Matt Damon and Michael Douglas star in a brand new film about the excessive, piano playing, Betty White dating, ‘I’m not homosexual’ Liberace.
Before Elvis, before Elton John, Madonna and Lady Gaga, there was LIBERACE – infamous pianist, outrageous entertainer and flamboyant star of stage and television. A name synonymous with showmanship and extravagance, he lit up every stage he performed on, as bright as his candelabras and with a unique flair that gained him millions of devoted fans across the globe.
In the summer of 1977, handsome young stranger Scott Thorson walked into Liberace’s dressing room and, despite their age difference and seemingly different worlds, the two embarked on a secretive five-year love affair. To the outside world Scott was an employee, at most a friend, but behind closed doors his life with Liberace was an intense rollercoaster of hedonistic fun, flamboyance and excess.
Starring Michael Douglas as Liberace and Matt Damon as Scott Thorson, BEHIND THE CANDELABRA tells the fascinating true story of their glamorous life together and their tempestuous relationship — from the glitz and glamour of the early days in Las Vegas to their very bitter and public break-up.
If someone had told me that I would sit through the first act of the same play three times in the same evening and actually enjoy it, I thought I would be laughing at them, not with them.
But this cleverly written play, produced for this national tour by The Old Vic Theatre, amounted to a hilarious and thoroughly entertaining evening at the theatre.
In Michael Frayn’s classic comedy, a group of actors initially find themselves rehearsing Act One of a play, “Nothing On” in the small frantic hours before the opening night of a regional tour. Nothing is ready, the cast don’t know their lines, there is a significant problem with the sardines and the director, Lloyd Dallas, is becoming increasingly agitated and frustrated at the lack of progress. The relationships between the actors become strained when their backstage shenanigans start to interfere with their professional integrity.
Fast forward to the middle of the tour. Life on the road is taking its toll on the company and what we see is the view from backstage, as the cast perform Act One of “Nothing On” to an eager audience of pensioners and as jealously, rivalry and a quickly disappearing bottle of whiskey backstage all contribute to the sabotaging of each other’s performances whilst keeping the ‘noises off’ the main stage.
The final scene is once again viewed from the auditorium, where the cast, on the last performance of the tour, perform Act One of “Nothing On” with a complete lack of enthusiasm, damaged props, an almost total disregard of the script and a ridiculous amount of improvisation as the performance spirals out of control.This incredibly cleverly written play was great fun. The first act centred on the rehearsal of a play within the play. The audience were treated to watching and engaging in the story and characters of the fictional play being rehearsed, which was actually a funny and traditional farce, with a story you could follow, plenty of well-timed entrances and exits and which was very much in keeping with the spirit of the genre. However, the parallel narrative of the lives, loves and inabilities of the cast and crew was equally engaging and sharply written. The interchange between the two stories was seamless as the audience switched between the two narratives with ease. Utilising the theatre as part of the set (by having the director try his best to control the stage from amongst the audience in the stalls) was a brilliant move, as it really drew in the audience, making them feel like part of the company.
The backstage section was absolute comic genius and it is almost worth seeing the play for this section alone. This part of the play was virtually silent, as the now familiar story of “Nothing On” was being performed on stage whilst the company was falling apart off stage. The cast appeared and disappeared through various doors as the play continued whilst the crew physically fought, tied each other’s shoelaces together, hid items from each other and join forces to prevent one cast member from getting drunk. What followed was 30 minutes of simply brilliant, fast paced and perfectly directed and choreographed physical comedy. It was clear that the cast (and the director, Lindsay Posner) had worked very hard to achieve such impeccable comic timing and it was one of the finest pieces of stage comedy I have seen in a long time.
The final section transported the audience back to sitting in front of the stage, where at the end of the run, the company and the play is falling apart. Wobbly scenery, failing props and stage fatigue all contribute to the increasingly crumbling performance. Whilst this section was enjoyable, it was here, where, after such an impressive second act, the final act paled slightly and the joke started to stretch a little compared to what had come before it, but to be fair, the second part was a very difficult act to follow.
