Tuesday 25 June 2013

Simply Porsche June 23rd 2013


People’s Choice Awards - Steve Burgess
Over 150 examples of the Porsche marque, spanning a range of models, headed to Beaulieu for the first Simply Porsche event, held in the grounds of the National Motor Museum. An enthusiast’s delight, the fantastic display of these iconic cars with their distinctive styling, didn’t disappoint.

All major Porsche models were to be seen, both classic and new, with the 924 Owners Club and Porsche Club GB well represented by their members. Porsche Bournemouth showcased a selection of their new models and Canford Classics displayed a number of classics.  In the Display Marquee, the South Hants Model Auto Club put on a display of Porsche marque model cars.

A selection of the best vehicles was chosen to take part in a cavalcade around the parkland, showing off some of the finest examples of the marque.

Throughout the day, Beaulieu’s visitors had an opportunity to vote for their favourite Porsche vehicles in the People’s Choice Awards. The overall winner was Steve Burgess from Chippenham, Wiltshire in a Porsche 911 997 GT3 RS 4.0. This model is the last Special Edition 997, with just 600 manufactured and available in only two shades, black and white. Steve, a lifelong fan of the marque, has owned his Porsche for 12 months and is a member of Porsche Club GB with whom he has already attended a number of rallies and meets.

Simply Porsche is one of the latest additions to Beaulieu’s calendar of Simply events, which has expanded to include a wide variety of themes covering a range of makes and models.

Monday 24 June 2013

Royal Pageant at Beaulieu

To mark the 60th anniversary of the Queen’s coronation, a new exhibition has been unveiled in Palace House. Royal Pageant highlights the connections between Beaulieu and the Montagu family with royalty, stretching back over eight hundred years. Items on display include personal gifts given to the family by members of the Royal Family during their visits to Beaulieu and mementos from royal occasions the family has attended.

The story starts with the founding of Beaulieu Abbey by King John in 1204 and goes on to record the sale of the estate by Henry VIII to Thomas Wriothesley, the 1st Earl of Southampton at the time of the Dissolution in 1538. The family’s lineage is traced back to Royalty, through Lord Montagu’s direct ancestor, James, Duke of Monmouth, eldest illegitimate son of Charles II.
A display of photographs from the late 1800s record a number of significant royal visits, including the then Prince of Wales, later Edward VII, taking his first ride in a motor car with John Montagu in 1899, an impromptu visit by the German Emperor, Wilheim II, to Palace House in 1907, several visits by Queen Mary to Buckler’s Hard during Cowes week between 1926-1928 and George VI’s visit to the Beaulieu River to see preparations for the D-Day landings in 1944.
Coronation robes and coronets

Also on display are the coronation robes and coronets worn by generations of the Montagu family at every coronation since 1821 with the exception of George VI’s in 1937 as they were too big for the then, 10 year old Edward, the current Lord Montagu of Beaulieu. Instead, he wore a black velvet suit and carried a matching velvet bag containing sandwiches to sustain him through the long service. The coronation robes were last worn by Lord Montagu at Her Majesty, the Queen’s coronation in 1953.

Lord Montagu said: “My family and the Beaulieu Estate have connections with royalty going back over 800 years. We are direct descendents of William the Conqueror and Beaulieu Abbey was a royal foundation created by King John. Its dissolution was also a royal act, leading to the sale of the estate to my ancestor, since when the family has served King, Queen and country in various ways through the centuries.

“This exhibition illustrates these connections and stands as our small tribute to the dedication of our present Queen in serving the nation for over 60 years.”

Royal Pageant is on display in Palace House and can be viewed as part of a visit to the whole Beaulieu attraction. For further information on the exhibition visit www.beaulieu.co.uk

Wednesday 19 June 2013

Bike To Beaulieu For Motorcycle Ride-In Sunday 14th July 2013

Motorcycles arrive at Beaulieu

Motorcycle Ride-In
Trade Stand
On Sunday 14th July, biking enthusiasts from across the country will be revving up their engines and taking a trip into the beautiful New Forest to join Beaulieu’s fourth annual Motorcycle Ride-In Day.

