Free activities and tickets to top London shows for children 12-26 August 2011

Now in its 14th year, Kids Week in the West End is back and planning an action-packed fortnight of theatrical fun from 12-26 August 2011.

During Kids Week, a child up to the age of 16 years old can experience the magic of London theatre and see an awesome selection of shows shows for free, plus two additional children can go at half price (per transaction), as long as they are accompanied by a full paying adult.
The line-up of shows on offer will include more than 30 of the hottest tickets in town from recently opened productions Shrek The Musical, Betty Blue Eyes and Pygmalion to long-running West End favourites We Will Rock You, Mamma Mia!, Wicked and The 39 Steps.

Children can also get involved in a fantastic range of free activities, workshops and events. There’s something for all ages including the chance to join The Tiger Who Came To Tea for an under-5s fancy dress tea party, learn the Munchkinland dance with The Wizard Of Oz, play Quidditch with Potted Potter’s Dan and Jeff, or head behind the scenes to explore The Railway Children’s beautiful steam train!

Rachel Tucker, starring in Wicked at the Apollo Victoria Theatre, said: “Kids Week is a great children’s summer holiday treat, and what an exciting range of shows and experiences there is on offer. Performers and theatre staff across London will be looking forward to welcoming Kids Week bookers through their doors again this summer, and introducing them to the magic of theatre!”

Emma De Souza, Head of Media and Marketing for the Society of London Theatre which runs Kids Week, said: “I am delighted to announce our exciting line-up. This year sees fabulous new family shows on board and of course the return of some much-loved favourites. Kids Week gives many children their first ever taste of live theatre, and it is wonderful to see them enjoy our Kids Go Free ticket deals and exclusive activities and workshops. Whether they are peeking backstage, rubbing shoulders with the stars or enjoying the magic of performing on a West End stage it is a theatrical experience they will remember forever.”

Booking for all Kids Week shows and activities opens on Tuesday 12 July. To book, visit www.kidsweek.co.uk or call the Ticketmaster 24hr Kids Week hotline on 0844 248 5151 (no booking or postage fees on Kids Week tickets).

In the meantime, join the buzz on Facebook and Twitter (@kidsweek) and keep up to date on www.kidsweek.co.uk where you can find handy information on discounts for Family & Friends Railcards and car parking, along with family-friendly restaurant and hotel deals.

SHOWS IN THE KIDS WEEK TICKET DEAL (www.kidsweek.co.uk )
• For under 5’s: The Tiger Who Came To Tea
• For all ages 5+: Betty Blue Eyes, Crazy For You, Disney’s The Lion King, Dreamboats and Petticoats, The Flying Karamazov Brothers, Lend Me a Tenor The Musical, Les Misérables, Love Never Dies, Mamma Mia!, The Phantom of the Opera, Potted Potter, The Railway Children, Shrek The Musical, Stomp, The 39 Steps, Thriller Live, Wicked, The Wizard of Oz.
• Parental Guidance: Billy Elliot the Musical, Blood Brothers, Chicago, Legally Blonde, Million Dollar Quartet, One Man, Two Guvnors, Pygmalion, War Horse, We Will Rock You, The Woman in Black.
• Adult Content 15+: Jersey Boys, Priscilla Queen of the Desert – The Musical.

During Kids Week, a child up to the age of 16 years old can experience the magic of London theatre and see an awesome selection of shows for free, plus two additional children can go at half price (per transaction), as long as they are accompanied by a full paying adult (per transaction). Offer subject to limited availability and not applicable to tickets previously purchased.
• Children should seek parental permission before logging on to the internet.
• Booking will open on 12 July by telephone 0844 248 5151 and online at www.kidsweek.co.uk.
• The Society cannot be held responsible for shows that close during Kids Week, or activities and events that change or are cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances.

