York News for Travel Writers/Feature Editors - February 2007

 

Further Info & Photographs From: Kay Hyde, PR Manager or Sarah Lilleyman, PR Assistant, York Tourism Bureau. Tel 01904 554451/554436 Email: kh@york-tourism.co.uk  sl@york-tourism.co.uk

Would you like to visit York on a press trip? If you're interested in writing a travel feature about York we'd be delighted to hear from you. Looking for a different angle? Why not visit our website www.visityork.org/media click on themed fact sheets for ideas.

Main News

New Antique Furniture Appreciation Weekends

Antique lovers are being offered a new reason to visit York; three day courses on antique furniture delivered at Red House Antiques by practising dealer and lecturer Chris Wilde, M.A., Catab. Covering all major British furniture styles from c.1600 to c.1910, the course is based on close examination of actual pieces. Guidelines will also be given on valuing antiques and how and where to buy. The three day courses will run Fridays to Sundays from 11am to 4pm and will be held on the first Friday of every month, excepting the first course which runs on 16th February. Cost £125 pp. Midweek courses are available on request and other weekends will be added according to demand. Visit www.redhouseyork.co.uk

Courses will include:

What to look for when buying, how the furniture is constructed, how to recognise if restoration has been done, how to date period pieces, how to value your prized possessions. Ten people maximum per course (minimum five). Tel 01904 637000 or email or visit the website www.redhouseyork.co.uk Book early to avoid disappointment! Press Contact: Pauline Stephenson. Tel mobile 07860 564080.

New Photography Holidays

Where better to learn the art of digital photography than in photogenic York? Professional photographer John Potter has launched (September 2006) a series of new digital photography courses based in the heart of the city. Tuition is on a one to one basis or visitors can come with a friend or partner. Guests meet on the evening of arrival to discuss the workshop and some basic landscape photography techniques. A digital slide show is then followed by discussion of work so far. Guests are invited to bring along pictures for analysis and feedback. Day One - Full dawn to dusk workshop. Lunch and transport provided. Special interests catered for .for example - If you those particularly interested in Panoramic Photography can learn how to use a Pano Tripod Bracket to take fantastic Panoramas which are later stitched up in the computer. Day Two - Explore the City of York with cameras visiting York Minster, the Museum Gardens, and the Shambles. Download images in the afternoon. For newcomers to digital imaging there's a basic introduction into imaging software and basic manipulation techniques to improve and enhance images. More experienced photographers can have tuition in Photoshop Elements or Photoshop CS, to produce competition winning and/or exhibition quality. Press Contact: Kay Hyde. For more information and to book, please contact John Potter Photography www.jpotter-landscape-photographer.com or email j.s.potter@btinternet.com Home Tel: 01904 797222 Mobile 07899055890.

New Tours at York City Archives

York City Archives has launched a Thursday evening tours at 6.00 p.m (booking essential as groups restricted to 12 people) Weekend tours can be arranged for groups. The tours are free to York residents, but a modest charge will be made for visitors from outside York. Opening Times: Mon-Fri. 9.0-1.0 2.0-5.0 & continuous opening on Thursdays to 7.30. Tel 01904 551878, Visit www.york.gov.uk and type in archives in box, Contact and Email Address: archives@york.gov.uk

The City Archives contains many gems for example the only surviving pawnbrokers books from the 18th century, a photographic collection of the clearing of the slums, the charter of Henry II and the death entry of Richard III.

Kaleidoscope of Culture.

A year round campaign to reaffirm York's position as a centre for culture was launched in December 2006. Supported by Yorkshire Forward, the York Tourism Bureau is implementing a media campaign to highlight York's cultural offer and promote the city as an ideal destination for a cultural short break. York, the spiritual capital of the North for 2000 years, is central to Britain's colourful history. But a closer look reveals not only a rich historical offering but also a flourishing contemporary cultural scene where digital art, cutting edge light installations and niche events and exhibitions show York in a different light. As well as highlighting York's cultural activities and festivals and events for 2007, part of the campaign has also focused on the Illuminating York programme, which is breathing new life into York's historic urban environment to improve the experience of York City Centre for both residents and visitors.

Cold War Relic - New 2007 Opening Times

In May 2006, York's restored Cold War Bunker opened to the public. Visitors can now take a guided tour of a semi-submerged secret bunker on the outskirts of York. At the height of the Cold War, Britain had a total of 1,561 nuclear shelters, designed to withstand severe bombardment. The shelter was one of the best surviving examples of its type in the UK, and the first to be designated a Scheduled Monument. Now, complete with original fixtures and fittings, visitors can experience an atmosphere as authentic as that found in films such as the Ipcress File or the TV serial Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy.

