The Irish mob boss also told podcaster James English in a prison interview of the moment a Hutch assassin pulled a gun on him

Mob boss Daniel Kinahan believes the Irish courts will lock him up for the rest of his days when he is brought back from Dubai to face justice in the Republic.

“I think I have already got life in prison,” he told podcaster James English in a behind-bars phone interview in his Dubai prison cell.

Mr English, who previously interviewed Kinahan in 2022 before the Dublin mobster and key allies were sanctioned by the United States, released a portion of his interview with him on Friday – ahead of his extradition from the United Arab Emirates to Dublin to go on trial.

Kinahan, 49, is expected back from Dubai imminently after he lost his final appeal against that extradition – which means the way is now clear for him for him to be sent to Ireland for trial.

The Director of Public Prosecutions has already ruled that Kinahan – head of the €1.5billion drugs and crime cartel that bears his family name – is to be charged with serious gangland offences here.

It is understood he is to face charges of directing a crime gang – an offence that can see anyone convicted of it jailed for life.

In the excerpts from the interview, published on Mr English’s Instagram account on Friday afternoon, Kinahan says he believes he has already been convicted – even though is trial has not even started yet.

He tells Mr English: “I think I have already got life in prison, James.”

He adds that he believe a deal has been done to get him back from Dubai quicker than normal extraditions.

“I think there is a deal being done, you know,” he says.

And he adds: “I think we’re going to go through the dance now and the circus and the character assassination even more now of me and my family.”

Kinahan also raises the absence of Gardaí from the Regency Airport Hotel in north Dublin in February 2016 when the Hutch gang attacked a boxing bout he was at in an effort to murder him and colleagues. That attack saw the Hutch mob kill ally David Byrne – and miss Kinahan by seconds.

Gardaí have faced repeated criticism for not having officers there – even though some media were present because they knew Kinahan would be attending.

Kinahan echoes that criticism, as well as slamming the slow reaction of the force to the attack.

He says: “There are so many things that happened and there is so much dirty things that I think it is time to start to come out now.

“Regarding the Regency, it took over 20 minutes for them to respond, there was no police there.

“They talk about, I’m a big mafia boss and this imaginary cartel that they created and there is no police at the Regency when there is a publicised boxing event on there.

“There’s four different reporters there, ready to take pictures.

“Police didn’t respond, (they are) two minutes away and the police didn’t respond for over 20 minutes.”

He says: “People need to connect the dots now and start looking into this because once they unravel what is happening there it is going to unravel and it is going to be a snowball effect for all other corruption that has been going on over the last two, three, four decades.”

He also spoke about the moment a Hutch gunman pulled a gun on him during the attack – and how he managed to escape.

He said: “I seen him actually pulling the gun from the back of his waist and just pulling his hand up and then I just ran through the door.”

Kinahan also said he believes he has been scapegoated.

He said: “I believe I have not been an angel in my life and I don’t think anyone has been an angel. The person who points the finger has three fingers pointing back at themselves.

“I don’t want to play like I am a martyr and people believe he is innocent, he is a conspiracy theorist.

“But yeah, I believe in a way I am a scapegoat and anyone that looks into this so-called feud that they say they have created, then you will see, you will see things yourself if someone has the time to look into it.”

Before the US sanctions hit him and his father Christy and brother Christopher, Kinahan had been making inroads on his plan to become boxing’s Mr Fixit – and was trying to make himself a supremo in the game by facilitating major deals.

That plan collapsed after he was targeted by the Americans – and he said he feels he could have made a difference in the sport.

He said: “I think I would have done a lot of good for boxing because I was not in boxing to launder money as they say – I never did that whatsoever.

“I think I would have given a lot back to boxing and helped a lot of people, you know.”

He also said he cannot understand how the media in Ireland can repeatedly write about him and call him a gang boss.

“That is a question that I would like to know,” he says.

And, when asked who is the most interesting person he has met, he replied: “I would say one of the most interesting people I spoke to, just for a short time, was (director) Guy Ritchie, without a doubt.”

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

Billy Fletcher (Jay Kontzle) was left for dead on the floor of the depot in Emmerdale. But who did it?

Who would want Billy, who would barely hurt a fly, lying in a pool of his own blood?

