New Continental Hotel, Millbay Road, Plymouth, PL1 3LD

Tel: 01752 276798

Category / Lifestyle

Cheese Fest Plymouth!

Posted on by Elinor Eaton

Who doesn’t love a cheesy event?

We say, let there be Cheese – and plenty of it!!

Cheese Fest lands in Plymouth for the very first time EVER! Put the date in your diary now: 11th May 2019 …  we are super excited!!

CheeseFest UK is an amazing festival, touring the entire width and breadth of the UK. It’s unlike many other festivals you have ever witnessed before! Bringing with it so much cheesy fun! With sensational live music; Wallace and Gromit will be mingling; model making with Aardman Animation; Wallace and Gromit life size vehicles; cooking demos; activity areas;  street food and so much more!

What a day!

cheese fest

An action packed day is on the cards; celebrating 30 cracking years of Wallace & Gromit.

Experience some of the cheesiest cheeses in the world!  With Melted Raclette, Cheese Wheels, Gooey Mozzarella Sticks and a whole host of cheesetastic tastes from the UK’s best cheese traders!

There are 15 live dates throughout the UK, celebrating all that’s great in the world of cheese. Expect the most incredible melted delights and delicious cheese-based cuisine presented for your culinary pleasure by the finest fromagers from across the land. What’s more; there will be so much for the entire family that you will feel a day just isn’t long enough!

CheeseFest UK promises to be a grand day out for all the family with a jam packed programme of feasting and entertainment hosted by the world’s most famous cheese ambassadors Wallace & Gromit. Kids can enjoy model making, life-size vehicles, film screenings of popular Wallace & Gromit movies, and a meet & greet with Wallace and Gromit themselves. Young and old, all are welcome, so don’t be sheepish! – get involved!

For more details check our website www.cheesefestuk.com

Stay and Play!

Why not extend your stay?  We have great promotions and offers that mean you can stay for as little as £50 per night! For more information check out our offers page!

Pre-Theatre Food In Plymouth

Posted on by Elinor Eaton

We love a good show…and we know you do too! But what about your  food pre-theatre here in Plymouth..?

We have the answer! Why not start your visit to the theatre in style! Our restaurant, Steve’s Brasserie, is open for pre-show theatre dining every Monday-Saturday from 5.30pm.

Relax, unwind and enjoy classic flavours with a modern twist. Tempted? We are too EVERYDAY when we  smell the amazing aroma coming from the kitchen!

What’s more, two sensational courses will not only leave you fully sated and safely in your seat for show-time, but are just £16! Or, add that extra sparkle to your evening! Indulge in a three course meal for £20!

The smash-hit production of ANNIE comes to Plymouth for 1 week only starting on Monday 6th May. It’s direct from London’s West End.

Set in 1930s New York during The Great Depression, brave young Annie is forced to live a life of misery at Miss Hannigan’s orphanage. Her luck soon changes when she’s chosen to spend a fairytale Christmas with famous billionaire, Oliver Warbucks. Meanwhile, spiteful Miss Hannigan has other ideas and hatches a plan to spoil Annie’s search for her true family…

With its Tony® award-winning book and score, including the unforgettable songs It’s The Hard-Knock Life, Easy Street, I Don’t Need Anything But You and Tomorrow, you can bet your bottom dollar that you’ll love it (!) and with a treat before you take a seat; it’s the perfect evening out!

Pre-theatre dining in Plymouth is easy and satisfying when you choose Steve’s Brasserie. Read here for more information on Steve’s Brasserie!

We Are ‘Jolly Roger’ Ready!

Posted on by Elinor Eaton

Pirates Weekend!

It’s almost time…and we can not wait! 

There is just less than a month to go for the award-winning Pirates Weekend Plymouth! A weekend that offers a swashbuckling weekend of free fun for all the family to enjoy. What’s more; the sun always shines on Pirates!

