Warwickshire Now - NOVEMBER 2022

THE LATEST NEWS FROM YOUR AREA

Hatton to host a brand-new magical Christmas immersive experience!

Hatton Adventure World is to host a brand-new magical Christmas immersive experience. The ‘Enchanted Christmas Kingdom’ will take place every weekend from 26 November and every day from 17 December to 24 December when the popular family attraction will be transformed into a winter wonderland.

Covid has made close-up visits to Father Christmas impossible over the last 2 years, but Father Christmas is back big time this year with his new specially built Grotto. In the New Woodland Grotto Experience families will have the opportunity to meet Father Christmas and his Elves and have their picture taken with him.

Children will receive a key to gain access to the secret Toy Shop where they can choose a present of their choice. The Woodland Grotto takes families down an enchanted winding trail through icy tunnels, with festive lights and dazzling Christmas scenes featuring one or two Polar Bears! If children don’t wish to choose a gift from the Toy Shop, they can instead take part in the Create-a-bear experience where they can choose a bear, and dress it from a selection of outfits.

Mr Holly and the Magic Key Show will entertain families with cheeky giggles, festive joy, and exciting mystery. His show will be bursting with puppetry, jokes, and laughter. Also new this year is the Gingerbread Factory where families can help Mother Christmas create some beautifully festive gingerbread designs. Children can find a tray, choose their decorations, get creative and take their own gingerbread home.

The Enchanted Christmas Kingdom’s huge Indoor SuperSlide Mania also provides fun for the whole family, from the very bravest of children to the most adventurous of adults. Children can get into a spin on the Teacups, take to the skies on the Flying Bugs and go on the Merry Go Round, Swings and Trampolines.

The animals are also getting into the festive spirit and have been busy decorating their homes. Visit the Kingdoms Farmyard

taking falconry display that brings the amazing ancient art of falconry into the modern age. Children will be captivated by amazing owls, falcons and hawks and their interesting association with Christmas throughout history and around the Globe!

Johnnie Arkwright, owner at Hatton Adventure World said, “Our Enchanted Christmas Kingdom is far more immersive than in previous

date. The all-inclusive package takes away the worry of finding any hidden extras as all the activities are included. Timed slots to visit the Woodland Grotto Experience must be prebooked via the website. n

For more information on Christmas, please call 01926 843411 during office hours, email hatton@hattonworld.com or visit www.hattonworld.com/adventure-world.

COVENTRY FILMMAKER DEBUTS FIRST FEATURE FILM AT THE BELGRADE

A new 90-minute feature film by Coventry artist Nyasha Daley will premiere at Coventry’s Belgrade Theatre on Friday 11 November 2022. The artdocumentary, Black, Queer & Done, explores how Black, LGBT+ people are portrayed in the media, Arts and cultural sectors and features contributors and artists from Coventry, the wider West Midlands and UK, Africa and the US.

The film features focus group contributions gathered throughout 2021 through a series of online video conferences, with LGBT+ arts professionals and practitioners. These sessions informed three themes: My Queer Me, In-Between-Ness & It’s Giving Thanks.

These themes formed the basis of a commission call-out to Black, Queer artists across the Midlands and UK; artists responded with a variety of practice including spoken word, music, dance, and aerial work.

The artistic commissions were filmed in the Belgrade Theatre’s B2, which is where the film will premiere, creating an immersive experience.

Commenting on the film, Nyasha said: “I’m incredibly proud of this film; the commentary and commissions are brilliant, interesting, and perhaps different to what someone might expect from the film’s title. We’re hoping that we will attract a diverse audience; the film explores themes that would be of interest to Black people, Queer people and those who would consider themselves allies.

“I’m also really proud and grateful for my awesome crew of Trevor Price and Dwain Daley; between the three of us we have covered so many roles. It’s been brilliant and challenging at times too. The team at the Belgrade have been really supportive and to be able to watch it on the big screen at B2 where we filmed the artists’ performances,

is just incredible. We can’t wait to celebrate with everyone!”

Black, Queer & Done will be screened from 7.30pm on Friday 11 November, with tickets priced at just £5. The BQD team will also be giving away ten tickets via their Instagram account @blackqueerdone from Friday 21 October 2022.

