the East of England. Screen East invested 250,000 in the film and assisted the production by hosting a series of area familiarisation events to help the production team find the ideal locations within the region. They also helped source local crew and identify facilities companies. Dean Spanley has had a significant impact in the region by creating five full time jobs and spending of 950,000 through sourcing local crew and facilities.
Photograph courtesy Icon Film Distribution
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Survey Shows Norfolks Tourism Industry is in Good Health
(09 December 2008)
Nearly half of Norfolks tourism businesses, in the third annual Larking Gowen tourism industry survey reported a rise in sales/turnover, with a third predicting a rise in the next 12 months.
The results give a frank snapshot of Norfolks tourism businesses at the end of the 2008 season. To request a copy of the survey report tel. 0845 408 1732 or email tourism@larking-gowen.co.uk.
Few pundits could, 12 months ago, have predicted the year the tourism industry has had, commented Chris Scargill, Larking Gowens tourism specialist. The strong Euro and collapsing airlines have characterised the 2008 holiday season and appear to have been good for Norfolk tourism, given the overall survey results. Happily, more businesses feel things will improve next year, than get worse.
The Larking Gowen tourism and business survey is supported by Norfolk Tourism, Norfolk Tourist Attractions Association and VisitNorwich.
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Norfolk Tourism Launches Tourism Training One-Stop Shop
(09 December 2008)
Norfolk Tourism has launched Norfolk Tourism Quality Training www.ntqt.co.uk, a one-stop shop for information on training and mentoring opportunities available for tourism businesses in the county. The website also features the guidance on fire and food and hygiene regulations, plus information on the quality grading schemes.
Martin Hickey, one of the directors of Norfolk Tourism and portfolio holder for training, said: We are delighted to introduce our new Norfolk Tourism Quality Training website www.ntqt.co.uk. With so many excellent tourism training courses on offer in Norfolk, this new website allows businesses to pinpoint the specific course that best suits them. The website also signposts and guides enquirers on important legislation affecting tourism, such as the recent Fire Regulations.
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North Norfolk Railway Reconnected to Bittern Line
(09 December 2008)
North Norfolk Railway will soon be reconnected to the main railway network at Sheringham. A tramway-style, occasional use, level crossing will connect North Norfolk Railway with the nearby Bittern Line station. The work will be completed in January. The main purpose of the new crossing is to bring visiting steam engine excursions to The Poppy Line.
Trevor Eady, former Commercial Director of Norwich Airport, will be the next General Manager of the North Norfolk Railway. Mr Eady will initially work alongside current General Manager Geoff Gowing, who is due to retire at the end of the summer.
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Deepdale Backpackers and Camping Best Green Company
(09 December 2008)
Deepdale Backpackers and Camping on the North Norfolk coast, has won the Best Green Company award in the Green England Awards 2008. Green England, a directory of green and ethical products, services and days out runs the Green England Awards.
Alister Borthwick, managing partner of Deepdale Farms said: This award is superb, not only is it a national award, but its our customers who voted for us, which shows how much they appreciate the way we consider the environment at Deepdale.
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EDP Tourism in Norfolk Awards The Winners
(24 November 2008)
A packed audience saw Ian Russell MBE, Director of Wroxham Barns win the Outstanding Contribution Award at the EDP Tourism in Norfolk Awards, staged at Holiday Inn Norwich North on the evening of Friday, November 21. Other highlights included Banham Zoo winning the Berry Savory Award for the second year running. Leisure Target Tourism Services also won the Most Valued Industry Supplier Award for the second year running.
Michael Timewell, Chairman Norfolk Tourism said: The EDP Tourism Awards are a wonderful celebration of the countys tourism industry. I would like to thank the Eastern Daily Press and Archant for their commitment to the awards. The Eastern Daily Press reaches out across the whole county and the papers support has helped create a relevant and vital awards ceremony. Thank you also to all the businesses that entered this years awards and congratulations to the winners who have demonstrated excellence in their particular field.
For a full list of the winners see www.edp24.co.uk/TourismAwards/2008/
Photo: Ian Russell (right) receives his Outstanding Contribution Award from Andrew Moss, Natwest.
Credit - Keiron Tovell Photography/EDP
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North Norfolk Railway Wins National Heritage Award
(21 November 2008)
The North Norfolk Railway has won an award from the Heritage Railway Association for the restoration of an 84-year-old wooden-bodied Quad-Art train, built to carry North London commuters, but now running on The Poppy Line.
Rebuilt over four years with the help of a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, the train is described by the National Railway Museum as the most important piece of heritage rolling stock in the country. Its design pioneered the articulated carriage technology now used on Eurostar and other very high speed trains.
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Free online walking route planner launched for Norwich
(19 November 2008)
A new, free online walking route planner for Norwich has been launched, to encourage the citys residents and visitors to walk more.
Norwich Heritage Economic and Regeneration Trust (HEART) commissioned walkit.com the UKs leading provider of web-based walking directions to create the route planner for the city with an aim of encouraging walking, reducing traffic and thereby improving health, fitness and the city environment. The site also aims to assist visitors to the city in accessing the citys heritage on foot, enabling visitors to plan walking routes to take in the citys finest heritage buildings and places of interest.
The website www.walkit.com/norwich - is free to use and helps people plan a walking route, giving directions from start to finish. It can show the most direct route as well as a less busy and more scenic one; calculate the distance of the journey; work out the time it will take to walk it (at a slow, medium and fast pace); work out the number of calories burned at the different paces, and calculate how much carbon dioxide youve avoided producing by not going by car, taxi or bus.
