Bristol Jazz and Blues Festival

BRISTOL Jazz & Blues Festival returns from Thursday March 16 to Sunday March 19 with an incredible line-up of over 50 events across three venues. 

One of this years highlights is Macy Gray and Saturday night looks to be a spectacular night with iconic movie themes from the 60's and 70's featuring the Army of Generals string orchestra and a 21-piece jazz orchestra.

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Two scoops please

#BOURNEMOUTH took two top accolades at the 2016 #Dorset #Tourism Awards for the second year in a row. The Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum picked up gold for Small Attraction of the Year and the resort’s new Information Centre took silver for Tourist Information Service of the Year.

Other Bournemouth winners included:

Small Hotel / Boutique Accommodation of the Year – The Grove Hotel (Silver) and Cliff House Hotel (Bronze)

Café & Tearoom of the Year – Little Pickle Deli Café (Bronze)

Tourism Event & Festival of the Year – Shake and Stir Vintage Festival (Silver) and Bournemouth Wheels Festival (Highly Commended)

Venue & Business Tourism Award – BH Live in partnership with Business Events Bournemouth (Bronze)

Tourism Experience of the Year – Dorset Day Trips (Silver) and RockReef on Bournemouth Pier (Bronze)

Unsung Hero Award for Customer Service – Brenden Howard at The Grove Hotel

Large Hotel of the Year – Hilton Bournemouth (Gold)

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Picture Credit: grassrootsgroundswell flickr.com/photos/88920309@N05/30464367892 Bournemouth via photopin.com

Halloween horrors at Longleat

#LONGLEAT in Wiltshire is planning a Halloween Spooktacular (October 23-November 1).

There will be a Skeleton Maze, a ghoulish Ghost Train, Nasty but Nice shows, Dracula's Bat Cave, a witches coven, face painting, a Trick & Treat trail, the opportunity to learn about the spookier aspects of Longleat’s history … and firework displays on October 29, 30, and 31. 

www.longleat.co.uk/halloween

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Eat out on Guernsey for a tenner

GUERNSEY will be holding its 18th annual Tennerfest from October 1 to November 11, when more than 170 restaurants on Jersey, Guernsey and its sister island Sark offer three course menus starting from £10 – £12.50, £15, £17.50, and £20 menus will also be available.

The special menus represent savings of almost 50% on normal prices and include Guernsey's fresh seafood and locally grown produce. 

Tennerfest is one of Guernsey's most popular foodie events with an estimated five million Tennerfest meals consumed since the festival began in 1998. More than 300,000 covers are served at each Tennerfest.

Restaurants participating offer menus focusing on Guernsey ingredients and specialties such as Guernsey Gâche, a fruit loaf often served with Guernsey butter; the traditional 'bean jar', a one pot meal cooked overnight and made of beans, pork belly, and onions, and Gâche Méléé, which is similar to apple cake. Guernsey-made cheese is also offered for dessert on many menus, along with locally-brewed beer and cider.

www.visitguernsey.com/event/tennerfest 

Looking to stay over and sample even more?  Try one of the beautiful apartments at La Pompe Country Apartments, Les Mouilpieds, St Martin.

https://govillasandcottages.co.uk/property/9077084107119079065061061/la-cachette,-la-pompe-les-mouilpieds-st-martin.html

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Picture Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/49970491@N07/6378823015">Sweets</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/">(license)

Cider celebration

THIS year's #Apple&CiderWeekend at The Shops at Dartington, #Devon, is on September 26-27. 

Throughout the two days, Pomona – the mobile apple press operated by theatre group Common Players – will be pressing Devon apples. The apple juice can be purchased at the pop-up cider bar, which will also be stocking Dartington Organic Vintage Cider and Dartington Organic Cider Devon Blush. Hunt's and Norcotts Cider will have pop-up gazebos selling drinks.

Tastings will be taking place in The Food Shop and Devon Drinks, a Dartington regular, Cosmo the Clown, will be entertaining children, and QVC TV presenter Mal Harradine will be hosting hands-on workshops. 

Barbara King, managing director of The Shops at Dartington, says: ‘This is always a well-attended event, enjoyed by both young and old. We are proud to support the many outstanding local food and drink producers here. The weekend celebrates the apple harvest and the county's cider production.’

www.dartington.org/shops

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Picture Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/49333279@N04/15006620713">Cider Pressing 2014</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/">(license), http://www.flickr.com/photos/49333279@N04/15006629673">Cider Pressing 2014</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/">(license)

When women go to sea

AN exhibition opening at the National Maritime Museum in Falmouth, #Cornwall, depicts the hidden histories of women at sea. #Mermaids: Women at Sea tells the compelling stories of women who have challenged the establishment and made their mark in a male dominated world.  