SACKLER CENTRE, V&A | MONDAY 18 JULY

A display of hundreds of hand-woven flowers takes centre stage at Threads & Yards, a craft project bringing together seniors and students to share personal stories of health and wellbeing, as part of the Wellcome Trust’s 75th anniversary celebrations. Over 200 flowers have been created on hand-held looms in a series of workshops of communal crafting and conversation at the V&A, and these yarn motifs will be arranged into a single artwork, to be exhibited during a special day of talks and craft sessions at the museum on Monday 18 July.

The artwork will be animated by audio recordings of exchanges from the workshops, embedded within the yarn flowers, whose wide variety of forms, from humble single layered designs to spectacular multi-coloured sculptural pieces, reflect the diversity of the participants. In talks throughout the day, visitors will be able to hear from seniors, and students from Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design, who contributed. Medical and public health historians from the Wellcome Trust’s network of researchers will discuss biomedical issues raised by the project and there will be opportunities for everyone to try their hand at craft skills, with sessions on flower making with Japanese yarns, crochet, and stitch sampling based on works from the V&A’s collections.

The series of workshops was designed to encourage informal discussion about changes in healthcare, drawing on the historic connection between crafts, storytelling and shared experience: from women’s quilting groups and workers in textiles factories to today’s ‘stitch and bitch’ sessions and artists joining to knit together in political action. Many of the seniors participating recalled life before the advent of the NHS, and subjects covered include child birth, nutrition, mental health, attitudes to drugs, body image and the medical profession.

Amy Sanders, Special Projects Manager at the Wellcome Trust says: “The last 75 years has seen war-time rationing, the birth of NHS, the contraceptive pill, heart transplants, hip replacements and the human genome project. Threads and Yarns is a wonderful opportunity to hear the stories of people who have lived through these changes in health care, medicine and research, and to reflect on how they have impacted on us all.”

Jo Morrison, Digital Projects Director at Central Saint Martins College of Art & Design says: “Threads and Yarns demonstrates how craft can function both as a subject in itself, and as a means to stage an encounter in order to reveal stories – social, cultural, economic and political. In this case craft has enabled personal encounters between people who would not ordinarily have the chance to meet one another, nor share personal histories.”

Threads & Yarns runs from 10am to 5pm on Monday 18 July in the V&A’s Sackler Centre and is free to all. Booking is required on 020 7942 2211

Threads & Yarns is a collaboration between Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design, the V&A and the Wellcome Trust.

GOING HEAD TO HEAD IN THE KITCHEN BIG CITY COOK COMPETITON GETS SET TO COOK UP A STORM IN THE CITY

If you fancy yourself as a bit of an amateur chef and have a killer competitive instinct, then a new charity competition in aid of the 2011 Lord Mayor’s Appeal could be just the challenge.

D&D London – owners of 26 of the capital’s best-known restaurants, including Bluebird, Launceston Place, Skylon, Le Pont de la Tour and Coq d’Argent – has partnered with the Lord Mayor’s Appeal to create the ultimate corporate cook-off, giving teams of amateur chefs the chance to compete in some of D&D’s top professional kitchens. Aimed at raising funds for Coram which gives practical and emotional help to more than 10,000 vulnerable children and young people London every year, the Big City Cook will take place over three rounds from September to November 2011.

"In any given year, our restaurants help raise hundreds of thousands of pounds on behalf of many charities, including Street Smart, Action Against Hunger and Action Aid,” says Des Gunewardena, Chairman and Chief Executive of D&D London.
“But Big City Cook provides a focus to raise money for a great cause whilst giving contestants a unique opportunity to see behind the scenes of our restaurants and to work alongside some of our chefs. I hope this will really capture the City’s imagination and competitive instincts: JP Morgan may have done more deals than Goldman Sachs in the last quarter, but who can cook the best Coq au Vin ?"

Big City Cook kicks off in September, when teams (each of three people) will be invited on a Friday afternoon to visit different D&D restaurants, including Butlers Wharf Chop House, Avenue in St James’s and the Royal Exchange, where they will meet the head chef and other key members of staff, see behind the scenes and learn a few ‘tricks of the trade’ and industry trends. The following morning, teams will go head-to-head in groups of three in a professional restaurant kitchen to cook their perfect, three-course dinner party, which will be judged by leading D&D Head Chefs.