Michael Loveday, Chief Executive of Norwich HEART said: We hope this walking route planner will excite people about walking again, proving how easy, quick, healthy and green walking around the city can be. Importantly it will also suggest alternative routes which will help people explore more of the citys quieter areas, green spaces and heritage, many of which people may not be so familiar with.
The route planner is part of a wider project funded by the East of England Development Agency which HEART is working on with the landscape team from Norwich City Council, who are providing expertise and support for the project.
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Norfolk Tourism Annual Review Meeting
(12 November 2008)
Tourism businesses from across the county met at Marriott Sprowston Manor Hotel to have their say about the future of the countys 2.4 billion tourism.
Michael Timewell, Norfolk Tourism Chairman, opening the conference said: Norfolk is well-placed to ride out the current economic crisis, adding that the county is a destination with great quality, customer service and value for money.
James Foster, Editor of the Evening News, spoke about his papers Do Different Do Norfolk campaign, encouraging local people to explore what is on their doorstep.
Click here to see the Evening News coverage of the meeting.
Delegates contributed to discussion forums on research, business and product development and opening up new markets, helping to shape Norfolk Tourisms new strategy.
Guest speaker Paul Tholen, from Visiontheme wrapped up the morning with a presentation called 'Back to Basics', which encouraged delegates to focus on sound business principles during these turbulent economic times.
Photo: Paul Tholen and Michael Timewell pictured at the Annual Review Meeting.
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Yarmouth Brewery Launches Tours
(12 November 2008)
Blackfriars Brewery, founded four years ago in Great Yarmouth, has launched brewery tours. For more information tel. 01493 850578.
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Top Norfolk Night at East of England Tourism Oscars
(28 October 2008)
Wroxham Barns was top of the field with two awards, outstanding customer service and Taste of England, at theEast of England, Enjoy England Awards for Excellence, staged at Ickworth House near Bury St Edmunds. Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT), Welney won best visitor attraction (up to 50,000 visitors) and was highly commended in the sustainable tourism category.
Norfolk winners
Wroxham Barns Taste of England
Wroxham Barns Outstanding Customer Service Ian Russell MBE
WWT Welney Best Visitor Attraction (up to 50,000 visitors)
Byfords, Holt Best Bed & Breakfast
Park House Hotel,
Sandringham Access for All
Norfolk highly commended
Carricks at Castle Farm Best Bed & Breakfast
Swanton Morley
RAF Radar Museum Best Visitor Attraction (up to 50,000 visitors)
Neatishead
WWT Welney Sustainable Tourism
Lydia Smith, Norfolk Tourism Team Manager said: Norfolk had a brilliant night at the East of England awards. Congratulations to the winners and also those businesses who were highly commended. This is a superb boost to the countys reputation as a quality holiday destination. Good luck to the winners in the national awards next year.
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EDP Tourism in Norfolk Awards Finalists Announced
(23 October 2008)
The finalists have been announced for the fourth EDP Tourism in Norfolk awards to be staged at Holiday Inn Norwich North, on Friday, November 21. The awards are sponsored by NatWest and are run by the Eastern Daily Press in partnership with Norfolk Tourism and Leisure Target Distribution Services. Click here to view the full shortlist. To book tickets for the awards evening contact Julie Brown, tel. 01603 772156, email julie.brown@archant.co.uk
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Norwich is a Top 10 UK Destination
(20 October 2008)
Observer readers have voted Norwich as the 10th most popular UK city destination in the annual Observer Travel Awards, Norwich moved from 15th position to 10th, the biggest change in the city poll. Michael Timewell, The Chairman of Norfolk Tourism said: "It is great news that Norwich has been voted a top 10 UK city destination by Observer readers and that awareness of the city as a very special place to visit is growing."
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Norfolk Finalists - East of England England for Excellence Awards
(10 October 2008)
Six Norfolk businesses have been shortlisted in this years East of England, England for Excellence Awards. Wroxham Barns and Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, Welney, lead the way the two nominations.
Wroxham Barns is shortlisted in Taste of Anglia and Ian Russell MBE, Wroxham Barns Director is nominated in the outstanding customer service category. Welneys two categories are sustainable tourism and best small visitor attraction. RAF Air Defence Radar Museum, Neatishead is also shortlisted in the small visitor attraction category. Byfords, Holt and Carricks at Castle Farm, Swanton Morley are both in the Bed & Breakfast category and Park House, Sandringham is shortlisted in the access for all category.
Celebrating the best of English tourism, these awards are known throughout the industry as the 'Oscars' of tourism - promoting healthy industry competition and high standards. They help to ensure England's place as a world-class destination. The East of England awards ceremony is at Ickworth on Thursday, October 23.
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Kite Beasts 2008
(10 October 2008)
Kite Beasts 2008 is an exciting new kitesurfing event being hosted by Searles Holiday Resort, Hunstanton from October 17 to 19. Competitors of all ages and abilities compete in teams of three to amass points over the whole weekend in a variety of wacky events. Kite Beasts 2008 is a collaboration between Hunstanton Sailing Club, Kings Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council and Searles Leisure Resort.
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White Horse Brancaster Staithe Top Place for Romantics
(06 October 2008)
Watching the sunset from The White Horse, Brancaster Staithe has been listed as one of the top eight romantic destinations in the UK in a survey carried out by Vauxhall. The deck at The White Horse offers panoramic views across the tidal marsh to Scolt Head Island.
