NEWS FROM NORWICH UNION

CALLING ALL QUIRKY COLLECTORS
Insurer Launches Search for Unusual Stars


Norwich Union is set to get curtains twitching by throwing open the doors to some of the UK’s most weird and wonderful collections as it launches a search for closet collectors to come forwards and star in a new film.

The UK’s largest insurer is seeking images and anecdotes of the country’s quirkiest collections to be uploaded onto www.happysback.com, the best will feature in a short online movie celebrating eccentric collectors.

And to ensure the best entrants have extra cash in their wallets to pursue their passion, Norwich Union, soon to be Aviva, is giving the five winners £500 each. It is also offering free contents insurance to new customers when they buy buildings insurance. *

So if you’re mad about memorabilia, crazy about comics or barmy about beer mats this is the competition for you!

Angela Rippon, one of the best known faces and voices in British broadcasting has been enlisted to champion the search for the best Quirky Collectors. She has her own proud collection of seemingly ordinary items made unusual by its scale.

If you were to go down to Angela’s house you’d be in for a big surprise – she’s a collector of teddy bears. Angela has 26 bears (not all on her bed!); though at one point she had more than 80 of them!


Calling All Quirky Collectors Page 2 of 3

Angela says: "My love of teddy bears started at the age of three when I was given a fifty year-old teddy by a family friend. He's over a hundred years old now and worn round the edges, but like my love of teddy bears he's still going strong. I've been fortunate to have
many teddy bears given to me but sometimes I still find bears I can't resist - or maybe they find me!

"I’m sure there are plenty of people across the UK who've got a collection they cherish as much as me. I'd love to see and hear about what you collect, so upload images of your collections on to the website and let us know how it all started and what it means to you."

Also joining Norwich Union’s search is cricket legend, Michael Vaughan. Not surprisingly Michael’s collection is of the sporting variety. He has an entire room in his home dedicated to his collection of football and cricket memorabilia that he began in1993 – including a prized signed bat from record-breaking cricketer Brian Lara! It all started with a shirt from his first game playing for Yorkshire, the team he still represents today.

“I became obsessed with collecting sporting memorabilia early on in my career and it’s something I’ve built up over the past 16 years. The collection is something of a series of mementos from what has been an amazing journey for me in my career, however I’ve also been adding to it over the years with items from other sports, particularly football – the best one being a shirt from my all time sporting hero – Pele.”

“I’m appearing in a film about people’s cherished collections and we’re looking for members of the public to be part of it. If you have a collection that you’re proud of, upload images on to the website and tell us why you should be included.”

To see pictures of the famous pair and their collections log on to www.happysback.com.
And to enter simply log on to www.happysback.com and upload a picture of you and your collection for your chance to win £500 and star in a short online film with Michael and Angela. Entries close at midnight on Friday February 20th 2009.

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Contacts: For further information contact: Frank PR on 0207 693 6999 or norwichunion@frankpr.it


Images and broadcast clips:
Available for free download at http://www.digitalnewsagency.com/ or upon request from the above contacts

Notes to Editors
* The offer applies for all new Norwich Union buildings and contents home insurance policies when you have been claim free for 3 or more years on your current buildings and contents insurance.

Norwich Union is the UK’s largest general insurer with a market share of around 15%, with a focus on insurance for individuals and small businesses.

It is a leading provider of life, pensions and investment products and one of the largest Financial Adviser (FA) providers. FAs provide over 70% of the company's long-term savings business in the UK.

In the summer of 2009 Norwich Union will change its name to Aviva. Aviva is the world’s fifth largest insurance group and operates in 27 countries. Aviva is to become the customer brand worldwide, thus enabling the company to compete even more effectively on a global scale for the benefit of customers, staff, business partners and shareholders.

Norwich Union’s news releases and a selection of images are available from Aviva's internet press centre at www.aviva.com/media.

NEWS FROM PREMIER INN

Premier Inn London City voted as Best Hotel in Great Britain

Nearly a quarter of a million tourists have voted Premier Inn London City (Tower Hill) as the Best Hotel in Great Britain in the HolidayCheck Awards 2008.

The award highlighted Premier Inn London City as one of the top 99 hotels in the world during last season. The Premier Inn is also the first British hotel ever to win a HolidayCheck Award.

Premier Inn, the UK’s largest and fastest growing hotel brand, scooped the award alongside hotels in destinations as far afield as Egypt, Greece and Turkey. The HolidayCheck Awards 2008 carefully selected the winners based on the experiences and opinions of thousands of travellers worldwide.

Jean-Claude Scharinger General Manager, London City said: ‘We are delighted to have won this award - to be recognised by international travellers as the number one hotel in Great Britain is fantastic. It’s good to know that tourists enjoyed visiting England’s capital city, and our hotel in particular, last year, and we look forward to welcoming them back in 2009’

Premier Inn London City is located in the heart of the capital; just five minutes walk from Tower Bridge and the Tower of London and offers rooms from just £97 per room per night. To book a room at the hotel please visit www.premierinn.com.
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For more information please contact Frank PR
0207 693 6999 or email premierinn@frankpr.it


Notes to editors:
Premier Inn, is the UK’s largest and fastest-growing hotel brand with 563 budget hotels and more than 38,000 rooms across the UK. Premier Inn bedrooms are 22m² and feature en-suite bathroom, TV, and internet access for business guests. Premier Inn offers customers a ‘Good Night Guarantee’ of a good quality room, comfortable surroundings and friendly service, which is unique amongst Britain’s leading hotel chains.

Premier Inn was the first Britain-wide hotel group to sign up with national tourist board VisitBritain; this means Premier Inn is now part of a new quality assessment scheme, specially created for budget accommodation.

A joint venture with Emirates has seen the Premier Inn brand develop in the Gulf region, with its first budget hotel in Dubai in Spring 2008. Premier Inn also has a joint venture with Emar-MGF to roll out 80 budget hotels in India by 2017. On a domestic front, Premier Inn is set to be the largest provider of budget hotels in London by the time of the 2012 Olympics.

Premier Inn has won the following awards:
Best Budget Hotel at the Business Traveller Awards 2008
Leading Economy brand in the JD Power European Economy Hotel Guest Satisfaction Survey 2008
Most improved brand by the BDRC British Hotel Guest Survey 2008.
Winner of the HolidayCheck Awards 2008

NEWS FROM TIME TO CHANGE

COMMUTER TRAM TURNS INTO PADDED CELL

Mental health campaign Time to Change invites commuters to ride to work in a ‘padded cell’


Monday 26th January 2009



Commuters in Sheffield will be in for a surprise today as they ride to work and discover that one of their trams has been turned into a padded cell. The idea, the first of its kind to be conducted on a commuter service, is led by Time to Change – a campaign to tackle the stigma and discrimination faced by people with mental health problems.



The padded-cell will run on the yellow route of the Sheffield Supertram network throughout the day. It will be emblazoned with provocative slogans. One panel reads - “1 in 4 will have a mental health problem in their life; that’s 50 on this tram – but they don’t need to spend their days in a padded cell”. The stunt makes the point that mental health problems are very common, yet people who have experienced these problems, are typically getting on with life and travelling to work, just like everybody else.



Time to Change is England’s biggest and most ambitious campaign to end mental health discrimination. It’s run by leading mental health charities Mental Health Media, Mind and Rethink, and backed by £16 million from the Big Lottery Fund and £2 million from Comic Relief.



