JOE LONGTHORNE - VARIETY CLUB SILVER HEART

HILTON HOTEL, BLACKPOOL
FRIDAY, 19TH MARCH 2010

The Variety Club are proud to announce that Joe Longthorne is to receive the most prestigious Variety Club Award, the Silver Heart for his outstanding contribution in the world of entertainment and his charitable work.

The response to this announcement has been overwhelming with fans coming from all over the world including New York, to honour Joe Longthorne at a tribute dinner in his honour that will take place in his home town of Blackpool. This promises to be a night to remember for all Joe Longthorne fans.

This Tribute Dinner is to take place on Friday, 19th March 2010 at the Hilton Hotel, Blackpool with stars from the world of entertainment and sport attending.

Ticket price: £80.00, which includes a three course dinner where Joe will also delight his fans with a special performance along with his very special VIP guests.

Tickets are limited and can be purchased from the Variety Club.

The event will commence at 7.00 p.m. and finish at approximately 12.00 midnight

For further information on this prestigious event and sponsorship opportunities.
Please contact Lyn Staunton at the Variety Club office on: -
Telephone: 0161 236 0500
Email: varietyclubnw@btconnect.com

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StayBlackpool Presidents Ball and End of Season Wrap Party

Calling all licensees: The Licensed Trade Charity heads to Blackpool

Blackpool residents will no doubt be pleased to hear there will be no political party invasion this year. Instead it will play host to the UK’s drinks industry annual charity conference. The Licensed Trade Charity (LTC) is this year packing its bags and moving northwards for its Annual Conference to Blackpool, running from Monday 12th to Wednesday 14th October.

The conference will be held at The Imperial Hotel on North Promenade and will see trustees, employees, volunteers, supporters and guests of LTC gather together to hear the progress that has been achieved in the last year.

The charity, which was first established in 1794, provides support and care for people who have worked or are working in the licensed drinks trade. This year the need has been even greater with the LTC spending over £1million supporting up to 800 people in a number of different ways - through its free helpline service giving advice to licensees in financial difficulties; by awarding allowances to help with utility or healthcare bills; by providing grants for equipment such as wheelchairs; bursaries towards its three independent schools, and providing housing to retired people in the industry.

The annual conference is an opportunity for current and ex-licensees, hoteliers, bar staff and industry supporters to join together for three days of sharing of advice, reminiscing and of course catching up with friends old and new. Starting with an evening enjoying the delights of Blackpool’s illuminations on 12th, a trustees meeting will be held the next day followed by the chance to dress up for an evening at ‘The Races’. On the Wednesday, there will be a presentation of the work of the charity from 10.30 to midday.

The conference will then close with a glamorous Black-Tie dinner and dance on Wednesday 14 October, hosted by LTC’s chairman, Anita Law.

LTC’s Chief Executive Jim Brewster said, “The conference is a key event in LTC’s diary as it’s the one time of the year where our supporters and guests, wishing to learn more about our work can gather to discuss the work of the charity. With the recession affecting many in our industry as pubs close, the work of the charity is even more vital now than ever. We thank all our supporters for their continued support and generosity.”

Current or former licensees, bar staff, hoteliers and industry supporters are warmly invited to join any of the conference events. For more information or to book a place please contact Angela McCulloch on 01344 884440.


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Issued: 5/10/09

For further information please contact:-

Becky Haywood
Leisure PR & Communications
(M) 07771 528850
Email: beckyhaywood@leisurepr.co.uk

