The new partnership will see the popular coffee shop chain bring its menu of drinks, toasties, sweet treats and more to cinema-goers.

The first locations are set to open this summer, and most are expected to welcome guests by the end of 2026.

This move builds on Costa Coffee’s continued expansion into high-footfall, lifestyle destinations, while supporting Cineworld in enhancing its food and drink offer for customers across the UK.

Costa Coffee to open in up to 26 Cineworld cinemas across the UK

While exact dates haven’t been shared yet, these are the Cineworld locations that will open a new Costa Coffee store:

1. Ashton-under-Lyne
2. Speke
3. Ashford
4. Broughton Park
5. Edinburgh
6. Brighton
7. Didsbury
8. Glasgow Silverburn
9. Crawley
10. Basildon
11. Hemel Hempstead
12. Sheffield
13. Braintree
14. South Ruislip
15. Leeds
16. Ipswich
17. Stevenage
18. Barnsley
19. Birmingham Broad Street
20. Milton Keynes
21. Boldon
22. Telford
23. Rushden Lakes
24. Falkirk
25. Wolverhampton
26. Cheltenham

The collaboration will see Costa Coffee take on existing team members to ensure a smooth transition and maintain the service customers expect.

Each new store will feature Costa Coffee’s contemporary interior design, indoor seating, and self-service order screens for convenience.

Andrew Miller, Express and Corporate Sales Director UK&I at Costa Coffee, said: “We’re delighted to be working with Cineworld to bring Costa Coffee to more cinema-goers across the UK.

“Whether you’re heading in for the latest movie release or catching up with friends, we’re excited to make those moments even more enjoyable with great coffee in an enhanced cinema environment.”

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Tim Sparrow, Director of Retail at Cineworld, said: “This partnership marks an exciting step forward in enhancing Cineworld’s customer experience.

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“The Costa Coffee partnership is re-energising our coffee spaces and strengthening the role they play in the cinema experience.

“Together, we’re focused on quality, consistency and reach, creating warm and welcoming environments that enhance the visit while keeping cinema at the heart of everything we do.”

Is your local Cineworld going to have a new Costa Coffee store? Let us know in the comments below.

Final day scenario of former West Ham boss David Moyes helping to save his old club when Everton head to Spurs cannot be discounted believes former Hammers defender and coach Stuart Pearce

Stuart Pearce insists West Ham are back “in the mix” for Premier League survival.

Former Hammers defender Pearce believes his former club are capable of winning both their final games – and sending Tottenham down. West Ham travel to Newcastle this weekend and then face Leeds on the final day while Spurs have got Chelsea next Tuesday and Everton on the final day.

There are only two points in it between the two London rivals but, from a position where Tottenham looked on course for survival, it is back in the balance.

West Ham lost to Arsenal on Sunday but Tottenham failed to take advantage and were held by Leeds on Monday night in a game they could easily have lost.

READ MORE: Callum Wilson refuses to back down on Arsenal controversy as VAR audio releasedREAD MORE: Man Utd take huge step to appointing Michael Carrick with talks to open THIS WEEK

Pearce, who also had a spell as former West Ham boss Davis Moyes’ assistant, said: “They held in a game which I thought Arsenal would win comfortably but West Ham showed what they can do. It was a really tight game.

“West Ham have got to win both games and keep their fingers crossed that other things help them. You never know. But West Ham and Spurs are back in the mix. But they are playing with decent spirit now. Their form is not too bad. But as I say, the start of the season has been what has been very costly for West Ham.”

West Ham’s London Stadium has never been popular with the majority of home fans while Tottenham’s form at their own stadium has been the reason they are in such a mess. Tottenham have yet to win at home in the Premier League in this calendar year. There is a scenario where, if the battle goes to the final day, it could be Everton boss Moyes who could end up saving his old club West Ham. The Toffees are good on the road and Spurs are awful at home.

But Pearce insists that, despite everything, West Ham fans just want to be entertained – and there should be no complaint about that.

Pearce said: “Listen, in my time at West Ham people would talk about the stadium, the stadium this and the stadium that.

“But when the fans have something to shout about, that place gets going. I saw it in the European games, their European run and it is there make no mistake about it. They just need to be entertained and enthralled by people on the football pitch.”