It will feature extraordinary women such as Mary Lang, who joined a crew on the last of the merchant sailing ships –known as windjammers – to journey from South Australia to Cornwall in the 1930s, and Ellen MacArthur, the fastest woman ever to circumnavigate the globe in 2005.

Tehmina Goskar, the museum’s senior curator, says: ‘There have always been superstitions about women and the sea, from the myths of mermaids luring unsuspecting men to a watery death to the ill fortune a woman aboard a ship was meant to have brought to a voyage and its male crew. 

One of Cornwall's most famous legends is the Mermaid of Zennor, and visitors to the exhibition will be able to see and touch a 3D print of the famous mermaid carving in St. Senara Church in Zennor — the first time the museum has used this technology to present an exhibit.’

The exhibition runs until February 21.

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Picture Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/23604354@N02/3592637558">The Mermaids Chair.</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/">(license)

A drink – or two – at the harbour

BRISTOL’S Grape and Grain Festival (September 18-20) will give locals and visitors the opportunity to sample West-Country and international craft beers, ciders, wines, and food. 

Highlights of the harbourside festival include:

• Rick Stein's cookery school head chef, Mark Puckey, will be doing a demonstration and a fish-filleting masterclass on the Saturday afternoon 

• A Meet the Brewmaster session 

• A cocktail masterclass 

• Games and face painting for children 

Tickets are £5 per day, with children admitted free of charge.

www.grapeandgrainbristol.co.uk

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Picture Credit: www.grapeandgrainbristol.co.uk

Art on show in Devon

DEVON OPEN STUDIOS (September 5-20) is rare opportunity to meet artists in their studios in some of the most beautiful and unexplored parts of the county. Much of their work is for sale, and many demonstrate and give talks during the 16-day programme, sponsored by the West Country letting agency Helpful Holidays.

More than 200 artists working across the county – in painting and printmaking, ceramics and textiles, sculpture, jewellery, and photography – will welcome guests into their workspaces.

For the free guide and details of all the artists taking part, go to www.devonartistnetwork.co.uk/application/workfiles/resources/low%20res%20DAN%20Guide%202015%20final.pdf – or get one from libraries and tourist information centres in Devon.

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Picture Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/59398780@N00/8359227133">Eduardo Vega Art Work</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/">(license)

Country matters … in Somerset

 A CALENDAR highlight in the West Country is the one-day Mid Somerset Show (also known as the Shepton Show) in Shepton Mallet. 

Reputed to be Europe’s largest free one-day show – and now in its 163rd year – it’s a celebration of all things agricultural: livestock rearing, country crafts, local heritage, and farming history. Competitions are held for animals, produce, and handicrafts, and other attractions include trade stands, classic car displays, and craft demonstrations.

Each of the two show rings have a full programme of events throughout the day, which this year is Sunday, August 16.

Entry for pedestrians is free, but there is a parking charge of £10 per vehicle, irrespective of the number of passengers.

www.midsomersetshow.org.uk

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Picture Credit: Ian Sumner www.midsomersetshow.org.uk

Devon delights in June

JUNE in Devon means Devon Restaurant Month, when locals and visitors will be able to celebrate the county’s producers, chefs, and nosheries through a selection of one-off specials, seasonal lunches and dinners, tasting menus, and afternoon treats. 

Venues who have already confirmed involvement in this year's Devon Restaurant Month include The Royal Castle in Dartmouth, Hannah's at Seale-Hayne in Newton Abbot, Buckland Tout Saints Hotel, near Kingsbridge and Home Farm Café in Parke, Bovey Tracey. Now in its fourth year, Devon Restaurant Month aims to put the county more firmly on the map for food tourism in the South-West and beyond.

For a second year The Royal Castle, Dartmouth and The Royal Seven Stars, Totnes will be running 'Devonians Stay for Free!' During June (Monday – Thursday) guests who are lucky enough to live in Devon will be able to enjoy a special 'Devon Taster Menu' for just £45 per person and stay in the hotel for one night absolutely free.

www.devonrestaurantmonth.co.uk

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Picture Credit: Clovelly (Devon, UK) -- 2013 by © Dietmar Rabich, rabich.de - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons