Attack of the Trip Advisors

Having watched Channel 4's expose Attack of the Trip Advisors this week, I have become even more convinced that there needs to be a counter balance to the amateur and petulant Trip Advisor reviewers.

The travel web site is an undoubted success, with over 40 million users a month. Even our own Tourism Minister, John Penrose, in his 'Tourism Policy' suggested that Trip Adviser could replace the official Tourist Board Star Scheme. But this week's programme on Channel 4 showed how reviews on the website may often be the result of unreasonable and even malicious guests, who might have taken a dislike to the owner or his taste in decor.

I have long argued that VisitEngland should establish its own Review Site, publishing a version of the Official Inspectors' Reports. In doing so, readers would then be able to balance a Trip Advisor Review (by an amateur) with an Inspector's Review (by someone who stays in hundreds of properties each year). I know which review I would trust more!

Perhaps it's time to start a Counter Attack!

Stunning New 'Scouse House' Opens

Exactly 100 years to the day after its iconic neighbour the Royal Liver Building opened its doors, The Museum of Liverpool welcomed its first visitors yesterday (19th July).

A stunning new addition to the city’s famous waterfront and its vibrant culture, the Museum demonstrates the city’s unique contribution to the world, showcasing popular culture, while tackling social, historical and contemporary issues. obviously football and The Beatles have their share of the space, but there are fascinating galleries devoted to trade, the growth of the city and Liverpool's contribution to the modern world.

There is no doubt that it sets a new world standard for museums - the quality of the spaces, exhibits and interpretation is truely fantastic - with over 6000 exhibits, many of which have never been shown before.

I particulary like 'Little Liverpool', the interactive gallery for the under 6 year olds, with its mini River Mersey, complete with working Mersey Tunnels and dock gates. And there;s a decent sized cafe with views of the Albert Dock, which is sure to generate the much needed revenue to help run the building.

Liverpool glitterati were out in force at the opening evening - with Yoko Ono (she apparently helped broker the negotiations with Apple to permit Beatles footage to be exhibited), boxer John Conteh and comedian Ken Dodd (his tickling sticks have their own display!) amongst those that I spotted!

www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/mol

Sunny Days in Sandside

For fear of causing traffic jams and crowds, I wasn't going to draw your attention to a corner of North Lancashire (or is it South Cumbria?) which is often passed by on the drive to the Lake District. But with the best B&B in England  (http://www.no43.org.uk/) , a beach which rivals any on the West Coast and a handfull of small businesses offering quality sevices, I thought that it was only right that I give Arnside and Silverdale a bit of profile.

Nestling on the edge of Morecambe Bay and the estuary of the River Kent, this area seems to have a micro climate all of its own with more sunny days than its inland neighbours. From the top of Arnside Knott - just a short walk up the 150m high hill from the village - the view across the Bay to the Lakeland Fells is spectacular. 

For a top day out, take a picnic to Sandside beach, buy an ice cream from the van on the Prom, have tea and cakes in the Cafe at the Wolfhouse Art Gallery in the Forest at Silverdale. Oh, and make sure you leave time to climb to the top of the hill for the views!

It's Raining Men in Liverpool

Tate Liverpool's latest 'blockbuster' exhibition opens this weekend  - and it's going to be a sure fire winner. The sheer scale of the exhibition is impressive - I can't remember seeing so many works of art by a single artist at the same time. But this is also an accessible exhibition, with popular appeal that will interest even the most reluctant gallery visitor. Many of the images will be familiar, with fluffy clouds in blue skies, apples and bowler hats as recurring images.

Pre sales of tickets are ahead of expectations and I am sure that the once the neighbouring Museum of Liverpool opens in mid July, there will be large numbers of additional visitors to the waterfront. Tate Liverpool and the Albert Dock will undoubtedly benefit. A new national advertising campaign, coordinated by The Mersey Partnership, also kicks off this weekend, aimed at generating visitor interest in Liverpool as a shortbreak destination.

Judging by reactions last night at the Preview, Tate Liverpool has pitched this new exhibition at exactly the right level, and there has already been significant interest and coverage by the the national media.

I can't even pretend that I understand the meaning of many of the images, but that didn't detract from a great visit - and now I can't get that song by The Weathergirls out of my mind!

www.tate.org.uk/magritte

I bumped into Cheryl Cole Last Night

You know how it is......I was just walking down the Prom in Blackpool and who should I see, but Cheryl Cole. Well, not one to miss an opportunity, I quickly got a photo.

Turns out that she is part of the show at the new Madame Tussauds on the Golden Mile in Blackpool. The attraction has had a major makeover and is now rather good. People who remember playing "Guess who it is supposed to be" at the old Louis Tussauds will be pleasantly impressed! No problem now in identifying Gok Wan, David Beckham, Barbara Windsor and other 'icons' of popular culture.

