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Latest News

Tie the Knot at Berkeley Castle

Press Release 21st April 2008

Have you ever wanted to get married in a genuine Norman Castle, or just have your special day at an interesting or unique venue? Do you know someone else who is looking for this type of special place? Well look no further because Berkeley Castle in Gloucestershire has just been awarded its Wedding licence for Civil Ceremonies, meaning this historic and ancient family home can be exclusively yours for a complete wedding package.

Couples can tie the knot in the Berkeley Family's ancestral home, (they have been living here since the 12th Century) and then have a reception in the magnificent 14th Century Great Hall, making a complete day or a night of it!

The attaining of a licence is part of the new operating strategy that Berkeley Castle has adopted for 2008, freeing up weekends for weddings and similar functions while still ensuring that the Castle remains open to the public as a visitor attraction on a regular basis.

Marketing Manager Tim Davies said "We are delighted to have the licence as this opens up more function opportunities at the Castle and means we can have more wedding bookings at Berkeley. The Charitable Trust needs the income to fund restoration and repair".

Wedding receptions have been held in the Great Hall, where many English monarchs have been entertained, for a few years and the addition of a Wedding Licence was the next logical step.

Tim Davies continued "We still have spaces for 2008 but we are also taking bookings now for 2009 and even further ahead. Please do contact us so that we may work with you to create a most memorable and individual wedding day."

The Lodge on The Park is Now Open for Business

Click here for details

Gold Award for the Aztec Hotel & Spa

Top Bristol tourism businesses were celebrating last night at the glittering South West Tourism Excellence Awards, in association with First Great Western and South West Water 2007/2008, as the regional winners were presented with the prestigious tourism awards.

The awards, known as the 'Tourism Oscars,' celebrate 'the best in the South West' and aim to promote and reward the very best in the tourism industry.

Tourism businesses including attractions, accommodation and other tourism businesses and individuals were left in suspense this year as they had no idea whether they had won the prestigious Gold or Silver Award, until the actual night on Monday 29 October at the Palace Hotel, Torquay,Devon.

Guest speaker and presenter at this year's event was Frank Barrett, Travel Editor of The Mail on Sunday, who shared his anecdotes and perspective on the South West's tourism industry.

Entrants needed to demonstrate exemplary facilities and exceptionally high qualities of customer care, reflecting the demands of today's customers. In addition, it was important that the applicants showed a commitment to sustainability, recycling and the environment. Winners were also commended for their use of regional produce and investment in the local community.

Fourteen of the 18 regional Gold winners will now go on to represent the region at the national Enjoy England Awards for Excellence in April 2008.

Robin Barker, Deputy Chief Executive of South West Tourism said: "Congratulations to all of the winners. Each year the judging process becomes tougher and tougher as the standard of entries increases and we are proud to say that this year has been no exception. Continual investment in new facilities, staff training, sourcing local foods, a commitment to sustainability and accessibility are major criteria for these awards and the winners should be proud that they are exemplars to the tourism industry.

We now wish the Gold winners the best of luck as they go on to represent the region at the national awards in 2008, which is an accolade that any business would be proud of winning."

Julian Crow, First Great Western's General Manager for the West of England, said: "Judges this year were again deeply impressed with the standard of entries from candidates representing the best in the South West as they strive for quality and excellence for their customers. The scope and integrity of attractions and accommodation represented underlines why First Great Western continues to be proud to support the South West Tourism Excellence Awards."

BUSINESS TOURISM OF THE YEAR
Aztec Hotel & Spa - Gold

SMALL HOTEL OF THE YEAR
Hotel du Vin - Silver

Chris Hill General Manager The Aztec Hotel and Spa commented

We are thrilled to win such a prestigious award for the region.

This year has been an exciting one for the hotel, with the opening of our Conference Café which includes innovative concepts - such as a smoothie bar and authentic pizza oven - both of which have been very well received by our customers.

But ultimately, this award is about the team at the hotel, who work hard each day to deliver exceptional service. This is what the customer remembers about their visit and hopefully what makes them want to return to a Shire Hotel in the future".

Venue Open Evening at The British Empire & Commonwealth Museum

You are invited to an exclusive reception at the city's landmark events venue, the British Empire & Commonwealth Museum on Thursday 22nd November 2007 4.30pm - 6.30pm.

Take in our acclaimed exhibitors, tour the magnificent function spaces, and enjoy a glass of wine & canapes with our staff, suppliers and clients.

Plus, enter a free prize draw to win a Christmas hamper, full of seasonal treats!

Please contact the team to RSVP by Friday 16th November at events2@empiremuseum.co.uk

New Egypt gallery at Bristol's City Museum & Art Gallery now open

Visitors to Bristol's City Museum & Art Gallery are now able to step back to ancient Egypt as the museum's amazing new Egypt Gallery which is now open. Over the summer visitors were only able to enjoy previews of the gallery in development. Now they can enjoy the full gallery, and find out much more about the objects on display using the interactive touch screens by the cases.

