Warwick Castle | Chalmers News PR

Sunset and starlight for spectacular end of summer celebrations at Warwick Castle

Posted on August 23, 2021August 24, 2021 by admin

To mark the end of an extraordinary summer, a five-night extravaganza at Warwick Castle announces the arrival of the new Sundown Spectacular celebrating the Biggest Summer in History at the famous Castle.

Warwick Castle, Sundown Spectacular Live bands, DJs, unique bars and street food courtesy of the Digbeth Dining Club, one of the UK’s leading operators, in the unique confined atmosphere of the castle grounds will be providing the perfect backdrop for this fun-filled festival. As the sun disappears, visitors will be able to marvel as the castle comes to life under the stars with stunning state-of-the-art projection mapping and unmissable lighting illuminating the towers. Each evening will end with an amazing fireworks finale.

From Thursday (26th) to Monday (3oth August) the Castle will come alive after dark with a festival vibe for the ultimate end-of-summer celebration. Tickets priced at just £25 can be booked online.

Commenting on this new exciting event for 2021, Nick Blofeld, Divisional Director at Warwick Castle, said: “After the trials and tribulations of the last 18 months, we wanted to celebrate everything Warwick Castle, its staff and guests have achieved this year, marking the end of a significant period in the Castle’s history with a Sundown Spectacular – providing an experience that will truly resonate with our regular visitors and attract first-timers to take a closer look at the fantastic ambiance the Castle creates as the sun sets over our historic site.

“We are excited to activate this new event in 2021 and will make sure it will be an evening to remember for everyone.”

To book visit here

Enjoy Warwick Castle in a whole new light

Posted on December 6, 2020December 6, 2020 by admin

WARWICKSHIRE may be in tier 3, but it’s good to know there are still ways to discover the true magic of the festive season and indulge in an evening of escapism.

Warwick Castle, Christmas, lights trail — Photo by Dan Chalmers

The Light Trail at Warwick Castle invites guests to experience the historic estate in a whole new light as the vast surrounding grounds are transformed with a multi-sensory experience including light installations and projections accompanied by spoken word and musical recordings.

For six weeks from 5th December to 17th January, we’re invited to wrap up warm and follow a glowing path of lanterns in front of the iconic East Front. The new trail follows a romantic medieval theme, as guests are led through the grounds by a festive poem of hope. Multi-coloured lighting projections and installations bring the history of the castle to life after dark, with illuminations putting the spotlight firmly on Castle highlights, including the mighty trebuchet.

Following the winding pathways, you encounter interactive features including an immersive light tunnel, and woodland trail where glittering trees are draped in light. Parts of the trail also feature notable surprises to provide fun for guests of all ages including opportunities to interact with the displays themselves by changing the colours. Guests are also invited to capture memories of this special experience by taking photos at key ‘selfie spots’ featured along the trail.

The magical winter journey doesn’t stop there as guests can continue their experience with a session on the ice rink and a wander around the Winter Market, packed with seasonal gifts, food and drink.

The market is free to visit and open to all – not just Castle ticket-holders. Open daily between until 3rd January 2021 from 10am to 8pm, it’s the perfect opportunity to buy local this Christmas, including craft beer, artisan gin, handcrafted jewellery, homewares, gifts and plants. The outdoor Winter Market provides a safety-conscious solution to Christmas shopping, with contactless payments, one-way systems and additional hygiene measures in place.

Operations Director Liam Bartlett said: “We’re so excited to reopen with such a great collection of festive fun. All of these new attractions have been organised with guest safety as priority – they’re outside in the open air, with timed slots and strict capacity limits to ensure that everyone can socially distance as well as temperature checks on arrival and plenty of sanitising stations.

“We’re really looking forward to welcoming back visitors from the local area in the first instance, and by keeping the Ice Rink, Light Trail and Winter Market open right through until 17th January. We hope that people from elsewhere will also be able to join us when their local restrictions allow.”

With so much safe and seasonal activity on offer at Warwick Castle, there really is light at the end of the tunnel this year!

Book entrance and accommodation online at www.warwick-castle.com

Here is my review of the ice rink from last year, when of course, there were no COVID restrictions in place. . . It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas. . . at Warwick Castle | Chalmers News PR

An al fresco feast of comedy, music and food (Review)

Posted on September 18, 2020September 24, 2020 by admin

WE all need something to smile about at the moment, right?

