Lancaster is a place steeped in history, with a vibrant arts and café culture as well as beautiful landscapes to discover. Here are a just a few reasons to visit this intriguing part of the country.
Play in the Park Returns
Back, promising to be better than ever, The Dukes’ entertainment-for-all ‘Play in the Park’ returns in 2020 with a brand new production of Alice in Wonderland. Once again, the UK’s biggest walkabout outdoor theatre will be sure to take the audience on an adventure to capture the imagination within Lancaster’s Williamson Park.
Play in the Park enjoyed thirty years of award-winning performances before having a well-earned rest in 2019. In the past we’ve reviewed some of their most creative works including Oliver Twist, The Hobbit, which won the 2016 UK Theatre Award for Best Show for Children & Young People, Treasure Island and, in 2018, The Three Musketeers.
A Wealth of History
Lancaster’s rich history is worth exploring, with several historic landmarks within a short distance of each other. Lancaster Castle was built in the 11th Century, with the courts and the prison of the original castle still standing. It has the dubious honour of being known as ‘the hanging town’ where more people than anywhere else in the country, outside London’ were executed.
Ashton Memorial in Williamson Park was original intended to provide work for the unemployed of the city. Also known locally as the Taj Mahal of Lancaster, it commemorates Jessie, the wife of a wealthy land-owner James Williamson. While visiting the park, it is well worth visiting the old Victorian Palm House which is now a Butterfly House.
Relics from 180 AD have been discovered on the site of Lancaster Priory. Most of the current Church dates from the 15th Century, the tower being added in the 18th Century. The carved oak choir-stalls are amongst the oldest in the country, believed to date from 1340, and the fretwork described by John Ruskin as the finest in England.
Other historic sites include Judges Lodgings, the oldest townhouse in Lancaster, the original home of the notorious witch hunter, Thomas Covell.
Traditional Craft
Blacksmithing is a craft with deep roots in our culture and heritage. Bespokers Forge is home of artist blacksmith, John Law, located at Yew Tree Barn near Grange-over-Sand.
There’s an opportunity to try this ancient craft for yourself, under his expert guidance. Basic blacksmithing techniques are taught in the morning, and the afternoon is spent on ‘a project’ of your choosing. A one day course for a maximum of 4 people includes lunch and drinks.
Antiques and Furniture
Enjoy a nostalgic trip down memory lane. GB Antiques is the biggest antiques and furniture centre in the country with 40,000 square feet of furniture, porcelain, pottery, glass, memorabilia and toys, sporting collectables and music memorabilia, telephones, gadgets and toys.
Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
It may be a city break, but it’s worth making time for a short walk in the country. Bring your walking boots and be prepared for some spectacular views. The Forest of Bowland, on the edge of Lancaster, is a relatively undiscovered area of grandeur and rugged scenery where J R R Tolkien was inspired to write Lord of the Rings. It is also home to 500 listed buildings and monuments. Rich pasture land makes it the perfect location for the eighteen cheese producers in the area, many having won international awards for the quality of their cheese. A place not to be missed!
Book Your City Break
When planning your city break, you will be assured a warm welcome and comfortable surroundings at Lancaster House. Call 0330 4042 693 for more information and to book your stay.
Charlotte and Martin were married recently at Lancaster House and enjoyed a beautiful day with family and friends. With Charlotte’s Nan having a hand in them getting together, Charlotte takes up the story …
He’ll Have You!
We met at the nursing home where Martin works, and where my Nan, who has dementia, lives. At the top of her voice, my Nan asked how my husband was. I replied, “Nanna, I don’t have one”. Pointing to Martin, she said, “He’ll have you!”
After that, Martin and I messaged each other and arranged tea out as ‘friends’. We had both recently separated from previous relationships, and joked about not wanting to be in a relationship. So, not sure how that happened, but very soon we were dating.
