Bring your bucket and spade: urban beach arrives at the Coppergate Centre
Free summer fun in York city centre
A huge delivery of premium quality sand has marked the arrival of an exciting new addition to York city centre, as the Coppergate Centre prepares to open its very own urban beach – Coppergate Strand!
Even as a team of intrepid beach-builders were levelling 15 tonnes of sand, children were clamouring to jump into the city centre’s largest sand pit. However, they will have to wait until the weekend to enjoy the beach, as preparation work continues until its official opening this Saturday (29 July). Recreating a classic British beach scene, the sand will be surrounded by wind breaks, with a host of buckets, spades, windmills and sand moulds – as well as a few deckchairs for anyone who fancies knotting a hanky on their head and braving the British summer sun!
The name – Coppergate Strand – is of Viking origin, as ‘strond’ is the Norse word for ‘beach’. Indeed, The Strand in London was a sandy area by the riverside during the time of the Vikings, and its name has stuck for over 1000 years!
“The benches in Coppergate are always a popular place for people to sit during the summer, so we thought that creating our own urban beach was a great way to give families some chill-out time in the city centre this summer,” comments the Coppergate Centre’s manager, Pippa Unwin. “The stores in the Coppergate Centre sell everything you might need for a beach holiday, from sunscreen and sunglasses to beachwear and flip-flops, so you don’t need to wait until you get home to try out your beach attire! You can even cool down with cold drinks and ice creams available – perfect for anyone who wants the beach experience without having to face the traffic jams on the A64!”
A special foot-washing area has been set up so that no-one has to wander around York with uncomfortably sandy feet. Whatever the British summer, Coppergate Strand will remain open throughout the school holidays.
The Coppergate Centre is the only shopping centre within York’s city walls, offering visitors a combination of great shopping, culture and food and drink. It is home to the new JORVIK on Tour exhibition in York St. Mary’s, as well as stores including Fenwick, TopShop, Body Shop, Charles Clinkard, Clarks and Boots.
ENDS
Pictures show: Seven year old Rhiannon Commins from York is the first to try out the summer beach at York's Coppergate Centre
For further media information or photographs, please contact:
Jay Commins
Pyper York Limited
Tel: 01904 500698
Email: jay@pyperyork.co.uk
