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BBC News
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
North Shields giant artworks spark 'amazingly positive' reaction
Two giant murals created as part of a town's 800th anniversary celebrations have had a positive impact, the art festival's organisers are the first of a total of eight large-scale works on blank walls on locations around North Shields, in North Tyneside, over the by Elevation, they are part of a festival marking its history from a small village of simple huts - or shiels - into a thriving harbour completed two have sparked hundreds of likes on social media with comments being "overwhelmingly positive". Dutch artist Nina Valkhoff, who created the first mural in the town centre, said people had often stopped to watch her at work and had been "very encouraging".The second, by street artist KMG and based on a river god, covers the side of a large building on the Fish on the third is due to start on Monday. Stuart Fern from Elevation said there had been hundreds of comments on social media, which had been overwhelmingly said: "The feedback has been amazing, I know these things are often quite divisive but this has been so positive."It's had a huge impact, I've even heard about tourists from Portugal and Sweden commenting.""They are really stunning, and will still be there in 10 or 15 years time - their legacy will last." The artworks are part of the North Shields 800 celebrations, marking the emergence of the town from a small village on the bank of the River Tyne to serve Tynemouth Priory into a thriving harbour Tyneside Council has now announced that a £132,160 grant had been awarded to the Linskill and North Tyneside Community Development Trust which would manage the funds on behalf of North Shields would be used to support 10 projects to safeguard the town's maritime, industrial, railway and arts heritage. Follow BBC Newcastle on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
Wales Online
07-07-2025
- Business
- Wales Online
Man who spent 17 hours at UK's largest Wetherspoons left with surprising bill
Man who spent 17 hours at UK's largest Wetherspoons left with surprising bill The Royal Victoria Pavilion, in Ramsgate, Kent, is the largest pub in the Wetherspoons chain and has arguably the best location - it's right on the beach JD Wetherspoon put in around £4.5 million to revamp the dilapidated pavilion into a mega-pub (Image: KMG / SWNS ) The Royal Victoria Pavilion, situated in the coastal town of Ramsgate, Kent, stands out for several reasons. It proudly claims the title of the largest pub within the Wetherspoons empire, and it might just boast the most enviable position too – nestled right on the seafront. Chris Whitbourn, the longstanding manager who has helmed the Royal Victoria Pavilion for eight years, shared an interesting tidbit: the establishment's carpets bear the brunt of its popularity and seaside locale, making it necessary for them to be replaced twice as often compared to other pubs due to its sand-toting patrons. The vast tavern sees a nearly unending tide of customers from as early as 8am, with some enthusiasts basking in the beachside ambiance until 1am – a potential 17-hour stretch, The Mirror reports. And yes, someone actually completed such an epic stint, astonishingly emerging with quite a slender tab. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here With its ideal location, the Royal Victoria Pavilion offers splendid views of the beach (Image: KMG / SWNS ) Just last year, the Royal Victoria underwent an extensive £750,000 refurbishment, swelling its already impressive capacity of 1,400 to hold another 100 people. Article continues below Working through a period when the premises was temporarily closed, Chris, aged 41, seized that moment to refresh a little more than just the décor. He said: "There's a lot of things that needed doing at the same time. It was important that we did the external redecoration to keep it looking good for the whole of the town. "Doing the garden has been something we wanted to do for a long time and just with the timing of it, we could do it all at once." During the refurbishment, numerous staff members were temporarily reassigned to nearby Spoons establishments. The Grade-II listed building first welcomed patrons as a JD Wetherspoon pub in 2017, following a £4.5 million revamp. The structure, crafted by architect Stanley Davenport Adshead in 1903 to resemble a Robert Adam orangery, was formerly a derelict pavilion. It had lain vacant for nine years prior to being acquired by Tim Martin's firm. A recent revamp added an additional capacity for 100 more people at the pub (Image: KMG / SWNS ) David Bingham, a devoted Wetherspoons enthusiast who embarked on a four-year "longest pub crawl in history", visiting all of the Wetherspoon pubs across the British Isles, regards the Royal Victoria as the gem of the Wetherspoons collection. Speaking to the BBC, he said: "The one in Ramsgate is my favourite because the history behind that building is incredible." David estimated that his extensive fact-finding journey cost him around £30,000, encompassing travel expenses, beverages, and overnight accommodation. He pointed out the looming threat to the great British pub, noting that approximately 40 of the 875 