The Tourism Society - People in all the right places

Lord Inglewood of Hutton in the Forest will be one of a number of invited guests at a special party on Pooley Bridge Pier next week to mark the start of British Tourism Week 2011 in Eden.
 
Eden District Council’s Economic Development and Tourism team are joining forces with Ullswater Steamers to stage a unique “Tea Party on the Pier “ which will take place on Saturday 12 March.

Visitors arriving at Pooley Bridge Pier next Saturday between 10am and 3pm will be greeted by people in 1930’s costume provided by Penrith Players. They will also have a chance to sample marmalade and buy homemade cakes supplied by Dalemain Mansion plus support a charity tea and coffee morning being hosted by a local RNLI group.

The pier at Pooley Bridge will be specially decorated with bunting for the occasion, as will one of the steamers that will be calling at Pooley Bridge that day on scheduled sailings. People can also take part in an online competition to win some free cruise tickets and party bags supplied by Modern History – to enter log on to www.ullswater-steamers.co.uk

The special event is one of many “Party on the Piers” being staged all around the country next week to mark the launch of British Tourism Week. A special poster promoting the national event will be also on show. Its production has been generously sponsored by Design Works of Staveley who designed this year’s Eden Where to Stay and Attractions guides.

‘Party on the Pier’ will be a national celebration of Britain’s piers and their heritage, and the biggest nationwide event on Britain’s piers since Year of the Pier in 1996. Piers have entered the country’s collective psyche as an integral part of the authentic British seaside experience, and the recent outcry over the tragic fire at Hastings is a clear sign of the esteem in which these coastal icons are still held.

Working in partnership with the National Piers Society, and with the support of other organisations including the British Resorts and Destinations Association (BRADA), British Association of Leisure Parks, Piers and Attractions (BALPPA), Tourism Management Institute (TMI) and The Tourism Society, the organisers of British Tourism Week have invited the owners and managers of seaside piers, harbours and jetties around the coast and on inland rivers, canals and lakes to host a party, encouraging residents and tourists to visit, and highlighting the importance of maintaining and restoring our piers.

On Saturday 12 March steamers will call at Pooley Bridge pier at 12.10pm and 2.45pm as part of round trips that start at Glenridding. People may want to travel to Glenridding and travel up to Pooley Bridge by steamer. Boats depart Glenridding at 11.10am and 1.45pm. The round trip takes just under two hours.

The National Historic Ships organisation is also delighted that Ullswater Steamers heritage vessels are being used to help promote British Tourism Week. The organisation was formed in 2006 to advise government and other public bodies on ship preservation and funding priorities. It has a wide remit which covers a range of issues including the support infrastructure for historic ships, their potential for contributing in the wider economic, social and community context together with maintaining a watch list of vessels abroad.

“We are delighted that Ullswater Steamers are letting us launch British Tourism Week on Pooley Bridge Pier,” said Charlie Thornton, TIC Network Manager for Eden District Council. “We hope that our Tea Party on Pier will capture the imagination of local people and make them more aware of the diverse range of tourism attractions the Eden area has to offer.”

British Tourism Week runs from 12_20 March and is co-ordinated by the country’s national tourism agencies. HRH the Prince of Wales is its patron. The week provides a platform for the region’s tourism industry to make people more aware about what it offers and the contribution it brings in to the local economy.

For information on British Tourism Week visit www.britishtourismweek.com
 
ENDS

Notes to Editors:

For more information contact: Barry Cooper, Communication Officer at Eden District Council tel: 01768 212137 or mobile: 077159 90460.

Eden District Council has 38 elected members and is the most sparsely populated district in England and Wales. The District area covers 830 square miles and has scenic landscapes, historic market towns, excellent tourist facilities and vibrant communities. The Council’s strategic aim is: To Best Serve the People of Eden.