Mardi Gras At Alton Towers

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This post was last updated May 2023

The second of the six events this year at Alton Towers Resort is happening from 20th May to 18th June and it is Mardi Gras. Mardi Gras also known as Fat Tuesday or Shrove Tuesday happens the day before Ash Wednesday or 47 days before Easter. It’s a carnival celebration which highlights and celebrates the last day of eating rich fatty food and therefore giving up a certain type of food for lent.

Alton Towers transform Towers Street into a carnival celebration with lots of themed stages reflecting different areas of the park. The main stage on the front lawn has entertainment throughout the day and you can watch from one of the many picnic benches. For those that would like to sample foods of the world 'food street' is also just under the walkway alongside the towers. You can enjoy a range of foods including our favourite King donut.

Whilst walking around the park be prepared to see stilt walkers, dancers, musicians and lots of other family themed entertainment.

The Mardi Gras celebrations are included in your ticket so you can enjoy everything Mardi Gras has to offer at no extra cost.

You will also find some Mardi Gras souvenirs in Tower Street shop including hats, beads and T-shirts.

Alton Towers can be so busy, rushing from ride to ride so it’s nice to just sit back and enjoy the entertainment provided.

As I said earlier this is the second of six events happening at Alton Towers Resort this year. Next is in September when Alton Towers will be transformed for Oktoberfest. Prepare for spooks, chills and family fun in October when Alton Towers is transformed for Scarefest. Another personal favourite of ours is the fireworks display that happens in November and then a nice way to finish off the year is celebrating Christmas time at Alton Towers.

As well as Mardi Gras there are lots of new things to enjoy at Alton Towers Resort including David Walliams World featuring the Gangsta Granny Ride and the four Retro Squad Rides. 

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Michelle

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Horse and Bamboo, Rossendale

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Disclosure - We were invited to Horse and Bamboo and we were compensated for our time. All thoughts, opinions and photographs are our own.

 When it comes to date nights or heading out with a group of friends, John and I are always on the lookout for new places to go. We love people recommending places or events to us and we are always willing to give it a try. This week we visited  Horse and Bamboo. Advertised as a family friendly venue it also offers entertainment aimed at adults including music, open deck and open mic nights. Situated in Waterfoot, Rossendale, Horse and Bamboo is a great venue for a local night out.

Horse and Bamboo offers a wide range of entertainment with an easily accessible What's On guide online. As well as the open decks and mic nights on Fridays it does offer lots of other activities to enjoy including family board game and movie nights. 

Each event is chargeable and listed on the website however Horse and Bamboo offer a 'pay what you can' option booking online. The pay what you can is exactly that. If you feel you cannot pay the listed price for a ticket to an event then you can pay what you can afford. This means that everyone is able to enjoy the events and activities which is brilliant.

Horse and Bamboo has a beautiful bar area decorated with tables, benches, candles and fairy lights. It has a quirkiness about it and it felt really relaxed. The bar stocked a range of beers, wines, spirits and soft drinks as well as some snacks. 

Although we didn't use it on our visit there is an outdoor area at the back of the venue where we saw some people just chatting amongst themselves and enjoying a drink.

Parking was really easy with on street parking to the front of Horse and Bamboo and also there was some parking at the rear of the venue too. 

Our night was really enjoyable and although the venue is only small this was my favourite thing about it. Everyone seemed to know each other and although it was our first visit we felt very welcome. We had a lovely relaxing drink in the bar area and then walked through to the main area to watch the evening entertainment. 

If you are local and looking for a nice relaxed evening with some music or a movie night with the family then I would highly recommend Horse and Bamboo. We are already looking forward to our next visit.

Michelle

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The Spongebob Musical UK Tour

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Disclosure - We have been invited to experience Spongebob The Musical in return for an honest review. I have chosen to create this preview post, it was not required. 

Growing up big J absolutely loved Spongebob Squarepants. I don't think a day went by without him watching an episode or two and I can always remember him singing the song 'It's the best day ever' along with Spongebob in his favourite episode. Over the years Spongebob has remained popular and if watching him on TV isn't enough you can now head to your local theatre and experience The Spongebob Musical.

The Spongebob Musical 

Who lives in a pineapple under the sea and has become the hottest star on broadway? Spongebob Squarepants! Plunge into this stunning all-singing, all-dancing, dynamic stage show!

When the citizens of Bikini Bottom discover that a volcano will soon erupt and destroy their humble home, SpongeBob and his friends must come together to save the fate of their undersea world!

Starring either Pop Idol and musical superstar Gareth Gates or Celebs Go Dating star Tom Read Wilson (check full tour list below) and Ru-Paul’s Drag Race legend Divina De Campo, The Spongebob Musical is based on the series by Stephen Hillenburg, is written by Kyle Jarrow and conceived by Tina Landau and features a tidal wave of original songs by the world’s most iconic rock and pop artists.

The Spongebob Musical is a hilarious deep-sea pearl of a show that is set to make a splash with audiences young and old as the must-see musical of 2023.

Our Thoughts

We managed to pop along to the press evening at The Opera House, Manchester and we absolutely loved every second of the show. Little J doesn't come to many shows with us however he was excited for this one and I have never seen him so engrossed throughout the whole performance. 

