Wednesday 4 December 2013

December 2013

Hotel team member invents new concept… ‘Yppah Rouh’…

Team member Garry Evans at the Best Western Crown Hotel Boroughbridge has invented a new dining and drinking concept to support the hotel’s recent refurbishment.

Known as ‘Yppah Rouh’, the concept is to be rolled out as a precursor to Christmas when guests are in the town centre taking advantage of the Boroughbridge late night shopping hours.

“Our policy of continuous improvement for our team is paying off as this is the best new idea that we have had since achieving the Best Western Customer Service Award earlier this year. Garry’s initiative was spotted when he was preparing posters for the hotel window display and without question we have decided to adopt it. We have a great team of people here at the Crown and Garry can count himself as one of the best.” comments hotel general manager Emma Lee.

The hotel has recently completed a tasteful refurbishment of all of the ground floor areas including lobby, lounges and meetings and banqueting suites.

Garry’s idea revolves around a new reverse spelling test, which challenges even the most alert observers to identify what Yppah Rouh means. Anyone guessing the correct answer will receive a free drink on the house for every drink they buy.

“We are a small hotel with limited resources but we do have a dedicated team whose focus is on customer satisfaction. Garry will of course be expected to progress his CDP (Continuing Professional Development) when he next prepares a window display and this will include looking at the sign from the outside before sticking up the letters.” added Emma.

For further information please contact:

Emma Lee, General Manager, Best Western Crown Hotel
Horsefair, Boroughbridge, North Yorkshire, YO51 9LB
Tel: 01423 322328 Email: emma@crownboroughbridge.co.uk

Press contact:
John Gallery, Great Potential Tel: 07967 032623
Email: johngallery@greatpotential.co.uk

Notes for Editors:

The Best Western Crown Hotel is a 37 bedroomed former 16th Century coaching inn and includes conference suites for up to 120 delegates, restaurant, bar and a leisure club with heated indoor swimming pool and fitness suite.

Monday 29 July 2013

News Release                        29th July 2013

OXO’s Restaurant on The Mount opens at Mount Royale hotel York
- family favourite returns – Photo-call Thursday, 1st August, 13.00

The Mount Royale Hotel York has opened OXO’s Restaurant on The Mount in a return to the hotel’s traditional family-operated full service dining.

The Oxtoby family have owned and operated the Mount Royale Hotel since 1967 and for many years gained a fine reputation for dining and quality service as OXO’s restaurant. The new OXO’s Restaurant on The Mount is a return to this quality and care serving traditional British and European food with a modern twist. 

“Guests experience of the hotel is paramount and following a period when the restaurant has been leased to other operators we have decided that we can deliver that overall experience from our own team and resources.” Comments hotel director Stuart Oxtoby.

OXO’s Restaurant on The Mount is offering a choice of dining styles and menus with the focus on local suppliers and ingredients with a wine list that has been devoloped to make food and wine matching simple but interesting and enjoyable. A new team of long standing members of staff has been brought together with Russell Johnson, head chef, leading the kitchen team. OXO’s Restaurant on the Mount  will open seven days a week for dinner plus Sunday Lunch and is open to resident and non-resident diners and private lunch parties can be reserved in advance. The hotel also operates a ‘Breakfast Club’ that provides non-resident business and leisure guests with informal meeting place and a hearty breakfast to start the day.

“Guests have often said that they would like to see a return to how the restaurant was managed by the family and we have come up with a formula that we think will delight and entertain. We’re not revealing everything about our plans yet, but there is a definite return to way that my mother and father operated OXO’s from 1967 onwards.” adds Stuart Oxtoby.

For further information please contact:  Stuart Oxtoby, director, The Mount Royal Hotel, The Mount, York, YO24 1GU  Tel: 01904 628856
Email: info@mountroyale.co.uk Website: www.mountroyale.co.uk
Press contact: John Gallery, Great Potential. Tel: 07967 032623
Email: johngallery@greatpotential.co.uk

Notes for Editors: The Mount Royale Hotel was founded by Richard and Christine Oxtoby in 1967, the hotel was formerly two private houses built during the reign of William IV (1830 - 1837) and offers 24 bedrooms all with wireless internet, there is also a bar with a coal fire and OXO’s Restaurant on the Mount offering locally sourced produce.  Other facilities include an onsite heated outdoor swimming pool, sauna, steam room and hot tub open all year set in English Gardens and a beauty centre with spa treatments.

