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Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Times
Lupa restaurant review: a terrific trattoria from a White Lotus star
It was 1am when the chef Naz Hassan stumbled home from the Christmas party at Carousel in Fitzrovia, central London, where he was working temporarily. He woke his girlfriend and told her he was going to open a new restaurant with an actor. He recalls her groggy reply: 'Go to sleep. You're drunk, you're dreaming. Forget about it.' Now he has done exactly that, launching a neighbourhood Roman osteria with Theo James, the handsome 40-year-old Brit you'll have seen in The Gentlemen, The White Lotus, The Time Traveler's Wife or the Divergent trilogy. It's a sweltering day when I first visit Lupa, a few days before the opening. All the doors and windows are open and people wander past, gawping at James, who's hiding under a baseball cap. But others are leaning their heads too: a local gossiping about the fact this place used to be a shoe shop; a teenage girl in search of a waitressing job; a mourner from a funeral across the road, seeking a last-minute loan of a Bluetooth speaker. All this makes Lupa feel like a proper local restaurant — a far cry from the silver screen. Yet it's a well-trodden path from film to hospitality. James's director in The Gentlemen, Guy Ritchie, has a pub. But James has long yearned for his own place. 'I've always loved food, always loved restaurants,' he says. His chance came when his wife, Ruth, met a woman at a local baby group who happened to be married to Ed Templeton — an experienced restaurateur who runs Carousel. With their shared love of food (and of Rome) it wasn't long before the two men also became friends. They were having a drink in Templeton's garden when James mentioned that he'd always fancied opening an Italian. And now they have. Hassan was recruited at that Christmas party. 'Naz knows the history of every ingredient and the pathway to it,' James says proudly. When I return to eat a week or so later, the restaurant is packed. The famous face behind it clearly hasn't hurt publicity-wise. Lupa is small and simple: white walls, wooden tables. The only decorations on the walls are wine bottles and a couple of understated bits of modern art from the Jameses' living room. The food is pretty authentic but they've made the recipes a bit lighter to appease fragile London palates. Fried courgette flower stuffed with burrata is remarkably delicate. These often get mushy, but here the batter is light and firm. A salty anchovy sauce eliminates any greasy taste. Alongside we have tomato carpaccio with capers, lemon zest and fried breadcrumbs. These are riccio fiorentino tomatoes, Hassan explains with evangelical enthusiasm. He'll change the variety as we move through the season to ensure he always has the sweetest fruit. We take cured meats and squacquerone cheese — almost thick yoghurt — with deep-fried dough balls. Ask Hassan how he chose each meat — but only if you have two hours to spare. The kitchen is laughably tiny. You can see it through a gap in the wall, three chefs in a room the size of a wardrobe. But such delicious things keep emerging — perfectly al dente pasta, an amatriciana that's fresh and light, a deeply savoury pesto. That said, I'm not a fan of the carbonara. There's too much sauce, making the whole thing too rich. It tastes more Italian-American than Italian-Italian. Still, carbonara is a personal thing. Everyone has a slightly different, very insistent opinion on the true path. I'd have to fight off a thousand Italian grandmothers to defend mine. Finally, porchetta. It's remarkable — the sweetest, juiciest meat surrounded by astonishing crackling. Nobody else in London does porchetta this well. Templeton talks us round to tiramisu. Oh, go on then, and amaros for the table. The coffee in the tiramisu is old school, properly bitter, but the dish still sweet and comforting. 'We wanted to do a restaurant — although they will probably never come — that our kids would like to eat in,' James says. Something 'complex but also Roman comfort food'. He's hit the mark here.★★★★☆73 Highbury Park, London N5 1UA;
AsiaOne
12-07-2025
- Business
- AsiaOne
Best buffet dining promotions in Singapore: Carousel, Colony, Edge, Peppermint, The Line buffet prices (July 2025), Lifestyle News
Let's face it — dining out in Singapore isn't cheap. Between GST, service charge, and the sneaky add-ons, a "simple" buffet outing can feel more like a financial commitment than a casual meal. But what if we told you that feasting like a king doesn't have to cost an arm and leg? With the right deals, you can enjoy top-notch spreads without second-guessing your life choices. Whether you're planning a special occasion or just want to demolish a mountain of prawns on a random Tuesday, we've gathered the best buffet promotions in town for 2025. Wallet-friendly, belly-filling, and 100 per cent worth it. 1. 9 best hotel international buffets (2025 prices) Check out the list below to get up to speed with the latest buffet prices before your next big gathering with your foodie friends or family. Generally, weekend prices are higher than weekday ones, and dinner costs more than lunch. Here are the adult prices for lunch and dinner buffets on weekdays and weekends: Buffet prices for adults Hotel and international buffets Weekday lunch Weekday dinner Weekend lunch Weekend dinner Carousel, Royal Plaza on Scotts (H) $68++ $88++ $78++ $98++ Colony, Ritz-Carlton Hotel $74++ $96++ $78++ (Sat) / From $228++ (Sun brunch) $118++ (Sat) / $96++ (Sun) Edge, Pan Pacific Hotel $72++ $95++ $80++ (Sat) / $118++ (Sun) $110++ (Sat)/ $95++ (Sun) Peppermint, ParkRoyal Collection Marina Bay (H) $72++ $98++ $82++ $112++ The Line, Shangri-La Hotel $68++ $118++ $68++ (Sat) / $118++ (Sun) $98++ Landmark (1-for-1), Village Hotel Bugis (H) $85.50++ $94.90++ $88.90++ $102.90++ Oscar's, Conrad Centennial Singapore $68++ From $78++ $68++ From $96++ Rise, Marina Bay Sands $72++ $98++ $92++ (Sat) / $102++ (Sun) $112++ (Sat) / $98 (Sun) 21 on Rajah, Aloft Singapore Novena (H) $56++ $68++ $68++ $78++ Buffet prices above exclude alcoholic beverages, and are before GST and service charge. (H) = Halal-certified While most of these restaurants define weekdays as Monday to Friday and weekends as Saturday and Sunday, there are several exceptions: Colony, Edge, The Line, Oscar's, Rise. Kinda confusing, we know, but we've broken it down for you in this article. To get the deets or to find out the child pricing, just use the hyperlinks above to jump to their respective sections below! Also, disclaimer: We referred to published prices to compile this list, expanding below on the caveats (e.g. valid only on certain days, timings, etc) we could find. However, we are only human. To be extra sure, please give the hotel/restaurant a call to confirm the prices and validity before heading down — just in case we missed anything, or if any terms and conditions have been amended since the time of writing. 