Northwest tourism stars honoured

18 awards handed out at regional tourism ‘Oscars’
Last night (Monday 28th September, 2009) the region’s top tourism businesses and professionals gathered in Blackpool’s famous Tower Ballroom for the sixth annual England’s Northwest Tourism Awards.
Organised by the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA), the prestigious event aims to drive up the quality of the visitor experience across the region by rewarding excellence in the tourism industry. This year’s event was hosted by BBC North West Tonight presenter Ranvir Singh.
A total of 18 accolades were handed out, including the Outstanding Contribution to Tourism award which was presented to Nigel Haworth of Northcote near Blackburn. The Lancashire-born chef was recognised for his work as an ambassador for the region’s fantastic food.
In addition to receiving a prestigious title and trophy, many of the winners now have the opportunity to represent the Northwest in the national awards, organised by VisitEngland in April 2010.
The winners are:
• Outstanding Contribution to Tourism Award – Nigel Haworth, Northcote, near Blackburn• Large Hotel of the Year - The Lowry Hotel, Manchester• Small Hotel of the Year – Gilpin Lodge Country House Hotel, Windermere• Bed and Breakfast of the Year – The Ashton, Lancaster• Large Visitor Attraction of the Year – Imperial War Museum North, Manchester• Small Visitor Attraction of the Year – Arley Hall & Gardens, Northwich, Cheshire• Self Catering Holiday of the Year – Hall Hills, Dalston, near Carlisle• Holiday Park of the Year – Castlerigg Hall Caravan and Camping Park, Keswick, Cumbria• Excellence in Business Tourism – Arena and Convention Centre, Liverpool• Taste of England’s Northwest – Low Sizergh Barn Farm Shop, Kendal, Cumbria• Tourism Experience of the Year – Farmaggedon, near Ormskirk, Lancashire• Excellence in Customer Service – Christina Dixon, Jurys Inn, Liverpool• Sustainable Tourism Award – Arena and Convention Centre, Liverpool• Tourism for All – Kerridge End Holiday Cottages, Macclesfield, Cheshire• Tourism Event of the Year – Blackpool Illuminations• Public Space Award – Pier Head Public Realm and Canal Link, Liverpool• Tourist Information Centre of the Year – Wigan TIC• Travel Journalist of the Year – Stephen McClarence, The Observer
Eight judges’ commendations were also handed out on the night, in recognition of the exceptionally high standards in a number of the award categories.
Felicity Goodey, Chair of Tourism England’s Northwest said:
“The Northwest Tourism Awards have set a very high benchmark for the industry over the past few years. These winners are some of the best of the best. They are delivering a distinctive product, outstanding quality and value for money, that’s why even in the present economic climate they continue to do so well.
“These awards recognise and reward the leaders in what is a very competitive industry. I am confident we will do very well when some of them represent us in the national Enjoy England Awards for Excellence next year.”
Nick Brooks-Sykes, Director of Tourism at the NWDA, added:
“Tourism is an important industry in the Northwest, contributing over £13 billion to our economy every year. The NWDA is committed to helping the industry improve its competitiveness, and these awards play an important role in encouraging the quality and standards that we need to be an international player. These businesses are setting the standards for others to follow.”
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Notes to editors
Finalists in the England’s Northwest Tourism Awards are winners from each of the sub-regional tourism awards.
Images from the Awards ceremony will be available on Tuesday 29th September.
Full list of entrants and winners for the England’s Northwest Tourism Awards follows:
Outstanding Contribution to TourismNigel Haworth, Northcote, near Blackburn, Lancashire
Large Hotel of the YearCarden Park Hotel, Golf Resort and Spa, near ChesterCastle Green Hotel, Kendal, Cumbria- Highly CommendedPreston Marriott Hotel, Preston, LancashireThe Lowry Hotel, Manchester - WinnerMalmaison Liverpool, Liverpool
