A gunman opened fire at the property on School House Road in Oldham
Pictures show multiple bullet holes in the window of a home in Oldham this morning following a shooting.
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The shooting happened on School House Road yesterday (Sunday, February 15). A Greater Manchester Police spokesperson said officers were initially called to reports of criminal damage at a property at around 1pm.
Police then discovered a gunman had opened fire at the home. No injuries were reported and an investigation is now underway.
This morning at least four bullet holes can be seen in the front window of the home. Forensic officers have been spotted taking pictures of the blasted window as they probe the scene.
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A cordon remains in place on School House Road as officers carry out their investigation. A number of police vehicles are stationed on the scene.
A cordon is also in place on nearby Roundthorn Road, at the back of the property which appears to have been targeted. Police want to speak to any witnesses of the shooting, or anyone with CCTV or dash cam footage.
In a statement, a GMP spokesperson said: “At around 1pm yesterday (Sunday 15 February 2026), we were called to reports of criminal damage at an address on School House Road in Oldham. Officers attended the scene and confirmed that there had been a firearms discharge.
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“A scene remains in place whilst we continue our enquiries and thankfully, no injuries have been reported. Investigations are ongoing.
“We are appealing for witnesses or any information about this incident – anyone with CCTV or dashcam footage that could assist our investigation should contact us on 101 quoting log 1397 of 15/02/2026.
“You can also report information via LiveChat on our website or through the independent charity Crimestoppers – anonymously – on 0800 555 111.”
The date and time has been revealed and where you can see the eclipse
11:05, 16 Feb 2026Updated 11:05, 16 Feb 2026
The first solar eclipse this year is set to take place this week, though the spectacular phenomenon will be visible from only certain locations. This rare astronomical event, famously dubbed a “ring of fire,” occurs when the earth, sun, and moon reach perfect alignment.
During this alignment, the moon passes directly between the sun and our planet, casting a distinct shadow and leaving only the sun’s outer edge visible as a glowing celestial ring.
Marking a major highlight for the 2026 lunar calendar, the eclipse is due to take place on Tuesday, February 17. While the event promises a stunning visual display, visibility remains the primary concern for those hoping to catch a glimpse.
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Because the moon’s shadow follows a specific path, only skywatchers in select regions will have the opportunity to witness the sun transformed into a celestial ring of light.
Whether the “ring of fire” will be visible from the UK depends on specific geographic pathways of the Moon’s shadow, with experts noting that only those in certain places will witness the alignment in its full glory.
The first solar eclipse will take place at 7.10am on Tuesday, February 17. However, the spectacle in the sky will only be visible in a handful of locations, according to National World.
The path of annularity – the path the solar eclipse will take and be visible from – will rise across western Antarctica and set off across the Davis Sea coast and the Southern Ocean.
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This means that the upcoming solar eclipse will not be visible in the UK. According to Space.com, the following list is the locations where a partial solar eclipse will be visible from and the percentage of the sun’s disk which will be covered in each location:
Heard and McDonald Islands, Australia – 88%
French Southern and Antarctic Lands, France – 88%
Mascarene Islands, Mauritius/France – 35%
Port Louis, Mauritius – 32%
Saint-Denis, Reunion, France – 31%
Antananarivo, Madagascar – 20%
Durban, South Africa – 16%
Maputo, Mozambique – 13%
Maseru, Lesotho – 11%
Gaborone, Botswana – 4%
Harare, Zimbabwe – 3%
Ushuaia, Argentina – 3%
After Tuesday’s solar eclipse, there will be lunar eclipse on March 3-4. This will turn the moon a red shade in the sky, with the Earth instead passing in between the Moon and Sun and casting its shadow onto the Moon. Due to the reddish hue of the Moon during this phenomenon, a lunar eclipse is sometime referred to as a “Blood Moon”.