The tram will run from the 25th January through to the evening of Monday 26th January (on the yellow route). Commuters will be able to hop on board as they usually would during the day. Furthermore, travelling on board will be several people who have experienced mental health problems, including an ex-police officer and a qualified nurse.



Lawrence Butterfield, a qualified nurse who has had depression, says -

“I was surprised by people’s reactions when I was first diagnosed with depression. It was as if they thought a nurse should somehow be immune to mental health problems. The truth is it can happen to anyone. Thankfully padded cells are a thing of the past – but in many ways our attitudes to mental health problems are still very old-fashioned and its about time we all became more open about the issue. The subject of cancer used to be a taboo, but we are now comfortable discussing it and it’s time we had the same attitudes to mental health. I will be riding on the tram to make people realise that mental health problems are still a taboo, but the people who have experienced them are just normal people, getting on with it.”



Sue Baker, Time to Change Director says -

"Time and time again people with mental health problems say that other people's prejudice, fear and discrimination can have a worse impact than the problem itself. And yet mental health problems are a common experience in the 21st century. With one in four of us experiencing a mental health problem at some stage, this is an issue that affects all of us - whether it be directly or a family member or friend. We’ve got to realise that stigma, discrimination, and outdated attitudes wreck lives. But it doesn't have to be this way – this is the beginning of a social movement that can change things for the better”.



For more information on Time to Change and the padded cell visit www.time-to-change.org.uk



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For images of the padded cell, interviews with a Time to Change spokesperson, and/or interviews with any of the case studies, please contact Frank PR on 0207 693 6999 / 0781 309 5242or email rethink@frankpr.it

NOTES TO EDITORS



About Time to Change:

Time to Change is England's most ambitious programme to end the discrimination faced by people with mental health problems, and improve the nation's wellbeing. Mental Health Media, Mind, and Rethink are leading the programme, funded £16m from the Big Lottery Fund and £2m from Comic Relief and evaluated by the Institute of Psychiatry at King's College, London.



For further information go to www.time-to-change.org.uk



About The Big Lottery Fund:

The Big Lottery Fund’s support for Time to Change comes from its £165m Well-being programme, which provides funding to support the development of healthier lifestyles and to improve well-being. The Big Lottery Fund has been rolling out grants to health, education, environment and charitable causes across the UK since its inception in June 2004. It was established by Parliament on 1 December 2006. Full details of the Big Lottery Fund, its programmes and awards are available on the website: www.biglotteryfund.org.uk

Big Lottery Fund Press Office: 020 7211 1888 / Out of hours: 07867 500 572 Public Enquiries Line: 08454 102030 / Textphone: 08456 021 659



About Comic Relief:

Comic Relief is committed to supporting people living with mental health problems. The projects Comic Relief funds ensure people with mental health problems get their voices heard in the decisions that affect their lives and to get the help they need to recover. Comic Relief also helps people to promote their rights and reduce the stigma and discrimination they face so that they feel more included in society. The £2 million grant to Time to Change is part of Comic Relief's long standing commitment to this issue. For more information go to www.comicrelief.com



About Stagecoach Supertram:

Stagecoach Group is a leading international public transport group, with extensive operations in the UK, United States and Canada. The company employs around 30,000 people and operates bus, coach, rail and tram services. Stagecoach Supertram was Britain's first state-of-the-art tramway and has been in operation for 15 years. It incorporates three tram routes in the city of Sheffield and carries around 15million passengers a year.

NEWS FROM PREMIER INN

PREMIER INN VOTED AS TOP IN CUSTOMER SERVICE

Premier Inn has been voted as top in the customer service stakes in the Leisure and Tourism category, by the Institute of Customer Service Customer Satisfaction Awards.

The award highlights Premier Inn as a leader in the field, seeing the UK’s largest and fastest growing hotel brand fighting off competition from mid-market hotels, such as Marriott and Hilton.

The award winners were the top performers in the UK Customer Satisfaction Index, which asked more than 24,000 people to rate how well or badly companies and organisations performed in 12 key public and private sectors.

Robert Crawford, Executive Director of the ICS said: ‘Most awards are judged by a panel of experts, but the ICS Customer Satisfaction Awards are based on the views of real customers. Premier Inn displays real consistency in providing excellent customer service to all of its guests and this award recognises this.’

Paul Flaum, chief operating officer for Premier Inn, said: ‘We are delighted to have won this award – customer service is something we pride ourselves on and to be recognised for this by our customers is a great achievement.’

Premier Inn is so committed to guest satisfaction they offer a unique Good Night Guarantee at each of their 558 hotels across the UK - meaning any guest who is not 100% satisfied with their stay will receive a full refund.

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For more information please contact Frank PR on
0207 693 6999 or email premierinn@frankpr.it

Notes to editors:
About Premier Inn…
Premier Inn, is the UK’s largest and fastest-growing hotel brand with 563 budget hotels and more than 38,000 rooms across the UK. Premier Inn bedrooms are 22m² and feature en-suite bathroom, TV, and internet access for business guests.

Premier Inn offers customers a ‘Good Night Guarantee’ of a good quality room, comfortable surroundings and friendly service, which is unique amongst Britain’s leading hotel chains.
Premier Inn was the first Britain-wide hotel group to sign up with national tourist board VisitBritain; this means Premier Inn is now part of a new quality assessment scheme, specially created for budget accommodation.

A joint venture with Emirates has seen the Premier Inn brand develop in the Gulf region, with its first budget hotel in Dubai in Spring 2008. Premier Inn also has a joint venture with Emar-MGF to roll out 80 budget hotels in India by 2017. On a domestic front, Premier Inn is set to be the largest provider of budget hotels in London by the time of the 2012 Olympics.

Premier Inn has won the following awards:
Best Budget Hotel at the Business Traveller Awards 2008
Leading Economy brand in the JD Power European Economy Hotel Guest Satisfaction Survey 2008
Most improved brand by the BDRC British Hotel Guest Survey 2008.
Winner of the HolidayCheck Awards 2008
Best Business Hotel Chain at the Business Travel World Awards 2008
Institute of Customer Service Award for Hotels and Leisure

For more information please visit www.premierinn.com

About ICS…
The Institute of Customer Service (ICS) is the professional body for customer service whose primary purpose is to lead customer service performance and professionalism.
The ICS launched the UK Customer Satisfaction Index (UKCSI) in 2007 and it is repeated every six months. This latest UKCSI is based on a sample of 24,000 adults surveyed online in late 2008.
It measured 20 individual factors of customer satisfaction that can be grouped into five attributes: professionalism, problem solving, timeliness, quality/ efficiency and easy to do business with.
Each of these factors is weighted according to how important customers said they were in the ICS research Customer priorities: what customers really want and the weighted satisfaction scores are used to produce the Index. This makes the scores exceptionally robust as they are not simply a percentage of respondents who answered a question in the positive or negative – they are derived from a weighted index of multiple questions.
The UKCSI results are determined on a geographically and demographically representative sample of UK adults and data is collected for all organisations with a high market share in each segment of the private sector and the main players in the public sector.

The UKCSI has been welcomed by BSI British Standards. It says: “We believe it is an important step in improving customer satisfaction in the UK as well as a useful tool for consumers and business. Customer satisfaction is a key area of standardisation for BSI and our own work in this area potentially assists organisations to improve their position in the index.”

NEWS FROM VIRGIN MEDIA

Terrier-vision!

