The High Street restaurant has been closed since the family-run business made the shock announcement that it would be closing after 45 years in February 2025.

Since then, the blinds have remained pulled down with the Santoro’s sign still on display – with the unit being put up for sale months after last orders were called for the final time.

But now the space looks set to get a new lease of life as plans are submitted for ‘Balance’, a new venue featuring a café, restaurant, and treatment spaces.

Floor plans reveal that the venue would have a café and bar serving area, a grab-and-go fridge, restaurant seating, and an event space, plus a ‘hot desk snug’ at the back.

The first floor would be home to a ‘hot studio’ and three shower and changing areas, alongside two toilets and a baby chance space.

The second floor would boast a waiting area and three treatment rooms.

Details regarding exactly what ‘Balance’ will be offering from the site, if plans are approved, remain unknown at this stage.

(Image: THE NORTHERN ECHO)

Interior works would involve removing modern internal fixtures such as shelving units, commercial kitchen units, and the bar before a full refurb is carried out.

A new partition wall would be erected to create changing rooms, spa, and treatment areas with mechanical changes made to make way for a new layout and facilities.

Planning documents describe the works as minor and done in a way to cause the “least harm to the historic building fabric and will be fully reversible”.

Other plans include the addition of solar panels on the roofs and replacing the signage on the front of the unit with the ‘Balance’ branding.

Santoro’s was a staple on Yarm High Street for decades, having been founded by the late Vincenzo Serino, who sadly died in 2022.

Before that, it operated as a Chinese restaurant for 20 years.

His son Ricci and grandsons, Mikey and Joe, continued the good reputation of the restaurant following Vincenzo’s passing.

The reason behind the closure was never given, but a post at the time from the restaurant said: “After a wonderful 45 years of business, we have decided to permanently close our doors.

“We’d like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone that has supported us over the years.”

Yarm has seen a number of new restaurants open in recent years, including La Piazza in the former Barclays Bank and La Terraza in the upstairs section of Tomahawk.

In recent weeks, doughnuts firm Deep North confirmed it would be moving into the former Hobo Coffee House while patisserie Soigné is set to take over the former Fourteen Drops unit.

The incident in question involved Bosnia goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj, who appeared to catch Canada forward Tanitoluwa Oluwasey

Wayne Rooney found himself at the centre of a fiery live TV debate during the BBC’s World Cup coverage as host Gabby Logan admitted there had already been some “heat” in the studio over a controversial refereeing decision.

Before the discussion got underway following Canada’s 1-1 draw with Bosnia and Herzegovina, Logan teased viewers by revealing tensions were already simmering among the pundits.

“There was a little bit of heat here between certain members around this table about the collision,” she said.

The incident in question involved Bosnia goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj, who appeared to catch Canada forward Tanitoluwa Oluwaseyi in the head after rushing out to challenge for the ball.

Former England captain Wayne Rooney was adamant the challenge warranted both a penalty and a red card, arguing the goalkeeper’s follow-through endangered the striker despite making contact with the ball.

“It’s a red card,” Rooney insisted on air. “Even though he’s offside, we’ve seen it before where players have gone through as offside or the whistle has gone and it’s still a red card. It’s very dangerous play.

“He hits him in the temple – that’s the worst place you can get hit. You can get knocked out. He might come back in a week’s time and have a delayed concussion.”

However, former Premier League assistant referee and BBC officiating expert Darren Cann strongly disagreed, setting up a tense exchange in the studio.

Cann argued: “The goalkeeper clearly plays the ball first and there’s just inevitable contact after that, so it’s not serious foul play. For me, that’s clearly not a red card.”

Rooney immediately hit back, maintaining that winning the ball did not excuse the force of the challenge and comparing it to outfield players who have been sent off for dangerous follow-throughs.

But Cann stood firm, replying: “Not in my opinion at all, Wayne. It’s a goalkeeper winning the ball, and there’s just inevitable contact. There’s no brutality in that challenge.”

Former France striker Olivier Giroud also weighed in during the discussion, admitting he could see both sides of the argument while suggesting he would have been disappointed not to win a penalty had he been the striker involved.