2. Carousel buffet at Royal Plaza on Scotts ($68++ to $98++) Located in Orchard at the Royal Plaza on Scotts, Carousel's halal-certified international buffet dishes up seafood, Japanese salmon and tuna sashimi, oysters, mud crabs, tiger prawns, snow crab, Korean dishes, tapas, local dishes, and more. Here are the standard buffet prices at Carousel: Weekdays Weekend Carousel buffet Adult Child Adult Child Breakfast (6.30 am – 10 am) $30++ $15++ $30++ $15++ Lunch (12 – 2 pm) $68++ $34++ $78++ $39++ High tea* (3 – 5 pm) – – $58++ $29++ Dinner (6 – 9.30 pm) $88++ $44++ $98++ $49++ * Carousel's High Tea buffet is only available on weekends. In commemoration of SAF Day and to celebrate the contributions of civil servants, Carousel is offering a promotion of 50 per cent off the second diner for Safra members and servicemen from now until Aug 31, 2025. Carousel Phone: +65 6219 3780 Address: Royal Plaza on Scotts, Lobby Level, 25 Scotts Road, Singapore 228220 3. Colony buffet at Ritz-Carlton Hotel ($74++ to $998++) [embed] Ritz-Carlton Hotel's Colony restaurant is best known for their afternoon high tea sets. The international buffet dinner was commonly lauded as one of the best luxury buffets in town, and commanded long queues in the past. On Sundays, Colony hosts their Vintage Champagne Brunch, a lavish affair with unlimited champagne that starts at $228++ and can go up to $998++ for adults. And don't forget GST and service charge. *gulp* But before you write Colony off as 100 per cent unattainable with your current pay check, check out their weekday lunch spread instead. For those of us whose pockets don't go as deep, their weekday lunch buffet costs a much friendlier $74++. Expect fresh seafood, sashimi, sushi, local Singaporean fare, grill and rotisserie cuts, dim sum, tandoor selections, and an assortment of desserts to end on a sweet note. The dinner buffet menu is pretty similar, although you get a few more dishes in the spread such as freshly shucked oysters. On Fridays and Saturdays, dinners at Colony get a seafood spin with dishes like grilled Boston lobster, Spanish black mussel, and grilled octopus leg. Colony buffet prices Adult Child Lunch (Mon – Fri) $74++ $37++ (6-12 years old) Lunch (Sat) $78++ $39++ (6-12 years old) Vintage Champagne Brunch (Sun) $228++ / $698++ / $998++ $57++ (3-5 years old) / $114++ (6-12 years old) Dinner (Sun – Thu) $96++ $48++ (6-12 years old) Seafood dinner (Fri – Sat) $118++ $59++ (6-12 years old) Lunch: 12pm – 2.30pm; dinner: 6.30pm – 10.30pm; Sunday brunch: 12pm – 3.30pm. Prices accurate as of 3 July 2025. Credit card promotions for up to 15% off Colony's buffet: Credit card promotions at Colony Credit card provider Discount Applicable cards DBS/POSB 15per cent off food bill DBS Insignia DBS Treasures Black Elite DBS Vantage DBS Woman's World 10per cent off food bill All other DBS or POSB cards UOB 10per cent off food bill All other UOB cards 15per cent off food bill UOB Reserve UOB Privilege Banking UOB Visa Infinite UOB Lady's Solitaire UOB Empire UOB Regal Business Citibank 10per cent off food bill All other Citibank cards 15per cent off food bill Citi PremierMiles Citi Prestige Citi ULTIMA OCBC 10per cent off food bill OCBC Credit/Debit cards 15per cent off food bill OCBC VOYAGE OCBC Premier VOYAGE OCBC Premier Private Client VOYAGE OCBC Premier Visa Infinite Bank of Singapore VOYAGE HSBC 10per cent off food bill All other HSBC cards 15per cent off food bill HSBC Premier MasterCard HSBC Premier Visa Infinite The credit card promotions above are not applicable for the following: Seafood Dinner (Fridays & Saturdays Dinner). Breakfast, Lunch, Afternoon tea and Dinners on weekends, and Sunday Vintage Champagne Brunch. The eve of Public Holiday and Public Holidays, during special promotion and prepayment events. Colony's beverage packages Even though some of the 10 - 15 per cent credit card promotions aren't available on certain days, you can still get cashback with the right dining or cashback credit card. If you're expecting a huge bill that will bust your dining cashback caps (going for the Sunday Vintage Champagne Brunch?), opt for unlimited cashback cards like the Citi Cash Back+ Mastercard or the Standard Chartered Simply Cash Credit Card: Colony Phone: +65 6434 5288 Email: Address: Level 3, The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore, 7 Raffles Avenue Singapore, S039799 4. Edge buffet at Pan Pacific Hotel ($72++ to $138++) [embed] Located on Level 3 of Pan Pacific Hotel, Edge's sprawling international buffet holds up to 316 guests at once. The buffet menu is pretty extensive as well, with all the usuals: seafood, sashimi, local dishes, Cantonese roast dishes, plant-based salads, hummus and kebabs, cheeses, hams, sausages, and desserts. Plus, from what we see, Edge's buffet menu is perhaps one of the most vegetarian-friendly menus around town, with mains like roasted cauliflower, eggplant stew, carrot soup, and vegetarian curries and biryani. If you've done a staycation at Pan Pacific Hotel over the past two years and became a member of Pan Pacific Privileges, you get to enjoy 10 per cent off (Premium members) and 15 per cent off (Prestige members) off your bill. Edge is a great buffet option for families. Not only is the restaurant child-friendly, but it's also wheelchair accessible and offers free parking-very useful for those families dining with seniors. Edge regular buffet prices Adult Child (6 – 12 years old) Lunch (Mon – Fri) $72++ $36++ Dinner (Sun – Thu) $95++ $47.50++ Dinner (Fri – Sat) $110++ $55++ Brunch (Sat / Sun) $80++ / $118++ $40++ / $59++ Brunch: 12 – 3pm; lunch: 12 – 2.30pm; dinner: 6 – 10pm Credit card promotions for up to 15% off at Edge: HSBC: 15 per cent off total bill for lunch, dinner, and brunch with HSBC credit cards. Valid till Dec 30, 2025. Maybank: 15 per cent off with DBS credit or debit cards from now till