Householders have been warned not to empty their bins tomorrow, or they may face some consequences, and one woman has shared the reasons you’ll want to take heed
Danielle Kate Wroe Senior Social News Reporter
11:59, 16 Feb 2026
Households have been advised against emptying their rubbish bins tomorrow for a significant reason. Whilst it might be routine for you to put the bins out daily, you should refrain from doing so on Tuesday, February 17. Whether it’s your general waste, recycling, or paper collection, everything ought to remain inside your property for just one day.
This is because, according to Big Brother 2023’s Yinrun Huang, it’s considered unlucky to empty your bins on the Chinese New Year. There are also several other activities you should steer clear of tomorrow if you wish to begin the year of the fire horse properly.
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“Helping you start your Chinese New Year RIGHT,” Yinrun captioned her Instagram video, revealing “What you should not do on Chinese New Year”. Yinrun explained that if you “feel like you started 2026 on the wrong foot, this is your second chance to start again,” so you’ll want to follow her guidance.
1. Don’t sleep in
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Yinrun stated: “We need to start the first day of the year fresh and early to attract all of the good energy”.
2. Don’t empty your bins
“Don’t empty your bins because that symbolises throwing away all the luck and the wealth from your home,” Yinrun urged people, adding: “No! We don’t wanna do that. We wanna keep everything in”.
3. Don’t argue with people
Yinrun emphasised that you mustn’t become “angry and upset” with others and quarrel with them, explaining that you “don’t need that negative energy,” noting you want “happiness [to] come in, and sadness [to] go out”.
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4. Don’t wash your hair
Yinrun advised: “Don’t wash your hair. You can wash your hair the day before for a fresh start, but not on New Year’s Day, because washing hair on New Year’s Day symbolises washing off all your wealth and fortune”.
Therefore, if you’re in need, make sure to wash your hair today!
5. Don’t wear black or white clothes
It’s crucial that you avoid wearing black or white garments during the Chinese New Year, and instead, choose something red, as this is considered the luckiest colour to wear.
“People wear black or white for funerals in China,” she revealed, adding: “If you want to be discreet, red underwear is always a good option”.
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How were the animals chosen for the Chinese zodiac?
There are numerous myths surrounding how the animals were chosen for the Chinese zodiac. One widely known story involves a competition among the animals.
According to Lakeside Arts, “Long ago, in China, the Jade Emperor decided there should be a way of measuring time. On his birthday, he told the animals that there was to be a swimming race.
“The first twelve animals across the fast-flowing river would be the winners, and they would each have a year of the zodiac named after them.”
The animals subsequently gathered along the riverbank, arriving at different times.
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The 12 animals in the Chinese Zodiac, which adhere to a cyclical 12-year sequence, are the Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat (also referred to as Sheep/Ram), Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. Each animal is associated with specific personality characteristics and relates to a year in the lunar calendar.
For example, people born under the Rabbit are considered to be gentle, compassionate, and elegant, whilst those born in the Monkey year are regarded as clever, witty, sociable, and energetic. After the Chinese New Year in 2026, it will transition into the Year of the Fire Horse. The Horse holds seventh place among the Chinese Zodiac animals.
According to China Highlights, “In Chinese culture, the Horse is known for its energetic and dynamic nature. It symbolises vitality, speed, and perseverance. People born in the Year of the Horse are believed to possess similar traits, such as being hardworking, warm-hearted, and independent.”
Police are now appealing for witnesses and dashcam footage following the incident on Melrosegate, at the junction with Fourth Avenue.
It happened at 3:22pm yesterday (Sunday, February 15) and involved a silver Vauxhall Corsa and a red Volkswagen Polo.
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A police spokesman said: “Following the accident, the driver of the Polo was taken to hospital for precautionary checks. The road was closed for a period of while we investigated the scene and to allow for the vehicles involved to be recovered.
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“We’re appealing for any witnesses to the collision, anyone who may have seen the vehicles prior to the collision, or anyone with relevant dashcam footage, to contact us.”