pubs he visited had shut their doors by the time he completed his tour. According to recent data from the British Beer and Pub Association [BBPA], nearly 300 pubs across England and Wales shuttered in 2024 – an average of six per week. Last year saw 289 closures, resulting in the loss of roughly 4,500 jobs. Industry insiders attribute this trend to a variety of factors, including escalating prices, shifting social trends, and competition from inexpensive supermarket alcohol. Emma McClarkin, Chief Executive of the BBPA, remarked: "The scale of these closures is completely avoidable because pubs are doing a brisk trade. Consumer demand is there, however, profits are being wiped out with sky high bills and pubs are facing yet more rates and costs come April. The building was in a poor state before being bought by Wetherspoons (Image: Mirrorpix ) "We're right behind Labour's mission to supercharge growth and can deliver this economic boost across the UK, but only if it is easier for pubs to keep their doors open." McClarkin emphasised the need for government action, urging: "Government must urgently bring in meaningful business rates reform and phase in new employment costs so pubs can keep boosting the economy, supporting local jobs, and remaining at the heart of communities." In the meantime, Wetherspoons is making strides to compete with supermarket pricing. Harry Wallop of the Daily Mail, who spent 17 hours at the Royal Victoria, was surprised to find pints priced at just £1.79; a stark contrast to the national average of £4.83 as reported by the Office for National Statistics. Wallop also noted his own spending during his lengthy pub visit amounted to a mere £41.44, which covered "three square meals, 3 pints, a cocktail and a whisky and soda nightcap." Article continues below While Wetherspoons may not be the trendiest of establishments, given its ubiquity, Tim Martin's efforts to rejuvenate the struggling sector seem to be safeguarding the future of British pubs for the coming generation.
Edinburgh Live
02-07-2025
- Business
- Edinburgh Live
Man spends 17 hours at Britain's biggest Wetherspoons and bill leaves him floored
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info The Royal Victoria Pavilion in Ramsgate, Kent stands out for many reasons. It's not only the largest establishment in the Wetherspoons franchise but it also boasts a prime beachfront location. Manager Chris Whitbourn, who's been at the helm since its opening eight years ago, has noted that the pub's carpets undergo twice the usual rate of replacement due to sandy-footed patrons tracking in residue from the nearby beach. Despite its vast size, the venue is frequently bustling with punters starting their day from 8am, and sometimes even ending it at 1am – that's up to 17 hours spent within its walls. One such dedicated customer managed just that, resulting in an impressively modest bill. READ MORE - Amanda Owen's son Reuben's 'disastrous setback' during big birthday celebrations READ MORE - Edinburgh to be hit with thunderstorms as rain sets in over capital Last year saw the pub receiving a hefty £750,000 refurbishment, now allowing an additional 100 customers atop its already staggering capacity of 1,400. Chris, age 41, divulged details about the upgrade during the temporary closure to the Mirror, stating there were several simultaneous tasks to address. "There's a lot of things that needed doing at the same time," he remarked, reports the Mirror. He stressed the significance of external redecoration as it enhances the town's aesthetics. "Doing the garden has been something we wanted to do for a long time and just with the timing of it, we could do it all at once." During the refurbishment, numerous staff members were temporarily reassigned to nearby Wetherspoons pubs. The Grade-II listed building first welcomed patrons as a JD Wetherspoon pub in 2017, following a £4.5 million revamp. The structure, designed by architect Stanley Davenport Adshead in 1903 to resemble a Robert Adam orangery, was formerly a derelict pavilion that had been empty for nine years prior to being acquired by Tim Martin's firm. (Image: KMG / SWNS) (Image: PA) (Image: PA) Wetherspoons enthusiast David Bingham, who embarked on a four-year "longest pub crawl in history" visiting all of the Wetherspoons pubs in the British Isles, regards the Royal Victoria as the gem of the Wetherspoons collection. Speaking to the BBC, he said: "The one in Ramsgate is my favourite because the history behind that building is incredible,". David estimates that his extensive fact-finding mission cost him around £30,000, including travel expenses, beverages, and overnight accommodation. He pointed out the threat facing traditional British pubs, noting that approximately 40 of the 875 pubs he visited had shut down by the time he completed his journey. According to the latest data from the British Beer and Pub Association [BBPA], nearly 300 pubs closed across England and Wales in 2024 - an average of six per week. (Image: Mirrorpix) (Image: KMG / SWNS) These closures, totalling 289 over the past year, resulted in the loss of roughly 4,500 jobs. Industry insiders attribute these closures to several factors, including rising costs, shifting social trends, and competition from inexpensive supermarket alcohol. Emma