‘London’s Christmas Village’ – the Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site was officially launched on Friday 1 December

Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site

4 December 2006

Christmas in Greenwich got off to a very festive start on Friday 1 December with Sleeping Beauty pantomime characters on ice, Father Christmas at Greenwich Market, mulled wine and mince pies for all and Mince Pounds on offer for those already shopping for Christmas presents!

Greenwich Market switches on its Christmas lights

Over 1000 people enjoyed the start of Christmas at Greenwich Market with free mince pies, mulled wine and Father Christmas who popped in to hand out free presents to the children. Community involvement was at the centre of this year’s opening. Greenwich Space Management invited 6 local schools to decorate a 6ft 3D star to be hung in the market throughout Christmas. The winning school - St Alfege with St Peters - were presented with vouchers for stationary and books and the all important winners’ plaque. Greenwich Market is arguably one of London’s best markets for hand-crafted items, unique gifts, antiques and fashion designs, and this Christmas visitors have over 120 stalls to browse for those sought-after unusual presents.

And not forgetting that Friday also saw the launch of Greenwich’s currency for Christmas – the Mince Pound that offers shoppers the chance to save money on tickets to the Ice Rink and the pantomime (see below for details).

Greenwich Ice Rink

Friday night saw the launch of one of London’s most magnificent ice rinks. On the banks of the Thames at the Old Royal Naval College the Greenwich Ice Rink offers unrivalled views up to Queen’s House and the Greenwich Observatory, and across the river to the bright lights of Canary Wharf. Greenwich Ice Rink provides a unique location to enjoy skating with friends and family or even just for a hot chocolate in the CaféIce! The ice rink is open now until January 14 2007.

Sleeping Beauty at Greenwich Theatre

The cast of Greenwich Theatre’s Sleeping Beauty took time out of their busy rehearsal schedule to join in the Christmas celebrations on Friday. The Prince, Princess and Evil Fairy appeared on ice at Greenwich Ice Rink, later joining the hilarious Dame for the lights switch-on at the Market and Tree of Lights, officially launching Christmas in Greenwich.

The classic pantomime Sleeping Beauty is showing at Greenwich Theatre from December 4 to January 6. Telling the tale of a young princess cursed to sleep for a hundred years until a valiant prince wakes her up with a kiss, and featuring one of London’s funniest pantomime dames, the show promises to cram one hundred years of magic into one glittering show.

Christmas currency in Greenwich – the Mince Pound

All stalls in Greenwich Market and shops throughout the ‘village’ displaying the Mince Pound poster are now giving away one Mince Pound for every £10 spent. Each Mince Pound can then be used at their full £1 value to reduce the cost of tickets to Sleeping Beauty at Greenwich Theatre and the Greenwich Ice Rink at the Old Royal Naval College.

Alongside all this festivity Greenwich attractions are offering a full Christmas programme including Dazzling Decorations – workshops for families at the Old Royal Naval College (20-21 Dec), Midnight Mass at St Alfege Church (24 Dec), Christmas services at the Old Royal Naval College Chapel and to welcome in the New Year - a Pirate Party at the National Maritime Museum (2 Jan).

ENDS

For further information and images contact:
Greenwich Ice Rink – Paul Savident: 020 8567 2089, paul@savident.com
Greenwich Theatre – James Haddrell: 020 8858 4447, j.haddrell@greenwichtheatre.org.uk
Greenwich Market – Sarah Hewson: 020 7515 7153, sarah.hewson@urban-space.co.uk
Old Royal Naval College – Laura Wilkinson: 020 8269 4763, lwilkinson@greenwichfoundation.org.uk
Maritime Greenwich WHS – Su Whiting: 020 8921 6295, su.whiting@greenwich.gov.uk

Notes to Editors:

• Greenwich Christmas Market
Greenwich Market will be open Fri 1 – Sunday 3 Dec 10.00 – 17.30, Thurs 7 Dec – Christmas Eve 10.00 – 17.30 and Thurs 28 – Sunday 31 Dec 10.00 – 17.30.
For a more comprehensive list of shops in Greenwich Market visit www.greenwichmarket.net or call 020 7515 7153

• Greenwich Ice Rink at the Old Royal Naval College Sat 2 December to Sun 14 January 2007
Tickets: 0870 169 0101, direct from the Ice Rink Box Office and Greenwich Tourist Information Centre
Ticket prices: Adult: £9.50, children (under 16): £7.00, concessions: £8.00, family ticket (1 Adult and 3 children or 2 adults and 2 children): £28.00
Greenwich Card: A 25% discount off full price tickets bought for the following dates - Dec 4-15 & Jan 8-12. No other discount applies. Available at Ice Rink Box Office only.
Skate all day for £7.50: Skate till you drop for only £7.50 - available between 10am and 5pm for the following dates - Dec 4-8, Dec 11-15 and Jan 8-12 (ice cleaning will require skaters to leave the ice for short periods of time). Available at the Ice Rink Box Office only.
CafeIce alongside the ice rink (no entrance charge) will serve warming drinks and festive snacks for those wanting to take it easy and relax after their skate or whilst watching others take to the ice.
For further information visit www.greenwichicerink.com and www.londonicerinks.com

• Sleeping Beauty at Greenwich Theatre Mon 4 December to Sat 6 January
By Andrew Pollard; directed by Phil Willmott; designed by Ralph Oswick
Tickets £18, £16, £14 (conc. £16, £14, £12); all children’s tickets half price (£9, £8, £7)
Tickets available from Greenwich Theatre Box Office, on 020 8858 7755, at www.greenwichtheatre.org.uk

• Mince Pounds
For each mince pound presented at either Greenwich Theatre or Greenwich Ice Rink you will receive a £1 discount, up to a maximum discount of £5 at Greenwich Theatre, and £4 per adult and £2 per child at Greenwich Ice Rink. The discount is only available by telephone or in person at Greenwich Theatre Box Office, or in person at Greenwich Ice Rink Box Office. The discount is only available for the following periods: 4 – 8 December, 11 – 15 December and 8 – 12 January (Ice Rink only).

Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site
Maritime Greenwich was inscribed as a World Heritage Site (WHS) by UNESCO in 1997. Greenwich is recognised for its cultural heritage:
- the grandeur and sheer beauty of its buildings
- the magnificent vistas and views across London
- its royal history, as the birthplace of both Henry VIII and Elizabeth I, among others.
- Its naval and sea-faring history – the Old Royal Naval College was built originally as a hospital for veteran sailors and Admiral Lord Nelson lay in stage in its Painted Hall prior to his funeral. The National Maritime Museum and the Cutty Sark are also within the WHS boundaries
- Its scientific accomplishments – with Greenwich Mean Time and Longitude O˚, Greenwich

For full details of all events, attractions, restaurants and shops in Greenwich visit www.christmasingreenwich.com.