Colwall

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 […]

New to the area and wondering where to take the family for a great day out? Here’s our pick of ‘Five Fun Family Activities’ in Herefordshire that will leave you wanting more. Here’s to the memories and fun, we hope you enjoy them. The Viking Games, Middle Cefn, The Stables, Hereford HR2 0JH If you’re a lover of all things Nordic. Enjoyed watching The Last Kingdom. Were glued to the Vikings series or the ever funny Norsemen on Netflix. You’re going to love The Viking Games. It’s a brilliant opportunity to get the family together for a fantastic day out. In the gorgeous surroundings of Herefordshire’s Golden Valley try your hand at traditional Nordic games that have been adapted for some twenty-first century fun. Who will be the victor at Axe Throwing, Archery, Bullrings, Kubb, Molkky or Stige? Who will be crowned the true Viking warrior? It’s a fantastic day out that everyone will enjoy. www.thevikinggames.co.uk Wye Valley Falconry If you and your family enjoy being outdoors then you’ll love spending time with Wye Valley Falconry deep in the beautiful Herefordshire countryside. Rated by TripAdvisor as the No.1 outdoor attraction in Herefordshire, Wye Valley Falconry offers enthralling opportunities to fly […]

Arts Alive Commission Series of Insect Puppet Shows Arts Alive, Shropshire and Herefordshire’s rural touring scheme, are celebrating a flourishing relationship with The Fetch Theatre Company having commissioned a raft of outdoor performances for 2021. The West Midlands theatre group have a passion for puppetry and whilst live performances have been unable to go ahead during lockdown, their Artistic Director, Andrew Purvin, devised a new puppet show that supersizes insects. Purvin is an internationally renowned puppeteer and puppet maker who has many years experience of directing and designing for the professional stage. After researching the insects, Purvin went about hand making the puppets on a large scale with natural and recycled materials. He said, “When you actually get up close to these creatures you can see they’re doing the most incredible things. These creatures are our key workers. They’re the ones feeding us, cleaning up after us. They’re the ones actually keeping this world alive.” The Fetch are using scientific knowledge from the Lapworth Museum to feed in to their performances, such as a startling prediction that all insects could become extinct by the end of the century. The outdoor touring show features three performers – a spider, a fly […]

It’s nearly time for the Knife Angel, after 18 months of preparation and anticipation, the Knife Angel will finally be arriving in Hereford City Centre in less than a week. Also known as the National Monument Against Violence and Aggression, this magnificent 27ft statue built from 100,000 confiscated knives and blades will come to the city on Monday 14 June and will remain in place outside the West door of Hereford Cathedral until 12 July. Thanks to generous grant awards from West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner, West Mercia Police, The National Lottery Community Fund, High Sheriffs of Herefordshire (2020/1 & 2021/2), Eveson CharitableTrust, Community Safety Partnership and the Clocktower Foundation, the Knife Angel team has been able to organise an exciting range of free-to-attend events to accompany the Knife Angel’s visit and in order to stimulate discussion on the devastating impact violence has on all our lives. These include:   A full day virtual conference, entitled ‘Knife Angel Hereford: Crime in 2021 – From Knowledge to Practice’ (see: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/knife-angel-hereford-crime-in-2021-from-knowledge-to-practice-tickets-151041746931 for further information and bookings) A comprehensive selection of workshops to be held in locations throughout Hereford City from 21 June to 11 July. Subjects range from ‘Managing post-lockdown stress’ […]

This summer, Hereford Cathedral will be hosting a series of Open Garden events for visitors. Leading down to the River Wye, the gardens are a hidden gem nestled within the cathedral grounds. At their own leisure, visitors can explore the peaceful Cloisters, the colourful Canon’s garden, the private gardens of the Dean and Bishop and the historical Chapter House garden. A team of volunteer gardeners and guides will be on hand to answer questions and also share the fascinating history of these beautiful spaces, most of which aren’t normally open to the public. Each summer, the gardens would normally be opened for guided tours but due to the ongoing restrictions in 2020, these tours were not able to take place. Instead, the cathedral team organised two Open Garden days which were fully booked within weeks and proved to be a hit with visitors. This year, as guidance around restrictions is likely to change throughout the summer months, the cathedral has decided to increase the amount of Open Garden events so that these beautiful spaces can be shared with as many people as possible. The cathedral gardens are cared for by a team of Volunteers who, following the devastating floods of […]

