holiday

New local company AventHolidays, the brainchild of Woodbury-based Jeremy Jackson, announces the first of its new all-inclusive six day Italian painting breaks in the UNESCO World Heritage City of Ferrara, Italy, an outstanding success. Ferrara - with a population of 350,000 - boasts the oldest university in Italy together with a castle and is linked to Exeter University. The inaugural painting holiday was led by Rebecca de Mendonça a renowned artist who has developed considerable skill in the use of pastels. She spent 10 years working alongside Channel 4 Grand Designs presenter Kevin...

AventHolidays, founded by Woodbury-based Jeremy Jackson, launched the first of their Italian painting breaks in the beautiful UNESCO World Heritage City of Ferrara, Italy. Exeter artist Rebecca de Mendonca, tutored the pastel painting course to a seven-strong group, which included BBC Radio Devon presenter Judi Spiers and Exeter PR consultant Glen King.

Guests enjoyed wine and canapés at a special event held in their honour hosted by Brother and Sister Marco and Melia in the private courtyard of their home.

http://www.aventart.com/holidays

Two North Devon greats have joined forces to create a weekend of motoring madness this August.

The newly renovated Highbullen Hotel, Nr Umberleigh, is a key sponsor of the first ever Castle Hill Car Festival, at Castle Hill House in Filleigh and, to help visitors from outside the region make the most of the weekend, Highbullen has put together a special two-night package on 2-3 August, which could cost as little as £58.50 per night.

The Festival (3-4 August) is a family-friendly event and features classic cars (including a centenary display of Aston Martins), stunt planes,...

Hilton Worldwide has announced the opening of its debut hotel in Exeter. Hampton by Hilton Exeter Airport becomes the fast growing value brand's 11th UK hotel and Hilton Worldwide's 12th airport hotel in the country.

Located less than a mile from Exeter International Airport and close to junction 29 of the M5 motorway, the 120-guestroom hotel offers convenient access for air travellers and those seeking to visit the nearby city centre. For those that enjoy the great outdoors, the Jurassic Coast, England's first world natural heritage site, is a short drive away while both the...

Storytelling is magic. Especially when it brings strange and wonderful objects to life. On 30 March you can hear talented performer Wilf Merttens tell tales about the unusual objects on show in the Devon Guild’s current exhibition,‘Transplantation’. Wilf, who ‘tells poems, brings legends, jumps about’ - has won awards for his vibrant performances (Storyteller of the Year 2009, Bristol Storytelling slam prize) which entertain young and old alike. On Easter Saturday he will draw inspiration from the pieces of contemporary narrative jewellery displayed in the Guild gallery until Sunday 21...

Several thousand passengers are expected to fly from or into Exeter Airport over the Easter period, with outbound travellers on Thursday’s Thomson flight likely to be enjoying the warmer weather in Sharm el Sheikh with temperatures over 30 degrees.

Many of the outbound passengers over the Easter week will also be seeking the sun in the Canaries or mainland Spain, and the first of Exeter’s new Barcelona flights will be departing on Sunday.

Matt Roach, Exeter Airport’s managing director said: “We are very pleased with the bookings for our busiest period of the year so far,...

With Easter coming at the very start of the holidays, parents will be keen to encourage the kids to get out from underneath a pile of chocolate eggs and take some exercise afterwards, so Exeter City’s Football in the Community Charitable Trust’s events are a great way for them to let off steam as well as have fun.

Due to local demand, there will be a new event in Dawlish, on 8 and 9 April, as well as a return to North Tawton and Cullompton, both on Friday 12 April. There will also be four different events in Exeter, plus roadshows in Exmouth, Sidmouth, Crediton, Tiverton, Honiton,...

Your essential guide to What’s On in and around Exeter this Easter weekend (30 March – 2 April).

THEATRE

Little Shop of Horrors Sunday & Monday, Exeter Corn Exchange Stage by Stage returns with an epic production of the much-loved musical! Seymour is the know-nothing nerd who accidentally helps a man-eating plant to take over the world in this affectionate tribute to 1950s B-movies. Hilarious and heart-warming this musical from the writers of Disney's Beauty & The Beast and Aladdin, has one of the greatest rock'n roll scores of all time! With hits like 'Mean Green...

A recent study conducted by luxury travel company, eShores, shows that a third of UK tourists have had their belongings stolen while on holiday.

The study asked 1250 holidaymakers information about which destination they have had belongings stolen, what items they’ve had stolen, and the value of their loss. This gave shocking insights into the scale of theft while on holiday, with 58% of the thefts occurring to people while holidaying in Europe.

The top 5 countries for theft were found to be:

1. Spain 2. UK 3. France 4. Greece 5. Italy

The study shows the...

Your essential guide to what's on in and around Exeter this weekend and the half term break:

THEATRE

Me and My Girl Friday & Saturday, 7.30pm, Northcott Theatre, Exeter A sublime treat for musical comedy fans of all ages. Lambeth costermonger, Bill Snibson, discovers he is the illegitimate heir to Lord Hareford and uses his wit and humour to break down the class divisions with his aristocratic relations. The fun and games never cease as they attempt to educate cheeky and cheerful Bill into the ways of the gentry and to separate him from his cockney girlfriend Sally. 7....