Christmas comes early for one Lincoln Visitor

Christmas has come early for a city visitor after they won Visit Lincolnshire’s Christmas Elf Competition – a fun challenge that got residents and visitors talking about the best bits of the county!

The competition ‘Watch Out, Elf’s About’ hosted on Visit Lincolnshire’s website gave fans of the county a chance to win a Nintendo Wii by guessing correctly which Lincolnshire visitor attraction the festive Elf visited each week and adding a top tip of things to do whilst there.

A special presentation took place just in time for Christmas on Friday 17th December where the winner, Sue Matejtschuk from Hertfordshire (centre) and her son (left), collected their prize from Matthew Stevenson (right) from Springbok Computers who kindly sponsored the Nintendo Wii as the competition’s prize.

The competition supported Visit Lincolnshire and Lincoln Business Improvement Group’s first fully coordinated Christmas marketing campaign for the City, it unites all sectors of the local visitor economy including events, retail, food and drink, attractions and accommodation with the aim of boosting business over the festive season.

Upon receiving the news that she had won the prize Sue Matejtschuk said, “I was browsing the Visit Lincolnshire website to find out more after we heard the bad news that the Lincoln Christmas Market had been cancelled by the weather. I spotted the competition and thought, why not?”

“It was easy to suggest lots of great things to do in Lincoln, having both children studying in Lincoln means we often visit. It's a wonderful setting, the old with the new, something for everyone. Our first visit was when our son was looking for a place to study, and the University laid on a guided coach tour for parents. We now also receive the Taste of Lincolnshire magazine and have stayed in some lovely guest houses.”

“To receive my prize in time for Christmas will be perfect timing, we'll all be together and able to play the games as a family, and if I can find fitness type game for it there'll be no excuse for putting on lots of weight over the festive season!”

Matthew Stevenson, from Springbok Computers who donated the prize said, “Working with Visit Lincolnshire on their Christmas campaign has been great, it’s allowed me to contribute towards raising the profile of Springbok Computers whilst also promoting the City in the run up to Christmas.”

Interested in boats? Like food? Then join the Secret Supper Club on the last remaining Humber Sloop

A dining experience with a difference has been launched aboard super sloop Spider T berthed at Keadby Lock.

On a cold December evening with thick slabs of ice still floating in the Keadby & Stainforth Canal, guests gathered for the inaugural ‘meeting’ of The Old Maritime Secret Supper Club.

Renowned local chef Nigel Brown, whose Cookery Academy is based at The Ropewalk in Barton-upon-Humber, demonstrated his skills in the galley of the beautifully restored sloop which was itself launched at New Holland in 1926.

The evening was hosted by Spider T’s owners Mal and Val Nicholson, who have lovingly restored this treasure of the national historic fleet, with Nigel and Lisa Brown demonstrating and serving the delicacies prepared on the galley’s Rayburn range.

Guests included members of the Humber Keel and Sloop Preservation Society and the Humber Yawl Club which are both dedicated to preserving traditional craft of the estuary in their traditional waters.

With its Edwardian ambience, the Spider T’s dining room will be a ‘secret’ rendezvous for that special occasion, be it a private or corporate event, catering for up to 12 people for whom Nigel will demonstrate his cooking skills using locally sourced foods.

For further details The Nigel Brown Cookery Academy call 01469 530044.

http://www.nigelbrownchef.co.uk/ | www.spidert.co.uk

Merry Christmas from Anderby Creek

Last week the Visit Lincolnshire team received a beautiful Christmas email from our good friend Martin, he runs a stylish beach chalet at Anderby Creek on the Lincs coast.

In fact it was so nice we thought we’d share it….

The sky is clear. The sun rises above the sea and throws a pale, pink, cold light onto the clouds on the horizon. An icy wind comes in from across the sea. The beach is white with frost and snow and the sand is frozen.

Winter has come early this year - early and hard.

The snow drifts over the fields and piles up along the hedges. The traffic has stopped and the landscape is silent. A woodcock nestles in the bushes behind the dune – a rare sight.

In the house a fire glows in the stove – snug and warm. Time to set up the Christmas tree.

The Twentysix team wishes you a Merry Christmas and a prosperous 2011.

P.S - Due to a cancellation Martin at Twentysix has availability over Christmas from 20 Dec - 29 Dec. And they are taking bookings for next year. The season starts on the 5th of March 2011.

Martin Hoenle
07814 - 829 912
martin@anderbycreek.eu
http://www.anderbycreek.eu/