The Chamber

12:00 -14:30 noon,
08.08.08
Harbour City, 27-35 Berry Street, Chinatown, Liverpool L1 9DF

You Don’t have to be in Beijing to watch the Olympic Opening live!

“At lunchtime on Friday 8 August, the world will turn its eyes to the Olympic Stadium in Beijing for the spectacle and splendour of the Opening Ceremony. Millions of people worldwide will view this historic event, which marks the beginning of 16 days of world-class competition.” (BBC Sport).

This luncheon event is organised by ChinaLink for hundreds to share in this special celebration. Dr. Kegang Wu, Chief China Adviser for British Chambers of Commerce and Director of ChinaLink, said “This Olympics is of extra significance for those of us who are connected both with China and the UK because London will take over the Olympic torch from Beijing at the end.”

If you are disappointed about not being able to be in Beijing, why don’t you join us at this specially organised luncheon to celebrate?

If you have been looking for a unique event to entertain your clients or staff, what can be more special than to invite your guests on such a memorable occasion?

If you like Chinese culture or share an interest in the local Chinese community, this is the opportunity to rub shoulders with the locals at the heart of Liverpool Chinatown.

If you are ChinaLink clients who have been doing business with China, what better to do than coming to toast ‘Gan Bei’ for your business success?

If you are just starting to put China on your business agenda, you won’t find a better crowd to network with at the lunch.

If you are Chinese businessmen, officers, and students visiting the UK or British Chinese, you will be proud to share the moment simultaneously with the 1.3 billion Chinese in China who will be also watching live on TV.

The cost of the event, including drink at arrival and a three course Chinese lunch is £35.25 per head (or £30 concession) inclusive of VAT. (Cheque to be made payable to Liverpool Chamber of Commerce), or a table of 10 at £300 plus VAT.  We anticipate this to be a popular event.

(Car parking: free customer car park at the rooftop of the restaurant, access via Knight Street)

Programme:

·12:00 Network & China market updates, invited guests including the Chinese Consul General, Mr. Jianzhong Gong
·13:00 Watch BBC One live coverage of the opening ceremony on 50″ TVs
·13:08 Join the celebration ( 08:08 pm Beijing time)
·13:15 Enjoy delicious Chinese sit-down lunch

Booking

To book your place, please email ChinaLink at chinalink@liverpoolchamber.org.uk or call us on 0151 227 1234.

Visitors to this year’s Tall Ship Races event are being urged to use public transport and avoid peak time travelling wherever possible.

Access by public transport is good to the two key sites of the event, Albert Dock and Wellington Dock and a range of public transport options are in place to get people to and from the Mersey River front.

Download an events and travel guide [PDF 5MB]

By Rail

The easiest way to get to the Tall Ships event will be by train.

There are around 5,000 free park and rides spaces across the Merseyrail network.

Enhanced rail services will be in operation throughout the event, with trains every ten minutes at peak times.

Rail passengers should get off the train at James Street, Central or Moorfields on the city centre loop line for access to the Albert Dock.

Passengers should get off at Sandhills Station on Merseyrail’s Northern Line for Wellington Dock.

The Northern Line has great links with trains connecting at Lime Street Station, Liverpool Central, Liverpool South Parkway and Southport. The advice is to use Central Station or Moorfields to get onto Northern Line from the City Centre.

From Friday 18th July to Saturday 19th July, there will be six strengthened trains (six cars) every hour during the peak hours (6.30am to 10.30am and 4pm to 8pm) on the Southport line for visitors travelling to/from Liverpool city centre and Sandhills (for Wellington Dock) to view the tall ships in dock.

In between these hours the frequency will be three trains every hour, also made up of six cars. Trains on the Ormskirk and Kirkby lines will be all six-car services and run three times every hour.

On Sunday 20th July, strengthened Southport line services will again run six times every hour during the peak hours (7am to 10.30am and 4.30pm to 8pm) and four times per hour during the rest of the day. Trains on the Ormskirk and Kirby lines will operate a normal Sunday service (two strengthened trains every hour).

