Just a snap shot of some of the gigs on in York this March.  Why not make a night of it and stay at Cumbria House York

Matt Cardle Limited availability, please contact the box office for more information. X-Factor 2010 winner Matt Cardle will be making his debut appearance at the York Barbican on Thursday 1st March 2012. This performance is the only date announced in Yorkshire so far.  After winning the X-Factor, Matt Cardle’s debut single When We Collide hit the UK charts at number 1 and stayed there for three consecutive weeks, becoming the second biggest selling single of the year. He was the most popular X-Factor contestant last year, being beaten only once in the weekly voting numbers. This year has been about touring with X Factor, and over the last four months, studiously writing and recording his debut album Letters, which reached number 2 in the UK album charts. Not only has Matt created something special, he has come up with a combination of music and lyrics far beyond the expectations of any chart debutant. On his upcoming tour, Matt will be performing songs from Letters, including hit single Run For Your Life. Don’t miss your chance to see him performing his amazing new material live. 7.00pm £26.50 york barbican centre, barbican road, york, YO10 5AA, Tel:0844 854 2757

Footloose Footloose  YSJSU Musical Production Society  23 March to 24 March  Uprooted from Boston and reluctantly transplanted to the small Bible Belt town of Bomont, Ren MacCormack finds himself in a repressed community still reeling from a devastating loss. Shortly before he arrived in Bomont, five local teens perished in a tragic car accident following a local dance. As a result, the upstanding Reverend Shaw Moore and the local councilmen passed an ordinance outlawing both dancing and excessively loud music. Convinced that the new law is hopelessly misguided, rebellious Ren puts on his dancing shoes and wins the heart of Reverend Moore’s distraught daughter, Ariel, while showing his fellow classmates that it’s perfectly normal to blow off a little steam with some loud music and good friends. 2.30pm & 7.30pm £5.50 – £6.00 joseph rowntree theatre, haxby road, york, YO91 1RT, Tel:01904 658197

Why not take a trip to York racesat the start of spring for a catchup with friends.

York in May is a fantastic place to come racing, the race season lies ahead and many star horses have risen to prominence at this event in the last few years.

Highlights of the Dante Festival in previous years have included Sariska, winning the Tattersalls Musidora in 2009 which is held on the opening day of the festival, going on to win both the English and Irish Oaks. The top horses from the action on Friday will often reappear in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot, as the leading stayers take centre stage in the Yorkshire Cup. Last year’s winner, Duncan, went on to win the Group One, Irish Field St.Leger.

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As part of York 800, the city is hosting its first ever Chocolate Festival has had a long and distinguished history with the confectionery and chocolate industry, even back in 1781 the city boasted 8 confectioners for its 17,000 inhabitants. Today the Nestle Chocolate Factory still creates a million Kit Kats a day, whilst the city has a pungent, comforting smell of dark chocolate lingering over it on roasting days. Many of York’s population have had family that once worked in the confectionery dynasties of Rowntree, Terrys and Cravens, and everyone has a lasting memory of their favourite chocolate bar, many of which were created in our fair city.

Join us Friday 6th to Monday 9th April 2012 as York becomes transformed into a Chocolate City and the industry, chocolate lovers, artisan chocolatiers, museums and attractions share a piece of York’s chocolate history.

York, Europe’s most haunted city, will be the host this March for a new and exciting festival, Spooksfest 2011. Bringing together some of the UK’s top experts in the paranormal and supernatural and using some of the UK’s most historic buildings, streets and snickleways, Spooksfest promises to be a fun, fearful and fascinating weekend.

Hear about the ghosts and gory history of York with the world famous ghost walks and meet the local ‘spirits’ on a Haunted Pub Crawl. Discover the darker secrets of the Mansion House, home to the Lord Mayor of York, by candlelight on a spooky stories tour, or perhaps visit City Screen for spine-tingling horror movies!

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Part of the fantastic York 800 list of events, Exploring York allows you to discover how York’s Royal Charter changed the city forever on this fascinating walking tour through York’s cobbled streets and Georgian avenues. Hear stories of trade, medieval guilds, royalty and religion, fraud and poverty, and find out how the Lord Mayors of York have influenced the city over the past 800 years.

Meet at St Helen’s Square, 11am & 2pm on the 28th or 29th of January for the full tour.

The JORVIK Viking Festival is a long-established festival in York, celebrating it’s Viking heritage.

The Festival sees hundreds of Vikings descend on the city and demonstrate battle-drills and training routines. The city is also treated to a range of public events including lectures, arts & crafts, encampments, river events, saga-telling, and full-scale battle re-enactments. Fun for all the family.

Jorvik viking centre is right in the bustling City Centre of York and is only a short trip from Cumbria House Bed and Breakfast by Bus, Car or even a nice stroll through York scenic streets.

The 2012 JORVIK Viking Festival will take place from 11 - 19 February 2012.

The Early Music Christmas Festival is returning to York.

The popular festival of Christmas music from the Renaissance to the present day features some of the world’s finest early music specialists including violinist Rachel Podger, directing Brecon Baroque; The Cardinall’s Musick led by Andrew Carwood; lutenist Elizabeth Kenny, Clare Salaman, Clara Sanabras and Alison McGillivray working together Strange and Ancient instruments; Joglaresa led by Belinda Sykes; Sara Stowe and Matthew Spring of Sirinu working colleagues Ute Goedecke and Per Mattsson to look at music from a Scandinavian Christmas and The Ebor Singers looking at the Christmas of King Charles I.

Since taking over in August this year we have been amazed by the many different visitors we have had stay at Cumbria House B&B. I initially thought it would be just sight seers but having been running the Guest House now with the lovely Mrs Smith for just over 4-months, we have seen many different types of visitor.

International Visitors

In August and September we saw a great deal of tourists from many parts of the world including America, Canada, Australia, China, Japan, New Zealand, Holland,Spain, Italy, Germany, Denmark, Romania, Finland, Luxemburg and Holland.

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A magical weekend of ice sculptures and outdoor entertainment with a sprinkling of snow guaranteed!

The Quarter’s Festival of Angels is a true winter festival, bringing York a winter wonderland of ice-sculptures, stalls, outdoor food and drink, street entertainment and snow showers. You’ll see Santa in the Streets and can follow the Parade of Angels on Sunday, led by the beautiful Golden Angel.

A true Christmas festival, transforming York’s most unique streets into a winter wonderland of ice-sculptures, stalls, al fresco dining, street entertainment and guaranteed ‘snow’ showers.

Popular with both visitors and residents, across the streets of Swinegate, Back Swinegate and Grape Lane.

Cumbria House, B&B York is only a short distance from the centre, why not give us a call.

October and November saw the arrival of some real Ghost Hunters to Cumbria House. Rob Kircup emailed us in September enquiring about accommodation for himself and his team (Rob, Tom, Rich and John) whist staying in York.  The reason being is that Rob is writing a book on Paranormal Activity in York buildings and there were still a few places to check out in York before he can conclude his investigations, finish the book and go to print. The book will be published by Amberley Publishing proberbly in spring 2012, and it is expected to be called Paranormal York Investigated, by Rob Kirkup ( I will keep you posted) Read more