Tuesday 23 July 2013

Bearded dragon born to be named Prince

News Release                        23rd    July 2013

Bearded dragon born on same day as Royal baby – baby lizard to be named after Prince of Cambridge

Western-style Pinewood Park near Scarborough has had its own ‘royal baby’ hatch on the same day as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s newborn.

Jordon Woodhead is developing a new reptile house at western-themed Pinewood Holiday Park near Scarborough and the bearded dragon ‘baby’ is the latest edition to his collection.

“Jordan has enthusiastically been developing his reptile house this summer and intends opening it to the guests and visitors at Pinewood this August. The new addition is very timely and Jordan has decided to name it after the new Prince.“ comments Dave Woodhead, Jordan’s father and  director of Pinewood Park.

Jordan’s reptile house includes a 14’ albino Burmese python, reticulated pythons, a rock python, bearded dragons, a chameleon, a blue tongues skink, corn snakes, yellow bellied sliders and muck turtles, an alligator snapping turtle, a Nile water monitor, an Asian Water monitor, a snapping turtle, a quince monitor lizard, a tegu lizard and a Caiman Alligator.
Jordan is the youngest person in the UK to hold a dangerous wild animal license, which then allows him to own such animals as the Caiman.
As well as having success at breeding bearded dragons, his large snapping turtle is currently in a breeding programme, and Jordan is hopeful there will be new additions to his collection in the future.
Jordan has owned and loved reptiles since he was 10 years old, but decided to turn his passion into a business, after completing a Travel and Tourism and Business course at Scarborough Sixth Form College, and is looking forward to this new challenge. 

Jordan said: “I’m really excited about opening my hobby up to all of our guests and for the newest addition to arrive on the same day as the Royal baby is an added bonus.“
- ENDS -
For further information please contact:

Kerry and Dave Woodhead Tel: 01723 367278 / 07787 378111
info@pinewood-holiday-park.co.uk Web: www.pinewoodpark.co.uk

Press Contact: John Gallery T: 07967 032623 johngallery@greatpotential.co.uk

Notes for Editors: For something a little less conventional, the cowboy-themed Pinewood Holiday Park on Racecourse Road, Scarborough is an outdoor and indoor venue. Woody's Barn is an emporium of all things Wild West and can hold 80 delegates standing or 60 seated for £40 per hour. A separate field and small wooded area are available for outdoor activities, while overnight accommodation includes native American Indian tipis, cowboy tents, wagons and camping shacks that sleep three people e

Monday 1 July 2013

Bedern Hall Foundation Launched - Lady Cobham, chairman of VisitEngland to speak at York dinner


Lady Cobham to speak at inaugural Bedern Hall Foundation Dinner
-    medieval hall launches £30k fund raising initiative.
Where: Cedar Court Grand Hotel York - When: Thursday 31st October 2013 

The inaugural dinner of the Bedern Hall Foundation is to be held on Thursday 31st October 2013 at the Cedar Court Grand Hotel and Spa York, The event is to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the laying of the restoration foundation stone and Lady Cobham, chairman of VisitEngland will speak about the importance of our built heritage in Britain and its value to the visitor economy. 

Thirty years ago Sir Peter Shepherd on behalf of the Bedern Hall Guilds of York laid the new foundation stone to restore and preserve this important building for the City. In the intervening years the Hall has provided a hall for hire and social occasions venue for the benefit of the people of York and for visitors attending events from around the world. 
The Bedern Hall Foundation is being launched to secure Bedern Hall’s next thirty years and beyond with a new vision for the Hall that encompasses; education; preservation and accessibility.  

“The Bedern Hall Foundation aims to raise £30,000 annually to enable this vision to be realised and the dinner on 31st October will be the beginning of a new era for the Hall that will secure its future for the next generations. The Bedern Hall Guilds are delighted that Lady Cobham has agreed to speak at the dinner.” comments Roger Lee, director of the Bedern Hall Company and Time and Place Catering who operates the Hall.  Bookings for the event can be made online at http://bedernhallfoundation.eventbrite.co.uk/

For further information and to be included in the invitations for the inaugural dinner please contact: Roger Lee, Time and Place Caterers, Bedern Hall, St Andrewgate, Bedern, York YO1 7AL Tel: 01904 653698  Email: roger@bedernhall.co.uk Website: www.bedernhall.co.uk  Press Contact: John Gallery, Great Potential, Tel: 07967 032623
Email: johngallery@greatpotential.co.uk

Friday 12 April 2013

World of James Herriot announces 'Coup'

News Release                                 April 2013

‘Coup’ at World of James Herriot! - Six different breeds of Hens introduced and Name the Hens Contest announced.

