Bahama Breeze, the Caribbean-themed dining chain, is shutting down after almost three decades in business.

Darden Restaurants — which operates restaurants including Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, and Ruth’s Chris — is shuttering 14 of its tropical-themed Bahama Breeze locations and converting another 14 to different brands.

The company made the announcement in February, with many of the remaining Bahama Breeze locations closing for good Sunday, April 5. The closures and rebranding will mark the end of the chain.

Last May, Darden closed approximately a third of its Bahama Breeze locations and in June said it was searching for new opportunities for the brand.

The stores that will be rebranded include 10 locations in Florida and one each in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Virginia. The stores that are closing are located in Virginia, Delaware, West Virginia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, as well as five Florida locations, Restaurant Dive reports.

“The conversion locations are great sites that will benefit several of the brands in its portfolio,” Darden said in a statement.

The company said it hopes to place as many of the affected workers as possible in other roles across its restaurants.

“Going forward, the primary focus will continue to be on supporting team members, including placing as many as possible in roles within the Darden portfolio,” the company said.

Darden said that it doesn’t expect the end of the Bahama Breeze chain to have “a material impact on its financial results.”

The company did not reveal what the rebranded Bahama Breeze locations will become.

It’s a tough time for casual dining locations like Bahama Breeze, as inflation and the affordability crisis have made eating out more of a luxury than in past years. The rise in popularity of fast-casual restaurants has also eaten into the primary customer base for chains like those in Darden’s portfolio.

The company has seen growth thanks to its Olive Garden and LongHorn Steakhouse brands, with both posting strong same-store sales growth last quarter.

But other chains are struggling.

Last year, Bravo Brio, an Italian chain, went bankrupt for the second time and closed some of its locations. Outback Steakhouse closed several locations ahead of a planned 2026 brand overhaul. Other chains — including Hooters, Bar Louie, and Razzoo’s Cajun Cafe — shut down stores and filed for bankruptcy in 2025.

Bahama Breeze, the Caribbean-themed dining chain, is shutting down after almost three decades in business.

Darden Restaurants — which operates restaurants including Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, and Ruth’s Chris — is shuttering 14 of its tropical-themed Bahama Breeze locations and converting another 14 to different brands.

The company made the announcement in February, with many of the remaining Bahama Breeze locations closing for good Sunday, April 5. The closures and rebranding will mark the end of the chain.

Last May, Darden closed approximately a third of its Bahama Breeze locations and in June said it was searching for new opportunities for the brand.

The stores that will be rebranded include 10 locations in Florida and one each in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Virginia. The stores that are closing are located in Virginia, Delaware, West Virginia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, as well as five Florida locations, Restaurant Dive reports.

“The conversion locations are great sites that will benefit several of the brands in its portfolio,” Darden said in a statement.

The company said it hopes to place as many of the affected workers as possible in other roles across its restaurants.

“Going forward, the primary focus will continue to be on supporting team members, including placing as many as possible in roles within the Darden portfolio,” the company said.

Darden said that it doesn’t expect the end of the Bahama Breeze chain to have “a material impact on its financial results.”

The company did not reveal what the rebranded Bahama Breeze locations will become.

It’s a tough time for casual dining locations like Bahama Breeze, as inflation and the affordability crisis have made eating out more of a luxury than in past years. The rise in popularity of fast-casual restaurants has also eaten into the primary customer base for chains like those in Darden’s portfolio.

The company has seen growth thanks to its Olive Garden and LongHorn Steakhouse brands, with both posting strong same-store sales growth last quarter.

But other chains are struggling.

Last year, Bravo Brio, an Italian chain, went bankrupt for the second time and closed some of its locations. Outback Steakhouse closed several locations ahead of a planned 2026 brand overhaul. Other chains — including Hooters, Bar Louie, and Razzoo’s Cajun Cafe — shut down stores and filed for bankruptcy in 2025.

Police are at the scene of a collision on A4118, Gower. A section of the route is closed.

A South Wales Police spokesperson said: “There is a build-up of traffic in the area near the old Oxwich castle prior to the turning into Oxwich.

“Please avoid the area and use alternative routes where possible. Thank you for your patience.”

We have asked for further updates and will post them in the live blog below when they come in.

Raval Indian Brasserie & Bar, located near the Tyne Bridge in Gateshead, has built a reputation as one of the region’s leading fine-dining destinations.

Sir Ian McKellen (Image: RAVAL)

In recent years, that reputation has travelled far beyond the North East, attracting a steady stream of A-list visitors.

Among the most notable names to dine at Raval is legendary actor Sir Ian McKellen.

The star of The Lord of the Rings and X-Men chose the restaurant during a visit to the region, a moment manager Nas Islam described as a particular honour.

Claire King from Emmerdale (Image: RAVAL)

“It was a real privilege to welcome Sir Ian McKellen,” he said.

“For someone of his stature to choose to dine with us speaks volumes about the standards we aim to maintain every single day.”

The glittering guest list does not stop there.

Tony Hadley (Image: RAVAL)

Strictly Come Dancing professional Brendan Cole has been spotted enjoying the restaurant’s refined dishes, while acclaimed classical pianist Martin James Bartlett visited ahead of a performance at The Glasshouse International Centre for Music, just a short distance away.

