tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17049929993427333622024-03-05T03:26:35.537-08:00Hit the NorthDavid Atkinson, an award-winning travel writer, blogging about domestic travel and tourism around England's Northwest and WalesDavid Atkinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06366888064984827603noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704992999342733362.post-39513411318244082432010-01-10T13:34:00.000-08:002010-01-10T13:48:26.251-08:00Hit the North has movedFrom January 2010, Hit the North resides at this <a href="http://nowhitthenorth.wordpress.com/">link</a>.<div><br /></div><div>Please update your address book and thanks for reading.</div>David Atkinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06366888064984827603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704992999342733362.post-8039157587516364372009-10-31T11:01:00.000-07:002009-10-31T13:58:54.394-07:00Back soon<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifKT3LEFB6MfMIsWwfQhgrpMd4NG9B5joLFr-4oItt6qYka6tOPjxMRQ4lx0KEGoRV5EeGhCISrJBGfw27Lw7pSbU2RdtgDu2k_7l9B4flnaMmDqJumcj10vHyQh_cZrmYdn-q-WOgsooo/s1600-h/Lakes+postcard.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 281px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifKT3LEFB6MfMIsWwfQhgrpMd4NG9B5joLFr-4oItt6qYka6tOPjxMRQ4lx0KEGoRV5EeGhCISrJBGfw27Lw7pSbU2RdtgDu2k_7l9B4flnaMmDqJumcj10vHyQh_cZrmYdn-q-WOgsooo/s400/Lakes+postcard.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398826242151252002" /></a><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Hit the North</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> is taking a break in November. </span></span><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Partly because I'll be away with assignments, partly because I'll be away at WTM and partly because I've got a massive deadline to complete my project based around the Lake District.</span></span><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Normal service will resume shortly.<br /></span></span><div><br /></div></div></div>David Atkinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06366888064984827603noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704992999342733362.post-19260354989888143092009-10-23T03:55:00.000-07:002009-10-24T07:23:06.991-07:00The witching hour<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDSmwk7BQWPGaTw66L1_ISMWw6VGMkBIj2Mfza-oj1U9RwKGVd8pU_GvJFFjTK62N5jPxONmqNpfFA84Z1duaz5fb36EqwE1uiHFsqA8ADxsdh6A67ZWDzkDtLZRy6jTYy2o-DobZ33RUb/s1600-h/SANY0046_2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDSmwk7BQWPGaTw66L1_ISMWw6VGMkBIj2Mfza-oj1U9RwKGVd8pU_GvJFFjTK62N5jPxONmqNpfFA84Z1duaz5fb36EqwE1uiHFsqA8ADxsdh6A67ZWDzkDtLZRy6jTYy2o-DobZ33RUb/s400/SANY0046_2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395748157003079170" /></a><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The lady behind</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> the counter of the Lancaster City Museum lingers over the words. "We persecuted people, we locked them up, we killed them," she smiles with a macabre frisson of delight. "The aura of doom and gloom still hangs over the city".</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> I never had Lancaster down as a hotbed of ghoulish goings-on. But, as thoughts turn to things that go bump in the night this week, I find the spectre of Lancaster's grisly past looms ever large over the medieval Market Square.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><a href="http://www.lancsmuseums.gov.uk/"> Lancaster Castle</a>, the ancestral seat of the Dutchy of Lancaster, is forever associated with the Pendle Witch Trails, one of the largest executions for witchcraft ever staged in Britain.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> Seven women and two men from the nearby villages of Pendle Hill lost their lives to the noose in Lancaster on August 20, 1612. Today the castle remains a courthouse and a prison - as it has been since the Middle Ages.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> Exploring the grounds on a chilly winter afternoon, I find the tower (pictured above) where they spent their final hours still stands with its raven-black weather vane, and the place of the public execution is now a weather-stained stone wall behind stout, forbidding railings.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> The group of alleged witches was blamed for the death of 17 of their neighbours with the main evidence against them collected from their own confessions. Their preferred method of evil-doing was, apparently, to make a clay model of their victim.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> Overall, an estimated half million men women and children were burnt at the steak across Western Europe at the 17th-century height of the witch trails.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> King James I of England was obsessed with witchcraft and suspicious of the Catholic faith. Matthew Hopkins, the king's appointed Witchfinder General, had arrested over 120 people in the south of England for witchcraft by his death in 1646.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> The 400th anniversary of the Trails in 2012 will ignite interest in the folklore of the Pendle Witches. Meanwhile, you can follow a brown-sign trail from Lancaster to Clitheroe and onto Barrowford, taking the old gallows road from Lancaster, moving through the Trough of Bowland and culminating with the climb up Pendle Hill, where wolves and wild boar once roamed free.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> Early next year The Lancashire and Blackpool Tourist Board is to launch a series of <a href="http://blog.visitlancashire.com/tl08/2009/10/my-lancashire-travels.html">heritage trails</a>, which will highlight some of the region's lesser-known and macabre attractions.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> But were the Pendle Witches possessed by supernatural powers, or the innocent victims of an age obsessed with the ways of the Wicca?</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> Only by exploring the ancient landscape of Lancashire can we try to uncover the grisly truth.</span></span></span></p> <!--EndFragment-->David Atkinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06366888064984827603noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704992999342733362.post-62882903382682843542009-10-10T03:46:00.000-07:002009-10-10T13:15:24.358-07:00Anyone round here want to hire a travel writer?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvGfefIKSeZGIbiDgVJHgHog8Lp0P0uBdOHgwtwn1CQL0mX7V5crG1kmgD5v_wRNhxltP6lBhXtidECt8Fv-mN7YhYT1HG8Q5yM-CkAWFIITsrKmFDDVmWBime_t4Dv9N8fF8bMNDazPmT/s1600-h/IMG_3885.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvGfefIKSeZGIbiDgVJHgHog8Lp0P0uBdOHgwtwn1CQL0mX7V5crG1kmgD5v_wRNhxltP6lBhXtidECt8Fv-mN7YhYT1HG8Q5yM-CkAWFIITsrKmFDDVmWBime_t4Dv9N8fF8bMNDazPmT/s400/IMG_3885.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390923621001021890" /></a><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Going a bit </span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">off radar this week. I've been down south - no, not Stoke - but that there London for a discussion about the future of travel writing organised by the </span><a href="http://www.bgtw.org/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">British Guild of Travel Writers</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> (BGTW).</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I realise this isn't a Northwest issue per se, but the event highlighted the way we gather our inspiration and information about tourism in our region, and every other region, is changing.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> Put simply, t</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">he future of travel writing in under threat. I'm in this game because I love the craft of writing. And the best travel writing is about people and not places anyway. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">But, as a professional writer (captured on assignment in Belfast, above), the way I work and the way people consume travel writing is moving into uncharted territory. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I'm a writer not a salesman, but I'm going to have to adapt to a changing world - as is everyone working in travel.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Food for thought, so please do post your comments below. Normal service resumes next week ...</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Question for you: what is the future of travel writing? More D-list gimps on an all-exes week in the sun? Yet another creeping-brain-death round up? Or a tag-laden top ten list peppered with SEO (that's Search Engine Optimisation, folks) keywords that makes my shopping list for Tesco look like the latest William Dalrymple?</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">As PRs and members of the BGTW gathered for the October meeting, the real question seemed to be thus: does the future of travel involve any actual, well, writing?</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The BGTW, with its 260-strong, freelance heavy membership, takes pride in the breadth of knowledge amongst its ranks. But this year has been torrid for members. Fewer commissions, reduced rates, let alone the insulting ntion we would actually offer our expertise for no renumeration. Even Sir Cliff Richard is muscling in our patch - as if Mistletoe and Wine wasn't heinous enough.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Guild PR Co-ordinator Sarah Monaghan captured the spirit of the times in her opening address. "Print is dying, so to keep travelling and writing we have to adapt," she says. "Writers need to set up a niche website or blog."</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Fair enough, and some PR companies are now experimenting with bloggers on press trips, but, according to David Ezra, Director of </span><a href="http://www.saltmarshpr.co.uk/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Saltmarsh</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> and </span><a href="http://www.surfpr.co.uk/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Surf PR</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, the industry still wants to support meaty commissions and well-informed comment. "The job of the travel writers isn't dead," he says. "There's still a thirst for expert travel knowledge."</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Saltmarsh have launched spin-off agency, Surf, to handle online travel content. "Clients want to steer traffic back to their websites. They are asking us to watch the blogs - they're like word of mouth on a global scale," he adds.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">One of the major concerns aired on the night was the way that some titles are increasingly sending inexperienced staffers on press to reduce freelance budgets. Having read the weekend papers recently, the effect on quality is already all too manifest.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">From the world of glossy magazines, Guild member Amanda Statham (travel editor of </span><a href="http://www.natmags.co.uk/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Nat Mags</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">' Cosmopolitan and You & Your Wedding) confirmed this. "The editor Cosmo told me she is 'unlikely to pay freelancers for travel copy as staff are still taking trips', while the editor You & Your Wedding has 'no money for travel copy unless very unique'," she says.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">If there's salvation out there, she argues, again it's online. "A good website is driving magazine sales. I can see a time, maybe two years from now, when I will need a budget to keep content up to date, so get involved in the web," she advises.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Jacqueline Mirtelli, Director of PR for the </span><a href="http://uk.franceguide.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">French Government Tourist Office</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, concluded the discussion with a few statistics. Their busy press office generates 400 travel cuttings per month of which 25% are from national papers, 50% from regional papers, 20% consumer magazines and 15% online. "I'm convinced that, in ten years time, the majority will be online," she says.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">So, conclusions then. Guild Membership Secretary Ron Toft advises members to re-invent ourselves. "Adapt or die," he says, citing the four key calls to action as adapt, specialise, market yourself aggressively and sell words-and photos packages.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">BGTW elder statesman John Carter adds: Think about travel content. It's a moving medium so think in terms of pictures and sound."