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Birmingham City player Marvin Ducksch fined after drink-drive crash

Published

1 hour ago

20 May 2026

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Marvin Ducksch, a striker for Birmingham City, has been fined more than £16,000 after causing a serious three-car crash in Warwickshire while over the drink-drive limit

17:47, 20 May 2026Updated 17:59, 20 May 2026

A Birmingham City player has been sentenced for causing a three-car crash in Warwickshire while drink driving.

Marvin Ducksch has been fined more than £16,000 and faces a bill of more than £20,000 after causing the accident which took place as he changed music.

The Germany international striker was told he was lucky he had not killed himself and two female drivers in the late-night crash as he was ordered to pay the victims £1,000 each in compensation.

Leamington Spa Magistrates’ Court heard Ducksch stopped at the scene and checked on the other motorists, one of whom had a nosebleed and injuries to her forehead and thumb.

The 32-year-old pleaded guilty on Wednesday to driving his Mercedes with excess alcohol, namely 53mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath, above the legal limit of 35mcg.

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Magistrates were told the charge related to a collision on the A3400 near Henley-in-Arden in Warwickshire at around 10.30pm on Easter Monday.

The crash happened hours after Ducksch had appeared as a substitute in Birmingham’s 2-1 defeat to Ipswich Town at Portman Road.

Magistrates handed Ducksch a 14-month driving ban alongside a fine of £16,155, a total of £2,000 in compensation, a £2,000 surcharge and a bill for costs of £85. The court agreed to allow Ducksch to pay off the total amount of £20,240 at a rate of £2,000 per month.

Prosecutor Lina Akther told the court: “The defendant identified himself to the officers and confirmed he was involved in the collision. The defendant stated to the officers that he was driving and he went to change his music and crashed and he wasn’t sure how.”

As a result of the crash Ducksch, who also claimed to have been avoiding a tree branch in the road, was arrested and breath-tested. In a prepared statement to police, the court heard, Ducksch said he was driving home and admitted “he did have alcohol before he drove” and had “clipped an oncoming car and another one following behind”.

Ms Akther said: “He thought he would be under the limit and the defendant was apologetic in his prepared statement.”

Imposing the fines, chairman of the bench John Kiely told the footballer, who lives in Solihull: “Thank you very much for your patience while we have been talking about this offence. We heard that there was an incident in which two vehicles were clipped.

“We have looked at the photographs (of the damaged cars). You can consider yourself lucky first of all that you weren’t killed and secondly that the other drivers weren’t killed. That’s how serious this matter is.”

During mitigation, defence solicitor Julia Morgan said Ducksch, whose former clubs include Werder Bremen and Borussia Dortmund, had a promising career ahead of him.

Ms Morgan told the three magistrates during the 20-minute hearing: “It’s abundantly clear that damage was caused to those vehicles and the lady concerned was injured during the course of this.” Ducksch was comprehensively insured and the damage would be covered by the policy, she said.

Ms Morgan added: “Mr Ducksch waited at the scene for the police. They didn’t arrive immediately but he waited and he checked on the welfare of the occupants of the other vehicles. He is currently a young man who plays as a professional footballer for Birmingham City Football Club.

“Not only is he going to be subject to the sentence that you impose today – from a financial point of view he has also been penalised by Birmingham City for his actions that night.

“He has been penalised financially and further by not being permitted to play in a number of matches following this incident. That illustrates how seriously incidents of this nature are taken.”

The lawyer continued: “They (the club) have provided references. I hope you have had the opportunity to see them and read them. In essence they talk about a man of impeccable character in his conduct towards his team, his managers and the club itself. I myself have found him to be a most polite young man. It’s very unfortunate he has found himself in this position, now having a conviction from the courts.”

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Maximum Working Temperature UK 2026: Is There A Legal Limit On How Hot Your Workplace Can Get?

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24 seconds ago

20 May 2026

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Maximum Working Temperature UK 2026: Is There A Legal Limit On How Hot Your Workplace Can Get?

