December 31st 1999

Greenwich Park, England

The World officially arrives at the year 2000

Wealth Warning: The millennium officially begins 1 January 2001

Eurythmics, Simply Red, Bryan Ferry, Lesley Garrett and the London Symphony Orchestra

On New Year’s Eve an historic event to mark the arrival of the year 2000 will take place at the official Home of Time – the grounds of the Royal Observatory Greenwich and the National Maritime Museum on the Zero Meridian.  THE BRITISH GAS MILLENNIUM PARTY will celebrate the new Millennium with a unique blend of rock, pop and classical music.

The event is sponsored by British Gas, who are delighted to be playing a role in the public’s Millennium celebrations. The show is being staged by CSS Stellar Entertainment, the largest British owned event-marketing group and will be filmed by Initial – the UK’s leading producer of music and events programming. Under the title - COUNTDOWN TO THE MILLENNIUM – the programme will form a key part of BBC ONE’s Live "Millennium" coverage between 10.00pm (22:00 GMT) on 31st December and 12.30am (00:30 GMT) on 1 January 2000.

This truly sensational occasion will be staged open air in the magnificent grounds of the National Maritime Museum, designed by Sir Christopher Wren and Inigo Jones, which will be transformed by lighting designers to provide a breath-taking backdrop to the show. Top international artists from the world of popular and classical music including Eurythmics, Simply Red, Bryan Ferry and Lesley Garrett will join the star studded line up and the London Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, who will perform some the greatest music of our time.

Mick Hucknall of Simply Red commented "This is going to be a truly historic event and Greenwich is the ultimate venue. For me there can be no better place in the world to mark the beginning of the 21st Century than the ‘Home of Time’ itself."

In addition, performances by international star guests from all aspects of the performing arts and pre -recorded specials, from some of the world’s top music entertainers, will add to the phenomenal sense of occasion.

A dramatic firework display, funfair rides, street entertainers and large themed, tented villages serving food and drink, will all help build the party atmosphere to fever pitch.

The Royal Observatory, Greenwich has been central to the history of time since the International Meridian Conference of 1884 voted to make it the location of prime Meridian of the world. Since time itself is measured from this point, no other place on the face of the earth can lay claim to such a unique association with the Millennium. Across the world, the year 2000 will officially begin here.

Online booking available now through Ticketmaster

Tickets are available from the Ticketmaster Credit Card Hotline on 0870 846 2000. Details of VIP packages and the official after - show party are available from Sellers Hospitality on +44 [0]20 8555 0310.