</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">For my own part, I'd add another message for the PRs in the room: be more proactive and less reactive with your approaches. I barely get past the headline of mass-mailing press release before hitting delete. A targeted email saying, "I saw you wrote about this. Did you ever consider following up this angle? Or did you know that this is happening in three months time" will get my full attention and an enthusiastic personal response.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Yes, I know we're all busy. But direct message me on Twitter and it'll only cost you the effort to generate 140 characters. And it could lead to those increasingly rare 1,000 words of in-depth, informed copy that helps to feed my family and keep you in your clients' good books.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Deal?</span></span></div>David Atkinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06366888064984827603noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704992999342733362.post-12504699852029099982009-10-02T01:41:00.000-07:002009-10-03T01:53:10.633-07:00Airport lounging<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP7djvKktTmVV7adsR73Bolv5paVvTivsSkPK6nSHY3Dp_Ji_7KbaL29MNau2Iy55u2tYIC-QBWyX_Lad0QtCssDqTQZbIfDlDjKK5ve0rXKgoZtU2o6zzmTCv-mCq-6dzFv0FsUUdMnj0/s1600-h/SANY0046.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP7djvKktTmVV7adsR73Bolv5paVvTivsSkPK6nSHY3Dp_Ji_7KbaL29MNau2Iy55u2tYIC-QBWyX_Lad0QtCssDqTQZbIfDlDjKK5ve0rXKgoZtU2o6zzmTCv-mCq-6dzFv0FsUUdMnj0/s320/SANY0046.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388063290995716066" /></a><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Eight minutes</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">. That's the average time it now takes - apparently - to pass through security at </span></span><a href="http://www.manchesterairport.co.uk/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Manchester Airport's</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> Terminal One following its £50m refit.</span></span><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I was there on a rainy Manchester afternoon last Friday for a tour of the new airside facilities and set my watch accordingly.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I hate security queues. Liverpool John Lennon Airport has taken a </span></span><a href="http://www.grumpytraveller.com/2009/09/07/liverpool-airport%E2%80%99s-nasty-little-queue-charge/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">slating</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> recently for its handling of security and I long since gave up on London Stansted as a no-go zone.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">So, from the moment we swiped through the tube station-style ticket barrier to the 14-lane security area, the seconds were ticking. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Jacket off, belt off, phone and keys in the plastic box, shoes off (but swiped separately through a machine after the main security gate to avoid doubling back). Once through, I was called over by the attendant to have my phone and laptop checked and scanned again. No reason given why. Then belt and jacket back on, and laptop back in bag. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Total time? Seven minutes. The success rate of hitting the target is currently running around 99% beam airport management with some pride.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The £14m spent on updating the security area is just one aspect of the refurbishment alongside an increased retail offer, a new walk-through series of zones with names like 'Desire' and a brand new Emirates lounge, currently on a soft opening, with hot meals, airside views and remote control toilets. No, really. Just wash n' go.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">But it's queue beating that will warm the autumnal hearts of most passengers. From business travellers cutting it fine for an early-morning flight to families hauling baby and buggy through check in, the delay at security is one of the key factors driving people away from airports and back onto trains.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Manchester Terminal One first opened in 1962 with a capacity for 2.5m passengers. Today it handles 9m people per year, flying Emirates, Swiss and Jet2.com amongst others. According to Managing Director Andrew Cornish, new long-haul routes over the next 18 months are likely to include the American west coast, India and China.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">So, will the facelift, two years in preparation and re-tweaked several times after the 2006 liquid ban and the 2007 Glasgow Airport attack, bring about, as the press release promises, "a return to when the holiday began at the airport"?</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Well, maybe it will help to restore faith in air travel to some extent. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The writer Alain de Botton recently spent a Heathrow's Terminal Five and listed some of things he learnt from the experience in a </span></span><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2009/sep/29/alain-de-botton-philosopher-heathrow"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">blog post</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> for the Guardian.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">From my afternoon at Terminal One I learnt that 17,000 passengers typically pass through Manchester Airport on a Christmas Day, the lemon drizzle cake in the food hall is particularly good, some writers spend their press trip buying leather boots they'll never actually wear (unless staring in their local Pantomime this Christmas) and, best of all, free wifi is coming to Manchester's "international, regional" airport.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The holiday begins here. But ditch the boots, love.</span></span></div>David Atkinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06366888064984827603noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704992999342733362.post-48573628231342558922009-09-27T03:04:00.000-07:002009-09-29T02:34:50.905-07:00And the winner is ...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUf2pYyGtDmTnRTymWJK1du94YBrrnaOM8lxl5ui-AANRp1SsaO8Pv7cZ-JRxs6Jmqk6q7IznAEMwtB7ITXt15hHAUOfiPzGvL3ZuvGnnY47VmerHzNJTYr_ujvHIUgzBIeHmSO07bqKSM/s1600-h/SANY0038.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUf2pYyGtDmTnRTymWJK1du94YBrrnaOM8lxl5ui-AANRp1SsaO8Pv7cZ-JRxs6Jmqk6q7IznAEMwtB7ITXt15hHAUOfiPzGvL3ZuvGnnY47VmerHzNJTYr_ujvHIUgzBIeHmSO07bqKSM/s320/SANY0038.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386087928765269650" /></a><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Bleary eyed this</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> morning on the early train home from Blackpool. Last night was the England's Northwest Tourism Awards with the best of the region gathered together in regeneration-central Blackpool for a night of red wine, back slapping and tourism gongs.</span></span><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">I didn't even have to sneak myself in the back door of the Tower Ballroom (located in the Tower, above) as I was nominated in the travel writer category for a piece in The Observer about </span></span><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2009/may/24/chester-cheese-heritage-travel?page=all"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Chester's food trail</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">And I was staying at </span></span><a href="http://www.numberonehotels.co.uk/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Number One St. Lukes</span></span></a><a href="http://www.numberonehotels.co.uk/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">,</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> one of the new breed of guesthouse trying to drag Blackpool into an new era. The owner poured coffee into me at 6.45am this morning and made me a bacon sandwich for the train. He may just have saved my life.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">So, anyway, scores on the doors: Cumbria four awards; Lancashire four; Chester two; Manchester three and Merseyside four. That's a pretty even distribution across the region on the night. Cue cries of political machinations and Eurovision-style block voting.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Seriously, though, a good night for the Arena and Convention Centre </span></span><a href="http://www.accliverpool.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">(ACC) Liverpool</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">, picking up the Sustainable Tourism and Excellence in Business Tourism awards in recognition of its role in boosting Liverpool as a business tourism destination.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Good news too for </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><a href="http://farmaggedon.co.uk">Farmaggedon near Ormskirk</a></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">, which came from nowhere to pick up the Tourism Experience of the Year. Many farmers re-invent themselves with farm shops and animal petting. This lot took a different angle: zombies.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">And me? Well, looks like I'm to be always the bridesmaid. But at least I turned up.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">The awards are staged by the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) and you can read the full list of winners is </span></span><a href="http:/www.nwda.co.uk/news--events/press-releases.aspx"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">here</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Meanwhile, I need some sleep.</span></span></div>David Atkinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06366888064984827603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704992999342733362.post-67401497787553170102009-09-19T14:34:00.000-07:002009-09-20T13:12:09.093-07:00Cruising for a bruising<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMFhVOsPaDOY0C3F3pZD2Cy1wSttGpPf5htzbBapNxYxgVIwv-OKqUZKpSkpfVHXwVHto_hmfnKEhwhBjhz5p5kA7q53MWj_a47b6N55DWnJKZ1-EyvB-Kaa8tNpu9HkDa0GlYfSIgCqmq/s1600-h/SANY0023.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMFhVOsPaDOY0C3F3pZD2Cy1wSttGpPf5htzbBapNxYxgVIwv-OKqUZKpSkpfVHXwVHto_hmfnKEhwhBjhz5p5kA7q53MWj_a47b6N55DWnJKZ1-EyvB-Kaa8tNpu9HkDa0GlYfSIgCqmq/s320/SANY0023.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383297229842734130" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I've never been</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> taken by the idea of cruising. All those rich Americans, confined spaces and forced-bonhomie deck games before dinner with the crashing bores at the captain's table. Ugh.</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>But </span></span><a href="http://discovercruises.co.uk/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">National Cruise Week</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> kicks off this weekend to attempt to convince us that cruising is the one sector of the travel industry to have put on numbers during the recession. It's a week of events and promotion by umbrella organisation, the <a href="http://the-psa.co.uk/">Passenger Shipping Association</a> (PSA) to raise awareness and highlight new cruise options away from the traditional grab-a-granny image.</span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Good timing then by the Independent newspaper, which reported this weekend on an </span></span><a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/storm-brewing-over-port-expansion-1789789.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">escalating scrap</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> between erstwhile shipping hub Liverpool and latter-day cruisers' fave Southampton.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The Hampshire port is reported to be trying to block Liverpool's plans to upgrade the historic Pier Head, designated a Unesco World Heritage Site in 2004, into a port of embarkation and arrivals.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The owner of Southampton docks, Associated British Ports, has asked the Department for Transport to throw out Liverpool's plans for a turnaround terminal.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>It is said to be furious that Liverpool received £20m in public money to redevelop the City of Liverpool Cruise Terminal at Princes Dock.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>But </span></span><a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/travel-by-numbers-cruises-1789703.