The Egypt Gallery features over 500 objects, most never displayed before, from one of the best Egyptian collections in the UK. The gallery space is divided by a partition based on the River Nile. On one side, the West, the gallery will explore Belief and Life in ancient Egypt: on the other, the East, displays will cover Death and the Afterlife of the ancient Egyptians. Objects on display include: animal mummies; figurines; offerings; amulets; statues and coffins, plus much more.

This world class gallery was mostly developed and built by the museum's own teams and is a testament to their skills. The museum has an amazing Egyptian collection and the stunning new gallery will enable more people to enjoy more of the collection.

Wedding Evening at Cadbury House

On Thursday 18th October 2007 from 4pm - 9pm you will have the chance to view the hotel and wedding facilities, meet suppliers of wedding cakes, cars, dresses and many more.

Entry to this event is free, and you will be met with a glass of fizz on arrival. Goodie bag and prize draw for all brides.

Media news from Slimbridge Wetland Centre

24 July 2007

Potential Temporary Closure of WWT Slimbridge

WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre may be forced to close to the public if mains water supply to the area fails as predicted.

Severn Trent Water has listed Slimbridge among a growing list of areas expected to be affected by mains water failures within the next 24 hours.

Veronica Morriss, Senior Operations Manager at WWT Slimbridge said 'Whilst WWT Slimbridge is not flooded and our wetlands have been doing their job here, we are about to be affected by the water shortages caused by the flooding in the country. If this happens it means we will have to close Slimbridge to the public temporarily.'

Visitors are advised to telephone the centre on 01453 891900 or check our website www.wwt.org.uk/slimbridge before beginning any journey to Slimbridge during the next few days.

WWT's eight other centres situated around the UK are not affected by water shortages and will remain open as usual with superb summer activities for all ages.

LOVELY WEATHER FOR DUCKS!
DESPITE FLOODING IN GLOUCESTERSHIRE WWT SLIMBRIDGE IS STILL OPEN FOR BUSINESS!

WWT Slimbridge is still open for business as usual despite floods affecting much of Gloucestershire.

The Wetland Centre will be offering visitors the opportunity to don a disguise and enter the Crane School - where young cranes are learning how to behave, meet the flamingos, guided walks to stretch the limbs in the sun, play activities for families including Splashtastic! A giant water based play area which is great fun whether the sun is shining or the rain is falling.

The newly refurbished tropical House is bound to help ease the rainy blues - with brightly coloured trumpeters strolling around and a constant tropical temperature.

Slimbridge is stepping up its catering options in the water's edge restaurant providing a selection of delicious hot and cold food and drinks.

In case of rain, there is a raft of indoor activities including an art gallery - currently showing photographs by BBC's Chris Packham, mini 10 pin bowling and a 90 seat cinema showing wildlife inspired films and documentaries - including unseen footage from BBC's Saving Planet Earth series.

Take a visit to Slimbridge and find out why this weather really is lovely weather for ducks (and swans, and geese...and Water Voles!)

Slimbridge Wetland Centre, its shop and restaurant will be open from 9:30am - 5:30pm with plenty of free parking.

CADBURY HOUSE HOTEL AND COUNTRY CLUB ATTAINS FOUR-STAR RATING 26th June 2007

Less than three weeks after it was officially opened, thehotel at Cadbury House Hotel & Country Club in Congresbury, North Somerset has been awarded a four-star Quality in Tourism rating by VisitBritain, the official website for tourism in Britain.

This means the brand new 72-bedroom Boutique hotel will be able to display the prestigious rose logo featuring four stars, providing guests with the reassurance that their visit to thehotel will be of the highest standard.

Chris Swire, general manager at thehotel said: "To achieve such a high rating so soon after opening is an outstanding achievement. We're all absolutely delighted and are looking forward to providing guests with a stay they will remember."

Opened on 8 June by shadow defence secretary Liam Fox MP, the quality assurance rating provides an independent assessment of what guests can expect to find, giving an invaluable guarantee that their stay will meet their expectations.

Chris added: "When you are looking for a place to stay you need a rating system you can trust. The VisitBritain's ratings are a clear guide of what to expect, in an easy to understand form and is a great testament to all the staff."

In order to attain a rating properties are visited by trained, impartial assessors, so guests can take confidence that the accommodation has been thoroughly checked and rated for quality before they make a booking. Using a simple one to five rating, it puts great emphasis on quality and is based on research which shows exactly what consumers are looking for when choosing accommodation.

To achieve a four-star rating thehotel at Cadbury House had to pass a number of stringent criteria such as the accommodation being of a very high standard and the catering reflecting a serious approach to food and drink. 24-hour room service including cooked breakfast, main meals and lighter snacks and beverages also has to be available.

Taking inspiration from around the globe, no detail has been overlooked in the search for the most contemporary ideas to furnish the new hotel.

Whether it's the oversized shower heads of W-Hotel, New York to the glazed bathrooms of Amsterdam thehotel at Cadbury House is set to bring visitors back again and again.

Chris continued: "We really have travelled the globe in our pursuit for perfection and the interior design reflects this search. Having evolved over time, we have created a non-typical hotel, somewhere where guests will want to come back to again and again

"It was always our goal to attain a four-star rating so the design, furnishings and service were tailored accordingly. But it's the staff that gives a hotel its atmosphere and I'm pleased to say we have a great team here at Cadbury House Hotel & Country Club."

