The longest day always seems to come too soon. By rights, it should coincide with gloriously warm August days, the apex of summer holidays and a glut of summer produce. But it’s not to be – and this year in particular, the months seem to be more mixed up than ever. Blackberries are glisteningly ripe, but my poor tomatoes are still green… happily, sun or no sun, pick your own farms have done their magic, and the fields have been full of strawberries, gooseberries, potatoes and more, ready to be picked, plucked and positively drooled over. There are also some brilliant cheesy events (real cheese!) and some cracking new restaurants and hotels opening too – so maybe this summer isn’t so bad after all.
INOUT
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RECIPE OF THE MONTH |
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BIG TICKET GIVEAWAY |
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As You Like It
As You Like It is one of Shakespeare’s greatest comedies, and certainly one of the most well-loved. It gave us the phrase ‘too much of a good thing’ and contains the famous ‘All the world’s a stage…’ speech. There are mis-matched sets of lovers, gender-swapping, swooning, evil dukes and an Arcadian setting that lends itself beautifully to outside performances - and Chester Performs is doing just that throughout this summer at the Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre. The acting is fabulous and the setting divine – and we have tickets for both this and equally entertaining and thoroughly child-friendly Merlin and the Woods of Time to give away to one lucky reader!
We have 10 pairs of tickets for As You Like It and 5 family tickets (4 per family) for Merlin and the Woods of Time – click here to enter.
www.grosvenorparkopenairtheatre.co.uk | 0845 241 7868
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Cheshire Oaks, Sponsors of INOUT's Big Ticket Giveaway |
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NEWS |
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Say Cheese…
Not ones to turn our noses up at Stinking Bishop or creamy Brie de Meaux, we’re ecstatic at the plethora of cheese-related events besieging the North West over the next few months. The Nantwich International Cheese Awards have just been and gone, but there’s still time to get down to the Big Cheese Festival in Caerphilly (29-31 July) and sign up for Cheese Making at Claremont Farm with Paul Peacock (14 August)!
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All Aboard!
This summer also sees several nautically-themed goings on across the North West. Hoist the mainsail, don your lifejacket and set course for the Conwy River Festival (13-21 August), the Mersey Pirate Muster in New Brighton (7 August), or one of the many family sailing, kayaking or windsurfing days at Plas Menai, North Wales. Or if you’d rather keep your feet on dry land, then check out the brilliant Sandcastle Competition run by The Imperial Hotel, Llandudno (22 August) or Viking Sunday at Tatton Park (14 August)!
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Peckforton Castle - In the running for HBAA award
... And not just any award, but the highly respected HBAA Conference Venue of the Year award, despite a recent suspected arson attack that saw 25% of the Castle and a main conference room severely damaged. The castle has received overwhelming support from present and future clients and guests alike, and their nomination recognises its excellence as a large hotel and venue, who throughout everything, put their guests first.
Managing Director Chris Naylor is keen to clarify that guests' visits to the venue will not be disrupted, as all repair work is internal and confined to one wing of the Castle. “The support we have already received has been nothing short of overwhelming,” he says, “and I hope that all clients and visitors will help us demonstrate what a magnificent venue we are by voting for us in the HBAA awards”.
You can vote for Peckforton Castle as Venue of the Year here.
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OPENING SOON... |
The news is full of restaurants, pubs and retailers calling last order - but there are also some excellent new eateries opening up this summer across the North West worth keeping an eye out for…
The Lord Binning in Kelsall (opening 11 August) promises to be ‘a home from home with a dash of panache’, serving wines, beers and fresh food in a wholly relaxed atmosphere befitting of the best kinds of relaxed pub.
Then there’s the Smoak Bar & Grill and the Ember Lounge at the ever-so opulent Malmaison Hotel, Manchester (open from 25 July), a £1m restaurant and cocktail bar. The menu promises all-American dishes such as Kansas City BBQ ribs, fried buttermilk chicken and the finest oak-smoked steaks, while the Ember Lounge will serve afternoon tea during the week, and cocktails that made at a guests' tables by night.
Later this summer watch out for La Mouette Restaurant at the Royal Hilbre Boutique Hotel & Spa, being opened by Clare Lara, winner of Masterchef: The Professionals 2010. The sample menu has our mouths watering already...
And finally, we hear that Saturday Kitchen’s James Martin is looking to open up a city centre restaurant in Manchester!
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RESTAURANT OF THE MONTH |
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Nova
Nova is Slovakian for 'new' and Nova Restaurant in the heart of Heswall is the newest addition to Wirral's already thriving dining scene. A brilliant menu and the warmest of welcomes.
www.novarestaurant.co.uk | Tel: 0151 342 9959
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DATES TO REMEMBER |
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22-30 Jul - Manchester Jazz Festival
29-31 Jul - The Big Cheese Festival (Caerphilly)
29 Jul - Guys Thatched Hamlet Cider Festival (Bilsborrow)
30-31 Jul - The Real Food Festival at the Chester Grosvenor Garden Centre (Chester)
30 Jul - 6 Aug - The National Eisteddfod of Wales, Wrexham
31 Jul - Alice in Wonderland (OutdoorTheatre, Birkenhead Park)
31 Jul - Key 103 LIVE at the MEN
7 Aug - Mersey Pirate Muster (New Brighton)
13-21 Aug - Conwy River Festival
14 Aug - Cheese Making at Claremont Farm with Paul Peacock (Wirral)
14 Aug - Viking Sunday (Tatton Park)
18 Aug - Southport Flower Show
25 Aug-11 Sep - Liverpool Shakespeare Festival
26-29 Aug - Bolton Food Festival (Bolton)
For more events throughout July and beyond, visit www.inoutmagazine.uk/events for fully searchable listings!
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YOU CAN NOW USE YOUR 15% CARD AT... |
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WINE OF THE MONTH |
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