Virgin Media investigates the ‘wag’ factor for new ‘Doggy on Demand’ service

Virgin Media has today announced it is investigating a new phenomenon: dogs who are dotty about telly. The entertainment company is conducting research into shows that appeal to the whole family, including our beloved pet dogs, after discovering a unique breed of TV fans who are literally ‘barking about the box’. Striving to meet the demands of every viewer in the house, Virgin Media is even considering plans to introduce a bespoke TV on demand section containing shows that appeal to dogs as well as their owners.

Having carried out a nation-wide search to find the nation’s biggest canine TV fans, Virgin Media selected three top TV dogs from across the country to help assess whether they know their Rover’s Return from Bone-jacker. Whilst most dogs are content chasing a stick or munching on a bone, these potty pooches go ‘ga-ga’ for the gogglebox. Virgin Media’s research shows a diverse range of programmes appeal to these crazy canines, from Bark Rise to Candleford to Canine-99 Lifesavers.

Helping the entertainment company’s research, Virgin Media’s TV Terriers include:

· Football mad Miki, a German Shepherd aged one from Kent, who loves anything noisy or action-packed including sport, The Bill and EastEnders.

· Chihuaua Oliver, aged nine from Stoke-on-Trent, who goes crazy for Corrie and barks for Shih Tzu Buster on the Paul O’Grady Show. Oliver also enjoys singing along with TV theme tunes.

· English Bulldog Cookie, aged one from London, particularly likes football and has been known to chase a ball around the room whilst watching a match.

Mavis Williams, Oliver’s owner, said: “Oliver has enjoyed watching telly since he was a puppy, and his whole mood can change if one of his favourite shows is on. We were delighted to get involved with Virgin Media’s ‘Doggy on Demand’ project and discover what other programmes dogs across the country enjoy watching.”

Ashley Stockwell, managing director of brand and marketing at Virgin Media added;

“There are already over 4,600 hours of top TV at Virgin Media customers’ fingertips through our TV on demand service, so every barking mad telly fan can watch what they want, whenever they want. We’ve had a fascinating insight into what gets our panel of TV Terriers’ tails wagging, and are looking closely at these results to ensure our TV on demand service continues to be the ‘dog’s’.”

For more information on Virgin Media’s TV on demand service, log onto www.virginmedia.com.





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Media contacts
Frank PR, 020 7693 6999 or virginmedia@frankpr.it




Notes to editors
About Virgin Media

With almost 10 million customers, Virgin Media is the UK's first quad-play provider of TV, broadband, phone and mobile.

Virgin Media is the largest residential broadband provider in the country, delivering next-generation internet access with ultrafast speeds of up to 50Mb using its unique fibre-optic cable network.

Virgin Media has the UK’s most advanced TV on demand service and is the only TV platform to carry BBC iPlayer. Virgin Media was the first to launch a high definition TV service and offers a high-specification, HD-ready V+ personal video recorder.

Virgin Media is the second-largest provider of pay TV and home phone in the UK and the largest virtual mobile network operator.



Virgin Media also owns two content businesses – Virgin Media Television (VMTV) and sit-up. VMTV owns eight entertainment channels, including Virgin1, Living, Bravo, Challenge and Trouble – and is a 50 per cent joint partner with the BBC in UKTV which consists of ten channels including Dave, G.O.L.D., Watch and Alibi. sit-up runs retail TV channels bid tv, price-drop tv and speed auction tv.



For more information, go to www.virginmedia.com.

NEWS FROM ALTON TOWERS

Alton Towers SEAS the future!

Alton Towers Resort announces £4 million SEA LIFE investment

The first major sections of a new SEA LIFE attraction arrived at the Alton Towers Resort yesterday. A 10 metre long acrylic ‘walk-through’ tunnel was delivered to the park while tropical and ambient fish including several species of shark are currently being held in Weymouth before being transferred to the resort.

The aquarium, called Sharkbait Reef by SEA LIFE, is scheduled to open on Saturday 28th March. It will be located in the Mutiny Bay area of the theme park, and alike the land surrounding it, will also be pirate themed, enabling guests to explore an underwater ship wreck and enjoy a touching pool.

Creating at least 25 new jobs, and representing an investment of £4 million, the Resort is confident the new attraction will be a successful addition to the fantastic range of rides and attractions already on offer at the Resort. Entrance will be included in the theme park admission price – which has not increased from last year*.

Morwenna Angove, Sales and Marketing Director for the Alton Towers Resort said:

‘We’re delighted to welcome the arrival of our new tunnel and ocean tank. Sharkbait Reef by SEA LIFE will be the 30th SEA LIFE attraction worldwide and will contain up to 300 species within over 1 million litres of water! We’re confident the attraction will delight our family audience, giving them an underwater adventure with the additional twist created through our exceptional pirate theming.

Research indicators show people aren't going abroad as much because of what is going on in the economy, but people will still want to go out with their family.

We think we are ideally placed for that."



---ends---

NEWS FROM PREMIER INN

PREMIER INN’S £50,000 GIVEAWAY

Premier Inn is helping businesses keep an even closer eye on their finances in 2009 as they offer one lucky company the chance to win £50,000 worth of business travel accommodation.

Any company that successfully applies for a Premier Inn Business Account via www.premierinn.com/win before the 27th February 2009 will automatically be entered into a draw to win this fantastic prize.
Businesses are looking to minimise costs and ‘buy smarter’ when it comes to business travel. The Premier Inn Business Account gives companies a simple and efficient way to control business travel expenses, offering a unique expense management solution as it works as a charge card so that companies are able to authorise spending limits when employees are travelling.
Premier Inn recently beat off stiff competition at the Business Travel World Awards 2009 to be crowned ‘Best Business Hotel brand’ for the second year running and scooping the award for ‘Best Business Expense Management process’ for the Business Account. This latest award win for Premier Inn makes them the first brand to have their own expense management solution recognised above global payment solutions such as American Express and Concur.
Luke Goggin, spokesperson for Premier Inn says, “Premier Inn is committed to offering great quality rooms at affordable prices, meaning business guests can economise on hotel expenditure without having to sacrifice on quality or comfort. £50,000 worth of accommodation is a fantastic prize and I wish everyone that enters the very best of luck.’

Over 13,000 companies are now using the Business Account Card. In the first half of 2008, new users were up 16% and total sales via this channel up 33%.1
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For more information please contact Frank PR on
0207 693 6999 or email premierinn@frankpr.it

1 Figures taken from Whitbread IMS statement December 2008.

For more information or to book a room at Premier Inn please visit www.premierinn.com

Notes to editors:
The prize entitles the lucky winner to a year’s free accommodation with Premier Inn (up to the value of £50,000).

Premier Inn, is the UK’s largest and fastest-growing hotel brand with 563 budget hotels and more than 38,000 rooms across the UK. Premier Inn bedrooms are 22m² and feature en-suite bathroom, TV, and internet access for business guests. Premier Inn offers customers a ‘Good Night Guarantee’ of a good quality room, comfortable surroundings and friendly service, which is unique amongst Britain’s leading hotel chains.

Premier Inn was the first Britain-wide hotel group to sign up with national tourist board VisitBritain; this means Premier Inn is now part of a new quality assessment scheme, specially created for budget accommodation.

