Harpenden House Hotel, Harpenden/Nr St. Albans, Hertfordshire - Autumn gourmet getaway incl. Prosecco in room, dinner & breakfast

Imagine escaping to a top hotel...
Sipping on chilled Prosecco and enjoying fine food with a sumptuous 3-course dinner in an award-winning restaurant...
Finally, relaxing in superior accommodation with a delicious breakfast the following morning...

You can...and all for just £119 at Harpenden House Hotel.

Your package includes:

- Overnight accommodation
- A bottle of chilled Prosecco in your room upon arrival (1 x bottle per stay)
- 3-course dinner in the award-winning restaurant
- Full breakfast

Book your perfect autumn escape online now or speak to one of our friendly Reservations team on 0845 0 70 70 90 who can help you find your perfect hotel at the best possible price.

You can also build your own bespoke package, just the way you want it, by browsing our fantastic choice of supplements. Book everything instantly online, and with absolute confidence, in just 3 easy steps.

Available: 27 Aug 2012 to 30 Nov 2012

Minimum stay: 1 night(s)

From £119.00 Per room per night, Dinner, Bed and Breakfast

Offer Terms & Conditions:

1) Offer valid on stays Friday - Sunday only from 27th August – 30th November 2012, subject to availability.
2) Minimum 1-night stay.
3) Includes 3-course dinner/allowance towards a la carte menu, full breakfast & a bottle of Prosecco in room upon arrival.
4) Promotional price may vary over the duration of the offer, however, where this is the case, this will be explained in the offer description above.
5) All prices are based on two people sharing a standard double or twin room.
6) No reduction for single occupancy.
7) This promotion is bookable online and through Classic Central Reservation Service only

For further information please visit http://www.classicbritishhotels.com/?l=offers.detail&id=1001266_26214

Bond Visits Bond In Motion To Launch Bond 50 Blu-Ray Collection

Sir Roger Moore in an Aston Martin DBS at the Fox Blu-ray launch

Sir Roger Moore, who famously played 007 in the James Bond film series, visited the National Motor Museum’s BOND IN MOTION exhibition to celebrate the launch of the BOND 50 Blu-ray Collection, on sale now.

BOND 50 from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios and Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment showcases all 22 classic films on Blu-ray together for the first time, with a dossier of more than 122 hours of bonus features to mark James Bond’s  golden anniversary.

Sir Roger had an opportunity to reacquaint himself with some of the iconic vehicles from the seven Bond films in which he starred between 1973 and 1985, including the Lotus Esprit S1 submarine car from The Spy Who Loved Me, the Glastron Speedboat from Live and Let Die and the Acrostar BD-5J Jet from Octopussy, although he confessed his personal favourite was the Citroen 2CV from For Your Eyes Only.

The exhibition showcases 50 of the best-loved and most iconic Bond vehicles – some never publicly displayed before – in celebration of the 50th year of the James Bond films.

Most recent additions to the exhibition include two Honda motorcycles and a Land Rover Defender 110 from the latest Bond film, Skyfall, which has its world premiere at the Royal Albert Hall, London on the 23rd October.

BOND IN MOTION can be seen as part of a visit to the whole Beaulieu attraction.  Advance tickets, at a special rate, are available to buy online at www.beaulieushop.co.uk. For further information on the exhibition visit www.bondinmotion.co.uk

Skyfall Land Rover Defender joins BOND IN MOTION

The National Motor Museum at Beaulieu is delighted to announce the arrival of the Land Rover Defender from the set of the 23rd James Bond film, Skyfall, for display in the museum’s BOND IN MOTION exhibition.

The 2012 Land Rover Defender is driven in the opening sequence of the film in Turkey. It is a left-hand drive 110 double cab pick-up, boasts a four cylinder 2.2 litre engine, capable of a maximum speed of 90mph.

The Defender joins two Honda CRF250R motorcycles already on display in the exhibition that also feature in the Skyfall opening sequence.