Discover Herefordshire’s finest drink producers and artisan cidermakers ‘Sip Drink Tour Herefordshire’ is an exciting new trail highlighting the finest drinks producers the county has to offer, from its famous artisan ciders to delicious fruit liqueurs and award-winning vodkas and gins. The trail features 17 of Herefordshire’s finest drinks producers, plus the fascinating Museum of Cider, Two Farmers Crisps – the UK’s first 100% plastic free crisp brand – and the much-loved Crown Inn pub, who proudly serve their very own craft ‘Kings’ cider. Curated in two useful formats; a quick-reference list and map, and a 20 page booklet and map, discover how Herefordshire producers take simple ingredients, such as potatoes, apples and grapes, and turn them into expertly crafted products. Enjoy a day out exploring the county’s rolling vineyards, local orchards and busy distilleries via guided tours and tasting sessions, or even try your hand at making your own produce! Download our handy guide and map to plot your own trail and start discovering the delicious tipples and treats on offer across Herefordshire, The Marches and the Wye Valley. Many of the featured locations offer tours and tastings, while others have onsite and/or online shops, and many of the […]

NMITE APPOINTS NEW CHAIR OF BOARD OF TRUSTEES: Terence Jagger, CBE    NMITE has today 24th March announced the appointment of Terence Jagger, CBE as its new Chair of the Board of Trustees.  Until recently, Terence Jagger was Chair of the Board of Governors, Bath Spa University, a position he has held since November 2016.  He will take over from Dame Fiona Kendrick in April who has been Chair of NMITE since July 2017.     Terence Jagger’s higher education experience will be of particularly relevance to NMITE, coming from a small, specialist university which has recently built a new campus, key to the regeneration of an area of its city home, and focused on continuously updating and modernising its curriculum.  He also brings extensive and varied senior experience across public and private sectors, in the UK and overseas, including many years in the Ministry of Defence and four years as Chief Executive of Crown Agents, a leading international development company.  He now runs a portfolio of board and consultancy roles in the public, private and third sectors.    Professor Elena Rodriguez-Falcon, NMITE’s President and Chief Executive “I am extremely excited to be welcoming Terence to NMITE at a key point in time for us as an organisation.  Amongst his many skills and experience, his current role in terms of university governance will be hugely useful to us as we welcome our first students in September.  I would also like to extend my thanks to Fiona for her support and guidance as […]

Walking in the gorgeous Herefordshire countryside is always a pleasure. The spectacular scenery, nature reserves and wild woodlands make for a fantastic day out. So this spring why not embrace the great outdoors and venture into some of the most beautiful areas of our county. Herefordshire is blessed with stunning countryside, wonderful woodlands and spectacular views that are all waiting to be discovered. And the best way to see it is on foot. So come and enjoy a plethora of beautiful walks that will have you returning time and time again throughout the changing of the seasons. Here’s our seven sensational spring walks to get you started. Garway Hill, Garway, Herefordshire HR2 8RU If you’re looking for pure ruggedness, wildness and some of the best views in Herefordshire then head up to Garway Hill. From this point you can look out upon seven counties. The 360-degree panorama taking in May Hill, The Sugar Loaf, Hay Bluff and Skirrid is both spectacular and breath-taking. It’s a fabulous spot from which to watch the gorgeous White Mountain horses and the abundance of wildlife that resides on the hill. Not to mention a perfect sunrise or sunset. Wyndcliff and Eagle’s Nest SatNav NP16 […]

PENSONS RESTAURANT AWARDED MICHELIN STAR 2021 The team at Pensons are utterly thrilled to announce that the restaurant, located on the historic Netherwood Estate on the Herefordshire/Worcestershire border, has retained its Michelin Star in the Michelin Guide Great Britain & Ireland 2021. Pensons remains the only Michelin Star restaurant in the region and the news,delivered via a virtual awards ceremony last night, was just the tonic to lift the spirits of our whole team during what has been a very difficult time for the hospitality industry and many others. Pensons Restaurant opened two years ago and champions the ethos that reconnecting with the land inspires a more interesting menu and local provenance and quality are at the very heart of the cooking. Head Chef, Chris Simpson, embraces this with his imaginative, ingredient-led menus that showcase the very best seasonal produce that grows in the kitchen garden, on the Estate or whenever possible, is sourced from trusted local suppliers. The restaurant’s passion for sustainability and this local approach ensure that the team are working to ensure this extends beyond the kitchen to every aspect of the business. The restaurant has collaborated with local artisans and craftspeople so the fabrics and napkins […]

