Bowland Inns & Hotels, the Ribble Valley-based hospitality group behind the James’ Places portfolio, has acquired Guy’s Thatched Hamlet in Bilsborrow, which includes Guy’s Eating Establishment and Lodgings and the canal-side Owd Nell’s Tavern.

The site closed unexpectedly in early February, leaving staff and guests in limbo, but now looks set for a major comeback under new ownership.

‘More than a pub’

The new owners issued their first statement since the purchase (Image: James’ Places)

James Warburton, owner of Bowland Inns & Hotels, said: “We are absolutely delighted to be able to now confirm the acquisition of The Thatched Hamlet at Bilsborrow.

“The Thatched Hamlet is so much more than a pub, restaurant and hotel – it is an iconic destination in its own right.

“It has been a fixture of the North West’s hospitality landscape for more than 40 years.

“You only have to read the social media posts, newspaper articles and comments following the recent surprise closure to see just how important and significant this place is to so many people.”

The company plans to reopen the site as quickly as possible and begin a major rolling refurbishment programme to restore the site to its former glory.

Mr Warburton said: “We aim to get the site working again as quickly as possible, it’s important for the buildings, for the staff, and it’s important for local suppliers too.

“The first job is a deep clean and then some back of house works to the cellars and the kitchens, all essential first investments to underpin everything else we plan to do.

“We will be investing in the outdoor areas first to try to make the best of the fabulous location and the equally fabulous summer that we surely have coming down the line, and then we’ll be working our way through the interiors room by room as the ebbs and flows of the weekday trade allows.”

Festival plans announced

Mr Warburton said the task ahead isn’t just about refurbishing the buildings; it’s about rebuilding the business side too.

For many years the Thatched Hamlet was synonymous with many annual events and festivals including the Oyster Festival, a four-day event based around the sea-bed delicacy that played host to the great and the good of Lancashire’s sporting, business and banking communities for light-hearted entertainment, networking and even a bit of deal-making.

“We’ll certainly be bringing a few of the bigger festivals back to life once we’ve got the day to day side sorted and we hope to bring a few new ideas to sit alongside the cricket pitch and the bowling green and really make the most of the fabulous setting and equally fabulous facilities.

“We also have plans and ideas to create a truly unique weddings and events space, able to host parties and celebrations of all sizes and all types.

“Watch this space, this will be a really exciting, and great addition to the six other award-winning Dream Venues by James’ Places.”

Bowland Inns & Hotels currently operates a range of inns, hotels, and events venues across the North West, including the multi-award-winning Bowland Brewery at Holmes Mill in Clitheroe.

The North York Moors National Park Authority (NYMNPA) stepped in to protect the John Cross Rigg prehistoric earthwork after last year’s wildfire left it dangerously exposed to erosion.

The blaze stripped away dense heather and root systems, exposing the peat and heritage features beneath.

Miles Johnson, head of historic environment for the NYMNPA, said: “For an archaeologist, it is remarkable to see the historic landscape of Fylingdales Moor revealed with such clarity, but that excitement is tempered by deep concern.

Coir Matting installed at John Cross Rigg (Image: NYMNPA)

“The very exposure that allows us to understand these features more fully is now putting them at risk.”

Without the vegetation that once held the ground together, heavy rain in the weeks following the fire caused significant soil wash-off.

This left areas of the earthwork unstable and at risk of further deterioration.

To stabilise the monument and prevent further loss, the authority has installed coir (coconut fibre) matting over the most damaged sections.

Mr Johnson said: “We are working closely with Historic England to deliver emergency solutions to stabilise the most vulnerable areas while the moorland begins its long recovery.

“Installing coir matting is an immediate measure to protect the most seriously damaged sections and prevent further irreversible loss.

A fire damaged Cross Ridge Dike (Image: NYMNPA)

“The wider environmental impacts are equally concerning.

“Without vegetation to anchor soils, heavy rain is washing away peat, degrading water quality and increasing flood risk downstream.

“Our work is about protecting archaeology, habitats and the wider landscape together.”

The biodegradable matting slows surface water runoff, helps stabilise the slopes, and gives vegetation a chance to re-establish.

The NYMNPA has been monitoring the wider moor for changes and is working with partners to support both immediate and long-term recovery.