Guests will arrive and enter on the obligatory red carpet; there will be music, merriment, and popcorn on sale too! Everyone attending is invited to stay after the film finishes to dance the night away to a DJ set. The Belgrade’s Nineteen 58 bar will be open, and as well as drinks, guests will also be able to order hot food and snacks. n

For more information, please visit www.belgrade.co.uk/events/black-queerand-done/; the official trailer can be viewed here: youtu.be/brK7yShUiLM

Black, Queer & Done was commissioned by Coventry Pride and funded by Arts Council England’s Cultural Recovery Fund.

With some careful planning, you can create your dream kitchen that will not only look great but also be practical. We look at everything, from choosing the right combination of units to upgrading your heating!

If you are planning a kitchen and need some help finding a local kitchen showroom, we can match you with the most suitable ones for your project.

1. Plan a practical layout

Most kitchen layouts can adopt the working triangle which is a three-point guide for the placement of the sink, fridge and cooking areas. This rule of thumb works well and is about keeping the most-used areas of the kitchen in close enough proximity to each other.

Ideally the triangle should be no more than 7 metres in distance in total but no less than 3.6 metres to allow for plenty of room for food preparation between the appliances. When planning a kitchen, try and keep the working triangle away from areas of high footfall, particularly if you have young children running through the kitchen!

Keep the dishwasher near the sink and also make sure your bin is located close to the dishwasher too - this will make cleaning up much easier. Lastly, leave at least 30 cm either side of the cooker to allow for food preparation and a place to leave pots

2. Allow plenty of space between the units Allow at least 80 cm behind your cabinets so that you have enough room to comfortably open drawers and cupboard doors - ideally this would be more than 1 metre if you have a busy kitchen.

Carefully consider the proportions of your room when planning a kitchen. For example, don’t squash in a small island unit if you really don’t have the space - it won’t look right and will spoil your kitchen. There are plenty of great alternative to kitchen islands including a peninsula, placing the island against the wall or a butchers block which can be moved.

3. Do you have enough of the right kind of cupboards?

It’s a great time to go through your kitchen cupboards and recycle things that are lurking about unused, so you are not filling your new

kitchen with items you never use. Plan exactly what you need to have in your kitchen and make sure you incorporate enough cupboard space and also the right kind of cupboards and drawers. Wide drawers for pots and plates are so popular right now and look wonderful too.

Instead of having cabinets hung on the wall, consider having one wall with floor to ceiling cabinets and leave the rest of the wall space free, this will help with the sight lines and make your space feel larger.

Corner carousels are brilliant to gain easy access to the back of a corner unit and use what would be previously wasted space. Consider a larder or pantry which can range from a traditional freestanding larder to a narrow pull out larder integrated into a tall cupboard.

4. Carefully plan your lighting

Lighting is so important in the kitchen and something that we often think about later in the process after choosing the kitchen. But you should draw up a lighting plan early on as

carefully chosen lighting can really add to the look of your kitchen.

Pendant lights look great hanging over an island unit or dining table, but make sure they are not too large and end up dominating and obstruct your line of sight.

Most people incorporate spotlights but a common mistake is to include too few. Plan for the spotlights to be 1 metre apart and 1.5 metres away from the wall and put the lights on a dimmer switch so you can change the

lighting throughout the day. If your kitchen is large, consider having your spotlights on 2-3 different circuits so you can light up separate zones in your kitchen.

LED strips are a great idea for underneath wall and floor cabinets and they create an ultra modern look. If you want a softer look go for down-lights under the cabinets which will brighten up dark corners. Lights under the cabinets create some mood lighting in the evening if you are entertaining friends and family.

5. Make the most of the natural light

If you are extending your kitchen, then this is a great time to increase the natural light flooding into your home. With light from above bringing in up to 3 times as much light than a standard vertical window, incorporating a roof lantern or sky lights is a great idea. Of course, wonderful sliders and bi-folding doors will add to the light even more.

If you are not extending, make the most of your natural light. Keep wall cupboards away from the windows so they allow as much natural light to flood in, and think about swapping internal doors to be glazed ones so the light can flood in from other rooms. Also keep the units and decor as light as possible if you struggle with natural light - the light will bounce around.

6. It’s a great time to change the heating

If you are carrying out a full-scale renovation, it’s a great time to install underfloor heating. It is an investment to install, however wet underfloor heating is cheaper to run than conventional radiators given the lower temperature required (electric underfloor heating will cost too much to run).