Beaulieu’s Commercial Director Stephen Munn said: “This is another fantastic new addition to BOND IN MOTION. We are delighted that we have been able to welcome three Skyfall vehicles into the exhibition since filming wrapped, and they have already attracted a lot of interest from visitors. We wanted BOND IN MOTION to represent as many of the films as possible, from the Sean Connery classics right through to the current Daniel Craig films, and it is a privilege to be able to give visitors a glimpse of what awaits in the 23rd instalment.”

BOND IN MOTION showcases 50 of the best-loved and most iconic Bond vehicles – some never publicly displayed before – in celebration of the 50th year of the James Bond films.

The exhibition features a whole range of vehicles which have appeared in Bond films over the 50 years including cars, boats, motorbikes, jets and many more. This collection of iconic movie vehicles includes the Aston Martin DB5 from GoldenEye, the 1937 Phantom lll Rolls-Royce from Goldfinger, and theLotus Esprit S1 affectionately nicknamed ‘Wet Nellie’ from The Spy Who Loved Me.

BOND IN MOTION can be seen as part of a visit to the whole Beaulieu attraction.  For further information visit www.beaulieu.co.uk

The world premiere for Skyfall takes place in the UK on 23rd October 2012.

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The Treasure Houses of England (THE) is a consortium of 10 of the country’s finest palaces, historic houses and castles. Unique in character, each property has its own magical blend of magnificent architecture, fabulous surroundings, world class collections and family attractions to enjoy.

For more information visit www.treasurehouses.co.uk

Simply Smart - A Great Day Out For All Smart Motoring Enthusiasts

On Remembrance Sunday, 11th November 2012, the quirkiest cars in motoring will be a star feature at Beaulieu as the attraction hosts its second ever Simply Smart event. All owners of Smart cars are invited to drive to Beaulieu in their unique motors and display their vehicles in the grounds of the National Motor Museum.

This is a rare opportunity for owners to show off their vehicles, meet other like-minded enthusiasts and enjoy all the delights of the Beaulieu attraction.

The inaugural Simply Smart in 2011 proved to be incredibly popular, and it is hoped that the 2012 event will build on that success.

 

Jonathan Richards with the 'poppy' smart car

This event is well supported by owners’ club, SmartManiacs, with a large number of their members attending. At the club’s request, the event is always held around the time of Remembrance Sunday, with this year’s rally taking place on the day itself, and as a fitting tribute and a mark of respect, one of its members is hoping to bring their very recognisable ‘Poppy’ Smart car, which is decorated with red poppy graphics.

The Beaulieu attraction will also be holding a two minutes silence at 11am which visitors are invited to take part in.

On the day, visitors to Beaulieu will have the opportunity to vote for their favourite Smart car on display in the People’s Choice Award. The awards will be presented in the afternoon, with the winner receiving a special edition Beaulieu Trophy celebrating the 60th anniversary of Lord Montagu first opening the Beaulieu attraction, with an additional prize for the runner-up. Following the presentation, the top ten cars voted for will take part in a cavalcade through the grounds.

Participants can also enjoy all the delights of the Beaulieu attraction, including the museum’s exciting exhibition, BOND IN MOTION, showcasing 50 vehicles from the James Bond films, including the Lotus Esprit submarine car from The Spy Who Loved Me, affectionately referred to as ‘Wet Nellie’, the iconic Aston Martin DB5 from Goldeneye and the Rolls-Royce Phantom III from Goldfinger.

For entrants arriving on the day in a Smart car and participating in the event, individual ticket prices are £10 per adult and £5 per child.

Book advance tickets online at www.beaulieushop.co.uk or on telephone number 01590 612888, which you can also call for information on group/club entry. For all enquiries regarding trade stands, telephone 01590 614614.

Entry into the Beaulieu parkland with your Smart car is from 9.30am, when refreshments will be available.

All other visitors who wish to see the event, but not participate in a Smart car should enter Beaulieu via the Main Reception from 10am at normal attraction admission prices.

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

Simply Smart 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. For more information please visit www.beaulieuevents.co.uk

Simply Smart is sponsored by specialist motor insurance broker Adrian Flux.

