With the opening of Weston’s Grand Pier only weeks away, the owners Kerry and Michelle Michael have begun testing out the rides.
The first two rides to be ready for testing are the Side Winder and the F1 simulators. Both of these were bought at a trade show in Florida.
The Michaels’ travelled the world seeking out the best rides for the new Pier. Michelle has looked at 52 Piers across the globe and Kerry 25. They even managed to get back-of-house tours at attractions in Las Vegas and Disney in Florida.
The two Formula One simulators are exactly the same machines that are used by F1 teams for driver training. They will have budding Lewis Hamiltons and Jensen Buttons vying for first place.
The Formula One simulators were manufactured in Holland and cost £355,000 each. The machines can be used individually or to race each other.
Drivers can choose which race track they’d like to drive around, including Zandvoort, and they can even choose the driving conditions – like a night race or a wet track.
The simulators take two passengers each and both have a sports car and rally sprint mode.
Kerry Michael said: “I defy any man not to get excited when they see the Formula One simulators in action. When I saw them I had to have them. The simulators are one of the Grand Pier’s major attractions which we expect will be popular among the ‘arrive and drive’ tourist market, frequent visitor driving enthusiasts and particularly the corporate market which will appreciate the serious professional credentials of the equipment”.
The Side Winder holds eight passengers, strapped onto a rotating disc which hangs on the bottom of a giant pendulum. The ride spins and swings passengers from the first floor of the building right out into the void of the Pavilion. The Side Winder was manufactured in Italy and cost over £300,000.
Thursday, 8 July 2010
Thursday, 1 July 2010
DECORATED DONKEY ARE READY TO TAKE TO THE STREETS OF WESTON
Forty decorated donkeys are ready to the streets of Weston-super-Mare. The donkeys, which are made from fibreglass and resin, are being sponsored by local businesses and will brighten up the town during the summer months.
Weston Grand Pier events co-ordinator Fiona Hooper sourced the donkeys from as far away as the Philippines and has been responsible for securing business sponsorship for them. The donkeys met up for the first time at a secret location in the town this week.
Some of the donkeys will be auctioned off on the Grand Pier for BBC Children in Need in November. The BBC will be on the Grand Pier filming during the auction.
One of the donkeys will be raffled off, which will give a local person the chance to win a donkey. Another donkey will be turned into a money box for Weston Hospice. The donkeys are being painted by artists from all over the South West region.
Weston Grand Pier events co-ordinator Fiona Hooper sourced the donkeys from as far away as the Philippines and has been responsible for securing business sponsorship for them. The donkeys met up for the first time at a secret location in the town this week.
Some of the donkeys will be auctioned off on the Grand Pier for BBC Children in Need in November. The BBC will be on the Grand Pier filming during the auction.
One of the donkeys will be raffled off, which will give a local person the chance to win a donkey. Another donkey will be turned into a money box for Weston Hospice. The donkeys are being painted by artists from all over the South West region.
Tuesday, 22 June 2010
SPIDER TO INSTALL GRAND PIER LIGHTING SYSTEM
A specialist piece of machinery will be arriving on Weston-super-Mare’s Grand Pier this week (Monday 21st June), to install the three and a half kilometres of feature lighting on the new Pavilion building and covered walkway.
The narrow-entrance access work platform, or Spider as it is known in the trade, can fit through very narrow spaces and then stabilise itself by spreading out its legs. The arm of the Spider is capable of reaching working heights of up to 29 metres.
The work platform has been chosen for the job because of its versatility and also because it only weights 3.5 tonnes. The Spider runs on an electric battery and auxiliary engine so it is completely self-sufficient.
The Red, Green and Blue (RGB) LED feature lighting system will run the length of the waist of the Pier following the contours of the canopy from the shore end. It will then transfer over to the Pavilion building where three rows of lights will be installed throughout. The lighting system is being installed by contractors John Sisk & Sons.
The lighting system can be programmed to pulse, sending light along the Pier and across the Pavilion building in wave-like motions. It can also be programmed to be any colour.
The Spider will be delivered to the Pier on Monday 21st June. It will be brought to Weston-super-Mare from Essex by Universal Aerial Platforms.
Lee Kerr from Universal Platforms said: “The 29 metre Spider is the Rolls Royce of these machines. It is ideal when you have very tight working conditions and strict weight limits”.
Pier Owner Kerry Michael said: “Re-building the Pavilion, a quarter of a mile out to sea, has brought a whole host of logistical problems with it. We have had to use the very latest in modern technology to overcome the second fastest rising tide in the World and we have had to strictly adhere to our two ton axle weight restriction. Putting the feature lighting into position will be like putting the icing on the cake. We are now putting the finishing touches to our indoor theme park”.
The narrow-entrance access work platform, or Spider as it is known in the trade, can fit through very narrow spaces and then stabilise itself by spreading out its legs. The arm of the Spider is capable of reaching working heights of up to 29 metres.
The work platform has been chosen for the job because of its versatility and also because it only weights 3.5 tonnes. The Spider runs on an electric battery and auxiliary engine so it is completely self-sufficient.
The Red, Green and Blue (RGB) LED feature lighting system will run the length of the waist of the Pier following the contours of the canopy from the shore end. It will then transfer over to the Pavilion building where three rows of lights will be installed throughout. The lighting system is being installed by contractors John Sisk & Sons.
The lighting system can be programmed to pulse, sending light along the Pier and across the Pavilion building in wave-like motions. It can also be programmed to be any colour.