This amazing weekend is organised by the Plymouth Waterfront Partnership Business Improvement District. It is one of THE most amazing weekends in Plymouth and this year takes place on Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 May. Britain’s Ocean City becomes alive with merry activities as the weekend unfolds across the Barbican, Sutton Harbour and West Hoe.

Meaning you wont miss a thing!

What’s It All About?

Well! What you can be sure of is two amazing days packed full of entertainment and activities. Including a pirate trail, storytellers, puppet shows, arts and crafts activities, street entertainment, amazing food and much more!

Sarah Gibson, Waterfront Manager and Chief Executive of the Plymouth Waterfront Partnership, said:

“Pirates Weekend Plymouth won Silver at the 2018 Devon Tourism Awards for Tourism Event and Festival of the Year as the best family Pirates Weekend in the South West. Designed and funded by Waterfront businesses, Pirates Weekend Plymouth has activities linking the Barbican, Sutton Harbour and West Hoe Park, whilst Mount Batten Pirates powerboat experiences and PDSSA pirate sailing lessons will give visitors a treat to get out onto the water too.”

“In its eighth year, Pirates Weekend Plymouth is unmissable – so get yourselves dressed up as pirates and come along for two days of brilliant fun!”

What To Wear..!

What’s not to wear! We say go crazy with those head scarfs and eye patches; fancy dress is encouraged throughout the weekend; and new for this year is a Pirate Parade, sponsored by Lazy Jacks. Led by the The Drake Corps of Drums and the infamous Jonty Depp, all of Plymouth’s pirates will march through the streets of the Barbican together.

WHAT’S MORE…

Every young participant dressed as a pirate will be given a special gift!

Children can also follow a Pirate Trail around the Barbican and Sutton Harbour, this is amazing fun for them and you get to see the sights whilst they are totally entertained! This event is sponsored by Sutton Harbour Group.

You can find maps from the Tourist Information Centre for just £2, every participant will receive a prize for completing the trail and also be entered into a draw to win a Lego Creator set.

A full programme of shanty bands will entertain the crowds between 10.30am and 3pm each day. The area will be full of action in a number of locations: along Southside Street, outside Capn’ Jaspers and on board the Grayhound tall ship.

For more information about all the activities at this year’s Pirates Weekend Plymouth, head to visitplymouth.co.uk.

What we know for sure – you will have an amazing time!

 

Don’t Hide From Easter…

Posted on by Elinor Eaton

Can you have a healthy Easter..?

With miles of shelves stacked with chocolate eggs and sugar-rich sweets; hot cross bun mountains and  beer and wine displays galore; going anywhere over Easter can be an open invite to take a break from temptation and indulge in Easter and Bank Holidays treats.

Like a bully in the playground, they can taunt you until, the next think you know, you’re packing the foil-covered bunnies away in the cupboard!

BUT its so difficult to see past all the unhealthy treats when it comes to Easter and Bank Holiday…

It can be hard, and we don’t need to tell you how to replace the treats with healthy options, we all know that a carrot with hummus is much better for us than an eleven inch chocolate bunny with Haribo eggs from its cute little basket!

So we ask the question “Can you really have a healthy Easter?”

Many of us have a long weekend to look forward to, four days off with family and friends; BBQs, nights out, lazy days…and we know that time for celebration often includes some indulgence.

Taking a break from the usual routine and enjoying some relaxation time is essential for our minds and our bodies, but, if you’re anything like us, we don’t want to completely fall off the fitness train and then need to run the track to get back on!

Simply put, we know that we will indulge; you know that you will indulge too! And for some it will be just a little, for others a little more! But how do we stay on track, not undo too much of our great work, but still have a great time?

Tips we love you will already know.  But like muscles getting stronger with repetition, what you practise grows stronger. So yes, it may be things you know; but re-read, remember and realise …

You are stronger than you think and there are no bullies in the playground!

Quality over Quantity…

Don’t think you CAN’T indulge in any of your cravings this Easter. Frankly, a little of what you fancy does you no harm! We all need the odd treat – but be advocates for quality over quantity.