Small Hotel of the YearPeckforton Castle, Tarporley, CheshireGilpin Lodge Country House Hotel, Windermere, Cumbria - WinnerMytton Fold Hotel and Golf Complex, Langho, Nr Blackburn, Lancashire
Bed and Breakfast of the YearHarrop Fold Farm, Macclesfield, CheshireStorrs Gate House, Bowness-on-Windermere, CumbriaThe Ashton, Lancaster, Lancashire - WinnerBrooklands Lodge, Sale, Greater ManchesterThe Ambassador Townhouse, Southport, Merseyside
Large Visitor Attraction of the YearTatton Park, Knutsford, CheshireWalby Farm Park, near Carlisle, CumbriaBlackpool Tower and Circus, BlackpoolImperial War Museum North, Manchester - WinnerLiverpool Anglican Cathedral, Liverpool- Highly Commended
Small Visitor Attraction of the YearArley Hall & Gardens, Northwich, Cheshire - WinnerWordsworth House and Garden, Cockermouth, CumbriaHelmshore Mills Textile Museum, Helmshore, Lancashire Museum of the Manchester Regiment, ManchesterAcorn Farm, Liverpool
Self Catering Holiday of the YearKerridge End Holiday Cottages, Macclesfield, CheshireHall Hills, Dalston, near Carlisle, Cumbria - WinnerClough Bottom Farm Cottages, near Clitheroe, LancashireBlue Rainbow Apartments, ManchesterPremier Apartments Liverpool, Liverpool
Holiday Park of the YearCastlerigg Hall Caravan and Camping Park, Keswick, Cumbria - WinnerSunset Park, Hambleton, near Blackpool
Business Tourism AwardCarden Park Hotel, Golf Resort and Spa, near ChesterWarwick Mill Business Village, near Carlisle, CumbriaRibby Hall Village, Wrea Green, near BlackpoolThe Lowry Hotel, Manchester – Highly CommendedArena and Convention Centre Liverpool, Liverpool - Winner
Taste of England’s NorthwestWalk Mill, ChesterLow Sizergh Barn Farm Shop, Kendal, Cumbria - WinnerLa Locanda Ristorante Italiano, Gisburn, Lancashire- Highly CommendedThe Modern, ManchesterDelifonseca, Liverpool
Tourism Experience of the YearRoman Tours, Chester – Highly CommendedSilverband Falconry, Penrith, CumbriaFarmaggedon, near Ormskirk, Lancashire - WinnerCostumed Performers, Museum of Science and Industry, ManchesterArt in the Age of Steam, National Museums Liverpool, Liverpool
Customer Service AwardJanet Bradshaw, Tatton Park, Knutsford, CheshireJennifer Taylor, The Archway Guest House, Windermere, CumbriaHannah Lee, The New Holly, near PrestonMahendran Mayan, Renaissance Hotel, ManchesterChristina Dixon, Jurys Inn Hotel, Liverpool - Winner
Sustainable Tourism AwardCarden Park Hotel, Golf Resort and Spa, near ChesterLangdale Leisure Ltd, Ambleside, Cumbria – Highly CommendedMalkin Tower Farm Holiday Cottages, Blacko, LancashireRadisson SAS Hotel Manchester Airport, Greater ManchesterArena and Convention Centre Liverpool, Liverpool - Winner
Tourism for All AwardKerridge End Holiday Cottages, Macclesfield, Cheshire - WinnerUllswater Steamers, Glenridding, CumbriaSandcastle Waterpark, BlackpoolThe Trafford Centre, Greater Manchester
Tourism EventNantwich Food and Drink Festival, CheshireWestmorland County Agricultural Show, Milnthorpe, CumbriaBlackpool Illuminations, Blackpool - WinnerManchester Pride, ManchesterCreamfields, Merseyside
Public Space AwardCockermouth Market Place Regeneration Scheme, Cumbria - Highly CommendedCounty Square Environmental Enhancement Scheme, Ulverston, CumbriaPier Head Public Realm and Canal Link, Liverpool - Winner
Tourist Information Centre of the YearCongleton TIC, CheshireConiston TIC, Cumbria - Highly CommendedCleveleys TIC, LancashireWigan TIC, Greater Manchester - WinnerSt Helens TIC, Merseyside
Travel Journalist of the YearChris Moss, Time OutCraig Fleming, Blackpool GazetteDavid Atkinson, FreelancePaul Croughton, The Sunday TimesStephen McClarence, The Observer – Winner
For further information please contact Helen Batte, Tourism Press Officer on 01925 400235 or 07764 239856 or Helen.Batte@nwda.co.uk
For urgent out of hours press enquiries please call 01925 400259.
For further information and to view previous press releases visit us at www.nwda.co.uk
The Northwest Regional Development Agency works to deliver economic success in England’s Northwest by building the competitiveness of businesses, people and places. The Agency is the strategic lead for tourism in the Northwest and works with the region’s five tourist boards to support and grow our £13 billion visitor economy.