The World of James Herriot in Thirsk is continuing to add new experiences for visitors to the attraction that encourages ‘hands on’ interest especially for children.

The new Hens follow the recently announced installation of the largest individual collection of Herriot memorabilia secured from a private collector, a World War II Air-Raid shelter in the the attraction’s cellar and a model railway.

The Hens have been acquired from Long Acre Bed & Breakfast, Thirsk, who keep hens for the eggs for guest breakfasts and is a Member of the Herriot Country Tourism Group. The Hens are intended to encourage the children of families and school groups visiting to enjoy a live experience that will be reminiscent of the scenes James Herriot had in his time on farms and small holdings in the villages of his working area.

 “We are introducing many new experiences this year and it seemed appropriate that we actually have live animals on site which is what James Herriot would have been dealing with every day. Introducing the Hens, which are easily managed, is a simple yet interesting experiment that will add value to everyone’s visit young and old”. comments The World of James Herriot managing director, Ian Ashton.

The Hens are now on site and a children’s competition is to be held to name them with a prize of free entry to the attraction for the family of the winning child. Family’s Schools and children’s groups should write to Ian Ashton to enter the competition at mail@worldofjamesherriot.com

The World of James Herriot is a unique tribute to Alf Wight, vet and author of the James Herriot stories. Based in his original surgery at 23 Kirkgate, Thirsk, North Yorkshire - the 'Skeldale House' of the Herriot books - it takes visitors on a journey back to the 1940s.
ENDS
Attached photograph: Left to Right, Will aged 7 and Ava 5  Chesney, from Doncaster. and Kelis Holmes aged 8 from Thirsk.

For further information please contact:
Ian Ashton, The World of James Herriot, 3 Kirkgate, Thirsk, North Yorkshire, YO7 1PL
Tel: 01845 524234 E-mail: mail@worldofjamesherriot.com
Press Contact: John Gallery, Great Potential. Tel: 07967 032623
E-mail: johngallery@greatpotential.co.uk

Notes for Editors:
The World of James Herriot is located in the original home and surgery of the author in  the market town of Thirsk. The attraction was formally owned by Hambleton District Council and is now operated as a private business. It is the focus for the Herriot Country Tourism Group, the destination marketing membership organisation that includes hotels, guest houses, self-catering and other visitor attractions in the area.



Sunday 7 April 2013

Free Wedding Venue Opportunity at Bedern Hall's First Wedding Fair

News Release                               5th April 2012

FREE Wedding Venue opportunity for Wedding Fair attendees at Bedern Hall

Photo-call: Wednesday 10th April 2013, 12 Noon.

Bedern Hall the historic meetings and event venue in the centre of York is staging its first Wedding Fair on Sunday 14th April from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM and is providing the opportunity to one couple to have the venue FREE of charge for their wedding.

Bedern Hall has teamed up with York Wedding Deals to showcase this intimate venue and attendees will meet the friendly team, enjoy a glass of ‘bubbles’ and samples of food whilst talking to local wedding services businesses.

“We are delighted to be able to help couples plan their special day. This event will show people how an intimate and historic venue such as Bedern Hall can create a memorable and enjoyable experience for the couple, family and friends. We will also demonstrate the good value and the opportunity to arrange other wedding services under one roof on the day.” comments Roger Lee director of Bedern Hall.

In addition to the venue, prospective wedding couples can meet up to 16 other wedding services companies including wedding gowns, photographers, vintage cars, wedding cakes; jewellery and others, plus there will be discounts on many of these services when booked on the day. Additional prize opportunities will also be available from the participating businesses.

“One couple will be really happy as we intend to announce the prize of the FREE wedding venue on the day of the Wedding Fair.” adds Roger.

Registration to attend the Wedding fair is at www.bedernhall.co.uk

Photo-call: Press Photographers are invited to a 1950’s Vintage inspired display provide by Wedding Network Partners on Wednesday 10th April at 12 Noon at Bedern Hall.