A joint venture with Emirates has seen the Premier Inn brand develop in the Gulf region, with its first budget hotel in Dubai in Spring 2008. Premier Inn also has a joint venture with Emar-MGF to roll out 80 budget hotels in India by 2017. On a domestic front, Premier Inn is set to be the largest provider of budget hotels in London by the time of the 2012 Olympics.

Premier Inn has won the following awards:
• Best Budget Hotel at the Business Traveller Awards 2008
• Leading Economy brand in the JD Power European Economy Hotel Guest Satisfaction Survey 2008
• Most improved brand by the BDRC British Hotel Guest Survey 2008.
• Winner of the HolidayCheck Awards 2008
• Best Business Travel Chain at the Business Travel World Awards 2008
• Institute of Customer Satisfaction award winner for Hotels and Leisure 2008

NEWS FROM PREMIER INN

PREMIER INN UNVEILS PLANS FOR
BRITAIN’S FIRST FLOATING BUDGET HOTEL
- GUARANTEED ‘SEA SICKNESS FREE’!


Buying a barge or joining the Royal Navy are no longer the only ways to sleep on the water, as Premier Inn today unveils plans for its innovative ‘Floatel’ (floating budget hotel) - a first for the British budget hotel industry.

Britain’s largest and *best budget hotel chain aims to build the ‘Floatel’ in Hartlepool Marina during 2009. It will be the first time a budget hotel has been purpose-built on water. Premier Inn chiefs say that the planned hotel will offer the same quality and value of its other 556 hotels – but with the added benefit of a waterfront view.

As well as having a ‘Good Night Guaranteed’, guests would be sure to avoid sea sickness because the hotel’s special design means it will float vertically with the tide; while the horizontal movement will be restricted by sleeved piles driven into the marina.

And anyone arriving late at night wouldn’t need a boat trip in order to check-in: the waterfront hotel will be linked to an existing Premier Inn on the quayside by a pedestrian ramp and an external platform lift.

The ‘Floatel’ is needed because there is a growing demand for additional hotel accommodation in the Hartlepool Marina area but little viable building space on-land. The new hotel will have 54 bedrooms, each able to accommodate two adults and two children under 16, and will feature ensuite bathroom, TV and Internet access, as is standard in all Premier Inns.

The proposed development will contribute to both the re-development of the area, and the creation of approximately 25 jobs. Premier Inn’s Property Director, Mark Anderson, says, “As Britain’s leading hotel company, we’re always looking for new ways to ensure we have great hotels; wherever they’re needed.”
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For further media information, please contact:
Frank PR on 0207 693 6999 or e-mail premierinn@frankpr.it

Notes to editors

About Premier Inn … Premier Inn is the UK’s biggest and fastest-growing hotel brand with over 550 budget hotels and more than 38,000 rooms across the UK. Premier Inn bedrooms are 22m² and feature en-suite bathroom, TV, and internet access for business guests. Premier Inn offers customers a ‘Good Night Guarantee’ of a good quality room, comfortable surroundings and friendly service, which is unique amongst Britain’s leading hotel chains.

Premier Inn was the first Britain-wide hotel group to sign up with national tourist board VisitBritain; this means Premier Inn is now part of a new quality assessment scheme, specially created for budget accommodation.

A joint venture with Emirates has seen the Premier Inn brand develop in the Gulf region, with its first budget hotel in Dubai in Spring 2008. Premier Inn also has a joint venture with Emar-MGF to roll out 80 budget hotels in India by 2017. On a domestic front, Premier Inn is set to be the largest provider of budget hotels in London by the time of the 2012 Olympics.

Premier Inn has been confirmed as the leading Economy brand in the JD Power European Economy Hotel Guest Satisfaction Survey 2008.

*Premier Inn was awarded Best Budget Hotel at the Business Traveller Awards 2008.

www.premierinn.com

NEWS FROM PREMIER INN

Premier Inn launches it’s first fully self check-in hotel

‘Speedy’ check-in reduces wait to 1 minute

The UK’s largest hotel chain, Premier Inn, has announced that they are launching their first fully self check-in hotel at St Mary’s Gate, Sheffield, reducing check-in time to under a minute for guests.

The self check-in automated pods have already been successfully trialled at the London King’s Cross Premier Inn; they allow guests to take complete control of their own booking when they arrive at the hotel. The check-in process currently takes an average of 8-10 minutes, but the new technology employed by Premier Inn will dramatically cut this time down.

Customer experience at Premier Inn will be even smoother as workstations will be housed in the reception area and manned by team members solely dedicated to helping guest enquiries. The kiosks self check-in will improve customer experience at Premier Inn as it will manage the more formal element of the check-in procedure, leaving the Premier Inn team free to focus on the needs of their guests.

Bob Cotton, Chief Executive of the British Hospitality Association commented, "Its great to see Premier Inn investing in innovative technology. These kiosks will undoubtedly increase the level of service offered by Premier Inn - delivering a fast, efficient and speedier experience at check-in."

Sarah Simpson, Product and Service Manager for Premier Inn commented; ‘Premier Inn checks in over 23,000 guests every day across the UK, and as the UK’s leading hotel brand we continually innovate to meet the changing needs of our guests. Feedback has shown that business travellers like the time saving benefits that the kiosks provide, whilst leisure guests benefit not only from this but also from the increased accessibility, interaction and level of good service they have with team members at the guest workstation.’

The Sheffield St. Mary site is now open to the public and is located on Young Street, St Marys Gate. The new hotel will feature 126 bedrooms and rooms start from just £56 per room, per night and can be booked by visiting premierinn.com

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For further press information please contact Frank PR on 0207 693 6999 or email premierinn@frankpr.it


Notes to Editors:

About Premier Inn … Premier Inn is the UK’s biggest and fastest-growing hotel brand with over 550 budget hotels and more than 38,000 rooms across the UK. Premier Inn bedrooms are 22m² and feature en-suite bathroom, TV, and internet access for business guests. Premier Inn offers customers a ‘Good Night Guarantee’ of a good quality room, comfortable surroundings and friendly service, which is unique amongst Britain’s leading hotel chains.

Premier Inn was the first Britain-wide hotel group to sign up with national tourist board VisitBritain; this means Premier Inn is now part of a new quality assessment scheme, specially created for budget accommodation.

A joint venture with Emirates has seen the Premier Inn brand develop in the Gulf region, with its first budget hotel in Dubai in Spring 2008. Premier Inn also has a joint venture with Emar-MGF to roll out 80 budget hotels in India by 2017. On a domestic front, Premier Inn is set to be the largest provider of budget hotels in London by the time of the 2012 Olympics.

Premier Inn has been confirmed as the leading Economy brand in the JD Power European Economy Hotel Guest Satisfaction Survey 2008.

premierinn.com

NEWS FROM VIRGIN MEDIA MUSIC AWARDS

More anguish for Amy
Winehouse voted ‘Loser of the Year’ in Virgin Media Music Awards

• Leona Lewis wins ‘Best UK Act’
• Kings of Leon take ‘Best Album’
• Katy Perry picks up ‘Best Track’

Amy Winehouse has been dealt a further blow today after being named ‘Loser of the Year’ in the Virgin Media Music Awards, for the second year running. Amongst the winners of 12 other categories was Leona Lewis, who picked up the prestigious title of ‘Best UK Act’ with 72 per cent of the vote.

