Showing posts with label Family Friendly. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Family Friendly. Show all posts

Wednesday 5 September 2018

Our Summer Holiday Visit to Puxton Park, Somerset - A Review

One of our favourite places to visit in Somerset is the wonderful Puxton Park. We have been fortunate enough to have visited this family friendly attraction twice previously, however these visits have always been in the Autumn months and so my children were eager to return in the Summer sunshine.

Since our last visit there have also been a number of new additions to the park which include a High Ropes Course and a Wallace & Gromit sculpture installation. The Puxton High Ropes course was new for the Spring 2018 season and offers a 20ft high, thrilling challenge that both children and adults can enjoy.

As mentioned in my previous reviews, Puxton Park is described as "The Ultimate Fun-Filled Experience for the Whole Family" and they're not wrong. With activities to entertain all ages, the Puxton Park attraction has clearly taken careful consideration into what families look for in a day out and have worked hard to provide an enjoyable experience for everyone.

It is easily accessible from junction 21 of the M5 and well signposted from the motorway. There is also a large sign located at the main entrance which makes the attraction easy to spot whilst driving. We made our way along the driveway to the car park and my children began to get very excited as they remembered all the activities that were available.

As we approached the main reception area we saw this wonderful statue, that had been sponsored by Puxton Park for the 2018 Gromit Unleashed 2 Arts Trail. The purpose of the sculpture was to raise money for Bristol Children's Hospital and the Special Care Baby Unit at St Michael's Hospital.

It was great to see Puxton Park supporting such a worthy cause and my children thought that the Merry-Go Gromit was superb!


We had arrived shortly after opening time and it was a beautiful sunny day, so my children asked if we could head straight over to the Bumper Boats to beat the queue. This activity is great fun and allows you to travel around a water filled pool, in a circular bumper boat, with a water gun located on the front. This means that you can fire water at other guests, which everyone seemed to find hilarious! Emma and Ben enjoyed shooting the water at one another and came off the ride absolutely soaked. Fortunately the sunny weather soon dried them off and they spent half an hour on the nearby park before we made our way towards the High Ropes course.


We had visited Puxton Park expecting to pay at least another £5 each in order to enjoy the high ropes course, so we were extremely surprised to learn that this was INCLUDED in the entry price. We couldn't quite believe that there was no additional charge, considering that there must have been quite a large investment required to create such an exciting facility. Safety harnesses are provided and fitted by staff and you are shown how to use the equipment prior to accessing the course.


For safety reasons you must be wearing fully enclosed shoes, so this is something that you need to bear in mind before visiting and in order to avoid any disappointment. Unfortunately guests wearing crocs, flip flops, open toe shoes or similar will not be allowed to participate, so make sure you are dressed appropriately before attending.

The Puxton High Ropes course has been described as being one of the most exciting and challenging courses in the West of England, so we couldn't wait to put it to the test. Standing at over 25 feet tall, it features a wide range of fun and challenging elements including a rolling log, wave tunnel and walk the plank, that will certainly put your nerves to the test as you step out over the miniature railway track.

You need to measure above 1 metre in height to participate, but for toddlers or children under this height, there is the great addition of a Sky Tykes Junior ropes course. This is designed for children aged two to seven and is a miniature ropes course packed full of fun, to ensure that even the youngest of guests can enjoy the activity too. We thought this was a wonderful idea and felt that both courses were well constructed and felt really safe.


Like our previous visits, my parents had come along with us for the day and they have always commended the parks layout as being very disabled friendly with easy access to the majority of the site. My dad walks with the aid of the stick so uneven surfaces can prove tricky for him at times, however the paths around the park are smooth and level with plenty of benches available to have a rest if needed. There was some seating nearby the high ropes so they sat and enjoyed some drinks together whilst we climbed high on this new thrill-seeking activity.

My son Ben usually has a fear of heights, but after watching Emma, he plucked up the courage to give it a go and attempted all elements of the course apart from the rolling log. Admittedly none of us quite managed that one!


After the excitement of the high ropes, we had worked up a bit of an appetite. As we were visiting on a Sunday, we decided to enjoy the carvery together in the restaurant. I had booked a table a couple of days earlier and so we made our way over at lunchtime. The food was absolutely delicious and really well priced too. We all enjoyed our meals including the children, with two out of three managing to clear their plates completely! It was certainly one of the nicest Sunday Lunches that we have had in a while.

Once we had let our lunch settle, the children wanted to try Water Zorbing. Again this was included in the price, which makes the entry cost seem such excellent value for money, given the amount of activities you can participate in. We have visited other attractions before where you have had to pay £5 each to enjoy something like this, so again we were shocked at no additional payment being required.

Both Emma and Ben had a few minutes each inside the balls and certainly burnt off a lot of energy, trying to stay upright!


The remainder of our day was spent enjoying some of the children's favourite activities from our previous visits. Riley has always loved the Puxton Miniature Railway and also likes seeing all the farm animals in the barn. Ben and Emma on the other hand absolutely love the indoor play area and could literally spend hours going down the drop slides. They are definitely braver than me!

Overall we had a wonderful visit to Puxton Park and it has firmly become one of our favourite family friendly attractions in the UK. There is something for everyone to enjoy and I believe that the entry price offers superb value for money. The Puxton High Ropes course is a superb addition to the site and it is great to see that investments are being made that enhance the visitor experience.We will definitely be returning in the future!

Attraction Details

Puxton Park, Cowslip Lane, Weston-Super-Mare, Somerset
Parking - Yes, there is plenty of free parking available.
Opening times - Daily from 9am til 5:30-pm Monday to Sunday (excl. 25th/26th December and 1st January).
Entry prices - Entrance costs vary, so please visit Ticket Prices to obtain the most up to date information.
Website - www.puxton.co.uk/
Twitter - @PuxtonPark
Facebook - Puxton Park


*Disclaimer - We received a complimentary family ticket to provide our honest opinion and review of the attraction. We purchased three additional tickets for our accompanying guests. All opinions and photographs are my own unless otherwise stated. Details provided are believed to be correct at the time of writing, but can be subject to change. Admission, prices and opening hours may differ from those stated. I would therefore always recommend visiting the attractions own website prior to visiting in order to obtain the most up to date information.