Funding for the emergency work came from Historic England, the Environment Agency, and the North Yorkshire Combined Authority.

A draft three-year restoration plan is now in place to support the next phase of recovery.

This plan includes collaboration with the Yorkshire Peat Partnership to repair and restore peatland areas.

Key priorities will be reintroducing peat-forming species such as sphagnum moss and cotton grass, which are crucial for water retention, peat stabilisation, and the recovery of the wet heath ecosystem.

Other progress includes the installation of fencing to support the safe and controlled return of livestock grazing.

This is being supported through the DEFRA Farming in Protected Landscapes (FiPL) programme, which offers practical help for landowners, farmers, and graziers affected by the wildfire.

While the fire has made previously hidden archaeological features visible, the loss of vegetation has left them and the landscape exposed to the elements and at risk of long-term degradation.

Further updates on the restoration programme will be provided as work continues.

A TRIBUTE act to a legendary singer-songwriter is heading to Yorkshire once again.

The band Hejira was set up to celebrate the music of the Grammy-winning artist Joni Mitchell and will play a Yorkshire gig next month.

The seven-piece touring band, set up in 2023 to celebrate the greatest songs of Joni Mitchell, will be performing at the City Varieties Music Hall in Leeds on Easter Sunday – April 5.

It follows their two previously sold-out shows at York’s National Centre for Early Music.

Hejira on stage. Image: Supplied

Press reporter Maxine Gordon reviewed the band in York last year and gave this verdict: “The set list was pitch-perfect, balancing the more energetic tracks (In France They Kiss on Main Street) with the heart-stoppers where vocalist Hattie Whitehead, like Mitchell before her, has the audience holding on to every word and vocal flight.”

Pete Oxley, guitarist and bandleader of Hejira, said: “Hejira is a project that has rapidly blossomed from an initial ‘one-off gig’ into a highly successful touring band, set up to celebrate the music of Joni Mitchell.

“In particular, the band performs the masterpiece works that Mitchell captured on her live 1980 album, Shadows and Light.”

The name of the band comes from Mitchell’s eighth studio album of the same title, released half a century ago in 1976.

Hejira, 1976 album by Joni Mitchell.

Pete said: “We feel that there couldn’t be a better time for celebrating the major works of, arguably, the greatest singer-songwriter of the 20th century.”

Band members were not only accomplished jazz musicians, but also huge Mitchell fans, said Pete.

Hejira is fronted by vocalist Hattie Whitehead who also plays guitar with Mitchell’s stylistic mannerisms.

Hattie Whitehead of Hejira

The Guardian said of the band: “The UK’s best and most convincing take on Joni Mitchell.”

The band performs works from a range of Mitchell albums – expect to hear such classics as Amelia, Help Me, Hejira, Song For Sharon, A Case Of You, Free Man In Paris, Coyote, and the Hissing of Summer Lawns.

For the 2026 tour, Pete said some new songs were being added to the set list. “We definitely have new songs, including: You Dream Flat Tyres, Both Sides Now, Don’t Interrupt the Sorrow, and Yvette in English.”

For all the tour details, visit: www.hejira.co.uk

​Scarborough Town Hall would be “very attractive for a quality commercial leisure development”, according to North Yorkshire Council, which is considering a move of coastal staff to a new site by the A64.

​The authority’s executive committee has been asked to approve the purchase of Resolution House from Anglo American, which was marketing the property with a guide price of £4.5 million.

​​Councillors have said they are concerned about the potential economic impacts of the proposed move on town centre businesses, as well as on staff and the electorate’s access to decision-makers.

​However, a report for NYC’s executive committee states that “releasing the Scarborough Town Hall site in particular has the potential to generate substantial economic benefit”.

​“The site sits adjacent to the former Futurist site, and site assembly in South Bay will create an extensive development opportunity which links the town centre with the shore.

​“The site is a prime location and will have unrivalled views, making it very attractive for a quality commercial leisure development. Indeed, there has been historic interest in this area from major national and regional operators,” states the report, which will be discussed at a meeting on Tuesday, March 17.

​Scarborough’s Futurist Theatre was controversially demolished in 2018 following a long fight by campaigners to save the 1920s venue.

​The now-defunct Scarborough Borough Council decided to demolish the building at a cost of £4m with proposals for a new leisure development. However, the site has been primarily occupied by a temporary 32-metre-high Ferris wheel.