Rather than be pounced on by the big yellow supermarket sign: 8 eggs for £10! Opt for a single egg; one you will feel you have really worked for; treated yourself too. One you sit down to enjoy, piece by piece, moment by precious moment.

Remember: You don’t need to fill your kitchen cupboards because the supermarket tells you too! 

It doesn’t have to be all about the chocolate!

When you think of indulging and treating yourself, for many of us, the first thing that comes to mind isn’t always chocolate. Chocolate is a familiar ‘friend’ because Easter (and clever marketing) has infiltrated our minds!  If you think about it as an important time to celebrate and to reward yourself, we all need rewards!  Have something to look forward to. But that isn’t always in the chocolate form!

Seeing other people treat themselves to things reminds us that we deserve it too, and it’s all too easy to think that our ‘indulgence’ can be mirrored by theirs – or clever marketing!

I bet chocolate, for many, wouldn’t be a reward!  For some of us, 30 minutes to ourselves, in a place we love with an indulgent Magazine or a great Podcast is worth so much more  than a cream egg!

Really think about what you need, what you want to indulge in and stretch for it, make it happen and enjoy it – whatever ‘it’ is.

Enjoy the moments…

The weather’person’ says we are in for a weekend hotter than Egypt! So make the most of it! Time with the family where exercise is part of the family fun.

And if the sun really does shine like they say it will, it’s perfect timing to indulge in the great outdoors, rather than the bag of Mini Eggs!

Go for a country walk or bike ride. Visit some historical sites. Play a game of football in the park, or maybe even take yourself to your nearest beach for a spot of volleyball!

Be together, on your feet, out in the air making memories.

And let’s face it, if we are eating and drinking a little more than usual this weekend, the more we are on our feet – the better!  

Be prepared and don’t get hungry!

Meeting friends for a drink hungry, inevitably means you are more likely to over indulge in a light bite or appetiser to accompany the Gun & Tonic!

Family buffets and BBQs full of chocolate and pastries will be so much harder to decline if you haven’t fuelled yourself on nutritious goodness beforehand or gone prepared with some healthy treats that everyone can enjoy.

Make sure you have a healthy breakfast, eat a high fibre or protein snack before the goodies are in your eyeline, and you are far less likely to overindulge.

ENJOY!

You have no reason not to have THE best weekend. Don’t feel you have a mountain to climb or that you have to hibernate, blindfolded with your arms tied behind your back to get through the four-day weekend!

Know that you do have control.  You can make the right choices and you are doing an amazing job.

Here’s to you.

Here’s to a Happy Easter with everyone you love making memories that will last forever and pounds that you can work off next week!

Membership at Club Continental: where people matter 7 days a week. 

Poised With Her Message…

Posted on by Elinor Eaton

Poised with her message; The Messenger…

Over the last few weeks; we have had many of our guests’ ask us about the large bronze sculpture outside the entrance to the Theatre Royal Plymouth. Wondering why it was there and what it was all about!

There have been so many in fact,  that we thought we would use this time to pop a lens over the sculpture and, in our words, share what we know about The Messenger.

The seven metre, almost 10 tonne bronze beauty was brought to life by Cornish artist Joseph Hillier. The sculpture itself was inspired by a split-second pose which was struck by an actor during a rehearsal for the award-winning production of Othello.

Believed to be the UK’s largest cast bronze sculpture, Joseph explained that ‘The Messenger’, although inspired by the pose, also represents a great deal more…

Our Thoughts…

Like the artist himself, we believe that Theatre is so much more than just a home for putting a great show on the stage. Its actors breathing life into words; its audiences being captivated by the messages carried through the auditorium; it’s using art and culture to make deep rooted, significant change within communities. Yes its theatre, but by golly it’s also so much more!