Sunday 29 April 2018

New Festival FamFest Brings Fantastic Family Fun to Warrington

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS EVENT HAS NOW BEEN CANCELLED

A fabulous new family-friendly festival is coming to Warrington this August.

FamFest Warrington, the brainchild of Wire FM founder Pete Pinnington, takes place at Orford Jubilee Park on Saturday and Sunday 11th-12th August and promises a weekend of amazing activities and events for all the family.

Tickets went on sale via www.famfestwarrington.co.uk at 9am on Friday 27th April, and there is a special early bird offer running for a limited time only.


The action-packed event runs from 11am to 10pm each day and will feature a host of fantastic activity zones, attractions and household names, including Mister Maker and The Basil Brush Show who will be on hand to entertain the little ones.

A packed programme on the main stage will feature top tribute acts playing homage to stars like Ariana Grande, Bruno Mars and Little Mix.

On Saturday 11th August the weekend will kick off in style with live performances throughout the day by tribute artists who will bring crowds all the hits from Will Smith, Madonna, Justin Timberlake, Ariana Grande, Britney Spears, Bruno Mars and Michael Jackson.

There will also be live shows and performances by Beauty & The Beast, The Minions, Mister Maker and Basil Brush, PLUS an extra special performance by Warringtonian - and winner of BBC's The Voice 2017 - Mo Jamil.

Sunday 12th August will include live performances on the big stage by tributes to Jesse J, Katy Perry, Jess Glynne, Taylor Swift, Kaiser Chiefs, The Killers, Lionel Richie, Coldplay, Little Mix, George Michael and Take That. Young festival-goers will also love the live shows and performances from Beauty & The Beast, The Minions and Basil Brush.

Visitors to FamFest Warrington will also be able to meet a vast range of characters throughout the two day festival including Darth Vader and Stormtroopers, Balthazar Bratz and The Minions, Beauty & The Beast, Ironman, Hulk, Mr T (A-Team), princesses and many more!

FamFest Warrington is a ticketed event. Along with regular ticket prices, there are also upgrade options to VIP, family VIP or weekend tickets.

Ticket entry will give visitors access to Sports Zone, Kids Zone and Circus Skills activities, the Basil Brush Show, a Kids Craft Zone with Disney's Art Attack present Lloyd Warbey, Character Zone and a Princesses Pamper Pavilion as well as the main stage tributes. Mister Maker and his live shows are also there, but only on the Saturday.

There will also be food and drink available to buy, including a fully licensed bar, and a VIP Marquee.

Founder Pete Pinnington said: "Since helping to launch Warrington's first commercial radio station, Wire FM, in 1998, I've always wanted to launch Warrington's first major family festival. And why not 20 years later?"

"My event management company Pete Pinnington Presents organises and supports numerous clients events across the UK. We also create and deliver many unique events for our shopping and town centre clients. These include family-friendly half term and summer themed events along with Christmas Light switch ons."

"My company and I have the infrastructure and excellent support team around us to ensure we deliver a truly memorable and enjoyable family festival for all ages to enjoy and Warrington to be proud of."

Listing Details

Event: FamFest Warrington
Venue: Orford Jubilee Park
Dates: Saturday 10th August & Sunday 11th August
Website: www.famfestwarrington.co.uk
Facebook: facebook/famfestwarrington
Twitter: @famfestevents

Ticket Prices

All Under 3's go free

Early Bird Offer - Monday 30th April to Friday 25th May

1 Day:

  • Child (3-15 years) - Half Price @ £12.50 (inc fees)
  • VIP Child (3-15 years) - £22.50 (inc fees) Can only be purchased with a family ticket.
  • Adult - £25.00 (inc fees) £5 saving off general release
  • VIP Adult -  £40.00 (inc fees) £10 saving off general release.
  • Family (2 adults & 2 children aged 3 -15)  - £60.00 (inc fees) £10 saving off general release
  • VIP Family (2 adults & 2 children aged 3 -15) - £90.00 (inc fees) £10 saving off general release
Weekend:

  • Child (3-15 years) - Half Price @ £20.00 (inc fees)
  • VIP Child (3-15 years) - £30.00 (inc fees) Can only be purchased with a family ticket.
  • Adult - £40.00 (inc fees) £10 saving off general release
  • VIP Adult -  £60.00 (inc fees) £10 saving off general release.
  • Family (2 adults & 2 children aged 3 -15)  - £90.00 (inc fees) £30 saving off general release
  • VIP Family (2 adults & 2 children aged 3 -15) - £120.00 (inc fees) £30 saving off general release
Disclaimer: Details provided are believed to be correct at time of writing, but are of course subject to change. I would therefore always recommend visiting the companies own website in order to obtain the most up to date information.



Sunday 22 April 2018

ComedySportz Celebrate 10 Years at Waterside Arts, Sale

ComedySportz are celebrating 10 years of competitive comedy shenanigans at the Waterside Arts Centre this month. The group, now in their 16th year, have performed regular monthly shows and are the longest running family friendly improv troupe in the North West.

For those who are yet to catch a ComedySportz show, each 'match' sees two teams go for gold with fully improvised gags, games, sketches and songs inspired by audience suggestions. It's a completely unpredictable night of good humoured fun that the whole family can enjoy, with a referee on hand to keep things moving and ensure a good clean game.


The group have now proved so popular at Sale that they've launched two brand new shows there in the last year. The first, ComedySportz 4 Tots is an hour long show that promises plenty of big laughs for little kids, with a silly story, songs and games as well as plenty of interactivity for young ones. The show has proven to be very popular, introducing kids under 6 to comedy and performance. The group then launched their improvised Pantomime in December 2017 which proved yet again to be incredibly popular. "We've earned the audience's trust to try new shows and formats and we're delighted that they've come along with us," says ComedySportz Manchester founder and performer Brainne Edge.

"We've performed shows across the UK and are regular faces at the Edinburgh Fringe. Last year we performed for Prince Edward and his family so we're not just a family friendly comedy show - we're a Royal Family Friendly comedy show!" adds Brainne. "The Waterside has been our home now for 10 years and the audience's are just fabulous with brilliant suggestions and audience volunteers."

"It's a great night and that rare family show that the whole family can enjoy" added ComedySportz player Sean Mason. "No two shows are ever the same and as we never know what suggestions the audience have in store for us, the only thing we know is going to happen is that everyone is going to have a great night out!"