Dec 31, 2025. Edge Phone: +65 6826 8240 Email: Address: Level 3, 7 Raffles Boulevard, Marina Square, Singapore 039595 5. Peppermint buffet at ParkRoyal Collection Marina Bay ($72++ to $138++) [embed] Peppermint is a swanky buffet spot with pretty Instagram-worthy capsule seats nestled in ParkRoyal Collection Marina Bay. Like its predecessor AquaMarine, Peppermint is also halal-certified. At Peppermint, expect an international buffet with usuals such as seafoods, sashimi, bread, roast meats and seafood, but also special chef creations. Don't forget to do some exploring and step out onto their terrace, which is home to their Urban Farm. There, Peppermint grows over 60 varieties of herbs, edible flowers and vegetables that they use in their food and drinks. Here are the Peppermint international buffet prices: Peppermint buffet prices Adult Child Weekday Lunch (Mon – Thu, 12 – 2.30 pm) $72++ $36++ Weekend Lunch (Fri – Sun, 12 – 3.30 pm) $82++ $41++ Weekday Dinner (Mon – Thu, 6.30 – 10 pm) $98++ $49++ Weekend Dinner (Fri – Sun, 6.30 – 10 pm) $112++ $56++ Child pricing applies to children aged 6 to 12 years old. Peppermint is serving up a Seoul Good Buffet from June 6 till July 13, 2025. Look forward to hearty Korean dishes curated by Chef de Cuisine Chef Leon and his culinary team. Tuck into favourites like Soegogi-yachaejuk (Wagyu beef brisket and seaweed rice soup), spicy Ramyeon Chijimi, indulgent Korean Cheese Grilled Lobster, and staples like Tteokbokki, Kimchi Bokkeumbap, and Bibimbap. Credit card promotions for up to 15% off your Peppermint buffet: Maybank: 15 per cent off total bill at Peppermint with Maybank credit cards. Valid till Dec 31, 2025. Peppermint Phone: +65 6845 1111 Email: Address: 6 Raffles Blvd, Level 4 ParkRoyal Collection Marina Bay, Singapore 039594 6. The Line buffet at Shangri-La Hotel ($68++ to $168++) [embed] The holy grail of all international buffets in Singapore is The Line at Shangri-La Hotel. Pre-Covid, you'd have to book your spot a month or so in advance to secure yourself a slot. Today, The Line isn't that coveted anymore. But it still has a fairly good reputation for its buffet spreads. The Line features different buffet specialties on different nights. For example, Thursday dinners are their Seafood Extravaganza nights with Boston Lobster, Snow Crab, and Half Shell Scallop on ice. Oyster lovers, take notes: Thursday nights at The Line also come with an oyster feast of Depp Fried Oyster and Grilled Oyster with either XO Sauce or Salted Egg Bechamel and Cheese . Here are The Line's buffet prices: The Line festive buffet prices (adults) Lunch (12 pm – 2.30 pm) Dinner (6 pm – 9.30 pm) Monday – – Tuesday – – Wednesday – – Thursday $68++ $118++ Friday $68++ $118++ Saturday $68++ $98++ Sunday $118++ $98++ Shangri-La Circle members: Children 6 – 11 years old pay 50per cent of the adult price. Up to two children below six years old dine for free when accompanied by a dine-in adult. The Line Phone: +65 6213 4398 Email: Address: Tower Wing, Lower Lobby, 22 Orange Grove Road, Singapore 258350 7. Landmark 1-for-1 buffet at Village Hotel Bugis ($85.90++ to $102.90++) Need a hotel setting and an international buffet menu to impress your date…but on a budget? At Village Hotel Bugis, Landmark's 1-for-1 buffet from $85.90++ ($103 nett) for two pax is your best bet. Wait, what is Village Hotel Bugis even? It's that greyish looking building that you always pass by en route to Haji Lane, with escalators leading up to a dingy shopping arcade full of vintage tailor and Chinese cheongsam shops. Yup, your date won't be the most impressed with the walk there… so maybe you'd want to take a Grab or any other ride-hailing service directly to the hotel's drop off point. Landmark buffet offers three menus, namely Menu A, B, and C, and they're all halal-certified and all applicable for the permanent 1-1 buffet deals Landmark has. The only downside is that the spreads aren't quite as extensive as the others on this list. But then again, neither are their prices as high, so we can't really complain. Landmark buffet prices Adults Children (4 – 8 years old) 1-1 weekday lunch (Mon – Fri) $85.90++ ($103 nett) $15++ ($17.98 nett) 1-1 weekend lunch (Sat – Sun, PH, eve of PH) $88.90++ ($106.60 nett) 1-1 weekday dinner (Mon – Thu) $94.90++ ($113.80 nett) 1-1 weekend dinner (Fri – Sun, PH, eve of PH) $102.90++ ($123.40 nett) Lunch: 12 – 2.30pm / Dinner: 6.30 – 10pm Landmark Phone: +65 629 97786 WhatsApp: +65 8869 9114 Email: enquiry@ Address: 390 Victoria Street, #05-01 Singapore 188061 8. Oscar's buffet at Conrad Centennial Singapore ($68++ to $96++) If you crave the variety of buffets but also can't live without freshly cooked food, Oscar's at Conrad Centennial Singapore may be the solution. Their buffet comes with both a sumptuous buffet spread as well as live stations, such as a noodle bar and Asian and Western stations. That doesn't mean they skimp on the free-flow buffet items; you can expect the usual international buffet culprits such as lobsters and oysters on ice, sashimi, salads, and dishes from Asia and the West. Oscar's offers two buffet dining options: weekday lunch (12 - 2.30pm) and daily dinner (6 - 10.30pm). Here are their buffet prices: Oscar's festive buffet prices Adults Children (6 – 12 years old) Weekday lunch (Mon – Sun) $68++ $34++ Dinner (Sun – Tue / Wed – Sat) $78++ / $96++ $39++ / $48++ If you're a Hilton Honours member, you enjoy discounted rates at Oscar's buffets: Base & Silver: 10 per cent off Gold & Diamond: 25 per cent off Oscar is also running an SG60 special, featuring a lunch buffet from June 23 to Aug 21, 2025, and a dinner special from Aug 4 to 9, 2025. Expect a spread of both local and international flavours — from Ayam Masak Merah and Sambal Prawn with Petai to fresh oysters, Japanese sashimi, and laksa. Credit card promotions for up to 15% off at Oscar's: DBS credit cards: 15 per cent off Weekday and Weekend Buffet Lunch & Dinner. Valid from now till Aug 31, 2025. Oscar's Phone: +65 6432 7481 Email: Address: 2 Temasek Blvd, Singapore 038982 9. Rise buffet at Marina Bay Sands ($72++ to $122++) Rise's international buffet aims to give you "the world at your table" — their words, not ours. The classy restaurant located at the Marina Bay Sands Tower 1 lobby is the Winner for Best Buffet, RAS Epicurean Star Award 2023, was listed in the 2024 Tatler Dining Guide, and is also a people's favourite as the winner of Travellers' Choice 2024 