Latest news with #AntonyGormley
Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Huge boost for 'declining' UK seaside town as abandoned pier to get £13m refurb
Following years of outrage from locals and tourists a like, it seems one seaside town is finally ready to bring its abandoned pier back to life, thanks to a £13 million pot of funding A 164-year-old pier defining one of the UK's most popular seaside towns could be brought back to life by next year thanks to a hefty investment. Stretching out a staggering 3,600 ft (around 0.68 miles), Southport Pier is the second longest in the UK - and first opened back in 1860. For decades, it attracted swathes of tourists who walk around 10 minutes to reach the end of the pier and soak up the stunning sea-views, as well as to make use of the indoor cafe and small arcade. Visitors could also take the miniature railway, which whizzed Brits over to the end of the pier for just a couple of quid. But in 2022, the Victorian structure was closed due to safety fears, with necessary repairs estimated to cost a whopping £13 million. The three-year closure has sparked outrage amongst locals and tourists alike - with many arguing the abandoned site is the perfect omen for the 'declining' seaside town. In fact, one 'embarrassed' Brit dubbed Southport 'a very sad neglected town for tourists and residents' on TripAdvisor back in 2023. Another agreed, scathing: "It's time the council got this beautiful historical pier sorted and opened again! This is one of Southports main attractions and they cant afford to have the renovation. A real shame," while a third penned: "I still can't believe that Southport has been allowed to decline even further, the council do not seem to be bothered." Still, Visit Southport, the area's official tourist board, hailed the destination as being a 'fun-loving' seaside resort with 'attractions for all the family'. "[There's] an abundance of independent restaurants and bars making it a foodies' haven, and full of culture," it wrote. "When it comes to beaches, you're spoiled for choice. We have 22 miles of coastline from Formby Beach, Ainsdale Beach, Crosby Beach (where you can visit the famous Antony Gormley 'Another Place'), and Southport Beach itself. You can enjoy some of the most stunning views along our coast." However, last month Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirmed the pier would be eligible for cash from a new fund dedicated to speeding up 'forgotten' local projects. Speaking on BBC Radio Merseyside, Sefton Council leader Marion Atkinson said the authority would be ready to start work on the pier 'within six to eight weeks' of receiving the government funding. "We're absolutely wanting to get on with it," she said. The councillor stated that repairs would take between 12 to 14 months, adding: "We'll be looking at ways in which, if we can, to get it done as quickly as we possibly can. But, it does take a lot of time because there's a lot of work." When approached for comment, Sefton Council directed the Mirror to the Southport Pier's FAQ page. Here, the council explains that the pier endured a UK-wide extreme cold weather snap at the end of 2022 which caused 'further damage' to its structural condition. "Following an inspection by a team of independent Structural Engineers, Sefton Council was told to close the pier to protect the safety of anyone working on it or visiting the iconic tourist attraction," the council said. "A full and extensive independent structural survey was commissioned, the interim feedback from which has confirmed the need to keep the Pier closed until further extensive repair and replacement works are carried out. The final surveys state the same explicitly, and the Pier would no longer be insurable so had to be shut." Sefton Council says it has since engaged in several conversations with regards to external funding having already completed phase one of the decking replacement. The council also agreed to allocate £3 million to the Pier project. "Sefton Council has also made several appointments in order to specify the works that will be required to refurbish the Pier and we are preparing for appointing a contractor for the works, again reaffirming Sefton's commitment to the project," the authority added.