The Key to My Heart
When we discovered I was pregnant, Martin decided to ask me to marry. He attached a white gold diamond ring to my car keys, hoping I’d see it… Three days later he was getting edgy in case I’d lost it. He even made excuses to go to the supermarket so that I would use the trolley coin it was attached to. I only went and chose a trolley that was already unlocked! All his little hints where going right over my head. Eventually he said, “Please look at your keys, I can’t do any more”. I finally saw the ring but was arguing that it wasn’t mine, and asking how it had got there. Martin just shouted out WILL YOU MARRY ME. I laughed and, forgetting to say ‘yes’, rang my mum to tell her.
Our Perfect Wedding Venue
I’ve been to a great wedding at Lancaster House before, so it was an obvious choice for us. Before I knew it, Mum and I were meeting with Lisa, the Wedding Co-ordinator. She was so lovely and easy to get on with. It went from there. We liked that Lisa didn’t pressure us, and was honest and interpreted exactly what we were looking for. In fact, Lisa was amazing from start to finish, and our whole day ran like clockwork.
The Dress
When you find the dress you just know it’s the one, I just fell in love with mine. It has a beautiful fitted lace bodice with a jewelled belt detail. Martin kept in with my baby pink and grey theme.
Wedding Breakfast
Wedding BreakfastWe wanted something simple, but tasty. We chose the chicken dinner in the end, and it was perfect. We had our sample 3 course tasting meal months before, and were confident that everything would be great.
Table Settings
I’m a crafter myself, so I made a lot of the table setting items and favours myself. The seating plan was on a mirror with vinyl stickers. I also made the silver glitter number holders and filled jars with pastel coloured jelly beans, tied with pink ribbon for the favours.
Cake Design
Julie from Hilltop Cakery in Heysham made our cake. We went to her house for cake tasting and she made us feel so welcome and made it a fun part of our wedding planning. We used some of my bridesmaid flowers on it, and favours that would be on the tables in the evening reception.
First Dance
It took us ages to decide on the music. We have special songs, but nothing we wanted to use as a first dance. In the end we picked an up-beat song so that we could dance rather than slow move. We had an exploding balloon which we knew our 2 year old daughter would love, so we made her part of the dance. We planned it so that it would go off when she was under it. Perfect timing. I also did a 1st dance with my Dad. He’s quite shy and didn’t want to do one, but just before the wedding he found a song that he thought was perfect and said he would do it. I was so chuffed!
We wish Charlotte and Martin every happiness as they start life together as husband and wife.
Planning Your Wedding?
Lisa, our Lancaster House Wedding Co-ordinator, would be delighted to show you around the hotel, and help you on the journey to your dream wedding. Give her a call her on 01524 585175.
We are really pleased to introduce the newest member of the Wedding & Events team at Lancaster House. Although new to the team, Lisa Ng has a history with the Lancaster House family that goes back 18 years. She is now organising Lancaster House weddings for other brides, but in 2007 Lisa was organising her very own Lancaster House wedding. She tells us the story …
Lisa Ng, Lancaster House Wedding and Events Co-ordinator
My Second Home
My connection to Lancaster House starts in 2001. My partner, Damien, worked as a Commis Chef in Lancaster House kitchen. Through Damien’s job I’ve made many friends with the team throughout the years. Quite often I would bring the children Callum, Aalyiah and Sienna to Lancaster House to enjoy the facilities in Sandpiper Leisure club. Over the years Lancaster House began to feel like a second home.
Young Love
Damien and I met when we were just 18 years old. I was working in an off licence in Lancaster at the time, and Damien was visiting his home town of Lancaster having worked in Hertfordshire for 2 years.
Lisa’s husband, Damien, now Head Chef at Lancaster House
It wasn’t long before we had our first child, Callum. Time flies – that’s Callum who is currently doing his GCSE exams and who also works at Lancaster House on weekends! Callum, along with his siblings, have always loved staying over at their home away from home, Lancaster House Hotel.
Our Kind of Romance
Damien is not a bend down on one knee kind of a man – so it wasn’t a romantic proposal as such. Anyway, I would probably have demanded he got straight back up if he had! It was more a subtle hint of marriage. Although not romantic in that way, Damien shows his love in other ways, such as cooking a meal and washing the dishes afterwards!
We got married at Lancaster House Hotel in July 2007 and had a perfect day.
