What's Good To Do Magazine April to June 2014

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APRIL - JUNE 14

Covering the areas of: BEDFORDSHIRE TRAFFORD/SALFORD

www.whatsgoodtodo.com [email protected] Tel: 0161 787 8550

Welcome to Spring and our April / June edition of What’s

Good To Do! In this edition you will find combined articles

covering the Salford/Trafford area as well as Bedfordshire

and surrounding areas! This free magazine is published

three times a year and is packed full of places to go, things

to do, handy hints and ideas as well as a forum for our local

businesses to advertise themselves!

As the nights are getting longer and we are looking ahead

to planning our holidays, you will find in this edition a few

reviews on places abroad - so sit back and enjoy!

Best wishes

Debbie, David and MichelleWhat’s Good To Do

Contact us for advertising and editorial enquiries on:

email: [email protected]: 0161 787 8550www.whatsgoodtodo.com

What’s where...

3

Dear Readers...

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Page 4 A postcard from Parador de Gomera

Page 5 Kesgrave Hall, Ipswich, Suffolk

Page 6 SEA LIFE London AquariumMadame Tussauds

Page 7 Competitions

Page 8 A postcard from La Sultana, Morocco

Page 10 Blackpool Pleasure Beach

Page 11 Noticeboard

Page 12 A postcard from Amsterdam

Page 14 LEGOLAND® WindsorAirkix

Page 15 Items we have reviewed

Page 16 A postcard from Ireland

Page 18 Camp Bestival

Page 20 To Die for EntertainmentWhat’s on in Trafford/Salford

Page 21 SEA LIFE ManchesterLEGOLAND® Discovery Centre

Page 24 What’s on in BedfordshireRiverdance

Designed by colourwheel creative

www.colourwheelcreative.co.uk

What’s Good To Do ... your local what’s on guide 4

Reviewed by

Christine Charlesworth

Perched on the edge of the rocky

cliff 60 metres above the small port

and marina of San Sebastian de la

Gomera is the stone and

whitewashed Parador de Gomera with its dark beamed, terracotta

roofed single and two-story buildings clinging to the cliff edge and

nestling amongst subtropical gardens, looking out over the turquoise

sea to Tenerife or down to the sheltered, black-sanded beach and old

town of San Sebastian below.

Entering through the massive old dark wooden doors into the hushed,

stone floored interior we were immediately aware that we had found an

oasis of calm and the Castilian-style architecture, together with the

antique furnishings and large portraits from the Elizabethan era, gave us

the feeling that we had in fact stepped back in time.

Our bedroom was large, quietly situated and furnished with a large

double, hand painted, four-poster bed and antique furniture, including

easy chairs, a small table and a beautiful antique wardrobe. There was

a complementary basket of fruit on the table together with a finger bowl,

plates and knives. The bathroom was extremely well equipped with

bathrobes & slippers, a very large bath, toilet & bidet, a large number of

toiletries, including hairbrush, toothbrushes and razor and twin

washbasins set into a marble base. In the bedroom there was a large

wardrobe area, a TV and a mini bar. The small balcony had two seats

and a view, through the fronds of a Canarian date palm, across to

Tenerife with the dominating, snow-capped Mount Teide, looking even

more impressive than Mount Fuji in Japan.

We stayed in the Parador for two nights, Bed & Breakfast. Breakfast

was served in the main dining room, which is similar to the main sitting

area but also benefits from a covered loggia to two sides with wonderful

views of the garden. This loggia area has seating at tables for two and is

attached to the main restaurant by squared arches, at intervals.

Breakfast was a huge array of magnificent buffet food to suit all tastes

and nationalities, with coffee served to us at our table overlooking the

gardens.

We decided to eat in the restaurant on our last evening and chose the

set €33 menu, which included Partridge Pate, Duck on a bed of apple &

raspberry coulis with carrots, finishing with mandarin sorbet and a fluffy

palm syrup pudding. We drank a red Riocha wine and fizzy water. The

restaurant lived up to its reputation for excellent food.

The sense of peace, romance and tranquillity at the Parador de la

Gomera is profound. It really is the best place to stay in San Sebastian

for a wonderful romantic winter break.

A postcard from Parador De Gomera

www.whatsgoodtodo.com [email protected] Tel: 0161 787 8550 35

Arriving at around half past 3 we were welcomed

by a buzzing, warm atmosphere, with both the

lounge area, with its über comfy sofas, and the

dining area full of a mix of locals and hotel

guests.

As always when travelling with young children

we are always a little nervous of the kind of

room we end up in. Many hotels seem to think

that a family room consists of a normal double

with a hugely uncomfortable sofa bed for the

children, but not at Kesgrave Hall. We had room

16, which on entering was quite obviously more

than just a room! Room 16 is actually a suite,

with 2 separate rooms joined by a hallway and

bathroom. The master bedroom was spacious,

with a huge bed (super kingsize) and modern,

simple furniture, whilst the ‘children’s room’ was

an even bigger room with 2 single beds and a

sofa. Both rooms had TV’s. There was the

expected tea and coffee making facilities along

with a mini bar with soft drinks at no extra charge.

It is testament to the local popularity of the

restaurant that when we arrived at our pre

booked time to eat of 6:30pm that the restaurant

was already at full capacity. The restaurant was

spacious and ensuring you didn’t feel cramped.

The open kitchen and pass added entertainment,

both my children enjoyed watching the chefs at

work. The whole atmosphere was relaxing and

child friendly with many families dotted around

the restaurant.