74 Teams from 30 countries heading to Blackpool, England

Blackpool, England, Sept. 9, 2009 –Great Britain remains on the international beach volleyball calendar again next week as the seaside resort of Blackpool in Northwest England hosts the 2009 SWATCH FIVB Junior World Championships, for players under 21 years old. The ninth edition of this world championship event will be staged next Wednesday through Sunday as England will host these world championships for the second-straight year and first in Blackpool.
Heading to England for next week’s championship event for both men and women are a total of 74 two-person beach teams (39 men, 35 women) representing 30 nations. The event, to be played on the St. Chads Headland on the South Promenade in Blackpool, will start for both men and women with separate qualifying tournaments on Wednesday (Sept. 16), to determine the final four positions in the 24-team main draw. The 24-team main draw for each gender will include two days of Pool Play next Thursday and Friday and two days of single-elimination bracket play next Saturday and Sunday. The medal matches for both genders will be played next Sunday (Sept. 20).
The 2009 SWATCH FIVB Junior World Championships follows the English Masters, the fourth of five events on the professional European Tour, which is being played this week on Blackpool’s Promenade as the area concludes being the focal point for international Beach Volleyball competition for three consecutive weeks. Last week, Blackpool hosted the finals of 2009 Beach Volleyball England Tour (BVET).
“This is certainly a very, very busy month for all of us, but we are extremely honored and proud to be able to host and present the 2009 SWATCH FIVB Junior World Championships in Blackpool,” said David Spokes, Tournament Administrative Director of Beach Volleyball UK Ltd. “These are the best young beach volleyball players in the world and to have them helping expand the visibility of beach volleyball in the United Kingdom is great, especially at a time when we are all pointing towards the 2012 Olympics. We are grateful to the FIVB for this opportunity and appreciative of all of the support given to us by Britain’s Northwest Regional Development Agency and Volleyball England.”
The 2009 Junior U-21 gold medal team will be awarded a “wild card” by the FIVB for a future SWATCH FIVB World Tour event during the final months of the 2009 season or the 2010 season.
The Junior U-21 world championships have seen the medal and “final four” count distributed among 18 countries. Of the eight previous SWATCH FIVB Junior World Championships, four countries have captured men’s gold medals and three different nations have won gold medals in the women’s competition.
Brazil has captured three men’s and six women’s titles. Pedro Salgado, the 2008 SWATCH FIVB World Tour champion with Harley Marques, captured the 2003 and 2006 U-21 titles for Brazil with Pedro Cunha and Bruno Oscar Schmidt, respectively.
In total final four placements for both genders combined, Brazil leads with 15 total (nine women and six men), followed Germany with eight total (five men and three women), the Netherlands with seven total (five women and two men) and Spain with five total (four men, 1 women’s).
Pablo Herrera, who won the 2002 U-21 title for Spain with Raul Mesa, captured the silver medal at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games with Javier Bosma. Martins Plavins and Aleksandrs Samoilovs, the 2005 U-21 champions from Latvia, placed ninth at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. The Latvians upset eventual 2008 Olympic gold medal winners Phil Dalhausser and Todd Rogers of the United States in their first Beijing match.
Russian Alexandra Shiryaeva, who competed in Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, captured the gold medal at the 2003 women's junior world championships with Anna Morozova. The Schwaiger sisters (Doris and Stefanie), who placed fifth at the Beijing Summer Games for Austria, claimed the bronze medal at the 2005 junior world championships.
Francesco Giontella and Paolo Nicolai of Italy won their second U-21 junior title in 2008 after claiming the
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title in 2007 when the event was held in Modena, Italy. At the 2006 U-19 youth championships in Berumda, Giontella and Nicolai claimed the silver medal with compatriots Matteo and Paolo Ingrosso placing third for Italy. The Ingrossos captured the 2008 U-21 junior bronze medal.
The Netherlands’ Marleen Van Iersel realized her gold medal aspirations at a SWATCH FIVB Junior/Youth World Championship event as she teamed with partner Daniëlle Remmers to capture the 2008 U-21 junior title for women.
Van Iersel was playing in her ninth FIVB Junior/Youth world finale since first competing internationally for the first-time in 2003. A bronze medal winner at the past two worlds for players under the age of 21 with Marloes Wesselink in Italy and Poland, Van Iersel was teaming with Remmers on a FIVB podium for the second-time as the pair was second at the 2006 U-19 youth world championships in Bermuda.
This year Remmers will play with Michelle Stiekema who won the silver medal last year with Sophie van Gestel. Van Gestel, who is overcoming an injury, is playing this year with Madelein Meppelink.
Poland’s Monika Brzostek, who won the bronze medal last year with Karolina Sowala, is teamed this year with Kinga Kolosinka. Kolosinka won the silver medal in last month’s U-20 European Beach Volleyball Championships with Beata Galek and Galek is teamed in Blackpool with Daria Paszek, who earned the bronze medal in this year’s U-20 EBVC with Renata Bekier.
Also in Blackpool’s women’s competition will be Italy’s Debora Allegretti/Marta Menegatti who won the gold medal in this year’s U-20 EBVC.
Among the other top women players entered are one-half of both the 2008 and the 2009 SWATCH FIVB Youth World Championships gold medal teams. Both from Germany, Chantal Labourer won last year in The Hague, Netherlands and Victoria Bieneck won this year in Alanya, Turkey. Bieneck will be paired with Marika Steinhauff in Blackpool while Labourer will be playing with Kira Walkenhorst.
Russia’s Irina Chaika, who was half of the silver medal-winning team in this year’s SWATCH FIVB Youth World Championships and bronze medal-winning team in the same event in 2008, will team with Anna Vozakova in Blackpool.
The top returning junior men’s team from last year’s world championships in Brighton is the silver medalist team of Alexander Brouwer/Christiaan Varenhorst of the Netherlands.
Also among the men’s teams entered in next week’s tournament is Poland’s Marek Leznicki/Damian Wojtasik who captured the gold medal at this year’s EBVC U-20 championships.
As the host nation, Great Britain has three men’s teams and two women’s teams each pre-seeded into the main draw of their respective tournaments.
The men’s teams representing Great Britain will be Sean Cook/Adam Smith, Patrick Crooks/Chris Gregory and Josh Randall/Jake Scheaf.
The two women’s main draw teams from Great Britain will be Jessica Grimson/Elizabeth Smith and paige Nelmes/Annie Tinker.
The 2009 SWATCH FIVB Junior World Championships are being produced by Beach Volleyball UK Ltd. of Dorset in association with Britain’s Northwest Regional Development Agency and Volleyball England.
Lying along the coast of the Irish Sea, Blackpool is 40 miles (64 km) northwest of Manchester and less than 30 miles north of Liverpool City centre. As England's major seaside resort, Blackpool features an endless stretch of sand, a famous tower and Pleasure Beach, one of the United Kingdom’s best roller coaster theme parks.
The 2008 SWATCH FIVB Junior World Championships were held in Brighton, in Southeast England, as the European confederation (CEV) has also hosted the U-21 junior world championships in France (Le Lavandou 2001 and Saint Quay Portrieux 2003), Italy (Catania 2002 and Modena 2007), Poland (Myslowice 2006) and Portugal (Porto Santo 2004). The South American confederation hosted the 2005 event in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Additional event information is available at http://www.beach-volleyball.co.uk/ while more information is also available at http://www.fivb.org/