The casting was amazing with all characters so believable and so like the TV show. It had so many songs throughout with each character getting a chance to shine and show off their vocal abilities. 

The performance lasted about 2 and 1/2 hours including the interval and there was a chance to win some 'treasure'. Upon arrival we were given a cardboard bracelet designed like a Nick Jr Watch. After the interval a pirate ran through the stalls encouraging the children to wave their arms in the air and make their best pirate noises. A boy just behind us won the treasure and it was a Nick Jr Watch. 

We loved the show and would definitely recommend it. It's fo all ages as we seen families, couples, and groups of friends. 

There are plenty of chances to see Spongebob as he visits the UK and Ireland on his tour. 

25 - 29 April 2023 - Oxford New Theatre 

Starring Gareth Gates & Divina De Campo

9 - 13 May 2023 - Bord Gais Energy Theatre, Dublin 

Starring Gareth Gates & Divina De Campo

16 - 21 May 2023 - Manchester Opera House

Starring Tom Read Wilson & Divina De Campo

23 - 27 May 2023 - Sheffield Theatres

Starring Tom Read Wilson & Divina De Campo

30 May - 3 June 2023 - Belfast Grand Opera House

Starring Gareth Gates & Divina De Campo

6 - 10 June 2023 - Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff

Starring Gareth Gates & Divina De Campo

13 - 17 June 2023 - Blackpool Opera House

Starring Gareth Gates & Divina De Campo

20 - 24 June 2023 - Peterborough New Theatre

Starring Tom Read Wilson & Divina De Campo

27 June - 1 July 2023 - Wolverhampton Grand

Starring Tom Read Wilson & Divina De Campo

4 - 8 July 2023 - Norwich Theatre Royal

Starring Gareth Gates & Divina De Campo

11 - 15 July 2023 - Curve, Leicester

Starring Tom Read Wilson & Divina De Campo

18 - 22 July 2023 - His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen

Starring Tom Read Wilson & Divina De Campo

26 July - 27 August 2023 - Southbank Centre Queen Elizabeth Hall, London

Starring Divina De Campo

30 August - 2 September 2023 - Theatre Royal Plymouth

Starring Divina De Campo

5 - 9 September 2023 - Newcastle Theatre Royal

Starring Divina De Campo

You can find out more information by visiting The Spongebob Musical and you can book your tickets too.

Michelle

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Virtual Queue for Mandrill Mayhem At Chessington World Of Adventures

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Disclosure - This post contains affiliate links. 

Being Merlin Pass Holders we cannot wait to head to Chessington World of Adventures this year. It's been a while since we visited and we are looking forward to the new additions to the park. From the 15th May 2023 you will be able to head in to the world of Jumanji at Chessington World of Adventures. The new land offers visits 3 new rides - Ostrich Stampede, Mamba Strike and Mandrill Mayhem. Unlike the other rides Mandrill Mayhem will be operated using a virtual queuing system. If you haven't used a virtual queuing system before, it's really simple and I've popped more details below. 

What Is A Virtual Queue?

A virtual queue is exactly how it sounds. You wait your queue time exploring and enjoying the rest of the park until it is your time to ride. 

How Do I Get A Queue Time?

Getting a queue time should be fairly simple. All you need to do is on the day of your visit to Chessington World of Adventures head to the reserve and ride website from 9:45am. This will allow you to book a time slot to return to Mandrill Mayhem. You will also be able to scan QR codes within the park or reserve a slot through the Chessington World of Adventures app. 

How Will I Know When It Is My Time To Ride?

Once you have reserved your virtual queue time, a countdown will appear and once you reach zero you will be able to make your way to the ride. You will be given 45 minutes to return to the ride. 

What If I Couldn't Get A Return Time?

Queue times will be given on a first come first served basis. Chessington have announced that more virtual queue slots will become available throughout the day so I would just keep checking the website to app. 

 

How Many Times Can I Ride Mandrill Mayhem?

Guests can ride Mandrill Mayhem once per day. This allows more guests to be able to access the virtual queue and ride. 

How Much Is A Virtual Queue Slot?

Virtual queue slots for Mandrill Mayhem are free. Fast Track is not available for the ride.

How Many People Can I Reserve A Virtual Queue Slot For?

When accessing the reserve and ride website you can book a virtual queue slot for up to 6 people.

What Happens If The Ride Closes?

If the ride closes while you are in the virtual queue your countdown will pause. This will allow the ride time to get up and running again however if it closes for the rest of your day then your queue time will be cancelled. 

Using a Virtual Queuing system may seem daunting however once you have accessed the ride and reserve website you should be able to access the virtual queue with ease. We used virtual queues on our recent trip to Walt Disney World and the process was simple. The only downside is only being able to ride once but I understand why that is the rule. 

Are you looking forward to visiting the new World of Jumanji at Chessington World of Adventures?

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- If you have visited any of the attractions mentioned in this post share photos with us on our socials. 