The clash of opinions followed one of the major talking points from Canada’s opening World Cup match, with Rooney and Cann unable to agree on whether referee Facundo Raul had made the correct decision not to dismiss Vasilj.

NEW YORK (AP) — Gene Shalit, a movie critic and arts reporter for the “Today” show over four decades who was known for his puffy hair, oversized handlebar mustache and affection for groan-inducing puns, has died. He was 100.

Shalit’s family announced the death Friday to NBC News, saying in a statement that he “passed away peacefully today after 100 years of an amazing life.”

Shalit joined “Today” as a contributor in 1970 and became arts editor in 1973, later settling in for his segment, “Critic’s Corner.” When he left the show in 2010, he was one of the last high-profile film critics on a major network.

“What resonated above his unusual appearance was his incredible wit, his remarkable intelligence. But he didn’t pound you over the head with it. He amused you. He enlightened and amused whatever subject he was on,” Guy Ludwig, Shalit’s producer for more than 20 years, wrote in an essay at the time of Shalit’s retirement.

It was no coincidence that Chicago critics Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel’s local “thumbs-up, thumbs-down” movie-review program, “Sneak Previews,” went national on PBS in the late 1970s and that “Today” show’s ABC rival, “Good Morning America,” hired Joel Siegel to be its movie critic in 1981.

“Shalit was instrumental in changing the balance of critical power in America. When he began his ‘Today’ tenure, newspapers and magazines were the primary sources for movie reviews. That’s where cinematic opinion was sparked and shaped,” The Plain Dealer wrote in 2010, calling Shalit “Daniel Boone in a bow tie and Groucho glasses.”

Magazine work led to NBC offer

Shalit started as an entertainment columnist for McCall’s magazine, eventually becoming senior film critic for Look magazine in 1968 and writing for Ladies’ Home Journal. His popularity in magazines led to an offer from NBC.

“No one at NBC had seen him. They’d only read his stuff. So he walked into this executive’s office and the executive took one look at him and said, ‘Mr. Shalit, have you ever thought of radio?’” wrote Ludwig. “They didn’t know how the public would react to someone who looked so different from people who were typically on TV in 1967.”

On the air, Shalit was a middle-of-the-road critic. Of 1986’s classic “Stand By Me,” he said it was different from other movies about youth “because of instead of grossing you out, ‘Stand by You’ is engrossing.”

“Many critics will give so much of the plot of a movie away that they destroy the movie for the viewer. … I just don’t give away the story,” he told The Associated Press in 1993.

Highlights in words

He liked “Enemy at the Gates,” starring Jude Law, calling it “a vivid dramatization of one of history’s titanic turning points.” But he called “Brokeback Mountain “wildly overpraised, but not by me” and drew condemnation from GLAAD for calling Jake Gyllenhaal’s character, Jack, a “sexual predator.” Shalit apologized.

He called “Frozen” “very cool.” He said the oddball title of “The Men Who Stare at Goats” was “heard to bleat,” and his review of “The Lovely Bones” read in part: “There’s no bones about it.”

He began reviewing on air the year of “Patton” and “Love Story” and ended his run with a critique of “Shrek Forever After,” of which he noted that the “bellow fellow is now a mellow fellow.” One highlight of this tenure was his descent into a fit of giggles while interviewing Carol Channing.

He called a remake of “King Kong” so “gargantuan that I must create new words to describe it: fabularious … a brilliantological humongousness of marvelosity.” His take on Steven Spielberg’s adaptation of Alice Walker’s “The Color Purple”: “It should be against the law not to see it.”

In a 1981 interview with John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd, Belushi said Shalit’s hair looked like “an ant farm on fire.” Nevertheless, he peppered his guest with so many questions about their daily life that it felt like therapy. He asked both comedians what their last meals would be. “What do you want to be doing 10 years from now, John Belushi?” Shalit asked. “Fiddler on the Roof” Belushi replied.

