We have compiled a list of four hidden gems in Cambridgeshire just waiting to be explored

With the warmer months upon us, many people will be looking to make a list of places to branch out and explore this summer. We are so lucky to have a county filled with numerous pretty villages offering unique attributes, fun days out, and intriguing history.

The Imperial War Museum in Duxford, Oliver Cromwell’s House in Ely, and Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge are all fun-filled days out in Cambridgeshire. However, for many who have lived and explored Cambridgeshire for many years, you may have visited these well-known places time and time again.

There is so much more to this county than the most famous attractions. There are also so many small, lesser-known villages with cute cottages, hidden history, and gorgeous houses. To help you narrow down your search of places to visit this summer, we have compiled a list of four hidden gems in Cambridgeshire.

Hemingford Gre

This picturesque village, Hemingford Grey, located east of Huntingdon is home to one of the oldest continuously-inhabited houses in Britain called The Manor. The pretty village features a lovely meadow that pops with colour.

Sitting against the banks of the River Great Ouse, this village is arguably known best for its stunning thatched cottages and countryside walks. Visitors can enjoy a delightful lunch at the charming pub – The Cock – which offers a varied selection of food and drink as well as dining pods in the outside area ideal for the summer.

Doddington

Doddington sits around halfway between Chatteris and March. It is home to a war memorial and a lovely plant life. Doddington has its own horticultural society and two independent garden centres.

Debatably the busiest time for this village is during the first weekend of July when it hosts their annual vibrant carnival dating back over a hundred years.

Bourn

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Perhaps the most popular feature in this village, is for having one of the oldest windmills in England. Bourn is a petite village located in South Cambridgeshire. It is filled with properties considered ‘chocolate box’ houses and extensive countryside.

It is home to Cambridge Country Club offering endless facilities for a relaxing day. It is no wonder this village has been recognised as one of the best places to live in Cambridgeshire by Muddy Stilettos.

Grantchester

Nestled beside the River Cam sits Grantchester, home to an array of characterful cottages, tree-lined streets, a medieval church, several pubs, and arguably the most riveting – a tea garden known for its previous famous guests.

The Church of St Andrews & St Mary is not just filled with history, but also features in the ITV drama ‘Grantchester’. Although it’s a small village, it has four pubs called The Red Lion, The Grantchester Green Man, The Blue Ball Inn, and The Rupert Brooke.

Better yet, The Orchard Tea Garden, offering delectable items including scones and homemade cakes, has seen a few notable faces over the years. This includes English poet, Rupert Brooke, Virginia Woolf, philosophers Bertrand Russell, and Ludwig Wittgenstein.

As the world famous Settle to Carlisle line celebrates 150 years of service, the Mirror joined the 1 m passengers expected this year.

It is widely lauded as one of the best train journeys in the world, and is just about to celebrate its 150th anniversary.

A huge public outcry and an appeal that raised £3m saved it from closure in the 1980s.

The Settle to Carlisle line survived and remains one of the most scenic in the country, crossing the Pennine Hills, the Yorkshire Dales and Cumbria’s Eden Valley.

It celebrates 150 years since its first rail passenger journey with a series of events including a steam train service.

The Mirror joined some of the 1 million passengers expected to travel on the route this year.

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It was wet, wild and stormy as we ventured south from Carlisle to the Ribblehead Viaduct.

Its magnificent 400m arches are 400 meters (1,300 ft) long. A huge workforce of 6,000 men – 2,300 specifically on the Viaduct – built it between 1870 and 1875.

You can imagine the conditions they faced during winter on the wide open moorland surrounding the giant structure.

The navvies who died are buried in the cemetery at Chapel-le-Dale. Even in the pouring rain, the path passing under its 24 arches remains busy with hikers and cyclists.

You must take a short break during your train journey to see the viaduct in all its glory.

From your train seat, you have a breathtaking backdrop of rolling countryside.

Wind bent the trees on the distant hills. The stations are straight out of a 1930s black-and-white film.

“I say that is my office window,” said Yvonne Harland, 52, a Carlisle-based conductor on the route.

