Matching UK Products To Niche Markets On Your Doorstep | Travel Research Online

Image
Image

Matching UK Products To Niche Markets On Your Doorstep

This Window on Britain illustrates not only the scope of what the UK has to offer but also the untapped sources of new business already close to where you live.

Clients who have enjoyed their visits to Colonial Williamsburg will be thrilled by the action-packed York Viking Festival, while others interested in Foodie Tours will be keen to learn more about the new cookery school opening at the 5-star Grand Hotel in York and the Gourmet Tour of Northern England. Anyone interested in horseback riding will fancy the Dressage, Cross Country and Show Jumping at the Badminton Horse Trials, while railway enthusiasts will like the nostalgic look of the North Wales and North of England Festival of Steam.

Other stories will interest cruise clients sailing in or out of Southampton, shoppers wanting to buy direct ex-factory in the World Capital of Ceramics and fans of Midsomer Murders, Poldark, Doc Martin and All Creatures Great and Small will enjoy my final three updates.

Read on and apply your imagination.

Viking Women Take Centre Stage

Europe’s largest Viking Festival returns to York between 20th-27th February, telling the stories of Viking women beyond the homestead through the voices of seers, queens and shield maidens. Characters you’ll meet include the seeress Thorbjorgr Litilvolva, the colourfully named Sigrid the Haughty and Gunnhild Konungamodir, wife of the last Viking King in York Eric Bloodaxe. Email me for the tour details. If you can’t make it in 2019, put it in your calendar for 2020.

Picture

 

Picture

New Cookery School Opens in York

Opening in March 2019 at the luxurious 5-star 207 bedroom Grand Hotel York, guests will learn how to prepare authentic dishes, with fresh local produce at the heart of each creation. With over 2500 square foot of space, the cookery school will have 16 workstations equipped with state-of-the-art induction hobs, electric ovens and premium cookery equipment. Rob Cottam, who oversaw the development of the cookery school at Chewton Glen is assisting with the setting up.

Gourmet Tour of England’s North Country

Expand the potential by adding a tasting tour of Yorkshire’s most northerly vineyard, a sampling at a local monastery and a visit to a dairy farm for an ice cream and cheese tasting. For lunch, munch and sip your way around the streets of Malton sharing the passion of the artisan producers, tasting and exploring delicious products along the way and discovering how coffee, gin, artisan baking, patisserie, chocolates, cheeses, desserts are locally made.

Picture

Picture
Nicola Wilson (GBR) riding One Two Many at the Outlander Lower Lake

The Badminton Horse Trials

Taking place between 1st-5th May 2019, it’s one of Europe’s top Three Day Events. Your horse-riding clients and owners of a nearby Riding School/Equestrian Centre will have heard of it, but they’ve probably never been offered the opportunity to take a ringside seat at this prestigious competition. You can change all that and enable them to cheer on the American riders who take part each year. Alternatively, there’s the Festival of British Eventing (3rd-5th August) at Gatcombe Park.

A Festival Of Steam

The North Yorkshire Moors Railway has just announced that its curtain raiser for Spring 2019 will be the visit of 60009 Union of South Africa (pictured). On specific dates in March and April 2019, you will be able to travel from Grosmont to Pickering behind the iconic A4 Pacific, one of only six surviving A4s designed by Nigel Gresley. For railway enthusiasts, this Great Railway Journeys of the North makes a great conversation starter.

Picture
HRA1F6 A4 Pacific steam locomotive Union of South Africa at Irwell Vale halt on the East Lancashire Railway.
Picture

On London’s Doorstep

35 minutes from Heathrow, and just off the main route your clients will travel between London and Southampton, the great cathedral city of Guilford makes a great hub for a 2-3 night cruise add-on. Your visit should include a leisurely stroll around the Royal Horticultural Society’s Flagship garden at Wisley, the home of motorsport and aviation at the Brooklands Museum, and the Watts’ Gallery and Artists’ Village with its gallery, chapel and artist’s home and studio.

The World Capital of Ceramics

Aka Stoke-on-Trent, it has been shaped by its production of pottery for centuries, building a city with a globally renowned reputation of innovation, science, art, and famous luxury brands. Today, the city remains a must-visit destination for pottery lovers with outstanding pottery attractions and unrivaled direct ex-factory pottery shopping where quality products are designed and manufactured. It’s easily accessible through the Manchester Gateway making it a perfect choice for a long-weekend shop ‘n’ ship weekend.

Picture
Picture

Midsomer Murders On Location

The ITV hit drama Midsomer Murders has become a worldwide phenomenon. Most of the series locations can be found just north of London, across the county Buckinghamshire and the Chiltern Hills. Turn a popular TV series into memorable reality by following a trail through ancient, picturesque villages, complete with timber-framed houses, a village pub, duck ponds, a 15th century church and privately-owned stately homes and gardens used as settings for this famous and much-loved programme.

Clovelly wins Gold

Once again, the gardens in the idyllic North Devon village of Clovelly have won the prestigious RHS Britain in Bloom gold award. To win this, the villagers, visitors and Estate had to all work together to make everywhere look very special. Check out the new Clovelly video and review their website. It’s a special place that attracts very special visitors and makes a great addition to a tour that includes Poldark and Doc Martin On-Location visits.

Picture
Picture

Discover James Herriot’s Yorkshire Dales

It begins at the World of James Herriot in Thirsk, the home and veterinary surgery where Alf Wight OBE (James Herriot) lived and worked as a country vet. As an author, he became the most famous vet in the world. His books and BBC TV’s All Creatures Great and Small exposed Herriot Country to the world. Expect stunning scenery and a warm welcome to ‘God’s Own Country’ but give yourself enough time to really experience it.


Paull Tickner, owner of U.K.-based Custom GB, is known for his expertise in creating and operating imaginative, value-added tours of Great Britain and Ireland. Visit his website at www.customgb.co.uk or email him at ptickner@customgb.co.uk.

Share your thoughts on “Matching UK Products To Niche Markets On Your Doorstep”

You must be a registered user and be logged in to post a comment.