Bishops Castle

Hereford Cathedral has bid a digital farewell to The Very Revd Michael Tavinor, Dean of Hereford, after 19 years of leadership and ministry. The Dean had originally planned to lead a series of farewell services on Sunday 31 January but, due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, those plans were thwarted. Instead, the cathedral community and many around the county came together online on Sunday morning with a pre-recorded video service sharing memories of Michael’s time in Hereford. As well as messages of thanks from members of the cathedral community, the Archbishop of Canterbury sent his best wishes to the Dean via a special video message. The Very Revd Michael Tavinor said: “It’s difficult for us all, parting at this really challenging time, but I think it’s important to look back together at all the good things of the last nineteen years. When we do so, we’ll recall events, projects, sadnesses and joys, and the cathedral community has been second to none in its faithfulness, encouragement, support and loving care throughout all of them. “I shall never cease to be thankful for the friendship I have received from so many who have contributed to cathedral life, and have made my ministry […]

We may be living in lockdown but there are plenty of great things that you can do. From virtual tours to online learning, winter wellbeing sessions to great kids activities. Top that up with some terrific takeaways and let’s make the best of it. We’re here to provide you with some lockdown inspiration in Herefordshire, we hope you enjoy it! VIRTUAL TOURS Virtual Distillery Tour and Tasting Experience, Chase Distillery, Preston Wynne Join the Chase Distillery team for a virtual tour and tutored tasting of Chase Distillery. You will be guided through an interactive and fun tour exploring how they make their spirits from field to bottle. There will also be an opportunity to sample their delicious range of spirits with a tutored tasting plus a cocktail and a G&T to sip throughout. Sounds great! Press here for more information and to book a slot.   Virtual Tour of Hereford College of Arts Ever wanted to see inside the wonderful Hereford College of Arts? Well now you can. Take a virtual tour of the campus, facilities, studios and workshops. It’s great for those who are looking to study there soon or perhaps just reminiscing about the good old days. Press here for more information.   TERRIFIC TAKEOUTS Cooking Up a […]

Taking in the market towns of Leominster and Kington, North Herefordshire’s unique 40 mile round trail of beautiful black and white villages oozes charm and history. Perfect to drive, cycle or even walk. With attractive streams and rivers, picture-book settlements, curious buildings, superb tearooms, pubs, restaurants, galleries and scenic views. The villages are as special today as when they first evolved. The beautiful black and white trail is one of our favourite things to do in Herefordshire. With a wonderful variety of characterful bed & breakfasts or holiday cottages dotted along the way, why not make a weekend of it. Weobley (pronounced Webbly) A thriving hub of quintessentially English village life. You can follow Weobley’s Heritage Trail and uncover its Saxon origins including the ‘Throne’ a large 400-year-old building. Here it is purported that King Charles I spent the night. Look out for the outstanding Norman church whose spire can be seen for miles around. Or seek out the distinctive magpie sculpture ‘Magnus’ by renowned artist Walenty Pytel which sits in the middle of the village. You’ll receive a warm welcome in the village tearoom, restaurants and pubs too. Plus there are various cycle routes and walks to enjoy straight […]

National Monument Against Violence and Aggression is coming to Hereford The Knife Angel is coming to Hereford in June 2021 for 28 Days, hosted by Hereford Cathedral. The Knife Angel is a stunning 27ft, 3.5 ton, sculpture of an angel made out of 100,000 confiscated knives received from 43 Police Forces across the UK. Originating from The British Ironwork Centre in Oswestry and created by sculptor Alfie Bradley, it has been on tour of towns and cities around Britain raising awareness of the issues of knife crime and all forms of violence and aggression. Hosting the Knife Angel shows that Herefordshire residents recognise that society as a whole has a unified responsibility to tackle and prevent violent crime, resonating with all of us as we listen to daily news and reports of violent crime, lives ruined and lost. It is an intergenerational focal point to question these senseless losses and support the police and schools education programmes. To educate children, young people and adults about the catastrophic effect violence and aggression has on individuals, families and the community. The sculpture also stands as a memorial to lives ruined and lost. During the Knife Angel’s visit there will be a series of workshops and interactive […]