To celebrate 10 years at Waterside, the group have also launched a competition asking fans under 16 years old to design their next flyer. Information on how to enter can be found on the ComedySportz website and the winner will receive a framed copy of their design, along with 4 tickets for a future show and a selection of ComedySportz merchandise. The deadline for entries is 5th May 2018 and further information can be found here: www.comedysportz.co.uk/10-years-at-waterside/

Listing Details

Event: ComedySportz 4 Tots
Venue: Waterside, 1 Waterside Plaza, Sale, Trafford, M33 7ZF
Date: 28th April 2018
Time: 3pm
Duration: 1 hour
Price: £5/£3

Event: ComedySportz
Venue: Waterside, 1 Waterside Plaza, Sale, Trafford, M33 7ZF
Date: 28th April 2018
Time: 6:30pm
Duration: 2 hours
Price: £7/£5

Tickets can be purchased online at www.watersidearts.org or via the Waterside box office on 0161 912 5616.

You can find out more about ComedySportz shows and workshops at www.comedysportz.co.uk or visit their social media channels which are:

Twitter - @comedysportz_uk
Facebook - cszmanchesteruk

*Disclaimer: Details provided are correct at the time of writing, but would always recommend visiting the companies own website, in order to obtain the most up to date information.


Thursday 5 April 2018

Our Visit to The Ice Cream Farm in Tattenhall, Cheshire

The Ice Cream Farm is an award winning attraction, based in Tattenhall, Cheshire. It is extremely family friendly and offers numerous activities for all ages to enjoy. There is plenty of fun to be had both indoors and out, making it the perfect place to visit in all weathers and of course there is an amazing range of ice cream flavours to choose from in the purpose built Ice Cream Parlour. My family and I decided to visit over the bank holiday weekend and explore exactly what was on offer.


Pre-Visit

The day before visiting The Ice Cream Farm, I spent some time on their website to do some research on the attraction and find out exactly what was available for children to enjoy. I found the site to be very well designed and user friendly, with easy navigation menus, clear pictures and ample information provided. We had visited briefly a year earlier for Mother's Day, but this had been a last minute decision with no pre-planning and we only had an hour available before my son was due at a birthday party later that afternoon, so we didn't get the chance to experience everything or take a good look around. I therefore wanted to make sure that I had all the facts this time including opening hours, activity costs and also a little bit of history about the attraction.

Whilst exploring the site, I came across the Book Your Play section, which is a really clever and simple idea. Basically this page allows you to pre-book a time slot for some of the most popular activities at the attraction, to ensure that your child can have a turn and avoid any disappointment. You still pay for the activity on the day, so there is no payment required upfront to pre-book your slot and it is as simple as selecting a time and entering a few details.  You then receive email confirmation of your reservations shortly after. I booked times for Honeycomb Canyon, Gemstone Cove and Scoop. Despite the wet weather we have recently been experiencing, I realised that it was still very likely to be busy due to it being Easter weekend, so I thought that this convenience was an excellent idea. Bookings cannot be made more than 7 days in advance and can also not be booked on the same day, so would recommend visiting the website a couple of days before visiting.

The website also provides clear information on each of the activities available, with descriptions, age guidelines, prices and maps all available to view. This ensures that you can have a very good idea of what to expect prior to arriving and plan ahead for your fun day out.

Arrival

The attraction was well signposted from the main road and small brown tourist signs continued along the country lanes leading to The Ice Cream Farm. It was really easy to find and took us approximately 25 minutes in total to get there. As we arrived the main car park looked full and the cars in front of us all made their way to the overflow car park situated just slightly further down the road. My husband decided to try his luck in the main car park though and sure enough he managed to find a space just opposite the entrance.

There were families everywhere and I was a bit worried that it was going to be far too busy inside, but we made our way in past the reception desk and into the outdoor play area. I had a brief interaction with the reception staff who both seemed very friendly and welcoming. My first impressions were that it was packed, however once we had passed through the main arrival area, it seemed much more calmer and quieter and I didn't feel it was too crowded at any other point during the day. I think that this is due to the fact that the attraction has a very spacious layout and with so many activities to choose from visitors ended up being well spread out throughout the site.


The PlayPass

The Ice Cream Farm is a free to enter attraction and you then only pay for the activities that you participate in once inside. This means that if you simply want to pop in for an ice cream, then you can, without having to pay a hefty entrance fee. The activities are then all individual priced at an average cost of £3.75 each.

If you are planning on taking part in everything that is on offer, or intend to become a regular visitor then there are savings to be had by purchasing The Play Pass. These come in 4 different values which are The Blue Play Pass (£15), The Red Play Pass (£25), The Yellow Play Pass (£50) and the VIP Pass (£100). These work as follows:

  • The Blue Pass offers 5 plays which therefore reduces the cost of an activity to £3 each. 
  • The Red Pass offers 10 plays which therefore reduces the cost of an activity to £2.50 each
  • The Yellow Pass offer 25 plays which therefore reduces the cost of an activity to £2 each
  • The VIP Pass offers an incredible 100 plays which therefore reduces the cost to only £1 each!
I think that these offer great value for money. We had a £50 play pass and even after my three children had tried out quite a few of the activities available, we still have 12 plays left on our pass for when we return another day.

Activities

Our first activity was Scoop, where you have the opportunity to steer and operate real JCB diggers. Riley absolutely loved picking up and collecting stones and then operating the lever to move and drop them in another location. This seemed a really popular activity and rightly so as it was lots of fun. There was a small queue when we first got to Scoop, but they have four diggers in total and each session is timed, so we didn't have too long to wait.  I think my husband enjoyed this just as much as Riley!



Our next activity was Honeycomb Canyon which is a large indoor sand and water play area, which is also believed to be the largest of its kind in Europe. It is a huge area, full of sand pits, play areas, water and splash areas, which provides plenty of entertainment for children. One thing I was impressed with in Honeycomb Canyon was the safety aspect, as you need to sign your child both in and out of the play area before being able to leave. This is therefore very reassuring to know that they are playing in a safe environment that they couldn't walk out of unnoticed.


