Based at the Discover Herefordshire Centre, Visit
Herefordshire are celebrating by showcasing all that Herefordshire has to offer. Working together with local businesses, a great range of new stock is currently being promoted including antique and up cycled furniture.

Sally Roberts, Managing Director of Visit Herefordshire
remarked “We are excited to be working with our local businesses to create a unique reading room display for the Herefordshire stand at the Hay Festival of Literature, showcasing the ‘Best of Herefordshire’ to festival revellers.  A fitting way to celebrate our birthday!”

Visit Herefordshire are also promoting the fabulous range of events that take place our beautiful county. “We would like to include as many events as possible on our  website www.visitherefordshire.co.uk so, so if you know of an event that is not featured on the Visit Herefordshire website that will attract more that 500 people at a time, get in contact with Visit Herefordshire with all the details.

Just in time for its first birthday, Visit Herefordshire has developed an exhibition and meeting space called ‘The Scullery’. If you wish to find out more details on hiring the space, please call the Discover Herefordshire Centre on 01432 268430, email reception@visitherefordshire.co.uk or pop into the Centre at 1 Kings Street, Hereford HR4 9BW.

The Herefordshire Food Awards’ categories have been restructured with renewed judging criteria. The much-needed changes will mean that a more diverse range of businesses will now be able to enter the awards and have a good chance to win at the Flavours Awards Gala Dinner to be held in January 2013.

Entrants in some categories will be judged anonymously within their own business premises and the general public will have the opportunity to vote on other applicants at the Festival itself, which takes place on the weekend of 27-28 October.

An assortment of Foodie Challenges will be taking place throughout the year at various country shows and festivals around the region.   The Finalists from these Challenges will compete against each other for a ‘Best of the Best’ competition at the Festival.  Cook-offs, produce and products will be watched, sampled and judged by visitors to the festival, proving that all the winners will have legitimately and genuinely passed the taste test.

In a further change to the original festival format, the remaining category winners will be announced at a Gala Dinner in January 2013, specifically planned to prolong the anticipation of those who have been deemed stars of the county and enable their winning moment to extend to a full calendar year.

Look out for more information on the Flavours of Herefordshire Festival and Awards in the coming months, or contact Visit Herefordshire on 01432 268430 if you would like to be included in either event.

“Something happened in my life that made me do this and it’s made our lives so much more enjoyable.” Said Daniel Pearce, the proprietor of Tudor Sweets, on the High Street in Ross-on-Wye, with his wife, Sue.

When his employers’ vast motor dealership empire closed suddenly in October 2008, due to the decline in the motor industry, Daniel’s position of General Manager was made redundant.

Not one to sit around waiting Daniel started applying for similar positions. 16 months, 371 job applications and 10 interviews, all over the country, later Daniel started to realise that being the wrong side of 60 was perhaps not in his favour, despite his 43 years and excellent track record in the motor trade.

Sitting with his cousin in the window seats of Pots and Pieces tea shop in Ross-on-Wye  one cold afternoon in January 2010, they noticed the then empty Tudor House – one of the town’s only remaining original black and white half timbered buildings, just across the road.

“That’s it said Daniel’s cousin! The perfect place for a sweet shop, I’ve seen just the thing near where I live in Chesterfield!”

Daniel contacted the landlords of Tudor House and spent a couple of months researching sweet shops all over the country; even working in some free of charge so that he could get a better feel for the business.

……and the rest is history – Tudor Sweets opened in Ross-on-Wye in March 2010. Not just a great business success, Tudor Sweets, has also become one of the town’s most photographed buildings.

“The ever popular market town of Ross-on-Wye boasts many unique photo opportunities.” said Daniel. “But since we opened we have never ceased to be amazed by the number of visitors asking us to take their photographs standing outside the shop. They seem to want something that reminds them of their past or, for our foreign visitors, just a little bit of Olde Worlde England to take home with them.”

“Surprisingly, Tudor Sweets isn’t just the haunt of young school children.” said Daniel Pearce. “With fond childhood memories of sherbet fountains, rhubarb and custard sweets, pear drops and sugar mice, the majority of our customers are adults.”

Tudor Sweets is on the High Street in Ross-on-Wye, just behind the Market House.

-ENDS-

CAPTION FOR PICTURE 1: Tudor Sweets’ proprietor, Daniel Pearce, in the doorway of  Tudor Sweets, one of Ross-on-Wye’s most photographed building.