Running Like Clockwork
Lancaster House is the same place as when we got married. Perhaps a few new faces, but it is still as friendly, runs like clockwork, and continues to go the extra mile for guests. It remains a great venue for weddings.
Helping Wedding Dreams Come True
After leaving University in 2018, I came to work at Lancaster House myself, initially working in Housekeeping. I had only worked there 4 months when I came across the advertisement for Wedding Co-Ordinator. I applied for the job and was successful.
Now I help people plan and enjoy their perfect day as much as I enjoyed my own wedding in 2007. It feels great to be a part of so many couples special day, I always try my best to make sure they experience their dream wedding and feel the way I did back in 2007.
Planning Your Special Day?
Lisa would love to hear about your wedding plans and dreams, and help you make them a reality. For more information and a no obligation chat, phone the Lancaster House wedding team on 01524 585 175.
Lancashire has such a broad range of things to do and places to discover, and Lancaster House Hotel makes the perfect base to start your discovery.
Here are some of our favourite places to visit and things to do while you’re with us.
Lancaster Castle
Sitting on top of of Castle Hill, Lancaster Castle has guarded Lancaster for over 1,000 years and has been used for nearly all that time, most recently as a prison, which closed in 2011. Today though, visitors can enjoy fantastic guided tours around the beautiful castle. Tours cover all aspects of the castles history including tales of witchcraft, crime and punishment, rehabilitation and much more. You can even try out one of the Georgian prison cells out for size.
The castle is open to adults, children and families and is a great start on learning more about the history of Lancaster.
Williamson Park & Ashton Memorial
The Ashton Memorial is one of the defining features of Lancaster. It’s visible from practically everywhere and even from all the way across Morecambe Bay. Williamson Park is the beautiful grounds where the Ashton Memorial sits, 54 acres of park and woodland to explore with stunning views across Lancaster, Morecambe and onto the Lake District.
The Ashton Memorial is a grade 1 listed building and was a folly commissioned by Lancaster industrialist Lord Ashton , completed in 1909. Inside the memorial is often used to weddings, art exhibitions and other events but is open all through the week for visitors to enter and learn about its history.
Williamson Park is also home to the Butterfly House, a classic Edwardian palm house home to hundreds of butterflies and birds as well as other animals like meercats.
Black Knights Parachute Centre
Take the plunge! Just fifteen minutes from Lancaster, The Black Knights Parachute Centre offer a range of skydiving courses. It is the longest running centre in the country, being in operation for over 50 years. They offer Accelerated Freefall and Static Line courses throughout the year and can offer Tandem skydiver to 15,000 ft – the highest in the UK.
Cost: £230, or if you do it for charity, getting family and friends involved, you will need to raise a minimum of £350, (but contact the charity to get their guidelines before booking).
RSPB Leighton Moss
Turn Twitcher for the day and discover a host of beautiful birds and butterflies. Leighton Moss is the largest reedbed in north-west England, and has a selection of trails and hides, most of which are suitable for wheelchairs. There’s also a nature trail along two coastal lagoons where you will see lots of wading and water birds.
There are free wildlife explorer backpacks available for children and they will enjoy the interactive display panels in the visitor centre.
Throughout the year there is a full programme of events including, from 6 – 31 July ‘Wonderful Wetland Wildlife’ family trail, and 9th – 12th August ‘Meet the Moths at the Moss’. Other things to look out for in summer include
- Red deer grazing around the pools – best seen in the evening
- Butterflies and dragonflies drifting by, searching for food
- The incredible sight of marsh harriers passing food to each other mid air
Reserve open all year round, dawn to dusk (except Christmas Day) Visitor Centre open 9.30 am to 5 pm
Cost: Adults £7, Children £3.50 (first child and under 5s free); Concessions £4.50. RSPB members and those who have travelled to the reserve by public transport or bike, get in free!
Crook o’ Lune
The Crook O’ Lune is a great spot for a picnic and a gentle walk down the River Lune with some beautiful surroundings. The name comes from the 90 degree angle the Lune takes forming a natural ‘crook’ and visitors can enjoy stunning views all the way onto Inglebrough in the Yorkshire Dales.