Although not the official explanation, for that you can head over to the custodians themselves on the Theatre Royal Plymouth’s website, we see this sculpture as a  metaphor for what great theatre does within a community and for its patrons. It carries a message. It encourages debate and opinions that usually differ; and most of all truly great theatre makes us ask questions and share thoughts.

Like with many of our guests, The Messenger will no doubt be like Marmite. People seem to either love it or hate it!  But the point is, if we were all the same, wouldn’t that be a boring message!

 

Theatre Royal Plymouth…

Theatre Royal Plymouth is the premier arts organisation in the South West. They have many amazing and diverse performances on its stages. There is always a show for everyone. For more information on what to see, visit their website for their new season brochure and book you stay (and maybe play) today!

For more information from the custodians themselves, please visit the Theatre Royal Plymouth’s website.

A Conference With Confidence & Care…

Posted on by Elinor Eaton

A Platform For Change…

One million plastic bottles around the world are consumed every single minute. Isn’t that incredible to think?

Here at the New Continental Hotel, we have always tried hard to be as sustainable as possible and, as much as the business has allowed, to always act ethically and responsibly.  So, knowing that over eight million tonnes of plastic waste ends up in our oceans every year, we knew that we had to work hard to help make change happen.

Although small steps, we know that any steps we make now will add up to making a difference; and if we want to play a part in a shift and see a future where our planet is less battered by our waste, we simply have to act – and act now.

By 2050, it is said that there will be more plastic (by weight) than fish in the ocean; something that all of us here at the New Continental Hotel don’t want to be a part of. So, with this in mind,  we have made a commitment to do all that we can throughout the entire hotel and our events and conferencing department is cheering this change.

We know that we can’t get rid of plastic altogether; it’s useful, durable and affordable and so as a result of this, we use it every day in some form. But how we use single use plastics can – and is changing.

Although we have completed a full audit and the hotel introduced an Environmental Policy in 2016; our bars, events and conference offering has also had its own overhaul more recently.

Our Food & Beverage Manager removed plastic straws and bottles in 2018. Where possible our events team  work with our organisers to share our tried and tested environmentally kind tips; and they are going down a treat!

Thank you to everyone who has helped and assisted us along the way. 

How You Can Help US:

These tips have been really popular and so, we thought that we would share them! If you’re thinking of, or holding an event with us, you can see how together we can all try and take small steps to make a united difference. 

Go-Paperless! Use apps, QR codes and websites to save paper. Also, make sure to put your agenda and any event information online! For organisations that don’t have their own website, we happily host a page FOR FREE on our website leading up to the event. A central place for those without a website to host all of their event information.

Email Know How! Pre-conference emails offering information such as links to information and also our Wi-Fi password in advance really helps. It means that delegates can be encouraged, empowered and enabled to go paperless!

It’s Not Just What We Say! We also offer our sustainability statement to go on any of event or conference information.

No more plastic! We no longer stock plastic water bottles for our events. Instead we place glasses and water pitchers in the meeting space. We also happily provide biscuits not individually wrapped if requested.

Go Local! Where and when at all possible our event food and beverages are locally sourced to decrease our carbon footprint.

On The Go! We no longer offer take away Coffee from events as we do not stock paper cups.

Be Collective! We suggest that even though we have ample parking, organisers suggest that delegates set up carpools and offer public transport details for their events with us. As we are in the city centre we are really easy to get to!

Our Marketing At Events:

Bin It! We do not use throwaway marketing materials within conferences that we host; nor do we give handouts to delegates.  We will always put any information either on a memory stick or send before or during the event via email.

No Swag! We don’t promote our businesses products or services with any ‘swag’ style items at events we host. We don’t give away pens or branded free gifts that don’t have a ‘sustainable’ theme.

