Exciting news in Rutland.....

Rutland County News

Shorelink Launch Event
If you are about in Rutland this weekend, then come and join in the celebrations of Shorelink the new Tourism Bus being officially launched on Saturday 15th June 2013.   The event will start in Oakham at 10am with promotional activities and live entertainment.  The bus will then move onto Uppingham for 11am, where the activities will continue.  The bus will then move onto Sykes Lane, Empingham for 12pm, which sits on the banks of Rutland Water, where there will be live entertainment and special offers courtesy of Anglian Water.  The event will culminate in a balloon release with a prize for the balloon that travels the furthest.  For more information about Shorelink or to view a timetable please visit www.discover-rutland.co.uk

Rutland Show
The 181st Rutland County Show will certainly go down in history as one of the most well attended and sunniest on record!  The attractions this year were varied; We had the Vale of Belvoir’s vintage working threshing machine, a chainsaw carver, a wildlife petting zoo and the unforgettable Knights of the Damned Jousting team - but the biggest attraction, certainly for the children, was the world famous Titan the Robot with his unique form of street theatre he had the crowds in hysterics as he quoted lines from movies, sang, danced and sprayed the crowd with spurts of water from his eyes.
Our livestock show was back to form after the jubilee and very wet years.  We had over 300 sheep, 100 cattle, 320 ponies and 150 horses - not forgetting the hilarious goats.  The Supreme Beef Champion was awarded to a Lincoln Red - fitting for our last year at Burley.
With over 120 trade stands and 45 craft stalls it certainly had the crowds busy buying everything from handmade confectionaries to tennis courts!
It was very sad packing up the showground in this beautiful setting for the very last time - but the Rutland Agricultural Society is quietly confident the new showground, in Barleythorpe, Oakham will allow them to progress the show further and commit to its constitution.  Onwards and upwards - here's to the next 181 years!

Father’s Day Imminent offers and events

Grainstore Brewery
The Grainstore Brewery is offering FREE tours at 11am and 2.30pm for anyone who books a table for lunch on the Sunday 16th June, where dads get to pull their own pint! To book ,please call 01572 770065.

Stapleford Park
With a great selection of dishes, Father's Day Lunch at Stapleford Park Country House Hotel is the perfect treat for the whole family to enjoy and to reward your Father.  Visit www.staplefordpark.com for more information or please contact our reservations team on 01572 787000 or email reception@stapleford.co.uk

Greetham Valley Hotel
Treat dad to Fathers’ Day Lunch at Greetham Valley, table booking essential. To reserve your table  please call 01780 460444 or visit www.greethamvalley.co.uk

Barnsdale Gardens
Sunday 16th June, 12pm -3pm.  It’s Father’s Day so come and treat your dad to a special day out in our beautiful gardens.  For more details, call 01572 813200 or visit www.barnsdalegardens.co.uk

Barnsdale Lodge
Sunday 16th June - Fathers’ Day lunch3 courses - £22.50 per person, to include a Grainstore Brewery gift pack for Dad!  For further information or to make a reservation, please contact Reservations on enquiries@barnsdalelodge.co.uk or call 01572 724678.

Rutland Water Fly Fishing
Does your old man want to try something different?  Rob Waddington has the answer.  Father's day gift vouchers available for 2 that will entitle participants to 20% discount.  For further information or to book please call Rob Waddington on 01572 722422 or email rob@rutlandflyfishingadventures.co.uk

Sacrewell Farm
Dads’ (and granddads) can get into the Farm for free at Sacrewell this Father’s Day!  There will be lots of summer activities for them to get involved in, including Duck racing, and Pony Grooming.  For further information please visit www.sacrewell.org.uk

Grimsthorpe Castle
Fathers who visit Grimsthorpe Castle on Sunday 16th June can borrow a bike for FREE and cycle the park trails with their family.  (T & C’s apply – at least one cycle hire must be made to accompany the offer).  (Website)

Heidi Kjelsden
Treat the special man in your life to 25% off all cufflinks especially for Father's Day!  www.heidikjeldsen.com

Wymondham Windmill
Does your dad have green fingers?  Treat him to 20% off all frost proof garden pots from 14th - 16th June at Global Crafts Wymondham Windmill.  For more information please visit www.competitive-edge-global.com

Otters Smokehouse and Deli
Last minute gifts for Father's Day? Otters Smokehouse & Deli can make up a hamper - a great gift for a foodie dad and can include any of the deli products. Prices start from £14.99. Call in to the shop on Mill Street in Oakham to order or telephone 01572 756481
Otters Smokehouse & Deli on Mill Street Oakham now has a delightful courtyard area for alfresco eating-in in addition to the existing internal seating area, where you can enjoy such deli delights as smoked fish, charcuterie or cheese platters, pates, soups, sandwiches and delicious cakes. Open Monday to Saturday until 5.30pm. (website)

 Upcoming events...

Rutland Cycling
Rutland Cycling is partnering up once again with the Wildlife Trust to offer nature loving cyclists the opportunity to come and ride whilst learning about our fascinating natural world at Rutland Water. Starting from the Giant Store, Rutland Water (Normanton) at 10am, the rides shall take a leisurely gentle pace along the rolling track (around 3 miles) to Lyndon Visitor Centre. Cyclists will be able to see and hear about the wonderful work done on the nature reserve at Rutland Water as well as check out the video footage of the Ospreys and discover about the other types of wildlife to be found in Rutland.  There are three rides this summer starting with Sunday 23rd June, following with Tuesday 16th July and finally Monday 5th August. Each ride will start at 10am, including an hour and a half stop at the reserve before a gentle trundle back to Normanton in time for lunch. (10am-1pm approx.) Bike hire will be available at a discounted rate, although you are free to bring your own bike. The cost of the ride will be £10 (includes bike hire should you require a bike) and is payable via credit or debit card at the Giant store.
Places are strictly limited so book ahead to avoid disappointment- rides@rutlandcycling.co.uk

Rutland Sailing School
Rutland Sailing School at Rutland Sailing Club, www.rutlandsc.co.uk have sailing courses running all summer for all ages form 7 upwards and to all abilities, for further information please see our website.