Raval has also struck a chord with pop royalty.

Brendan Cole (Image: RAVAL)

Boyzlife duo Keith Duffy and Brian McFadden praised the food during a recent visit, and 1980s music icon Tony Hadley of Spandau Ballet fame described his experience as “first-class”.

Television favourites have likewise been drawn through its doors.

Toadie from Neighbours (Image: RAVAL)

Emmerdale star Claire King, a long-standing fan favourite, and Ryan Moloney, known to millions as Jarrod “Toadie” Rebecchi in Neighbours, have both sampled the restaurant’s signature blend of authentic Indian flavours and contemporary presentation.

Raval’s rise as a celebrity hotspot comes as little surprise given its growing list of accolades.

The restaurant was named Best Indian Fine Dining Restaurant outside London at the 2024 Asian Curry Awards and currently sits at the top of the British Indian Good Food Guide’s national rankings.

Known for its elegant setting and carefully curated menu, Raval has carved out a distinctive niche in the UK’s competitive fine-dining scene.

For those looking to maximise their annual leave!

It is hard to believe that Easter is behind us and we are a third of the way through 2026.

If you are the type to keep on top of your Bank Holidays to maximise your annual leave, you may be wondering when our next day off falls.

It is hard to beat a nice little long weekend so we have rounded up the remaining Bank Holidays in Northern Ireland for the rest of the year.

Whether you are looking to get a holiday booked or like to organise your nights out around a Bank Holiday weekend, there are six Bank Holidays left this year to work with.

Here is the list of the remaining Bank Holidays in Northern Ireland for 2026:

• 4 May – Early May bank holiday
• 25 May – Spring bank holiday
• 13 July – Battle of the Boyne (substitute day)
• 31 August – Summer bank holiday
• 25 December – Christmas Day
• 28 December – Boxing Day (substitute day)

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our What’s On newsletter

The C2K school system, provided by Capita, is used as a curriculum support and the Education Authority had apologised to those preparing for exams over the Easter break

The Education Authority is making “good progress” to restore access to a school IT system following a cyberattack.

The C2K school system, provided by Capita, is used as a curriculum support and the Education Authority had apologised to those preparing for exams over the Easter break.

In a statement on Sunday, the Education Authority (EA) said: “We are continuing to make good progress to restore access to the C2K system following the recent cyber attack.

“Our teams have been working hard through the weekend to restore access to the system safely and securely, starting with post primary schools.”

It added: “This work will continue over the coming days, as we move to stand the system back up in all schools as soon as possible.

“Thank you for your patience and understanding.”

The EA said the investigation is at an early stage and it “cannot yet be confirmed if any personal data has been affected”.

It said it would continue to provide updates on its social media channels and website.

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.

Southampton‘s reward for dumping Premier League leaders Arsenal out of the FA Cup is a semi-final showdown with Manchester City.

The Championship promotion hopefuls, who beat the Gunners 2-1 on Saturday evening, were paired with Pep Guardiola’s men in Sunday’s draw.

Seven-time winners City, 4-0 victors over Liverpool, will be bidding for a place in the final for the fourth successive season having lost to Manchester United and Crystal Palace respectively following their last win in 2023, while the Saints will be looking to rekindle memories of their 1976 success.

Leeds, who lifted the trophy in 1972, will face Chelsea in the other semi-final after a dramatic conclusion to their quarter-final clash with West Ham.

The West Yorkshire club led 2-0 at the London Stadium, but saw the hosts score twice in added time to take it to an extra 30 minutes, only for the visitors to eventually triumph 4-3 on penalties and claim a place in the last four for the first time since 1987.

Chelsea, 7-0 victors over League One Port Vale, famously provided the opposition for Leeds in the 1970 final, which went to a replay eventually won by the Londoners, one of eight occasions on which they have won the FA Cup.

The ties will be played on Saturday 25 April 25 and Sunday 26 April at Wembley.

PA

Rats carry lots of diseases and they can leave a mess behind so you might want someone else to help you with your rodent problem.

Let’s take a look at what you need to do and who you should call if you spot rats in your home or garden.

Who should you call if you find rats in your home or garden?

To report a pest problem, the government website encourages you to get in touch with your council to see if they provide pest control services to get rid of rats.

You can ask for help when it comes to removing rats from your home or garden (Image: Getty)

You can enter your postcode and the website will match the postcode to a council and direct you to their website for more information.

The British Pest Control Association (BPCA) recommends getting in touch with a professional pest management company that is a member of BPCA.

The website explains: “They are trained in rat control and will have access to a range of professional use rodenticides and tools, which are not available to the public.

“Knowing how much, where, and when to deploy products is where professionals are able to take control of situations efficiently. There’s also a growing issue with resistance, due to incorrect choice of rodenticide or widespread use by members of the public.

“Professional pest controllers will take an integrated pest management (IPM) approach to tackling your infestation.

“A pest professional will have access to monitoring equipment, which they will use to confirm entry points into your property, the size of the infestation and to track the rat to its harbourage (nest).