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- If you would like to work with us please visit on Work With Us page for more details

Michelle

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9 Must See London Landmarks Along The River Thames

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Disclosure - This post contains affiliate links 

Last year during a getaway in London we decided to book a City Cruise along the River Thames. A river cruise is the perfect way to take in the London landmarks from the comfort of your seat. Most cruises will have a tour guide telling you some history about the sights and may also point out some London landmarks you may have missed. These are our 9 must see London landmarks along the River Thames.

Houses Of Parliament 

Built between 1840-1870 The Houses of Parliament stand on the North Bank of the River Thames. It's easy to spot with it's sand coloured limestone. It's also known as the Palace of Westminster and is made up of the House of Commons, the House of Lords and Westminster Hall. It is also where you will find Big Ben.

Big Ben

Standing for over 150 years the Elizabeth Tower is one of Londons most iconic landmarks however is mostly known as Big Ben. Big Ben is actually the name of the bell inside the clock tower and weighs more than 13 tons. 

The Shard

The 72 storey skyscraper is home to offices, restaurants and a hotel. It is a very popular visitor attraction also as you can enjoy a View From The Shard which offers you the chance to see for 40 miles across London on a clear day.

London Eye

The London Eye is one of the most popular attractions in London that charges an admission fee. Standing at 443ft the London Eye was the worlds most tallest ferris wheel from 1999-2006. Each one of the 32 capsules can hold up to 25 passengers for the 30 minute duration. The 32 capsules represents the 32 boroughs (together with the City of London) of Greater London. 

Tower Bridge

After 8 years of construction the Tower Bridge was opened in 1894, therefore spending over a century of being a defining iconic landmark for not just London but the United Kingdom too. The bridge has the ability to lift to let river traffic through and offers a whole range of other quirky features which can be seen along the bridge itself including a glass walkway. 

Cleopatra's Needle

The Obelisk was made in Egypt for the Pharaoh Thotmes III in 1460 BC, making it almost 3,500 years old. It is known as Cleopatra’s Needle as it was brought to London from Alexandria, the royal city of Cleopatra. 

St Paul's Cathedral 

Its dome, surrounded by the spires of Wren's City churches, has dominated the skyline for over 300 years. At 365 ft high, it was the tallest building in London from 1710 to 1963. The dome is still one of the highest in the world. St Paul's is the second-largest church building in area in the United Kingdom, after Liverpool Cathedral.

Shakespeare's Globe

Shakespeare's Globe is a reconstruction of the Globe Theatre, an Elizabethan playhouse for which William Shakespeare wrote his plays.It is recommended that if you go to watch a show at Shakespeares Globe that you dress appropriately for all weathers as the theatre has an open roof. 

HMS Belfast

HMS Belfast is a Town-class light cruiser that was built for the Royal Navy. She is now permanently moored as a museum ship on the River Thames in London and is operated by the Imperial War Museum.

Our Cruise

We were given the choice of four locations to board. We chose Westminster as it was closest to where we were visiting. You can also hop on a London Eye, Tower Bridge or Greenwich. The cruise offers 24 hours of hop on / hop off however you can stay on for the whole duration of the round trip but it can take over 2 hours. Each pier to pier trip is approx 40 minutes except for Westminster to London Eye which is approx 10 minutes. 

There were plenty of other sights to see along the way and the cruises usually have live or pre recorded commentary which point out landmarks and places of interest along the way. We found the cruise a great way to see the sights of London from the comfort of our seat.

Have you enjoyed a cruise along the River Thames? What was your favourite landmark?

Michelle

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Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol.3 Review

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I cannot explain the mixed emotions I felt last week as we headed to the cinema to watch Marvel's Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol.3. We are huge Marvel fans, have watched all the Marvel movies and have loved the previous Guardians movies and although I was very excited to see the latest instalment I was also sad that this is the last movie featuring our favourite intergalactic heroes all together. 

All that I knew about the movie was that this was to be the final movie as the writer James Gunn has since left the MCU and jumped over to DC where he will continue making superhero movies but for a different franchise. I have stayed away from watching the extended trailers and skipped past recent reviews as Marvel movies are like marmite, you either love them or you hate them. Whilst I love all the Marvel movies I can see why some people take to the internet to say how cheesy, stupid and unrealistic they can be. To be honest thats what I love about them.

The storyline is based around Peter as he is still reeling from the loss of Gamora, but he must rally his team to defend the universe and protect one of their own. If the mission is not completely successful, it could possibly lead to the end of the Guardians as we know them. James Gunn also hinted last year that this volume would also look at the back story of Rocket. 

So What Did We Think? (without spoilers)

We were always going to love it. It could have been the worse film ever and we would still come out with a smile on our face. Luckily it wasn't the worse film ever in fact it was pretty amazing. It had a proper storyline and purpose which sometimes I think Marvel movies especially the stand alone movies can really lack. If you're a Guardians fan then you won't be disappointed and if you're not a Guardians fan go see it anyway as I think you may get a surprise. 

The movie did hint that this would be the last of the Guardians as we know them which did bring tears to my eyes however the show must go on and with newer and younger Marvel characters popping up such as Kate Bishop, Spiderman, Ms Marvel to name a few I am looking forward to seeing where Marvel takes these characters although my heart will always be with the originals. 

Michelle

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