The First Lady of Bond

Eunice Gayson who played James Bond’s girlfriend Sylvia Trench in both Dr No and From Russia With Love, will be at the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu, on Saturday, 6th October, to sign copies of her autobiography, THE FIRST LADY OF BOND, the inside story of an original Bond girl and some of the best-loved films ever made.

Eunice became the very first 'Bond girl' with her character setting up the most famous line in film history ... 'Bond, James Bond', though Sean Connery was so nervous he took over a dozen takes to get the line correct!

In her autobiography, Eunice discusses her role in the two movies and reveals that her famous red dress in Dr No was actually a very last minute replacement and was held together with clothes pegs.

By the time 007 came into her life she had already carved out a very successful career in UK television and films, and across the pond, become one of the first reality TV stars when married live on American television.

Her leading men included Sean Connery, Patrick McGoohan, Michael Wilding, Patrick MacNee and Roger Moore, and she co-starred in a record-breaking run of The Sound of Music in London's West End.

Joining Eunice at Beaulieu is Shane Rimmer, whosevoice is familiar to millions from his role as Scott Tracy, the pilot of Thunderbird 1, and as characters in no fewer than three 007 movies.

Shane will be on hand to sign copies of From Thunderbirds to Pterodactyls, published last year, a wry and refreshingly frank autobiography that sheds new light on some of the best-loved films and television ever made. In it, Shane recalls the years he spent as an actor, voice artist and writer for Gerry Anderson's classic productions, as well as appearances in other memorable shows such as Doctor Who, Coronation Street and Lipstick On Your Collar.

Equally at home in Star Wars or Out of Africa, Shane's talents as a character actor have been called upon by some of the film industry's leading directors, from Stanley Kubrick in Dr Strangelove to Christopher Nolan in Batman Begins.

Between the two he appeared in three James Bond movies - first opposite Sean Connery as a radar operator in You Only Live Twice, and Tom in Diamonds Are Forever, and lastly with Roger Moore as Captain Carter in The Spy Who Loved Me - and had a close encounter with a low-flying dinosaur in The People That Time Forgot.

Also on hand to talk to visitors will be stuntman, Paul Weston who has appeared in 10 Bond films as well as other high-profile films such as Star Wars, Indiana Jones and Superman.

Eunice Gayson and Shane Rimmer will be signing books in the Visitor Reception Hall of the National Motor Museum, from 12 noon to 2.30pm on Saturday, 6th October. Visitors purchasing either autobiography will be offered a discounted rate to visit the museum’s acclaimed BOND IN MOTION exhibition on the same day*.

*Not applicable to online tickets purchased in advance from the Beaulieu webshop or in conjunction with any other offer.

Autumn Glory: Half Term At Harewood - Halloween

Photography by David Oakes

Get Out and About, Get Dressed Up, Get Carving or Just Get Spooked
Saturday 27 October - Sunday 4 November 2012

10.00am - 5.00pm

Perfect for families and lovers of the outdoors, the October half term week at Harewood celebrates Autumn in all its glory.  Enjoy indoor and outdoor activities with a good dose of Halloween fun or marvel in the peaceful beauty of Harewood in its Autumn coat.  Free to Members and with most activities included in the entry fee, Harewood’s renowned Autumn Glory is great value for money for all the family and you can really make the most of Autumn at Harewood:  enjoy walks beneath the ever-changing canopy of gold and learn about our Autumn produce, join in with craft activities and ghostly walks, or just relax and enjoy the countryside, all within easy reach of Leeds and Harrogate.

Take time to enjoy our choice of peaceful walks, perfect for short strolls or longer trails of discovery.  Trees are one of the most beautiful features of the landscape here and Autumn showcases her very best at Harewood.  Join the Harewood gardeners for the Nature’s Harvest trail of discovery through the beautiful Lakeside Gardens to find out about the trees, plants and fungi.  See some of the best trees in Yorkshire, and even the country, such as our Grand Fir growing in the Lakeside Gardens – the tallest in Yorkshire - and a rare Japanese oak, planted by Her Majesty Queen Alexandra in 1908. We’ve also put together a Harewood Walks Booklet (£3) to ensure you don’t miss the very best views and explore all that Harewood has to offer.