My son Ben enjoyed the wooden play area located at the far end of Honeycomb Canyon. The mini climbing wall and sliding rails provided him with plenty of entertainment in between playing in the sand and water zones. It was nice and warm inside, so it was good to have an indoor activity to enjoy away from the cold outside. With plenty of padded seats located around the site, it also provided a place for adults to have a sit down and both my husband and I enjoyed a cappuccino from the self service coffee machine, which was lovely.


Riley absolutely loved the water play areas where you could fill tanks, control water channels and also release water all over the floor. I was really impressed by how clean and well maintained the whole area was and again it was reassuring knowing that my children were playing in well looked after surroundings.


The water play areas featured many levers, wheels, taps and objects that you could twist and turn, whilst the sandpits offered building opportunities, spinning wheels and climbing areas.


After an hour of play in Honeycomb Canyon, we had all worked up an appetite and decided that it was time to sample some of the ice cream. We were shocked at just how many flavours there were to choose from and The Parlour was absolutely huge. The kids took a while to pick from the range on offer, but eventually managed to make their choice. There was a large queue when we arrived, but The Parlour was well staffed so we were served with a smile in less than 5 minutes.


Between us all we had Vanilla, Oreo, Mint Choc Chip & Creme Egg flavoured ice cream and all the children chose a chocolate tipped cone. I felt that the prices were very reasonable and I was also impressed by the amount of seating available for guests.


After we had finished our ice cream, my children enjoyed playing outside in Daisy's Garden which is a wonderful play area full of tunnels, playhouses, swings, slides, trampolines. It even features a magical Ice Cream Tree which delivers a surprise every half an hour in the form of an ice cream mist that floats up into the air and onto the waiting guests below. My youngest son Riley loved this and kept pretending that it was snowing!

It wasn't long before another activity caught our eye and the children requested to go on the quad bikes over at Silvercone. These are token operated and the tokens can be purchased from the kiosk opposite for £1. Adults are allowed to accompany smaller children, which means that younger children who may have difficultly steering, don't need to miss out on the fun.


After much debate over who was the quickest, my children managed to agree their positions and took their place on the podium. Riley was absolutely delighted to have come first!


Time had literally flown whilst at the Ice Cream Farm and before we knew it, we had already been there several hours. There was a break in the rain and so we decided to go and hunt for some gemstones, which was an activity all of my children really enjoyed. For a small charge you are provided with a pan and a small jewel bag, which you can fill with gemstones that you are allowed to keep at the end.


Riley soon got the hang of panning for gemstones and began to fill up his little jewel bag quite rapidly, much to his delight. Emma and Ben also had great success and they loved looking at all the different colours and matching them up to the Gemstones of the World poster on the wall to see what they were called.


Once we had finished panning for gems, we took a walk over to the farmyard area. The main walk around this area had been closed off which I assume was due to the heavy rain making the path muddy and unsafe. The yard was still open though and the children were able to see some donkeys, pigs & sheep, as well as some newly hatched chicks in their incubator.


Unfortunately we ran out of time to enjoy all of the activities, however the kids didn't mind as this means that we will have to return very soon in order to enjoy the rest. The crazy golf looked great fun, as did the Fun Factory which is an ice cream themed adventure play barn. Emma was also keen to try out the Jelly Drop which is a large 7 metre inflatable slide.


Dining

In addition to the Ice Cream Parlour, there are also several other dining options where you can purchase some hot or cold food and drinks. The first is The Pantry which offers a 180 seater food and drink area, with a very tasty looking menu. It features plenty of family favourites including Steak Pie & Chips, Sausage & Mash and a range of burgers, as well as some light bites, baked potatoes and a wide choice of sides. A childrens menu is also available, with meals starting from only £2.95.

During weekends and school holidays, The Pit Stop is also available which offers Pieminister Pies, Pizzas and Hot Dogs as well drinks and snacks.

Shopping

My children always love to have a look around the shops at attractions and The Ice Cream Farm was no exception. I always set them a budget each, which seems to work well for us and prevents any arguments if they know exactly how much they have to spend before shopping. The Impulse Emporium has a wide range of products on sale ranging from the weird to the wonderful. There were items to suit all budgets and I was impressed by the amount of products available at what I consider to be 'pocket money priced' items. My children managed to find plenty for sale for under £3 and each of them managed to pick something that they liked with minimal fuss. The lady at the till was also very kind and polite and also went that extra mile by offering to take my children's rubbish as they opened the packaging for their toys no sooner had I paid, which I thought was very kind of her.


Our Opinion

Overall we had a fun and entertaining day at The Ice Cream Farm and it is somewhere that we will definitely return to in the very near future. I love the fact that it is a free to enter attraction and that you only pay for the activities that you use. All the staff that we encountered were friendly and polite and despite the majority of staff being quite young, they all seemed well trained, knowledgeable and comfortable in their roles. The ice cream in The Parlour was absolutely fantastic and with so many flavours to choose from, there is definitely something to suit all tastes. I was very impressed with the cleanliness in all areas, which must be hard to keep on top of in such a busy attraction, yet this is something that The Ice Cream Farm seem to do extremely well. We are hoping to return in the next few days, so I will be sure to update this blog post with information on the other activities that we try.

Would we recommend The Ice Cream Farm to others?? Absolutely!!

Attraction Details

Address: The Ice Cream Farm, Newton Lane, Tattenhall, Chester, Cheshire, CH3 9NE.
Telephone: 0800 133 7000
Website: www.theicecreamfarm.co.uk
Facebook: The Ice Cream Farm
Twitter: @theicecreamfarm
Instagram: @theicecreamfarm

Opening Times: 09:30am to 5:30pm daily. Closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day.


*Disclaimer: We were provided with a Play Pass for the purpose of providing an honest opinion about our visit and experience. Thoughts, opinions & photographs are my own unless otherwise stated. Information provided is believed to be correct at time of writing, but would always recommend visiting the sites own attraction to obtain the most up to date information.

Tuesday 28 November 2017

Dates for your Diary - The Bear at Waterside Arts, Sale - 5th December to 6th January 2018

With Christmas only weeks away, I have recently been bringing you details of some fantastic family-friendly festive events. From the 5th December 2017 to the 6th January 2018, The Bear will be strolling into Sale to provide audiences with a heart-warming and humerous wintry tale.

Based on the much-loved children's book 'The Bear' by Raymond Briggs, this beautiful theatrical adaptation is brought to you by Pins & Needles Productions. The team was also behind the hugely successful Father Christmas show and they are delighted to be bringing to life, another of Raymond Briggs stories.