A few things particularly impressed me about the new operation: the staff are, without exception, brilliant. No wonder that the attraction is top of Merlin's international league of all of its facilities in terms of customer satisfaction. And the new owners know how to generate secondary spend - the shop is excellently merchandised and there are upteen opportunities during the tour for visitors to buy add-ons. Other attraction operators would be wise to go and see how it's done!

www.madametussauds.com/blackpool/

New Award for MOSI

MOSI  - the Museum of Science & Industry in Manchester - was voted winner of the M & H Online Readers Award, as part of the 2011 Museums & Heritage Awards for Excellence, announced this week. TV presenter and comedienne Sue Perkins revealed the winners of the coveted awards at a glittering ceremony in Church House, Westminster.
Over 10,000 readers and members of the public voted online for the M&H award, and MOSI came top as their favourite attraction, beating off competition from Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Bristol Art Gallery and Museum, and Museum of the Order of St John.
Tony Hill, Director of MOSI said: "Awards are always great to win but they take on a special meaning when the public vote is the measure by which you are judged. Last year MOSI was visited by almost 640,000 visitors and this award confirms that we are not only the most visited museum in the North West but also the highest rated."
MOSI has recently undergone a £9million redevelopment of its Great Western Warehouse with a brand new gallery called Revolution Manchester, which showcases the city’s greatest innovations and includes Britain’s largest indoor video wall. The redeveloped building, which was supported by NWDA, includes an extended interactive Experiment gallery, new, dedicated conference and education suites, as well as a new restaurant and coffee shop. Last year MOSI also invested in a popular new 4D Theatre, which envelopes visitors in an all-round cinematic experience: In addition to 3D effects viewers are truly part of the on-screen action, with moving seats, air, water spray, snow and bubbles.
http://www.mosi.org.uk/.

Hollywood Stars in Blackpool (Part 1)

Is it too much of a stretch to call SpongeBob SquarePants and Dora the Explorer 'Hollywood Stars'? If you are aged between 4 and 11 years old, I suspect not! As Children's TV icons, Blackpool Pleasure Beach's new link-up with Nickelodeon is inspired, promising new interest in the 114 year old amusement park and a whole new generation of visitors.

There are 12 new 'Nick' themed rides in the new 6 acre area of the Pleasure Beach, with a focus on thrill rides for the under 12s. Getting wet is very much part of the fun.

What struck me as I attended the official opening yesterday was the high quality of the whole park: staff and service were all fantastic and the park was spotless and bright.

The partnership with Nickelodeon means that another international brand joins Merlin (who are due to open the new Madame Tussauds in the Blackpool next week) to bring significant new marketing muscle and profile for the resort.

http://nick.co.uk/nickelodeonland/

Floating Like a Duck on Water

Less than a minute from the M6 motorway at Preston, but a million miles away from the frantic pace of everyday life, Lancashire's latest attraction is getting ready to open its doors to visitors. And boy, is it impressive! A floating visitor centre dedicated to the wildlife of Lancashire sits amidst reedbeds, next to the River Ribble and ancient forests which team with rich habitats and species.

This is the 'unreserved Nature Reserve', where visitors will be encouraged to explore and get hands on: the family friendly facilities, local produce cafe and free access (with a pay car park) will mean that this will very quickly become a popular attraction.

Brockholes opens to the public on Easter Sunday. More feedback later!

http://www.brockholes.org/

The Lost Gardens of Lowther

Finally! After having laid abandoned for almost 70 years, the gates of Lowther Castle and Gardens will be thrown open on 22nd April 2011and visitors will be able to see the scale and potential of this exciting new visitor attraction.

I have had the pleasure of working with Andrew Mercer the Project Director since he started in post last year and what a job he has done! Put aside the roller coaster ride of securing the funding, forget about the planning issues of working on an historic site with more wildlife and protected species than you can imagine, and just marvel at his enthusiasm for a project whose scale and potential is not likely to be found anywhere else in the UK at present.

When the site opens at Easter, visitors will feel as if they have jumped over the wall into an aged neighbour's garden - unkept and abandoned, with the lofty ruins of the Castle behind scaffolding, the renovation of this site is very much work in progress.

But judge for yourself - you don't really need much of an excuse to visit The Lake District for a day visit or, better still, a short break: Lowther Castle and Gardens is another great reason!

http://www.lowthercastle.org/

One Giant Leap for Jodrell Bank

I have just had a privileged sneak preview of the new visitor facilities at Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre in Cheshire. It is due to open within the next few weeks and it is going to be FANTASTIC!

The all new visitor attraction includes a  new entrance building - the Planet Pavilion - and a new exhibition and events building - the Space Pavilion. A new cafe - which will be operated by the guys who currently run the Award winning cafe inside the Whitworth Art Gallery in Manchester and who focus on regional produce - has a glass wall with amazing views of the Lovell telescope. No doubt that this will become the destination of choice for Cheshire's Afternoon Tea Set.

The gardens have also had a make-over, with a new space themed (what else?) garden, designed by TV Gardener Chris Beardshaw.

Jodrell Bank really is on a roll at the moment. Not only is whirlwind Director Teresa Anderson leading the transformation of the facility into one of the region's best new visitor attractions, she is also spearheading the application to get Jodrell Bank recognised as a World Heritage Site! All this, and still the site is working round the clock as the UK's national radio astronomy facility, conducting international research!

http://www.jodrellbank.manchester.ac.uk/visitorcentre/