Ahead of a 31°C May heatwave and a predicted Super El Niño, the Climate Change Committee (CCC) have called for maximum temperature working rules in the UK.

In their report, titled A Well-Adapted UK, they called on the government to invest in things like “air conditioning, heat pumps and green shading” in public areas as well as “cooling” tools in the workplace.

They called rising heating, flooding, and drought a “threat” to the “British way of life”.

There is no maximum working temperature in the UK as of the time of writing, though the government points to a minimum temperature guidance of 16ºC, or 13ºC for those doing physical jobs.

Heatwaves are becoming more likely in the UK

The CCC report said that by 2025, 92% of homes are likely to overheat. They’ve proposed ideal indoor temperatures for places like care homes, prisons and homes of 16°C to 25°C.

They didn’t mention an ideal working temperature explicitly; however, they did point to Spain, where maximum working temperatures are 27°C for sedentary work and 25°C for light physical work.

Heatwaves of 40°C are expected to become more common in the coming decades, they added.

These can be seriously harmful to people’s health. The sweltering 40°C day of 2022 took place in a four-day heatwave that caused 1,000 heat-related deaths.

Speaking to HuffPost UK previously, Johan Jaques, chief meteorologist at environmental solutions company KISTERS, agreed.

He said that heatwaves were likely to become worse in the UK thanks to things like climate change and stifling building design.

“We are not powerless”

Baroness Brown, chair of the Adaptation Committee, said that “Our lives, our landscapes and our homes are under increasing pressure from the changing climate. But we are not powerless. In an increasingly unstable world, being well adapted to climate change is fundamental to securing our food, energy and economic security.

“This report carries a message of hope. The solutions already exist, and proven technologies are available now to help the UK adapt effectively. With the right decisions and actions, we can protect the people and the places we love.”

She added that we can protect the places, people, and institutions most dear to us with government changes.

Per the BBC, the government has said it would review and address the concerns in this report, and added it was already taking steps to address flooding.

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Great Ayton RAF pilot buried 86 years after being gunned down in WW2

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6 minutes ago

20 May 2026

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Great Ayton RAF pilot buried 86 years after being gunned down in WW2

Squadron Leader George Morley Fidler was just 27 when his Hawker Hurricane was brought down over France on May, 19, 1940.

Members of the public gathered in France on Tuesday (May 19) to witness the burial with full military honours of the World War Two Hurricane Pilot.

Fidler joined the RAF in 1934 and spent several years in Egypt, with brief spells in Cyprus and India.

He was described as an ‘exceptional’ pilot by his superiors and in February 1940, he joined 607 Squadron.

The bearer party, comprised of serving personnel from RAF Halton, carry Squadron Leader Fidler’s coffin (Image: RAF/MOD)

On the afternoon of May, 19, 1940, his plane was shot down above Cambrai.

It was initially believed the pilot’s remains had been recovered and buried in the French village of Bachy.

However, in 2005 metal detectorists discovered wreckage 35km away in Oisy-le-Verger.

One piece had a serial number ‘P3535’, suggesting it came from his Hurricane.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) investigated the grave to see if it was that of the 27-year-old.

Squadron leader George Morley Fidler, provided by the Great Ayton History Society (Image: UNKNOWN)

Then in 2022, work on the Seine-Nord Canal at Oisy-le-Verger, in northern France, unearthed a Hurricane with the pilot still inside near to where Fidler’s aircraft was last seen.

Squadron Leader Fidler was laid to rest yesterday, with the service organised by the MOD’s ‘War Detectives’ who work to identify the recovered remains of British military casualties.

War detective Nicola Nash said: “Squadron Leader Fidler has been buried today 86 years after he was killed.

“His story has been known to us since his grave was ‘unnamed’ many years ago. It has been wonderful to finally find him and be able to put him to rest.

“Today we honour him and the sacrifices he made all those years ago.”

The pilot’s service took place at Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) London Cemetery and Extension, France.