Thanks to the team at Warwick Castle we can laugh our socks off in an outdoor environment suitably socially distanced and safe in the knowledge that no rules are being broken in the pursuit of much-needed live entertainment. What’s not to love?

A new lifestyle festival, which opened yesterday, is one of the castle’s innovative approaches to COVID-friendly music and comedy. Set against a backdrop of one of the UK’s most stunning vistas, one doesn’t sense any form of sacrifice in terms of venue.

In fact, I’d love to see more outdoor festivals such as this become a permanent feature in summers to come as a welcome complement to the theatres.

Picnic At The Castle, which runs for eight days and nights over the next two weeks, offers top tunes, big laughs and delicious locally-sourced food, all enjoyed from your very own fairy-light-clad COVID-compliant pergola.

Situated in the shadow of the magnificent castle on the banks of the River Avon, this natural scene is more beautifully set than any theatrical backdrop you’ll ever see, as we settle back for two hours of our choice of either live stand-up or music.

As one of the comic’s said, if we get bored of the entertainment, we can stare at the view instead!

Groups of up to six can book a pergola, while couples can sit out under a personal parasol and, depending on what time of day you decide to come, there’s a suitable tasty treat to accompany your experience.

Festival Sessions include:

Yoga Session: 8:00-10am – find balance and reconnect with nature, followed by a delicious healthy breakfast.

Graze session: 12:15-2:15pm – Sit back and enjoy two musical performances while sampling a tasty graze box.

Gorge session: 3:15- 5:15pm – Sit back and enjoy two musical performances or stand-up comedy while sampling tasty treats.

Banquet session: 7-9.30pm – Enjoy stand-up comedy shows or live music acts while munching on a delicious hog roast and making use of the caravan bar. Particularly look out for Phil Wang, headlining on Sunday night.

Last night’s feast of comedy, headlined by hysterical sister act Flo & Jo, certainly hit the spot – as did the interval hog roast!

And there was even the bonus of the weather staying kind for us too.

As dusk fell, with our bellies full and our ribs tickled, there were few places we’d rather be at that moment in time.

If I was to add any suggestions for an even more enhanced experience, I would like to see better lighting. It was difficult to make out the comedians when night fell as they chose to perform off-stage. And the ‘sweet treat’ which followed our hog roast did slightly disappoint.

However, these are minor imperfections on what was an otherwise much-welcomed distraction from the issues of the day.

At between £30 and £50 for adults, the price is better value than it might at first seem because it also includes castle entry, either on the same or following day. (In itself worth £22)

With a new emphasis on al fresco entertainment in the present climate, this is one of those I would be inclined to recommend. A truly lovely evening – but bring along your brolly just in case.

Picnic at the Castle is only available via pre-booking online. For line-ups and bookings visit: www.warwick-castle.com/explore/events/picnic-at-the-castle.

A feast of music and comedy at the castle

Posted on September 15, 2020 by admin

THERE’S plenty of opportunity to make up for lost time at outdoor events this summer with a fantastic new lifestyle festival at Warwick Castle, from this week.

Between September 17th-October 4th you can catch comedy and live music shows as part of the brand new ‘Picnic at the Castle’, held in partnership with creative events specialists Midsummer Nightcap. This imaginative festival offers top tunes, big laughs and delicious locally-sourced picnic hampers (including a medieval-style hog roast to suit the surroundings), all enjoyed from COVID-compliant pergolas.

Groups of up to six can book their own pergola, while couples can sit out under a personal parasol located in the beautiful Castle grounds. Choose between a tasty meat or vegetarian graze box option during the day and enjoy a hog roast picnic during the evening (vegetarian alternatives are available). Each hamper is full of locally sourced, high-quality food, perfect for sharing.

Festival Sessions include:

Yoga Session: 8:00-10am – find balance and reconnect with nature within the grounds of Warwick Castle, followed by a delicious healthy breakfast.

Graze session: 12:15-2:15pm – sit back and enjoy two musical performances sampling a tasty graze box and sipping on scrumptious cocktails.

Gorge session: 3:15- 5:15pm – similar to the ‘Graze’ session above, get together to listen to two musicians whilst enjoying tasty treats and tipples in the grounds of Warwick Castle

Banquet session: 7-10pm – on Thursday and Sunday evenings enjoy stand-up comedy shows, with Friday and Saturdays boasting headline music acts. Munch on a delicious ‘hog roast’ and make use of the caravan bar, for an evening spent either crying with laughter or dancing the night away!