Wirral line services will operate a Saturday service and, wherever possible, will operate as six car trains.

Parade of Sail - Merseyrail

Enhanced rail services will be in operation to the Wirral and Southport coasts for the best views of the Parade of Sail on Monday 21st July.

On Monday trains will operate to their normal frequencies across the Merseyrail network (mostly four trains per hour) with all Southport line trains made up of six cars.

There will be additional trains on the New Brighton line (eight trains every hour) between 3pm and 7pm for spectators who want to view the spectacle from the Wirral side of the Mersey.

By Bus

Existing bus services will be in operation, subject to some adjustments due to road closures.

Contact Traveline Merseyside for the latest information on bus services in Merseyside during this event – 0871 200 22 33.

A regular shuttle bus service will operate from St Nicholas Place opposite the Crowne Plaza Hotel to Wellington Dock on Regent Road.

The service, operated by Arriva North West and Merseytravel, will be fully accessible.

These buses will run from 10am until 10pm on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the race.

On the Monday, a shuttle bus will take passengers from Hamilton Square Station on the Wirral line to Seacombe, one of the recommended viewing areas.

Buses will not run to Wellington Dock on Monday 21 July as the ships will move from their berths to the River Mersey for the Parade of Sail.

Mersey Ferries

Mersey Ferries will be providing extra services on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the Tall Ships.

Services will be extended into the evenings and two vessels will be operating on all three days.

On Friday 18th July, normal direct services will operate between Seacombe and Pier Head from 7.20am to 9.50am.

From 10am until 3.30pm River Explorer cruises will operate every half hour from Pier Head, Seacombe and Woodside.

Direct services to all three terminals will then again continue from 4.15pm to 8.55pm.

On Saturday 19th July and Sunday 20th July direct services will operate between Seacombe, Pier Head and Woodside from 8.05am to 9.45am.

Then from 10am until 6pm on both days River Explorer cruises will operate every half hour from all three terminals.

Direct services to all three terminals will then again continue from 7pm to 8.40pm.

On Parade of Sail day, Monday 21st July, Ferries will depart every ten minutes between Pier Head and Seacombe from 7.20am to 10am. Between 10am and 10.50am direct services will continue every 20 minutes.

Due to the closure of the river to all vessels not involved in the Parade of Sail, the will be no ferry services from 10.50am through to 5.55pm.

From 5.55pm direct services will begin operating between all three ferry terminals every ten minutes. Last services are 8.25pm (Seacombe to Woodside and Liverpool), 8.35pm (Woodside to Liverpool) and 8.45pm (Liverpool to Seacombe).

Visit www.merseyferries.co.uk for full details.

Mersey Tunnels

Both Mersey Tunnels will be operating throughout the event and there are no planned closures.

Useful Contacts

For information on all modes of transport contact Merseytravel’s Traveline team or visit the websites below.

Traveline Merseyside - 0871 200 22 33 – Extra staff will be operating Traveline from Thursday 17th July to Monday 21st July and it will extend its hours, operating from 6am
National Rail Enquiries - www.nationalrail.co.uk
Liverpool Culture Company - www.liverpool08.com
Merseytravel - www.merseytravel.gov.uk
Wirral Council - www.wirral.gov.uk
Sefton Council – www.sefton.gov.uk

Don’t forget, Beatlemaniacs, today is officially Beatles Day here in Liverpool.

The day will feature a host of events and activities celebrating The Lads and their music. Not least of all is the donning of comedy Beatles ‘mop-top’ wigs in the aid of charity.

Over 20,000 specially made Beatles-style mop-top are being sold around Merseyside (I think I’ve even seen them in Tesco!).  Following a day of celebrations all over the region, the spectacular climax will come in the shape of ‘Imagine - The Concert’ at the Summer Pops, hosted by Ricky Tomlinson. He will be joined by a host of artists young and old from around the country, all performing Beatles favourites at a packed Liverpool Arena!