Dr James Wallis, head of commemorations at the CWGC, said: “It is an honour for the Commission to pay our respects to Squadron Leader Fidler, following the 2022 discovery of his Hurricane along the route of the future Canal Seine-Nord Europe.

Members of RAF Halton, 607 Squadron and a Trumpeter of the Band of the Royal Air Force College stand behind Squadron Leader Fidler’s headstone (Image: RAF/MOD)

“That another commemorative service will be held today at his local church – in Great Ayton, Yorkshire – shows the power and impact of his war experience eight decades on.

“Now resting amongst fellow airmen at London Cemetery and Extension, Longueval, his grave will be cared for in perpetuity.”

The Great Ayton History Society previously said: “Following the recent discovery in Oisy-le-Verger, France, where engineers uncovered the remains of Squadron Leader George Morley Fidler – found seated in the cockpit of his Hawker Hurricane almost 86 years after being shot down – the story of this young man from Great Ayton has taken on renewed significance.

“George, just 27-years-old, was the son of George and Christiana Fidler and served as a pilot with 607 Squadron.

“His aircraft, Hurricane P3535, was brought down by a Messerschmitt Bf 109 over France on 19 May 1940, where it buried itself in the ground with George still inside.

“In light of this remarkable discovery, the Great Ayton History Society will be updating George’s story as part of its annual Remembrance Day memorial plaques at Christ Church.”

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Iran war live: Revolutionary Guard threatens US with ‘war beyond the region’

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21 minutes ago

20 May 2026

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The Foreign Secretary has warned that Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz could result in tens of millions going hungry as she told an aid summit of the risk of “sleepwalking into a global food crisis”.

Yvette Cooper told an aid conference in London that the global south was paying the biggest price as the global trade of fertiliser and heating oil are largely blocked.

Markets are already pricing in weaker harvests and the World Food Programme has estimated that 45 million people could fall into acute food insecurity if the conflict does not end by the middle of the year.

The Foreign Secretary said: “We meet against the backdrop of the Hormuz crisis, a strait of water through which 90 ships a day used to pass, but for the last three months it’s been more like five.

“Heating oil for Asia – stuck in the Strait, fertilisers for Africa – stuck in the strait, 20,000 seafarers, 800 ships – just stuck in the strait.

“The global economy is being held hostage, and the global south is paying the biggest price.”

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Is Europa League final being shown for free on YouTube tonight?

Published

30 minutes ago

20 May 2026

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Aston Villa and German club Freiburg are in the Europa League final in Istanbul tonight

Aston Villa and Freiburg meet in the Europa League final tonight in the first of three European finals.

The two teams will face off in Istanbul, before the Europa Conference League final and Champions League final take place later this month.

Villa head into the clash as favourites and will be cheered on by the supporters of Liverpool, Bournemouth and Brentford, who will be willing the Villans to win in order to open up another Champions League spot for an English club.

In previous years, the European finals had been streamed by rights holders TNT Sports for free on their YouTube channel; last year, the Europa League final between Manchester United and Tottenham was made available for free by TNT Sports via discovery+.

But unfortunately that’s not the case this time around.

TNT Sports and HBO Max have opted to make a change to their coverage of all European finals and not show any of them free of charge.

Only signed-up viewers will be able to watch tonight.

The cheapest package currently costs £4.99.

Watch the UEFA Europa League final live on HBO Max

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£4.99

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Aston Villa have reached the UEFA Europa League final where they face SC Freiburg on May 20. Fans can watch the game without a TNT Sports subscription by signing up to the HBO Max Basic With Ads plan via Prime Video’s HBO Max channel.

TNT Sports subscriptions can cost significantly more depending on the platform.

The move is said to have caused frustration within UEFA, with The Guardian reporting that European football’s governing body believes the decision goes against the spirit of an agreement stating “best endeavours” should be made to ensure finals remain accessible free of charge.

Live commentary of all three finals will be on BBC Radio 5 Live.