The Worlds Oldest Classical Music Festival will return in 2021. The Three Choirs has been awarded funding as part of the Government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund (CRF) to help face the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic and to ensure they have a sustainable future, the Culture Secretary has announced. The festival is one of 1,385 cultural and creative organisations across the country receiving urgently needed support. £257 million of investment has been announced today as part of the very first round of the Culture Recovery Fund grants programme being administered by Arts Council England. Further rounds of funding in the cultural and heritage sector are due to be announced over the coming weeks. The Three Choirs Festival celebrated its 300-year anniversary in 2015. For eight days each summer over a thousand performers bring musicmaking to the alternating host cities of Gloucester, Hereford and Worcester on a scale rarely seen in the region, and the organisation has a growing programme of community participation activity taking place beyond the festival. Bringing together voluntary and professional musicians of all ages in front of an international audience of thousands, the festival is a vibrant part of the UK’s rich choral and classical music […]

Enjoy autumn in all its glory at Queenswood Country Park & Arboretum this half-term The Country Park in the heart of Herefordshire covers over 170 acres of woodland and offers both quiet spaces to enjoy autumn’s beauty and wildlife and family fun with new Pumpkin and Gruffalo Trails. Queenswood is famed for its autumn colours as through October and November the trees in the 47-acre Arboretum within the Country Park take on shades from bright reds and warm golds to rich burgundies. The Autumn Garden is the star of the show now with a collection of Japanese maples as well as rowans, tupelos and liquidamber. There is much more to discover, however: the dark, cathedral-like Redwood Grove grows more imposing in the autumn dusk, the orchard sparkles with ripening fruits while the Commemorative Woodland offers a contemplative space amidst the falling leaves. A free Autumn Tree Trail is available from the Visitor Centre or downloaded from the Queenswood website. The Arboretum is surrounded by a further 123 acres of native woodland, offering more a more subtle but equally captivating autumn experience. This wider woodland offers a quiet retreat even when the heart of the site is busy with visitors and […]

Thousands of children were disappointed that they were unable to visit Santa in his grotto at Oakchurch Farm Shop, Staunton-on-Wye, this year due to social distancing guideline restrictions. It was also a devastating blow for Hereford Lions Club who organise the popular Father Christmas activity for the community and raise significant funds through voluntary donations. So, the Lions were delighted when Oakchurch offered to personally donate the £4,000 that they would have collected at the store during the run up to Christmas. Oakchurch Farm Shop owner, Nick Price, said “Hosting Santa each year together with Hereford Lions Club is an absolutely privilege and we wanted to recognise the outstanding work the club does in the community. We look forward to Santa being with us in his grotto next Christmas.” Lion John Edmunds, the Santa team leader said “All our fund raising events during the year had to be abandoned, so we are grateful for the much welcomed gesture by Oakchurch.” ESL says it certainly is the season of goodwill in Herefordshire! How wonderful. Oakchurch Farm Shop is at Staunton-on-Wye, just 10 minutes from Hereford on the A438 Brecon Road.   Picture: Oakchurch owner, Nick Price (left) with Hereford Lion, John […]

It’s almost autumn half-term, the weather is still clement and there are lots of great activities to enjoy this October in Herefordshire. So why not book the family in for an experience day or two to make sure you make the most of the break. In readiness we’ve put together eight great half term activities for you and the family to discover. So what are you waiting for? The Viking Games, Middle Cefn, The Stables, Hereford HR2 0JH Head out into Herefordshire’s very own Viking country the ‘Golden Valley’ and bask in the gorgeous surroundings while you and the family immerse yourselves in some traditional Nordic games. But don’t worry they’ve all been adapted for the twenty-first century and are very entertaining. You can unleash your competitive Viking streak and try your hand at Axe Throwing, Archery, Bullrings, Kubb, Molkky or Stige? Who in your family will be crowned the true Viking warrior? If you prefer paintballing or laser clay shooting then you’ll be pleased to hear you can do these activities too. The Viking Games is a fantastic day out that everyone will enjoy. www.thevikinggames.co.uk Queenswood Country Park and Arboretum, Dinmore Hill Leominster HR6 0PY The amazing 123 acre […]

