Tickets on sale for Destination Bond celebrating return of 007
Tickets are now on sale for ‘Destination Bond’, a special day-long event to celebrate the return to the big screen of Her Majesty’s favourite super spy James Bond. The upcoming movie adaptation of Ian Fleming’s debut novel ‘Casino Royale’ features Chester-born actor Daniel Craig making his debut as 007 in a story that reveals how the iconic hero earned his double-O status as a hard as nails M.I.6 agent.
Destination Bond takes place from 11am to 5pm on Saturday 18th November at The Mill Hotel & Spa Destination in Milton Street, just a day after the film goes on general release in the UK. And with Chester’s Odeon Cinema hosting the regional premiere in the same week, the city will certainly be the place to be for Bond fans.
Destination Bond producers Gordon Vickers and Brian Gorman promise Bond enthusiasts a fantastic day in the company of some very special guests, with all profits going to Cancer Research UK.
Guests include:
Caroline Munro (who played the helicopter assassin Naomi in the 007 classic ‘The Spy Who Loved Me’ alongside Roger Moore, and who also appeared in the original 1967 ‘Casino Royale’ movie with Peter Sellers and Orson Welles). Caroline is one of the world’s most successful models, and was the famous ‘Lambs’ Navy Rum’ poster girl during the 1970s and 1980s. She starred in several Hammer Horror movies including ‘Dracula AD’ and ‘Captain Kronos: Vampire Hunter’. Her biggest screen role came in the cult sci-fi film ‘Starcrash’ when she played the lead character of Stella Starr alongside Baywatch legend David Hasselhoff.
John Grover was the film editor on several Bond movies including ‘The Living Daylights’, ‘Licence To Kill’, ‘Octopussy’, ‘Moonraker’ and ‘The Spy Who Loved Me’. He has also worked on ‘Who Dares Wins’, ‘Labyrinth’, and ‘Dr Zhivago’.
John Wyman played the blonde, muscular bad guy ‘Eric Kriegler’ in the 1981 Bond film ‘For Your Eyes Only’. He terrorised Roger Moore in a thrilling ski chase before battling 007 to the death in the movie finale.
Madeline Smith was Roger Moore’s first Bond girl, Miss Caruso, in ‘Live And Let Die’. She also appeared in several Hammer Horror movies including ‘The Vampire Lovers’ and ‘Countess Dracula’.
Martine Beswicke has appeared in two of Sean Connery’s Bond movies, From Russia with Love and also Thunderball. She played Zora in From Russia With Love and Paula Caplan in Thunderball and is unique in appearing in three Bond movies. A former Miss Jamaica, Martine was selected as one of Maurice Binder’s dancing girls in the opening credits of Dr No. This lead to her role the following year in From Russia With Love. One of her most challenging screen appearances was in half the starring role in Hammer’s Dr Jeckyll & Sister Hyde.
Live music will be provided by popular all-girl band Diamond, who have already supported the likes of Girls Aloud, and feature HollyOaks star Carley Stenson in their line-up.
There will also be a few surprises on the day in the form of props and costumes from the Bond movies (details to follow).
Tickets are £25 each, available from The Mill Hotel. Telephone 01244 350035. There is a free buffet lunch included. Rooms at the hotel should be booked as soon as possible on 01244 350035.
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On the Sunday (19th) fans will also have the opportunity to experience The Mill Hotel’s ‘Casino Royale Cruise’ with the chance to win over a thousand pounds in prizes. The top prize being a flight in the original helicopter flown by Pussy Galore in ‘Goldfinger’. Tickets for the canal cruise are £49 (with a four course meal), and must be booked in advance from the hotel.
In addition to Destination Bond, The Mill Hotel has also announced a competition to find four fantasy Bond Girls to take part in the event. Application forms will be available soon, and the final of the competition will take place at the hotel on Thursday 2nd November. Tickets will be £25 and include a three course meal.
Gordon Vickers is the co-owner of The Mill Hotel in Milton Street – Chester’s very own ‘Little Venice’. Boasting 129 en-suite bedrooms, unrivalled leisure facilities including a gymnasium, pool, sauna, steam room, and the canal side ‘Peppermill Trattoria’. A venue that would certainly impress a man of Bond’s sophistication and taste, The Mill Hotel recently held a Fantasy Bond Girls competition and a Bond themed day at Chester Races. More information at www.millhotel.com
Brian Gorman is a freelance writer, and producer for Enigma Productions. His recent events have included evenings at Alexander’s Jazz Theatre featuring COLIN BAKER (The 6th Dr Who), GARETH THOMAS (star of Blake’s 7), CAROLINE MUNRO (who was driven to the event in the latest Aston Martin DB9) and the inimitable JEREMY BEADLE. He also handled PR & Marketing, plus interviewing guests for the recent sell-out ‘Dr Who At The Cavern’ event at the world famous Cavern Club in Liverpool.
The two men have joined forces to produce an event to promote the city of Chester, celebrate the return of a national screen icon, and raise funds for Cancer Research UK.
For press information call: Jane Harrad-Roberts, Marketing Projects Tel: 01244 330000 Mobile: 07785 395 705 Email: jane@marketingprojects.co.uk
Brian Gorman (Event Co-Ordinator) Mobile: 07749 306508 Email: brianinchester@yahoo.co.uk Yahoo Message Board at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bond_destination_bond
Cancer Research UK is a Registered Charity No. 1098464
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