Visit Lancashire

Mamma Mia! Here I go Again!

I had been looking forward to seeing Mamma Mia! for months. I’ve seen many West End and Broadway shows but never been lucky enough to see Mamma Mia! so when I heard its International Tour was starting in Blackpool at the Winter Gardens (20 June – 1 Sept) I quickly booked tickets with a couple of friends.

It always amazes me every time I go into the Winter Gardens just what a stunning venue it is with so much choice and flexibility as well as an abundance of history that is special to Blackpool. There was a real mix in the crowd from couples and children but the majority naturally being groups of females.

This is your Captain Speaking

Have you heard of Stacksteads International Airport?  Not many people have, but I recently packed my bag and headed to Stacksteads, just outside Bacup, to embark on a bit of a journey with Flightdeck Experience that’s sure to put this Lancashire town on the jet-setters map.

Vicky and Steve Everson have worked tirelessly to turn their hobby into a business; one that offers visitors the chance to take full control of a Boeing 737-800 flight simulator. Steve scoured the country, collecting aircraft parts to build his own simulator from scratch – and It’s very impressive.

All Aboard!

Atlas Sailing in Fleetwood joined as Members of Marketing Lancashire last September and since then Director and owner Andy Dobson has been keen to show us exactly what their customers experience on one of their Half Day Packages,  so that we could help promote their business more effectively to potential customers and visitors.

He suggested we waited for the spring and the calmer weather and at the beginning of May, when the team was offered the opportunity to sail with Atlas Sailing it was something that I jumped at! As a child growing up in Jersey, living so close to the sea and boats, sailing was something that I used to do regularly with my Dad but I hadn’t been for quite some time. I had certainly never sailed on the waters off Lancashire before, but having lived here now for 9 years it was high time I did.

Michelin Star Cookery School Experience!

I was extremely lucky to be given the chance to experience first-hand the new Cookery
School at Northcote, the Michelin starred restaurant with rooms located in the heart of the Ribble Valley.

The Cookery School is nestled in the midst of the renowned Northcote kitchens. As the automatic glass doors slide open it’s a bit like stepping into another world, as you enter the calm of this beautifully designed and compact space and the hustle and bustle of the ‘real’ kitchen continues outside.  The school is intimate and cleverly set out and we were encouraged to explore all of the cupboards and drawers - home to every imaginable kitchen gadget I could ever need and more!  The oven doors were a particular favourite of mine you simply press a button and the door slides up and back!

From Lancashire to the World!

The Life and Times of Mitchell & Kenyon from Lancashire to the World, a brand new ‘play with songs’ opened last week at the Dukes in Lancaster – something I’d been looking forward to since last year when I’d first seen the evocative promotional trailer.

The Lancashire film making duo were long forgotten until a chance discovery in Blackburn in 1994 when literally reams and reams (and reams!) of now fragile film footage was found, restored, digitised and shown to the world by the British Film Institute. There were few who weren’t moved by the streams of mill workers caught on film leaving factories, or the ‘topical’ films showing northern seaside towns, football matches and village fetes. I found the films fascinating and compelling to watch. 

The World’s Largest Indoor Illuminations Experience

I was really happy to be invited to one of the very first viewings of Blackpool’s newest attraction for Illuminasia, before it opened to the general public on Good Friday 2014. As we know, Blackpool is famous the world over for its autumn display of lights along six miles of Promenade, but this is something very different indeed. Located within the historical Winter Gardens complex in the town centre, the Olympia room has been dedicated to an indoor light experience designed to thrill audiences of all ages and, as I found, it is a truly impressive addition to Blackpool’s grand line up of attractions.

Illuminasia is the resort’s first new indoor family attraction in over 20 years and cost £3m to develop, covering 4,000 sq mtrs and comprising 6 interactive worlds.  It was created by over fifty Chinese artisans and consists of hundreds of silk models attached to metal frames lit from inside by 35,000 LED lights.

Fun at Farmer Parrs Animal World

With thanks to Helen Davies, visitlancashire.com new regular guest blogger.

The sun was shining as we drove towards Farmer Parrs Animal World in Fleetwood Lancashire. Accompanied by my sister-in-law, friend and my 18-month-old niece, Arya, I was excited for a day on the farm.

We arrived at 11.30am and headed straight for the Pottery Studio where Arya chose a little ceramic dog to paint and we got to work. I'm not sure who had more fun, us or her! Whilst we painted, we had the opportunity to learn the story behind the project. The Pottery Studio is owned and run by the charity, Autism Initiatives, who give employment opportunities to people with autism. They make all of the pottery in house and it allows them to develop skills, both social and practical in a safe and friendly environment. Such a fantastic initiative!

After all that painting, we were hungry so headed off to the cafe for lunch! They had a great menu with everything from breakfasts and burgers to salads, sandwiches and my favourite, jacket potato with cheese and beans! They also had a children’s menu too, so there was plenty of choice for Arya.

‘ave an horrible day at Blackpool Tower Dungeon

A preview of the new Blackpool Tower Dungeon before it opened to the public was not a decision taken lightly (I usually require someone to hold my hand when faced with the average fairground ghost train) but there I was in the brilliant Blackpool sunshine standing outside the entrance, waiting for the scariness to start.  

Merlin & The Legend of King Arthur - walkabout theatre from The Dukes

A few of visit Lancashire team saw Merlin last night.... this is what we all thought.

"After a busy day in the office you don’t always fancy going out – or is that just me?  But last night I was so glad I headed (with some friends) to Lancaster for the Duke’s walkabout production of Merlin  in Williamson Park. The threat of rain having passed and with clear, stunning views over Morecambe Bay we embarked on a mini adventure around this enchanting park.

A magical evening with Peter Pan

It’s a rare event; an annual pilgrimage; an experience passed from one generation to the next. The Dukes’ walkabout performance is here again, to be precise for the 24th year running and this year it’s Peter Pan.

The production itself was beautifully crafted moving from the Darling household, where Peter Pan first appears to Wendy and teaches her to fly, to Neverland and the Lost Boys with the first half concluding in a spectacular scene of mermaids, bubbles and pirates on the lake. Each scene delighting young and old, who de-camp enthusiastically to each location with their fold out chairs, rugs and in some cases very full picnic baskets!