ENDS

For further information please contact: Roger Lee, Time and Place Caterers, Bedern Hall, St Andrewgate, Bedern, York YO1 7AL Tel: 01904 653698
Email: roger@bedernhall.co.uk Website: www.bedernhall.co.uk
Press Contact: John Gallery, Great Potential, Tel: 07967 032623
Email: johngallery@greatpotential.co.uk
•    Notes to Editors: Bedern Hall caters for up to 80 delegates for a sit-down meal or conference in the main hall plus a smaller suite for up to 25 guests. Bedern Hall is owned by the Guilds of York. The Hall is licensed for civil wedding ceremonies.

Monday 25 March 2013

Events Park near Scarborough has a ‘late breaking’ ‘All Weather’ camping Easter

Wild West Pinewood Holiday and Events Park near Scarborough has a ‘late breaking’ ‘All Weather’ camping Easter ‘Egg-travaganza’ available.

Over Easter weekend guests can enjoy a break in ‘all-weather’ camping accommodation at Pinewood Holiday and Events Park near Scarborough. Pinewood’s Western Wagons and Cowboy Camping Shacks are insulated and double-glazed, with lighting, cosy heating and beds. The Shacks have the added advantage of a covered veranda for outdoor eating, and for extra convenience, the Wagons have a fridge, toaster, kettle and microwave.

“We know that people are looking forward to the first Bank Holiday of 2013 but are concerned about the economy, the weather and perhaps the high cost of going abroad. So, our Easter break should provide a welcome fillip and cost-effective way to enjoy the Easter Break.” comments Kerry Woodhead director of Pinewood Park.

During the Easter school holiday break between Good Friday and Easter Sunday a special Egg Challenge is also available for guests to follow with real free-range eggs placed around the site some of which will be boiled and some uncooked.  Prizes for the most found of each will be awarded. One egg will be neither raw nor boiled but will have enclosed within it a prize of a return two-night break for the lucky finder.

“People tell us how much they enjoy the atmosphere here and at Easter we want to create a family fun time and for at least a few days allow people to escape any gloomy news.” adds Kerry.
ENDS
For more information please contact: Dave and Kerry Woodhead, Pinewood Holiday and Events Park, Racecourse Road, Scarborough, YO12 5GT.  Tel: 01723 367278 / 07787378111 Email: 
info@pinewood-holiday-park.co.uk www.pinewood-holiday-park.co.uk

Notes for editors: The Easter ‘Egg-travaganza’ provides a Family of 4 a 2 night stay over Easter, from £99, with free Easter Eggs for the kids, free souvenirs and a £30 voucher for return summer visits.
There are various dates to choose from. Guests can bring dogs along in the Camping Shacks at no extra charge.

Friday 22 March 2013

World of James Herriot New Attractions

World War II Air-Raid Shelter & Model Railway - News Release     - March 2013

Latest developments at World of James Herriot announced.
World War II Air-Raid Shelter and Herriot Country Model Railway added to visitor experience.

Photo-Call: Friday 22nd March 2013 - 09.00

Continuing developments at the World of James Herriot in Thirsk are adding a refreshing new look to the visitor attraction as renewed interest in the James Herriot legacy grows.

The World of James Herriot is a unique tribute to Alf Wight, vet and author of the James Herriot stories. Based in his original surgery at 23 Kirkgate, Thirsk, North Yorkshire - the 'Skeldale House' of the Herriot books - it takes visitors on a journey back to the 1940s.

The attraction recently announced the installation of the largest individual collection of Herriot memorabilia secured from a private collector and the latest developments include the recreation of a World War II Air-Raid shelter in the the attraction’s cellar. The new area demonstrates the conditions of 1940’s wartime Britain in which period many of the James Herriot stories  are set. Sounds, smells and artefacts create the illusion of the real-life conditions that existed during the frightening air-raids over Britain in World War II.

“We are bringing these interpretations to whole new generation of Herriot fans and the Air-Raid shelter has an authentic atmosphere that gives visitors an experience that is, for older visitors, a reminder of that frightening past and for younger ones an educational experience to inform and help them to understand the harsh reality of that period”. comments The World of James Herriot Managing Director, Ian Ashton.

Some episodes of the extremely popular TV series ‘All Creatures Great and Small’ included the WWII years and the new section recreates this in a practical and experiential format on the same principal as the other parts of the attraction.

In addition to the Air-Raid Shelter a new Model Railway has also been installed with scenes of the rural railway network that existed at the time. Visitors will be able to operate the railway which has been created and built by the attraction’s maintenance manager, Clive Thompson.

