If you’re the kind of person who gets a kick out of discovering exciting new flavours, there’s a place you need to hear about.

Pittsburgh is a culinary powerhouse that doesn’t do half measures. Forget beige and boring – this is a city of big, bold tastes that linger long after you’ve returned home.

With its legendary industrial history, Pittsburgh was built on innovation. Stroll or cycle around its streets today, and you’ll see this spirit lives on in chef-led restaurants crafting creative, adventurous dishes using fresh local produce.

It’s also worth leaving time to explore the city’s thrilling arts and culture scenes. But wherever you go, you’ll never be far from exceptional food at refreshingly reasonable prices.

And getting there couldn’t be easier, with direct, year-round British Airways flights from Heathrow in addition to Icelandair services from London, Manchester and Glasgow. Aer Lingus will also offer direct flights from Dublin from 25 May offering pre-clearance.

Read on for our top tips – then go and forge your own culinary adventure.

Bold flavours

The good folk of Pittsburgh are justly proud of their city’s foodie transformation. And the world is increasingly taking notice, with local eateries gaining national and international recognition.

When it comes to American culinary honours, they don’t get bigger than the James Beard Awards.

Pittsburgh now boasts more than a dozen semi-finalists, such as Nik Forsberg of fet-fisk, a Nordic seafood restaurant and oyster bar that began life as a pop-up.

Others include Kate Lasky and Tomasz Skowronski of European-inspired vegan hangout Apteka, and Wei Zhu from Chengdu Gourmet, a wildly popular Chinese restaurant specialising in Szechuan cuisine.

Take a taste of the city home with you by attending a pizza-making class at Enrico Biscotti, where a lead pizzaiolo will guide you through the whole process, from dough making to baking. Or grab one of 30 different varieties of handmade, traditional Italian biscotti.

Their flavours range from classic anise almond to creative options like coconut chocolate chip, fig pecan, and black pepper walnut.

If you feel thirsty afterwards, you’re in luck. Pittsburgh has a booming bar scene, from trendy cocktail joints to friendly neighbourhood bars serving craft beer, wine and cider. Cheers!

Food meets fun

In Pittsburgh, food isn’t all starched collars and seriousness – this is a city that knows how to have fun.

After all, where else would you find a whole four-day-long festival dedicated solely to pickles? 

Every year, a whole swathe of downtown is set aside to celebrate this delicious, yet humble ingredient, which has played a key role in the city’s culinary history.

Head along for themed food galore, from pickled peppers in hot sauce to pickle cocktails and (wait for it…) pickles covered in chocolate!

You can also try your hand on the ‘Mechanical Pickle Ride’, or watch contestants compete in the Pickle Juice Drinking Contest – a fan favourite.

This year, Picklesburgh runs from July 16–19, joining a packed calendar of events across the city, with many local businesses offering specials or themed activities. Why not try your hand at Pittsburgh Glass Center’s pickle-shaped glass blowing, for example?

Highlights include PrideFest, Oktoberfest Pittsburgh, and Ribfest – where BBQ classics are served alongside live music and sports-themed entertainment. Keep an eye out too for the Little Italy Days festival in Bloomfield. Running 13-16 August this year, it celebrates authentic Italian-American cuisine, local businesses, artists and bands.

Foodie culture

Food and Pittsburgh’s culture are intrinsically linked. Make the most of this and take one of Burgh Bits & Bites famous tours as a unique way to explore several Pittsburgh neighborhoods. Offering eight different tours, each will immerse you in a local area, connecting you to its community, culture, history and spirit through its unique cuisine.

And it isn’t only food that runs through the city’s history. The legacy of the the Whiskey Rebellion (1791–1794), against the government’s attempt to tax the spirit, has lead to a thriving distillery scene in the city. Small-batch distillerstaking on the legacy of the rebellion, creating craft spirits using local malt and grains, and many local bars and breweries offering immersive experiences for enthusiasts and novices alike.

Pittsburgh’s Appalachian roots have inspired a unique farmer-to-table dining scene across the city, which can be really felt in its network of farmers markets. Serving up local farm fresh produce including eggs, cheese, homemade baked goods, jams and honey.

A meal is only as good as the ingredients used to make it, and these are the places to buy them!

Given its creative approach to food, you won’t be surprised to hear Pittsburgh hosts a thriving arts scene.

The city was the birthplace of legendary pop artist Andy Warhol and today the Andy Warhol Museum stands in his honour as the largest single-artist museum in North America.

For more contemporary art, go to the Mattress Factory, which is known for its immersive, room-scale installations.