In October, round two (the semi-finals) will take place in three City restaurants: Coq d’Argent, Plateau in Canary Wharf and Sauterelle in the Royal Exchange. Semi-finalists will attend a private wine tasting the week before the cook-off, which involves an ingredients test, a skills test, and a three-course dinner party on a budget, judged by the Head Chef and senior team at each of the three restaurants. The three winning teams (one per restaurant) will then be mentored in the run-up to the Final by their respective Head Chefs, Mickael Weiss at Coq d’Argent, Allan Pickett at Plateau and Robin Gill at Sauterelle. Each team, under the guidance of their mentor, will be responsible for cooking one of the courses for a Gala Fund-Raising Dinner for 300 people in aid of the Lord Mayor’s Appeal at Floridita in Soho on 9 November 2011.

There are no minimum requirements for taking part in Big City Cook, just a commitment to raise a minimum of £5,000 to enter your team to help build better lives for children in the UK and people across the world. To sign up for Big City Cook and for more information, visit thelordmayorsappeal.org.uk/cook or call 0207 520 0425.

Big City Cook:

To book a place and take part in this incredible competition, the cost to enter one team of 3 is £5,000. Payment can be made when registering to take part or teams can pay a deposit of £250 and commit to fundraising the remaining £4,750 in the lead up to round one.
Not a chef but interested in eating? You can book tickets for the final at Floridita, where you can watch your three course meal being cooked by our three teams of finalists on the big screens, tickets are £150.

Lord Mayor’s Appeal:

Proceeds from the Lord Mayor’s Appeal 2011 Bear Necessities – Building Better Lives are distributed between Coram (75%) and RedR (25%).

FAT FACE LAUNCHES ‘BRITISH ARTISTS SERIES’
9 British artists commissioned by Fat Face to reflect glory of SouthWest England SUMMER 2011
Fat Face, the active lifestyle clothing brand, has commissioned artists based in South West England to create inspirational artworks for display in select Fat Face stores throughout the Summer. Each piece of art together with 3 limited edition prints will be sold by auction with sale proceeds donated to charity.

9 local artists from ‘up and coming’ graphic designers to established fine art painters have been commissioned to convey the beauty, freedom, energy and colour inherent in the landscape of South West England – particularly its unique coast and coastal waters.

Every piece of art is distinctly different, utilising a mix of materials and styles including collage, bold print, acrylics and watercolours. The 9 artists vary in experience and discipline from contemporary young artist and designer, Kevin Cooper from Newquay to National Portrait gallery painter, Michael Frith.

All the original artworks and three limited edition prints of each will be sold through an Ebay auction on 5th September 2011. Proceeds will be channelled through the Fat Face Foundation - the charitable arm of Fat Face which donates to organisations such as the Marine Conservation Society.

To see examples of the artworks please visit http://outthere.fatface.com/britishartists/

THE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP COMMISSIONS SOPHIE ALLPORT

Sophie Allport is very proud to have been commissioned by The R&A, organizers of The Open Championship, to design and produce exclusive china and fabric items for sale during The Open at Royal St. George’s. The range will include fine bone china mugs, tea towels, cushions, aprons, double oven gloves and napkins. Sophie’s design features her illustrations of golf clubs, bags and balls and because Open Championship venues are within sight or sound of the sea Sophie designed some appealing seagulls that sit alongside the golfing gear on a pale blue background. The mugs will be available in white, blue and green backgrounds.

The Open Championship is returning to Royal St George’s Golf Club in Sandwich, Kent from 14th- 17th July. It is an outstanding links course and will be the 14th time The Open Championship has been played at the Club which is the only current venue in southern England for golf’s most prestigious major championship.

Sophie explained; “It’s such an honour to be asked to design products for such an auspicious event as The Open Championship. I’ve grown up watching The Open as my Family are all huge golfing fans and to have my products on sale during the week at Royal St George’s is amazing.”