Photo-call: Press photographers are invited for photographic opportunities at the World of James Herriot Attraction on Friday 22nd March 2013 at 09.00 onwards.  

ENDS

For further information please contact:
Ian Ashton, The World of James Herriot, 3 Kirkgate, Thirsk, North Yorkshire, YO7 1PL
Tel: 01845 524234 E-mail: mail@worldofjamesherriot.com

Notes to Editors:
The World of James Herriot is located in the original home and surgery of the author in  the market town of Thirsk. The attraction was formally owned by Hambleton District Council and is now operated as a private business. It is the focus for the Herriot Country Tourism Group, the destination marketing membership organisation that includes hotels, guest houses, self-catering and other visitor attractions in the area. 

Thursday 21 March 2013

York College and Bedern Hall York team up - News Release                               March 2012

Historic York venue introduces student initiative with York College 

Photo-call: Wednesday 27th March 9am

Bedern Hall the historic meetings and event venue in the centre of York is introducing a new initiative to engage students studying building at York College to utilise the building as part of their course work.

A total of 24 students studying Level 3 Diploma in Construction and the Built Environment, and one student studying HND in Construction, will use the property this year for their building surveying and conversion and adaptation modules.  They will undertake a building and measured survey to record the current condition as well as consider alternative uses and possible alterations and expansion.

Says York College tutor Dean Starkey: “We are delighted to have this working relationship with Bedern Hall as it provides our students with a great opportunity to learn about the skills of the past and to contribute their own ideas about how the building might be preserved and used in the future. This will be an excellent contribution to their course.”

Students will be visiting the venue for the first time on Wednesday 27th March and on subsequent dates throughout the year as part of their course work. Press photographers are invited to this first visit for photographic opportunities on Wednesday 27th March at 9am.

“We are a community venue and it is important to continue to develop and we have been actively introducing local initiatives as part of our marketing and delivery strategy. Bedern Hall is owned by the Guilds of York, one of which is the Guild of Building and we hope that this initiative will help to sustain our links with the builders of the past and the future and provide an interesting and enjoyable experience for those involved.” comments Bedern Hall director Roger Lee.

ENDS
For further information please contact: Roger Lee, Time and Place Caterers, Bedern Hall, St Andrewgate , Bedern, York YO1 7AL Tel: 01904 653698
Email: roger@bedernhall.co.uk Website: www.bedernhall.co.uk
Press Contact: John Gallery, Great Potential, Tel: 07967 032623
Email: johngallery@greatpotential.co.uk
•    Notes to Editors: Bedern Hall caters for up to 80 delegates for a sit-down meal or conference in the main hall plus a smaller suite for up to 25 guests. Bedern Hall is owned by the Guilds of York.

Tuesday 19 February 2013

Medieval Meets Modern at Bedern Hall York - New Release                            19th February 2013

‘Medieval meets Modern’ Hybrid Meeting Event at Bedern Hall York.
- Event Speaker will present live from London
Great Potential the York-based Business Tourism Consultancy has teamed up with Saville AV and client venue Bedern Hall to bring together a FREE special event about Hybrid Meetings.
On 21st February between 2pm and 4pm guests will learn how Hybrid Meetings can boost business, increase attendance and create a buzz that will make events more special.
Paul Cook is director of the Hybrid Event Centre and will deliver his presentation from London into the historic and medieval Bedern Hall, York using Saville AV's latest Hybrid Meetings technology.
Guests will hear Paul's presentation and have the opportunity to ask questions live as if he is in the room. This technology is growing in popularity has advantages for both meeting planners and venues and is surprisingly inexpensive. Guests will learn how and why on the day.
“The meetings and events industry is worth £36b to the UK economy and this technology is helping to create new opportunities to stage live events and include people from around the world without them having to travel. Demonstrating how this works at Bedern Hall one of York’s smaller medieval venues and with York-based Saville AV providing the equipment seemed most appropriate. comments Great Potential director, John Gallery.
The event is open to all meeting and event planners; venue operators; hoteliers, media and professional communicators. Great Potential has organised a familiarisation visit to York for a group of professional event bookers who will be attending the event to see the technology in action. Local business and event organisers are also welcome and can book their free place via http://medievalmeetsmodern.eventbrite.co.uk/
Great Potential’s sister video production company Little Genie Media will be recording the event for distribution afterwards.
For more information please contact John Gallery
Tel: 07967 032623 Email: johngallery@greatpotential.co.uk
Notes for Editors:
Saville AV and the Great Potential Consultancy are both York-based businesses collaborating with Bedern Hall to stage this event. Both companies are involved in delivering services for meetings and conferences at venues and events throughout the UK and overseas. 
Saville AV is the UK's largest specialist supplier of audiovisual, multimedia and videoconferencing technology, with over 250 personnel in fourteen locations.
Great Potential provides consultancy and marketing services to hotels, venues and tourism businesses and specialises in business tourism and events.
Bedern Hall is owned by the Guilds of York and operated and managed by Roger Lee of Time and Place Catering.

