Lemar to turn on Christmas lights in Plymouth city centre this November

SINGING star and reality TV star Lemar is to turn on the Christmas lights in Plymouth city centre this year.

The singer who shot into the charts after BBC's Fame Academy in 2002 will headline the celebrations in Plymouth on November 18.

Lemar will kick off the Plymouth Winter Festival with songs from his new album as well as old hits.

The London-born soul singer has sold more than two million albums and has won two BRITs and three MOBO awards.

The festive fun starts at 4pm with music and entertainment on the Heart Radio stage at the top of Cornwall Street.

The Urban X Dancers, Roo Mckeller, Zumba Zone and the Beatbreakers will be there to get the crowds warmed up before Lemar takes to the stage at 6pm.

He will be joined by ITV Westcountry to switch on the lights live on ITV1 at 6.20pm before local girl Lauren Francis, who made it through to this year’s X-Factor boot camp, will take to the stage to wrap things up.

The Christmas ice rink on the piazza and the Christmas Market in Armada way will also be opening their doors to coincide with the switch-on celebrations.

The Plymouth Winter Festival is packed with great events and activities for all the family

Late night shopping will run every Thursday from 18 November to 23 December, with most shops open until 9pm. In the week before Christmas (starting 20 December) most shops will be open every night until 8pm.

The festival will start with the Christmas Lights switch-on (Thursday 18 November) and features the Christmas ice rink on the piazza, festive shows at the Pavilions, Christmas markets (18 November to 2 January), Sleeping Beauty at the Theatre Royal (17 December to 22 January), the Christmas Carnival (5 December), late night shopping, street entertainment and a very special Santa fun run

To Book your bed and breakfast in Plymouth please visit www.avalonguesthouse.moonfruit.com 

Plymouth Unveils Plan for Winter Festival with Ice Rink, Markets and Entertainment.

Plans have been unveiled for a Plymouth Winter Festival this year placing Plymouth as the region's top destination for retail and leisure this Christmas.

The Winter Festival will start with the Christmas lights switch-on on Thursday November 18th.  It will feature the Christmas Ice Rink on the Piazza, festive shows at The Plymouth Pavillions, Christmas markets, Sleeping Beauty at The Theatre Royal, the Christmas Carnival, late-night shopping, festive street entertainment and a special Santa fun run.

Another Happy Plymouth Visitor

As the owner of The Avalon Guest House and, indeed, an avid supporter of our beautiful City I am always pleased to receive articles or reviews written by visitors.  I was fortunate enough to recently receive the following article written by Mrs Helen Mollart a regular blogger and travel article writer.

 

Plymouth was superb, really enjoyed ourselves!  Visited the town (much shopping was done!), took a boat trip up the River Tamar to see the Naval Dockyards (4 out of our 6 nuclear-powered subs were in dock, together with assorted Warships, Survey Vessels and Frigates), visited the National Maritime Aquarium, spent an entire day at the Eden Project and a day in picturesque Dartmouth which included a visit to the Castle (600 years of history).  We had 2 meals out (Pizza Hut and Pizza Express - the last of the big spenders, us Mollarts!)  Apart from Monday (when it poured down nearly all day) the weather was sunny, breezy and bright; weren't we lucky!  

 

The Moody Blues* were superb on the Wednesday night (our 26th Wedding Anniversary) - very civilized gig (for musicians in their 60's/70's, it has to be!) started at 8.15pm and finished at 10.30pm sharp!  Very impressed with the venue - Plymouth Pavilions - and no vomit/broken glass/fighting to negotiate on the way out (we usually go to much more uncivilized gigs as you can tell)!.

 

*Many thanks for the tickets which were waiting for us at the venue as you arranged last year.

 

We rounded off each day by taking a coffee from the flat and sitting in the 'Bullring' on the Ho, watching the local lads dicing with death and destruction by 'tombstoning', and the submarines, support vessels and ferries in the Sound as the sun went down - magical.

 

Thanks for extending the speed bumps right along the Ho and behind the flat which we use (which fronts onto Garden Crescent); this seemed to stop all but the most determined speed/noise freaks from accelerating past our bedroom window at 3am, waking up all and sundry.  And for the ones who still 'went for it', I hope their sumps fall off in a very expensive and possibly un-repairable way!

To experience for yourself the delights that Plymouth has to offer please visit our Plymouth Bed and Breakfast website.

Bonfire Night in Plymouth

Join us for a spectacular fifth of November Bonfire and Firework display on Plymouth Hoe.

The bonfire will be lit at 7:30pm with the firework display starting at 8:00pm.

Entertainment will start from 6:30pm courtesy of Heart Radio, there will also be fairground rides and refreshments stalls.