They have a slightly unusual method of taking

orders at Kesgrave Hall, you are given a pad

of paper and pencil and asked to write your

own order down. A novel twist which didn’t

bother us in the slightest and actually proved

useful during the course of the meal for me to

make notes about the food! The waiting staff

were attentive and intuitive, bringing over

colouring sheets and crayons to keep the

children amused.

All in all we had an excellent stay, Paul Milson

and his wife Geraldine have created a good mix

of comfort and style which affords Kesgrave Hall

the title of ‘Boutique Hotel’ without being over-

pretentious and alienating the family market. The

staff were incredibly welcoming and helpful.

Kesgrave Hall, Ipswich, Suffolkwww.milsomhotels.com/kesgravehallReviewed by Michelle Llabani


An invasion of the crustacean kind has arrived at

the SEA LIFE London Aquarium, as the new

exhibition featuring some stunning species of

crabs has now opened. CLAWS brings together a

spectacular collection of the

“B-movie monsters” of the marine world, from the

gigantic Japanese Spider crab (which can grow

to 12 feet long) and the colourful

Rainbow crab.

And there’s also a whole aquarium to discover with thousands of

sea creatures from rays to rare Green Sea turtles, seven species of shark in

the Shark Reef Encounter display and a playful colony of Gentoo penguins in the chilly Ice

Adventure area.

Discounts and fast track entry available with online booking - visit www.sealife.co.uk/london

Open seven days a week from 10am with last entry at 6pm and

prices start from ￡16.20 per adult and ￡11.93 per child

Claws at The SEA LIFE London Aquarium

Japanese Spider Crabs at the London Aquarium

Madame Tussauds London, the home of

world famous fun, houses incredibly lifelike

wax figures of some of the most famous

celebrity, sporting and cultural faces – from

popstars like Lady Gaga and Beyoncé,

to world leaders, and movie stars like

Christian Bale and Leonardo DiCaprio.

The attraction encourages guests to get up

close to figures for photos so great for family snaps!

What's more the Marvel Super Heroes 4D features Marvel's

most famous super heroes and a jaw dropping 3D film as well as the

Spirit of London ride, which takes guests through 400 years of history!

Find out more about the full line up at Madame Tussauds London and book ahead to get the

best savings at www.madametussauds.com/London. Prices to Madame Tussauds start from

￡22.50 for adults and ￡19.29 for children (4-15 inclusive) when you pre-book online.

Madame TussaudsLondon

Madame Tussauds, London


It’s competition time.. .To enter any of these competitions,simply visit www.whatsgoodtodo.comand enter by clicking on the answerand submitting your details. Good luck!

Terms and ConditionsOnly one member of each household may enter in any

given month.

By entering any of our competitions you agree that

your first name and town will be posted on our website

in the event that you are a winner.

We reserve the right to amend the end date of any

competition.

Your personal details are only used for the purposes

of sending out any prize you may win.

The judge’s decision is final.

Prizes are as specified and cannot be exchanged for

cash or an alternative prize.

Some prizes may be sent direct from sponsors and

we cannot be held liable for any prizes that are lost in

the post.

Only fully completed entries via our Competition Entry

Form will be accepted, all others will be deleted.

Any entries deemed suspicious or from bots will be

deleted.

We reserve the right to refuse any entry.

Fabulous competitions

for you to enter on the

What’s Good To Do

website!

Win tickets to a ABBA tribute

night at theGrosvenor Casino Salford

www.whatsgoodtodo.com/pages/view/ab

ba_tribute_night_competition

Win tickets for aWhitney Houston tribute night

at the Grosvenor CasinoSalford

www.whatsgoodtodo.com/pages/view/wh

itney_houston_tribute_night_competition

Win a copy of this alphasaurs book!www.whatsgoodtodo.com

/pages/view/alphasaurs

_competition

Win a alphabet art puzzle! www.whatsgoodtodo.com/pages/view/

magicfairywings_alphabet_art_competition


My partner and I were recently

lucky enough to have experienced

a three night stay at 5* Deluxe ‘La

Sultana’ in Marrakech, Morocco.

The hotel is situated only a short

drive from the airport in the

Medina (Old town) in the first

Kasbah of the Sultans. The hotel

is centrally located for the main

sites of Marrakesh with the

Saadain tombs being right next

door and the Palais’s and Place

Jemaa-el-Fna being only short

walks away.

The hotel itself is a hidden gem

situated on Rue de la Kasbah a

fairly busy shopping street

although it still feels very

secluded. Walking down the small

alleyway to the entrance feels like

you are entering some luxurious

different world with traditional

brick buildings and huge golden

front doors. The hotel itself is laid

out in the traditional Riad style of

the old Moroccan buildings with

the rooms facing inwards onto a

central courtyard; the hotel has

five different luxurious courtyards

each with its own different style.

Four of the courtyards are

surrounded by guest bedrooms

with the fifth comprising of a large

swimming pool and dining area.

The hotel consist of only 28 rooms

allowing the hotel to feel very

exclusive and relaxing as there

doesn’t tend to be lots of people

rushing in and out all the time.

Our room was called the Pelican

Room it was large in size and

more of a suite than a room. It

was traditionally decorated with

beautiful carved white plaster

mouldings around the ceilings and

A postcard from La Sultana,Morocco

turquoise polished concrete walls

with a beautiful golden pelican

ornament atop an old-fashioned

fireplace. We had a large

traditional bathroom with gold

sinks, carved wooden doors and

beaded lampshades the perfect

place to relax in the bath after a

day of exploring.