Below is a little about what we do as a general rule at the New Continental Hotel, and also what we aim to develop in the future:

What We DO:

We are undertaking the following actions to strive to responsibly lessen our impact on the environment wherever we sensibly can, by: 

  • Factoring the environment in our everyday decision making at management meetings.
  • We are Raising awareness and encouraging our staff to carry out more sustainable business practices by informing and involving them at induction and during regular meetings throughout the year.
  • Recycling paper, newspapers, glass, batteries, fluorescent and long life bulbs, cans and cartridges.
  • Operating a ‘switch off’ policy for office staff to turn off computer equipment and printers, lights and heating when not in use.
  • Operating a ‘switch off’ policy for function spaces no longer in use.
  • Reducing our usage of harmful cleaning chemicals and replacing these with eco-friendly products wherever possible.
  • Reducing our usage of paper by printing double sided and re-using paper wherever possible.
  • Encouraging our guests to explore the local attractions by public transport or on foot by providing information on walks, cycle routes and cycle hire information and bus timetables at Reception.

 

We will continue to:

  • Use low energy light bulbs in public areas.
  • Have motion light sensors fitted where appropriate and safe to do so.
  • Monitor our energy consumption of gas, electricity and water.
  • Use email where possible to reduce the use of paper.
  • Turn off unnecessary lights and taps.
  • Buy in bulk.

We are working on projects to:

  • Update our website with green travel information e.g. local bicycle hire.
  • Continue to reduce our energy consumption by looking at energy saving devices, insulation and working on long term projects such as implementing LED lighting.
  • Use more organic produce, seasonal vegetables and local produce.
  • Use recycled paper for our brochures with a reduced print run.
  • Get involved in local community projects.
  • Reduce water use by continuing to fit water saving devices in toilets and rooms throughout the hotel.
  • Donate half used bathroom products and towels and bedding to local homeless charities.
  • We will always comply with the law in all our actions and will continuously review our policy to improve our environmental impact.

We are dedicated to balancing our commitment to our Environmental Policy without compromising on the comfort, standards and enjoyment of our guests

 

National Apprenticeship Week…

Posted on by Elinor Eaton

Before we start:

As we are now in the middle of the annual week-long celebration of apprenticeships, we wanted to take this opportunity to say a massive thank you to the team at City College Plymouth, their amazing students and to our apprentices, those with us now and those who have flown the nest to amazing new careers in hospitality.

Today we take a sneaky peak at the life of an apprentice chef…

It’s always hard saying goodbye to an apprentice. But when you know you have played a part in connected them to their future and to a career that they are passionate about; it really helps with the farewells!

Growing up, our natural aptitudes and interests often lead us to pursue certain careers. Sometimes we follow our parent’s footsteps, join the family business or simply look for the best paid jobs!

Sometimes we look to the future, to see where there might be growth in a specific sector. Perhaps we look at predicted skill shortages, or staff predominately made up of a generation starting to retire, with no one snapping at their heels to replace them!

However, sometimes, you are lucky enough to know what you love to do, what you’re great at and then consider the merits of a career based on your value; turning your passions into a profession!

Now isn’t that something!

As Plymouth bounds forward with growth and regeneration, as the city centre continues to develop and as Plymouth is growing in popularity as a destination, there has never been a better time to be in the tourism and hospitality sector.

Today we specifically look at ‘Chefs Life’ and see how, over the past seven years, we have been working closely with some amazing young talent.

The kitchen is intense, fast paced and dynamic. There can be long, stressful hours. It takes bags of energy, passion and charisma and it’s anything but easy! It’s full of pressure and high expectations of you…

…we aren’t really selling it here are we!

OK! Let’s help with that!

Staff Have Their Say…

We ask our Executive Chef, Paul Doidge why he feels that hospitality, specifically the kitchens, makes such a good springboard to connect young people to a career that will grip them and keep them inspired:

“ For the past seven years, I have seen many apprentices join us and leave connected to their dream of being a chef. All a step closer to their goal. Being in the thick of the action and really empowering and enabling apprentices is a massive part of all of our responsibilities; ensuring that the future of our craft has innovative new chefs emerging, learning and growing in confidence.

