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By Kirsty, November 15, 2010 6:04 pm

Virgin Balloon Flights will be joining ‘The most popular Christmas shopping fair in the Midlands’ from the 18^th -21^st of November at the NEC’s Festive Gift Fair.

Our airborne adventures will be on sale at the fair giving the gift shoppers something spectacular for their loved ones to unwrap this Christmas.

Visitors can soak up the atmosphere with a glass of mulled wine and a mince pie whilst browsing over 300 stalls offering unusual gifts and adventurous experiences all under one roof!

Father Christmas will even be there to lend a hand with the shopping whilst busy present buyers listen to The Brass Band Santa’s or the angelic choral choir.

A hot air balloon ride with us is an experience of a lifetime and a perfect present to take home and gift wrap. We’ll be there too, on hand to explain which vouchers are best for you and to show you where your nearest launch site is. With over 100 locations to fly from in England, Scotland and Wales there is bound to be one near you.

You can even take home a piece of Virgin ballooning history as we’ll be giving you the chance to purchase our limited edition bags and jackets made by sustainable fashion brand Worn Again. Made with the material of retired Virgin hot air balloons, these one off garments are truly unique and up-cycled to the latest trends.

So get into the Christmas spirit and we’ll see you there in Hall 12 at Birmingham’s NEC. Show tickets are available at festivegiftfair.co.uk from just £7.50 per person.

If you can’t get to the fair, fear not, our lovely balloon flight vouchers are available online, check out our festive offers here!

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By Kirsty, October 26, 2010 11:04 am

Keith Metcalf, 64, from Ossett West Yorkshire took to the skies with Virgin Balloon Flights last week to celebrate his 40^th wedding anniversary. The balloon ride, which was bought for Keith as an anniversary gift from his wife, took off from York Racecourse and headed westwards over the town of Tadcaster.

“The balloon flight was brilliant, it was so relaxing floating along and you don’t seem to be moving. We passed over fields and small villages and I could see both Ferrybridge and Eggborough power stations in the distance. As we passed over Tadcaster we could clearly see the breweries too,” said Keith.

On the ground, Keith’s six year old grandson and his son-in-law Neil Spofforth, 31 from Wakefield, looked on as ‘Grandad flew high in the sky’! Neil, who has been interested in photography for many years had recently bought his first digital SLR camera and was catching Keith’s ballooning experience image by image.

“This was my first time photographing hot air balloons, it was amazing watching the Virgin balloons go up, seeing one close up for the first time was awe inspiring,” said Neil.

I particularly enjoyed trying to photograph the flames as the air in the balloon was heated up for take-off and then as the balloon sailed away. I was fortunate the flight launched around 5pm because as they floated away into the distance, the sun came down giving me the opportunity to get the balloons in silhouette,” he added.

The balloon came to land in a field just outside Newton Kyme where Keith enjoyed a Champagne toast and received a flight certificate endorsed by Sir Richard Branson and signed by his pilot Dave Sutcliffe.

The photographs of Keith’s adventure are available to view on Neil’s website www.SpofforthPhotography.co.uk . More information regarding hot air balloon rides with Virgin Balloon Flights is available here.

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By Kirsty, October 14, 2010 3:36 pm

Pull out your fluffy socks, crank up the heating and get your
Christmas list written … only 10 weeks to  go until the turkey’s stuffed and Grandpa’s asleep in front of the fire. Forget queuing for hours on the high street for that special gift, why not get them an experience of a life time; a ride in an iconic red Virgin hot air balloon?

So why should a Champagne balloon ride be the Christmas gift you choose?

· This experience of a lifetime is super special way to wow a
loved one on Christmas day and is a  unique gift idea that can be tailored to your preferred location and flight time, a great gift for him or her.

· Hot air ballooning allows you to see beautiful Britain from a totally different view point and gives you a chance to explore your home town from the skies.

· With over 100 launch sites to choose from across England, Scotland
and Wales your airborne  adventure is never too far from home.

· You can choose from a selection of vouchers, with the option of adding Gift Packages which include: a Virgin shoulder bag, cap, pen, key ring, pre-flight DVD, binoculars and either Sir Richard Branson’s autobiography
‘Losing My Virginity’, a pair of BLOC sunglasses or a crystal engraved
Champagne flute.

· All vouchers have 12 months’ validity so you can fly when it best
suits you.

· Every voucher comes with a souvenir brochure and is presented in a luxury gift wallet (so there’s no need to wrap it) and after the flight there’s a traditional Champagne toast and personalised certificate signed by the pilot and endorsed by Sir Richard Branson.

