Showing posts with label Liverpool. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Liverpool. Show all posts

Friday 15 April 2022

Jack & The Beanstalk at The Epstein Theatre, Liverpool - A Review

My family and I were very excited to return to the Epstein Theatre in Liverpool, to enjoy Regal Entertainments fabulous Easter pantomime production of Jack and the Beanstalk, which is running until the 24th April. This giant panto spectacular tells the story of a young boy named Jack, who sells their family cow for a handful of beans. During his adventures, he falls in love with the beautiful Princess Jill, who is then kidnapped by the evil Mrs Fleshcreep on behalf of the wicked Giant. However, the beans transpire to not be as worthless as initially thought, as a magical beanstalk soon grows up into the sky, allowing Jack to not only rescue the Princess, but to help his family too in the process.

Jack and the Beanstalk features a wonderful cast, a great selection of music, dazzling scenery and exceptional choreography, which all make this pantomime a pleasure to watch. From the opening scene, my youngest son was captivated and we were all extremely impressed by everyone involved in creating this family show. Not only did this production tell the story of Jack, but it did so in true Liverpudlian fashion, whilst also paying tribute to local legends both past and present, which we thought was a lovely touch.

Timothy Lucas is absolutely fantastic as Jack Trott and having seen him on stage previously in other panto roles, we knew we were in for a treat. His stage presence is simply superb and his comedic timing, facial expressions and delivery are just hilarious. Jack's brother, Simple Simon is played by Lewis Devine and the pair of them together provide laughter in abundance. Lewis has been a panto favourite of ours for years and he supplies non-stop entertainment with his loveable charm and humour.

Photo Credit: David Munn Photography

Dame Trott is played by Mark Two and he provides plenty of amusement throughout the show with his quick wit and cheeky innuendoes. It was a pleasant surprise to read in the programme that Mark's costumes are exclusively made and designed by himself and his wife Dee. Their talent and creativity was definitely highlighted in the extravagant styling of Dame Trott's outfits.

Princess Jill is played by Maddie Hope Coelho who brought sweetness and charm to the role. She worked well alongside Jack and their performances together were fun and enjoyable. 

Abigail Middleton did a superb job as Mrs Fleshcreep and I was left particularly impressed by her wonderful performance in the opening scene of Act Two, which was outstanding. She played the villain well, but wasn't too scary for the younger guests in the audience which I felt was just the right balance for a family friendly show.

Photo Credit: David Munn Photography

Fairy Mary was due to be played by Jenna Sian O'Hara, but due to illness on the day, the show director Olivia Sloyan brushed off her fairy wings and stepped into the role as a last minute replacement and highlighted her outstanding talent once again. We have had the pleasure of watching Olivia perform many times before and have always been blown away by her beautiful vocals. This pantomime performance was no exception and we also loved the sassiness she brought to the stage. 

The chosen musical numbers were definite crowd pleasers and my family and I particularly enjoyed the school scene in the first half of the show, where the cast deliver an excellent rendition of the song Revolting Children, which is extremely well presented with wonderful choreography.

Jack and the Beanstalk offers families a fantastic source of entertainment this Easter, and features all the must-have characteristics of a fun and exciting pantomime performance. It is wonderfully presented by an incredibly talented cast and crew, who deliver a show that is fast paced and packed full of energy from start to finish. The comedy and jokes that were showcased throughout had guests of all ages laughing out loud. It was also great to see audience participation return after the restrictions of the past couple of years and it was lovely watching everyone shouting, cheering and getting out of their seats to dance, which together created a brilliant atmosphere. Tickets are on sale now for this incredible show, so don't miss your chance to enjoy this giant spectacular pantomime this Easter. 

Photo Credit: David Munn Photography

You can find out more by visiting The Epstein Theatre website at www.epsteintheatre.co.uk

You can also follow The Epstein Theatre on the following social media pages:

Facebook - facebook.com/EpsteinTheatre

Twitter - @EpsteinTheatre

Listing Details

Show - Jack and the Beanstalk presented by Regal Entertainments Ltd

Venue - The Epstein Theatre, 85 Hanover Street, Liverpool, L1 3DZ

Dates - Wednesday 13th April 2022 to Sunday 24th April 2022

Times - Show times vary, therefore please visit the venue website for the most up to date information.

Tickets - From £14

How to Book

Book online: www.epsteintheatre.co.uk

Telephone bookings: Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm call 0844 888 9991 (calls cost 7p per minute plus your phone company's access charge).

Group and School Bookings: Available by calling 0844 888 9991 (calls cost 7p per minute plus your phone company's access charge).

In person: The Epstein Theatre Box Office is open Monday to Saturday between 12pm and 6pm, or two hours prior to the performance time on Sundays or Bank Holidays. Please note there is a £1 per ticket transaction fee when booking in person at the box office.


*Disclaimer - We were provided with a complimentary family ticket to the press night performance, for the purpose of writing an honest review of the show and our experience. All thoughts and opinions are our own. Details provided are believed to be correct at the time of writing but can be subject to change. I would therefore always recommend visiting the venues own site in order to obtain the most up to date information.

Saturday 24 August 2019

The Indoor Funfair Returns to Liverpool - A Review!

Back in April we visited the Indoor Funfair which was taking place in the Exhibition Centre, Liverpool. My children had a fantastic time and we thought that it was a great idea that offered excellent value for money.

We were therefore really excited to find out that it was returning to Liverpool for the summer holidays, opening on Friday 23rd August and remaining at the Exhibition Centre until the 1st September. Of course I didn't need to ask my children twice as to whether they would like to visit again, so we went along yesterday to the 10am til 1pm session to enjoy some family fun and see if there were any new rides on offer.


The week-long event, is set across almost 60,000 sq.ft of space and is packed full of a huge selection of rides that will be popular with families of all ages. Each visitor session lasts for three hours and offers unlimited access to rides during this time. There is a choice of session times which run daily from 10am til 1pm; 2pm til 5pm and 6pm til 9pm. The entry prices are very reasonable with rider wristbands costing only £10 per person, with spectator tickets priced at £2.

Usually we catch the train to Liverpool and then walk along the waterfront from James Street station, however with it being the school holidays and my husband being off, we decided to drive this time and parked right outside the venue at a cost of £7 for 5 hours parking. We thought that this was really reasonable based on the location and also meant that we could enjoy a walk around the nearby waterfront after visiting the fair.

