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Robin Hill team lend a hand in ‘Scrubs for carers’ effort

27th April 2020 / No Comments

Our incredible team have joined forces with two other Isle of Wight businesses to provide desperately-needed clothing to the Island’s care sector. During the current COVID-19 pandemic, local care homes and community carers are needing more scrubs than ever and we’ve stepped in to help!

Reuben Loake, Managing Director of Ryde based company Isle of Wight Jobs, got in touch with clothing manufacturer Rapanui in Freshwater to see if they had any spare material of clothing available to use as scrubs.

“In a highly generous gesture, Rapanui immediately agreed to release a container full of high-quality clothing to any healthcare provider that needed it.” – Reuben, Isle of Wight Jobs

After posting on the Isle of Wight Jobs Facebook group that there was clothing available, Reuben received a high number of calls from care providers desperately needing disposable garments such as t-shirts as well as over 100 local people offering to help sew the garments into scrub trousers, scrub bags and head bands.

Reuben Loake says, “It soon became clear there was urgent need for disposable clothing in the care sector and we needed to act fast. If a care worker comes into contact with someone displaying symptoms, they should ideally be able to change their clothes before visiting another client.”

We then offered to become the distribution centre for the operation, as well as some of our wonderful team volunteering their time to sort through the items and transport over 100 boxes of garments from Rapanui in Freshwater to the park.

Reuben says, “The response so far has been overwhelming with over 20 care providers getting in touch after we posted our campaign on social media. We now need more homes and agencies to contact us with their requirements for tops. We have a range of sizes available as well as hoodies for those self-isolating in the care homes themselves and away from home.”

Robin Hill will be open for collections from Monday April 27th. Care staff can order garments and then access the car park where their order will be ready to pick up.

To find out more or to make an order please call Isle of Wight Jobs on 01983 475110 or send a message to the Isle of Wight Jobs Facebook page

Shaun returns to the park this Easter!

27th February 2020 / No Comments

Shaun the sheep returns to the park this Easter!

April half term is looming closer, what a great opportunity to spend 2 weeks off with the family, fun, games and relaxation… We all know it can feel like a struggle to keep the kids entertained throughout the school holidays, but we’ve got the perfect solution for you. Get the whole family involved, outside and away from technology this Easter half-term by joining us at Robin Hill as Farm Fest returns from the 4^th-18^th April. No farm Fest would be complete without world famous, Shaun the Sheep, he’s back with The Championsheeps farmathlon. Only this time it has an Olympic twist, from ‘Cabbage Shot-put’ to ‘It’s the Marrow-thon’, herd the family together from 10am-5pm on select dates* to take on these bah-rilliant challenges.

Farm Fest isn’t just about the kids; over Easter weekend you’ll have the chance to experience Robin Hill’s first ever Farmers Market! A host of local producers and suppliers will be on-site selling their wares and offering tasters galore. Pop by and lose yourself in the aromatic scents and delicious flavour combinations. Mmmm.

Something for the dads (and other tractor enthusiasts): Our friends over at C&O Tractors will be bringing a selection of tractors to the park for the duration of Farm Fest! There will be Massey Ferguson peddle tractor’s for you to challenge your friends & family to a race!

Shaun the Sheep: Championsheeps Farm-athalon!
THIS EASTER join Shaun for the ultimate madcap sports day meets farmyard frolic! Play 7 farm-made games which are Shaun’s own spin on the Olympic Heptathlon.

Mucky Bucket touring petting farm will be arriving at the park on 12^th – 13^th April, you’ll have the chance to meet and pet miniature ponies and donkeys, alpacas, goats, sheep, ducks, chickens, rabbits and more!

Fortune Cookie Quest

22nd January 2020 / No Comments

What’s one of our favourite things to do at the weekend? Get a cheeky Chinese of course!

We can’t wait to re-open the doors for Spirit of the Orient, starting on February 14^th, but until then we’re sampling as many oriental delights as humanly possible. There’s nothing quite like ordering a mixed array of Chinese dishes on a Friday night with friends and family.

What’s your go to? Chow Mein? Crispy shredded Beef? Duck in Black Bean sauce?

Don’t limit your cravings for a Chinese to the weekends, any night of the week will do! From February 1^st – 14^th, you could be in with a chance of winning something special in your fortune cookie… That’s right, it’s our Fortune Cookie Quest and it’s back for the second year. We’ll be hiding hundreds of prizes inside fortune cookies across the island.

