Royal Ascot Racing

Posted: Tue 10 June 2014 at 12:26

A Blog by Georgie Ford

With less than a week to go, Royal Ascot is once again upon us. This year the international race event takes place between Tuesday 17^th June and Saturday 21^st June with up to 300,000 people attending over the five days. Having been around since 1711, Ascot is one of the most popular race meetings in the world with prize money estimated at a whopping £4.5 million. Each day, Her Majesty the Queen and her guests arrive by horse-drawn landaus from Windsor Castle and circle the Parade Ring.

Whether you are an avid race-goer or just looking for the perfect excuse to get dressed up and sip champagne, Royal Ascot is the perfect day out. Tickets are priced to suit most budgets giving everybody the opportunity to watch the Royal Procession whichever enclosure they are in. The Grandstand refurbishment in 2006 has proved popular, with plenty of places to eat and drink and a great view of the action.

Fashion is one of the biggest talking points of Royal Ascot with everyone looking out for the most outrageous hat of the day. The press report widely on the best-dressed throughout the week but especially on Ladies’ Day. While the Silver Ring has a more relaxed dress code, entrance to the Grandstand has become stricter in recent years; strapless dresses and mini dresses are no longer permitted and fascinators must be worn.

Please click here to purchase your tickets for Royal Ascot this June. If you miss out on Royal Ascot there are racing events, fireworks displays and concerts taking place at Ascot Racecourse throughout the year.

Savill Gardens

Posted: Tue 8 April 2014 at 10:20

Savill Gardens is a stunning landscape located less than 5 miles from Windsor Castle surrounded by Valley Gardens and Virginia Water. (more…)

What’s on this April 2014

Posted: Tue 1 April 2014 at 16:54

Windsor Wheel on The River Thames

There is lots to do during April in and around Windsor. Get your diary ready and see our list below of events taking place. Click on the link for more information. If you are planning to stay locally please get in touch to see how we can help with your accommodation requirements.
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Pancake Day Recipe

Posted: Tue 4 March 2014 at 09:47

Can’t believe it is Pancake Day again already, or is that just because we love pancakes so much we eat them all year round? Even the kids can flip with confidence…. 🙂

Nigel’s favourite Dairy and Gluten-free recipe below:-

125g Plain Gluten-free flour
2 eggs
275ml Dairy free Milk (we use Koko milk)
Dash of salt

Sieve together the flour and salt. Make a well in the flour and add the eggs, stir well. Gradually add half the milk, beat thoroughly for 4 mins. Stir in remaining milk and beat lightly. You don’t need to leave batter to stand, but if you do, beat again before using. Heat up a small frying pan until really hot and add a knob of goat’s butter. Pour mixture into pan and tip to cover surface. Cook until underside is golden brown and top covered in bubbles. Flip the pan to cook pancake on the other side. Slide pancake onto a plate and serve with your favourite filling – go classic with a twist; sugar, lemon and add raspberries and strawberries and a small spoonful of ice-cream for a delicious dessert.

Café Orchestras and Coriolanus

Posted: Thu 30 January 2014 at 12:23

This weekend in Windsor is set to excite as both Shakespeare and Eastern Europe collide. The Budapest Café Orchestra and Shakespeares Coriolanus will be gracing the doorstep of Norden Farm Centre for the Arts on 30th Jan and 1st 2nd February respectively.
Traditional folk and gypsy music from Budapest, Hungary, will be performed by Chris Garricks lively and eclectic orchestra. As a professional jazz violinist, Garrick has performed with Dame Cleo Laine, Nigel Kennedy and John Dankworth. He will be joined by accordion player Eddie Henson, who has accompanied Luciano Pavarotti and Placido Domingo, and is also supreme accordion champion of Great Britain. Adrian Zolotuhin from Russia and Kelly Cantlon complete the group; together they recreate the magic of gypsy campfire music and the atmosphere of a traditional Budapest café. They will perform for one night only at Norden Farm on Thursday 30th January, 8pm. Tickets are £15 (£13 conc).
In addition to this Eastern European show comes the home-grown talent of Shakespeare. The West End production of Coriolanus, starring Tom Hiddleston as Coriolanus and Mark Gatiss as Memenius, will be broadcast live from the Donmar Warehouse in Covent Garden. As one of Shakespeares lesser-performed works, this is an exclusive opportunity to enjoy the blood-soaked tragedy, set in Rome against a backdrop of political manipulation and revenge. Interesting parallels are drawn between this ancient society and the public figures of today, comparing public and private identities. National Theatre Live offers a unique chance to enjoy the best London theatre at home. Coriolanus will be broadcast on Saturday 1st February, 8pm, and Sunday 2nd February, 2pm. Tickets are £15.