OVER THE

Underfloor heating will free up some wall space where you previously had radiators. Tiles conduct the heat the best for underfloor heating but most engineered wood, laminate and vinyl flooring can also be used with underfloor heating. Read our guide to underfloor heating, to find out more.

If you don’t want underfloor heating then have a think about the positioning of the radiators. Keep them near the dining area rather than in the centre of the kitchen. If you don’t have much wall space, consider installing tall wall radiators.

7. How many electric points do you need? Have a good think about which appliances you use regularly and make sure you have the sockets in the right place when planning a kitchen. Many people now incorporate a pop up socket into the island unit, which can include a USB charger.

Make sure electric points are spread out around the kitchen so that you don’t have too many appliances clustered together. Countertop cabinets are a great choice where you can keep your electric points and appliances hidden behind the cupboard when you are not using them.

8. Think about the appliances carefully It’s a great time to consider the appliances, which ones you need and where to position them.

If you are choosing an island unit, many people go for an induction hob on the island unit with a downdraft extractor fan, this mean you won’t have a chunky extractor fan overhead. Induction hobs are also a safer option if you have children as only the area under the pot gets hot, which is great for little fingers.

Think about what new appliances you would like to introduce. Hot water taps are also very popular, as are integrated wine fridges, coffee machines and microwaves. Just make sure you will use it enough so that it doesn’t take up unnecessary space.

9. How do you want to use your kitchen? Do you want your kitchen to be a sociable space which you can use for entertaining? Do you see your children playing and doing homework or do you want to use it solely as a kitchen with a dining area? If you want to use your kitchen as a multifunctional space, incorporate different zones so you can keep homework separate to the food preparation. Some options to “zone” your kitchen include mixing the flooring, positioning the furniture and changing the lighting.

Also carefully consider the materials that you use throughout the kitchen. If you have a young family then go for flooring such as vinyl that will take a lot of wear and not mark or stain - they are also softer so work well if you have small toddlers falling over! If you love cooking, choose a worktop that is low maintenance and non-porous - don’t choose marble as you will have to continuously clean it (however beautiful it looks)! n

Experts in Electrical

Established for nearly 100 years Chapmans really understand the word Vintage!

equipment which is becoming increasingly valuable and incredibly collectable.

Vintage items were built to last and often produce a lovely warm and mellow sound, once restored they will bring many more years of enjoyment. Robert Chapman says “We really enjoy restoring vintage items and electronic equipment preserving high quality items from oblivion.”

really easy, they can even collect and deliver back your vintage treasures if that is required. Whilst sometimes it is advisable to replace old or faulty products with Chapmans help there are times when a vintage repair is by far the best way to go. n

Chapmans

112-119 Reddal Hill Road Cradley Heath, B64 5JN

Tel: 01384 566497

If you want to preserve the magic, sounds and memories of your vintage product Chapmans can help. Sometimes the sentimental

memories need to come back or maybe you just want to pass it down to future generations. You may be a collector of Vintage

Chapmans team of in house engineers can help with HiFi, Record players, Decks and Radiograms. Plus Separates, Cassette tape and reel to reel recorders. Chapmans source parts from all over the world and have their own car park at their Cradley Heath showroom making access

Bromsgrove Domestic Appliances 124 Worcester Road Bromsgrove, B61 7AG

Tel: 01527 871478

www.chapmansretail.co.uk

Step Into Shaggy Rug Season

3D Shaggy, Rock Shaggy, Plush Shaggy... Yes we’re talking rugs!

The choice when it comes to a deep pile, soft and sumptuous rug has got even bigger this year as one of the UK’s biggest online retail destinations for rugs www.therugseller.co.uk adds new products for Autumn / Winter 2022.

Design Director Daniel Prendergast says, “We experience a flurry of sales with the onset of the autumn months as homeowners update their homes with the latest seasonal trends and get homes nice and cosy.

“We source new designs from all over the globe and there are some strong new looks for the coming season. From textured 3D designs, wool effect boho rugs, luxurious faux fur and everything in between, here are my hot picks for the new season:

3D Shaggy Rugs

Beautiful and unique, a three dimensional rugs will make a statement in any room. The thick and luxuriously soft polyester pile has been hand carved to accentuate a tactile 3D design.

Choose from the 3D Geo available in blush, grey, ochre or red; or our Olympia range which also combines the season’s hottest colour trends with modern 3D designs.