Thursday 14 February 2013

Little Genie Media -  News Release                        14th February 2013

High-end digital video production service launched with business results promise….

A new high quality video production service, Little Genie Media, has been launched to provide high definition digital business video at 'analogue' prices.

"The right kind of video grabs people's attention and holds them longer but tells your story in less time. It also can bring your ideas and products to life, creates a buzz and makes your website more 'sticky'. " comments creative director Graham Gallery.

The new business has already won business in several sectors including clothing, hotels, food and creative events. The service also helps internal business communication and motivation for organizations that recognize the importance of distribution of their values, aims and objectives through online media, intranets and smartphone apps.

"Business and commercial video production should be high quality and creative and at the same time deliver a return on the investment. Our service is designed to do just that. We help to increase website exposure and search results at sensible rates." adds Gallery
Little Genie Media News Release cont…

For further information please contact:
Graham Gallery, Little Genie Media Tel: 0844 414 2841
Mobile: 07791 267468 Email: graham@thelittlegenie.com
www.littlegeniemedia.com

Note for Editors:
Leeds-based Little Genie Media is owned and managed by Graham Gallery, (28) a multi-media graduate of Leeds Metropolitan University and most recently online digital editor for Lime Studios, the production company of 'The Only Way is Essex'. Example show reels of Little Genie Media are available at www.littlegeniemedia.com

Wednesday 30 January 2013

Best Western Crown Hotel Boroughbridge Award Win

Crown Hotel Boroughbridge wins ‘Best’ Best Western Award.

The Best Western Crown Hotel Boroughbridge has received the prestigious Best Customer Service Award from Best Western Hotels.

Emma Lee, general manager of the hotel was presented with an engraved Chrystal Rose bowl by Best Western Hotels UK at the hotel consortium’s annual conference and glittering conference dinner held in Bristol.

The hotel was nominated in three categories and the Best Customer Service Award is considered the most prestigious amongst the organization’s member hotels.

“Winning this award is testament to the great team of people here at the Crown. We are a small hotel with limited resources but we do have a dedicated team whose focus on customer satisfaction has been clearly recognized and rewarded with this fantastic Award” comments hotel general manager Emma Lee.

The hotel has risen in the past year from 108 to 38th in the group’s rankings and was cited to have delivered the most improved service levels and customer satisfaction of all 280 hotels in the group.

For further information please contact:

Emma Lee, General manager
Best Western Crown Hotel
Horsefair, Boroughbridge
North Yorkshire, YO51 9LB
Tel: 01423 322328
Email: emma@crownboroughbridge.co.uk

Press contact:
John Gallery, Great Potential Tel: 07967 032623
Email: johngallery@greatpotential.co.uk

Notes for Editors:
The Best Western Crown Hotel is a 37 bedroomed former 16th Century coaching inn and includes conference suites for up to 120 delegates, restaurant, bar and a leisure club with heated indoor swimming pool and fitness suite.

Photograph attached: Emma Lee (centre) pictured with (right) Rhys Roberts, Chairman of Best Western Hotels GB and (left) his wife Claire Heaven-Roberts


Largest Single Collection of James Herriot Memorabilia to be revealed


The World of James Herriot reopens on 1st February 2013 with new displays and the largest  ever single collection of James Herriot Memorabilia.

The collection is the first of a range of new exhibition items to be displayed at the Centre which will be unveiled in several stages during 2013.