The Sun
19-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
The up-and-coming English seaside town with beachfront hotels, viral Kate Bush event and new ‘open-air art' trails
WHAT do Kate Bush and Folkestone have in common? Absolutely nothing — apart from one day of the year when nearly 1,000 red dress-clad Kate fans descend on the town to celebrate the singer. 5 5 5 Called The Most Wuthering Heights Day Ever, the unusual event has been running in the Kent town since 2023 and kicks off at midday today on the harbour front. It's certainly a sight to behold — men and women throwing their arms in the air, dancing to the famous Wuthering Heights song. But even non- Kate Bush fans will find themselves being swayed into the joy of Folkestone, with or without the bold outfits. Launching today is the Folkestone Triennial, a huge open-air art exhibition that takes place every three years. It features 70 pieces of artwork, including works by Tracy Emin, Banksy and Antony Gormley. Chased by oysters One of my favourite spots is the beautiful Lighthouse Bar inside a former lighthouse. Look up and you will see 'Weather is a Third to Place and Time,' painted on the side, a leftover piece from the 2014 Triennial. Look even further and you might glimpse France. It's not a place for sitting indoors — there are barely more than a couple of tables. Instead grab one of the benches lining the harbour. Martin Lewis warns about strict passport rule that could see you board your flight - only to get sent home on arrival There is no better feeling than having the sea breeze blow past, and watching errant paddleboarders while sipping a glass of champagne chased by oysters. I'm surrounded by city dwellers (dubbed DFLers — Down From Londoners) who are all exclaiming how surprised they are by the town. Lighthouse Bar owner Simon explained to me: 'We were told we were mad to open in Folkestone ten years ago — now look at us.' Folkestone is certainly becoming one of those places being mentioned as the 'next big thing'. Often aligned with other Kent seaside destinations Whitstable and Margate, the train from the capital in less than an hour makes it an easy day-trip destination. Most tourists will flock straight to the Harbour Arm, which is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year. Lined with shipping containers serving food and drink, every summer there are new additions to the complex. My favourite new stall this year is The Mompling House, serving Nepalese snacks with juicy steamed momo dumplings and aloo chops, a spiced potato croquette. Folkestone isn't short of fantastic restaurants either. There's the award-winning Rocksalt, serving up fresh seafood while overlooking the harbour. Or new this year is Pomus, a restaurant that opened earlier this month after success in Margate. But my favourite spot is Marley's, an unassuming place from the outside that offers a small, farm-to-table menu inside (be sure to try the zesty pan-fried sea bass). 5 5 It's one you'll need to make reservations for, as it is always full of locals, but it's one that's worth the wait. You can barely turn a corner without spotting a bar here. I inadvertently ended up doing my own drinks crawl, after being tempted inside many of them. Two must-visits are Burrito Buoy for their frozen margaritas, or The Beer Shop Folkestone, which serves up local craft beers. When the booze and food becomes too much, the best place for some respite is The London & Paris Hotel. First opened in 1853 to cater for travellers heading across the Channel, it fell into disrepair before a multi-million-pound renovation in 2023 saw it reopen as an 11-room hotel. Each of the rooms has a sea view, all with modern coastal chic decor — think blue striped walls and floral patterned pillows. It felt like my head barely touched the pillow of my extremely plush king-size bed before I was woken up to the sound of seagulls. A tap on the door heralds the arrival of breakfast, a cute hamper with fresh croissants, juice and fruit And being so close to town, my early awakening also meant I was able to make the most of the peace and quiet before the crowds came in for the day. I filled my bag with souvenirs from the Creative Quarter, the famous multi-coloured, steep street peppered with locally run shops. But after all that eating and drinking, you won't see me Running Up That Hill.