“It is absolutely stunning. Many passengers are hikers and dog lovers heading outdoors.

“It does not matter if you are in the valleys around Dent or the Ribblehead Viaduct.

“It is a tonic. You have to get off the train to see the viaduct; otherwise, you only catch a glimpse.

“The Three Peaks are just beautiful too. No disrespect to people who work in an office, but it takes some beating.

“I was in education for 20 years, and I fancied a change.”

Regular passenger Robin Gilder, 83, a retired ITV newsman, remembers the campaign to save the line in the 1980s.

Now he enjoys bringing along his grandson Finley Doran, 12, for days out. “I use it regularly now,” he said. “Especially since I retired.

“They had a dog sign the petition to save the railway and there is a statue to him at Garsdale station.

“There was huge public outcry when they announced they were closing this line.

“They raised millions of pounds to keep it open. So I think we should use it as much as we can.”

Finley, tucking into some sweets and pop, added: “I have been on about twenty times now. We use it all the time.”

For Scottish pharmacist Amy Robertson, it is her maiden journey. The 28-year-old is heading to Leeds to see a former friend with the misty hills rolling by her window.

“It does remind me of Scotland,” she said. “This is really lovely and you get some really nice views when you go up to the north of Scotland around Fort William.

“The weather may not be very good, but the countryside is beautiful.”

Northern recorded 995,000 passenger journeys on the line in 2025, the highest number since the Covid-19 pandemic.

But demand is expected to rise this year. Commercial and customer director Alex Hornby said he was confident passenger numbers would hit 1m.

“Customers can enjoy miles of breathtaking scenery, which changes throughout the year, and there are plenty of opportunities to get off and explore,” he said.

The Settle to Carlisle section of the line was completed in 1875; freight trains ran for a year before passenger trains were introduced on May 1, 1876.

The Settle Carlisle Railway Development Company will run a chartered steam train between Carlisle and York on May 23.

Karen Morley-Chesworth, their community rail officer, told the Mirror: “The Lonely Planet said it was in the Top 10 most scenic railway journeys in Europe.

“So it brings in many tourists and serves local people all year round. It runs down the backbone of Britain through Cumbria, Yorkshire and the Pennines.

“But it is the beauty of it that stays with you; every station takes you back in time, and the history of the line still fascinates people. It remains important to communities all along the route.”

Northern is set to offer £1.50 tickets to customers travelling on the route to mark the milestone.

Thousands of workers contributed to its complex construction, which includes 14 tunnels and more than 20 viaducts along its 72 miles (116km) of track.

In 1983, British Rail announced plans to close the line to passengers amid concerns about the cost of repairing the Ribblehead Viaduct. But £3m was spent between 1988 and 1991 to bring it back into use.

The Settle Carlisle Railway Development Company’s chairman, Pete Myers, said the company was working with communities along the line to mark the “special anniversary year.”

He said: “The Settle to Carlisle line is unique, connecting communities from Yorkshire through to Cumbria, and also providing a sustainable and beautiful way for visitors to explore the Yorkshire Dales, Westmorland Dales and Lake District.”

Crystal Palace came from a goal down to beat Newcastle and add to growing pressure on Eddie Howe. William Osula had given Newcastle the lead in the first half after an excellent passing move but they wilted after the introduction of Jean-Philippe Mateta and Ismaila Sarr from the Palace bench. Mateta scored twice and Newcastle seemed intimidated by his presence.

Howe will not have many better chances than this to quieten discussions about his future. Newcastle seemed in charge after taking the lead against a Palace team clearly prioritising their European campaign. Yet a position of strength was squandered, raising another period of uncomfortable questions about Newcastle’s direction of travel.

Something fundamental has shifted in Howe’s team, from upward-trajectory upstarts to tired under-deliverers. A can-do attitude has become can’t. They had chances to add to William Osula’s opening goal, Osula himself spurning the best early in the second half. His replacement, Nick Woltemade, was placid when attacking a cross when he should have been attacking it with fury.

