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On the road to Le Mans

Le Mans

Mention the name Le Mans to most people and all they can tell you that it is the place where they have a 24 hours road race every year, they are not even sure where it is. We were driving from Dieppe down to the south west of France and decided that we should break our journey and take a look at Mans (they tend not to use Le when referring to their city).

Just two + hours drive down the extremely boring but efficient A28 from Rouen, a mere 22.50€ on tolls, we were pleasantly surprised to find a very attractive city with Roman walls.

Le MansThere is a large medieval quarter, which is known as the Plantagenet City plus a major shopping centre and a host of fascinating sites and architecture. There is a lot more to Le Mans than a motor race. It must be said though that the 24 hours race is probably the one thing that puts the city on the map. The race has been the major event here since 1923. The circuit, just to the south, is in use more often than the one weekend in June, from May through to October there are races for motorcycles, superbikes classic cars, even karting.

During these months forget about driving due south, we thought that we could simply head straight out only to find the road closed because of an event on ‘Le Circuit’. The police were very helpful and directed us to another way to the A28, which we actually hadn’t wanted, but took their advice.

Le MansThere is quite a good choice of hotels; we stayed at Le Charleston, a nice small hotel near the train station but about a 15 minute walk from the major sites. They charged us 90€ per night (£80), the rooms were small, to put it mildly, but extremely clean and comfortable with the smallest bathroom/shower I have ever seen, but it worked.

Breakfast was 8.50€ and quite good. They have an underground car park, essential as it would be impossible to park in the street, for which they charge 7€ per day, quite reasonable we thought.

People have been living here since 5,000BC, there is a prehistoric standing stone, a menhir , St. Julien’s stone, which is thought to have been considered a symbol of fertility because of its phallic shape, that’s one big phallus to you and me. The Romans went all over France and Le Mans is no exception, it is encircled by a very well preserved Roman wall, they invaded in 57BC and stayed for about 200 years.

Le Mans

The most impressive part of the town is without doubt the old town or Plantagenet City, covering an area of 22 acres with a hundred beautifully preserved and recently restored half timbered houses. It was in Le Mans in 1128 that Geoffrey V Count of Anjou married Matilda daughter of our King Henry 1 and started the Plantagenet dynasty, the rest is history!

Le Mans CathedralThere is, of course, a large cathedral, St. Julien, it is one of the largest in France and if cathedrals are your thing then it’s quite impressive. There are several quite interesting museums; in a town with all this history that’s hardly surprising.

Throughout July and August they mount a fantastic free sound and light show (son et lumiere) which they call ‘La Nuit des Chimères, they light all the major buildings and present a series of tableaux, virtually site specific performances, should be worth seeing.

Today it is naturally a very modern city with a very efficient tram network and as many big stores that you could ever need. There are of course many very good restaurants, staying near the train station we found Le MansLe Bellifontaine and had one of the best meals we have had in a long time, for 64€ (£57) we had three great courses, two beers and a bottle of good wine. Le Mans does boast two gay clubs, it has a large university so no surprise there, but as they didn’t seem to open until about midnight we gave them a miss.

The tourist office was about as helpful as they could be and they speak perfect English. Le Mans is certainly worth a day or two; you will be very pleasantly surprised but beware of the frequent motor events in that you really need to plan your visit and book ahead, as when one of them is on you can’t get a bed anywhere.

www.lemanstourisme.com

www.nuitdeschimeres.com

www.lecharlestonhotel.com

www.lemans.org

 

 

 

 

 

Sun shines on Brighton Bears Weekender

Brighton Bear Weekender

Hundreds of Bears descended on Brighton & Hove at the end of June for the Brighton Bear Weekender. A staggering £2,820.84 was raised for the Rainbow Fund which included a £200 donation from Steve and the Subline Boys.

Brighton Bear Weekender

A series of planned events took place at 112 Church Street, Subline, Legends and the Camelford Arms. The Come to Daddy dance night at Envy was a huge success.

On the Saturday, Bears gathered in Queens Park for a Teddy Bears Picnic. Lunch Positive the HIV charity who provide a cooked meal once a week for positive people created a pop up community cafe serving delicious salads and cakes.

The Brighton Bear Weekender is a fundraiser for the Rainbow Fund who through their independent grants programme administered by the Sussex Community Foundation distributes money raised to LGBT and HIV organisations who provide front line services to the LGBT community.

Paul Elgood, Chairman of the Rainbow Fund, said:

“I would like to congratulate the organisers for a successful event and for raising such a terrific amount for the Rainbow Fund. £2,820.84 is an amazing total for just one weekend. The Brighton Bear Weekender has firmly established itself as one of the highlights of the year, and the organisers are a pleasure to work with. I would like to thank all the Bears team of helpers for the time and energy they put into it.

“The Rainbow Fund relies entirely on the support of organisations, venues and events such as this to benefit the frontline work that we support. We do not fundraise directly but benefit from a number of high profile activities. We provide fundraisers with a needs-led mechanism guaranteeing the safe distribution of the money they raise, ensuring help for a wide range of groups providing frontline services to the LGBT community.”

