Hovertravel is adding the 8:30am hovercraft service from Ryde to Portsmouth due to popular commuter demand.

Neil Chapman, managing director of Hovertravel, said:  “We are always listening to the needs of customers so we can ensure that our services suit their schedules. Feedback over the last month has revealed that an extra service during the morning commuter peak period would make a big difference to our Island commuters.”

Hovertravel has seen growth over the last 6 months in travel from the Island. In particular the morning commuter period has a more concentrated flow of passengers during 7:15 and 8:45.

Neil Chapman continues, “Currently, Hovertravel has the biggest market share in our history. One of the areas of steady growth for us has been from regular travellers and commuters. This is why we have put in place initiatives for us to listen better to their needs through channels such as the Hovertravel User Group. The addition of the 8:30am hovercraft service is a great example of where we have listened and responded quickly.”

To ensure that Hovertravel develops in a way that benefits our customers, Hovertravel has been running a Hovertravel User Group (HUG). This group, made up of a small number of regular travellers, meets for quarterly meetings to voice issues and improvements direct with Hovertravel’s management.

Hovertravel has also launched a new appreciation voucher scheme as a small way of thanking their loyal customers. Those who purchase an Adult 6 month season card, Adult 250 travel card or Triple Term card can claim for 20 single appreciation vouchers that are valid for one single journey and can be transferred to friends & family. Customers that purchase an Adult 12 month season card can claim for 40 Appreciation vouchers.

For more information visit http://www.hovertravel.co.uk/

There’s more to Action Stations than you think…

Action Stations at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard is now offering special interest tours focusing on the fascinating history of the historic building, Boathouse No. 6.

Lasting approximately two hours, the tours focus on the history of Boathouse No.6, from construction in 1848 until the installation of the present Action Stations attraction in 2001.

Boathouse 6 was designed by Lieutenant Roger Beatson, Royal Engineers, Portsmouth Dockyard’s Superintendent of Civil Engineering Work, and built between 1845 and 1848. It was used for the building, repair and storage of small ships’ boats. These were pulled up one of the three slipways outside the front of the building from the Mast Pond by hand using block and tackle, and then brought into the building through large wooden doors. Some of the rings used still survive along the front of the building and set into the ground floor. The building was in use as a boathouse until the Portsmouth Blitz in March 1941, when a bomb destroyed much of the rear part. A temporary patch was added to make the building serviceable and was not replaced until the conversion into Action Stations in the late 1990s.

All this history and more can be seen throughout the building and this specialist tour will encourage visitors to view Action Stations in a way they have never done before. They may also discover that walls really can talk and tell their own unique story…

Tours will begin in either Boathouse No.7 or the Mezzanine Café with a complimentary tea or coffee upon arrival before a guided tour of the building.

Special interest tours are priced at £7.50 per person (4-10 people) and £5.50 per person (11+ people). Alternatively, if looking for something a little more special, then Action Stations can provide exclusive evening tours at £10.50 per person, giving private access to the building after normal opening hours. All tours are a minimum of 4 people per tour and include entry to the Action Stations attraction.

Please note all tours must be booked a minimum of 72 hours in advance.

Some areas within the tour are not accessible by a lift.

For further details on the specialist tours or to book please contact the Action Stations Operations Manager on: (023) 9289 3318 or email: enquiries@actionstations.org

Also available at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard is the world famous HMS Victory, one of the UK’s leading maritime museums – the National Museum of the Royal Navy, HMS Warrior 1860 – the first iron-hulled ship powered by steam and sail, the Mary Rose Museum[i] and a Harbour Tour. For further details, please contact 023 9283 9766 or visit the website www.historicdockyard.co.uk.

Portsmouth Historic Dockyard has everything to keep you entertained this Winter

Christmas holidays at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard from Saturday 17^th December 2011 to Sunday 1^st January 2012 will offer the perfect opportunity for visitors to enjoy a day out with indoor activities for those cold winter days.