on Tripadvisor. It offers a selection of food from Thai and Vietnamese cuisines, local Singapore delights, and the usual buffet fare of seafood on ice, sashimi, sushi, carved meats, and a spread of Asian and Western desserts. Their weekday lunch buffet stands out for being one of the most affordable ones on this list, starting from $72++. Who knew, right? And at Marina Bay Sands too! Plus, if you're a Sands Lifestyle member, you can earn up to 20per cent instant Resort Dollars on your spending. Rise's buffet prices Adults Children (6 – 12 years old) Weekday lunch (Mon – Fri) $72++ $36++ Weekend lunch (Sat) $92++ $46++ Weekend lunch (Sun) $102++ $51++ Weekday dinner (Sun – Thu) $98++ $49++ Weekend dinner (Fri – Sat) $112++ $56++ Lunch buffet Mon – Fri: 12pm – 2.45pm (last seating) Sat – Sun: 12pm – 3.30pm (last seating) Dinner buffet Sun – Thu: 5pm – 9.45pm (last seating) Fri – Sat: 5pm – 10.15pm (last seating) Rise Phone: +65 6688 5525 Address: 10 Bayfront Ave, Lobby Hotel Tower 1, Singapore 018972 10. 21 on Rajah at Aloft Singapore Novena ($56++ to $78++) [embed] Located in Aloft Singapore Novena, 21 on Rajah is a Halal-certified restaurant that serves up the best of East and West. They specialise in Mediterranean and Asian cuisines, with Mediterranean classics like hummus and lavosh featured alongside a variety of Asian staples like sushi and beef rendang. Round off your meal with a spread of desserts, a selection of ice creams, and a chocolate fondue the kids (and even most adults!) will love. One of the more affordable buffets out there, 21 on Rajah's buffets usually start from $56++ for weekday lunch and go up to $78++ for weekend dinner. From now till July 5, 2025, they will be having a Taste of Thailand special, replacing their normal menu. Buffet Type Days & Time Price per adult Price per child (6-12 years old) Weekday Lunch Mon to Fri, 12 – 2.30 pm $56++ $28++ Weekend Brunch Sat and Sun, 12 – 3 pm $68++ $34++ Weekday Dinner Sun to Thu, 6 – 10 pm $68++ $34++ Weekend Dinner Fri and Sat, 6 – 10 pm $78++ $39++ Promotions for up to 15% off at 21 on Rajah: 30 per cent off (April 1 – Nov 30, 2025) adult buffets for Safra members and servicemen. Flash your Safra card/e-card or pay with NS LifeSG credits. Up to 50 per cent off for PAssion members: 15 per cent off adult buffet (promo code: PASSION15) / 50 per cent off buffet for seniors (promo code: PASSION50) 21 on Rajah Phone: +65 6808 6847 Email: 21onrajah@ Address: Aloft Singapore Novena, East Wing, 1 Jalan Rajah, Singapore 329133 11. Best Halal buffets in Singapore (2025) Out of the nine most popular buffets in Singapore listed above, four of them are halal-certified: Carousel buffet (Royal Plaza on Scotts) Peppermint buffet (ParkRoyal Marina Bay) Landmark buffet (Village Hotel Bugis) 21 on Rajah (Aloft Singapore Novena) Always check the terms and conditions for credit card buffet promotions first. Typically you have to call to reserve, quote your bank name to secure the discount, and pay using that card. Usually both credit or debit cards are accepted as long as it's from the partner bank. Sign up for your preferred credit card from DBS/POSB, Citibank, UOB, OCBC, HSBC, and Maybank now to enjoy the buffet discounts below. DBS/POSB credit card buffet promotions 2025 Restaurant Promotion Valid till Café Mosaic (Carlton Hotel Singapore) – 1-for-1 Weekday Lunch Buffet – 1-for-1 Seafood Dinner Buffet (Thu to Sat) – 1-for-1 Seafood Lunch Buffet (Sun) – 20 per cent off Mains (excluding Lunch sets) 30 Dec 2025 CLOVE (Swissôtel The Stamford) 20 per cent off food bill 30 Dec 2025 Colony (The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore) – 15 per cent off food bill for Lunch & Dinner (Mon to Thu) for DBS Insignia, DBS Treasures Black Elite, DBS Vantage, DBS Woman's World Cardmembers – 10 per cent off food bill for Lunch & Dinner (Mon to Thu) for other DBS cardmembers 30 Dec 2025 Ellenborough Market Café (Paradox Singapore Merchant Court) 50 per cent off buffets 30 Dec 2025 Oscar's buffet at Conrad Centennial Singapore – 15 per cent off Weekday and Weekend Buffet Lunch & Dinner. 31 Aug 2025 Plate (Carlton City Hotel Singapore) – 1-for-1 Weekday Buffet Lunch (Exclusively for DBS/POSB Cardmembers)– 1-for-1 Sea & Grill Buffet Dinner (Fri & Sat) 30 Dec 2025 Racines (Sofitel Singapore City Centre) – 1-for-1 Buffet Brunch – 20 per cent off A La Carte Food Menu 31 Dec 2025 Royale (Mercure Singapore Bugis) – 1-for-1 Lunch Buffet (Mon to Fri) – 1-for-1 Dinner Buffet (Sun to Thu) – 30per cent off Lunch Buffet (Sat & Sun) – 30per cent off Dinner Buffet (Fri & Sat) 31 Dec 2025 StraitsKitchen (Grand Hyatt Singapore) 15 per cent off Lunch & Dinner Buffets with promo code DBS/POSB 30 Dec 2025 Sun's Cafe (Hotel Grand Pacific Singapore) – 1-for-1 Peranakan Buffet – 1-for-1 American Breakfast Buffet 31 Dec 2025 Citibank credit card buffet promotions 2025 Restaurant Promotion Valid till Asian Market Café, Fairmont Singapore 20 per cent off food bill 30 Dec 2025 Beach Road Kitchen, JW Marriott Hotel Singapore South Beach 15 per cent off Lunch & Dinner Buffets (Mon – Sun) 31 Jul 2025 Café Mosaic, Carlton Hotel Singapore 1-for-1 Seafood Buffet for Adult Diners (Thu to Sat for Dinner, Sun for Lunch) 31 Dec 2025 Café Mosaic, Carlton Hotel Singapore 1-for-1 Weekday (Mon to Fri) Lunch Buffet for Adult Diners 31 Dec 2025 CLOVE, Swissotel The Stamford 20 per cent off food bill 30 Dec 2025 StraitsKitchen, Grand Hyatt Singapore 15 per cent off total food bill 30 Sep 2025 Seasonal Tastes, The Westin Singapore 1-for-1 Dinner Buffet and Second Diner 50 per cent off Lunch Buffet 30 Dec 2025 UOB credit card buffet promotions 2025 Restaurant Promotion Valid till Town Restaurant, The Fullerton Hotel Singapore For UOB Reserve, Visa Infinite, Lady's Solitaire, Privilege Banking, Regal and Empire Business Cardmembers only: – 20 per cent off a la carte food menu – 20 per cent off lunch & dinner buffet All other UOB Cards: – 15 per cent off lunch & dinner buffet 30 Dec 2025 HSBC credit card buffet promotions 2025 Restaurant Promotion Valid till Asian Market Café, Fairmont Singapore 20 per cent off food bill Unspecified Café 2000, M Hotel Singapore 20 per cent off total bill 31 Dec 2025 CLOVE, Fairmont Singapore 20 per cent off food bill Unspecified Colony, The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore 10 per cent off / 15 per cent off (for Premier Mastercard and Visa Infinite cardmembers) food bill or Afternoon Tea 7 Nov 2025 Food