Brighton Bear Weekender

A few thank you’s are in order:

Come To Daddy & Mitch On Line: Lunch Positive, Gary Pargeter and his team of volunteers, 112 Church Street, Subline, Brighton Sauna, Neighbourhood, Charles Street & Envy, Legends and The Camelford.

Thank you to all the raffle donators:

The Grand Hotel Brighton, UMI Hotel, Brighton Wheel, David Lilly, Richard Denne, Mick L Angelo, Komedia Brighton, Actually Gay Men’s Chorus, Chillax Massage, Camelford Arms, David Gardener Photography, Simon O’Corra, John Summers and Andrew Charles Tull.

More thanks to:

Radio Reverb and Kathy Canton, Sauce Fm and Dulcie Danger, Jemmone and Phil Marriott.

The Brighton Bear Weekender team of helpers:

Jerome Banks, Micheal Pyner, Graham Munday, Ant Howells and Francisco Guillen.

Thanks to:

Visit Brighton, REALBrighton, Gscene Magazine, Brighton & Hove Pride, Bear World Magazine. Josh Sharples and BearShaft, Nice ‘n’ Naughty, Royal Pavilion & Brighton Museums, Jackson Barber Shop,9a Manchester Street, Brighton.

 

Brighton & Hove to become ‘suicide safer city’

Grassroots Suicide PreventionGrassroots Suicide Prevention, a Brighton based organisation that provides mental health and suicide prevention training courses has launched a campaign to make Brighton & Hove  a ‘suicide safer city’.

Their campaign seeks to train 1% of the city’s population in suicide prevention with the aim of providing a point of contact for people thinking of committing suicide. Additionally, the campaign’s target is for 5% of Brighton and Hove residents to take a suicide prevention pledge. The campaign has the backing of Public Health, the NHS and Brighton and Hove City Council.

Simon Kirby, MP for Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven has welcomed a campaign.

He said:

“I want to encourage residents to take the suicide prevention pledge and I welcome the campaign by Grassroots Suicide Prevention which seeks to tackle a difficult and persistent issue in Brighton and Hove.

“Hopefully this campaign will help to de-stigmatise the issue of suicide and show people who are contemplating suicide that help is available.”

For more information, CLICK HERE:

 

Man Bar Soho: ‘Identity’ art exhibition

Identity

 

Artist Mikesbliss will be curating and featuring his work at Identity, an exhibition exploring gay indentity without stereotypes, at Man Bar on Charing Cross Road, London with a private view on Tuesday, July 30 at 7pm before a full-opening between August 30–September 30.

The main aim of the exhibition is to give a platform to emerging gay and lesbian artists who may not have the opportunity to showcase their work in arts venues in the heart of Soho.

Event: Identity art exhibition

Where: Man Bar, Charing Cross Road, London.

When: Private View: Tuesday, July 30 at 7pm; Full Opening: August 30–September 30.

For more information, CLICK HERE:

For more information on Mikesbliss, CLICK HERE:

 

Council recruits for new tourism advisory board

Brighton CouncilTourism chiefs at Brighton & Hove City Council are looking for voluntary experts to join a new tourism advisory board to help shape the future of the city’s tourism strategy.

The city’s official marketing body, VisitBrighton, already works with over 400 partner businesses including hotels, shops, attractions and restaurants, and the board is a further step towards engaging and collaborating with more tourism stakeholders in the city.

Board members are being sought from a range of groups including senior figures from private companies, education establishments including language schools, tourism associations, the digital sector, event organisers and transport providers.

Members will be expected to attend at least four meetings a year and will not receive payment for their role. They will be involved in reviewing the Tourism Strategy and advising VisitBrighton in promoting the city to visitors as well as providing advice and support to the City Council in its plans and strategic policies.

Adam Bates says:

“With over 8 million visitors a year and a contribution to the local economy of £732m there is no doubt that our current marketing strategy is getting good results but like most sectors we’re facing challenging times and we want to ensure Brighton’s position as a leading destination is maintained. We have always adapted and changed to try to stay ahead of the competition and it makes sense to tap into the wealth of expertise we have in the city. We’re looking for people who are enthusiastic and committed and can work with others to improve the city for everyone’s benefit”.

More details and an application form can be found on the VisitBrighton website: CLICK HERE:

or are available on request by telephoning: 01273 292621

To find out more about how VisitBrighton can help promote your business, EMAIL:

Or telephone: 01273 292621

Visit Brighton

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Free fun for dogs (and owners!)

Brighton & Hove COuncilBrighton & Hove City Council’s annual Dog Fun Day will be held this Saturday, July 27 at Preston Park from 11am to 4pm.

The event is organised by the council’s animal welfare team, and experts will be on hand with dog care advice, information and free microchipping.

Activities on offer include a chance to meet Guide Dogs for the Blind, to climb aboard a fire engine and to test your pet’s skills on the dog agility course.

There will also be an award for the Best in Show, presented by City Mayor Denise Cobb.

EVENT: Dog fun day

WHEN: Saturday, July 27

WHERE: Preston Park

TIME: 11am-4pm

 

 

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