Festival returns for 2011!!

ONE of the UK’s biggest maritime festivals is to return to Liverpool in 2011.  The new look Mersey River Festival will return for the first time since 2005 to be part of the city’s spectacular On The Waterfront celebrations.

This year’s On The Waterfront series of events brought in more than £1.2 million to the city’s economy, and it’s hoped that by adding the River Festival next year, this figure will rocket.

This celebratory event will take place from the 8 September to 16 September 2011 and will feature a royal naval visit, historic Tall Ships and Cunard Cruise Liners including the new Queen Elizabeth and the Queen Mary 2.

The Waterfront will come alive with aerobatic displays, stunning street theatre, a bistro village, colourful bunting, and rustic farmers market, and swing and jazz sounds from the 1930’s will belt out from the Big Band stage – all adding to the bustling atmosphere across the Albert Dock, Pier Head and the Cruise Liner Terminal, bringing a taste of New York to the third On The Waterfront programme.

Leader of Liverpool City Council, Councillor Joe Anderson, said:- “The Mersey River Festival was always hugely popular, and attracted hundreds of thousands of people every year. That’s why I made it a priority to bring it back.  Events like this are vital for our economy, generating millions as visitors flock to the city spending money in our restaurants, cafes, shops and hotels. Since the last festival took place, our iconic waterfront has been transformed and is now looking more majestic than ever and I’ll proud to showcase it to visitors from all over the world.  We’re at the early stages of putting the event together but I’m positive it will be a huge success and a welcome addition to the city’s cultural calendar, and it will boost the local economy.”

The last Mersey River Festival took place in 2005 and attracted more than 300,000 people.  It will be funded by Liverpool City Council in partnership with European Regional Development Funding.  And this isn’t the only major maritime event taking place on Liverpool’s historic waterfront next year.

The inaugural Liverpool Boat Show takes place from 29 April to 8 May 2011 in the historic setting of the city’s Albert, Canning and Salthouse Docks and is expected to attract around 400,000 visitors.  It has already attracted scores of exhibitors including big brand names such as Sunseeker, Princess Motor Yachts and Fairline, as well as a host of legend yachts including the Americas Cup Challenger Sceptre and Liverpool’s favourite Tall Ships.

Liverpool Boat Show is a must-attend event, not just for dedicated sailors and watersports enthusiasts, but for anyone looking for a good day out with friends and family.

The programme of entertainment includes yacht and powerboat master-classes, wake-boarding, power boat racing, water-skiing, championship sailing and much more.   For more information and to book tickets visit the Liverpool Boat Show website.

Cheryl Cole and Johnny Depp get men and women revved up for a road trip......

AS winter takes hold and car journeys become more troublesome, new research has revealed the fantasy road trip drivers would rather be enjoying.  Car insurance specialist, elephant.co.uk, questioned 3,000 motorists about what would make their perfect road trip in terms of ideal passengers, cars and locations.

Cheryl Cole was voted the celebrity men would most like to accompany them on their fantasy road trip, while for women, the chosen eye-candy was Johnny Depp.  Although the dream list of passengers chosen by men was dominated by eye-catching beauties, there were some more unusual choices in the line up as well.

General knowledge guru Stephen Fry took the number 2 spot for men, with Jeremy Clarkson and The Stig joining Cole, Fry and Hollywood stunner, Megan Fox in the top 5.

Stephen Fry came 2nd in the women’s list as well, however women also opted for their fair share of desirable male celebrities, with the likes of Ewan McGregor and Robert Pattison joining Depp, Fry and funny-man Peter Kay in the top 5.

elephant.co.uk managing director, Brian Martin, commented:- “As the snows causes havoc on our roads and we’re sat, cold and fed up in our cars, what better way to take our minds off the situation than to think about where, and with who, you would rather be?  However, it seems for both men and women it’s not just about having someone attractive in the car with you, but drivers are also looking for an interesting and stimulating road trip companion as well.”

When it came to who men and women would least like to join them, the choice was unanimous. Tabloid favourite, Katie Price took the top spot for both men and women, and, despite leaving number 10 more than 3 years ago, Tony Blair was voted the 2nd least favourite passenger for both genders.

For men, Kerry Katona, current PM David Cameron and Pete Doherty made up the top 5, while for women it was Pete Doherty, Kerry Katona and Paris Hilton.

Brian Martin, continued:- “There was definitely more agreement between men and women on who they would least like to take on a road trip. 8 names featured on both lists however James May and Alan Carr only figured in the men’s and Wayne Rooney and Russell Brand just in the women’s.”

When choosing the ideal car for the road trip, men and women agreed on an Aston Martin as their dream wheels. This was followed by a Bugatti and Ferrari for men and a camper van and Ferrari for women.  But, there was a slight difference of opinion when it came to where they’d want to take their fantasy road trip and the American West Coast came out on top for men, but Las Vegas for women.