Mateta was the opposite, a menace with his application and intelligent centre-forward play. Sarr added attacking composure allayed with speed of thought which the game had been lacking and the two combined for the equaliser, Sarr benefitting from Tino Livramento missing a cross before chipping it up for Mateta to head in. A penalty, awarded for the softest of shirt-pulls on Jefferson Lerma by Sven Botman, was thundered in by Mateta.

It was a largely untidy game, with the tone set with the opening kick-off, when Sandro Tonali took a long run-up and duly found touch around the Palace 22. The resulting line-out was the most exciting moment of the opening half hour.

This was Palace’s first Premier League game for almost a month due to the international break and rescheduled fixtures against teams still in domestic cup competitions. They would rather be anywhere than here in this competition, with just three home league wins all season and only one in their last 10.

Their season is now all about the Europa Conference League and the increasing possibility of a third trophy in two years under Oliver Glasner. No, you would not usually count the Community Shield but an exception can be made for Palace.

Mateta, Sarr and Adam Wharton arrived with 25 minutes left, delaying recognition that Palace would need more than their second string to trouble an increasingly composed Newcastle defence. From then, the wobbles crept in and previously steady performances evaporated. There was no surprise that Palace equalised but their winner was harsh on the visitors.

Red flags for Howe or just a bad run? Six games of their season remain to find out either way. 

After giving several professional dancers the chop ahead of the next series, Strictly Come Dancing bosses are introducing fresh blood.

In the latest reports, it’s been claimed that an American dance star has been snapped up to join the pro roster.

Named D’Angelo Castro, the 25-year-old has already been tipped as a replacement for Giovanni Pernice, 35, who was axed from Strictly in 2024 along with fellow Italian star Graziano Di Prima, 31, after a bullying investigation prompted by ‘numerous serious complaints’ about his behaviour in training. He denied all allegations.

D’Angelo already has an impressive following, having appeared on Dancing with the Stars in the US.

And on a recent trip across the pond, it’s said he caught the eye of Strictly execs.

A source told The Sun: ‘Strictly bosses are on the lookout for fresh faces and love the look of D’Angelo; he ticks all the boxes.

‘They hope he could be the new Giovanni Pernice.’

D’Angelo appears to already be connected with the Strictly family, as recently axed pro Nadiya Bychkova follows him on Instagram, as do newbie pro Alexis Warr and It Takes Two host Janette Manrara.

According to IMDb, he also has a screen presence thanks to appearances in Cody Fry: Waltz for Sweatpants (2023) and World of Dance (2017).

In his Instagram bio, he describes himself as a ‘dancer, performer, and teacher’, stating that he is currently based in Miami and New York.

His online content showcases his undeniable talents, as he frequently uploads dancing videos, earning high praise from viewers.

As rumours of his signing swirl, Strictly fans have been weighing in, with FabulousCat7823 on Reddit saying he’d be a ‘great’ addition.

‘They would be daft not to hire him. He was an incredible troupe dancer for DTWS. His Latin moves are insane,’ added Travellinglense.

CanEnvironmental6204 echoed that they would ‘LOVE’ him to join the show, while forevertrueblue exclaimed: ‘Really hoping this happens!’

This year marks a significant shake-up for the flagship BBC programme, which began when hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman announced they would be stepping down after the 2025 Christmas special.

Having always insisted they would ‘go together’, the duo – who made history as primetime TV’s first female presenting duo in 2014 – decided it was the ‘right time’ to pass the baton.

This was seemingly the catalyst for a string of other changes, with some of the most popular and longest-serving professionals being informed that their contracts wouldn’t be renewed, allegedly leaving them ‘distraught’.

Along with Ukrainian pro Nadiya, who joined in 2017, Karen Hauer, Luba Mushtuk, and Michelle Tsiakkas have also announced their exits.

In her Instagram video announcement, Karen said it was a ‘tough’ one to make, but she’s decided to ‘close this chapter and take on new projects’, while Luba wrote of feeling ‘deeply grateful for the past 10 years’ as she prepares to ‘follow [her] dreams beyond the show’.

