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Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Inside Neil Young's tour - supermodels, Hollywood A-listers and games on rider
The Mirror goes behind the scenes of Neil Young's incredible BST Hyde Park show as we speak to tour insiders about the star's life on the road At 10.32pm on Friday night - two minutes after the strict curfew in London's Hyde Park had passed - Neil Young 's guitar finally fell silent. After a blistering encore of Rockin' in the Free World, with three false endings, festival bosses had no choice but to fade down the volume to zero. For a man who took on the BBC over its Glastonbury coverage and won, he had met his match when it came to Westminster Council's licensing laws. Not that the fans seemed to mind. To them, Neil's little act of defiance was the perfect ending to what has been billed as one of the all-time-great BST performances. 'You could tell he was just goading them into that, it was glorious,' said one. At 79-years-old, it would appear Neil is still very much a rule-breaker. In fact, the UK leg of his Love Earth world tour has been an exercise in doing things differently. Just ask both Emily and Michael Eavis. They were left poleaxed after Neil pulled out of Glastonbury earlier this year accusing it of being 'under corporate control'. He later reversed his decision but then took on the BBC and only allowed them to live-stream his set at the last minute. It's not available on iPlayer. Council red-tape aside, it was more plain sailing when it came to his second UK show in Hyde Park. For all his no-nonsense reputation, insiders say the opposite is true when you actually meet the Heart of Gold musician. Many backstage at BST were surprised by how 'incredibly down to earth and laidback he was ….with barely any entourage and just wife Daryl Hannah and a few family and friends.' One said: 'Neil made the effort to go around thanking everybody, particularly all the security staff who remarked how lovely he was afterwards.' Unlike other big A-list stars, it was very much a low-key affair with no fuss. Staff had laid on a table football table which 'went down well', as well as fridges loaded with Grolsch and Peroni. Front of house, it was a markedly different atmosphere with a guest list spanning fashion, music, film and sport all clamouring to watch him. 'It was almost like a pilgrimage….. Kate Moss, Owen Wilson, Dua Lipa, John McEnroe, Derek Chisora were all there,' says one insider. Supermodel Moss is a particularly enthusiastic fan of the godfather of grunge. But despite being side of stage for support act Van Morrison, she didn't have any such luck with Neil and watched from the crowd instead. For a man who is turning 80 this November, this may have been because of Covid protocols. All staff working around the headline area were asked to take a Covid test before entering. 'It was a precaution but an important one not least as his tour goes on for many months,' said one. But it would appear Neil still got to enjoy a taste of Britain. For a man who doesn't do many interviews, many of the glimpses into the Canadian's life comes from his website where he updates fans in his own inimitable style. In staccato, short sentences, he said how the morning after Hyde Park he 'went for a walk to the morning too breeze.' Of the show itself, he admitted: 'A lot of our family shared yesterday and the music was there for to see and feel everyone.' He then chronicled his trip to Paris via Eurostar, where he was set to play last night (Sunday) 'Beautiful english countryside rolls not see it til spring or summer to return soon... missed too many old friends,' he says. He added: 'Sitting at the ferry dock watching so many cars coming off the ferry, arriving cars and home wants to visit beautiful, open and friendly.' Being on Eurostar, he said, reminded him of 'playin' trains with nice to see him again soon.' Neil has previously told how he built an intricate miniature train set for him and his son Ben, who has severe cerebral palsy, to bond over. For many fans, the beauty of the tour so far has been in its unpredictability. He is known to chop and change his set-list around at the last minute keeping the audience - and his band the Chrome Hearts - on their toes. For a man whose back catalogue spans six decades including seminal albums Harvest, After the Gold Rust and Rust Never Sleeps, he is not short of material. And many believe this incarnation of the band has given Neil a new lease of life. Certainly on stage, it seems like he is having a whale of a time, while both his haunting voice - and guitarmanship - remain as strong as ever. Says an insider: 'The BST show was one of the best shows Neil had the new band seems to have galvanised him.' Of course, the singer is as famous for his activism as he is for his music. Just a few months ago he predicted that his outspoken attacks on Donald Trump could see him banned from entering the US for that leg of the tour. 