What’s on in Windsor this Christmas?

Posted: Wed 14 November 2018 at 11:05

There’s nothing quite like getting involved in some Christmas events to get you into the spirit of the season. Here’s a quick round up of what’s on in Windsor over the coming weeks.

“He’s behind you!!”

Yes, that’s right, it’s panto season again and Windor’s very own Theatre Royal is celebrating 80 years of pantomime in the town with its version of Dick Whittington. Familiar faces such as Mike Read, Anne Heggerty and, of course, Basil Brush will be starring in this family favourite between 23 November and 6 January. That means there’s plenty of time to get your tickets and enjoy a touch of traditional English nonsense!

Windsor On Ice returns

This is the time of year that Alexandra Gardens turns into a Winter Wonderland, complete with children’s fairground rides, a large ice rink and traditional Bavarian-style Christmas snacks and drinks.

There will be mulled wine galore for the grown ups and enough candy floss to keep the kids buzzing until the 25th! Come along and enjoy the merriment from 17th November until 6 January.

Let there be light!

The annual Christmas lights switch-on in Windsor will be a spectacular event as usual. This year, the lights will be turned on on Saturday 17th November.

The highlight for most visitors will be the children’s lantern parade, which snakes its way through Windsor’s centre and up to the castle from 3:30pm. The event will climax in the switching on itself at 5:30, topped off with the impressive illumination of Windsor Castle’s Garter Tower.

Meet Santa at Daniel

Christmas in Windsor wouldn’t be complete without a trip to our historic department store, Daniel. This year, little ones can meet Santa at the store’s magical grotto every weekend day from 17th November. The grotto will also be open every day in the lead up to Christmas from 17th December. The price for a visit with Santa is just £7 and this includes a gift from the man himself!

And for the crazy…I mean sporty…among you…

Ever wanted to dress up as Santa and run around Windsor town centre with a bunch of other people dressed as Santa? Well here’s your chance. And it’s all for a good cause!

The Alexander Devine Children’s Hospice Santa Dash is taking place from 9am on 25th November, from Bachelor’s Acre. It will take in the Long Walk, the Castle area and the shopping streets. Children are welcome to take part in the 5km fun run and the price of entry includes your very own Santa suit!

Royal Wedding Exhibition Proves a Hit at Windsor Castle

Posted: Sat 3 November 2018 at 11:28

The wedding outfits worn by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex at their wedding back in May are now on show at Windsor Castle.

Millions of people around the world watched as the glamorous couple married on that beautifully sunny Saturday earlier in the year. Now, those of us that didn’t manage to catch a glimpse of Meghan and Harry in person can see their wedding outfits up close and personal at the Windsor Castle exhibition.

The ‘A Royal Wedding: the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’ exhibition will undoubtedly draw in crowds from all corners of the globe. Visitors will be welcomed through the Green Drawing Room in the Semi-State Apartments. They will then view the famous wedding dress and Household Cavalry uniform in the Grand Reception Room.

The outfits are shown alongside those worn by bridesmaid and pageboy Princess Charlotte and Prince George. Visitors will also be able to see the sketches drawn up in the design stages of the dress. Perhaps the most impressive part of the exhibit, however, is the Duchess’s five-metre-long veil, embroidered with fauna from the 53 countries of the Commonwealth.

Speaking to the Windsor Express, exhibition curator Caroline de Guitaut commented: “While the dress is very simple, very structured, very tailored, she wanted the veil to have a drama.”

“When we look at the final design, what creates the dress and what makes it so successful is the attention to detail,” she added.

Windsor Celebrates Second Royal Wedding of the Year

Posted: Tue 23 October 2018 at 12:11

The Royal wedding of Windsor local Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank took place at Windsor Castle earlier in October, showing off the very best of our historic town once again.

Hundreds took to the gusty streets on Friday 12th October to wish the happy couple well. Visitors also perhaps hoped to catch a glimpse of the many celebrity guests attending.