· There’s even a Snapfish voucher for 40 free digital prints so the gift
recipient can relive their hot air ballooning experience for years to come, they’ll also receive a £40 Virgin Wines voucher to help  celebrate the festive season in style with a tipple or two.

· Our vouchers are sent in unbranded packaging (if you tell us it’s a surprise) so we don’t let the cat out of the bag.

· We offer express delivery, standard delivery or emailable flight vouchers so if you’ve left it until the last minute we can get your gift vouchers to you extra quick.

What are you waiting for? Simply visit virginballoonflights.co.uk or call 01952 212750 for more details or to book a flight.

See you in the sky!

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By Kirsty, September 28, 2010 4:04 pm

19 year old Catherine Barber and her three brothers from York
chipped in to treat their mum Ann, 62,  to a surprise birthday gift, a balloon ride with Virgin Balloon Flights launching from York Racecourse. Catherine was lucky enough to be a hop-in passenger and took to the skies for the birthday celebrations too!

“I managed to book the flight for her actual birthday and she didn’t have a clue about it! I picked her up from my brother’s house with my dad and told her we were going out for tea, when we approached York Racecourse I gave her the red envelope with the tickets inside” said Catherine.

Although the pair of vouchers the siblings had purchased were for Mum, Ann and Dad Chris,54, pilot Martin Collinson invited Catherine to jump on board as someone else had not shown up for their flight.

“I only bought the vouchers and booked the flights 3 weeks beforehand, it was so fortunate that there was a flight on my Mum’s birthday AND that I managed to get on it too! My Mum has already raved about it to everyone, so she definitely wants to try and go up again.

Overall it was an amazing experience to spend time in the sky looking across my beautiful home city with the people I love the most!”

Happy birthday to Ann from everyone here at Virgin Balloon Flights.

You too can surprise that special someone with a Virgin hot air balloon ride; more information on how to take to the skies with us is available here.

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By Kirsty, September 16, 2010 4:59 pm

Some would say it is far too early to be thinking about the dreaded ‘C’ word just yet, but with  advent calendars lining the shelves of our favourite local supermarkets, here at Virgin Balloon Flights we simply can’t help but feel a little bit of festive cheer!

Our hot air balloon rides are the perfect Christmas gift for that someone special and much better than socks or a tie (or so we think!). With launch sites in over 100 locations throughout England, Scotland and Wales, an airborne adventure is no further than a stone’s throw away from your home and an enchanting experience of a lifetime.

We have lots for you to choose from including regional vouchers to fly in specific areas allowing you to see a county of your choice like never before, or gift package flights including items such as Sir Richard Branson’s autobiography or an Italian made, engraved, crystal Champagne flute.

This adventurous Virgin Balloon Flights Christmas gift for him or for her includes a three to four hour experience with around an hour in the air in an iconic red Virgin Balloon. Your experience will commence with passenger greeting, registration and pilot safety briefing before you are invited to help with inflation of the balloon in preparation for lift off.

You will then glide in the sky for around an hour before landing and reflecting on your flight with a glass of Champagne. You will also receive a personalised certificate signed by your pilot and endorsed by Sir Richard himself. What’s more, your voucher has 12 months validity and arrives in a luxury voucher wallet with souvenir brochure. What more could they ask for.

Christmas lists at the ready; we’ll see you in the sky!

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By Kirsty, August 25, 2010 4:07 pm

Based on her mother’s true story, Kay Mellor’s heartfelt play will be on stage at the Hull Truck Theatre from 10^th September to the 2^nd October 2010 and Virgin Balloon Flights are one of its proud supporters.

The play which was recently aired by the BBC and starred Sue Johnstone and Billie Piper ends with the lead character Betty riding off into the sunset in a hot air balloon.

A Passionate Woman tells the story of Betty, a middle aged mother and wife. Set on the day of her son’s wedding; she climbs into the loft to escape from all the arrangements and drops the flap shut! Betty has a secret that she has kept hidden for years; when she was younger she had a passionate love affair with a polish fairground worker. Now the spirit of her dead lover, Craze, comes to her on the roof and Betty relives her time all over again with him. Her son and husband meanwhile realise Betty’s whereabouts and try to woo her down to the all important wedding, but she’s not going anywhere except up!

Writer Kay Mellor entitled the play A Passionate Woman because she realised that’s exactly what her mother was. Kay has re-worked the play especially for Hull Truck and is delighted to be finally playing her mum (Betty) for the first time. The star studded cast for the performance also includes ‘Emmerdale’s’ Anthony Lewis, ‘Hollyoaks’’ Stuart Manning and Andrew Dunn from ‘Dinnerladies’.

Here at Virgin Balloon Flights we are giving all ‘A Passionate Woman’ spectators the chance to fly off into the sunset just like Betty. Simply take a flyer from the theatre after the performance which instructs you how to claim the flight voucher discount.