Becoming a chef is a career with surprisingly broad appeal. You can travel the world with it, teach with it, care with it; you can work across all sectors and you have a skill that many are envious of.

Almost everyone cooks at some point in their life; unlike plumbing or carpentry for instance; on a fairly regular basis the majority of people will prepare and serve food. When you’re good at it, you and everyone you cook for instantly knows. It’s a natural aptitude that is unlocked. Perhaps in your own kitchen, a friends or at school; access to the tools are readily available and accessible. Let’s face it, very few people will ever say ‘I’d rather you didn’t cook for me’!   

We have an apprentice currently that knew he was an amazing ‘chef’ from a really young age, after cooking at school and home and gaining rave reviews. For me, to nurture and extend that passion and energy with additional skills,  sharing my knowledge and experience,  is one of the many pleasures of my job.

Plenty of jobs require skills that you’ll never use outside of the office. Being a chef is an amazing professional talent that can also be used and shared in our daily lives.”

Find Out More…

Would you like to fin out more about the opportunities in the New Continental Groups Kitchen for apprentices? Then please email: nikkif@newcontinental.co.uk with an introductory email.

If you are still wondering if a #chefslife is the life for you; then perhaps this may help: 5 Reasons Why A Chefs Life Is A GREAT Life! 

JOG Your Memory | Student Life | Join The Gym!

Posted on by Elinor Eaton

JUST £0.66p A DAY!

(Less than two pints of milk!)

Working out is a great way to relax and boost your mood; but studies also show that healthy, active students are more productive in lectures too.

Tiring as it sounds, thinking about adding the Gym to your already hectic schedules, what’s great about working out is it really will give you more energy to do all the things you love.

You may have noticed that the nights out and occasional takeaways have made you feel a bit sluggish.  Fitting exercise into your every day routine will make you feel so much better AND it really is easier than you think …

Club Continental Student Offer…

We ask our Club Continental Manager, Adam,  why the students he works with feel better since joining the Gym:

 

man standing with arms crossed“Physically active students perform better academically. The regular routine of healthy exercise really helps them perform at their best. It’s so much more than just the actual activity itself; more than improving  just the body through building muscle strength and endurance.  Keeping fit is one of the most important things you can do for your health yes; but also general well-being.  The students I work with have all said that by taking part in regular physical activity, they perform better academically.”

“I honestly think that now more than ever, students in higher education are under more pressure. Having to balance studies, finances and their social lives. I was reading in a report published  by the Office Of National Statistics that mental health issues for students are on the rise, particularly the feelings of loneliness and isolation.”

“So, yes it’s more than just trying not to be a couch potato, but it’s not necessarily about becoming a certified fitness fanatic either. It’s about students investing in themselves, in a healthy, positive way so they can be their best.”

 

If you’re thinking about joining a gym, to either get into better shape or just keep fit; we have the solution – without breaking the bank!
For less than the cost of two pints of milk a day, our special student discount is open to everyone over 16 years old and in education.

What are the other benefits?

No Commitment | you can hold or stop your membership at anytime.
No FEES | there is no hidden costs, no joining fee and no admin fee; just £20 per month.
Open For You | we are open 7 days a week!
Pay As You Go | we have a pay as you go option too!
City Centre Location | walking distance from all city colleges, training centres and the University.
FREE Parking | no need to worry about permits or city centre parking fees!
Enterprise Grade Wi-Fi | throughout the Club – you can be connected!
Be Social | it’s a great way to connect with Plymouth!
Be Motivated | our staff are PT trained and will always offer you free advice and guidance if you need it. So you can make sure you make the most out of every session.

So, with Club Continental you can stay healthy and fit without breaking the bank. You can burn off the calories from that occasional alcoholic beverage and takeaway without burning a hole in your pocket! You can clear your head on the treadmill, relax in the steam room or release some tension on the weights.

We work hard to suit your student lifestyle; no catch, just the opportunity for you to use all of our facilities and de-stress for £20 a month for as long as you want!