For further information please contact:

Mike Morgan / Mike Morgan Media / mike@mikemorganmedia.co.uk

T: 01989 750062 / M: 07789 797974                                                                          

Four venues in close proximity to Trumpet, near Ledbury are opening their doors to the public, offering access to a range of local artists and crafts people and the opportunity to enjoy demonstrations, and even have a go themselves!

From paintings, photography and pottery, through to wood sculpture, glass work and jewellery, a number of disciplines will be on display.

Representing the trail, Hannah Day of Once Upon A Tree says “This is a great opportunity to see a range of work from a number of accomplished artists who are not normally open to the public. As well as the artwork and demonstrations, there will be orchard walks and tastings of cider, perry and our new chocolates, plus activities for children in our orchard, with an Easter hunt among the trees and other fun activities with an orchard theme!”

The venues are Once Upon A Tree in Putley (offering tastings, artists demonstrations, children’s orchard activities and orchard walks); the Timber Store Gallery in Canon Frome (Showcasing furniture, gallery artwork, and outdoor pieces); Trumpet Corner in Trumpet (With resident artists Angela Boyden and Ed Eliot as well as three guest artists. Also their Tea Rooms serving light lunches, morning coffee and afternoon teas) and Stuart Houghton Pottery in Little Marcle (hand thrown pottery, with opportunities to get involved yourself!)

For full details of the venues and artists, see the trumpet trail web site www.trumpetcorner.co.uk and lookout for the road signs over the Easter weekend.

Notes for Editors:
• Hi-res images, press / photography visits are available – Please see contacts below.
• Trail venues are open 10 – 4pm over the Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday of Easter

Contact Details:

Simon Day – Once Upon A Tree
Tel 01531 670263
Mob 07796 141390
Email: simon@onceuponatree.co.uk
Web: www.onceuponatree.co.uk

Katie Rolfe – Trumpet Corner
Tel 01531 670 082
Mob 07816 493279
Email: katie@trumpetcorner.co.uk
Web: www.trumpetcorner.co.uk

The launch of the cathedral’s 2012 visitor season starts at Easter, with Cathedral Tours taking place Monday – Saturday: 11.15am and 2.15pm.  You can explore history and treasures from Saxon times to present day with our experienced guides and discover the stories behind the cathedrals most famous people and artifacts.  Everyone is welcome and Tours start at 2.15pm Easter Monday.

More adventurous visitors can climb the 218 steps to the top of the Cathedral Tower for some of the finest views of the city, county and beyond.  Tours include the Lantern Gallery with spectacular views down into the cathedral nave, the Ringing Chamber, and a new set of interpretation boards at the very top. Tours take place at 11.30, 12.30,1.30 and 2.30 on Easter Monday, 9^th, Wednesday11th, Thursday12th and Saturday 14^th April

The Cathedral Shop

Hereford Cathedral Shop stocks an extensive range of Easter cards, chocolates, decorated eggs, Easter gifts and other seasonal goods including Fairtrade items.  The shop is open throughout Easter: Monday – Saturday: 10am – 5pm (closed Good Friday), and is also open 12 noon – 3.45 pm on Easter Sunday.

The Cloister Cafe

Located in the historic 15th-century Bishop’s Cloister and Chapter House Garden, the Cloister Cafe is a favorite for homemade cakes, biscuits, hot and cold snacks, light lunches and locally sourced products. The cafe also serves a seasonal range of Easter cakes and biscuits which can be enjoyed in the award winning Chapter House Garden.  The Café is open throughout Easter: Monday – Saturday: 10am – 5pm (closed Good Friday), and is also open 12 noon – 3.45 pm on Easter Sunday.

An Easter Organ Concert

The launch of organ concerts at Hereford Cathedral begins on 9^th April with a special Easter Monday concert at 1.15pm. Hereford Cathedral’s Assistant Organist Peter Dyke will be playing a selection of popular and colourful music showing off the fabulous cathedral organ to full effect. Easter Monday is one of the busiest times of the year for cathedral visitors to the Cathedral and Peter hopes to be playing to quite a crowd, with Large screen video projection from the organ loft.

Mappa Mundi & Chained Library Exhibition

The Hereford Mappa Mundi is a unique medieval treasure, recording how scholars interpreted the world over 800 years ago.  More than a thousand drawings and inscriptions show cities and towns, Biblical events, plants, animals and strange monstrous creatures.  It is the perfect Easter family visit and can be seen alongside the cathedral’s Chained Library of 225 illuminated manuscripts with the earliest dating from the eight century.

