SELFRIDGES CELEBRATES 100 YEARS WITH THE ‘BIG YELLOW FESTIVAL’

1st – 31st May 2009

• Big Yellow Festival to take place throughout May in celebration of Selfridges 100th birthday
• Giles Deacon and Henry Holland confirmed to DJ
• Live performances from VV Brown, Frank Musik and Patrick Wolf
• Fashion, music, vogueing workshops and gay bingo lined up to entertain shoppers

London is preparing to buzz as Selfridges today announced details of the Big Yellow Festival, a huge in-store centenary birthday celebration marking 100 years of trading, taking place throughout May. This lively festival will see London painted Selfridges yellow with beauty makeovers, fashion shows and live performances from some of the biggest names in music and cabaret.

Big Yellow Festival Fridays are all about music and the stellar line up kicks off on Friday 1st May with a performance from singer-songwriter Patrick Wolf, who will appear on Selfridges’ Yellow Café stage on the Lower Ground Floor. He’ll be supported by Selfridges’ very own in-store master of the decks, DJ Yellow. On the Fridays that follow, Appaloosa, Ebony Bones, Frank Musik and retro punk indie songstrel VV Brown will all set Oxford St on fire with performances from 6pm.

On Saturdays, Selfridges turns the focus to fashion. Models will glide up and down the escalators from the 2nd floors showing the latest looks from the Men’s and Women’s collections chosen by fashion guru Lulu Kennedy. They’ll be accompanied by star designers and DJs Giles Deacon, Henry Holland, PPQ and Nova Dando who will showcase their mixing skills to perform bespoke DJ sets, spinning the sounds for the models as they strut their stuff.

Keeping everything rolling along with their seven smiles will be the Selfridgettes, a celebrity septet troupe of ladies led by ‘Mr Gordon Selfridge’ himself. Clad in beautiful Giles Deacon dresses designed exclusively for Selfridges, they will roam the store, eat, drink and take tea and entertain guests and shoppers with their 1909 sensibilities – with a 21st century twist.

And if that’s not enough tantalising activity to tickle you, there will be even more entertainment to choose from including the inimitable Jonny Woo who will be teaching the Art of Vogueing from 6.30pm on Thursdays, before leading participants to demonstrate their new moves to other shoppers on the store’s escalators. Jonny will also co-host raucous sessions of Gay Bingo during Friday lunchtimes with Ma Butcher in the Yellow Café, with proceeds going to charity (Nb. strictly for over 18’s only).

The festival will continue to sizzle every Sunday, as cabaret acts including Boogaloo Stu and Miss High Leg Kick, The So & So Circus and Le Gateau Chocolat entertain shoppers from 2pm-5pm.

Alongside the music and fashion activities, there will also be an exhibition celebrating 100 years of shopping at Selfridges in the Ultralounge on the Lower Ground Floor. The show will be open to the public until 31st August and will highlight some of the most fascinating events in Selfridges history.

And finally, for all the beauty buffs… Each Thursday from 6pm until 9pm shoppers will be able to see very special beauty appearances from guests in-store, have a brilliant makeover, get scouted by Storm Models and watch the Selfridges ‘Trolley Dollies’ entertain alongside live DJs in store every week.

For further information on the Big Yellow Festival and to find out dates/timings for any of the events go to www.selfridges100.com

LESLEY WATERS SWEETENS UP 11TH ANNUAL NATIONAL HONEY WEEK 4th to 10th May 2009
The Honey Association has announced that it will celebrate National Honey Week this year with the help of celebrity chef Lesley Waters, who will be encouraging families to get together and have fun cooking with honey over the May bank holiday.

Now entering its eleventh year, National Honey Week is one of the UK’s sweetest celebrations, and will run from 4th to 10th May 2009. Lesley Waters, loved for her infectious enthusiasm and down-to-earth cooking style, will support and launch Little Honey Chefs, a free family cookery guide packed full of delicious honey-based recipes, basic cooking tips and fun activities. Little Honey Chefs aims to inspire adults and children to spend time cooking together this spring.

Naturally sweet and endlessly versatile, honey is a fantastic cooking ingredient and a great way of getting kids buzzing in the kitchen. Lesley, who is a huge fan of using honey as an ingredient in her own cooking, will highlight how easy it is for children to learn important basic cooking skills that will set them on the path to becoming budding little honey chefs.