Sophie Allport Limited is a family-run business based near Stamford in Lincolnshire and has celebrated its fourth year this April.

The Sophie Allport ‘Open Range’ will be available to buy from The Merchandise Pavilion at Royal St George’s.

Sophie Allport also has just been awarded ‘Best Stand’ at the RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show. “It is such a privilege to exhibit at a Show as great as Hampton Court and to receive an accolade like this is fantastic,” said Sophie “To have won a ‘Certificate of Merit’ at Chelsea and now to win ‘Best Stand’ at Hampton Court is just amazing,”

All products are available from www.sophieallport.com or on 0845 0177 866.

THE WORLD’S HOTTEST FROZEN YOGHURT – PINKBERRY - LAUNCHES AT SELFRIDGES

Pinkberry, the frozen yoghurt with a cult following and celebrity fans, is opening its first western European outpost in Selfridges this August.

Pinkberry, which re-invented the way to eat frozen yoghurt when it first launched in California in 2005, will bring six main yoghurt flavours and over 30 different toppings to its first UK destination in the heart of Selfridges’ Foodhall in London.
Pinkberry converts already include celebrities such as Simon Cowell, David Beckham and Lady Gaga.

As the number one frozen yoghurt destination in the world with over 130 outlets in several countries, Pinkberry is the original frozen yogurt. It is made with only low fat yogurt and fresh low fat milk for a perfect balance of tart, tangy and sweet, resulting in a light, refreshing and clean taste that is craveable.

“Since its launch in West Hollywood, CA in 2005, Pinkberry has quickly become a global brand and being in London is a key step in our growth.” says Pinkberry CEO Ron Graves.

Selfridges Buying Manager, Tanya McMullen, says: ”Pinkberry is a dream brand. It has a wonderful concept, executed to the highest standards, is accessible to all and yet manages to create a level of aspiration and a celebrity following few food brands manage to build in such a short period of time. We believe this is the perfect time to bring Pinkberry into the UK and have every hope for an extraordinary response from our customers.”

EXCLUSIVE Q MAGAZINE APP LAUNCHED FOR BLACKBERRY® PLAYBOOK™
BlackBerry gives Q an ‘Appy’ 25th birthday with launch of Q25

In celebration of Q Magazine’s 25th anniversary, BlackBerry® has teamed up with the publication to launch the exclusive Q25 app for the PlayBook™ tablet. The new app, now live and free to download from BlackBerry App World allows users to seek out their favourite music tracks and videos from some of the greatest musical artists of the last 25 years, and in turn purchase their music directly.

The Q25 app features a shortlist of 25 artists nominated by Q magazine as some of the greatest and most influential acts of the last quarter of a century. With Oasis and Metallica featured alongside Madonna and Jay-Z, to name a few, the app acts as a guide around the artists themselves, highlighting three key albums from each as well as three that the artists have cited as influence. Furthermore, there are three recommendations from Q of other albums fans are likely to rate as part of their ‘Like this? Try these’ function.

The app has already proved a hit with PlayBook users, earning a 4.5 star rating. In addition to the download features, the interactive app encourages BlackBerry users to vote for their favourite act in Q’s ‘The Greatest Act of the Last 25 years,’ inviting music fans to delight in the very best and most influential music from a range of genres. The winner of the public vote is to be unveiled at the annual Q awards this October.

The Q25 app is available to download free from BlackBerry app world. To download Q25 visit BlackBerry App World: appworld.blackberry.com

NIKE NSW SUMMER 2011 COLLECTION LAUNCHES EXCLUSIVELY AT SELFRIDGES

The likes of Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal may have been doing a good job of making us feel bad about that neglected gym membership of ours for the past few weeks, but we’ve always been far more interested in looking good off the courts anyway.

Enter the new Nike NSW AW11 collection, a reinterpretation of garments made for athletes that now everyone can enjoy.
The collection comprises of 15 pieces of apparel, including contemporary twists on menswear staples, from a slick lightweight trench to sleek tailored chinos to a contrast fabric track jacket.