Rocks Shaggy Rugs

With a thick tubular pile, Rocks Shaggy rugs are heavenly to walk on and create a modern design statement in any home. Hand woven with the finest 100% pure wool yarn to create a long lasting rug that will feel soft and cushioned underfoot for years to come. This rug is available in five colour options and a range of sizes from small to extra large, perfect to bring comfort to any space.

Boho Shaggy

Keep it boho but with a dense, thick pile thanks to our range of shaggy rugs in on trend boho designs. In a muted palette of greys and creams, these rugs will fit perfectly into any design scheme, creating the look and feel of a wool style rug with a luxurious, deep, soft, shaggy pile.

Plush Shaggy Rugs

Luxuriously dense, a plush shaggy rug will give your home that cosy finishing touch in an instant. Soft yet durable, these rugs are handmade in India and are available in 18 different colour and three different size options.

Shimmer Shaggy Rugs

There’s nothing like sinking your feet into a cosy deep pile rug or even snuggling up on one next to the fire. These Shimmer rugs

are super-soft with a slight metallic sheen that adds a real touch of luxe. With 12 colours to choose from, they are available in muted tones including blush, denim blue and champagne – as well as bolder colours including teal, mauve and charcoal – choose from small to extra large.

Sheepskin and Faux Fur Sheepskin and faux fur rugs are a classic way to add comfort and cosy textures to homes – and they don’t just have to be used on the floor, pile them up on the sofa or the bed for that interior expert styled look.

TOP TIPS FOR CLEANING YOUR SHAGGY RUG

Daniel says: “Shaggy rugs have a long, floppy pile, which is great fun to lie on, but a little daunting to wash. If you’re wondering how to clean shaggy rug fibres cheaply, don’t worry: they’re also possible to wash at home, as long as you take great care. Just be sure to check your rug care tags first.

Step one – loosen dirt: Take the rug outside. Hang it over a railing or sawhorse. Beat the rug just hard enough to loosen trapped dirt, dust and debris, using the side of a broom or handle of a mop.

Leave the rug in a sunny location for a couple of hours. The sun’s hot rays help to kill bacteria and dust mites that often thrive in soft items, such as bedding and carpeting.

Step two – vaccum Vacuum a shag rug as needed, which may be weekly on average, daily if it’s used every day by children or pets, or monthly if it’s rarely walked or played on.

Set the vacuum’s cleaning head to high pile, if your vacuum cleaner has this option. If the cleaning head isn’t adjustable, you may want to invest in a vacuum with such an option to help control suction and make the head glide more easily.

Suction out the dirt thoroughly. Dirt left to grind at a carpet’s fibres will cause them to breakdown or wear out. Do not use the vacuum’s beater bar or power head on a shag rug. The whirling action can snag, pull or tear out strands.

Flip over your rug to expose its woven underside. Vacuum this surface monthly or as needed, using the vacuum’s beater bar to remove more dirt. Stand on one edge of the rug and push the vacuum head away from you

to help keep a small rug from being sucked into a power head. If the suction is too strong, do not use the power head.

Step three – dry shampoo Sprinkle the rug with absorbent, carpetshampoo granules for an occasional freshening.

Work or brush the granules into the rug with the vacuum’s cleaning-head bristles without turning on the appliance. Allow the shampoo to sit for the length of time instructed on the label, which may be about one hour.

Vacuum the granules out thoroughly.

Step four – occasional steam clean Rent a steam-cleaning machine — when needed — from a rental shop or certain grocery stores, if you don’t have one. Make sure that you check your rugs care label and follow the instructions on the machine carefully.

Steam-clean a shaggy rug once or twice a year, as it becomes soiled or when it is stained, using a steam-cleaning machine, hot tap water and a non-foaming carpet detergent after vacuuming the rug.

Dry the rug by using a fan to blow air across it for a couple of hours. Shaggy rugs absorbs a lot of water and can stay wet for a long time.

Deal with spills as the happen Soak up occasional spills immediately, using a light-colour, absorbent rags, such as a white, terry facecloth or paper towel.

Rinse the rag, squeeze out most of the water and use it to continue sopping up the spill.

Check if more colour from the stain is still lifting onto the cloth. By using a white rag, you won’t risk transferring any colour from the rag to the rug. n

www.therugseller.co.uk

A quarter of consumers would withdraw pension savings earlier to cover cost of living – making them vulnerable to scammer ‘misdirection’

With the cost of living impact deepening, the FCA launches its latest ScamSmart campaign aimed at giving consumers the knowledge and tools to avoid pension scams.