What time is kick-off? TV channel

Tonight’s match will be shown live on TNT Sports 1, with coverage starting from 6pm ahead of an 8pm kick-off at Besiktas Park.

Live stream info

TNT Sports customers can catch the game live online via the HBO Max app and website.

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Another hot day in Eastern US states after records broken

Published

37 minutes ago

20 May 2026

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Another hot day in Eastern US states after records broken

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The eastern U.S. sweated through a second day of early-season heat Wednesday, with some schoolchildren being sent home while others stayed in sweltering classrooms.

The Philadelphia school district shifted to remote learning for students at 57 schools, saying that while it has made progress, a number of schools continue to have inadequate air conditioning.

The National Weather Service said another day of record heat was expected from the mid-Atlantic to New England before a cold front brings rain later in the week. Daily high temperature records were broken Tuesday in Portland, Maine, at 92 degrees Fahrenheit (33 degrees Celsius) and Boston, at 96 degrees (35.5 degrees Celsius).

In Boston’s Dorchester neighborhood, officials at one high school set up fans, passed around bottled water and allowed students to wear shorts and T-shirts instead of their usual uniforms.

“The heat outside feels like it’s manageable because of the wind but inside it feels just tight and burdening because we also have to go through quizzes, exams, there is no excuse,” student Ariolainy Baez told CBS News.

A heat advisory was in effect for portions of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island through Wednesday evening.

In New York City, city officials opened cooling centers to help residents find relief.

“Just as New Yorkers look out for one another through the coldest days of winter, we must do the same through the hottest days of the year,” Mayor Zohran Mamdani said.

____

Associated Press writer Holly Ramer contributed from Concord, New Hampshire.

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Is The UK Really Reducing Oil Sanctions On Russia?

Published

43 minutes ago

20 May 2026

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Is The UK Really Reducing Oil Sanctions On Russia?

Has Keir Starmer really cut back on the UK’s oil sanctions against Russia?

The government is facing intense backlash after reports that Labour decided to water down its penalties against Moscow in response to the emerging oil crisis.

But ministers have robustly rejected accusations that they are easing up on Vladimir Putin. Here’s what you need to know.

Why Are Sanctions Against Russia So Important?

Europe has been trying to wean itself off cheap Russian oil imports to punish Putin after his 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

The UK has been leading that charge as a prominent ally to Kyiv. It has repeatedly slapped sanctions on Russian industry to damage its economy and war machine.

It was revealed billions of barrels of fuel were still being imported into the UK through a loophole in the sanctions last October.

The Centre for Research and Clear Air estimated £1.8bn of oil products – made from Russian crude and transported via third countries – imported to the UK since December 2022.

So Labour announced plans back in October to impose a fresh ban on UK imports of diesel and jet fuel made from Russian oil in third countries.

However, the government is now having to deal with a decline in fuel supplies.

Why Is There An Emerging Oil Crisis?

The US’s ongoing conflict in Iran is squeezing global supplies due to the effective blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

More than half of Europe’s jet fuel is transported through the major shipping lane.

Iran’s disruption of that supply means jet fuel prices are almost double what they were before Donald Trump started the war in late February.

So Has The Government Weakened Sanctions?

There were fears Labour had chosen to prioritise the supply jet fuel over its support for Ukraine.

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch accused the government of “choosing to buy dirty Russian oil” during prime minister’s questions.

She claimed Starmer was “losing his moral compass by backsliding on Ukraine”.

Even Labour MP Emily Thornberry, chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, condemned the government.

She told the BBC: “We’re talking about our allies in Ukraine who have been fighting a war bravely against Russia for years and years with our support, and they have looked to Britain as one of their most important allies. People feel very let down.”

The UK is still issuing a ban on maritime transportation of Russian LNG and related services.

However, the government now plans to “phase in” some of those sanctions in the coming months to mitigate the impacts of the Iran war.

They are introducing a temporary, time-limited licence which means the ban will not come in until January 1.