Anyone with information is urged to email david.ellison@northyorkshire.police.uk if you can help. Alternatively, you can call North Yorkshire Police on 101 and ask for David Ellison.
Please quote reference 12260028528 when passing on information.
The result gives the Glens real impetus in their challenge for the league title and McEneff says he knows a winning mentality when he sees one
Aaron McEneff sees no reason why Glentoran can’t bring the good times back to east Belfast – and soon.
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The midfielder put in a man-of-the-match display in the Glens’ 2-1 comeback win over Ballymena United at the weekend, equalising from the penalty spot before curling a gorgeous 25-yard shot past visiting keeper Brad Wade.
It was a huge three points for Declan Devine’s side, cutting the gap to leaders Larne, who lost 2-1 away to Portadown, while second-placed Coleraine could only draw 1-1 at Carrick Rangers.
The result gives the Glens real impetus in their challenge for the league title, and McEneff – who only joined the club in January from Shamrock Rovers – says he knows a winning mentality when he sees one.
“I’ve won trophies in my career but make no mistake about it, I want to win more. I wouldn’t have signed here if I didn’t think there was a chance of that,” said the 30-year-old.
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“There’s a great group of lads in there. There’s still a lot of football to be played between now and the end of the season.
“There are lads in the changing room driving standards. That’s what you want as a footballer — pushing each other day in, day out. It’s the only way you get better as a player and as a group.
“If we can add more quality to our play between now and the end of the season, it’ll be something to look forward to.”
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The Derry man has settled straight into life in east Belfast, and he praised the atmosphere created by Devine and his management team.
“It’s been really good so far. From the day I met Deccy, Paddy (McCourt) and Paul Millar, you could see the club wants to go in a really positive direction. From speaking to them, it was something I wanted to be part of.
“You can see on the pitch everyone’s together and pushing in the right direction.
“When fans see players giving 100% on the pitch, that’s all they want. They’ll forgive mistakes. But if they see people running and working hard for each other, they can’t complain.
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“I think we did that against Ballymena.”
For assistant coach McCourt, it was a no-brainer to bring someone of McEneff’s calibre to the club.
“Aaron McEneff is a top player,” said the former Celtic star.
“When the opportunity to get Aaron came up for us, it was one that we wanted to really try our best to do. Fortunately, we got it over the line.
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“The word I would use for him is ‘class’.
“I think there’s more to come from Aaron when he gets really up and going.”
Meanwhile, Larne’s 18-game unbeaten league streak came to an end as they fell to a shock 2-1 defeat to Portadown at Shamrock Park on Saturday.
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The Premiership leaders were caught out early on when Josh Ukek surged to the byline and teed up Jack Scott for a simple finish.
Andy Ryan levelled before the interval with a sharp first-time strike, yet the visitors’ joy was short-lived as Eamon Fyfe quickly restored Portadown’s advantage.
Larne’s hopes faded further when Chris Gallagher was dismissed early in the second half, and the hosts stood firm to end their own four-match losing run in style.
Second-placed Coleraine were unable to take full advantage, held to a 1-1 draw by in-form Carrick Rangers at Taylors Avenue.
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Will Patching’s corner drifted in at the back post, but Mikey Place responded with his first goal for the hosts.
Champions Linfield cruised to a 3-0 win over Glenavon thanks to a Matthew Fitzpatrick double and Sam Taylor’s tap-in.
Crusaders recovered from two down to draw 2-2 with Bangor at Seaview, Stewart Nixon and Fraser Bryden coming to their rescue after goals from Harry Lynch and Ben Cushnie.
On Friday night, Dungannon Swifts edged Cliftonville 3-2.
The Environment Agency has warned locals that flooding is ‘expected’ in some areas
11:24, 16 Feb 2026Updated 11:25, 16 Feb 2026
Flood alerts and warnings have been issued for Cambridgeshire areas by the Environment Agency on Monday (February 16). Locals have been advised that flooding is ‘expected’ in some areas, and ‘possible’ in others.