If you’re a bike owner, ride your bike to Beaulieu and display it for the day in the attraction’s picturesque parkland, voted as one of Britain’s Top 10 Biking Destinations by users of www.keepbritainbiking.com. Meet other like-minded enthusiasts, view the stunning range of bikes on display and watch a thrilling acrobatic stunt show performed by a professional stunt team in the Beaulieu Arena.

You can also enjoy everything the Beaulieu attraction has to offer. See the National Motor Museum’s fantastic collection of over 250 vehicles, BOND IN MOTION – the world’s largest ever exhibition of original James Bond film vehicles, World of Top Gear, Beaulieu Abbey, Palace House and the gardens.

Browse a number of trade stands selling accessories, clothing, parts and all the latest biking gadgets - there are sure to be some great biking bargains to get your motor running. There will also be refreshments available all day from the Brabazon Restaurant.

As always, visitors to Beaulieu will be asked to vote for their favourite bike in the People’s Choice Awards and in the afternoon, the winner will be presented with a coveted Beaulieu Trophy.

Motorcycle owners can be part of the display in the Beaulieu Arena at a great rider, bike & pillion advance ticket entry of only £6 per person. On the day ticket prices are £10 rider and bike, and £5 pillion. Advance tickets are available to purchase by telephone on 01590 612888 or online at www.beaulieushop.co.uk

All other visitors should enter via Visitor Reception at Beaulieu’s standard admission rates.

If you have motorcycle accessories to sell, why not take a stand? Uncovered stand prices start at £75. For more information telephone the Beaulieu Events team on 01590 614614 or email events@beaulieu.co.uk

Admission to the event includes entry to the whole Beaulieu Attraction.

For further information, please visit www.beaulieumotorcyclerideinday.co.uk

Monday 17 June 2013

Simply Alfa Romeo - Sunday 30th June 2013

Alfa Romeo in the Beaulieu parkland
Alfa Romeo on the Beaulieu Arena

Alfa Romeo
On Sunday 30th June, Beaulieu will be welcoming vehicles from one of the most stylish marques in the motoring world, Alfa Romeo, into the grounds of the National Motor Museum to create a stunning display for visitors to admire in the attraction’s first ever Simply Alfa Romeo event.

All owners of Alfa Romeos can join in with the fun, driving their vehicles down to Beaulieu for the day and displaying their vehicles against the picturesque backdrop of the Beaulieu parkland. All ages and models of Alfa are welcome, from the elegant classic HP and 6C models of the early 1900s to the modern 4C, Giulietta and MiTo models gracing the roads today.

Local divisions of the Alfa Romeo Owners’ Club will be in attendance, bringing along a number of their members’ cars and Meridien Motors will be displaying a selection of their stunning, full-blooded Italian vehicles.

This is a fantastic opportunity to meet other like-minded enthusiasts and enjoy all the features of the Beaulieu visitor attraction, recently awarded Gold in the Large Visitor Attraction of the Year category at VisitEngland’s 2013 Awards for Excellence.

See over 250 vehicles on show in the National Motor Museum, from F1 racers to Land Speed Record Breakers and don’t miss BOND IN MOTION, the world’s largest ever exhibition of original James Bond film vehicles. The collection includes the Lotus Esprit S1 ‘submarine’ car from THE SPY WHO LOVED ME, a QUANTUM OF SOLACE Aston Martin DBS stunt car and two Honda CRF250R motorcycles and a Land Rover Defender 110 from the latest Bond film to be released, SKYFALL.

Enter World of Top Gear to see genuine vehicles created by presenters Jeremy, Richard and James in their challenges on the BBC television show, including Richard and Jeremy’s “Grannymobile” and the P45 micro car driven by Jeremy through a shopping centre and the British Library on the latest series.

You can also enjoy strolling through the beautifully-kept gardens to Palace House, home of the Montagu family since 1538 and 13th century Beaulieu Abbey, or you can explore the grounds by hopping onboard the high-level Monorail or open-topped veteran London bus.

As with all Simply Rallies, visitors to Beaulieu on the day of the event will be invited to vote for their favourite vehicle in the People’s Choice Awards. The owner of the winning car will receive a Beaulieu Trophy in an afternoon presentation ceremony and will be given the opportunity to lead a cavalcade of Alfa Romeos through the attraction.