Meanwhile, Michelle, who only joined in 2022, released a statement saying it’s been an ’emotional time’ as Strictly was ‘a big part of [her] life’.

Her post followed a tell-all interview with The Sun, in which the Cypriot pro claimed she was dropped during a 30-minute Zoom call, which she ‘didn’t see coming’.

‘I thought I had more time,’ she told the publication. ‘When she told me I wasn’t coming back, there was a moment of shock. I felt my story was unfinished.’

It has further been claimed that Spanish pro Gorka Márquez, who’s been on Strictly for 10 years, has been axed. However, he is yet to speak out.

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In additional changes, Neil Jones and Nancy Xu are set to be ‘benched’ in the upcoming season, meaning they will not receive a celebrity partner.

Then, of course, there’s still the small matter of new presenters to sort.

Chemistry tests for a new pair are thought to be taking place this month, having been pushed back from January.

Currently, the frontrunners include Zoe Ball, Rylan Clark, Angela Scanlon, Emma Willis, and Fleur East.

Bradley Walsh and Alex Jones have also had their names in the mix for a while, and comedians Miranda Hart and Mel Giedroyc have been tipped as replacements for Claudia’s chaotic claudiatoriam segments.

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When contacted for a comment, a BBC spokesperson told Metro that plans for the 2026 series would be revealed ‘in due course’.

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Deep-fried foods will disappear from school menus in favour of fruit-filled desserts as part of a sweeping new health drive.

New rules drawn up by ministers will ban the unhealthy cooking method from schools and scale back fatty ‘grab and go’ items and sugary treats.

Instead, each school lunch must be accompanied by one or more portions of vegetables and salad, and desserts will need to contain at least 50% fruit.

The shake-up hopes to combat childhood obesity and tooth decay and has been welcomed by healthy eating campaigners.

The government will set out the first overhaul School Food Standards in over a decade as data shows that one in three children are leaving primary school overweight or obese.

The changes will eliminate deep-fried food from the menu and stop schools from serving to-go pizzas and sausage rolls every day.

Desserts like ice cream and waffles and baked goods such as puddings and cakes will only be served once a week.

But these high-sugar treats will contain at least 50% fruit, while there will have to be one fruit-only dessert day as well.

Breadcrumb-coated and batter-coated foods will be allowed just once a week, meaning fish fingers and even chicken nuggets can be served as long as they aren’t deep-fried in the process.

At present, schools can dish out deep-fried options twice a week and only need to offer majority-fruit desserts twice a week.

The government’s changes will also see sides which are cooked using fat or oil, such as chips and hash browns, served no more than twice a week.

Cheese is also taking a hit in the new proposals. Foods where the dairy is the main ingredient, such as pizza and paninis, are permitted only twice a week.

Ministers want to boost young people’s fibre intake by getting more fruit, vegetables and whole grains in school lunches.

Research shows that only 9 per cent of 11 to 18 year-olds currently meet the target of eating five fruit and veg a day.

Ministers are also worried about the fact that children are consuming double the recommended sugar, with dental decay the leading cause of hospital admissions for children aged five to nine.

Sample menus, unveiled as part of the proposals, reveal what the new dishes could look like.

Kids might be served cottage pie with root-and-veg mash, Mexican-style burritos, jerk chicken with rice and peas and spaghetti bolognese.

The changes will first be considered in a nine-week consultation beginning April 13.

Schools will have to start implementing the new menus from September 2027.

Secondary schools will be allowed to offer two portions of desserts or sweet treats a week before reducing to one by 2028.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

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Today, we look at what the failure to reach an agreement between the US and Iran means for the war in the Middle East and the world.

We also look at what stopped an agreement between the two sides, after differing accounts emerge.

Victoria Derbyshire and Nick Watt are joined by political correspondent Joe Pike, who has the latest on the UK-US row over the Chagos Islands.

And could an election in Hungary reshape political power in Europe?

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Weather maps show temperatures reaching 21C in London with sunny spells across the UK as warmer conditions return following recent variable weather

The UK is preparing for another period of sunshine with temperatures climbing to 21C, following the recent ‘mini heatwave’. Weather maps from WXCharts, which utilise MetDesk data, indicate the warm conditions are expected to arrive across the country on by April 21.