Little Honey Chefs will be available during National Honey Week (4 May – 10 May 2009) from the Honey Association. Consumers can download a copy for free from: www.honeyassociation.com

Can’t wait until then? Check out the Honey Association’s top tips when cooking with honey:
1. Remember honey is much sweeter than table sugar! Substitute 100g of sugar for about 90ml honey. You should also subtract about 50ml of liquid from a recipe for every 125ml honey used.
2. Take a tip from grandma and run a spoon under a hot tap for stress-free honey drizzling.
3. Don’t be afraid to experiment with set honey. Thick honey is delicious combined with cinnamon and poured over natural yoghurt and fresh fruit. Set honey can be softened simply by standing it in warm water for an hour or so.
4. Honey is a fantastic base ingredient for marinades, sauces and glazes, giving a naturally sweet edge to hundreds of sweet and savoury dishes.
5. Try mixing honey and mustard together and brushing over chicken. Grill until golden brown and enjoy! Simple and delicious.
6. Remember, slightly reduce the temperature of your oven when cooking with honey, it crisps and browns much faster than sugar.

HONEY – THE PERFECT NATURAL BEAUTY PRODUCT
Soothe, soften and condition your lips with pure English honey and beeswax lip balms, made by Apples & Pears Apiaries (www.apples-and-pears.com)
Based in the beautiful countryside of the English Cotswolds, with their home apiary in an old fruit orchard, Apples & Pears Apiaries is a small beekeeping business dedicated to making the very best natural and organic skincare products from the oldest beauty treatments in history – beeswax and honey.

Apples & Pears Apiaries add only natural and organic ingredients to their beeswax and honey. Their first product range - three types of lip balm - contain no petroleum-based products, no parabens, no synthetic dyes, no flavourings and no artificial fragrances.

These naturally nourishing, protective and healing lip balms are perfect for all skin types. They are made with first quality ‘cappings’ wax, the wax that the bees use as a final capping to seal the honeycomb. The wax is slowly warmed and filtered so as not to destroy the inherent beneficial properties, and then combined with healing honey and organic cold-pressed plant oils, butters and herb extracts to make the ultimate lip treatment.
The ingredients are so natural you could eat them:-

Wild Rose Lip Balm – for daily protection
A nourishing blend of sweet yellow beeswax, cold-pressed organic rosehip seed oil, and oil of Rosa damascena. Infused with the healing plant alkannet to give a subtle pink tint, this balm is rich and moisturising and gives lips a warm gloss.

Calendula Lip Balm – for dry sore lips
A soothing blend of sweet yellow beeswax, organic calendula infused oil and sea buckthorn oil, to heal and protect dry lips. Essential oils of citrus fruit fight infection and give this balm a zesty flavour.

Beeswax Lip Balm – for sensitive lips
A gentle blend of sweet yellow beeswax, pure English honey and cold–pressed organic plant oils and butters. Our simplest balm, it can be used to moisturise dry areas anywhere and is the best choice for delicate lips.

We have sampled the Wild Rose and Calendula Lip Balms here at Hot Brands and they are very gentle and natural and the little pots are a wonderful size for your handbag.

Stockists for Apples & Pears Apiaries: The lip balms can currently be purchased
In London from Fortnum & Mason, Daylesford Organic and Austique
In Canada from Pistachio in Toronto (www.epistachio.com)
Online from www.lovelula.com

The RRP is £9.25.
To see the full stockist list and find out more about the company, please visit the website:
www.apples-and-pears.com

TANTALISE YOUR TASTE BUDS WITH ROWSE FRUIT & HONEY CONSERVES
The UK’s leading sweet spreads brand, Rowse Honey, unveiled a range of Fruit & Honey Conserves, earlier this year which offer the delights of real fruit jam with all the goodness of pure and natural honey.

Food lovers are spoilt for choice with a tantalising mix of light, refreshing Raspberry, intense Blackcurrant and mouth-watering Strawberry combined with a mild, sweet honey back note; perfect for those who love jam but are looking for a more pronounced fruit flavour which is not overpowered by a sugary sweetness found in most conserves.

With the delicious taste of luscious, real fruit conserve complemented with subtle tones of honey, Rowse Fruit & Honey Conserves are the perfect accompaniment on hot buttered toast, warm porridge, afternoon scones or cheesecakes. It’s even good enough to eat straight from the jar!

Fiona Hunter, Food Writer, comments: “This is a classic combination that will remain a favourite on the breakfast table for years to come. The inspired addition of honey to conserve evokes a wonderful, natural sweetness that enhances delicious chunks of real fruit that sugar often overpowers. A real must for jam lovers out there.”

