Tuesday 26 February 2013

NEWS FROM DOINGSOMETHING.CO.UK



"EYE" DO



Dating site DoingSomething.co.uk is giving 500 of London’s most adventurous singletons
the chance to date like never before. Fun activities on the EDF Energy London Eye will include life drawing, petting bunnies, and even the chance to take part in a mock wedding at 435ft

The 'Wheel of Date' takes place on 28th February when DoingSomething.co.uk will be transforming 30 London Eye capsules into different dating experiences. Now the site reveals three more of the capsules that are bound to give people something to talk about on a date! 

Hackney City Farm will give singletons the opportunity to experience farming in the heart of the city will be bringing cute bunny rabbits for guests to pet whilst they enjoy the amazing views over London.

In the 'wedding' capsule, Reverend Duncan Pritchard will provide a heavenly ceremony for singletons to get hitched and exchange vows within moments of meeting, even providing the wedding attire, ring and a photographer for the happy occasion. Although the legally binding aspect is nil, the dressing up box of 80’s style meringue bridesmaids dresses is 100% real.

And finally, revealed today, singletons who find themselves in Shoreditch's ‘The Book Club’ will be studying the human form at a life drawing class. Of course, it will all be done in the best possible taste...

In addition to the mock-wedding, petting and life drawing capsule, other capsules on the wheel will be filled with quirky and cool activities showcasing the best London has to offer. DoingSomething.co.uk reached out to Time Out to co-curate the event. Expect to see not one but two kinds of karaoke, including KaraUke with a ukulele backing band, Future Cinema transforming capsules into Rick’s bar from Casablanca, a silent disco, table football, musical bingo and many more.

DoingSomething.co.uk CEO Matt Janes comments: "DoingSomething.co.uk is all about taking the awkwardness out of dating and having fun. And the Wheel of Date is a world first. Your capsule is allocated at random so you could be singing karaoke, playing table football or doing musical bingo. It’s a must do night for London’s most interesting and adventurous single folk...”

Notes to editors:
For more information please contact Bethany Pearson or Katie-Jo Flynn at 020 7693 6999 or email doingsomething@frankpr.it

Tickets are priced from £29 each, and include membership to the site and free entry to the after-party at London's Old Vic Tunnels and are available online at https://www.doingsomething.co.uk/wheel-of-date

DoingSomething.co.uk "Wheel of Date"
WHEN: 8.30 pm, Thursday 28th February 2013
WHERE:EDF Energy London Eye, South Bank

A SNAPSHOT OF THE DATING EXPERIENCES IN THE CAPSULES:
       Future Cinema will be transforming capsules to create an immersive cinematic experience
       Cafe Kick will help daters get to know each other better over a light spot of table football at 435ft - the perfect ice breaker
       The legendary club night Guilty Pleasures are creating miniature clubbing capsules Silent Disco UK will be hosting the ultimate dance-off in the air
      Lucky Voice will provide microphones and London inspired playlists for their karaoke capsule, while the Karauke capsule gives wannabes the chance to sing with their very own Ukulele backing band
      The Comedy Store will be hosting stand up gigs in their capsules, giving daters the chance to laugh off those first date jitters
      Other capsules will house the best in cabaret and alternative nightlife, with The Black Cat Cabaret and Musical Bingo with Jess Indeedy to name but two.
      Hip Shoreditch hang outs The Book Club and Queen of Hoxton are both getting involved with Life Drawing and Origami classes respectively.

ABOUT DOINGSOMETHING.CO.UK
DoingSomething.co.uk is taking London by storm since launching a year ago with 15,000 singletons having signed up already. Described by Grazia Magazine as ‘the latest way to date’ their tagline is ‘Dating’s more fun when you’re DoingSomething’. The only dating site to focus on what you actually do on a date, they’re hell bent on taking the awkward out of dating. The site suggests quirky and interesting things to do on dates.

Where other sites promise love, DoingSomething promises ping-pong. Or riding a Boris Bike. Or looking at some art. And if love happens while you’re distracted, so much the better It must work because they’ve already seen their first marriage and the first DoingSomething baby is due this April.

They’re expanding to other key UK cities including Birmingham, Manchester and Edinburgh then Internationally. The Wheel of Date is their first major event and they plan for it to become a regular fixture in the dating calendar.


Monday 11 February 2013

NEWS FROM HOTELS.COM


Brits off for a Vatication

As Pope Benedict XVI announces his resignation,
Hotels.com reports search increases to Rome up 81%

Following yesterday's announcement that after almost eight years Pope Benedict XVI will become the first Pope in nearly 600 years to step down from the post, Hotels.com reports search increases to Rome were up 81%* as Roman Catholics across the country look to make the pilgrimage to say farewell to His Holiness.

Kate Hopcraft of Hotels.com said, “After yesterday's dramatic announcement it appears that the nation wants to set off for a Vatication to catch a final glimpse of Pope Benedict in his few remaining days as the head of the Catholic Church."

* Search increases up 81% on 11th February 2013, compared to the same date last year


For more information please contact:
Jennifer Murdoch or Bethany Pearson at Frank PR on 020 7693 6999 or email hotels.com@frankpr.it
Or Laura Watts, lwatts@expedia.com 020 7019 2761

Thursday 7 February 2013

NEWS FROM HOTELS.COM


Love in the Lakes or Solo in Scunthorpe

Hotels.com reveals the most and least romantic UK destinations

With Valentine's Day on the horizon, over a fifth of Brits (21%) consider Scunthorpe to be the least romantic UK destination in a recent list compiled by Hotels.com, whereas the Lake District stormed ahead as the most romantic location.

The survey of over 2,000 UK respondents revealed that in choosing a romantic UK destination 30% of Brits would opt for the Lake District, whose captivating landscape proved the inspiration for the poems of Romantic poet William Wordsworth. Cornwall occupied second place on the list with 13% of the votes, while the Cotswolds were close behind with 11%.

At the other end of the scale Scunthorpe was joined by Bradford (20%), Blackpool (14%) and Birmingham (14%) as the least popular destinations for a romantic getaway.  Opinion on the UK's capital was divided; 9% rated London the most romantic city which saw it come fourth in the list, but a separate 6% deemed it the least romantic, meaning it also appeared in the top five least popular destinations for a Valentine's getaway.

The UK's most and least romantic cities, as decided by the British public:

Most romantic UK destination
Percentage of votes
Least romantic UK destination
Percentage of votes
1
Lake District
30%
Scunthorpe
21%
2
Cornwall
13%
Bradford
20%
3
Cotswolds
11%
Blackpool
14%
4
London
9%
Birmingham
14%
5
Stratford-Upon-Avon
6%
London
6%
6
Edinburgh
6%
Coventry
5%
7
York
5%
Dundee
3%
8
Devon
5%
Newport
3%
9
Oxford
2%
Nottingham
2%
10
Brighton
2%
Cardiff
2%

Laura Watts of Hotels.com said, “Those looking for love to blossom this Valentine's Day should maybe take heed of this recommendation and consider whisking their loved ones away to the Lakes or Cotswolds this February.  We hope our list will prove inspirational to those looking to plan a last minute romantic – or maybe unromantic – getaway.”

- Ends -
For more information please contact:
Jennifer Murdoch or Bethany Pearson at Frank PR on 020 7693 6999 or email hotels.com@frankpr.it