Until then temperatures are expected to hang around 16C here in Cambridgeshire over the next week, with some sunshine expected on Monday (April 13), Thursday (April 16) and Saturday (April 18).

The South East of England is predicted to experience the highest temperatures, with London forecast to reach a peak of 21C at 6pm on April 21, and around 20C across Cambridgeshire, reports the Mirror.

On April 8, the Met Office confirmed that temperatures reached a record high for 2026, hitting 26.5C. Following these balmy conditions, temperatures have fallen with the possibility of snow and rain across much of the UK.

After the mid-twenties warmth experienced across much of the nation, Jim Dale, a forecaster for British Weather Services, said it won’t be long before conditions become even warmer – with “late spring” likely to see temperatures rise into the 30Cs.

A Met Office spokesperson said: “The southeast is likely to be driest and brightest. Later in this period, conditions may become drier and more settled, perhaps more especially in the north or northwest with the south possibly becoming the focus for showers or longer spells of rain.

“Temperatures will likely be near or slightly above average overall.”

‘I’ll have to come and see you soon,’ friends said when I told them Dad had died.

My father was my very best friend – everyone knew that, so I believed them when they said they’d be there to support me. 

But when months passed and my friends didn’t show up, I realised their words were meaningless. 

I’m not unreasonable: I know people have busy lives, and there might be reasons that you can’t be there. But what isn’t acceptable to me is promising someone you’ll be there and then flaking.

The people closest to me disappeared and left me feeling abandoned in the exact moment I needed them the most. To me, that is unforgivable. I can’t imagine ever letting them into my life again.

My dad understood me like nobody else did. He sensed when I was struggling with having borderline personality disorder and needed support, always appearing with a delicious treat at exactly the right moment.

He was diagnosed with cancer in September, 2025. He was 71 and I was 33, and as soon as we found out, I insisted I would be the one to care for him. 

Caring for him became almost a full-time job. My most important role was easing Dad’s pain with morphine, up to eight times a day. 

I felt terrible guilt when he suffered – so much so, I prayed God would take him as soon as possible. Sometimes all I could do was rub his back to ease the ache in his spine to comfort him.

But within weeks, I had no choice but to accept professional help, and he was admitted into a hospice in October.

Over the following days he fell into a coma. I sang You Are My Sunshine and played Masterchef on the flatscreen, describing the dishes we’d salivated over so many times before.

I lay at his side each night, reminding him of the loved ones waiting for him on the other side.

I promised I would be okay without him. Willing each breath to be his last, but also petrified of losing him.

It feels strange to say, but when he finally passed away, I was elated. 

It hadn’t even been six weeks since his initial diagnosis. To say I felt stunned would be an understatement. 

After his death, I couldn’t bear to see the world still spinning. Going outside felt almost impossible. I walked our dog, Maxie, under the cover of darkness, so that I wouldn’t see life go on without him.

Every night I lit a candle for Dad as I got into bed. I told him how I was feeling, asking him to keep looking out for me. 

That nightly catchup was the only thing I looked forward to.

Despite the fact my parents had been divorced for a decade, a parade of friends arrived at Mum’s house bearing cards, flowers and hugs. It was a given they’d attend the funeral. No one asked her if they should come, just ‘When and where?’

My own friends sent texts and crying emojis. ‘Will have to come and see you soon’ but it felt so insufficient in comparison to the support my mum received. 

I longed for action, not words. I needed them to check up on me consistently. 

There was so much they could have done: brought food, or asked if I needed help organising the funeral. But nothing like that was offered. It made me feel like my pain was inconvenient.

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I posted Dad’s funeral arrangements on Facebook; some friends I told directly, hoping they’d visit.

Only my ex-boyfriend showed up unprompted. One close friend came, after I asked them to support me. The lack of familiar faces really stung.

A few days after Dad died, before the funeral, I asked one of my closest friends to visit. She promised she’d be there in a fortnight.