Pearce also believes that West Ham have got the players and spirit to survive as he singled out Jarrod Bowen and Tomas Soucek as being vital in their fight. Pearce said: “Over the season, he’s been a real bonus and, to be fair, I was there when David Moyes brought him through the door and Tomas Soucek in as well.

“Those two have got work ethic, they’ve got the club at heart and everything else. They can hold their heads high.”

Meanwhile, Pearce is hoping his beloved Nottingham Forest can finally build again after securing their Premier League status on the back of a chaotic season.

Pearce added: “If you have had four managers in a season, something isn’t right. It’s inherently wrong. Far from ideal. The players’ performances have been very start and top. They’ve hit some highs there’s no doubt about that but hit some lows as well.

“They have to look at themselves as well. There’s talent in there, no doubt about that. The key to that is holding on to one or two of these key players. I’m talking about Elliot Anderson who has alerted a lot of top clubs, I would suggest, with his performances because I think he’s been outstanding.

“Listen, semi final of a European competition has been good and I think they’ve come up against the team who I think will go on to win it and they eventually knocked them out. Listen, it’s an interesting one. They can rebuild again from the Premier League which is good at least.”

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

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

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

Pearce has been a long term support of the Pitching In programme which promotes and supports fitness and exercise to improve mental health. It is something he is passionate about and was at non-league Grays Athletic this week.

He said: “I’ve been working as an ambassador and Grays have got an initiative to help people come together, do some coaching and the funding has backed that.

“This was set up during Covid and so when everything was shut down so I’ve been involved for about six years and anything we can do around mental health – with fitness especially – will be nice. And I might join in myself! Exercise helps so much. It’s crucial.”

The Trident Community Foundation, established by Entain’s award-winning Pitching In programme, has awarded over £700,000 in grants to support projects at Trident League clubs across the country. Find out more at https://www.entaingroup.com/sustainability-esg/social-impact/pitching-in/

Stuart was at Isthmian League side Grays Athletic in Thurrock – visiting a ‘fitness and football’ session which has helped 15-20 men with their physical and mental health. They have their kickabouts on Monday and Wednesday evening having received a Pitching In Trident Community Fund grant – more detail here: https://www.isthmian.co.uk/articles/grant-helps-grays-locals-to-be-more-athletic

The new branch in Guisborough will include “improved community facilities, better banking services”, and free access to cash through a OneBanx kiosk.

Alex Windle, chief executive of Darlington Building Society, said: “We are delighted to be able to offer a bigger and better branch for our Guisborough customers.

Alex Windle, chief executive of Darlington Building Society (Image: Dave Charnley)

“For years, Darlington Building Society has continually upgraded its branch network to provide modern spaces that can better serve customers.

“We’ve listened to the challenges faced by Guisborough residents in relation to increasingly scarce access to cash, as several banks and building societies have left the town.

“Therefore, our Guisborough branch will also house a OneBanx kiosk, enabling individuals and businesses to deposit into, or withdraw from, all major UK banks at no cost to them, whether they have an account with us or not.”

The upgraded branch, which more than doubles the size of the existing site, will replace a former bank branch that closed in 2022.

Darlington Building Society hopes to welcome customers to the new branch later this year.

The branch will also feature a large community space, available free of charge and bookable by groups, businesses, charities, and customers for meetings, classes, events, and more.

Mr Windle said: “The ability to offer a community space was an important factor when deciding a location for the new Guisborough branch.

“Darlington Building Society was built on the ethos of serving its customers and local community, and it’s how we see branch networks evolving to suit wider community’s needs.”

The OneBanx kiosk will allow anyone to deposit or withdraw cash for free, provided they are registered with the OneBanx mobile app, regardless of which bank they use.

Javed Anjum, CEO of OneBanx, said: “We are delighted to announce our latest partnership with Darlington Building Society.

“With the launch, individuals and businesses in Guisborough will have local access to cash services whoever they bank with, returning a much-needed banking service to the town.”

The recent attack by Ukraine of a Russian missile-carrying corvette stationed in the Caspian Sea more than 1,500km away from Kyiv has put the spotlight on this large, often overlooked body of inland salt water.

The Caspian Sea hosts major offshore oil and gas fields and critical maritime infrastructure, including ports, pipelines and terminals that connect central Asia to global markets. It is a key node in the so-called middle corridor trading route from China to Europe via central Asia that avoid increasingly uncertain routes via Russia in the north and Iran in the south.

