School proms set to be bigger than ever this year

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According to recent statistics, school proms are bigger than ever this year with hotels reporting a surge in bookings for prom events of 500% in some cases, and limo hire companies revealing they are having to turn away customers as the demand for luxury limos is more than most can cope with.

The prom season in the UK runs from the middle of June for four weeks until the middle of July, although some schools opt to have their end of year leaving events before and after these four weeks, this is when most are held. With 9 out of 10 schools in the Essex area throwing a school prom within the coming six weeks, the next month is going to be busy one for suppliers of prom services.

Research into prom spending habits has found that parents are forking out £415 on average for each child to go to their prom. This includes the outfit, be it a prom dress or a hired suit, hair and make up for the girls and also accessories such as shoes, handbags and jewellery, and also limo hire and party bus hire so the teens can arrive in style at the big event.

With American TV shows such as High School the Musical and Glee popularising the school prom further, end of year parties for younger children is now one of the biggest growing trends. Junior proms for children as young as 11 are fast becoming big business for limo hire providers and hotels as these youngsters want to emulate their favourite TV stars from the popular teen shows.

The UK’s leading limousine hire provider, Limo Broker, has reported a huge uptake in bookings for proms for the next four weeks. According to the national limo hire operator, July 1st is set to be the very busiest day of the year for prom limo bookings with every single pink limo within their fleet booked out for a school prom from 6pm on that date.

The phenomenon that is the school prom is gathering some serious momentum in Britain and with the news that younger and younger children are demanding end of year parties as well as the senior kids, prom fever is unlikely to slow down any time soon.

Buy limo hire at a fixed rate with brand new website limohire.co

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Finding a cheap deal on chauffeur driven limousine hire just got easier thanks to the launch of the brand new website limohire.co

With links to the UK’s largest limo hire provider, Limo Broker, the newly launched website offers customers the chance to book limousine hire trips for specific locations and events with a guaranteed fixed rate price. The fixed hire rates are continually monitored and updated so as to ensure excellent value for money for limohire.co customers.

Limohire.co offers a range of package deals with fixed low cost rates so you can locate a chauffeur driven limo hire deal to match your budget requirements quickly and easily. Take a look at the new state of the art website now where you’ll find discounted deals on Ferrari limo hire for school proms in Essex, classic Beauford wedding car hire prices for weddings in North Wales, pink H3 hummer limo hire for shopping trips to London, and Black H2 hummer limo hire for stag parties in Blackpool plus many, many more.

All of the packages are broken down into hourly rates so you can hire a limo for anything from 1 or 2 hours to 12 hours, 24 hours or a whole weekend. The prices are displayed in hourly intervals for your convenience so you can locate the right deal for your occasion with the minimum amount of fuss.

With limohire.co’s connection to the UK’s leading luxury transport provider, Limo Broker, the new site has access to an extensive range of limousines, state of the art sports cars, and elegant weddings and funky party buses so there’s something to suit every style, taste, budget and occasion amongst limohire.co’s range of services and available vehicles.

Check out the newly designed website right now and see for yourself how competitive the limo hire rates are, and how easy it is to pick up cheap luxury transport hire.

School prom dress sales expected to bring £750k worth of business to UK retailer

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A school prom dress retailer in Staffordshire is bracing itself for a busy couple of months ahead of the peak prom season in the UK.

Fashion Factory near Cannock in Staffordshire are forecasting sales of prom dresses of £750,000 over the coming weeks as school leavers flock to their shop to search for their perfect prom frock.

The prom season in Britain runs from March right through until July, so the next few months are expected to be hectic for prom dress retailers, and also associated suppliers such as limo hire companies, hairdressers and beauticians.

The phenomenon of school proms originated from American schools, but has now made its way over to the UK where almost every single secondary school in the country now holds an annual prom, and in some cases, primary schools have also starting hosting end of year proms.

Prom dress retailers, Fashion Factory, have witnessed the meteoric rise of the school prom in the UK first hand. The shop described having just one rail of prom dresses for sale several years ago, but fast forward to the present day and the Staffordshire retailer has over 1,000 prom dresses in stock, with 200 girls visiting every Saturday and a dedicated team working on prom gowns and accessories. With prom dresses selling from anything from £50 to £500, not surprisingly prom wear is big business.

If you’re still looking for the perfect ride to your school prom in the UK, get in touch with Limo Broker today for the widest range of chauffeur driven limousines and party buses, all of which are available to hire at ultra low rates.