Student Facebook Competition T&Cs

Win 3 months FREE membership at Club Continental… Tell us in the comments section of the competition why you LOVE being a student in Plymouth for the chance to win 3 months FREE gym membership! TERMS AND CONDITIONS: 1.This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by or associated with Facebook. 2.Entrants must […]

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Family Car Journey | The Survival Guide!

Posted on by Elinor Eaton

Create The Perfect, Fun Family Car Journey…

As the great Easter getaways are being planned, the roads will soon be full of families making their Easter road-trips!

Q) Are your toes already tingling at the thought?!?

Many of us here at the hotel are parents. Parents of babies, toddlers, teens and proud Grandparents too.  Most of us have had (or have) regular challenges when it comes to car journeys – both long and short!

Finding your own way to make it is essential – we all have different needs and varying tolerance levels – especially when driving! 

We want you to arrive in Plymouth full of beans – not full of fury! So, we asked some of our amazing parents and grandparents who are staff here at the New Continental Hotel, if they would share some of their tips, on how to keep both children and parents happy on their car journeys!

These tips are great for either nipping down the road to swimming lessons (which can be just a gruelling sometimes!) or making the four hour motorway trip to visit family!!

We welcome many families during the Easter Holidays and sometimes, as they walk through the foyer, after their family road trip, we can feel their pain!

Parents who are wearing the signs of being road warriors; and children eager to get out of the ‘tin can’ and stretch those legs!

 

We all have our own techniques; for some it’s taking  favourite toys; making regular ‘adventure stops’ or travelling at night!

Here are some of the methods staff at the New Continental Use…

Charlie | Head Of Housekeeping | Grandchild

Charlie is a super proud Nana! And although her Grandson is now almost old enough to drive her around; Charlie is a big fan of her IPad and so we asked her to search for something that could offer some ‘techy’ aid for the travelling family!

Her tips for surviving a car journey – load your IPad with these FREE APPS!

Talking Tom Cat

Talking Tom Cat is a virtual pet cat that’ll keep children engrossed for long periods of time, making him purr when they stroke him and drink when they pour him a glass of milk. He’ll distract them, make them laugh and I am sure offer hours of entertainment! You may want to turn the volume down a little – he repeats what they say in a rather high pitch voice! They will love it – but the adults in the car not so much (especially after the first few times!)

Pineapple Studio Jigsaw Puzzles

This is a great traditional style game; I really liked it because it cleverly fused old with digital! The electronic jigsaw – no need to hunt the car for pieces at every pit-stop with this one! This app features Toy Story, Twilight, Cars, The Simpsons and other options. I think it will be a winner – if only for 20 minutes or so!

Nursery Jam

Music is a winner and this is a really great, fun, creative app.   It lets you compose your own music by tapping objects. I really liked it!! It might be a bit noisy though! So, although it will keep them happy  – I might consider the option of headphones!

Claire | Events Coordinator | 6 Year Old Daughter

Claire is one of our super organised Mums. The Mum we all aspire to be like. The Mum that stays up late to bake for the PTFA and who knows her way around great Tupperware!

Being both super organised and a regular road trip maker; her tip for surviving a family road trip – plenty of snacks (and wet-wipes!)!

“We travel a great deal to visit family and friends – by both car and ferry.   So we have learnt lots of tricks to keep our little one happy!  The tried and tested favourite for us is making sure we pack lots of healthy snacks (and some treats of course!)  Some might say I pack enough to feed an army – but you can never be too prepared!”

Here are some great ideas – many that are favourites in our four wheels!

Boots also do some great Tupperware, with lids that really keep things in!

Katie | Events Coordinator | 18 Month Old Son

Katie is what we call ‘the cool Mum’ – she is fun and always busy doing fun and creative things with her little man.

Her tip is to prepare your spotify for the journey!