The Brabazon Restaurant will also be getting into the spirit of things, serving up a range of Italian-themed specialties.

For entrants arriving in an Alfa Romeo and joining the event on the Beaulieu parkland, entry prices are adult £10 and child £5. Please telephone 01590 612888 or visit www.beaulieushop.co.uk to book advance tickets. For all marque-related trade stand enquiries, telephone 01590 614614. All other visitors should enter Beaulieu via the main Reception at normal Beaulieu attraction admission prices.

Entry into the Beaulieu parkland with your Alfa Romeo is from 9.30am with catering available.

Admission to the event includes entry to the whole Beaulieu attraction; the National Motor Museum, BOND IN MOTION, World of Top Gear, Beaulieu Abbey, Palace House and the gardens.

Simply Alfa Romeo is one of the newest additions to a growing calendar of Simply rallies which has rapidly expanded to include a wide variety of themes covering many makes and models. All Simply rallies are run and organised by Beaulieu and take place in the grounds of the National Motor Museum. Other new additions to the Simply rallies for 2013 are Simply Vauxhall on 28th July and Simply Land Rover on 11th August.

For more information please visit www.beaulieuevents.co.uk or join the conversation with @Beaulieu_Hants using #simplyalfaromeo.

Friday 14 June 2013

Summer Loving at Harewood


Summer is getting into full swing at Harewood House this year with a fantastic choice of events for all the family to enjoy, from vintage fun at the Father’s Day Classic Car & Motor Show to singing along to your favourite Grease number at the Movie Weekend.

Celebrate Father’s Day this year at the renowned Father’s Day Classic Car & Motor Show on 16th June.  Engross yourself in the vintage spirit with over 1000 vintage and classic vehicles to admire, competitions, arena acts, vintage fashion stalls and even swing dancing.  Don’t miss The Breitling Wingwalkers who will take to the skies above Harewood on Sunday afternoon to perform a breathtaking acrobatic routine whilst strapped to the top wings of their beautiful 1930’s Boeing Stearman biplanes – a sight worth seeing!

This summer, experience Outdoor Theatre as you’ve never seen it before. With the grand Harewood House as the backdrop, see your favourite stories come to life, including the classic Pride and Prejudice on 30th June, The Mikado on 11th July, Shakespeare’s As You Like it on 25th July, Wind in the Willows on 8th August 2013, and Babe the Sheep Pig on 31st August.

The fun continues with VW Festival, back at Harewood for two full days of VW heaven 17th – 18th August. Now one of the largest VW shows in the country, the weekend will be packed full of VW fun, live music, a show and shine competition for the finest of VW’s and a four colour display in quintessentially British colours red, white, blue and classic black.

Following the success of the renowned Drive-in Movie event at Harewood over the years, we’re upping the ante this summer to bring you a Movie Weekend with a difference 24th – 25th August. On Saturday, don those pink jackets and grease those quiffs as you sing along to the world’s favourite musical, Grease. On Sunday, spend an evening under the stars watching a classic drive-in style movie (film to be confirmed). Both nights kick off with themed activities including cocktails and picnics at sunset to get you into the movie spirit.

Ticket Information:
Father’s Day Classic Car and Motor Show: Adult £10, Senior Citizen £9, Child £6, Family £30
Outdoor Theatre: Adult £14, Senior Citizen / Student / Child: £10, Family £40 –
Mikado Adult £17, Senior Citizen /Student / Child £12, Family £48
VW Festival: Adult day ticket main show day £13.50, Adult 1 night, 1 day £25, Adult 2 nights, 2 days £35.  Children 0 – 15 free.  (Prices are pre-book only)
Movie Weekend: Adult £22, Senior Citizen £22, Child / Student £16, Family £75

Members receive reduced or free entry to Harewood events, visit the website for more information www.harewood.org/whatson or call the Box Office on 0113 218 1000

Wednesday 12 June 2013

The Austin 7 - Small But Dependable - And Ready To Go Anywhere!