Enjoy the fabulous flavours of Autumn with seasonal cookery demonstrations to try and taste, including soups and stews, apples from Harewood’s Walled Garden and more seasonal treats, all held in the Old Kitchen Below Stairs (open from 11am) for added atmosphere and cosiness. Harewood have also gathered together, with the help of the Northern Fruit Group, around 120 varieties of apple to create a stunning display Below Stairs, with cookery demonstrations using apples from Harewood’s own Walled Garden, (activities commence at 11am).  To fully immerse yourself in the world of seasonal fruit and vegetables and see where they grow, visit the Walled Garden to see and sample more of Harewood’s own produce (daily, 11am, 1pm and 3pm).

Perfect for little ones and adults, the Potting Workshops will take place (weekdays 11am and 3pm) outside the Book Shop where you can try your hand at growing your own trees, pot up and get good tips from Harewood’s award-winning gardeners on how to sow, grow and care for your trees.  And make time to pop inside the Book Shop for spontaneous book readings from some of the children’s favourites – a lovely place to chill out and get them interested in reading.

Bring us your carved pumpkins and you could be in the chance of winning a trip to return to Harewood this Christmas to meet Father Christmas (11am to 4pm every day). Or, try your hand at creating spooky Halloween masks and puppets in our Halloween craft days (11.30 to 3.30pm every day).  Children who arrive in Halloween costumes on 31st October will get half price entry... so get busy and dress up!

Get into the Halloween spirit with eerie goings-on and listen to magical and mysterious stories from the ever popular Twilight Tales team.  Make your own lantern to illuminate your journey around the grounds to really get into the spirit.  (Pre-book only, Tues 30 Oct and Thurs 1 Nov, 3 to 5pm, tickets are £7.50 in addition to the entry free, adults free if accompanying a child).  For older children (over 10 years) and adults, join a more grown-up spooky walk and talk (pre-book only 31 October, 6pm to 8pm £10) as the Trio Literati troop tell Harewood’s most chilling ghost stories on Halloween evening on a walk from All Saints’ Church and around the grounds.  Be part of this band of intrepid paranormal investigators....if you dare… If you just fancy a trail, then the self-guided Spooky Trail will take you around the grounds with added mystery and a good dose of humour. 
 
Visit the website to pre-book www.harewood.org/whats-on

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The Treasure Houses of England (THE) is a consortium of 10 of the country’s finest palaces, historic houses and castles. Unique in character, each property has its own magical blend of magnificent architecture, fabulous surroundings, world class collections and family attractions to enjoy.

For more information visit www.treasurehouses.co.uk

Wine & Dine at The Winepress @ Wensum - Maids Head Hotel, Norwich, Norfolk

An indulgent one-night wine and dine package at this heritage award winning hotel in the heart of historic Norwich.

You will savour the delicious tastes of fine food created with Michelin precision and intensity of flavour that will be complimented by individual selected wines from a unique wine list that have been personally selected to enhance each course. Dinner will be served in the AA rosette awarded restaurant, The WinePress @ Wensum, like the rest of hotel, exudes historical charm and offers an informal dining experience. Enjoy fine dining in a warm and welcoming, relaxed ambience.

Your break includes a 5-course seasonal tasting menu created by the head chef which is complimented with a glass of wine per course that has been hand selected by the wine director and a full English breakfast.

Available: 2 Feb 2012 to 1 Nov 2012

Minimum stay: 1 night(s)

From £189.00 Per room per night, Dinner, Bed and Breakfast

Offer Terms & Conditions: Full pre-payment is taken at time of booking. Offer is non-refundable and non-transferable. Subject to availability. Prices are per person, per night, based on 2 people sharing a standard room, unless otherwise stated. Minimum 1-night stay. Break includes 5-course tasting menu with a glass of wine per course and full English breakfast.

