The Abbey Blog
The Festival – Cheltenham Racecourse
Jump racing’s biggest festival comes to Cheltenham Racecourse during the first half of March, the finest horses and jockeys will be ‘chomping at the bit’ to make racing history. The festival commences with Champion Day, featuring the Stan James Champion Hurdle, and six further races, including the Fighting Fifth Hurdle, the International Hurdle and the Champion Hurdle trial, along with the atmosphere of first day racing; this is a must for all racing fans. Ladies Day is on 11th March. A Milliner’s dream, hats of all sizes, shape and colour will be on show, and along with the Betway Queen...
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Antiques & Collectors Fair
The Severn Hall is the location for one of the areas favourite events, the Antiques & Collectors Fairs which takes place on Sunday 8th March. This is the perfect opportunity to buy some rare and exquisite pieces of history and with over 150 exhibitors all in one hall you can expect a wide variety of pieces on offer, perfect for that special ‘personal’ gift for a loved one, so much better than a commercial mass produced item from your local shopping centre! The Fair has a very relaxed atmosphere, which is enhanced by the rural surroundings, where you can browse...
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Classic Commercial Show
If you can’t wait for the latest Classic & Vintage Commercials magazine to hit the newsagent shelves then you will definitely not want to miss the Classic Commercial Vehicles event taking place at the Three Counties Showground in Worcestershire on Saturday 7th March in Wye Hall. Priced at a reasonable £8 per adult (under 15’s go free), tickets can be purchased on-line here. It is THE show for classic and commercial vehicle enthusiasts, glorious names from the heyday of road haulage when home-produced vehicles dominated the roads including popular names such as: Dennis, Leyland, Bristol, Jensen, and Ford. So whether...
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Creative Craft Show at Severn Hall
If your New Year’s resolution was to take up a new hobby then the Stitch and Creative Craft show at Severn Hall (entrance via Yellow Gate) between 26th and 28th February is just the place to be. The show features all the latest in craft trends and ideas and caters for the complete beginner to experts in their fields. Crafts – such as cross stitch, card making, embroidery, knitting, patchwork, beading, painting, mosaics and decoupage – are amongst the many areas covered. Interactive workshops and expert tuition are on hand throughout the day and there will be demonstrations for you...
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Rugby World Cup 2015
Kingsholm Stadium welcomes the IRB Rugby World Cup 2015 this September. Rugby has been played here since 1900, when Billy Bancroft led Wales to a 13-3 victory over England, cementing itself as one of the most historical grounds of all time. Kingsholm Stadium has also been host to several other memorable games such as New Zealand back in 1991, scoring eight tries against the USA thanks to a hat-trick from Terry Wright, and again in 2000 against Lebanon. The main grandstand has been developed in the last few years and now has the capacity for 16,500 spectators; it is also...
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Classic Car & Bike Autojumble
Classic car and bike enthusiasts will be in their element this January with the 17th Annual show held at Three Counties Showground, Malvern Worcestershire (entrance through the brown gates). Last year over 1500 enthusiasts assembled to view over 80 pitches full of classic cars and bikes and purchase parts. The unique aspect of this show is that you can drive around the site trading from your car, so no hiking that Zenith carburettor around the field! So not only can you delight in the vehicles on show, but you can also sell any spare parts you may have, to make...
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Christmas in Worcestershire
The historic town of Great Malvern comes alive at this time of year with lots of free entertainment, shows and Christmas fairs. So whether you are looking for a fun-packed day of adventure or a relaxing day of culture we have it all. On Saturday 29th November, Christmas begins with an afternoon of fun planned in Malvern Centre; Santa will be in his grotto, a Victorian stilt walker will be performing and there will be many fairground rides and attractions to keep you entertained. Face painting for the little ones, arts and crafts stalls for gift inspirations and lots of...
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Worcester Christmas Fair
There are many Victorian-themed events taking place during the Christmas period; however, the most authentic and largest Christmas Fair takes place in the West Midlands, in the picturesque town of Worcester. What better way to begin your festive season than with a bag of roasted chestnuts and a glass of mulled wine, whilst listening to live barrel organ music under the stunning backdrop of Worcester Cathedral? If you close your eyes you could almost be back in the 1800’s! In its 22nd year, the festival runs from 27th to 30th November with hundreds of visitors returning annually to get inspirational,...