Rowse Fruit & Honey Conserves not only taste delicious, but also have 30% fewer calories per serving than other conserves made with sugar.

Hayley Marson, Rowse Honey Nutritionist, comments: “We live in an increasingly health conscious society where we are seeing honey gain popularity as a pure natural food and a substitute for sugar. Rowse Honey’s real Fruit & Honey Conserves mean that consumers do not have to compromise on the small pleasures in life, enjoying the delights of a conserve but sweetened with all the natural goodness of honey.”

We have sampled these conserves here at Hot Brands and we agree they are delicious, perfect for any time of day. They have become a firm favourite with us.

Rowse Fruit & Honey Conserves are a welcome addition to an already diverse portfolio, which includes the brand-leading range of Rowse honeys, new luxury chocolate and hazelnut spread with honey, pure maple syrup, luxury dessert sauces including Belgian chocolate truffle sauce and luxury lemon curd. The new Rowse Fruit & Honey Conserves have a suggested retail price of £2.49 and are available in Waitrose and Booths stores.

For more information on Rowse Honey products please visit www.rowsehoney.co.uk.

YOUR KING NEEDS YOU! BE ENGLAND’S MOST INFAMOUS KING FOR THE DAY AT THE BRITISH LIBRARY’S HENRY LOOK-ALIKE GATHERING
4th May is the British Library’s May Day Festival, where you’ll see Henrys everywhere. The Library is inviting everyone - man, woman and child - to come down to this free Spring event and dress up as the infamous King. All those participating will get free entry to the Henry VIII: Man and Monarch exhibition (ticket price normally £9) and for the best dressed King there will be £100 to spend in the British Library shop.

There will be the chance for everyone to try out child-friendly crossbows, see St George defeat the Dragon, dance round the May Pole, see Henry’s horse, listen to Tudor Tales and try your hand at trading in the time of Henry VIII. The Kings Guards will also perform drill and armour handling on the Piazza, along with demonstrations of Tudor sword fighting.

Henry look-alikes are asked to be at the Library for 11.30am, with the line up taking place at 12pm. For more details see www.bl.uk/henry.

GENEROUS SHOPPING & DINING OFFERS AT THE COVENT GARDEN SPRING SHOPPING WEEKENDS
For the first time ever, Covent Garden has collaborated with a host of independent and high street retailers in the area to launch The Covent Garden Spring Shopping Weekends, taking place in the Market Building and world famous Piazza, during the bank holidays this May (2nd -4th May & 23rd -25th May).

With 15% off at the UK’s only Original Penguin store, 20% off at boutique jeweller Kabiri and 15% off Nicole Farhi’s ‘Farhi’ range*, Covent Garden has unmissable offers for Londoners and visitors alike, from the best in fashion, beauty, entertainment and dining.

Shoppers can also pick up exclusive gifts with purchase from Crabtree & Evelyn, Quiksilver, East and Lush*. To recharge the batteries, there is a variety of dining offers and discounts available from Covent Garden’s wide selection of restaurants and cafés, including Chez Gerard, Candy Cakes and Crème de la Crepe.

There is a wealth of family-friendly entertainment, from balloon modellers to face painters to the world-renowned street performers, to entertain the kids. Covent Garden is even giving shoppers the chance to win one of two fantastic holidays to Florida*! With something on offer for the whole family, in one of London’s most unique destinations, there is every reason to head to Covent Garden’s Piazza this May.

For a full list of offers and discounts please visit: www.coventgardenlondonuk.com

NIVEA’S GREAT GOODY BAG GIVEAWAY AT CANCER RESEARCH UK’S RACE FOR LIFE 2009
This year, to celebrate its partnership with Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life 2009, the UK’s largest women only fundraising event, NIVEA® is giving away a mountain of goody bags - 680,000 to be precise – one for every woman who they hope will take part and raise £60 million to help beat cancer.

The hunky NIVEA male cheerleaders, who will be performing at selected Cancer Research UK Race for Life events across the country, have been busy filling the bags with special beauty treats. And for some lucky ladies there’s an extra special surprise too as the cheerleaders have slipped ‘golden stars’ into a number of the goody bags. Ladies who find the stars will win a ‘pamper hamper’ packed with NIVEA products. Every goody bag also has a unique code which women can enter on the NIVEA website to find out if they have won one of a number of other prizes to make their lives more beautiful.

A spokesperson, from NIVEA comments: “NIVEA is giving away a mountain of goody bags to thank all those women who are making lives more beautiful for others by walking, jogging or running in one of the 5k events to raise money for Cancer Research UK’s life saving work.