Now the spine-chilling 1960s secret bunker, complete with decontamination rooms, dormitory and sewage ejector, is to remain a secret no longer with new opening times for the 2007 season.

· April - October, weekends 10 - 4, tours every half-hour

· November - March, 1st & 3rd weekend of the month, 10 - 4, tours every half-hour

No Need To Pre-Book! From 2007 onwards there's no need to pre-book. Weekdays between April & October still by appointment! Call Clifford's Tower on 01904 646940 for more details. Visit www.English-heritage.org.uk Tel: 01904 601901. Press Contact: Nicola Bexon, Email: Nicola.Bexon@english-heritage.org.uk

New Face of the Bar Convent

Forget what you have ever imagined life in a Catholic convent would be like! For the un-con-vent-ional living in York's Bar Convent abandons all your preconceptions. Being the oldest working convent in England, the Bar Convent has nowadays rather turned into a thriving business which meets the needs of the weary traveller. The face of the Grade 1 listed Georgian building has had a facelift this summer. The Bar Convent has provided hospitality to thousands during its 300 year history. The renovation includes its 300 year old slate roof and the restoration of all 150 of its original sash windows. Not only that but the internal areas of the convent are also benefiting from some cosmetic enhancements, including new chairs and soft furnishings in the meeting rooms and furnishings and redecoration in the Guest House. All of this means better comfort and better value for customers. For a holiday with a difference why not book in to the oldest working convent in England.. visit www.bar-convent.org.uk Press Contact: Kay Hyde

YorkWalk: Henry VIII Trail - New Walking Tour for 2007

Follow the trail of Henry VIII and witness the chaos he created in York with this new 2007 YorkWalk tour. The Henry VIII Trail follows in the footsteps of this obese, diseased and constipated monarch and looks at the havoc he wrought on the monasteries and hospitals during his state visit to the city in 1541 with his young Queen Catherine Howard.

Other historical guided tours by YorkWalk include The Graveyard, Coffin and Crypt Tour, Guy Fawkes Trail and the Bloody Execution Trail amongst others. The walks run throughout the year. Press Contact: Julian Cripps Tel: 01904 709755 or email travellersintime@catbells7.fsnet.co.uk

New Air Coach Link to Leeds Bradford Airport

Getting to and from Leeds Bradford is about to get a whole lot easier when First York, with partners City of York Council, York Tourism Bureau, Yorkshire Forward and Jet2.com, launches an hourly express coach service between York and the airport in March 2007. www.yorkaircoach.com

Quilters' Guild Has York Covered

Plans have been confirmed by The Quilters Guild of the British Isles to relocate its museum to York, bringing ten new jobs to the city and a new visitor attraction. The Quilters Guild, an educational charity with the only registered quilt museum in Europe will move to the historic St.Anthonys's Hall in Peasholme Green after renovation of the 15th Century hall is completed in Autumn 2007. Visit www.quiltersguild.org.uk

Ghostly Goings-On at the Treasurers House

Visitors to the Treasurers House can now find out more about the spooky side of the house with a new Ghostly Myths Tour. Ghosthunters can visit the cellar where the world famous ghostly Roman legion was spotted and also find out more about other ghostly goings-on in the house and explore the historical reality behind them. Visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk

£5 Million Make-Over For "Designer Destination Of The North"

McArthurGlen has invested over £5 million in its York Designer Outlet, creating 50 new jobs through a re-development of the centre's west wing, which re-opened in November. Now re-named 'York Designer Outlet' to place greater emphasis on its strong links with York, the centre now offers visitors even more choice. Visit www.mcarthurglen.com/york

Commando Bus Cruises into Elvington

A 1947 Commer Commando Crew Bus is the latest addition to the Yorkshire Air Museum's historic vehicle collection. The bus, which was used by the Royal Air Force, is one of only five remaining examples and the oldest surviving of its type.

Harvilles Finally Opens.Steak and Fish restaurant..