Girl band The Saturdays won their first Virgin Media Music Award after being named ‘Best New Act’, narrowly beating American boy band sensations The Jonas Brothers. Both bands got voters’ hearts racing by winning the ‘Hottest Male’ and ‘Hottest Female’ titles, with 19-year old Joe Jonas (39 per cent) and The Saturdays’ Una Healy (38 per cent), knocking last year’s winner Cheryl Cole off the top spot, triumphing in their respective categories.

The annual awards, a precursor to the Brit Awards, are thought to be the biggest music awards voted for entirely by the public with almost three million votes on www.virginmedia.com.

Kylie Minogue still proves to be hugely popular, triumphing in the ‘Legend of the Year’ category ahead of Beatle Sir Paul McCartney, with 59 per cent of the vote. American rockers Kings of Leon picked up the coveted ‘Best Album’ award (52 per cent) for their number one album ‘Only by the Night’ whilst controversial Katy Perry saw her risqué pop hit ‘I Kissed a Girl’ pick up ‘Best Track’ (52 per cent). The two are strongly tipped to succeed at this year’s Brit Awards and both have already picked up Grammy nominations.

In other awards, Britney Spears’ continued her comeback by scooping second spot in the ‘Best International Act’ category, just behind winner Rihanna, with Ms Spears’ album ‘Circus’ coming runner-up in the ‘Best Album’ section.

Finally, Paris Hilton was dubbed ‘Best Hanger On’ by music fans, with 67 per cent of votes, beating both Peaches Geldof (8 per cent) and Agyness Deyn to the top spot (8 per cent).

To see a full rundown of the final awards, log on to http://www.virginmedia.com/music/awards2008/winners.php


Virgin Media Music Awards Winners

• Best Album: ‘Only by the Night’, Kings of Leon
• Best Track: ‘I kissed a Girl’, Katy Perry
• Best UK Act: Leona Lewis
• Best International Act: Rihanna
• Best New Act: The Saturdays
• Legend of the Year: Kylie Minogue
• Loser of the Year: Amy Winehouse
• Hottest Female: Una Healy (The Saturdays)
• Hottest Male: Joe Jonas (The Jonas Brothers)
• Best Comeback: Maria Carey
• Best Album Cover: ‘Viva la Vida’, Coldplay
• Worst Track: ‘Get Outta My Head’, Ashlee Simpson
• Best Hanger On: Paris Hilton



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Notes to Editors

About Virgin Media Music Awards

The Virgin Media Music Awards were voted for by almost three million members of the public between November 2008 and January 2009, on www.virginmedia.com.

About Virgin Media
With almost 10 million customers, Virgin Media is the UK's first quad-play provider of TV, broadband, phone and mobile.

Virgin Media is the largest residential broadband provider in the country, delivering next-generation internet access with ultrafast speeds of up to 50Mb using its unique fibre-optic cable network.

Virgin Media has the UK’s most advanced TV on demand service and is the only TV platform to carry BBC iPlayer. Virgin Media was the first to launch a high definition TV service and offers a high-specification, HD-ready V+ personal video recorder.

Virgin Media is the second-largest provider of pay TV and home phone in the UK and the largest virtual mobile network operator.

Virgin Media also owns two content businesses – Virgin Media Television (VMTV) and sit-up. VMTV owns eight entertainment channels, including Virgin1, Living, Bravo, Challenge and Trouble – and is a 50 per cent joint partner with the BBC in UKTV which consists of ten channels including Dave, G.O.L.D., Watch and Alibi. sit-up runs retail TV channels bid tv, price-drop tv and speed auction tv.

For more information, go to www.virginmedia.com.

NEWS FROM BENNETTS

MAKE A DATE WITH THE BENNETTS BABES

The Bennetts Babes look set to brighten up Britain later this month with the launch of their third annual calendar. In association with Two Wheels Only (TWO), the babes are back by popular demand, adorning a selection of 2009’s hottest new bikes. With a set of stunning shots to make every month memorable, the calendar will be available exclusively in the March issue of TWO, on sale from 23rd January.

From the BMW S1000 RR, to the Triumph Bonneville and Ducati Streetfighter, the calendar features some of the most anticipated bike launches of 2009, alongside the bevy of Bennetts Babes.

Bennetts Babe and Miss February Steph Englis said, “I’ve loved being a Bennetts Babe and starring in the 2009 calendar was an amazing experience. I think every month is going to be February in my house this year!”

Director at Bennetts, Paul Galligan said, “The Babes have injected some fun into the biking community over the past five years and as a result have become hugely popular amongst bikers. We were really pleased to work with TWO on this year’s calendar and look forward to hearing what bikers think about it. ”

To get your hands on a copy of the calendar, simply pick up the next issue of TWO, on sale 23rd January. Exclusive behind-the-scenes images and a Bennetts Babes screensaver will be available from Bennetts.co.uk soon.


* Based on brand tracking research in April 2008

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For further information or photography please contact:

Frank PR on 020 7693 6999 or email bennetts@frankpr.it



Notes to editors

Bennetts is a trading name of BISL Limited, Pegasus House, Bakewell Road, Orton Southgate, Peterborough, PE2 6YS. Registered in England No. 3231094.



BISL Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.



THE BACKGROUND TO BENNETTS

· Bennetts was established in Coventry by the Bennetts family in 1930 to provide insurance services to people throughout the West Midlands.



· In the early 1980’s Bennetts decided to devise a number of specialist insurance schemes that would meet the needs of different types of biker. These schemes are constantly reviewed to give bikers the exact cover they need.



· In 2000 Bennetts was the first motorcycle insurance specialist to offer the ability to buy insurance online, through its website, www.bennetts.co.uk.



· In October 2001, the Bennetts brand was acquired by the BGL Group (formerly the Budget Group of Companies), through its purchase of the Dial Direct Group, a major UK car insurance intermediary.



· The BGL Group was established in 1992, and has grown to be the UK’s third largest personal lines insurance intermediary, through a combination of organic growth and a series of major strategic acquisitions.



· The BGL Group now arranges and administers insurance for around 2.3 million customers with more than £600million GWP. It has contact centre operations in Peterborough, Coventry, Sunderland, Peterlee and Cape Town, South Africa. It currently employs over 2000 people and its head office is in Peterborough.



· In May 2003, Bennetts unveiled its new brand identity to the industry.



· Bennetts became personal sponsor of former World Superbike Champion Neil Hodgson in May 2003.



· In April 2008 independent brand tracking research identified Bennetts as the UK’s number one brand for motorcycle insurance.



· In January 2005, Bennetts signed the biggest sponsorship deal in the history of the brand by becoming title sponsor of the 2005 Bennetts British Superbike Championship. Bennetts continued its sponsorship of the British Superbike Championship in 2006, 2007 and 2008.



· In June 2007, Bennetts became official series sponsor of the World Superbike Championship for the remainder of the 2007 championship and for the whole of the 2008 championship.



· Bennetts was personal sponsor of Moto GP contender and former World Superbike Champion James Toseland from July 2007 to December 2008.

NEWS FROM HOVIS

A healthy new you? It’s all about ‘Baby’ steps!

Hovis team up with Emma Bunton to get the nation feeling healthier

30 Million Brits* are determined to be healthier in 2009 but by the end of January only 3 out of 10 of us will still be keeping up our resolutions! The problem seems to be the changes we make are just too big and hard to stick to….

That’s why today (14th Jan) sees Emma Bunton launching the Hovis Wholemeal Challenge in a typical British caff; in a bid to target some of the nation’s unhealthiest eaters with a simple change to make in 2009.