Visitors can take shelter below decks and discover history at the home of world-famous ships, HMS Victory and HMS Warrior 1860; walk through the fascinating exhibitions at the Mary Rose Museum and the National Museum of the Royal Navy; discover the sailor within at the indoor interactive Action Stations and take cover on a Harbour Tours boat as it sails around Portsmouth Harbour and Naval Base (subject to availability and prevailing weather conditions during the winter months).

Whether it’s climbing aboard a ship or up the tallest indoor climbing tower in the UK, devouring the fantastic collections in the museums or the food in the cafes, there is something to keep everyone in from the cold this winter.

During the Christmas holidays visitors can also take part in Tudor games and pastimes and especially for the festive season or enjoy a Family Christmas trail at the Mary Rose Museum.

For full details of ‘What’s On’ over the holiday period (updated daily), please look at the listings at the end of this release and for further information about the extensive year-round events programme please visit www.historicdockyard.co.uk/events.

The ticket for Portsmouth Historic Dockyard includes entrance for 1 year. Tickets cost adults £21.50, seniors £18.35, children £15.80, students £18.35 and a family ticket costs £62.15 (up to 5 members of the same family with a maximum of 2 adults or seniors). Entrance to the Historic Dockyard is free for those wishing to visit the retailers, cafes and Antiques Storehouse.

Portsmouth Historic Dockyard also offer gift vouchers, so if you need a new present idea for a loved one this Christmas, why not buy them some vouchers, so they too, can enjoy the Historic Dockyard? Call 023 9272 8060 to purchase the vouchers

The attractions open at 10am everyday throughout the year, except when closed on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day

2 Family Tickets to be won for the  ‘Santa Special’ at Isle of Wight Steam Railway

Soak up the festive atmosphere at Havenstreet Station with a visit to Santa. Stroll through the sparkling Winter Wonderland before meeting Santa who’ll have a  gift for every child. Settle back and relax with a cosy ride on the steam train through the Island’s winter country side, and enjoy free entertainment for the children.With seasonal fayre in the Refreshment Rooms and a shop packed with Christmas gift ideas, a visit to Santa at the Isle of Wight Steam Railway is a very special day out for all the family. Santa Specials - 3^rd, 4^th, 10^th, 11^th, 17^th, 18^th, 21^st, 22^nd, 23^rd, & 24^th December

For full details please contact: 01983 882204 www.iwsteamrailway.co.uk

To win a  family tickets simply answer the following question:

Q. What is the first and last date of the Santa Specials ?

Please remember only one entry per child is permitted .By the 13 th December. You can enter the competition if you visit www.thefamilydirectory.co.uk All winners will be notified by phone and by post. If you enter the competition your details will not be passed on.

The Isle of Wight Karate and Self Defence club offers a wide range of classes for boys and girls. The beginner classes are designed to teach children simple discipline and karate skills.

The weekly junior beginner classes (from 6 years old) are held every Tuesday 6-7pm and Saturday 10-11am or (from 13 years old) every Tuesday 7-8pm and Thursday 8-9pm at the Fitness Factory in Newport.

Alternatively, they also run classes on a Wednesday at the West Wight Sports Centre in Freshwater between 7-8pm in the evening. In order for beginners to try the classes the club offers the first session for FREE.

Please email Mark at Sensei@onwight.net for a free trail voucher or for more details, please visit the website www.isleofwightkarate.co.uk. Join the club on Facebook and please don’t forget to tell your friends and family www.facebook.com/IsleofWightKarate.

Yeeha – fantastic 25% saving on a one hour horse riding lesson!

The breathtaking scenery of West Wight is enough for anyone to jump on horseback and ride off into the countryside. Now you can with this great discounted deal from Hill Farm Stables – 60 minutes for just £18.75 per person, saving you a fab 25%!

The stables are perfectly situated for hacking through the beautiful countryside or you have a lesson in the security of the riding school. The rides are tailor made to fit your ability whether you are a complete beginner, novice or an experienced rider. Parties are also welcome so you can buy a voucher for you and your friends.