The cast were all first-rate, and as previously mentioned, had clearly worked incredibly hard to perform as they did. Neil Pearson was excellent as Lloyd Dallas, the frustrated director. You could feel his pain as he tried desperately to hold things together just before opening night. Maureen Beattie’s turn as Dotty Otley was also a particular pleasure. Her character could almost be a forerunner for Mrs Overall in Acorn Antiques or Mrs Doyle in Father Ted and not only was Beattie’s stage presence noticeable; her comic performance was on a par with Julie Walters performance as the aforementioned Mrs O. The very handsome Simon Bubb put in an incredibly good performance as the hapless and downtrodden Tim, a stagehand, understudy and general dogsbody. Bubb subtly generated a character that you couldn’t help but easily warm to and empathise with. The remaining cast were all incredibly good and there was no weak link in them, each of them, in their own way, deserving a specific mention. The relatively simple set was well utilised and the play as a whole had a good balance between sharp yet warm writing, likeable characters and hysterical physical comedy.
The show was written in 1982 yet didn’t feel dated at all, giving off a real feel of a mixture of both the early Channel 4 (slightly anarchic) comedies such as “The Comic Strip” coupled with the charm of the 70’s sitcoms such as The Good Life, George and Mildred and Some Mother’s Do ‘Ave ‘Em. Noises Off had an infectious, almost naive allure which was positively delightful.
Noises Off is currently playing at the Sheffield Lyceum Theatre before continuing its national tour.
Barry Humphries has been with Edna Everage since the very beginning. In Handling Edna: The Unauthorised Biography by Barry Humphries he describes how they met, and the adventure she’s dragged him along for ever since.
Before the book even begins there is a “Note to the Reader” alluding to the fact that some people have come to believe that Barry Humphries and Dame Edna are essentially the same person. Humphries writes that he hopes to shed some light on where this belief came from, so that the reader can make their own decision about what they believe.
The first chapter starts in Moonee Ponds, Australia and describes how Barry and Edna met. Humphries writes in the first person, and throughout the book uses description to indicate the decade and location of events he describes.
Each chapter gives an entertaining and fascinating insight into Barry’s life and career (or lack of), Edna and her family’s life and careers, her rise to stardom (and Barry’s lack of understanding as to why) and the problems that it brought her – all in a chronological order.
A few highlights (in no particular order) include Barry being the warm up act for Dame Edna – for various shows; Edna’s time in Hollywood; Barry’s stint in hospital with alcoholism and Edna being his only visitor; Barry’s love life; Barry’s impersonation of Edna on two occasions – the first for his benefit and the second trying to help her; Edna’s poor mental health – in particular in relation to the death of Norm (her husband).
Towards the end of the book you start to get a fictional feel to the book especially in the final few chapters. Early in the book Madge hands Barry a letter for Edna. Madge instructs Barry to only give the letter to Edna when she dies. In the final chapter Madge finally dies in hospital. Barry remembers the letter and it reveals that Madge took Edna’s missing daughter Lois in a moment of madness (which explains why Madge tolerated Edna over the decades). There’s a predictable twist that leaves the reader feeling oddly satisfied.
Having read the book do I believe that Barry Humphries and Edna Everage are the same person?
Yes, but that only makes Humphries even cleverer. The factual parts about Barry’s life are interesting to read, but the fiction about Edna is even more enjoyable. The book is a throughly entertaining read and it gives an insight into the psyche of Humphries. As you’d expect from a bibliography it has several glossy photo pages throughout the book.
A couple from the Isle of Man are petitioning for a change in the law after they were refused an accommodation agreement on the basis of their sexual orientation.
Kira Izzard and Laura Cull from the Isle of Man’s capital, Douglas, said they were ‘shocked’ to discover there was no law in place to protect them from discrimination based on sexuality.
The BBC is reporting that the couple have launched a petition calling for introduction of the UK’s Equality Act 2010.
The petition has gained the support of over 1000 people.
Chief Minister of the Isle of Man, Allan Bell MHK said:
“I am extremely disappointed that this type of ugly, out-dated prejudice survives after all the work that has been done over the past 20 years or so to make the island a more tolerant place
“I do believe that our society today is generally much more tolerant than it used to be. But this incident shows that there are still isolated pockets of bigotry that can only be tackled through legislation.
“An Equality Bill, based on the UK Equality Act 2010, is already in the drafting process and will deal with discrimination of this kind. I have asked that preparation of this legislation be accelerated.
The Chief Minister concluded:
‘I have a clear message for those inside or outside the Isle of Man who still think this is an outpost of old-fashioned prejudice. This is a modern, caring, compassionate and inclusive society and we do not want to be associated with bigots who live in the past.’