We managed to sample a few

different menus during our stay;

we had breakfast in the hotel

every morning which consists of a

large selection of hot and cold

options. The hot options included

a selection of different styled eggs

and hot pancakes, with the chiefs

cooking up something different at

request. The cold selections

included fresh fruits, yogurts,

cereals and a whole host of sweet

pastries. I thought the selections

were excellent and the service

couldn’t have been better. We

also booked in to eat at the

restaurant one night, the tables

were laid with crisp white linen

and beautiful traditional silver

wear, we sat in the moonlight next

to the swimming pool with only the

soft glow of Moroccan lanterns for

light, there was also a gentleman

strumming what I assume was a

lute and singing softly in Arabic all

adding to an elegant romantic

atmosphere.

We also enjoyed an afternoon off

from exploring the busy Souks

and Bazars being pampered in La

Sultanas spa. The spa has a large

Jacuzzi area seating around 18,

with its elegant rose marble

columns, tranquil music and

diffused light shining from large

green Moroccan lanterns above

it’s the perfect place to relax after

a day out in the hustle and bustle.

The spa also offers a number of

treatments using local Moroccan

products including, sugar with

spices and honey body scrubs,

facials using traditional black soap

combined with plants, moisturising

body wraps using Argan Cream,

they also have a range of

massages.

Overall what made our stay extra

special was not just the beautiful

surroundings but the staff of the

hotel. Everyone we met was

extremely pleasant and helpful and

the majority spoke several different

languages making it easy for us to

communicate. We were made to

feel like friends rather than just

guest particularly by the reception

team Saida, Khalid and

Mohammed. I found them to be

very warm, approachable and

welcoming; they were always

genuinely interested to hear how

our day had been which was

refreshing. Saida was even kind

enough to organise a local guide

for us one morning going above

and beyond never seemed too

much for the staff of La Sultana

and this is most definitely a credit

to the hotel.

My fiancé and I are both well-

travelled and we can easily say

this is the nicest hotel we have

ever stayed in and we couldn’t

recommend it more highly.

La Sultana Marrakech is a member

of Great Hotels of the World

Luxury Collection.

For more information or to book,

please visit:

www.ghotw.com/la-sultana

or call 020 7380 3658.

Reviewed by Rebecca SingletonLa Sultana, Marrakech, Morocco14-17 January 2014 www.ghotw.com/la-sultana

What’s Good To Do ... your local what’s on guide

A postcard from La Sultana,Morocco

Whether it’s white knuckle rollercoasters, family fun or

spectacular shows there’s something for everyone at

Britain’s favourite amusement park.

Home to the steel mega-coaster that is the Big One,

the suspended coaster, Infusion, the UK’s only

Nickelodeon Land and the world’s first Wallace &

Gromit ride, Thrill-O-Matic, Blackpool Pleasure

Beach is full of world firsts.

Nickelodeon Land is home to 12 rides, fun game stalls and

the UK’s only Nick Shop. Throughout the season there’s a whole host of

Nickelodeon character led activities from SpongeBob SquarePants, the Teenage

Mutant Ninja Turtles, Dora the Explorer and join in storytime with Poppy Cat.

Wallace & Gromit’s Thrill-O-Matic will take fun-seekers on a ride of the duo’s most famous adventures

with a number of loveable and not-so-friendly characters popping up on their travels.

For great discounts, family deals and All You Can Eat packages buy in advance online atblackpoolpleasurebeach.com

Blackpool PleasureBeach

Find new & nearly new baby, children’s andmaternity products in your local area!e: [email protected] fb: munchkinmarketsmanchester

Children’s

crafts

Local familyeventBook a table!

Great Bargains!

CulchethSports CentreCharnock Road,Culcheth WA3 5SH14th June 14: 11 - 12.30pm

NEW!!!!!

fb: /MunchkinMarketplace

A fab new Facebook page where

you will find albums of

quality pre-loved children/baby

items - pop and have a look!


Elm BankConference

Centre(Eccles Masonic Hall)

Half Edge Lane

M30 9BA

11th May 2014:

11 - 12.30pm

Children’s

crafts

CulchethSports CentreCharnock Road,Culcheth WA3 5SH14th June 14: 11 - 12.30pm

notice boa rdFast Motor Care

www.fastmotorcare.co.ukphone number 0117 3250808

We sell car parts and

accessories online and do our

best to help people out.

SockJems Creations

We provide handmade fashion,homeware and jewellery itemswith a quirky and unique twist.

www.SockJems.co.uk

www.facebook.com/SockJems

www.folksy.com/shops/SockJems

Tropic Skincarewww.tropicskincare.co.uk/shop/[email protected] 242 517

RUN YOUR OWN MAGAZINE

[email protected]


A postcard from Amsterdam

DFDS Mini Cruise Newcastle to Amsterdamwww.dfds.co.uk Reviewed by Ella Richardon

When I first found out I was going on a cruise I was so excited, I have

never been on a cruise before and always imagined it as being very

expensive and only for those who felt at home in a tuxedo or ball gown.

I am neither rich or own a ball gown but I couldn't believe the prices

when I saw them on the website from £79 per person, which for a two

night trip I thought was pretty cheap and completely doable on our small

budget and I managed to solve the wardrobe issue with a couple of

black dresses from the back of the cupboard.

So to start the journey we had to check in,

as you do with any trip but usually this is the

bit I dread the most as it's always so

stressful with big queues but for the DFDS

mini cruise, it took no longer than two minutes

and we were asked to sit down to wait to

board, then a quick go through the security

checks by out of ordinary friendly staff.