60 cars, 113 miles, £11,000 raised and Herefordshire’s incredible foodie highlights enjoyed on August Bank Holiday Sunday during the High Sheriff’s Foodie Tour of Herefordshire; a fundraiser that brought a love of cars, food and glorious Herefordshire together. This year’s High Sheriff, Tricia Thomas, carefully staged one of the county’s first main socially distanced events, which included a diverse range of 60 cars all special to their owners, from vintage to classic models and brand spanking new supercars, on a 100 mile scenic tour of Herefordshire, meticulously planned with foodie stops. Starting with a Hereford City breakfast at The Green Dragon Hotel, morning coffee was then taken at Michelin Star Pensons Restaurant Stoke Bliss where people could also take in the wonderful three week Out of Nature art exhibition showing in the courtyard, buildings and fascinating kitchen gardens, which opened the same weekend in aid of The Cart Shed charity. Please note that anyone wishing to visit the exibition to see the incredible work of unique and talented artists, should do so by prebooking tickets via the website. Then it was off through the picturesque Herefordshire countryside to a gourmet picnic lunch in the grounds of Lemore Manor Eardisley, where lunch […]

The Foodie Tour of Herefordshire is a fabulous Fundraiser for the High Sheriff’s Fund for distribution to Herefordshire charities, and highlighting hospitality and food producers of Herefordshire. Working to Covid-19 guidelines, limited to 50 cars of any kind, it will take in 100miles+ of glorious Herefordshire countryside with refreshments/food at each venue, inlcuding The Green Dragon Hotel, Penson’s Michelin Star Restaurant, Lemore Manor, The Haybarn at Dulas, and a mystery finish.   There will be a fabulous foodie raffle too. Here’s what it’s all about …. Sunday 30th August 2020. It’s all about Herefordshire and Food and Cars, proving much needed support to hospitality venues and food producers in the county, and raising money for the High Sheriff’s Fund (charity no: 1094935) held at Herefordshire Community Foundation. The High Sheriff donates to Herefordshire charities from this fund each March. 100 miles + of scenic tour of Herefordshire (non-competitive) devised by Bill Pardoe Esq. Limited to 50 cars of any type — old, classic, new, vintage, all welcome. Electric cars get £20 of raffle tickets free! 2 occupants max per vehicle from the same household/support bubble – Sorry, we cannot accommodate more than 2 per car. Cars will be sent off […]

With the summer now in full swing it’s time to think about escaping to the countryside and where better than beautiful Herefordshire. It’s full of great self-catering accommodation options, activities and attractions for families and couples to enjoy. So to inspire you we’ve put together nine irresistible rural retreats that sleep up to 6 people and are sure to make your summer staycation one to remember. The Wythall Estate, Walford Ross on Wye Herefordshire HR9 5SD Set within a beautiful country estate location with garden, fresh water lake, wooded grounds and vineyards, the Wythall Estate is simply idyllic. There are two separate, self-contained cottage-style accommodation areas situated in the west wing of the picture perfect Manor house, crammed with character, sleeping 2 and 4 people. Enjoy the peace and quiet of the naturally beautiful grounds and enjoy the abundance of wildlife nearby. Wine Tastings and Vineyard Tours are also available to guests from February through to December. Click here for more information. www.wythallestate.co.uk Holly Lodge, Burley Gate, Hereford, Herefordshire HR1 3QS Holly Lodge is everything you need for a carefree country holiday. This wonderful English Tourist Board 3 star accommodation is the perfect base from which to explore beautiful Herefordshire […]

It has been so wonderful to hear that some of the glorious gardens of Herefordshire are starting to re-open. Once again we will be able to go and enjoy some of the most diverse and treasured gardens and grounds in the UK. We’ve put together a list of those that are now open to the public and will add others as we receive information so do keep coming back to check. Hergest Croft Gardens Kington, HR5 3EG The beautiful gardens of Hergest Croft Gardens have been created over 120 years by four generations of the Banks family and is an absolute delight. Revel in the vastness of the 70 acres of gardens filled with over 5000 rare trees and shrubs. Considered to be one of the finest collections in the British Isles, explore the six distinct themed areas including a huge range of exotic champion trees. With fantastic new sculptures by Rachel Ricketts and Rolf Hook take your time and enjoy every moment. OPEN daily from 11.30am – 5.00pm until Sunday 1 November. There are lots of lovely plants for sale too. Please note the gift shop will be re-opening on 15 June but the tea room remains closed for […]

Herefordshire is brimming with acres of parkland, splashing rivers and budding gardens – so why not unpack your picnic blanket and head out one summer afternoon? July is national picnic month and this is the county to escape to and explore in 2019. We are here to help you decide the best place to spend lazy summer afternoons with friends and family; presenting Herefordshire’s top picturesque picnic spots. Symonds Yat The gateway between south Gloucestershire and Herefordshire, Symonds Yat is famed for its beautiful river scenery, woodland expanses and its challenging rock faces. Canoe along the popular village wildlife spotting and bring along your picnic blankets and sit on the riverside, taking in the view. Sit and ponder the history of the ancient fishing town, or journey to Symonds Yat Rock, which towers 120 metres above the river and is home to resident Peregrine Falcons. https://www.royalforestofdean.info/wye-valley/symonds-yat.shtml Newbridge Farm Park The perfect place to visit with your children from Easter through to the end of September. A combination of fun, adventure and education; this really is a fantastic summer picnic spot for all the family. Bring your sandwiches and squash to one of their outdoor benches and let your children enjoy […]