The Bear offers an unforgettable experience for the whole family, as well as being the perfect introduction to theatre, with its dazzling puppetry, delicious music, dreamy storytelling and dozens of laughs.

Ever wondered what it would be like to sit on a polar bears lap? Or ride on its back? Have you ever tried to give a bear a bath? Or clear up its poo?! Looking after a bear is exhausting stuff.

One night when she's fast asleep, an enormous snowy white bear, climbs into Tilly's bedroom. It has a big black tongue and a yawn as big as your head. But Tilly's not scared.

So come and join Tilly and her great big white friend on a wild and magical adventure.

The production is recommended for children aged between 3 and 11 and there are also a number of Slumber Shows taking place. At the 6pm shows, PJ's are encouraged to be worn and cookies and milk will also be available to buy for little ones.

The Bear previews on Tuesday 5th and Wednesday 6th December and officially opens from Thursday 7th December until Saturday 6th January 2018. There are both schools and public performances available and show times vary. For further information please visit thebearlive.com

Listing Details

Show - The Bear
Venue - Waterside, 1 Waterside Plaza, Sale, Trafford, M33 7ZF
Dates - 5th December 2017 to 6th January 2018, with preview, relaxed and BSL performances also available on selected dates. 
Times - Show times vary, so please see thebearlive.com for the most up to date information.
Box Office - 0161 912 5616
Ticket prices - £16.50/ £14.50/ £12.50
School tickets - £10 - 1 teacher goes free with every 9 students booked.
Running time - Approximately 55 minutes with no interval.


Friday 6 October 2017

Dates for your Diary - Christmas at Dunham Massey

My family and I absolutely love attending Christmas events and we are always on the look out for something new and exciting to visit. Like most families, Christmas is a really magical time for us, so we try and enjoy as many festive activities as we can together, in the run up to Christmas Day.

We were therefore really excited to find out about a brand new Christmas Light trail, which will be at Dunham Massey in Cheshire, from the 1st to 30th December 2017. This magical, after-dark illuminated trail, will be brought to you by leading events producers Raymond Gubbay, in partnership with the National Trust and will see Dunham Massey transformed into a beautiful winter wonderland.

The trail has been specially designed to appeal to visitors of all ages and there is something for everyone at this festive time of year, as the one mile sparkling path winds its way through the historic Dunham Massey woodland. Greeted by the sights and sounds of Christmas, visitors will wander beneath tree canopies that will be illuminated in seasonal shards of light and larger-than-life snowflakes and baubles.


Father Christmas sees you on your way through twinkling tunnels and a swaying lawn of colour reflected in the water. Duck between sparkling hedgerows, discover the Singing Trees rising high into the night sky and experience Pealight Heaven, a canopy of over 100,000 fairy lights. Once you reach the festive finale, you can take a moment to pause and enjoy the brightly coloured water jets dancing in time to some much loved Christmas classics.

Complete your stroll under the stars with a hot drink or some mulled wine, enjoy a ride on the vintage carousel* , toast your own marshmallows at one of the fire pits, or even take the opportunity to do a spot of Christmas shopping in Dunham Massey's shop.

*Separate charges apply.

For further details please visit: National Trust - Dunham Massey

Listing Details

Event - Christmas at Dunham Massey, the magical, after-dark, illuminated trail

Location - Dunham Massey, Altrincham, Cheshire, WA14 4SJ

Dates - 1st December to 30th December

Admission

Advance - Adult £16.00, Child (5-16) £10.00, Family £48.00
On the day - Adult £18.00, Child (5-16) £12.00, Family £56.00
National Trust Member - Adults £14.50, Child (5-16) £8.50, Family £42.00


Disclaimer: Details correct at time of writing, but can be subject to change. Therefore please always check the events own website for the most up to date information.

Thursday 14 September 2017

Dates for your Diary - Cheshire Fest 2017 - A Family Friendly Festival

Cheshire Fest 2017 is a two day festival filled with music, food and drink and is a guaranteed end of summer celebration in the heart of the Cheshire Countryside. It will be held at the Manchester Rugby Club in Cheadle Hulme on Saturday 23rd September and Sunday 24th September and offers a fantastic entertainment programme, including some of Cheshire's finest talent.

The organisers have now revealed a full schedule for the weekend, detailing the wide range of activities that revellers can expect from the family friendly festival. The weekend festivities kick off from 11am on both days, with a full main stage programme of live entertainment throughout the day. Cheshire Fest 2017 also offers FREE entry for children aged 15 or under, with adult tickets starting at only £10 (plus booking fee) and includes a free drink.


On Saturday, the #RememberWhen Main Stage plays host to Cheshire's finest tribute acts including Want You Back (Take That Tribute), Dan East is Ed Sheeran, Be-Beyonce, MJ Mimms (Michael Jackson) and Elvis. Also joining the line up are some of Cheshire's finest local artists Leon Meya and The Sound, as well as Britain's Got Talent finalists' MD Productions.

Sunday's musical programme is sure to get the crowds rocking as the #FestivalAnthems Main Stage, delivers rock anthems. The line-up includes Antarctic Monkeys, Oashish, The Absolute Stone Roses and Yellow (Coldplay tribute). Local artists Nolan and Leon Meya complete Sunday's main stage line-up.

Elsewhere across the festival site, attendees can head to the Street Food Village to enjoy an array of gourmet street food and international cuisine. Beer lovers can sample the delights of the Mini Beer Fest with over 30 varieties of beers, cask ales and ciders from across the UK.

In addition to the Mini Beer Fest, festival goers can enjoy a relaxing G&T in the tranquility of The Gin Garden, grab a cocktail at the Cocktail Bar, enjoy a glass of fizz in the Champagne and Prosecco Bar or savour the taste of Summer at the Pimm's Bus.

Photo credit - Jazamin Sinclair

If you are in the mood for a dance, then a silent disco will also be on site, where you can dance to your hearts content with music as loud as you please, with passers by continuing to enjoy the festival. Comic Con and Sci-Fi fans are also being catered for, with Star Wars characters parading around the site, which is well worth a selfie or two!