Check prom limos are licensed warn councils

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Check your school prom is properly licensed, that’s the warning being issued to school head teachers and parents ahead of the upcoming prom season.

Last year spot checks on limousines and chauffeurs were carried out up and down the country, with a number of unlicensed operators being uncovered. As well as uncovering unlicensed drivers and limos, the on the spot checks also found that some companies were providing onboard alcohol to under 18’s.

Since October 2009, all limos carrying over 8 passengers must carry a special Certificate of Initial Fitness (COIF) licence. So if you’re planning to hire a large hummer vehicle or party buss for example, you’d be well advised to check with your limo hire company to clarify whether or not your prom vehicle carries a COIF licence.

As well as special licenses for limos carrying over 8 passengers, in 2006 it became a legal requirement for all limos used for public hire to carry a licence.

Local councils also issue licences for limo chauffeurs to ensure all drivers have the correct licence to driver a limousine and that they are physically fit. In addition to this, the council will also screen all drivers using the Criminal Records Bureau to check for any previous convictions.

The advice being given to anyone planning to hire a limo for the prom season is to book with a reputable company, and to ask for proof that both the limo and the chauffeur are properly licensed.

Party bus reveller has $12k fur coat stolen

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A party bus reveller in the US sate of North Dakota was left devastated after her fun night out in the luxury vehicle turned into a nightmare when her $12,000 fur coat was stolen from the vehicle.

The coat holds special sentimental value as it was given as an engagement present to Lisa Johnson by her fiancé 2 days earlier.

The 29-year-old had an enjoyed a great night out cruising around the Grand Forks area of North Dakota. Lisa and her friends decided to call into a truck stop diner for an early morning breakfast at approximately 2:30am, leaving the expensive fur coat draped over the front seat of the party bus.

Needless to say, when the group returned to the luxury party bus, the full length fur coat which is made of both fox and coyote fur, was missing.

Bride-to-be Lisa said she feels “sick” over the theft for her fur coat because of the great sentimental attachment she has to the item. Desperate to be reunited with the coat, the 29-year-old is offering a $1,000 reward for the safe return of the jacket. She’s also been scouring pawning shops and second hand websites in case the thieves are attempting to sell the item.

The incident highlights the importance of looking after personal items while travelling onboard chauffeur driven vehicles such as party buses or hired limousines. If you’re planning a limo hire or party bus trip in the near future for a school prom or birthday celebration, it’s advisable to not leave items unattended in the vehicle.

More limo hire operators face spot checks at school prom dates

Road side checks on limos leaving school proms in Stafford helping to clamp down on Illegal operators

Another two limo hire companies are facing investigation by licensing officials after failing to provide adequate documentation following a spot check on limousines leaving a school prom in Stafford earlier this month.

A series of roadside checks were carried out on chauffeur driven limousines after they had dropped off their passengers at a year 11 school prom which was being held at The Moat House Hotel in Acton Trussell. A number of similar sting operations have been carried out up and down the country during the peak prom season.

One of the licensing officers involved in the South Staffordshire roadside checks explained that transport officials are targeting limousines attending prom events as it allows “a unique opportunity to vet a large number of limo companies in one place in a relatively short space of time.”

The licensing officials are checking that each of the limousines and chauffeurs has the correct licence documents and also appropriate insurance as they aim to clamp down on the number of illegal limo operators working in the UK.

Two limos were singled out for further investigation after failing to provide adequate licensing or insurance documentation. Both companies are now required to deliver the requested paperwork to the authorities or face prosecution.

The Staffordshire wide crackdown on illegal limo operators during the school prom season has been a success, according to one of the officers leading the operation, who says knowledge that the roadside checks were taking place has been a strong deterrent in keeping rouge limo providers off the road.

Bath holds first ever Prom Idol contest for school prom-goers

Bath held a prom idol competition and a fashion show as part of their prom fair

Youngsters from Bath battled it out last week for the coveted title of Prom Idol at a dedicated prom fair held in the city. The event sought to help the teenagers prepare for their big occasion with suppliers and fashion and beauty experts on hand to offer advice and tips.

A range of local suppliers turned out at the prom fair, covering every aspect of the all-important school prom. From Photographers to hairdressers, limo hire experts and suit hire outlets, a great cross-section was covered at Bath Prom Fair.

The event was organised by two local business women, Amanda Farrell who runs the dress shop Drop Dead Gorgeous, and Beverley Lee from another occasion wear boutique, The Clothes Horse. They had their work cut out as they were responsible for arranging the Prom Idol contest, plus a fashion show, and organising for other suppliers to attend.

