It will impact 200 restaurants across the UK and cut 3,800 jobs

Premier Inn’s parent company is set to close down two well-known restaurant chains, with numerous sites across the north west to be impacted.

Whitbread has announced it will shut the remainder of its Beefeater and Brewers Fayre restaurants. This will see 200 restaurants across the UK close down and will hit 3,800 jobs.

The closures comes as part of a new five-year strategy which will see the firm attempt to make a quarter of a billion pounds in cost savings while overhauling its restaurants. The firm said it will retain the vast majority of its 30,000-strong workforce, however the cuts will see roughly 12 percent of employees laid off across the closed locations, the Mirror reports.

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Beefeater and Brewers Fayre restaurants are typically located next to or inside Premier Inn hotels. The closures will see Beefeater restaurants close after 50 years in business, while Brewers Fayre was not far off celebrating the same milestone in 2029.

Whitbread has blamed Rachel Reeves’ budget for the closures and its chief executive Dominic Paul said the move was necessary “in light of significant cost increases in the form of business rates and National Insurance”. The change will see Whitbread selling and leasing back up to £1.5 billion of its freehold properties, and will “recycle” the amount to “fund future growth”.

Speaking about the plan, Mr Paul said: “We plan to convert all our remaining branded restaurants to an integrated food and beverage offer that is preferred by our hotel guests and will unlock the addition of more highly profitable extension rooms. Our continued efforts to drive our commercial plan and efficiencies will extend our market-leading position and allow us to take share from our competitors, many of which are struggling to grow.”

Full list of Brewers Fayre restaurants set to close

• Abergavenny (Abergavenny)
• Afon Conwy (Conwy)
• Aire & Calder (Yorkshire)
• Bankhead Gate (Fife)
• Barrow-in-Furness (Cumbria)
• Barry Island (Vale of Glamorgan)
• Bedford South (Bedfordshire)
• Bicester (Oxfordshire)
• Bideford (Devon)
• Bobbing Apple (Kent)
• Brampton Hut (Cambridgeshire)
• Brookers Oast (Kent)
• Burton House (Lincolnshire)
• The Carousel (Yorkshire)
• Castlewood (Derbyshire)
• Central Park (Warwickshire)
• Cepen Park (Wiltshire)
• Chafford Hundred (Essex)
• Chequers Corner (Essex)
• Cheswold Lodge (Yorkshire)
• The Clarence Pier (Hampshire)
• Cockermouth (Cumbria)
• Cottams Field (Lancashire)
• Craig House (Edinburgh)
• Crossways (Caerphilly)
• Dalesway (Yorkshire)
• Derry City (Northern Ireland)
• The Drove (Sussex)
• Duke of York (Kent)
• Exeter (Devon)
• The Farrier (Lincolnshire)
• Flagstaff Island (Leicestershire)
• Freebridge Farm (Norfolk)
• Glastonbury (Somerset)
• Gordano Gate (Bristol)
• The Hampton (Peterborough)
• Hanley (Staffordshire)
• The Harbour (Northern Ireland)
• The Howgate (Cumbria)
• Inn On The Quay (Devon)
• Inshes Gate (Highland)
• Kembrey Inn (Wiltshire)
• Kincardine Way (Falkirk)
• King William IV (Nottinghamshire)
• Lakeland Gate (Cumbria)
• Lewins Mead (Bristol)
• Lock Keeper (Derbyshire)
• Lodmoor (Dorset)
• Loggans Moor (Cornwall)
• Mains of Balquharn (Aberdeenshire)
• The Marina (Leicestershire)
• The Mayflower (Essex)
• Minehead (Somerset)
• Monkey Puzzle (Hampshire)
• Mulberry Tree (Essex)
• Newhaven Quay (Edinburgh)
• Oakenhurst Farm (Lancashire)
• Oaks (Norfolk)
• Ocean Park (Cardiff)
• Ocean Plaza (Merseyside)
• Old Nelson (Gloucestershire)
• Old West Quay (County Durham)
• Orbital (Staffordshire)
• Papermill (Buckinghamshire)
• Pirnhall Inn (Stirlingshire)
• Queens Crossing (Edinburgh)
• The Redwood (Staffordshire)
• Rhubarb Triangle (Yorkshire)
• Rising Sun (Hertfordshire)
• Royal Quays (Newcastle)
• The Sandpiper (Carmarthenshire)
• Stable Gate (Lancashire)
• The Swallow (Suffolk)
• Swansea Vale (Swansea)
• Telford Lodge (Northamptonshire)
• Tindale Crossing (County Durham)
• Tirfounder Fields (Rhondda Cynon Taff)
• Turnpike (Yorkshire)
• Victoria Park (Gwent)
• Walsall (West Midlands)
• Water Mill (Yorkshire)
• The Wessex Flyer (Bristol)
• The Wessington (Sunderland)
• Wheatlea Park (Lancashire)
• Whittle Inn (Gloucestershire)
• Widnes (Cheshire)
• Willen Dragon (Buckinghamshire)
• The Windmill (Sussex)
• Winsor House (Greater London)