The Kids Tent will keep the younger festival goers entertained throughout the weekend with a whole host of workshops, games and live entertainment. Stars of the TV show The Voice Kids UK will entertain throughout the day. Frozen meets Beauty and the Beast offers children the chance to meet and greet some of their favourite characters, as well as enjoy stage performances. There will also be a huge range of giant inflatable castles in Bouncy World, a Family Fun Fair and Little Explorers Activities.

Festival Director Philip Osbourne said, "After launching our first festival in 2016, we've taken huge steps to bring on board a cracking team of organisers this year to reinvent the festival. We're all about big days out with family and friends and we think this new format, location and programme will offer just that! It has been an absolute pleasure to put together the programme for Cheshire Fest, we hope the people of Cheshire enjoy what is sure to be a great weekend."

Tickets start at just £10 plus booking fees, which includes a free drink for every ticket buyer! Book now for the perfect end to summer. Tickets are available now at www.cheshirefest.co.uk and selected venues across Cheshire.

Listing Information

Dates - Saturday 23rd September & Sunday 24th September
Times - 11am to 11pm
Address - Manchester Rugby Club, Grove Lane, Cheadle Hulme, Cheshire, SK8 7NB

Website - www.cheshirefest.co.uk
Facebook - facebook.com/cheshirefest/ 
Twitter - @festcheshire

How to Book

Book online at www.cheshirefest.co.uk
Tickets: £11.25 (Including Booking Fee) for a day pass & £17.85 (Including Booking Fee) for a weekend pass.
(All paid tickets include a free drink).
Under 16's go free

Tuesday 22 August 2017

Our Stay at the Appartello Smarttime Living in Hamburg, Germany

It isn't often that we come across a hotel that offers continued excellence and quality from start to finish, however The Appartello Smarttime Living Hotel in Hamburg, managed to exceed our expectations and provide an outstanding service from the moment we arrived.

It is a modern apartment hotel that offers 76 rooms, which are suitable for both business travellers, as well as families looking for a relaxing stay. The hotel is conveniently situated close to the airport, but also within easy reach of public transport, which makes exploring the city extremely simple.

Our journey to Hamburg began with an early morning flight from Manchester, which meant that we had been up since 4am in the morning to get to the airport on time. I checked the bus schedule beforehand and knew that we needed to catch the number 39 bus from the airport terminal once we arrived. The bus stops are well signposted and it was simply a case of crossing the road and waiting for our bus, which ran every 20 minutes. After a short while, the bus arrived and we enjoyed a short ten minute journey to the hotels nearest bus stop which was Alsterdorfer Damm. The buses all have small screens that show the next stop, so it was easy to know when to disembark the bus, without worrying about missing our stop.


I had contacted the Appartello prior to our stay, to ask whether it would be ok to drop our bags off, before heading into the city to explore, as I knew that the check in time was 3pm. They had replied within a couple of hours, stating that they were more than happy to store our luggage, to save us carrying it around. As we walked into reception, we were immediately greeted with a smiling face, welcoming us to the hotel. I explained that we had come to drop off our bags, but the friendly receptionist, went one step further and offered to check whether our room was already available, in which case we could check in straight away! Luckily for us, our room was ready, so we were provided with our room keys, as well as directions and told to make ourselves feel at home and welcome in the Appartello hotel.

Our Room

Having being up since the early hours, it was great to be able to have an hours rest in the room & enjoy a nice hot shower & a cup of coffee to wake us up. As we entered the room, we were immediately impressed with both the size and layout of the room. It featured all the modern conveniences you could possibly need, including a beautiful white gloss kitchen with brushed steel appliances.


The kitchen area was really modern and clean, which featured a fridge freezer, oven, microwave, coffee machine, kettle and even a dishwasher. It really was immaculate and we were very impressed that this was available to us in our room. There was a Lidl supermarket, just a short walk away from the hotel, so it meant that we were able to stock up with drinks, snacks and fruit for the children and place them in the kitchen. Utensils, plates and cutlery were also provided, so it literally gave us everything we needed to prepare our own meals if we chose to.

Adjacent to the kitchen was a lovely desk and office area, which was an ideal place to catch up with my emails in the evening. There was a comfortable chair, a good wifi connection and also plenty of space for my laptop, papers and note pads.

The living area consisted of a double sofa bed, an additional single bed which had been added for Riley, as well as a comfortable chair, lighting and a 40" flat screen tv. We chose to leave the double sofa bed set up as the bed for the duration of our stay, but we could have also turned this back into a sofa had we wanted to.


The whole room was very tastefully decorated and we loved how fresh and modern the decor looked. This continued into the main bedroom, where there was a large king size bed, a modern wood wardrobe with ample storage space and a further 32" flat screen tv. This was great in the evenings, as it meant that the children could watch a film in the living room, when settling down for the night, whilst we could watch something else in our room.



The shower room was also ideal and featured a fantastic easy to control shower, as well as a very clean toilet and sink. It was quickly apparent that the rooms are kept to a very high standard and cleaned thoroughly and regularly, as we couldn't find a single fault with the room at all. Another aspect of the bathroom I  really liked, was that there was also a stool and childs toilet seat available for use, meaning that the hotel has thought of even their youngest of guests.

Reception & Service

After we had enjoyed a short rest, I made my way down to reception to ask for directions to the Miniatur Wunderland. Rather than just tell me where to go, the receptionist printed off full directions for me, as well as the local bus timetables and train times. I felt that this was excellent service and it was great that they were so willing to help their guests and provide as much information as possible. Once we were ready to go, we made our way to the bus stop and caught the bus to the train station where we headed into the city centre for an enjoyable day of sightseeing.

On our return, we were immediately greeted with the same cheerful welcome we had experienced earlier. We were asked if we had enjoyed our day out and whether we needed any further help or suggestions of places to go in the evening. As we were all so tired from the early start and our busy day in Hamburg, we decided to remain in the hotel on our first evening, so instead we made our way to the communal downstairs Living Room, which was available for all guests.

The excellent service from reception continued throughout our whole stay, and nothing was ever too much trouble for them. We were assisted on our second day with further directions to the Hagenbeck Tierpark, as well as being asked whether we would like a wake up call on our departure day. Everything was always done with a smile & everyone we dealt with, was always more than happy to help.