Locals in areas with flood warnings have been told flooding is expected and to “act now”, according to the government agency. Flood warnings mean that homes and businesses are at risk, as are roads and railway lines.
The flood warnings issued are as follows:
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Areas close to the River Great Ouse at Wyboston, Eaton Socon, Eynesbury, Eaton Ford, and St Neots. It is advised to take care and avoid walking, cycling or driving through the flood water. This is because of the rising river levels.
North Bank Road alongside the River Nene, east of Peterborough and west of Dog-in-a-Doublet Sluice. Whilst the warning is in force, the local authority will close North Bank Road and other routes will be put in place.
B1040 Thorney to Whittlesey Road to the South of the River Nene. River levels are expected to remain high and the local authority may close the road for safety reasons. Diversion routes are set to be put in place.
There are also several flood alerts in place. If a flood alert is issued, it means flooding is possible and locals should ‘be prepared’ to follow a flood plan.
The flood alerts issued are as follows:
Bury Brook. Areas most at risk are around Bury Brook, from Abbots Ripton to Ramsey.
Alconbury Brook. Areas most at risk are around Alconbury Brook at Hamerton, The Alconburys, Little Stukeley and Brampton.
Ellington Brook. Areas most at risk are around Ellington Brook at Spaldwick, Ellington and Brampton.
River Kym. Areas most at risk are around the River Kym and River Til from Yelden, and Upper Dean to Hail Weston.
River Great Ouse in Central Bedfordshire, Beds Borough and Cambridgeshire from Wyboston to Brampton. Areas most at risk are around the River Great Ouse from Wyboston to the south of Brampton, including Duloe Brook, Hen Brook and Fox Brook.
River Rhee. Areas most at risk are those around the River Rhee from Guilden Morden to Haslingfield.
Lower River Cam. Areas most at risk are around the River Cam from Stapleford to Waterbeach.
River Great Ouse in Cambridgeshire from Brampton to Earith. Areas most at risk are around the River Great Ouse from Brampton to Earith, including Back Brook, Hall Green Brook, Parsons Drove Drain, Swavesey Drain and Wadsbys Folly.
Hundred Foot Washes. The causeway at Sutton Gault has approximately 52cm of water on the road. The causeway at Welney has up to 43cm of water on the road. Floodwater is now rising onto Earith causeway. Due to the uneven surface of the roads, water may be deeper in places.
A 15-year-old boy was rushed to hospital with serious injuries after the incident took place in Glasgow’s Toryglen last week.
Police have made an arrest after a teenager was allegedly attacked with a weapon by thugs on e-bikes.
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A 15-year-old boy was rushed to hospital with serious injuries after the incident took place on Ardnahoe Avenue in Glasgow’s Toryglen at around 6pm on Tuesday, February 10. Police previously said that the teen was ambushed by youths on electric bikes.
The pair were wearing dark clothing and both fled the scene in the direction of Kerrycroy Avenue. Officers have now confirmed that a 15-year-old male has been arrested and charged in connection with the serious assault.
He is expected to appear at Glasgow Sheriff Court at a later date. Images from the scene on Wednesday showed police still in attendance. One squad car was parked on Ardnahoe Avenue.
Police Scotland previously blasted the incident as “terrifying”. The force asked anyone who was in the area at the time and saw what happened, or who may know those involved, to get in touch.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “A 15-year-old male has been arrested and charged in connection with a serious assault in Glasgow.
“The incident happened around 6.10pm on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, on Ardnahoe Avenue. A report has been submitted to the Procurator Fiscal and he is expected to appear at Glasgow Sheriff Court at a later date.”
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Love Story is the latest anthology series that comes from writer Ryan Murphy. However, it is actually written by Colin Hines.
