IKEA brings “Wonderful Everyday Tour” to Exeter and Devon

Ahead of its much-anticipated new store opening on 10th May 2018, home furnishings retailer IKEA will be bringing the “Wonderful Everyday Tour” to Exeter and the wider region, giving residents and visitors the chance to experience the little things in life that make the everyday more wonderful.

From Friday 13th April to Thursday 10th May 2018, ten unique mini-events and installations will be popping up in and around Exeter, bringing IKEA’s philosophy of the “Wonderful Everyday” to life, and giving Devon residents a preview of what’s to come when the new store opens.

The “Wonderful Everyday Tour” will run for four weeks prior to the store opening and has been designed to surprise and delight the people of Devon.

From exclusive film screenings at Exeter Cathedral to a very special Swedish take on the Devon cream tea at Exeter Quay, there’s something for everyone.

Nick Earle, IKEA Exeter Store Manager, said: “The Wonderful Everyday Tour is our way of building excitement and bringing IKEA’s values to life ahead of our store opening next month. The tour is designed with the local community in mind, and we want to bring a smile to the people of Exeter and Devon with unexpected surprises, while giving them a taste of what to expect once the store opens.”

The “Wonderful Everyday Tour” includes:

1. Cathedral Cinema
When: Friday 13th April, 6pm – 8.30pm and 9pm – 11.30pm, and Saturday 14th April 2018, 5pm – 7.45pm and 8pm – 11pm
Where: Exeter Cathedral
What: Catch one of our one-off screenings of Paddington 2, La La Land, Coco and Dunkirk inside the city’s most iconic building, Exeter Cathedral. Visitors can grab some popcorn from the IKEA kitchen and snuggle up with IKEA’s comfiest cushions and blankets. Free tickets for the films will be available online through the IKEA Exeter website.

2. Fika Time
When: Tuesday 17th April (Okehampton), Saturday 28th April (Taunton) and Sunday 29th April 2018 (Plymouth), 10am - 12pm and 2pm - 4pm
Where: Okehampton, Plymouth and Torquay
What: IKEA will be bringing this Swedish social institution to Okehampton, Taunton and Plymouth. Enjoy a leisurely catch-up with friends and have a cup of coffee and cinnamon bun on IKEA.

3. Hot Dog Cart
When: Saturday 21st April (Paignton), Saturday 5th May (Torquay) and Wednesday 9th May 2018 (Exmouth), 11.30am - 3pm
Where: Paignton, Torquay and Exmouth
What: IKEA is bringing everyone’s favourite IKEA treat to Paignton, Torquay and Exmouth. Smother them in ketchup, mustard or both!

4. Quayside Kit Out
When: Sunday 22nd April to Thursday 10th May 2018
Where: Exeter Quay
What: IKEA has given the quayside a little spruce up for spring. Spend your time by the river relaxing on our most stylish and cosy textiles you’ll find dotted along the banks of the Exe. And if you’re using Butts Ferry, you’ll now be able to cross in comfort.

5. The Big Cream Tea Break
When: Sunday 22nd April 2018, 2.30pm – 5pm
Where: Exeter’s Quayside
What: Local residents are invited to join our mouth-watering Swedish jam and Devonshire Cream Tea Break, freshly prepared in an IKEA kitchen, with the first 250 attendees receiving a token for a complementary tea and scone. Local dairy farmers will be providing their own Devonshire cream, and IKEA’s iconic lingonberry jam will be arriving at the Quay on a Viking ship. Exeter Catering School will also be running four 45-minute scone making workshops for pupils from St Luke’s Secondary School from 9.30am-2pm.

6. The Glass Boat
When: Monday 23rd April to Thursday 10th May 2018
Where: Princesshay Shopping Centre
What: To pay homage to Exeter’s maritime history, IKEA is working with local artist, Roop Johnstone, to create his own take on the classic River Exe Salmon Boat using over 500 pieces of IKEA glassware. The sculpture will be installed at Princesshay Shopping Centre and a donation will be made by IKEA to Exeter Street Art Festival in the summer.

7. Shopping Pit Stop
When: Tuesday 24th April – Monday 30th April 2018
Where: Princesshay Shopping Centre
What: Shopping doesn’t always have to be tiring! IKEA is creating tranquil zones at the Princesshay Shopping Centre, with comfy armchairs, IKEA snacks and phone chargers so shoppers can take a well-earned rest and recover, recharge and refuel.

8. Station Meditation
When: Tuesday 1st May – Thursday 10th May 2018
Where: Exeter St Davids and Central Station
What: IKEA will be providing an oasis of calm at Exeter’s busiest train stations, Exeter St Davids and Central Station, by transforming waiting rooms into chill out zones, full of lush houseplants and beautiful greenery, along with comfortable chairs, soft textiles, soothing music and great reads. For families, there will also be a kids’ colouring book using the famous Exeter Swifts to teach the Swedish philosophy of Lagom, which promotes a more sustainable, healthy and balanced lifestyle.

9. A Lift on Laundry Day
When: Saturday 5th May 2018
Where: Kenjo Laundrette and Dry Cleaners, 139 Sidwell St, Exeter EX4 6RT
What: IKEA is making laundry day more wonderful. For one day only, local residents will be able to do their washing in the company of Exeter’s local musicians, along with free washes courtesy of IKEA. By kitting out Kenjo’s space, from now on the wait there will be a lot more comfortable.

10. Exeter by Bike
When: Sunday 6th May 2018, 9am, 11am, 1pm, 3pm and 5pm
Where: Exeter Civic Centre, Paris Street
What: Tour Exeter in style and safely with IKEA’s electric bike tour in partnership with Co-bikes. IKEA will provide all of the gear you need, including IKEA SLADDA helmets and hi-vis vests, so riders can see the wonderful sights of Exeter with very little effort at all. The tours are available for anyone aged 16 and up. To see the routes and book a place on a tour, visit IKEA.co.uk/Exeter

As part of its vision to create a better everyday life for the many people, the “Wonderful Everyday Tour” represents IKEA’s commitment to being a good neighbour in the local community and giving back to the people of Exeter and the wider region. Sustainability is at the heart of IKEA and this will be reflected in the Wonderful Everyday Tour. Alongside using biodegradable cups throughout the tour, IKEA will be donating all recycled cardboard collected from the events to local artist, James Lake, who will be creating a unique sculpture that will be left as a legacy to the city and installed at Exeter Library & Phoenix Arts Club.

Nick Earle adds: “Giving back to the local area is really important to us, so we’re excited to be working with local talent and charities to celebrate IKEA’s arrival in Exeter and Devon. We hope to inspire the Exeter community by bringing to life a whole range of unique mini-events and installations in the region.”

To find out more about The Wonderful Everyday Tour, visit www.IKEA.co.uk/Exeter