“This is a lifestyle collection we originally made for out top tier athletes, but we wanted to be able to give that same elite offering to our consumers too. For the last 40 years Nike has been at the forefront of sporting innovation, meshing it with culture yet always striving to build the very best products for our athletes.
“These products are made in the best locations from the best materials, by people who obsess over every single detail, for the best athlete in the world.”
- Phil Dickinson, Nike Sportswear Creative Director

Prices range from £60 - £400 and are available exclusively in-store and on www.selfridges.com.

STACEY SOLOMON TO STAR AT CHARTWELL IN HONOUR OF THE ROYAL AIR FORCE

X Factor finalist Stacey Solomon will be a guest star at this year’s Chartwell concert, the annual celebration of the RAF in September. Stacey will perform her track, At Last, a 21st century take on the Glen Miller classic, at the spectacular event.
She will also treat the crowds enjoying the twilight concert from the lawns of Sir Winston Churchill’s family home to other favourites honouring those heroes and heroines of the sky and their magnificent flying machines including We’ll Meet Again and Wind Beneath My Wings.
Revealing her participation in the event, Stacey said:
“I am so excited to be part this amazing tribute to the RAF. My granddad served in the RAF and my cousin is still serving in the military. I am thrilled that I will have an opportunity to show them and the thousands of their fellow servicemen and women how proud and grateful to them I am.”
The concert takes place on 3 and 4 September. Tickets cost just £33 and are on sale now from www.synergyeventsuk.com and 01689 300005.

PREZZO SCOOPS RESTAURATEUR OF THE YEAR AWARD
Stylish Italian restaurant group, Prezzo, beat off stiff competition at the 2011 Catey Awards last night, with Jonathan Kaye, CEO of Prezzo scooping the award for the (Group) Restaurateur of The Year. Kaye, who opened Prezzo in 2000 said, “I'm delighted to have been chosen for this award. Knowing that the industry’s top experts selected Prezzo makes us all feel very proud”.

Kaye follows in the footsteps of his cousins Adam and Sam Kaye, who won the same award in 1999 and his uncle, Phillip Kaye the ‘Godfather’ of Casual Dining who won a special Catey Award in 2005 for his outstanding work in establishing restaurant groups over forty years.

Among those shortlisted for this year’s Restaurateur of The Year Award, which is the catering industry’s annual equivalent of the Oscars, were Chris Benians and Andy Bassadone, Directors of Côte Restaurants and Simon Blagden, MD of Jamie’s Italian.

This award is the second major gong this year for Prezzo, as they triumphed at the MIDAS restaurant awards in March, winning the competitive ‘Casual Dining’ category.

Prezzo
Website: www.prezzorestaurants.co.uk
Twitter: www.twitter.com/#!/love_prezzo
Facebook: www.facebook.com/loveprezzo

BASTILLE DAY AT THE ORRERY
On the 14th of July, Orrery restaurant in Marylebone is offering the ultimate foodie experience to mark the traditional French holiday of Bastille Day. A Michelin caliber set menu of three celebratory courses, specially designed by Head Chef Ihor Tymchyshyn for the evening, will be offered, priced at £48. Located on the first floor of a converted stable block in London’s exclusive hotspot Marylebone, Orrery offers joyous French cuisine, a notable wine cellar and a widely adored cheese trolley encompassed in a light, sophisticated and atmospheric setting. Since its opening in 1997, the precision and passion for excellence applied at the Orrery by all staff ensures every meal becomes a memorable occasion.
www.orrery-restaurant.co.uk

BASTILLE DAY AT LONDON’S OLDEST FRENCH RESTAURANT
Mon Plaisir, 21 Monmouth Street, London WC2H 9DD (Tel: 020 7836 7243), is London’s oldest French restaurant and has been a purveyor of the finest French cuisine for over half a century. In 1942 Charles de Gaulle dined at Mon Plaisir, and for generations this family-run institution has been serving authentic French cuisine. The classical and Parisian menus encompass the staples of Gallic gastronomy and this 14th July is no exception offering diners three courses with an aperitif and live accordionist for £28.50 (including VAT but excluding service) from 7pm. Mon Plaisir also boasts an excellent French wine list, offering something to suit every pocket. www.monplaisir.co.uk