That licence will still be reviewed regularly, according to the government, but ministers hope that slow approach will reduce instability caused by the Middle East conflict.

The government has rejected claims that this is effectively a waiver on sanctions, like those introduced by the White House earlier this year.

Business and trade minister Chris Bryant told MPs: “We definitely could have communicated this better.”

He added that this policy lies across the Foreign Office and the department for Business and Trade.

“There’s been a bit of miscommunication between departments, and that is entirely my fault and nobody else’s. If anybody wants to have a go, they can just have a go at me,” he said.

“Our sanction regime today was tougher today than it was yesterday or last week,” the minister insisted.

What Does This Mean For UK Support For Ukraine?

The UK is still a leading force in the international goals to pressure Russian economy.

The country signed a G7 statement reaffirming its “unwavering commitment” to impose “severe costs” of Russia on Tuesday.

The sanctions commissioner for Ukraine Vladyslav Vlasiuk said he understood the “rationale behind the UK’s decision”.

However, he said: “Our concern relates specifically to temporary exemptions that may still generate additional revenues for Russia’s war machine.”

Dmyro Lytvyn, communications adviser to Ukrainian president VOlodymyr Zelenskyy also expressed concern over the policy.

He said there was a “highly active communication under way between our diplomats” to understand the new plan.

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Reeves In Spat With Van Driver On Petrol Station Forecourt

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51 minutes ago

20 May 2026

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Reeves In Spat With Van Driver On Petrol Station Forecourt

Rachel Reeves was confronted by an angry van driver as she tried to highlight the government’s decision not to put up fuel duty.

Keir Starmer announced at prime minister’s questions that the ongoing duty freeze, which had been due to end in September, will continue until the end of the year.

Reeves visited a petrol station in Leeds to publicise the policy – but it did not go well.

As she tried to speak to the media, a workman shouted: “Get Keir Starmer fucking out. Get Labour out. Get Keir Starmer out. Nigel Farage. Come on Nigel.”

The man, who was flying England flags from his van, continued his tirade as he drove off the forecourt.

He said: “Am I gonna get arrested? We’ve got English flags on here, Rachel, are we gonna get arrested?”

The man then leaned out of his van window and told the chancellor: “You’re ruining the country. Get Keir Starmer out. Look, England flags. You are useless, the Labour Party’s useless.”

As he drove away, Reeves shouted at him: “I love our country, and one of things about our country is good manners.”

She said the man’s behaviour was “not very British” and joked: “So he didn’t hear the news about freezing fuel duty?”

“I LOVE OUR COUNTRY…AND ONE OF THE THINGS I LOVE IS GOOD MANNERS”
Chancellor Rachel Reeves confronts an angry heckler moments ago in a petrol station in Leeds pic.twitter.com/VEh3m0Pn2v
— Sun Politics (@SunPolitics) May 20, 2026

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PSG boss Luis Enrique names what Arsenal are ‘best in the world’ at | Football

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57 minutes ago

20 May 2026

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PSG boss Luis Enrique names what Arsenal are 'best in the world' at | Football

In The Mixer’s World Cup special

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Why does Prince William support Aston Villa?

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1 hour ago

20 May 2026

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Prince William is set to be at the Europa League final this evening to cheer on Aston Villa – but why does he support them?

HRH Prince William looked every bit the typical Aston Villa supporter as he cheered his side on during the 4-0 victory over Nottingham Forest in the Europa League semi-final second leg at Villa Park.

And he is set to do it all again at the final in Istanbul against Freiburg this evening.

He may hold a royal title, but he’s no casual claret and blue enthusiast, reports Birmingham Live.

He is a devoted follower who is eagerly anticipating watching his side hopefully claim their first European silverware since 1982.

But what exactly led him to support Villa and how did he develop into such a passionate fan? We have all the details here…

Why does Prince William support Aston Villa?

Prior to Villa’s FA Cup loss to Arsenal in May 2015 under Tim Sherwood, he discussed his Villa loyalty with BBC presenter Gary Lineker.