Another must-visit spot for arty types is the Pittsburgh Glass Center, which serves as a creative hub for the city’s community of glass artists. And keep an eye out for all the street murals – Pittsburgh is famous for them! Including tributes to iconic Pittsburghers, from rapper Mac Miller to humanitarian and legendary Pirates baseball player, Roberto Clemente.

With so much to see, do, and eat, plus regular flights from the UK and plenty of affordable hotels to choose from, there’s never been a better time to visit this incredible slice of urban America.

If you’re considering a trip, why wait?

Get inspired at visitpittsburgh.com 

Cheer on the black and gold!

Known as the City of Champions, Pittsburgh is home to three top sports teams who all wear black and gold kits.

So why not catch a top-class game while you’re in town? Fans of American football can cheer on the Panthers and Steelers at Acrisure Stadium, formerly Heinz Field.

Alternatively, mix sport with sightseeing by visiting PNC Park, where the Pirates play baseball in a beautiful ground with gorgeous views of the city’s skyline.

For a chance to learn more about the team’s most famous player, Roberto Clemente, pop over to The Clemente Museum – which celebrates his fascinating life on and off the field.

Advertisement

Northumbria University, based in Newcastle, formally signed the Brighton Plus Helsinki Declaration at Durham Cricket Ground on May 10.

The signing took place during the England Women’s One Day International against New Zealand.

The declaration is a global pledge supported by more than 600 representatives from approximately 100 countries.

It promotes equal opportunities for women and girls at every level of sport and physical activity, from grassroots to elite performance.

Professor Louise Bracken, pro vice-chancellor for research and knowledge exchange at Northumbria, said: “Signing the Brighton Plus Helsinki Declaration is a proud moment for Northumbria, and one that feels absolutely right.

“We are not starting from scratch.

“We have dedicated researchers, talented athletes, committed coaches, and passionate students who are already living these principles every day.

“What the Declaration does is bring all of that together under a shared, internationally recognised commitment.

“It sends a clear signal to our students, our staff, and our partners across the region that gender equity in sport is not an aspiration for us, it is a responsibility we take seriously.

“To sign alongside so many outstanding North East organisations, in the presence of Mayor Kim McGuinness, made this a genuinely significant day for the region.”

The original Brighton Declaration was first established in 1994 and updated in Helsinki in 2014.

It now covers both organised sport and wider physical activity, aiming to remove barriers and increase representation, access and support for women in every sporting context.

Northumbria’s signing builds on work already underway at the university.

Its Women’s Sport and Wellbeing Interdisciplinary Research Team (IDRT) is focused on evidence-based improvements in women’s health, sport, and wellbeing.

The team addresses issues such as menstrual health, menopause, and barriers to participation.

A cross-university group will oversee Northumbria’s progress against the declaration, with updates reported through the university’s gender equality forum.

The declaration carries no legal obligations, but signatories are encouraged to report on progress.

Dr Heather Robson, interim pro vice-chancellor for education and senior sponsor for gender equality at Northumbria, said: “Signing the Declaration is about a meaningful and public commitment, embedding Equality, Diversity and Inclusion into all sport and physical activity strategies at Northumbria ensuring that every woman and girl has the opportunity to participate in a safe, welcoming, and supportive environment, regardless of their background, ability or circumstances.”

The declaration’s principles cover a wide spectrum of support, including leadership, research, education, high-performance sport, facilities and grassroots access.

Northumbria’s women’s rugby league team has seen consistent success in the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) programme.

The team has won every league and cup competition since joining the league.

The university also introduced a new intramural netball league this year, engaging more than 160 students across 12 teams and nine academic schools and broadening participation for women in sport.

Annamarie Phelps, co-chair of the International Working Group (IWG) on Women and Sport, said: “The North East is a region defined by its passion for sport, and today it becomes a region defined by its commitment to equity.

“To see this cross-sector collective join our global movement is a testament to the power of collaboration and cooperation to ensure that every woman and girl has an environment she can thrive in.”

After scaling the 4,413 feet up the UK’s highest peak, the trio spent over 11 hours building their huge igloo – working through the night and finishing at 4.24am.

Three pals have built “the UK’s highest igloo” following a tough climb up Ben Nevis.

Stewart Thomson came up with the idea while hiking in the Mourne Mountains, in Northern Ireland. While on the hike, Stewart wondered what it would be like to build an igloo up there in the snow – and so he set about a plan.

Following a trial run on the summit of Slieve Donard, Stewart and his two friends Paul Cox and Donnacha Kimber mac Fhionlaoich – who are all from Northern Ireland – headed across to Scotland in April.

After scaling the 4,413 feet up the UK’s highest peak, the trio spent over 11 hours building their huge igloo – working through the night and finishing at 4.24am.