LOOKING FOR PICTURES FROM THE PAST Local farming family, Ros and Edward Price, are celebrating the 50th Anniversary of their farm shop, Oakchurch, in Staunton-on-Wye. “Yes, it was 50 years ago that my parents started selling pick-your-own strawberries from a little wooden shed on the side of the road on the busy A438 Brecon Road.” Said Nick Price. “Oakchurch Farm Shop has come on a long way since then!” The family want to commemorate this significant milestone year through a picture storyboard on a wall at the farm shop and they’re asking for your help to find old photographs that you’ve taken over the years anywhere in county. It could be of people, places, shows and events, and even family celebrations. “We’re hoping that we might even get some pictures that have been taken here at Oakchurch.” WIN A HEREFORDSHIRE HAMPER As an incentive to get you rummaging through your old photos, Oakchurch Farm Shop are offering one of their luxurious ‘Taste of Herefordshire’ food hampers worth £250 as a draw prize and everyone who supplies a pictures will be entered. “We’d love to see your pictures.” Said Nick. “So please send them to me by email to nick@oakchurch.net. In […]

As part of the Eastern Cloisters Project, Hereford Cathedral will present an evening celebrating love and relationships in the Cloisters for Valentine’s Day. Guests are invited to join staff and volunteers from Hereford Cathedral in College Hall as they share tales of romance, heartbreak, and people going it alone. The format of the evening will be fast paced as the project team will share stories, archive finds and poetry in short ten minute bursts of information as groups travel from discovery to discovery. The Eastern Cloisters Project, which is funded by the National Lottery Heritage fund and other donors, is currently repairing and conserving the College Cloisters. The Cloisters were built in the late 15th century to house the Vicars Choral – twenty-seven men who sang services in the cathedral and lived and studied in the Cloisters, for centuries. During the project, a team of research volunteers and cathedral staff have been investigating the lives of these men and their families. It is this research which will form the content of the evening Sarah Hollingdale, Activity Officer for the Eastern Cloisters Project, says: “We are really looking forward to hosting Love in the Cloisters. We held a similar event last […]

130 public and private sector delegates from across the region met in January at The Green Dragon Hotel in Hereford for The Marches Tourism Forum, to set a new vision and action plan for the economic development of tourism across the Marches region. Eat Sleep Live Herefordshire (Herefordshire’s official Destination Marketing Organisation) was delighted to lead the event alongside the Green Dragon Hotel’s Senior Management team who are determined to revolutionise the region’s tourism economy. Strongly supported by lead sponsors the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), the day-long event focused on all areas of tourism, from culture and heritage, food and drink, eco and values tourism, and festivals and events, culminating in packaging and promotion. The Forum bought together a dream team of speakers, which included  Katrina Michel, former CEO of Visit Cheshire which, during her tenure, increased Cheshire’s tourism economy by 75%; Martin Orbach, founder of Abergavenny Food Festival, Lyndy Cooke who was the MD of Hay Festival for 15 years, Malcolm Bell, CEO of Visit Cornwall and Richard Hammond from Green Traveller Productions. Each chaired a panel on their individual topics and then there was Q&As with the audience, which consisted of a mix of private tourism providers […]

Eastnor Castle to feature on our television screens next Tuesday evening Eastnor Castle, near Ledbury, has enjoyed its fair share of screen time over the years with recent filming projects including an episode of ITV’s Dr Thorne, and filming of the Roy family wedding from Season 1 of HBO’s award-winning series, Succession. Eastnor is set to appear in a slightly different programme next week though when it features in the first episode of ‘An American Aristocrat’s Guide to Great Estates’ on Tuesday 21st January at 8pm on Smithsonian Channel. This brand-new series takes an in-depth and behind-the-scenes look at sprawling estates and castles dotting Britain’s landscape. The programme host, Julie Montagu (Viscountess Hinchingbrooke) ventures into life in a stately home and talks to the families who keep their histories alive. In this hour-long production, Julie discusses some controversial historical anecdotes with James Hervey-Bathurst’s eldest daughter Imogen, visits the mill on the Eastnor Estate to try her hand at producing flour and joins James in polishing his favourite steam engine. A spokesperson for Eastnor Castle said: “We were thrilled to be approached and asked to take part in this television series. We are proud of our standing within Herefordshire and are […]