‘I have quickly learnt that: a) I may never listen to my own music in the car again and b) to get over the embarrassment of bobbing along to ‘The Wheels On The Bus’ for a happy car journey! No more shame at traffic lights when my son and I are rocking along and laughing at each other for taking the tunes a little too seriously! Nor do we mind when we make it to the shops and we still have the soundtrack playing – just without the music as we dance down the cereal aisle!

For us, a silent car journey just doesn’t cut it! We need tunes and laughter! There are some great pre-made soundtracks – or create your own – which is fun in itself!”

Simon | Operations Manager | 7 Year Old & Baby

Simon is one of the best Dads; you know the ones, the one we all wish we had had!

He is hands on, cool and always wants only the best for his little brood!

Empowering his little ones and making sure they enjoy being educated. That’s what matters so much to him; hence his journey tips being educational but FUN!

Learning Games!

“My 7 year old loves nothing more than to be armed with her special clipboard and selection of pencils and rubbers and her fun car games. Games we can all play along with – if she lets us!”

Simon has let us in to his secrets and so we have created some templates so you too can let your little ones get bossy – we mean busy (!) – in the car!

Alphabet Hunt

Scavenger Hunt

Paul | Executive Chef | 12 & 8 years old

Paul, like Simon, is one of those amazing Dads. Amazing, but also one who might be considered a little ‘Competitive’! Often sharing his stories with us in the staff room of Monopoly battles at Christmas and Nerf Gun fights on Sunday’s!

Proving that being a great Dad is all about having fun…with a little healthy competition!

So…little surprise to any of us; his survival tricks for car journey is a game of Guess Who!

“Having fun and play times are perhaps the greatest setting for making memories, learning social skills and integration but also having fun!  With two children we all know that the back seat can be a frenzy of squabbling and ‘Dad he did this’ and ‘Dad she did that’s’!

So, I like to add a little fun for distraction,  with a dollop of healthy, family competition to the mix things up a bit!!  Guess Who is perfect!

It’s a great alternative to the ‘I Spy’ game – which has to be said, can be a bit distracting as the driver!

Guess Who! The player thinks of a person; it can be a famous fictional person, like Andy from Toy Story or Carl Fredricksen from UP! It can be a singer, like Ariana Grande or Bob Marley! Or perhaps an actor, sports person or even a member of the family!

The person who thinks of the ‘who’ then has to honestly answer up to 10 questions from the other players. With the answers they then have to try and ‘Guess Who’ that person is!

If the person is guessed, the passenger that guessed it gets one point, they then start another round. If the famous person is not guessed, the passenger can then think of another person … AND get the one point!

No cheating though!”

A BIG thanks to all our staff for taking the time to share their tried and tested trip survival tactics!

Long trips with children are always a little daunting – but they are worth it once you arrive in Plymouth. And hopefully our staff have given you some great tips to make it survivable!

All you need to do now is plan your next trip to Plymouth and thank us in person!!!

We would love to welcome you and share our city – as well as our tips – with you soon!

Safe Travels. Happy Journeys.  Family Fun Holidays.

Things To Do | This Weekend…

Posted on by Elinor Eaton

Mum2mum Market | Baby & Children’s Nearly New Sale…

Where: Harewood House, The Ridgeway

When: January 26th 2019 – 10am-12pm

Contact: Michelle on Michele@mum2mummarket.co.uk

Venue & Details

Join them on Facebook for the latest updates

Upcoming dates

Overview…

There will be over 20 stalls packed with nearly new bargains for your bump, baby and children up to six years old.

With top brands in great condition, you can stock up on all you need for your little ones;  from nursery equipment, pushchairs, clothes, toys, and books – all at a fraction of their high-street prices.

Plus…there’s tea, coffee and cakes available for a pit stop, with free car park and regular bus services it’s so easy!

What’s more –  if you’d like to bring a friend, you can even download a two-for-one voucher.

Please note: Admission is £2.00 on the door and free in the last half an hour. Children enter for FREE! You will need to take cash to make your purchases.

 

 

For the best rates, click here to book your stay!