The plan for Beatles Day is quite simply for Liverpudlians to go about their daily business as normal on July 10th, the only difference being that they wear Mop Top wigs and share their Beatles stories with the rest of the city!

Wigs will cost £5.00 – all profits go to Alder Hey Imagine Appeal and Liverpool Unites.

Donations:
Online at www.lcvs.org.uk
By phone +44(151) 243 1076
Cheques by post to be made payable to LCVS (Beatles Day) and posted to: ‘Beatles Day’, P.O. Box 14, Liverpool L69 7AA.
Info: info@beatlesday.tv

No news on the long overdue Echo & The Bunnymen day though…

Due to high demand, Mersey Ferries are putting on an extra VIP cruise on Monday 21st July to give passengers unparalleled views of the Tall Ships’ Parade of Sail.

The previously unadvertised extra cruise will mean that all three ferries will be on the River Mersey for the Parade of Sail, the highlight of the global maritime spectacular.

Passengers on the six-hour cruise will be given the chance to listen to live onboard commentary about the rich and varied histories of the visiting ships.

Councillor Mark Dowd, Chair of Merseytravel, which owns and operates the Mersey Ferries, said: “Every one of these visiting ships has a fascinating story to tell, much like our very own Mersey Ferries. It will be a great day.”

The ferry will sail towards the mouth of the River Mersey and position itself in one of the designated vessel viewing areas. There it will remain anchored and provide a viewing platform.

Mersey Ferries flagship vessel, The Royal Daffodil, will host the cruise and a bar will be available on board. Numbers are limited to 250.

The leisurely six-hour cruise departs from Woodside Ferry Terminal, Birkenhead only – it will leave at 11.15am.

Tickets are priced at £35 and include a welcome drink, Blue Badge Guide commentary and jazz band.

Tickets must be booked in advance on 0151 330 1444 or are available online at www.merseyferries.co.uk

Unless you’ve got your head in a bucket, you’ll have noticed that Liverpool is currently overrun with Superlambananas, all individually decorated and dotted about the city.

Liverpool Chamber even has its own SLB. Not only have we sponsored the beasty, a member of Chamber staff has decorated it. Ours is called ‘First Past The Post’ and has been painted by Pamela Holstein, a talented artist who just happens to look after our press and PR.

You can see our SLB outside our offices at One Old Hall Street, and you can see more of Pam’s art on the Art In Liverpool website.

Looking for an excuse to go down the pub?

The eagerly anticipated jewel in the Culture Year crown, the Liverpool Pub Treasure Hunt Championship, begins on Tuesday 1 July. Brought to you by the Liverpool Culture Company in partnership with Liverpool Chamber of Commerce this prestigious contest also brings prizes for the winners from pub companies Punch Taverns and JD Wetherspoon.

Teams of up to five eagle-eyed city centre cognoscenti can enter any one, or all, of eight stand-alone treasure hunts on eight successive Tuesday afternoons, from 5.30 pm, with the last competition taking place on Tuesday 19 August. There will be a prize for the winners of each individual competition and an overall champion for the top team having the stamina to complete all eight.

Each competition will take in 5 or 6 city centre pubs and could take anything from an hour to, well, as long as you like really!

Teams from businesses, local authorities, police, fire service, sports clubs, indeed any sort of organisation are very welcome to take part. Why not take part to raise funds for your favourite charity? Would your team dare to do it in fancy dress?

To enter, teams need to contact Collette or Joanne at the Business Crime Direct team, Liverpool Chamber of Commerce on 0151 224 1859. They will direct you to a pub where you will receive your questions and where you will return your answers.

The Liverpool Pub Treasure Hunt Championship is part of the Around the City in 80 Pubs – a celebration of Liverpool’s pub culture to mark European Capital of Culture 2008. Copies of the festival brochure are available at venues across the city, including the 08 Place in Whitechapel.

Liverpool Arabic Arts Festival 2008 launches with its biggest and richest programme to date

Now in its seventh year, the Liverpool Arabic Arts Festival is firmly established as a popular event on the city’s cultural calendar. The festival remains the only one of its kind in the UK and the 2008 programme has lined up a spectacular two week long celebration with over 30 events taking place throughout Liverpool as part of the city’s 2008 European Capital of Culture celebrations.

