Weekly News

The London Eye offers arts and crafts for family fun this Easter

This Easter, the EDF Energy London Eye is inviting guests to London’s most iconic landmark to join in the fun with this year’s free* on-site Easter arts and crafts activities.

From Friday 6th to Monday 9th April, families can don their creative caps and get involved in the London Eye’s Easter activities. Children can get busy with a number of crafts, decorating papier maché eggs and Easter animal masks. A host of arts materials and a splash of imagination will ensure the Easter creations are brought to life to be taken home and cherished as Easter keepsakes.

In addition, families can join in the ultimate egg decorating egg-stravaganza at the EDF Energy London Eye. Five giant white eggs will be installed on the London Eye’s landscape from Friday 31st March to Sunday 15th April when everyone will be invited to take part in transforming them into egg-stravagant and colourful Easter eggs. All guests to the South Bank and the London Eye landscape can pick up free multi-coloured stickers in a range of sizes to fix onto the enormous eggs, so that they can enjoy being part of the London Eye’s first collective egg decoration.

For those who wish to steer clear of glue and glitter, visitors can sit on the top deck of the London Eye River Cruise and appreciate the spring sunshine whilst on the 40 minute cruise on the River Thames. With fascinating live commentary that brings the city to life, guests can enjoy the warm Easter breeze, which offers the opportunity to experience London’s South Bank from a different perspective.

Having taken in the spectacular views of London on the river cruise, guests can also indulge in some springtime splendour with the Afternoon Tea Capsule on the EDF Energy London Eye. A perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of the capital, the Afternoon Tea Capsule is ideal for families and groups of friends who want to grasp London’s panoramic views from 135 metres above the city. The Afternoon Tea Capsule includes a variety of delicious sandwiches, freshly baked scones and scrumptious cakes, served by the host with a selection of teas, coffee and fruit juices.

For those who have yet to visit the EDF Energy London Eye in 2012, they will find a new in-capsule experience aboard the London Eye. Capsules are now complete with state of the art Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 devices, displaying bespoke content. The interactive touch screen guides enhance the guest experience as they take in the crisp springtime views from the world’s tallest cantilevered observation wheel. It provides a more interactive way to take in the capital’s best sights and is available as part of the standard ticket price. Features include key information on landmarks that can be seen from the London Eye as well as a 3D view of each sight, further bringing it to life before the visitors’ eyes. Innovative, 360 degree non-stop-24-hour filming has granted the EDF Energy London Eye and its guests the first ever multi-dimensional views of the spectacular sights of the capital.

*The arts and crafts activities are free with every child ticket

Standard Ticket Prices
· Adults – from £17.01
· Children (4-15 years) – from £8.91
· Children (under 4) – Free
· Senior – from £13.50
· Family of four - £46.08

A Standard Ticket includes
Standard admission
30 minutes on the London Eye
Up to 20% online discount

Easter Activity Weekend
Friday 6th to Monday 9th April
11am – 4pm
Free with every child ticket
- Activities to include:
Easter eggs to decorate (papier mache)
Easter masks including bunny mask, butterfly mask, mouse mask
Easter flowers and Easter chicks and hens

http://www.londoneye.com/EDFEnergy/

In celebration of The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, on the 1st April 2012, Fortnum & Mason will officially open the Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon on the fourth floor of the Piccadilly store. The elegant Georgian surroundings, reflective of Fortnum’s origins in the 1700’s and designed by David Collins, will be an homage to all things tea and a place where this delightful drink will be celebrated all year round.

The world of tea and the name of Fortnum & Mason have been intertwined for over three centuries. From the opening of the Far East to the western trade, to the first harvest of tea grown on English soil, Fortnum’s has sourced, refined and offered this most delicious of bounties to its customers.

The new tea salon will be no different and Fortnum’s expert tea-ristas will be on hand to make recommendations for adventurous palates from the list of over 150 teas on offer whether that is a single estate tea, a rare tea, blend or tisane. An expansive tea list lies at the heart of what Fortnum & Mason have to offer and all teas tasted in the Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon will be available to buy on the shop floor.

As well as offering a plethora of exciting tea blends and mouth-watering Afternoon Tea, High Tea, Lunch and Dinner menus, The Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon will bring to life the often overlooked process of brewing to ensure whichever tea blend is chosen is enjoyed at its best. Tea will arrive at each table with timers that will ring once your pot has reached its optimum brewing time. From brewing instructions to different temperature water depending on the blend of tea chosen, the Fortnum’s Tea experience is a treat for tea enthusiasts and connoisseurs alike.

As well as the main restaurant there is also a tea tasting room serving as a room for those passionate about all things tea. This can be hired out for private events for up to 15 people and will be used for the Fortnum & Mason tea events for customers running throughout the year.