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Guy Fawkes Celebrations
Celebrate the exposure of one of the most nefarious plots against the government this November and watch the effigies of Guy Fawkes glow in our winter skies with the many firework displays in and around Great Malvern. The first of the two major firework displays in Gloucester takes place at Gloucester Docks on 1st November; known as the Big Bang Fireworks Festival it certainly lives up to its name. Laser displays, music road shows and side shows compliment the explosion of colours and sounds promised at this popular, charity-based event. On 8th November get yourself over to Cheltenham Racecourse where...
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Worcester Ghost Hunt
Are you feeling exceptionally brave this Halloween? If so, then an overnight ghost hunt is a must at Britain’s most haunted location, The Commandery. This Saxon chapel, located beside Sidbury gate, is steeped in history having served as a hospital for over 500 years. The headquarters for Charles II during the Battle of Worcester, it was also the place where his Royal Commander in Chief, the Duke of Hamilton and his men died from wounds suffered in the conflict. It is said that the Duke’s spirit now haunts the Solar room according to a recent event where a visitor, arriving...
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Tips for your Big Day
At the Abbey Hotel in Malvern not only do we have beautiful grounds for your special day, but also a dedicated wedding co-ordinator to put you at ease throughout the whole process. Planning a wedding can be stressful, and with years of experience in the hotel industry we’ve seen a lot of weddings. We’ve compiled a list of our top tips to make the day go smoother for you. These tips are not only for brides-to-be, but also for all those helping with the wedding; as they take on just as much of the stress as the bride and groom....
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The Morgan Motor Company Tour
Malvern, known for its truly magnificent countryside has another treasure to offer tourists and enthusiasts alike, The Morgan Motor Company. Henry Fredrick Stanley Morgan, affectionately known as HFS to his friends, began by opening a garage business before going on to design the Morgan Three-Wheeler, which he put into production. To improve sales, HFS entered his car into the MCC London to Exeter trial, won a Gold medal and thus the Morgan Car began its popularity. Over the last 100 years, Morgan cars have developed from the iconic 4-4 to the famous Morgan Plus 8 progressing on to the new...
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The Times Cheltenham Literary Festival 2014
“Literature is one of the most interesting and significant expressions of humanity.” Whether your literary interests are for curiosities of P.T. Barnum or the classics of Shakespeare, The Times Cheltenham Literary Festival is an oasis for all. Shami Chakrabarti, Amit Chaudhur and Sophie Hannah are amongst the Guest Directors of the festival, which runs from 3rd October till 12th. The Satanic Verses author, Salman Rushdie, and Margaret Atwood, author of The Handmaid’s Tale, will be attending as will David Mitchell who, just ahead of the Festival, will be releasing his new book The Bone Clocks; let’s hope this leads to another...
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Chedworth Roman Villa
Visit Chedworth’s famous Roman Villa in Yanworth, Gloucestershire, and discover how a then thousand-year-old villa was discovered in 1864 by a Victorian gamekeeper and how he unearthed the first clues that would eventually lead to the spectacular find underground. Experience how the Romans, some of the wealthiest of that time, lived, worked and socialised at this 4th Century Villa. Wonder at the intact, brilliantly coloured mosaic floors, the bath houses and under-floor heating – all inventions brought to Britain by the Romans. And with a further dig just having taken place, find out first-hand just what new discoveries have been...
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The Falconry Weekend 2014
For all you bird lovers and twitchers out there, the International Centre for Birds of Prey in Newent is holding its fourth Falconry Weekend, two fantastic days of displays, competitions, activities and seminars. The ICBP are known for being the centre of excellence when it comes to training and breeding birds of prey. They care deeply for the conservation of species and rehabilitation of birds brought to them for their expertise; and is also home to one of the world’s largest private collection of birds of prey! Amongst the exhibitors are: The World of Falconry who will be giving talks...