Thehotel at Cadbury House is the final phase of a £16.25 million investment that has seen the historic house transformed into the finest venue in the South West. Part of the investment was the building of the region's most advanced health club and spa for £5.5 million in the grounds of the House as well as a £1.5 million refurbishment of the historic house.

ATHLETICS LEGEND REVISITS CADBURY HOUSE AS HOTEL OPENS - 31 May 2007

Just over a year since his last visit, world athletics legend Colin Jackson will re-visit Cadbury House Hotel & Country Club. There he will form part of the proceedings that will see Liam Fox MP officially open the brand new hotel.

Taking place on Friday 8 June, the opening of thehotel is the final phase of a £16.25 million investment that has transformed Cadbury House from a sleepy giant renowned for its hedonistic pool parties, into what is undoubtedly the finest venue in the South West.

Part of the investment was the building of the region's most advanced health club and spa for £6 million in the grounds of the House.

Taking inspiration from around the globe, no detail has been overlooked in the search for the most contemporary ideas to furnish the four-star, 72-bedroom, Boutique-style hotel. Whether it's the oversized shower heads of W-Hotel, New York to the glazed bathrooms of Amsterdam, thehotel at Cadbury House is set to bring visitors back again and again.

The inspiration of local business man Nick Taplin, the quest for excellence has quite literally taken him around the globe to find the best concepts for the new hotel.

Nick, who lives in Wrington, said: "The opening of thehotel is the culmination of a lot of hard work and vision to create a venue that is like no other in the region.

"We really have travelled the globe in our pursuit for perfection and the interior design reflects this search. Having evolved over time, we have created a non-typical hotel, somewhere where guests will want to come back to again and again.

"We're delighted that Colin Jackson will be returning and to see why Cadbury House Hotel & Country Club has become the premier venue in the South West."

As part of the activity Mr Jackson will perform a first dance in the Great Room of thehouse with local dance teacher Lisa Jane of Davies School of Dance and meet local school children who will ask him questions about his career.

The culmination of Mr Jackson's visit will be the official opening of thehotel by Liam Fox MP.

ROOMS WITH A VIEW -27th March 2007

When it comes to a room with a view, nothing will come close to what the new hotel at Cadbury House Hotel & Country Club will provide guests when it opens its doors later in May.

With dramatic views across the Somerset levels towards the Severn Estuary and across to the Welsh hills, the new hotel will provide guests with arguably the best vista any hotel in the region can provide.

With work continuing apace, the 72-bedroom, four-star, boutique-style hotel is nearing completion and is the final phase of a £16.25 million investment that has transformed the historic venue into the region's best hotel and leisure complex.

Chris Swire, general manager of the hotel and house said: "We're pretty confident in our claim that the hotel here at Cadbury House Hotel & Country Club will have the best view of any hotel in the region.

"No stone has been left unturned in our pursuit for perfection and guests will be able to enjoy the top class facilities that have been inspired from the best conceptual hotels from around the world."

Drawing inspiration from the 18th century, the decor of the hotel and main house echoes its historical surroundings whilst providing contemporary comforts - a perfect blend of past and present.

It will be somewhere to relax and reinvigorate with individually designed rooms all having their own distinct character.

For those getting married, the two honey moon suites located on the top floor provide every luxury, each with its own lavish design, including feature bath and shower, Queen size bed and mood lighting.

Alongside the hotel, guests will find not only the most advanced health club and spa but also the best conference and banqueting facilities in the South West.

Chris added: "Our proximity to Bristol International Airport makes Cadbury House Hotel & Country Club the perfect venue for flight crews, business people looking for an ideal place to meet, or those who need somewhere to relax before they jet off on holiday and we can't wait to open the doors in May."

Conference Business on the Up - 14 February 2007

Interest in Bristol as a centre for conferences and business travel increased in 2006, with the value of enquiries for meetings and venue bookings through Destination Bristol showing a marked upturn.

Speaking shortly before Destination Bristol launches a new look for its conference marketing guides and two consumer brands, Conference Bristol and Venues West at the UK's biggest business travel fair CONFEX at Earls Court, managing director John Hallett said 'The business travel sector is highly competitive and it's essential that we continue to refresh the way we present the great conference venues we have in the city. We have decided to split our interests and support these new brands which we know will have a greater resonance with local businesses as well as conference organisers.'

'The type of conference business done in the heart of the city centre is quite different to that which happens on the outskirts and in the rural surrounds. We believe that by developing a new focus on these two quite distinct markets, it will provide all-round benefits'.

With business tourism in Bristol estimated to be worth in excess of £100 million annually, the importance of the sector is not being underestimated. John Hallett said '2006 showed some encouraging signs that business is continuing to grow steadily. Coupled with the increase in the value of enquires we are currently handling, the number of hotel rooms sold in the city in 2006 rose by 9% while average occupancy pickled up well to about 70%. 2007 looks to have got off to a good start and while it is very early days yet, the level of interest in advanced conference bookings into the city is up on last year and we hope to give that a further boost when we exhibit at Earls Court later this month'