Harvilles restaurant - the newest of the York scene - opened in February. Harvilles is a relaxed Art Deco influenced restaurant and bar, situated on York's premier restaurant street, Fossgate. The Oyster Cellar has one of the finest collections of champagne in the region and is an intimate place to dine and enjoy the freshest seafood. Harville's also offers the best quality beef, only serving prime Aberdeen Angus. Tel 01904 654 155 visit www.harvilles.co.uk

Exhibitions

Relationships: Contemporary Sculpture, York Art Gallery,

January 27 - May 13 2007

Sculptures by some of the most famous contemporary artists in the country are to go on show in a brand new exhibition at York Art Gallery. Relationships: Contemporary Sculpture combines important pieces from the gallery's enviable collection together with loans from the Arts Council Collection. Damien Hirst, Rachel Whiteread and Anya Gallaccio are among the artists who are included in what will be the most significant sculpture exhibition in York for a number of years.

The exhibition explores the ideas of relationships, both in simple terms and the more complex. One example of this is the type of materials used and how they relate to the shapes and form they take. The artists in the exhibition address and challenge these ideas of what we expect. The exhibition features Damien Hirst's piece 'Relationships', which was featured in his first solo exhibition in 1991 and consists of a drinking glass filled to certain point with water upon which a ping-pong ball floats. Other highlights of the exhibition include Rachel Whiteread's Untitled (Six Spaces), Rebecca Warren's Journey into the Heart of the Night, Anya Gallaccio's Can Love Remember the Question and the Answer and John Frankland's Untitled (shed). For more information please go to www.yorkartgallery.org.uk or phone: (01904) 687687. Press Contact: Lee Clark 01904 687673

Fingerprints of Time

How do your know a crocodile is 165 million years old? What's the one man-made object that we use today that has been in use for 500,000 years? These are questions that will be answered in a brand new interactive exhibition opening at the Yorkshire Museum in February.

Fingerprints of Time investigates the age of everything, giving visitors the chance to crack the dating code by experimenting with methods used around the world. Runs until December 31 2007. Visit www.yorkmuseumstrust.org.uk

The Flying Scotsman...

In 2006 the National Railway Museum launched its new permanent exhibition dedicated to the legendary steam locomotive, Flying Scotsman. The £700,000 exhibition backed by Yorkshire Forward and the Heritage Lottery Fund, called The Flying Scotsman Story, opened at Easter 2006. The permanent new exhibition tells the remarkable story behind the world's most famous steam locomotive and the prestigious East Coast rail service that made its name. It also traces Flying Scotsman's extraordinary journeys to the USA and Australia, as well as tackling the biggest question of all.just why is the vintage locomotive so famous? Other key features of the new display include:

· Personal stories of the people intimately linked with the locomotive and service - from passengers and crews to owners and admirers.

· Visual access to the behind the scenes world of NRM locomotive preparation prior to operating on the main line.

· A sought-after glimpse into Flying Scotsman's footplate when it is on display within the exhibition.

· Guest appearances by other famous locomotives and engines from the route of the Flying Scotsman and held in the national collection.

· A 1930s buffet car illustrating the story of the dining experience for passengers travelling on the Flying Scotsman service over the last 70 years.

· Rare film footage along the Flying Scotsman route and from all the periods of the locomotive's life. Press Contact: Toby Wardman: 01904 686281 Email: toby.wardman@nmsi.ac.uk Public Contact: Tel: 01904 621621 www.nrm.org.uk

Richard Fozard: Printmaker, York Art Gallery

17 February - 3 June 2007

Evocative prints capturing the beauty of rural England will go on show as part of a new exhibition at York Art Gallery in February 2007.Richard Fozard: Printmaker will include some of the artist's most well known works as well as rarely seen pieces, all showcasing the skill he possessed in a variety of different printing mediums.

Yorkshire born Fozard, (1925-2000), had a passion for nature and many of the works going on show will be of rural scenes from across Britain. The exhibition will also examine the techniques and skills used by Fozard to create his work. York Art Gallery has around 50 Fozard prints in its collection and 25 will be going on show for this exhibition. All of these works were kindly donated to the gallery in 2004 because the gallery was local and had a strong collection of more than 17,000 works on paper. The work on show will include examples of etching, aquatint, engraving, woodcuts and dry point printing. For more information please go to www.yorkartgallery.org.uk or phone: (01904) 687687. Press Contact: Lee Clark 01904 687673

New for 2007.Unfair Trade - March 2007 - March 2008

York Castle Museum's new thought provoking exhibition will mark the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the British slave trade. An exhibition exploring the impact of slavery on ordinary people and how York played an active role in its abolition. Unfair Trade will draw upon the York Museum Trust's vast collections to look at the many ways that slavery touched the lives of those living in Yorkshire and how their consumption of slave produced goods contributed to the trade. It will also look at the links with contemporary life by asking the visitor to consider where the goods that they buy come from, who produced them and under what conditions.