The series itself is based on the book Once Upon a Time: The Captivating Life of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, written by Elizabeth Beller. While the focus is on the relationship and management between the son of a former US President and a high-flying fashion executive, other significant moments are also presented.
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One of these is the final days of ex First Lady, Jackie Kennedy Onassis. In the show, she is played by Oscar-nominated star Naomi Watts, known for previous roles in The Impossible, Birdman, and All’s Fair.
But what happened to Jackie Kennedy in real life? How did she die? Here’s all you need to know.
How did Jackie Kennedy die?
JFK Jr’s mother, Jackie, is unsurprisingly a significant figure in the series as she was in real life. She was married to his father until his assassination in 1963. She remarried to business magnate Aristotle Onassis in 1968, and they were together until his death in 1975.
While she is cited as redefining the role of First Lady, she later became a book editor for publisher Double Day. As is referenced in the series, Jackie was thrown from her horse in an incident in November 1993, which led to a short time in the hospital. While there, doctors noticed a swollen lymph node but thought it might be due to an infection.
However, her condition worsened a month later, and she was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. At the start of 1994, she began cancer treatment and publicly disclosed her illness, at which time a spokesperson said her prognosis was ‘excellent’.
She continued to work, but in just a few months, the cancer had spread to her spinal cord and brain. By March, it was in her liver, and doctors declared her condition terminal. Choosing to spend her final days at home, she died in her sleep on May 19, 1994.
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The day after her death, then-President Bill Clinton said, “Jackie Kennedy Onassis was a model of courage and dignity for all Americans and all the world. More than any other woman of her time, she captivated our nation and the world with her intelligence, her elegance, and her grace. Even in the face of impossible tragedy, she carried the grief of her family and our entire nation with a calm power that somehow reassured all of us who mourned.”
On May 20, 1994, JFK Jr. delivered a brief statement outside his late mother’s apartment. He said: “She was surrounded by her friends and family and her books and the people and the things that she loved. And she did it in her own way, and we all feel lucky for that, and now she’s in God’s hands.”
A private funeral took place less than a week after Jackie’s death. She was buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, beside her first husband.
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Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr and Carolyn Bessette is streaming on Disney+
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As temperatures drop overnight, there is an increased risk of ice forming.
Parts of Cambridgeshire have been placed under a yellow weather warning for ice by the Met Office. The warning will be in place from 6pm on Monday (February 16) and will be lifted at 10am on Tuesday (February 17).
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Clear skies following a period of rain and sleet can lead to patches of ice forming. The areas covered by the warning include Peterborough, Ely, and Cambridge, as temperatures are set to fall to around 1C overnight.
People in these areas could be at risk of some injuries from slips and falls on icy surfaces. It is likely there will be some icy patches on some untreated roads, pavements, and cycle paths.
If you need to leave the house when the warning is in place, you should leave at least five minutes earlier than normal to avoid rushing, according to the Met Office. This will reduce your risk of accidents, slips, and falls.
If you are travelling by car, you should check road conditions before setting off on your journey. You should also check bus and train timetables for any delays if using public transport.
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A spokesperson for the Met Office said: “Areas of rain, sleet, and hill snow will move southeastwards through Monday evening and night before clearing to the North Sea. Whilst some patchy accumulations of snow will be possible, more especially on ground above 150-200 m elevation, ice will be a greater hazard as temperatures fall fairly quickly once showers clear away.
“In addition, a period of strong northwesterly winds are also likely along some North Sea coasts later in the night and into Tuesday morning.”
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Stephen Neil, 60, was last seen in the village of Ae in Dumfries at around 7pm on Saturday.
Police and mountain rescue teams are searching a forest area for a missing man who has vanished in his campervan.
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Stephen Neil, 60, was last seen in the village of Ae in Dumfries at around 7pm on Saturday, February 14.
It is believed he is driving his old ‘L’ reg campervan which has been painted matt black and has green wheels and trim.
Police Scotland has enlisted the help of mountain rescue teams and dispatched a helicopter to scour for the missing camper.