Easter Service Times

Maundy Thursday 5 April

7.30 am Morning Prayer

10.30 am Chrism Eucharist

5.30 pm Evening Prayer

7.30 pm Eucharist of the Last Supper with Washing of Feet and watch at the Altar of Repose: Preacher Prebendary Rob North

Good Friday 6 April

7.30 am Morning Prayer and Litany

10.00 am Service for children & families

Noon –1.30 pm Preaching of the Passion: Canon John Armson

1.30 – 3.00 pm Liturgy of the Passion

5.30 pm Evening Prayer

Holy Saturday 7 April

7.30 am Morning Prayer

5.30 pm Evensong and Blessing of the Easter Garden

8.00 pm Paschal Vigil and first Eucharist of Easter Meet in St Francis Xavier’s Church, Broad Street: the service concludes in the cathedral.

Easter Day 8 April

8.00 am Holy Communion with hymns

10.00 am Cathedral Eucharist: Preacher The Dean

11.30 am Matins: Preacher The Bishop

3.30 pm Evensong and Procession

5.30 pm The Evening Hour: Reflective service for Easter evening

Fabulous topics chosen by walk leaders for this year’s Herefordshire Walking Festival from June 16-24 range from the exploration of historic hill forts to inspirational film settings and walks with a strong focus on the enjoyment of local fare.

Walkers can discover the backdrop for the recently-released film Resistance, based on the novel by local author Owen Sheers with a guided walk in the Olchon Valley. There’s the choice of the mountain walk On the Black Hill, which also has literary connections with Bruce Chatwin and Raymond Williams, or Lost Landscapes and Past People, which explores the fascinating archaeology of the area. Walkers can also explore Coppett Hill and the Wye Gorge on a walk which takes in Symonds Yat Rock where Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 was filmed.

Several trails through farm fields are followed by chance to feast on the Herefordshire produce grown and reared there. These walks include Wonder of Pigs and Apples, an eight-mile route from Putley which leads to Noggin Farm for a pig and apple lunch; A Farmer’s Ramble and Roast, a three-mile farm walk with supper in a barn afterwards and Cats Back Ridge & Craswell Priory, a walk across the top of the Cats Back (Black Hill) returning through fields to a farm where a two-course supper will be ready.

For long-distance walkers who like to take an historical perspective on the landscape, Hereford Ramblers member Mary Watkins has researched and created an awe-inspiring route especially for the festival. Four walks are featured over two weekends, each comprising one section of an unpublished route which meanders between castles and hill forts from Goodrich to Hereford, taking in spectacular views and intriguing sites. These walks are intended to be booked together. Transport is provided and an accommodation list is available on request. A second long distance route, completed in three stages over the long weekend from June 16-18, follows the Herefordshire stretch of the Hereford & Gloucester Canal, along the towpath wherever possible.

Organisers have worked hard to ensure that, in its eleventh year, the nine-day festival offers something for everyone with a programme packed full of old favourites and new ideas. There’s a choice of 44 routes of varying lengths and difficulty, taking in spectacular scenery and catering to a wide range of interests that include wildlife, history, land management and myths and legends. Walks are spread across the county, some beating its borders, and several take in sections of the walking routes through the area, including the Mortimer Trail, the Three Castles Walk, the Herefordshire Trail and the Offas Dyke Path National Trail.

Wyevale Lorry signals Visit Herefordshire

Visit Herefordshire will be flying its flag all around the Midlands since it has joined up with Wyevale Nurseries to promote the county.

Rather than publicise their own company, which its garden centre clients felt confused their own customers, Wyevale, who grow and supply plants to many varied garden centres and landscape projects across Britain, wanted to give its Herefordshire roots a boost while its vehicles travel the country. So they approached Visit Herefordshire to advertise the county on their newest vehicle as a moving billboard.

Wyevale Nurseries MD Steve Ashworth explains, “Some of our customers would prefer that their source of plant supply remains discreet, hence we took up with our local tourist authority to promote what we at Wyevale Nurseries, next to growing plants, hold dear; our Herefordshire roots, centred here in the beautiful Wye Valley”.

The lorry will travel the Midlands and South Wales on its daily routes to and from its delivery points, covering tens of thousands of miles a year and will be seen by any road users and visitors at the destinations. It is a fantastic way to encourage tourism by sending a message outside of the county every day of the working week and gives a very clear and fun direction to…VISIT HEREFORDSHIRE.