We arrived right on 10 o'clock and was surprised to find no queue to get in. There was security at the main entrance conducting bag checks which was reassuring to see and we also saw security staff walking regularly around the venue throughout our visit. We collected our wristbands from the box office and then made our way into the exhibition hall.


On entering the hall, it appeared larger than our last visit and it felt as though there were more rides. When we visited in April, my 11 year old son had an amazing day, but was slightly disappointed that there were no dodgems. He was therefore delighted when he spotted them in the far corner and there are no prizes for guessing which ride he headed to first. In fact he actually ended up spending the first half hour of our session completely on the Dodgems, something which would have cost me a fortune at a normal travelling fair, so he was certainly ensuring that he was making the most of his unlimited rides.

Whilst Ben was busy working on his driving skills, both Riley and Emma enjoyed the Fun House and the large inflatable bouncy castle and slide. Once they had each finished doing their own thing for the first half hour we then regrouped and made our way round the hall together. My two older children also enjoy going on the smaller rides with their younger brother, so they were almost able to go on nearly every ride in the hall, apart from a couple where they were slightly too tall. Riley therefore loved that he could enjoy the rides with his siblings, especially the Monster Truck and Bumper Carz ride.


I definitely felt that the layout this time was much better and we really liked the fact that there was a lot of variety in the choice of rides. There also seemed to be more seating than on our previous visit, which was also a big bonus. I also strongly believe that they listened to customer feedback from April, as popular rides like the Miami, The Dodgems and Bumper Carz were all in attendance and had definitely been missed previously, so the selection and options available were perfect for both children and adults.

There was another brand new ride which caught Emma's attention and this was the Megaspin. As you enter the hall, this is located just to the right hand side and at first glance it simply looks like a wheel that spins you around. However, it does much more including full on upside down spins at both fast and slow speeds, with lots of twists and turns along the way too. It is certainly a ride for the thrillseekers and Emma was the only one brave enough out of our family to give it a go!


As well as the rides, there are some additional games stalls which do cost extra for the chance to win some prizes. Fortunately my children didn't ask to go on any of these, but it's worth taking some change with you if you think your family may want to try their luck. Some food and drink stalls are also available offering a variety of different snacks and drinks. We didn't use these so I am unsure of the costs.

Overall we had a fantastic morning and believe that the £10 wristband charge offers excellent value for money. The event felt well organised, secure and safe and every staff member that we interacted with seemed very friendly and polite. The range of rides was fantastic and we felt that there was a great choice available for all ages. Ultimately it is a very fun event to visit for a really reasonable price and we would not hesitate to return!

For full information on this event or to book tickets, you can visit the Indoor Funfair website or their social media pages on the following channels:

Website - https://indoorfunfair.org/liverpool
Twitter - @indoorfunfairuk
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/IndoorFunfair/
Instagram - @indoorfunfair


*Disclaimer - We were invited to this event and provided with complimentary wristbands for the purpose of writing an honest review of our experience.

Thursday 18 April 2019

The Indoor Funfair at Liverpool Exhibition Centre - A Review

With the ever changing weather at the moment, it is great to have the option of some indoor attractions. We were therefore really excited to learn that the Indoor Funfair was heading to Liverpool, which was perfectly timed with my children's school holidays. On Tuesday morning we caught the train into the city, to visit this brand new event and find out what was on offer for some family fun.

We travelled on the train from our home town via Chester and onwards to James Street station in Liverpool. I used our family and friends railcard (which has already more than paid for itself) and managed to get a return ticket for one adult and three children for only £9.40. Once we arrived at James Street we had an enjoyable walk along the waterfront towards the Indoor Funfair and it took approximately ten minutes at a steady pace.


We were booked in as guests for the 10am til 1pm slot and we arrived shortly after the start time at approximately 10:10am. Due to our slightly late arrival, there were absolutely no queues outside and we walked straight into the building. The first thing that I noticed were that there were good security measures in place and several security staff were on the door conducting bag checks. We also saw another patrolling the corridors to the attraction entrance and several more in the main hall, which I found to be very reassuring at a family event.

We collected our wristbands and made our way into the Indoor Funfair and my children were excited to see what rides were available. I saw that the cost for guests was only £10 per person, or £2 if just spectating, which for unlimited rides for three hours sounded great value for money. Under 3's are also able to visit free of charge, but understandably their are quite limited rides available for that age group.

Directly opposite the entrance were a selection of 2p machines which my children love, so before we even had the chance to walk around, my son had already put a pound in the change machine to try his luck at winning some sweets and chocolate that he had spotted on the edge. Once they had each played on here for a short while, we started to take a good look around the hall and had a walk around before choosing where to start.



It was slightly smaller than I expected and initially I was unsure if there would be enough to keep all of us entertained for three hours. However I needn't have been concerned, as it actually turned out to be the perfect length of time to enjoy everything a couple of times and my children had a great choice of rides to go on. Our only slight disappointment was that there were no dodgems, which is my eldest sons favourite, but he soon got over this after finding plenty of other fun things to do.

We started with the mini Dragon Coaster which was my youngest sons choice. This is basically a mini rollercoaster that travels at slow speed, making it ideal for little ones. Fortunately my older two children enjoy spending time with their little brother, so they were also happy to go on the smaller rides with him to keep him company.

We then moved on to the large inflatable slide which is recommended as being suitable for ages 5+. The member of staff running this controlled the queue well and would only allow one person up the slide at a time to ensure safety. My daughter also tried to go on this, but was slightly taller than the height limit so was turned away and although she was slightly disappointed, I was happy to see that safety rules were being followed and enforced. My two boys loved this slide however and travelled down really fast numerous times.

As Emma had been unable to go on the slide, I told her to choose where she would like to go next, so she picked the large swing chair ride and enjoyed a couple of goes on that whilst her brothers went on the mini train ride next to it. She then moved on to something a little more fast paced and hopped on to the waltzers, whilst her brothers had a second turn on the train. Before we knew it the first hour had passed so we decided to grab a seat and have a drink.


The food and drink costs would be my only complaint about the event as they were expensive. Obviously you dont HAVE to purchase anything and this is optional, but in three hours most people are likely to need a drink and I was a little annoyed at having to pay £2.50 each for a can. The food was also overpriced, but luckily my children have a good sense of value and refused to let me buy anything hot, instead suggesting that we went to a bakery on the way home to get some sausage rolls and cakes. I did however buy two bags of candyfloss for them to pick at throughout the morning which cost £2 per bag.