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">cruising is booming</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> and surely Liverpool, with its rich maritime heritage and Capital-of-Culture regeneration boost, is an ideal location to develop a new cruise hub?</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Besides, the terminal will welcome the Queen Mary 2, Cunard's flagship cruise liner with 3000+ passengers in October. In March this year the £22m Liverpool Canal Link opened up access to the historic waterfront, generating an expected 200,000 extra visitors and additional tourism spend of £1.9m.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Has Liverpool played dirty? And does the city even want cruise lines chugging up the Mersey? I'll be discussing this topic with Duncan Barkes on </span></span><a href="http://www.citytalk.fm/sectional.asp?id=24973"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">City Talk Breakfast</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> this Tuesday at 7.45am.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Post your comments below and I'll put them on the air.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>David Atkinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06366888064984827603noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704992999342733362.post-60087942999176208862009-09-13T06:05:00.000-07:002009-09-13T06:51:36.219-07:00Above us only sky - or a cynical, money-grabbing owner?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWBcVMh88jQXa5NmO3yXv92-YLNHBSifPTBLrkmWr-165hkPGJN_7Ef33F7BQFHso1UDZX8vltMU4T5r2AXFsQSeVTE7WyswB0-2w1-63n99ZMW4x9mO3p21QAZa1qhUPPdljOrC__5qQl/s1600-h/595px-Airport_Sign.svg.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 318px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWBcVMh88jQXa5NmO3yXv92-YLNHBSifPTBLrkmWr-165hkPGJN_7Ef33F7BQFHso1UDZX8vltMU4T5r2AXFsQSeVTE7WyswB0-2w1-63n99ZMW4x9mO3p21QAZa1qhUPPdljOrC__5qQl/s320/595px-Airport_Sign.svg.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380946795423626754" /></a><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">A bad press</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> this week for Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LJLA) thanks to this </span></span><a href="http://www.grumpytraveller.com/2009/09/07/liverpool-airport%E2%80%99s-nasty-little-queue-charge/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">post</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> by fellow travel blogger, Grumpy Traveller. </span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The main thrust is a bad experience recently, involving the way passengers are encouraged to pay extra to join the Fast Lane queue and speed up their progress through security to the departure gate.<br /></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Making for particularly uncomfortable reading for LJLA is the line: "</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(21, 21, 21); line-height: 17px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Surely Liverpool Airport’s management knows that they’ve got a massive understaffing and queuing problem. Therefore, the only possible conclusion is that this is an act of greedy bastardry on an epic scale."</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The post was just gathering readers across the travel blogs when local newspaper the </span></span><a href="http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-news/regional-news/2009/09/07/12m-expansion-plan-for-liverpool-john-lennon-airport-92534-24622578/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Daily Post reported</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> that LJLA was planning an ambitious £12m expansion to improve security facilities and almost double retail space.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Peel Holdings, which owns LJLA, plus </span></span><a href="http://www.robinhoodairport.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Robin Hood Airport</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> in Doncaster and </span></span><a href="http://www.durhamteesvalleyairport.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Durham Tees Valley Airport</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> in Darlington, said the scheme reflected plans by budget carrier easyJet to move extra flight capacity to Liverpool from Luton and East Midlands airports.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The airport outlines the Fast Lane scheme, which carries a charge of £3 per person (including children), with a </span></span><a href="http://www.liverpoolairport.com/airport-information/fast-lane.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">FAQ</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> on its website, citing the following:</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">"</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Buying a Fast Lane ticket does not guarantee that you won't have to wait in a queue, however, your queuing time will still be shorter when compared to the standard passenger queue and Liverpool John Lennon Airport will always attempt to ensure that your wait time is kept as short as possible."</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Grumpy isn't happy and nor are some of the readers who posted their comments on his blog and below the Daily Post story. But what do you think? Is this a total rip off? Or a logical way to jump the queues - assuming, of course, it even works.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>I'll be discussing this with Duncan Bakes on <a href="http://www.citytalk.fm/sectional.asp?id=24973">City Talk Breakfast</a> this Tuesday from 7.45am and we're hoping to get some response from LJLA about the concerns raised.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Meanwhile, post your comments below and I'll put them on air.</span></div></div>David Atkinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06366888064984827603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704992999342733362.post-9716296382442997442009-09-06T06:44:00.000-07:002009-09-06T08:21:21.139-07:00Claiming back our coastline<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW-xuktcj2mLNqu273bUVGwa_oK0SvcqMrQx-lzDTLqFk0xoDk1LXzyA7cQmldwZqqKab0zBFn-E-jA3oT19gUc_TJkFJcgCXIDkKwhBoujXUSctjWVsrpnRSGUMGfDEjyd0VGfC-j04vl/s1600-h/IMG_4784.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW-xuktcj2mLNqu273bUVGwa_oK0SvcqMrQx-lzDTLqFk0xoDk1LXzyA7cQmldwZqqKab0zBFn-E-jA3oT19gUc_TJkFJcgCXIDkKwhBoujXUSctjWVsrpnRSGUMGfDEjyd0VGfC-j04vl/s400/IMG_4784.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378366278661340530" /></a> <!--EndFragment--> <div><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Fancy a stroll</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> around the coastline of Britain this autumn? That's a mere 2,784 miles if you do. But, if you set out from the Northwest, then you might not get very far.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">In a report published by </span><a href="http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Natural England</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">, an advisory body to the government on the natural environment over the summer, the Northwest faired particularly badly.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Only 44% of the Northwest coastline is accessible - that's 184 miles. But 237 miles of British coastline is not accessible. This reflects industrial use on Merseyside and along the west coast of Cumbria.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">No one in England lives more than 70 miles from the sea but, in the Northwest, you're unlikely to walk for more than a few miles before finding the path blocked off.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The </span><a href="http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/enjoying/places/coastalaccess/englandscoastpath/default.aspx"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">coastal access map</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> was drawn up for the </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><a href="http://www.defra.gov.uk/marine/legislation/">Marine and Coastal Access Bill</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">, which is expected to become law when it passes through Parliament in November.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The Natural England audit forms part of an effort to make England's coastline accessible to walkers. Separate projects operate in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The idea of forming a complete ring around the coast dates back to the 18th century but has been revived in recent years by the ramblers seeking the right to roam.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The 53 councils involved in the mapping project have backed the idea of increased access, doubtless tempted by extra tourism revenues.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">But landowners in some parts of the country have criticised the bill, while military installations and industry oppose the right to roam.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Even The Queen is involved. </span><a href="http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/environment/article6733937.ece#cid=OTC-RSS&attr=1491494"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The Times reports</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> that HRH is likely to be one the first landowners to open up private land on her North Norfolk Sandringham estate for ramblers.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Dr Helen Phillips, Chief Executive of Natural England, said: “The news that the public lack full access to nearly 1000 miles of coastline is a sobering reminder of how much is at stake in the Marine & Coastal Access Bill."</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Do we want to reclaim our coastline in the Northwest? I'll be discussing this topic </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 20px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">with Duncan Barkes on </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><a href="http://www.citytalk.fm/sectional.asp?id=24973">City Talk Breakfast</a></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> this Tuesday from 7.45am. Post your comments below and I'll put them on air.</span></span></span></p> <!--EndFragment--> </div>David Atkinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06366888064984827603noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704992999342733362.post-2206618669934763172009-08-29T08:27:00.000-07:002009-08-29T08:49:57.990-07:00Blackpool, Mon Amour<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVWrINTQ_2a9iExaynT64DLVzaHajP47Jiw78wVibItnGfSrNinARd2u64withkAdgYJSnWFemsxglMM6e_g7AvIEK87dwKpE7or4SDxBIvmdKHoyTGVoho_meXrue2Z8YUwohDTJ1l1AX/s1600-h/SANY0057.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVWrINTQ_2a9iExaynT64DLVzaHajP47Jiw78wVibItnGfSrNinARd2u64withkAdgYJSnWFemsxglMM6e_g7AvIEK87dwKpE7or4SDxBIvmdKHoyTGVoho_meXrue2Z8YUwohDTJ1l1AX/s400/SANY0057.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375412926219759746" /></a><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Michael Notarianni almost</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> whispers it at first. It's nine o'clock in the morning and we're sipping espresso in his seaside cafe. Another fortifying sip and he's ready to say it with pride. "I'm starting to fall in love with Blackpool all over again," he smiles.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Michael is not alone. The archetypal Great British seaside resort has spent years in the wilderness. But a wind of change may finally be blowing in off the Central Promenade these days.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The talk today around Blackpool is of regeneration with a £45m injection of hard currency over the next three years. Redeveloping the seafront is a key element to transform the resort’s tourism industry with improvements to the sea wall, remodeling the seafront and the opening of the Tower Festival Headland, including a 'comedy carpet' with quotes from comedians etched in granite, due for completion in 2010.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Old-school family businesses like </span></span><a href="http://www.notarianniicecreamblackpool.co.uk/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Notarianni's</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">, the only original, ice-cream parlour left in town, are keeping fingers crossed that the resort has finally turned the corner.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Michael's grandfather Luigi, opened the original shop on the seafront in 1928. Today the cafe retains the Art Deco counter and still serves the Notarianni Sundae (£3.60) in the colours of the Italian flag.