Category Archives: DUKES Hotel

CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY MUSICAL ARRIVES IN LONDON

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Roald Dahl’s delicious and mysterious tale of the young Charlie Bucket and the extraordinary confectioner Willy Wonka is coming to life as a musical at the Royal Drury Lane Theatre.

For those of you who are unfamiliar on the plot, the story takes place in an unknown city where Mr Willy Wonka is the owner of the greatest chocolate factory in the world. He decides to open up the doors of his factory to five privileged children. In order to choose who should be so lucky, Willy Wonka hides five golden tickets in his famous chocolate bars. These tickets are VIP access to the chocolate factory. Amongst the winners is the unsuspecting hero of the book, Charlie bucket who has grown up with stories about the factory. Nothing could prepare the winners for what was beyond the gates. The story continues with incredible and astonishing sugary delights, however not everything is a sweet as it seems. Unlike the theatre which is offering a sweet £10 off all prices for the preview performances taking place from 18 May – 24 June 2013.

The truly unmissable and exciting production of Charlie and The Chocolate Factory has inspired DUKES London to create their own version of a chocolate factory. A family fun, chocolate- themed day with DUKES London starts with afternoon tea bursting with Charlie and The Chocolate Factory themed delicious treats and ending with the exhilarating new musical. After a sugar-filled day, you and your family can also take the time to unwind in one of our luxurious suites.

Sundance Film and Music Festival returns to London

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This year’s Sundance Film and Music Festival is set to take place at The 02, London. The Sundance Festival offers four sensational days of live music and the UK premieres of American independent films, fresh from the 2013 Sundance Film Festival in Park city, Utah.

This year’s film festival boasts, amongst a variety of extraordinary films, Lake Bell’s award winning “In a World….” which is the story of an underachieving vocal coach, who is motivated by her father to pursue her aspirations of becoming a voice-over star which sets her on a path to change the voice of a generation.

Musically, Sundance London presents a fantastic range of genres, including newcomer Alex Burey, a 17 year old soul singer from Croydon and Lesley Pike who is known across Northern America and the UK for her engaging and comical live shows of electronic music which hold a hint of a 1980s influence.

Alongside film and music, Sundance London offers a range of special events which are designed to bring a unique experience to festival goers, one such event is the Filmmakers Hub Talk which is an exciting opportunity to have a sit down talk with some of the festival’s filmmakers.

The bonus to this amazing experience is that it is affordable, individual screenings cost £14 which includes a booking fee. However, if you’re an avid film enthusiast, you might be more interested in the festival’s packages; such as: the sky superscreen pass which is £280.

Just a 25 minute, no fuss train journey from the hotel to the o2 Arena, DUKES London is a great place to stay while attending this remarkable festival. You can take the opportunity to wind down after the excitements of the day in our infamous bar or alternatively you can relax in one of our luxurious suites.

THE LONDON MARATHON RETURNS TO THE CAPITAL

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Later this month, Virgin will once again be sponsoring the world renowned London Marathon. This phenomenal marathon is one of the world’s largest fundraising events, with a record number of 37,227 people finishing the marathon in 2012.

The London Marathon is one of the world’s best sporting experiences, not only for athletes and charity enthusiasts but also for the spectators.

This occasion unites people from all over the world with the simple notion of charity fundraising and support. The fundraisers are represented by the runners and the support is evident in the masses of spectators, not letting anyone give up and cheering until the last runner.

Each year, the race grows in size, stature and popularity whilst never losing the intrigue and excitement that encompassed the first race on the 29th March 1981. Using the Thames as a handrail of sorts, the marathon starts in Greenwich Park and ends in The Mall, which means the runners pass by many of London’s familiar sights; such as Tower Bridge, the Docks, The Embankment, Big Ben and Buckingham Palace.

Simply put, this event is a charity marathon but it is much more than that. This annual event gains popularity each year because people want to do more than just donate money; they want to showcase their support in a number of ways.  Let us not forget that the participants not only run but do so in fancy dress! This introduces a whole new aspect of fun to one of life’s great challenges. The London Marathon is an interactive and engaging fundraiser, bringing with it an opportunity to unite the community.

Why not treat your family to a great afternoon tea after the run? Whether you’re a participant in the race or simply giving your support, Dukes London provides a tranquil and relaxing place to settle after a hard day on your feet.  Come along for a well-deserved drink in our bar and treat yourself to one of our infamous martinis.