​The report acknowledges that Scarborough town centre contains a “number of high-profile, underutilised sites, many of which have remained vacant for extended periods, including those within the council’s ownership that fall within the scope of this report”.

​It adds: “There is a risk that the town hall site could similarly become underutilised for a prolonged period, which would be unacceptable and must be avoided.

​According to the council’s high-level assessment, refurbishing the entire town hall site to a “reasonable standard” is estimated to require an investment of £15 million to £19 million.

​Council officers said that it is “essential that this development complements the wider regeneration of Scarborough, and it is recommended that a masterplan is developed to ensure that the South Bay development and other strategic town centre sites work together to reposition Scarborough town centre, addressing vacancy rates, the quality of the leisure and family offer and providing much-needed community facilities”.

​The report concludes that to prevent “further long-term underutilisation, there is a clear need to progress masterplanning and redevelopment proposals at pace and to begin identifying potential development partner(s)”.

​It adds: “It is therefore recommended that a provisional budget be made available to fund the costs associated with advancing these proposals, enabling redevelopment to be brought forward as quickly as possible.

​“It is anticipated that the number of sites available for redevelopment within Scarborough, along with the inclusion of the town hall site, will provide sufficient scale to make the opportunity an attractive proposition for prospective development partners.”

​

Fearne Cotton has written a new book where she encourages people to worry less about being liked by everyone

For years Fearne Cotton was a huge name in TV and radio, ­appearing happy and successful, with the broadcasting world at her feet.

But in her new book out today, the 44-year-old admits she has blocked out much of the career she had in her 20s and early 30s as she struggled in the spotlight. Only now – as who she calls Fearne Cotton Mark II – is she living a life where she feels more content, willing to make changes and be more herself.

Fearne writes: “I feel p***ed off that I’ve morphed into a version of myself other people have needed me to be, taken on too much responsibility, put myself down, shrunk and stayed quiet – all in the hope I would be liked. I can look back on whole chunks of my life and see how unsure I felt about myself.

“I either didn’t feel enough, and so supercharged my personality in a desperate attempt to be seen as funny and vibrant, or I was so fearful that every word that came out of my mouth was wrong that I stayed silent.”

The book is titled Likeable, and she says she is no longer trying to conform to make people happy – and as a result she says she is living a more honest life.

Fearne, who split from musician Jesse Wood in 2024 after 10 years of marriage, began on screen as a children’s TV presenter in the Nineties before jobs on Top of the Pops and Radio 1 followed.

She left Radio 1 in 2015 – partly due to her mental health and anxiety, being in the spotlight and the rise of social media and comments online.

She says: “I stopped trying to be funny, I limited how much of myself I gave away, I diluted my personality to a weak imitation of the person I used to be. And then I quit. I stopped talking altogether. I believed at that point that the only way to be liked was to silence myself. Although I don’t regret leaving Radio 1, as it led to incredible new paths and opportunities, I feel sad that I let those voices in.”

Part of her issues back then stem from the arrest and prosecution of singer Ian Watkins, who she briefly dated, for horrific child sex crimes.

Fearne doesn’t name Watkins in the book but references working at Radio 1 when “a horrible news story that doesn’t involve me yet has a tenuous and life-altering link to me will be broadcast on my own radio show again that day”.

Watkins was first arrested in 2012 and then convicted in 2013 when Fearne would have been on air. He died in prison in 2025.

Fearne says that “shame” she felt made it almost impossible to continue on the airwaves. “I feel simultaneously glared at, stared at, yet utterly ignored by those in the office. Are they all talking about me behind my back? Or am I a narcissist for thinking that?”

She says she felt sick whilst broadcasting and tried to stay upbeat and “shoved down the anger, the rage, the sorrow and tears” and kept talking. She also references it being a time of “depression and a heaviness” but is reluctant to go into anymore detail in the book as she thinks it would be reported in what she worries would be an overly sensational way.

Fearne no longer carries the shame as she says that through therapy she has realised “it belongs to others” – mainly men who have been in her life: “Men who have shamed me, treated me badly and left me lumbered with it.”

But Fearne’s book is far from downbeat. She seems grateful for re-emerging after Radio 1 to create her own business. The Happy Place podcast, which began in 2018, is a huge success on her own terms.