Former supermodels Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell were in attendance. Pop icon Robbie Williams, Hollywood actor Demi Moore and model Cara Delevingne were all also invited. The sheer number of high profile guests lead some to suggest that this wedding was more star-studded than that of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle back in May.

St George’s Chapel, within the grounds of Windsor Castle, hosted the Royal wedding. The newly married couple set off on a carriage ride around the centre of Windsor shortly after emerging as man and wife.

Eugenie’s dress proudly showed off the scar on her back from the operation that corrected her scoliosis when she was 12. She topped off her beautiful gown with the Queen’s Greville Emerald Kokoshnik Tiara, which was made by Boucheron in 1919.

A formal reception at Windsor Castle hosted by the Queen followed the ceremony. There was then a less formal evening reception in Eugenie’s family home of York House within Windsor Great Park.

Ricky Tick Revival on the Cards at Windsor’s Old Court

Posted: Sat 20 October 2018 at 09:08

A night celebrating Windsor’s legendary R’n’B club, the Ricky Tick, is being held at the Old Court arts centre in November.

Anyone who has lived in Windsor since the 1960s will remember the club, which hosted live performances from some of the biggest names in music, including the Rolling Stones, Stevie Wonder, the Supremes, the Temptations, Pink Floyd and Jimi Hendrix.

Now, in an attempt to revive the Ricky Tick many decades after its closure, the Old Court is hosting the club night once again. In the live room, grandson of Rolling Stone Brian Jones, Joolz Jones, will be playing alongside folk legend Donovan and Kim Wilde’s sister Roxanne Wilde. In the DJ room in the basement, Chelsea Singh will be headlining the decks, with other VIP DJs appearing throughout the night.

The Ricky Tick Revival is taking place from 2pm on Saturday 10 November and tickets can be purchased in advance from the Old Court for £20. Profits from the night will go towards setting up a fund for emerging artists in the area.

The night is being hailed as a relaunch for the club night and the Ricky Tick may well become regular fixture for Windsor nightlife lovers once more!

Windsor Contemporary Art Fair Set to Return in November

Posted: Thu 11 October 2018 at 09:25

Anyone staying in Windsor this autumn who wishes to purchase an original and affordable piece of art should make their way to Windsor Racecourse in November for the return of the ever-popular Windsor Contemporary Art Fair.

Bringing artworks from some 160 artists to the local area, the art fair offers a great chance to shop for unique pieces in one location. Prices start from as little as £40 and rise to around £4,000, so there really is something for everyone, no matter how deep your pockets.

The Contemporary Art Fair doesn’t just offer paintings either, there are sculptures, prints, photography and even ceramics to purchase for those who are looking for something a bit different for their home.

Tickets cost from £8 to £10 depending on when you buy them and entry includes access to painting demonstrations, a Children’s Art Quest and various workshops giving you an insight into how some of the beautiful works of art are created.

Last year, the event organisers commented on how many visitors were actually making purchases, many of whom probably expected just to browse and have a day out. The artists also reported being overwhelmed with the business they drummed up at their stalls, selling many more pieces than they anticipated.

The event runs from 9-11 November 2018.

Windsor Farmers Market to Expand Following Public Consultation

Posted: Mon 8 October 2018 at 10:20

Following a consultation with people living in Windsor, it has been agreed that Windsor Farmers Market should return bigger and better than ever.

Anyone visiting Windsor on the first Saturday of the month can enjoy the wonderful local market that winds its way down St Leonard’s Rd between 9am and 1pm. The market has been a firm fixture of the southern part of Windsor town centre since 2005, but the organisers recently decided to ask the public whether they wanted to keep the market as it is.

The public consultation took place recently and locals made it clear that they not only wanted to the market to stay, they wanted it to attract more stall holders. The organisers said they will now relaunch the market with new stalls to attract more Windsor visitors and locals to try the fresh local produce.

The new stall holders who will sell their wares each month include Hartland Fudge, Maplewood Bakery and Howe Farm Flowers. The petting zoo for children will also make a welcome return to attract families with young children to the market.