McClarkin, the BBPA's CEO, commented on the severity of pub closures: "The scale of these closures is completely avoidable because pubs are doing a brisk trade. Consumer demand is there, however, profits are being eroded by astronomical bills and pubs are bracing themselves for further rates and costs come April." She continued by expressing support for Labour's economic plans: "We're right behind Labour's mission to supercharge growth and can deliver this economic boost across the UK, but only if it is easier for pubs to keep their doors open." McClarkin underscored the urgency for government intervention: "Government must urgently bring in meaningful business rates reform and phase in new employment costs so pubs can keep boosting the economy, supporting local jobs, and remaining at the heart of communities." While Wetherspoons competes fiercely with supermarket pricing, The Daily Mail's Harry Wallop was surprised during a 17-hour period spent in the Royal Victoria Wetherspoon when he was offered a pint for just £1.79; starkly contrasted with the average price of a pint in the UK, which stands at £4.83 according to the Office for National Statistics. Wallop also noted that his daily expenditure amounted to a mere £41.44, accounting for "three square meals, 3 pints, a cocktail and a whisky and soda nightcap." Despite Wetherspoons perhaps not topping the charts in terms of trendiness, Tim Martin's efforts to rejuvenate an industry facing decline are likely ensuring that British pubs remain a cultural staple for future generations.
Wales Online
25-06-2025
- Business
- Wales Online
Abandoned UK airport to reopen offering cheap Ryanair and easyJet flights to Europe
Abandoned UK airport to reopen offering cheap Ryanair and easyJet flights to Europe It's currently undergoing a major refurbishment Branded Manston, Kent International Airport (Image: KMG / SWNS ) An airport which has been out of operation for a decade is now set to make a comeback, offering budget flights to some of Europe's prime destinations. Manston Airport in Kent is the former Royal Air Force base, known for its significant role in both World Wars, is currently undergoing extensive refurbishment and is expected to reopen in 2028. Initially, the revived airport will concentrate on cargo operations, but there are plans to introduce passenger services in due course. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here Tony Freudmann, a main board director at RiverOak Strategic Partners, the company controlling the airport, expressed optimism about the return of passenger services to the BBC, stating they have plans to attract short-haul carriers to popular European destinations. The refurbishment of Manston is projected to cost a staggering £500 million, including new terminals and upgraded runways. The airport boasts a single runway that measures 2,748 meters (9,016 feet) in length and is notably wide at 60 metres, designed to accommodate emergency landings for Concorde and the Space Shuttle. If the cargo side of the operation proves to be successful, passenger routes to countries such as the Netherlands, Spain, Cyprus and Malta could be introduced. It was reported three years ago that the airport's owners were in discussions with budget airlines including Ryanair, easyJet and Wizz Air, reports the Mirror. Article continues below Fascinating pictures of a closed Manston Airport, Kent (Image: KMG / SWNS ) At the time, Mr Freudmann told KentOnline: "Looking at the way the passenger market is going, we are confident we can persuade one or more low-cost carriers to base their planes here. "It does not work for us if they fly in just once a day because that is not economic. If they base three or four planes at Manston, we will have rotations three or four times a day, as they have at Southend. "That will cover our costs and bring passenger footfall through the terminal all day and every day. We will reinstate the twice daily KLM service to Amsterdam Schiphol that we had before and that will give business people in particular access to almost anywhere in the world." Despite there being no further updates on this endeavour since then, with RiverOak not responding to Mirror's request for an update this month, the bustle at nearby hubs like Luton and Stansted could indicate ample demand for more passenger flights in the area. Reflecting on the steps required to launch services, a message from earlier in the year on the RiverOak website said: "Opening an airport – even one like Manston which already has in place a full-length runway, taxiways and airport buildings – takes a huge amount of preparation and planning first and so it will be many months before we are ready to welcome construction teams on site". Survey work is set to commence this year and the next at the airport site, with ambitions to finalise "the airport master plan – a process which we expect to conclude in early 2026." A public consultation on potential flight paths will also be initiated during this period. "In early 2028, we expect construction works to be complete and recruitment for operational roles to begin to allow us to assemble the team and begin detailed preparations for reopening later on in 2028," the statement continued. However, the plans to refurbish the airport have faced some significant