Warwick Thai Festival returns this summer

Warwick Thai Festival returns this summer

Warwick Rotarians’ popular Thai Festival is set to return on the weekend of 10th and 11th July, it has been announced.

Working with partners Magic of Thailand and Warwick Racecourse, the Rotary Club is calling on the Thai community to return and have a great day out at their 16th Thai festival. With only 86 deaths due to Covid recorded in Thailand the team is working with Warwick District Council to ensure Covid precautions are in place so that visitors will be safe to have a great day out.

The format will be the same as previous years, open from 10.30am to 5pm, the racecourse will host Buddhist monks, boxers, dancers and musicians, with plenty of stalls selling Thai food, drinks, spices, crafts, and massages, surrounded by the sights and sounds of Bangkok.

Thai Festival, Warwick Racecourse, Warwick Rotary

Buddhist Monks will start the festival off with their ceremonies, and the traditional reception of gifts from the traders. On stage throughout the day will be a top class presentation of Thai culture, with dancing, lady boys, music, Thai boxing and cookery demonstrations. There will also be children’s dancing and a talent show as well as a play area.

Tickets will be available online with details to be announced later.

Thai festivals have been held by the Rotary Club since the Boxing Day Tsunami in 2004 to raise disaster aid, and the club has continued support ever since, most recently during Covid when many people lost their jobs.

To find out more about the Rotary Club of Warwick visit: here

Fine food and comedy at Drive & Dine event in Warwick

Fine food and comedy at Drive & Dine event in Warwick

PUB in the Park and the Tom Kerridge team are bringing the ultimate drive-in theatre experience to Warwick.

Drive & Dine, Warwick racecourse, Tom Kerridge

Drive & Dine Theatre is reigniting the glory days of drive-in cinema screenings, with a delicious twist! Guests will be able to choose from an impressive selection of family films, iconic classics, and the latest award-winning blockbusters, whilst tucking into an exclusive menu curated by Marlow-based Chef Tom Kerridge – all for you to enjoy with members of your household, in the comfort and safety of your own car.

Alongside a fantastic line-up of movies, you’ll be able to book exclusive stand-up sessions from Mark Watson’s Carpool Comedy Club with comedians including Ed Byrne, Shappi Khorsandi, Ed Gamble and Zoe Lyons across the tour in all locations.

With personal speaker systems provided for each car and food served straight to your parking bay, you simply need to pull up, sit back and enjoy the show on the world’s largest mobile HD LED screen.

Tom Kerridge said: “I am so excited to announce a great new event created to have a load of fun in a way that is safely suited to current times. Come and eat some good grub, catch some quality movies, and make some new memories with your loved ones. It’s the perfect trip out of the house!”

Films on offer include recent blockbusters 1917 and Knives Out, family favourites The BFG and Aladdin; along with drive-in classics Grease, Back to the Future and Jaws. The current schedule at each tour destination can be found on the Drive & Dine website: www.driveanddinetheatre.com.

Drive & Dine, Warwick Racecourse, Tom Kerridge

Kerridge’s Drive & Dine menu includes something for everyone, with dishes on offer including ‘That’ Bacon Cheeseburger with maple cured bacon, Chicken Tikka Masala, Five Bean Chilli Vegan Burrito and also Picnic Boxes suitable for adults or children. Top notch desserts are also available, with an incredible TKO Biscuit Cheesecake or Millionaires Chocolate Pot set to be your new favourite cinema treat. Plus you can choose from a great selection of drinks.

Drive & Dine is suitable for all ages, with both daytime and evening viewings. To comply with Government regulations and ensure a risk-free environment, cars will be spaced out, all staff will wear protective face wear and gloves, food and drink will be served through contactless methods and tickets will be sent electronically and checked from a distance.