New research from the FCA has found that a quarter (25%) of consumers would consider withdrawing money from their pension earlier than planned to cover the cost of living. This is supported by retirement income market data which showed that the number of pension plans accessed for the first time in 2021/22 increased by 18% to 705,666 compared to 2020/21 (596,080).

Preying on money worries and lack of confidence in pension savings to last through retirement, the FCA is warning that scammers are using ‘misdirection’ tactics to con victims. Just as with magic tricks – where magicians use misdirection to divert attention while the trick is carried out – emerging scam tactics are following the same pattern. The FCA surveyed over 1,000 people aged 40 and over with workplace and private pensions to uncover how this could impact them:

First comes the distraction: 44% would take up the offer of a free pension review – a classic distraction tactic. Concerns about having enough money to last throughout their retirement make them vulnerable to the lure of boosting pension returns: 17% of over 65s are still in work simply because they cannot afford to retire on their current pension, and over a third (37%), are not confident they have enough in their pension to last their whole retirement.

Many would also be reassured if a potential scammer getting in touch out of the blue could show them third-party verification –such as a separate individual who can (falsely) vouch for them, (46%) and had positive reviews of their service (31%), despite the fact scammers are becoming increasingly skilled at producing fake websites and brochures [as a distraction] when carrying out their ‘trick’.

Second comes the trick: here, scammers will prey on their victims’ misunderstanding of how pension savings work to secure their hard-earned money: over half (54%) said they did not feel confident in how to grow their pot, and 38% do not feel confident in understanding how pensions work.

Pauline Padden, 58, was looking after her terminally ill mother when she received a text message offering her a better deal on her pension and some cash in return for transferring her pot. Pauline was promised higher returns on her pension savings if she invested in a longterm hotel build in the Caribbean. Six months later, Pauline was devastated to receive a letter explaining she had been the victim of a scam and had lost £45,000 in pension savings.

Pauline Padden said: “At the time I was incredibly vulnerable. I was busy looking after my terminally ill mother and my three children. The scammers capitalised on my vulnerability and robbed me of the prospect of ever retiring. I was only trying to make my retirement easier but instead these scammers ruined my life. I still don’t know if I’m ever going to be able to get my savings back and will probably have to keep working until I am no longer fit to do so. I just hope I can help to raise awareness of the signs to look out for so that others never have to go through what I’ve had to deal with over the last nine years.”

The FCA is calling on all consumers to be ScamSmart and check the information on the Scamsmart website, including the Warning List, before making any decision about their pension. This will help identify any firms that are actively running scams, or flag to consumers the signs to look out for to avoid being scammed.

Mark Steward, Executive Director of Enforcement and Market Oversight, FCA, said: “Many of us have sat in awe as magicians make things disappear right in front of our eyes, despite us thinking we are in control,

or can see everything going on. But the trick ends there, and we can enjoy the rest of our night. That doesn’t happen with pension scams. The rising cost of living is affecting people at all savings levels, and pension scammers are taking advantage of this. Misdirection in this context means victims are lured in with the promise of a better lifestyle in retirement, or to support their living costs with pension savings. The scam then takes place right in front of their eyes, and it means thousands can be lost, for good. It’s important that consumers stay alert to these tricks, and visit ScamSmart to protect themselves before the sleight of hand can begin.”

If a consumer deals with an unauthorised firm, they will not be covered by the Financial Ombudsman Service or Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) if things go wrong.

The most commonly used tactics of pension scammers to be aware of include:

• the offer of a free pension review,

• higher returns, where they will guarantee they can get you better returns on your pension savings,

• help to release cash from your pension even though you’re under 55. An offer to release funds before age 55 is highly likely to be a scam, and has major tax implications

• high-pressure sales tactics, where the scammers may try to pressure you with ‘timelimited offers’ or even send a courier to your door to wait while you sign documents

• unusual investments – which tend to be unregulated and high risk, and may be difficult to sell if you need access to your money

• complicated structures where it isn’t clear where your money will end up

• arrangements where there are several parties involved (some of which may be based overseas) all taking a fee, which means the total amount deducted from your pension is significant

• long-term pension investments – which mean it could be several years before you realise something is wrong. n

Quality care in Leamington Spa you can trust

When a family is thinking about care for a loved one, they want the best - they want to know that the care home they choose will put their loved one’s safety, happiness and wellbeing first.