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Out There in Great Yarmouth
(06 October 2008)
Out There 2008 is a brand new International Festival of Arts & Culture running in Great Yarmouth from Thursday, October 30 to Sunday, November 2. More than 100 artists comprising local, national and international acts from France, Portugal, Finland, Cuba, Zimbabwe, Iceland, Spain and Brazil are featured. A mix of street arts, music, tightrope, fireworks, dance, theatre, cabaret, visual arts, digital projection, workshops, food, drink, and even Finnish sauna. This fun family-friendly festival offers many free outdoor events.
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West Norfolk Food Fortnight
(06 October 2008)
The 5th West Norfolk Food Fortnight runs from Saturday, November 1 to Sunday, November 16. The programme has formal and informal events to suit every palate from chocolate and winter puddings, to port and sushi. Explore the secrets of 'The Food on Your Plate' at The Green Quay Kings Lynn, stock up on local produce at Hunstanton and Sandringham Food Fayres and go 'Around the World in Eighty Dishes', at Lynnsport on November 16.
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Maids Head Commis is Top Student at Folio Hotels Chef School
(06 October 2008)
Rob Laverack, a Commis Chef at The Maids Head Hotel, Norwich, was the top student at Folio Hotels Chef School 2007/08. He clinched the Apprentice of the Year title at a live cook off event at Birmingham University. Rob moved to Norwich when he was 21 for a fresh start following a lengthy homeless period in London. I find cooking inspirational, added Rob. You learn something new every day. It is an incredibly creative career. I have been given a fantastic opportunity working in what is one the oldest hotels in the UK.
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Juliet Steams Ahead
(03 October 2008)
Juliet Walker, who recently qualified as a steam driver on the Bure Valley Railway, is a finalist in the Train Driver of the Year section of the RailStaff Awards.
Juliet is the only representative from all the heritage railways in this years final. The winner will be announced at the RailStaff awards party on Saturday 1st November at the ICC in Birmingham.
Bure Valley Railway General Manager Andy Tunwell said "We are all thrilled that Juliet has reached this stage in the competition. Not only is she the railways first female steam driver, but we are the only steam railway representing the entire heritage movement."
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Junior Farm at Wroxham Barns Welcomes Norwich Elephant
(29 September 2008)
Camouflagephant, one of 53 life-size baby elephant sculptures that transformed Norwichs streets this summer in the Go Elephants! trail, has a new home Junior Farm at Wroxham Barns.
Ian Russell, Wroxham Barns Director, bought Cammi (her stable name) for 3,400 at the elephant auction on Tuesday, September 23 that concluded the Go Elephants! project. The auction raised more than 200,000 for charities Born Free Foundation and CLIC Sargent.
Camouflagephant was one of two elephants sponsored by the Norwich 12, the UKs finest collection of heritage buildings. She was decorated by local community artist Tim Edwards and lived in St Julians Alley near the medieval Dragon Hall.
Photo: Sydney the Belgian Blue cross calf meets Cammi.
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Maids Head Hotel Celebrates Four Star Status
(22 September 2008)
The Maids Head Hotel in Norwich is celebrating the award of Four Star status by the AA and an AA Rosette for The Courtyard Restaurant. The awards follow the completion of Folio Hotels 2.65 million refurbishment project, including all bedrooms and public areas. The hotel is thought to be the oldest in England and has been serving local people and visitors to the city for around 800 years.
Christine Malcolm, General Manager said: Our team at The Maids Head has worked very hard over the last nine months, building up to this inspection. We are absolutely delighted with our new Four Star status and the restaurants rosette.
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Norwich Celebrates the Launch of London 2012s Cultural Olympiad
(18 September 2008)
Norwich Castle will be bathed in music and the moving image as international artists Shezad Dawood and Mukul Deora present The Body Electric on Saturday 27 September & Sunday 28 September, 8pm to 9pm. A video work will be projected onto the Castle, accompanied by a live electronica set mixed by Mukul. Images of the swimming pool at the colonial Breach Candy Club in Mumbai will be combined with a choreographed aerobic display, exploring sports power as both a uniting and dividing force in the context of changing international relationships.
This free live art performance is suitable for all ages and is being led by Commissions East, in partnership with Norwich City Council, Norwich Castle Museum & Art Gallery and The Garage, with funding from the National Lottery through Arts Council England, East.
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Norwich 12 New Film and Guidebook
(12 September 2008)
A new film and guidebook tell the story of 12 of the citys iconic heritage buildings and takes reader and viewers through a remarkable journey of 1,000 years of Norwichs history. The Norwich 12 are Norwich Castle, Norwich Cathedral, The Great Hospital, The Halls St Andrews and Blackfriars, The Guildhall, Dragon Hall, The Assembly House, St James Mill, St Johns Roman Catholic Cathedral, Surrey House, City Hall and The Forum. For more information see www.norwich12.co.uk
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October Norwich Festivals
(12 September 2008)
October is a busy month in Norwich with the Bidwells Norwich & Norfolk Food Festival, running from Wednesday, October 8 to Tuesday, October 14. This celebration of local food & produce, local talent and healthy eating, features seven days of glorious food tasting, meals out, demonstrations, recipe swapping, learning, exploring and indulging.
Or visit the city later on in the month when the 31st Norwich Beer Festival takes centre stage at the historic St. Andrew's and Blackfriars' Halls from Monday, October 27 to Saturday, November 1. More than 200 cask-conditioned real ales from Britain's independent brewers will be on sale, along with draught and bottled beers from Continental Europe.
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Discover Norfolk Broads Churches by Boat
(11 September 2008)
The Broads Open Churches project has published a Broads & Rivers Church Staithe Guide featuring 17 churches in the Northern and Southern Broads. Click here to download a PDF leaflet.