Drive & Dine, Warwick Racecourse, Tom Kerridge, Ed Byrne, Shappi Khorsandi, Ed Gamble and Zoe Lyons

Drive & Dine Theatre arrives in Warwick on July 21st-26th but the full schedule is below:

  • St Albans: 7th-19th July and 14 – 19 July 2020 at Luton Hoo Estate
  • Bath: 7th-12th July 2020 at Bath Racecourse
  • Marlow: 14th-26th July 2020 and 21 – 26 July at Henley Showground
  • Tunbridge Wells: 8th th-19th July 2020 at Hever Castle
  • Chichester: 21st-26th July 2020 at Chichester College
  • Warwick: 21st-26th July 2020 at Warwick Racecourse
  • West London: 28th July – 2nd August 2020 at Syon Park
  • South London: 28th July – 2nd August 2020 at Selhurst Park Stadium

Each film screening costs £17.50 for adults and between £5.50 – £7.50 for children.

Mark Watson’s Carpool Comedy Club costs £35 for adults.

Food options range from £4 – £15.

More information is available at: www.driveanddinetheatre.com

All tour locations are subject to license and appropriate approval during these unprecedented times.

Molly Olly’s benefits from newsreader’s top tips

Molly Olly’s benefits from newsreader’s top tips

A RADIO newsreader put her faith in local racing talent to win an annual tipping contest for a second successive year at Warwick Racecourse.

Touch FM’s Lindsey Alder will be donating her winnings to Warwick-based charity Molly Olly’s Wishes.

Molly Olly's Wishes
Rachel Ollerenshaw pictured with Olly The Brave and Touch FM’s Lindsey Alder and Warwick Racecourse General Manager Andre Klein.

The contest ran over the course of the Qatar Airways May Racing Carnival last month, with Lindsey taking victory on the final day of the season.

It was a close call with only two points separating Lindsey and runner up Roger Hart, with Lindsey benefiting from backing horses from local trainers like Dan Skelton.

Molly Olly’s Wishes supports children with terminal and life-threatening illnesses, which  offers terminally ill children 0-18 pastoral support by granting ‘wishes’- which could be anything from buying new hospital equipment, to toys or experiences.

Lindsey said: “I’m delighted, and surprised, to win the contest for the second year in a row. Thanks to Warwick Racecourse for putting it on and commiserations to Roger who I pipped at the last post.

“After supporting soldier charity 353 last time out, I wanted to donate my winnings to another local charity and having interviewed the guys from Molly Olly’s Wishes a few times at Touch FM, I decided there was no better choice!

“If putting a few fantasy bets on some horses helps fulfil just one child’s wish, then I’m very happy with the result”.

Molly Ollerenshaw just a few weeks before she passed away, aged eight.

Lindsey’s £350 donation will also help the charity fund their Olly the brave packs, that assist patient’s emotional well-being by normalising being in a hospital environment through therapeutic toys and books.

Rachel Ollerenshaw, Trustee at Molly Olly’s Wishes, added: “We would like to thank Lindsey for this kind donation and continuing to raise awareness for our charity.

“If people can’t always give money but can raise awareness by telling five people that’s brilliant as well.

“By making connections at local events like this we are able to find the right people to facilitate a wish for somebody like being a jockey for the day as an example.”

This year marked the fourth year that Warwick Racecourse welcomed the May racing carnival to its grounds with more than 11,000 visitors attracted over the month.

Andre Klein, General Manager at Warwick Racecourses, said: “We would like to express our thanks to all of the participants at this year’s tipping contest and everybody who joined us across the Qatar Airways May Racing Carnival

“A special congratulations goes to Lindsey on taking first place for the second year in a row and for donating her winnings to Molly Olly’s wishes charity, another inspiring local cause.

“Lindsey’s win yet again proved the strength of racing talent we have in the region, as many of her backed winners came from right here in Warwickshire.”

For more information about Warwick Racecourse visit www.warwickracecourse.co.uk

To find out more about Molly Olly’s Wishes visit www.mollyolly.co.uk and for more information on how to donate https://www.mollyolly.co.uk/learn-about-donating/