All you need to do is swap two slices of white bread a day for two slices of Hovis Wholemeal. Brits will get their money back if they take the challenge and don’t feel healthier in two weeks*1.

With 6 out of 10 of us usually eating white bread instead of brown*2, it’s a simple change that most of the country will benefit from, and hopefully be able to keep up for the whole of 2009.

Emma Bunton, who is fronting the campaign after recently switching from white bread to Hovis Wholemeal said, “Switching to wholemeal bread is a small change that has made a real difference to me and my family so I’d recommend you give it a go.”

Builder, Phillip Evans, who Emma persuaded to join up for the Hovis Wholemeal Challenge today says, “I’ll admit I’ve never even tried wholemeal bread before but I’m going to give this challenge a go and hopefully I’ll feel better.”

Nutritionist Fiona Hunter says, “Brits always make radical attempts to overhaul their diets after Christmas, only to fail by February. It’s much better to take small steps that you can keep up long-term.”

For more information, visit www.hoviswholemealchallenge.com

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For more information or images please call 0207 693 6999 or email hovis@frankpr.it

Notes to editors:
* According to results from survey released by gocompare.com on Dec 28th. Sample size 2000 http://www.themoneypages.com/article/Sorting-out-finances-tops-list-of-resolutions-for-2009-228804.html
*1 Hovis are offering the money-back guarantee from 5th January to 28th February 2009. Terms and Conditions apply.
*2 According to IRI value sales to 15th December 2008

NEWS FROM GYMBOX

WEIGHT FOR IT – A WORLD FIRST IN GYMS

GYMBOX launches recruitment drive for human weights machines

With unemployment figures on the up and doom and gloom an everyday part of the job market, a gym chain popular with celebrities is bucking the trend in a most unusual way by employing five new members of staff as human weights. The 30% increase in the workforce is down to the launch of a new piece of weight training apparatus, the only one of its kind in the world, that uses real life people instead of dumbbells, being launched in GYMBOX’s new gym in Bank, EC1.

The human weights, which enable users to flex and curl by ‘pumping’ human beings, which will be available from 19th January in GYMBOX Bank, are being introduced to motivate gym-goers by allowing them to visualise what they are lifting. Experts in sports psychology agree that visualisation is a significant factor in improving performance and human weights are as visual as it can get.

The human weights are the latest in a long line of unusual initiatives from GYMBOX, who’s users include the likes of Orlando Bloom and Christian Slater. The gym were famous for introducing Boob Aerobics to the UK (the workout that can help increase bust size), Chav fighting (self defence for the modern world) and the WAG workout, a course on how to look every inch the trophy footballers wife (instructed by a real-life WAG).

Unlike regular dumbbells, the human weights will come with an optional ‘motivation feature’ where each human weight will shout words of encouragement to ensure muscles are worked to the max, at the gym goer’s request. Otherwise they will just keep quiet and keep still as they are lifted.

Members of GYMBOX simply need to select their preferred human weight and then they will position themselves on a machine that has been specially constructed for the purpose. They can then begin their work out. The apparatus has been built to provide a human weight work-out for the entire body but specifically muscle groups in the arms, (bicep, tricep and forearm), shoulders (deltoids) and back (trapezius, latissimus dorsi and spinal erectors).

The humans will be available in the following weights, with a 25-stone (155Kg) ‘Super human’ option available for those willing to take up the challenge:

The Dainty Diva: Arti Shah, 32, Middlesex – 30Kg (66.1Lb, 4.7 stone)

The Micro Male: Mike Edwards, 64, Middlesex – 55Kg (121.2Lb, 8.6 stone)

The Main Man: Ben Bidmead, 23, London – 65Kg (143.3Lb, 10.2 stone)

The Fine Female: Tracey Caswell, 42, Teddington – 75Kg (165.3Lb, 11.8 stone)

The Well ‘Ard Woman: Jo Rollin, 49, Reading – 85Kg (187.3Lb, 13.3 stone)

The ‘Super Human’: Matt Barnard, 37, London – 155Kg (341.7Lb, 24.4 stone)

GYMBOX instructors will be on hand to compare the performance of members on the human weights machine measured against more conventional weight lifting equipment.

Richard Hilton, the owner of Gymbox which also has branches in Covent Garden and Holborn, said: “Creating a mental image or intention of what you want to happen or feel is proven to improve physical and psychological performance. The human weight lifting apparatus we have installed here at GYMBOX is the ultimate embodiment of visualisation theory. We’re going to closely monitor the performance of our members and are optimistic that they will see better results from their work outs with our new human weight machine than they have seen with normal equipment.”

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To try the human weight lifting machine at first-hand, for further information or images, please contact Frank PR on 0207 693 6999

Notes to editors:

GYMBOX, Bank: 71 Lombard Street, London. EC3V 9AY.

GYMBOX™ is an entirely new concept in fitness set to transform the standardised gym culture we have become accustomed to by taking a revolutionary approach to working out. GYMBOX™ has challenged every facet of the industry from the pod arrangement of the latest technogym™ equipment to the commissioned artwork on the walls, fusing entertainment with fitness with an ‘anything goes’ attitude.

GYMBOX has introduced many unique classes to its members over the last few years, including the following:

- Chav Fighting – protection from the ‘youf’ of today using a mixture of self defence techniques and other martial arts.

- Stiletto Workout – A raunchy dance routine where heels are optional but oh so beneficial for toning legs.

- Boob Aerobics – a three-step fitness regime that guarantees it will increase the size of female members’ busts.

- WAG Workout - taught by an ex long term girlfriend of a Premiership footballer, this body conditioning class helps tone in all the right places helping members to attract the footballer of their dreams.

- The Rave – An explosion of energetic dance and rave moves to uplifting music with laser light show and glow sticks.

NEWS FROM DRENCH

Four million Brits still recovering from the festive season
5% say brains don’t function at all during January

As the second week in January begins, research by drench spring water reveals that over four million Brits are still yet to mentally recover from the festive party season and get their brains back into ‘work mode’.

While the physical effects of overindulgence over the festive season may have only lasted a few hours, it can take its toll on mental performance for weeks to come. Over 8 million of us (28.8%) feel that our brains are still functioning at less than 50% capacity and nearly 5% say their brains don’t function at their best until February.

Over half (53.2%) of all people questioned revealed that they struggle with concentration, alertness, memory and conversation throughout January, with concentration levels being affected the most (19.5%).

The research also discovered that nearly three-quarters (71%) of people are not fully recovered from a weekend night out by the time they get to work on a regular Monday morning, with 15% of people taking until Wednesday or beyond to get their brains back in gear.

Dr Jack Lewis, a neuroscientist and the drench mental hydration expert commented: “Every single biological process in your body is dependent on a delicate balance between many different chemicals, which must each be at just the right concentration. Overindulgence during the festive season can disrupt this balance and have a serious affect on mental performance at work. One of the solutions is a plentiful supply of water, as it reduces chemical stress on the brain ensuring it can work to the best of its potential.”

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About drench®

drench® is a 100% clear, crisp spring water that is bottled straight from a spring in Yorkshire after being filtered through Sandstone for 50 years. It is available in 500ml, 750ml, 1.5L and 2L bottles and can be found on the shelves of most major supermarkets – Tesco, Asda, Morrisons, Somerfield and Waitrose, and in independent retailers’ chillers across the country.