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Strattons Hotel, Swaffham Coeliac UK Gluten Free Chef of the Year
(11 September 2008)
Vanessa Scott of Strattons Hotel, Swaffham is joint winner of Coeliac UKs Gluten Free Chef of the Year award. The competition, launched earlier this year as part of Coeliac UKs Food Without Fear campaign, aims to raise awareness and highlight the need for increased provision of gluten-free menu options for the 1 in 100 people in the UK with coeliac disease.
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Norfolk Churches - Building Opportunities Conference
(11 September 2008)
The Diocese of Norwich is hosting a major one-day conference at St Andrews Hall, Norwich on Friday, September 26 to look at the main issues surrounding the promotion, management and sustainable development of Norfolk's historic church buildings. Led by the Rt. Revd Graham James Bishop of Norwich the conference will include a presentation from Andrew Ramsay CB the Director General of Partnerships and Programmes at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. For more information see www.norwich.anglican.org.
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New Norfolk Broads Podcasts
(20 August 2008)
Norfolk Tourism and the Broads Authority, working with local digital media company Aperu, have produced a new online audio experience introducing what The Broads has to offer visitors on holiday or local residents planning a day out.
Eight Broads podcasts, each on a different theme: birds, boating, walking, cycling, canoeing, sailing, Barton Broad and How Hill, can be downloaded via Norfolk Tourisms Norfolk Broads page or the Broads Authority website.
Lydia Smith, Norfolk Tourism Team Manager said: The podcasts are a first for Norfolk Tourism and the Broads Authority. It is getting more and more important to bring web content alive with the atmosphere of the county. These interviews with very knowledgeable local people provide an intimate introduction to this very special part of Norfolk.
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Olympic Handover Flag to be raised all over Norfolk
(20 August 2008)
Norfolk is planning to raise its Olympic Handover Flag all over the county as part of a travelling roadshow to celebrate the moment when London becomes the official Olympic Games Host City, on Sunday, August 24.
Norfolk County Council's red London Routemaster bus is likely to turn heads and prove a fantastic photo opportunity for youngsters who want to wave the flag on its way. The iconic London Olympic Handover Flag will be raised in Norfolk simultaneously with regions around the UK.
The bus tour is as follows:
9:30am 10am, Pensthorpe Nature Reserve, near Fakenham.
11am 11.30am, Norwich bus station
12.30pm 1.15pm, Britannia Pier, Great Yarmouth
2pm 2.30pm, Wroxham Barns
3.15pm 3.45pm, Whitlingham Country Park
4pm 4.45pm, The Forum, Norwich
5pm - County Hall, Norwich to raise flag
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Bittern Line Worlds Best 50 Railway Journeys
(15 August 2008)
North Norfolks Bittern Line from Norwich to North Walsham, Wroxham, Cromer and Sheringham, has been cited as one of the worlds 50 best railway journeys by The Independent newspaper.
Read more about this at The Independent.
www.bitternline.com
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Norfolk the Perfect Break Telegraph Online
(15 August 2008)
Joanna Symons writing in the Telegraph Online praised Norfolk as the destination for the perfect break - see the article here.
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Nelson's 250th Birthday Celebrations
(15 August 2008)
Nelson's Local, The Lord Nelson at Burnham Thorpe (see www.nelsonslocal.co.uk) is staging celebrations to mark the 250th anniversary of the birth of Admiral Horatio Lord Nelson.
The pub has special dinners on Saturday, September 27 and Monday, September 29 (the birthday). Toasts will be drunk with Nelson's Blood. On Sunday, September 28 there is a Tug-of-War competition featuring the pubs team, the cricket club and a Navy team.
There will be a Navy climbing wall, a hog roast in the pub garden, plus the 'Tars of Victory' music group singing period naval and Nelson songs. In the afternoon the Lord Nelson Cricket Club play Holkham in their final match of the season.
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Discover The Broads by Bike - Nine New Circular Rides
(15 August 2008)
The Broads Bike Hire Association has produced a free booklet and accompanying leaflet, called The Broads by Bike, featuring nine circular routes along quiet country lanes in the Northern Broads area. Aimed at cyclists of all ages and abilities the rides range from 5.5 miles round Hickling to 22.5 miles featuring Stalham, Lessingham, Honing, Worstead and Dilham. There is also a 58-mile orbital route round the whole network.
The Broads by Bike booklet can be picked up at Broads Information Centres at How Hill, Hoveton, Potter Heigham and Ranworth Staithe. Each route can also be downloaded from www.thebroadsbybike.org.uk.
Lydia Smith, Norfolk Tourism Project Officer said: The Broads by Bike is a fantastic initiative. Norfolk is a great cycling county, and the quiet lanes in The Broads offer some of the best opportunities to get away from it all and explore this very special area.
Photgraph: Lydia Smith Norfolk Tourism Team Manager with Peter Howe Broadland Cycle Hire (credit Paul Dickson)
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Great Yarmouth Has Vertigo
(05 August 2008)
The Hippodrome Great Yarmouths smash hit summer spectacular Vertigo has received rave reviews in the local press. Stephen Pullinger, Eastern Daily Press said, It had two of the best acts, the Bio Brothers and the Flying Neves trapeze artistes in the Hippodromes last 10 years. Rowan Mantell, Norwich Evening News said, Vertigo was a free wheeling, high flying, and magical soar away success in an action packed fun fizzing, dizzying experience. Vertigo runs until September 7.
www.hippodromecircus.co.uk
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North Norfolk's New Information Centre Opens
(05 August 2008)
Keith Skipper, the countys premier purveyor of squit, officially opened North Norfolk's new Information Centre in Cromer on August 1.