We arrived to our room and it was pretty much

as I imagined as I had looked on the website.

We were in a two bed room with sea view and

we were right at the front of the ship, I felt like

Kate Winslet in Titanic, we had such a lovely

view. The room was basic it had two single

beds, a table, a mirror and a shower over the

toilet which my husband was most impressed at.

If you are looking for somewhere to just sleep

like us the room is perfect, though if you are

planning on spending day time in the room I

would probably invest in one of the bigger

Commodore rooms but if I am totally honest

with the schedule there isn't much time for spending time in the room,

there is constantly something going on.

We had pre-booked dinner for later that evening so we could get settled

in, so headed up about 8.30 to the 7 Seas restaurant. We didn't really

know what we were to expect as all we had seen was it was an all you

can eat buffet. But was pleasantly surprised by the array of different

foods, from Chinese, meat and two veg, breads & cheeses, the list goes

on.

The night was topped off really well with half a bottle of wine, though this

wasn't pre-ordered and if we were to go next time we would certainly

pre-order the dinner wine. I thought the price of the food was really

reasonable, the dinner buffet if bought on board was €34.50 but if you

booked in advance which we did you get 24% off and kids eat half price.

13

A postcard from Amsterdam

The restaurant was brilliant and the staff

were amazing jumping to your every need, I

even got to taste the wine before they served

it very professionally and I felt like I was in a

very swanky restaurant, but the meal prices

in no way felt that way.

We woke nice and early and headed back to

the 7 Seas restaurant ready for breakfast.

We were met by the fresh faced waiter from

the night before (I'm not sure they sleep!)

with the choice of a jug of tea and/or coffee

and all different kinds of juices. Even though I

was still really full from the night before, I

couldn't resist the array of beautiful breakfast

food, going from continental, full English, fruit

and pastries.

Customs was quick and easy as before and

waiting when we got off were two coaches

ready for taking us to Amsterdam. The

coaches were pretty small and space limiting

so if you have long legs like my husband you

might want to think about other options but

for him the short 45 min trip was fine and

was free with the package so well worth just

trying to bear with the lack of space for

the small trip. We arrived in Amsterdam at

about 11am and as we had already been

given a map with our boarding cards we

had mapped out exactly what we wanted

to do with our 5 hours. I would definitely

recommend doing this as we found the 5

hours went really quickly.

It was a fabulous and exciting weekend. It

was certainly what we needed and a lovely

time to spend as a couple, though I might

add the ship was very child friendly and even

a kid zone, we saw lots of children enjoying

the experience as much as the adults.

I would highly recommend the DFDS cruise

to anyone as the budget is affordable and

flexible and you can get everything added on

that you need for a cheap price and I

certainly will be returning and maybe with the

kids in tow.



If you ever dreamt of Sky Diving but thought it was

too scary or too expensive, then try Airkix. An indoor alternative to launching yourself out of an aeroplane,

it is a genius way of getting a real flying experience! We tried out the wind tunnel in Basingstoke and had

the most exhilarating time. One of the first things we noticed was how much of a spectator activity indoor

sky diving is. Whilst you are getting suited up, the clear wind tunnel really engages you as flyers take to

the air making it perfect as a group activity. We even got to watch some of the pros demonstrate their

competition level tunnel skills. The experience is 2 minutes in total on your first visit. This doesn’t sound

very long, and indeed it goes very quickly, but on a real sky dive you would free-fall for less than a minute

so in reality you are getting much more air time. I highly recommend that people give this a go. It’s a once

in a lifetime experience that thankfully you can do over and over again. Trust me, you will want to!

5/5

www.airkix.comPrices from £39.99 (Gift vouchers available)

Locations: Basingstoke, Manchester and Milton Keynes

PIRATES AHOY AT THE LEGOLAND®

WINDSOR RESORT IN 2014

Guests at the LEGOLAND® W

indsor Resort c

an expect plenty of

pirate themed fun in 2014 as the hugely popular Pirates Landing

gets a major re-vamp to become NEW Pirate Shores. F

eaturing

Castaway Camp - an awesome totally new pirate adventure play

area, more than 100 brand new LEGO® models and themed

features on the Pirate Falls Treasure Quest log flu

me ride, plus a

new themed restaurant, th

e rollic

king Jolly Rocker Pirate Ship rid

e

and Pirate Gold Panning - Pirate Shores promises

a swashbuckling family adventure.

With over 55 interactive rid

es, shows and attractions, all s

et in

150 acres of beautiful parkland, th

ere's never been a better tim

e

to visit the LEGOLAND® W

indsor Resort.

Earn your very first

driving license at th

e LEGOLAND® Driving School, splash and play

in DUPLO® Valley or feel th

e force in the LEGO® Star Wars™

Miniland and marvel at some of the world's most fa

mous landscapes

in miniature in the Resort's famous Miniland.

Check www.legoland.co.uk for full details.

Airkix


Hannspad 13.3” Tablet SN14T71B

www.hannspree.com Reviewed by David Savage

The Hannspad SN14T71B is large tablet with a massive 13.3” touch screen with 10-point touch with a 1289x800 screen

resolution. It also has a powerful A9 1.6Ghz Quad Core processor, 1GB RAM and 16GB storage space. It has a front and rear

camera, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, micro SD slot, 2x micro USB slot, mini HDMI output and headphone socket and in a polished black

casing with a brushed aluminium back. It looks very smart.

