Events in Torbay for August 2011

Paignton Regatta

6^th August to 14^th August 2011

From rowing regatta to live music, teddy bears picnic to sand sculpting a great week’s entertainment for the whole family.

Family Fun Day & Cowtown Carnival
13th August 2011

Family Fun Day and Cowntown Carnival. Come and join in a traditional family fun day at St Marys Park , Higher Brixham and then watch the wonderful carnival parade.

Children’s Festival
18th August to  20th 2011

Both fossil and treasure hunts, wildlife exhibitions, family discos, water fights and sand castle competitions, if you are stuck for something to do this week take a trip along to Paignton seafront and join in the fun.

Red Arrows Torquay
24th August 2011

The English Riviera is proud once again to be welcoming the Red Arrows to the Torbay Royal Regatta. 24th August Time:6pm Vantage points: Torquay seafront

Red Arrows
26th August 2011

Dartmouth Royal Regatta is proud to present the Red Arrows 26th August Time: 18:00

Paignton's Blue Flag

To keep up to date with Torbay's Blue Flags you can visit Beach Live water quality alerts at http://www.beachlive.co.uk/

A website for anyone who loves playing in the sea.

Events in Torbay in July 2011

Brixham Hapnin

09/07/2011 to 10/07/2011

Enjoy one of Brixham's most popular event. Events and entertainment for all the family at St. Mary's Park.

Pedal Car Grand Prix     

17/07/2011 to 17/07/2011

Watch the very competitive pedal car teams all striving to win top trophies in this 2 hour endurance race using nothing but ther own strength and fitness! Come and see the fun at Torre Abbey Meadows.

Torbay Lifeboat Week    

17/07/2011 to 24/07/2011

Lifeboats visits, fancy dress, treasure hunts and competitions - fun days out for all the family. Visit http://www.torbaylifeboat.org.uk/images/Poster11.pdf for full details and locations.

Torbay Carnival 2011

23rd - 31st July 2011

The carnival has been running for over 100 years, it started as one evening procession and now lasts a week and includes a fun fair, music, competitions, children’s events and entertainment, charity stalls and  craft marquees.  http://www.torbaycarnival.co.uk/p/events-listing.html


For family self catering accomodation in Paignton visit our site Astoria Court.

Events in Torbay for June 2011

Occombe Farm Beer Festival 
10/06/2011 to 11/06/2011

Raise your glasses for the annual Occombe Farm Beer festival, which features over 60 real ales from across Devon, Cornwall and Somerset.

Brixham Trawler Race 2011
Saturday 18 June 2011
This quirky race in June is when the modern working fleet lets its hair down. Skippers dress the boats with bunting and battle it out on a two-lap course around Torbay.

Babbacombe Festival 2011
Wednesday 15^th - Sunday 26^th June 2011
An event packed 12 day festival, for full details please visit: http://www.babbacombe.org/festival/programme.htm

Torbay Half Marathon and Fun Run  
19/06/2011
Why not take a trip to support the runners from Paignton Green to Torquay Pavilion. A flock of white doves will be released on the signal to start the 20th Torbay Half Marathon.

English Riviera Open Bowls Tournament
19/06/2011 - 26/06/2011
The English Riviera's annual bowling event is back for another year with a full program and a competitive tournament.


For self-catering accommodation in Paignton why not visit us at www.astoriacourt.com

Events in Torbay for May 2011

Brixham Pirate and Shanty Festival  

30/04/2011 to 01/05/2011

The 2011 Brixham Pirate and Shanty Festival will take place over the Bank Holiday weekend of Sat 30th April and Sun 1st May 2011.

BMAD Bike Festival       

29/04/2011 to 01/05/2011

Paignton will once again host the BMAD bike festival, a " must do" event for all. Paignton Green is transformed in to a exciting festival with bands, events including stunt shows, beer tent and many stalls

Torbay Powerboat Event

Friday 27th May - Sunday 29th May

Racing starts off Beacon Quay, Saturday at 1:00pm and on Sunday at 10:30am. See the Boats and meet the Crews at Beacon Quay, Torquay.

Brixham Heritage Week,

Saturday 28th May - Saturday 4th June

Holding events for children, such as free cave painting and ‘ Name the Bear ‘ all week. At Brixham Heritage Museum, The Old Police Station, Bolton Cross, Brixham. - Find out more

Fun Day

Saturday 28th May

There are donkeys; sea cadet display; live music; food and fun for all ages. We have approx 40 stalls all raising money for charity.  Volunteering in Health have 20 of the stalls - we are the local patient and carer support service, we have to fund raise to keep going and serve all the elderly and vulnerable in our area. We offer - patient transport; befriending; trips out; shopping; cares group; memory cafes; advice and support to those that are on their own. From 10:00am - 3:00pm at the Den Teignmouth - Find out more

Geopark Festival
30/05/2011 to 05/06/2011

The annual festival really brings the Geopark to life, with an amazing range of activities to enjoy, from walks and talks, to arts and educational events, and even Geopark Cruises!

Have you visited Oldway Mansion yet?

Free admission to a wonderfully ornate house and gardens with an onsite café/restaurant – why haven’t you visited yet?

Oldway Mansion is a large house and gardens in Paignton, Devon, England. It was built as a private residence for Isaac Merritt Singer c1873, who was the founder of the Singer Sewing Machine Company. It was then rebuilt by his third son Paris Singer in the style of the Palace of Versailles and the eastern elevation of the building was inspired by the Place de la Concorde in Paris. 