Strictly Come Dancing Comes to Blackpool

BBC One's dance spectacular Strictly Come Dancing is hot-footing it to the spiritual home of all things ballroom as the show decamps to Blackpool for one night only, as part of the sparkling seventh series.

Bringing a touch of old-world grandeur and glamour to the smash hit show, Blackpool's famous Tower Ballroom will play host to a special edition of the programme on Saturday 7 November 2009.

Waltzing their way to the north, hosts Bruce Forsyth and Tess Daly will be joined by the nine remaining couples in the competition, as well as the judging panel of Len Goodman, Bruno Tonioli, Craig Revel Horwood and Alesha Dixon. Jay Hunt, Controller, BBC One, says: "It's great that this year Strictly Come Dancing is going back to the home of ballroom. Our night in Blackpool will add extra sparkle to this series." Blackpool Tower Ballroom originally played host to the popular BBC series Come Dancing, which was the predecessor for today's hit show.

Strictly Come Dancing has previously broadcast from Blackpool. The last time was the final of series two in 2004, when actress Jill Halfpenny and her dancing partner Darren Bennett were crowned Strictly champions.

Councillor Maxine Callow, Blackpool Council's Cabinet Member for Tourism & Regeneration, said: "Blackpool is absolutely thrilled to be hosting Strictly Come Dancing again and is very grateful to the BBC for bringing this fantastic spectacle back to the home of ballroom dancing. "Blackpool's world-famous Tower Ballroom will once again look fabulous on TV and, as November 7th is the last weekend of the illuminations, I'm sure all the dancers and celebrities will enjoy the wonderful atmosphere here."

Michael Williams, Operations Director, Blackpool Tower, said: "It is fantastic news that the BBC is once again bringing Strictly to the Tower Ballroom. The ballroom will certainly add to the atmosphere and give this year's contestants the opportunity to dance in magnificent surroundings – it really is a welcome return."