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Officers are also appealing for the help of the public in tracing Stephen.
He is described as White, 5ft9 in height, has blue eyes and is balding with very short grey/white hair. It is not known what he is wearing.
Inspector Lloyd Caven said: “We believe Mr Neil may have travelled in his campervan to the Galloway Forrest area. That is obviously a huge area to search, so to assist local officers, we have enlisted the help of local mountain rescue colleagues and the Force’s helicopter.
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“We appreciate that the weather, road conditions and remoteness of the area is an issue, however, if anyone has been around there or has seen Mr Neil or his vehicle overnight or today, we’d ask that they contact police.
“Officers are checking CCTV, doing door-to-door enquiries, and have been liaising with various local agencies with regard to looking out for him.”
Information can be passed to police via 101. Please quote incident number 0211 of Sunday, February 15 2026 when calling.
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When a country is as vast as China, the idea of it having a singular cuisine swiftly teeters into the ridiculous. So it is: going for a Chinese might mean plates from Sichuan and Hunan, blistering with numbing spice; it might mean the sweet seafood of Cantonese cooking; or perhaps the colourful precision of the sweet-and-salt of dishes from Jiangsu. It might mean high end or low; exacting or cheerily shapeless; food for bottles of beer or pots of tea. It can be, then, hard to know where to start — at the local spot on the corner, in the warren of Chinatown, or among the moneyed of Mayfair?
And so we radioed for help. Ahead of the lunar new year, some of the biggest names in Chinese cooking offer their favourites, at both the peak and foot of pricing. We’ve cut repeat mentions of a few names — A Wong, Imperial Treasure and the Royal China Club had multiple shout-outs (Filipino-born chef John Javier was at pains to mention their lobster dumplings are the best he’s ever had) — but below are London’s best Chinese restaurants, as chosen by those in the know.
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My go-to is a tiny eatery called Lucky Dog (70 Brick Lane, E1, 020 3730 2346), which serves authentic dishes from the north-eastern region of China. I usually eat here once a week with the family — the food is so comforting and the execution never fails. Skewers are a must — my favourites are the lamb and pork belly skewers and grilled chicken. Other favourites are the Guo Bao Rou, a sweet and sour crispy pork accompanied by Chinese chives or enoki mushrooms, and their signature Liang Pi — cold, glass noodles with sesame peanut sauce. Another favourite is the Mandarin Kitchen (14-16 Queensway, W2, mandarin.kitchen). Here there is a large selection of classic Cantonese dishes and they specialise in Cantonese-style seafood; the must-order item is the signature lobster, Yee Mien — I haven’t found anywhere in London that does better Cantonese lobster noodles!
I love businesses that specialise in one thing and do it really well. In China and Hong Kong, street stalls often make just one dish and have spent generations and generations to perfect it. Here, Dumpling Shack (Old Spitalfields Market, E1, dumplingshack.co.uk) is the same. Somewhere else I love is New Loon Fung (42-44 Gerrard Street, W1, 020 7437 7332). I go religiously every Sunday with my family for dim sum, and it’s nice to have food so close to Hong Kong in London. New Loon Fung is also a reference point for me; after I’ve been developing a dish for a while, I can lose sight of what it’s meant to taste like, and going back to New Loon Fung I can recalibrate myself. I’m also a massive fan of Sichuan food; my grandma was Sichuanese. I love the offal and whelk dishes at Ma La Sichaun (37 Monck Street, SW1, malasichuan.co.uk). Those kinds of dishes really exemplify a Chinese mouthfeel, the chilliness and the cartilage texture. It’s unique to what we do, and it’s good to try dishes that celebrate that.