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Next door at </span></span><a href="http://www.donkeyrides.co.uk/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Brooks Collectables</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">, manager Mark Yates has opened Brooks Museum of Memorabilia upstairs from the shop with vast collections of toys, Blackpool souvenirs and rare pictures of yesteryear Blackpool.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">"Most people don't know about the Art Deco heritage of Blackpool away from all the, err, glitz. The secret, " he adds," is to look up at the tops of the buildings."</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">But can Blackpool really reinvent itself? A handful of local hoteliers have invested heavily in upscale properties, notably The </span></span><a href="http://www.thebeachhouseblackpool.co.uk/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Beach House</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> and </span></span><a href="http://www.langtrysblackpool.co.uk/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Langtrys</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">. Plus there are a few smarter places to eat and drink around town away from the traditional cheap beer, soggy chips and alcopops-fuelled hen parties.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">But for every boutique B&B, there's Freddie Starr at the Central Prom and for every example of Sir Peter Blake's public artwork on the New South Prom art trail, there's a boozed-up stag party downing shots in Yates's Wine Lodge.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> BBC </span></span></span><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/events/blackpool-2009/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Radio 2</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> will be here next weekend to live broadcast the switch on of the illuminations and the Royal Variety Performance will coax the Royals north of Watford for a second time after their foray to Liverpool.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">But will British holidaymakers start to fall in love with Blackpool all over again like Michael? Can Blackpool find a new market away from cheap booze and chips?</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I'll discussing this with Duncan Barkes on </span></span><a href="http://www.citytalk.fm/sectional.asp?id=24973"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">City Talk Breakfast</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> this Tuesday from 7.45am. Post your comments below and I'll put them on air.</span></span></span></p> <!--EndFragment-->David Atkinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06366888064984827603noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704992999342733362.post-64275632342005742332009-08-25T09:23:00.000-07:002009-08-25T11:57:23.172-07:00Way Out West<div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Back on the</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> road and away from the computer to research the latest leg of Cumbria With Kids. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Here's the video blog from the latest journey. If it's slow to download, you can see it here on <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n64k8dT1D3M">YouTube</a> too.</span></span></div><div><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dx3fyFRk5-sVscYdT5OAWI4lFdatGj6UpbtWs49sQxGp9z5J4JIlosmXf04tcopkdr4jwMmi0ccrVKMImXSDg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>David Atkinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06366888064984827603noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704992999342733362.post-52906876764416576922009-08-16T03:18:00.000-07:002009-08-16T03:39:16.952-07:00If the Face Fits<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKQoLl1AKQsj5cml61fYOclA3L_FzdjCA-OGI_K19te_cJEJUmk26tCNaZtUJesrs8Ic2h7CgKUCtpQ4aqOX3uncDsxzMP_pzHLmu5xbciQL1vywv4NAyjYZvEyPvs9tsTEESZLbQu_bT9/s1600-h/IMG_4901.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKQoLl1AKQsj5cml61fYOclA3L_FzdjCA-OGI_K19te_cJEJUmk26tCNaZtUJesrs8Ic2h7CgKUCtpQ4aqOX3uncDsxzMP_pzHLmu5xbciQL1vywv4NAyjYZvEyPvs9tsTEESZLbQu_bT9/s200/IMG_4901.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370505941927821874" /></a><b><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Who is the face of North West tourism? And who would make the best brand ambassador to encourage tourism to the region?</span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I ask the question because the </span></span><a href="http://www.nwda.co.uk/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">North West Regional Development Agency</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> is seeking to recruit two "high profile faces" as part of a new PR push to raise awareness of the region as a </span></span><a href="http://www.visitenglandsnorthwest.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">short-break destination</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> this autumn.</span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Currently, Radio 2 presenter, author and professional Wiganite, </span></span><a href="http://www.stuartmaconie.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Stuart Maconie</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> is handling the task of fronting the campaign.</span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Maconie lives in Birmingham, although he spends much of his free time in Cumbria.</span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The micro site, </span></span><a href="http://www.stuartsstories.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Stuart's Stories</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> has presented travel diary-style pieces that also ran as press advertorials, and a series of podcasts narrated by Maconie to download to your iPod.</span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">It is reported that the campaign has to date produced up to £7.5m worth of coverage, reaching an estimated audience of 15m people.</span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">And, to be fair, he does make an engaging case. I've downloaded a couple of the podcasts myself and have at home a copy of Short Stories for Short Breaks, the accompanying booklet.</span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">But the quest is now on for "high profile brand advocates to create interest and credibility."</span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The new campaign is set to run from September to the end of the year, with an option to extend it through into 2010.</span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Writing for </span></span><a href="http://www.how-do.co.uk/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">How Do</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, the Northwest media website, Russell Craig, Group Head of External Communications, </span></span><a href="http://www.manchesterairport.co.uk/manweb.nsf/Content/AboutUsAndOurGroup"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Manchester Airports Group</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, suggests:</span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">"... some more renowned North West luminaries such as Albert Finney, Ted Robbins, Victoria Wood or my personal vote - Glossop's favourite son and national porn baron, Paul Raymond."</span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Who do you think? Ken Barlow from Corrie? The drummer from ill-fated Chester indie band Mansun? Post-Big Brother Terry Christian.</span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Or should we just give Mark E Smith from The Fall the gig and stand by for an autumn of shambolic ramblings, fisticuffs with journalists and a bust up resulting in Smith sacking the whole band.</span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I'm making light of light, but there is a serious point here. Cynical as I am about any personality-driven pieces in the newspaper travel sections (not Chris Tarrant goes wild salmon fishing in Canada again, please!), I can see the value of a 'face' in this instance.</span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">By giving the editorial a personal, first-person slant from somebody who commands respect due to profile, expertise, or the ability to express themselves in an informative and entertaining, or ideally all three, it does lend gravitas to the campaign.</span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">After all, readers always relate better to editorial that feels like a mate telling them a story down the pub, rather than a big-money corporate behemoth ramming the message down their throat. At least I do.</span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">So, suggestions then.</span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Post them below and I'll put them on air on </span></span><a href="http://www.citytalk.fm/sectional.asp?id=24973"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">City Talk Breakfast</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> with Duncan Barkes this Tuesday at 7.45am.</span></span></span></span></p> <!--EndFragment--> <p></p> <!--EndFragment--> </b><p></p> <!--EndFragment-->David Atkinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06366888064984827603noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704992999342733362.post-36312213804796399242009-08-09T08:24:00.000-07:002009-08-09T12:46:02.923-07:00At your service<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0qLvCoLREf3zvMoC5U-5mQ7dlXXNQGWEiF2HQJiUtHySyQGJde49NmB8WIyGPlnUHZq2mS04tCQUVYU10VZtnlHyL1ViKekFGnFC2vt4d6Wl4Xhw4fCIuHHsftJ2euBYda3Mu_S8biB42/s1600-h/Tebay+kiosk.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0qLvCoLREf3zvMoC5U-5mQ7dlXXNQGWEiF2HQJiUtHySyQGJde49NmB8WIyGPlnUHZq2mS04tCQUVYU10VZtnlHyL1ViKekFGnFC2vt4d6Wl4Xhw4fCIuHHsftJ2euBYda3Mu_S8biB42/s200/Tebay+kiosk.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367986957234997170" /></a><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I'm a service</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> station sceptic. In fact, apart from a brief encounter with a lady interviewee of a certain age in a Little Chef just outside of St Clears (she went on to ply me with homemade marmalade), my experience of motorway services has been limited to soggy sarnies and overpriced coffee. And that isn't my idea of a great start to the trip.</span></span><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">But a trip to Cumbria this week changed my view of the humble motorway service station. </span></span><a href="http://www.westmorland.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Tebay Servcies</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, located at junction 38 of the M6 near Penrith, is no bog-standard motorway services. Hell, no.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Family-owned Tebay is one of only two independent service stations in the UK (the other is in Scotland, since you ask) and a far cry from your communal-garden Welcome Break. Hence it's hugely popular and a must-stop staging point for many people venturing into the wide-open spaces of </span></span><a href="http://www.golakes.co.uk/places/towns/penrith.aspx"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">northern Cumbria</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Egon Ronay declared Tebay the best services in England in 2000 and, today, approximately 1.6m visitors flock to each of the north and south sites each year. Southbound has been recently refurbished with northbound to follow.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The sprawling site comprises a mid-range hotel (northbound), the decidedly upmarket and local-produce-championing Westmorland Farm Shops (both sides) and dual service stations.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Price wise, it's on a par with typical motorway services (budget £8.50 for the roast of the day, £3.50 for a kids' set meal), but the quality is far superior. The beef and lamb served up at lunch comes from Dunning's Farm, located next to the services.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">On a sunny August day, I grabbed a Cumberland sausage sandwich from the outdoors kiosk (above, left), perched on a stone seat in the grounds and took in the views across the Cumbrian Fells.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Tebay can get hugely busy on a summer's day but, reassuringly, many of the people stopping by are actually locals stocking up on fresh produce. Take your iPhone - there's free wifi too.