Wine Tasting Evenings start this month in the Castle Cottage Garden in association with Bat and Bottle. The first is Thursday 20th June. Tickets are £15 to include all wine and food (sharing plates of cheese, dry cured meats, olives, pickles and breads, homemade truffles, tea and coffee). Ben and Alex will also entertain us all with their unique tasting notes!

Uppingham Feast  - 23rd June
The Feast is on Sunday 23rd June from 12pm – 10pm.  There will be a wide range of attractions including free children’s entertainment, live music, food and drink, craft fair and street stalls.  For more information, please visit the Uppingham Feast Day Facebook page.

Scott Contessa at Rutland Cycling
Tues 25th June: An evening ride and talk with the Scott Contessa team at Whitwell email rides@rutlandcycling.co.uk to register interest.  The Scott Contessa Epic racing team is the UK’s leading women’s development team that was formed at the beginning of 2012 and have won numerous races in the UK and Europe.

Motown Tribute Evening
Friday 5th July
Join Greetham Valley for a fantastic evening of soulful food and music. Tickets are £22.50 per person and will include a 2 course themed menu, live entertainment from Shadows of Motown and Disco by Rutland Radio's Rob Persani. To book tickets or for further information, please call Reception on 017804 60444.

Boughton House
Saturday 13th July – The Picnic in the Park event, which is celebrating a quarter of a century, is welcoming internationally acclaimed artist Courtney Pine, as well as Parisian Jazz specialist Tina May and Northamptonshire’s Youth Big Band. The out-door party in the park will take place in the beautiful settings of Boughton House, a sixteenth century Estate nestled in a thousand acres of Northamptonshire countryside. Tickets for the gala cost £23.50, with children under 16 admitted for free. For further information or to buy tickets please visit www.picnicinthepark.info. For more information on Boughton House visit www.boughtonhouse.org.uk

An evening at Boughton House
Tuesday 16th July, 7pm.  The Harborough Collective, directed by the dynamic and visionary violinist David le Page, welcome you into the “Garden of Earthly Delights”, where an astonishingly surreal and scintillating experience awaits you!  Tickets £30 to include a Welcome Reception

3rd Annual Rutland CAMRA Beer Festival
Oakham is the place to be 18th-20th July.  Rutland County Museum will be hosting the festival again this year with over 40 real ales with a good spread of light and dark ales as well as some festival specials.  There will also be Real Ciders, Perries as well as bottled beers, soft drinks; food and entertainment are all on offer.  This year the Grainstore Brewery will be releasing a special brew to promote the new tourism bus Shorelink.  For more information please visit www.rutlandcamra.org.uk.  Opening times 11am – 11pm.  Admission is free all day and up to 6pm Friday and Saturday, £3 charge thereafter.  Concessions available for CAMRA members.

Barnsdale Gardens Croquet Tournament
Sunday 21 July, 11am-3pm
Come and cheer on teams from around Rutland as they go head to head in our Barnsdale Gardens Anniversary Cup knock-out tournament. 1920s dress is positively encouraged and there’ll be a chance for you to have a go of this great English game in between matches, under the tutelage of the experts from Peterborough Croquet Club. The Tea Room ladies will be serving traditional English afternoon teas, icecream sundaes and chilled glasses of Pimms’ and it all promises to be awfully good fun!

Garden entry: adult £6.50, concession £5.50, child £2.50, family (up to 5) £16
For more details, call 01572 813200 or visit www.barnsdalegardens.co.uk

Rutland Food and Drink Festival
Saturday 14th September is the 4th Annual Rutland Food and Drink Festival in conjunction with Rutland Day.  The Festival is all about celebrating the fantastic range of quality food found in and around Rutland, we are therefore looking for quality local meat producers, farm shops, breweries, bakeries, cheese makers, cake makers and much more besides.
Download the 2013 application form here.
If you require any further information please contact tourism@rutland.gov.uk.

Offers ahead....

Get Lost in Rutland
For all the keen campers and cyclists out there...Get Lost in Rutland are doing a mid season tent sale during July and 15% off e-bikes weekend 13/14th July.  Browse through their large range of outdoor equipment.

Jackson Stops, Stretton
SPECIAL MEAL OFFER - JULY & AUGUST ONLY.  Receive 15% off all evening menus on Tuesdays, Wednesday and Thursdays for 2 people.  Terms and Conditions apply.  The offer excludes beverages and children’s menu.  The offer is only applicable on production of the voucher for 2 people.  The offer is not valid on Saturday and Sunday.  To reserve a table please call 01780410237

Candlelight Supper Evening on Friday 2nd August. If you would like to come along please contact us to reserve a table. We have a few tables left!   All our other dates are fully booked until October.
 Thank you for all your support! We are so pleased with the response intend to continue with more evenings in the autumn and winter.  Check out our website for further details and sample menus www.castlecottagecafe.co.uk or call 01572 757952
 We are delighted to have been awarded a 'Finest Tea Room' Award by This England Magazine. The national magazine rated Castle Cottage Cafe in the top ten tea rooms in England and we would would like to thank our good friend, ex-Mayor of Oakham Joyce Lucas for nominating us.