The Crook O’ Lune is only a short drive outside Lancaster, easily accessible from the motorway and from Lancaster House Hotel.
A Great Place to Visit
These are just a few of our favourite spots to visit while you’re discovering Lancashire but there are many more things to do and see while you’re here. Ask at reception for any directions or guides to find places and our team will be happy to help.
We have a well-established Housekeeping team at Lancaster House, with many years’ experience and, moreover, who love their job.
Meet Hannah, Jenny, Emma, and of course Gail, our Housekeeping Manager. They enjoy preparing the hotel for Conferences, Weddings and for our Leisure guests. We caught up with them to find out what keeps them motivated and loving life at Lancaster House.
Tell us about your housekeeping journey?
Hannah: In 2012, my brother who was a Chef here, told me about a vacancy in the team. The hours were perfect as I had a young child. Since then I’ve increased my hours and I’m now Assistant Housekeeper.
Jenny: I started as a casual member of the team six years ago, and then to linen porter and room checker. Then I went on to do my NVQ 3 in Hospitality Supervision and Leadership, and now I am Assistant Housekeeper.
Emma: After five years at a Holiday Home park in the Lake District, I moved to Lancaster House in 2015. I’ve always been passionate about housekeeping, so when I saw the vacancy online, I knew instantly that Lancaster House was somewhere I would love to further my Housekeeping career.
Gail: Originally I wanted to become a mechanic, but my Mum said ‘No’. So I did a college course in Hotel Reception and Accommodation Services. At the age of sixteen I joined the team at Lancaster House, the new up and coming hotel in the area at the time. Twenty years later, I’m still here!
What’s in a housekeeping day?
Hannah: First of all we allocate rooms to individual housekeepers. When cleaned, the rooms are inspected to make sure they are perfect for guests. I personally like to walk the path of the guest to ensure everything looks and smells beautiful, to ensure a faultless stay. We always aim to have the departure rooms cleaned first to ensure 3 pm check-in.
Gail: We start with public areas in the morning, followed by bedrooms, then corridors and stairwells.
Housekeeping Tips?
Hannah: Always carry a cloth. Always be prepared to work hard. A Berocca never goes amiss to boost your vitamin intake (I take mine in a Prosecco glass).
Emma: This may not be a housekeeping tip, but it is something I’ve always lived by … attention to detail! I believe in things being perfectly placed. We see tidiness straight away, whether it is the cushions plumped and straight, or the tea tray neat and tidy. I strongly believe a good eye for detail is a must.
Favourite room in the hotel?
Hannah: The staff brew room! No, seriously, that’s a difficult one because I like different rooms for different reasons. I love our bridal suite, Room 118, the colour scheme, huge bed and large modern bathroom. But I also very much like room 211, one of our luxury suites, as it is a corner room, so very spacious with French doors and an amazing view.
Jenny: Room 118 because of the nice walk in shower, luxury bath, super king size bed, and the lovely window seat looking out towards Heysham.
Emma: I agree, Room 118. Chic stylish décor, beautiful countryside views and luxuriously large bathroom.
As a team we are keeping it green
Hannah: We are big on green. We recycle everything possible. We clean and fill and clean our own refillable water bottle system. Plastic bottle tops are sent to a charity that make use of them.
Emma: We use microfibre cloths which are re-usable and reduce the number of cleaning products we need to use. The fibres have superior absorbency and are great for picking up trapped dirt. We are all very strict re-cyclers. ‘As a team we are keeping it green’.
Gail: We’ve maintained our Green Tourism Gold standard, so we must be doing something right.
Best bit of the job?
Hannah: The people. Not just within housekeeping, but across all departments. It’s like working with a second family. Everyone seems to really care for each other, and wouldn’t go passed you without a ‘good morning’ smile, or friendly gesture. It’s a very pleasant place to work.
Emma: Clean rooms, and happy feedback from guests.
Gail: Going home knowing you are giving the guests the best experience you can.
What do you love about Lancaster House?