The timing is certainly interesting – it happened right after Joe Tate (Ned Porteous) allegedly just missed witnessing Billy and Dawn Taylor (Olivia Bromley) almost share a kiss.

He’s been suspicious for a while that something was going on between them given Dawn’s raging jealousy at Billy’s relationship with Gabby Thomas (Rosie Bentham), but would Joe do this?

Caleb Miligan (William Ash) knew all about the moment and when Joe confronted him about his illegal car parts business, Caleb hit him where it hurts by revealing what he saw between Billy and Dawn.

Joe immediately vowed revenge, just as Dawn left Billy a voicemail. What should happen next? Billy is found bludgeoned on the floor.

Kerry (Laura Norton) and Jai (Chris Bisson) made the discovery at the depot, and Jai leapt into action to call an ambulance.

Kerry jumped into a different kind of action – hiding the counterfeit goods. Priorities.

Billy’s loved ones were told that he had suffered a brain bleed. The detective investigating the incident then arrived and didn’t hesitate to tell everyone that he believes Billy was the victim of an attack.

Caleb made a great deal of effort to tell the copper that Joe had motive having just discovered Billy and Dawn’s kiss.

At the hospital, Joe tried to convince his partner that he’s an innocent man, but it seemed as though he was lying when the detective arrived and arrested him for GBH.

In scenes that will air soon, Billy’s life remains in serious danger.

In the police station, Joe is questioned after spending the night in a cell. If Billy doesn’t wake up, will DS Byrne charge Joe with manslaughter or murder? Even though the troublesome Tate says he didn’t do anything?

Meanwhile, Gabby discovers that Dawn and Billy kissed.

If Billy wakes up, the only thing we know for certain is that it’s crystal clear he no longer wants to be with Gabby.

What will happen if Billy wakes up and confirms that Joe definitely did attack him?

How will that impact Dawn’s upcoming departure from the show?

MORE: Major arrest made in Emmerdale as Billy’s life hangs in the balance after attack

MORE: Are you a true fan? Test your knowledge with Metro’s weekly Soaps quiz

MORE: Lives forever destroyed in Emmerdale as Sadie, Charity and Sarah explode shattering secrets

She shared a glimpse of her diamond ring on social media while celebrating with friends.

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A former Coronation Street star turned fashion boss has announced her engagement. Arianna Ajtar played a model called Olivia Radfield on the cobbles between 2018 and 2019.

The 30-year-old’s character and her family were wrapped in drugs, insurance fraud, and theft storylines that landed Corrie stalwart Sally Metcalfe in prison. She launched her own fashion brand Mars The Label in 2016 from Manchester and it has been reported the firm had an eight-figure turnover in 2022.

Arianna posted a selfie to Instagram on July 27 that showed off her engagement ring. The post, which includes snaps of her and former Love Island contestant Mary Bedford, includes the caption ‘celebrating love with my favourite people’.

She ended the post with a ring emoji and a white heart, which commenters also used to congratulate her. Arianna appears to have kept her relationship private, with no posts of her fiance currently on her Instagram profile.

In reply to a comment, she revealed she had been taking her engagement ring off when taking selfies to keep the news under wraps. One friend commented: “My most beautiful girl in her best era yet.”

Another said: “I have never seen anyone’s outfit and hand look this good.” A third said: Ah, we’ve launched our wifey. You deserve the world. Love you.”

Arianna replied: “FINALLY can stop taking the ring off for selfies now the bandage has been ripped off.”

The Bolton-born business owner first appeared on Coronation Street in May 2018 where her character Olivia met Rosie Webster at Underworld underwear factory. The pair discovered a bag given to her by agent Antoine Reese was filled with drugs so the pair swapped the majority of the bags with Sally Metcalfe’s icing sugar.

Her dad, Duncan, had a larger role in the soap and stole charity money and framed Sally for the crime, landing her in prison. He and his wife, May, faked her death for an insurance claim but When Sophie Webster suspected them she questioned Olivia.

Olivia had been told that Sally’s husband Tim Metcalfe was to blame for May’s death but eventually his lies unravelled when May returned to visit him. According to fan site Corriepedia, Arianna’s last episode on the cobbles was on January 14, 2019.