The annual National Austin 7 Rally, organised by the 750 Motor Club, takes place on Sunday 7th July on the Beaulieu Estate in Hampshire. Enthusiastic owners and their pre-war Austin 7s will be heading in their hundreds for the picturesque venue which provides an ideal day out for all the family as the rally entry ticket also gives access to Lord Montagu’s historic Palace House and Gardens and The National Motor Museum.

Austin 7s may be small but what they lack in size they make up for in ‘dependability’ – as evidenced by the adventures they, and their owners, get up to. The accompanying picture is a cross-section of English Austin 7s on a rally in northern France as guests of the Tacot Club Calaisen. This club is twinned with the North Hertfordshire Centre of the 750 Motor Club and will be at Beaulieu displaying a fascinating variety of their Gallic vehicles.

Further afield an intrepid group of three Austin 7s is currently making its way from Buenos Aires to New York – an epic 11,000 mile journey across twelve countries and two continents. At least one of the cars is likely to be at Beaulieu in July. You can follow the extraordinary journey online at www.austinsinamericas.co.uk/

The National Austin 7 Rally is sponsored by Warranty Direct and RH Specialist Insurers. Full details and entry forms can be found on the website: www.750mc.co.uk/austin7. Gates open at 10am and the general public is welcomed and encouraged to attend this fascinating and entertaining event.

The Austin 7 was the first truly mass-produced British car and it changed the lives of hundreds of thousands of ordinary people by giving them the opportunity to buy an affordable motor car for the first time. Between 1922 and 1939 some 290,000 were built and about 8,000 are thought to still be around. The 750 Motor Club was founded in 1939. www.750mc.co.uk

Tuesday 11 June 2013

‘You're The One That I Want’… Grease is the word for a night of movie sing-a-long sensations this summer

Get out your best party gear, brush-up on your lyrics and get set for a night of movie sing-a-long as a film feast transforms Lincolnshire’s Elizabethan Burghley House into a stunning outdoor cinema.

Film will take centre stage from the 1-4 August 2013 when a big screen will be set up against the backdrop of the magnificent Elizabethan house overlooking the beautiful South Gardens, Capability Brown lake and the sweeping parkland beyond.


Each day during the Festival at Burghley - on the edge of the Georgian stone town of Stamford - there will be two family films, while for a night at the movies an evening ticket will cover two more films more geared to adult audiences.

And the picturesque grounds are set to be alive with the sound of music on Film Night Saturday (3rd August) when “You're The One That I Want” and “Summer Nights” will bring some “Greased Lightnin'” – with a touch of “Time Warp” for good measure!

Offering the ultimate cinema party atmosphere will be those soundtrack favourites and more from sing-a-long greats Grease (PG) and The Rocky Horror Picture Show (15).

For those who really want to celebrate in style, filmgoers can dress for the occasion and pre-order a special three course Burghley picnic, which includes a bottle of fizz… so all you need to do is bring out the picnic blankets!

Along with the best of British – and international – movie entertainment in a beautiful British setting, there will be plenty of great food on offer too, freshly prepared by Burghley’s caterers Absolute Taste.

During all film showings Burghley’s great British barbecue will offer perfect summer BBQ food, with all of the meat sourced from local producers, while in the evenings there will also be delicious salads as well as a host of other treats available.

No summer evening would be complete without a jug of Pimms and there will also be cold beer, wine and cocktails.

Early bird buyers will be able to take advantage of specially priced tickets available online now from Burghley’s website - saving £4 per ticket compared to the on-the-day price.

Tickets are priced at £6 for adults until 30th June; £8 until 31st July and £10 on the gates. Child tickets are priced at £4. For full details of opening times and to book online tickets, visit www.burghley.co.uk

Visit England’s Best Visitor Attraction This Summer 20th July – 1st September 2013

Summer Fun
Skittles on the lawn
Awarded Gold by VisitEngland in the 2013 Awards for Excellence, you are assured of a great day out at Beaulieu this summer. Between 20th July and 1st September, join the Victorian house party in Palace House with music in the Lower Drawing Room, family games outside on the lawns and daily playlets to enjoy. See Veteran and Vintage cars motoring around the grounds, and watch the Victorian cyclist on his Penny Farthing. In the picturesque Beaulieu Abbey Cloisters, learn about the history of falconry and watch special daily flying demonstrations to see some of these amazing birds in flight.