Capital, Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel Singapore 20 per cent off food bill 31 Dec 2025 LUCE, InterContinental Singapore 15 per cent off total bill for buffet 30 Dec 2025 Princess Terrace, Copthorne King's Hotel Singapore 20 per cent off food bill 31 Dec 2025 The Buffet Restaurant, M Hotel Singapore 20 per cent off total food bill 31 Dec 2025 The Dining Room, Sheraton Towers Singapore 15 per cent off total bill 30 Dec 2025 The Lobby Lounge, InterContinental Singapore 15 per cent off total bill 30 Dec 2025 The Orchard Café, Orchard Hotel Singapore 20 per cent off food bill 31 Dec 2025 Town Restaurant, The Fullerton Hotel Singapore 20 per cent off (HSBC Premier MasterCard/ Visa Infinite Credit Card members) / 15per cent off à la carte food bill and lunch & dinner buffet 30 Dec 2025 OCBC credit card buffet promotions 2025 Restaurant Promotion Expiry Asian Market Café, Fairmont Singapore 30 per cent off total bill 31 Aug 2025 Café Mosaic, Carlton Hotel Singapore – 1-for-1 Weekday Lunch Buffet (Mon-Fri)– 1-for-1 Seafood Dinner Buffet (Thu-Sat) & Seafood Lunch Buffet (Sun)– 20 per cent off Mains (excluding lunch sets) 30 Dec 2025 Café 2000, M Hotel Singapore 20 per cent off total bill 30 Dec 2025 CLOVE, Swissôtel The Stamford 30 per cent off total bill 31 Aug 2025 Colony, The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore OCBC VOYAGE Card, OCBC Premier VOYAGE Card, OCBC Premier Private Client VOYAGE Card, OCBC Premier VISA Infinite Credit Card, and Bank of Singapore VOYAGE Card:– 15 per cent off Lunch Buffet (Mon-Fri) and Dinner Buffet (Mon-Thu)– 15 per cent off Afternoon Tea (Mon-Fri) 30 Dec 2025 All OCBC Cards:– 10 per cent off Lunch Buffet (Mon-Fri) and– 10 per cent off Dinner Buffet (Mon-Thu)– 10per cent off Afternoon Tea (Mon-Fri) Crossroads Buffet, Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel 20 per cent off total bill 30 Dec 2025 Food Capital Restaurant, Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel Singapore 20 per cent off total bill 30 Dec 2025 LUCE, InterContinental Singapore 15 per cent off daily buffets 30 Dec 2025 Makan@Jen, JEN Singapore Orchardgateway by Shangri-La – 1-for-1 dinner buffet (Mon-Wed)– 25 per cent off total bill for lunch buffet (Sat-Sun)– 25 per cent off total bill for dinner buffet (Fri-Sat)– 15 per cent off for ala carte menu items (Alcohol, non-alcohol and food) 30 Dec 2025 Plate, Carlton City Hotel Singapore 1-for-1 Sea and Grill Buffet Dinner every Friday and Saturday 27 Dec 2025 Princess Terrace Authentic Penang Cuisine, Copthorne King's Hotel Singapore 20 per cent off total bill 30 Dec 2025 Racines, Sofitel Singapore City Centre – 1-for-1 Ultimate Buffet Brunch every Saturday (1230 – 3 pm)– 20 per cent off a la carte food 30 Dec 2025 Riverside Terrace, Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel Singapore 20 per cent off total bill 30 Dec 2025 Sky22, Courtyard by Marriott Singapore Novena 20 per cent off total bill 30 Dec 2025 StraitsKitchen, Grand Hyatt Singapore 15 per cent off Lunch and Dinner Buffets 30 Dec 2025 Sun's Cafe, Hotel Grand Pacific Singapore 1-for-1 Peranakan Buffet 30 Dec 2025 The Buffet Restaurant, M Hotel Singapore 20 per cent off total bill 30 Dec 2025 The Dining Room, Sheraton Towers Singapore 15 per cent off total bill 30 Dec 2025 The Lobby Lounge, InterContinental Singapore 15 per cent off total bill 30 Dec 2025 The Orchard Cafe, Orchard Hotel Singapore 20 per cent off total bill 30 Dec 2025 Town Restaurant, The Fullerton Hotel Singapore OCBC VOYAGE Card, OCBC Premier VOYAGE Card, OCBC Premier Private Client VOYAGE Card, OCBC Premier VISA Infinite Credit Card, and Bank of Singapore VOYAGE Card:– 15 per cent off Lunch and Dinner Buffet– 15 per cent off Ala-Carte menu 30 Dec 2025 All OCBC Cards:– 15 per cent off Lunch and Dinner Buffet– 15 per cent off Ala-Carte menu Maybank credit card buffet promotions 2025 Restaurant Promotion Expiry Asian Market Cafe, Fairmont Singapore 20per cent off food bill 30 Dec 2025 CLOVE, Swissôtel The Stamford 20per cent off food bill 30 Dec 2025 Crossroads Buffet, Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel 20per cent off food bill 31 Dec 2025 Edge, Pan Pacific Singapore 15per cent off food bill 31 Dec 2025 Ginger, ParkRoyal on Beach Road 15per cent off total bill 31 Dec 2025 Lime Restaurant and Bar, ParkRoyal Collection Pickering, Singapore 15per cent off total bill 31 Dec 2025 Peppermint, ParkRoyal Collection Marina Bay, Singapore 15per cent off total bill 31 Dec 2025 13. American Express - Love Dining programme's buffet dining promotions 2025 Unlike its competitors, American Express doesn't offer 1-for-1 buffets to anyone with a credit card. Instead, you need to sign up for the Amex Platinum Card in order to get decent buffet discounts. The Platinum card lets you take part in Amex's dining programme, Love Dining, which gives you up to 50 per cent off at atas restaurants and hotel buffets in Singapore. To get the maximum 50 per cent discount, you need to dine with one friend/date. Otherwise, your discount ranges from only 15 per cent to 35 per cent. Participating dining establishments for hotel buffets include: Asian Market Cafe (Fairmont Singapore) Crossroads Buffet (Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel) Ellenborough Market Café (Paradox Singapore – Merchant Court at Clarke Quay) CLOVE (Swissôtel The Stamford) Town Restaurant (Fullerton Hotel) the kitchen table (W Singapore – Sentosa Cove) Didn't see any credit card dining promotions that suit you? Here are some best credit cards for dining so you can at least maximise your cashback and other savings. Get 8per cent cashback on dining with the HSBC Live+ Card. Plus, you'll get complimentary access to 1-for-1 dining deals via the ENTERTAINER with HSBC app. Use the Citi Cash Back Card for six per cent cashback on dining, including caterers, eating places, restaurants, and fast food restaurants worldwide. Earn 5 per cent cashback on everyday dining with the OCBC 365 Credit Card. 15. Best dining deals that are alternatives to buffets Aside from the promotional validity dates, many of these promotions are limited to a certain number of diners per day or promotional period. If for whatever reason you're not able to get a seat, don't despair — there are other food reward and dining apps to help you save on that buffet feast, including Chope, The Entertainer, Burpple Beyond, and Fave. [[nid:719778]] This article was first published in MoneySmart .