Gwyneth Paltrow has extended her social media presence by joining TikTok.

The 53-year-old Oscar winner, who was recently criticized for appearing in an Israeli ad, appeared topless in two clips shared in her introductory post, which is a montage of her filming in various locations.

She stripped off while lounging in a bed with luxurious white sheets, seemingly wearing nothing but gold-rimmed aviator eyeglasses and coordinating gold earrings.

In another outtake, the Marty Supreme actress soaked in a bathtub with her blonde hair pulled back as she modeled black-framed aviators.

Paltrow recited different versions of the phrase, ‘One second, I’m just doing a TikTok,’ in several scenes.

She teased her arrival on the platform by posting the video via an Instagram Story with the caption: ‘Apparently I’m on TikTok now.’

The 53-year-old Oscar winner appeared topless in two clips shared in her introductory post, which is a montage of her filming in various locations; pictured in March

Paltrow delivered the ‘one second, I’m just doing a TikTok’ line in multiple languages.

She recited it while in a helicopter, on a boat, in a garden, and on a private jet. 

The blonde beauty, who is the nepo baby of the late director Bruce Paltrow and actress Blythe Danner, runs the wellness and lifestyle brand Goop.

But last year she returned to the silver screen, appearing in the table tennis drama Marty Supreme.

In 2024 Paltrow and Timothee Chalamet made headlines when photos of them kissing on the movie set went viral.

In December 2025, ahead of the film’s Christmas Day release, she stopped by Good Morning America to discuss her role in the Josh Safdie-directed project.

‘I play a retired movie star in the film, who Timothee is sort of… tries to… I think he tries to get her sheen to rub off on him in more ways than one,’ she told hosts Robin Roberts and George Stephanopoulos.

Recalling the reactions to the widely spread images of her lip-locking with Chalamet, she said, ‘You should have seen my mommy group chats when the paparazzi pictures came out of us kissing in the park. All the moms were pretty stoked.’ 

She stripped off while soaking in a bathtub 

She teased her arrival on the platform by posting the video via an Instagram Story with the caption: ‘Apparently I’m on TikTok now’

In early June the entertainer drew ire from fans when she appeared in a campaign promoting a housing development in Israel.

The advert showed her waking up in a high-rise apartment building and getting ready for the day, all while listing the benefits of living near a park.

‘There’s a reason the world’s most iconic buildings are by a park,’ she says in the video, as she tells a driver to take her to ’51 Park’ – a luxury residential development in the affluent Israeli city of Herzliya.

Her partnership with the real estate group Aviv Melisron divided social media users, with several people accusing her of supporting the country’s war in Gaza and Lebanon.

Paltrow shares daughter Apple, 22, and son Moses, 20, with ex-husband Chris Martin, 49.

She has been married to TV producer Brad Falchuk, 55, since 2018. 

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — At least three people were killed and over a dozen others injured after Russia launched an intense barrage of ballistic missiles and drones targeting Kyiv overnight into Saturday, local authorities said.

A five-story residential building in the Solomianskyi District was damaged by falling debris with people believed to be still trapped inside and a fire in the courtyard, said Vitalii Klitschko, mayor of Kyiv in a post on Telegram.

People were also reportedly trapped in another residential building the Shevchenkivskyi district, after a partial collapse on the first and second floors, Klitschko said.

Elsewhere in the capital, warehouse buildings were on fire in the Darnytskyi district, he said.

The attack came just two days after a large-scale Russian ballistic missile and drone attack across Ukraine killed 10 civilians and wounded more than 50 others and saw a Russian missile enter Polish airspace.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been pressing Ukraine’s need for more Patriot anti-ballistic missile defense systems to counter missile attacks from Russia with the U.S. and other Western partners.

Late Friday, the Ukrainian leader said he had spoken to U.S. Vice President JD Vance and discussed the meeting earlier this week in Washington with President Donald Trump which he described as “positive and productive.”

“The Russian air strikes on our country continue and air defense, specifically interceptors for Patriot systems against ballistic missiles, remains a top priority,” Zelenskyy said in a post on Telegram Friday.