The Living Room

The Living Room, was literally home from home. There was a wide range of seating available both indoors and outdoors, some vending machines that offered food, soft drinks and alcohol at reasonable prices and a toy corner, where children could play with the train tracks & toys that were provided. Riley loves playing with his trains at home, so this was great for him and he spent a good hour with Emma setting up all the track and moving the trains through the tunnels.

It was a lovely area where you could just relax with your family, or enjoy drinks with your friends in the evening. Although there was no bar, both wine & beer were available to purchase from the machines, as well as tea and coffee. There was a choice of comfortable living room chairs, dining tables and bar stools and drinks tables. Everything was really clean and well cared for, just like we had noticed in our room earlier.



Everywhere we went in the hotel, just felt so comfortable and welcoming, that my husband and I found it very easy to relax and just enjoy spending time as a family in such lovely surroundings. The sunshine was also making a welcome appearance during our stay, so we also took advantage of the outdoor seating area, where we could enjoy a coffee under the sun.


One thing that didn't go unnoticed, was also their attention to detail. It is very easy for hotels to make things quite basic, but the Appartello had small subtle features everywhere to help make it feel very homely. This included planters outside, plant pots on the tables, ornaments and lovely art work on various walls. I always think that little touches like these really help with the overall experience and show that the owners have put a lot of thought into the style and appearance.


A Great Nights Sleep

After returning to our room in the evening, we had a comfy and really cosy nights sleep. The duvet and pillows were both soft and snug, which meant that the kids fell asleep really quickly and without any fuss. They all said that they had a fantastic nights sleep the following morning, which is a rare comment to hear from the children. Mr F & I, also experienced a peaceful sleep which made us feel energised in the morning and ready for the busy day ahead.

Breakfast

In the morning we returned to The Living Room, which was where breakfast also took place. This could be purchased on a "pay for what you eat" basis, where you simply fill in a form stating what you have chosen and then this gets added to your bill, to be paid on your departure. Alternatively you can choose the "Smart Breakfast" which for 7.90 euros each, you can help yourself to some freshly made sandwiches, rolls, croissants, boiled eggs, tea and coffee. We opted for the smart breakfast and enjoyed a really filling breakfast each morning.


My children enjoyed the selection and were big fans of the croissants that were available. Mr F and I enjoyed some of the freshly made sandwiches and although these weren't something that we would normally eat for breakfast, they simply looked too delicious to resist! There were no soft drinks suitable for children included in the Smart Breakfast, however there was a selection of fruit juices, milk drinks & soft drinks available for purchase.


The coffee and tea was also a really nice quality too, everything tasted just perfect and was a really welcome start to our day. The drinks machines were very easy to use and there was unlimited tea and coffee available with the Smart Breakfast which meant that I was able to get my caffeine boost in the morning.


Other Facilities

The Appartello also offers a fitness suite and free use of laundry facilities. We didn't use either of these during our stay, but it was great to know that they were available should we need them. When travelling with children, their clothes can get dirty on days out, so it was great to know that we could wash clothes prior to returning home if we wanted to.

Our Overall Stay

We had an absolutely fantastic stay from start to finish. We were very impressed with the excellent care and customer service consistently offered by the staff and really appreciated being made to feel so welcome. The rooms featured everything you could possibly need for a comfortable and relaxing stay, whilst also ensuring a great nights sleep. The pillows were incredibly soft and offered an idyllic place to rest your head after a busy day. The location of the Appartello Smarttime Living Hamburg was perfect with excellent public transport links. The airport and numerous attractions were all within easy reach and having the convenience of a supermarket next door, was also an added bonus. Overall we cannot recommend this hotel enough and shall definitely be returning again in the future. We have already been pricing up flights to return for the Christmas markets and the Appartello would definitely be our first choice for accommodation in the area. We would like to say a huge thank you to the Appartello Smarttime Living Hamburg for such a wonderful stay.

For the most up to date information, reservations and prices, you can visit their website here:
Appartello Smarttime Living Hamburg

Alternatively, you can find them on facebook here: Appartello Smarttime Living Hamburg Facebook

Address: Appartello - Smarttime Living Hamburg, Appartello GmbH, Sportallee 4, 22335 Hamburg, Germany.

Tel: +49 (0) 40 60 92 92 100


Disclaimer: We were provided with complimentary accommodation, in a premium apartment for the purpose of writing an honest review of our stay, during our recent trip to Hamburg. This was arranged with the help of the Come to Hamburg scheme. Opinions and photographs are my own unless otherwise stated. For the most up to date information, I would always recommend visiting the hotels own website.

Sunday 6 August 2017

A Family Sledging Experience at Snozone Milton Keynes

After our exciting time at iFLY Indoor Skydiving at Xscape Milton Keynes, we were very happy to be returning the following day to experience another attraction situated in the same great building. This time we were heading to Snozone to enjoy a family sledging session and it was something we were all really looking forward to!

Earlier this year Mr F, Emma, Ben and my stepson Liam all travelled out to the World Ski Championships in St Moritz, where they had their first experience of skiing and snowboarding. For Emma and Ben it was the first time that they had ever actually had the chance to go sledging and play in real snow. Whilst there they also had the opportunity to have some sledging fun on the Swiss Airlines course and so they couldn't wait to visit Snozone to do it again.

My youngest son Riley has never experienced snow at all and the last time we had a slight covering of snow was the day after he was born back in January 2013. It was therefore really exciting to see what he thought of the snow and whether he would enjoy it.

Snozone is a family friendly attraction and it currently has two venues in the UK with one being based in Castleford, West Yorkshire and the other in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire. We visited the Milton Keynes Snozone which provides real snow slopes for skiing and snowboarding as well as offering snow experiences such as tubing, sledging and family snow play sessions. The main slope is 170 metres in length and is covered by more the 1500 tonnes of real snow, making it the ideal place to learn, develop and have some fun!


We made the booking for our sledging session over the phone and soon after I received both a text message and email confirming our booking. There was a lot of additional information attached to the booking which I took the time to read through the following day. It is very important to read the complete booking confirmation as this tells you all about the arrival time, cancellation policy, slope rules, clothing and equipment hire, medical conditions, the supervision of children and the consumption of food and beverages to name but a few. Our email stated to arrive approximately one hour before our sledging time to ensure that we were all booked in, kitted out and ready to start at 11am promptly.