Extra.ie
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Extra.ie
Watch: singer plays beautiful rendition of You'll Never Walk Alone in moving tribute to Diogo Jota
A singer played a solemn version of 'You'll Never Walk Alone' in a moving tribute to late Liverpool player Diogo Jota. The Portuguese winger, 28, was tragically killed in a car crash in Spain along with his brother and fellow footballer, André Silva. With 'You'll Never Walk Alone' being Liverpool's official anthem as thousands sing it in Anfield week in and week out, Icelandic singer Laufey, who was playing a gig in Liverpool on Thursday night, paid a special tribute to the late star with a solemn version of the song. @laufey Sang this special song tonight in honor of Diogo Jota and Liverpool ♥️ ♬ original sound – laufey Fans of Liverpool and the singer were touched by her tribute, with one person commenting 'Laufey, your class, elegance and respect is greatly appreciated by every single fan of Liverpool and everyone surrounding the families of Diogo Jota and Andre Silva. Thank you so much for this beautiful tribute.' 'Respect to Laufey for doing this, we need more singers and artists like this,' another commented, while another added 'this feels unreal.' The song, which was originally released in 1945 as part of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical Carousel, became most notable for its cover by Liverpool band Gerry and the Pacemakers, becoming synonymous with the club as fans sing it pre-match. The club also made You'll Never Walk Alone their motto, which has stood for the last six decades. Singer Laufey played a solemn version of You'll Never Walk alone in a moving tribute to late Liverpool player Diogo Jota. Pic: Laufey/TikTok Jota, who signed to Liverpool from Wolves in 2020, was tragically killed in the crash alongside his brother after the car they were travelling in suffered a tyre blowout while overtaking. The car then burst into flames, with the pair dying instantly in the accident. Tributes have flooded in for Jota and his brother following Thursday's tragedy, which came just weeks after Jota married his sweetheart Rute Cardoso. Jose Manuel Macedo, parish priest at the Igreja Matriz de Gondomar in Sao Cosme, told the PA news agency in a translated message that the funeral for the brothers will take place at the Igreja Matriz on Saturday at 10am. Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva were tragically killed in the Zamora region of Spain in a car crash. Pic:According to BBC Sport, Jota was returning for pre-season training next week via ferry after being advised not to fly following minor surgery. Liverpool's 'heartbroken' players have spoken of their pain in paying tribute to their team-mate. Reds captain Virgil van Dijk said on Instagram he was 'absolutely devastated and in total disbelief.' The Dutch defender wrote in a post alongside a picture of Jota with the Premier League trophy 'What a human being, what a player, but most importantly what an unbelievable family man.' Pic: Peter Byrne/PA 'You meant so much to all of us and you always will! For your family to lose two sons, a husband and a father is just unimaginable. So cruel and unfair. 'My heart is breaking for all of your beautiful family, for Rute and for your kids. I promise you that in these difficult times and beyond we will always be there for your family. Diogo Jota with his family in 2022. Pic: Peter Byrne/PA Wire 'A champion forever, number 20 forever. It's been a privilege to have stood by your side on the pitch, and to have been your friend off it. We will miss you beyond words and never forget you. Your legacy will live on, we will make sure of it! Rest in perfect peace Diogo & Andre.'
Sydney Morning Herald
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
New details of failed police sting linked to Sydney's most notorious cold case
It's been years since Eddie Trigg has seen his former lover. There's a lot to catch up on as they sit across from each other at a Surry Hills hotel. Monet King eases his way into the conversation. King, 61, is writing an autobiography, exploring his extraordinary journey: from being born Arthur Montgomery King, to becoming Marilyn King – Miss New Zealand Drag Queen and, later, a cocktail waitress in Kings Cross – to finding God and now identifying as a man. He's chosen the name Monet as a tribute to his favourite artist. He tells Trigg he wants to write about their life together in the 1970s and the wild days they shared in the Cross. And he wants to talk about their connection to one of Sydney's most enduring mysteries; the 1975 disappearance of 38-year-old journalist and anti-development campaigner Juanita Nielsen. Trigg and King had both been at the Carousel Cabaret in the Cross on the day Nielsen vanished. King says it's difficult to write about because it is 'a forbidden subject' between them. Trigg seems wary. In fact, scared. He appears to be genuinely afraid of Sydney crime figure Abe Saffron, the owner of the Carousel. 'Abe Saffron's not someone to f--- with [even] though he's f---ing 80-f---ing-something, he's f---ing nearly a billionaire, and he's got contacts everywhere,' he tells King as they sit in the pub. 'You could put yourself in a lot of f---ing jeopardy, even if he doesn't go hard, he could sue your arse off.' If Trigg talks, though, he could solve the Nielsen case. That's the hope of the third, silent party to this meeting. King is wired and Detective Inspector Nigel Warren is listening outside the pub, hanging on every word. This is the covert operation that NSW Police hope will solve one of the state's most notorious cold cases. And this is the first time the recorded conversation can be reported in detail, courtesy of material newly released to the Herald on the eve of the 50th anniversary of Nielsen's disappearance. The time: July 1, 2005. The place: The Royal Exhibition Hotel in Surry Hills. The target: Eddie Trigg, the former night manager of the Carousel, sitting in the front bar. He is the last known person to see Nielsen alive at the club on the morning of July 4, 1975. The bait: Trigg's former lover, Monet King. The cop: Detective Inspector Nigel Warren, who hopes the meeting will elicit a confession from Trigg. The detective knows the meeting of the two old lovers might be the best, and perhaps last, chance to answer the question for years written on walls around Sydney: 'Who killed Juanita?' Warren has worked hard to get to this moment. He flew to New Zealand to interview King and obtained a statement that implicated Trigg in the murder. Up to a point. But he needs more. A confession. He figures that if Trigg is ever going to open up to anyone, it will be to someone who's been in a relationship with him. He persuades King to come to Sydney and take part in the operation. '[He] agreed to talk to Eddie for me,' Warren tells the Herald in an exclusive interview. 