For more information please visit  http://www.classicbritishhotels.com/?l=offers.detail&id=1001268_24229

This Halloween Search For Spectres At Beaulieu Abbey 31st October & 2nd November 2012

 

On the 31st October and 2nd November 2012 join the Hampshire Ghost Club as they embark on a paranormal investigation within the grounds of the Beaulieu attraction, in historic 13th century Beaulieu Abbey, the site

of many spooky spectre sightings.

Beaulieu Abbey was founded in 1204, when King John gave a gift of land to the Cistercian monks to found a monastery. The largest Cistercian Abbey in England, Beaulieu thrived for over 300 years until it was destroyed in the 1530s at the time of the dissolution of the Monasteries.
The strange stories and legends surrounding Beaulieu Abbey have captured the imaginations of people from all walks of life, including Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who had a great interest in psychic research and made many visits to Beaulieu in search of the unexplainable. To this day, both staff and visitors to Beaulieu report glimpsing ghosts of the Abbey’s former inhabitants, as well as sounds and smells from eras past.

Now the Hampshire Ghost Club are inviting members of the public to join them on two ghost hunts, investigating some of the most haunted areas of Beaulieu’s ancient Abbey.

 
The paranormal sessions will take place on two nights around Halloween, beginning at 9pm and continuing through to 1am. Activities will include vigils and investigations, using professional equipment, in the Abbey’s Domus building, which was formerly the Lay Brothers’ Dormitory. Investigations will also take place in the Abbey ruins and Cloisters. 

Ticket prices are £50 per person, including hot drink refreshments, and are available to people aged 18+. Pre-booking for these sessions is essential, and you can reserve your place by telephoning 01590 612888.

For more information, please visit www.beaulieuevents.co.uk or telephone 01590 612345.

Christmas at the Treasure Houses of England

Expect a fabulous feast of festive entertainment and events this Christmas at the magnificent Treasure Houses of England.  Shop in style with magical Christmas markets and discover beautifully and stylishly decorated Treasure Houses for a unique and inspired day out, not to mention the opportunity to pick up some beautifully bespoke presents for your nearest and dearest.

Beaulieu’s Christmas Fair (16 November) in support of the Estate’s Countryside Educational Trust includes an array of quality items from food and drink to jewellery, antiques and plants.  In addition, their Christmas Celebrations (15 December-6 January) will feature carol singing in festively decorated Palace House and Victorian characters who will be on show-stopping hand to divulge fascinating details on life in a Victorian country house

Blenheim Palace’s renowned Living Crafts for Christmas (16-18 November) showcases a series of splendid creations from over 100 British designer-makers as well as hosting outdoor demonstrations of stone carving, blacksmithing, street theatre and handbell ringing. Meanwhile, the Palace will be telling the story of The Three Kings (10 November-14 December) through spectacular themed decorations, with the State Rooms decorated in glittering gold and festooned in exotic silk.

Celebrate and sample local produce at Burghley House’s free fine food market (1 December) where cheeses, meats and cupcakes are just some of the drool-worthy delights on offer.

The NSPCC Christmas Shopping Fair will be hosted by Castle Howard, which also presents its captivating Christmas Craft & Produce Market (2-4 December & 9-10 December). Relish some seasonal finery throughout the castle and grounds with family decorations, festive music, seasonal menus and weekend audiences with Father Christmas (24 November-16 December).

The Christmas celebrations officially start at Chatsworth in early November and this year’s ‘Pantomime’ theme is sure to provide plenty of fun for children and adults alike. Well known Panto characters will be found throughout the House with a tall tale to be told in every room. For something decidedly different, visit Chatsworth for their Christmas themed evenings at the farm shop (20, 22 November & 5, 12 December). Browse their various gifts, treats and Christmas produce while enjoying live demonstrations and a top seasonal tipple of mulled wine.  Chatsworth also presents a host of workshops and making events, from their floral workshop (29 & 30 November) to wreath making (5 & 6 December) sessions.   And don’t forget to bring the entire family to Chatsworth’s nativity performances, featuring adorable real animals from their farmyard (evening nativities 1, 8, 15 and 22 December at 6pm and daytime nativities 1-2, 8-9, 15-16 and 22-23 December).