EVERYONE LOVES A GOOD WASSAIL! One of the jewels in Herefordshire’s crown is cider, its origin, heritage and traditions. With a wealth of inspiring small and larger makers Herefordshire’s ciders are now in demand across the globe and wassailing has become a popular pastime on twelfth night. What’s a Wassail? Wassailing is the special ingredient that goes into Herefordshire cider.  So you may well ask what’s a ‘Wassail’? Well it was a practice first recorded in 1585 and Wassailing (Wassail meaning ‘Good Health or Be Well’) is an Anglo-Saxon custom in cider producing regions of England. So, as Herefordshire produces over half of the UK’s cider, we invite you to take part in this traditional event that blesses the orchards and promotes a good harvest for the coming year. Wassailing, on around Twelfth Night in January, brings many together to drink a concoction of mulled ale, served in huge silver or pewter bowls and mixed with curdled cream, apples, eggs, cloves, ginger, nutmeg and sugar, small pieces of toast are often added and float on the top, its appearance leading some to call the drink ‘Lamb’s Wool’. With a torch light procession between orchards, a wassail King and Queen lead […]

Hereford Cathedral Choir will be singing at Guards Chapel in London on Tuesday 3 December, 6.30 pm as part of a Service for Advent. Since 2010, Hereford Cathedral Perpetual Trust have arranged an annual Advent Service in London at the Royal Military Chapel (Guards’ Chapel) at Wellington Barracks. The service opens with an Act of Remembrance, to the members of the Special Air Service who were killed during the Second World War, before moving into the Advent Prose. Initially developed to celebrate the links that Hereford Cathedral has with local military groups, the service has now become a way for supporters of the cathedral, who work or live in London, to experience Hereford Cathedral close to Christmas. Over the years, many friends and supporters have been welcomed to the Guards’ Chapel including members of the Royal Family and guest readers including, Belinda Lang, Hayley Mills, Larry Lamb and Sir Andrew Motion. This year, Jane Asher and Loyd Grossman will be reading at the service. The event also acts as a fundraiser for the Perpetual Trust who support the choir, educational outreach and continuing restoration of Hereford Cathedral. Glyn Morgan, Chief Executive of the Perpetual Trust, says; “A Service for Advent […]

Hereford Cathedral’s Advent and Christmas programme begins on Saturday 30 November, 1.15 pm with Christmas Sparkle, a free organ concert given by Peter Dyke. Throughout the summer, hundreds of people attend the very popular lunchtime organ concerts given by organists from across the world on the famous Father Willis organ. Christmas Sparkle is the final concert of 2019 and will feature a range of colourful and festive music from across Europe. Peter Dyke, will perform pieces including Dubois’s March of the Three Wise Men (which requires the use of a pencil to hold a note down throughout the piece) and Tchaikovsky’s Dance of the Sugar-Plum Fairy which features the famous and unique Glockenspiel stop. The concert will feature large screen projection so that the audience can see the organist and the organ console, which will be suitably decorated for this festive occasion. Peter Dyke, Assistant Director of Music at Hereford Cathedral, says: “Music is such a valuable and powerful part of the experience of Christmas, giving us heart-warming melodies, treasured memories and a sprinkling of profound emotion. There will be something for everyone at this concert!” Christmas Sparkle begins at 1.15 pm on Saturday 30 November; admission is free with a […]

If you’re looking to give the ones you love the perfect gift for Christmas, something a little different and unique, this year you may wish to consider giving them a gift card or voucher for the gift that keeps on giving later into the year. Herefordshire is full of wonderful attractions, eateries, food and drink experiences and producers who really have something special to offer. Here’s our guide to what’s available this festive season. ATTRACTIONS AND ACTIVITIES Battlelands & Laserclayz Battlelands is a family run activity centre based in the Herefordshire hills offering three great activities; Paintball, Laser Clay Shooting & Splatmaster. If you’re stuck for gifts for a whole family, why not treat them to a day out at this brilliant activity together. You could even join them. A great idea for people who like to break away from their normal routine with an action-packed day out. The great thing is a voucher can be used when the weather get a bit drier and brighter. All group sizes can be accommodated with activities for those who are 8 years upwards. Click here for voucher options www.battlelands.co.uk Eastnor Pottery Remarkable clay and pottery experiences designed to explore and develop creativity […]