During his tenure, he traded quips with anchors ranging from Edwin Newman, Barbara Walters and Jane Pauley to Tom Brokaw, Bryant Gumbel, Katie Couric, Al Roker and Meredith Vieira.

Gumbel was not always a fan, once saying Shalit’s reviews “are often late and his interviews aren’t very good.” The critique came in what was supposed to be a confidential memo to Marty Ryan, the show’s executive producer at the time.

In 1994, while in St. Pete Beach, Florida, to cover Major League Baseball spring training, a car hit Shalit as he was crossing a street and broke his leg. After that, “Today” began recording his movie reviews in his home studio.

Early life

He was born in New York and grew up in Morristown, New Jersey, starting his grammar school’s first newspaper before writing a humor column for the newspaper while a student at Morristown High School. He graduated from the University of Illinois in 1949.

Shalit played the bassoon, but he said he started out on the clarinet.

“I didn’t practice for a few weeks and the teacher got furious,” he recalled in 1988, before playing bassoon in a New York City fundraiser. “He took away my clarinet and as punishment he said, ‘From now on, you’re gonna play THIS.’”

In 1987, he edited a book called “Laughing Matters: A Celebration of American Humor,” saying he wanted to introduce and reintroduce such old and new masters of American humor as Mark Twain, James Thurber and Russell Baker.

Shalit was regularly mocked on “Saturday Night Live” by cast member Horatio Sanz, who would appear on the “Weekend Update” desk dressed as Shalit and go on extended, barely coherent rants that punned the title of every movie he reviewed. Shalit also made cameos on “Sesame Street,” “Family Guy” and “SpongeBob SquarePants.”

Shalit was predeceased in 1978 by his wife, Nancy Lewis, and had six children.

___

This story has been corrected to show that a movie Shalit liked was “Enemy at the Gates,” not “Defiance.” It also removes a reference to Daniel Craig, who was in “Defiance” but not “Enemy at the Gates.”

Hello, and welcome to WalesOnline’s live blog for Saturday, June 13. We’ll be bringing you all of the latest news from across Wales – whether you’re on the move, at home or at work – as well as the latest traffic and travel.

We’ll also be keeping you informed of major news stories from the UK and overseas.

Contribute to the live blog by posting your comments below, or tweet us @WalesOnline to share the news that’s breaking in your area. Read the biggest stories in Wales first by signing up to our daily newsletter here.

The big new Lindt chocolate shop is now open at the Trafford Centre, so we went to test out the pick ‘n’ mix… and got an unexpected reward.

There’s a new Lindt chocolate shop at the Trafford Centre – and it’s got a massive pick ‘n’ mix full of their famous chocolate balls. The shop opened at the giant mall a fortnight ago, becoming Lindt’s second Greater Manchester store after the Manchester Arndale, and 30th in the UK.

The colourful new window display boasts of “over 25 different flavours” of their Lindor balls that you can add to your own bag in their “Pick Your Mix” station. There’s also a host of quirky extras like yellow smiley faces and chocolate hearts to add to your bags.

It means there’s something like 34 different individual options you can add into your own selection at the pick n mix – and a lot of the flavours are only available in store. Being a bit of a chocoholic myself, I headed down to check out the new “Pick Your Mix” to see what flavours I could bag up and what sweety fans can expect.

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Heading into the shop you are immediately greeted with the vast trough of colourful Lindor balls, with flavours including the likes of pistachio, matcha, strawberries and cream, champagne and popcorn. There’s also two newies billed as “store exclusives” which are cherry blossom sakura and golden caramel hazlenut.

There’s lots of staff members on hand to help you, but it’s a fairly simple system. You pick whether you want a bag or a box for your selection, and then just head around and dip your hands in to select whichever flavours you want.

The signs tell you the pricing, which is £4.99 for 100g. That works out at slightly more expensive than buying a traditional box of Lindor balls, which costs £5.50 for 137g but obviously the pull of the pick ‘n’ mix is the exclusive flavours and being able to choose the exact amount of each choccy that you like.

