Latest news with #PuppetTheatre
Daily Mirror
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
'Rundown' seaside town's £1.8m boost as Butlin's unveils huge transformation
A well-known seaside town in the south of England, which was recently crowned one of the 'worst' in the UK, has welcomed a huge upgrade to its insatiably popular Butlin's resort A once regal seaside town loved by Brits has watched its glitzy reputation slowly wash away. Snuggled on England's south coast in West Sussex, some 70 miles from Central London - lies the coastal town of Bognor Regis. Boasting half a dozen golden sandy beaches, crystal-clear water, and a Victorian pier originally built in 1865 - Bognor Regis attracts a whopping four million tourists every single year. Like any quintessential seaside resort, it's filled with all of your staycation essentials: Fish & Chip shops, ice cream vans, arcades, and souvenir shops. But, the town was recently snubbed in Which?'s seaside league tables, where it came joint fourth from last with Burnham-on-Sea. Scoring a measly 47 per cent out of 100, survey participants gave the town just two stars for its beaches, tourist attractions, scenery, and food and drink offerings - and a brutal one-star rating for its pier and range of shops. Bognor Regis, known as one of three UK homes to Butlins, opened its resort back in 1960, during the UK's coastline glory days. It was the third complex to be built in England and reportedly witnessed a staggering 3,000 visitors on the opening day. And just last month, Butlin's announced it had finished a huge £1.8 million upgrade to the resort - helping to bolster tourism in the region. The transformation means Bognor Regis is now home to Butlin's biggest-ever indoor Soft Play centre and Puppet Theatre. Opening in time for the busy Easter half term, the four-storey soft play centre, which is a whopping 3,000 square feet, has the capacity to entertain up to 200 children - while adults can kick back and relax in the new 100-person eating area. The Soft Play centre features new slides, climbing challenges, log ramps, cargo nets, and a multi-sensory area for babies. The Puppet Theatre will put on new shoes for guests, including Under The Sea, Jingle in the Jungle and Christmouse. Jon Hendry Pickup, CEO at Butlin's, said he was 'delighted' to open the Soft Play and Puppet Theatre at Bognor Regis. "Both are included in the price, providing incredible value for our guests," he added. "They have always been popular with guests, and these incredible new spaces are full of personality, just like the Skyline Gang and their performances which are always a standout part of family's breaks." It takes around two hours and 17 minutes to drive to Bognor Regis from London, but direct trains can slash the journey time down to just one and a half hours. If you're flexible with dates, you can grab single adult fares for as little as £10. Accommodation in Bognor Regis varies depending on your budget. For example, a weekend's stay (Friday, June 13 -15) at the four-star Beachcroft Hotel will set you back £322, based on two adults sharing. But, the Keedwell Studio Apartments offer a double room on the same nights for just £198. Butlin's offers weekend breaks for the May Half Term for as little as £253.
Zawya
02-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Zawya
Visit Qatar launches the second edition of Throwback Food Festival
The second edition of Visit Qatar's Throwback Food Festival, organised by Visit Qatar, returns at Doha's Old Port. This year it features new additions and exciting experiences The festival celebrates the country's local heritage through traditional cuisine and cultural experiences, offering visitors a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in the past. Hamad Al Khaja, Manager of Festivals & Events Delivery at Visit Qatar, said: 'Throwback Food Festival is a unique experience that celebrates Qatar's rich heritage through a variety of events that include traditional cuisine, cultural performances, and interactive competitions. This year, we have expanded the range of activities and enriched the experience, combining heritage markets, traditional games, folk tales, and artistic performances that reflect Qatar's cultural identity. Through this event, we aim to provide an integrated experience that blends the authenticity of the past with the modernity of the present, making Throwback Food Festival one of the most prominent Ramadan events that enriches the tourism scene in Qatar.' A Ramadan experience with local touches Throwback Food Festival brings the old Qatari souks to life through the 'Dakkan' initative, which recreates the flavours of old Qatar, where visitors can sample traditional foods and sweets from the Tayyibin generation. The experience allows visitors to relive their childhood through the dishes they grew up with, in an atmosphere that is full of the flavours of the past. The Folk Games Kiosk also hosts fun competitions that reflect the spirit of Qatari traditions, where visitors can participate in traditional games in a lively Ramadan atmosphere. Quizzes and Tales from the Past The Throwback Food Festival Theatre offers a range of artistic and cultural activities inspired by Qatar's heritage. Visitors can enjoy interactive competitions such as 'Kahoot', which includes questions on popular foods, traditional crafts, and heritage events, with valuable prizes for the winners, as well as 'Treasure Hunt' competition, which invites participants to solve heritage puzzles and interact with different stalls to discover the secrets of the past. Set in a lively atmosphere that embraces heritage, the Hakawati tells stories about the history of local cuisine and hospitality, with sound effects and traditional costumes reflecting the spirit of the past. At the Puppet Theatre, children and families can enjoy a puppet show that tells stories about Qatari cuisine and the importance of hospitality and traditions, in an interactive and entertaining way. The festival offers an interactive experience for culinary enthusiasts, with chefs competing in the 'Local Flavour Challenge' to prepare Qatari dishes with a creative twist, and the public participating in the 'People's Taste Challenge' to choose the best dish. There will also be a 'Secret Ingredient Challenge' where chefs will have to prepare dishes using surprising ingredients, making the competition even more exciting. Folkloric performances and folk songs The festival will host live musical performances featuring traditional songs and rhymes sung at majlis and weddings, and during food preparation such as grinding wheat and making bread, using drums, oud and marwas to add authenticity to the visitor's experience. This year's Garangao will also be a night full of colour, joy, and memories. To further enhance the Ramadan experience in Qatar, Visit Qatar has launched this year's Ramadan campaign titled "Welcome Our Dear Neighbours" which aims to welcome visitors from the GCC during the holy month of Ramadan for an exceptional Ramadan experience, under the theme 'Ramadan is better with you', with Qatar Calendar's events. Visitors can explore the Ramadan events calendar on the Visit Qatar website and app. For more details on activities and events that blend tradition with modernity, they can also follow @QatarCalendar on social media. For media-related inquiries, please contact Visit Qatar's Press Office on: pressoffice@ About Visit Qatar Visit Qatar is the main arm of Qatar Tourism. Visit Qatar's mission is to promote and expand tourism in Qatar by cultivating its rich culture, developing thrilling attractions, enhancing Qatar's calendar, becoming the leading MICE destination in the region, diversifying events and luxury experiences. Visit Qatar is rooted in Service Excellence, boosting the entire tourism value chain, and increasing local and international visitor demand in Qatar. Through Visit Qatar's network of international offices in priority markets, cutting-edge digital platforms, and marketing campaigns, Visit Qatar is expanding Qatar's presence globally and enhancing the tourism sector. Web:
