PARKING

One of our major challenges with this location has been to secure appropriate parking.  Please be advised that there will be free parking available for your use, and it will be a ten to fifteen minute walk from the garden.   We have arranged for a shuttle-bus to take you to and from the car park to the opera.  To help us cover the costs of this, a collection box will be on each bus and any donations will be given to this year’s charities.For safety reasons, no parking will be allowed on Ton Lane or Lambley Lane until beyond Grove Farm.   Please contact us if you require disabled parking.Can we please encourage you to share cars and take action to help us reduce traffic within the area.

SEATING – THE LOWDHAM AMPITHEATRE
The stage itself is fairly small, the seating area is arranged using garden chairs along the lines of the natural amphitheatre left by the Lowdham Castle, a temporary refuge for King John in the early thirteenth century.

You are welcome to picnic anywhere in the gardens before the opera and during the intermission using your hampers, tables, rugs, umbrellas, etc.  A seating area will be marked out in front of the stage in which you will be asked to put your chairs only.  Around the perimeter of the seating area, there will be an area for picnic rugs.  We will explain when you arrive and the informal amphitheatre makes for a wonderful atmosphere allowing all to gain an excellent view of the opera.

Chairs – save yourself the hassle of carrying heavy seating and pre-order your opera chair to be ready to pick up at the opera and take home with you afterwards.  Please see enclosed order form.

WEATHER
The typical British summer is unpredictable; part of the challenge is not knowing what the weather will do!  Every effort will be made to ensure that the performance goes ahead in the event of adverse weather conditions.  This is a charity fundraising event and we would reaffirm the booking form notice that refunds cannot be made. 

ARRIVAL
The gardens are open from 5.00 pm.  All services will be available from this time including the bar and mini-bus service. The performance will start at 7.30 pm prompt.  Please feel free to wander and find your picnic site, but please ensure you are seated prior to the commencement.

CATERING
We are very pleased that the nationally-acclaimed Gonalston Farm Shop have joined the team to provide mouth watering grilled steak sandwiches and sausages to suit all tastes including vegetarians. 

BAR SERVICES
There will be a bar providing Pimms, Champagne, Wines and water. Whilst reasonably priced, proceeds from the sale of food and drink will add to the overall donation being made to the chosen charities.

USEFUL INFORMATION

• Erection of tents or wind breaks and use of BBQs is not permitted.
• Unless pre-ordered, please bring your own seating/picnic rugs.
• Please ensure at the end of the evening that you remove all your rubbish.
• Emergency telephone number on the night is 07703 294891.
• For telephone enquiries beforehand, please contact 0790 3340 858.
• The opera will begin at 7.30 pm and finish at approximately 10 pm.  The gardens will close at 11 pm. Torches to guide you safely back to your car will be useful as street lighting is limited.
• A cash bar will be available selling Pimms, water, wine and champagne (no need to carry heavy bottles)