As it a larger tablet than most I feel it is much better suited for family use rather than something you would carry around in

your bag. The tablet is very easy to use, just hit the power on the side, hold it for 4-5 seconds and it boots to the operating

system very quickly. The screen resolution is not the greatest at 1280x800 and certainly not the worst and is easy to read and

very clear. Video playback is sharp and clear.

It has all the normal functions of any other tablet like downloading of apps etc… and also has a Wireless Display feature which

allowed me to connect the tablet to my Smart TV – this allowed for whatever was shown on

the tablet screen to show on the TV screen (I love this feature, it makes it so much easier

when having to show someone else something instead of all crowding around the

tablet screen).

The dual cameras are fair enough quality for its intended use of 0.3MP for the front

camera and 2MP for the rear camera. The battery lasted between 4-5 hours with the

wifi turned on (so should last a little bit longer if you turn it off when not required).

This is a perfect large tablet for anybody who requires a larger screen without breaking

the bank. You could also add a Bluetooth keyboard and stand so you could also be

used as a laptop.

15

Sushi Fashion Vintage Midi Laptop Bagwww.laptopbags.co.ukReviewed by Katy Webster

When the bag arrived, the first thing that struck me was the quality – I couldn’t believe

it wasn’t made from real leather! It is a gorgeous soft two-tone brown, which has

generous looped handles, and a detachable carry strap too for

hands-free carrying.

The bag looks classy – much classier than any other laptop bag I’ve ever owned. It has the air of a high end (but

functional) handbag, and just calls out to be stroked! The bag definitely met my expectations. I really like how it

doesn’t shout out ‘I’m a laptop bag’ – as most others do.

At around £65, this is definitely a high end product – but if you need to tote a laptop around, but still want to look

good, this is definitely one bag that will fit the bill.

Milkysnugz Mason the Mouse Baby BottleComforter www.milkysnugz.co.uk

The Milkysnugz is a great idea, it helps keep the milk in a bottle warm and is also a

cuddly toy all in one.

We have Avent bottles and the Milkysnugz fits perfectly on them. We received the

universal one that fits all bottles (£21.99). There is also the Original version that fits most

bottles excluding Tommee Tippee bottles (£15).

Putting in the bottle was very easy, there is a zipper around the base which gives easy

access to slide the bottle in. It fits nice and snuggly around our Avent bottles and has a viewing window in the

stomach of the mouse so you can see how much liquid is left in the bottle.

As for being a cuddly toy, it’s great. It is very soft with bright colours and our daughter always has it whether

she has a bottle or not, she loves it.

Overall, we love the Milkysnugz. It is easy to fit and secure, it keeps the milk warm and is easy to see how

much liquid is left without having to remove the bottle, it’s bright and colourful and can be machine washed. It

also makes the bottle easier to hold for our daughter and helps develop fine motor skills.

As the packaging says. Milkysnugz: Hugz your babies will love. We have to agree.


Reviewed by Helen Jiggins

Stena Line Fishguard to Rosslare www.stenaline.co.uk

A postcard from Ireland

We headed out from South

Oxfordshire with three very

excited little people in the car

heading initially for Bristol to stay

overnight with my brother. The

following morning we had a

leisurely journey through South

Wales to reach the Fishguard

ferry for the 2pm sailing. It was

February and despite atrocious

storms the week before, the

weather was good to us. We

arrived in plenty of time and were

able to partake of the port café

facilities, which were bright, open

and friendly. The screens warned

the sea might be moderate to

rough, but in the event, the

crossing went relatively smoothly.

The ship was very clean (including

the toilets) and well-lit throughout.

On board we found the children’s

area, based on the character

Curious George, had soft play

equipment, touch-screen

computers with numerous games

designed for younger children

(ours’ are 7 years and 3.5 year old

twins) with a variety of games and

there was also a seating area

showing up-to-date children’s

films. Not all the computer

screens worked and the soft play

equipment was well worn, but our

children thoroughly enjoyed

themselves in this area for most of

the three and a half hour crossing.

On board there were plenty of

other areas to explore, including

Teen Town, which consisted of

many (£1-a-game) arcade games

and free-to-use computers

connected to the internet

(although they were quite slow).

There was free Wifi internet

throughout the ship, so I found it

easier to connect by mobile

phone. There was also The

Lounge, which had airline-style

reclining seats and played films on

a large screen, seemed to be a

popular choice for passengers.

Other facilities included a Barista

Coffee House, a Metropolitan (M)

Bar and Stena Shopping, all of

which were bright and airy and

pleasant to sit/shop in. The

premium Stena Plus Lounge can

be accessed for an additional fee -

either beforehand or once on

board - consisted of a large

comfortable room with table

service,

We were impressed with the staff,

who were very friendly and helpful

throughout. They even offered to

charge my mobile phone at

reception (although there are

some plugs dotted about

apparently) and they were also

lovely to the children letting them

choose the film from a selection of

DVDs.

We thoroughly enjoyed going by

ferry to Ireland. It was very much

a part of the overall experience of

the holiday. Going with Stena Line

was easy, friendly and very

enjoyable all round. In some ways

it began and ended the holiday on

a high note and I know the

children considered it a definite

highlight of the trip. It is something

we will certainly do again.

www.cartrefhotel.co.uk

Reviewed by

Helen Jiggins

We arrived at the Cartref Hotel,

Fishguard in South Wales just

after midnight fresh from the ferry

from Rosslare, Ireland. We had

three little children who unable to

sleep on the ferry through sheer

excitement of being on board were

ready for a good night’s sleep.