The Prom Idol contest attracted a great number of applicants, with 50 youngsters eventually vying to win the title. 2 or 3 individual were shortlisted from each school which applied. The finalists were then interviewed by a panel of judges. The event organisers said that they hoped this experience would benefit the young people in years to come when they face interviews for University places, and employment.

The eventual winners of the Prom Idol Competition in Bath were named as Yasmin Wringer and George Robinson. As part of their prize the pair were awarded a suit and prom dress, jewellery and teeth whitening.

The awards season and school prom bookings prove big sellers for limo hire in London

Limo Hire in London gets a boost from the awards ceremony season in the capital

Limo Hire in London has received a welcome boost, largely from the upcoming awards season and the school prom trend. Limo Broker has reported a surge in these types of sales, with many of their most luxurious limos getting booked out by celebrities who want to be seen in the very best vehicles.

With the Brit Awards and the BAFTA Film awards both scheduled to take place in London next month, Limo Broker has revealed that over half of their fleet based in the city are booked out for both of these dates. As well as celebrity bookings, many audience members, and competition winners are planning to ride to the Brit Awards in a chauffeur driven limo courtesy of Limo Broker.

School proms are also proving extremely popular within the London area. With virtually every high school in the city planning a prom to mark the end of term, and hundreds of schools in the surrounding area of London also holding prom celebrations in the city, it’s no surprise limousine hire for proms is flying off the shelves.

The O2 arena has also announced an exciting line-up of acts due to perform at the venue during the course of the year. With the likes of Lady Ga Ga, Black Eyed Peas, Stereophonics, Whitney Houston and the X-Factor tour all confirmed to perform, limo hire to the O2 Arena during 2010 is really hotting up.

If you require top quality limousine hire for a special occasion in London this year, book now and take advantage of Limo Broker’s January sale rates before they come to an end.

Freecycle gives boost to Bristol Prom Project

The Bristol Prom Project donates dresses and suits so that everyone can enjoy their school prom

The Bristol Prom Project donates dresses and suits so that everyone can enjoy their school prom

The Bristol Prom Project has cannily come up with a plan to get their hands on masses of prom dresses, prom suits and other accessories for no cost at all. The internet swap site, Freecycle has proved an invaluable source for the organisation which seeks to provide youngsters from low income families with all they could possibly need to attend their school prom.

The cost of attending a school prom can really escalate and for some families, the financial burden is too great which means that some teenagers are unable to go to their prom. The Bristol Prom Project believes that no one should have to miss out on this rite of passage and have therefore set up their own project which seeks donations of prom dresses and accessories from the local community, and also scours sites such as Freecycle to source these essentials. They then seek to match their finds with prom-goers across the city.

Freecycle has helped enormously in the Project’s quest for prom paraphernalia. The internet site was set up for people in the local area to unload their unwanted belongings to others who did want it. A mind-boggling array of articles can be found on there at any one time, one University student really got lucky when she got a car off the site for nothing, another group of friends actually furnished their whole house from items found on Freecycle.

As the prom season draws closer, no doubt the Bristol Prom Project will be busy trawling the site in search of gems for their worthy cause. If you have an unwanted prom dress or suit that’s cluttering up your wardrobe, why not do your bit for the prom-goers-to-be and hand it over to the Bristol Prom Project who will ensure it goes to a very good home.

School prom fair in Scarborough introduces the best prom limos

The best prom limousines to be showcased as part of Scarborough's prom show

As youngsters all over the UK gear up for their upcoming school proms, special events are being held up and down the country to help with that all-important preparation. Now Scarborough has announced their own School Prom Fair which promises to help prom-goers in their quest to find the perfect dress, limo, and hairstyle for the big night.

In the past few years the craze for the American style school prom has taken the UK by storm. Now almost every secondary school in the country holds an annual prom to mark the end of the school year.

Scarborough’s school prom fair is being organised by Beautiful Brides and is due to take place on Wednesday evening at Scarborough Rugby Club. The manager of Beautiful Brides, Anne Greenwood, admitted to being a “little nervous” as this is the first prom fair they’d arranged. However Mrs Greenwood added that they are confident the event will be a success as they’d received a positive response from the local schools.

A great range of local suppliers will be present at the fair including suit hire companies, beauty salon and hairdressing representatives, and limo hire firms. They’ll be able to provide you with useful tips and advice on the best limousines and looks to suit your prom. There’ll also be a fashion show displaying the latest trends in prom dresses and suits.