Advertisement

Speaking to Belfast Live, Stewart said: “After building an igloo on Slieve Donard I felt that we could build one somewhere higher and thought why not do Ben Nevis so it would be the highest in the UK.

“Although the additional height, 495 metres, proved to be a bigger challenge than we originally thought as we were carrying up our equipment as well and it really took it out of us with the climb itself taking five hours. The snow was also a bit different than the snow on Donard felt icer and heavier.

“If it wasn’t for these special sleds my mum made for us out of parachute material to move the snow blocks around I don’t think we would have had the energy to complete the igloo. In the end the three of us finished it in 11 hours and 38 minutes at 4.20am in the morning!”

Advertisement

The trio got some much-needed kip in the cosy igloo before inviting seven other hikers in to join them the following morning.

Stewart said: “Inside the igloo is actually very peaceful because the snow insulates all the sound and we slept through until 11am the next day.

“In the morning we got talking to hikers who were arriving and coming over to look at the igloo and we managed to get 10 people inside it at one point.

Advertisement

“We think this is the highest igloo that has been documented in the UK and it has been a great way for us to challenge ourselves, which is something that we all enjoy doing.”

To follow Stewart on his adventures, follow his Instagram page, here.

Get more Daily Record exclusives by signing up for free to Google’s preferred sources. Click HERE.

Gabriel, scorer of 26 goals in 29 games, pipped Lamb to the Premier League’s under-18 player of the year award this week but his first involvement was to be booked by Tom Nield for simulation, moments after City’s Dante Headley was cautioned for the same offence in a feisty first half.

Jon Rahm accidentally hit a volunteer with a grass divot during an incident on the 7th hole at the PGA Championship when he angrily smashed his club into the ground

Jon Rahm has apologised to a volunteer after hitting them with a grass divot during an angry reaction to a poor shot at the PGA Championship. Rahm shot an opening round of 69 at Aronimink, with the lowest moment coming on the 7th hole.

The Spaniard played a poor shot out of the rough, sending his ball way over the back of the green on the par four hole. In frustration, he then swung his club once more, taking a big chunk of grass out.

Rahm didn’t immediately notice that the grass had been propelled straight into the face of a nearby volunteer. He then recognised what had happened and apologised to the elderly gentleman he had struck – and reiterated things after his round.

“Thanks for reminding of that,” Rahm told Today’s Golfer. “I got a flier on my second shot that went long . It’s not a good spot. Just out of frustration, I tried to make an air swing just over the grass, and I wasn’t looking, took a divot, and unfortunately I hit a volunteer.

READ MORE: Rory McIlroy drops expletive in blunt response to PGA Championship moderator after horror finishREAD MORE: PGA Championship star punished for breaking rule as announcement made

“Unfortunately it hit him in the shoulder and then the face. I couldn’t feel any worse. That’s why I was there apologizing. I need to somehow track him down to give him a present because that’s inexcusable and for something that could be completely avoidable. Whether it was my intention or not, it was just not good.”

It remains to be seen whether Rahm will land himself in hot water with the PGA. But the PGA’s chief championships officer, Kerry Haigh, recently explained that there is a newly-introduced code of conduct that players are expected to abide by.

“The player code of conduct is something that has been a collaborative effort among all the majors and the major tours … We had a number of meetings to discuss the issue and how we could come up with a program that we feel is fair and effective,” Haigh said before the tournament.

Advertisement

“From our standpoint, which is all I can speak from the championship way, we have adopted the code of conduct … If a player does something sort of egregious, unfortunately, we would give a warning to that player, and if they were to do it again, there would be a two-shot penalty.

“And there’s a sort of number of sort of examples in the code that sort of gives us some guidance.”

The two-time Major winner could therefore find himself issued with a warning for his conduct, regardless of his apology and promise of a gift for the volunteer.

Rahm player alongside Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth and finished his round with back-to-back birdies to finish one under-par following a difficult rollercoaster round.

Sky Sports, HBO Max, Netflix and Disney+ with Ultimate TV package

This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more

Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.

Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside Formula 1, darts and golf.

The results of the second semi-final of Eurovision 2026 are in the history, with the final line-up for the Grand Final confirmed just days before a new champion is crowned.

This year’s edition of the annual song competition is being held in the city of Vienna. Austria won the right to host the Eurovision for the third time after singer JJ won last year’s event in one of the tensest finals of recent memory.

Heading into the week, 35 counties turned up at the Wiener Stadthalle seeking to book their spot in the final. This year’s final is scheduled to take place on Saturday night (May 16).