NEWS FROM FILMCLUB

Today on a train from Swindon to Cardiff, children from FILMCLUB - the UK’s most exciting after school activity - met with the Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Culture Minister Barbara Follett to discuss their ideas relating to recent movies screened at their school.

FILMCLUB is driven by a simple idea – that showing a diverse range of films in schools and cinemas will have a beneficial impact on generations of children as they grow up.

Championed by the Prime Minister since its pilot days in 2007, this government backed initiative, is proving that film is an exciting vehicle for informal learning - stimulating the imagination and the intellect.

Today, the Prime Minister commented: “The great thing about FILMCLUB is that you can access all of the great films from years ago. When I visited a Film Club the children were watching Hotel Rwanda, which is a very powerful film that tells the terrible story of genocide.”

January 2009 sees close to 1000 schools running weekly after school clubs, where young people are watching, discussing and being inspired by an extraordinary range of films. Within three years FILMCLUB will be rolled out to 7,000 schools.

The children from Wootton Bassett School in Swindon have watched a host of classic and popular movies since their Film Club began this academic year. Recent screenings include It’s a Wonderful Life, Full Monty, Bullet Boy and Trading Places movies which explore relevant themes of the economy, social justice and gun/knife crime. The Prime Minister, who is on a regional tour seeing for himself how the government is providing help to families and businesses heard ideas from the children inspired by their film viewing experience.

When asked what his favourite film is, the Prime Minister responded: "My favourite film is Cry Freedom. It was made by a great person and a great British film maker, Richard Attenborough. It's set in South Africa and is really the background to the story of Nelson Mandela."

Through the bespoke website (www.filmclub.org) and partnerships with other agencies, Film Club provides pathways for children to express themselves and explore their creativity through film and related art forms. These aims dovetail with a range of government priorities fulfilling the objectives of the government’s Every Child Matters policy in being both educational and enjoyable.

Background Information

The children meeting Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Culture Minister Barbara Follett are Chloe Kindred, Emma Marney, Rochelle Montousany, Kevin Emsley, Josh Harding and Sasha Alexander Wheeler. The teacher is Fiona Aicken and the address is Wootton Bassett School, Lime Kiln, Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire SN4 7HG.

Notes to Editors

• FILMCLUB was founded by film director Beeban Kidron and educationalist Lindsay Mackie as a non-profit initiative designed to give children weekly access to one of the most vibrant and powerful art forms of the last century.

FILMCLUB offers a wide range of educational benefits to schools including:

• Developing critical appreciation of film including narrative structure, allusion, characterisation, thematic motifs and cultural significance.

• Stimulating a vocational interest in film and the film industry through Film Club membership and interaction with the filmmakers that we offer - from
electricians to costume designers, directors to cinema managers.

• Inspiring creativity by increasing appreciation of film and providing progression routes with our partners to enable students to make their own films.

• Providing an entrée into a range of cultural appreciation that will have knock on effects to other learning and cultural activities including those in the curriculum.

• Developing debating and writing skills through discussion and reviews

• Improving literacy

• Broadening understanding of different cultures, languages, philosophies and societies has been identified by many teachers and a major factor in their interest in Film Club, especially in rural and multicultural settings. It also connects to the Respect agenda

• Deepening students understanding of the world in an accessible format

• Encouraging independence of mind

• Increasing receptiveness to learning

• Improved behaviour and engagement

• A vehicle for informal learning that stimulates both the imagination and the intellect

• A real opportunity for enjoyment and fun identified in the aspirations of Extended Schools


• FILMCLUB is funded in England by the Department for Children, Schools and
Families and the UK Film Council; in Northern Ireland by the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure, Northern Ireland Screen and Cinemagic; in Wales by the Film Agency for Wales and Skillset Screen Academy and in Scotland by Scottish Screen.


LOVEFiLM

LOVEFiLM is Europe’s biggest online film community. Sharing the FILM CLUB philosophy that film can broaden our minds in extraordinary and unexpected ways, LOVEFiLM is providing teachers and schoolchildren with access to a huge number of free DVDs – from Hollywood blockbusters to art house classics.

NEW FROM THE VITALITY SHOW

THE VITALITY SHOW 2009
Earls Court 2

26th – 29th March 2009


The ultimate girls’ day celebrates its 10th Birthday!


Want to find the key to looking and feeling great this year? Then make a date with your girlfriends and head down to The Vitality Show 2009. Europe’s largest health, beauty and wellbeing show is celebrating its 10th Birthday this year - which means even more premium names, fabulous experiences and experts. The ultimate girls’ day out, The Vitality Show is the best place to find all your favourite brands, such as Benefit Cosmetics and nails inc. to up-and-coming cult collections like Jo Wood Organics – all showcasing their latest products and innovations.

And for those after a more hands-on approach, this year’s show offers even more experiential opportunities than ever before. The Healing Herb Garden and the Health and Nutrition Stage are the perfect stop offs for girls in need of a nutritional boost, while the Zest Fitness Park provides an excuse to put on those trainers and get stuck into a workout session or dance class.

If seeking relaxation rather than perspiration, the luxurious surroundings of the Vitality Day Spa with its massages, reflexology and facials will be calling. And after a few treatments, visitors will be able to take advantage of the nails inc. bar and hair makeovers and styling tips from the hair salon. Other must-visit experiences include: The Oasis, a calming zone where guests can try out alternative therapies at a fraction of the cost; The Top Sante Anti-Ageing Clinic full of talks from experts on how to look 10 years younger; the Organic Pavilion in association with LoveLula.com, a zone dedicated to certified organic, natural products and the fashionista’s favourite Style Theatre.

To celebrate the fact that The Vitality Show has been looking after ladies for 10 years, the organisers will also be unveiling the Good, Bad and the Ugly – an exhibition exploring a decade of health and beauty innovations and revelations for visitors to look at, touch and have a giggle about.

As always, the show wouldn’t be complete without a range of well known and world class experts offering talks and insider tips to women on issues from hair and beauty to fitness and nutrition and well-being, leaving them not only pampered but full of industry secrets to spill to their girlfriends after the show.

This looks set to be the biggest and best year yet for the show – so in order not to miss out on all the pampering, top-class advice and fabulous experiences on offer, mark The Vitality Show 2009 in bold on your calendar and invite all your favourites girls along - from your best friends to your sister and your mum.

Tickets for The Vitality Show 2009 cost £14.50 in advance or £17.50 on the door. For all the latest news and information on the show, visit www.thevitalityshow.co.uk or call 0871 230 5569 to book your tickets.

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Notes to Editors*

Where: Earls Court 2
Earls Court
Warwick Road
London
SW5 9TA

When: 26th March – 29th March 2009

Opening Times: Thursday 26th March, 1pm - 9pm
Friday 27th March, 10am - 6pm
Saturday 28th March, 10am - 6pm
Sunday 29th March, 10am - 6pm

*Correct at time of press

NEWS FROM WALKERS

Sensational Crisps from Walkers:

New Year, New Look, New Flavours,

Black is definitely the new white for 2009, with the New Year bringing an eye-catching new look to Walkers Sensations, as well as some great new flavours, all made from real ingredients.

The chic new pack design in striking, lustrous black adds a touch of sophistication to pre-dinner party nibbles and will cement your perfect hostess status - as well as making it easier to spot them in the supermarket rush!

Whatever the occasion, new and improved Walkers Sensations are the perfect sharing snack, and with two new additional crisp flavours: Southern Style Barbecue and Buffalo Mozzarella & Herbs adding to the existing line up, there is a sensational flavour to suit every taste.