BASTILLE DAY AT QUAGLINO’S, ONE OF LONDON’S MOST ICONIC AND TIMELESS RESTAURANTS
To mark the celebration of Bastille Day on 14th July, Quaglino’s will be hosting a wine and cheese pairing evening in partnership with local artisan cheesemonger and fellow local business Paxton & Whitfield. Hosted by Head Sommelier, Alexis Meszoly and a cheese expert from Quaglino’s official cheesemonger, the evening will be dedicated to an irresistible selection French cheeses which will be carefully matched to Alexis’ pick of the Quaglino’s wine list. The event is priced at £25.00 per person and includes the opportunity for guests to take advantage of a 10% off their restaurant bill offer if they choose to dine in the restaurant that evening.
www.quaglinos-restaurant.co.uk

CELEBRATE FRANCE’S NATIONAL DAY AT BRASSERIE JOEL
If you are looking for authentic French cuisine to celebrate Bastille Day this July, then why not try Brasserie Joël at Park Plaza Westminster Bridge London. Renowned chef Joël Antunes has created a masterful menu featuring favourite dishes from his native France including foie gras terrine, traditional coq au vin and beef bourguignon. Brasserie Joël is located in the heart of London only a short stroll from Big Ben, the London Eye and other popular attractions. It is open for lunch and dinner.
www.brasseriejoel.co.uk

DINE OUT THIS SUMMER AS RIESLING WEEK COMES TO TOWN!
The UK has seen wine trends come and go in the last 20 years – Australian Chardonnay was all the rage in the Nineties while in the last ten years, Italian Pinot Grigio and New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc have captured the collective imagination of the nation’s taste-buds. Many in the wine trade believe that German Riesling is set to be the next big thing to hit the UK’s wine scene, thanks to its tendency to be lower in alcohol and its food friendliness. It seems they may be onto something – sales of German wines costing over five pounds went through the roof last year, up by an impressive 72 percent.[1] <#_ftn1> So what’s all the fuss about?

This summer, you can find out for yourself as ‘Riesling Week’ comes to the UK for the first time from 23rd to 31st July. Enjoy a bottle of German Riesling with friends in the summer sunshine as some of the UK’s top restaurants, including Lutyens, Yauatcha, Home House, The Ledbury, The Vineyard at Stockcross and Hotel du Vin Winchester will be offering German Riesling promotions, including special discounts and tastings in store, giving you the opportunity to discover a wide range of German Rieslings and find the style that suits your tastes best.

Top independent wine merchants from around the UK - including Avery’s in Bristol, Corks Out in Cheshire and Ex-cellar in London - will also be taking part in Riesling Week, so if you want to learn more about German Riesling and find a great bottle to enjoy at home, then put the dates in your diary and get down to your nearest participating wine merchant! Full details of restaurants and independent merchants taking part can be found on Wines of Germany’s website, www.winesofgermany.co.uk/events or on the Wines of Germany Facebook page.

Known for its incredible versatility and unrivaled quality, German Riesling is beloved by sommeliers across the world for its ability to pair with almost any food, including those that are not traditionally easy to match with wine, such as curries and sushi. With styles ranging from dry, crisp and fresh, to luscious, ripe and honeyed, there’s a German Riesling for everyone and you’ll have no difficulty finding a style to match all foods, from spicy Thai dishes to rich French cuisine.

With so many different styles available, get in the know and discover for yourself the incredibly versatile nature of delicious German Riesling!

http://www.drinkaware.co.uk/

JULY EVENTS IN SOUTH-EAST ENGLAND

From Mediterranean cuisine to family fun days, here are some of the options for days out in the South East this month….