At a NATO summit in Ankara in July, Trump said the U.S. would give Ukraine a license to make Patriot systems but he appeared to move away from that commitment on Friday during a Cabinet meeting at the presidential retreat in Camp David, Maryland, saying he had not yet made a final decision on the matter.

Italy is suspending the EU’s border-free Schengen arrangements with Spain in response to the mass influx of 60,000 migrants into Ceuta.

Rome’s interior ministry said on Friday that ​it ⁠had also agreed with Paris to strengthen controls along the Franco-Italian land border to try to prevent any undocumented migrants ⁠from crossing.

“This is an extraordinary measure, adopted to safeguard national security and prevent possible repercussions for our Nation.” Ms Meloni said, adding that the measure will only remain in place for the time necessary.

Thousands of migrants have entered the Spanish enclave of Ceuta from Morocco in the past few days, with Spanish troops deployed to battle the growing crisis on the border.

At least 57 people died while attempting to cross. Rachid Sbihi, who leads a local workers association representing Civil Guard officers, described the situation as a “serious humanitarian crisis.”

Italy does not share a land border with Spain but the measure – which looks certain to anger Madrid – will impact people travelling by plane or boat between the two countries, meaning they will need to show a passport to gain access.

Ceuta, along with Melilla, another Spanish autonomous ‌city in northern Morocco, represents ​the European Union’s ‌only land border ⁠with Africa.

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Migrants return voluntarily to Morocco

Tens of thousands of migrants who crossed into Spain’s tiny Ceuta territory returned voluntarily to Morocco on Friday.

At least 57 migrants died on the journey.

Ceuta’s president put the number of migrants at 60,000, which was equivalent to 70 per cent of the territory’s population. But most of them soon went back, the Spanish government said, after the sudden arrival of so many people sparked a humanitarian crisis.

Some migrants swam several miles through the sea and faced down authorities who tried to turn them back with water cannons, tear gas and warning shots.

Spanish police and military personnel deployed on the streets of the city began redirecting the flow of migrants back to Morocco.

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Shweta Sharma1 August 2026 03:44

Children made deadly crossing alone without telling parents

Hundreds of children – many of them unaccompanied – are believed to have crossed from Morocco into Ceuta in the past 24 hours, it has been reported.

One of them was 12-year-old Hamsa Silman, who swam to Tarajal Beach and said he had come to help his mother from Spain.

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“There was no need to ask whether he was a minor,” an El Pais reporter on the ground wrote.

“He hugged the friends who had made the crossing with him and called his father, who had known nothing of the journey. The man was crying on the phone screen.”

Hadiya, 16, had told her mother that she was “just going out for a walk at night with a friend”.

The teenager emerged from the sea after spending three hours paddling with the help of an inner tube.

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Alex Croft1 August 2026 03:00

How many migrants have returned voluntarily?

Roughly half of the 60,000 people who had crossed into Ceuta have already made their way back voluntarily, the Spanish government said.

Spanish police and military personnel deployed on the streets of the city began redirecting the flow of migrants back to Morocco.

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The interior ministry, which initially refused to share estimates from the border, released its own figures shortly after Ceuta leader, Juan Jesus Vivas spoke, estimating that some 50,000 people had crossed from Morocco in the past 24 hours.

It added that 25,000 had already returned to Morocco, with hundreds more going back by the hour.

Alex Croft1 August 2026 02:00

Spain’s border crisis could become ours, UK shadow minister says

The UK’s shadow home secretary has warned Spain’s border crisis could “rapidly become our border crisis” after an estimated 60,000 migrants have poured into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta from Morocco.

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Conservative MP Chris Philp called on the Spanish government to “expel” the people who had entered Ceuta, and urged the them “not allow any onto the Spanish mainland”.

“If these illegal immigrants do make it to Spain, then the EU’s borderless Schengen zone means there is nothing to stop them coming straight to Calais and trying to get a boat across the Channel here. Spain’s border crisis could rapidly become our border crisis,” he said.

“That’s why the Conservative policy is to leave the ECHR enabling all illegal immigrants to be deported with a week or arrival – with no asylum claim, no human rights claim and no court hearing.

“Then illegal immigrants like these circulating in Europe wouldn’t bother to cross to the UK.”