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 […]

#EatHERE We’re all unsure about our Christmas plans this year, but if we’re given the opportunity to celebrate in the Top Herefordshire Festive Feasting Spots with family, friends and work colleagues take a look at the delicious destinations below. To support our local independent Herefordshire businesses, when you’re social media-ing use the tags #EatHERE and #DrinkHERE together with #Herefordshire and we’ll help you share the love (so tag us in too with #eatsleepliveherefordshire) All of the businesses featured are hoping to be open for the festive season and are taking bookings now. Look out too for their special takeaway services throughout the lockdown period. ********************************************************** Check out our other local festive blogs …     Gourmet Gifts from Herefordshire    Over 20 Great County Gift Ideas  We will be continually adding to our guides as we near the big day. So do pop back and see if there is anything that you’ve missed. **Each business listed will have their own Covid measures and opening hours in place, so please check with them directly. __________________________________________________________________________________ Festive Feasting The Angel Hotel, Abergavenny NP7 5EN The Angel Hotel is a luxurious, 4 Silver Star hotel, located in the centre of Abergavenny. Situated between 7 hills […]

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 […]

THE WATERWORKS MUSEUM IN HEREFORD RECEIVES GRANT FROM HERITAGE EMERGENCY FUND. The Waterworks Museum has some good news to share after a frustrating year of closure. The Museum is delighted to acknowledge the award of a National Lottery UK Heritage Fund UK grant which will fund the installation of a new entrance to the Southall Gallery (as part of a one-way system) and improve facilities in the visitor centre, which will help make the Museum Covid-safe for visitors and volunteers. Work on these critical safety measures has commenced but Museum to remain closed until January 2021. The new entrance to the Southall Gallery will be created by installation of a covered walkway between the fire exits in the Museum’s meadow car-park, which will be the start of a one-way route to visit the Grade II* Victorian water pumping station.  This will also have the added benefit of allowing visitors to see the exhibits in the Southall Gallery from a wholly new perspective. In addition to the new entrance to the Southall centre, funds from the Heritage Lottery grant will see a new visitor entrance and a new and larger toilet block. Next year, visitors will also see a number of other […]

On 1st August 2020 Ross-on-Wye Walkers are Welcome (WaW) are launching their Summer of Self-Guided Walking. It is a great sadness that this year’s very popular annual Walking Festival had to be cancelled.  However, visitors and locals can still explore this beautiful and peaceful area – but in safety and with their own family, friends or …. “bubble”.  From 1st August the Walking in Ross website, www.walkinginross.co.uk , will be offering a collection of walks for all abilities and differing lengths in and around locality.  These can be easily downloaded to a pc, tablet or phone; and will link with mapping apps to make them easy to follow. Ross-on-Wye was the birthplace of British Tourism 250 years ago, with acclaimed visitors such as William Wordsworth and JMW Turner; and it is still very dependent economically on visitor spend.  The WaW group are keen to encourage day and staying visitors to return. The Summer of Self-Guided Walking collection has a really interesting set of routes – some which local people may be well familiar with; some that may be new and offer a different perspective.  They range from under 4 miles fully accessible (which can be easily shortened and varied); to […]

We can’t quite believe it’s almost Father’s Day already. So if you’re looking for the perfect present for your favourite icon or role model read on. We’ve put together some fabulous father’s day gift ideas to inspire you. Best of all you don’t even need to leave home. FOR THE ACTION MAN If your Dad is the active, competitive type and loves being outdoors why not consider purchasing some vouchers for exciting activities that he’ll just love. From paintballing to lazerclayz, archery to clay pigeon shooting. Herefordshire has some great pursuits that all the family can get involved in. OAKER WOOD LEISURE Oaker Wood Leisure near Leominster will be opening its gates from the start of July so why not book in advance now, or purchase a voucher for a Quad Trekking or High Ropes Adrenalin Adventure for your dad and the rest of the family. Find out more here. BATTLELANDS & LAZERCLAYZ This amazing family run activity centre located in the gorgeous Golden Valley has a range of activities that your Dad will love. From paintballing, laserclayz, splatmaster and shooting, he’ll be in his element. Look out too for ‘The Vikings’ a new activity being launched this July. This […]

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 […]