For couples

MedFest – A Taste of the Mediterranean in West Sussex
West Dean Gardens, Near Chichester
Saturday 9 & Sunday 10 July
The Mediterranean covers 21 countries across three continents and with three distinct culinary palettes and a plethora of music and dance traditions. MedFest will capture the diversity and richness of the region’s cultural and gastronomic traditions, this year paying particular attention to Spain and Lebanon. Flamenco dance performances, singers and musicians, culinary demonstrations and a vast selection of stallholders and food products make this a true taste of the Med!

Entry: £10 adults or £8.50 online in advance.
Tel: 01243 818 210
www.westdean.org.uk/events

The Castle Proms
Rochester Castle Gardens, Kent
Saturday 16 July
One of the highlights of the summer in Medway, the Castle Proms provides the grand finale to this year’s Rochester Castle Concerts. The Royal Philharmonic Proms Orchestra will perform a selection of classical favourites, culminating in a spectacular fireworks display. Highlights of this year's programme will include Tchaikovsky's thundering 1812 Overture, the ever-popular Nessun Dorma, and excerpts from Bizet's passionate opera Carmen.

Tickets: £29.50.
Tel: 01634 338338
www.medway.gov.uk

Art in Action in Oxfordshire
Waterperry Gardens, Nr. Wheatley
Thursday 21 July - Sunday 24 July
Every July over 4 days, 25,000 visitors flock to see over 400 artists, craftsmen, performers, musicians, teachers and lecturers come together in the grounds of Waterperry House, Oxfordshire to demonstrate their skills and love of art. Visitors can observe artists creating sculpture, jewellery, textiles, ceramics and more. They can listen to live music, watch performing arts from around the world, hear lecturers expound on their chosen subject and learn from the teachers in the hugely popular practical classes.

Tickets: Adults £15, Senior citizens £12, Concessions £8, Child (9-17 years) £5, Under-9s Free
Tel: 020 7381 3192
www.waterperrygardens.co.uk

Rhythm Tree Festival
Isle of Wight
22-24 July
Proving that the Isle of Wight really does have something for all musical tastes, Rhythm Tree Festival welcomes an eclectic mix of other worldly sounds, including afro-beat, bhangra, reggae, world fusion and hip hop. Taking place in a rural setting near Calbourne, festivalgoers will be treated to a range of music at this small quirky event, from didgeridoo and samba percussionists to human beat-boxers and Native American flutists. A one-day ticket for Saturday 23 or Sunday 24 costs £25 per person and four people can get there by car using a Wightlink Super Saver fare, priced from £38 (£9.50pp). Weekend camping tickets are also available.
Tel: 0871 376 1000
www.wightlink.co.uk

For families

Carnival season kicks off on the Isle of Wight
Newport, Isle of Wight
Saturday 23 July
The Isle of Wight really is Carnival-crazy! There are on average 15 each summer and this year’s season kicks off in the town of Newport on 23 July - followed by Sandown one week later.
www.visitwight.co.uk

Betfair Weekend Family Fun Day
Ascot Racecourse, Berkshire
Sunday 24 July
Family fun is definitely what you’ll get at Ascot on Sunday 24th July. Peppa Pig & George will be storytelling around the Bandstand, Fireman Sam will bringing his fireman friends on a real fire engine, Scooby Doo and Ben & Holly from their Little Kingdom will all be here to say hello! To top it all off, there will be some spectacular racing action on the track.

Tickets from £17. Generous group discounts available and free entry for under 18s.
Tel: 0870 727 1234
www.ascot.co.uk

Please Note: ?All information is supplied to us by the individual organizations, or agencies acting on their behalf. The views and opinions expressed by the individual companies, agencies and other contributors are theirs alone and do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of Hot Brands Cool Places. Inclusion in a news item does not imply endorsement by Hot Brands Cool Places. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure that all information is accurate, it may be subject to change. Please check with individual organizations for the latest information about all events, products, promotions, or news items. Recipes have not been tested by Hot Brands Cool Places. Hot Brands Cool Places does not accept responsibility for the content of any external site.