Now you don’t have to feel too naughty for an evening of delicious oriental indulgence.

To find out more about the Fortune Cookie Quest and to see your nearest participating restaurant follow this link: www.robin-hill.com/spiritoftheorient-fortune

Are syns really a thing when you could win awesome prizes?

Be entertained at Robin Hill…

6th January 2020 / No Comments

It’s the news you’ve all been waiting for, our 2020 event calendar has been officially announced! We’re super excited for you all to discover Robin Hill like never before, with some firm favourites alongside brand-new events; here’s what you can expect…

FEBRAURY – Spirit of the Orient

We’re kicking the new year off with our award-winning event, Spirit of the Orient which returns for the seventh time! From 6-10pm daily between 14th – 22nd February 2020, you’ll see a fusion of sound, colour, illuminations and oriental flavours. Featuring impressive light exhibits, interactive 12-metre dragon procession, activities for the kids, woodland light shows and traditional lion dances; the park truly will come alive in celebration. Find out more & book your tickets online now!
This event is the first included with a Joint Park or Robin Hill Frequent Visitor Pass!

APRIL – Farm Fest

Join us as Farm Fest returns for the second year running. From the 4^th-18^th April, hop on board our Big Red Tractor Train for a rumbling ride through the park to the Lower Valley! Spend some time making friends with the farmyard animals in the Touring Petting Farm; watch the kids race around the pedal tractor course and sample some local delights our first ever Farmers’ Market!
This event is included in a Joint Park or Robin Hill Frequent Visitor Pass!

MAY – Sky High

The sky’s the limit from May 23^rd-26^th as Sky High takes off again for a four-day hot air balloon extravaganza. Marvel at the fabulous balloons, meet the pilots and experience the epic Night Glow show every evening from the Lower Valley ponds!
This event is included with a Joint Park or Robin Hill Frequent Visitor Pass!

AUGUST – Jungle Fever & AFTER DARK

Take the whole family on safari this summer as Jungle Fever returns for the final year! Back by popular demand, the park’s woodland will take on a jungle theme and be buzzing with life every Tuesday & Thursday from 24th July – 31st August, 10am – 10pm.
This event is included with a Joint Park or Robin Hill Frequent Visitor Pass!

Bring a group of friends and experience AFTER DARK down in The Ponds, every Saturday night throughout the summer for this adult only (18+) event! With a programme of awesome evening entertainment, you’ll want to grab a drink from the Cocktail Bar, then dance the night away to live DJ sets!
This event is not included with a Frequent Visitor Pass; however, exclusive offers will be available to pass holders.

OCTOBER – Festival of the Dead

For the first time, our Festival of Light event has a brand-new cultural theme, this time from South America! From the 2^nd-31^st October, join us at Festival of the Dead on select evenings to celebrate this flamboyant, energetic addition to our annual event calendar!
This event is included with a Joint Park or Robin Hill Frequent Visitor Pass!

DECEMBER – POLAR

Returning for Christmas 2020, experience the festive magic of POLAR, where dreams really do come true! On selected dates between 28^th November – 31^st December, our woodland will once again be transformed into a winter wonderland and your favourite polar bear Pippa will return with a special addition for 2020!
This event is not included with a Frequent Visitor Pass; however, exclusive offers will be available to pass holders.

POLAR, a great success at Robin Hill!

9th December 2019 / No Comments

The first two weekend’s of our long-awaited winter spectacular, POLAR, have been a great success!

The park saw hundreds of customers through its gates, all immersing themselves in the woodland world of winter magic.

Since the event’s announcement back in June, POLAR has been highlighted as one not-to-miss this Christmas and it hasn’t disappointed customers…

“Well done Robin Hill, POLAR is amazing, the best event yet (and we’ve been to them all). Would recommend it for everybody. Thank you.”

POLAR plays host to an array of festive delights; from the twinkling winter woodland and seasonal food & drink offering, to the handmade decoration workshops and themed rides. The evenings culminate in a heart-warming finale show that sees a little boy’s Christmas dream come true, with a very special surprise that delights audiences and has brought a tear to the eye on many already!

“We just wanted to say a huge thank you to the Robin Hill team for our wonderful evening at POLAR! We had such a lovely time; it was so nice to have a special experience to share as a family. These times are precious and important.”