Ms. Izzard and Ms Cull are planning to be civilly partnered later this year. The couple were told by the Citizen’s Advice Bureau that the landlord was acting within the law
Homosexuality was outlawed under Isle Of Man law until 1992. Civil Partnerships were legalised in April 2011. Same-sex couple are also legal able to adopt.
In my opinion there is one and only one classic icon worth mentioning in Hollywood history. Whether gay, straight, bi or Thai, everyone knows and loves Marilyn Monroe in one way or another.
While there are some more emblazoned gay icons to have emerged from history, the Judy’s, the Barbara‘s, the Bettes; for me it was always Norma Jeane that was most relatable to my cowered closeted childhood. Her line in How to Marry a Millionaire, “Men aren’t attentive to girls who wear glasses” immediately made me feel better about my new dorky frames.
Born with an absent father, a mentally unstable mother Norma Jeane was bounced around various carers and foster homes. She was constantly uprooted and very often sexually assaulted or abused during this time and when she was just sixteen she was married off to her high school boyfriend in order to prevent her from being sent to another foster home. No wonder the girl grew up nuts, wouldn’t you?
While most of us know her singing about diamonds or making out with a cross-dressing Tony Curtis, Marilyn appearing in over thirty movies which is an impressive number when you consider she died at age 36.
Here was a woman who famously wore nothing but Chanel No 5 to bed, a woman who worked a billowing white dress and a subway vent to such a level its been parodied more times than anyone could count. The most widely recognised and most famously sexual actress of all time… but she still never found a nice guy. Now tell me you can’t relate to that. A woman every man fantasised about but one that none seemed to love. Now I’m not saying I’m the world’s most sexual freelance writer but I find comfort in the fact while I may STILL be single, even Marilyn Monroe had trouble with men.
Marilyn’s famous relationships included the boy next door, the jock, the affair with the President (and his brother) and the famous Jewish playwright. All of which failed often leaving her heartbroken and unstable… total gay icon.
Marilyn spent most of her life in therapy, looking at her childhood it’s no wonder. She was supposedly diagnosed with hypersexuality, sleep disturbances, substance abuse and disturbed interpersonal relationships… TOTAL gay icon.
I love Marilyn Monroe; she always seemed to show me that even though you’re beautiful you can still feel insecure and that not everyone is how they seem on the outside. She was beautiful, fragile, loved to sing and dance and was always looking for someone to love. Would have been an amazing hag.
Opinions expressed in this article may not reflect those of THEGAYUK, its management or editorial teams. If you’d like to comment or write a comment, opinion or blog piece, please click here.
After seeing several of director Paul Taylor Mills’ previous productions, I thought I knew what to expect from bare: the rock musical, but I was genuinely swept away by this fresh and dynamic tale of teenage love and angst.
An exquisitely sexy musical with an extremely talented and equally alluring cast, I laughed and cried with the characters as every emotion is played out in front of us. Heartstrings were tugged in every direction, whilst my every sense tingled with the visual and aural treats of this vibrant production.
Written by Jon Hartmere and Damon Intrabartolo, bare tells the story of a group of teenagers at a Catholic boarding school discovering love and, by default, themselves. Told with such absolute warmth, the audience is provided an extremely intimate view into the lives of these youngsters. There are some beautifully tender moments in amongst the lively, fast-paced action and I can’t remember the last time I felt so emotionally invested in a show and its characters. Scenes of real heartbreak are gently softened with an expert use of humour, providing not just relief but also some genuine laugh-out-loud moments.
Jason (Ross William Wild) and Peter (Michael Vinsen) are in a clandestine relationship, as rocky as it is secret. As they are pulled apart, Ivy (Lilly-Jane Young) is quick to take advantage of Jason’s newly single status which breaks Matt’s (Dale Evans) heart and angers Nadia (Melanie Greaney), all set against the backdrop of rehearsals for the school production of Romeo and Juliet. Confused? This is the tangled web that is brilliantly interplayed in this highly emotional rollercoaster as we watch relationships and, indeed, lives torn apart. Throw in a steadfastly conservative mother (Yvette Robinson) who refuses to allow her son to come out (even to her), a possibly-closeted priest (Matt Harrop) and a strict Sister with a sideline in sass (Hannah Levane), and you get the picture.
