A FILM festival launch this evening will be one of at least three major events to take place in the grounds of historic Elvaston Castle for the first time this year.
But its owner, Derbyshire County Council, says it is not making a special effort to hire out the park.
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Elvaston Castle will be used for a number of new events this year. Tonight is the launch of the Summer Nights Film Festival, with a screening of Women In Love, left, famous for its scene with a naked Oliver Reed and Alan Bates, which was filmed in the castle’s Gothic Hall.
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The three events are:
Tonight and tomorrow night: Launch of the Summer Nights Film Festival, run by Derby’s Quad. From 6.30pm tonight: Women in Love, which was filmed at Elvaston Castle, will be shown in the grounds. Tomorrow: Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy will be shown from the same time.
June 2 to 4: The Bushcraft Show 2012, where people will be able to try their hand at woodland survival crafts, firelighting, shelter building and wildlife tracking.
July 12 to 14: Rock and Bike Festival will be held at Elvaston for the first time, having been previously been held at Sandiacre and Draycott.
The county council wants to find someone to take over the running of the castle and its country park as it says it cannot afford the £700,000 a year upkeep costs of the estate. It had selected developer Highgate Sanctuary, with its plans to turn the attraction into a hotel and golf course, as its preferred bidder for a take-over. But that plan failed after the proposal was criticised by English Heritage.
The council says it will re-tender for takeover bids this summer after the National Trust has made a decision on whether it is interested in taking over the grounds.
Last month, the authority announced it would open the grade two* listed castle’s Gothic Hall to the public in a bid to make money towards the running of the estate.
But the council has said the three events are not part of any overall plan to get more cash out of the estate while its future is still in doubt.
A council spokeswoman said: “We’ve always offered the grounds of Elvaston Castle Country Park for hire. It’s a coincidence that we’ve got three new events there this year.”
Campaign group The Friends of Elvaston Castle is battling to keep the attraction in public hands.
A spokesman for the group welcomed the three events.
He said: “We fully support any socially focused events at Elvaston Castle which are beneficial to the community and which help to revive the fortunes of the estate.
“This is provided that such activities are properly monitored and take full account of the safety and security of both the castle, its visitors and local residents.”
The Summer Nights Film Festival is running from today until September 15, with screenings taking place across the county.
Quad’s website calls Women in Love, released in 1969, “a powerful and passionate study of love, commitment and relationships”.
The film includes a nude wrestling scene featuring Alan Bates and Oliver Reed shot in the Gothic Hall, which will also be open this evening.
The website calls the event “a unique cinematic event as you watch from the grounds that were previously a film set”. Tickets are £12.