Once their relative has settled into Priors House they are able to focus on spending quality time with them again just enjoying each other’s company.

With the extra support that Priors House offers, new residents are often surprised at what they can do, whether that’s being able to continue with an activity they’ve enjoyed in the past, or even discovering new hobbies with our daily activities.

Priors House is part of award-winning provider, Care UK – one of the UK’s most successful care home operators* with over 40 years’ experience of delivering high quality care to older people. n

Care UK’s Priors House care home in Leamington Spa provides residential, dementia and nursing care, giving families peace of mind that their loved ones can stay living at the home should their needs change.

Living at Priors House is all about quality of life. Every colleague in the home is passionate about enabling residents to

enjoy a fulfilling lifestyle, tailored around their unique needs and preferences. The lifestyle team organises a huge variety of group and one-to-one activities, with plenty going on each day.

The team at Priors House are proud to have achieved some great results in the recent relative survey, in fact 90% of families feel the staff know and treat their loved ones as individuals^.

Priors House care home Old Milverton Lane, Leamington Spa CV32 6RN 01926 953095

maria.cridge@careuk.com Careuk.com/priors-house

*AsratedbytheCareQualityCommissioninEnglandandtheCare InspectorateinScotland.

^CareUKrelativesurveyMarch2022/August2022.Studyoperated byQRSMarketResearch,anindependentsurveyagency.

B H J O M D P I M O A B V M Y M I S T L E T O E Y R D E E S M C I U G O C N O R L D K C O Q O N R T T W N B

K Y Q C Z E J A G O V T D R Y S D G Q

O R T K L C N I C G P N R Y L I N X S

N X J I R E F B A V A P J E H R D C Z

L W O N H T A E R W V I I L E H A Y E

L R D G Z G Y L D J C G N X E C M B O M Y A D I L O H L S U H J A W N Z A M J

X P D B T V H S K M W S E L D N A C U

EDUCATION

Sunday 6th

Firewalk Evening

Myton Hospice Warwick. 6.30 Registration. 7pm Briefing. 8pm The Firewalk. £20 to register and it’s hoped intrepid walkers over the hot coals will get sponsorship. www.mytonhospice.org

Friday 11th – Sunday 13th

Stratford Literary Winter Festival

The Stratford Literary Winter Weekend returns from 11th-13th November. The Winter Weekend 2022 Festival line-up includes: Hugh Bonnerville, Jeremy Bowen, Cressida Cowell, Pam Ayres, Jeremy Hunt, Rod Biddulph, Dame Steve Shirley, Ronnie Archer-Morgan, Craig Brown, the Countess of Carnarvon, Henry Marsh, Dr Hannah Critchlow, Sam Fowles, Sarah Churchwell, Dr Shahed Yousaf, Riverside Theatre...PLUS a bonus on 30th November with David Dimbleby. www.stratfordliteraryfestival.co.uk

Sunday 23rd – Sunday 8th Jan 2023

Jack and the Beanstalk Belgrade Theatre. This year’s legendary Belgrade Theatre pantomime is the enchanting tale of Jack and the Beanstalk

– and it’s their fastest selling panto ever! Make sure you book your tickets early to guarantee the best seats at the best price on your preferred date, because they are getting snapped up quickly! Visit the village of Prickly Bottom where the evil giant Blunderbore is causing havoc! What the village needs is a hero brave enough to climb up to the giant’s castle and send him packing. Will Jack and his mysterious beanstalk prove to be the heroes we are looking for? There’s only one way to find out! Once again written by and starring Coventry’s favourite dame Iain Lauchlan, Jack and the Beanstalk will feature spectacular scenery, stupendous costumes, magical mayhem and a show stopping giant that make a trip to the Belgrade panto an unmissable Christmas treat for thousands of families every year. Funny, festive and extremely feel-good, don’t miss out on this absolute GIANT of a show. Tickets for Jack and the Beanstalk are selling fast, particularly for the most popular performances, so in the words of Daisy the cow, you’ll have to moooooove quickly if you want to get the best seats at the best price on your preferred date! www.belgrade.co.uk