opposition, with groups like Don't Save Manston Airport highlighting the site's previous commercial failures and raising concerns about environmental impacts from increased aviation capacity. RiverOak, which acquired the site for £14million has indicated intentions to initiate operations with five cargo flights daily. Despite recommendations for refusal by planners, the redevelopment of Manston Airport was approved in 2023. The Planning Inspectorate expressed reservations about the airport's ability to offer services that are "additional to, or different from" those at other airports, its potential detrimental effects on the environment, and the likelihood of increased traffic on local roads. Since its closure in 2015 following years of financial difficulties, Manston Airport has been repurposed as a lorry park to ease temporary cross-Channel traffic congestion. The final flight to leave Manston was bound for Amsterdam on 9 April 2014. Formerly Kent's sole large airport, the region is home to smaller aviation facilities including Rochester Airport and Lydd Airport. The developers of the new scheme have claimed that up to 650 construction jobs and an additional 2,000 permanent jobs will be created when the project is finished, per their website. They said: "The project requires no government funding and has attracted several international investors who are prepared to invest £800 million in this deprived part of the country." Although the development bypassed local planning bodies due to being classified as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project, it faced legal hurdles. After the Secretary of State for Transport gave the green light in 2020 for Manston to reopen as a freight hub, the approval was initially quashed, leading to resubmission and subsequent reapproval, according to the Kent Messenger. In World War II, Manston airfield nearly met with destruction from heavy bombing and played host to numerous undetonated explosives. Article continues below Positioned near the battlefront, the site was used as an emergency landing strip for badly damaged planes.
Yahoo
24-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
CNOOC Limited Subsidiary Signed EPC on the Zhylyoi Subsoil Area
HONG KONG, June 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- CNOOC Limited (the "Company", SEHK: 00883 (HKD Counter) and 80883 (RMB Counter), SSE: 600938) announces its wholly owned subsidiary, CNOOC Hong Kong Holding Limited, has entered into the Contract for Exploration and Production of Hydrocarbons (EPC) on the Zhylyoi Subsoil Area with Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan and Joint Stock Company National Company KazMunayGas (KMG). The Zhylyoi Subsoil Area is located partially in the Atyrau region and partially in the Kazakhstan sector of the Caspian Sea, with an area of approximately 958 square kilometers. According to the terms of the contract, the first stage of the exploration period shall be 9 years. CNOOC Hong Kong Holding Limited and KMG shall each hold 50% interests. The two parties shall establish a joint operating company and act as the operator. — End — Notes to Editors: More information about the Company is available at *** *** *** *** This press release includes forward looking information, including statements regarding the likely future developments in the business of the Company and its subsidiaries, such as expected future events, business prospects or financial results. The words "expect", "anticipate", "continue", "estimate", "objective", "ongoing", "may", "will", "project", "should", "believe", "plans", "intends" and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These statements are based on assumptions and analyses made by the Company as of this date in light of its experience and its perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors that the Company currently believes are appropriate under the circumstances. However, whether actual results and developments will meet the current expectations and predictions of the Company is uncertain. Actual results, performance and financial condition may differ materially from the Company's expectations, including but not limited to those associated with macro-political and economic factors, fluctuations in crude oil and natural gas prices, the highly competitive nature of the oil and natural gas industry, climate change and environmental policies, the Company's price forecast, mergers, acquisitions and divestments activities, HSSE and insurance policies and changes in anti-corruption, anti-fraud, anti-money laundering and corporate governance laws and regulations. Consequently, all of the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements. The Company cannot assure that the results or developments anticipated will be realised or, even if substantially realised, that they will have the expected effect on the Company, its business or operations. *** *** *** *** For further enquiries, please contact: Ms. Cui LiuMedia & Public RelationsCNOOC LimitedTel: +86-10-8452-6641Fax: +86-10-8452-1441E-mail: mr@ Mr. Cheng YaoEver Bloom (HK) Communications Consultants Group LimitedTel: +852 5540 0725Fax: +852 2111 1103Email: View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE CNOOC Limited Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