‘REFLECTIONS AFTER 50 YEARS IN CRIME’ Sir David Calvert-Smith will reflect on fifty years in crime for this year’s High Sheriff Lecture, which will raise funds for Hereford Cathedral Perpetual Trust and Herefordshire Community Foundation.  Sir David was called to the Bar in 1969 and has led a distinguished career. In 1997 he became a Queen’s Counsel and was the Director of Public Prosecutions from 1998 – 2003 in which time the service dealt with several high profile cases. In 2003 he returned to the Bar, before appointment to the High Court Bench in 2005 before retiring in 2012. He was Chairman of the Parole Board from 2012 -2016, before re-joining as a member in 2017, and continues to sit in the Court of Appeal Criminal Division as a retired judge. His talk will reflect his vast experience in the law, with particular reference to the future of the criminal justice system, the increasing role of victims and legal education. Now in its sixth year, the 2019 The High Sheriff’s Lecture has been arranged by The High Sheriff of Herefordshire, James Hervey-Bathurst CBE DL and The Honorary Recorder of the City of Hereford, His Honour Judge Daniel Pearce-Higgins QC. The […]

SENSATIONAL DISPLAYS, SPARKLERS AND WARMING BONFIRES…. There’s been a crispness in the air, Halloween is looming and the clocks are about to go back. So it’s time for some excitement that will get us away from our cosy hearths. Herefordshire will be hosting some sensational firework displays this autumn, from small village gatherings to more elaborate affairs that will have you and your family whooping with delight. Here’s our round-up of fantastic firework displays in Herefordshire 2019 over the next few weeks. Saturday November 2nd 2019 Hereford Round Table Fireworks Click for more information Sat, Nov 2 | Gates open 5.00pm Fire lighting 6.30pm | Hereford Racecourse | Roman Rd | Hereford HR4 9QU | Tickets £10 Adults, children under 16 FREE. Celebrate the 43rd anniversary of Hereford Round Table Fireworks at Hereford Racecourse, the biggest display in Herefordshire. All proceeds raised will be donated to charitable causes. Ross Lions Club 2019 Bonfire & Firework display Click for more information Sat, Nov 2 | Gates open 6.00pm, Bonfire lit at 7.00pm, Firework display 7.30pm |Ross-on-Wye Rowing Club | Metcalfe Close | Ross-on-Wye HR9 7DD | Tickets £6 Adults & £4 for children or £15 for a family ticket. Burgers, Hot Dogs & Hot […]

Hereford College of Arts Students Show ‘THE WAY’ at Hereford Cathedral on Wednesday 23 October, 6.30 pm – 8.30 pm Students at Hereford College of Arts are currently working with Hereford Cathedral to produce an exhibition inspired by pilgrimage. ‘The Way’ will bring together the work of over two hundred Level Three students across art & design, music and performing arts who have been responding to the concept of modern day pilgrimage in a variety of mediums. During the project, students have spent time in the cathedral and have also visited locations on The St Thomas Way, a pilgrimage route from Swansea to Hereford. The St Thomas Way was developed by the University of Southampton, Swansea Museum and Hereford Cathedral and opened to the public in July 2018. The Dean of Hereford, The Very Revd Michael Tavinor, says: “It’s really exciting for us to be able to explore the concept of pilgrimage with students from HCA, especially as we celebrate seven hundred years of St Thomas Cantilupe here at the cathedral.” Darren Williams, Course Leader at Hereford College of Arts, says: “This project has enabled our students to engage with a theme they knew very little about beforehand. They have […]

A Service of Faith and Reconciliation will open Hereford Cathedral’s year of celebrations to commemorate 700 years since St Thomas Cantilupe’s canonisation. On Saturday 12 October (3.30 pm), the cathedral will welcome the Right Revd. Lord Williams of Oystermouth who, as Rowan Williams, was 104th Archbishop of Canterbury. Together with the Bishop of Hereford, they will take part in an act of penitence and renewal and celebrate the relationship that Canterbury and Hereford share today. In 1282, a disagreement between Hereford and Canterbury resulted in a sentence of excommunication being delivered to the then Bishop of Hereford, Thomas Cantilupe. Archbishop Pecham of Canterbury delivered this adjudication as a result of conflict arising from Cantilupe defending the rights of the See of Hereford. To appeal against his sentence, Cantilupe travelled to Italy to lay his cause before the Pope, but he died near Orvieto before judgement could be pronounced, although not before he had made his peace with the Church. During the service, representatives of other Christian denominations within Herefordshire will come together to lead prayers and pupils from Hereford Cathedral Junior School and St Thomas Cantilupe Primary School will perform a short drama further exploring the story. Two new banners, […]