Join the Victorian gardener for a tour of the Kitchen Garden where produce for Palace House is grown. Meet Brother William, the Cistercian monk who strolls the pathways of Beaulieu’s Abbey Cloisters and hear his talks on the folk law of herbs and the life of the monks who lived in the Abbey.

See the National Motor Museum’s exciting exhibition, BOND IN MOTION, with 50 original vehicles from the James Bond films. Some of Bond’s most iconic vehicles are on display, including the aquatic Lotus Esprit S1 from The Spy Who Loved Me, the quirky ‘Little Nellie’ autogyro from You Only Live Twice and the vanishing Aston Martin Vanquish from Die Another Day plus vehicles from the latest film Skyfall. There are also film clips and exclusive behind-the-scenes footage from some of the most impressive vehicle stunts.

View the museum’s collection of over 250 vehicles, from Land Speed Record Breakers to F1 racers, and take a ride on ‘Wheels’, a journey through 100 years of motoring history.  New for 2012, On Screen Cars has car stars of the TV and film world, including Mr Bean’s lime green Mini and Harry Potter’s ‘flying’ Ford Anglia. Enter the ‘World of Top Gear’ to see genuine cars from the presenters’ most ambitious challenges on the popular BBC motoring show.

Take a ride on the high-level Monorail to get a birds-eye view of the cars as you travel through the roof of the museum, see the sights from the open-topped replica 1912 London Bus or head to the Arena and get in the driving seat on the Go-Karts.* 

Budding young drivers can take to the road on Dipstick’s Driving Circuit** in mini motorised vehicles while younger visitors can enjoy the Mini Motor Play Trail with its Veteran Bus climbing frame, swings and Little Tykes ride-on-cars.

Beaulieu is open daily from 10am to 6pm. For further information visit www.beaulieu.co.uk

* A good value extra charge applies to this ride. Please check www.beaulieu.co.uk for Go Kart running dates. ** Height restrictions apply.

Monday 10 June 2013

Simply Porsche

On Sunday 23rd June, Beaulieu will be welcoming Porsches of every shape and size into the grounds of the National Motor Museum for a brand new event, Simply Porsche. A must for any Porsche enthusiast, this fantastic rally is open to all Porsche owners.

Porsches of all ages and models are eligible to join the display of this iconic marque in the Beaulieu parkland.

This is a great opportunity to view hundreds of Porsches, meet up with other like-minded enthusiasts, and enjoy a great day out at the Beaulieu attraction. See over 250 vehicles on show in the National Motor Museum, from F1 racers to Land Speed Record Breakers and don’t miss BOND IN MOTION, the world’s largest ever exhibition of original James Bond film vehicles. The collection includes the Lotus Esprit S1 ‘submarine’ car from THE SPY WHO LOVED ME, a QUANTUM OF SOLACE Aston Martin DBS stunt car and two Honda CRF250R motorcycles and a Land Rover Defender 110 from the latest Bond film to be released, SKYFALL.

Enter World of Top Gear to see genuine vehicles created by presenters Jeremy, Richard and James in their challenges on the BBC television show, including Richard and Jeremy’s “Grannymobile” and the P45 micro car driven by Jeremy through a shopping centre and the British Library on the latest series.

You can also enjoy strolling through the beautifully-kept gardens to Palace House, home of the Montagu family since 1538 and the 13th Century Beaulieu Abbey, or you can explore the grounds by hopping onboard the high-level Monorail or open-topped veteran London bus.

As with all Simply Rallies, visitors to Beaulieu on the day of the event will be invited to vote for their favourite vehicle in the People’s Choice Awards. The owner of the winning car will receive a Beaulieu Trophy in an afternoon presentation ceremony and will be given the opportunity to lead a cavalcade of Porsches through the attraction.

For entrants arriving in a Porsche and joining the event on the Beaulieu parkland, entry prices are adult £10 and child £5. Please telephone 01590 612888 or visit www.beaulieushop.co.uk to book advance tickets. For all Porsche-related trade stand enquiries, telephone 01590 614614. All other visitors should enter Beaulieu via the main Reception at normal Beaulieu attraction admission prices.