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">S</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">o</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">m</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">a</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">k</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">e</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> way Moto, give it up Welcome Break. I</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">'ve seen the future of motorway services and Little Chef it ain't.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Don't believe me? Then take </span></span><a href="http://www.stuartmaconie.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Stuart Maconie</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">'s word for it:</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; "><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">"Tebay Services off the M6 is talked of in hushed tones by middle-class drivers from Middle England making the trip north. Not only is the scenery stunning ... but this is the Tuscany, the Waitrose, the Keira Knightley of service stations." (</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Adventures on the High Teas, Ebury Press, 2009).</span></span></span></span></div><div> </div>David Atkinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06366888064984827603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704992999342733362.post-5088954142373376692009-08-01T03:14:00.000-07:002009-08-02T12:25:20.904-07:00One for the dairy<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlGFzLGjmdR8l8Lu2cqMy4JmHQpzxzsMsPAs-7gsp1F2D0aGtx-mm-HW9JdWL8mMlhYD8hNcjOsnOYQNNvOFUyI_tOZCX3fdkiVum1-mxGc5xQbI5ff-QouhxCmlMEdL7xoL5fvKvjjbN7/s1600-h/SANY0038.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 158px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlGFzLGjmdR8l8Lu2cqMy4JmHQpzxzsMsPAs-7gsp1F2D0aGtx-mm-HW9JdWL8mMlhYD8hNcjOsnOYQNNvOFUyI_tOZCX3fdkiVum1-mxGc5xQbI5ff-QouhxCmlMEdL7xoL5fvKvjjbN7/s200/SANY0038.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364937450084703554" /></a><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">To Nantwich to</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> explore an age-old institution and consume more than my own body weight in dairy produce. Yes, the </span></span><a href="http://www.nantwichshow.co.uk/c_schedule.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Nantwich International Cheese Awards</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> this week offered rich pickings for cheese fans.</span></span><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The Cheese Marquee is the highlight of the Nantwich & South Cheshire Show (right), attracting some 2,655 entries for judging from 24 countries. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">On the day an army of judges in white coats stalk the long tables, groaning under the weight of cheese, while trade stands fringe the perimeter with everything from packaging to a new range of Cornish goats' cheese. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">My favourite gizmo of the day was a kind of cheese-slicing sonic screwdriver from </span></span><a href="http://www.newtech-ltd.co.uk/RunScript.asp?p=ASP%5CPg0.asp"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Newtech</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, the, ahem, robotic solutions experts.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">There was also a frisson of celebrity glamour. A boozy, late-morning reception hosted by </span></span><a href="http://www.fayrefield.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Fayrefield Foods</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> included a cooking demonstration by Matt Tebbutt of the </span></span><a href="http://www.thefoxhunter.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Foxhunter </span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">in Monmouthshire fame and Sean Wilson, better known as Martin Platt from Coronation Street, who has swapped Weatherfield for life as an artisan cheesemaker in </span></span><a href="http://www.saddleworthcheese.co.uk/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Saddleworth</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The champagne flowed, Sean's Blackpudding Crostini was judge a hit and Matt got busy with a slab of Collier's Powerful Welsh Cheddar.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">But one thing really struck me from the day. Aside, that is, from just how much cheese one man can consume when let loose in a big tent stuffed with everything from Edam to Roquefort.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The event was really corporate. I had an image of rustic, ruddy-faced cheesemakers turning up to proudly show off their artisan wares to a chorus of appreciative cries from the cheese-chomping cognoscenti of Cheshire.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">But no. Hefty branding for Tesco and Asda, plus a huge stand for supermarket stalwart Cathedral City, lent the country show the feel of an accountancy conference in Swindon. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Thanks heavens, then, for </span></span><a href="http://www.applebyscheese.co.uk/Home/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Appleby's</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, a family business of farmers and cheesemakers from the Cheshire/Shropshire borders, who are now onto the third generation of cheesemakers, use traditional artisan methods and defiantly unpasteurised milk. They were one of the few artisan, local producers in evidence on the day.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">At the end of the afternoon, the big winner was the </span></span><a href="http://www.cropwellbishopstilton.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Cropwell Bishop Creamery </span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">from Nottingham, taking the title of Supreme Champion for its Blue Stilton. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">But, unless next year's event does more to showcase the hard work and expertise of smaller, local produces, the future winners will be those with the biggest corporate spending power.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">And that, as a cheese lover, would really leave me feeling really - wait for it - cheesed off.</span></span></div>David Atkinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06366888064984827603noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704992999342733362.post-31708691410414516082009-07-24T02:20:00.000-07:002009-07-24T13:01:27.818-07:00Hope against Hope<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi89AC7GVBLI_WV1jsngUHsvP1hQPnWHJ-DOslVFjPstEef2U3_Z-aXFnUfeTNlMq8fnpBZEiQbHAY7Dpmaf3dunbE5kLQbzod16CE9tCcRF0ESqKzhQ0DmQgWfbup-Fv2ZV-_cR6G7YUGF/s1600-h/TMP+Summer+Marketing%234953F3.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 64px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi89AC7GVBLI_WV1jsngUHsvP1hQPnWHJ-DOslVFjPstEef2U3_Z-aXFnUfeTNlMq8fnpBZEiQbHAY7Dpmaf3dunbE5kLQbzod16CE9tCcRF0ESqKzhQ0DmQgWfbup-Fv2ZV-_cR6G7YUGF/s200/TMP+Summer+Marketing%234953F3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361959709648147090" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><b>Check your weekend </b>supplements. There's another ad campaign for Liverpool doing the rounds as the city attempts to keep the momentum rolling after the </span></span><a href="http://www.liverpool08.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">European Capital of Culture</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">.</span></span><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The focus is the Hope Street cultural quarter. The district includes the Art Deco-styled </span></span><a href="http://www.liverpoolphil.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Liverpool Philharmonic Hall</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">, the award-winning </span></span><a href="http://www.hopestreethotel.co.uk/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Hope Street Hotel </span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">with its adjoining restaurant, The London Carriage Works, and the city's twin cathedrals. It's also home to the annual arts fest, the </span></span><a href="http://www.hopestreetfestival.com/index.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Hope Street Festival</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">, held in September.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">And to the </span></span><a href="http://www.everymanplayhouse.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Everyman Theatre</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">, which was also this week the subject of a £12.8m investment from the Arts Council England to upgrade facilities to a 400-seater auditorium, workshops and writers' hub. The project is due for completion in 2013.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The angle of the campaign is cultural Liverpool, focusing on cultral attractions as a means to boost short-break visits to the city.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The campaign (above, left) forms part of £175,000 worth of national advertising to raise awareness of Liverpool as a cultural destination. It is part of a wider Destination Management Plan towards 2015 to grow hotel occupancy and boost the visitor economy to support 30,000 jobs.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The advert will run in national newspaper magazine supplements, including the London Evening Standard, and magazines, such as Conde Nast Traveller.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">A poster campaign will also run at London Underground stations, including Euston, Victoria and Waterloo. A similar campaign will run at Edinburgh's Haymarket train station during </span></span><a href="http://www.edfringe.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The Edinburgh Festival</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">.</span></span></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The Mersey Partnership (TMP), the regional tourist body behind the ads, are keen to point out that a similar campaign in spring, based around the Unesco World Heritage waterfront, boosted hits to the official </span></span><a href="http://www.VisitLiverpool.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">touris</span></span></a><a href="http://www.VisitLiverpool.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">m</span></span></a><a href="http://www.VisitLiverpool.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></a><a href="http://www.VisitLiverpool.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">w</span></span></a><a href="http://www.VisitLiverpool.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">e</span></span></a><a href="http://www.VisitLiverpool.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">b</span></span></a><a href="http://www.VisitLiverpool.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">s</span></span></a><a href="http://www.VisitLiverpool.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">i</span></span></a><a href="http://www.VisitLiverpool.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">t</span></span></a><a href="http://www.VisitLiverpool.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">e</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">b</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">y 50% and led to an increase in accommodation bookings of 432%.</span></span></span></span></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">But, as a journalist, I can't help being cynical about the value of advertising. </span></span></span></span></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Are they reaching the right market? And does the market targeted by these adverts acually care about Liverpool? </span></span></span></span></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">£175,000 strikes as a lot of money to spend on an ABC1 audience living mainly in the southeast with little knowledge, or interest, in Liverpool. Targeted press trips, viral online campaigns and generating local interest with the ABC1 demographic are surely far cheaper and more effective.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I mean, press and poster advertising? That's just so old media. Isn't it?</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I'll be discussing this and other topics with Duncan Barkes on the </span></span><a href="http://www.citytalk.fm/sectional.asp?id=24973"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">City Talk breakfast</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> show Tuesday at 7.45am. Post your comments below and I'll get them on air.