'When I go to play music in Europe, if I talk about Donald J Trump, I may be one of those returning to America who is barred or put in jail to sleep on a cement floor with an aluminium blanket,' he wrote. Even Neil's train trip to Paris at the weekend was not without reflection about the state of the world. After popping out the other end of the Channel Tunnel, he wrote: 'On the way I saw the respect for earth's beauty of advertising natural lands showing the beauty of Earth without disruption respect for earth a corporate $ checkbook. ...They care in sure looks like it. ......music tomorrow..' FIVE STAR REVIEW BY TOM BRYANT, ASSOCIATE EDITOR It would take some effort to eclipse what was a magical show on Worthy Farm two weeks ago. But as the sun set on W2, Neil Young did just that with a spell-binding performance for the ages. All the focus had been on the star's Glastonbury show in the build-up to his European tour. Not least the controversy over whether he would allow the BBC to screen his performance. But here in Hyde Park it was all about the music – and the 79-year-old rocker delivered with aplomb. There was no scrimping on a hits-packed set list including Old Man, Harvest Moon and the Needle and the Damage Done. There was even a rare outing for his 1970 tear-jerker After the Gold Rush which made its tour debut. Sat astride a piano, it was a moment of perfection and you could hear a pin drop in the hushed royal park. Otherwise, the godfather of grunge was at his rocking best, generating an inordinate amount of noise as they jammed into the night with a thrilling encore of Rockin' in the Free World. Until 10.32pm that is…
Scottish Sun
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Royal Ascot drinks prices including £560 bottle of bubbly and the actually reasonable cost of a pint
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) ROYAL ASCOT drink prices have been revealed with a bottle of champagne costing £560. The racing festival kicked off today and will run for five days up until Saturday June 21. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Drink prices at Ascot have been revealed with some very expensive champagne on offer 3 Cocktails will set punters back £14 a pop 3 Prices have increased compared to last year Big spenders have a range of bubbly to choose from with the most expensive option - Cuvee Dom Perignon Blanc - costing £560. The cheapest bottle of champagne is priced at £210, although that is for a magnum-sized 1500ml bottle. A normal bottle of white or red wine will set Ascot punters back £30, with the most expensive option coming in at £45. Beer drinkers will also be relieved to see a fairly reasonable £7 pint option on offer for a Grolsch lager. A pint of Guinness is a bit pricier at £7.80 - but that is the dearest beer available alongside a Peroni. Bottles of beer are also available with an Asahi costing £7.20 and a cider coming in at £7.80. Even a non-alcoholic bottle of Peroni is £5.50. The prices represent a hike compared to last year, when a Guinness was £7.50 and a Grolsch was £6.50. BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS There are also plenty of cocktails on offer costing £14, with non-alcoholic options £11 and £9. A jug of Royal Ascot Blush is priced at £41 - last year a jug of Pimms was £39.50. Watch Rachael Blackmore like you've never seen her before in Ascot preview SunSport offers plenty of sign-up offers for punters for one of the biggest weeks in the racing calendar.
The Sun
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Royal Ascot drinks prices including £560 bottle of bubbly and the actually reasonable cost of a pint
ROYAL ASCOT drink prices have been revealed with a bottle of champagne costing £560. The racing festival kicked off today and will run for five days up until Saturday June 21. 3 3 3 Big spenders have a range of bubbly to choose from with the most expensive option - Cuvee Dom Perignon Blanc - costing £560. The cheapest bottle of champagne is priced at £210, although that is for a magnum-sized 1500ml bottle. A normal bottle of white or red wine will set Ascot punters back £30, with the most expensive option coming in at £45. Beer drinkers will also be relieved to see a fairly reasonable £7 pint option on offer for a Grolsch lager. A pint of Guinness is a bit pricier at £7.80 - but that is the dearest beer available alongside a Peroni. Bottles of beer are also available with an Asahi costing £7.20 and a cider coming in at £7.80. Even a non-alcoholic bottle of Peroni is £5.50. The prices represent a hike compared to last year, when a Guinness was £7.50 and a Grolsch was £6.50. There are also plenty of cocktails on offer costing £14, with non-alcoholic options £11 and £9. A jug of Royal Ascot Blush is priced at £41 - last year a jug of Pimms was £39.50. SunSport offers plenty of sign-up offers for punters for one of the biggest weeks in the racing calendar.
