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By Kirsty, April 8, 2013 9:59 am

It’s not uncommon to celebrate a birthday with balloons, but Jessica Bill celebrated her 24^th aboard a 100 foot tall hot air balloon floating 3000 feet up in the sky.

Jess and boyfriend of two years, Nick Crosby, 29, from Gamston, took to the skies from Stoke Rochford Hall, in Grantham, Lincolnshire, in an iconic red Virgin balloon last week.

The sunrise voyage marked the achievement of a lifetime ambition for the couple, who bought the balloon ride vouchers for their first anniversary.

“We’ve both always wanted to go on a balloon flight. Everyone was great and really looked after us and, even though we met up at 6am on a freezing cold morning, they we really upbeat and fun. When we told them it was Jess’ birthday they all started singing happy birthday to her, the rest of the passengers joined in too,” said Nick.

Jess added: “My favourite bit was the views, they were amazing and something I’ll never forget. The champagne toast after we landed was great too.”

Travelling around eight miles to the east during the hour-long flight, the balloon landed land near Belvoir Castle before experienced pilot Martin Collinson presented Jess and Nick with their personalised flight certificates.

Martin, 46 from Grantham said “It was great to have Jessica and Nick on board, there’s something special about singing happy birthday in the open air over the countryside, it’s magical! After the snow we’ve had, a beautiful clear balloon ride was a special way to celebrate her day; I’m delighted they enjoyed it.”

The couple, who are due to be married in August next year, said they were now keen to experience another balloon ride as part of their honeymoon.

Balloon flights are available from sites across the UK including Nottingham from £99pp via www.virginballoonflights.co.uk or on 0844 844 8080.

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By Kirsty, April 5, 2013 10:57 am

Hot air ballooning is one of the world’s most romantic forms of aviation, especially when you fly over a heart-shaped lake set in beautiful British countryside like Lisa Barnett, of Shadwell, North Leeds, whose airborne adventure was much more than she could have wished for…

Floating up to 3000ft above the Yorkshire landscape with boyfriend of eight months, Greg Armstrong, Lisa looked out over the edge of the basket of the Virgin balloon she was travelling in, hoping Greg was enjoying the flight she’d bought him as a Christmas gift as much as she was. Their sunrise champagne balloon ride from the city’s famous racecourse certainly provided them with some fantastic views including the sea and the Humber Bridge on the horizon. But that was just the beginning…

 Lisa said: “The tranquility of the flight was breath-taking. As I turned around, Greg was on one knee and had secretly asked a fellow passenger to capture the event on camera, how wonderful that the lady agreed and she was herself a photographer; the morning could not have been better! Whilst she was unbeknownst to me snapping away, Greg popped the question. I was so shocked that I cried. I of course wanted to say yes, but I was so overwhelmed, that after composing myself & a few cuddles I said I’d be honoured to marry him.”

With the seal of approval from Lisa’s father a few weeks before 39-year-old Greg, who works in IT solutions, happily put the ‘stand-in’ ring on Lisa’s finger whilst the rest of the passengers congratulated them.

Lisa, a National brand manager, went on to say: “We couldn’t believe we flew over a heart-shaped lake too – I was convinced this was in Greg’s itinerary, but the pilot Dave obviously knows the area well, mother nature was clearly on our side as she blew our balloon in that direction!”

The couple who plan to tie the knot late summer or early autumn this year came back down to solid ground and shared a Champagne toast with the rest of the passengers before the ground crew presented them with a keepsake balloon made from the Champagne cork and clasp.

Following the excitement of their magical hot air balloon ride the couple visited Elements in Hebden Bridge where they began work with master jeweller Dawn on the design of the ‘real’ engagement ring. Later the couple sipped more Champagne with their families at a celebratory party organised by Lisa’s sister.

Lisa, 40, added: “A massive thanks to pilot Dave Sutcliffe and the rest of the team for the kind gift, photos & champagne, plus the amazing passengers on the flight that made our morning so special. Everyone individually congratulated us after the flight, so thank you everyone who made our balloon trip so memorable. We would highly recommend a Virgin Balloon Flight to anyone.”

Looking for a special way to pop the question? You too can take to the skies in a Virgin hot air balloon from as little as £99 per person, simply call 0844 844 8080 or visit our website.

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By Kirsty, February 6, 2013 2:19 pm

For as long as 60-year-old photographer Steve Bramall could remember his wife Julie had wanted to fly in a hot air balloon. Making her dreams a reality, Steve bought Julie a Virgin Balloon Flight as a Christmas gift.

The father of two, known as the ‘Grumps’ to his four ‘Grumpling’ grandchildren, got in touch to tell us about the Nottingham couple’s airborne adventure on a balloon ride over Derbyshire and to share the moments he brilliantly captured on camera. Here is his story…

“I chose Virgin because they are a known brand so I knew we would be safe and due to the choice of launch sites. The website gave me all the information I needed about the various voucher choices and what to expect on the day. The icing on the cake for me was when I booked the tickets they arranged for them to be delivered to my daughter’s house in a plain envelope so not to spoil the surprise.