The cheapest way to do it, if you’re a REAL chocolate fiend, is to stock up on a bigger bag of the pick ‘n’ mix – as if you buy over 400g worth of the chocolates, the price drops from £4.99 to £4.25 per 100g. Worth considering if you’re planning ahead for birthday treats or gifting.

However, I admit I had no real idea how much I was stuffing into my bag until I took it to the counter to be weighed. I had gone a little crazy, admittedly, especially when I saw some of the new flavours – like popcorn which I’d never seen before. And who could resist the smiley faces? Certainly not me as I piled a load of those in my bag.

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Also, I was excited to see those newish Lindt chocolate wafers in the mix too, so I shoved a few of them in for good measure as well. Now I knew it wasn’t going to be cheap, given the amount of chocs I’d shoved in, but I still did a little gulp when I was told I’d piled in 293g which racked up to £14.62 worth of confectionery.

I figured I was in for a penny, in for a pound at this stage so just went with it. However, when it came to the payment, an unexpected treat materialised. The very nice man at the till asked me if I had a Lindt loyalty card.

Now, I’ve long lost the physical card, as it’s a while since I signed up for the loyalty scheme – it was when the Arndale shop first opened. But the assistant said if I gave him my email he’d check the system to get my loyalty details on there.

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When he found my details, he said: “Oh you’ve still got your birthday treat to redeem”. Knowing that my birthday was actually in March, I said “oh no, I think I’ve missed that.” But he informed me that you have up to THREE MONTHS to redeem your birthday reward – something I didn’t even know was a thing!

He then presented me with a box of the classic red Lindor chocolate balls – which would normally set you back £5.50 – as my birthday reward. So let this be your reminder if you’ve ever signed up for a Lindt loyalty card, and had a birthday in the past three months and you’ve not been in to collect your reward, it’s waiting for you.

While it’s the Pick Your Mix that tends to steal the show here, the shop itself is also packed to the rafters with every possible Lindt & Sprungli chocolate box and bar that the famous Swiss chocolatier makes. So be warned if you have a sweet tooth, it’s a place near impossible to leave empty handed.

The Lindt shop is now open daily at the Trafford Centre, at Upper Regent Crescent

If you’re after design ideas for a decorating project, a fashion forecast and inspiration, how we dress the home defines the mood for the year ahead – and essentially sets the tone for how we want to feel and live.

“Based on insights from the 2026 Houzz UK Emerging Trends Report, homeowners are looking to make their spaces work harder, while also feeling more personal and atmospheric,” says Kiya Kelly-Paine, design expert at home and design platform, Houzz.

“With searches up for flexible kitchen layouts, reading retreats and tactile, moody interiors, this year’s trends point to a growing appetite for homes that feel both highly functional and deeply expressive.”

Focusing on what’s capturing our imagination, Kelly-Paine, who specialises in design trends and how people are improving their homes, shares what’s set to shape the year ahead…

1. Smart kitchen zoning & layouts

People are rethinking how their kitchens are laid out and used day-to-day, highlights Kelly-Paine.

“Searches for ‘moveable kitchen island’ have risen more than ninefold, while ‘freestanding kitchen’ is also up significantly, suggesting growing interest in kitchens that feel more flexible and less fixed.”

She says they’re also seeing searches rise for ‘kitchen bar’ and ‘coffee bar’, pointing to more defined zones for hosting, drinks and everyday routines.

Storage remains a major focus too, with increased interest in ‘appliance garage’ and ‘walk-in pantry’, as we look for ways to keep hardworking kitchens feeling calm and clutter-free.

Moreover, working with a professional using tools such as a 3D floor plan can help you visualise how these features will work together, before committing to a layout.

Gema Broch, who leads Studio BN, with more than 15 years experience in high-end residential projects, says: “Flexible kitchens and movable islands are becoming increasingly important in the way we live today.

“Kitchens are no longer purely functional rooms; they are social spaces, workspaces and family hubs, so adaptability is key.”

A movable or freestanding island gives clients the freedom to reconfigure the space depending on how they live, outlines Broch. “This flexibility is especially valuable in open-plan homes and smaller kitchens, where maintaining a sense of flow is essential.

