Lichfield & Tamworth Lichfield & Tamworth Chamber Patrons


Contact: Marilyn Castree T: 0845 603 6650


New patron of Lichfield Festival is going for gold


Singing legend and TV personality Tony Hadley is to become a patron of Lichfield Festival. The Spandau Ballet singer and I’m A Celebrity star has agreed to lend his weight to the Midlands’ premier multi-arts festival which brings world- class music, arts and entertainment to the city. The announcement was made at a festival


preview held at the House of Commons, hosted by Lichfield Festival’s principal partner, London Midland, and introduced by Michael Fabricant MP, himself an enthusiastic supporter and patron of Lichfield Festival. Tony Hadley said: “This is the first arts charity


I’ve been invited to support and I was delighted to be asked. For me, the importance of supporting the arts is in the impact that it has on individuals of all ages. “I know Lichfield well through family


connections and I’m really excited to see where my patronage of the Lichfield Festival will lead in the future.” He strengthens the festival’s line-up of


existing patrons, who include Michael Fabricant, celebrated former cellist and principal of Birmingham Conservatoire Julian Lloyd Webber and Russian conductor Valery Gergiev, who is artistic director of St Petersburg’s famous Mariinsky Theatre. Lichfield Festival is one of the region’s leading


cultural organisations and attracts around 40,000 visitors annually with its vibrant mix of


Holiday Inn gets


the star treatment The Holiday Inn Express Tamworth has been bought by hotel owner and developer Star- board Hotels. The 120-bedroomed lakeside property has


joined the 13-strong UK portfolio of the Bea- consfield firm, five of which are Holiday Inn Express hotels. Richard Mckie, hotel general manager, said:


“The team here is excited to have Starboard Hotels as the new owners of the hotel. We know Starboard will continue to build on the great work we have achieved over the last few years and support our team here as we continue to forge important links with local businesses, leisure developments, charitable organisations and the community in general.” Paul Callingham, managing director of


Starboard, said: “This is a great hotel with a dedicated team in a superb location and with an excellent reputation, which we will continue to develop. We know and understand the brand and believe we can add significant value to the hotel offering in Tamworth.”


30 CHAMBERLINK June 2017 Food festival returns with gusto


Tamworth Food Gusto Festival is back for 2017, bringing with it high quality gourmet food and drink producers to the area for the third year in a row.


Exhibiting businesses are hand-picked for


variety, provenance and passion to ensure visitors to the two-day festival benefit from the perfect ingredients for a great weekend out. The festival will place on the weekend of 9-10


September and is set to be the biggest and best yet, offering the region’s finest locally-produced food and drink, alongside a packed programme of entertainment.


Event director Wesley Ewing said: “Our food


festivals are not about cramming as many stalls into the arena as possible. We work hard to ensure there is a great variety on offer. “The Tamworth Food Gusto Festival is about


celebrating and promoting artisan and passionate family-run businesses in the area, and we will seek to give priority to the most local and unique among them. “It’s all about creating an unforgettable


experience for the festival goer – we want our visitors to know that they will be getting a taste of something truly unique.”


music, theatre, film, comedy, talks, family events and visual arts, offering something for everyone. Helen Wiser, chair of Lichfield Festival,


said: “We couldn’t be more thrilled that Tony Hadley has accepted the invitation to become a Patron. “Tony’s support really helps emphasise the Festival’s broad appeal and wide-ranging programming as we continue to reach wider audiences. We’re really looking forward to working with him.”


Tony Hadley: new festival patron


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