All of the Walkers Sensations range are made from real ingredients, and now contain no artificial sweeteners, no MSG, no preservatives and no artificial colours resulting in the all-round perfect snack, whether you’re partying with friends or family or just enjoying a cosy evening in.
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- Notes to Editors -

• The new packs will be on shelves from the beginning of February 2009; RRP - 53p for 40g and £1.49 for 160g

• Full range of Sensations potato crisps: Thai Sweet Chilli, Balsamic Vinegar & Caramelized Onion, Oriental Red Curry, Buffalo Mozzarella & Herbs, Southern Style Barbecue, Roasted Chicken & Thyme and Vintage Cheddar & Onion Chutney

• Full range of Sensations Snack products: Lime & Coriander Chutney flavour Poppadoms, Peking Spare Rib Oriental Cracker snacks

• Launched in 2002 as the "Posh" crisp from Walkers, Walkers Sensations soon became a huge hit with consumers in Britain. Known for their great taste, Walkers Sensations are seasoned in a unique way, meaning you get a fantastic flavour experience every time

NEWS FROM GARNIER

The Colour of Success

Garnier Shade of the Nation report unveils why being a brunette can get you ahead in love and life

The key to success for a woman hinges on more than just education, social status or dress size, hair colour can make a real impact too. Research released today by Garnier Nutrisse, the ‘ Shade Of The Nation’ report* reveals that when pitched against their blonde and red headed rivals, brunettes - natural or not were seen to be the highest achievers in life.

Brown hair was chosen by 42% of Brits* as their favourite hair colour, and delving deeper into the reasons in a follow up survey, it is easy to see why as brown seems to be the colour to be to get ahead:

76% of people** believe that brunettes are the brainiest of all women, and this assumption literally pays off, as there are double the amount of brunettes earning between within the £45-£55k than blondes or redheads.

Brunette’s boardroom confidence also spills over to the bedroom, with over a quarter of brown haired beauties rating brunettes as above average in bed – the most confident of all colours. Surprisingly, blonde bombshells are the most reserved in the sack with one in 5 admitting steamy situations make them shy.

Such confidence makes 1 in 10 men** feel the most successful with a brunette on their arm, so it is no surprise that 71% of men pick brunettes as relationship and marriage partner, with only 6% feeling committed to fiery redheads.

Colour psychologist Anjula Mutanda comments: “ Some hair colours tend to darken naturally with age, and so brown hair can be associated with confidence and self awareness. These positive qualities install a sense of trust and assurance which is mirrored in how others behave towards them and therefore, many women who become brunettes often report a difference in reaction to them – for the better.”

To celebrate, Garnier Nutrisse will be launching the official ‘Shade of the Nation’ as chosen by the UK public* - Mahogany Chestnut Brown 5.54, which will be available nationwide from February 2009.

Notes to Editor

Garnier Nutrisse Shade of the Nation Report

* Survey conducted on 3421 people by Tickbox.net, August 08, from the range of 28 Garnier Nutrisse Shades. Nutrisse 5.54 was voted overall preferred shade. ** A second survey of 2565 people (1005 men & 1560 women) by Tickbox.net, October 08, showed peoples attitudes to hair colours.

N.B For the avoidance of doubt, Garnier Nutrisse does not claim that any of the celebrities listed in the release use or otherwise endorse any Garnier products

Celebrity examples that prove brown is the colour to be to get ahead in love and life:

· Nell McAndrew – unveiled her dark brown do to launch her lingerie range

· Scarlet Johansson – toned down her blonde tresses to a darker brown ahead of her recent wedding

· Jordan – hung up her blond bombshell status in favour of a dark mane when she went into the jungle, and found success in both love and business

Additional key findings

Brunettes signify the following qualities more than any other hair colour

· Genuine – brunette 81% (Vs blonde 13% Vs red 6%)

· Intelligent – brunette 76% (Vs red 15% Vs blonde 9%)

· Even-tempered – brunette 66% (Vs blonde 27% Vs red 7%)

· Self-sufficient – brunette 66% (Vs red 24% Vs blonde 10%)

· Ambitious – brunette 40% (Vs red 35% Vs blonde 24%)

· Self-confident – brunette 37% (Vs red 35% Vs blonde 28%)

Although blondes are still thought to have more fun:

· Fun-loving – blonde 43% Vs red 42% Vs brunette 15%

And redheads rate highly against the more passionate characteristics:

· Spontaneous – red 53% Vs blonde 34% Vs brunette 13%

· Fiery – red 78% Vs blonde 12% Vs brunette 10%

Nearly half (45%) of women colour their hair to make themselves feel more attractive and 37% say it gives them a big confidence boost

1 in 5 women have coloured their hair drastically in shade due to a life-changing event, with the break up of a relationship topping the poll for the most likely catalyst

Where do our perceptions on hair colour stereotypes come from?

Colour psychologist Anjula Mutanda reveals a bit of the insight behind our ingrained hair colour associations:

“You may have noticed that some hair colours darken naturally with age, hence lighter hair colour may be associated with youthfulness, fun and a flirty personality while darker hair colour is associated with someone worldly, sophisticated and confident. Although there is no proven direct link between hair colour and genetic personality, people often look for behaviour that reinforces their preconceptions and then act in a way to confirm them e.g. if people treat blondes as a bit ditzy, they may become so / if people treat brunettes as capable and successful, they act that way.”

Notes:

- Don’t forget to be colour safe: always carry out a skin allergy test prior to every colour application

- If you have any concerns re colouring your hair, please contact the experts on 0800 458 48 48 or go to www.becoloursafe.com

NEWS FROM ALTON TOWERS

GET IT WHILE IT’S HOT!

Rooms for £55 at the Alton Towers Resort

Temperatures might be well below freezing outside but the Alton Towers Resort is brightening up the New Year with a sizzling hot offer on its family rooms!

From Sundays to Fridays until March 27th*, all visitors will have the chance to stay at one of Alton Towers Resort’s two themed hotels for just £55 per night.

Choose between the crazy Caribbean themed Splash Landings Hotel, home to the tropical climate of the Alton Towers Waterpark, or relax in the adventure-inspired and original Alton Towers Hotel.

This amazing offer includes bed and breakfast for up to four people, so the whole family can experience the endless fantastical fun at the Alton Towers Resort!

To avoid disappointment, book now on 0871 222 9854 or visit www.altontowers.com/hoteloffers.

NEWS FROM HOVIS

SPICE UP YOUR LOAF WITH HOVIS WHOLEMEAL

Emma Bunton Launches the Hovis Wholemeal Challenge

This January, Hovis will be kick-starting the national health drive by teaming up with former Spice Girl Emma Bunton to launch the Hovis Wholemeal Challenge. Rather than recommending a diet overhaul, Hovis will be encouraging the nation to take simple steps towards being healthier in the New Year, persuading the British public to switch from white bread to Hovis Wholemeal from January 5th 2009.

Having recently made the switch herself, Emma Bunton has been brought in to face the campaign and will be launching the Challenge by targeting the nation’s unhealthiest eaters in ‘greasy spoon’ cafes. Cafes across the UK will be invited to try the challenge for two weeks in January, with the aim of getting them to commit to making a permanent switch to Hovis Wholemeal.

For those people who make the switch and don’t feel healthier after two weeks, Hovis will be offering a money-back guarantee.