Snozone is well signposted from the main roads and very easy to find. There is plenty of pay and display parking available and the price for parking varies dependent on your length of stay. However, we found the costs to be very reasonable and from memory it cost us around £3 to park for the duration of our activity. Our children already had clothing suitable for the slopes, so they got ready in the car park before entering, simply putting their ski gear over the top of their normal clothes, however there were large changing room facilities inside.

My husband was also well prepared, which left only me to get sorted with some hire clothing. I had read online that clothing hire was £9.99 however, I was pleased to find that this is for skiing and snowboarding. For a summer sledging session this is only £3.50 which I thought was very reasonable. For hygiene reasons you cannot hire gloves or socks so these are a must to bring with you or alternatively you can buy them on the day from Snozone for £19.95. This could obviously prove very costly if you need them for your whole family, so I would definitely recommend bringing your own with you. You also need to make sure you have suitable footwear for sledging so my children wore snow boots and wellies which were both absolutely fine on the snow and gave good grip.

We arrived one hour before our sledging session and a very friendly gentleman checked us in on reception. We were provided with our tickets which we were told to hand in once we met our instructor at 11am. I also requested to hire some clothing and was provided with a further ticket that I could hand in to the clothing desk to exchange for some salopettes (I already had a jacket). The check in process was very quick and easy and once this had been completed we had 40 minutes to spare so had a quick look around the surrounding shops and restaurants. About 15 minutes before our session was due to start I went to get changed and we placed our valuables in one of the lockers which cost £1 and is refundable. We then made our way to the equipment area and found some helmets for each of us. The helmets varied in size so the kids had to try a couple on to make sure they had a helmet with the best fit for them, but there were plenty available so more than enough for all the guests.

Once 11am arrived we were met by Andy who took all of our tickets and led us through to the slope. The whole area was much larger than I had expected and I was surprised by just how great it was. It was a chilly -5 degrees celsius once inside, however because we were constantly moving I never actually felt cold at any point. I watched a few people fly down the slopes on their skis and was very impressed with the whole set up.

We were then led to an area which had been sectioned off on part of the slope which is where the sledging could safely take place. This was away from the skiers and snowboarders and meant that we wouldn't get in anyone elses way and vice versa. The sledging slope was plenty high enough for us and I was a bit worried that Riley would find it too high initially, but he was absolutely fine and we quickly grabbed our sledges and made our way up to the top of the sledging slope.


Riley was so excited to be playing in the snow and wasted no time getting stuck in and having a good play in between sledges. He enjoyed climbing and rolling around in it as well as making the obligatory snow angel! Each time we climbed to the top and then sled down to the bottom he would have a little play in the snow and it was lovely to see him so excited and happy.

As there were a few other people in our group, I didn't let him sledge down the full slope on his own, as you needed to be able to stop and steer away from other people, if need be. I therefore sled down next to him each time and held on to both mine and his sled in order to keep us together. This was really easy to do and was definitely a lot safer for him. I wasn't too keen on going overly fast so the slightly slower speed of going down together was much better for me too.



Emma, Ben and Mr F on the other hand, took great delight in speeding down the slope and seeing who could get to the bottom first. The sledges look really small but are actually suprisingly comfy and easy to carry to the top. The walking to the top can get a bit exhausting after a while but there is plenty of space at the bottom of the slope to have a rest if you need to, before climbing the hill again which certainly gets your muscles working and calories burning.


Ben was definitely the fastest down the slopes and beat each one of us to the bottom when we raced. He had loved his time in St Moritz back in February so he had been really looking forward to being able to play in the snow again. He couldn't help but admire some of the skiers, as they went flying past and I think he would have definitely liked to have given skiing another try, as this was something he picked up really quickly in Switzerland. We are definitely going to have a look into getting him some lessons arranged, or perhaps, a short course which Snozone offer at both of their sites. I was also pleased to find out from Andy that they offer both private, group and family tuition as well as day courses and summer camps for children.


Ben and Mr F quickly got the hang of steering the sledges whilst going down the slope and also managed to do a few little twists and turns. Ben loved racing his dad to the bottom which often resulted in them both lying laughing on the floor, it was so much fun!


About three quarters of the way into our session Emma and quite a few others decided to take a little break at the bottom as walking to the top began to get pretty tiring. Riley however was still shouting "Again Again!" each time we got to the bottom so I had to try and find the energy to keep getting back to the top although I think my walk up got much slower each time.


We had initially thought that an hour wasn't very long for sledging, but we were very wrong and it was actually just the right length of time for us all, as we each began to get a little tired. We could see the large cafe calling us through the giant viewing windows and so as soon as the session was over we returned our helmets and then made our way through to the cafe to have a well deserved rest and a drink.

The cafe offered a nice selection of food and drinks as well as a range of ice creams. Emma and Ben both chose a slushy and Riley chose an ice cream whilst both Mr F and I enjoyed a nice hot drink. Once Riley had finished his ice cream he was also able to enjoy the under 5's soft play area. This isn't huge but it is great for little ones to have somewhere to go whilst you have a rest and finish your meal and beverages.

Overall we had an absolutely fantastic time at Snozone Milton Keynes and will definitely be returning again in the future for a family ski or snowboard lesson. The staff were friendly and approachable and we found all aspects of the attraction to be very clean and tidy including the cafe and soft play area. The sledging session was great and very enjoyable as well as being a great opportunity to introduce Riley to the fun you can have in snow. We will definitely be back!

Important Information:

Milton Keynes address - Snozone Xscape, 602 Marlborough Gate, Central Milton Keynes, MK9 3XS

Castleford address - Snozone Xscape Castleford, Colorado Way, Glasshoughton, Castleford, West Yorkshire, WF10 4TA.

Telephone number - 0333 0030 520

Website - The Snozone website provides the most up to date information on pricing, lessons, courses, bookings and events. I would therefore always recommend visiting the attractions own website before visiting. Their website can be found here: https://www.snozoneuk.com/

Alternatively, you can follow Snozone on social media. Their social media channels are:

Twitter - @snozone_uk
Facebook - SnozoneUK
Instagram - @Snozone
YouTube - SnozoneVideos


Disclaimer: We were provided with a complimentary family sledging session for the purpose of providing an honest review of our experience. I paid for hire clothing at my own expense. All photographs and opinions are my own unless stated otherwise.