The Belfast venue has made some big changes

Thompsons Garage has become a stalwart in Belfast’s nightlife scene since it opened in the 90s. The city centre club has stood firmly on Upper Arthur Street for over 30 years, but there are some big changes ahead, and we got in to have a look around.

Work has been ongoing to expand the club even further and add some new features to improve the clubgoers’ experience even more.

As part of the work, the club has added a brand-new glass-fronted balcony to the front of the establishment. This new feature allows drinkers to sit out and look down onto Upper Arthur Street and will be very popular during the summer months.

The new balcony also features colourful barrels alongside high stools for people to enjoy a drink. The new part can be accessed through the main club but will also have its own entrance.

Alongside the new outdoor area, there is a whole new room inside that will have a focus on music. The room features a stage, on which they plan to have live music, as well as a fully stocked bar.

Work was still underway when we visited, but the club plans to have its work finished in time for the Fleadh, which begins on Sunday, August 2.

The club plans to capitalise on this new area and will have a full line-up of events through the Fleadh Cheoil na Héireann from Sunday to Sunday. The new area will have space for up to 150 people.

However, their plans don’t stop there; once the summer is over, they plan to further develop the club by adding a food option to the new area.

The club was also recently granted permission by Belfast City Council to introduce acoustic evening sessions in its new function room.

Elected representatives at a meeting of the Belfast City Council Licensing Committee have granted an application for the variation of a seven-day annual entertainments licence for Thompson’s Garage.

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Scott John-Hodgson, from Thornaby, has been appointed executive head chef for House of Tides and Solstice in Newcastle, both led by chef-owner Kenny Atkinson.

Speaking to Chronicle Live, Scott said: “House of Tides is where it all started for me; it’s where I found my love for this industry and Solstice has been a project I’ve given everything to since day one.

“To now have the opportunity to lead across both restaurants is a real privilege.”

The promotion follows his win as Restaurant Chef of the Year at the 2026 Craft Guild of Chefs Awards.

Scott joined Kenny’s team in 2018, the same year House of Tides earned its Michelin star.

He rose through the ranks to become sous chef before moving to Solstice in 2022, which secured a Michelin star within just eight months of opening.

A former student of Stockton Sixth Form College, Scott will now lead both kitchens while continuing to work closely with Kenny.

House of Tides, Newcastle. (Image: House of Tides)

Scott originally studied sport at university with plans to become a teacher, before switching to professional cooking in his mid-twenties.

Since then, he has become one of the region’s leading chefs, known for developing seasonal, locally focused menus and appearing twice on the BBC’s Great British Menu.

Scott said: “Taking on this executive chef role is something I’m incredibly proud of and genuinely excited about.

“Kenny has given me so much over the years, and I want to honour that by continuing to push both restaurants forward, alongside him, for the teams, for our guests, and for the wider North East food scene.

“The Craft Guild of Chefs award was a wonderful recognition, but what drives me every day is the people around me and the food we put on the plate.”

Solstice, Newcastle. (Image: Solstice Newcastle)

In addition to leading the kitchens, he mentors junior staff and supports Newcastle College students through the restaurants’ training partnership.

Chef-patron Kenny said: “Scott has been an integral part of what we’ve built here since the very beginning and this promotion is thoroughly deserved.

“His Craft Guild of Chefs award is a testament to the remarkable level he’s operating at, and I have complete confidence in his ability to lead both kitchens with the same passion, precision and warmth that define everything we do.”

US tech company Anthropic says three of its artificial intelligence (AI) models hacked three organisations during tests, just days after its rival OpenAI said rogue AI agents had attacked the networks of other firms.

During a cybersecurity exercise, Anthropic’s Claude AI model gained unauthorised access to systems by connecting to the internet from isolated test environments, it said on Thursday.

Anthropic said it discovered the incidents after reviewing more than 140,000 tests following OpenAI’s disclosure on 21 July that its agents had hacked another AI company, Hugging Face.

Anthropic urged other AI labs to perform similar reviews to better understand the risks of their models’ capabilities.