“And it’s not just the goody bags we are giving away, we have also launched our 2009 Inner Beauty Awards to recognise people who make life more beautiful for others - with regional winners scooping £250 and one overall national winner being awarded an extra prize such as a TopShop VIP day, an overnight stay in a luxury spa or a delicious food hamper. So if you know someone special who you think deserves a treat then why not nominate them.” (See website for full T+C’s)

For more information on making life more beautiful for Cancer Research UK Race for Life 2009 or to nominate someone for a NIVEA Inner Beauty Award visit www.NIVEA.co.uk/raceforlife.

“BLOOMING MARVELLOUS” CHELSEA FLOWER SHOW OFFER: ST. JAMES’S HOTEL & CLUB

The annual extravaganza that is the Chelsea Flower Show runs this year from 19th – 23rd May 2009. St. James’s Hotel & Club has been fortunate enough to secure a number of those hard-to-get all day tickets for Friday 22nd May, and is offering a pair of tickets to all guests booking an overnight stay in either a terrace or balcony room on Thursday 21st or Friday 22nd May.

With the coolest hotel terraces in London boasting weeping views across London, St James’s is the ideal place to welcome the spring and enjoy the outdoors. The larger of the terrace suites even features designs by Chelsea Gold Medal winner, Philip Nixon.

The "Blooming Marvellous" package at St. James’s starts from £435 per room, per night for a balcony room and includes all day tickets for the Chelsea Flower Show on Friday 22nd May, sumptuous accommodation and English Breakfast for two

Ticket availability is limited so early booking is recommended.

For more information or to book please call the hotel on: 0207 316 1600
www.stjameshotelandclub.com

MANCHESTER RAMADA SALFORD QUAYS AWARDED 4 STAR STATUS BY VISIT BRITAIN
VisitBritain, the UK’s only official tourism agency, has awarded the Manchester Ramada Salford Quays hotel a much-coveted 4 star status after a recent visit to The Quays in Greater Manchester.

The hotel, celebrating its first anniversary in May, impressed the Inspectors with its cleanliness and outstanding facilities placing it at the forefront of accommodation and conferencing offerings within Greater Manchester.

Located at the heart of The Quays, Ramada Manchester Salford Quays is increasingly popular with both tourists and the business community.

Paul Gallon, General Manager of the hotel comments: “In less than a year we have successfully set out our stall in what is a highly competitive market.

“Four star status shows that we mean business and think very highly of our customers. We welcome our new status and regard it as the ideal way to round off a fantastic first year for the team at the hotel.”

VisitBritain is the organisation created on 1st April 2003 to market Britain to the rest of the world and England to the British. Formed by the merger of the British Tourist Authority and the English Tourism Council, its mission is to build the value of tourism by creating world-class destination brands and marketing campaigns. VisitBritain develops the accommodation schemes, sets the standards, champions the ratings and promotes only quality-assessed accommodation in the enjoyEngland campaigns and all VisitBritain international marketing activities.

Offering 142 rooms and excellent conferencing facilities Manchester Ramada Salford Quays is located at the heart of The Quays and only ten minutes from Manchester city centre by tram.

For more information visit www.ramadasalfordquays.com.

THE SAINT ANNOUNCES GRAND OPENING IN EDINBURGH
The award winning creators and owners of Edinburgh’s Bramble Bar & Lounge, Mike Aikman and Jason Scott, have announced the opening of their eagerly anticipated latest venture. The Saint opens its doors today in St. Stephen Street, in the trendy Stockbridge area of Edinburgh.

Looking to fill a void in the local dining scene, The Saint embodies a unique, atmosphere offering a number of different wines by the glass on any given night, served in a quirky yet elegant environment. The bar’s selection goes on to offer a wide selection of speciality selected beers from across the globe, along with an impressive selection of whiskies. The Saint looks set to be the latest New Town’s latest hot spot for both connoisseurs and novices alike.

The wine selection is accompanied by a tempting selection of locally produced British dishes created by up and coming head chef, Ryan Turner. The signature steak and ale crumble can be enjoyed the refreshingly relaxed atmosphere that is provided by the eclectic mix of classic and contemporary interior. The restaurant mixes the classical Georgian architecture of the building with bars quirky sheep skin covered whisky barrels.

Mike and Jason said: “We are really excited about the opening of The Saint. We’re bringing the same ethos as we did with Bramble Bar, with a selection of great products both in the bar and in the food on the table. We want to bring you your traditional pub with a twist.”