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Visitors can take a ride on the Big Red Express, driven by none other than Father Christmas himself and then follow the winter fairies through the woodland to the POLAR Hollow. After marvelling at the giant 30-foot-tall Christmas tree, continue the journey to meet the star of the show, life-sized polar bear, Pippa! She’s a big bear but she’s as gentle as they come and is particularly fond of hugs.

Only 4 dates remain with limited capacity, so don’t miss out and book now! For more information, and to book your POLAR experience, CLICK HERE!

Let’s see Diwali out with a BANG!

30th October 2019 / No Comments

CALLING ALL FVPs

We want to celebrate the last weekend of Festival of Light with you!

This year is the final year of our Diwali inspiration theme so we’re giving you the ultimate wrap party experience with as much Holi Powder as we can find, PLUS an awesome 20% off curries!

Join us at Festival of Light, Inspired by Diwali on Saturday 2^nd November to end the event with a bang!

Holi Colour Arena
We know how much you all love the vibrant Colour Arena so now’s your chance to make the most of it and experience it totally FREE! Visit on Saturday 2nd November, with your FVP card to claim your Holi Powder free of charge, even if you’ve already experienced the arena! Join us and get stuck in! Max 2 packets per guests – subject to availability.

Taste of India – EXCLUSIVE 20% OFF

Everyone’s loving our authentic curries this year and to celebrate the last evening of this event with you, all Frequent Visitor Pass holders will receive an exclusive 20% off any curry from the Woodland Ponds outlet! That means you could try our ‘Taste of India’, an explosion of Indian subcontinental taste, for only £7.20, that’s a saving of £1.80! Simply show your FVP card when ordering.

Electro-Light Circus
The feedback from the Electro-Light Circus this year has been incredible so we want to give as many of you the chance to see it as possible! If you’ve not yet seen the show, we advise arriving as early as possible to claim your tickets for either the 7:30pm or 9pm show. We’re expecting a large number of visitors with queues from 5pm onwards so please do ensure you’ve read the T&Cs and have all the information you need ahead of visiting, including your FVP cards.

We want to celebrate the end of this event and give as many of you a chance to see the show as possible but due to the Amphitheatre’s limited capacity, for safety reasons, Electro-Light Circus show tickets will continue to be issued as normal from our admissions desk upon entry to the park on a first-come-first-served basis, whilst availability lasts.

Don’t forget – bring FVP pass so you can get your discount, and so we can get you all in quickly… The park is open from 10 am on Saturday, so try to avoid arriving at 18.00 when queues are likely.

Help get #PippaToPOLAR

29th October 2019 / No Comments

Help Pippa’s Christmas dream come true & WIN an exclusive family VIP prize package to POLAR!

There must be magic in the air this festive season as the star of Robin Hill’s brand-new Christmas event spectacular, POLAR, comes to life! Archie and his family have travelled across the Solent with his favourite teddy, Pippa the polar bear, for an exciting Christmas holiday on the Isle of Wight. However, disaster has struck as Pippa was left on-board the ferry!

How will Pippa get back to Archie?

Pippa is looking for your help! She knows that Archie was very excited to go to POLAR at Robin Hill, so she needs your help to get there! Polar bears aren’t very good at navigating in the south and she’s already been spotted in Wightlink’s Ticket Office in Yarmouth, but it looks like she’s heading the wrong way; there’s been reports of her travelling towards Blackgang Chine.

“She’s heading to the land of wacky,

imaginative fun, teetering on a cliff

in the westward sun.”

The team over at Blackgang Chine want to help Pippa find Archie so they’ve decided to offer FREE ENTRY on Saturday 2^nd November to anyone that has already purchased a POLAR ticket! Will Archie appear? Will we see Pippa? You’ll have to come along to find out…

“We’ve heard that Pippa is heading our way, to celebrate her arrival we’ll be offering FREE entry to anyone who’s already purchased a POLAR ticket! Simply bring your order confirmation to the admissions desk and you can enjoy the park totally free on our last day of 2020, Saturday 2^nd November. Maybe we’ll see Archie too…”

– Dominic Wray, Blackgang Chine Park Manger

#PippaToPOLAR

On her journey to find Archie at Robin Hill in time for the POLAR launch on 29^th November, Pippa will appear at five locations across the Island. At each of these locations, she will leave behind a paw print poster with a clue to where she’s heading next. Each paw print will display a letter so all you have to do is find the five letters, solve the anagram and send your answers into iwradio.co.uk/POLAR for your chance to win the GRAND PRIZE!