Click here to get the biggest stories straight to your inbox in our Daily Newsletter

Due to only 25 countries competing in the final, a number of iconic Eurovision nations have departed before one of the most watched TV events of the year.

On Tuesday night (May 12), viewers saw Belgium, Croatia, Finland, Greece, Israel, Lithuania, Moldova, Poland, Serbia, and Sweden book their spot in the final.

The second semi-final was held on Thursday night (May 14). On presenting duties once again was Austrian stars Victoria Swarovski and Michael Ostrowski, with the pair showcasing their banter.

What made the second semi-final interesting for UK viewers was that they got to vote for their favourite acts. On top of this, UK entrant Look Mum No Computer performed their song Eins, Zwei, Drei.

As is tradition, the UK got sent through to the final automatically due to being part of the ‘Big Four’ with Germany, France and Italy. Spain is normally part of this group, but chose not to compete in this year’s Eurovision in protest against Israel’s inclusion.

Full list of countries and songs in the second semi-final

• France: Monroe – “Regarde!” (Big Four)
• Austria: Cosmo- “Tanzschein” (Hosts)
• United Kingdom: Look Mum No Computer – “Eins, Zwei, Drei” (Big Four)
• Bulgaria: DARA – “Bangaranga”
• Ukraine: Leléka – “Ridnym”
• Norway: Jonas Lovv – “YA YA YA”
• Australia: Delta Goodrem – “Eclipse”
• Romania: Alexandra Căpitănescu – “Choke Me”
• Malta: Aidan – “Bella”
• Cyprus: Antigoni – “JALLA”
• Albania: Alis – “Nân”
• Denmark: Søren Torpegaard Lund – “Før Vi Går Hjem”
• Czechia: Daniel Zizka – “CROSSROADS”

It means Azerbaijan, Luxembourg, Armenia, Switzerland, and Latvia did not qualify for the final.

A former imam pretended to be a ‘possessed’ Jinn spirit to sexually abuse girls as young as 12 for years.

Abdul Halim Khan, 54, told his victims that harm would come to them through so-called black magic if they reported him, leaving them feeling unable to come forward for years.

Khan was an imam at a mosque in east London and used his position as a trusted religious leader within the community to gain access to his victims and manipulate them.

He arranged meetings in isolated locations, and even their own homes, where he sexually abused victims under the false pretence of being possessed or disguised as a jinn (supernatural spirit).

Melissa Garner, Specialist Prosecutor at the Crown Prosecution Service, said: ‘Abdul Halim Khan abused his position as a trusted religious leader to prey on women and girls over many years, manipulating and controlling them for his own sexual gratification.

‘He used their deeply held beliefs to instil fear and silence them, making them believe their families would be at risk if they ever spoke out.

‘I hope this prosecution sends a clear message that the Crown Prosecution Service will work tirelessly to protect women and girls and bring anyone who commits these appalling crimes to justice.’

During the investigation, further victims were identified after the initial reports were made.

Prosecutors worked closely with the Metropolitan Police to build a case spanning more than a decade of offending.

To support the jury’s understanding of complex evidence involving spiritual beliefs – including references to jinn and black magic – the CPS instructed a cultural expert to provide essential context central to the case.

Khan was sentenced to life imprisonment and will serve a minimum term of 20 years at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Thursday 14 May.

He was convicted of 21 offences, including rape, sexual assault and child sexual offences, against seven women and girls between 2004 and 2015.

DCI Jennie Ronan, whose team led the investigation, said: ‘Abdul Khan presented himself as a respectable man who could be trusted. However, this was far from the truth, and he instead preyed upon and took advantage of others.

‘Today, I want to focus on the victim-survivors, who have shown remarkable bravery in reporting Khan and great strength throughout the trial.

‘We hope that today’s outcome provides as a measure of comfort as they continue to rebuild their lives and serves as a reminder to anyone who has experienced sexual violence that support is available.

‘We remain absolutely committed to tackling violence against women and girls, targeting dangerous offenders and removing them from London’s streets.’

The 25 countries that will compete in the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 have finally been officially confirmed ahead of this weekend’s grand final.

Vienna, the capital of Austria situated on the Danube River, is the host of the 70th world music event, with the city also having hosted the contest back in 1967 and 2015.

This year’s song contest has already seen a total of 33 countries take to the stage ahead of the Grand Final on Saturday (May 16), which will take place at the Wiener Stadthalle. The top ten countries from each Semi-Final, which took place on Tuesday (May 12) and Thursday (May 14), have made it through.