“This really is a socially-distanced outdoor experience like no other, it’s the perfect way to reconnect with loved ones and enjoy live entertainment in one of the most beautiful locations anywhere in the country,” said Francesca Nally, Managing Director, Midsummer Nightcap.

Nick Blofeld, Divisional Director of Warwick Castle said: “We’re delighted to have ‘Picnic at the Castle’ with us this September. We love seeing our guests enjoy themselves at the many different events we host at the Castle every year.

“Picnic at the Castle has all the ingredients for a fantastic, and safe, experience. It’s going to be great fun and genuinely distinctive with live music, comedy and a luxurious picnic all served up in a beautiful setting alongside the river and the Castle as a backdrop.”

Confirmed acts include:

Headline musical performances confirmed so far include Roy Stride – lead singer from Scouting For Girls. Lucy Spraggan (X-Factor contestant 2012) and Ferris & Sylvester – 2020 winner of ‘Emerging Artist Award’ at the UK Americana Awards.

Headline comedians confirmed so far include Phil Wang, pictured, (Netflix, Live At The Apollo), Flo & Joan (Amazon Prime, Live At The Apollo) and Sindhu Vee (Live At The Apollo, Have I Got News For You)

Drinks caravan bar ‘Maggie’ will also be on-site providing a range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, with a variety of special occasions’ packages available.

Picnic at the Castle is only available via pre-booking online. All bookings include access to the Castle, car parking, live entertainment, dedicated gazebos and picnic (hog roast) hampers.

Tickets can be booked at: www.warwick-castle.com/explore/events/picnic-at-the-castle.

Warwick Castle reopens its gates this weekend

Posted on June 2, 2020June 2, 2020 by admin

WARWICK Castle will be amongst the first UK attractions to reopen its gates to the public following easing of lockdown restrictions.

While indoor areas remain off-limits for the time being, the extensive grounds and gardens around the iconic Castle will provide a welcome destination for visitors keen to take a day trip away from home.

From Saturday 6th June, guests will be able to explore over 64 acres of stunning ‘Capability’ Brown landscaped gardens, including riverside strolls along the Avon and the famous Peacock Garden with its resident flock of over 20 peacocks.

More adventurous visitors can climb the Conqueror’s Fortress, which is the highest point of the estate, to capture incredible views across the beautiful Midlands countryside and Warwick itself.

Whilst the usual shows and indoor attractions aren’t reopening just yet, the castle’s renowned birds of prey will still be undertaking their daily exercise and training for the full reopening, so visitors may be lucky enough to see them whilst on site.

COVID-secure processes in place

A number of key processes have been implemented to ensure visitor safety including:

Increased health and safety procedures for enhanced cleaning of all areas including toilets and seating, introduction of one-way systems supported by clear wayfinding, social distancing markers and sanitiser stations
Entry will be dependent on advance online booking only, with availability subject to new daily maximum capacities to ensure allowance for social distancing. Temperature spot-checks may be carried out.
Contactless payment for food and drink, from takeaway outlets offering snacks, hot and cold drinks and ice cream
Activity kits on sale for families to find all the fun while exploring the outside areas
Toilets will be available to guests on a one-in-one-out basis.

‘Baby steps’ to full reopening

As part of global leisure company Merlin Entertainments, the castle has benefited from advice from colleagues across the globe, including those in countries where restrictions have already eased allowing attractions to reopen, on how best to reopen in line with new safety requirements ensuring the safety of all visitors.

Warwick Castle initially closed on 21^st March 2020 along with tourism businesses across the UK.

Divisional Director Nick Blofeld said: “After ten weeks of closure, we can’t wait to reopen our gates and share the beauty of the Castle’s outdoor spaces with guests again. Warwick Castle uniquely offers a rich history and over 60 acres of rolling grounds, we are anticipating our loyal guests across the Midlands and beyond will be really excited to return to the Castle and have a taste of normality, even if it is two swords apart.”

We are delighted to be amongst the first attractions able to reopen to the public, albeit on a limited basis for the time being. These first ‘baby steps’ are a really positive sign for us, the wider industry and indeed the general public and we can now start to rediscover everything that this country has to offer.”

Opening exclusively for the first weekend on 6^th and 7^th June to Warwick Annual Pass and Merlin Annual Pass holders only, the castle grounds will be open to all guests from 8^th June onwards on a pre-booked only basis. Visit: www.warwick-castle.com