Once we had finished our drinks we continued around the funfair and Riley went on the Mini Miami which he absolutely loved. It would have been nice to have also had a full size version of this, as it is always a popular ride, but Riley absolutely loved the mini version and was even brave enough to put his arms in the air (well for a millisecond anyway)!

Other favourites included The Frogs, The Helter Skelter and The Funhouse, which my children went on numerous times. Again time had passed quickly and we soon realised that there was only half an hour left, so we made our way over to the Energiser Assault Course. This is an absolutely huge inflatable which took up an entire wall of the exhibition hall and is packed full of obstacles and slides. My children thought this was fantastic and spent the entire remainder of our time at the attraction on this inflatable, taking it in turns to race one another.


Overall we had a great time and felt that the £10 entry fee being charged was very reasonable for what was on offer. We have been to travelling funfairs before that tend to charge around £2.50 per ride, so considering that you can go on the Indoor Funfair rides an unlimited amount of times in three hours, it really is great value for money. I felt that the event was well organised, secure and safe which are all essential elements when organising a family event and all of the staff that we interacted with were friendly and helpful. My only criticism would be the costs of the food and the games because whilst these are optional expenses, it is highly likely that children are going to want to try them at some point during the visit.

The Indoor Funfair will be at the Exhibition Centre in Liverpool until Monday 22nd April. There are three times slots available each day which are 10am til 1pm, 2pm til 5pm or 6pm til 9pm. Entry costs £10 per person for unlimited rides, £2 for a spectator and Under 3's go free. Height and age restrictions apply to some rides and there are also additional charges for the games and food stalls.

For full information on this event or to book tickets, you can visit the Indoor Funfair website or their social media pages on the following channels:

Website - https://indoorfunfair.org/liverpool
Twitter - @indoorfunfairuk
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/IndoorFunfair/
Instagram - @indoorfunfair


*Disclaimer - We were invited to this event and provided with complimentary wristbands for the purpose of writing an honest review of our experience.

Monday 18 February 2019

Gandey's Circus - The Greatest Show Tour - A Review

We were recently invited along to Gandey's Circus which is currently at Aintree in Liverpool until the 3rd of March as part of its current UK tour. I haven't visited the circus since I was a young child and was therefore excited and intrigued to experience the 'The Greatest Show' and find out exactly what it could offer for family entertainment.

From the moment we arrived my youngest son Riley was amazed by the giant circus tent and kept asking what would be inside. He was running around excitedly trying to take a peek through the entrance whilst I was waiting to collect our tickets from the box office. He soon stopped in his tracks though as the smartly dressed ringmaster walked past and gave him a smile and a wave.

Once we had collected our tickets, we made our way into the foyer area where there was a variety of food and drink stands, along with a stall that sold the popular flashing toys and wands. Riley immediately spotted a brightly coloured sword that had colour changing lights and was priced at £6. I felt that this was very reasonable compared to some event stalls that we have seen before, so I had no issue in purchasing one for him to wave around.


As we entered the show arena, we handed over our ticket and were directed where to take our seats. The seats aren't numbered so you can simply choose where you would like to sit, as long as it is in the area that you have paid for. We managed to get some great seats a few rows up from the front, which gave us a great view throughout the show. The time slot we attended was really popular so whilst waiting for all the guests to take their seats there was also the opportunity to have your face painted or have a mascot photograph in the circus ring for a small charge, which I thought was a great idea.

Once everyone was seated the show began to start and we were introduced to the full cast singing and performing. It was a superb beginning and really set the standard high. My children were in their element singing and clapping along and they sat captivated waiting to see what happened next.

The show advertising states "You've never seen anything like it!" and they are not wrong. Every single act which took to the ring was absolutely incredible and the talent of each person was outstanding. The acrobats spun and flew through the air as they attempted high flying flips and bounces on a thin bar supported only by the strength of two people. My whole family watched in amazement as the acts continued, always excited to see what was next.

The Garcia Brothers performed an act of amazing strength as they balanced on one hand whilst carrying out a superb gymnastic routine. They made everything look so easy, yet in reality it must take so many years of training to get to the high standard they are at. We really liked the fact that each act had a great soundtrack to it with popular well known songs that matched perfectly to the performance.


One of my favourite acts of the evening was a romantic aerial ballet performance that had me completely mesmerised. An extremely talented duo climbed high above the ring and supported themselves on the silk drapes whilst providing a breathtaking and beautiful display together involving acrobatics, spins, drops and dance. However, just when we thought it couldn't get anymore spectacular, we were presented with the giant space wheel and sat on the edge of our seats as two extremely talented acrobats attempted somersaults, runs and flips whilst the wheel spun round at speed. They even attempted it whilst blindfolded which was unbelievable!

In between all the acts the audience was kept entertained by loveable clown Chico Rico who provided plenty of belly laughs and fun. There were also numerous opportunities for audience participation along with jokes and comedy suitable for the whole family.

Before we knew it the first half was over and it was the interval. The show was so fast paced and entertaining that an hour had passed really quickly. The 15 minute break allowed plenty of time to purchase some snacks or pop to the toilet and there was a further opportunity again for face painting in the circus ring along with a raffle to win a cuddly toy.


The second half was just as incredible as the first and at one point the award winning circus stars Duo Garcia performed high flying acrobatics on a soaring rocket that spun at speed around the circus top. It definitely had an element of fear and at one point one of the performers was hanging by only one foot at a great height with NO safety nets. It was definitely a heart stopping moment!

The finale saw three motorbikes enter the 'globe of death' which saw them drive around at speed whilst narrowly avoiding one another. At some points it literally looked like they were only millimetres away from one another and that they could collide at any moment, but incredibly they completed the act with precision to a great round of applause.


Overall this circus show was everything we had hoped it would be and more. It was absolutely action packed from start to finish and my children have not stopped talking about it since. Everything from the dazzling costumes to the music was just perfect and it was quite incredible to see so many talented performers all in one show. Gandeys Circus The Greatest Show really does live up to it's name and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this tour to families.

For further information and full tour dates you can visit the Gandeys Circus website or their social media pages which can be found on the following channels:

Website: www.gandeyscircus.com
Facebook: facebook.com/gandeyscircus/
Twitter: @gandeyscircus
Instagram: @gandeys_circus

*Disclaimer - We were provided with a complimentary family ticket for the purpose of writing an honest review of the show. Opinions are my own unless otherwise stated.

Saturday 6 October 2018

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Pantomime at the Epstein Theatre, Liverpool - December 2018

Heigh-ho, Heigh-Ho, it's off to the Epstein Theatre we go as the cast of LHK Productions' Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs came together this week to launch the show, which is on at the Hanover Street venue from Friday 7th December 2018 to Wednesday 2nd January 2019.