As one of the Big Five countries – the United Kingdom, Spain, Germany, France, Italy – the UK’s Sam Battle, aka Look Mum No Computer, had already guaranteed a place in the Grand Final and host country Austria was also guaranteed a place in the Grand Final thanks to Nemo’s victory in 2024.

As already mentioned, the UK is represented at this year’s contest by Look Mum No Computer, an English musician, YouTuber, electronics enthusiast, and composer who posts videos about making pro audio gear and synthesisers, as well as original music tracks, with his track, ‘Eins, Zwei, Drei’.

For this year’s show, Austrian stars Victoria Swarovski and Michael Ostrowski will be presenting the Eurovision Song Contest 2026, while here in the UK, as ever, viewers will also hear Graham Norton’s legendary commentary.

But who has officially made it through to this year’s Eurovision Grand Final? Here is the full list of countries taking part:

• Italy: Sal Da Vinci – “Per Sempre Sì”
• Germany: Sarah Engels – “Fire”
• Greece: Akylas – “Ferto”
• Finland: Linda Lampenius x Pete Parkkonen – “Liekinheitin”
• Belgium: ESSYLA – “Dancing on the Ice”
• Sweden: FELICIA – “My System”
• Moldova: Satoshi – “Viva, Moldova!”
• Israel: Noam Bettan – “Michelle”
• Serbia: LAVINA – “Kraj Mene”
• Croatia: LELEK – “Andromeda”
• Lithuania: Lion Ceccah – “Sólo Quiero Más”
• Poland: ALICJA – “Pray”
• France: Monroe – “Regarde!”
• Austria: Cosmo- “Tanzschein” (Hosts)
• United Kingdom: Look Mum No Computer – “Eins, Zwei, Drei”
• Bulgaria: DARA – “Bangaranga”
• Ukraine: Leléka – “Ridnym”
• Norway: Jonas Lovv – “YA YA YA”
• Australia: Delta Goodrem – “Eclipse”
• Romania: Alexandra Căpitănescu – “Choke Me”
• Malta: Aidan – “Bella”
• Cyprus: Antigoni – “JALLA”
• Albania: Alis – “Nân”
• Denmark: Søren Torpegaard Lund – “Før Vi Går Hjem”
• Czechia: Daniel Zizka – “CROSSROADS”

Mum Paris remarked: ‘That’s very gypsy-esque. That’s lovely’ as her daughter unwrapped her first wedding present.

Tyson and Paris Fury‘s 16-year-old daughter is getting ready to marry fiance Noah Price this weekend. With days to go Venezuela opened up one of her wedding gifts early, with Paris remarking: “That’s very gypsy-esque. That’s lovely.”

A TikTok video shared by the teenager on Thursday gave fans another glimpse into the wedding prep, showing Venezuela unwrapping a gift from the crew of the family’s Netflix show At Home With The Furys.

She said: “OK guys, open my Netflix wedding present with me,” before explaining how she was dressed, adding: “I’m freezing so I’m in a dressing gown in the middle of the day. Oh my god what is it?”

READ MORE: Venezuela Fury plans to swap heels for these divisive £50 shoes on her wedding dayREAD MORE: Tyson Fury’s daughter Venezuela, 16, shares wedding update

Pulling a crystal vase out of its box, she said: “Oh that’s lovely. Oh it’s beautiful, check me out,” before posing with it. The camera, operated by Paris, then swung round to show the Netflix crew in the family living room.

Speaking last month, Gypsy King star Fury, 37, said he has had “zero” involvement with his eldest daughter’s wedding planning because he’s been so focused on his latest boxing comeback.

However, Paris, 36, has been by her daughter’s side. Earlier this month, fans saw their visit to a bridal store, which showed Venezuela holding a huge bag with a smile on her face next to her mum, writing: “Said yes to the dress!!”

Venezuela has also threatened to wear Crocs on her big day, telling fans: “I’m having a bit of a struggle on what shoes to wear. Do I wear white New Balance trainers or white Crocs? I don’t know. Or, maybe I wear blue Crocs? I’m not sure.”

Advertisement

Despite Venezuela’s age, mum Paris, 35, and dad, Tyson, 37, are said to be unfazed by the prospect of their eldest daughter tying the knot. Paris herself was just 19 when she wed 21-year-old Tyson in 2008.

Tyson had been training for his fight with Arslanbek Makhmudov, which he won, in the run-up to the wedding. He praised his wife and daughter for their efforts in planning it, saying: “Fair play to Paris and Venezuela, they’ve actually done this wedding without my input at all.

“I’ve had zero to do with it. I’m away doing business. I’m not thinking about domestic stuff at home. I’m thinking about the fight and that’s it. I’m out of bounds. Don’t tell me about anything like that.”