The flight was only one third of the experience; it starts by helping get the balloon ready to launch which my wife found great fun. The day was perfect, crisp and bright with a low lying mist so right from the moment the pilot gave the OK to stand up the views were stunning. To be truthful I don’t think any of my photographs could do it justice. I don’t know why but it seemed like everyone in the basket felt the need to talk only when strictly necessary, and then in hushed tones. The pilot told us where we were flying over, the height and other snippets of information at intervals throughout the flight. We flew over the Derbyshire countryside from Bakewell, towards Rowsley then out across Darley Moor towards Brockhurst. It was absolutely fantastic, the morning sun rising up and the low lying mist acting as veil over the landscape.

We had expected it to be cold during the flight and had dressed accordingly but once were off and away it was quite warm. The pilot explained that this phenomenon was due to us going at the same speed as the wind and therefore there was no wind chill, guess we all learnt something too. We flew towards the M1 with our pilot looking for a suitable landing place and everyone else hoping he would not find one for another 10 minutes, and then another 10 minutes! Eventually a suitable spot was found and we landing nice and gently, and upright, in the grounds of Hardwick Hall.”

When asked what his favourite part of the experience was Steve explained that simply watching his wife Julie enjoy the day was by far the best. Closely following Julies enjoyment, Steve relished in the stunning views, peace and serenity of the flight.

Steve has been taking photographs, mainly of landscapes, for the last 30 years and is unfortunately considering retirement due to health reasons. All his photographs, including those from the balloon flight with Virgin are available to purchase as prints or publication rights on his website www.bramall.org.uk , if you’d like to contact Steve, feel free to fill out the contact form on his website.

To take to the skies above Derbyshire, simply visit virginballoonflights.co.uk or call us on 0844 8448080 for East Midland Virgin Balloon Flight vouchers from just £79pp.

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By Jade, December 12, 2012 2:04 pm

This year, Richard Branson is encouraging the world to wear and share their Christmas jumpers – especially if they’re so bad they’re good. During December, he has shared some of his past Christmas clothing  through his blog and Tumblr page. Globally, all Virgin companies will be getting in the spirit and sharing photographs of their crazy knitwear.

This Friday is our turn at Virgin Balloon Flights and we’re looking for some of the most outrageous jumpers in town. Its not just the staff in our office joining in, our pilots and crew members will be jumping into their quirky knitwear and sending us snaps from all over the country. We’ll be sharing all our photos with you on our Facebook and Twitter page as well as the official Xmas Jumper tumblr page.

You too can all join in from home, work or wherever you are! All you have to do is tweet @richardbranson with the hastag #XmasJumpers. You could even be in with a chance of winning one of Richard Branson’s very own jumpers from the past (photo above)! Richard himself will select a winner on Tuesday 18th December, so come on and join in the fun!

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By Jade, December 5, 2012 3:10 pm

Christmas is now upon us and if you still haven’t thought of the perfect gift to show your loved ones how much you care, let us help you! A balloon ride is an amazing way to show your appreciation, whether its your other half, parents, brother, sister or even a special friend.

Flying in a hot air balloon is an extraordinary experience; both serene and thrilling, offering stunning views and a feeling of freedom. With the wind as your only guidance, it is a true adventure as you never know exactly where you’ll fly or what you’ll see. Making it easy for you to arrange, balloon flights are flexible in when and where they can be taken. Here at Virgin we operate the largest fleet of hot air balloons in the UK, flying seven days a week from over 100 launch sites in England, Scotland and Wales – giving you even more choice.

There are even more bonuses:

• You can organise it online in minutes so there’s no fight against the bustle of Christmas shoppers.
• All of our deliveries are FREE and sent first class.  We offer next day delivery (last order for Christmas 20th )
• Left it until last minute? We can send you an e-ticket that you will receive immediately, ensuring there won’t be any disappointment.

You can give the magical balloon ride itself or if you really want to spoil your loved one, add champagne, chocolates or our special hamper, prices starting from just £4. This Christmas we’re also offering special gift packages for one or two people that include your flight voucher and various extra gifts. You can choose from the Sunrise Christmas package, the Christmas gift package or the Luxury Christmas gift package – visit our website for more information.

For as little as £89, give them a unique experience they’ll be talking about for years to come!

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By Jade, November 19, 2012 1:40 pm

With Christmas on the horizon, the gift of a balloon flight is the perfect way to show your loved ones how much you care. Why not make it really special this Christmas by adding our new luxury gift extras.

Choose the perfect way to deliver your Christmas gift with our ‘Merry Christmas’ balloon in a box. When opened, the red helium balloon will pop out and rise towards the sky to reveal the stylish flight voucher at the bottom of the box.

