News from Rugby Tourism

News - latest first!

Joto Hobbies wins award
Congratulations to our long-standing member Joto Hobbies, who won the Best Overall Business award in the 2008 Town Centre Customer Care Awards.  In addition Val McCafferty, Joto's manager, won the Best Individual award

Rugby part of £50 million win
With support from Rugby Tourism, the Sustrans' Connect2 bid for £50 million in The Peoples' Millions was successful.  The announcement on 12 December 2007 was good news for Rugby which will be given a grant of £350,000 for a scheme to create an attractive footpath and cycleway from the Oxford Canal towpath in Newbold to Rugby town centre via the Leicester Road viaduct.  Read more here

Coventry & Warwickshire Food and Drinks Awards 2007
Rugby Tourism was delighted to support the 6th annual Coventry and Warwickshire Food and Drink Awards, details of which can be found by following this link.  The awards ceremony was held at the The Belfry on Tuesday 20 November 2007.  Two of our members received awards:  Garden Organic Ryton won the Best Breakfast category and was also Highly Commended in the Best Restaurant section, while Ashton Lodge Country House Hotel was Highly Commended in the Best Junior Chef category.   Read more on this site

Rugby World Cup Kick-Off
Sunday 2 September saw the local community celebrate a world sporting attraction in a day of fun and entertainment.  The festival took place in Rugby, where the Mayor unfurled a special commemorative Rugby World Cup flag, which will fly in the town centre throughout September and October.  Visitors immersed themselves in the history and heritage of the game of Rugby football with visits to the Webb Ellis Museum and tours of Rugby School.  Other opportunities included family activities, arts and crafts, locally brewed beer, and face-painting.  There were also various activities run by Wooden Spoon

Asda Development - now underway!
The latest development to take place in Rugby has started  This will mean a lane being closed in Corporation Street and the closure of Chapel Street car park, but it will all be worth it!

Caldecott Park - £1 million makeover!
Rugby Tourism welcomes the fantastic news from Rugby Borough Council that its flagship park is to get a massive makeover.  Caldecott Park, always a delight to visit throughout the year, has seen work start on various projects totalling £1,000,000, funded by the national lottery

Rugby in National Britain in Bloom competition 2007
This year sees Rugby representing the Heart of England Region in the National Britain in Bloom Competition for the first time.  This is a unique opportunity to showcase to a wider audience what we can achieve when the Borough Council, local business and the community all work together.  Many of the displays are sponsored by local companies whose financial support is greatly appreciated, and recognised with signage adjacent to the displays.  Rugby-born TV star Arthur Bostrom, from 'Allo 'Allo, launched Rugby's bid on Monday 23 April, when he toured the town and released 500 balloons in Caldecott Park

Enjoy Rugby 2007 - it just keeps getting better
25,000 copies of the guide have been produced and provide information on where to visit, eat, shop and sleep whilst visiting the Borough of Rugby.  The guide has been distributed to all Tourist Information Centres throughout the Country and to all the Borough's attractions and accommodation providers.  A copy of the new Enjoy Rugby 2007 guide can be picked up from the Rugby Visitor Centre in the foyer of the Art Gallery and Museum

Rugby Art Gallery and Museum - quality assured
Rugby Art Gallery and Museum has received recognition for its high quality status for the sixth year running, having been inspected by VAQAS (Visitor Attraction Quality Assurance Survey).  They received their award from the English Tourism Council

Access Rugby – a guide for residents and visitors with disabilities
Friday 30 March 2007 saw the launch of an important and groundbreaking publication produced by Rugby Borough Council in partnership with local and national organisations.  Access Rugby is a guide specifically compiled and designed to help disabled residents and visitors enjoy what is on offer all around the Borough

Excellence in Tourism
Congratulations to Coombe Abbey Hotel - no ordinary hotel - on its nomination in the Large Hotel of the Year category in the Heart of England Excellence in Tourism Awards.  Also up for a prestigious 2006 award is the Rugby Visitor Centre in the Tourist Information Centre of the Year category.  Good luck to both our members

William Webb Ellis Cup
Rugby Football enthusiasts will be delighted to have the opportunity of seeing the Rugby World Cup trophy at first hand in Rugby this autumn.  The William Webb Ellis Cup will be on view in the Rugby Museum and Art Gallery from 1 December 2006.  Although it will be on show amidst tight security, visitors will get the chance to have their photograph taken with it.  It will remain here until 7 January 2007

Hidden Britain
Congratulations to our local village of Dunchurch who are well on their way to becoming part of Hidden Britain

Coventry & Warwickshire Food and Drinks Awards 2006
Rugby Tourism is delighted that one of its members was Highly Commended in both the "Best Restaurant" and "Best Breakfast" categories in the Coventry & Warwickshire Food and Drink Awards.  Congratulations to the restaurant staff at Ryton Organic Gardens for this recognition of their excellence.  The awards ceremony was held at another member's establishment, the Dunchurch Park Hotel, on Tuesday 11 October 2005

Art in the Park 2006
Rugby Tourism was delighted with the new initiative this year in association with Warwickshire Artsweek.  Art in the Park took place in Caldecott Park, Rugby on Sunday 2 July.  Follow this link to see some pictures of the event

Rugby Business Awards 2006
Congratulations to our members who achieved success in this year's Rugby Business Awards: James Pak was nominated for Boss of the Year and for a Lifetime Achievement Award, while his company,
Jamesway Travel, was nominated for a Customer Care Award, gained third place for Innovator of the Year and third place for the Best Marketing or Promotional Campaign.  Style Lounge Bar was winner of Business Newcomer and winner of Small Business of the Year.  Bees Knees Private Hire were runners-up in Small Business of the Year, were nominated for a Customer Care Award and also for team of the Year.  Phil Fereday was runner-up in the Employer of the Year category.  Finally Summersault gained third place in the Customer Care awards

Sir Frank Whittle sculpture
Rugby Tourism fully supported the initiative to erect a sculpture to the memory of Sir Frank Whittle, inventor of the jet engine, at Chestnut Field.  Three sculptors were shortlisted, and their maquettes were on view to the public in February 2005.  A winner was chosen and the work of art was unveiled in Chestnut Fields on Friday 21 October 2005

Coventry & Warwickshire Food and Drinks Awards 2005
Rugby Tourism is delighted that one of its members won the "Best Restaurant" category in the Coventry & Warwickshire Food and Drink Awards.  Congratulations to the restaurant staff at Ryton Organic Gardens for taking the top spot.  The awards ceremony was held at another member's establishment, the Dunchurch Park Hotel, on Tuesday 11 October 2005

Wheelchair Race for Able-bodied People
Rugby Disability Forum presented this special event in Rugby Town Centre.  Many well-known figures from the area competed in one of several heats leading to a grand final.  It all happened on Thursday 7 July 2005 in Sheep Street from 11.00 a.m., and was covered live by 107.1 Rugby FM.  The aim was to raise awareness of navigation problems of people in wheelchairs.  See some photographs here.

The Sheene Run 2005
Following the huge success of the 2003 Sheene Run event, Rugby again played host to biking enthusiasts in their thousands.  It took place on Sunday 3 July and Rugby was transformed for this family-orientated day, with even more attractions and amusements than two years ago.  See some photographs here.

Links with Menton
Rugby Tourism is pleased that Rugby is actively building links with Menton, in the South of France, where William Webb Ellis is buried

Marketing and developing Rugby as a tourist destination
Please follow this link for a brief overview of the likely way forward for Rugby to develop as a tourist destination

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