Charlene Liu and Linda Liu, Liu Xiaomian
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We’ve visited Min Jiang (Royal Garden Hotel, Kensington High Street, W8, minjiang.co.uk) a few times over the years for its famous Beijing duck and were impressed by its authentic taste and presentation, which is definitely a must-try for first-timers. You can have it with two servings — we usually have the duck and tofu soup as the second serving. Cafe TPT (21 Wardour Street, W1, cafetpt.com), meanwhile, is a typical Cantonese restaurant in Chinatown. What we like the most is their great value dessert menu: the signature sweet bean curd with mango and grapefruits is our all-time favourite. You can stop by and ask for takeaway, or go there during off-peak hours for a dine-in service.
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My all-time favourite Chinese restaurant in London is A Wong (70 Wilton Road, SW1, awong.co.uk), especially if I want to splurge. Why? Because it is true Chinese-London food that does not stand still. Chef Andrew Wong’s dishes are constantly evolving and changing — always for the better. His dumplings are out of this world, and Andrew makes traditional dishes his own, like his Peking duck. I also love the way he takes vegetables to extraordinary heights, so much so that I almost want to turn vegetarian. The secret at A Wong is to ask about the latest dish of the day. You will not be disappointed. Another I love is Din Tai Fung (various locations, dintaifung-uk.com), an offshoot of the famous Taipei shop in Taiwan. Here you can watch the chefs folding the famous xiao long bao, a steamed dumpling with soup inside. But the inside scoop is that everything else on the menu is also up to par. The pork chop is excellent, as are the stuffed chilli peppers, and the magical aromatic beef noodle soup. It is easy to eat your way through the menu and then return for more.
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Steven Joyce
I really enjoy how traditional Imperial Treasure’s (9 Waterloo Place, SW1, imperialtreasure.com) Cantonese flavours are and its Singaporean heritage. Try the dim sum and have it with tea, since they go well together. And I remember, after I left Beijing and came to London, Barshu (28 Frith Street, W1, barshurestaurant.co.uk) was the first place where I found the traditional citron flavour. It remains authentic. I’d recommend first-timers mention their tolerance to spicy food to the staff, since it can often be very spicy. I tend to order the Chongqing chicken and the fish with pickled vegetables.
Lee Che Liang, Park Chinois
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Hunan (51 Pimlico Road, SW1, hunanlondon.com) is fantastic because of the concept of having no menu — it takes away the pressure and chaos of ordering, and you’re left in the hands of the masters. You just say what you like and how spicy, then waves of small plates arrive at the table; we had about 18. The chilli beef and cuttlefish were outstanding. Otherwise, Xi’an Impression (117 Benwell Road, N7) might not look like much from the outside, but it’s where I like to go for authentic and typical Xi’an local food. Their hand-pulled noodles are second to none, perfectly finished with hot oil and ground chilli wrapped around the ribbons of noodles. I also have fond memories of eating with friends at Plum Valley (20 Gerrard St, W1, plumvalley.co.uk). It’s family run and puts a fun twist on classic regional dishes: always start with some fresh dim sum, while the Hong Kong-style wind shelter stir-fried whole crab is a showstopper dish that leaves us fighting over who gets the last piece.
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At the top end, the Peking duck is great at MiMi Mei Fair (55 Curzon Street, W1, mimimeifair.com) and the closest I’ve had here to the ones in Sydney and Asia. But with London’s Chinese dining scene, my heart lies with the more accessible end of the spectrum: Dim Sum Duck (124 King’s Cross Road, WC1, Instagram) used to be my favourite — when I could get a table! If you’re lucky and there’s no queue, it’s guaranteed satisfaction. Get the prawn wontons with salad cream, har gao, siu mai, roast duck and the beef flank hot pot. Still, my all-time favourite is the Old Street Chinese Restaurant (184-186 Old Street, EC1, theoldstreet.co.uk). I always order the sizzling fish fillet, twice-cooked pork belly, frog legs in an iron wok and the braised cabbage in superior broth. If you’re feeling adventurous, pork kidneys in chilli sauce and the sliced beef and ox tripe in chilli oil are also big hits.