The hotel was less than a mile

from the port and was easy to

locate on the High Street.

We were greeted at the door by

Kristiina, the proprietor, who was

welcoming and friendly to a tired

couple with overtired children.

We were also met by her adorable

little dog, Toby, who seemed equally

enthusiastic to see us pitch up in the

middle of the night! The hotel felt like

a traditional British hotel, slightly old

fashioned in décor, but comfortable

and clean with a warm and family-

friendly atmosphere.

We stayed right at the top of the

hotel in a family room with its own

discreet and lockable door, which

consisted of three rooms, one

containing bunkbeds, the second a

double and a single and the third was

a neat bathroom. The room was warm, scrupulously clean with crisp white sheets throughout. I took a little

while to settle the children in new environment, but they all soon succumbed to a good night’s sleep. My

husband and I also slept well.

After a good breakfast and enjoyable chat, we went for a walk around the very pretty town, taking in the rather

spectacular tapestry commemorating the attempted invasion by the French via Fishguard in 1797 and the

rather splendid deeds of a local woman, Jemima Nicholas, who single-handedly rounded up 12 French

soldiers with the aid of a pitchfork.

Staying at the hotel was a Godsend for us travelling with three children under eight, especially arriving in the

middle of the night. We were grateful for and delighted with our stay at the Cartref and recommend it happily to

weary families in a similar predicament. We would love to go back and perhaps stay an extra night next time to

explore the local area further.

Cartref Hotel - Fishguard, Pembrokeshire


LIVE ACTS

DE LA SOUL / BASEMENT JAXX / JAMES / JOHNNY MARR /SINÉAD O’CONNOR / LAURA MVULA / STEVE MASON / THE

SKATALITES / PETER HOOK & THE LIGHT /

THE CUBAN BROTHERS / CHAS & DAVE / SOPHIE ELLIS-BEXTOR

THE WEDDING PRESENT / PUBLIC SERVICE BROADCASTING /CHARLOTTE CHURCH / NICK MULVEY / THE RADIOPHONICWORKSHOP / DENAI MOORE / JAIPUR BRASS BAND / THE

FABULOUS LOUNGE SWINGERS / FÉ / MUSAFIR /

JOANNE JOANNE / MDOU MOCTAR

DJs

BOY GEORGE & MARC VEDO / TOTALLY ENORMOUS EXTINCTDINOSAURS (DJ SET) /

DAVID RODIGAN MBE PRESENTS RAM JAM / AWESOME TAPESFROM AFRICA /

ROB DA BANK / THE SHELLAC COLLECTIVE / COLEY FROMLUV*JAM / SILENT DISCO

FAMILY FUN

HORRIBLE HISTORIES: BARMY BRITAIN PART II / MR TUMBLE /

CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY 50th BIRTHDAYTAKEOVER /

BEN AND HOLLY - LIVE (MAIN STAGE HOSTS) /

MICHAELA STRACHAN'S REALLY WILD ADVENTURES /

INSECT CIRCUS – THE GRAND TOUR / KAWA CIRCUS /

THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL PRESENT: ALBERT’S TRAVELLINGCIRCUS BAND

THE GREATEST TENT ON EARTH!

GANDINI JUGGLING REMIXED BY ROB DA BANK / HUGLESSDOUGLAS /

MARAWA THE AMAZING / MATTRESS CIRCUS / FUNK DA CIRQUE /BRIT SCHOOL /

WEST END KIDS / POP / THAT CATHERINE BENNETT SHOW/COWBOY MAX /

FUNKY LITTLE CHOIR / MARAWA’S MAJORETTES


Welcome to the greatest family showon Earth! With our acrobaticallyastounding Circus theme alreadyannounced we have a veritable wealthof incredible treats for yourdelectation this coming July 31st toAugust 3rd, guaranteeing you a festi-holiday experience like no other at acastle campsite by the sea.Announcing our Friday, Saturday &Sunday night headliners, the first liveacts as well as DJs, family fun andcircus entertainment galore, ouraward-winning seventh Camp Bestivalis set to dazzle and delight!

Camp Bestival ringmaster Rob da Bank

says, “I know the Camp Bestival family

have been on tenterhooks about our first

announcement, so ladies and gents...

Roll up, roll up to the Camp Bestival

Circus and come inside… or should that

be outside?! I always pay close attention

to the Camp Besti forum and social

media to see what people want, so I've

followed orders and booked two of your

most requested acts, and coincidentally,

two of my favourite bands ever, James

and Basement Jaxx. Two huge

internationally renowned acts with

massive back catalogues who are going

to slay the crowd at Camp Bestival,

topping a line-up boasting the best fun

for kids, a brand new area for teens and

so much more… And De la Soul have

soundtracked my life for the past 25

years since the dayglo-hippy daisy-age

glory of ‘3 Feet High And Rising’ first

found its way onto my first plastic

turntable. I’ve seen them loads of times

since then and they are just one of the

best party acts imaginable. Camp

Bestival is gonna be a very, very fun

place on Saturday night! Hope to see

you in July... and August!”

Everybody knows that we love a bit of a

dance down Lulworth Castle way, so we

are overjoyed to announce that dynamic

dance duo Basement Jaxx will be our

Sunday night headliners. Getting the

crowd whipped up for a firework finale,

Felix Buxton & Simon Ratcliffe have a

plethora of globally-tested dancefloor

smashers and an incendiary live show

that is going to bring untold joy to all at

the Castle Stage on Sunday evening, so

don’t miss out.