“They can then recommend a proofing strategy and decide on the best course of action in terms of control; this could be traps, rodenticides or a combination of both.

“You should always expect to receive a full, written report from a professional pest technician.”

Recommended reading:

You can find a pest management company using the BPCA website. You’ll need to enter your postcode and state whether your property is commercial or residential and the service you’d like.

Then, companies that are BPCA members and located in your area will be listed with contact details.

The BPCA says all of its members have the correct insurance and use trained and qualified technicians.

They all have to be audited to the British Standard in pest management EN 16636 and follow BPCA’s Codes of Best Practice.

Have you spotted rats in your house or garden? Let us know in the comments below.

Saturday Night Live has poked fun at the new Harry Potter reboot’s casting choices.

Days after HBO released the trailer for the forthcoming series adapted from J.K. Rowling’s beloved books, comedian Kam Patterson appeared Saturday on “Weekend Update” as Professor Severus Snape — a character previously played by the late white actor Alan Rickman, but now being portrayed by Black actor Paapa Essiedu.

After “Weekend Update” host Colin Jost introduced Snape, Patterson joked that the franchise’s titular character was “racist as hell.”

“We got this new kid. His name is Harry Potter, and he’s racist as hell,” Snape said. “Harry Potter — or, the Proud Boy Who Lived — spent the whole year telling everybody that the school’s only Black teacher was secretly evil.”

Jost replied, referring to the plot of the first book in the series: “I think he’s just worried because he knows someone’s trying to steal the Sorcerer’s Stone.”

Snape responded, “So somebody stole something, and the number one suspect is Black Snape?”

As the audience laughed, Snape joked that he was used to other characters jumping to conclusions with racist undertones.

“It happens all the time,” he said. “I showed up at Hogwarts, and on the first day they looked at me and said, ‘You’re the professor of the Dark Arts.’ I never even studied that! I majored in African Muggle Studies.”

“The whole wizarding world is racist,” Snape continued before joking about how Rowling’s books included a Black character named Kingsley Shacklebolt, which he said was “a name I’m guessing they got out of the Wu-Tang name generator.”

“Everyone’s in these dignified robes. They dressed him up like he was selling cocoa butter incense out of a barbershop,” he said about the character’s portrayal in the original movies.

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Jost joked, “Well, for the very first time, I’m starting to think J.K. Rowling might be problematic.”

Snape went on to say, “The whole wizarding world is messed up. We have magic, we have wands that can do anything, and people in my world still have slaves,” referring to the house elves in the series.

Patterson’s appearance concluded with Snape’s message to Harry Potter, referencing another plotline: “Your mama was thick as hell, dog. I miss her so much.”

Essiedu’s casting has raised eyebrows, especially after the release of the first trailer, partly due to Snape being a figure that Harry mistrusts due to his own assumptions. However, the casting also sparked a wave of racist backlash against the actor over the fact that Snape was written as white.

Essiedu, 35, recently revealed that he has received online abuse that even led to death threats over his casting.

“I’ve been told, ‘Quit or I’ll murder you,’” Essiedu told The Times. “The reality is that if I look at Instagram I will see somebody saying, ‘I’m going to come to your house and kill you.”

He said, “Many people put their lives on the line in their work. I’m playing a wizard in Harry Potter. And I’d be lying if I said it doesn’t affect me emotionally.”

Dressed in a pastel pink corset complete with bunny ears and a bow tie from Ann Summers, Helen’s cheeky Easter outfit quickly caught the attention of fans.

One wrote: “You look so beautiful Helen, wishing you and your family a lovely Easter.”

Another added: “Wow, that’s an Easter bunny.”

Helen Flanagan in her Easter finery (Image: Instagram/HelenFlanagan)

The 35-year-old regularly teams up with the high-street lingerie retailer for seasonal collaborations.

It comes after a whirlwind few months for the mum-of-three, who swapped the stage in Bolton for the drama of reality TV.

In February, the former Westholme School pupil took to the stage at the Octagon Theatre, starring in The Memory of Water.

Playing Catherine in the emotional yet witty production, Helen showcased a different side to her talents in front of a home crowd, with the show proving a hit among theatre-goers.

More: Corrie’s Helen Flanagan says Travelodge ‘threatened police call’ over late check-out

More: Memory of Water at Octagon is beautifully observed black comedy

More: Celebrity Ex on the Beach – 2 Blackburn stars looking for love as new series airs

But there’s been no rest. Just weeks later, she was back in front of the cameras — this time appearing on Celebrity Ex on the Beach.

Filmed in a luxury villa, the Paramount+ show sees a group of famous faces navigating explosive relationships, shock arrivals and plenty of jaw-dropping moments.

Helen has long-standing links to Lancashire and Bolton, and fans will no doubt be enjoying seeing her back in the spotlight — whether on stage, on screen, or lighting up social media.

In a recent interview, she said: “I know who I am. And I think my children will always have respect for me, because all they see is their mum working hard to provide for them.”

She added: “In ten years’ time, I think I will have a lovely husband; a man who will be my best friend. By the time I am 45, I think my life will be peaceful and that I will be really, really happy…”