The day came and went, with no word from her. Nearly two weeks later I received a photo: a litter of puppies, for no reason whatsoever, followed by the words ‘Been thinking of you…’

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I asked her why she hadn’t come to see me.

She said she had been ‘feeling a bit awkward about that’, and that the baby had been sick.

I felt like I had been drowning, and this was the tipping point. I stopped reading her responses, because no apology could repair this.

Three months passed and others continued messaging: ‘Been thinking of you, will have to visit soon.’

One friend invited me to their party. They’d stalled on visiting because they were ‘so busy’ with work, but clearly had time to plan a party. It was a gut punch.

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A couple of friends did visit in the days after dad died. They weren’t the ones I thought would be there in a crisis. I’ll always be grateful to them.

As for everyone else, I wanted to shake everyone and yell, ‘My dad literally died.’

Following three months of putting up with empty promises, I finally told everyone how hurt I was. 

A few apologised profusely and asked if they could come ASAP, but I stopped responding. It was too late – I just wanted to be left alone.

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I questioned whether I’d expected too much. They’d texted, after all, perhaps I was being ungrateful. But I’d supported grieving friends – made pasta bakes, travelled for funerals, even offered to hop on a plane to Munich. I felt like I’d given lots, only to get nothing in return when I needed it. 

I still have dark days, like my birthday, but now I’m focusing on new relationships. I began volunteering at my local food bank to kick my fear of leaving home. My colleagues and customers put a smile on my face, as does the gentle man I met on a dating app who takes me on hiking dates.

Grieving friends need your support, whether that’s because they’ve read the word ‘deceased’ on a bank statement, or brought their parent home in an urn.

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You’ll likely say the wrong thing, but not showing up will always hurt more.

Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing Ross.Mccafferty@metro.co.uk. 

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Morrissey was held in September 2022 at an apartment near Marbella on suspicion of money laundering and membership of a criminal gang.

The police operation that led to the arrest of Kinahan crime cartel ‘key member’ Johnny Morrissey was key to the takedown of the ruthless Lyons gang.

British-born Irish passport holder Morrissey was held in September 2022 at an apartment near Marbella on suspicion of money laundering and membership of a criminal gang. His Glasgow-born wife Nicola was also arrested in the Spanish Civil Guard operation, led by the force’s elite Central Operative Unit.

The pair remain under investigation but are yet to be told if they will be formally charged and are currently on bail. Their arrests followed a much-celebrated police infiltration of EncroChat, an encrypted communications service widely used by criminals, between March and June 2020.

Overnight Spanish police sources said Operation Whitewall, an international investigation aimed at breaking the Kinahan Organised Crime Group’s financial operations which led to Morrissey’s arrest, and Operation Armorum which resulted in 15 arrests including those of Lyons gang leader Steven Lyons and his wife Amanda, were “intrinsically linked.”

One said: “Operation Armorum comes from Operation Whitewall and the information obtained in that earlier operation from the infiltration of Encrochat which gave law enforcement real-time access to messages and helped to dismantle major organised crime groups.

“A lot of information about the Lyons gang has come from the intelligence investigators got from the operation against Morrissey. Morrissey and Steven Lyons relied on each other’s services.

“Morrissey was described as the Kinahans’ banker after his arrest but it wasn’t just the Kinahans he allegedly assisted.”

The Spanish Civil Guard, which was supported from other police forces including the Garda and National Crime Agency, said at the time of dad-of-two Morrissey’s arrest they believed he had allegedly helped crime gangs launder up to EUROS 350,000 (POUNDS 297,000) a day over the 18 months their investigation lasted.

The informal Hawala method of moving money said to have been used, originating from an Arabic term for transfer or trust and involving a network of brokers, is known to have been adopted by criminal gangs who use code numbers or tokens like banknotes torn in half to prove cash is due.

The former Rochdale doorman was accused by police of using a firm called Nero Drinks to camouflage his alleged criminal activities. The Lyons gang, who police have estimated laundered more than £26 million, allegedly used several firms including a food and drinks firm and a rental car company to ‘wash’ dirty money.