The World of James Herriot has been undergoing a massive facelift. A band new room has been added to the attraction. The new Memorabilia Room will house all kinds of Herriot-related items, many of them seen here for the first time. Amongst film stills from both big screen releases, you will find loads of unseen pieces from the TV series. There are personally-written letters from James to his fans, signed photos of many of the actors involved in the films and the TV series, and the original Meccano magazine from 1931 in which a young Alf Wight read the article on becoming a veterinary surgeon which was to lead him to Thirsk. This new room will have something for everybody.
The new Memorabilia collection follows the 2012 installation of the restored Austin 7 car used in the original TV series All Creatures Great and Small.

“James Herriot’s legacy just continues to fascinate people and this new collection will help our visitor interpretation work at the World of James Herriot to become even more interesting and enjoyable. 2013 will be an exciting time of revelations”. Comments Centre Managing Director Ian Ashton

A media preview is available at 9am on Friday 1st February. Journalists and photographers are invited to visit the Centre in advance of the public opening for interviews with Ian Ashton and photograph opportunities.

For further information please contact:
Ian Ashton
The World of James Herriot
23 Kirkgate, Thirsk,
North Yorkshire, YO7 1PL
Tel: 07836737267
E-mail: mail@worldofjamesherriot.com


Notes for Editors:
 
James Alfred Wight, who wrote under the pseudonym of James Herriot, became one of the most popular writers of the twentieth century. His books, a series of stories based on his experiences as a young veterinary surgeon working among the farming community of North Yorkshire, sold in their millions throughout the world. Their great success spawned two feature films in the mid 1970s, followed by a BBC television series, All Creatures Great and Small, which enjoyed global success in the late 1970s and early 80s. Most recently a TV series was commissioned showing the life and times of James Herriot in his younger days.

Tuesday 15 January 2013

Breakfast via Twitter

14th January 2013

Book via Twitter Breakfast Club introduced at York luxury hotel and champions the importance of breakfast - local and regional emphasis on the food and setting.

The Mount Royale Hotel York has introduced a new Breakfast Club that aims to encourage York business people and local residents to enjoy the hotel’s locally sourced breakfast. A special 20% price reduction is available for anyone joining the Breakfast Club by following the hotel on Twitter on @mountroyaleyork

Already enjoying a fine reputation for its warm welcome, great food and dining experience, the hotel has introduced the Breakfast Club to champion the notion of ‘breakfast is best’ and support the recently launched ‘Better Breakfast for a Better Britain’ campaign which is supported by MP’s and celebrities.  (www.betterbreakfast.org.uk)

Breakfast has long been regarded as the most important meal of the day but half of us leave the house on an empty stomach. Even those who do manage to eat something in the morning take an average of just three minutes over it – usually as they dash out the door. This is a mistake, say experts, who point to a wealth of studies that suggest eating breakfast makes us more alert, helps keep us trim and improves work and behaviour.

Prospective Breakfast Club members need to simply follow @mountroyaleyork on Twitter to register. Bookings can also be sent via Twitter.  Telephone and email bookings are also welcome.

“Breakfast here is one of the things for which our resident guests most often compliment us and the new ‘Breakfast Club’ will hopefully encourage York residents and business people to experience this and make the most of what has been recognised as the best meal of the day. We are supporting the ‘Better Breakfast for a Better Britain’ campaign with our locally sourced ingredients. ‘Breakfast Clubbers’ will choose from traditional English grill to healthy fruits and the most delicious options of classic dishes such as Eggs Benedict.” comments Mount Royale Hotel director, Stuart Oxtoby.

The ‘Breakfast Club’ is available every morning between 07.00 and 09.30 Weekdays and 07.30 and 10.00 on Saturdays and Sundays. Bookings at weekends essential. 

ENDS

For further information please contact: 

Stuart Oxtoby, director, The Mount Royale Hotel, The Mount, York, YO24 1GU 
Tel: 01904 628856
Email: info@mountroyale.co.uk
Website: www.mountroyale.co.uk Twitter: @mountroyalehotelyork

Press contact: John Gallery, Great Potential. Tel: 07967 032623
Email: johngallery@greatpotential.co.uk
Notes for Editors: The Mount Royale Hotel was founded by Richard and Christine Oxtoby in 1967, the hotel was formerly two private houses built during the reign of William IV (1830 - 1837) and offers 24 bedrooms all with wireless internet, there is also a bar with a coal fire and Burbridges Restaurant offering locally sourced produce.  Other facilities include an onsite heated outdoor swimming pool, sauna, steam room and hot tub open all year set in English Gardens and a beauty centre with spa treatments.