The next bishop of Hereford will be Richard Jackson.  Bishop Richard, who is currently Suffragan Bishop of Lewes in East Sussex, will take up his role in the New Year and will be the 106th Bishop of Hereford, a church position that dates back to 676. Bishop Richard said: ‘I am immensely humbled to have been chosen to become the next Bishop of Hereford. This beautiful diocese is in my DNA.  I’ve traced my family tree and if I took a journey visiting churches from Leominster to the Welsh Border, I would be able to see the graves of my ancestors dating back to the 13th Century. Hereford is a mainly rural diocese, covering Herefordshire, the south of Shropshire, a portion of Worcestershire and several parishes in Wales on the English-Welsh border.  It includes the city of Hereford and the towns of Telford, Ludlow, Much Wenlock, Bridgnorth, Church Stretton, Ross-on-Wye, Ledbury, Leominster, Bromyard and Kington. Bishop Richard, who is known for his work as a pastoral and teaching bishop, said: ‘I am looking forward to talking to the people of our diocese about the good news of Jesus Christ.  In uncertain times, what the Bible says and the example of […]

The skies cleared, the sun shone and the breeze blew just enough to create the perfect weather for our wonderful Hereford Experience Day on 15 August, where we brought together tourism businesses to see the City sights of Hereford that they might often overlook. As part of our series of Member Experience Days, the aim is to remind tourism providers of what is in their local area so that they can themselves inspire visitors to visit Herefordshire and enjoy all it has to offer once they are here. Meeting the Mayor and the Civic Treasures of the Town Hall Attended predominantly by Accommodation providers, and open to Members and Non-Members of ESL, the day began with tea and biscuits with the Mayor of the City of Hereford, Kath Hey, in the Mayor’s Parlour.  We learned about her plans and projects for the mayoral year ahead along with her chosen charities Phoenix Bereavement and the CLD Trust, both supporting children’s issues. Ably assisted by the Mayor’s Officer John Marshall, we were then given a most fascinating tour and talk around the historic treasures of the Mayor’s Parlour, which all derive from Hereford’s history as the second oldest City in the UK […]

Hereford Cathedral have unveiled their programme of events and services which celebrate the 700th anniversary of the canonisation of St Thomas Cantilupe. St Thomas Cantilupe was Bishop of Hereford from 1275 until his death in 1282. His shrine is located in the North Transept of Hereford Cathedral and is still an important pilgrimage destination. He also served as Chancellor of Oxford University and was involved in high-level politics as the Lord Chancellor of England. The celebration year, which runs from October 2019 to October 2020, starts on Saturday 12 October at 3.30 pm with a Service of Faith and Reconciliation. Rowan Williams, the Right Revd. Lord Williams of Oystermouth and 104th Archbishop of Canterbury will join the Bishop of Hereford in a service which celebrates the good relationship between the two cities today. Throughout the celebration year there will also be a programme of lectures given by Lord Patten of Barnes (Tuesday 8 October 2019), Dr Jan Graffius (Thursday 24 October 2019), The Very Revd. Michael Tavinor (Thursday 26 March 2020) and Ian Bass (Friday 2 October 2020) which discuss the life and times of St Thomas Cantilupe. Alongside these lectures, a series of special exhibitions exploring of sainthood and […]

Back in 2016 and after more than 30 years, stalwart Herefordshire producer, Wye Valley Brewery, unveiled a new look and 2019 sees yet more advances. Whilst the core range of beers remained popular, they had ambitions to embrace the new craft trend with innovative new beers of their own, and felt the brewery’s corporate image was in need of an update. The Big Rebrand The starting point for this was designing a new logo that would be timeless, yet contemporary. The Wye Valley Brewery stamp manages to incorporate their heritage, reputation for consistent beer quality, and their love of hops. Following this they reviewed their product branding and of the 5 core cask products, 2 featured ‘Dorothy Goodbody’. The challenge therefore was to create a unity through design, yet ‘stay true’ to products, ensuring each kept its own ‘personality’… As they unveiled the new-look logo and core range product branding, they then turned their attention to their monthly specials.  By retiring Dorothy Goodbody to the bottle products, it gave much more freedom to be creative. This not only applied to the names and designs, but it allowed the brewers to have bundles of fun with the beer recipes! And all […]