The exhibition has been organised to coincide with the bicentenary of the abolition of the British slave trade in 2007 and will be held at the museum for 12 months from March 25 2007. Michelle Petyt, curator of the exhibition, said: "This exhibition will focus on slavery from the viewpoint of ordinary people, something that has rarely been looked at in the past. Every day people played their part simply by doing their daily shopping, but many other York residents prospered through trade and commerce especially in such commodities as tea, coffee, sugar and cocoa. It was these products in particular that allowed the slave trade to flourish. "However York also played a part in the abolition of slavery with the many Quakers in the city strongly supporting William Wilberforce and helping to finance his election campaign." She added: "By bringing together items from across our fabulous collections we hope to give a valuable insight into this aspect of York's history that is rarely explored."

The Memory of Place by Keiko Mukaide, York St. Mary's

4 May - 28 October 2007

Internationally renowned Japanese artist Keiko Mukaide will bring a stunning new look to York St. Mary's Church this summer. Keiko, who is well known for her experimental approach to glass will use the space and the light in this medieval church to create her imaginative piece of work, titled 'The Memory of Place'. Using fire, water, glass, stone, light and sound, she will transform the interior of the church, creating a spiritual space in which to reflect on the memory of loved ones

Keiko will construct a shallow pool of water, which fills the nave of the church. Water will gently flow from the west end of the church towards the transept, where a small waterfall will allow it to return to the starting point. In the transept, a suspended column of glass rods will be dramatically top-lit, suggesting a spiritual path to a higher place. Visitors will be invited to interact with the installation by quietly lighting a votive candle and floating it on the pool. St. Mary's church is a former medieval church, which is now run as a contemporary art venue. The exhibition runs from 4 May until 28th October 2007 and admission is free. For more information, www.yorkstmarys.org.uk Press Contact: Lee Clark, York Museums Trust. Tel: 01904 687670 Email: lee.clark@ymt.org.uk

New for 2007..So you think you're a Viking?

A new exhibition hitting the JORVIK Viking Centre in York, in April 2007, will be sure to cause a storm, as it delves into the historic 'melting pot' of York that was created by immigration and trade in Viking times.

The unique exhibition will bring together bio-scientific and artefactual evidence to determine if visitors could have Viking ancestors. Using computer technology, a 3-dimensional walk-through Viking wharf scene, graphics and interactive activities visitors will be able to investigate:

· DNA and gene mapping, using evidence generated by gene related studies

· bone material unearthed by archaeologists and used to map genetic disorders, such as Dupuytren's disease (known as the Viking disease)

· An oxygen isotope analysis of Viking-age bones and teeth, used to determine where people originate from

· Archaeological environmental evidence, used to reveal what people ate, where the food came from, and what levels of pollution existed in the city of York at the time

· Viking migration patterns and trading routes to determine if this affected who and what was brought into York, revealed in the biological remains

· The assimilation of language and the development of dialects

· A comparative study with immigration and the cultural mix in today's society, with on-line links to relevant web sites.

This permanent exhibition, which will bring the past to life with tactile audio and smelling activities, is expected to be hugely popular with families who want to investigate whether they have Viking ancestors. Press Contact: Kay Hyde.

An exhibition at the Yorkshire Air Museum to mark the 25th Anniversary of the Falklands War. -

The Yorkshire Air Museum & Allied Air Forces Memorial will be launching a new Exhibition to mark the 25th Anniversary of the Falklands War in April 2007. Amongst the museum's extensive aircraft collection is Victor K2 Tanker XL231, which saw actual service in a refueling role in support of Operation Black Buck, the Vulcan raid on Port Stanley. There will also be an example of the Hawker Harrier GR3 and 10 Harriers from 1 Squadron RAF Wittering operated in support of the Royal Navy Sea Harriers. 3 of these were lost in action. Blackburn Buccaneer S.2B XX901 saw Falklands service in a defensive role after the crisis in 1983. Canberra and Mirage aircraft similar to those used by the Argentinians are also among the museum's collection and another fascinating exhibit is the Tiger Cat Missile System captured from the Argentinians by troops from the R.A.F. Regiment and subsequently used against the invading forces! This weapons system was developed in Britain and exported to a number of nations, including Argentina prior to the conflict. The exhibition will open in April 2007 and run until the end of October. An official ceremony is likely to be on the 5th April (to be confirmed), which will include well-known veterans and R.A.F. participation with fly-pasts and fly-ins of helicopters.