Despite burning her old diaries in the past and hating seeing her old TV interviews with big names like Amy Winehouse and Billie Piper, she watched some for this book and realised she likes the teenage Fearne, who was confident and funny.

She has also started to listen to her body more, after having a benign tumour on her salivary gland removed in December 2024. She says: “It forced me to stop. It made me rest. If going to hospital was the only way I was going to rest, then that had to be a wake-up call. Something must be off kilter.”

Fast-forward a couple of years and mum-of-two Fearne has improved her work-life balance, making sure she has relaxing baths and time away from social media and work. She has also learned to not change her personality to suit others or to try to be liked more.

She concludes: “This is your life, and you deserve to live it, not just survive it. There will continue to be ups and downs, joy and sorrow, people who like you and some who don’t. There’ll be times when you are the hero and times when you are the villain to others.

“But the least we can do is experience it all as our singular selves. Not as the person those around you want you to be or the person you think you should be. Do it all as you. Unique, delightful, brilliant you.”

* Likeable by Fearne Cotton is published by Vermilion and is out today.

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• 45kg weight
• 4kg flywheel weight
• 30 resistance levels
• No screen, but a tablet holder

Reviewed by Abigail Buchanan

The Apex Smart Bike is excellent value for a web-connected exercise bike. We actually preferred it to Peloton in our review of the best exercise bikes. The cheaper price is thanks to a lack of HD touchscreen. Instead, there’s a tablet holder for you to insert your own, or your phone, where you can stream classes via an app.

The classes are of excellent quality, ranging from 15 minutes to an hour, and there are strength, mobility and beginner-friendly exercises, by British instructors from Boom Cycle studio in London. The Apex is perhaps better suited to spin and indoor cycling fans, rather than anyone looking for performance training, as there are no options for simulated outdoor rides.

Design-wise, the Apex bike is good-looking enough to (almost) blend into a living room, with a compact 4ft by 2ft footprint, and four colour options. It has a wireless phone charger, tablet holder for streaming classes, plus a water bottle holder and rack for weights (which don’t come included, but are reasonably priced at £25). Most importantly, it feels incredibly sturdy and doesn’t budge as you pedal.

Despite the fact that it’s comparatively light and has a light flywheel, there’s a great range of magnetic resistance. It’s smooth and quiet so is unlikely to cause any neighbourly disputes, making it suitable for flats. Best of all, Apex bikes are delivered fully assembled.

The Apex Smart Bike is currently out of stock, but we’ll keep an eye on it and update this article if anything changes.

The Victoria Inn in Witton-le-Wear will hold the event from Friday, April 3, to Monday, April 6, almost eight years since owner George Hall took over the reins at the pub.

Mr Hall said: “We have had the pub for eight years now so we want to celebrate that and try something new.”

The festival will feature ales from ‘Wales, London and Cornwall’.

Mr Hall said: “I am trying to get beers people will not have tried before.”

He became one of the youngest pub landlords in the country when he took over the business at the age of 20 and worked to move away from stereotypes about young people.

Owner George Hall (left) accepting an award from CAMRA. (Image: VICTORIA INN)

He said: “The pub should be for everyone, not just for one type of person.

“Everyone should feel welcome.”

The Victoria Inn recently earned runner-up in CAMRA North East’s country pub of the year award.

The Victoria Inn describes itself as the perfect base from which to enjoy all that Weardale and the surrounding area has to offer.

The property has been decorated to the ‘highest standards’, with a touch of luxury and your comfort in mind.

Blenders are great for making smoothies, protein shakes and soups, but the best blenders are incredibly versatile devices. If you want to perform all sorts of high-powered kitchen activities, from crushing ice to making your own non-dairy milks, a blender can render your culinary ambitions a reality in a few noisy moments.

The key is choosing the right type of gadget for your needs: a bulky jug blender can whizz up big batches of soup; while smaller blenders come with transportable cups for your breakfast smoothie. Daintier options, which include Nutribullet and Ninja’s Nutri Slim, can be used for whipping up sauces and marinades, too.