Basement Jaxx may be wrapping things

up, but the job of getting the party well

and truly started falls to indie giants

James! A perennially requested act by

the Camp Besti faithful, the man like da

Bank has only gone and landed the


magnificent Manchester dons and we

couldn’t be more excited! With a

singalong catalogue that’s the envy of

the entire pop world, James will

effortlessly have you bellowing

choruses from Sit Down and Come

Home to Born of Frustration, She’s A

Star and beyond! This one has

legendary headline performance

written all over it.

Commenting on their headline slot,

James’ guitarist-violinist-percussionist

Saul Davies said, "We've not done

Camp Bestival before, but it has a

great reputation so we're well up for

this show. I'm sure it will be one of the

highlights of the summer for us. One to

bring the kids to... and maybe even

leave at!"

Saturday, it's a Saturday, Saturday, it's

a Saturday! Yes, yes! Daisy-age hip-

hop kings De La Soul are also coming

to Camp Bestival to headline Saturday

night. One of the most popular bands

from the golden age of hip-hop, De La

Soul’s all-out, sample-tastic treats are

guaranteed party starters. From ‘The

Magic Number’ and ‘Me, Myself & I’ to

‘A Roller Skating Jam Named

‘Saturdays’’ and ‘Stakes Is High’,

Posdnuos, Trugoy The Dove & Maseo

deliver the good vibes by the

bucketload and we can’t wait to dance

to this fix and flex every muscle!

We will also have live music from the

amazing Johnny Marr, fabulous

chanteuse Sinéad O’Connor, Mercury

Prize nominee & soul sensation Laura

Mvula, former Beta Band kingpin Steve

Mason, Jamaica’s greatest band The

Skatalites, bass hero Peter Hook & the

Light, mythical funksters, los hermanos

Cubanos, The Cuban Brothers, knees-

up specialists Chas & Dave, pop

powerhouse (and snappy dancer)

Sophie Ellis-Bextor, indie stalwarts The

Wedding Present, sample geniuses

Public Service Broadcasting, the newly

experimental voice of an angel

Charlotte Church, erstwhile Portico

Quartet member and the most hotly

tipped man alive Nick Mulvey and

legendary knob-twiddling noise

conductors The Radiophonic

Workshop. Plus there will be

performances from Denai Moore,

Jaipur Brass Band, The Fabulous

Lounge Swingers, Fé, Musafir, Joanne

Joanne and Mdou Moctar, with many

more still to be announced.

We’ll also have DJ action from the

majestic Boy George with partner in

crime & VG Records co-founder Marc

Vedo, the incredible Totally Enormous

Extinct Dinosaurs and lord of reggae

David Rodigan MBE, who will present

Ram Jam. Plus, throwing it down on

the platters that matter will be

Awesome Tapes From Africa, our very

own Rob da Bank, The Shellac

Collective, Coley from Luv*Jam and

hours of late night fun at the Silent

Disco. And there are plenty more DJs

coming your way, sowatch this space!

As ever, for our Lulworth Castle

jamboree, that’s not nearly the half of

it...

The Camp Bestival roustabouts have

spent many a month scouring the

globe for the very best in family fun,

gathering a host of spectaculars and

shows guaranteed to enchant every

single one of you. So, we’re delighted

to say that Horrible Histories is back by

extraordinarily popular demand

performing their new show, Barmy

Britain: Part II! A grisly spectacle

reviving a whole host of ghastly

characters, so you can enjoy a horrible

history of Britain with all the nasty bits

left in! And, of course, the utterly

legendary Mr Tumble will beclowning

his way to the Castle Stage once

again, causing unrivalled excitement

amongst Camp Bestival’s discerning

tots.

Helping to celebrate a phenomenal 50

years of Roald Dahl’s best-loved tale in

2014, we are hosting a Charlie And

The Chocolate Factory 50th Birthday

Takeover on Saturday, with a whipple-

scrumptious selection of exclusive

treats, including a super pop-up

exhibition, a Charlie Craftathon and

lively storytelling sessions courtesy of

the Roald Dahl Museum. There’s also

a Bedtime-Story special, with Jo

Whiley, Howard Marks and our very

own Rob da Bank reading the ENTIRE

book over the three evenings of the

festival. And Lucy Mangan will be

talking about her new book ‘Inside

Charlie’s Chocolate Factory’. And,

don’t miss our favourite elf and fairy

duo Ben And Holly, hostingthe Main

Stagewith, for the first time ever, the

actual voiceover actors from the

television series, Preston Nyman and

Sian Taylor, providing live voices for

these life-size characters. Plus we will

have a wild and interactive journey of

snakes, sharks, elephants and whales

with Michaela Strachan's Really Wild

Adventures, our most-beloved circus

troupe The Insect Circus, who have a

brand new show called Grand Tour,

Camp Bestival favourites Kawa Circus

spreading their happiness and joy,and

our friends at the Royal Albert Hall who

are returning with Albert’s Band for an

exciting Circus themed orchestral

extravaganza.

And we’re still not finished! Ladies and

gentleman, boys and girls, to celebrate

our Circus theme in glorious Camp

Bestival style, we’d like you to put your

hands together please to welcome our

wondrously fabulous new venue, The

Greatest Tent on Earth! Beneath its

canopy you will witness jaw-dropping

circus shows, astonishing

extravaganzas, tremendous theatre

performances and delightful characters

galore. We will also be adding even

more ace new areas and attractions to

this year’s Camp Bestival, so keep an

eye out for news of The Feast

Collective, Caravanserai, Oberon's

Observatory, TeenArena and Travelling

Barn coming soon!