Opening times Monday- Saturday 12 with last bookings at 7pm and Sunday 12 with last bookings at 6pm. Tea menus start from £38.00

About the Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon

www.fortnumandmason.com
For reservations please call 0845 602 5694 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Monday to Saturday 9am to 6pm

Spring is in the air at Fifteen Cornwall. To celebrate the very best of the season’s produce the social enterprise restaurant is hosting another of its popular Farmers’ Markets on Saturday 24th March. The team at Fifteen Cornwall is delighted that cornishfoodmarket.co.uk, specialists in delivering locally produced food and drink to Cornish homes, has come on board to sponsor and support the event.

Fifteen Cornwall’s hugely talented local suppliers will be on show so you can try first-hand the great food and produce Fifteen Cornwall uses in its own kitchen. You can also meet the team behind cornishfoodmarket.co.uk to learn more about their great delivery service.

And there’s more…

If there’s one thing the team at Fifteen Cornwall know a lot about, it’s how to make perfect pasta. Cooking Italian-inspired food is at the heart of everything they do and if you’ve ever tried their Mafaldine alla bolognaise or Tortellini of English pea and ham hock, you’ll know what we mean!

So here’s your chance to learn the tricks of the trade with Fifteen Cornwall’s NEW pasta-making workshops. Priced at £20 and launching at the Spring Farmers’ Market, Head Chef Andy Appleton and his team of chefs will be showing off their pasta-making skills.

Learn how to make the perfect pasta dough, how to flavour and fill pasta and how to create all the different fiddly pasta shapes. You will be taught the difference between pappardelle, ravioli and farfalle (and, most importantly, how to pronounce them). If you’d like to become a pasta perfectionist then simply sign up for a course; contact 01637 861000 or visit www.fifteencornwall.co.uk/pasta-making.htm.

What else is there to see?

Thanks to Cornwall’s mild climate, the county harvests 365 days a year - so expect to find everything from spring vegetables, seasonal Cornish fish, local meat and a wealth of artisan foods. Your shopping bags will be brimming with gastronomic treats.

Andy will be demonstrating the latest Fifteen Cornwall dishes and explaining how to get the most out of the excellent produce on sale, as well as other local guest chefs – including:

· Matt Corner from The View, Whitsand Bay
· Dale McIntosh from Bustophers, Truro
· Jack Stein fromThe Seafood Restaurant, Padstow

Robert Hocking from Buttervilla will also be giving visitors a Spring planting demonstration - so you can learn how to grow some of this delicious produce in your own back garden.

The team at Fifteen Cornwall is also delighted to be welcoming La Credenza, suppliers of the restaurant’s Italian speciality produce.

And don’t forget to say hello to the Fifteen Cornwall apprentices – because after all, this is what Fifteen Cornwall is all about; transforming the lives of young people from Cornwall who are in need of a second chance, and helping them to become successful chefs of the future.

What if I live out of Cornwall?

Why not make a weekend of it with a stay at the gorgeous Hotel & Extreme Academy, Watergate Bay. With daily, direct flights into Newquay airport, there is no excuse. Just make sure you have enough space in your bags for all the treats you’ll want to take home with you.

Sean Willams, MD at cornishfoodmarket.co.uk, talks about his decision to work with Fifteen Cornwall: “It is a pleasure to be part of an event like this. It allows consumers both from in and outside of Cornwall to experience the very best that the county has to offer.”

“Fifteen Cornwall shares our passions and aspirations in terms of creating a 'virtuous circle' of economic and social benefit to people connected with the food sector here in Cornwall. They have done a fantastic job, since they launched 6 years ago, in promoting efficient local supplier networks and creating opportunities both through direct employment in their business and, by pursuing the 'buy fresh buy local' ideal.

cornishfoodmarket.co.uk's underlying philosophy is perfectly aligned with those of Fifteen Cornwall's, given that our basic motivation in creating our business has been to re-establish the link between local food production and local food consumption here in Cornwall - making it easy for food shoppers to follow their instincts and buy fresh locally produced food.”

The Fifteen Cornwall Spring Farmers’ Market will take place in the Extreme Academy car park in front of the restaurant at Watergate Bay. Entry is free and there is ample car parking space.

All profits from Fifteen Cornwall go to the registered charity The Cornwall Foundation of Promise, which supports and inspires young people from Cornwall in need of a second chance, to become chefs of the future. Registered charity no. 1119341.

Keep up to date with Fifteen Cornwall on Twitter @FifteenCornwall or at Facebook to here all the latest news: www.facebook.com/fifteencornwall

Key sponsor: cornishfoodmarket.co.uk This ground-breaking new food and drink home delivery business is the Fifteen Cornwall Spring Farmers’ Market’s key sponsor. Adding a new dimension to on-line grocery shopping, it offers the widest selection of the freshest local produce, at competitive prices, delivered FREE direct to the door*. Come and see them at the farmers’ market or see www.cornishfoodmarket.co.uk to find out more and sign up.