I’ve tried all the latest models from the likes of Ninja, Vitamix and Nutribullet, across a range of budgets. You can find the full reviews and answers to your frequently asked questions below, but if you’re in a rush, here’s a quick look at my top five:

The best blenders: At a glance

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How to choose the best blender

If you’ll be making lots of big soups for a large family, a jug blender is ideal. These can be bulky and may take up significant counter space, so choose one which suits your kitchen aesthetic. With plenty of settings and high power, they can be expensive. A KitchenAid or Vitamix should be viewed as a lifetime investment, especially if you’re a keen cook.

Dedicated smoothie makers, such as a Nutribullet, are smaller and usually come with a screw-on lid, allowing you to blend and go. Smoothie makers can also be used to make hummus, pesto, breadcrumbs and curry pastes or for blitzing up a tin of chopped tomatoes. They’re easier to clean than jug blenders.

“My husband frequently uses [a Nutribullet] for smoothies, chucking in rock-hard frozen fruit straight from the freezer,” says Silvana Franco, a food writer and stylist. “My teenage son whizzes up his protein shakes in it and I love it for a weekend frozen margarita when it effortlessly smashes ice cubes into an even snow.”

Hand blenders, sometimes called stick or immersion blenders, are handheld devices you insert into a saucepan or container if you’re, for example, making soup. These can be found for as little as £15, so are the best blenders for those on a budget. More expensive options may come with several attachments, so you can purée, whisk, chop, mash and so on.

“My stick blender is one of my most used appliances,” says Franco. “I find a quick blitz speedily solves the problem of a lumpy white or cheese sauce. It takes seconds to wash up after, too.”

How we test blenders

Manchester City were well beaten by Real Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday night, and their response will define the campaign

Pep Guardiola admitted before this game that Real Madrid has had a huge influence on his career, the Spanish heavyweights will now significantly shape his season.

The Manchester City boss has come up against Los Blancos 50 times now as a player and manager, the latest meeting will likely be the most difficult to stomach.

An inspired Madrid romped into a 3-0 interval lead thanks to a Fedi Valverde hat-trick as a defensively suspect City were left stunned.

It was a mountain to climb and City couldn’t lay a glove. The Champions League bid is in tatters on a night to forget. The reaction will now tell us everything.

Were this City vintage good enough to go all the way in Europe? Possibly not given where this team is at and the calibre of opponents in their half of the draw. Can they recover from such a chastening evening to keep their trophy hopes alive in domestic competitions? Time will tell.

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West Ham away is next, with the Hammers improved in recent weeks as they chase Premier League survival.

For a City side desperate to keep pace with Arsenal at the top it is a must-win. Particularly as they don’t play another top flight fixture for nearly a month.

The Carabao Cup final is only 10 days away, an FA Cup quarter-final with Liverpool looms over Easter weekend. The next three weeks is City’s season.

City’s ability to recover from setbacks has been evident already this season. Successive defeats to Newcastle and Leverkusen in November, the defeat to Bodo/Glimt was followed by an 11 game unbeaten run ended in Madrid.

The Blues must now do it again under the pressure of an imposing fixture list that could make or break the campaign.

Beat West Ham and then Arsenal at Wembley and the international break takes on an entirely different narrative.

Guardiola has been here before, this squad hasn’t. Not in a run-in when suddenly every match is magnified, every fixture could be fatal.

It’s a test of mentality and mindset now for this City side.

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Kristina Graham, who opened Kristina’s 11 years ago in the North Yorkshire market town, believes that the move further down Kirkgate might help to improve footfall.

The shop, which sells eco products, including liquid refills, gifts, clothes and food refills, started las a small store in Thirsk, but has gradually grown over time.

The shop has moved in Thirsk (Image: Kristina’s)

Kristina moved into the larger premises on Kirkgate at the start of the year, meaning there’s more space for customers.

Kristina Graham (Image: Kristina’s)

The business owner also hopes to offer a little café space for shoppers later this year, which will include a seating area.

“The shop is quite a unique one, selling UK-made, fairly traded, and eco-friendly products – the message is that we want people to buy locally and ethically,” said Kristina.

“It’s a big risk moving into a bigger shop with more rent, but we needed to take a gamble to try and get more people into the shop.

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“We had to reinvent ourselves from where we were before.

“I hope that this move means that I can start to draw a wage for myself.

“Other business owners here have been good and supportive, and I look forward to welcoming as many customers as possible to the new shop.”