Tag Archives: world class attraction

Feb 20 2010

MIPIM 2010 – preparations continue

With just over three weeks to go before the Le Marche International des Professionnels de l’ Immobilier (MIPIM) final preparations are underway. Investor numbers are reported to be up.

Plimouth plantation nr. Boston - an idea for the Castle? grounds?


Nottingham City Council will be at the show – promoting the City on the world stage. In fact the leader of the Councillor is going very green this year – he’s cycling there! You can sponsor him and Nigel Turpin here. It’s for a great cause – he is raising money for Maggie’s locally.

It looks like there will also be some publicity around Robin Hood – both in terms of the film (due for release on May 14th in the UK) but also some information about the work of the Sheriff’s Commission. I have been on the advsory board of the Commission for the last seven months or so. Some of the key timefames and ideas can be found here. There are some great further Ideas emerging – which I might be presenting in Cannes. I will share them on the blog.

I saw the Sheriff in the week – it is clear that he remains really enthusiastic about how Nottingham capitalise on the Robin Hood brand. We still have some way to go in bringing about a world class attraction to the City – but I remain convinced that it can be done. The World Cup in 2018 might be a driver – it’s not actually that far away when you consider what we need to do. In a nutshell we need an Investor. Public Finances in the next few years are going to be restricted.

One of the things that will happen is Robin Hood month in May (to coincide with the film). Armour making, Jousting and Archery are planned for the Castle. But we are fortunate in that Universal Studios have been kind enough to loan us props from the film – it is hoped that these will be on show! The Broadway Cinema is having a season of films around Robin Hood. Then there is the excellent Castle Rock brewery which is brewing a special Robin Hood Ale…

At last, Nottingham is beginning to realise the value of Robin Hood as a brand for the city. For too many years we have been reticent about his importance.

I am really enthusiastic about what we can do with Robin Hood. He doesn’t run an airport near Doncaster – he belongs to Nottingham. Or as John Paul Davis said “Robin Hood and Nottingham go together like peaches and cream”. I rest my case.

Feb 12 2010

Nottingham Contemporary – take 2

I woke up yesterday to the dulcet tones of the Today Programme on Radio 4 – to hear all about Nottingham Contemporary. It seems that the second exhibition – which opens today has attracted national coverage!

My hero (until Buzz arrived) - Yuri Gagarin


I might still have my doubts about the architecture as I have blogged about before. But I cannot deny that if the budget figures of 5,000 visitors for the opening exhibition are a genuine test of success then that is what it was. A huge success – with 18,000 people going to see the Hockney exhibition.

But the next exhibition might be more of a challenge. For the next twelve weeks we have ‘Star City‘. Which is a retrospective about the space race with emphasis on the communist approach n the early 1960′s. Evidently we have some soviet propaganda posters of Yuri Gagarin – who sounded such a hero when I was a kid. (This is despite the fact he made his historic mission the year before I was born!)

Both Graham Chapman, Deputy leader of the Council and Alex Farquharson, Director at the Gallery were interviewed and asked whether Nottingham Contemporary had contributed to the regeneration of the City. The consensus was ‘yes’. Arguing that people were being drawn to this part of the city again and that those visitors included young folks were two reasons that this was a success. That there has been a buzz was quoted too.

The city has much to be proud of and this facility adds to a really good offer.

We next need to work on the Robin Hood story – which can fit nicely with art. To that end I am seeing the Sheriff of Nottingham again next week to see what progress we can make – principally to capitalise on the new film…

Watch this space!! And go and see the Contemporary – if you do let me know what you think! The food is great….

UPDATE 14 FEBRUARY

We did visit the Gallery today to see the exhibition. It is certainly interesting – I particularly enjoyed some of the films.

Elsewhere 2008 : Micol Assael - at Nottingham Contemporary

If I am honest I didn’t enjoy it as much as Hockney – some of the art is more challenging! In the same way that I struggle with some of Tracey Emin’s work – there was some stuff here that had the same questionable art credibility (the blank sheet of white paper?). It was interesting to see the Russian posters form the 1960′s – they do have a certain ‘style’. It was a time when the USSR was painting a very positive picture of the space race – which they effectively won with the launch of Sputnik. The full scale model is fascinating – it is tiny! Some of the propaganda films are interesting too – ‘spin’ in the 1960′s.

We did manage lunch in the Cafe – great food at a reasonable price. I love my chips in a bean can!

Feb 9 2010

The walk of fame – in Nottingham

There was some great coverage yesterday of the Walk of Fame in Tinseltown – centred around the fact that it celebrates its 50th year and Ringo Starr was about to become the 2,401st celebrity to be immortalised in a paving slab.