Festive food, a crackling fire in the grate and a house dressed for a family Christmas; Harewood celebrates all that is good about the festive season with their much-anticipated Christmas Weekends
(1 December-23 December).   Immerse yourself in the magic of the house and take a tour of glorious grounds, feel the true spirit of a Harewood Christmas.

Get in the festive spirit with Music for Christmas at Hatfield (9 December).  Staged in the Old Palace, Hertfordshire Chorus - one of the UK's leading symphonic choirs - present an evening of seasonal favourites as mulled wine, coffee and mince pies will be doing the delicious rounds prior to the performance.  And don’t miss Hatfield’s Frost Fair (23 – 25 November) where you will find wonderful original and unusual crafts and gifts for the family and home.

Catch awe-inspiring splendour at Holkham Hall for their resplendent Christmas Celebrations (1, 2, 8 & 9 December). With the staterooms decorated in stunning Victorian style and cast in oh-so romantic candlelight, it promises to be a magnificent sight to behold.   Watch the cooks in the Old Kitchen as they prepare the Christmas feast and meet the traditionally clothed Victorian characters who will be filling the hall with storytelling, dancing, carol singing and tales from Christmas past; while Father Christmas welcomes children each with their own special gift.  Visit the Victorian traders selling Christmas gifts and crafts in the Bygones Museum and courtyard and indulge in tasty refreshments at The Stables Café, with mulled wine and tempting festive treats.

The lovely fellows at Leeds Castle are proud to present Christmas Past (12 -23 Dec) - a glorious celebration of the Victorian Christmas.  Come and see the incredible illuminated Woodland Walk and prepare to be amazed!  Glorious food, shops, stalls, fabulous gifts, Christmas carols, a Victorian train, Santa Claus and more.

Treasure Houses of England

• The Treasure Houses of England are 10 of the most magnificent palaces, houses and castles in England today. Together they attract in excess of 2.8 million visitors annually.

• Members are Beaulieu, Blenheim Palace, Burghley House, Castle Howard, Chatsworth, Harewood, Hatfield House, Holkham Hall, Leeds Castle and Woburn Abbey.

• One of the most compelling features of the Treasure Houses of England is that they all offer the visitor a living history. Most are still homes to the great families who have owned them for generations. Others keep their heritage alive by re-creating scenes and events that have dominated and shaped England from the 9th century to the present day.

• Between them they house some of the most important art collections in the world with famous works from artists such as Van Dyck and Gainsborough. The connoisseur of fine furniture, porcelain and china will find priceless examples of Chippendale, Wedgwood and Meissen. 

• Each house is an architectural masterpiece surrounded by beautiful parklands and gardens.

For more information visit www.treasurehouses.co.uk

Maids Head Hotel, Norwich, Norfolk - Seasonal Dinner, Bed & Breakfast Offer

Book a room at the Maids Head Hotel, including dinner and full breakfast for two people and you will get a bottle of Prosecco and chocolates in your room on arrival. Book 2-nights or more and receive a complimentary upgrade during your stay or a complimentary bottle of House wine with dinner each night.

Full pre-payment is required at time of booking. This offer is non-refundable and non-transferable.

Available: 1 Jun 2012 to 1 Nov 2012

Minimum stay: 1 night(s)

From £129.00 Per room per night, Dinner, Bed and Breakfast

Offer Terms & Conditions: Full pre-payment is required at time of booking. This offer is non-refundable and non-transferable. Offer is subject to availability. Prices are per room, per night, for 2 people in a standard room, unless otherwise stated. Minimum 1-night stay. Dinner allocation of £25 per person.

For more information please visit http://www.classicbritishhotels.com/?l=offers.detail&id=1001268_22033

Wine Tasting at The Maids Head Hotel, Norwich, Norfolk

CLASSIC BRITISH HOTELS
Wine Tasting at The Maidshead

For all those wine lovers we have a weekend break not to be missed arrive at the hotel on Friday 21st September stay in one of our feature rooms and enjoy wine tasting experience.