The Irish Sun
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Royal Ascot drinks prices including £560 bottle of bubbly and the actually reasonable cost of a pint
ROYAL ASCOT drink prices have been revealed with a bottle of champagne costing £560. The racing festival kicked off today and will run for five days up until Saturday June 21. Advertisement 3 Drink prices at Ascot have been revealed with some very expensive champagne on offer 3 Cocktails will set punters back £14 a pop 3 Prices have increased compared to last year Big spenders have a range of bubbly to choose from with the most expensive option - Cuvee Dom Perignon Blanc - costing £560. The cheapest bottle of champagne is priced at £210, although that is for a magnum-sized 1500ml bottle. A normal bottle of white or red wine will set Ascot punters back £30, with the most expensive option coming in at £45. Beer drinkers will also be relieved to see a fairly reasonable £7 pint option on offer for a Grolsch lager. Advertisement READ MORE IN RACING A pint of Guinness is a bit pricier at £7.80 - but that is the dearest beer available alongside a Peroni. Bottles of beer are also available with an Asahi costing £7.20 and a cider coming in at £7.80. Even a non-alcoholic bottle of Peroni is £5.50. The prices represent a hike compared to last year, when a Guinness was £7.50 and a Grolsch was £6.50. Advertisement Most read in Horse Racing Exclusive BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS There are also plenty of cocktails on offer costing £14, with non-alcoholic options £11 and £9. A jug of Royal Ascot Blush is priced at £41 - last year a jug of Pimms was £39.50. Watch Rachael Blackmore like you've never seen her before in Ascot preview SunSport offers plenty of sign-up offers for punters for one of the biggest weeks in the racing calendar. Advertisement
Scottish Sun
15-05-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Price of popular beer hiked in supermarkets including Sainsbury's and Morrisons
Other brands are cutting alcohol content to avoid hiking prices BEER WE GO Price of popular beer hiked in supermarkets including Sainsbury's and Morrisons Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) DRINKERS are feeling the pinch as prices of the popular Spanish lager have shot up in supermarkets across the country. The price of your favourite San Miguel has been steadily increasing since Budweiser Brewing Group (BBG) took over its production in January. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 BBG blames "government-imposed duties and new packaging taxes," which they say have increased production and distribution costs Credit: Gary Stone Single bottles have been hit hardest, rising by an average of 34p to a hefty £2.55, according to an investigation by The Grocer. Sainsbury's shoppers have seen the biggest jump, with prices going up twice since January, from £1.99 to a whopping £2.75. Morrisons isn't far behind, with a bottle now costing £2.50, up from £2.20. Multipacks are also affected, with a four-pack of cans now costing around £5.94. Even larger packs have seen a slight increase. So, what's behind the price hike? BBG blames "government-imposed duties and new packaging taxes," which they say have increased production and distribution costs. The brewing and pub industry is dealing with a slew of financial pressure, including a rise in employee national insurance contributions and fresh charges on waste packaging, which have added £1 to the cost of a 12-pack of beers. This follows a 3.6% increase in duty rates introduced in February. This hated levy is charged on all drinks with an alcohol by volume (ABV) strength exceeding 1.2%, either at the point of production or upon importation. Sainsbury's and Morrisons say a variety of factors are impacting prices. The Sun tries Wetherspoons' new menu Asda declined to comment. However, it seems San Miguel has been struggling to keep its head above water. Sales have dipped since BBG took over, falling by a hefty 13.3% to £216.3million. Despite the price increases, BBG is trying to keep the Spanish spirit alive with a big marketing campaign, promising a "Spanish Summer – No Matter, Where," complete with TV ads, social media buzz, and pub giveaways. A BBG spokesperson said: "San Miguel remains a consumer favourite, and we look forward to activating it this year with exciting marketing and trade campaigns." Other popular beer brands have opted to reduce alcohol content as a way to minimise the impact of rising costs and avoid price increases. What brands have slashed alcohol content? Coors is dropping the alcohol level of its lager from 4% to 3.4% in the coming weeks, joining a growing list of brands watering down their booze. Earlier this year, Heineken dropped the alcohol level of its SOL brand drinks from 4.2% to 3.4%. Grolsch was cut from 4% to 3.4% last year, leaving fans furious. The beer, relaunched by Asahi in 2020 after being scrapped the year before, was previously sold at 5% ABV. Kronenbourg saw its alcohol content drop from 5% to 4.6%, with Carlsberg Marston's insisting it could still 'deliver great taste and quality' despite the change. Hophead, brewed by Asahi-owned Dark Star, also fell from 3.8% to 3.4% last year as part of a major revamp across the range. Banks Amber Ale was reduced from 3.8% to 3.4% in mid-2023 as part of a move to encourage 'moderation' among drinkers. John Smith's Extra Smooth, the UK's No.1 keg ale, had its ABV trimmed from 3.6% to 3.4% to support healthier drinking habits according to Heineken. Fosters, the Aussie-themed lager, had its alcohol level cut from 4% to 3.7% back in 2022 as part of Heineken's drive to meet demand for lower-alcohol drinks. What's happening at pubs? Last week, the boss of Wetherspoons warned the price of a pint will go up by 20p in the coming days as breweries are already pushing through hikes on the back of costs pressures from Labour's tax hikes. The pub industry had already faced demands for higher prices from breweries, which had increased their prices by around 7p per pint in the past week, Sir Tim Martin revealed. "It means pints in pubs are going to go up by on average 15p to 20p this month", he said. Despite this, Sir Tim said he won't be raising prices at his own pubs. The British Beer and Pub Association recently warned that the price of a pint is expected to exceed the £5 mark, up from the current average of £4.80. Simon Dodd, chief executive of Young's, announced plans to raise the chain's prices by 2.5% to 3%. Similarly, Stonegate Group, which owns popular pubs like Slug & Lettuce, Walkabout, and Popworld, increased prices by 4% for its leased and tenanted pubs on May 2. Meanwhile Heineken increased the price of its draught beer by an average of 2.97% for pubs in February. In January, Wetherspoons raised the prices of some drinks and meal deals by up to 30p.