These are kitchens with ability to evolve, allowing pieces to adapt both within the space, and even from home to home, notes Broch. “From a design perspective, movable islands also help kitchens feel less rigid and more layered.

“Mixing fitted cabinetry with freestanding elements creates warmth, character and a more timeless feel, avoiding the overly built-in look that can date quickly,” she adds.

2. Reading retreats

There’s also a swing towards quiet, dedicated spaces for reading and switching off, says Kelly-Paine, with searches for ‘alcove bookcase’ rising sharply.

While ‘small library’, ‘cosy snug’, and ‘reading nook’ are also on the up.

She says they’re also seeing this reflected in the kinds of photos people are saving, with built-in shelving, layered lighting and intimate seating areas proving popular.

“The data suggests homeowners aren’t necessarily looking for large libraries, but rather thoughtful pockets of space that feel personal, calm and separate from busier areas of the home.”

For anyone looking to create a reading nook, she says this space should feel one of the most relaxing areas. “It’s a place to unwind, a quiet corner with good natural lighting, and a lamp for reading into the evening.”

Alex Findlater of Alex Findlater, who’s been delivering full construction projects for the past 25 years, says: “Comfortable seating, nearby bookshelves, and a few plants would really give the space the warm, inviting feel it needs.

“Alcoves can be awkward spaces, and every property has alcoves of different shapes and sizes… our bespoke joinery allows these unused areas to become beautifully integrated, functional features that feel seamless within the room.”

3. Modern organic and tactile textures

Minimalism is becoming more moderate as we gravitate towards interiors that feel warm, natural and tactile, highlights Kelly-Paine.

“Searches for ‘modern organic’ are up, alongside strong growth for materials and finishes such as ‘stone wall’, ‘limewash’, ‘natural stone’ and ‘Venetian plaster’.

“These elements bring depth and texture to neutral spaces, creating interiors that feel grounded rather than stark.

“With designs featuring layered neutrals, raw materials and subtle surface variation, rather than flat or highly polished finishes.”

For anyone who’s unsure how these finishes will work together, Kelly-Paine says mood boards can help bring the palette, materials and textures into one clear visual direction.

Roxi Zeeman, founder of Souq.Studio, who has specialised in interior design for nearly 20 years, says: “There’s a clear move away from anything that looks too perfect… clients want surfaces that feel lived in – limewashed walls, plaster, honed stone and raw timber.

“It’s a softer, more tactile luxury that elevates everyday lifestyles,” she explains. “These materials bring depth and quiet character to a space, making even the most pared-back interiors feel warm, personal and considered.”

4. Dark and moody spaces

While some of us are embracing soft, natural textures, others are leaning into deeper, more dramatic interiors, suggests Kelly-Paine.

Indeed, she says searches for ‘moody living room’ and ‘forest green’ have more than doubled, while ‘black bedroom’, ‘dark green bedroom’, ‘dark ceiling’ and ‘dark wood’ are also gaining traction.

Carol Crowe, founder of Carole Crowe Interior Design, a BIID Associate member (British Institute of Interior Design), with five years of experience running her own design practice, says: “I think the growing interest in darker, moodier interiors reflects a wider desire for homes that feel more grounded, cocooning and emotionally restorative.

“Darker tones, when used thoughtfully, can create depth, intimacy and a real sense of calm.

“It’s less about making a room feel dramatic for the sake of it, and more about using colour, light, texture and contrast to create a space that feels rich, personal and deeply comfortable to live in.”

5. Spatial optimism

We’re finding clever ways to make every inch count, underlines Kelly-Paine, “with a surge in interest for ‘under stairs pantry’, ‘hidden utility’, and ‘under stairs bar’.

“There’s also a continued interest in ‘broken plan’, which points to a desire for layouts that create distinct areas without losing light or flow.”

Murphy beds and container home are also proving popular, and there’s a trend for flexible solutions beyond the main living areas, says Kelly-Paine. “Whether that’s a guest room which serves more than one purpose, or a separate standalone space.”