If you’re looking to indulge this Christmas, our traditional wicker sparkling and chocolates gift hamper is the perfect treat alongside your airborne adventure. The hamper includes a half bottle of the crisp, fruity Mont Marcal Brut Cava and a box of delicious milk chocolate champagne truffles. The Cava from our friends at Virgin Wines – the same as served in Virgin Atlantic’s First Class Lounges – offers pale yellow bubbles and a fruity base of ripe apples, banana, and pineapple; a balanced and elegant choice, the best way to wash down your chocolate truffles.

Don’t forget, we offer FREE delivery on everything plus express delivery option for just £6.

So, choose a Virgin Balloon Flight as your top Christmas gift this year from just £89 per person and give it an extra bit of sparkle.

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By Jade, October 1, 2012 11:30 am

Chris May and Liz Blaney were the lucky winners of a Champagne balloon flight for two in our recent ‘Great British Voyages competition’ on Facebook. The pair took to the skies from on a hot air balloon from Henley-on-Thames in Oxfordshire on a sunny Saturday afternoon in September.

Chris was over the moon to win the balloon flight as it was something he had always wanted to do.  Liz was perhaps even more excited, telling us ‘I wouldn’t let him take anyone else!!’

The balloon drifted over the River Thames and they were able to spot many familiar sights below the basket. Their pilot Mark Shemilt gave them a detailed commentary of their route, explaining where they were flying over, how fast they were going and where they were heading to land. When we asked what their favourite part of the flight was, they said

Chris enjoyed calling and waving to the people on the ground and my favourite part was the take off, seeing the ground just slowly come away from us.

Liz added,

I was really looking forward to it, but was a little anxious whether it might be a bit scary being so high up. But, when you’re up there and just looking at everything around you, you forget how high up you are. We both just really enjoyed it.

We asked the couple if they’d like to do another flight, Liz said,

I’d be happy to do another flight in the UK and pick another launch site to see a different area from the UK. Although Chris would like to try one over the Serengeti!

Keep an eye out for more competitions on our Facebook and Twitter page.

If you want to book your hot air balloon ride over Henley on Thames or beyond, you can climb on board a hot air balloon with us for as little as £89pp. We have over 100 fantastic launch sites for you to choose from, just visit our website or call us in the office on 0844 844 8080 to book now.

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By Jade, August 15, 2012 3:56 pm

Best friends Hayley Green and Jessica Tradewell experienced their first hot air balloon ride on a beautiful Saturday evening from our launch site at  York Racecourse.

The pair told us “We wanted to try fun & exciting things while we are still young and a balloon flight is something we’ve always wanted to do.” As part of their endeavour to try new experiences, Jessica bought Hayley a tandem skydive for her 21^st Birthday last year. In return, Hayley treated Jessica to a hot air balloon ride for her birthday this year. Hayley said “I wanted to buy something memorable for Jessica’s 21^st and chose Virgin as they are a well known company and reliable.”

When asked what their favourite part of the flight was, they told us “We loved it all. It was nice to just relax and take in the views of York whilst watching the animals in the fields.” A particular part of the flight that stuck in their minds was the beautiful colours in the sky with the sun shining through.

Hayley and Jessica praised the pilot Chris Oxby and his crew expressing that they were excellent and very friendly. “They got us involved in inflating and deflating the balloon. They answered any questions we had and made us feel very safe.”

They added “We loved every minute of it & would definitely recommend it to anyone considering it”. Eager to experience another flight, the pair said they would definitely go again but maybe from our Temple Newsam County Park launch site so they could see some different views from Leeds.

You too can enjoy a balloon flight over Yorkshire or any of our other 100+ launch sites for as little as £89pp. Just call us in the office on 0844 844 8080 or visit our website.

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By Kirsty, June 9, 2012 11:30 am

Twelve months ago Byron Highfield arrived at our Belton Woods launch site in Grantham, Lincolnshire, with a ring box in his pocket and his girlfriend Nikki in tow. A balloon flight later Nikki became his fiancée, one year on and she’s now his wife.

On the eve of the all-important flight, Byron had done the honourable thing and asked Nikki’s father for his daughter’s hand in marriage in preparation for the sky-high proposal. With his future father-in-law onside, Byron (and Nikki) made their way to Grantham from their home in Newark and headed skywards.

“We flew over Belton House and the golf course and then over lots of countryside. I was a little nervous and don’t think I took too much in from the flight. My favourite part of the flight had to be halfway through when I proposed, but we both also enjoyed the take-off and having to climb into the basket,” said Byron.

Of course delighted by Byron’s question, Nikki said yes and exactly a year later they tied the knot at their local church St Giles Balderton and then partied with friends and family at Rufford Mill, Rufford Park.

Byron added: “We would definitely be looking to fly again in the future, I’m sure it will make a nice present for an anniversary.”

Virgin Balloon Flights offer hot air balloon rides from over 100 launch sites in England, Scotland & Wales from as little as £89 per person. Make someone’s day with a ticket to the sky. Call 0844 844 8080 or visit the Virgin Balloon Flights website.