The 775,000 centre is home to a year-round Tourist Information Centre and provides public internet access along with new public toilets and baby changing facilities. The building is energy-efficient and environmentally sensitive, and its facilities are designed to be accessible to people who use wheelchairs.
The North Norfolk Information Centre was funded by North Norfolk District Council and received a 150,000 grant from Objective 2 of the European Regional Development Fund.
www.visitnorthnorfolk.com
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World Crazy Golf Champion Opens Wroxham Barns Adventure Golf Course
(05 August 2008)
Six members of the British Minigolf Team including World Crazy Golf Champion Chris Harding, were at Wroxham Barns near Norwich on Saturday, August 2, to officially open the new 18-hole mini adventure golf course. Chris Harding launched the course by beating Richard Tidy, golf professional at De Vere Dunston Hall Golf Club in a challenge match, 38 strokes to 43.
www.wroxhambarns.co.uk
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Ecclesiastical Car Rally Launches Open Churches Week
(05 August 2008)
Forty-six cars took part in the rally on Saturday, August 2 to launch Open Churches Week. The Dean of Norwich, The Very Rev Graham Smith drove his 1962 Daimler and the Archdeacon of Lynn, The Venerable Martin Gray drove his 1980 Porsche Targa. The route took the cars from Norwich Cathedral via some magnificent Broads Churches: Woodbastwick, Salhouse, Wroxham, Hoveton and Horning to Ludham.
www.norwich.anglican.org
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Heritage Open Days September 11 to 14
(05 August 2008)
This years Heritage Open Days (HODs) from September 11-14 features just under 200 free events in Norwich. For information about Norwich events see www.heritagecity.org and for other events in Norfolk see www.heritageopendays.org.uk.
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Bure Valley Railway Superpower Gala September 13 and 14
(05 August 2008)
The Bure Valley Railway, Aylsham to Wroxham, is staging a Superpower Gala with visiting engines from Romney Hythe & Dymchurch, Bressingham Steam Museum, Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway and Cleethorpes Railway.
See www.bvrw.co.uk for more details.
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Dutch Tall Ship Launches Yarmouth Maritime Festival
(28 July 2008)
Dutch square-rigged two-masted tall ship Brig Mercedes sails into Great Yarmouth on 4 September to launch the town's ninth annual Maritime Festival. The Mercedes is offering three-hour sailing trips on 4, 5, 6 and 7 September. For tickets and further information contact Yarmouth TIC tel. 01493 846346.
The full Maritime Festival organised by Greater Yarmouth Tourist Authority and Great Yarmouth Borough Council, in conjunction with EastportUK, runs on Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 September, full details at www.maritime-festival.co.uk
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Prime Minister Visits Norfolk on Holiday
(28 July 2008)
The Prime Minister, Gordon Brown and his family visited Whitlingham Country Park, Norwich on Sunday 27 July. They are staying near Beccles for two weeks.
Quoted in the Norwich Evening News, www.eveningnews.co.uk, Mr Brown said: This is a lovely part of the country and there are so many activities. I want people to know its a great part of England to come to.
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Yarmouths Summer Firework Season
(27 July 2008)
Great Yarmouths seafront summer firework season, sponsored by e.on, launched on Wednesday 23 July. Fireworks will light up the sky every Wednesday at 10pm until 27 August, click here for more information!
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The Great Yarmouth Wheel
(27 July 2008)
Great Yarmouth Pleasure Beach has opened The Great Yarmouth Wheel for the summer season. Forty metres high, with 30 fully air conditioned glass capsules, the big wheel offers breathtaking views of Yarmouth, the surrounding countryside and out to sea. www.pleasure-beach.co.uk
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Holkham Stars in The Independent
(27 July 2008)
Holkham beach, www.holkham.co.uk, featured twice in Saturdays Independent newspaper. It was listed in Richard Battens 50 Best Picnic Spots and in Harriet OBriens The Complete Guide to Great British Days Out. Bewilderwood adventure park near Wroxham, www.bewilderwood.co.uk, also featured in Harriet OBriens guide.
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Norfolk Open Churches Week Saturday, August 2 to Sunday, August 10
(11 July 2008)
Norfolks third Open Churches Week launches at 10.30am on Saturday 2 August with an ecclesiastical Classic Car Rally. More than 40 classic cars led by The Dean of Norwichs 1962 Daimler and The Archdeacon of Lynns slightly younger 1980 Porsche will depart from the West End of Norwich Cathedral and head for Ludham Church. The Rt. Rev Peter Fox, former Bishop of Papua New Guinea and now Vicar of Lakenham and Tuckswood, Norwich will bless the rally before it departs.
More than 100 churches will be open this year during Open Churches Week, Saturday 2 to Sunday 10 August, primarily in The Broads area. Fantastic fonts, fabulous screens and some of the finest medieval stained glass in Europe are waiting to be discovered. For more information see www.norwich.anglican.org
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Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden Opens New Visitor Centre
(09 July 2008)
Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden, South Walsham opened a new 180,000 visitor centre on Monday, July 7. The new building and its services have been designed to minimise their impact on the environment. It features a 60-seat tearoom, with kitchen and public toilets, including facilities for baby changing and visitors with disabilities. A covered veranda overlooking the garden seats a further 20 customers. A courtyard area will be completed soon providing additional seating and space for special events. The adjacent former tearoom now becomes the gift shop and visitor reception.