Entry into the Beaulieu parkland with your Porsche is from 9.30am with catering available.

Admission to the event includes entry to the whole Beaulieu attraction; the National Motor Museum, BOND IN MOTION, World of Top Gear, Beaulieu Abbey, Palace House and the gardens.

Simply Porsche is one of the latest additions to Beaulieu’s rapidly growing calendar of Simply events, which has expanded to include a wide variety of themes covering a range of makes and models.

For more information please visit www.beaulieuevents.co.uk or join the conversation with @Beaulieu_Hants on Twitter using #simplyporsche

Sunday 9 June 2013

Cage Fighters Add Punch to New Chatsworth Exhibition

A new exhibition by the young British artist Emma McGuire inspired by her time immersed within New York’s cage-fighter subculture, will open at Chatsworth on 11 July and run through until 8 November 2013.

Through McGuire’s characteristic use of photographic and mono-lithographic printing techniques the exhibition, titled ‘XXXX’ aims to challenge established ideas around male identity, violence and beauty.  McGuire’s work explores the inherent tension between society’s perceptions of cage-fighters and the reality of their personal narratives.

The ‘XXXX’ exhibition features large-scale, abstracted images of cage fighters in combat captured in Atlantic City, New Jersey during 2011 and hand-processed throughout 2012.

McGuire, who grew up in Nottingham but is half-American, divides her time between London and New York, which is where her interest in the subject was initially sparked by regular visits to the famous Renzo Gracie Fight Club. There she met the Gracie family, known for their founding of Brazilian jiu-jitsu as well as their success in combat sport competitions.

“There is a long standing tradition of gladiatorial games, predating antiquity, which is now being popularised in contemporary TV series like ‘Spartacus’. How comfortable we feel about our spectatorship, which is essentially voyeuristic, of this often violent sport is an overlooked factor in the continuation of the tradition,” says McGuire.

“Although my initial focus was capturing the fighters during the photographic stage, interestingly it was during the printing process that the spectators emerged as a parallel subject matter – and our voyeuristic nature as human beings became amplified.”
The resultant pictures were further developed using McGuire’s unique mono-lithographic technique, which progressively degrades the original plate producing a slightly different image each time. These abstracted, long exposure images have been developed into a variety of sizes, with some of the artworks over a metre high, and will be displayed in the North Sketch Gallery at Chatsworth.

McGuire first met the Duke of Devonshire while studying at the Royal College of Art and over the years he became an admirer and collector of her work. “I acquired several artworks from Emma McGuire’s ‘Warrior’ exhibition in 2012 and it was there that we began to talk about a new show for Chatsworth. I’m delighted that we’ve been able to make it happen with XXXX and that more people will get to see her provocative but beautiful work.”

XXXX is a solo exhibition of Emma McGuire’s work (http://www.emma-mcguire.com/) and entry is free with the purchase of a ‘House and Garden’ ticket. It includes predominantly new pictures as well as some images seen as part of the ‘Warrior’ joint exhibition with the artiste Echo Morgan at Blackhall Studios, London during October 2012.

Other exhibitions at Chatsworth:


Rembrandt van Rijn (1606-1669): Drawings – ‘Views from the riverbank: landscapes by Rembrandt’
. 10 March – 31 July 2013 in the Old Master Drawings Cabinet. Rembrandt’s often deceptively simple style and the spontaneity and economy with which he sketched is evident in this display of ten landscape drawings. This is the first time they have been displayed for visitors at Chatsworth since they were purchased by the second Duke of Devonshire in 1724/25.

Beyond Limits (9 Sept – 27 Oct)
– monumental sculpture exhibition in the garden including leading artists from around the world. In recent years the exhibition has included new work from Damien Hirst and Marc Quinn amongst others.


Modern Makers (18 Sept – 23 Dec)
- For the first time contemporary applied art will be shown in the New Gallery. Makers including Joseph Walsh, Maisie Broadhead and Junko Mori will create furniture, ceramics, metalwork and textiles to deliver a fresh take on Chatsworth’s State Rooms.