Will Burton’s casting is beyond superb on this production. The leads are exceptional and supported by a hugely talented ensemble. I was particularly struck by the sensitivity between Wild’s Jason and Vinsen’s Peter – so touching it is very easy to see the love between the two characters.
Ross William Wild is captivating and his brilliant eyes tell every emotion Jason feels, a detail rarely seen so honestly portrayed. Michael Vinsen is equally expressive and particularly skilful at using his voice to convey emotion.
Other notable performances came from Lilly-Jane Young and Dale Evans. Ivy’s vulnerability and longing is visible throughout but never more so than during her solo number, All Grown Up. Her handling of some particularly tough scenes displays a sensitivity and grace far beyond her years. Her suitor is portrayed beautifully and intelligently by Evans with Matt’s desperation for Ivy’s attention clearly visible.
Jason’s sister, the larger than life Nadia is played expertly and utterly believable by Melanie Greaney, who is an absolute pleasure to watch and listen to. It’s difficult to comprehend that this is Greaney’s professional debut with the strength and skill she so visibly exhibits here. Indeed, for many of the cast, bare marks their professional debut – and what a debut it is!
The outstanding performance of the night though has to go to Hannah Levane’s fabulously feisty Sister Chantelle. With a strong, powerful voice that is bang on the note, it was a rare and exquisite privilege to hear her so close.
The intensely beautiful score is complemented perfectly by Racky Plews’ tight choreography, which is perfectly executed throughout.
Paul Taylor Mills’ vision is, as always, thoroughly engaging and enlightening. It’s rare to come out of a show feeling so wholly fulfilled. Without a doubt, bare is one of the very best things on the London stage at the moment and, if you don’t see this production, you’re missing out on something very special indeed.
bare: the rock musical plays at the Union Theatre, Southwark until 25 May. Tickets are currently sold out, but it is very definitely worth checking the website regularly and asking the venue for returns.
A man has been killed in what is being reported as a possible homophobic attack in the southern Russian city of Volgograd, early on Friday morning.
The 23-year-old man who has not yet been named was found dead in the courtyard of an apartment building. His wounds included multiple stab wounds including some in the genital area, the federal Investigative Committee said on Saturday.
Reuters is reporting that, a 22-year-old acquaintance of the victim and a 27-year-old ex-convict had been detained on suspicion of murder.
Andrei Gapchenko, who is investigating the killing, said the victim had been drinking with the two men – who then attacked him after revealing his sexuality.
Leading gay rights activist Nikolai Alexeyev said a bill to outlaw spreading “homosexual propaganda” among minors, given preliminary approval by parliament in January, would make Russians less likely to fear consequences for attacking gays.
“This monstrous incident in Volgograd demonstrates the fruits of the homophobic policy that is being conducted in this country, including the initiative to ban homosexual propaganda,” Interfax news agency quoted Alexeyev as saying.
I discovered Noël Coward as a teenager and have been besotted ever since.
Who could fail to love the poignant ‘Brief Encounter’ or the hilarious ‘Hay Fever’? His songs are breathtaking too with the classic ‘Mad about the Boy’ having got me through many a hopeless yearning for one I can’t have. I also love Noël’s wit and bon mot. Three of my favourite quotations are as follows:
“My philosophy is as simple as ever. I love smoking, drinking, moderate sexual intercourse on a life diminishing scale, reading and writing (not arithmetic)”
“It’s discouraging to think how many people are shocked by honesty and how few by deceit.”
“It’s not that I’m homosexual constantly, it is just that I give them a helping hand from time to time.”
I also found the following little gem the other day. It’s an extract from his diaries from May 1958 and I love it. The man was pure genius. Not only did he write fantastic plays, look rather dapper, pen sublime films and some corking good poems but he was also a very wise man:
“It is hard to imagine, considering the inherent silliness, cruelty and superstition of the human race, how it has contrived to last as it has. The witch hunting, the torturing, the gullibility, the massacres, the intolerance, the wild futility of human behaviour over the centuries is hardly credible. And the laws, as they stand today, are almost inconceivably stupid. With all this brilliant scientific knowledge of atom splitting and nuclear physics etc. We are still worshipping at different shrines, imprisoning homosexuals, imposing unnecessary and completely irrelevant restrictions on each other. Hearts can be withdrawn from human breasts, dead hearts, and, after a little neat manipulation, popped back again as good as new. The skies can be conquered. Sputniks can go round and round the globe and be controlled and guided. People are still genuflecting before crucifixes and Virgin Marys, still persecuting other people for being coloured or Jewish or in some way different from what they apparently should be. There are wars raged at the moment in Indonesia, Algeria, the Middle East. Cyprus etc. The Pope will make pronouncements against birth control. The Klu-Klux-Klan is still, if permitted, ready to dash out and do some light lynching. God for millions of people is still secure in his heaven…”
I think Noël’s words still ring true today and sadly lots of things haven’t changed in over 50 years. A true iconic figure and one of the original and best dapper gay men of the Twentieth Century.