BBC News
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Civilisations returns with unprecedented access to the British Museum's collection
At a moment when we all fear the civilisation-threatening power of pandemics, autocracy and technological transformation, Civilisations: Rise and Fall, produced by BBC Studios, examines why four famous and mighty civilisations in the past found themselves on the brink of disaster, and how the art and artefacts they left behind hold clues to explaining their fate. Each programme looks at the rise of a different great civilisation and explores the factors that led to its decline. From Ancient Rome to Cleopatra's Egypt, via the samurai of Japan and the lost world of the Aztecs, audiences will discover rare and beautiful art and artefacts from each culture. All objects that feature in the series are in the British Museum thanks to behind-the-scenes access to spaces most visitors never see. These artefacts take us to very particular moments of civilisational transition, as societies confronted upheaval and endured radical change in a bid to safeguard their own futures. Across four episodes, interviews with experts, key academics and curators are combined with bold drama-reconstructions to follow the clues in these treasures that explain why each culture fell from power, and whether these relics can help us understand the risks we face today. Contributors include Dominic Sandbrook from The Rest is History podcast, artists Antony Gormley and Edmund De Waal, co-host of The Rest is Politics podcast Alistair Campbell, Radio 4's Making History presenter Iszi Lawrence and academics and authors including Camilla Townsend, Mark Ravina, Shushma Malik and Salima Ikram. Featured artefacts from The British Museum's world-famous collection include the double-headed serpent of the Aztecs, the Meroe Head of Augustus, a mummified crocodile from Ancient Egypt and a newly acquired set of samurai armour from Japan. Suzy Klein, Head of BBC Arts and Classical Music TV, said: 'A new series of Civilisations is always a significant moment for BBC Arts and this incarnation feels particularly timely in our own uncertain age. With unprecedented access to the British Museum's collection, Civilisations: Rise and Fall makes the case that museums are more relevant than ever: they are repositories of human memory, time-capsules – a crucial way for us to understand the past and how we might ensure the future of our own civilisation.' Dr Nicholas Cullinan, Director of the British Museum said: 'We were delighted to collaborate with the BBC for the landmark Civilisations series, and bring some of the most incredible objects in the British Museum's collection to the forefront in telling these global stories. I hope the series captures the imagination of young and old alike, and that we engage whole new audiences with our collection – a collection which shows how history connects us all, something which is now more relevant than ever.' Alexander Leith, Executive Producer, BBC Studios Specialist Factual, said: 'It's a great privilege to be making the next iteration of the Civilisations brand – especially in such close collaboration with the British Museum. The remarkable artefacts they hold offer astonishing points of connection with these past civilisations, and the factors and fault lines on which their fortunes turned – many of which feel disarmingly relevant to our own world. The Civilisations The Fall of Rome When new Roman emperor Honorius ascends to the throne in 395 AD he inherits a system of government that's built one of the most remarkable civilizations in history. For over 400 years the Roman Empire has ruled a vast territory that crosses three continents and encompasses a multitude of peoples and languages. Keeping this disparate whole together is a massive challenge, but decisions taken by Honorius' predecessors have opened up alarming fault lines within the system. Now a series of shocks and threats are colliding in a perfect storm that will see the weakened city of Rome fall to foreign invaders for the first time in 800 years. The Last Days of the Ptolemies in Egypt In 51 BC Cleopatra becomes Queen of Egypt – and Pharaoh – amid a crumbling dynasty plagued by infighting, betrayal, and political chaos. She navigates a treacherous web of family rivalries and Roman interference. Determined to preserve Egypt's independence, she forges bold alliances with Julius Caesar and later Mark Antony, two of Rome's most powerful men. Her reign marks both a last stand for the Ptolemaic dynasty and the dramatic end of three millennia of Pharaonic rule in Egypt. The End of the Samurai in Japan 1853 CE. For centuries, Japan has been cut off from outside influence. In that time the West, and much of the rest of the world, has made extraordinary leaps forward in science, industry and military technology, while Japan remains a feudal medieval society. At the heart of this feudal system are the samurai – warrior knights funded by the state. But when giant American steamships arrive on Japan's shores, the days of the samurai are numbered. The Collapse of the Aztec Empire 1519. Under the strong leadership of Emperor Moctezuma the great Aztec civilization reaches its zenith. The jewel in the crown is the beautiful island city of Tenochtitlan built