Pimlico Plumbers – the only company to have more PRs than workers – is hoping for a viral Christmas with an animation, which doubles up as an online Christmas card to the company’s customers, and features the Pimlico boss Charlie Mullins rescuing Pamela Anderson – in all her glory – from a celeb-studded party where a pipe bursts.
Even smarter for the Pimlico marketing geniuses – the video only cost £250 to make, being the prize money awarded to the lucky student won Pimlico’s competition for an animation which was incorporated into the syllabus for a Diploma in Art & Design (Interactive Media).
Sorry to bring an unpleasant smell to the Christmas Festival, but whilst the traditional Christmas roast with all the trimmings may be one of the highlights of the festive season it could also be a hidden cause of flooding. Pouring leftover fat, oil and grease down the drain is a major cause of sewer and drain blockages.
Fat, oil and grease in liquid form may not appear to be a problem, but as it cools and hardens it can lead to leaks, overflows and even raw sewage flooding people’s flats. Even if hot soapy water is used, the fat will solidify on hitting the cold sewer walls and will collect other fat and debris. Over time this builds up, preventing the normal flow of waste water and debris passing through and consequently coming out of drains, sewers and potentially into your flat.
We do have programs of preventative maintenance to try to prevent blockages, nevertheless in any typical year we end up unblocking at least 2 or 3 drains. Please – allow the fat to solidify and dispose of it with the solid rubbish.
Trafalgar Square is a simple walk down Victoria Street (or you may choose to hop on one of the many buses) and the famous annual Christmas tree, an annual gift to Westminster from Oslo as a token of thanks for British support during the years of occupation in World War Two, is centre piece of the Christmas celebrations there. This year the tree stands at 33 metres high and is 90 years old. The tree is decorated in a traditional Norwegian style with 500 white lights using voltage halogen bulbs which only draw 15amps (3.5KW) of power. They will be lit from noon until midnight each day until Thursday 6 January.
The 2010 Christmas tree lighting ceremony will take place on 2 December.
The Christmas tree in the square provides a central focus for the traditional carol-singing programme. This year it will take place in the evenings, generally from 5pm to 9pm, from Tuesday 7 to Wednesday 22 December 2010. Different groups perform Christmas carols in the square, raising funds for voluntary or charitable organisations. All are welcome to come to the square to listen – and perhaps join in.
View the carol-singing programme to see which groups are singing when.
There are 4 local rinks local to Pimlico that you can skate on this Christmas:
The London Eye Ice Rink – Ice skating will be available daily from the 20th November 2010 until the 5th January 2011 between 10am and 9pm on the London Eye’s landscape.
The Natural History Museum, a 1,000 square metre ice rink in the spectacular setting of the Natural History Museum’s grounds
Somerset House Ice rink in the Somerset House courtyard, one of the most beautiful ice rinks in the country, both in the day and in the evening.
Winter Wonderland, Hyde Park, brings Ice Skating, the Giant Wheel & Zippo’s Christmas Circus
Pimlico Shopping
In addition to Pimlico’s regular markets there are the following special Christmas Events:
Belgravia Christmas Sunday
Sparkling their way through two of Belgravia’s most beautiful streets, reindeer and Father Christmas himself will make Christmas come to life on the 5th December. Elizabeth Street and Pimlico Road will be thriving with festive handmade craft stalls, fairies, balloon modellers, choirs, brass bands and delicious food and drink to get you in the Christmas mood. The Christmas Tree Festival is being organised by Sparks, a UK charity that funds research for conditions that affect pregnancy, babies and young children, will be held over 4 and 5 December to coincide with Belgravia Christmas Sunday. More than 30 trees will be decorated by sponsors and displayed at St. Peter’s Eaton Square. Rickshaws will be made available courtesy of Grosvenor, to ferry visitors between St Peter’s and the rest of the Belgravia Christmas Sunday events.
