Entertainment News

Summer visitors look forward to the spectacle of horseback jousters and flying fireballs when they go to Warwick Castle, but the sight of over 40 adult peacocks strutting around the grounds is also a memorable moment. Now the public is being asked to suggest names for a brood of newborn peachicks (baby peacocks) born at the Castle this month. The young birds are the first peachicks to hatch naturally at the attraction in over four years.

Bilston Craft Gallery is to showcase a range of motorcycles made in Wolverhampton. The exhibition ‘Motorbikes: Made & Remembered’ will run at the Mount Pleasant gallery from Saturday, July 30 to Sunday, September 18. Through the latter part of the 19th Century and early 20th Century Wolverhampton and Bilston had a dozen companies producing iconic motorbikes. Famous motorbike manufacturers such as Sunbeam, AJS, Wolf and Norton produced machines that were sold across the world - their brand name synonymous with quality, safety and speed!

It’s that time of year again when libraries in Wolverhampton are encouraging young bookworms to take on the Summer Reading Challenge. The theme for this year's event is The BFG - Big Friendly Read - to commemorate the centenary of author Roald Dahl’s birth and the launch of The BFG film in cinemas. Young people signing up for the Summer Reading Challenge, a national promotion by the Reading Agency, are encouraged to read six books throughout the summer, collecting rewards along the way and ultimately a special certificate (subject to availability).

A trio of penguin chicks has hatched out at Birdland Park & Gardens. All three chicks, which were born earlier this month at the Gloucestershire wildlife attraction are doing well and keepers are pleased to see how they are rapidly growing. Birdland is home to a colony of captive-bred Humboldt penguins who live alongside UK's only breeding group of king penguins.

The next best thing to sipping a cocktail is watching it prepared. In Barnstaple's newest lounge and bar, seeing a 'Smoke & Mirrors' (served under a glass cloche smoked with Applewood chips to infuse the bourbon whisky), a 'Vodka and Oreo Shake' (made with real Oreo cookies) or a 'Gin Scroppino' (made with lemon sorbet and prosecco) being created is all part of the experience.

The time has come for the Olympic and Paralympic Games of Rio de Janeiro. The kick-off will take place on August 5th at the Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro. During the three weeks of the Olympic Games, the public is invited to watch the Olympic Games at a Lounge space located at the entrance of the Embassy of Brazil in central London. The Lounge will showcase what lies beyond Rio, the 'marvellous city', and will present other tourist attractions of the State of Rio de Janeiro with its amazing coastline, historical cities and tropical forests.

Wolverhampton residents could win Grand Theatre Panto tickets by giving their views on a proposed new energy scheme. City of Wolverhampton Council has launched an online survey to find out what residents think about energy suppliers, how likely they are to switch, and how they would feel about buying energy directly from the council. The survey is part of the feasibility study being carried out by the Local Government Information Unit (LGIU) to discover the best model for a proposed new energy supply company.

Legendary Beatles Sir Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr reunited for an evening of peace, love and musical bliss as they celebrated the 10th anniversary of The Beatles LOVE by Cirque du Soleil. Following its creative EVOLution, which introduced vibrant new acts, music, technology, video, choreography and more, the show proudly performed to an energetic crowd with a full standing ovation at the conclusion of the anniversary performance.

Wolverhampton Art Gallery has this week welcomed some additional visitors from the game that has taken over the world! Head to the digital emporium to help catch Pokémoncharacters like Drowzee, Nidoran, Poliwag, Jynx, and Squirtle to name but a few! With different Pokémon appearing each day it is making it easier for gamers in Wolverhampton to catch them all – and a new lure will be added to the site on Sunday to entice more characters.

The Blenheim Palace Festival of Transport is gearing up for the 11th annual weekend celebration on 28-29 August, bank holiday weekend. Perfect for families and auto enthusiasts the Festival of Transport is a celebration of hot rods, vintage classics, exhibitions, trade stands, competitions and history. Sunday 28 August will feature the Classic Car Show and Monday 29 August will include not only the Classic Cars but also motorcycles, Minis and VW's, Customs, Hot Rods and Americans, Kit and Sports Cars.

The very popular Dominican Republic Jazz Festival will celebrate its 20th anniversary this coming November. Festival organizers announced the event will take place 8-12 November 2016 in the following venues: the “Centro Leon” Cultural Centre in Santiago, the country's second most important city, Cabarete Beach – the windsurf capital of the Caribbean – and Puerto Plata, the north coast's most important city.  For the first time in its 20-year history, the Festival will also be held in Santo Domingo, the capital city.

City of Wolverhampton Council has revealed the first artist’s impressions of the new-look Civic Halls. Revised designs for the major refurbishment of the Grade II listed venue were granted planning approval in May as new structural findings during the preliminary works were addressed. The changes are in keeping with the original refurbishment proposals but instead of the initially proposed U shape, the new Civic Hall balcony will now be contained at the rear of the hall, with the added benefit of an improved view of the stage for more customers.

A host of children's favourites will be making their way to West Park next month for the annual Family Fun Day organised by West Midlands Police and the City of Wolverhampton Council. Iggle Piggle, Upsy Daisy and Makka Pakka from In the Night Garden, Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Peppa and George Pig and Chase and Marshall from Paw Patrol will be among the line-up for the event on Saturday 6 August, 2016, from 10am-6pm.

Luxury Edinburgh venue, Dundas Castle's resident dogs welcomed VisitScotland's Ambassadog recently, to help with his tourism training.  The golden retrievers, Burn, Beech, and Bark, who have featured on ABC News in the US, were pleased to show the tourism ropes to George as he sets off on his new role as the official canine ambassador representing the spirit of Scotland. 

Nottingham's popular urban beach, 'The Deliveroo Beach', returns to Old Market Square this summer, bringing all the fun of the seaside to the heart of the city. With 250 tonnes of sand, a paddling pool for children, deck chairs, seaside rides, food vendors and a beach bar, the Nottingham urban beach attracts thousands of families and visitors to the city each summer.

British Airways i360, the world's tallest moving observation tower, will open on Thursday 4th August; and tickets are now on sale for the new attraction on Brighton seafront. When it opens, visitors will be able to glide up to 450 feet in a fully enclosed futuristic glass viewing pod to admire the unfolding views across Brighton and the south coast. 'Flights' are 20 minutes during the day and 30 minutes after 6.00pm, when the pod transforms into the Nyetimber Sky Bar serving the finest drinks from the region.