Cast members braved the cold to pose for pictures along The Strand - capturing Liverpool's beautiful and famous cityscape, before heading to The Epstein Theatre where press and VIP's got a sneak peek at what they can expect this Christmas.

Radio City 2's Claire Simmo, who stars at the Fairy, hosted the event - and was on hand to introduce her fellow cast members.

Photo credit: David Munn Photography
Leading the all-star cast is The Queen of Clean, How Clean is Your House? star Kim Woodburn as the Wicked Queen.

Television presenter and expert cleaner, Kim Woodburn is best known for presenting Channel 4 show How Clean in Your House? from 2003-2009, which also led to a Canadian version called Kim's Rude Awakenings from 2007-2009.

The television personality has also remained a household name with appearances on the ninth series of I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here! finishing runner up in 2009, and entered the Celebrity Big Brother house as a housemate on the nineteenth series in 2017 where she made it to the final and finished in third place.

Britain's best loved and most entertaining medium, Derek Acorah, will be using his psychic ability to declare who is the fairest of them all as he appears as the Magic Mirror via the power of video projection.

The Liverpool born star is most notable for his work on British paranormal reality television series Most Haunted from 2002-2005. He has since starred in numerous tv shows including Derek Acorah's Quest for Guy Fawkes and Derek Acorah's Ghost Towns. He also competed in the twentieth series of Celebrity Big Brother in 2017 finishing in fourth place.

Britain's Got Talent star Lewis Pryor storms back on the Epstein stage after taking audiences on a highflying adventure to Neverland last Christmas as Peter Pan, who returns as Muddles. The young star finished 3rd place during the live finals of the 2016 series of the ITV show with dance troupe Boogie Storm.

Michael Chapman never fails to have audiences rolling in the aisles laughing and he is certain to keep everyone on their toes with his hilarious comedy antics as he makes a welcome return as Liverpool's favourite Dame.

New cast additions include Mia Molloy who returns to play Snow White after dazzling as Jill in Easter's Jack and the Beanstalk, and Liverpool actor Alex Patmore, who is currently playing Bobby in the UK tour of Cilla the Musical, will play Prince Charming.

During the afternoon guests were treated to a special performance from Mia Molloy and Lewis Pryor who sang their solos - wowing audiences with their vocals!

Producer Lee Kelly then made a very exciting announcement, revealing that he will be holding open auditions to find the hottest new talent for the senior dancer roles in the production. Further details about the auditions will be released in the coming weeks.

Lee said: "What a great way to officially start the countdown to Christmas! It has been a fantastic day bringing the cast together and it has got us all in the festive spirit and excited to bring the show to Liverpool audiences. Be sure to book your tickets and join us at the Epstein Theatre this Christmas - just 9 weeks and counting until we open!"

A timeless tale and one of the nation's favourite pantomimes, follow the story of the beautiful princess Snow White, as she tries to escape the clutches of her evil step mother, who's one aim is to become 'the fairest of them all'.

After fleeing the Kingdom to escape the Wicked Queen's evil plans, Snow White seeks refuge with seven dwarfs living in the forest.

Complete with wonderful songs and choreography as well as poisoned apples, magic mirrors and of course that much loved panto magic, Snow White will have audiences on the edge of their seat.

Heigh-ho, Heigh-ho, it's off to the Epstein we go this Christmas!

Please note: Kim Woodburn will not be appearing in any of the 10am performances. Derek Acorah will appear by the power of video projection and does not appear in person.

Photo Credit: David Munn Photography
Listing Details

Show - Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Dates - Friday 7th December 2018 to Wednesday 2nd January 2019
Times - Performance times vary so please visit The Epstein Theatre website for further details.
Venue - The Epstein Theatre, Hanover House, 85 Hanover Street, Liverpool, L1 3DZ

Tickets -
Opening Night Ticket Offer: Friday 7th December - All tickets £13
Special Offer: Wednesday 26th December 5pm & Monday 31st December 5:30pm - All tickets £15.50

Sat and Sun performances and Monday 31st December 1pm, Tuesday 1st January & Wednesday 2nd January: Adult £19.50 / Concession £17.50 / Family £65

All other performances: Adult £18.50 / Concession £16.50 / Family £63

There are also a limited number of £11 tickets available on all performances from Friday 7th December to Monday 10th December.

*Tickets are subject to booking fee. All prices include a £1 per ticket venue restoration levy.

To book tickets you can ring the box office on the number below or visit the website.

Box Office - 0844 888 4411
Website - www.epsteinliverpool.co.uk

Tickets can also be booked in person at the theatre box office (open 2pm-6pm Mon-Thu & 12pm-6pm Fri-Sat)

Alternatively you can book tickets via TicketQuarter by calling 0844 8000 410 or visit www.ticketquarter.co.uk.

Disclosure: This is a press release from the Epstein Theatre. Details provided are believed to be correct at time of publishing, but are subject to change. I would therefore always recommend visiting the venue's own website in order to obtain the most up to date information.

Monday 1 October 2018

Winter Wonderland at St Luke's "Bombed-Out" Church, Liverpool 1st to 23rd December 2018 - Competition!

One of Liverpool's most iconic landmarks will be transformed into a magical, immersive, Christmas attraction for 2018.

St Luke's "Bombed-Out" Church, situated at the top of Bold Street, will be turned into a Winter Wonderland for almost four weeks this festive season and is set to become the 'must-visit' Christmas Grotto experience of the year in Liverpool.

Set against beautiful and atmospheric festive backdrops and with lots to explore, families will be escorted by an elf and immersed into their very own Christmas spectacular full of festive characters, workshops and fun activities.

Winter Wonderland at St Luke's "Bombed-Out" Church will take place between Saturday 1st December and Sunday 23rd December 2018, with sessions available to pre-book now.

Fondly known as the 'Bombed-Out' Church, St Luke's is one of Liverpool's best loved heritage sites. The festive attraction will transform St Luke's and its grounds in a way which has never been seen before. The interior of St Luke's will be transformed into a Winter Wonderland, where families can make their way through a whole host of activities which includes a special appointment with Santa during the experience.