Hannah: Again, the people. But also the fantastic opportunities and benefits from working here. The gym membership for yourself, your partner and children. Great to help keep the kids entertained on days off. Birthday B&B stay each year with evening meal. It’s lovely working for a family run business who show care and always make you feel appreciated for the work that goes into running a successful hotel.
Jenny: Definitely agree, the people!
Emma: The housekeeping team – we are all so passionate about the job we do. Every day is a new challenge. We all pull together and make every day a rewarding and successful one.
Gail: It is like a big family. There are good times and hard times, but we always come together to help each other out.
How do you go the extra mile for guests?
Hannah: The team is always thinking about how we can go one step further for our guests and colleagues. This can range from putting a fridge in a room if guests have brought food, or going out of your way for a colleague just to make their day a little easier. Jimmy, our public area cleaner, is a great example of someone who is always there with a helping hand – nothing is ever too much trouble for him and his answer is always a ‘yes’. He also does a lot of work for a local cancer care charity.
Gail: If we know that people are coming to celebrate birthdays or anniversaries, we love to put in extra touches to decorate the room and give the guests a surprise.
Large Hotel with ‘Small Hotel’, Friendly Feel
Say ‘hi’ next time you meet Hannah, Emma, Jenny and Gail in the corridors of Lancaster House. They exemplify all that we are proud of here at the hotel. Whether you are booked in as a Conference guest, or having a short break in the historic city of Lancaster, you will be sure to have sparkling clean rooms, and a friendly ‘Good Morning’.
Check out Lancaster House rooms here.
For a post Christmas treat there are still a few days left to book tickets to see Peter Pan at The Dukes in Lancaster. Why not book a mid-week family stay at Lancaster House in order to enjoy an evening at the theatre. We sent along our very own Lancaster House theatre critic, John Jesmont, to see the eternally youthful Peter Pan on stage at The Dukes. This is what he had to say…
Get Hooked on Peter Pan
I would thoroughly recommend a trip to The Dukes Theatre in Lancaster to see the Christmas production of the classic story “Peter Pan”.
Set on Christmas Eve, Peter Pan and Tink take Wendy Darling on the adventure of a lifetime, meeting the mischievous Lost Boys and the terrifying pirate Captain Hook along the way.
Sing, Laugh, Gasp out Loud
This play is an ideal seasonal offering for all the family complete with Pirates, Fairies and a Crocodile – and yes, you will believe a boy can fly. Sing along, laugh, gasp and catch some fairy dust, as J. M. Barrie’s tale is cleverly adapted for all the family by Dukes Artistic Director, Sarah Punshon.
The small cast’s enthusiasm is infectious as they perform as a number of the story’s iconic characters. The songs are catchy throughout – complete with a punk style anthem from the eponymous hero himself.
The Dukes is one of the North West’s leading arts venues, it’s not only a theatre, but home to an independent cinema, arts hub and a very pleasant cafe bar, all showing a wide variety of productions throughout the year.
To book tickets for the theatre, call The Dukes box office on 01524 598500 or visit www.dukes-lancaster.org
Lancaster House, A Home from Home
Rated the top hotel in Lancaster by Trip Adviser, Lancaster is a large hotel with a friendly family atmosphere. Great facilities including swimming pool, sauna and hot tub, gym and the Foodworks Restaurant which serves superb Lancashire food with a modern twist.
For a great mid-week family break, call
Lauren, our Lancaster House Wedding Co-ordinator, is looking forward to meeting lots of bridal parties at Lancaster House Wedding Showcase on Sunday, 28th February.
Every wedding guest waits in anticipation to get their first glimpse of the bride and that all-important Dress! We’ve followed up our Weird and Wonderful Wedding Traditions blog with a look at some interesting facts about wedding attire from years gone by.
In the west we often accept the tradition of a white wedding dress as a staple part of the wedding celebration and assume that it has always been the case.
Not so, the white wedding dress fashion was initially introduced as a protest against the effects of the industrial revolution! Below are a ten interesting facts around wedding attire…
1. The weight of glory …
In medieval times royal marriages were of great political importance and represented alliances between countries. Therefore, it was important to put a nation’s wealth on display and the wedding dress was often an elaborate affair with the most expensive fabrics available.