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Alex Croft1 August 2026 01:00

Smugglers ‘deceive so many young people and lead many to their deaths’

Smugglers have been blamed for the Ceuta migration crisis, with Pedro Sanchez warning that they “deceive so many young people and ultimately lead many of them to their deaths.”

The Spanish prime minister said they had misinterpreted a recent ruling from the Supreme Court, which then triggered the mass surge.

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“It appears that this interpretation of the Supreme Court’s ruling spread like wildfire over the past few hours through the networks of human trafficking organisations, triggering the kind of mass surge we witnessed yesterday,” Sánchez said.

Alex Croft1 August 2026 00:00

Russia ‘using Ceuta crisis to sow destabilisation’ across Europe

Ukraine has accused Russia of carrying out an “intensive propaganda campaign” using pictures from Ceuta to “sow destabilisation”.

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Foreign minister Andrii Sybiha‎ claimed that Ukrainian analysts have identified more than 1,500 publications on a pro-Russian network, led by Pravda and RT.

“For years, Moscow has used migration and other sensitive topics to stoke fear and destabilise European countries,” he wrote on X.

Alex Croft31 July 2026 23:01

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Border surge linked to Supreme Court ruling

A recent ruling from Spain’s supreme court, which concluded that migrants intercepted at sea cannot be summarily deported, has been linked to the border surge in Ceuta.

Pedro Sanchez said migrant smugglers misinterpreted the ruling, which triggered the surge.

“It appears that this interpretation of the Supreme Court’s ruling spread like wildfire over the past few hours through the networks of human trafficking organisations, triggering the kind of mass surge we witnessed yesterday.”

Harriette Boucher31 July 2026 22:00

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Europe faces border crisis as 60,000 migrants cross into Ceuta from Morocco in 24 hours: ‘Absolute chaos’

The Independent’s Maira Butt writes:

Europe faces a fresh border crisis after around 60,000 migrants from Morocco crossed into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta in just 24 hours.

At least 43 people died as border security struggled to deal with the sudden influx, with extraordinary footage capturing the huge crowds making their way into Spain’s North African territory.

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Harriette Boucher31 July 2026 21:15

Social media rumours, economic hardship fuel migrant surge into Ceuta

As 16-year-old Moroccan Ayoub El Abyad scrolled through Instagram videos showing migrants crossing into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, he and his cousin, then still a 12-hour drive from the border, decided to try their luck.

“Migration is about improving our lives. We agreed we would try the idea of crossing and trust in Allah,” El Abyad told Reuters in Ceuta, after completing the journey by hitching rides with two drivers.

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El Abyad was one of roughly 60,000 migrants who entered the Spanish territory of Ceuta from Morocco this week, in the biggest surge in recent history.

In Morocco, where deep-seated anger towards poor public services and rampant poverty spilled over late last year into major protests, many young people spend years waiting for a chance to cross the border in search of better prospects.

A quarter of Moroccans aged ⁠between 15 and 24 are not in education, employment or training, official data show.

When reports spread on social media about a Spanish Supreme Court ruling earlier in July that migrants intercepted at sea while trying to reach Ceuta or Melilla could not be immediately turned back, many saw an opportunity.

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And calm seas at this time of year make swimming ⁠a more feasible option for migrants, said Mauricio Valiente, director of Spanish refugee charity CEAR.

“I came here to seek a better future,” said Dounia Kherradi, a waitress from Lqliaa, a centre of last year’s protests. “My salary is not enough to take care of my parents and I have a daughter… may God help us.”

Harriette Boucher31 July 2026 20:30

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In pictures: Migrants cross into Spain’s Ceuta enclave from Morocco

Harriette Boucher31 July 2026 19:45

By JOHN-PAUL FORD ROJAS, DEPUTY BUSINESS EDITOR

Published: 03:32 BST, 1 August 2026 | Updated: 03:32 BST, 1 August 2026

Dean Hesketh, 51, was last seen leaving Royal Preston Hospital on Tuesday, July 28 at 11.16am – police urge anyone who spots him not to approach

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Police are appealing for help in locating a missing man who may be carrying a contagious illness, after he disappeared from a hospital. Dean Hesketh was last spotted leaving Royal Preston Hospital on Tuesday, July 28 at 11.16am.