'When you look at them being in a relationship, Monet knows everything about him, what he does, what his movements were [in 1975]. 'So, it would have made it very difficult for [Trigg] to lie, or try and pass things off because, in my view, Monet would know what was truth or lie.' Since leaving Sydney in 1982 to return to New Zealand, King has embraced Christianity, returned to living as a man, and become a community health worker. But the Nielsen case has never left him, and King believes he has a role to play to encourage Trigg 'to confess before he dies'. But Trigg does not play ball. 'Be very careful what you say, or what you have to say about [Saffron] or his involvement or what you think his involvement is,' he tells King. He urges King to stick to the story. Perhaps tellingly, he says: 'Just say what you've always been saying. Don't f---ing elaborate and get carried away. It's been 30-odd f---ing years, and you could buy yourself f---ing trouble to gain a little bit of notoriety, which is pretty ridiculous. 'I won't go out of my way to antagonise a f---ing person like Abe because it's just not f---ing worth it.' King counters that Saffron, who was 86 at the time, was 'almost dead', and pressed on, wanting to know what Trigg would do about the Nielsen mystery. 'You've got to put it all down on paper.' Trigg responds: 'Well, I can only put down what's already been f---ing, what's already down. 'I can't add any more to it than what's already there. Everybody assumes and, probably rightly so, that I know the answer, and I don't. 'I have an idea, but I don't really know for a fact.' King turns the conversation to what happened on July 4, 1975, in particular, that Trigg went upstairs at the Carousel with a woman – Nielsen. Trigg replies: 'Which I did. That is public knowledge.' Trigg has long claimed he asked Nielsen to the club to discuss buying advertising in the local newspaper she ran. They agreed on a price and he paid her. She gave him a receipt, then left. It's at this point that Trigg's wariness turns to suspicion: 'You're on a fishing expedition, aren't you?' Hearing this, Warren, outside the hotel, is immediately concerned that the operation might fall apart and King might be in danger. 'I started to get quite worried at this point,' he says. He has a team ready to act if it all goes pear-shaped, and he perceives there is a risk to Monet's safety. King is determined to do his best to have Trigg confess before he dies, and denies that he is on a fishing expedition. Trigg: 'F---ing bullshit.' Undaunted, King presses on, telling Trigg: 'It would be lovely to know [about Juanita].' Trigg: 'I don't know any more than what's already a public record – I do have private opinions, which I would never voice while Abe was alive.' King: 'It looks as though it's fated, that the mystery will continue.' Trigg: 'There'll only be value in the story while there is still a mystery, once the mystery is solved, that's the end of it.' King: 'To solve the mystery, you would have to discover her.' Trigg: 'You've got a closed mind. You, like everyone else, assumes she's dead. You haven't done your homework. You're here on a fishing expedition.' Trigg then makes bizarre allegations, claiming that Nielsen had a dungeon, was satanic and was doing drugs while making out as 'a goody, goody, looking after the residents of Victoria Street'. He asserts that Frank Theeman, the developer who wanted to raze the Victorian terraces Nielsen was fighting to protect, had 'nothing to do with Juanita'. It was a 'cock and bull story, put out to feed the f---ing public, to feed the police, to feed investigators, whatever'. When talk turns to how the Carousel nightclub ran, with black money being creamed off, Trigg says: 'I'm not telling you anything at the time about what I was doing. Why would I do that? F---in' Abe would put a bullet in my head.' Again, King is not to be put off, bringing the conversation back to July 4, telling Trigg: 'I saw a bit of blood on your shirt.' He hits back: 'You never saw me that day. Listen to me. I don't give a shit if you say you saw me on the day and I had a bucket of blood on me, not a spot, a bucket of blood. I don't give a shit.' Undeterred, King says: 'Rubbish, it was only a spot.' After about 90 minutes, Trigg says: 'It's time to go anyway. Write what you want. You won't get any backlash from me. I can tell you, I can sit here opposite you right now and say to you, I don't think for a moment that Juanita Nielsen is dead ... Juanita Nielsen is living, is alive and well in f---ing Russia.' Listening to the conversation, Inspector Warren isn't sure whether Trigg is just throwing random thoughts around to throw King off the track or, because of his age and drinking history, is actually delusional. The covert operation has failed to get a confession to Nielsen's murder. And eight years later, Trigg dies a lonely alcoholic death in a small room at the Abbotts Hotel in Waterloo. A disappointed Warren has to accept that the operation failed. 'As it progressed, I could see it start to fall away and ultimately not lead to any information we could rely on,' he tells the Herald. 'I was disappointed on a number of levels; for Monet because he very much wanted answers himself. I think Monet still had a soft heart for Eddie and wanted the truth, and hopefully have Trigg reveal the truth. Loading 'I was disappointed and frustrated about it because I could not see another avenue or opportunity like this, under these circumstances, which would likely be successful in drawing out the truth. It was very disappointing.' But 50 years on, police are prepared to rule out some of the more outlandish theories about Nielsen's death, to say who their main suspects are and who was pulling the strings. King's evidence, including the blood he saw that day, is crucial to what police believe happened to the anti-development campaigner at the Carousel 50 years ago.