The programme features a host of cultural activity from across the Arab world in the fields of visual arts, theatre, music, literature, dance, film and food which take place in a variety of venues.

The Liverpool Arabic Arts Festival provides a platform for international, national and local artists and communities and is expected to attract audiences, not just from Merseyside, but from across the UK and beyond.

The Festival launches at the freshly refurbished Bluecoat with Arabise Me (Fri 11 July 7.30pm - late), a dazzling array of music, live art and dance courtesy of Ziyarat, the independent cultural collective that took London’s V&A Museum by storm in 2006.

Full details on the website: www.arabicartsfestival.co.uk

Design Show Liverpool hits the city from 19 - 22 June - and it’s is set to be the most exciting design event the north west has ever seen.

The Contemporary Urban Centre on Greenland Street will showcase the very best of product design, cutting-edge technology and stylish living.

Designed to excite, inform and entertain, it gives the public a fantastic opportunity to browse and buy from over 150 selected designers, who represent the very best in regional, national and international modern design and contemporary fashion.

Open to the public, trade buyers and collectors, the show will feature fashion shows, workshops and product presentations. And visitors will have the chance to get their hands on a huge range of unique items - from furniture, glass, ceramics, lighting and eco-design to garden products clothing, jewellery and fashion accessories.

Design Show Liverpool is at the Contemporary Urban Centrl from 19 - 22 June. Please call 0151 280 8220 or visit www.designshowliverpool.com for more information.

Liverpool has a lot to celebrate in ‘08 but there’s one special event which will not only capture the hearts of the city - but the world over.

You have the opportunity to play a part - and help shape - Field of Women - the biggest public show of unity and support for those affected by breast cancer ever seen in the UK.

The event takes place on Sunday 6th July at Liverpool Cricket Ground and is being organised by Liverpool-based breast cancer unit The Linda McCartney Centre.

It is hoped more than 10,000 men, women and children, will come together not only to show support for those affected by breast cancer but demonstrate there is hope after a diagnosis.

The Linda McCartney Centre is calling on you to spread the word and help make this a day to remember.

How can you help?

Firstly, visit our website www.fieldofwomen.com and register to attend on the day.
Then you can help by forwarding this message to your friends and family - encouraging them to register too.

You can also help by displaying information in company newsletters, on intranets or in displaying leaflets in your staff room. Simply contact info@fieldofwomen.com and they will send you all the collateral you need.

The more people who know about the event, the more powerful it will be. Help to make this a day to remember.

Thank you for helping us and we look forward to seeing you on Sunday 6th July.

See what the first Field of Women event was like in Australia:

LiveOne20, the loyalty smartcard if offering a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see Sir Paul McCartney and friends live in concert at Anfield on Sunday 1 June.

It promises to be a night to remember, a highlight of Liverpool’s year as European Capital of Culture and LiveOne20 have a limited number of corporate packages available in the Centenary
Stand at Anfield.

This spectacular multi-artist concert celebrates the unique Liverpool sound and how it changed the face of popular music for ever. This is your chance to join 30,000 for this one night only spectacular event.

The Gold Package includes:

• Champagne and canapés on arrival
• 3 course dinner
• Prime located seating in the Centenary Stand
• Complimentary wines with dinner
• Complimentary bar throughout the event
• Official Concert Programmes
• Hospitality hosted by Bluefinch
• Satellite televisions in suites showing the performance

There is a 20% off Special Offer for Livesmart card holders, meaning all this can be yours for just £440 per person plus VAT, instead of £550.

Which all goes to show, you can’t buy me love, but you can buy a great night out with Macca! Eh? See what we did there?

To book your places please contact Duncan Stuart at duncan.s@fi nchltd.co.uk or call 0151 236 2134

This hospitality package is brought to you exclusively by Bluefinch Bespoke Events, Liverpool