PRESS RELEASE Ref: g2

May 12, 2016

British Airways i360 celebrates the best of Sussex; announcing the Nyetimber Sky Bar and other local drinks

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Nyetimber, producer of England's finest sparkling wine, is today announced as the naming partner of the Sky Bar on British Airways i360, just two weeks before leading lights from the wine world descend upon Brighton for the International Cold Climate Wine Symposium [May 26-28].

The Nyetimber Sky Bar is set to become the most unique bar in the UK, located inside British Airways i360’s aerodynamically designed glass pod. Customers will glide slowly up to 138m for 360-degree views of Sussex while enjoying a glass of Nyetimber’s Classic Cuvee sparkling wine and other drinks from the South Downs region.

British Airways i360 is currently under construction on Brighton beach and will be the world’s tallest moving observation tower when it opens this summer. It is conceived and designed by Marks Barfield Architects, creators of the London Eye.

Nyetimber’s award-winning English sparkling wine, which is produced in West Chiltington, West Sussex, will also be available in the attraction’s 400-seat restaurant the Belle Vue.

British Airways i360 CEO Eleanor Harris said: “Our vision for British Airways i360 is to serve the region's best food and drink and to showcase this on an international stage to our visitors. We are proud to partner with Nyetimber, which is a world-class sparkling wine produced in a Sussex vineyard overlooking the South Downs.

“We know our customers will be just as excited about our partnership with Nyetimber as we are. English sparkling wine is increasingly recognised as being just as good as French champagne - the chalk soil in the Sussex Downs region is similar to the chalk found in the Champagne region, and our climate is remarkably similar. In fact, French experts recently chose Nyetimber above a Grand Cru champagne during a blind taste challenge.”

Nyetimber head winemaker Cherie Spriggs said: “We are delighted to be entering into a partnership with British Airways i360. Like our award-winning English sparkling wine, this exciting new addition to Sussex will no doubt be celebrated on a national and international level. A glass of Nyetimber will be the perfect accompaniment to the stunning views from the British Airways i360 observation pod.”

MasterChef: The Professionals Winner Steven Edwards will be creating signature dishes at British Airways i360 with business partner Josh Stanzl; working with catering firm Heritage Portfolio.

Edwards said: “Nyetimber is the most prestigious English sparkling wine and perfectly complements our goal of showcasing the very best local food and drink.”

Visitors to British Airways i360 will also be able to toast the 360-degree views of Sussex with other locally sourced drinks – Harvey’s ale and Wobblegate juices will also be served in the Nyetimber Sky Bar and in the Belle Vue restaurant.

Harvey’s Brewery recently won the Good Pub Guide: Brewery of the Year 2016 award and Wobblegate won Drink Producer of the Year at the Sussex Food and Drink Awards in 2015; underlining British Airways i360’s commitment to working with the very best Sussex producers.

Harvey’s Brewery sales and marketing manager Bob Trimm said: “Harvey’s Brewery is delighted to be on board as the official real ale supplier to British Airways i360. We are proud to be associated with such an iconic attraction and hope that many customers will enjoy a pint of Sussex Best by the sea.”

British Airways i360 filed an application for a new premises license to Brighton and Hove City Council on Friday 29 April.

Image caption (please credit British Airways i360):

British Airways i360 and Nyetimber 02.jpg: left to right – British Airways i360 chief executive Eleanor Harris, Josh Stanzl, Steven Edwards, Nyetimber head winemaker Cherie Spriggs

For further media information please contact Paula Seager at Natural PR Paula Seager, Natural PR, Tel: 01273 857242 or email: paula@naturalpr.biz

Information for editors

About British Airways i360British Airways i360 is conceived and designed by Marks Barfield Architects, creators of the London Eye. With an overall height of 162m, and an observation pod that rises from ground level to 138m above Brighton beach, British Airways i360 will be the world’s tallest moving observation tower when it opens in summer 2016. Each ‘flight’ will carry up to 200 visitors at a time to enjoy unprecedented views of the city of Brighton and the landscape of the South Downs National Park. The attraction’s visitor centre will incorporate a 400-seat restaurant, a gift shop, a children’s play zone, an exhibition space, and conference and event facilities.

British Airways i360 holds the Guinness World Record for the world’s most slender tower, with a diameter of just 3.9 meters at its widest point.

Sited at the root end of Brighton’s historic West Pier, British Airways i360 will breathe new life into this area of the seafront, creating a ‘vertical pier’ with an elegant, modern design that looks to the future while respecting the heritage of the site. British Airways i360 has worked with the West Pier Trust to rebuild two of the original West Pier toll booths using Victorian building techniques. The rebuilt buildings now grace the entrance to British Airways i360, housing a tea room and ticket office.

www.britishairwaysi360.comTwitter: @BA_i360Instagram: @BA_i360Facebook: BritishAirwaysi360Pinterest: @BA_i360Hashtag: #bai360

About Marks Barfield ArchitectsDavid Marks and Julia Barfield are the architect-entrepreneurs behind the creation of Brighton i360. They founded the company in 2005 and are its majority shareholders. Previously they performed a similar role creating the London Eye where they remained shareholders and directors until 2006. Together with a tight-knit group of extraordinary individuals, trusted consultants and companies, many of whom worked with David and Julia at the London Eye, they secured the planning permission, partners, land and funding for British Airways i360. Marks Barfield Architects is one of the UK’s most versatile and innovative architecture practices, established in 1989. David chairs the British Airways i360 board.

www.marksbarfield.com@marksbarfield

About British AirwaysBritish Airways is one of the world’s leading global premium airlines and the UK’s largest international scheduled airline, carrying approximately 35 million passengers worldwide annually, on around 800 daily flights. The airline employs around 40,000 people, the vast majority of these at its sites throughout the UK, and has an annual turnover of £8.5 billion. It employs 2,500 people in Sussex, several hundred of them in Brighton.

www.ba.com@british_airways

About NyetimberFor over 25 years Nyetimber has had a single aim: to make the finest English sparkling wine, one to rival the very best in the world, including Champagne. A true pioneer, Nyetimber was the first producer of English sparkling wine to exclusively grow the three celebrated grape varieties: Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay. Nyetimber is made from one hundred percent estate-grown grapes and is regarded as England’s finest sparkling wine. Owner and chief executive Eric Heerema and head winemaker Cherie Spriggs are committed to producing wines of exceptional quality.

www.nyetimber.com Twitter: @NyetimberFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/NyetimberwinesInstagram: @nyetimber

Available spokespeopleEleanor Harris, CEO of British Airways i360David Marks, managing director of Marks Barfield Architects Julia Barfield, managing director of Marks Barfield Architects Cherie Spriggs, head winemaker at Nyetimber