Two-hour timeslots are available to book in advance and the Winter Wonderland ticket price includes Santa's Workshop where youngsters can make their own bauble or Christmas Card to take home; art sessions at Mrs Claus's Art Studio; build and dress up a snowbuddy in hats and scarves in the Snowland; storytelling in Storyland with characters; show off fun dance moves in the Silent Disco; and not forgetting a trip into Santa's Grotto with a gift and framed photograph with Santa to take home. Adults are also treated to a hot drink and mince pie.

Ms Christmas from Enchanted Productions said: "We are so excited to be bringing to Liverpool a brand-new, top-quality immersive Grotto experience that hasn't been seen before, and in such an iconic and historic location! It is going to be a really magical and unique attraction for the festive season, for the whole family to enjoy."

For further information, you can visit their social media channels which are:

Facebook - StLukesConservationTrust
Twitter - @bombedoutchurch

Listing Details

Event - Winter Wonderland at St Luke's "Bombed Out" Church
Dates - Saturday 1st December to Sunday 23rd December 2018
Tickets - Children £18.99 / Adults £12.99 / Family Ticket (2 adults, 2 children) £59.99
Early Bird Ticket Offer - Quote SANTA1 when booking for a 20% discount for the first two weeks on-sale. This will be valid for sessions booked for the first two weeks of December only (excluding weekends).
Booking - Bookings can be made online at www.ticketquarter.co.uk, by telephone on 0844 8000 410 or in person at the Liverpool Echo Arena Box Office - Kings Dock.

Photo credit: David Munn 

Competition

We also have a fantastic competition for our readers, offering you the chance to win a family ticket to Winter Wonderland at St Luke's "Bombed-Out" Church in Liverpool for either the 3rd, 4th or 5th of December 2018. Please read through the terms and conditions and then enter using the gleam app below. Good Luck!

Win a Family Ticket to Winter Wonderland at St Luke's "Bombed Out" Church, Liverpool

Terms and Conditions

  • There is 1 (one) prize of a family ticket (2 adults, 2 children) to attend the St Luke's "Bombed-Out" Church Winter Wonderland Grotto, for either the 3rd, 4th or 5th December 2018. Prize can be used on 1 (one) of these dates only and tickets are not transferable to an alternative date.
  • Entry is open to UK residents aged 18 years or over.
  • Competition closes on the 31st October 2018.
  • Winner will be drawn and notified within 3 working days of the closing date.
  • The winner shall have 7 (seven) days to respond to the winning notification and confirm their acceptance of the prize. Should the winner fail to respond, then an alternative winner shall be drawn from the remaining eligible entrants.
  • No bulk or third party entries.
  • Winner's details shall be shared with the promoter for the purpose of prize fulfilment and permission shall be obtained from the winner prior to doing so.
  • The family ticket is not transferable
  • If circumstances arise that prevent the event from going ahead as planned, then It's A Family Adventure accepts no liability and no alternative prize will be offered.
  • Entries shall be validated to confirm that the entry action has been completed as stated. Incorrect or invalid entries shall be removed.

Saturday 22 September 2018

Dates for your Diary - Bing Live! Coming to the Epstein Theatre, Liverpool in March 2019!

Calling all "Bingsters"! Bing and his friends are going on tour in the first ever Bing stage show! Bing Live! will visit Liverpool's Epstein Theatre on Tuesday 19th March to Wednesday 20th March as part of a major UK tour through to April 2019, and tickets are on-sale now!

Join Bing, Sula, Coco and Pando as they learn how to tell stories by pretending, dressing-up and singing songs. Flop and Amma are there to help, but in this magical world of make-believe things don't always go according to plan...

The CBeebies favourites are brought to life in a brand-new stage production full of fun, laughter, music and magical puppetry. Bing Live! is the perfect first theatre trip for pre-schoolers and their families.

Going to the theatre....it's a Bing thing!


Bing Live! is produced by Minor Entertainment (In the Night Garden Live) and directed by Will Tuckett, guest principal character artist of the Royal Ballet, whose production of Wind in the Willows won an Olivier Award for Best Entertainment in 2014.

The show will also bring together a first-class creative team. Bing Live! is adapted for the stage by Helen Eastman with costumes and puppet design by Tahra Zafar. As Head of Costume, Hair and Make-Up for the Olympic and Paralympic Opening and Closing Ceremonies staged in London 2012, Tahra managed the production of 23,000 costumes for all four Ceremonies. Her film projects include: Star Wars VII The Force Awakens, X Men First-Class, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and The Fifth Element and for television: In the Night Garden, Zingzillas and The Adventures of Abney and Teal.

The show will have music by Alex Silverman, sound by Rich Walsh and set design by Samuel Wyer. The cast of Bing Live are Mia Jerome, Michael Magennis, Hayley Murray, Will Palmer, Alice De Warrenne and Nia Walsh.

Since its launch on CBeebies, Bing has been a huge ratings hit and is the number one pre-school show on BBC iPlayer.

Celebrating the joyful, messy, reality of preschool life, Bing finds the big stories in the smallest moments that little ones and the grown-ups in their lives will recognise...whether it's dropping your ice-cream or losing your favourite toy.

The series has won an International Emmy Award in the Kids' Pre-School category in 2016, a Writer's Guild Award and a BAFTA nomination for Best Pre-School Series. The animated series, which saw Mark Rylance make his children's television debut voicing Flop, is produced by Acamar Films.

Andrew Collier, Creative Director of Minor Entertainment, said "We're thrilled to be bringing Bing to the stage - we know families throughout the UK love Bing as much as we do, and we can't wait to see children's faces light up when they meet him at the theatre for the first time."

Mikael Shields, CEO of Acamar Films and producer of Bing said: "Seeing Bing take a leap from the screen to the stage is hugely exciting for all of us at Acamar. We are thrilled to be working with Minor Entertainment to bring the 'Bing Live' shows to our young audience. Introducing Bing fans to possibly their first experience of theatre is a tremendous creative challenge and Minor has shown imaginative flair, exceptional attention to detail, and their passion for bringing preschool characters to life has been evident throughout our collaboration with them. We can't wait to watch the reaction from Bingsters to seeing Bing and Flop on stage next year."

Listing Details

Show - Bing Live!
Venue - The Epstein Theatre, Hanover House, 85 Hanover Street, Liverpool, L1 3DZ
Date - Tuesday 19th to Wednesday 20th March 2019
Times - Tuesday 19th 1pm & 4pm / Wednesday 10am & 1pm
Tickets - Adults £18.50 / Children £16.50

To book tickets please call 0844 888 4411* or go online at www.epsteinliverpool.co.uk* or in person at The Esptein Theatre Box Office from 12pm - 6pm Monday to Saturday.