The grand prize will grow as Pippa appears at new locations and collects more treats from her journey! As it stands, the incredible prize so far is an exclusive Family VIP experience to POLAR at Robin Hill this winter, giving you and your family the chance to meet Pippa face-to-face, enjoy some delicious festive treats and of course, experience the magical finale show!

For more information, follow #PippaToPOLAR on social and visit: iwradio.co.uk/POLAR

Festival of Light, Inspired by Diwali The Finale.

8th October 2019 / No Comments

STEP INTO THE VIBRANT WORLD OF DIWALI.

Voted the BEST EVENT IN THE UK by Day Out With The Kids, this autumn, you can join the finale of Diwali at Robin Hill’s award-winning electric woods, open from 6pm – 10pm on selected dates between 27^th September – 2^nd November.

Celebrating the finale of the vibrant Diwali theme, you’ll find yourself marvelling at the epic Electro-Light Circus, returning more intense than before, it’s sure to bring this event to a spectacular close! The incredible show featuring mind-boggling light tricks, acrobatics and circus skills is a must-see for visitors of all ages.

NEW for 2019, visitors can take part in The Spice Cinema, a five-minute documentary surrounding the spice trade, accompanied by sensory ‘zome structures’ where customers will be surrounded by the smells of spice! This year, discover the Chakra Star, hidden at the center of the event and marvel at the wonder of the seven chakras.

Uncover the fun and thrills of the family-favourite Holi powder arena and the new Neon Jungle; right through to the calm and serene celestial feel of the Woodland Ponds water projections and stunning illuminations.

Samarkand was known as the golden city as it was one of the riches cities along the silk road. Today we recreate the hustle and bustle and luster of this great ancient city through interpretive lighting and sounds within our sunken walkway on the edge of our ancient woodland. Be prepared to be blown away as you take in this year’s showpiece lighting installation.

Amidst all the exciting activity, take time to enjoy the authentic Indian menu of curries and kebabs, Asian sweet treats and traditional teas, providing a true taste of India.

The kids can get involved with Lantern Decorating workshops, indulge in some traditional henna art and marvel at the ambient street entertainment.

Richard Wells and the Brakes team up with Robin Hill

16th September 2019 / No Comments

Just a few weeks ago we teamed up with Brakes Food Service with renowned concept development chef, Richard Wells, to enhance this year’s Festival of Light menu!

Our Robin Hill catering team worked with Richard to create a brand new, contemporary menu for the event. The day started with food preparation; this entails measuring quantities of the ingredients needed for an event of this size and liaising with the experts at Brakes on the best possible produce to use.

When ingredients are procured the marinating period can begin, during this stage the spices have time to permeate the meats and vegetables, ready for cooking the following day. Richard showed the team several different rice blends until the decision was made to use a combination of white and wild rice grains for the dishes.

All elements of the dining experience are taken into consideration for our events, the meals are served in 100% recyclable takeaway boxes with recyclable cutlery. You can sit down and eat with the family or wander around the park while enjoying these culinary delights.

2019’s menu will feature Chicken Tikka Masala, Lamb Dopiaza and Butternut Gobi Dhansak (vegan) accompanied by traditional chapati or vegan naan. There will be a kid’s selection of small curries, not to forget family favourites, onion bhajis, samosas and poppadums.

For those with a sweet tooth that want to try something different, there will be Banana Doughballs served with either pistachio or coconut ice cream and drizzled with butterscotch sauce. Yum!

We know that you’re going to love this menu because you’ve already told us you do!

“I love that you’re doing a vegan curry and it’s delicious!” – David Heartly.

“Your Dhansak is just like my mums, amazing” – Varun Khan.

We are constantly looking for ways to improve at Robin Hill and appreciate all feedback from our customers, get in touch at [email protected]

Jungle Fever and Jungle Fever After Dark

22nd July 2019 / No Comments

From 23^rd July – 31^st August Jungle Fever is back this summer at Robin Hill!

Every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturdays* from 10am-10pm you can step into a world of an African Safari with life-sized African animal puppets at Jungle Fever as FEEDING TIME returns for more interactive family fun as well as a Djembe African drums workshop which will really get the vibes going! Plus, there will be Live music, character meet and greets and a special jungle-themed performance.

The South Coast Falconry will be putting on a meet and greet where you can get up close and personal with your favourite feathered friends!

Brightsparks are BACK again this year! The show is bigger and better than ever, the Two Cheeky Monkeys will be lighting up the Woodland Amphitheatre yet again in addition Flaming Risque will be on every Saturday night!