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Coastal Cruises Poole invites the community to join a very special farewell cruise as one of Poole Harbour’s most familiar ships prepares to make her final departure.On Monday 12th October 2026, Coastal Cruises Poole will take to the water to escort Barfleur on her final sailing from Poole, marking the end of an era for a vessel that has been a much-loved sight in the harbour for more than three decades.For generations of local residents and visitors, Barfleur has been part of the fabric of Poole’s maritime landscape, carrying thousands of passengers between Poole and Cherbourg and becoming an instantly recognisable sight as she arrived and departed from the port.Now, members of the public will have the opportunity to be out on the water to witness her final departure and give her a proper Poole send-off.Coastal Cruises Poole’s Solent Scene will depart from Poole Quay at 7.30am sharp, with passengers able to enjoy bacon baps, tea and coffee as they begin this unique morning on the water.The boat will sail close to the Ro-Ro berth to watch Barfleur’s final loading before taking up position for a special farewell sail-past. In accordance with the Harbour Master’s Notice, Solent Scene will then follow approximately 50 metres astern as Barfleur makes her way out of Poole Harbour.The cruise is expected to return between 9.00am and 9.30am.Carol Scott, Director of Coastal Cruises Poole, said:“Barfleur has been such an important part of Poole’s maritime story for over 30 years, and for many people she has been a familiar sight throughout their lives. We wanted to give people the opportunity to come together, get out on the water and give her the farewell she deserves.“It will undoubtedly be an emotional morning, but also a celebration of the memories, journeys and connections Barfleur has created over the years. We are honoured to be able to play a small part in this very special moment in Poole’s maritime history.”Passengers are encouraged to wrap up warm and bring their cameras for what promises to be a unique opportunity to witness a piece of Poole’s maritime history from the water.

7th October 26, International: Start-ups and scale-ups will have access to up to £3.5m of investment capital across the cohort and a programme of coaching, pitching and commercial opportunities, as IBTM World confirms the remainder of the 15 investors to its Ignite programme this year.Delivered by IBTM World in partnership with specialist growth consultancy allpoints, Ignite has been designed to put ambitious businesses directly in front of investors actively looking for opportunities within the events industry and its wider technology and service ecosystem.The investor group brings significant experience of building, buying, investing in and exiting businesses, with more than 25 successful exits, acquisitions and investments represented across the cohort.Ahead of the show, start-ups and scale-ups will receive dedicated coaching and investment-readiness support from allpoints, helping founders sharpen their investment proposition, and ensure their business is focused on the needs and opportunities shaping the business events industry.At IBTM World, they will have the opportunity to pitch on the Future Stage, network and meet investors and tap into IBTM World’s buyer diary to secure pre-scheduled meetings with potential customers from across the global business events industry, opening their businesses to a much broader international community of buyers and event professionals.Max Fellows, Founder and CEO of allpoints, said: “£3.5m of potential investment gets attention, but Ignite is about more than putting money on the table. These are pre-qualified investors who are actively looking for opportunities, backed by people with first-hand experience of growing, acquiring, investing in and exiting businesses.“We’ll be working with the entrepreneurs ahead of the show, so they arrive prepared to make the most of that access. Add the Future Stage, the IBTM World diary and thethousands of buyers and event professionals attending the show, and the opportunity becomes much bigger than an investment pitch.”Claudia Hall, Exhibition Director, IBTM World, added: “Ignite gives start-ups and scale-ups something incredibly difficult to recreate independently: access to investment, expertise, potential customers and an international industry community in one place.“We want to see the next generation of businesses bringing their ideas to IBTM World and using the platform to accelerate what happens next. With the investor community already in place and ready to engage, there has never been a better opportunity to join us as a start-up.”Start-up spaces for Ignite remain available, but limited, with the final cohort now taking shape ahead of IBTM World, which takes place in Barcelona from 17–19 November.Successful applicants will gain access to the full Ignite programme, including investor introductions, coaching and investment-readiness support, Future Stage pitching, the Ignite Lounge, the IBTM diary and the wider international buyer and event professional community attending the show.Applications are now open

1st October 26, UK: Arena Racing Company (ARC) is continuing to demonstrate the versatility of its racecourses with the launch of a major new drone show, Neverland, in partnership with Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity (GOSH Charity).The event, taking place at the group’s Royal Windsor racecourse, 3rd October, will transform the venue for an evening of large-scale family entertainment, centred around a 600-drone display and accompanied by an immersive soundtrack and wider entertainment programme.The event will support GOSH Charity, with one £1 of every ticket sold helping to support seriously ill children from across the UK. In 1929, J.M. Barrie gifted all rights to Peter Pan to GOSH, and it continues to receive royalties for public performances of the play.Ahead of the event, the ARC team were able to visit the hospital, meeting some patients and families to learn more about where the money will be going towards. Complete with costumes, play and giveaways, the visit allowed the team to create some fun for the children while connecting directly with the cause the event is supporting.Julie Coates Walker, Group Head of Sales at ARC, commented: “There is a huge amount of work that goes into creating an event like Neverland, but our visit to GOSH was a lovely reminder of why it’s so important to support this cause.. Our teams are passionate about creating great experiences, so taking a little of that energy directly to the children and families at the hospital was incredibly special.”GOSH Charity exists to support seriously ill children treated at GOSH, helping to give them the best chance, and best childhood possible. Money raised from this event will help GOSH Charity support GOSH’s most urgent needs, including funding state-of-the-art medical equipment, vital support services for children and their families, ground-breaking research and child-centred medical facilities.Neverland is the latest in a growing programme of outdoor events taking place across ARC racecourses, as the group continues to develop the use of its venues beyond traditional racedays.With extensive outdoor space alongside permanent catering, hospitality, technical and operational infrastructure, ARC racecourses provide ready-made environments for concerts, festivals, mass-participation events, corporate experiences, and large-scale public entertainment. Drone shows are an increasingly exciting addition to that mix, combining technology, creativity, and live production to create highly visual experiences for large audiences.