*subject to delivery location and/or minimum order values
For more information on Fifteen Cornwall or to book a table, call 01637 861000 or visit www.fifteencornwall.co.uk.

This March, Breakthrough Breast Cancer is urging to people to get behind their new campaign to raise funds and Make Mother’s Day Matter.

It couldn’t be easier to spoil your Mum whilst also lending your support to this pioneering charity. Just visit breakthrough.org.uk/mothersday and for a suggested donation download one of ten unique and stylish vouchers designed to make your Mum feel extra special.

Each voucher, which can be personalised and printed, represents a promise from you to your Mum, and these range from making her breakfast in bed, to doing 3 hours of gardening, to cleaning her car, to giving her some peace and quiet. As well as promising to treat your Mum to something special this Mothering Sunday, by making the suggested donation to Breakthrough Breast Cancer of the equivalent value of the voucher you will be helping keep families affected by this terrible disease together for longer.

Breast cancer is a disease which devastates nearly 48,000 women and their families every year. By making a donation to the campaign you will be helping Breakthrough Breast Cancer’s life saving research work and moving them closer to their vision of a future free from the fear of breast cancer.

As a thank you for your support, when taking part and downloading a Mother’s Day voucher, you will automatically be entered into a competition for a chance to win an amazing spa treatment for 2 people at The Chancery Court Hotel, so you can treat your Mum twice over.

Helen Aithie, Product Development Fundraiser from Breakthrough Breast Cancer, said:
“We really hope that this Mother’s Day people get behind our campaign and help to make it matter. By downloading a voucher and donating a small amount, not only are you giving your Mum an extra special treat, but you are also helping Breakthrough to save lives, so that more Mums can be around for many more Mother’s Days to come. I urge everyone to visit our site and get downloading, so we can Make this Mother’s Day really Matter.”

For more information about the campaign and to make a suggested donation to download your Mother’s Day voucher, visit breakthrough.org.uk/mothersday or join the conversation on Facebook.com/BreakthroughBC

Radley continues its longstanding relationship with the British Heart Foundation (BHF) and is delighted to announce the launch of its latest collaboration with the BHF’s ‘Mending Broken Hearts’ Appeal.

This unique partnership is fronted by Laura Bailey - the iconic British model, writer and BHF supporter, who has also just been announced as Radley’s Brand Ambassador and Face of its Spring/Summer 2012 campaign.

Radley’s best selling signature ‘Pocket’ bag will be available in soft red nappa leather, embellished with an exclusively designed red leather heart tag embossed with the BHF logo and the words ‘Mending Broken Hearts’. Both bag and mirror can be purchased individually and are priced at £99 and £19. All profits will be donated to the nation’s heart charity*.

Laura Bailey comments, “The BHF is a very special cause. As an ambassador already, I feel passionately about being involved in this campaign. With Radley’s ongoing partnership with the BHF, for me, there is no better brand to collaborate with on this. On a personal level I have watched their presence grow on the high street and love that the brand celebrates creativity, quality and craftsmanship. I feel honoured to be working with them both on this campaign.”

As a role model with effortless style and natural demure, Laura Bailey was a fitting choice for Radley to embody this British label’s intrinsic fashion and lifestyle values. As a recognised professional, Laura juggles everyday life of being a mother with organisation and glamour. Radley identifies with women leading a busy lifestyle, creating bags which are practical, simple yet stylish; bags which lighten the load and grow better through wear and tear; lasting throughout a lifetime.

This BHF exclusive image was photographed by Angelo Pennetta with styling direction from Katie Hillier, portraying Laura's natural style.

Lorraine Pringle, Brand Director at Radley comments, “Radley is delighted at the opportunity to once again help raise funds for the BHF, aiding their valuable work in saving lives. We are also thrilled to be able to work together with our current Brand Ambassador Laura Bailey to help raise awareness of this great cause.”

Head of Corporate Partnerships at the BHF Amit Aggarwal says: “We’re delighted to be working with Radley on our Mending Broken Hearts Appeal. Scientifically, mending the human heart is an achievable goal that we hope to achieve in the next five to ten years. But we need to spend £50million to make this a reality and I can’t thank Radley enough for supporting us with this goal”.

To date, our partnership with the BHF has raised an impressive £56,896 and it continues to gain pace.

The bags will be available in all 22 of our UK stores and online at www.radley.co.uk from 1st March. It is the perfect way to update your spring wardrobe with this season’s must have accessory and embrace your charitable side.

Support the Mending Broken Hearts Appeal and help us give hope to millions worldwide. Visit bhf.org.uk/mbh to get involved.