Discover fine wines with our Wine Director and after the wine tasting enjoy a Norfolk Cheese platter with a bottle of wine selected by you from the wine tasting.

Your break includes a feature bedroom, Wine tasting event, Cheese board supper and bottle of wine for £150 based on 2 adults sharing a room. A saving of £64 as this package retails at £214 if booked individually.

Book extra nights inclusive of full English breakfast at £95 per room per night.

Available: 21 Sep 2012 to 21 Sep 2012

Minimum stay: 1 night(s)

From £150.00 Per room per night, Dinner, Bed and Breakfast

Offer Terms & Conditions: subject to availability, full pre-payment is required (non refundable and non-transferable).

For more information please visit:  http://www.classicbritishhotels.com/?l=offers.detail&id=1001268_25453

The Best Beaulieu!

Glorious sunshine, soaring temperatures and packed event fields combined to make this year’s autojumble, held on the 8th and 9th September, one of the most memorable and enjoyable to date. Motoring enthusiasts from all over Europe and beyond flocked into the picturesque grounds of the National Motor Museum, for the 46th International Autojumble, which this year had a real festival atmosphere.

Total visitor numbers over the weekend were 38,352, matching the best numbers in recent years. Although at capacity for stands in the past few years, the Events team managed to find a few extra spaces to accommodate late entries, with a final number of 2,419 stands. This included 217 cars for sale on the Beaulieu Arena and a record number of classic cars for sale in the Dealermart.

Beaulieu’s Events Manager, Judith Maddox said: “Following on from the London Olympics, which have been declared the best ever held, many visitors to the show were heard to say that this was the best Beaulieu Autojumble to date.”

Despite economic uncertainty in Europe, overseas exhibitors were again well represented with a larger than usual contingent coming from Northern and Southern Ireland.  As usual, many different languages were to be heard on the event fields during the weekend with English by no means in the majority.

The warm summer Saturday evening encouraged visitors to stay late and exhibitors to stay open beyond the show closing time. Sunday was another brisk trading day, particularly for larger motoring items, and the free delivery service to the car parks for bulky items was again much in demand as was the onward dispatch service provided by Easy Logistics.

The fine weather brought an increase in Sunday’s Trunk Trader numbers (always weather dependent!), with exhibitors and visitors alike rummaging through the booty for hidden gems.

The Automart had an eclectic range of vehicles for sale, from restoration projects such as a 1960s cream E-Type Jaguar to a mint condition 1965 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud lll with an asking price of £34,950 and a Mercedes Benz 600 SEL at £13,950 with just 14,000 on the clock and one careful owner – the Prime Minister of Dubai.

Other highlights included a 1937 Peugeot 402 for £14,850, a stunning 1995 Morgan Plus 8 in cream with just 17,400 miles on the clock on sale for £33,500 and a 1997 Lotus 7, being sold by long-time autojumbler, Norman Brown, for £17,000.

A clutch of BMW Isetta bubble cars also drew a lot of attention, one in particular, a 1961 model,  had been lovingly restored by its owner over a period of 22 years and was on sale for offers over £12,500.  By the end of the show a good proportion of cars were displaying ‘SOLD’ signs.

One of the highlights of the Bonhams Auction, held on Saturday, was the sale of the entire contents of the Exmoor Classic Car Museum, a specialist museum located in Porlock, Somerset, which sold for a total of £667,128. Every lot in the collection of 10 cars, 13 motorcycles and assorted automobilia sold, with the top lots a 1927 Bugatti Type 40 Roadster (£149,340), a 1972 Ferrari ‘Dino’ 246GTS Spider (£144,860), and a 1923 Rolls Royce 20hp Doctor’s Coupe (£57,500). 

Outside the collection a striking red-and-black 1938 Delage D6-70 Tourer first owned by 1940s screen icon Margaret Lockwood (1916 – 1990) realised £51,750. The top-selling lot was a 1925 Bentley 3/4½-litre Speed Model Red Label Tourer, which achieved £140,000 on the hammer.