The Age
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Age
New details of failed police sting linked to Sydney's most notorious cold case
It's been years since Eddie Trigg has seen his former lover. There's a lot to catch up on as they sit across from each other at a Surry Hills hotel. Monet King eases his way into the conversation. King, 61, is writing an autobiography, exploring his extraordinary journey: from being born Arthur Montgomery King, to becoming Marilyn King – Miss New Zealand Drag Queen and, later, a cocktail waitress in Kings Cross – to finding God and now identifying as a man. He's chosen the name Monet as a tribute to his favourite artist. He tells Trigg he wants to write about their life together in the 1970s and the wild days they shared in the Cross. And he wants to talk about their connection to one of Sydney's most enduring mysteries; the 1975 disappearance of 38-year-old journalist and anti-development campaigner Juanita Nielsen. Trigg and King had both been at the Carousel Cabaret in the Cross on the day Nielsen vanished. King says it's difficult to write about because it is 'a forbidden subject' between them. Trigg seems wary. In fact, scared. He appears to be genuinely afraid of Sydney crime figure Abe Saffron, the owner of the Carousel. 'Abe Saffron's not someone to f--- with [even] though he's f---ing 80-f---ing-something, he's f---ing nearly a billionaire, and he's got contacts everywhere,' he tells King as they sit in the pub. 'You could put yourself in a lot of f---ing jeopardy, even if he doesn't go hard, he could sue your arse off.' If Trigg talks, though, he could solve the Nielsen case. That's the hope of the third, silent party to this meeting. King is wired and Detective Inspector Nigel Warren is listening outside the pub, hanging on every word. This is the covert operation that NSW Police hope will solve one of the state's most notorious cold cases. And this is the first time the recorded conversation can be reported in detail, courtesy of material newly released to the Herald on the eve of the 50th anniversary of Nielsen's disappearance. The time: July 1, 2005. The place: The Royal Exhibition Hotel in Surry Hills. The target: Eddie Trigg, the former night manager of the Carousel, sitting in the front bar. He is the last known person to see Nielsen alive at the club on the morning of July 4, 1975. The bait: Trigg's former lover, Monet King. The cop: Detective Inspector Nigel Warren, who hopes the meeting will elicit a confession from Trigg. The detective knows the meeting of the two old lovers might be the best, and perhaps last, chance to answer the question for years written on walls around Sydney: 'Who killed Juanita?' Warren has worked hard to get to this moment. He flew to New Zealand to interview King and obtained a statement that implicated Trigg in the murder. Up to a point. But he needs more. A confession. He figures that if Trigg is ever going to open up to anyone, it will be to someone who's been in a relationship with him. He persuades King to come to Sydney and take part in the operation. '[He] agreed to talk to Eddie for me,' Warren tells the Herald in an exclusive interview. 'When you look at them being in a relationship, Monet knows everything about him, what he does, what his movements were [in 1975]. 'So, it would have made it very difficult for [Trigg] to lie, or try and pass things off because, in my view, Monet would know what was truth or lie.' Since leaving Sydney in 1982 to return to New Zealand, King has embraced Christianity, returned to living as a man, and become a community health worker. But the Nielsen case has never left him, and King believes he has a role to play to encourage Trigg 'to confess before he dies'. But Trigg does not play ball. 'Be very careful what you say, or what you have to say about [Saffron] or his involvement or what you think his involvement is,' he tells King. He urges King to stick to the story. Perhaps tellingly, he says: 'Just say what you've always been saying. Don't f---ing elaborate and get carried away. It's been 30-odd f---ing years, and you could buy yourself f---ing trouble to gain a little bit of notoriety, which is pretty ridiculous. 'I won't go out of my way to antagonise a f---ing person like Abe because it's just not f---ing worth it.' King counters that Saffron, who was 86 at the time, was 'almost dead', and pressed on, wanting to know what Trigg would do about the Nielsen mystery. 'You've got to put it all down on paper.' Trigg responds: 'Well, I can only put down what's already been f---ing, what's already down. 'I can't add any more to it than what's already there. Everybody assumes and, probably rightly so, that I know the answer, and I don't. 'I have an idea, but I don't really know for a fact.' King turns the conversation to what happened on July 4, 1975, in particular, that Trigg went upstairs at the Carousel with a woman – Nielsen. Trigg replies: 'Which I did. That is public knowledge.' Trigg has long claimed he asked Nielsen to the club to discuss buying advertising in the local newspaper she ran. They agreed on a price and he paid her. She gave him a receipt, then left. It's at this point that Trigg's wariness turns to suspicion: 'You're on a fishing expedition, aren't you?' Hearing this, Warren, outside the hotel, is immediately concerned that the operation might fall apart and King might be in danger. 'I started to get quite worried at this point,' he says. He has a team ready to act if it all goes pear-shaped, and he perceives there is a risk to Monet's safety. King is determined to do his best to have Trigg confess before he dies, and denies that he is on a fishing expedition. Trigg: 'F---ing bullshit.' Undaunted, King presses on, telling Trigg: 'It would be lovely to know [about Juanita].' Trigg: 'I don't know any more than what's already a public record – I do have private opinions, which I would never voice while Abe was alive.' King: 'It looks as though it's fated, that the mystery will continue.' Trigg: 'There'll only be value in the story while there is still a mystery, once the mystery is solved, that's the end of it.' King: 'To solve the mystery, you would have to discover her.' Trigg: 'You've got a closed mind. You, like everyone else, assumes she's dead. You haven't done your homework. You're here on a fishing expedition.' Trigg then makes bizarre allegations, claiming that Nielsen had a dungeon, was satanic and was doing drugs while making out as 'a goody, goody, looking after the residents of Victoria Street'. He asserts that Frank Theeman, the developer who wanted to raze the Victorian terraces Nielsen was fighting to protect, had 'nothing to do with Juanita'. It was a 'cock and bull story, put out to feed the f---ing public, to feed the police, to feed investigators, whatever'. When talk turns to how the Carousel nightclub ran, with black money being creamed off, Trigg says: 'I'm not telling you anything at the time about what I was doing. Why would I do that? F---in' Abe would put a bullet in my head.' Again, King is not to be put off, bringing the conversation back to July 4, telling Trigg: 'I saw a bit of blood on your shirt.' He hits back: 'You never saw me that day. Listen to me. I don't give a shit if you say you saw me on the day and I had a bucket of blood on me, not a spot, a bucket of blood. I don't give a shit.' Undeterred, King says: 'Rubbish, it was only a spot.' After about 90 minutes, Trigg says: 'It's time to go anyway. Write what you want. You won't get any backlash from me. I can tell you, I can sit here opposite you right now and say to you, I don't think for a moment that Juanita Nielsen is dead ... Juanita Nielsen is living, is alive and well in f---ing Russia.' Listening to the conversation, Inspector Warren isn't sure whether Trigg is just throwing random thoughts around to throw King off the track or, because of his age and drinking history, is actually delusional. The covert operation has failed to get a confession to Nielsen's murder. And eight years later, Trigg dies a lonely alcoholic death in a small room at the Abbotts Hotel in Waterloo. A disappointed Warren has to accept that the operation failed. 'As it progressed, I could see it start to fall away and ultimately not lead to any information we could rely on,' he tells the Herald. 'I was disappointed on a number of levels; for Monet because he very much wanted answers himself. I think Monet still had a soft heart for Eddie and wanted the truth, and hopefully have Trigg reveal the truth. Loading 'I was disappointed and frustrated about it because I could not see another avenue or opportunity like this, under these circumstances, which would likely be successful in drawing out the truth. It was very disappointing.' But 50 years on, police are prepared to rule out some of the more outlandish theories about Nielsen's death, to say who their main suspects are and who was pulling the strings. King's evidence, including the blood he saw that day, is crucial to what police believe happened to the anti-development campaigner at the Carousel 50 years ago.
