Latest news with #AugustBankHoliday
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Disco and fun day to take place during August Bank Holiday weekend
Durrington will host a weekend of nostalgia and family fun during the August Bank Holiday weekend. Retro at the Rec will take place on Saturday, August 23, from 5.30pm to 10.30pm at Durrington Rec, featuring the sounds of the 70s to the 00s. Disco Dion and DJ Paul Alex will spin all the tunes, creating an atmosphere perfect for those who love the music of yesteryear. People are invited to bring their own picnic, but there will be hot food and a bar available. Those attending are also encouraged to wear fancy dress. Adults can enjoy this musical journey for just £2 admission. Read more Music festival raises thousands to support church roof restoration PICTURES: Wilton embraces 'By the Sea' theme for 2025 carnival Care home celebrates its 30th anniversary with garden party The following day, Sunday Funday will kick off at midday and run until 4pm, promising an afternoon packed with family-friendly activities. Attendees can look forward to games, dancing, music, races, face painting, along with bouncy castles and inflatables. There will also be tomahawk throwing, archery, football, welly wanging and a car boot sale. Admission is for the Sunday Funday is £2 for adults. This year marks the 16th anniversary of Sunday Funday. For those interested in participating, whether through stalls or performances, reach out via email at durringtonsundayfunday@ or call 07876 221635.
BBC News
24-06-2025
- BBC News
Met Police concerned over Notting Hill Carnival steward funds
Concerns about the Notting Hill Carnival have been raised by both a police officers' group and Met Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley, with questions over safety funding for extra Hill of the Metropolitan Police Federation said none of the front-line officers he spoke to looked forward to working at the event, and were concerned there could be a deadly crush due to crowd chairman Ian Comfort has requested more funding from the government to steward the event and address safety concerns.A report by Sir Mark for the London Policing Board said force bosses were "significantly concerned" that funding for extra stewards for the event would not be in place in time. 'Handful of criminals' Referring to phase one of a review commissioned by organisers that looked at crowd safety and stewarding, the report said: "We are however significantly concerned that with just a matter of weeks to go until this year's event that the essential funding has not been secured and, with each week that passes, the ability to successfully implement the Phase One recommendations becomes more challenging as event management companies will be hesitant to take on an event at such short notice without a sufficient lead-in time."About 7,000 Metropolitan Police officers are deployed to each day of the August Bank Holiday event. The cost of policing Carnival in 2023 was £11.7m, according to figures released under Freedom of Information Hill said officers were "as worried this year as they were last year and the year before" about working at the event."Nobody that I speak to actually looks forward to working Notting Hill Carnival, which is a real shame, because it's a vibrant event, it's an important event," he said."We should enjoy interacting with the public and serving the community in it, but you have a handful of criminals who turn up to the event and just cause carnage."We had two murders [last year], 60-odd of my colleagues on average are getting assaulted every carnival, it's been going on for years and it's not acceptable." He said the size of the area for the event should expand or the number of people attending should be reduced."Everyone accepts it's an unsafe event. Why is it still going on?" he Mark told LBC the event organisers were asking for "a couple of million pounds" to keep festivalgoers about the average 60 officers who are injured he said: "The criminals who turn up to this event are really violent and very difficult, and, frankly, fighting crime in a confined area where the crowds are so crushed is doubly difficult," he said."If the organisers were given the resources to run it better, we'd be able to do a better job fighting crime, and our officers would be at less risk." Two people were murdered at the carnival last year - Cher Maximen, who was killed in front of her three-year-old daughter, and chef Mussie Imnetu.