Another highlight was the sale of a 1962 Ferrari 250GTE 2+2 Series 2 Coupe project, coachwork by Pininfarina. Offered in ‘barn find’ condition for restoration, the car sold for £82,140 – more than four times its highest pre-sale estimate – to a UK telephone bidder.

Tim Schofield, Director of the Bonhams Motor Car Department, said: “We were privileged to offer Stephen Johns’ collection for sale at Beaulieu and we were delighted to see it achieve the prices it did. The Beaulieu auction was another huge success, with over 93% of lots sold and a record hammer price just short of £2.6 million.”

The winners of this year’s Best Stand were SU Carburetters – the name may sound familiar, as this is the second year running that they have won the award. The Salisbury based family business run by John Burnett and his sons, Mark, Jamie and Andy specialises in S.U & Amal carburettors, fuel pumps, service kits and spares. The stand was imaginatively designed to look like a bombed 1940s pub, ‘The Skinners Arms’, which even included an ambulance –complete with casualty -  and original photographs of the Skinner family, who founded SU Carburetters. They were also commended by the judges for their professionalism and outstanding customer service.

Lord Montagu presented the Burnetts with a trophy donated by Lolly Starnes, in memory of her father, Terry Lee, a keen autojumbler who spent his life looking for rare items of interest. In addition to the trophy, they once again receive a free stand at next year’s International Autojumble.

It was particularly noticeable this year that a number of stand-holders had put a lot of thought into the theming and decoration of their stalls, which greatly added to the fun and enjoyment of the event. Perhaps this is something to build on for future years...

Gary Stretton, editor of show sponsor, Classics Monthly said:”It is indicative of the international Autojumble’s reputation that it can always deliver with a strong attendance and it was a welcome end of season boost for exhibitors who have had a difficult year of poor weather and cancelled events.”

The International Autojumble 2013 has been provisionally scheduled for the 7th & 8th September. These dates will be confirmed as soon as possible, please check the Beaulieu website www.beaulieuevents.co.uk nearer the time.

The celebrated adventuress who went from a childhood at Holkham to being the wife of a Bedouin Sheikh

Copyright Jane Digby

The fascinating life of the celebrated adventuress Jane Digby who spent her early years at Holkham, but who went on to fall in love with an Austrian prince and then spent the later part of her life married to a Bedouin Sheikh will be the subject of a  lecture at Holkham for a Norfolk charity on September 28.

The Norfolk Churches Trust is hosting the event at Holkham where Mary S Lovell, author of Jane Digby’s biography, A Scandalous Life, will  give a unique and fully illustrated two-part talk about this celebrated adventuress.

In the first part Mary will provide a potted history of Jane Digby's fascinating story, which is told in full in her biography .In the second part of the programme Mary will explain how she researched and uncovered Jane's story over a period of some years, using as a guide, Jane's own diaries to which she was given unprecedented access by the Digby family. This search led Mary from Minterne House in Dorset to Holkham and to various homes of Jane's young married life in the London area, when she was the feted young wife of a Cabinet Minister, Lord Ellenborough in the days of the Regency.

After a love affair with an Austrian prince ruined her reputation and caused a sensational divorce, Jane was forced to leave England and her path led her through the capitals of Europe such as Munich where she was the ‘cherami’ of King Ludwig of Bavaria, and became the wife of a Baron before eloping with a Corfiote count when her husband and lover duelled at the roadside to keep her. From there the trail led through Corfu, Athens and Italy. Eventually, in 1992 the research took Mary to Syria where Jane had gone 140 years earlier in search of the best Arabian horses. Here Jane's story ended after she fell in love and married a Bedouin Sheikh and lived, more or less happily ever after until her death in 1881, by then the respected matriarch of her tribe.

Jane had many adventures along the way and Mary has had a number of adventures of her own in researching Jane's story. She has offered to share them with the audience and will be happy to sign paperback copies of the book, which will be on sale after the event.

The lecture will take place in the Saloon at Holkham Hall and canapés and wine will be served in the Statue Gallery.  Tickets for the evening cost £30 each and are available by contacting the Holkham Ticket Office Tel: 01328 713111 or for more information visit www.holkham.co.uk