Michael Jackson - at the walk of Fame


It turns out that the first was Stanley Kramer back in 1960. Since then the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce have ‘managed’ the whole process and now charge $25,000 for each little square of marble with brass inlay. The whole walk now stretches over 3.5 miles!

I actually visited the walk of Fame when I was in the USA with the Sheriff of Nottingham last September. You might have seen previous blogs about the trip. The summary is here.

One of the ideas we had was to have a Walk of Fame in Nottingham – accepting that this would be on a smaller scale…

But we have some great people who were either born or spent their working lives here – they each tell part of the Nottingham story.

Some candidates:

Sir Paul Smith – fashionista
Jessee Boot – pharmacy
Robin Hood – good bloke
Lord Byron – poet
D H Lawrence – author
Su Pollard – actress
Richard Beckinsale – actor
Leslie Crowther – TV personality
Jane Torvill & Christopher Dean (one each I think!) – skaters
Stella Rimington – MI5

There are lots of others – but wouldn’t it be fun and entertaining to get this started?

And as Paul McCartney doesn’t have his star in Hollywood I am sure we could let him have one here – just so long as he doesn’t mention football?

Feb 3 2010

Technology making life easier? Not in Tamworth.

Last week, I blogged about my trip to Birmingham to see Feeder / The Renegades. I met my business partner, Matt Hannah at Tamworth Services on the M42 where we agreed to leave one car and just take mine into Birmingham city centre.

Easy instructions to take your cash...


The services have a policy of only allowing free parking for 2 hours – which is fair enough. We were likely to be longer so opted to pay the charge (a slightly outrageous £8…)

You are warned that your number plate had been taken on the ANPR system. The parking is operated by CP Plus – who I have had a run in with before! They have a reputation!

The method of payment is a mobile phone call to an 0303 number.

It took two attempts – entering credit card numbers and Matt’s number plate a single digit at a time. We even called the helpline when we were having problems. They weren’t there unfortunately – gone home for calls, but still able to take your money – or no doubt fine you for their shortcomings.

I am not sure if the intention here is to stop you parking for more than two hours? If so, why not just say so. I blogged before about making visitors welcome – and on that occasion I gave up!

It is slightly different here, but we hardly felt welcome. Nor did the technology make the job easier. I guess that a ticket machine needs emptying – whereas the remote automated calling system is just a nice clean, easy way of making cash! Really, this was the worst of all experiences!

It also seems that these car parks might be breaking DDA laws…

In future I will avoid Tamworth services – and they lose out. I won’t spend money on drinks / snacks.

Jan 13 2010

Food, Drink & The Dark Side

Shock horror this week as we have started delving in the packed lunches of kids! The Independent found … crisps and chocolate. The only real surprise was that 1 in 10 had vegetables in their lunch-boxes.

Healthy Chips, batter and a touch of Fish in the USA


So, it seems we must intervene. Again. New rules will be written forbidding the Devils Food! I do accept that this is a difficult call, but kids are choosy when it comes to food. It seems they vote with their feet – and choose mars bars over carrots. Whilst trying to remain grown-up about this – I don’t blame them!

It was always an interesting moment at the end of term when you finally worked out that the smell in the hall was the rotted apples from numerous packed lunches in the kids school bags. They had ‘forgotten’ them.

Times have changed (but not that much?) – from the days of Enid Blyton when the Famous Five ate themselves to sleep on sandwiches washed down with lashings of Ginger Beer!

The storyline on Five on a hike together went,

The children eat gargantuan amounts of food throughout this story, possibly even more than usual. When they first start on a hike the kind lady in the village store makes them sandwiches. Her son, she says, has six sandwiches, or “twelve rounds of bread.” When she asks how many the children can handle, Julian tells her eight sandwiches each! And as Dick confirms, that’s sixteen rounds of bread for four people, so sixty-four slices.

Kids don’t have time now for falling asleep in fields – besides it’s not safe. The comfort of the Plasma screen and X-Box require a more chocolaty snack! As the saying goes ‘chocolate is the answer – now what’s the question’…

Last night when the squash club was too busy for us to get a court we retired to the pub – and one of the boys had Dandelion & Burdock. We discussed this as it is a ‘Marmite‘ sort of drink. As it happens I love it – as much as I love Marmite! It was more expensive than beer though!

I like most food, but I hate mushrooms (with a passion). Fungus from fields.

Turkish Delight is also food of the Devil – witness the Witch in Narnia who captures Edmund with Magical Turkish Delight! If you have never read the book there is a synopsis here which will save you hours.

But, back to the thread – kids and packed lunches. I suggest we stop kidding ourselves that we can introduce some rules which will suddenly make kids eat healthily. They won’t. They will find away around the system – as generations have done before them. So stop being hypocrites – they will work it out for themselves in the end!