*Subject to booking fee. All prices include a £1 per ticket venue restoration levy.


Disclaimer: Details provided are believed to be correct at time of writing, but are subject to change. I would therefore always recommend visiting the venue's own website in order to obtain the most up to date information.

Thursday 13 September 2018

Dates for your Diary - Guess How Much I Love You at the Epstein Theatre, Liverpool - 16-17th October

The much-loved classic children's book, Guess How Much I Love You, will play across the UK this Autumn and visits Liverpool's Epstein Theatre on Tuesday 16th and Wednesday 17th of October.

Following a West End run at the Arts Theatre and spring tour earlier this year, Selladoor Family and ABA International Touring UK announce the Autumn tour of the stage adaptation of this world-famous book, published by Walker Books - written by Sam McBratney and illustrated by Anita Jeram.

Join Little and Big Nutbrown Hare, from the best-selling Guess How Much I Love You and I Love You All Year Round collection, as they leap off the page and onto the stage in this magical journey through the seasons.

Watch and join in as Little and Big Nutbrown Hare settle down after a bedtime story and re-awaken to discover the delights and colours of each season as they compete to measure their love for each other in this timeless loveable story.

Cast includes Gemma Higgins as Little Nutbrown Hare, Daniel Harkin as Big Nutbrown Hare and Jessica Dives as Mother Nature.

Photo Credit: Barry Rivvett
Guess How Much I Love You is directed by Anna Fox, with music composed by Harry Sever and movement by Lucie Pankhurst. Sound design is by Yvonne Gilbert and lighting design by Charlie Morgan Jones. Explore this playful story of love and nature as it unfolds on stage through puppets, live music and interactive play for children aged 3 and up.

The family favourite is brought to life by Selladoor Family, the producers behind James and the Giant Peach, Seussical and The Owl And The Pussycat and ABA International Touring (UK) Ltd whose current tours include What the Ladybird HeardHairy Maclary and Friends, and Shark in the Park.

David Hutchinson Executive Creative Producer for Selladoor says "Following our short UAE tour in 2017 and a successful season in the West End and UK, we are delighted to bring Sam McBratney's beautiful story of friendship and discovery this Autumn, with Anita Jeram's beloved illustrations hopping from page to stage. Adapted faithfully from the household favourite book, Guess How Much I Love You is an affectionate, gentle and interactive story that both parents and children can enjoy together as the perfect introduction into live theatre."

You can find out more information on the following social media pages:

Facebook - www.facebook.com/guessuktour
Twitter - @GuessUKTour

Listing Details

Show - Guess How Much I Love You
Dates - Tuesday 16th October & Wednesday 17th October
Times - Tuesday 1:30pm & 4:30pm / Wednesday 11am & 1:30pm
Venue - The Epstein Theatre, Hanover House, 85 Hanover Street, Liverpool, L1 3DZ
Tickets - Adults: £13.50, Children £12.50, Family Ticket £45

*Tickets are subject to booking fee. All prices include a £1 per ticket venue restoration levy.

To book tickets you can ring the box office on the number below or visit the website.

Box Office - 0844 888 4411
Website - www.epsteinliverpool.co.uk

Tickets can also be booked in person at the theatre box office (12-6pm Monday to Saturday)

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 venue's own website in order to obtain the most up to date information.

Sunday 26 August 2018

Dates for your Diary - Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs at Liverpool Epstein Theatre



The cast of this year's Christmas panto from LHK Productions will certainly scrub up well as producers today announce that The Queen of Clean, How Clean Is Your House? star Kim Woodburn will appear as the Wicked Queen in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

Coming to the Epstein Theatre Liverpool, this festive holiday season from Friday 7th December 2018 to Tuesday 1st January 2019, the cast also includes renowned spiritualist medium Derek Acorah; Radio City 2's Claire Simmo; the hilarious Lewis Pryor; and everyone's favourite dame - Michael Chapman. There is also further casting to be announced shortly.

Television presenter and expert cleaner, Kim Woodburn is best known for present Channel 4 show How Clean Is Your House? from 2003-2009, which also led to a Canadian version called Kim's Rude Awakenings from 2007-2009.

The television personality has also remained a household name with appearances on the ninth series of I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! finishing runner up in 2009, and entered the Celebrity Big Brother house as a housemate on the nineteenth series in 2017 where she made it to the final and finished in third place.

Britain's best loved and most entertaining medium, Derek Acorah, will be using his psychic ability to declare who is the fairest of them all, as he appears as the Magic Mirror via the power of video projection.

The Liverpool born star is most notable for his work on British paranormal reality television series Most Haunted from 2002-2005. He has since starred in numerous tv shows including Derek Acorah's Quest for Guy Fawkes and Derek Acorah's Ghost Towns. He also competed in the twentieth series of Celebrity Big Brother in 2017 finishing in fourth place.

She brought lots of sparkle and magic to Easter's Jack and the Beanstalk as Fairy Moonbeam, and now one of the city's best loved radio hosts - voice of the airwaves, Radio City 2's Claire Simmo is back this Christmas as the Fairy.

Britain's Got Talent star Lewis Pryor storms back on to the Epstein stage after taking audiences on a high-flying adventure to Neverland last Christmas as Peter Pan, who returns as Muddles.

The young star finished 3rd place during the live finals of the 2016 series of the ITV show with dance troupe Boogie Storm. No stranger to the Liverpool stage, Lewis is currently training at Jelli Studios and has previously studied at Liverpool Empire Youth Theatre and the Jennifer Ellison Fame Academy.

Michael Chapman never fails to have audiences rolling in the aisles laughing and he is certain to keep everyone on their toes with his hilarious comedy antics as he makes a welcome return as Liverpool's favourite Dame.

LHK Productions Managing Director Lee Kelly said: "I am absolutely delighted with this year's cast! I am so excited to be working with Kim Woodburn - she will bring her feisty personality to the role of the Wicked Queen and I know audiences will love her; and home-grown talent Derek Acorah is one of the nation's best-known mediums and will be a fantastic addition to the cast as the Magic Mirror.

There are also some returning favourites with Claire Simmo who is always a pleasure to work with, the hilarious Lewis Pryor, and of course no LHK production would be complete without Michael Chapman.

We are back this Christmas better than ever before! 2017's Peter Pan was our biggest year to date and 2018's Snow White promises to be even bigger. With this phenomenal cast and plenty more tricks up our sleeves Liverpool audiences are in for a real treat this Christmas, so be sure to book your tickets fast!"