China views it as a key corridor for energy supplies and its belt and road initiative that is an economic statecraft strategy that uses infrastructure connectivity to expand Beijing’s influence. The middle corridor links mainland China to Europe via Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan. Turkey, meanwhile, uses Caspian links, especially fossil fuel transit projects, via Azerbaijan, to increase its influence across the Turkic world, becoming a regional energy hub.

The 2018 Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea sets out how the Caspian’s oil, gas, and fishing resources are divided among the bordering nations. Crucially, the agreement also prohibits the deployment of armed forces from third-party countries within the Caspian’s waters. This establishes a regional security order that excludes western military presence.

Russia’s back yard

For Russia, the Caspian Sea has a high value, both as a strategic back yard and a bridge to Iran. There, Moscow maintains the strongest navy and has used the Caspian as a platform for long‑range power projection. This has included missile strikes into other theatres, including against Islamic State targets in Syria in 2015.

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the Caspian Sea has also gained renewed importance as a rear maritime space for Moscow. Indeed, with the Black Sea Fleet increasingly under threat from Ukraine’s drones and missiles, elements of Russia’s naval forces have redeployed away from the contested Black Sea towards the Caspian Sea via inland waterways. That said, Ukraine’s recent attack demonstrates that the Caspian Sea’s role as a sanctuary for Russia’s naval forces is limited.

More importantly, the Caspian Sea plays a structurally important role in enabling strategic coordination between Russia and Iran. As a geographically enclosed maritime space with its own specially designed legal status, it provides a direct logistical and economic corridor between the two states that is largely shielded from western military presence and oversight.

The Russia-Iran connection

This corridor enables not only energy cooperation and trade flows but also the movement of technologies and materials relevant to sustaining both war economies under sanctions pressure. This includes sanctioned goods, drone components and dual-use technologies. The Iran war has accelerated this trading pattern.

In this sense, for the two allies, the Caspian Sea functions as a critical node in a broader resilience architecture. It reinforces bilateral alignment and reduces exposure to external coercion. Its role is therefore less tactical than systemic: it provides a stable logistical, economic and strategic framework that underpins long‑term convergence between Moscow and Tehran.

In late March 2026, Israeli airstrikes reportedly disabled dozens of Iranian Caspian naval assets, including missile boats, a corvette, a shipyard and a command centre.
The strikes are likely to have severely disrupted the Caspian logistics corridor that links Russian ports to Iran’s port at Bandar Anzali, the largest and oldest Iranian port on the Caspian Sea. It also degraded Tehran’s ability to receive supplies via this route. This could force both countries to rely more on riskier overland routes via Azerbaijan or Kazakhstan.

In other words, the Caspian’s attribute as a haven for the two allies is currently under threat. That might force Russia and Iran to spend more on multi-level air defence systems and drone monitoring. They might even need to redeploy troops and military equipment to the region. This would significantly raise the cost and complexity of using the Caspian as a safe space for mil,itary and naval assets and a bridge for trade.

The Caspian Sea has become an increasingly important strategic connector linking two conflicts that are usually thought of as separate. The war in Ukraine and the war in Iran are not isolated theatres but parts of an emerging Eurasian conflict system in which Russia and Iran are mutually dependent.

Iran’s provision of drones and other military support to Russia has directly affected the course of the war in Ukraine. Meanwhile, Russia’s diplomatic, military and economic backing is central to Iran’s capacity to withstand pressure and sustain its regional posture.

The Caspian Sea underpins this alignment by providing a relatively insulated corridor for coordination, logistics and economic exchange.

Recent events, such as Ukrainian and Israeli strikes, however, reveal the limits of this strategic function for both Moscow and Tehran. At the same time, other countries, notably China and Turkey, are investing in the middle corridor. This is raising the value of the Caspian Sea, both economically and in terms of its geographical connectivity.

The Caspian Sea faces an uncertain future. Its north–south Russia–Iran strategic and military axis is increasingly contested by their adversaries. Its east–west trade and energy role, meanwhile, holds the potential to rebalance regional power dynamics towards economic connectivity, rather than conflict. Or, to put it another way, this body of water could become either be a theatre of strategic confrontation or a corridor of trade and exchange. The latter, of course, would be better for all concerned.