Postscript – how much, exactly, is a ‘lashing of ginger beer’? And is there really a Carrot museum? Must put on my list of world class attractions!

Jan 4 2010

Nottingham – a reminder

Just a reminder blog about Nottingham going forward into 2010. There are lots of reasons to be proud of the City and in 2010 we want to make it even better.

Have a look at the Invest in Nottingham website for lots of positive news.

But a reminder of the headlines:

Nottingham is one of eight ‘Core Cities‘
Nottingham has two world class Universities, Nottingham Trent University & The University of Nottingham
Nottingham attracts 34 million visitors each year and for 2010 it is a top three tourist destination in the World
Nottingham is a top twenty city for A level results
Nottinghams economy is worth £12.1billion
Nottingham is one of the UK’s six Science Cities
Nottingham is ranked 7th in the top ten UK Shopping destinations


And that’s before we start with Robin Hood. All eyes will be on us in May as the new Ridley Scott Robin Hood movie hits the silver screen. Nottingham will start to see some of the ideas of the Sheriffs Commission start to come forward.

We have a lot to look forward to in 2010. I will be at MIPIM in March as part of the team promoting investment in the City; a job that is not difficult!

This is a great city in which to work and play. We need to remind everyone – and my campaign starts proper:

Nottingham – the friendliest city in the world. Probably.

UPDATE 12th January 2010

There’s a really good article in the Times Online about Nottingham and reasons to visit – read it here. The Times can’t be wrong!

Dec 31 2009

2009 – a year in review

I think as you get older the years just seem to fly by much quicker. But looking back on 2009 as the year draws to a close, I tried to think through the highs and lows of the year. On reflection, many more highs than lows I think. Which can only be a good thing! So here goes:

High Points

1. A great weekend in September at St Andrews celebrating our 25th Wedding Anniversary. We stayed in an amazing hotel overlooking the 18th hole at the Old Course. Where did 25 years go? St Andrews is a magical place – I can’t believe we had not discovered it earlier. It helps if you like golf…

St Andrews - and the 18th hole on the Old Course

2. Our son Jack getting 8 GCSE’s and a place at Confetti. This despite his Dyslexia. And then Jade getting a hard-earned place at TeachFirst and working in two challenging schools. Adam worked on another film – the details of which I will spare you, but if I said it was an NHS Information film – that’s enough of a clue!

Jack, Jade and Adam - in the Summer.

3. Lesley and I seeing The Killers at Madison Square Garden (New York) in January. Quite a long way to go to see a gig but they were just brilliant – and then we came home and saw them again at The Arena in Nottingham. Musically the Isle of Wight featured in the calendar again – and was great – especially the infamous toilets & showers… I wasn’t sure about Neil Young though!

The Killers play Madison Square Garden NYC

4. The opening of the Abel Collins ‘Drury Bungalows’ in November – at the end of a three year stint! I think they are great and four couples will move in shortly! The Sheriff of Nottingham and his Lady did us proud on the day – and I think the bungalows are brilliant! Designed by Marsh Grochowski they are ‘of their time’! High green credentials make them highly energy efficient.

The Abel Collins Almshouses - Drury Bungalows

5. My trip with the Sheriff of Nottingham to the USA in September – to research World Class attractions. We visited six cities in 10 days, flying 12,500 miles. It was exhausting but informative – and there was some fun along the way. Highlights – Segway riding, The Experience Music Project in Seattle, Getty Museum in LA, Alcatraz, The High Line in New York and Little Boots in concert – and much more!

The USA tour team - at Top of the Rocks NYC

6. Seeing Jack play his first gig as part of the Hockley Hustle 2009. They were great (I may be a bit biased). That all of their friends turned up was just great to see.

Jack playing drums in his first gig

7. A great holiday in Dartmouth – including an interesting two days sailing – more so for me than Jack – who was none too well! It may have been something he ate – or could it have been the force 7/8 gale?

Dartmouth

Dartmouth Harbour

8. The celebrations in Paris for our friends John & Denise celebrating their 50th birthdays! They are getting old and I am one of the babies of the group. Good to see the gang growing old disgracefully – long may it continue.

The NHR gang do Paris in the Spring!

Low Points

Seeing Nick Hammond and Nick Lewis leave Castle College – both loyal clients over 17 years, but also really nice people & people I regard as friends. I do expect both of them to make returns in 2010!

Nick Hammond in LA (on the right.. in case you wondered)

And that’s it. I wonder what 2010 will bring – hopefully the same split again – or preferably no low points. But already things to look forward to – Minsk in January?, Skiing in February, MIPIM in March and at some point New York (again). I have also agreed to help the Bromley House Library look at the possibility of building an extension / upgrading the wonderful facilities they have!

Lots to look forward to then…. Happy New Year!!

Dec 28 2009

Never wrestle a pig….