And there’s still plenty more action to

come including our Saturday headliner

& festi-holiday frolics aplenty, so make

sure you get the inside track at

www.campbestival.net and our

Facebook and Twitter.

TO BOOK YOUR

CAMP BESTIVAL

TICKETS:

call: 0844 888 4410

or purchase via the

website:

www.campbestival.net


To Die for EntertainmentComedy Murder MysteryValentines DinnerMurder on the TitanicBolton G Casinowww.grosvenorcasinos.comwww.todieforentertainment.co.uk Reviewed by Lucy Knight

I have just had the pleasure of attending The Comedy Murder Dinner, Murder on

the Titanic at Bolton G Casino. We had a fantastic night watching an excellent cast

and being served by first-rate staff.

Once we were seated, the characters from the Titanic introduced themselves. The

scene was set and Leonardo Di Haribo had just saved all the lives of the passengers aboard the cruise liner Titanic by

spotting an iceberg and sounding the alarm. He was now attending a celebratory dinner with the first class passengers

from the G Casino. There was some chatting and flirting amongst the characters, with Kate Windswept saying 'I'll see you

later!' with a wink to Leonardo

As the characters left the scene there was a struggle from behind a corner and a splash of water, with someone shouting

'man over board!'

From this we meet the policeman who is on his holidays and decides to take the case to see who murdered Leo Di Haribo.

He is then accompanied by Dave Ja Vu, a geeky character who has come aboard the ship in hope to meet a blind date,

who had stood him up.They set to work to uncover who the murderer is. They interacted with the audience brilliantly,

moving from table to table so that guests could ask questions. Guests were encouraged to watch each character’s every

move and to cross-examine them carefully.

Once all the information was gathered in, it was time to decide who the killer was and what their motive was. Everyone had

to write this on a form and hand it in to the cast. The correct answers were then put into a hat and the name which was

picked out won a prize.

I would recommend To Die For Entertainment events and have even encouraged my parents to book onto their next event

at G Casino Bolton, Five go Mad in Bolton which is a take on the Enid Blyton story.

April 2014

April 5th & 6th - LEGO® Friends Event at

LEGOLAND® Discovery Manchester (please book)

April 5th - 27th - From Muscle to Machine Event

at MOSI

10th April - Bunny or Chick Easter Basket at Ordsall

Hall 10.30am, 11.30am, 1.30pm and 2.30pm.

£1.00

What’s on and whereDates for your diaries for April and May 14

24th April - Make a suncatcher at Ordsall Hall 10.30am,

11.30am, 1.30pm and 2.30pm.

£1.00

May 20146th May - 10th May Fame at The Lowry Theatre

10th May - Munchkin Markets Baby Sale event, Elm Bank

Conference Centre, Monton 11 - 12.30pm

27th May - Mosaic Workshop at Ordsall Hall. 1.30 - 3pm


Easter Bunny Bonanza At Mead OpenFarm5-21 April

www.meadopenfarm.co.uk

Eggsplore BedfordBedford Town Centre

12 April

10am to 3pm

What’s on and whereDates for your diaries for April and May 2014

Giant Easter Egg hunt around Bedford

town Centre... £3 per team member for

the Eggsploration (Under ones free).

Bedford:Bamberg Beer Festival 20149-10 May 2014

Free entry

MumbucksThe Motivating RewardSystem for Kidswww.mumbucks.co.uk

Reviewed by Pamela Wright

When I received my Mumbucks pack

I was quite excited. I opened it and

read the information sheet that

comes with it. When the eldest 2

children came home from school I

explained the Mumbucks to them.

We sat down and agreed what each

Mumbuck would be worth. As a family we agreed each “Mumbuck” was

worth 25p in cash or worth a “trade in treat” i.e.

1 mumbuck equals 15 minutes on the ipad/laptop or they can put them

all together and 5 Mumbucks will get them a movie night (i.e.

popcorn/dvd).

Because I have 5 children I did a reward chart with removable stickers

that started Monday and then Sunday morning we counted their stickers

and swapped them to their Mumbucks. My eldest 2 have a purse for

theirs and have decided to keep them this week to trade for time on their

dad’s laptop playing games.

I really saw the benefit of the Mumbucks at the weekend as I asked the

children to tidy their bedroom – my eldest refused to in her sulky manner

so rather than try my usual technique I simply said – that’s fine don’t

worry about it – but just think of the Mumbucks you’re missing out on.

I’ve never seen her move to quick!!! Hahahahahahaha………… I think

this is a fantastic idea as the parents win as they get the good behaviour

but the children feel like they are in control too as they get to decide

what they want to use their Mumbucks for. Although we have only had

them in our house for 1 week it is definitely a winner.

RiverdanceWith two decades of global success

since the show first burst into the

public’s heart at the Eurovision Song

Contest in Dublin in 1994, this 20th

Anniversary tour is an unmissable

chance for UK audiences to

reconnect with what the Irish Times

rightly described as

“The Original...The Best”.

Composed by Bill Whelan, Produced

by Moya Doherty and Directed by

John McColgan, Riverdance has

performed across the UK where it has

been experienced by over 2.9 million

people in well over 1000

performances in 18 cities.

Riverdance has received rave

reviews across the world but perhaps

the simplicity of The Guardian’s

verdict sums it up: “Dance does not

often get so good.” It returns to

Manchester, running at the Opera

House Tuesday 7 – Sunday 12 Oct

2014

Documents

What's Good To Do Magazine April to June 2014