February 2019
Royal Opera House
20/02/19 17:52 Filed in: What's On | Royal Opera House
Live at Lunch, 21 September 2018 © 2018 ROH. Photographed by James Bellorini
Each week, Live at Lunch at the Royal Opera House offers Londoners free culture, with the chance to enjoy music or dance in our newly renovated event spaces. The performances are all drop-in, last 45 minutes and take place on Fridays or Sundays in either the Paul Hamlyn Hall or Linbury Foyer.
The next Live at Lunch performances in February to April are as follows:
• Sunday 24 February, 1pm (Paul Hamlyn Hall)
• Friday 1 March, 1pm (Linbury Foyer)
• Friday 8 March, 1pm (Paul Hamlyn Hall)
• Sunday 10 March, 1pm (Paul Hamlyn Hall)
• Friday 22 March, 1pm (Paul Hamlyn Hall)
• Sunday 24 March, 1pm (Linbury Foyer)
• Friday 29 March, 1pm (Linbury Foyer)
• Sunday 31 March, 1pm (Linbury Foyer)
• Friday 5 April, 1pm (Linbury Foyer)
• Friday 12 April, 1pm (Paul Hamlyn Hall)
Audience members don’t need a ticket and can turn up to any of the free Live at Lunch events. Performances last about 45 minutes with no break, and seating is unreserved. Visit www.roh.org.uk for more details.
About the Royal Opera House
The Royal Opera House wants to give everyone access to exceptional ballet and opera. As The Royal Ballet, The Royal Opera and the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, we bring together the world's most extraordinary artists in more than 500 performances every year on our two world-class stages.
We are open every day from 10am with a programme of daytime events, activities and festivals for people of all ages. Through award-winning music, dance and theatre we transport our audiences to other worlds.
Last year more than 676,000 people saw a Royal Opera House performance or came for a tour. Our BP Big Screens programme every summer sees thousands enjoy free, world-class opera and ballet on their doorsteps, from Aberdeen to the Isle of Wight. The Royal Opera House Live Cinema Season, which broadcasts live performances of opera and ballet to UK and international cinemas, celebrated ten years of world-class cinema broadcasts in 2018. In 2019, we will broadcast to more than 1,500 cinemas globally. Our ongoing partnership with the BBC saw three of our productions broadcast across BBC platforms/channels last Season.
Treat your Mum to a free Mother's Day meal at The Petersham Restaurant
20/02/19 16:46 Filed in: What's On | Mothers Day
This Mother's Day show your Mum how special she really is with a free four-course meal at one of London's most spectacular hotel restaurants, The Petersham Restaurant in Richmond. Exclusively available for tables of four from 4pm, you and your family can continue to celebrate this wonderful day into the evening – with your Mum eating completely free!
With the stunning backdrop of floor-to-ceiling views of the River Thames and surrounding Meadows, The Petersham Restaurant offers the perfect setting to honour your Mum with an exclusive Mother's Day menu. Carefully curated by Head Chef Jean-Didier Gouges to feature the finest seasonal produce, guests can opt from sublime dishes such as Crab and quinoa salad, yuzu dressing, pickled ginger, keta caviar and Pan-fried cod with crab tortellini, samphire, fried leeks, crispy capers and avocado puree. And to make your mum feel extra special, there's even a Mother's Day pre-dessert to be served before indulging in delicious desserts including Chocolate forest gateau, cherry and rum sorbet and Sticky toffee pudding, toffee sauce and vanilla Chantilly cream.
The Petersham's Mother's Day offer will be available on Sunday 31 March for any tables of four booked after 4pm. For every four guests, one mum will go free. For a party of eight guests, two Mums go for free! For more information and to book a table, visit: www.petershamhotel.co.uk
VIP tickets
13/02/19 22:55 Filed in: Weddings
55% OFF two VIP tickets to Chelsea Enchanted Wedding Fair or the Hilton Riverside Secret Wedding Fair.
The tickets can be purchase for just £9. The VIP package includes a glass of champagne on arrival, accompanied by canapes and nibbles and a goody bag. The event includes an array of exhibitors with a range of fun and quirky ideas for a wedding.
The Chelsea event, held on 3 March, has a fairy tale theme, as you make your way around the venue and browse through the immaculately staged exhibition, complete with a charming Enchanted Hall, Corridor of Dreams and Fairytale Room, whilst the Hilton event, held on 19 May, has an emphasis on exclusivity and luxury.
Interested in going? Get your tickets today at www.wowcher.co.uk
Top five reasons to visit the London Cruise Show
London, United Kingdom (6 February 2019) – Cruise aficionados are invited to attend The London Cruise Show on Saturday 16 – Sunday 17 February 2019 at London Olympia.
Hailed as Europe’s biggest cruise showcase, the event will host a variety of specialist cruise operators, tourist boards and holiday providers, offering visitors the chance to discover the world by sea. Whether travellers are looking to book their first cruise, organise a round-trip sailing expedition, or experience a new destination, the two day event will cater to all needs highlighting the best of the cruising world for 2019 and beyond.
Sailing the high seas on luxury vessels, to selecting your dream destination, to meeting the experts, The London Cruise Show highlights the top five reasons to attend the event below:
1. Types of cruises available
Home to the largest collection of world-leading cruise lines and specialist operators, including Cruise Critic, Aurora Expeditions, Radisson Blu, Star Clipper and Oceania Cruises, the show is designed to inspire cruise enthusiasts, as well as introduce beginners to what’s new and available for 2019. Industry experts will be on hand to help curate bespoke packages and advise the most suitable style of cruises available for families, solo and mature travellers, including dedicated LGBT cruises, river cruises, luxury vessels, expedition style trips and charter cruises.
2. How to choose a destination
Travellers can choose voyages depending on what they want to see and do – be it an adventurous expedition to see the northern lights or sailing the fjords of Alaska. Taking into consideration costs, duration, luxury, exploration and excursions, The Destination Theatre is hosting talks to create personalised itineraries, including day trips to local towns, enabling travellers to explore the culture, cuisine, art and scenery. Talks at the Destination Theatre include South Africa’s Garden Route, Feel the Far East and imagine your Korea, Expedition cruising to the Falklands, South Georgia & Antarctica, Chimu Adventures.
3. New to cruise?
The New to Cruise Theatre will host free talks from a range of cruise lines and travel experts aimed at beginner cruisers over the weekend. Designed as an introduction to cruise, The New to Cruise Theatre will be the place for any new cruisers to listen and be part of aspirational talks and seminars.
4. Meet industry experts
Cruise fans interested in hearing from Lonely Planet expert, Oliver Berry, can sign up to hear a presentation about ‘Cruises of a Lifetime’. Oliver will be presenting his ideas about six once-in-a-lifetime cruises, from wildlife spotting on the Galapagos Islands and cruising the Norwegian fjords to the ultimate seaborne adventure in Antarctica. The session will include advice on how to choose a cruise, what to expect on board, top tips for photography and ideas on ways to cut costs.
5. Exclusive deals, competition and discounts
Visitors can save money by booking their cruise directly at the show and try their luck in a number of competitions on offer throughout The London Cruise Show. Cruise fans can enter Storylines’ competition to win a holiday of a lifetime worth over £175,000, for two to win a year-long residency on board a Storylines ship. Additionally, guests booking a cruise with Crystal Cruises can receive up to 10% off their cruise fare, and Steppes Travel is offering a free flight package for every person who books the Arctic Spitsbergen Charter, worth £750 per person.
Standard tickets start from £6.50 per person and can be booked at www.theticketfactory.com
Barbados Bans Single-Use Plastic
13/02/19 21:03 Filed in: Travel
From Monday, April 1, the importation, retail, sale and use of petro-based single-use plastic (plastic made from petroleum) will no longer be allowed in Barbados.
The popular tourist destination attracted 623,293 visitors in 2018 and is committed to the fight against pollution and joins the growing list of countries attempting to halt the use of plastic.
Cheryl Carter, UK Director, Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc, commented:
"Plastic contributes to the contamination of our marine species, and the water surrounding our beautiful island. Banning single-use plastics goes some way to ensuring the protection of our pristine beaches and crystal clear waters that we are famous for. Continuing to attract guests is our priority as we seek to enhance our sustainable credentials and continue to be an environmentally friendly destination.”
In a recent press conference in Barbados, the Minister of Maritime Affairs and the Blue Economy, Kirk Humphrey, and Minister of the Environment and National Beautification, Trevor Prescod, announced the ban, and its parameters.
Mr. Humphrey explained that with effect from January 1, 2020, there will be a ban on all petro-based plastic bags, with the exemption of those used for the packaging of pharmaceuticals/medicines, hygiene and the preservation of food.
“Barbados has to be a value-driven country. We have large expectations for ourselves. We have said that we want to be fossil fuel free by 2030; we want to have a renewable platform; we want to be a country that when we speak to the world we speak as an environmentally friendly country and destination.
“[Therefore] these are the things that we must do if our words and our actions are to be aligned. And so, we have made ourselves clear as to where we stand on single-use plastic,” Mr. Humphrey said.
Wildlife conservation is another priority for the island; The Barbados Sea Turtle Project has been involved in the conservation of the endangered marine turtle species for more than 25 years. Their long term vision is to restore the local marine turtle population through research, education and public outreach. Barbados is currently home to the second-largest hawksbill turtle nesting population in the Caribbean, with up to 500 nesting females per year.
Carlisle Bay in the south west of Barbados has recently become a designated marine-protected area, popular with divers, swimmers and snorkelers. Preserving Barbados’ coastline, the marine environment, the health of its reefs and habitats of the marine plants and animals is a continuous focus. It will ensure sustainable use and development of the fisheries, marine assets, resources, minerals and species for sustainable recreation and the livelihoods of those that make a living from the sea.
For further information related to the sustainability in the Caribbean, please visit: www.sustainable-caribbean.com
For further information regarding Barbados please visit www.visitbarbados.org
Let the Adventure BeGin
13/02/19 20:30 Filed in: What's On
The Epicurean Collection have a cluster of five pubs in South West London. These include The Cross Keys and The Admiral Codrington (Chelsea), The Sands End and The Brown Cow (Fulham) and The Punchbowl (Mayfair). 
All five pubs are hosting a gin trail from 27 Feb - 27 March. Guests can purchase a 'Gin Passport' at any of the venues (which will also give them 10% off food too) to enjoy a G&T and nibbles at each pub. Once guests have completed the set of five pubs, they will be entered into a draw to win an overnight stay in one of the Epicurean Club countryside Inns. Gin brands taking part in the trail include, Sipsmith, Silent Pool, Elephant Gin, Gin Mare and Warner Edwards.
The gin trail will run each Wednesday between 27/02 – 27/03 and the Gin Passports cost £30.