If you’re a fan of artisan ciders such as Ty Gwyn ciders, just the words ‘fruit cider’ will probably have you hiding behind the nearest apple tree! Typically, fruit ciders are sweet, undemanding numbers with little or no reward for the true cider lover. So to shake things up Ty Gwyn have produced a genuine artisan fruit cider –Ty Gwyn ‘Black and Browns’! To use a musical metaphor, if ‘Black and Browns’ blackcurrant cider were a song, it would be a duet that stopped you in your tracks… like Gaga and Cooper, or Mercury and Caballé. And that’s because it’s a blend of classic bitter-sharp Browns cider apples along with some truly outstanding blackcurrant juice from a superb local grower. So at long last you can enjoy a fruit cider where the cider doesn’t play second-fiddle to the fruit – and where the fruit, well, actually tastes of fruit not flavouring! ‘Black and Browns’ weighs in at a crowd-pleasing 4.0% ABV and is available in 330ml bottles. Order now while stocks last! W: tygwyncider.co.uk

Herefordshire’s Swan Brewery is marking the 50th anniversary of the manned moon landings with two aptly named ales, Swan Small Step and Swan Giant Leap. Head Brewer Jimmy Swan commented, “Hops named Apollo, Eagle, Comet and Flyer caught our eye.  These have great aroma and flavour profiles and line up perfectly for beers to celebrate the Apollo 11 mission.  The names Swan Small Step and Swan Giant Leap fell into our lap.  I’ve developed the recipes with lighter ales in mind for summer, plus the complex character that the range of hops will offer.” Brewery Partner Gill Bullock added, “The pump clips for Swan Small Step and Swan Giant Leap show a moon-boot print and earth viewed from the moon and will help sales go like a rocket.  At 4.1% and 5.0% these cosmic ales will be out of this world.” The beers on draught will be launched at a Tasting Day on 5th July 9am to 9pm at the brewery.  A limited-edition Swan Giant Leap 5% bottled ale is already available in the brewery shop and local retailers. Swan Brewery is a microbrewery founded in 2016, currently brewing around a quarter of a million pints per year, across 2 […]

Hereford Cathedral Choir will be travelling to France in June to take part in services and events commemorating the 75th anniversary of D-Day. The choir will sing at several services during their time in France, including the Royal British Legion Commemoration Service at Bayeux Cathedral, on Thursday 6 June. The service will be attended by veterans, their families and dignitaries. Bayeux was the first town to be liberated by the Allied forces and following the commemoration event at the cathedral, the choir will sing at the Royal British Legion’s service at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s Bayeux War Cemetery. During their trip to France, the choir have also been invited to sing Choral Evensong at L’abbaye aux Dames, Caen on Wednesday 5 June as part of their programme of events to commemorate the anniversary. The final event in the choir’s programme will be as part of a ceremony on the sea front at Arromanches on the afternoon of Thursday 6 June, as part of a series of events hosted by the local authority to mark the anniversary.  Geraint Bowen, Director of music at Hereford Cathedral said: ‘It is a great honour for our choir to have been invited to take […]

A new partnership agreement has been announced by Hereford Courtyard with a brand new partnership that has been established with local cider producers, Westons Cider. As part of this new partnership, Westons Cider will be sponsoring The Courtyard’s monthly comedy clubs. These comedy clubs are a perfect opportunity for audiences to grab some friends, a drink from the bar and enjoy laugh out loud comedy from some of the best up-and-coming comedians on the circuit. Previous performers at these comedy clubs have included Ed Gamble, Joe Lycett and Roisin Conaty. “Westons Cider are delighted to be working with The Courtyard.” Says Westons Cider Assistant Brand Manager, Gemma Evans, “When the opportunity came up to become sponsors of the Comedy Club Nights we had no doubts to say ‘yes’. We are really looking forward to developing our relationship, including Cider Partnership, for the long term.”  As The Courtyard enter the exciting initial stages of a £1.2m development, Westons Cider have also come on board to help renovate and install a Westons Cider Bar on the first floor Mezzanine. The company will also kindly be providing new uniforms for Café Bar staff, giving the department a fresh new look. The Westons Cider […]