Dresses were also encrusted with jewels. In the 15th Century, Margaret of Flanders’ dress was so heavily bejewelled she had to be carried into church by two gentlemen attendants.
2. Something borrowed, something blue!
White wedding dresses did not always symbolize purity.
In ancient Rome, brides wore blue to symbolize love, modesty and fidelity. The art world has long time dressed the Virgin Mary in blue, so purity and fidelity became associated with the colour, as evidenced in proverbs like, “Marry in blue, lover be true”.
Today, brides still often wear ‘something blue’.
3. Any colour will do!
White wedding dresses became an emblem of wealth rather than purity as, prior to effective bleaching techniques, white was a difficult colour to achieve and only within the reach of a small minority of brides.
Most brides opted to use the best fabric they could afford of any colour.
4. Seeing Red …
In Chinese, Indian and other eastern cultures brides often wear red or a white-red combination.
In these cultures red symbolizes auspiciousness and good luck.
5. Revival in Hand-made Lace
Queen Victoria made a strong political and social statement with her wedding
dress in 1847. The industrial revolution had destroyed the handmade lace industry causing widespread unemployment and poverty. Victoria chose a handmade Honiton lace overskirt and the rest of the outfit was chosen to complement the lace – and white was deemed the best colour for this. It had the desired effect and caused a upsurge in the demand for handmade lace and brought in the new ‘fashion’ for white wedding dresses.
6. Kate and a snippet of bush
Queen Victoria’s dress featured orange blossoms at the time a sign of purity
and she carried within her bouquet, myrtle signifying love and romantic happiness. A sprig of myrtle was taken from her bouquet and planted. Cuttings from the bush have been carried by every royal bride since and was included in Kate Middleton’s bouquet.
7. Royal Re-cycling
Financial restraints in all walks of life meant that once the wedding dress was worn it was never just consigned to the back of the wardrobe. It was dyed or altered and used over and over.
Even Queen Victoria herself re-cycled her dress by removing the lace overskirt and wearing it over a black silk gown. This is what she wore for her diamond jubilee 50 years later.
8. Parachute Fashion
During World War II clothes rationing came into force and white wedding dresses virtually disappeared.
A few brides made brave attempts at white wedding dresses using parachute silk. Most brides wore their military or air force uniforms.
9. A Royal Dress from a Loyal Populace!
When Queen Elizabeth II, was married in 1947, rationing was still in force after the war.
Nobody wanted her to skimp, so clothing coupons poured in from loyal citizens.
As a result she wore a sumptuous wedding gown in flowing satin embroidered and beaded with a long train and silk net veil.
10. Spot the bride?
Earliest traditions in bridesmaid fashion involved dressing the bridesmaids exactly like the bride.
This was to set up a ‘lookalike’ bride so that any troublesome spirits in the area could not fixate on the bride.
Lancaster House Wedding Showcase
If you are planning your wedding, or even just dreaming about the possibility, come along and meet our Wedding Co-ordinator, Lauren, at Lancaster Wedding Showcase on Sunday 28th February from 12pm till 4pm. Meet the wedding suppliers, taste our exciting new wedding breakfast menu and start imagining what your dream day could look like.
The UK is a premium wine-producing region, with around 500 vineyards in England and Wales with vineyards covering over 4,500 acres and producing many prestigious sparkling and still wines. With English Wine Week fast approaching, Saturday 28th May – Sunday 5th June 2016 we take a look at the history behind English Wine.
Making Wine in England since 1066
There’s some evidence to suggest we were making wine before the Roman conquest in AD43, but certainly after their invasion our soil worked hard to fulfil the Italian garrisons’ appetite for wine a plenty. In 1066 William the Conqueror brought with him monks experienced in wine making, and Britain enjoyed a flourishing industry, matched only by the revival in English wine that we are currently experiencing. The Domesday Book records 42 wine producing locations in Britain.
English Vineyards growing to meet demand
In relatively recent history it was a very brave, or foolhardy, investor that poured money into the English wine industry, but that is a rapidly changing scenario. With climate warming, the south east of England now has as many warm, sunny days as the Champagne region did in the 1970s. Huge advancements in technology also favours the burgeoning demand for our home grown vintage.