Opinions expressed in this article may not reflect those of THEGAYUK, its management or editorial teams. If you’d like to comment or write a comment, opinion or blog piece, please click here.
“Take the Pledge” Anti-Homophobia Campaign Campaign Launched by Two Fifteen Year Old Straight Teens with the LGBT Network
Two heterosexual teenagers, Nathan and Ross have launched a campaign to encourage people to “Take The Pledge” in support of the LGBTQ community. The web based campaign on www.skelat.com/LGBTQ.html urges supporters to download a template which has space for their name and a paragraph on why they support the LGBTQ community. Participants are then encouraged to take a photograph of themselves holding the completed “pledge” and upload it to the Skelat.com website.
The fifteen year olds are based in Merseyside (England, UK) and despite being heterosexual, decided to setup the campaign to garner support for the community as they have witnessed the increase of casual homophobia and transphobia. Skelat.com was set up in January 2013 and is funded by the teenagers themselves and has grown to include blogs, useful tips, information sharing sections and various fundraising initiatives supporting different charities.
Over half (55%) of lesbian, gay and bisexual young people have experience bullying at School. The school report: the experiences of young gay people in Britain’s schools (PDF). http://bit.ly/ZEUPTJ London: Stonewall.
When asked what inspired him to set up the LGBTQ project, Nathan from Skelat.com said:
“People need to say enough is enough when it comes to discrimination, it is something we see all too much. Whether it is in our workplace, our play grounds or even our social networks, it’s something which needs to stop. People should only be judged by the content of their character Take The Pledge was born to give people the opportunity to share their opinion and support the community in a very visual and engaging manner and I would ask everyone to log onto the website and Take The Pledge.”
“In 2013 it is unacceptable that homophobic and transphobic bullying still blights the lives of millions of young people the world-wide. Young LGBTQ people are exposed to homophobic and transphobic bullying in schools and increasingly on-line from their bedrooms, the very place they should feel safe and protected. More work needs to be done to highlight this problem and the LGBT Network is thrilled to support this campaign from Skelat.com. The ‘Take the Pledge’ campaign allows people to affirm their support of the LGBTQ community in a very personal and visual manner. It is truly inspiring that two 15 year old heterosexual allies would show their commitment to equality in this way and they are a credit to their families and the communities within which they live.”
Online magazine Aswat is calling upon Arab citizens to speak out against homophobia.
Aswat Magazine is publishing user-submitted photos aimed at reducing discrimination faced by the gay community in the Arab world as part of its ‘Love For All’ campaign.
The magazine is sharing the images on their Facebook and Twitter pages.
Interviewed by Tunisia Live, activist Maher al Haj spoke about the campaign, ‘We aim to educate not only the LGBTQ Arab community but also reach out to others as well who might have many misconceptions about us.
‘We are humans like others, we exist everywhere and we deserve to be acknowledged and celebrated within the fabrics of our societies like all other groups in society.’
The ‘Love For All’ campaign is organised to coincide with this year’s International Day Against Homophobia on 17th May.
The sun poured down upon me as I stepped off the jet for my 36 hours non-stop whirlwind tour of Valencia. Now this is the kind of article I like to write. Sun, sea and Spain. I was in Valencia, Spain’s third largest city, for the launch of Ford’s brand new Kuga, but why not kill two birds with one stone, look at the car and marvel at its wondrousness and secondly get some quality time in Spain and write about one of the most gay friendly cities in Spain.
Even though it was the 1st of February the temperature soared above 26 degrees and even the locals admitted it was a bit of a rarity for so early on in the year, however I didn’t mind having only just hours before left the grey, dank and ever so depressing 4.00AM morning of Great Britain.