The Civil Guard described it as a “highly sophisticated criminal organisation characterised by violence” in their first statement since the deportation of Steven Lyons from Bali and his subsequent detention on a European Arrest Warrant in Amsterdam on Wednesday.

The 45-year-old is now facing extradition to Spain so he can be formally quizzed by a Malaga-based judge on suspicion of crimes of money laundering and membership of a criminal gang ahead of expected charges. His glamorous moll wife Amanda, 38, was held at Dubai’s airport at the request of Spanish police who remain confident she will also end up in custody on the Costa del Sol after being extradited along with her husband.

Seven other suspects were arrested during recent Operation Armorum raids in Spain, which took place mostly on the Costa del Sol but also in Barcelona. Several people were also arrested in Scotland.

Sources close to the case against Morrissey have previously admitted the probe was proving “complex” and declined to offer any information on when they thought the investigating magistrate could recommend charges and indictments might be submitted.

In November 2024 it emerged investigators probing the 66-year-old, released on bail in June that year, had called on Dubai for help where the Kinahans are hiding out and Lyons lived for several years before he fled to the Far East after leaving his previous base in Spain.

One well-placed insider said at the time of the probe against Morrissey: “The investigation is proving to be complex and has international ramifications. This is slowing things down.”

Another said: “The court that’s leading this investigation is awaiting the results of a rogatory commission sent to Dubai.”

Morrissey had to swap millionaire mansions and meet and greets with celebs for a tiny jail cell after being arrested in a dawn raid alongside his wife on September 12 2022.

He was held six months after the US Treasury identified him in a list of Kinahan cartel key members, saying: “Morrissey has worked for the Kinahan organised crime group for several years, including as an enforcer, and facilitates international drug shipments for the organisation from South America.

“John Morrissey is also involved in money laundering.”

Morrissey was released from prison after lodging a £52,000 bail bond. Officials said at the time his release conditions included a ban on leaving the country and the surrender of his passport, an obligation to sign on at court twice a month and the designation of an address so he could receive court notifications.

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Rising costs are forcing closures and cutbacks across Greater Manchester’s pub and bar scene, but a new guide from beer writer Matthew Curtis highlights more than 200 venues still thriving despite the pressure.

It’s a tough time for hospitality right now. Alongside rising business rates and VAT, the start of the financial year this month has introduced a new rise to the National Living Wage, which will see the minimum wage rate for all workers aged 21 and over by 4.1 per cent to £12.71 per hour.

The increase in costs means that it can be extremely difficult today for those running a pub, restaurant, cafe or bar. A recent report of 20,000 businesses found that as a direct result of recent cost rises, 64% of venues expect to cut down on jobs available and 42% said they intend to reduce trading hours. One in seven also fear these added costs may force them to close altogether.

It’s a reality that writer Matthew Curtis has been able to document in real time. The author of Manchester’s Best Beer Pubs and Bars, he has found that a startling 10% of the venues spotlighted in the first edition of the guide back in 2023 have now shut. That’s why he insists there has never been a better time to go out and explore some of the city-borough’s top drinking spots.

The second edition of the award-winning book, which is made in conjunction with CAMRA, has just been released this month and features recommendations of more than 200 venues across all corners of Greater Manchester – including some which even caught Matthew, who is also the founding editor of the drinks publication Pellicle, by surprise.

“When I was putting together this second edition, I went through the entire list of pubs and bars in the first book and worked out which had closed down – it was quite brutal,” Matthew tells the MEN. “Some were closed during the pandemic and just never reopened, others were impacted by the cost of living crisis. There are so many places that were once these beacons of the community that now just stand there empty.

“There’s some sad stories in there. There was a proper old community boozer in Oldham called the Royal Oak, it wasn’t necessarily an exciting pub but it was a proper Oldham pub in every sense. And it’s a real shame that it’s been lost.

“But, on the other hand, it’s important not to be all doom and gloom. It’s quite impressive to be able to find around 220 venues across Manchester that are just trying to get on with things and are making the best out of what they can. Some of them are doing really well, despite the challenges, and that’s obviously great to see.”

