It’s Pamper Time for At-Bristol!

Wed 1 September 2010

At-Bristol, the popular hands-on science centre on Bristol’s Harbourside, will close for a spruce, shine and polish next week as the venue gets an all important refresh after a busy summer.

At-Bristol is one of the UK’s biggest and most exciting interactive science centres with over 300 world class educational exhibits.  The charity attraction is open all year round, with the exception of Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day.  Not surprisingly the venue can take a few knocks from the 185,000 annual visitors it receives through its doors.  The family attraction will close to the public from Monday 6 until Friday 10 September 2010 to allow for essential maintenance works.  The Planetarium will remain closed until 16 September.  

Early September is traditionally a much quieter time for At-Bristol, with limited education bookings due to the start of the new school year. The annual closure not only allows for essential maintenance work, but enables staff to get together for science and astronomy training and to test and learn about the fantastic new exhibits being designed and developed on-site. 

The iconic Planetarium will get an all important break, when the Spitz maintenance team arrive from the USA to give it an annual pamper and make it shine and twinkle as brightly as the stars on display within it.  Visitors will have a final chance to see the Summer Night Sky show when the Planetarium re-opens.  The inspiring Autumn Night Sky show will then launch for the new season on 21 September running until 13 December 2010.

The family-friendly Café, with its play area and special At-Bristol 10th Birthday exhibit will remain open throughout the refresh, allowing customers to stop by for regular coffee and cake and enjoy a delightful lunchtime menu overlooking the attractive Millennium Square.   The At-Bristol shop with its unusual and special gifts will also be trading as normal, apart from Wednesday 8 September when it will be shut for stock take and a spruce. Car parking operations and venue hire bookings will also be unaffected.

‘Splish, Splash Splosh’ is among one of many forthcoming calendar events to look forward to when At-Bristol re-opens. The first ever Toddler Takeover day is being held on 17 September 2010 and is devoted exclusively to under fives with fun-packed themed activities including 'In the garden', 'Bath time' and 'By the sea'.  Little ones will get the chance to make giant bubbles, catch fish and float rubber ducks, water flowers in the garden, finger paint raindrops, splash about with watery sink or float experiments and listen to a story about the adventures of a pair of welly boots. Special viewings of the ‘Little Stars’ Planetarium show throughout the day will add to the excitement.
For more information on At-Bristol’s latest exhibitions log on to: www.at-bristol.org.uk or call Bookings on: 0845 345 1235.
ENDS

For further press information, please contact Zoë Fox in the At-Bristol press office on: 0117 9157 152 or email: press@at-bristol.org.uk