Visit Herefordshire Chairman, Sir Ben Gill, said “We are delighted that a local business, that trades not only nationally but internationally, has taken the opportunity to well and truly put the county of Herefordshire out there. This is a great example of how businesses can show the country and the world that Herefordshire is proud of what it produces and grows and that we want people to come and enjoy it. We hope that more companies will take this initiative and use the county’s new branding marque to promote their provenance”.

It is possible that Visit Herefordshire may collaborate with Wyevale Nurseries again in the future to brand an international vehicle and take the message even further afield.

Let us know if you spot it out on the road and give it a toot. The driver will be delighted.

ENDS

Editor’s notes:

Visit Herefordshire Ltd is the official tourism body for the county and is an independent not-for-profit organization. www.visitherefordshire.co.uk

Visit Herefordshire was recently integral in the launch of the new county Hereyoucan branding marque and initiative, which enables businesses to adopt a county brand marque relevant to them that also promotes Herefordshire. For more info go to www.hereyoucan.co.uk

They would delighted to hear from any companies looking to promote the county in a similar way.

Wyevale Nurseries is a local grower and trade supplier of plants and trees and is based in Hereford. www.wyevalenurseries.co.uk

Pictured left to right: Steve Ashworth (Wyevale Nurseries MD), Roger Aubrey (Driver), Sir Ben Gill, Sally Roberts (Visit Herefordshire General Manager) Simon Williams (Wyevale Nurseries Commercial Director), Russell Abell ( Wyevale Nurseries Transport Manager).

Nearly 250 local business people and parish councillors discovered how the county could take the lead in its own future and a better life in Herefordshire at the Herefordshire 2020 Vision conference at the city’s Courtyard Theatre recently

Coordinated by Visit Herefordshire, Herefordshire Business Board of the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership and Herefordshire Council, the half day conference launched a nine month programme to define what living, working and visiting Herefordshire would be like in the year 2020. Staged as if that time had come, the room heard how developments, driven by local businesses, communities and innovation had improved many social and economic sectors including trade, the environment, leisure, education, health and housing. The underlying message was clear; Herefordshire was a better place to be and certainly Herefordshireyoucan

Secretary of State Eric Pickles discussed how the Localism Act is poised to return power to local communities and how Councils will be steered to become less autocratic, more supportive and geographically flexible. His directive to “..grow, develop and invest..” was strongly followed with comments that many of the issues created by planning departments and highways agencies would have a less obstructive perspective

The 2020 Vision was opened by Neil Kerr’s arrival on stage in a Herefordshire made hydrogen powered car, the River Simple Mini, and passionate county speakers including Cllr Roger Phillips, Head Teacher of John Kyrle High School Nigel Griffiths and a variety of others, gave informative insights to how proactive and positive action would help Herefordshire to forge its own furrow as an attractive proposition for future generations, encouraging the 25-45 year old demographic to stay within the county, have good careers and raise families. This was reinforced by video footage of local business leaders verbalising the positive changes that ensued

Throughout the conference, the floor was opened to the audience for interaction and, fielded by Sir Ben Gill, Chairman of Visit Herefordshire, including a Q&A session to a panel featuring Chris Bull, Chief Executive of Herefordshire Council, Neil Kerr Chairman Herefordshire Business Board, Jo Newton Chair West Mercia Health Cluster, Cllr John Jarvis Leader Herefordshire Council, Cllr Phillip Price and the Bishop of Hereford Anthony Priddis.

To find out more about how you can influence your community’s future in Herefordshire, go to www.herefordshire2020.com where you can download the presentation and will also find video footage of local business leaders speaking of the vision.

Herefordshire College of Technology, Level 2 Hospitality and Catering students Dale Williams, Josie Davies and Chloe Dicken have won the regional finals of the nationwide competition ‘Brake’s Student Chef Team Challenge’ with this year’s theme ‘Best of British’.

The team created a three course-menu, which included a variety of local produce such as Wye Valley Trout, Dorothy Goodbody’s Ale, Herefordshire Beef and Chase Vodka. The team had 1hr 45minutes to execute 4 dishes of each course and were being judged not only on the end product but also on their communication, preparation and hygiene. The competition was tough with all of the other 5 colleges submitting teams from their Level 3 programmes.

The winning trio commented, “Practice definitely makes perfect. Our tutors have really been amazing; Les Brown and Stuart Leggett (from the Stewing Pot restaurant in Hereford) have helped our confidence a lot. We set up restricted space and time conditions with them as the judges and this prepared us well for the real event. Once we were there, we just went for it! We’re really excited about the finals though of course a little nervous too. We have a week off and then we’re back in to training again. We’re taking on board what the judges told us and then hopefully each dish will be absolutely spot on.”