A timeless tale and one of the nation's favourite pantomimes, follows the story of the beautiful princess Snow White, as she tries to escape the clutches of her evil stepmother, who's one aim is to become 'the fairest of them all'.

After fleeing the Kingdom to escape the Wicked Queen's evil plans Snow White seeks refuge with seven dwarfs living in the forest.

Complete with wonderful songs and choreography as well as poisoned apples, magic mirrors and of course that much loved panto magic, Snow White will have audiences on the edge of their seat.

Heigh-ho, Heigh-ho, it's off to the Epstein we go this Christmas!

Listing Details

Important Note: Kim Woodburn will not be appearing in the 10am performances.

Show - Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Dates - Friday 7th December 2018 to Tuesday 1st January 2019
Times - Performance times vary so please visit The Epstein Theatre website for further details.
Venue - The Epstein Theatre, Hanover House, 85 Hanover Street, Liverpool, L1 3DZ

Tickets -
Opening Night Ticket Offer: Friday 7th December - All tickets £13
Special Offer: Wednesday 26th December 5pm & Monday 31st December 5:30pm - All tickets £15.50

Sat and Sun performances and Monday 31st December 1pm and Tuesday 1st January: Adult £19.50 / Concession £17.50 / Family £65

All other performances: Adult £18.50 / Concession £16.50 / Family £63

There are also a limited number of £11 tickets available on all performances from Friday 7th December to Monday 10th December.

*Tickets are subject to booking fee. All prices include a £1 per ticket venue restoration levy.

To book tickets you can ring the box office on the number below or visit the website.

Box Office - 0844 888 4411
Website - www.epsteinliverpool.co.uk

Tickets can also be booked in person at the theatre box office (open 2pm-6pm Mon-Thu & 12pm-6pm Fri-Sat)

Alternatively you can book tickets via TicketQuarter by calling 0844 8000 410 or visit www.ticketquarter.co.uk.

Wednesday 8 August 2018

Paw Patrol Live! "The Great Pirate Adventure" - Review

After a very early start this morning, we made our way on the train to the James Street Station in Liverpool, which is a short distance from the Echo Arena. We enjoyed a nice stroll along the waterfront, whilst Riley became increasingly excited as we approached the venue. Everywhere we turned there were children dressed as their favourite Paw Patrol characters and Riley was no exception as he skipped along in his Chase costume.

On arrival at the venue, we collected our tickets from the box office and made our way through the bag check and entry line, before being handed a cardboard pirate flag by a member of staff for Riley to wave throughout the show. There was plenty of merchandise on sale including some Tracker soft toys which I have not seen before, but as with any live entertainment venue they were slightly overpriced and fortunately I managed to distract Riley as we made our way past the stall.

Our seats were located in the lower tier which provided a great view of the stage. I noticed that the floor seats were all the same level which would have annoyed Riley if there was a grown-up sat in front of him, so I was more than happy with our location as it meant that we could see the stage perfectly.

As the start time of 10am approached, the music began to play and we were provided with a 3 minute warning that the show was about to begin. Shortly after the curtains opened and we were introduced to Cap'n Turbot on the stage who gets into trouble whilst trying to take a photograph of the Pirate Parrot. Meanwhile Mayor Goodway, Ryder and the Paw Patrol team are enjoying preparing for the Adventure Bay Pirate Day Celebration with plenty of singing and dancing for families to enjoy.


Paw Patrol Live! "The Great Pirate Adventure" allows audiences to join Chase, Marshall, Rubble, Skye, Rocky and Zuma as they embark on a quest to save Cap'n Turbot from a dark and mysterious cavern. However, whilst completing their rescue mission, the pups discover a secret pirate treasure map that leads them on an epic journey to find the treasure, with lots of twists and turns along the way.

The sound quality was fantastic and as the loud theme tune echoed around the arena, children were up out of their seats and dancing along. The costumes were superb, just like in their previous tour of Paw Patrol Live! Race to the Rescue and a lot of effort has clearly gone into the production. Riley's face lit up as Rubble & Chase appeared in their vehicles, which again had great attention to detail.

As the Paw Patrol team solved the treasure map clues, Mayor Humdinger created problems, which the team managed to work their way through using each pups special skills. Towards the end of the show the pups found themselves in a sticky situation as they became trapped in sinking sand, but Skye and the fabulous Tracker managed to rescue them much to the delight of the audience! Riley was so happy to see Tracker make an appearance and he loved the song that welcomed him to the stage.

The show had a running time of 85 minutes with a 15 minute interval, which did start to feel quite long towards the end. Riley usually manages to sit an hour at a show comfortably so this was a little longer than he was used to, but with the help of some snacks there was no issue and he managed to hold his concentration. He also asked to see the show again as soon as it had ended, so the running time clearly hadn't bothered him.

Overall we found it to be a great show that was well suited to its target audience. The costumes, music and scenery were great and the story was very easy to follow. The atmosphere was very relaxed so it was great to see everyone up on their feet dancing and singing along, making it fantastic children's entertainment.


Tickets are on sale now and are available to purchase from www.pawpatrollive.co.uk

The remaining tour dates are as follows:
  • Wednesday 8th August - Echo Arena, Liverpool
  • Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th August - Manchester Arena, Manchester
  • Wednesday 15th August - Fly DSA Arena, Sheffield
  • Saturday 18th August - Arena Birmingham
  • Wednesday 22nd August - Motor Point Arena, Cardiff
  • Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th August - The SSE Arena, Wembley, London
  • Wednesday 29th August - First Direct Arena, Leeds
  • Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd September - Windsor Hall, Bournemouth International Centre
  • Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th September - Brighton Centre, Brighton
*Disclaimer - We were invited as guests to the show for the purpose of providing an honest review of the production. Opinions and thoughts are my own.

Monday 6 August 2018

Family Fun at the CBBC Summer Social, Liverpool - A Review

This weekend, the wonderful city of Liverpool played host to the BBC's biggest ever children's event - the CBBC Summer Social 2018! Featuring a jam packed schedule of entertainment, which combined the very best CBBC talent along with global artists, it certainly provided something for everyone to enjoy at this spectacular family festival.


For the last two weeks my children have talked non stop about the CBBC Summer Social and they have been on countdown to the event, ever since I told them we were attending. My daughter Emma had been on the website and made notes about who she wanted to meet and who was performing and my eldest son Ben had been checking out the stage times so that they could plan the day around their favourite CBBC stars! My youngest son Riley was also looking forward to the event, especially when I told him that Hey Duggee would be performing The Stick Song! Stttiiiiicccckkkkk!