William Durrant, director and designer of Herringbone House, with more than a decade in the cabinet and furniture manufacturing industry, says: “Everyone is looking to utilise their space the best they can.

“Under-stairs cabinetry is a great way to incorporate more storage, and we’ve used this space to create bars, shoe storage, pantries, wardrobes and wine storage,” he says confidently.

The owners have plans to expand their portfolio

A popular South Belfast restaurant has submitted plans to open a new sister restaurant in the city centre.

The owners of La Bottega have plans to open a second location beside Belfast City Hall on Donegall Square East.

The proposal seeks to transform the currently vacant commercial unit into a high-quality, artisanal culinary establishment designed as an “Italian Pasta Lab with a modern twist.”

Alongside the plans, a name can be seen on the proposed plans for the restaurant, which plans to operate on both a sit-in and takeaway basis. The plans suggest the restaurant’s name will be ‘Crusca’.

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The owners already operate the award-winning Italian deli on the Lisburn Road in South Belfast. The deli, bistro and food market specialises in authentic Italian produce, and has gone from strength to strength since Francesco launched it in November 2021.

Their menu features antipasti, pizza, focaccia, and mains such as Rigatoni alla Carbonara.

Owner Francesco Iaquinta’s initial idea for La Bottega was to serve up authentic deli dishes from the north and south of Italy, such as lasagne and arancini, but his vision evolved to what is now a sit-in bistro.

As well as working as a personal trainer, Francesco previously worked as a manager at Belfast Castle and a personal trainer, before discovering Belfast’s Lisburn Road while working for French Village Group.

There has been no confirmation yet on when the restaurant plans to open.

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But what’s more, the location has featured in several films and TV shows over the years, despite its small size.

Hardraw, a small settlement near Hawes in Wensleydale, is home to only around 100 residents but is known far beyond the Dales for Hardraw Force, England’s highest unbroken single-drop waterfall.

The lanscape close to Hardraw (Image: Steve Moore/Camera Club)

Despite its size, the hamlet has become one of the most visited spots in the Yorkshire Dales National Park, drawing walkers, photographers and tourists keen to see the 100ft cascade plunging into the woodland below.

The waterfall takes its name from the hamlet itself, with Hardraw first recorded as “Hardrawe” in 1606.

The name is thought to derive from the Old English words herde and raw, meaning “the shepherds’ houses”, a nod to the area’s long farming heritage.

Visitors can access Hardraw Force behind the historic Green Dragon Inn, a centuries-old pub that sits at the entrance to the waterfall trail.

A short woodland walk of around 10 minutes leads visitors to the dramatic falls, which are particularly impressive after periods of heavy rainfall, and also featured in the film Robin Hood Prince of Thieves.

Online, the beauty spot has earned praise from visitors for its “peaceful atmosphere”, “scenic woodland setting” and “striking views”.

Many also enjoy combining a visit with a meal or drink at the Green Dragon, which has become almost as famous as the waterfall itself.

Wildlife enthusiasts occasionally report sightings of red squirrels in the surrounding woods, while walkers tackling the Pennine Way often pass through the hamlet as part of longer journeys across the Yorkshire Dales.

The lanscape close to Hardraw (Image: Steve Moore/Camera Club)

Hardraw’s appeal extends beyond its waterfall.

The Pennine Way, one of Britain’s best-known long-distance footpaths, passes directly through the hamlet, while the southern end of the Buttertubs Pass, one of Yorkshire’s most dramatic roads, begins nearby.

The village is also home to St Mary and St John Church, a Grade II-listed building rebuilt between 1879 and 1881 by the Earl of Wharncliffe.

Television viewers may recognise it as Darrowby Church from the original All Creatures Great and Small series.

Although Hardraw is now best known as a tourist destination, it has long been a small and close-knit rural community.

Historical records show the hamlet had a population of just 11 people in 1862, and while numbers have grown since then, it remains one of the Dales’ smaller settlements.

Today, visitors continue to flock to Hardraw for its combination of historic charm and traditional Yorkshire hospitality.