Anyone wishing to visit the market by car can park at East Berkshire College off Trinity Place, but it is also easily walkable from Windsor Town Centre.

Sharon Van Geuns, the spokesperson for the market, told the Windsor Express: “We are a fantastic local market with a great range of produce and we urge everyone to come along, but especially those who haven’t been along before.”

Windsor Link Railways Heathrow Plans Boost Tourism and Reduce Traffic

Posted: Mon 24 September 2018 at 09:30

Those staying in Windsor accommodation who want to travel to and from Heathrow easily and quickly will welcome news that a local rail firm wants to help them do just that.

Windsor Link Railway (WLR) hopes to become a Heathrow innovation partner and has submitted several ideas to the airport that could greatly benefit those visiting Windsor.

More than 35 firms have been shortlisted by Heathrow to become partners in helping to deliver the third runway at the airport. WLR hopes that its interesting ideas might be selected as part of the project.

The innovations include operating driverless, automated vehicles that travel in pods on part of the current Southern rail line, which could be purchased from Network Rail. Other ideas include extending park and ride facilities in Windsor or Slough to help people get to and from the airport, and dedicated check-in facilities in Windsor for those flying in and out of Heathrow but staying in Windsor.

The plans put forward by WLR are all intended to help Heathrow deal with some of the challenges arising from opening a third runway, such as traffic and air pollution concerns.

The early check-in and park and ride ideas are intended to allow tourists to check in early and then visit Windsor as part of their day, increasing tourism in Windsor, but reducing traffic to and from both Windsor and Heathrow.

Photo Exhibition and Book Celebrate Windsor’s Special Residents

Posted: Fri 21 September 2018 at 09:34

Local photographer, Derek Reay, is behind a fantastic exhibition of pictures featuring some of the more notable faces around Windsor.

The exhibition, which is part of the Windsor Fringe Festival, is being held at the Old Court art centre on St Leonard’s Rd. The photographs will make a fantastic backdrop for anyone visiting the Old Court bar to sample some Windsor and Eton Brewery beer or even some live music at the Old Court’s Windsor Festival Community Stage over the coming few weeks.

Derek Reay’s pictures will fill his latest book, Windsor People Revisited, which is to be published ten years after his book, Windsor People. Many of his subjects from the first book are back to be photographed once more for the new edition. There are also a number of new faces featured, including everyone from Peascod Street Florist Martyn Crossley to the Windsor Festival Director Martin Denney.

Councillor Samantha Rayner commented: “Derek’s excellent book captures the people who help make Windsor such a fantastic community.

“The portraits recognise the hugely valued and unassuming heroes who make Windsor a fabulous place to live, work and enjoy.

Some copies of the hardback edition of the book will be available to buy with profits being donated to charity. The exhibition will run until 12 October and is completely free, so get yourself along!

Summer 2018 Officially Among the Hottest Ever

Posted: Mon 17 September 2018 at 09:00

The Met Office has announced that summer 2018 was indeed the hottest ever – alongside 1976, 2003 and 2006.

This will come as no surprise to business travellers or holiday makers who enjoyed a stay in one of our executive apartments in Windsor over the months of June and July. With scorched ground across Bachelor’s Acre and Windsor Great Park, it was clear to see that this wasn’t any ordinary summer. In fact, there were more than 50 consecutive dry days and temperatures were consistently above average.

The Met Office has now confirmed that June to August temperatures just pipped previous hottest years, 1976, 1910, 2003 and 2006. However, they were unwilling to state a clear ‘winner’, instead adding: “Having further assessed the temperature data for the UK as a whole for summer 2018 the figures are so close that we are declaring it as the joint hottest on record together with 2006, 2003 and 1976.”

Although August was a lot more changeable, temperatures remained higher than average in most parts. The Met Office states that higher than average temperatures are likely to stay with us throughout the Autumn, which means we won’t be getting our winter coats out of storage just yet.