Photograph: Louise Rout, Garden Manager, and Lord Fairhaven, Chairman Fairhaven Garden Trustees at the new visitor centre.
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Seeing stars at Great Yarmouths Imperial Hotel
(09 July 2008)
Great Yarmouths Imperial Hotel has been awarded four-star status by the AA, making it the only one in the town and one of six hotels in Norfolk to carry the distinction. The hotels Caf Cru Restaurant has also been awarded an AA rosette.
Director Nick Mobbs, whose familys association with the Imperial dates back to 1933, said: I am very proud and grateful to everyone who has helped us achieve a long-held ambition for the development of the hotel. We are pleased that the town can support a four-star hotel and hope that it will continue to improve the image of the borough. We could not have done it without our customers and the great team of staff that we have here."
Photograph: Nick and Aileen Mobbs celebrate their four star award
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Norfolk's New Tourism Team
(04 July 2008)
Norfolk Tourism is confident that the countys tourism industry is set to meet the current economic challenges as it announces changes to the tourism team. Lydia Smith, Norfolk Tourism Project Officer, has been promoted to interim Team Manager following the departure of Director Crispian Emberson. Members of Norfolk Tourisms Executive, led by Chairman Michael Timewell of Blue Sky Leisure, will fulfil the directors role vacated by Mr Emberson.
Lydia Smith is supported by Virginia Edwards, Norwich & Norfolk Conference Bureau Manager, who now works alongside the tourism team at county hall. Appointments of a new web marketing officer and admin support are imminent. Other staff are being considered in a strategy review which will be completed in early September.
Michael Timewell said: "Our new team, working with our 50 plus partner organisations, is well placed to capitalise on the very positive publicity we have had this year from the second series of Kingdom and the BBCs Springwatch from Pensthorpe. People are really waking up to this fantastic county and our strategy will ensure that Norfolks tourist industry can meet the current economic challenges head on and continue to promote Norfolk as a very special British destination."
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Pensthorpes Toilet Duck Celebrity Status!
(02 July 2008)
Toilet Duck, one of the stars of BBC Springwatch at Pensthorpe Nature Reserve near Fakenham, has become so familiar with her celebrity status that she regularly brings her family to visitor reception to check on any media requests for the day ahead. Viewers who enjoyed the antics of Toilet Duck, Emi and Oscar the oystercatcher chicks, the swan family, the swallows and other favourites can read weekly updates at www.pensthorpe.com by local wildlife photographer Mike Powles, who did all the nest research for the BBC.
Photograph of Toliet Duck by Mike Powles.
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Seventh North Norfolk Beer Festival 18 to 20 July
(01 July 2008)
North Norfolk railway is staging the Seventh North Norfolk Beer Festival on platform 2 at Sheringham Station from Friday 18 July to Sunday 20 July. Some 50 beers will be featured along with live entertainment and hot food all day.
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Norfolk Tourism Chairman Opens Amazona ZOO Cromer
(01 July 2008)
Michael Timewell, Chairman of Norfolk Tourism officially opened Cromers Amazona ZOO on the evening of Saturday 28 June. Mr Timewell said: Amazona ZOO is great new attraction. I congratulate Ken Sims and his team for their innovation and investment adding to the superb range of attractions on offer in the county. For more information about Amazona ZOO tel. 01263 510741.
Michael Timwell is pictured with Jim Irwin Davies (left) and Ken Sims (right) of Amazona ZOO.
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Wroxham Barns is a Welcome Business
(01 July 2008)
Keith Brown Chief Executive of East of England Tourism visited Wroxham Barns on Tuesday 24 June to officially declare the attraction a Welcome Business. Wroxham Barns has been awarded the special accreditation because more than 50% of full and part time staff, including all front line staff, have completed Welcome Host and Welcome Host plus training courses provided by East of England through the Welcome to Excellence scheme.
Mr Brown presented a plaque to Director Ian Russell and Welcome Host certificates to staff. Wroxham Barns is one of the largest visitor attractions in the East of England to achieve this status www.wroxhambarns.co.uk
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New North Walsham Area Good Food Trail
(01 July 2008)
The Griffon Area Partnership has launched the new Griffon Good Food Trail focussing on locally sourced and produced food in the North Walsham Area. Highlights include venison at Gunton Park, fresh fish, meats from rare breeds, Norfolk Black Turkeys, and a farmers market on the second and fifth Saturday of month at North Walsham. Click here for a copy of the Food Trail leaflet. For more information about the Griffon Area Partnership see www.northwalsham.org.uk
The food trail was launched on 20 June at a breakfast at Scarborough Hill Country Inn. Norman Lamb MP for North Norfolk and Diana Clarke Chair of the Griffon Area Partnership are pictured with food trail leaflets.
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Amazona ZOO Cromer Opens!
(27 June 2008)
Norfolks newest visitor attraction, Cromers Amazona ZOO is open. Amazona ZOO specialises in South American species. Many of the birds, fish, mammals and reptiles in the zoos care originate in the rain forest, a habitat increasingly under threat. More than 80 different species live at Amazona ZOO. Highlights include big cats pumas, jaguars and ocelots, flamingos and rheas (South American flightless bird), parrots and the caracara (bird of prey like a falcon).
Tel 01263 510741.
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Go! Elephants Foreign Press Association Visit
(25 June 2008)
Journalists from China, Germany, Spain and Russia, all members of the Foreign Press Association (London) visited Norwich on Monday 23 June for the launch of Go Elephants! They are pictured outside The Forum with the First Eastern Counties Buses elephant.
Click here for further details on Go Elephants!