Prince William said: “A long time ago at school I got into football big time. I was looking around for clubs. All my friends at school were either Man United fans or Chelsea fans and I didn’t want to follow the run of the mill teams.

“I wanted to have a team that was more mid-table that could give me more emotional rollercoaster moments. Aston Villa’s always had a great history. I have got friends of mine who support Aston Villa and one of the first FA Cup games I went to was Bolton v Aston Villa back in 2000. Sadly, Villa went on to lose to Chelsea.

“It was fantastic, I sat with all the fans with my red beanie on, and I was sat with all the Brummie fans and had a great time. It was the atmosphere, the camaraderie and I really felt that there was something I could connect with.”

Speaking in February 2020, William said: “People like Paul Merson were playing and I thought if people like him can play as well as he does, knowing the struggles he was under at the time…this is a club I can support.

“I was also born in ’82, the year we won the (European) Cup, so I feel the history and pedigree around Villa has always been quite close to me.”

Has he attended matches?

He was photographed in an executive box at Villa Park during the 0-0 Premier League draw against Sunderland in November 2013, sporting a Villa coat and scarf.

He also took his place at the 2015 FA Cup final defeat to Arsenal, seated as a dignitary in the Royal Box alongside then Villa owner Randy Lerner. Villa were beaten 4-0, with Prince William presenting the trophy to Arsenal and handing out runners-up medals to Tim Sherwood’s players.

He made a further visit to Villa Park for the 1-0 Championship win over Cardiff City in April 2018, and was pictured celebrating in an executive box alongside former Villa favourite John Carew as Jack Grealish netted a late winner.

The prince paused after the match to chat and pose for photographs with players and staff. He attended the play-off final defeat to Fulham at Wembley in May 2018, a week after his brother Harry’s wedding, and was present at Carrow Road in the 2019/20 season to witness Villa thrash Norwich 5-1.

Prince William was also spotted at a fixture against Nottingham Forest in April last year and attended the Europa Conference League semi-final against Olympiacos in May.

Have there been any other examples of his Villa support?

Upon Villa’s return to European football’s premier competition, he wrote on X, formerly Twitter: “We are Champions League! A historic season and an amazing achievement. “Thanks to Unai, the whole squad and everyone at Aston Villa. Can’t wait for next season. #UTV.”

He appeared to be sporting a claret tie at the wedding of his wife’s sister Pippa Middleton in May 2017. In October 2017, the Duke and Duchess visited the London Stadium, home of West Ham United. The Hammers presented their young children with replica kits; however, William made his allegiances abundantly clear.

He quipped: “Right colours, wrong team.”

A month later, as a guest at the Pride of Britain awards, he donned a Villa scarf in a gesture of solidarity with Villa supporter Moin Younis, who was honoured with an award recognising his courage in living with a severe skin condition. During the same month, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge paid a visit to Villa Park and held talks with manager Steve Bruce, with the Duke commending the manager on his side’s performances. He has never been one to hide his claret and blue loyalties, and was proudly flying the flag for Villa in September 2018 while on a training exercise in Kenya with his regiment, the Irish Guards.

William met with local forces as well as the football team from the small town of Kinamba as part of a community initiative. He presented every player with that season’s Villa shirt, handing out a combination of home and away kits, and posed for a photograph.

How have Villa marked his support?

Following the birth of all three of William and Kate’s children, Villa posted a congratulatory message on Twitter featuring a picture of a Villa shirt bearing the name ‘HRH’. Former manager Bruce was struck by the depth of knowledge HRH displayed about his Villa squad when the pair met in November 2017.

Bruce said: “He introduced Kate to me as the ‘top man’. He talked about the squad and how we have turned it around a little bit.

“He’s delighted we are moving it forward. Being a dad myself, you would like him as a son. He was impeccable. It’s not often you have the future King as a supporter so it’s great for the club.”