Full list of Beefeater restaurants set to close

• The Anchor (Lincolnshire)
• The Applecart (Oxford)
• Badgers Sett (Worcestershire)
• Bagle Brook (Port Talbot)
• Balmoral Inn (Hampshire)
• The Barn (Buckinghamshire)
• The Beacon (Kent)
• The Belgrave (Devon)
• Bentley Green (West Midlands)
• Border Gate (Cumbria)
• The Brache (Bedfordshire)
• The Brecks (South Yorkshire)
• Broomside Park (County Durham)
• The Bull (Kent)
• Carnon Inn (Cornwall)
• Centre (Dundee)
• The Coldra (Newport)
• Countess Wear (Devon)
• The Cricketers (Surrey)
• Crossbush (Sussex)
• Crows Nest (Hertfordshire)
• Deer Park (West Lothian)
• The Dukes Worksop (Nottingham)
• Eureka Park (Kent)
• Euston Way (Shropshire)
• The Farmhouse (Cheshire)
• Farnborough (Hampshire)
• The Fountain (Greater London)
• The Foxburrow (Suffolk)
• Frome Flyer (Bristol)
• George In The Tree (West Midlands)
• The Gifford (Bristol)
• Gourdie Croft (Dundee)
• The Granary (Cambridgeshire)
• Great Oak (Hampshire)
• Great Yarmouth Seafront (Norfolk)
• Griff House (Warwickshire)
• Halfway House (Bedfordshire)
• Halifax (West Yorkshire)
• Hamilton (Glasgow)
• Harbour Lights (Hampshire)
• Harlow Mill (Essex)
• The Haywain (Essex)
• Heaton Park (Lancashire)
• The Kingswood (East Yorkshire)
• Lady Nairne (Edinburgh)
• The Ladybridge (Staffordshire)
• The Lakeside (South Yorkshire)
• Liberty Bell (Essex)
• London Woolwich (Greater London)
• The Longbow (Rhondda Cynon Taff)
• Longbridge (West Midlands)
• Longford House (Staffordshire)
• The Longwall (Oxford)
• The Lydiard (Wiltshire)
• Malta Inn (Kent)
• Manor Farm (Kent)
• Marsh Mills (Devon)
• Medina Quay (Isle of Wight)
• Mill House (Surrey)
• Mill Lodge (Lincolnshire)
• Millers Barn (Nottingham)
• The Millfield (York)
• Moor Mill (Hertfordshire)
• Morris Dancers (Lancashire)
• Morton Park (County Durham)
• Moseley Park (West Midlands)
• Oakley Hay (Northamptonshire)
• Oast & Squire (Hampshire)
• The Orchard (Worcestershire)
• Oxford Kidlington (Oxford)
• Oyster Reach (Suffolk)
• Packet Steamer (Merseyside)
• The Parkway (Surrey)
• The Pavilion (Somerset)
• The Plough (Kent)
• Preston Brook (Merseyside)
• Priory Marina (Bedfordshire)
• Quay House (Lancashire)
• Rackstraws Farm (Berkshire)
• Red Lion (Lancashire)
• Redditch (West Midlands)
• Roman Way (Nottingham)
• Sir Thomas Wyatt (Kent)
• Smugglers Haunt (Dorset)
• The Somerford (Dorset)
• The Southcote (Berkshire)
• Springwood Park (Cheshire)
• Spruce Goose (Hampshire)
• Stag & Rainbow (Merseyside)
• Strawberry Field (Essex)
• The Talpore (County Durham)
• The Three Fish (Shropshire)
• Travellers Rest (Greater London)
• The Turnpike (Northamptonshire)
• Twelve Bells (Gloucestershire)
• Walston Castle (Cardiff)
• Ware (Hertfordshire)
• The Waterfront (Swansea)
• The Watermill (Essex)
• White Hart (Sussex)
• White Lodge (Somerset)
• White Rock (Devon)
• Whitegate Inn (Lancashire)
• Whitley Bay (Northumberland)
• The Woolpack (Kent)

It was praised for being ‘family friendly’ as well as having many local amenities

Residents say they like living in a neighbourhood just outside of Cambridge becasuse it is “well connected” and provides the “perfect balance” of city and village life. Trumpington is conveniently located around two miles away from the city centreand is home to more than 12,000 people according to the 2021 census.