Daily Mail
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Future of Notting Hill Carnival 'up in the air', leaked letter reveals
Notting Hill Carnival could be cancelled without 'urgent funding' from the government, its organisers have reportedly warned in a leaked letter. It comes after a review of the festival, which takes place on August Bank Holiday weekend, identified 'critical public safety concerns'. Last year, more than 300 people were arrested and eight people were stabbed during the event, which attracts up to two million visitors. Ian Comfort, the Carnival's chair, has now said in a letter seen by the BBC that additional funding is needed to address the issues and make sure it safe to run. He is understood to have written to Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy to request the money, which is 'essential to safeguarding the future and public safety of this iconic event'. Mr Comfort said in the letter: 'The April 2025 London Assembly report highlights the increasing strain placed on the Metropolitan Police during large-scale public events. 'Limited resourcing has restricted the police service's ability to respond to growing operational pressure.' He called for more investment into stewarding and crowd management, which he said was essential for the police to focus on preventing crime. Notting Hill Carnival has been indirectly supported by the government through public bodies such as Arts Council England. But it is understood if the request for funding is granted, it will be the first time direct government financial support is provided for the event. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport said it would 'respond to the letter in due course'. Last year, 7,000 police officers were on duty at Notting Hill Carnival, with a total of around 14,000 officer shifts across the whole event. However, two people tragically died from injuries they sustained in separate attacks at the festival. Cher Maximen, 32, was brutally stabbed in front of her three-year-old daughter after she got caught in the middle of a fight between two groups of men. She was rushed to hospital but died six days later - sparking concerns about the safety at the event. Meanwhile Mussie Imnetu - a Michelin star chef - died from a severe head injury he sustained during an assault at the carnival. He was repeatedly punched and kicked by charity worker Omar Wilson, 31, a court previously heard. After the attack, Wilson went out clubbing with his friends at the Ministry of Sound and confessed to one of them in a text message, writing: 'There's a monster in me.. And it's just like sometimes it comes out. And I think I've messed up now. And everything's finished. 'I've f****d up. I crossed the line and went overboard. I don't think I can come back from this mistake. I'm going to jail in the morning.' He was jailed for at least 18 years in February for the attack. Mayor of London Sadiq Khan commented: 'It is heartbreaking that Cher Maximen and Mussie Imnetu have died after being attacked in separate incidents over the bank holiday weekend. 'My thoughts are with their families and friends at this truly terrible time. 'This violence is shocking, completely unacceptable and a betrayal of the values that (Notting Hill) Carnival was founded to celebrate.' The organisers of Notting Hill Carnival said in a statement: 'Notting Hill Carnival is shocked by these tragic deaths and our thoughts are with the victims' families and the local community as a whole, which like so many others, has suffered all too often from the blight of violent crime. 'We stand together against all violence and condemn these acts, which are against all carnival values and the millions of people who come in celebration of them.' MailOnline has contacted Notting Hill Carnival for comment on the letter about funding concerns.
The Sun
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Iconic UK festival attracting millions each year ‘faces axe without more cash as it makes urgent appeal for help'
THE FUTURE of an iconic UK festival could be in jeopardy unless the government steps in organisers have warned. Millions travel to the Notting Hill Carnival in London each year to join in with the iconic, colourful celebrations. 1 In a leaked letter to Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy festival chiefs asked for an urgent handout to keep the world famous event going, the BBC reports. It comes after a review of the festival identified "critical public safety concerns" that needed more money to address. Notting Hill Carnival attracts a whopping 2 million revellers a year but has come under fire recently after public safety concerns were raised. Carnival Chair Ian Comfort said in the letter: "The April 2025 London Assembly report, external highlights the increasing strain placed on the Metropolitan Police during large-scale public events. "Limited resourcing has restricted the police service's ability to respond to growing operational pressures." He went on to say that without immediate additional funding "risks compromising public safety and jeopardising the future of the carnival." The full findings of the safety review have not been made public yet. Held annually over the August Bank Holiday weekend last year's Carnival saw a woman tragically stabbed to death amid chaotic scenes. Cher Maximen, who was 32, was with friends and her daughter just off the Carnival parade route on Sunday, 25 August 2024 when she was caught up in a violent fight involving multiple men. Maximen was stabbed and tragically died in hospital six days later. The shocking incident sparked widespread concern around the safety of Notting Hill Carnival. Notting Hill revellers hit streets in fabulous feathers as party gets underway The Met Police's Assistant Commissioner has raised concerns over a "mass casualty event" due to density of the massive crowds attracted by the festivities. Without funding to help make the event safer chief's have warned it may not be able to go ahead. In the leaked letter carnival chair Ian Comfort asked for further funding to support increased stewarding and crowd management. Mr Comfort has reportedly not asked for a specific amount of funding. If his request is granted it will mark the first time direct government funding has been provided to the event. During last year's carnival around 7,000 police officers were on duty to help keep festival goers safe.