As one of the six winning teams from regional heats across the UK they have been invited to take part in the live final, which is being held at the Hotelympia Salon Culinaire International De Londres at the end of February. It’s a biannual event renowned throughout the industry and this time the team will be performing in front of a live audience.

This competition allows the winning team of the February finals an amazing opportunity to gain work experience at one of London’s leading hotels, which occupies the historic County Hall building. The winners will be under the tutelage of Christopher Basten, Executive Chef at the London Marriot Hotel, County Hall.

Team Leader, Sarra Leak is really proud of the staff and students, “They’ve all worked tremendously hard to get to this level and just getting to the final is outstanding. This is a real testament to how committed the tutors are and how inspired our students are by them. A great performance all round, fingers crossed for February!”

ENDS

Date: 17/01/12

Contact: Amy Howard

Tel: 01432 365499

Email: howarda@hct.ac.uk

Herefordshire College of Technology; Success for our Students…

HEREFORDSHIRE MAKES ITS MARQUE

The launch of a new Iconic Marque to identify the county of Herefordshire took place at Hampton Court Castle and Gardens in the north of the county on 6 October.

As part of Visit Herefordshire’s Autumn Forum, Sir Ben Gill, chairman, led the momentous event, which was attended by regional press and media and over 150 members of the Visit Herefordshire tourism organisation.

The key to the new logo is the usage of the first four letters of the word HEREfordshire, and then an adaptation of add-on scripts HEREfordshire YOU CAN, VISIT HEREfordshire, LIVE HEREfordshire and so on.

While the look of the marque can be adapted to traverse many trading sectors across industry and tourism, the generic stamp includes the silhouette of a Hereford Bull aligned with the specific font style of the words.

In partnership with Visit Herefordshire and The Herefordshire Business Board, the brand was created by Small Back Room and comprehensively presented by their representative Tim Lewis.

Sir Ben detailed how the innovative marque would be a symbol of individuality, credibility and belonging for all who see and utilise it. It was designed to reflect Herefordshire’s quirky, unique and welcoming nature, and thanked the Herefordshire companies that had stepped forward to be early adopters and carry the logo in their businesses.

Ambassadors of those companies also attended, with examples of how the branding could be used on their products, stationary, websites, packaging etc. They included beverages, bird seed, biscuits, produce and venues.

A visual highlight of the event was the magnificent live Hereford Bull, Albert, supplied by local Leominster farmers, Bowens at Ford Abbey Farm, which greeted all visitors at the front of the castle and sported a branded cover of the new marque.

The Autumn Forum also included presentation of the new Visit Herefordshire tourism website, www.visitherefordshire.co.uk, due to be launched in the coming months, which is not only an essential avenue for visitors to find out about the county, but also an integral vehicle of promotion for Visit Herefordshire members.

A brief overview of the all new 2012 Herefordshire Food Festival and its new location and aspirations was also introduced.

The Iconic Marque was very well received and embraced by all who attended. Anyone wishing to know more about it and how to adopt the logo in their own business should contact Rachel Jones on rejones@herefordshire.gov.uk

Details of the venue can be found at www.hamptoncourt.org.uk

Details of the companies that are early adopters of the marque can be found in the press pack.

Visit Herefordshire is a privately run not for profit organisation and is the official body to offer assistance and advice to tourism businesses in Herefordshire. It supports its members and Herefordshire businesses in generating and promoting events, tourism initiatives, business development and training and is dedicated to putting Herefordshire firmly on the tourism map.

Offices are at The Discover Herefordshire Centre, information centre and shop in King Street Hereford, which displays crafts and works from artisan makers from around Herefordshire. www.visitherefordshire.co.uk

Sir Ben Gill CBE MA (Cantab) lives in Herefordshire and is Chairman of Visit Herefordshire. He was National President of the NFU 1998-2004. Amongst other private business interests including his company Hawkshills Consultancy Ltd, he has been a non-executive director of Countrywide Farmers PLC for seven years, is Chairman of English Apples and Pears Ltd and Chairman of Cawood Scientific, the largest provider of scientific analysis to the agricultural sector. He is a Trustee of the John Innes Foundation, Governor of the John Innes Institute and Chairman of Harrogate International Business School and is a board member of the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership.

Source: MinxMedia Ltd  T: 07713 243869  heidi@mixmedia.co.uk