It’s been a staple of the indoor Manchester destination for years

A popular restaurant inside the Manchester Printworks has closed down after nearly two decades.

Mexican-inspired restaurant Chiquito ceased trading at the indoor Manchester destination at the start of the month. Signs on the front of the unit confirmed the restaurant officially closed on May 3 with the lease of the unit understood to have now expired.

In a notice to customers, the restaurant said: “We would like to inform you that our restaurant will be closing permanently on Sunday 3rd May 2026. As we approach our final days, please note that our menu and stock may be limited, and some items may no longer be available. We appreciate your understanding during this time.”

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First launched in 1989 as the ‘original Mexican grill and bar’, the brand was originally part of The Restaurant Group (TRG), who were also behind brands including Frankie & Benny’s. Since 2023, Chiquito has been owned by The Big Table, who also operate Las Iguanas, Bella Italia and Café Rouge.

Taking over two units, including the former Moby’s Fish Bar space, it’s not immediately clear when the restaurant first opened at the Printworks, but it was referenced online as far back as 2009. The brand’s logo signage has already been removed from the restaurant unit, whilst workers were seen inside the property on Wednesday morning (May 13) removing its interiors.

Following the closure of the Printworks site, the nearest Chiquito restaurants still in operation are at Ashton Leisure Park, in Ashton-under-Lyne, and at the Cheshire Oaks shopping centre. It currently runs nine sites across the country.

In the notice on the front of the Printworks site, Chiquito also said: “We would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank you for your support, loyalty and for being a part of our journey. It has been our pleasure to serve you.”

The Printworks, which is home to the largest digital ceiling in Europe, is home to the likes of Nandos, Frankie and Benny’s, Vue and interactive games bar Boom Battle. It had also been home to the city’s only Hard Rock Café, which shut at the start of the year after 25 years of trading.

Chiquito has been approached for comment.

In a bombshell decision Wednesday, the South Carolina Supreme Court struck down the murder convictions of disgraced legal scion Alex Murdaugh.

The five-member court unanimously overturned the outcome of Murdaugh’s six-week trial from 2023, which convicted him in the brutal 2021 killings of his wife Maggie, and his 22-year-old son Paul, due to the “improper external influences” of former Colleton County Clerk of Court Becky Hill.

“Although we are aware of the time, money, and effort expended for this lengthy trial, we have no choice but to reverse the denial of Murdaugh’s motion for a new trial due to Hill’s improper external influences on the jury and remand for a new trial,” the justices wrote in a 5-0 vote.

The extraordinary decision throws the sprawling Murdaugh saga back into uncertainty nearly three years after a jury convicted him in the brutal killings.

The case will now return to circuit court, where South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson’s office must decide whether to retry Murdaugh for the killings.

At the center of the appeal were allegations involving former Colleton County Clerk of Court Becky Hill, who was accused of improperly influencing jurors.

Murdaugh’s attorneys argued Hill made comments about his testimony, urged jurors not to be misled by the defense and sought publicity surrounding the high-profile case.

Hill later pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice, perjury and misconduct charges related to her conduct surrounding the trial, intensifying scrutiny over whether Murdaugh received a fair trial.

The state Supreme Court’s ruling does not declare Murdaugh innocent. Instead, it centers on whether the integrity of the trial itself was compromised.

“If only the people who may be innocent get a fair trial, then our Constitution isn’t working,” defense attorney Dick Harpootlian argued before the justices earlier this year.

What the ruling means for Murdaugh now

Despite the dramatic reversal, Murdaugh will not be walking free.

The 57-year-old remains behind bars serving multiple prison sentences tied to dozens of financial crimes in which prosecutors said he stole millions from clients, law partners and others.

Even with his murder convictions vacated, those financial crime sentences alone could keep him imprisoned for decades.

The ruling instead resets the murder case procedurally.

The case will now return to circuit court, where South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson’s office must decide whether to retry Murdaugh for the killings.

Legal experts say a second murder trial would likely become another massive spectacle, reigniting worldwide attention on a case that already spawned documentaries, podcasts, books and nonstop true crime coverage.

Why the Supreme Court overturned the convictions

The appeal centered largely on claims that Hill improperly influenced jurors during the original murder trial.

Several jurors testified during earlier hearings that Hill made comments warning them not to let the defense “distract” or “mislead” them. Others said she encouraged jurors to closely watch Murdaugh’s body language while he testified.

