🧢 This week’s ‘Top Pick’ @WeightmanPR: A self-guided Dracula Trail in Derby
Visitors to Derby can now explore a Dracula Trail across the city centre. The trail reveals Derby’s spooky links to Dracula which marks 100 years since the world-famous character’s stage debut in city in 1924. What’s come to light recently is that Derby is the place where the first-ever theatrical adaptation of Stoker’s novel was staged; and, where the renowned actor Bela Lugosi finally decided to put a metaphorical stake through the heart of the Count Dracula he helped to create. This new self-guided trail explores those moments, and visits 20 locations where visitors can get their teeth into the story of Dracula’s “return” to Derby.
🧢 Lifting a glass of real ale in The French Ardennes to say “Santé”, and “Merci”
It’s beer, as opposed to wine, that helps make The French Ardennes “Probably…the best destination in France”! Part of the reason is its geographic location. That, plus the fact that in the days when the water of the area was unfit for consumption, the local population drew on its apples to make cider, and locally grown barley and hops for beer. By the time of the industrial revolution, there were 283 breweries in 104 towns and cities of The French Ardennes. Many of these were destroyed during the First World War, and the shortage of manpower which followed meant that few were rebuilt. The Ardennes’ tradition for brewing good quality beer is being revived these days by numerous local micro-breweries - not least, at the Brasserie Artisanale de Haybes, where owner Julien Dejente is also keen to highlight Haybes’ close connection with Stockport, in England. Haybes, along with other towns in the Ardennes, was obliterated over three days of bombing by German forces in August 1914. After the war, Stockport sent aid and support to help with its rebuilding. Dejente, meanwhile, is currently planning to reintroduce a beer named “Stockport” to his range of locally produced ale - to help highlight the close connections which still exist between the two towns.
🧢 Art On Your Doorstep rolls into Stoke-on-Trent
The National Gallery is one of the greatest art galleries in the world, founded by Parliament in 1824, it houses the nation’s collection of paintings dating from the late 13th to the early 20th century. Stoke-on-Trent City Council is the first partner in the National Gallery’s new national touring project, The National Gallery: Art On Your Doorstep. Fifteen printed masterpieces have been installed in an outdoor exhibition in Bethesda Gardens, opposite The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery, bringing people and paintings together as part of the City’s Centenary celebrations. It runs from Wednesday 4 June to Wednesday 7 January
🧢 New bed, breakfast and an evening meal that’s guaranteed to rock your boat
Some new, and very unusual, accommodation on offer in North Staffordshire puts its guests on the doorstep of the main attractions of ‘The Potteries’ - in a year which also marks the 100th anniversary of Stoke-on-Trent’s city status. Aston Marina, on the outskirts of the market town of Stone, was created from farmer’s fields in 2007, initially to cater to the needs of passing visitors using the adjacent Trent & Mersey Canal. over the years to become a destination in its own right, to the point where it’s now possible to “eat, drink, sleep, repeat”. (Not to mention marry, walk, marry, honeymoon, and meet”). Capable of sleeping up to 4 people, but primarily designed as a romantic hideaway for two, it is now being used as a both a Bridal Suite, and unusual B&B accommodation for everyday tourists. Prices per night start from £190 off-peak midweek, through to £275 high-peak on Fridays and Saturdays.