For further media information, please contact Ian Richardson, Public Relations Manager, Yorkshire Air Museum. 01904 608718 Mob: 07740 992 832 or email pr@yorkshireairmuseum.co.uk

New for 2007..Behind the Scenes Tours at Castle Howard.

For the first time ever, Castle Howard - Yorkshire's finest historic house is offering visitors the chance to take a behind the scenes look at the stately home and it's estate. Located in the heart of North Yorkshire, Castle Howard has always invited people to explore the main House and Gardens, but now visitors can take a guided tour of the Castle's hidden corners, treasurers and stories. Visitors can take in the Great Fire Tour, which discovers the secrets behind the great fire of 1940, which swept through the house into the Great Hall destroying the dome and 20 rooms, or the Myths and Monsters Tour which looks at the stories of the 18 lead statues hidden in the garden. Other include the Architecture Tour, which takes a behind the scene look at the construction of the stately home, the Walled Garden Tour which relives the history of the garden and looks at its current use and the Temple of the Four Winds Tour Press Contact: Eleanor Course, 01653 648625 or email press@castlehoward.co.uk

York Open Studios: 23 - 25 March 2007

Artists and makers open their doors to all! York Open Studios Weekend sees over 40 professional artists opening up their homes and studios to the public and inviting them in to take a look around. Featuring York based, internationally renowned artists and makers including Mark Hearld, Ruth King, and Peter Wray, as well as a student showcase, people can tour around the studios, view (and buy!) a huge range of professional art work in informal surroundings, and sometimes even watch the artist at work. Public and Press Contact: Anne Huntchinson, 01904 422193, Email: info@yorkopenstudios.co.uk or visit: www.yorkopenstudios.co.uk

The largest UK Festival of Food and Drink: 21-30 Sept 2007

The York annual Festival of Food and Drink is the largest event of its kind in the UK, and a massive showcase for the restaurants, hotels, shops and food manufacturing companies, which are so much a part of the city, its history and its economy. For ten days food simply takes over as the city hosts an extravaganza of specialist markets, celebrity chef demonstrations, themed dinners, product launches and any number of special events. UK celebrities support the festival, and it continues to grow each year. Public Contact: email: info@yorkfoodanddrinkfestival.co.uk Press Contact: Michael Hjort, Tel: 01904 635149, email: mh@yorkhospitality.co.uk website: www.yorkfestivaloffoodanddrink.com A dedicated media pack for Cultural York and the cultural calendar for the year is available from the York Tourism Bureau press office Tel Kay Hyde 01905 554451 or visit the media room at www.visityork.org

Awards ..

Middlethorpe Hall Spa and Hotel - The AA has awarded Middlethorpe Hall a prestigious 4 red star rating for its level of excellence, making the beautiful William and Mary Hotel the highest awarded hotel in York.

York Museums Trust- York Museums Trust has been awarded prestigious education awards for all three of its major sites. York Castle Museum, York City Art Gallery and the Yorkshire Museum were all handed the Sandford Award for Heritage Education, in recognition of the quality and excellence of education services offered at the three historic sites.

York Designer Outlet was named 'Best Shopping Venue' in the UK at the prestigious Group Leisure Industry Awards.

National Railway Museum - The world's largest museum was voted Yorkshire Tourist Board's 'Visitor Attraction of the Year' for the fourth time.

Alexander House - at Bishopthorpe Road has received 5 stars with a Gold Award from Visit Britain Quality in Tourism.

Which? Good Food Guide 2007 - Six of York's restaurants - were featured in the Which? Good Food Guide 2006/7. Congratulations to J.Baker's Bistro Moderne, the Blue Bicycle, Melton's, Melton's Too, Middlethorpe Hall and the Tasting Room.

New York Pass: New additions to the York Pass this year - 2007 - include York Castle Museum, York Riverboat Cruises and the Black Sheep Brewery.

Press contact: Kay Hyde PR Manager - First Stop York tourism partnership, York Tourism Bureau, Tel: 01904 554451, Fax: 01904 554460, email: kh@york-tourism.co.uk websites: www.visityork.org or www.goodeveningyork.com

 

York Tourist Information Centre - For your free guide to where to stay and what to do in York, telephone 01904 550099 email tourism@yorkvic.co.uk or visit the website at www.visityork.org