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Three Choirs Festival at Worcester Cathedral
Worcester Cathedral, built on the banks of the River Severn, is an imposing structure reflecting every type of English architecture from Norman to Gothic styles. Built between 1084 and 1504, its famous Norman crypt contains the body of King John, and if the building looks vaguely familiar to you, that is because the west façade can be seen on the back of our £20 notes alongside Sir Edward Elgar. Worcester Cathedral is the base for the three-day Three Choirs Festival, which claims to be Europe’s oldest; suggestions are that the first festival took place in 1709! Thousands of visitors from...
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Upton Blues Festival
What a feast of Blues Upton has to offer from the 18th to the 20th of July. The Upton Blues Festival increases in popularity each year. Now in its 14th year, Upton is swamped with Jazz enthusiasts from all over the world who come to enjoy over a hundred gigs, playing music from the Best of British Blues to New Orleans acoustic, and all of it for free! The festival has become so well known that major international acts travel from far and wide to perform alongside our favourite UK bands. Some of the acts which will be performing include:...
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The Cotswold Show 2014
If you love animals, then this year’s Cotswold Show at Cirencester Park is a must for your family. See the Shetland Pony National, where these miniatures of the equine world jump scaled-down steeplechase fences in the hope to be taken forward to the London International Horse Show at Olympia later this year. Our canine friends aren’t missed out either, there are sheepdog displays, gundog training, and even a fun dog show where you can enter your own dog in to competitions such as: Most Handsome Dog, Prettiest Bitch, Waggiest Tail and “the Dog that the judges would most like to...
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Upton Jazz Festival
Guests at the Abbey Hotel are never short of artistic diversions to enjoy. For example, the rhythms of New Orleans will be transported to Upton from the 27th to the 29th June, where you can enjoy over sixty concerts covering a plethora of music genres, such as Gypsy/Classical Jazz, Dance, Street, Gospel and Swing, to create a festival full of experience and atmosphere. The New Orleans Jazz Band, Alan Barnes and Craig Milverton & his Trio are but a few of our best-loved musicians who will be performing over the three days, from midday until late. That’s not all; festival-goers can enjoy...
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The Great Malvern Food Festival
Bon vivants and foodies alike will be in a fervour over the second Bank Holiday weekend in May, and you will find no better location to be than the Abbey Hotel, at the heart of all that is on offer on Sunday 25th & Monday 26th May. The Malvern Munch Food Walk is a leisurely six-mile walk around the Malvern Hills with the lure of some exceptional local food and drink whilst listening to live music at stops along the way. Tickets are reasonably priced at £20 and available from the Malvern Tourist Information Centre. The walk, which is a...
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Worcester Motor Festival 2014
Only 20 minutes from the Abbey Hotel lies Worcester Town Centre, the venue for our popular Worcester Motor Festival. In its 8th year, the festival provides some real treats for the motor enthusiast. Taking place on Saturday 17th May, 30 of the latest models will be on display including the brand new Ford Kuga and the Fiat 500L, as well as more luxurious and traditional cars, which will be brought to you by the Malvern-based Morgan Motor Company. If your passion is for a Triumph Herald or a Ford Thunderbird, there will be a fantastic range of over sixty vintage...
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Counterfeit Sixties Show at Huntingdon Hall
With its picturesque gardens, the Abbey Hotel is the ideal setting to explore the surrounding counties of Worcestershire, Gloucestershire and Herefordshire. There are many historical sites to visit including the close-by Malvern Museum (previously Malvern Priory and Gatehouse) which is steeped in history. Dating back to 1480, many historical points of interest remain, including the Porters Squint, used by the porter who monitored all the daily movements of people and goods to the Priory estate. It can still be seen in the archway today. After Henry VIII’s dissolution of the monasteries, only Malvern’s Priory Church and Gatehouse survived. It was...
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A day in the life of an HR Administrator
“What do you do?” A question I get asked on countless occasions as my role is rather varied and I get to wear “many hats!” As the Human Resources Administrator at the Abbey Hotel in Great Malvern, a typical day for me includes … I’m focussing on the preparation of an induction programme for a new employee joining The Abbey next week. It’s essential to be organised and I give careful consideration, in liaison with the management team, to guarantee specific needs of individuals are met. Our Company Induction offers a warm welcome to Sarova Hotels and The Abbey ensuring...
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