“I learned long ago never to wrestle with a pig. You get dirty and tired whereas the pig likes it“. The quote has been attributed to many people – George Bernard Shaw, Cyrus Ching and Creighton Abrams.

Pig looking forward to a fight...


I had forgotten it until a few days ago – when I got into a ‘discussion’ with an anonymous ‘reader’ of the Nottingham Evening Post – on-line version. You can read the exchange here. It was about the story I blogged about a few days ago – an opportunity to work in Minsk.

I was slightly disappointed that readers could be so negative and prejudiced about a potentially positive story for Nottingham. Their ‘beef’ was that this was a ‘jolly’ or that there was some ‘communist connection’. I had tried to point out some facts – but quickly realised that their views were pretty much ingrained and unlikely to alter. That some of the comments are wildly inaccurate is just frustrating – trying to explain is really a waste of time.

I think the idea of social media is really exciting (hence my blog, twitter etc.) – and it is great that we can get a story validated / commented upon in real time. But the art is sifting the drivel and prejudice from the fact or interesting viewpoint.

Most of the argument was with B J Mann who starts most of his comments with “Errrrrrrrrrmmmmmmm”! He wants to see me in Court as I have something to hide about how my trip will be funded. For some reason he thinks he is paying for me. As I act for some public sector organisations he pays….That’s a bit like me asking the Police not to stop me for speeding as I pay their wages. His arguments ran out when he finished his rant explaining that he licked cows bottoms – the comment has since been moderated (i.e. removed).

Someone called ‘M’ in Gedling said – “i wonder which council freeloaders will be going on this jolly ? i bet the mayor will , and he will probably come back and ask the EP readers for advice just like the usa jaunt“. As far as I can see there are no Councillors going on the trip to Minsk. It was the Sheriff who went to the USA – not the Mayor. Asking for ideas on our return was to include as many ideas as possible – damned if you do and damned if you don’t?

If you get into a discussion – as I did – there is a point that you need to realise that you are fighting a pig (metaphorically speaking) – and gently retire to a safe distance! Preferably before you get tired and dirty…

Note to self – don’t waste you time in future!

Dec 24 2009

Robin Hood – an update on Nottingham’s World Class Attraction

I blogged before about the findings of our trip to the USA when I attempted to distill what made a world class attraction into 17 words. I chose the theme on the back of a Daniel Libeskind talk. This was always going to be a challenge – and my colleague Nick Hammond has been speaking to many of the stakeholders on the Sheriff’s Commission.

The High Line New York - a world class attraction


I was delighted last week when he told me we had some more words to add to the list! And these are:

Memorable
Engaging
Friendly
Theatrical
Stimulating

I agree with the inclusion of all of these words – they should help inform the Commission and the shape of a new attraction. We are trying to keep the message simple for the specification of the new attraction – whatever it might be!

With the news last week that Nottingham had won the right to hold some of the qualifying matches for the World Cup 2018 (assuming England win their bid!) this gives us some real focus. It was always assumed that the attraction would take a number of years – but 2018 is within sight and is probably realistic.

In the meantime though, there are some things we would like to try and achieve – these might include a Medieval Market, a Mayflower project, A Robin Hood Trail (we are aware that one already exists) and possibly a Volunteer bureau. We also need to capitalise on the new Ridley Scott directed Robin Hood film – due for a release in May 2010. This will certainly reinvigorate the story of Robin Hood…

I look forward to the Commission Advisory Panel meetings in 2010!

Dec 22 2009

My favourite building this year!

As I have blogged about before, I went this year to the USA with the Sheriff of Nottingham to look at World class attractions – in the anticipation that we could transfer some ideas back to Nottingham with a Robin Hood theme. When I looked through the thousands of images I took in the year I wondered what was my favourite building in the year. And the winner was – The Experience Music Project / SciFi Museum in Seattle.

The experience music project - Seattle


The building split the group of us – a marmite moment!

Exterior facade of EMP - Seattle


I loved it.

EMP Seattle - Ghery architecture at its best!


It was designed by Canadian architect Frank Ghery He said “I wanted to evoke the Rock’n'Roll experience without being too literal about it”. His client was Paul Allen (of Microsoft fame). Ghery was the first person to use a computer modeling system called CATIA – which was used in the aerospace industry. As he said – “we did a building by computer for a computer guy”!

400 tons of steel was used – on top of which are laid 21,000 aluminum and stainless steel shingles. At the heart of the centre is the Sky Church – with a 70 ft high ceiling and the worlds largest LED screen it is an amazing place.

I think it is where art and architecture merge. It is challenging – the colours are amazing. And the wow factor is high! We had mixed views about what was inside the building – but that doesn’t take away from the building itself!

It was my favourite building in 2009. By a country mile!