Thursday 24th

Warwick’s popular Victorian Evening is back! Market Place, Warwick, CV34 4SA. Step back

in time and join us for a Victorian market from 12pm in the Market Square followed by the themed rides and fun starting at 3pm. Lights will be switched on at 7pm. Visitors can browse the Victorian Christmas Market with crafts, gift ideas and community stalls with some traders in traditional costume. The whole family will be entertained with various fairground rides, amusements and street entertainers whilst enjoying the festive food and drink, and there’s an opportunity to meet real life reindeer at the Lord Leycester Hospital. And, in keeping with tradition, the Christmas Tree Festival will be taking place in St Mary’s Church. A reception will be held at the historic Lord Leycester Hospital before a procession makes its way to Market Square where the Mayor of Warwick, Councillor Richard Edgington, will turn on the lights. Best dressed competition Visitors are also encouraged to get into the nineteenth century spirit with the annual competition for the best dressed Victorian, with the winners in both the adult and child categories being announced on stage at 7.30pm. Prizes include a one-night stay for a family of four at Warwick Castle, tickets for Warwick Racecourse, a free football-themed birthday party at St Nicholas Park Leisure Centre, courtesy of Everyone Active and Enchanted

What's On

Tearooms have kindly offered Afternoon Tea for two with a Mary Poppins theme.

Friday 25th

Xmas Light Switch On High Street, Kenilworth, CV8 1LY. 4pm-7pm. A traditional lights switch on with entertainment, food and drink from local businesses on High Street in Kenilworth. Cost: Free Lights will be switched on at 6pm.

Saturday 26th

Warwick and Kenilworth Choral Society St Nicholas Church in Warwick Time: 19:30 Come and spend the evening with Warwick and Kenilworth Choral Society with Warwickshire Youth Choirs, Colin Druce playing the organ and David Wynne conducting. Tickets are £15.00, £5.00 for students and are available from Warwick Books and Presto Music

Sunday 27th

Christmas Market and Scrumptious Sunday Parade, Royal Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, CV32 4BL. Join us to get your Festive preparations off to a cracking start! You’ll find over 60 attractive stalls brimming with goodies, unusual gifts, and artisan food and drink. There’s a strong emphasis on local, British and artisan amongst the traders. Visitors

will find an incredible array of delicious street food and drink, making their Christmas, a truly special one. www.cjseventswarwickshire.co.uk

DECEMBER

Thursday 1st - Saturday 24th

Reindeer Trail (Compton Verney)

Take part in our festive reindeer trail within our stunning landscape. Do you know your Monet’s from your Morag Myerscough? Our large wooden reindeer will be richly decorated in the style of contemporary and classical artists. Come and find all nine of Santa’s faithful reindeer friends in their fresh new colours. Once you have completed the trail, head into the shop to collect your reindeer food, ready for Christmas Eve! £3 per entrant The Reindeer Trail is included in every child ticket for Santa’s Grotto. www.comptonverney.org.uk

Thursday 1st

SUNBIRDS

Temperance, Leamington. The man who once told us he loved us from the bottom of his pencil case, founder Beautiful South member Dave Hemingway returns with his new band. Having retired from the live scene at the back end of 2016, Dave has been keeping busy together with erstwhile

South colleague, guitarist/songwriter Phil Barton, new discovery singer/violinist Laura Wilcockson and drummer Marc Parnell. Sunbirds ‘Cool To Be Kind’ debut album is out now available on Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer, Amazon UK & Music, all HMV stores and via the website - www.sunbirds.co.uk

Sunday 4th

Leamington’s Lantern Parade

Pump Room Gardens, Leamington Spa. 4:15pm-6pm. Join in with your beautiful handmade lanterns to Light Up Leamington Spa! A welcome return for this community events which brings people together for a magical evening lighting up our beautiful town centre. Every year around 1,000 lanterns parade through the town, whatever the weather. Entertainment starts at the Pump Room Gardens Bandstand approximately 30 minutes before the parade sets off. The route winds its way around the Pump Room Gardens, up Bedford Street to Warwick Street and then along to the Parade before heading back down to the Town Hall, meeting Santa’s reindeer along the way. The Royal Spa Brass Band then join in for Christmas carols on the Town Hall steps. Create your own lanterns, meet at the Pump Room Gardens and light up Leamington Spa! www.leamingtonlanternparade.co.uk

Rachel Seabright

01905 727900

Kate Gilmartin

01905 727904 kate@pw-media.co.uk