Within the rather large neighbourhood, there are a number of amenities including convenience shops for essentials, parks, schools and local services. There are also a range of charming places to eat and drink such Sole & Duck Restaurant, Hudson’s Ale House and Cafe Trumpington.

As part of our Exploring Cambridgeshire series, we spoke to residents in Trumpington about what they think of it. Daniela Casti, 38, really enjoys living in Trumpington, but since having her child, she said: “We actually enjoy it much more because it is a quiet area, very family friendly, and there’s lots of playgrounds.”

Daniela commutes to London on the weekends and she either goes via Cambridge Station or to Royston and she believes it will be “much easier” when Cambridge South opens. “It is well connected to the city centre. So by bike, we can reach the city centre in seven minutes”, she added.

Hanako Kawasaki, 26, previously lived in Chesterton but moved to Trumpington around two years ago. Hanako “loves” living in the neighbourhood and says “it is much more residential” than Chesterton. Comparing it to Fen Ditton, Hanako said that Trumpington has similarities to the newly built area especially because of the architecture and houses.

The 26-year-old cycles from her house to the city, and said it can take around 10-minutes. She said this is ideal for her because it is “really close” to the city centre but still far enough away that she can enjoy her privacy.

Hanako said it has the “perfect balance” between village and city life, so that she can enjoy the nature around her, but not be far from shopping, cafes, and experience the “city vibe”. On the other hand, Hanako also feels as though Trumpington is swallowed by the city due to its close proximity, and bustling life.

She said that she would “highly recommend” Trumpington as a place to live for those who want “a good balance between city and nature”.

Raneem Almutairi, 32, has lived in Trumpington for around eight months. She said she thinks it is the “best area for families to live in Cambridge”. She added: “I like how everything is so close, we have supermarkets here, Sainsbury’s, Nisa, the library, schools here, so I think for families, it is perfect.”

The 32-year-old used to ‘love’ living in London but she said that now she has a family, living near Cambridge is “more reasonable” because of the close connections.

Oliver and Rachel have both lived in the neighbourhood for more than 20 years and have seen it “grow and change” overtime. More recently, Oliver said he lives in part of the newer development, and since moving there, he is of the opinion that it has “doubled in size” and is generally comprised of ‘wealthier people’.

Frazer Leader, 33, highlighted the ideal links to the city, and alternative transport options to get elsewhere. He is particularly looking forward to Cambridge South Station because he thinks that Trumpington will get “busier and busier” which will “build more of a community”.

It has been a long time, hasn’t it? With the cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian races, F1 has had an enforced and unexpected spring break after just three rounds of the new regulation set. But here we are, back in Miami for a sprint weekend, with some tweaks to the regulations.

Without going into too much detail – and the new regulations are so detailed that it beggars belief – there will, of course, be hope that the tweaks make for better, more sensible racing as well as bringing some of the challengers close to leaders Mercedes. Hard to say if that has happened on the basis of one (albeit extended) practice session in Miami, but there were some fairly promising signs.

Charles Leclerc was fastest for Ferrari ahead of Max Verstappen in the Red Bull, nearly 0.3sec behind, followed by Oscar Piastri, Ferrari team-mate Lewis Hamilton and then the lead Mercedes of Kimi Antonelli. George Russell, who is hoping to overturn the Italian’s championship advantage this weekend, was sixth, only marginally behind his team-mate.

I am not sure the additional 30 minutes in FP1 feels like enough time for the teams before sprint qualifying, but who cares? It’s up to them and the drivers to get on with it. Plenty of upgrades here as well as the regulation amendments, so let’s see if they have made a difference.

SQ1 begins at 9.30pm and the whole session should be done in about an hour, so let’s get back on with it, shall we?