</span></span></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, sans-serif;"><b></b></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-family:'Times New Roman', serif;font-size:12pt;"><span style=" ;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:10pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div></div>David Atkinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06366888064984827603noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704992999342733362.post-47515240438180240942009-07-18T11:36:00.000-07:002009-07-19T04:36:55.888-07:00Will the last Welshman in Wrexham please turn off the lights<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjoYWAm-SVOXVPu88cOIzjSVzJht55cJStK6JxWHImrOggJ4gp9GD3o95CiAfTK865xAXGv-JL58jiBUhVuX0zAPX12y3IWlCy6LT-8oBwvt5UDfAa6t488lTxCgwn9OlyMan77mBj4yDV/s1600-h/SANY0038.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 142px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjoYWAm-SVOXVPu88cOIzjSVzJht55cJStK6JxWHImrOggJ4gp9GD3o95CiAfTK865xAXGv-JL58jiBUhVuX0zAPX12y3IWlCy6LT-8oBwvt5UDfAa6t488lTxCgwn9OlyMan77mBj4yDV/s200/SANY0038.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359873872581241170" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The summer weather may be faltering but Wales has reason to feel sunny this week. The latest round of figures from the </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Office of National Statistics </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">shows that Wales is bucking the trend amongst the regions of the UK to report </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travelnews/5843487/Wales-defies-tourist-drought.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">an increase</span></span></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> in visitor numbers.</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px; "><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">It received 1.1m foreign visitors in 2008, compared to 987,000 in 2007. Both England and Scotland reported a decline in figures. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Visitors to Wales are being wooed by the charms of Cardiff, Pembrokeshire, Snowdonia and the Brecon Beacons amongst others.</span></span></span></span><div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">But, I suspect, they are not thronging en masse to Wrexham. In fact, according to a local, <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/north_east/8104677.stm">internet-based campaign</a>, major changes are needed to lure tourists back to the main town in Northeast Wales.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> To find out why, </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I went to the North Wales border town to meet </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Wrexham resident and social-networking afficiando, Jane Redfern Jones. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">A local community councillor and the editor of the website, </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><a href="http://www.wrexhamtoday.co.uk/shop/page/155?sessid=QlsAtCeDLd0NYB1aICYesEKFPsCMmI8ThyqWwbcZWmhUTVpfAT4muhu33UQ6UdJ0&shop_param="><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Wrexham Today</span></span></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, Jane recently launched a group on Facebook to promote the idea that Wrexham needs to be more Welsh. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The group, </span></span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=logo&__a=1#/group.php?gid=8320991906&ref=search"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Wrexham Facebookers</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, now baosts over 1,100 members - all of them keen to espouse the joys of Wrexham as a hotbed of Welsh nationhood and culture.</span></span></div><div><!--StartFragment--><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">"For me it's the Welsh identity that would draw in the tourists," says Jane, who grew up near Chirk in the Ceiriog Valley. </span></span></span></div><div><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">"By branding Wrexham as the borderlands, </span></span><a href="http://www.wrexham.gov.uk/english/index.cfm"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">the council</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> is failing to promote the Welsh heritage. In fact, the idea of promoting Wrexham as a border town simple makes it seem second best to Chester."</span></span></span><!--EndFragment--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Wandering around town after coffee with Jane, Wrexham certainly looks like a place struggling to find its identity in the contemporary, more forward-looking Wales.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Aside from the bilingual street signs and some public art (above, right) reflecting the town's industrial heritage, there is little to say you're actually in Wales. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">That is, of course, aside from </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Gareth Jones, who runs a Welsh gifts stall in Wrexham General Market.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Gareth does a roaring trade in car bumper stickers saying 'Proud to be Welsh' (£1), while figurines of the nationalist hero Owain Glyndwr (£2.99) are positivey flying off the shelves.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">But, surrounded by a patriotic fervour of fluffy dragons, sloganeering stickers and figurines of anti-Establishment heroes, does Gareth feel like the only Welshman in Wrexham?</span></span></div><div><!--StartFragment--><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">"I'm Wrexham born and bred but not a Welsh speaker. It's just how I am. But whenever I see a Welsh flag, I feel proud," he says.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">So, should tourism officials in Wrexham do more to promote Welsh culture? And is a sense of local cultural heritage essential to attract tourists - or do the majority of punters simply come for anodyne shopping centres and bland high-street coffee chains?</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Post your comments below and we'll discuss further on the </span></span><a href="http://www.citytalk.fm/sectional.asp?id=24973"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Duncan Barkes </span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">breakfast show on City Talk this week. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Over to you ...</span></span></div></div></div>David Atkinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06366888064984827603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704992999342733362.post-14208018772135818342009-07-11T04:23:00.001-07:002009-07-13T04:17:11.115-07:00My phone's on vibrate for Rufus<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh11dYOAuSxByevrJOwffAfCOTnoxNnWDm35xOm5W7TL5bdgB7C4_3y6G8_Uvr17bHnxyGI5hWAlD_3FFLzjfsBPB-ifARHUcBE1yS9TfcYuiDQTG78Xyl7zRoZ3OP230uIl3Q__jEJYgwm/s1600-h/SANY0050.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 148px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh11dYOAuSxByevrJOwffAfCOTnoxNnWDm35xOm5W7TL5bdgB7C4_3y6G8_Uvr17bHnxyGI5hWAlD_3FFLzjfsBPB-ifARHUcBE1yS9TfcYuiDQTG78Xyl7zRoZ3OP230uIl3Q__jEJYgwm/s200/SANY0050.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357162138331009282" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">To Manchester for the </span></span><a href="http://www.mif.co.uk/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Manchester International Festival</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> (MIF) and the opening night of </span></span><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/6music/news/20090711_rufusoperareview.shtml"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Prima Donna</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">, the debut opera by Rufus Wainwright.</span></span><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Rufus turned up to meet his public dressed like a Victorian undertaker and was to be seen pressing the flesh in the bar at the interval amid the Mancunian glitterati, orange-hued WAGs and bemused opera fans. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">The show, needless to say, was a sell out and warmly received by the diverse crowd - if not all the critics. Rufus even turned up on stage to take three curtain calls.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">The previous night local lads Elbow had taken to the stage at the city's </span></span><a href="http://www.bridgewater-hall.co.uk/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Bridgewater Hall</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> with the Halle Orchestra for what will be remembered by many as the highlight of the festival.</span></span><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> But it's not just about the evening events. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Last Friday, the daytime programme included Gustav Metzger's public art installation, Flailing Trees, in the Manchester Peace Garden and a MIF-inspired walking tour of Manchester's architecture. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The programme runs until July 19th and has brought in visitors en masse to the city, boosting the local visitor economy.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> So are culture breaks the new seaside holidays?</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The Northwest was the first English region</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> to develop a Major Events Strategy. Since 2004 major events have brought in over £145m to the region, according to figures from the <a href="http://www.nwda.co.uk/news--events.aspx">Northwest Regional Development Agency</a> (NWDA).</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">The first Manchester International Festival in 2007 attracted an audience of over 200,000 and </span></span><span class="160062010-13072009"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">had an estimated economic impact of</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span><span class="160062010-13072009"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">£28.8m, while the 2008 <a href="http://www.biennial.com/">Liverpool Biennial </a>brought 451,000 visitors to the city and generated a spend of £26.6m.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="160062010-13072009"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">So clearly cultural festivals are providing a hugely valuable to boost tourism across the Northwest, but is it just about the numbers? What really makes a festival a success and do local people actually get involved?</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Over to you ...</span></span></div></div>David Atkinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06366888064984827603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704992999342733362.post-42400291923819290552009-06-28T05:11:00.000-07:002009-06-28T05:31:08.687-07:00Hit the Midlands<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjnKnOkSp4yik0746jmCeLtui67JOXU8Br-uiy8MOLkYR1BPRstBCFnYn8mVykiP4ZBc54Xk9KLMAtUaSjp084xPr0cjUcRpQEqsrXzs2SsqPMPx0TvN785c5he1BGwFceyCoPx3yzwm_U/s1600-h/SANY0033.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 147px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjnKnOkSp4yik0746jmCeLtui67JOXU8Br-uiy8MOLkYR1BPRstBCFnYn8mVykiP4ZBc54Xk9KLMAtUaSjp084xPr0cjUcRpQEqsrXzs2SsqPMPx0TvN785c5he1BGwFceyCoPx3yzwm_U/s200/SANY0033.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352352680148436546" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I don't do celebrity stuff. But I can make an exception for an audience with </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><a href="http://www.davidattenborough.co.uk/">Sir David Attenborough</a> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">(right</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">)</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">, albeit a brief one in a crowded, ill-prepared room with the public impatiently pressing their faces against the glass and queueing for autographs.</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Our rendez-vous was at </span></span><a href="http://www.creswell-crags.org.uk/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Creswell Crags</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> on the Derbyshire/Nottinghamshire borders, where Sir David was opening a new museum and visitors centre dedicated to the Ice Age rock art that makes the Crags a centre for archaeology in the UK.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>But enough of the caves. What everyone wants to know is what Sir David thinks about the world of travel. Here's a snippet of the interview, the full text of which will be published in the </span></span><a href="http://www.express.co.uk/travel"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Daily Express </span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">next weekend.