Lemar (The Brit and MOBO winning R&B singer songwriter) will be switching on Victoria’s festive lights at the Christmas in Harmony concert in Westminster Cathedral’s Piazza. He will be performing one of his recent hits, followed by the London Community Gospel Choir and the Urban Soul Orchestra. Free on 25 November from 6.30pm to 8.30pm at Westminster Cathedral Piazza, Victoria Street
Between the Southbank Centre/Royal Festival Hall and London Eye along the River Thames, featuring unusual Christmas presents such as amber & silver jewellery, hand crafted toys, fragile glass ornaments for your Christmas tree, hand tatted laces, tin toys, candles in all shapes and sizes, hand-made ceramics or creative metal design.
The Christmas Market will take place from the 19th November 2010 until the 23rd December 2010.
Opening times:
Sunday to Thursday
11.00am – 8.00pm
Fridays / Saturdays
10.00am – 10.00pm
It will be a German style Christmas Market with 60 wooden chalets situated between Southbank Centre and London Eye.
The carousel in the centre of the Christmas Market offers younger visitors an enjoyable attraction especially for them. Parents can relax with a glass of “Glühwein” (German Mulled Wine) while listening to traditional Christmas music and watching their little ones enjoying a ride on the merry-go-round.
This weekend the two-day Christmas Fair (Saturday 27 November, 11am-4pm, and Sunday 28 November, 10am-4pm) at Chelsea Physic Garden presents a rare opportunity to visit London’s oldest botanic garden in winter, when it is normally closed. Admission is £5 and volunteer guides will be on hand on both days to conduct guided tours. Anyone buying a Saturday ticket will be able to return on the Sunday for free.
The Fair will be held in a large heated marquee in the grounds of the Garden. The shop will also be open on both days – selling a variety of gardening books, and gifts for adults and children.
Mouth watering hot breakfasts, lunches (including game stew), mince pies and mulled wine will be provided by the Garden’s renowned Tangerine Dream Café, which will also take orders for food to be delivered in time for Christmas.
Family craft workshops (making cards and decorations from natural and recycled materials) will be taking place at the fair – in the education room.
A Christmas Show
If you haven’t seen it, Christmas presents a last opportunity to see an adaptation of E Nesbit’s classic story “The Railway Children” (it closes on January 2nd 2011).
London’s breathtaking theatrical event is staged at the former Eurostar Terminal (10 mins from Pimlico Flats by C10 Bus) where a 1,000 seat venue has been built around the railway tracks with audience seated either side. Featuring Stirling Single, a gorgeous 66-tonne steam locomotive and the Old Gentlemans’s Saloon (from the original Railway Children film) join Bobbie, Peter and Phyllis as they tell their story – of joy, sadness, laughter and love…
Trafalgar Square is a simple walk down Victoria Street (or you may choose to hop on one of the many buses) and the famous annual Christmas tree, an annual gift to Westminster from Oslo as a token of thanks for British support during the years of occupation in World War Two, is centre piece of the Christmas celebrations there. This year the tree stands at 33 metres high and is 90 years old. The tree is decorated in a traditional Norwegian style with 500 white lights using voltage halogen bulbs which only draw 15amps (3.5KW) of power. They will be lit from noon until midnight each day until Monday 5 January.
Christmas Carols at Trafalgar Square take place every night until Monday 21st December 2009, four choirs perform each night from 5pm – 9pm. Last year over fifty different carol groups took part, and it’s free to join in the fun, singing all the festive classics we know and love.
The Christmas tree at Pimlico’s local Gallery – the Tate Britain is back once again this year it has been designed by acclaimed contemporary artist Tacita Dean. The latest in a line of innovative festive installations at the famous gallery, the Christmas tree on show at Tate Britain is an unusual Yuletide piece of artwork. Free to view, the Christmas tree at Tate Britain is probably the most unusual one you will see around town this Christmas!
Ice Skating local to Pimlico – there are 3 local rinks that you can skate on this Christmas:
The Natural history Museum, a 1,000 square metre ice rink in the spectacular setting of the Natural History Museum’s grounds
Somerset House ice rink in the Somerset House courtyard, one of the most beautiful ice rinks in the country, both in the day and in the evening.
Winter Wonderland Hyde Park, brings Ice Skating, the Giant Wheel & Zippo’s Christmas Circus