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) carries out reassessments of PIP awards through scheduled reviews and when certain changes are reported or identified

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Individuals receiving Personal Independence Payment (PIP) may be required to undergo a reassessment to verify their continued eligibility for support, though many remain unclear about what actually prompts a review. In the majority of cases, PIP awards are not indefinite and include a specified review period.

This can vary from as short as nine months to as long as 10 years for a ‘light touch’ review, depending on the likelihood of someone’s condition changing. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) specifies the review date on the award letter that all successful PIP claimants receive.

However, the DWP can also conduct an unscheduled reassessment if particular changes are reported or detected. One of the most frequent triggers is a change in your health condition, reports the Daily Record.

If your condition improves, deteriorates, or you are given a new diagnosis, you are required to inform the DWP as quickly as possible as it may result in your award being reviewed.

Alterations to your daily living or mobility requirements can also initiate a reassessment, especially if they impact the level of support you need.

Other triggers can include:

• Moving into or out of hospital or a care home
• Spending extended time abroad
• Information received during routine checks or from other government departments

In certain instances, reassessments may also be initiated as part of broader reviews of claims. Most people will undergo a planned review at the conclusion of their award period.

• Shorter awards: often given where a condition is expected to change – may be reviewed within one to two years.
• Longer awards: these can last five years or more, while some people receive ongoing awards with a ‘light touch’ review after around 10 years.

A ‘light touch’ review is usually granted to claimants who have:

• very stable needs which are unlikely to change over time
• high level needs which will either stay the same or get worse
• a planned award review date due on or at State Pension age
• a special rules for end of life claim due when of State Pension age

Even where awards are granted over a longer period, claimants ought not to assume their payments will remain unaltered, as periodic reviews are still conducted to ensure they are receiving the appropriate level of support.

What happens during a reassessment

When a review becomes due, claimants are typically sent a form enquiring whether their condition or personal circumstances have changed. They may additionally be required to attend a further assessment, though decisions can occasionally be reached using existing medical documentation.

Following the reassessment, payments may remain unchanged, rise, fall or cease entirely, depending on the outcome. Failing to declare a relevant change could impact your payments and may result in overpayments that must be reimbursed.

​North Yorkshire Water Park wants to build a pair of padel courts at its site in Wykeham, Scarborough, which is located 1.5km south of the village of West Ayton.

​The site and facilities at the Water Park are accessed off Long Causeway Road.

​If the plans are approved by North Yorkshire Council, the two padel courts would be constructed at an accessible location adjacent to other sports facilities in “a safe environment”.

​Padel is a racquet sport that uses the same scoring conventions as lawn tennis, but is played on courts around a third smaller, the submitted plan states.

​The siting of the new padel courts has been proposed adjacent to the site’s main water park facilities, which are owned and managed by Dawnay Estates.

​The two courts would be enclosed by a lightweight steel frame and green wire mesh sides, incorporating tempered glass panels.

​Each court is set to be 10 metres wide and 20 metres long.

​The applicant said that the padel courts would be open for use between 8am and 9pm, seven days a week, and access would be via a code generated through an online booking system.

​The North Yorkshire Water Park has its own designated general manager, as well as other full and part-time staff, who ensure the site is well looked after and managed.

​According to submitted plans, the padel tennis court is owned and managed by Padel X and would be leased from the land owner if planning permission is granted.

​North Yorkshire Water Park boasts one of the largest natural water sports lakes in North Yorkshire and offers a “unique range of fun-filled activities, including stand up paddle boarding, kayaking, open water swimming, pedalos, and a zip line.

Padel Court Elevations, North Yorkshire Water Park. Courtesy Applicant

​Since its expansion in 2021, North Yorkshire Water Park has received around 80,000 visitors annually and has capacity for up to 1,000 people a day in the summer at peak levels.

​The site is “readily accessible” from the A170, is within an hour’s drive from York, Middlesbrough, Filey and Bridlington, and is only six miles from Scarborough, the applicant added.

​North Yorkshire Council has not set a date for deciding on the application.

Ants are common in the spring, and it can be easy for them to get into your home, but two common items will get rid of them in seconds – and will also destroy the nest

You could banish your ant problem in seconds with a hack that uses just two common household items from your kitchen cupboard.

With winter now well and truly over, countless households are opening their windows wide and allowing the crisp spring breeze to flow through their homes. While warmer weather signals an end to cold and gloomy days and ushers in evenings of enjoying the garden, the arrival of spring does bring certain drawbacks.