With the best of British food, a lavish selection of drinks and a casual ambience, The Saint offers a much welcomed addition to the cosmopolitan Stockbridge scene which will no doubt brighten up the summer months for many Edinburgh residents.

www.thesaintedinburgh.co.uk

UK IN POLE POSITION FOR DESIGN COMPETITION
The UK is faring well in an amateur design competition compared to other European countries. Dunop Motorsport is asking talented creative types to come up with a new livery for the Ferrari F430GT that will take to the Le Mans track next month. The same car that won the race last year and the year before.
There's only a short time to go in the competition and we'd would like a British design to win - and it's a great prize for any motorsport enthusiast - a trip to Le Mans to see the livery unveiled and to watch the race.

We'd like to encourage even more UK entries. A hi res image of the car in its current livery is available and the spokesperson from Dunlop available for interview. Competition details are at www.driversknow.co.uk

SOUTH WEST IS THE HUB OF GREEN TECHNOLOGY AT HOMES FOR GOOD!
Buzzing, relaxed and inspirational! These were just a few of the positive comments from visitors and exhibitors at this years Homes for Good Exhibition at Westpoint, Exeter on 17th and 18th April. This annual sustainable building, home and garden event was organised by Ecos Trust and was the largest to date with over 100 exhibitors and thousands of visitors from across the South West.

Charles Cozens, Director of Ecos Trust says “This event has helped put the South West on the map as a hub of green technology. Some of our exhibitors have been with Homes for Good since we launched the exhibition and it has been rewarding to see them grow. It provides an opportunity for regional networking and knowledge transfer without the need to travel to London. The event is particularly relevant in light of the recent budget announcing a £1 billion investment for renewables.”

The Homes for Good Exhibition was established six years ago by the charity, Ecos Trust to enable South West Businesses to promote sustainable products and services to the mainstream building industry. The show has grown year on year and the larger venue at Westpoint Arena was chosen to reflect the exhibition’s growing popularity.

Exhibitors experienced a good level of enquiries both days from visitors who were genuinely interested in reducing their environmental impact whatever the size of their project or budget. Visitors included planners, architects, developers, building professionals, installers, local authority, self-builders, housing associations and homeowners.
Visitors were able to talk to experts about a range of topics such as renewable energy, sustainable building materials/furniture, architecture, development projects and Transition Towns. The main sponsors Devon County Council, Energy Saving Trust and Forestry Commission were also on hand to give advice.

The main feature of the exhibition was a central Garden and seating area boasting over 30 tall trees in blossom supplied by Chew Valley Trees and designed by landscape gardeners Dana Assinder and Lulu Urquhart and Adam Hunt.

“We are really grateful for the support shown by our sponsors and supporters this year. They have provided a vital contribution to Homes for Good 2009 enabling us to promote innovative South West businesses to mainstream building professionals and informing the general public” commented Corina Reay, Event Organiser.

As well as the two-day exhibition open to all with an interest in sustainable building, Ecos Trust also hosted a well-attended evening networking event for exhibitors sponsored by RegenSW and Clipper Estates

FINALLY we have received the following information from Dettol about Swine Flu, as this is a situation which is changing daily we also recommend watching daily media reports, or visiting the Department of Health website.

HELP PREVENT THE SPREAD OF VIRAL INFECTIONS BY ADOPTING GOOD HYGIENE PRACTICE
Viral infections, such as influenza, are usually spread through droplets in the air, from coughs and sneezes, for example. These can either be inhaled directly during close contact or they can land on hands or surfaces, and then be picked up and passed on.
In all types of influenza, good hygiene practice is something individuals can do themselves to help prevent the spread of infection and help protect their home and family.
Recommended good hygiene practice includes:

- regular and thorough hand washing
- using a hand sanitizer when soap and water are not available
- frequent cleaning and disinfection of hand-contact surfaces such as
door handles, toilet flushes, telephones and taps.
- sneezing or coughing into the crook of the arm (not into the hand)
- bagging and binning used tissues

Dettol Disinfectant Spray, Dettol Antibacterial Surface Cleanser Spray and Wipes, when used according to instructions, are effective against a range of micro-organisms, including the Influenza virus H1N1, a variant of which has been identified in the case of the current Swine flu outbreak.

Anyone who is concerned that they may have come in contact with infection and needs advice should call NHS Direct on 0845 4647 (in Scotland: NHS24 on 0845 424242) or contact their GP.

Visit Dettol website for further information at:
http://www.dettol.co.uk/home.shtml

Visit Department of Health for more information
http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/index.htm

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