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13 Best Barbecues, Grills, And Pizza Ovens For Last-Minute Bank Holiday Hosting

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1 hour ago

20 May 2026

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13 Best Barbecues, Grills, And Pizza Ovens For Last-Minute Bank Holiday Hosting

We hope you love the products we recommend! All of them were independently selected by our editors. Just so you know, HuffPost UK may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page if you decide to shop from them. Oh, and FYI — prices are accurate and items in stock as of time of publication.

After months of drab drizzly and grey skies, we are pleased to announce the sun is finally here. And, not to jinx it, but it seems like it will be for longer than one day only.

With the long weekend – not to mention summer – coming up, we’re not expecting a medal for predicting that you’ve caught the urge to cook outdoors.

Obviously, the start of any successful season starts with getting your garden ready for guests to ‘ooh’ and ‘ahh’ at – so we’ve already rounded up the best garden furniture and low-effort gear to transform your space.

But you can’t exactly cook on cobblestones, can you? If you’re thinking about splashing out on a new piece of cooking gear for your garden, here’s HuffPost’s round-up of the best barbecues, grills, and pizza ovens to shop now.

Because nothing says ‘celebrate the sun’ like sweating in front of a scorching surface!

How we chose the best barbecues and pizza ovens

We know cooking outside is a serious sport for some, so rest assured, we’ve put in the work of finding the best barbecues on the market. For those not tested by the HuffPost team, we scoured the internet to find the best-rated barbecues, grills, and pizza ovens across a range of price points and brands.

Across the board, we looked for options that were easy to set up, move around the garden, and were good value for money. We’ve also included grills and ovens in a range of sizes, and those powered by a mix of electricity, gas, coal, and wood.

Best barbecues and grills

Whether you’re hosting a garden bash, or simply whipping up a quick weeknight meal for the family, these are the best barbecues and grills to shop now.

Want the satisfaction of grilling your own sausages, but don’t have a garden? Same, which is why I’m enamoured by this portable barbecue. Forget those shiny aluminium disposable BBQs you can get at the shops, this one can not only be used endlessly, but it’s also super lightweight. That doesn’t mean it sacrifices performance, though, because the heavyweight lid leaves enough room to cook larger items like a steak, while the valve allows you to get your heat to just the right level, so you can perfect your sear.

If the fact that the people’s princess, Gordon Ramsay, uses these grills isn’t enough to convince you to try one out, maybe this will. Inpsired by Japanese cooking, Kasai grills use charcoal instead of gas. The searing heat makes for a quicker cook and an end result that is more smoky and flavoursome than other grills could ever hope to achieve. This nano size is ideal for smaller patios or cooking a mere skewer or two, but it also comes in little, medium, medium long, and long sizes.

Should you be cooking up a storm this weekend, you’ll have room to cook for all the family on this charcoal grill. With space for up to 12 burgers, you won’t have to worry about frantically running around to cater for all your guests, and there’s even surface space on the side for rolls, sauces, and sides. It might be mighty sturdy, but unlike other back-breaking barbecues, this one comes on wheels so you can easily relocate it to get it out of your hair during the colder months.

Summer is all about day drinking like a fish, so why not smoke some fish to for some sustenance, too? Shaped like an egg, Gregg is fuelled by coal, but is ideal for smoking your choice of meat, fish, and veggies with the addition of wood chips. As well as fitting up to 10 burgers, it has a three-layer grid that allows you to grill, warm, and roast all at once. Because he’s generous, Gregg also comes with an 12 inch pizza stone, for the indecisive among us who can’t choose between a BBQ and a pizza oven.

As a barbecue beginner, I always worry that I won’t be able to make it past the set up stage, let alone figure out how to navigate the gas of it all. Luckily, this barbecue is completely beginner-friendly, according to its 250+ five-star reviews. As well as being easy to set up and move around once you have, this barbecue is ideal if you’re the kind of people who are circumstantial grillers, as it’s pretty small and unobtrusive. It’s great value for money, and even has a side burner for some added space.