Most significantly, spring marks the return of insects. Some of these creatures, such as bees and butterflies, are a delightful sight for keen gardeners, but others are far less welcome – particularly when they venture inside your property.

Ants are one pest that nobody wants to discover indoors. While they’re largely harmless in the garden, spotting them crawling across your kitchen worktops first thing in the morning can be deeply unsettling.

Fortunately, there’s a straightforward and effective solution to rid yourself of these uninvited visitors and stop them returning, using just two ingredients you’re likely to already have in your kitchen.

A viral TikTok clip showed how to combine baking soda and sugar to successfully tackle ant infestations. The technique also works on cockroaches, should you encounter them in your property, though they’re far less prevalent in the UK than in warmer nations such as the US.

The man in the video explained: “You’re going to need some baking soda and some sugar. It doesn’t really matter what kind of sugar you use, the sugar is just to attract the ants and the cockroaches.”

He recommended combining one cup of baking soda with one cup of sugar, though you can adjust the quantities depending on the severity of your infestation. The crucial thing to bear in mind is that the 1:1 ratio must be maintained – so if you add more baking soda, be sure to add more sugar as well.

Should the ants’ entry point be visible, he advises scattering the mixture directly over that spot. If the entry point cannot be located, it’s best to spread a layer of the powdery blend along the skirting boards instead.

He explained: “What’s going to happen is the cockroaches and the ants are both going to eat this mixture because they’re going to be attracted to the sugar. But it’s going to have baking soda mixed in with it.

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“They’re going to be completely fine for now, but when they go back to their nest, and they drink water, a chemical reaction will happen inside their stomach, and it’s going to kill them.”

What’s more, the ants will carry the mixture back to their colony, sharing it with fellow ants that never entered your home, ultimately resulting in the complete elimination of the entire nest.

How to get rid of ants in your home

To tackle an ant problem, you first need to make sure there’s no reason for the insects to find your home attractive. This means you need to remove food sources by cleaning up any crumbs, spills, or leftover food in your home. Empty your rubbish bins and wipe down countertops with a mixture of vinegar and water to destroy scent trails.

There are a range of home remedies you can use to try and get rid of ants:

1. Vinegar and water: Mix equal parts vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Spray this solution directly on ant trails, entry points, and even their nest if it is visible. Repeat daily and ants will lose interest in the area.
2. Lemon juice: Squeezing fresh lemon juice along ant entry points and windowsills can disrupt their scent trails and repel them, as they dislike the smell of citrus.
3. Baking soda and sugar: Mix equal parts baking soda and sugar together and place in shallow dishes near ant trails. The sugar attracts the ants, and the baking soda disrupts their digestive systems, killing them.
4. Ant bait: If these methods have not worked, you can buy commercial ant baits that the insects will carry back to their nest, killing the colony. This may take a few days to get results.

And North Yorkshire Police sent out a message to any other victims of abuse, saying: “It is never too late to tell us – we are here, and we will listen.”

As reported by The Press, Clive Michael Hartley was today (Friday, May 1) jailed for crimes he committed decades ago.

The child he raped didn’t tell police what had happened to her until  2024 – and then had to wait for two years to give evidence against him.

Today Hartley, 68, of Troutsbeck, Rawcliffe, is starting 14 years in jail.

Detective Constable Ebony Wonnacott of York and Selby CID praised the survivor’s bravery in coming forward and encouraged other survivors to get in touch.

She  said: “This has been a long journey for the victim in order to secure her deserved justice.

“I commend the victim’s courage in sharing what happened and her resilience in seeing out justice, despite the long and difficult process to get here.”

Det Con Wonnacott said: “I hope this case shows other survivors of abuse that the police are here for you, regardless of when the abuse took place.

“It is never too late to tell us – we are here, and we will listen.

“We are committed to bringing those responsible for such horrific abuse to justice – please don’t suffer in silence.”

Victims of rape and sexual abuse in North Yorkshire can contact police through the police website or by calling 101.

In an emergency, always call 999.

Support services are also available, including the North Yorkshire Sexual Assault Referral Centre, which can be reached on 0330 223 0362 or via acerhousesarc.co.uk.

If you’re short on time then a day trip can be an excellent way to see the most iconic sights of a city. This sunny destination under two hours from the UK has been named the best for a 24-hour break thanks to its compact centre

Is 24 hours really enough to experience a new city?