Fallen Angels and Voodoo Fire

Posted: Wed 22 January 2014 at 14:32

The end of January sees a wide variety of cultural performances come to Windsor and Maidenhead, from West End comedies to guitar heavy gigs.

From the 21st 25th January, visitors to the Royal Borough of Windsor can revel in the highly-acclaimed comedy, Fallen Angels. The Noël Coward play, which enjoyed a fruitful autumn tour in 2013, will continue touring this spring visiting Maidenhead along the way. Best friends Julia and Jane are played by Jenny Seagrove and Sara Crowe, who enjoy a little too much champagne as their detached husbands leave to play golf, and the promise of a visit from an ex-lover of them both materialises. As the drink flows, truths and jealousies are revealed and the evening descends into chaos. The intense finale peaks as their husbands unexpectedly return.

The play will is being performed at the Theatre Royal Windsor, Tue Sat 8pm, Thurs 2.30pm, Sat 4.45pm. Contact number: 01753 853888. Ticket prices vary.

Voodoo Fire, a Jimi Hendrix tribute band, will also be visiting Windsor and Maidenhead on January 25th at the Norden Farm Centre for the Arts, for an evening of live rock n roll. The band will perform a set-list of Hendrixs greatest hits, including Voodoo Child, All Along the Watchtower and Purple Haze, among many more. The band consists of Johnny Cranmer on guitar and vocals, Phil Tidy on bass and vocals, and Terry G on the drums. The trio have been praised for their accuracy and loyalty to Hendrix himself by none other than Brian May, legendary guitarist in Queen.

The evening starts at 8pm on January 25th. Tickets are £16. This is a standing event with limited allocated seating.

Norden Farm to host Mozart Birthday Concert

Posted: Tue 21 January 2014 at 15:55

Norden Farm will play host to a celebratory concert honouring Mozarts contribution to classical music and composition. The concert will be performed by the St Johns Chamber Orchestra and will feature a number of special guests, including Jay Wilkinson on the flute, Elizabeth McNulty on the harp, Simon Watterton on piano, and baritone operatic star Ross Ramgobin.
These high-calibre guest performers are guaranteed to bring an expert flair to the performances, with McNulty having previously performed at the Fabulously French concert, also at Norden Farm, and Ramgobins career being backed by the Royal Opera House.
The orchestra and special guests will be conducted by Nigel Wilkinson as they perform three very different pieces from Mozarts portfolio, conveying a number of different emotions. Ramgobin expertly highlights the contrasting seduction techniques of Mozarts womanisers in the two Arias from Don Giovanni and The Marriage of Figaro. As well as these exciting pieces, the pleasant and warm feel to the Flute and Harp Concerto will leave the audience feeling relaxed and happy. Finally, the intense Piano Concerto K.450 expertly evokes an intense reaction from spectators, with its strong finale creating the atmosphere of a hunt.
The concert will take place on Sunday 26th January, starting at 11:45am. Tickets range in price, from £15 per adult, £13 concession and £5 for under 16s. There is free parking on site. This is an indoor event with the Café Bar offering food and drink for guests, including a full Sunday roast.
Norden Farm can be found on Altwood Road, Maidenhead, SL6 4PF.

The Vinyl Frontier ft. The Clash

Posted: Fri 17 January 2014 at 16:40

The Vinyl Frontier, hosted at Norden Farm, is due to return on Friday 17^th January at 8pm. Tickets for the innovative music night, which plays classic albums in full and on vinyl, are £7.

Not only is this event a chance to appreciate classic albums in their entirety, but guests will also be able to enjoy facts, trivia and discussions about the music with vinyl enthusiast Jeff Lloyd.

Originally released in 1979 and listed in Rolling Stones 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, this years album of choice is London Calling by The Clash. The bands third album was influenced by a number of different musical genres, including ska, pop, funk, jazz and soul among many others. The album touches upon a number of different themes as well, such as unemployment, societal segregation and displacement, and the struggles of adulthood. The album has sold over five million copies worldwide.

The Clash will begin a whole new season for The Vinyl Frontier, which will include an evening devoted to other acts such as The Beatles and Bob Marley.

The Norden Farm Centre for the Arts is situated along Altwood Road in Maidenhead, Berkshire, SL6 4PF.