Trot on, share the fun and spread the savings! For the saving go  www.wightliving.co.uk

LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION!AT OSBORNE HOUSECHRISTMAS WEEKEND Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 November – 10am-4pm There’s twinkling lights, a camera obscura and more festive action in store than everbefore at this year’s popular annual Osborne House Victorian Christmas Weekend. Families can step into a camera obscura – a darkened room where the outside worldappears in full colour and upside down! Christmas trees will twinkle and trees aroundthe gardens will be illuminated with lights to create a winter wonderland. Food lovers young and old will enjoy a Victorian kitchen with nostalgic displays offorgotten kitchenalia, Mrs Beeton giving hints and tips on period Christmas fare anda chocolatier hosting demonstrations of confectionary art. Action will be provided Father Christmas, Punch and Judy and a cast of costumedcharacters including Singing Chimney Sweeps, Jack Black the Rat Catcher andQueen Victoria gracing Osborne to recall festive times at Osborne over 100 yearsago. Rooms will be decked with decorations just as they would have been whenQueen Victoria celebrated Christmas at Osborne. 10am-4pm (grounds 5pm) Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 November. Adults £13.60,Concessions £12.39, Children £8.20, Family Ticket £35.40. Reduced entry forEnglish Heritage Members. Pre-booked on 0870 333 1181. For more information visit www.english-heritage.org.uk

Osborne House on the Isle of Wight. Meet the Gardeners & Pruning Workshop Tuesday 15 November10am-2pmAutumn is one of the busiest times in the gardening year but time spent onpruning is always worthwhile. Join Osborne’s head gardener for a hands on lookat the pruning methods used around the garden and dispel some of the myths and mystique behind pruning theories. Light refreshments will be provided £35 per person (£30 per person for English Heritage members)Maximum capacity 10 – pre-booking essential

Wightliving* is an exciting new discount website offering the best the Isle of Wight has to offer. It is free to join and takes seconds to register at www.wightliving.co.uk to benefit from regular updates on our offers. Every few days we offer fantastic discounts across the board from luxury hotels and holiday lets to dining out, beauty, family entertainments, sports, leisure and much more. Please tell all your friends and family about our next deal from the prestigious Ocean Blue Quay Coastal Retreats – a stunning holiday-left for 8 people 4 nights for price of 3! If you want stunning sea views and a holiday cottage brimming full of character, then Carmel is the one. The stunning cottage is situated in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, tucked away down a private \ lane between the sea and southern slopes of the Isle of Wight…

Exclusive Hovertravel & Kings Theatre Deal – THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR – Sunday 16th October 12pm “The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Little Cloud and The Mixed-up Chameleon by award-winning children’s book illustrator and writer Eric Carle, beautifully told in this glowing stage adaptation with puppetry in black light. The Very Hungry Caterpillar follows the wonderful adventures of a very tiny and very hungry caterpillar that progresses through an amazing variety of foods towards its eventual metamorphosis into a beautiful butterfly. Children will delight in the antics of Little Cloud. High up in the sky, Little Cloud slips away from the rest and transforms itself into various shapes of the things it sees – a sheep, an airplane, a shark and more. In The Mixed-Up Chameleon, a little chameleon is bored with its life – sitting about predictably changing colour all day. So it decides to embark on an adventurous trip to the zoo, wishing it could be more like the other animals.” Exclusive Hovertravel & King Theatre Package Prices £13.50 per Adult & Child aged 5+ £1.00 per infant below 18 months £8.50 per infant aged above 18 months up to and including 4 years old Please note – Infants below 18 months pay one £ for a lap seat. Booking Terms and Conditions To book this amazing offer, contactsandra.smith@kings-southsea.com or call 023 9285 2208 Must return that day with Hovertravel. All bookings are made via Kings Theatre and not with Hovertravel. Simply show your Very Hungry Caterpillar ticket to Ryde terminal to travel on the hovercraft.