The setting for the CBBC Summer Social, was the beautiful Croxteth Country Park, which is located only a few miles from Liverpool City Centre and was held from Friday 3rd August to Sunday 5th August. The guests and performers varied slightly each day and so after speaking to the children, we decided to attend on the Saturday when most of my children's favourite acts were in attendance.


Our journey from North Wales took approximately 35 minutes and the venue was very easy to find. It was well signposted from the main roads and despite not visiting Croxteth Country Park before, we found the event with ease.

On arrival everything appeared extremely well organised and there were car park attendants on hand to guide guests to the vehicle parking. We had a permit for the day, but I believe that parking tickets could also be purchased in advance by guests, or alternatively on the day for £10 subject to availability. I felt that this was a reasonable price for a full day event.

Once parked up, we made our way over to the bag search and again this was very well ran. Bags were searched for prohibited items and it was reassuring to see that security was being taken very seriously. The queue to get in moved quickly and within a few minutes we were on our way into the event, excited about the day ahead.


As we entered the main event site, we saw this super cool inflatable festival map, which showed us where everything was. We loved the bright summery colours and these ran throughout the event creating lovely vibrant surroundings.

After taking a look at the map, we decided to take a walk around together to get our bearings and see where everything was. We intended to stay for the whole day, so we went for a wander so the kids could see where each of the stages were and how to get from place to place. With it being so busy, we also picked a central point where we could meet, if any of us became separated or got lost.

We double checked the schedule for each stage for the day and made a plan of action so they we could enjoy as much as possible from what was on offer. Riley was really excited to spend some time in the Cbeebies Village, where as Emma and Ben were looking forward to all the meet and greets that were available along with the live performances on the Summer Stage. We realised that at some point we would need to separate so that all my children could enjoy what they wanted to do, but this was only for brief moments throughout the day and actually ended up working really well.


After checking the time, we realised that Mr Tumble would soon be taking to the Summer Stage and so we all made our way over to the large grass lawn to grab a spot where we could enjoy the entertainment and some refreshments. Although the whole site was really busy, there was plenty of space and at no point did we feel crowded or enclosed. We found some space and placed our picnic blanket down and Riley and I enjoyed 'Something Special' as we watched Mr Tumble on stage.


The atmosphere was fantastic and the crowd were really responsive, so it was great to see families of all ages jumping up and down and dancing together. Although Emma and Ben have outgrown Mr Tumble now, they did enjoy watching him as toddlers and still catch the occasional episode when Riley is watching Cbeebies, so enjoyed this entertainment too, before heading off to meet the man himself. Unfortunately Riley can be very shy, so was too nervous to meet him, but Mr Tumble very kindly recorded a video message for him to say hello, which I thought was absolutely lovely.


For the next couple of hours, Emma and Ben spent their time between the meet & greet area and the Summer Stage watching the acts in between. They were in their absolute element meeting some of their favourite stars and they managed to get some fantastic pictures throughout the day. Everyone was so friendly and took the time to have a little chat, which made the experience really personal to each guest. The queues did fluctuate throughout the day, depending on who was available for a meet & greet, but these were managed well and there was a board outside the entrance that gave a list of times for each celebrity.


Emma particularly enjoyed meeting MerseyGirls who rose to fame on Britain's Got Talent back in 2017. Not only were they a lovely group of young ladies, but were also fantastic performers and provided the background dancing for some of the artists when they took to the stage.


In addition to the Summer Stage, there were also two other stages which were the Social Stage and the Cbeebies stage. These all provided a fantastic line-up of acts and Riley and I enjoyed a lovely couple of hours watching Cook & Line from Swashbuckle, Dr Ranj and Jobi from Get Well Soon, Go Jetters and the wonderful Hey Duggee with The Stick Song.


Located around each stage was a whole host of other activities to enjoy which included The Worst Witch Spells Academy, Horrible Histories at Croxteth Hall, Football Skills with the Liverpool Football Club Foundation and Everton in the Community, Match of the Day Kickabout and a Boxing Heroes fitness activity to name just a few.


Croxteth Park Farm was also open to guests and it was lovely to take a walk around a working farm and see all of the animals. Rory & Ferne from Vets Tales could also be found there talking about the animals and providing fun facts whilst guests could be seated on hay bales. In the barn across the courtyard a very fun and gooey activity took place in the form of a slime making workshop with Scream Street Slime and the Science Museum, which my children absolutely loved taking part in.


Raven was also at Jungle Parc where you could swing through the trees and solve some clues, however we had not realised beforehand that this was a bookable activity and so we were unable to participate in this. It sounded great fun though and it was our own fault for not double checking at the ticket desk when we first arrived, as the pre-booked activities obviously filled up quickly on a first come first served basis.


One thing that we were extremely impressed with, was the amount of different food stalls available. We regularly attend events and more often than not the food is usually just burgers, chips and hot dogs. However the CBBC Summer Social had a huge array of different food stalls available that catered for all tastes and offered healthy food options too. These were located all around the Summer Stage area and opposite the Social Stage and the choice was fantastic.


For added enjoyment there were fairground rides placed around the site. These did carry an additional charge of £2 a go, but Emma and Ben had focused their attention on all the other activities and so there was only Riley that wanted to have a go on these, which saved me a small fortune. I actually only took £30 in cash with me to the event as I knew that there were cash machines available and I had expected to utilise these, but even after several fairground rides, four ice creams, a helium balloon and some hot food for Mr F, I still came home with £4 change so was very happy with this!


Emma also noticed a CBBC tent that was inviting guests to apply to star on a new CBBC Family Entertainment Programme. She currently attends theatre school and would love to be on television so she was very quick to take the opportunity to fill in the application form. It took her about half an hour to complete and then she took part in a short screen test, where a CBBC representative filmed approximately thirty seconds of footage, so she was very excited to apply for this.


Overall we had an absolutely fantastic time at the CBBC Summer Social and really hope that this becomes an annual event going forwards. There was so much for families to enjoy and we felt that the whole event was really well organised and offered something for everyone. We could have quite happily returned the following day to have made a weekend of it, as there was so much to do we didn't manage to fit it all in. We all loved the CBBC Summer Social and hope to see it become a regular feature on the summer holiday calendar!


Disclaimer: We were invited as guests to the CBBC Summer Social 2018 in order to write an honest review of the event. Opinions and photographs are my own, unless stated otherwise.