Former South Carolina Chief Justice Jean Toal previously ruled Hill acted improperly but concluded there was insufficient evidence proving her comments affected the verdict.

The Supreme Court ultimately disagreed.

During oral arguments in February, several justices openly questioned whether the integrity of the trial had been irreparably damaged.

Chief Justice John Kittredge pressed prosecutor Creighton Waters over testimony that Hill told jurors, “Don’t let the defense confuse you.”

“Assume we find that statement was made,” Kittredge said. “Do you still have a path to victory?”

Waters maintained the evidence against Murdaugh remained overwhelming and argued Hill’s comments were too brief to influence jurors after six weeks of testimony and hundreds of exhibits.

But appellate courts focus not on guilt or innocence – they focus on whether the legal process itself was fair.

Ultimately, the justices determined the concerns surrounding juror influence warranted a new trial.

Prosecutors still maintain the evidence was overwhelming

Even with the convictions overturned, prosecutors continue to stand by the evidence presented at trial.

At trial, prosecutors argued Murdaugh murdered his wife and son as his financial crimes were collapsing around him and public exposure was closing in.

Defense attorneys countered that there was no direct physical evidence tying Murdaugh to the shootings, no murder weapons were ever recovered and no blood or DNA connected him to the killings.

They also argued prosecutors unfairly flooded the trial with extensive testimony about Murdaugh’s financial crimes, prejudicing jurors against him.

Chief Justice Kittredge himself questioned whether prosecutors went too far.

“The granular detail, and the expansiveness of everything under the sun that was allowed, was arguably problematic,” he said during arguments.

How the case captivated the nation

Murdaugh’s fall from power stunned the country.

A member of a once-dominant South Carolina legal dynasty, Murdaugh was convicted in March 2023 of killing Maggie and Paul at the family’s Colleton County hunting estate on June 7, 2021.

The trial exposed not only the murders, but also a tangled web of alleged corruption, financial fraud and addiction that destroyed the family’s public image.

The case quickly became a national obsession, fueled by livestreamed courtroom testimony, explosive revelations and the mystery surrounding the killings themselves.

Now, with the convictions overturned, the legal drama enters yet another extraordinary chapter.

What happens next

The next move belongs to prosecutors.

Attorney General Alan Wilson’s office must now decide whether to pursue another murder trial – a process that could take months or even years to unfold.

If prosecutors move forward, the state would once again need to present its case before a new jury while the defense seeks to capitalize on the controversy surrounding the original proceedings.

Legal analysts say the Supreme Court’s ruling could also have sweeping implications beyond Murdaugh’s case, particularly in how South Carolina courts handle allegations of juror misconduct in future high-profile trials.

For now, one thing is certain: the Alex Murdaugh saga is far from over.

The redevelopment is a part of the Fenland Inspire! campaign to improve leisure facilities and public spaces around the area.

A contractor has pulled out of redeveloping a leisure centre in a Cambridgeshire village. Fenland District Council has had to find a new contractor for work on the Manor Leisure Centre in Whittlesey.

The council’s project delivery partner, Alliance Leisure, informed them that Curo Construction had ceased trading. Curo Construction had been dealing with the pre-contract design and development work for the project.

A council spokesperson said that as soon as Alliance Leisure was notified, they cancelled the pre-contract and started a review of other firms to continue the project.

Speller Metcalfe has been chosen to undertake the final stages of the pre-contract RIBA Stage 4 work. The contractor is now being briefed and a revised project programme is expected to be finished next week. All of the other project partners will remain the same.

Cllr Steve Count, Fenland District Council’s Portfolio Holder for Fenland Inspire! Manor Redevelopment, said: “We recognise that residents and local businesses will have questions following the announcement that the firm has ceased trading. Our priority is to ensure continuity for this proposed redevelopment and to keep the project moving forward.

“Alliance Leisure acted quickly to secure an alternative contractor, and we are pleased that Speller Metcalfe is now progressing the remaining pre‑contract work. We will provide further updates as soon as the revised programme is confirmed.”

The council is redeveloping the centre as part of its investment campaign Fenland Inspire!, which wants to improve leisure facilities and public spaces around the area. The project is subject to planning permission and Cabinet approval before any work can start.

A decision on the final detailed designs is expected to be made in summer of this year.