A Passionate Woman – Hull Truck Theatre, 10 September – 2 October 2010 Box Office 01482 323638

Up, up and away! 

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By Kirsty, August 12, 2010 10:35 am

A newlywed couple whose love is certainly sky-high celebrated
the first few days of wedded bliss with  a Virgin Balloon Flights hot air balloon ride. Lianne and Chris from Shaw, Lancashire tied the knot on Saturday the 7^th of August at ‘The Riverside’ in Rochdale where they received their ‘Celebration Package’ balloon ride vouchers as a wedding gift.

“The balloon flight was a wedding present from my Uncle John … we were overwhelmed at such a generous gift and we were so excited that we would be going in a hot air balloon!” said Lianne.

The couple who will jet off on Friday to Kuredu Island in the Maldives and then on to Dubai for their honeymoon, had both never flown in a
hot air balloon before  and were extremely eager to start their airborne adventure as husband and wife.

“Chris’ favourite part was helping the pilot and crew inflate and deflate the balloon, he helped with the crown line and ropes and the cold air inflation. My favourite was the lifting off from the ground!” she added.

Their ballooning experience was an early morning flight from York Racecourse with pilot Martin Collinson and they enjoyed around an hour in the air and a Champagne toast after landing. “We saw lots of great views; we particularly liked seeing York Minster and some beautiful houses… but also thought it was great to see the horses and other animals on the ground.”

Aboard the same flight as the happy couple was Rachel Foster from Holgate York, who celebrated her 18^th Birthday at 3000 feet in the air, seen here with her certificate signed by pilot Martin & endorsed by Sir Richard Branson! Happy birthday to Rachel from all of us here at Virgin Balloon Flights.

For your chance to celebrate in the sky aboard an iconic red Virgin balloon visit virginballoonflights.co.uk or call 01952 212750

More information about flying in Yorkshire is available here!

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By Kirsty, July 12, 2010 3:28 pm

Another sky high proposal has been accepted as Yorkshire man Mark Barrett, 26 asked for Emily Rockliff’s hand in marriage whilst 3000 feet above the county, aboard a Virgin hot air balloon.  

Emily 23, met Mark 5 years ago at their local amateur dramatics group, the ‘Harrogate Phoenix Players’ and had no idea he was about to pop the question during flight from their Ripley Castle launch site.

The couple, from Knaresborough north Yorkshire said “We both really enjoyed the flight, the weather was gorgeous and sunny and you could see for miles around!”

“Emily’s favourite part was when I proposed and apart from her saying yes, my favourite part was the whole experience from helping to inflate the balloon to packing it away. Also picking out the towns and villages we recognised below,” added Mark. 

Virgin Balloon Flights pilot Dave Sutcliffe known as ‘Sutty’, said “It was a pleasure to have the happy couple on board; we celebrated with a traditional Champagne toast after landing as we do with all hot air balloon rides. We wish them the very best for the future.”

Congratulations Mark & Emily from all of us here at Virgin Balloon Flights!

More information regarding hot air balloon flights in Yorkshire is available here.

The happy couple after a sky high proposal

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By Alex, June 22, 2010 11:24 am

Love was certainly in the air for one Gloucestershire couple who got engaged in a Virgin hot air balloon 3,000 feet above the county.

While England were playing USA in the World Cup on June 12, Rob Blagden, 37, was busy surprising partner Joy Buddin by getting down on one knee during their balloon flight from Kemble Airfield near Cirencester.

The couple, from Bristol Road, Gloucester, have been together since January and were flying to mark Joy’s 50^th birthday that day so they enjoyed a double celebration with a traditional glass of champagne after landing.

Joy said she had no idea that Rob was planning to pop the question and a hot air balloon high in the sky was the perfect place for a proposal.

Rob said he was delighted when Joy said yes and the day could not have gone better. They are now planning to get married in October.

“We were both surprised at how warm it was up at 3000ft and were very pleased to see how much green space there still is in the county,” he said.

“Our pilot Nobby was fantastic and, although we prepared for a bumpy landing, it was so gentle we didn’t even realise we had touched

down. The whole experience was brilliant.”

Virgin Balloon Flights’ pilot Mark Simmons, known as Nobby, said: “We had a fantastic flight from Cirencester that evening and it was a wonderful moment when Rob proposed to Joy. When she said yes the other passengers and I gave them a cheer and wished them all the best for the future”.

Mark and all his fellow Virgin balloon pilots in England are supporting the national team during the World Cup by displaying St George’s Cross flags on their baskets.

More information about hot air balloon flights in Gloucestershire is available here