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Walsingham Guide Marks 20 Years Touring Historic Pilgrimage Destination
(17 June 2008)
Scilla Landale, Blue Badge guide for Walsingham, Norfolks ancient pilgrimage destination, is celebrating 20 years of her tours service. Some 1,8000 tours, comprising more than 23,500 people from all have the world, have explored the historic village with its abbey and gardens, modern shrines and medieval and Georgian architecture.
Mrs Landale heads a team of five guides who offer regular two-hour tours of the village from April to the end of October. Pre-booked tours for groups are welcome at any time.
Walsingham Guided Tours run until the end of September on Wednesday and Thursday at 11am and in October on Wednesday at 11am. Tours depart from the Tourist Information Centre, The Shirehall, Little Walsingham. Pre-booked group tours available all year. Contact Scilla Landale tel. 01328 820250, email scilla.landale@afiweb.net or visit the website www.walsingham.uk.com
Photograph Walsingham Guides pictured at The Anglican Shrine, left to right Scilla Landale, Maureen Howard, Richard Blake and Carolyn Wright.
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De Vere Dunston Hall Greens Reopen with Big C Charity Match
(11 June 2008)
De Vere Dunston Hall golf course, Norwich, reopened its greens last Friday, June 6, with the Second Annual Sally Forder Memorial Day, in aid of the Big C charity. Dunston Halls greens were sabotaged last summer and have been fully restored. The course operated off temporary greens in the interim.
Sally Forder, a former Dunston Hall Ladies Captain, died from cancer in 2006. Her husband Adrian and friend Arthur Illsley established the Memorial Day in 2007, and are hoping to raise 8,000 for the Big C from this years event. More than 100 golfers took part in the competition.
Peter Briggs, Golf Course Operations Manager said: It has been long year since the course was sabotaged and we are delighted to be up and running again. We had hoped to have the greens ready for April. But bad spring weather slowed down the process. We were very keen to have the greens open for Adrian Forders charity competition. Sally was a very popular Ladies Captain and is missed by everyone at the club.
Pictured left to right on the 18th green are Peter Briggs Golf Course Operations Manager, Adrian Forder, Terry Illsley and Richard Tidy, Golf Professional.
For more information about golf at De Vere Dunston Hall click here!
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Fourth EDP Tourism in Norfolk Awards
(11 June 2008)
The Eastern Daily Press along with Norfolk Tourism and Leisure Target have launched the fourth EDP Tourism in Norfolk Awards.
There are 15 categories including a new People's Award, which will recognise an unsung hero who acts above and beyond the call of duty. The deadline for entries is August 3, 2008.
The awards evening and gala dinner will be held on Friday, November 21 at the Holiday Inn (Airport), Norwich. For more information see www.edp24.co.uk/TourismAwards/2008
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Wroxham Barns 25th Birthday
(11 June 2008)
Wroxham Barns celebrated its 25th birthday on 24 May. The attraction, which opened in 1983 as an act of blind faith has grown to be one of Norfolks most popular visitor attractions. Pictured left to right during an evening event to celebrate the anniversary are Jo Ansell (Ian Russell's mother), Director Ian Russell and Jack Chippendale, who had a boat building workshop at Wroxham Barns from 1983 (opening day) until 1997.
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Norwich Hosts International e-Democracy Conference
(11 June 2008)
Norwich hosted the third evoice, www.evoice-eu.net, International Symposium on e-Participation on May 22 and 23. More than 100 delegates from Belgium, Germany, The Netherlands, Sweden and the UK were based at The Maids Head Hotel. The conference was the final meeting of the four-year EU funded evoice project, which
explored the opportunities for multi media communication to increase public involvement in local democracy.
Jan Walburg, evoice Project Director said: Norfolk has been an important evoice partner, so I was very pleased to bring our final conference to the county. The Maids Head Hotel was a perfect location. It was easy for delegates to get a good impression of what Norwich has to offer during our short stay.
Pictured left to right are: Jan Walburg, Project Manager evoice, Daniel Cox, Leader Norfolk County Council and Arie Aalberts Mayor Dantumadeel, The Netherlands.
For more information about Norwich & Norfolk Conference Bureau click here!
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European Pig Producers Give Thumbs up to Norwich
(11 June 2008)
More than 200 pig producers from 13 countries, including The Netherlands, Czech Republic, Lithuania, Finland and Poland were based in Norwich from June 5 to 7 for the European Pig Producers Association Annual Congress. It was the first time that the congress has been in the UK since 1997.
Rod Tuck, European Pig Producers added: Everything was excellent and everyone had a wonderful time. Norfolk and Norwich is a truly professional destination.
Photographed left to right are Stewart Houston CBE, Chairman National Pig Association and British Pig Executive, Virginia Edwards, Manager Norwich & Norfolk Conference Bureau and Jonathan Shaw MP, Minister for Marine, Landscape & Rural Affairs DEFRA who spoke at the congress.
For more information about Norwich & Norfolk Conference Bureau click here!
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Strattons Hotel Wins Gold
(30 April 2008)
Strattons Hotel in Swaffham was awarded gold last week in the new Sustainable Tourism category at VisitBritains 2008 Enjoy England Awards for Excellence. This luxurious boutique hotel has been quietly working to reduce its impact on the environment since its opening in 1990.
Strattons has won many environmental awards over the past few years and the owners are adamant that quality need not be compromised in order to be environmentally aware.