Vineyard in Surrey. England
Once the domain of enthusiasts and hobbyists, this is no longer a national whim, but a serious business. English vineyards produced and bottled 6.3 million bottles of wine in 2014 and expect to reach 12 million bottles a year by 2020. One leading supermarket reports sales of English wine up by 95%.
As consumers are making a conscious choice to uncork and pour our local wines, investors are opening their wallets and pouring cash into the long-term investment – from purchase of land to selling your bottled wine can take about 10 years – and applications for licences to produce wine in the UK are up 40% on last year.
Storage of bottles of sparkling wine in it’s seasoning period
A Popular and Sustainable Choice
English Wine was headlined in culinary news in 2015 when Buckingham Palace chose to feature Ridgeway Brut as an aperitif for the state visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping hosted by the Queen. With the highly commendable use of local produce, Chefs up and down the country are looking to pair their dishes with local wines. Once scoffed at, particularly by French producers, English wine producers scooped fourteen gold medals in the prestigious International Wine Challenge.
With quantity, quality and popularity on the rise, expect to be hearing and seeing much more of English vintages in the months to come. Why not do the taste test for yourself? During English Wine Week, Saturday 28th May – Sunday 5th June 2016, Lancaster House will be featuring two quality English wines available to purchase by the glass or the bottle.
Try English Wine at Lancaster House
Extensive wine collection at Lancaster House
Lancaster House has an extensive wine list in The Foodworks restaurant which features many wines from around the world. Two of our favourite English Wines we recommend you try on your next visit are:
Chapel Down Brut
Made by C D Rose Tenterden, One of England’s best selling sparkling wines and a great example of a classic English fizz. A light, crisp, dry sparkling wine competing with Prosecco or Champagne
Surrey Gold
The wine is made with a blend of Muller-Thurgau and Reichensteiner from the Denbies Estate Vineyard. Located on flat land with sandy limestone which is perfect for fresh and light wines. This wine is rich in fruit and floral aromas with subtle hints of spice.
Lancaster House is proud to support local suppliers. This week the FAO (the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations) celebrated World Milk Day so we followed the milk trail from farm to dairy to see first-hand where our milk comes from. Cherrie tells us about their grand day out…
Cows grazing in open fields at Stephenson’s Dairy farm
We set off from Lancaster House to the farm in Skipton where we met Andrew, the farmer, and Chris and Steph from Stephenson’s Dairy.
Pasture Promise
Andrews’s farm is one of only three in the whole of the UK that is committed to having a free range dairy herd. This means that the whole herd is pastured for a minimum of 181 days and nights. The cows will only come inside when the weather is really bad and during the winter months. Adhering to strict farming practice guidelines means that Andrew can proudly display his ‘pasture promise’ logo.
A curious greets Cherrie
The cows are curious, but not so brave – safety in numbers seems to be the bovine way. We were in the field with Andrew’s herd of approx. 190 cows, so having 2 or 3 creep up behind you for a sneak peak can be a bit unnerving. There were a couple who were brave enough to give us a lick and check us out. I noticed that each cow had a colour on the top of her tail – the farmer told me that this is a quick way to identify which cows are pregnant. Did you know that cows are also pregnant for 9 months?
Cow Selfie!
Running alongside the field is a natural stream that is fed from the Yorkshire moors. The cows can potter on down for a drink or a cool off whenever they fancy.
Individual Care Plan
High-tech milking shed
The milking shed is a far cry from a stall with a bucket and stool. This is milking at is most advanced. Each cow has a computer chip necklace which is monitored as the cow goes into the milking shed. This is able to give the farmer valuable information about the quantity of milk, and potentially the health of each animal. If a cow were ill and her milk production dropped slightly, the farmer may not otherwise have known that the cow was ill until much later. This means that the vetinary care for these cows can be much more responsive.