Almost a second home for us Brits, Spain has it all, great wines, great food and abundance of sunshine and the lesser known destination of Valencia is an incredible jewel on Spain’s eastern seaboard, nestled a few hundred miles below Barcelona. It has it all, azure seas, miles of soft, spongey sands, bustling cafes, shopping, culture and art.
Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències by Marcp Dmoz
First stop on my gay in Valencia was the iconic and otherworldly Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències (City of Arts and Sciences). Extraordinary in their design, these incredible structures rise out of crystal pools of water and house an array of the weird and wonderful. Take a moment to just marvel at the sheer engineering of these iconic buildings, you could be on the set of a futuristic Hollywood blockbuster. The first of these sheer enamel coloured forms is the L’Hemisfèric which was completed in 1998, it houses Valencia’s IMAX, Planetarium and Laserium, other buildings include L’Oceanogràfic (the largest open air oceanographic park in Europe, and the immense El Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia, Valencia’s own opera house, giving even Sydney’s superstar Opera House a run for its money.
CREDIT: TheGayUK
After lunch, hot foot it over to the Institut Valencià d’Art Modern (Valencian Institute of Modern Art) to catch up on the latest and greatest from the world of modern art, however if this is all too much like hard work, you could always grab a coffee at one of many downtown cafes and simply watch life go by.
After a quick refreshment, off to the shops to emerge yourself in the many little boutiquey fashion outlets, many of them carrying some rare vintage pieces, and the owners are always happy to help, and even converse in English if Spanish isn’t your strongest talent.
CREDIT: TheGayUK
If you want to get trendy, then head over to Ruzafa, which is the place for all your exclusive, concept shopping needs. You simply must check out Caroline, one of coolest places in Valencia. The shop aims to boost designers’ profiles, but allows only products that fall into Caroline’s exclusive product philosophy. Whilst there check out Garage Vintage for vintage 70s, 80s and 90s clothing and Gnomo, where you can find decor, lighting toys and all manner of gadgets. However if you’re looking for more recognisable high-street names then head over to Colon, which is the main shopping street.
The marvellous thing is that almost everywhere in Valencia is walkable and because the weather is usually so fine, it’s lovely to meander down the back streets of this ancient, dusty romantic city.
So onto dinner, well Valencia isn’t short of a few places to eat and if your into extreme dining pleasure than I can only recommend dining at the 3 Michelin starred Vuelve Carolina for some sensational cuisine. The chef upon hearing I was vegetarian, did not scream obscenities at me and chase me down the street with a carving knife in one hand and a leg of pancetta in the other – but made a bespoke, gorgeous plate of fresh sea vegetables and fresh baked breads, hummus and other tapas delights. Don’t forget the Spanish don’t tend to eat till late so don’t expect the party to get started until ten.
After dinner you might want to experience a bit of the gay nightlife in Valencia, well there are some great little hotspots in town. The majority of Valencia’s gay area is centred around the old town in the Barrio Del Carmen. Valencia is said to be more liberal than both Madrid and Barcelona. There are plenty of bars, clubs, saunas and accommodation options in Valencia.
CREDIT: TheGayUK
I stayed at the five-star Hotel Santos Las Arenas, a beautiful, plush hotel which boasts sea views and is planted right on the beach front. The bedrooms are cool and decorated in typical elegance, whilst you can lavish and de-stress in your room’s shower/bathroom, with high end cleansing products. I’ve never quite experienced a shower like it, you’ll just have to believe me when I say, even your feet will thank you for the hydro massage. The numerous spas, pools and relaxation spaces will invigorate as well as rejuvenate the senses before you leave for a brisk walk along the promenade taking in the sites of beach life in Valencia, catch early morning joggers and yoga practitioners as they shape up for the day ahead. The staff are trained to an exceptional level and nothing is too much trouble and many, if not all, are multi lingual. You can call the hotel directly at +34 963 120 600.
Before you head off back home make sure you visit the Modernist Mercado Central, it’s one of
CREDIT: TheGayUK
Europe’s largest indoor markets. The vendors and stalls sell a remarkable array of goods from fresh fruits and vegetables to robust wines and brawny cheeses, and in the middle of it all you’ll find a Tapas haven, perfect for a spot of lunch before boarding the jet back to Blighty.
SwissAir, Iberia, British Airways, Ryanair and easyJet all fly to Valencia from various airports around the UK, from £48 return RyanAir Flights leaving on Saturday 20th April – Tuesday 23rd April 2013, or £110 /£191 easyJet / AirFrance