</span></span></div><div><!--StartFragment--><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>'Of course tourism has to be controlled because it can get out of hand and destroy things. But, by and large, it's essential for anyone in conservation to learn to work with tourism for the greater good.'</span></span></span><!--EndFragment--></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Do you agree with Sir David? And would would you like to have asked him? Leave your comments below.</span></div>David Atkinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06366888064984827603noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704992999342733362.post-12386595566273718482009-06-20T13:09:00.000-07:002009-06-22T03:16:50.369-07:00Getting paid for his summer holiday<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeXqXCGCQDHUMb4x2TB7Qjn74layEPuFvFmZVWkLJ-W2dwT25XQ7wY5R81qsi5dQlhYMecdODLgv7Z6F1EggNxhWYgazCtNungo1sTMdoSvVOiQIKBAAVCH5IV5Z-5KINLg-rxXWlvzHqx/s1600-h/SANY0080.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeXqXCGCQDHUMb4x2TB7Qjn74layEPuFvFmZVWkLJ-W2dwT25XQ7wY5R81qsi5dQlhYMecdODLgv7Z6F1EggNxhWYgazCtNungo1sTMdoSvVOiQIKBAAVCH5IV5Z-5KINLg-rxXWlvzHqx/s200/SANY0080.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349520940332013522" /></a><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Early starts on</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> Tuesdays from now onwards. From this week </span></span><a href="http://atkinsondavid.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Hit the North</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> joins </span></span><a href="http://www.citytalk.fm/sectional.asp?id=24973"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Duncan Barkes</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> on the new breakfast show on City Talk to discuss all things travel at 7.45am.</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, fantasy; font-size: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>We will be particularly looking at travel and tourism news, trends and controversies around the great Northwest and Wales. And we want to hear from you. Post your comments below, or follow us on </span></span><a href="http://twitter.com/atkinsondavid"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Twitter</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">. Tell us about the burning travel issues where you are and we'll put them on air.</span></span></span></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>To kick things off, I'll be asking if it's time to hang up my black moleskin notepad (last used on the summit of Snowdon, above left) and give up on travel writing once and for all. The reason? The man who brought us mistletoe and wine is steaming in on my patch.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Yes, that's right. </span></span><a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-1193897/Sir-Cliff-Richard-turns-travel-writer-latest-web-venture-Travelsupermarket-com-boss.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Sir Cliff </span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">is one of the writers featured on </span></span><a href="http://www.simonseeks.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Simon Seeks</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">, the new travel website dominating the headlines today. The new venture from Simon Nixon, who founded his multi-million-pound Moneysupermarket business in Chester before moving it to North Wales, works on a revenue-sharing model of user-generated content.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>I've so far politely declined the lure of Simon Seeks and have major reservations about whether it would pay. Others clearly share these </span></span><a href="http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/blogs/2009/06/travel-thru-a-lens-is-simonsee.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">reservations</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">. Some freelance colleagues are dipping a toe in the water but worried about the long-term repercussions on the craft of the professional </span></span><a href="http://www.travelblather.com/2009/06/travelsupermarket-simonseeks-travel-guides-travel-writers.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">travel writer</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Sir Cliff's travel-scribing debut, a piece about his love of </span></span><a href="http://www.simonseeks.com/travel-guides/sir-cliff-richard%E2%80%99s-barbados__111828"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Barbados</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">, is more notable for its cringe-inducing use of exclamation marks than its jaw-dropping literary merit but, hey, he'll get the hang of this travel writing lark. Give the young lad a chance. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>As will, no doubt, that bloke who used to play guitar in Toploader. He did </span></span><a href="http://www.simonseeks.com/travel-guides/doing-dubai-weekend__110551"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Dubai</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> in a weekend apparently. Huzzah.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>So join us at 7.45am this Tuesday. I'll at least get one in before Sir Cliff muscles in on this too. </span></span></div></div>David Atkinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06366888064984827603noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704992999342733362.post-17075767635171035102009-06-15T02:33:00.000-07:002009-06-15T08:48:44.196-07:00Where is Chester's independent spirit?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmlvNkhyUkFJTizK20Q3A5jkfnsvhVwAoU8-AIYWWv2rcZLLh4XIdLTWm2vrOsN6h_QDhljue6gtx34VYIwCbbofxSzegJFnY1o_57J4g3Rk7-UN5WnkbHutKNwGR7bMOHlqxL2Y_puTBK/s1600-h/SANY0013.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmlvNkhyUkFJTizK20Q3A5jkfnsvhVwAoU8-AIYWWv2rcZLLh4XIdLTWm2vrOsN6h_QDhljue6gtx34VYIwCbbofxSzegJFnY1o_57J4g3Rk7-UN5WnkbHutKNwGR7bMOHlqxL2Y_puTBK/s200/SANY0013.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347552029129274930" /></a><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Grim reading this</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> weekend for </span></span><a href="http://www.visitchesterandcheshire.co.uk/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Visit Chester & Cheshire</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">. The story, </span></span><a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/financetopics/financialcrisis/5487218/Financial-crisis-high-noon-on-the-high-street.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">High Street: High Noon</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, published in Saturday's Telegraph magazine, painted a grim picture of life in the Roman, walled city. Empty shops, shady men with flyers for lapdancing clubs and even the dark spectre of Mrs Thatcher. Ugh.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> There wasn't much comfort to be found in the words of writer Mick Brown, nor in the statistics rolled out to illustrate the claim that Chester, with its dependence on tourism, retail and financial services, is particularly vulnerable to the dreaded credit crunch.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> Try this one for size: 'In the Oxford Economics Index of Vulnerability, Chester ranked third in the country, behind the City of London and the London borough of Tower Hamlets.'</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> The publication of this piece makes for particularly unfortunate timing given today's announcement that Virgin Trains are offering </span></span><a href="http://www.travelmole.com/stories/1136839.php?mpnlog=1&m_id=~Amm_rY!~AAmm_rY!~A"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">discounted fares </span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">to boost visitor numbers to Chester and Cheshire.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> But are things really so bad? I've just walked around the centre of Chester and, while there are still plenty of empty shops - as there are in any high street right now - there are also lots of businesses apparently weathering the recession.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> So how does Visit Chester & Cheshire respond to the piece? And, while the owner of the shop Ancient Worlds is clearly not happy with his lot, what about the other independent shopkeepers and restauranteurs out there? </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> Places such as deli </span></span><a href="http://www.josephbenjamin.co.uk/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Joseph Benjamin</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, which featured in the Taste Cheshire food trail I covered for </span></span><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2009/may/24/chester-cheese-heritage-travel"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">the Observer</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> a few weeks back.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> Is Chester becoming a homogenised destination of bland chain shops, or does it still retain a special allure, notably for its retail offer?</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> Let's hear your thoughts. Post your comments below.</span></span></div><div> </div>David Atkinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06366888064984827603noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704992999342733362.post-57153005183135156152009-06-10T02:22:00.000-07:002009-06-10T12:17:01.528-07:00Blackpool mon amour<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4AYKUBl1NzPAs-HqmrtprIeNzJMQ-8WyqyRnaPTXCkv8zYwTVblW5MBVdeX2YP8eTVnl1b40mWiECye0hN36Bq6tXV87M9T7wLYUuAreMzndnZnWxDODmryJdPytqaedbpuLhLeunRMlz/s1600-h/IMG_4702.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4AYKUBl1NzPAs-HqmrtprIeNzJMQ-8WyqyRnaPTXCkv8zYwTVblW5MBVdeX2YP8eTVnl1b40mWiECye0hN36Bq6tXV87M9T7wLYUuAreMzndnZnWxDODmryJdPytqaedbpuLhLeunRMlz/s200/IMG_4702.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345639797989576146" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Blackpool gets a</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> pretty bad rap and is clearly keen to reinvent itself. As is the </span><a href="http://www.visitenglandsnorthwest.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">North West Development Agency </span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">(NWDA), who recently funded a promotional short film, </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xgxkxqqUH0"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">J'aime la Tour</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> The film takes a deliberately alternative look at the classic British kiss-me-quick resort, highlighting its attractions to French visitors given current currency fluctuations in the Eurozone. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> Clearly the idea was a success on its launch day with acres of press coverage and the head of tourism interviewed across TV channels. Last time I checked, the film had been watched over 54,000 times on YouTube.<br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> But not all the coverage was positive, notably a scathing blog from the </span><a href="http://blogs.travelmail.co.uk/2009/05/blackpool-should-be-all-about-harking-back-to-the-glory-days-not-attracting-the-french.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Mail on Sunday</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">, which suggested that Blackpool should be concentrating on its core market, namely Brits on seaside family hols, not French visitors looking for Vegas sur la mer.<br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> Having spoken subsequently to people involved, I get the feeling that this was purely a talking-point exercise and there's nothing to substantiate the French angle. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> Likewise I spoke to several travel editors about this. Their feeling? This was a news story, it's over and there's nothing in it for the travel sections.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> So, here's my question: while the short-term benefit to Blackpool in terms of profile is undeniable, what is the longer-term impact at a time when many Brits are thinking about taking holidays closer to home.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> Does J'aime la Tour sell Blackpool as a place to rediscover or alienate a key audience? Post your comments here and join the conversation.