Photo caption right to left: Cllr Melvyn Teare, portfolio holder for culture and heritage with Charles Baker, tourism and regeneration manager at the St Albans Signal Box which is open over Residents First Weekend.
Residents’ First Weekend, which is an annual event organised by St Albans City and District Council, will take place this year on 30th and 31st January.
This will be the 8th event held in the district and it has grown in popularity each year, as residents take advantage of the opportunity to try out many of their local attractions free of the usual entry charge, or with a special offer, or to gain entry to places which are not normally open to the public. On average five / six thousand people participate in this two-day event, with leisure centres, the cathedral and the museums amongst the favourite venues.
If you have been ‘meaning to visit’ any of the participating places, but for a variety of reasons, haven’t managed to fit it into your busy schedule, take advantage of this great offer. Next time you have friends or family to stay, you’ll have a better idea of which places will appeal to them and will feel more confident about taking them, having tried it yourself.
Cllr Melvyn Teare, the portfolio holder for culture and heritage said: “It is fabulous that so many hotels, restaurants, tourist attractions and leisure centres are involved with Residents First Weekend. There is certainly no shortage of activities and offers to choose from! I encourage all those who live in the district to take advantage of this weekend’s event and discover somewhere new.”
Tourism is responsible for many aspects of daily life that can often be taken for granted, such as the range of shops, restaurants and hotels that are located in the city and district and the range of arts provision and events that take place. Tourism is also an essential part of the district's economy, as the income generated by tourism is over £148 million and is responsible for over 4,000 full-time jobs.
St Albans city and district’s Residents First Weekend is set to become one of the largest events of its kind, with over 40 of the top tourist attractions, restaurants, leisure centres and hotels taking part.
An overview of the five aspects to this year’s event!
• Attractions
There’s a whole host of offers from many of the district's attractions, from free entry to some top attractions, to the opportunity to take free guided walks with the City of St Albans Tour Guides or go on a joint walk with the Abbey Guides. There is an opportunity to have a free preview of what is happening at Butterfly World, visit the award winning Signal Box next to St Albans Station, take a walk with the Countryside Management Service or visit Tyttenhanger House to name just a few.
• Residents’ Feasts
Several of the most popular restaurants in St Albans, Harpenden and Wheathampstead are offering some fabulous meal deals over the weekend. For example, you can have a free starter at The Verulam Arms with every main course, a free bottle of wine at Chez Mumtaj, or a 2 for 1 at Savanna restaurant in Fishpool Street.
• Free Hotel Room Competition
Here’s a chance to stay in one of six top hotels in the district on the night of Sunday 31st January 2010. There are numerous ways to enter - pick up a leaflet for details.
• Leisure Connection Events
Leisure Connection, the largest arts, entertainment and sports facility provider in the district are taking part in this year’s Residents First Weekend, by offering some great deals on many of their activities. Look out for the great ticket offer from The Alban Arena, backstage tours of Harpenden Public Halls, Guerrilla Gigs from the SAASH Arts Team and a host of ‘2 for 1’ offers on swimming, badminton, tennis and golf in the leisure centres around the district.
• Residents’ Raffle
Ensure your chance to win a luxury treat such as a FREE afternoon tea, a day pass at the luxurious Spa at Sopwell House, Sunday lunch at the Ramada Jarvis hotel, or dinner for two in the Quality Hotel.
All you have to do is: fill in a Residents’ Questionnaire at the Residents First Information Point, located in the Tourist and Information Centre, in the Town Hall on Market Place, St Albans. It will be open Saturday 30th January between 9am and 4pm, and on Sunday 31st January between 10am and 4pm. The questionnaires will also be available at the attractions over the weekend. For further details, please contact the Tourist and Information Centre on 01727 864511.
How to Take Part in Residents First Weekend
For the majority of the offers simply show the leaflet, which will enable you to take advantage of the events and promotions on offer. There are certain offers however, for which numbers are strictly limited, so you will need to pick up a voucher from the Residents First Information Point. These events are clearly marked in the Residents First Leaflet.
For more information on St Albans Residents First Weekend, pick up a leaflet from the Tourist and Information Centre, or telephone: 01727 864511, or visit the All About St Albans website.
Member contact:
Cllr Melvyn Teare, portfolio holder for culture and heritage
St Albans City and District Council
Tel: 01727 868086
Contact for the press:
Davina Mansell, information and communication officer
Tel: 01727 819316 E-mail: davina.mansell@stalbans.gov.uk
St Albans City and District Council
www.stalbans.gov.uk