Click here for more information www.strattons-hotel.co.uk
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Lady Hamilton visits The Lord Nelson
(30 April 2008)
The Lord Nelson, Burnham Thorpe, was honoured on 26 April, by a birthday visit from Lady Emma Hamilton and two of her maids. Lady Hamilton, landlady Jo Alper, was wearing a costume similar to that worn by Lady Hamilton for her portrait as a shepherdess by George Romney. Her maids, Charlotte Parfitt and Jes Letzer, wore dresses in the 'Empire' style made fashionable by Lady Hamilton in 1803.
Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson, was born in Burnham Thorpe and his 250th birthday will be celebrated in the village on 27th, 28th and 29th September.
Click here to find out more - www.nelsonslocal.co.uk
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Pensthorpe Nature Reserve Home of Springwatch 2008
(16 April 2008)
BBC Springwatch, the BBCs popular TV programme celebrating UK wildlife and wildlife people, presented by Bill Oddie, Kate Humble, Simon King and Gordon Buchanan, returns to TV screens from 26 May to 12 June at a new location, Pensthorpe Nature Reserve near Fakenham, Norfolk.
The 200-acre nature reserve, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, is located in the Wensum Valley. The River Wensum, which runs through the reserve, is a Special Area of Conservation (SAC), Europes highest nature conservation designation.
www.pensthorpe.com www.bbc.co.uk/springwatch
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NGS Norfolk Spring Gardens
(16 April 2008)
Fifteen new gardens open for National Gardens Scheme Norfolk this year, including six during the spring. Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden, South Walsham opens for the first time in aid of the NGS on the evening of Friday 30 May, featuring live music and a hog roast. For full details of all garden openings click here!
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Seahenge Holme Timber Circle
(16 April 2008)
The 4,000-year-old timbers from the Holme timber circle popularly known as Seahenge are now on display at Kings Lynn Museum.
This astonishing find of international significance was discovered on Holme beach on the north Norfolk coast and excavated in 1999. The site comprised an oval ring of timbers nearly seven metres in diameter, formed from 55 oak posts that originally stood side by side around two metres high. At the centre of the ring was a massive upturned oak tree stump. Many of the timbers came from the same trees cut in local woodland. The circle was originally built on marshy ground, some way inland from the sea. Coastal erosion and other environmental changes eventually turned the landscape from marsh to beach. For more information see www.museums.norfolk.gov.uk
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Dutch Journalists Promotion in Amsterdam
(20 March 2008)
Fiona Muller representing Norfolk Arts Partnership and Norfolk Tourism headed to Amsterdam in early March with Janice Kent of East of England Tourism, www.eet.org.uk to meet 80 Dutch journalist at a VisitBritain meet the press event.
Fiona and Janice are pictured talking to one of the journalists.
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Norfolk MPs Celebrate British Tourism Week
(20 March 2008)
Henry Bellingham MP (West Norfolk) Norman Lamb MP (North Norfolk) and Keith Simpson MP (Mid Norfolk) all went back to the floor on Friday, March 14 to celebrate British Tourism Week.
Norman Lamb fed his namesakes at Wroxham Barns, www.wroxhambarns.co.uk
(see photograph), Keith Simpson visited Norfolk Country Cottages head office in Reepham, www.norfolkcountrycottages.co.uk and Henry Bellingham called in at Deepdale Information Centre, www.deepdalefarm.co.uk
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Banham Zoo New Giraffe House
(20 March 2008)
Banham Zoo marked it 40th birthday by opening a new 400,000 Giraffe House. The zoos first baby giraffe, Ruby was born on March 14 www.banhamzoo.co.uk .
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One Becomes National Express East Anglia
(03 March 2008)
one railway, East Anglias rail operator has been renamed National Express East Anglia (NEEA).
NEEA operates the services from London to Diss and Norwich, Cambridge to Norwich, as well as the Bittern Line (Norwich to Cromer and Sheringham) and The Wherry Lines (Norwich to Gt. Yarmouth and Lowestoft). For more information see
http://www.nationalexpresseastanglia.com/
Picture: National Express Group Chief Executive, Richard Bowker, with a train in the new National Express East Anglia livery.
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Norfolks Top Attractions Launch 2008 Brochure up Nelsons Monument
(01 February 2008)
Norfolk Tourist Attractions Association (NTAA) launched its 2008 brochure campaign on January 30 from a lofty perch, Nelsons Monument, Great Yarmouth. Some 500,000 NTAA brochures promoting the countys top attractions will be distributed to more than 800 outlets throughout the East of England, and to the national Tourist Information Centres network.
www.norfolktouristattractions.co.uk
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Norfolk Tourism Launches Stephen Fry's 'Kingdom' Section on visitnorfolk.co.uk
(18 January 2008)
'Kingdom' - Norfolk Tourism has added a Norfolk film locations section to the countys leading tourism website, www.visitnorfolk.co.uk, to coincide with Stephen Frys return to ITV on Sunday, January 13 for a second series of Kingdom. The gentle drama is set in the fictional seaside town of Market Shipborough real location Swaffham, Norfolk.
The visitnorfolk.co.uk film section opens with four pages on Kingdom that feature a virtual tour of Swaffhams historic buildings, photographs and video clips from the first series, an introduction to the main characters, along with the actors thoughts on Norfolk. Visitors can also search for local accommodation and things to see and do in the area.
Martin Hickey, Chairman of Swaffham and District Tourism Association and a member of Norfolk Tourisms Executive with responsibility for visitnorfolk.co.uk said: Kingdom has provided a great boost for our area. Not only has the shows producer, Parallel Films, contributed some 2.5 million to the local economy, but we are also welcoming increasing numbers of visitors wanting to discover Market Shipborough and Kingdom Country.
For more information about Swaffham see
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