Cracking Christmas preparations at Kenilworth Castle

Christmas comes early this year at Kenilworth Castle & Elizabethan Garden, as the English Heritage site kicks off the festive season with a recession-busting money saving weekend and seasonal activities for children.

On 28 & 29 November, the castle hosts its popular retail weekend, when visitors can save 10% on everything in the gift-shop – from stocking-filler marbles to full chain mail vests!

“The wines, liqueurs and traditional chutneys are always popular, especially as our tasting sessions allow people to try before they buy, but the retail weekend is also a great time for saving money on larger purchases – from tapestries priced at £90 - £400 to replica armour, including chain mail, swords and helmets!” says visitor operations manager, Holly Woodward.

Visitors will be welcomed onto the site with a complimentary glass of mulled wine. Indeed, English Heritage’s new range of alcoholic drinks includes a Christmas Mead, which has been quite literally flying off the shelves. “We opened a sample bottle of the Christmas Mead last weekend, and by the end of the day, a full case had been sold!” adds Holly. “We’ll definitely be getting some more in for the retail weekend, but would advise customers to come early so as not to be disappointed!”

Meanwhile, over the retail weekend and the first two weekends in December, children can enjoy fun events in Leicester’s Gatehouse. In the education room in the basement of Leicester’s Gatehouse, young visitors can make their own Christmas decorations and local historical interpreter, Kevin Hicks, will host three weekends of presentations dedicated to the last ‘Tommy’ from World War I, Harry Patch, who died earlier this year, and inspired by the book “Meet at Dawn, Unarmed” by local authors, Andrew Hamilton and Alan Reed. Visitors will be able to hold an original rifle and machine gun, hear the story of how World War I began and learn about the Christmas Truce of 1914, when soldiers fighting on the front declared an unofficial truce, swapping gifts and playing football with the men that they had been fighting against hours earlier.

Outdoors, they will also be invited to scour the ruins of the castle and Elizabethan Garden to find a series of Christmas themed items, secreted amongst the masonry! Anyone finding all the clues can claim a candy cane reward!

Kenilworth Castle & Elizabethan Garden is open daily throughout the winter (except 24-26 December and New Year’s Day) from 10.00am to 4.00pm. Admission prices are £7.00 for adults, £6.00 for concessions and £3.50 for children, with a family ticket (two adults and up to three children) available for £17.50. English Heritage members get in free. No entry fee is payable for people visiting only the shop.

For further information, please contact Kenilworth Castle on 01926 852078 or visit www.english-heritage.org.uk/kenilworthcastle

ENDS

For further media information, please contact: Jay Commins PRO – English Heritage Tel: 0113 251 5698 Mob: 07810 546567 Email: jay@fim.org.uk