in the middle of the lake Texcoco, a melting pot of extraordinary arts and culture - home to some 100,000 people. But Moctezuma's empire is fragile. He relies on ritual wars, gathering tribute and maintaining social and religious order through slavery and sacrifice. In doing so he has tightened his grip on the largest South American empire the world had ever seen - but he has made many enemies. The arrival of the Spanish in 1519, under Hernan Cortes, will prove disastrous for the Aztecs. Civilisations: Rise and Fall is a BBC Studios Specialist Factual Unit production for BBC Arts, with BBC Studios handling global distribution. The Executive Producer is Alexander Leith, the Series Producer is Tony Mitchell, and the Production Manager is Emma Hyland. It was commissioned for the BBC by Suzy Klein, BBC Head of Arts and Classical Music. The Commissioning Editor for the BBC is Alistair Pegg. Founded in 1753, the British Museum was the first national public museum in the world. The collection tells the stories of cultures across the world, from the dawn of human history, over two million years ago, to the present. Objects range from the earliest tools made by humans and remarkable finds from the ancient world to more recent acquisitions from Africa, Oceania and the Americas, the Middle East, Asia and Europe, as well as the national collections of prints and drawings, and coins and medals. BBC Studios Specialist Factual Productions is a bespoke unit making premium output in the history, art, music and culture space. The work is underpinned by journalistic rigour and specialist knowledge, bringing together diverse voices to ignite conversation and challenge preconceptions. Recent titles include the Grierson Award winning Inside Our Autistic Minds, the RTS winning Fight The Power: How Hip Hop Changed the World with Public Enemy's Chuck D, the true crime / natural history hybrid The Great Rhino Robbery and cold war thriller Secrets and Spies: A Nuclear Game. AM2 Follow for more
Telegraph
07-07-2025
- Telegraph
The Edinburgh ‘village' that might be Britain's coolest neighbourhood
'Stockbridge is a very Edinburgh version of hip, more urbane than unrelentingly urban,' smiles tour guide Gareth Edwards over lunch at Captain Darling, Edinburgh's coolest district's hottest newest dining spot. 'The boutique shops, artisan cafés and gourmet restaurants are built on solid sandstone that keeps it grounded and somewhere that us locals still want to live.' And plenty do want to live here. This idyllic hideaway of shaded river banks and elegantly old-world, tree-shrouded streets reclines barely a 10-minute stroll from the core of one of the world's most wondrous cities. Ann Street was earlier this year named by the Bank of Scotland as Edinburgh's most expensive address, with an average house price of £1,807,000. Henry Raeburn, painter and one of Edinburgh's most celebrated sons, lived on Ann Street in a suburb swimming in cultural history. Literally. Visitors clattered their carriages north to Stockbridge as early as 1789 when St Bernard's Well offered the chance to 'take the waters'. Painter Alexander Nasmyth's figure of the Greek goddess of health Hygeia still peers down to the Water of Leith, where a typically striking Antony Gormley work stands mid river. This certainly isn't the Edinburgh of Trainspotting. You do get bouncers on doors in Stockbridge, but they're employed by the cult artisan Lannan Bakery to ensure their queues don't disturb the serenity. When Waitrose scouted for their first Scottish store in 2006, it just had to be Stockbridge. Captain Darling is one of a new wave of restaurants that has cemented Stockbridge's perennially cool cachet. As we tuck into a prawn cocktail reinvented with west coast langoustines, Gareth Edwards adds: 'Stockbridge is the perfect blend of old and new. Here Edinburgh is not just a historic city for tourists, but a living breathing place for people to live their lives in a real community.' Manager Mark Barrett overhears us and chips in: 'Stockbridge is really special. It feels like a wee village inside the city, you get the best of all worlds here.' In Stockbridge, the old and the new worlds don't so much collide as chime gently together over a matcha latte. Old-school fishmonger G Armstrong of Stockbridge sits cheek by jowl with Bento's poke bowls and boba tea. There are wine shops that would pass muster in Beaune, proper butcher George Bower, fine art picture framers, wee galleries and enough delis to amply provision any dinner party. Sculleries of Stockbridge are on hand if you need a new Aga. If it's caffeine you're after, Two Children Coffee is a knowing nod to stressed local hipster parents. The continuing success is in staying relevant rather than just fading into a comfortable old age. When the trams finally arrived in Leith in 2023, along with yet another Michelin star (for the sublime Heron), Stockbridge's hip crown threatened to slip. But, as it always has, it has fought back. Foodie newcomers include zeitgeist pleasing Scandi-chic Moss, with its Noma-trained chef, and Cata, where Spain meets Scotland under the expert stewardship of restaurateur Ignacio Campos. Stockbridge Eating House and the Italian restaurant and wine bar Sotto are new too. The culinary riposte to Leith was complete when symbolically