The interior of the building is noted for its grand staircase made from marble and balusters of bronze. The ceiling of the staircase is decorated with ornate paintings and above the grand staircase there is a reproduction of the first version of Jacques-Louis David's painting The Crowning of Josephine by Napoleon. The original was purchased by Paris Singer in the late 19th century. The painting was sold to the French government in 1946 and now hangs in the Palace of Versailles. The reproduction at the mansion, which is in the same place as the original, is a colour photocopy and was unveiled in 1995.

The gallery on the first floor is a reproduction of the Hall of Mirrors in Versailles, the gallery leads into the ballroom, which contains walls of gilt paneling and mirrors.

Oldway Mansion is set in 17 acres of gardens, which are laid out on an Italian theme by the French landscape gardener Achille Duchesne. The maze consists of dwarf box hedging and flower beds. To the south of the mansion there is the grotto garden where a waterfall passes over a rocky cave into a pool below. The grounds of the mansion contain many sub-tropical plants and shrubs.

Opposite the main entrance to the mansion is a large round building known as The Rotunda. This was built in 1873, and was used originally as a horse riding pavilion and exercise area. Isaac Merritt Singer gave this building the nickname of "The Wigwam".

Oldway Mansions has played an important role during the period of the First World War from 1914 to 1918 it was transformed into the American Women’s War Relief Hospital. The Rotunda was converted to house rows of beds for the wounded soldiers being brought back to England from the trenches of France and Belgium. Queen Mary visited the hospital in November 1914.

During the Second World War Oldway was used in the war effort by housing RAF cadets training to be aircrew. In 1943 Oldway was damaged in an air raid, along with many other buildings in Paignton. King George VI and Queen Elizabeth visited the mansion in 1943.

Oldway Mansion has been used as a film location on several occasions. During 2004 it doubled as Buckingham Palace for the filming of Churchill: The Hollywood Years, starring Christian Slater and Neve Campbell. The 1968 film Isadora starring Vanessa Redgrave and telling the life story of the dancer Isadora Duncan also used Oldway Mansion as one of its locations.

 

Accessibility

·                   All Areas Accessible to Disabled Visitors

·                   Guide Dogs Permitted

·                   Parking Areas for Disabled Visitors

·                   Ramp/Level Access

·                   Toilets for Disabled Visitors

Catering

·                   On-Site café/restaurant - All types of food available. 

Oldway Mansion
Torquay Road
Paignton
TQ3 2TE

 

 Opening Times:

Monday 08:30 - 17:30 Tuesday 08:30 - 17:30 Wednesday 08:30 - 17:30 Thursday 08:30 - 17:30 Friday 09:30 - 16:15

Oldway Mansions is one of the many attractions within easy reach of Astoria Court holiday flats in Paignton

More people holidaying in Britain this year

During this current economic climate, holidaying in Britain may prove to not only be more practical for many families but also much more cost effective. Ginna Clark from www.uktourism.co.uk suggests “People may find planning their summer holiday difficult, due to financial circumstances – but there are great savings to be made by holidaying in the UK.”

 “We have found that at a time when everybody’s household budget is under pressure that more and more people are looking into holidaying in Britain this year, with Devon, Cornwall and the Lake District looking like the most popular areas for this year,” she added.

A further survey by information services company Experian, revealed more cost cutting efforts of UK residents. Of those surveyed intending to have a holiday, 28 per cent are planning a UK trip. Whilst on holiday of the Britons surveyed more than two in five intend to take fewer excursions, 29% will not be buying souvenirs for friends or family and 12% will camp rather than stay in a hotel.

This survey also found that a quarter of 'middle Britons' plan to take packed lunches rather than eat out while on trips this summer, more and more of us are now taking our tupperware on holiday in a bid to save money.

In addition to the survey on holidays in general a new report has been released stating that this year's extended Easter break will cost UK parents a total of £3.5billion in childcare and entertainment costs. The back-to-back bank holidays at the end of the month will result in a cost of £267 per child, on average.

If you are looking to take a holiday in the UK this year why not try Paignton, we have plenty of fun family entertainment, plus some great days out. Visit our website for holidays in Paignton.

Paignton Geoplay Park to be Built in 2011

Paignton green is due to have a Geoplay park built which will have more equipment for younger children and easy access for children with disabilities.

The park has been designed as a geological timeline with each area representing an aspect of Torbay’s Geological history, from under the tropical coral seas to the formation of a mountain range.  The spiral, if followed to the top will take the children through the timeline to the present day.

The park has been in development for the last two years and will be on the Middle Green between the Apollo cinema and Paignton Pier.

The Geoplay park is divided into six different areas:.

1.       Grass mound

2.       Wet play and sandpit

3.       Giant climbing net and climbing walls.

4.       Towers, slides and a climbing forest area

5.       Swings, roundabouts and den making area

6.       Spiral mound

Paignton Community Partnership chairman Richard Kaskow said: "Residents will have the opportunity to comment on the scheme, make additions and fine tune it. We want to make this the best playground in the South West.  It is also hoped the community will become involved in certain aspects of the construction and landscaping, especially as the park will be open for many years to come. We want local people to feel a sense of ownership from the outset."

In September 2007, the English Riviera received international recognition for its geological, historical and cultural heritage and became one of just 57 areas around the world to be endorsed by UNESCO as a Global Geopark.  The park is another addition to Torbay’s development of geological tourism.

The park is due to start work in the Autumn of 2011.

Visit Paignton for your devon family holiday this year.