The 51-year-old is also known by the names Tim, Dean or Anthony Gledhill. He is described as 5ft 4in tall, with black hair and blue eyes.

Dean has a slim build and was last seen wearing a khaki green and black jacket, black trainers and a Lyle and Scott jumper, reports LancsLive.

He was also wearing a surgical mask when last seen and has known connections to Preston, Penwortham and Blackpool.

Officers are continuing their enquiries to locate him, but concern for his welfare is growing. Police are urging members of the public not to approach Dean if he is spotted, as he may be carrying a contagious health condition.

Anyone who catches sight of Dean should dial 999 immediately to ensure he is found safe and well.

Those with any information or footage that could assist in establishing his whereabouts are urged to call 101, quoting log 1051 of 28th July.

At Rochdale Coroners’ Court on Thursday (July 30), an inquest was opened into the death of Karl Holland, who was pronounced dead at the Oldham beauty spot on the evening of July 10.

Tributes were paid to the teenager, with one person describing his death as “horrible news” while another added it was “such sad news”.

Police coroner’s officer Katie Burrows told the court that Mr Holland, who was born in Tameside and lived on Fir Road in Denton, visited the reservoir with friends on July 10.

Rochdale Coroners’ Court (Image: Newsquest)

The court heard Mr Holland was on an “inflatable mattress” with two others, which slid down the rocks and into the water.

PCO Burrows said Mr Holland’s two friends came out of the water but Mr Holland “didn’t resurface”.

Emergency services attended after 7pm and Mr Holland’s body was retrieved, with resuscitation attempts made.

However, the efforts were “unsuccessful” and Mr Holland, who was said to be single and unemployed, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The court heard there are “no suspicious circumstances” surrounding Mr Holland’s death, with assistant coroner for Manchester North Julie Mitchell saying the cause of the teenager’s death is “pending.”

Tributes made after Mr Holland’s death included one person writing: “Heart is well and truly broken for his little sister, nanna and grandad.

“His mum must have needed him up there. What horrible news this is. May God give you the best bed.”

Another person commented: “RIP Karl, thoughts to your friends and family, such sad news, you’re back with your mummy now.”

Ms Mitchell said a full inquest was necessary and scheduled for it to be held on October 15 this year, with the court requesting a toxicology report.

Ms Mitchell offered her condolences to the family and friends of Mr Holland.

Following Mr Holland’s death, Detective Inspector Steven Horton of Greater Manchester Police’s Oldham district said: “I would like to take this opportunity to remind the public of the dangers of open water.

“We strongly encourage people to stay safe and refrain from entering large bodies of water, including reservoirs, rivers, canals, or ponds.

“Your safety is our priority. Please look after yourselves and enjoy the weather safely.”

Little Years Sand Hutton, located on the York Biotech Campus,  just off the A64, opened this month and is welcoming visitors to a Family Fun Day on Saturday (August 1). 

The event promises a welcoming atmosphere, giving families the opportunity to explore the new space and meet the team in a relaxed setting.

On the day, there will be a bouncy castle, an ice cream van, face painting and even baking in the nursery’s child-sized kitchen.

Recommended reading:

The nursery offers a blended indoor-outdoor learning experience for children aged 0 to five, designed to nurture curiosity and confidence through real-world exploration and play.

The child-sized kitchen aims to encourage more hands-on learning and will open for baking on the day (Image: Little Years)

A spokesperson for Little Years Sand Hutton said: “Families are warmly invited to join the Family Fun Day on 1st August to experience the nursery for themselves.”

The purpose-built site includes connected playrooms, a large outdoor garden with direct access to a nearby woodland, a child-sized working kitchen, and a dedicated workspace where parents can settle in while their child starts the day. 

The nursery features a dedicated workspace where parents can settle in while their child starts the day (Image: Little Years)

The nursery follows a mixed-age approach to learning, reflecting family life at home and helping children develop friendships and a sense of belonging.

Little Years Sand Hutton will offer both term-time and full-year care, with opening hours from 7.30am to 6pm.

The site is part of a growing network of nurseries, with a sixth location set to open in Monks Cross in January 2027.