Now this is how you get a party started! With a whopping six burners, this barbecue can cook up to 27 burgers at once. Its handy side burner means you can get a sauce going while your food bronzes, while the side tables house an ice bucket to keep your drink cold (which we have a suspicion you’ll be grateful for). Plus, that huge base is in fact a huge cavern for your cooking tools, gas, and whatever else you might need.

If you’re garden is on the smaller side, you won’t want to have a f*ck off huge barbecue lingering about year-round. Vonhaus has created a BBQ that won’t take up too much space. The heat can be adjusted by simply raising the charcoal tray closer to the grill, and the handle comes with its very own built-in bottle opener (cool as hell). With enough room to feed a family of three or four, this will be your go-to for warmer seasons.

As the masters of the air fryer, Shark knows what it’s doing when it comes to cooking appliances. This gas barbecue is no exception, as it forces you to ask more of your barbecue by not only grilling, but smoking, roasting, griddling, and making pizzas, too. So you don’t overdo your meat (nightmare situation) it has an in-built precision burner, which allows you to see how hot it’s getting in there. And, meatheads rejoice: Shark Ninja has partnered with HGWalter so you can get 30% off a meat box to get started.

Best pizza ovens

It’s not just barbecues that can cook a variety of food – as well as cooking (duh) pizzas, these ovens can be used to grill veggies, fish, and meat. You might even find yourself kneading a naan bread to slide in there.

Fancy yourself a serious pizza chef? Well, then you deserve the equipment to match that energy. According to our parenting editor, it takes up to four people to get it out of the box, thanks to weighing a mighty 73kg. Once you’ve got it on the stand, though, you’re good to go. Setup is a breeze and you’ve got enough space to stick two 14″ pizzas in, which means you can actually sit and eat together, rather than having someone do all the legwork while the rest of you eat, unlike smaller pizza ovens. Families who want to spend lots of time outdoors this summer, this one’s for you, as it heats up (and cools down) fast, and is brilliant to cook with even when the winter months hit thanks to accommodating everything from steak, to chicken wings, and more.

Sometimes you want to make a day of cooking pizza. I mean, if you’re making your own dough, why not? But others, you simply want to crack on with it and have a sizzling pie in front of you within the half hour. If you tend to flip flop between the two, this oven from Delvita gives you the option to do both, thanks to being fuelled by either gas or wood, depending on the day. Should you choose the former, it takes a speedy 15 minutes to heat up, and it’s easy enough to switch over to wood once it’s warm to achieve that charred and chewy crust. Plus, if you buy it between 23rd and 25th May, you’ll get £187 worth of free products, including a Leather Apron, Leather Pizza Glove, and Black Cast Iron Dish – and who doesn’t love free stuff?

Pizza on the go? Do I even need to grace that with a response? This lightweight Delvita oven has foldable legs, and is deceptively lightweight, which makes it ideal for packing up and taking on camping holidays with you. To make sure you, and it, stay safe wherever you go, it comes with a travel case, foldable peel, regulator, pipe, and temperature gun. Plus, when you buy it between 23rd and 25th May, you’ll get your first two gas canisters completely free.

Don’t want to rely on the British weather to hold up? Fair enough, we wouldn’t want a rain-sodden pizza, either. Powered by electricity, this oven from Ooni allows you to make pizza in the comfort of your own home – or rather, in the safety of your four walls. It takes just 12 minutes to make a pizza, and comes with your choice of a medium or large padel so that your path to chewy, doughy goodness couldn’t be either.

If I’m being really honest, using gas scares me, but I want to be able to cook outside. Hence why I’m obsessed with this electric Shark Ninja outdoor oven, which takes just three minutes to crisp up your pizza once heated up. You can also use it as an air fryer, to bake (because trying to bake inside on a boiling hot day is not it), or as a proving container. So you’re fully set and ready to go, the oven comes with an oven cover, pizza wheel cutter, pizza Stone, baking tray, pizza peel, and air fry basket – woah.

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