The Spider will be delivered to the Pier on Monday 21st June. It will be brought to Weston-super-Mare from Essex by Universal Aerial Platforms.
Lee Kerr from Universal Platforms said: “The 29 metre Spider is the Rolls Royce of these machines. It is ideal when you have very tight working conditions and strict weight limits”.
Pier Owner Kerry Michael said: “Re-building the Pavilion, a quarter of a mile out to sea, has brought a whole host of logistical problems with it. We have had to use the very latest in modern technology to overcome the second fastest rising tide in the World and we have had to strictly adhere to our two ton axle weight restriction. Putting the feature lighting into position will be like putting the icing on the cake. We are now putting the finishing touches to our indoor theme park”.
Wednesday, 16 June 2010
Don’t forget our OPEN MIC NIGHT!
The owners of Weston-super-Mare’s Grand Pier are organising an Open Mic Night on Tuesday 22nd June from 6pm at the Winter Gardens. They are holding the event to recruit both a resident compere and some entertainers for the coming summer season.
The compere is an important role at the Grand Pier. They keep visitors entertained in a variety of different ways from playing music from our DJ podium; mingling with the crowd - maybe accompanying them on a ride and reporting their thoughts. They will announce promotions and special offers as well as interviewing guests on what they think of the pier! It is important that they are out-going, have an excellent sense of humour and be able to think on their feet. They must also feel comfortable chatting to small groups of visitors as well as to the whole crowd via microphone from the DJ Podium.
Performers are being invited along to The Vineyard in the Winter Gardens, where they will be required to perform as a compere or to entertain the audience with singing, dancing, comedy or other act for a minimum of two minutes in front of a panel of judges and a small audience.
People who would like to perform at the open mic night are asked to email an up to date CV and a recent photograph of themselves to events@grandpier.co.uk or call now on 01934 646157.
Pier owner Kerry Michael said: “We are looking for a resident compere to work on the Pier. This will be a very important job in keeping our visitors informed and happy. We are looking for someone who is confident, outgoing and with a larger-than-life personality.
To attend, pre-registering is essential.
The compere is an important role at the Grand Pier. They keep visitors entertained in a variety of different ways from playing music from our DJ podium; mingling with the crowd - maybe accompanying them on a ride and reporting their thoughts. They will announce promotions and special offers as well as interviewing guests on what they think of the pier! It is important that they are out-going, have an excellent sense of humour and be able to think on their feet. They must also feel comfortable chatting to small groups of visitors as well as to the whole crowd via microphone from the DJ Podium.
Performers are being invited along to The Vineyard in the Winter Gardens, where they will be required to perform as a compere or to entertain the audience with singing, dancing, comedy or other act for a minimum of two minutes in front of a panel of judges and a small audience.
People who would like to perform at the open mic night are asked to email an up to date CV and a recent photograph of themselves to events@grandpier.co.uk or call now on 01934 646157.
Pier owner Kerry Michael said: “We are looking for a resident compere to work on the Pier. This will be a very important job in keeping our visitors informed and happy. We are looking for someone who is confident, outgoing and with a larger-than-life personality.
To attend, pre-registering is essential.
Friday, 11 June 2010
OPEN MIC NIGHT TO SEEK OUT ENTERTAINERS FOR WESTON PIER
The owners of Weston-super-Mare’s Grand Pier are organising an Open Mic Night on Tuesday 22nd June from 6pm at the Winter Gardens. They are holding the event to recruit both a resident compere and some entertainers for the coming summer season.
The Open Mic Night follows on from the runaway success of the last Pier recruitment drive, when the owners organised Weston’s Got Talent. Three hundred people were successfully recruited at that event.
Performers are being invited along to The Vineyard in the Winter Gardens, where they will be required to perform as a compere or to entertain the audience with singing, dancing, comedy or other act for a minimum of two minutes in front of a panel of judges and a small audience.
People who would like to perform at the open mic night are asked to email an up to date CV and a recent photograph of themselves to events@grandpier.co.uk or call now on 01934 646157.
Pier owner Kerry Michael said: “We are looking for a resident compere to work on the Pier. This will be a very important job in keeping our visitors informed and happy. We are looking for someone who is confident, outgoing and with a larger-than-life personality.
“There are a lot of very good acts in and around Weston-super-Mare and we are keen to source local talent. We decided on the Open Mic Night after the success of our Weston’s Got Talent event and we hope lots of performers of all types will come forward to take part on 22nd June”.
The Open Mic Night follows on from the runaway success of the last Pier recruitment drive, when the owners organised Weston’s Got Talent. Three hundred people were successfully recruited at that event.
Performers are being invited along to The Vineyard in the Winter Gardens, where they will be required to perform as a compere or to entertain the audience with singing, dancing, comedy or other act for a minimum of two minutes in front of a panel of judges and a small audience.
People who would like to perform at the open mic night are asked to email an up to date CV and a recent photograph of themselves to events@grandpier.co.uk or call now on 01934 646157.
Pier owner Kerry Michael said: “We are looking for a resident compere to work on the Pier. This will be a very important job in keeping our visitors informed and happy. We are looking for someone who is confident, outgoing and with a larger-than-life personality.
“There are a lot of very good acts in and around Weston-super-Mare and we are keen to source local talent. We decided on the Open Mic Night after the success of our Weston’s Got Talent event and we hope lots of performers of all types will come forward to take part on 22nd June”.
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