</span></div></div>David Atkinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06366888064984827603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704992999342733362.post-23732439493544336382009-06-06T00:20:00.000-07:002009-06-06T03:07:07.781-07:00First past the post in Chester<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivKlm555jH9z3lcGM7LtptIdMLjX118gZAu4XmcXeuR5p-5sR8iJKR6mzdnClZYkPkvGZrquAwBcA1xo_AnWRYT8VfC5SqapgR9OZn4HEmTXNpYkECwJzoMitxExuy8BQcNZqa6tPVWHgc/s1600-h/SANY0003.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivKlm555jH9z3lcGM7LtptIdMLjX118gZAu4XmcXeuR5p-5sR8iJKR6mzdnClZYkPkvGZrquAwBcA1xo_AnWRYT8VfC5SqapgR9OZn4HEmTXNpYkECwJzoMitxExuy8BQcNZqa6tPVWHgc/s200/SANY0003.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344152307744090994" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Beware of</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> red-wine hangovers around Cheshire today. The annual </span><a href="http://www.visitchesterandcheshire.co.uk/Awards"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Visit Chester & Cheshire</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> Awards were held last night at Chester Racecourse.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> The big winner on the night with a hatrick of gongs <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">was </span><a href="http://www.devere-hotels.com/our-hotels/carden-park/the-hotel"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Carden Park</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">, the hotel golf resort and spa, namely Excellence in Business Tourism, Sustainable Tourism Award and Large Hotel of the Year.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> Celebrations too for </span><a href="http://www.harropfoldfarm.co.uk/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Harrop Fold Farm</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">, Macclesfield, with their third consecutive win, taking the B&B of Year award for their combination of winning location, accommodation and cookery classes.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> I judged the Small Hotel of the Year award and picked </span><a href="http://www.peckfortoncastle.co.uk/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Peckforton Castle</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> (pictured above right) as my winner with </span><a href="http://www.primahotels.co.uk/nunsmere/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Nunsmere Hall</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> a close second place.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> My reasons? Attention to detail, proactive attitude to new business and a strong sense of personality infused throughout the family-owned property.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> Did the right people win on the night? Post your comments here.</span></div><div><br /></div>David Atkinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06366888064984827603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704992999342733362.post-35858246366331318792009-06-03T05:34:00.000-07:002009-06-03T08:58:45.072-07:00Cumbria without the crowds<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Good news for</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> the </span><a href="http://www.golakes.co.uk/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Lake District</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">. The domain of winsome poets and hardy hikers takes </span><a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/familyholidays/5421086/Cornwall-and-Lake-District-top-destinations-for-Brits.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">second place</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> behind Cornwall as the </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">destination of choice this summer </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">in a poll of </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;"><st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">UK</span></st1:country-region></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> holidaymakers.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;"></span></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> The report, published by the budget hotel group, </span><a href="http://www.travelodge.co.uk/news_and_offers/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Travelodge</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, is the latest to talk up the Great British summer of domestic tourism we're hearing so much about.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> But does this mean the rural byways and hiking trails will be full to bursting this summer? Is there plenty of Lakeland charm to share around?</span></span></span></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;"></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> Maybe you know some hidden-gem Cumbrian hang outs that the coach parties still bypass and the tourist throngs still miss.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> Post details here and tell us all about them. I've got a potential project coming up in Cumbria and your input will be much appreciated.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial;font-size:13px;"><br /></span></div></div></div>David Atkinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06366888064984827603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704992999342733362.post-8933141139960173402009-05-31T13:05:00.000-07:002009-06-03T08:57:53.518-07:00Summit up in Snowdonia<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMLL8MjfjdaI8QEN66Pj8efb15C8OWV5tt5en-gLUxUK-QWf4tXRzdQZwYCycoLvjb5CEewRIGbmaPg9Ujp57hmaTBo1iItXcrEsx54tSFXbDkip7ouu7Oi2EpUa7f9DYCftrDRkpPLtIL/s1600-h/SANY0019.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMLL8MjfjdaI8QEN66Pj8efb15C8OWV5tt5en-gLUxUK-QWf4tXRzdQZwYCycoLvjb5CEewRIGbmaPg9Ujp57hmaTBo1iItXcrEsx54tSFXbDkip7ouu7Oi2EpUa7f9DYCftrDRkpPLtIL/s200/SANY0019.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342105928802617794" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Tense times in</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> North Wales with the imminent official opening of </span><a href="http://www.eryri-npa.co.uk/page/index.php?nav1=lookingafter&nav2=4&nav3=1&lang=eng&contrast=1&view=graphic"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Hafod Eryri</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, </span><!--StartFragment--><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">the new £8.3m visitor centre atop Mount Snowdon. First Minister for Wales, Rhodri Morgan, is due to cut the red tape on June 12th.</span></span><!--EndFragment--><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> But the project is a whole 12 months late, required a last-minute cash injection and has been blighted by the legendarily severe Snowdonia weather. All the building materials had to be hauled up to the summit at 3,560ft by train. Not easy in a 100mph gale.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> Worse still, the Snowdonia National Park Authority still seem to be rather tetchy about the words of Prince Charles, who famously described the original 1935 summit building as "the highest slum in England and Wales". Ouch.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> They refuse journalists entry the building and seem rather keen to avoid any publicity at all. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I suspect, then, they didn't take kindly to the piece in </span></span><a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/makeover-for-highest--slum-in-wales-1690633.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">the Independent</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> last Monday, even if it takes a generally positive view.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> Ray Wood, a local photographer, who has charted the development since the original building was demolished in 2005, does a better job at assessing whether they'll make the June 12th deadline with his </span><a href="http://blog.snowdonia-active.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Snowdonia Summit </span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">blog.<br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> I went up Snowdon last week to get an exclusive preview of Hafod Eryri for a piece that will appear in this Saturday's </span><a href="http://www.express.co.uk/travel"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Daily Express</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> Wednesday was a wash out with winds up to 69mph and black sheets of rain (the picture, above left, was taken at 8.30am and says it all). But I went back up on Saturday, a glorious day of Simpsons-blue sky and panoramic views across to Ireland. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> I took the </span><a href="http://www.snowdonrailway.co.uk/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Snowdon Mountain Railway</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> up as far as Clogwyn station and walked the rest. My knees are still throbbing. At the top there was a bunch of irritable people who wanted to use the bathroom and buy a cup of tea before the walk down. Several claimed they didn't know the centre wasn't yet open. More information needed.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> Did I make it inside the building? What is it actually like? And why is a hen party from Kent cracking the bubbly on the doorstep two weeks before the burly security workmen actually allow the first punters to spend a penny in the grey-slate bathrooms? Oops, that's blown it.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> I'll post the link here on Saturday with all the answers.</span></div>David Atkinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06366888064984827603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704992999342733362.post-59805430774504854912009-05-23T09:31:00.000-07:002009-05-23T23:54:19.649-07:00A new manifesto<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjEudP3hC75miF6ty3P4dG4Ad9hN5hR9NsMO0Gf8HEpg5S8S5DLlcNP7xbIfCijCTmWX-eOWdoC888tIrgxIEqk-nwOGmKWuO8OSfkS5V5MDdjnDjZfVD0crNhEe2rzsfYTEa7rzBbOG4c/s1600-h/SANY0002.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjEudP3hC75miF6ty3P4dG4Ad9hN5hR9NsMO0Gf8HEpg5S8S5DLlcNP7xbIfCijCTmWX-eOWdoC888tIrgxIEqk-nwOGmKWuO8OSfkS5V5MDdjnDjZfVD0crNhEe2rzsfYTEa7rzBbOG4c/s200/SANY0002.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339061648656059954" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">It's time to make a fresh start. I've been blogging for a few months now about day-to-day life as a jobbing travel writer. The posts have attracted followers, plaudits, critics and downright outrage in equal measure. From this week, I'm changing the focus.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> I'm going to be taking a more niche approach, blogging specifically about domestic tourism in </span><a href="http://www.visitenglandsnorthwest.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">England's Northwest</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">, where I live, and Wales, where I've worked a lot over the last few years.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> The idea came to me while walking home through the streets of </span><a href="http://www.visitchester.co.uk/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Chester </span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">after a recent press conference. There are so many good places to talk about in terms of tourism around the Northwest, such as <a href="http://www.peckfortoncastle.co.uk/">Peckforton Castle</a> picture above right, but not many writers talking about it. So I will. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> This is not a PR-sponsored blog. I'm making no money from it. It's about my subjective take on regional tourism as I see. That said, I'm happy to hear from anyone with ideas worthy of coverage that other outlets have may have ignored.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> It's also an outlet to showcase some links to stories that have grabbed my attention and to highlight some links to my stories about the region published in newspapers and magazines. Here's one to get the ball rolling: my piece about the <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2009/may/24/chester-cheese-heritage-travel?page=all">Cheshire Food Trail</a> in the Observer.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> What's not changing is my enthusiasm for your comments, praise, criticism and general feedback. Post, please, post.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> Time to hit the North. As in, get your arse over here</span>.</div>David Atkinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06366888064984827603noreply@blogger.com4