In terms of some of his immediate highlights, Matthew says some of the pubs and bars that stand out to him include the Crown Inn in Stockport and Banktop Brewery’s Bank Top Tap on Belmont Road in Astley Bridge. In the guide, the Bolton pub is described as being ‘more old-school pub than modern brewery taproom’, with ‘a lot of love clearly poured into its upkeep’.

“Bolton surprised me,” he explains when asked which area impressed him. “I went to this very traditional pub, then headed to a little micropub called Bunbury’s and then just up the road from there was this modern deli called Earl’s, which is a café and then a vinyl listening bar in the evening. It had a lot of local beer available, and they were all just a great example of all these positive things that are happening where you might not initially expect them.”

Matthew says he hopes the guide will also stress how important it is to venture outside of town every now and then too. Some of his other top suggestions include the Prairie Schooner in Urmston (“Great name for a pub, and a very special place”), and the Stalybridge Buffet Bar (“one of the finest pubs in Greater Manchester”). “One pub that I will always come back to is the Swan and Railway Hotel, which is just across from the Wigan Wallgate train station,” he adds.

“It’s a beautiful pub, there’s a lot of love and investment that’s been put into it. It’s four storeys, built in 1898 and has a seven-room hotel and it’s just something really special. It’s one of those places that is as much for locals as it is for people to visit specifically for. It’s half an hour on the train from town, they do great beer and a great pie, mash and mushy peas. It’s just always a really great experience there.

“In Stockport, there’s also the Magnet which is on the A6 and it’s a bit of an institution really. I can walk in there on my own, having lived in the area for a few years now, and I’ll just bump into someone I know and we’ll just sit down and chat away. That demonstrates the importance of a pub to me.”

Asked how he hopes people will use the Best Beer Pubs and Bars guide, Matthew says he hopes people will consider his recommended Star Picks as stepping off points for people to visit before going off to explore the surrounding areas. It’s something he’s found that readers of the first edition have already enjoyed doing.

“I recently bumped into a couple who had come over from Sheffield and were in Heaton Hops actually using one of the beer crawls from the book,” he says. “We got talking and they were saying how they were going out and finding these places that were new to them. It’s great for tourists, but I think it can also be something for people from the area who are just looking for somewhere they haven’t visited or never considered before.”

The latest edition of Matthew’s book, self-proclaimed as the ‘definitive’ version, also shines a light on the fact that there are quite a few breweries based across Greater Manchester conjuring up some special beers. “We have almost 60 small independent breweries here,” he explains. “A lot of them have their own tap rooms too where you can go and taste their beers. A lot of the pubs featured in the guide are ones that are focused on supporting these small and independent breweries – it’s about championing the local economy and that’s something that’s really important to me.”

Whilst Matthew says he doesn’t like the term ‘use it or lose it’ when describing the importance of pubs and bars, he says the sentiment is fairly accurate. “If you want to support your local, you do need to get out there and visit them,” he stresses. “I just don’t like to put the onus entirely on the consumer as people choose to spend their valuable leisure time and expandable income how they want to.

“We preserve these spaces because a pub is somewhere that’s not work or the home. When you’re at home, you have responsibilities, you have washing up and life admin to do. The pub or a bar is somewhere you can relax, unwind with a good book, and meet friends. It’s where life happens. People have wakes there, celebrations of births, people break up there, they form relationships there. Pubs don’t have to be that complicated, but they are where all of these things happen.

“And it’s not all about getting drunk at the same time – there’s some really great no-alcohol beers right now. For a lot of people, the pub is often their only source of social interaction. It’s important for their well-being. One of the great things about Manchester and the north is that people love to chat. Even when I’ve been sitting in the corner discreetly making notes for the book, people have come up to me and started a conversation.

“But to support the industry right now, I really encourage people to just go out and explore these places a bit. Go out, pop in, see them for yourself, and don’t be afraid to venture away from your local from time to time. There are some genuinely special bars and pubs that we are very lucky to have here.”

Manchester’s Best Beer Pubs and Bars is available to buy now via the CAMRA website.