it was in Stockbridge not Leith that the Heron guys chose to open their new Skua venture, while Stockbridge's Avery also snared a Michelin star earlier this year. Handily I'm in Stockbridge for the opening night of the Little Parlour, with Scott Goddard importing his winning ice cream and homemade biscuits formula from nearby South Queensferry. Goddard sees similarities with his hometown in terms of community and continuity: 'We didn't just want to open anywhere. It had to be Stockbridge and the right building'. And it is the right building, an old barber's shop with a heritage stretching back to 1890, with the past not just preserved, but celebrated. Also at the opening is Lewis Kennedy of Talonmore, a local business that launched in 2021. As he pours me one of its signature non-alcoholic spirits, he extols the area's virtues: 'I live here and really could never leave. There is an amazing food and drink scene and superb boutique shopping. I love what Rare Birds Books do across the road, for example, celebrating women's writing. And everything here comes bathed in our history too.' One could lose days in this little suburb. Walks tempt along the Water of Leith and into the famous Botanical Gardens; Inverleith Park too with its duck pond and soaring views of a skyline so beloved of Unesco. Stockbridge hosted the world's first rugby international, played at Raeburn Place in 1871. It would be remiss as a Scot not to acknowledge we sent England home to think again, outscoring the Auld Enemy. Rugby is still played in Stockbridge, alongside Scotland's international cricket matches. From May until the end of July, sport now plays second fiddle to a very Stockbridge delight – the 'Neighbourgood' Market. Craft brewers and artisan food stalls serve their wares from food trucks, old buses and even a ski gondola. My last stop is TV chef Tom Kitchin's Scran & Scallie. The mercurial Kitchin put his faith in Stockbridge by opening back in 2013. They call it a 'pub', though it offers Meursault by the glass. Plus cheese from Stockbridge's I.J. Mellis. Plus lobster from Newhaven a few miles away too. The lobster meat is removed, chargrilled with garlic and delicately placed back. It's not reinventing the wheel, more gently reassembling it to make something fine even better. Very Stockbridge. How to do it Gareth Edwards offers bespoke walking tours of Stockbridge and other parts of Edinburgh. Both and offer fittingly luxurious accommodation in Stockbridge.
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'They're looking for possibilities beyond the horizon': the Iron Men 20 years on
For twenty years, they've stood motionless on the sand - yet still, they manage to surprise. Today (July 1) marks two decades since Antony Gormley's 'Another Place' was first installed on Crosby Beach, and in that time the Iron Men have become part of the Sefton coastline's soul. To mark the milestone, the ECHO asked visitors on the beach what the statues mean to them - whether they've known them for years, or are meeting them for the very first time. Avis Mayo had travelled all the way from New Zealand to visit the site, where 100 cast-iron figures are dotted along three kilometres of beach and into the sea. 'They're amazing really,' she said, looking out across the sands. 'The fact that they can remain standing for that long and not have been washed away is incredible.' READ MORE: Xabi Alonso phone call helped Liverpool beat Man City and Chelsea to £17.5m transfer READ MORE: 'Fit and healthy' man, 20, given devastating diagnosis The figures - each moulded from Gormley's own body - were originally a temporary installation when they first appeared in 2005, sparking local debate. Some residents felt they were haunting or unwelcome; others grew attached. Ultimately, the statues stayed. Jill Chesworth, who now lives locally, remembers the early days well: 'When they arrived, they were supposed to be temporary. I have friends around here who were pleased when they were made permanent.' Neil Sanford, visiting from Allerton, was surprised to learn the statues had already reached their 20th birthday. He said: 'I didn't think it was as long as that. I thought it had been about 10 years," adding: 'The windmills in the distance are an amazing backdrop.' For others, the figures still retain an eerie allure. 'They're deceptive,' said Matthew Wright, standing on the sand. 'You look at them and you think they're going to move.' He'd been wondering about their meaning, too. He suggested they're 'looking out for possibilities beyond the horizon - or thinking about where humans came from and they want to return to the sea," before joking: 'Or they might be looking for their next home in Wales.' The statues have become a symbol of Merseyside's northern coast, with their quiet watchfulness offering something different to each visitor. Vereena Jones, who was visiting from elsewhere in the UK, admitted she was seeing them for the first time despite several trips to the region. She said: 'There's more of them than I knew. 'I've never got to see them, even though I've been here [Merseyside] several times.' Another Place has weathered time and tide - but 20 years on, it seems the Iron Men are going nowhere. Still staring out to sea. Still stirring something in everyone who visits them.