The milk is stored in a separate area until the wagon comes to take it to be pasturised. It was here that we were intrigued to see a colourful circular chart representing the herd. Each block in the circle represents a cow, and each side of the block is painted a different colour with the cow’s unique number on it. The blocks get turned to the different colours indicating if the cow is pregnant, if she is in her dry stage, when she will be due to calf and so on.
Baby calves in the farms maternity ward
Andrew let us visit the ‘Maternity Ward’ to see the ‘babies’, I did try to persuade Gary that we could fit one in the car but he was having none of it! The herd are Holstein Friesians and are traditionally named after their mothers as this is the best way to follow the pedigree. In the herd that we visited there were quite a few ‘Honeys’.
Traceable Right to our Door
So where does the milk go once it’s been collected? Stephensons have collaborated with Dales Dairy to develop a clearly segregated production process for Free Range milk. This means that they can now offer is fully traceable milk of consistently high quality that puts money directly back in to the local economy.
Lancaster House, Foodworks Restaurant ready for morning breakfast
When the milk arrives at Stephenson’s in Morecambe, the final part of the journey is to Lancaster House, and to The Midland Hotel, all in plenty of time for our guests’ breakfast.
We sent Lancaster House theatre buff, John Jemont, to an evening of high adventure at Williamson Park. What a delightful way to enjoy a beautiful summer evening in the outdoors, with great acting, audience participation and a tasty picnic selection of Lancashire cheese and a glass of port supplied by Lancaster House. Here’s what he had to say…
John Jesmont, Lancaster House
All for One and One for All
A scene from The Three Musketeers featuring Delme Thomas, centre, as King Louis
For a cracking night out I would recommend a theatre night with a difference in the stunning setting of Lancaster’s Williamson Park. Quite simply, there is nothing better on beautiful midsummer’s evening.
In its 30th year of open-air theatre, the Dukes brings us a production with a spin on the Alexander Dumas classic The Three Musketeers that journeys from gay Paris to a rather rainy ‘good old Blighty’ complete with colourful costumes, cheese (yes cheese!) jokes, dance and a talking horse.
Scenes with Lucy Jane Parkinson (D’Artagnan) and horsing around with Christopher Bianchi (Planchet)
D’Artagnan arrives in the city dreaming of becoming a Musketeer. He has to survive the sinister schemes of wicked Cardinal Richelieu before teaming up with the much-loved Three Musketeers – Porthos, Athos and Aramis – in order to save the Queen. But this would-be Musketeer is hiding a huge secret: “he” is really a “she”.
A Modern Twist
Milady (Rebecca Banatvala) takes aim
A thoroughly modern take on a classic novel, a laugh-out-loud script, lots and lots of sword play and great performances by Lucy Jane Parkinson as D’Artagnan and Christopher Bianchi who not only plays Cardinal Richlieu, but also Planchet the talking horse. The versatile cast swash and buckle along with an infectious enthusiasm that engages the audience both young and old and by the end you to will be shouting “All for One and One for All” into the night sky.
The cast of The Three Musketeers having a ball
Cheese and Port Picnic
The play incorporates a number of locations in the iconic park which is transformed by clever lighting and creative stagecraft. Sturdy footwear, a picnic blanket and a sense of adventure are a must. The cheese and port picnic provided by Lancaster House, and enjoyed half way through our high jinks adventure, added well-earned refreshment and rounded off our evening.
Theatre Cheese and Port Picnic to Complete your meal
The Dukes is one of the North West’s leading arts venues, it’s not only a theatre, but home to an independent cinema, arts hub and a very pleasant cafe bar, all showing a wide variety of productions throughout the year.
Book Your Play in the Park Theatre Stay or Pre-Theatre Meal
The Foodworks at Lancaster House, perfect for pre-theatre dinner
Selection of Lancashire cheeses and Sandeman Port
Get your Play in the Park Theatre tickets direct from Dukes Theatre. Enjoy a one night Bed & Breakfast Play in the Park stay at Lancaster House between the 3rd July until 18th August 2018.
For non-residents and Lancaster House guests why not book your pre-theatre dinner. This includes a main course and take-away port and cheese selection to enjoy in the park. Children dine for free and can take a Sam’s drinks bottle and dessert to the park.