For people short on time or those who want to see only the highlights of a city, a 24-hour day trip can be a great way to get a taste of a new destination, if not a full-blown portion of a place.

Transport provider Mozio recently put together a list of the best European cities for a 24-hour holiday, and at the top is Barcelona: an iconic city with a flight time of under two hours from London.

Keen for a city to explore, and without much time to spare away from my busy family life back home, I hopped on a plane to the Catalonian capital to see how much of Barcelona I could take in in a single day.

Lke most visitors to Barcelona, I started off at the Sagrada Família. In fact, it wasn’t that long after I landed before I stood at the foot of Gaudí’s masterpiece, in awe of the way the ornate spires seemed to stretch endlessly towards the sky. Rosa, an endlessly cheerful and knowledgeable tour guide, was on hand to help me navigate this architectural behemoth.

The small group tour meant there was no aimless wandering. Not only did we skip the lines outside, but we also learned so much about the building, its little details, and the fascinating life of Gaudí, whose passion and money were poured endlessly into the project.

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A short walk away is the architect’s Casa Batlló, another attraction that is worth getting skip-the-line tickets for if you’re short of time. On the crowded pavement outside, crowds gather to take photos of the intricate facade, which features colorful mosaics resembling mermaid fins, skeletal columns, and balconies resembling masks with empty eyeholes.

Inside, Rosa led us through each beautifully designed room, explaining the features from the smooth, sleek, curved wood to the ombré tiles on the wall that get progressively darker as you climb the stairs. Every inch of the house has Gaudí’s architectural touches, down to the doorknobs.

A day isn’t a long time to try all the culinary delights that Spain has to offer, but one way to enjoy as much authentic cuisine as possible is to head to Mercat de la Boqueria. It was crowned the world’s best market by the New York Times, and it truly is a foodie heaven. The smell of jamón hangs in the air as you wander round stalls selling cones of cured meat, manchego cheese, olives, and other treats. Grab a bar stool and try some pintxos, a Spanish snack made up of small pieces of bread topped with seafood, meat, or cheese, best enjoyed alongside a cold beer or glass of wine.

For something more substantial, book a table at Can Culleretes, Barcelona’s oldest restaurant that sits off a winding side street near La Rambla. And I’m serious when I say book a table. The queues spill out into the street. Inside this charmingly rustic restaurant that dates back to the 18th century, we were served an incredible array of tapas, including anchovies, huge prawns doused in garlic, and plates of croquettes, washed down with Spanish wine. By the time the crema catalana came round for pudding, most of us were too full to make a proper go of it.

If you’re still standing after all that tapas, and many, many steps, then you may feel like heading somewhere a little more serene. Barcelona’s metro system connects to Funicular de Montjuïc, a short two-minute ride that costs around €3, (£2.60), yet gives you incredible hillside views across the city. From Montjuïc you can watch the sun go down and the lights of Barcelona twinkling below from the bustling city centre to the sandy beach.

Not bad for a day.

Book it

The Sagrada Família small guided tour including tower access starts at £70 per adult (11+), £51 per child (5-10), under 5s go free. A Casa Batilo private tour with skip the line entry for six people starts from £70 per person with early access. Both tours can be booked via TUI Musement.

TUI offers three-night city break packages to Barcelona, staying at the 4* H10 H10 Madison Hotel on a bed and breakfast basis, from £666 per person based on two adults sharing a classic double room, traveling on Ryanair from London Stansted Airport on September 15, 2026. Price includes 10kg of hand luggage.

Have a story you want to share? Email us at webtravel@reachplc.com

Chelsea are not planning to sell Joao Pedro in the summer transfer window following interest from Barcelona, according to reports.

Barcelona have made Atletico Madrid forward Julian Alvarez is first-choice attacking target this summer as Robert Lewandowski’s contract is due to expire at the end of the season.

Atletico, however, are in a strong negotiating position as Alvarez still has four years remaining on his contract, which is protected by a €500 million (£431m) release clause.

Barcelona are now working on alternative solutions and Joao Pedro is on their shortlist.

According to ESPN Brasil, Barca have already initiated initial informal contacts for the Brazil international ahead of the summer window.

The move for the Chelsea forward has been approved by both Barcelona’s head coach, Hansi Flick, and Deco, the club’s sporting director.

However, Chelsea are said to have already communicated through third parties that it will not allow a transfer this summer as the club is aware of the difficulties in finding a suitable replacement.