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Clarkson's Farm shows Jeremy Clarkson's 'exhausted' staff quit over pub opening chaos
Jeremy Clarkson battles a series of last-minute setbacks, including suffering a staff walkout at his Farmer's Dog pub in the series four finale of Clarkson's Farm, streaming on Prime Video from Friday morning. There are a whole number of problems that the farmer faced on the first weekend of opening The Farmer's Dog over August bank holiday 2024. What may have seemed like a smooth sailing success from the outside is now revealed to be far from the truth as Clarkson takes viewers behind the scenes of the pub opening in the Clarkson's Farm's finale. Clarkson's £20,000 tractor restoration from Richard Hammond arrives. But to name a few problems: staff quit and others are left exhausted, water fails, the roof leaks and at one point there is no gas leaving the pub unable to serve food for several hours, a man who falls over has surgery. The list feels endless. Understandably the 65-year-old is left stressed while trying to firefight all of the problems happening at once. After a hectic opening day, Clarkson sits down with Charlie Ireland to discuss a plan of action in the new episodes of the docuseries. The presenter had already praised how much he loved the staff who were friendly and smiling. He tells Ireland: "We've lost two waitresses. We lost a pot washer. After one day." Quickly it's clear this isn't the only problem as Clarkson is plunged into darkness. He says: "Lights are still flickering. Lights flickered off..." Later, emotions are running high when Clarkson is having crisis talks with his front of house staff Sue and Rachel in the upstairs bar at the pub. They tell him things are not going well and that he should go back for a second time to thank his kitchen staff for coping amid the drama. The front of house say that there are "too many problems" to run a "successful business" from this specific site. "Everyone is exhausted, even when we say go for a break, there is no staff room," they tell him. "They're weeing in a portaloo. It's not lovely conditions. They love you. They're excited about the British food." "I have no problem with the staff," says Clarkson. "Not one single problem with the staff. They're all brilliant. They are smiling. They are nice." "The kitchen is about to go pop, those chefs have had it.... It might be worth popping into the kitchen." "I just popped in," Clarkson informs the front of house team. "Go back." "What?" Clarkson doesn't take the feedback well. At the end of his tether, he snaps. Clarkson hits back: "Do you want me to go and find a manager? Or go back into the kitchen?" Clarkson makes it clear that his work is endless when it comes to the pub opening. He goes on sarcastically: "Or do you want me to the leak mended? Or do you want me to deal with the car parking issues? Or do you want me to deal with the neighbours? Do you want me to deal with the council? I've got plenty to be doing and I'll get on with it. Thank you." It's worth noting how tired Clarkson is because he's working around the clock with the pub opening while also juggling the harvest at night, having to even pull all-nighters. Watch Clarkson's Farm series 4 trailer That's the last stern conversation he has with the front of house duo Sue and Rachel because the next day they have quit too. Naturally Clarkson is disappointed but he has already got a solution. The former Top Gear presenter has lined up a replacement. In an update, he says: "We've worked out if we shut the lavatories and use plastic plastic glasses instead of glass glasses, we'll have enough water to serve food until six. Next problem is Sue and Rachel, who brilliantly set the pub, up have now left. So it's a Sunday morning, I've managed to get a new front of house person who is the head of sixth form at the local village school. That's good." As Clarkson's Farm season four comes to an end, the core members of the team go for a special lunch at a nearby pub. They choose not to celebrate at The Farmer's Dog itself because even though Clarkson says it's working "reasonably well", they couldn't "relax there". "There was always something to do," Clarkson says in the voiceover. "Something to mend. Something to worry about... So we went to someone else's pub instead." Over the pub lunch, Clarkson is joined by girlfriend Lisa Hogan, Kaleb Cooper, Gerard Cooper, Ireland, Alan and Annie. The presenter tells his core Clarkson's Farm team: "It hasn't been the smoothest of openings... The pub has been tricky. But it's there now. So well done. We did it. To The Farmer's Dog." They all raise a toast: "To the farmers." The final episodes of Clarkson's Farm series four are available to stream on Prime Video now.