Joao Pedro joined Chelsea in a £60m deal from Brighton last year and has impressed in his first season at Stamford Bridge with 19 goals in all competitions.

The Brazilian also has the chance to win a second trophy with Chelsea after the team’s World Club Cup success this summer as they will play Manchester City in the FA Cup final on May 16.

For more stories like this, check our sport page.

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We are used to seeing the excellent Adam Scott (Severance, Parks and Recreation) in likeable nice guy roles. In Hokum, however, he plays a curmudgeonly and prickly bestselling novelist called Ohm Bauman. Deliberating over the ending to his series of popular novels, Bauman has decided to take a trip to the rural Irish inn where his parents stayed on their honeymoon, to scatter their ashes.

The remote Bilberry Woods Hotel in the off-season is a fantastically eerie horror location. Irish writer and director Damian McCarthy populates the hotel and its surroundings with excellent, likably eccentric locals who recount the spooky lore of the area to the sceptical writer.

Jerry (David Wilmot) lives in the woods, tinkers with moonshine and psychedelics and says he sees ghosts. Bellboy Alby (Will O’Connell) is a starstruck wannabe author treated with disdain by his hero. Fiona (Florence Ordesh) is the bartender whose disappearance motivates Bauman’s exploration of the twisty hotel and its grounds.

“Hokum,” says Bauman dismissively when he is told about the witch who supposedly haunts the honeymoon suite where his parents stayed. The film performs the neat trick of making us warm to this horribly flawed and unlikeable character as he is inevitably proven wrong.

A film with a fiction writer protagonist set in a haunted hotel inevitably suggests the influence of Stephen King, not just via The Shining but the short story 1408, made into a memorable film starring John Cusack in 2007. That story similarly features a sceptical writer staying in a supposedly haunted guest house who, like Hokum’s Bauman, experiences disturbing visions from his past. Hokum also recalls horror impresario Ti West’s brilliantly eerie New England-set The Innkeepers (2011), with which this film shares the atmosphere of an off-season haunted guesthouse.

Hokum is, at its core, a classic ghost story in the mode of English writer MR James. But it throws a lot of extra horror elements into the pot at the risk of becoming unwieldy and bloated.

McCarthy’s ambiguous film has a witch, a ghost or two, a missing woman, flashbacks of Bauman’s traumatic past and, in the weirdest and scariest scene, a nightmarish televised vision of a half-bunny, half-person creature. With so much in the mix, this could be a formless mess, so it is surprising that Hokum holds together as well as it does. With one or two stumbles where things get a touch convoluted, this is an enormously effective, well-crafted and proudly old-fashioned gothic chiller.

With a focus on character and mood, Hokum is an intelligent and, by the end, emotionally satisfying film. The strength of the film is not in its originality but in the execution of familiar conventions and plot points. How much you will enjoy the film depends on your tolerance and enthusiasm for old fashioned jump scares. An overused device in modern horror that can signal a sub-par film, it is hard here not to admire McCarthy’s commitment to making his audience gasp.

McCarthy’s talent is in building the hotel’s atmosphere of mystery with carefully placed light from lamps and candles that cast long shadows before leading to controlled scares carried out with technical skill and pinpoint timing. Strongly recalling the well-executed horror trickery of the now-classic stage adaptation of Susan Hill’s novel The Woman in Black, shocks are strongly telegraphed and built towards with inevitability. The director is telling the audience clearly what’s about to happen at every turn, but the film is no less effective for it.

The film was made in West Cork, and the Irish countryside is a beautiful, eerie backdrop for the maze-like guesthouse. Nevertheless, there is little in the film’s depiction of ghosts and witches in the Irish woodland that relies on culturally specific mythology or history.

Hokum is Irish writer and director Damian McCarthy’s third horror film after the critically acclaimed low-budget ghost stories Caveat (2020) and Oddity (2024). Those first two films were shown at film festivals before being released on horror streaming channel Shudder. This is McCarthy’s first full cinema release. Each of his films is better than the last, with the filmmaker sharpening his writing and directing a little more each time. Here he is aided considerably by the consistently brilliant Adam Scott.

Hokum is a horror film made by a director working to carry out horror conventions as well as he possibly can. The film is full of tongue-in-cheek, knowing nods to the genre. It doesn’t matter that all the major late-film plot reveals are telegraphed to the audience with a nod and a wink early in the film. Hokum has fun telling you what it’s going to do well ahead of time and remains scary and entertaining regardless.