The San Francisco-based firm also said it has alerted the three companies that were hacked about the incidents.

Anthropic said in a statement, external that it is “approaching the fixes as if the responsibility were ours alone.”

Extraordinary footage shows a small boat packed with migrants caught on a sandbar in just two feet of water – as watching French police do nothing to prevent those on board getting free to head to the UK.

New Prime Minister Andy Burnham this week defended his government’s handling of the Channel crisis, saying that statistics show ‘the plan is working’.

But barely 24 hours after he made this startling claim, video evidence shows the French authorities doing nothing to prevent a packed boat leaving the beach for Britain.

And even when fights broke out on the boat as migrants began blaming each other for their stalled progress, the French police still refused to intervene.

Journalist Christian Drogan, who witnessed the fiasco, said: ‘The boat came too close to the shore and basically got stuck in the sand.

‘The migrants were all screaming and shouting, fighting over how to get it back out to sea.

‘I was in the water, quite close, and I saw one young guy literally being thrown off the boat, head first into the water. It was absolutely brutal.’

The dinghy, estimated to have been already carrying around 80 passengers who had been picked up nearby, ran aground on the beach at Neufchatel-Hardelot, near Boulougne, at around 1.30am on Thursday morning.

Journalist Christian Drogan, who witnessed the fiasco, said: ‘The boat came too close to the shore and basically got stuck in the sand’ 

The video shows that the water’s depth at the point where the boat became stuck was below waist height and that waves were minimal

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It became briefly stranded just as dozens more asylum seekers were waiting as instructed in shallow water for their chance to join those on board.

The footage shows that the water’s depth at the point where the boat became stuck was below waist height and that waves were minimal.

Mr Drogan, who reports for talkRadio and his own YouTube channel, Watchman, said: ‘With the boat stuck in the sand, it would have been totally safe for the French authorities to puncture it.

‘All the passengers would have been safe. Instead they did what they almost always do – nothing.’

And the by-then heavily overloaded boat was eventually re-launched and set off unhindered for the Kent coast where its occupants could claim asylum.

Meanwhile a helicopter fitted with a powerful searchlight was being used not to intercept the crowds trying to illegally enter Britain – but unwittingly to help light their way towards Dover.

But in the chaos on the beach, Mr Drogan’s footage shows that one migrant was injured – though it’s unclear whether this was during the fights that broke out as the boat was stranded or in some other way.

Paramedics can be seen trying to resuscitate the migrant by moonlight, as the chopper continues to circle. In the background is a French naval vessel.

The boat at the centre of Wednesday night’s drama was one of the new breed of ‘super dinghies’

In the chaos on the beach, Mr Drogan’s footage shows that one migrant was injured – though it’s unclear whether this was during the fights that broke out as the boat was stranded or in some other way

The Conservatives’ shadow home office minister Chris Philp has also been on the French coast where he reported being told by one French officer that they had orders not to intervene to stop the boats

The boat at the centre of Wednesday night’s drama was one of the new breed of ‘super dinghies’ – larger vessels which can carry over 100 people at a time – which are often launched simultaneously from different embarkation points to reduce any risk of attempted interference.

The beach used for the launch had been crowded with swimmers and bathers during the day, as migrants lurked further back from the shore, awaiting nightfall – at which point they approached the shore.

The dramas on Wednesday night came after an embarrassing day for the Government.

Mr Burnham had said of the migrant crisis: ‘The numbers can fluctuate but, overall, boat crossings are down, down quite significantly year on year. So that does suggest the plan is working.’

But this claim about the effectiveness of existing policies to stop the boats was quickly followed by over 700 migrants landing in a single day.

The Conservatives’ shadow home office minister Chris Philp has also been on the French coast where he reported being told by one French officer that they had orders not to intervene to stop the boats.

According to official figures, every Channel migrant costs the British taxpayer £40,000 during their first year in the UK. Costs mount exponentially, with the vast majority remaining heavily, or totally dependent on the state for many years.

With temperatures reaching a high of 33 degrees today, it appears the sunny spell got the better of one pair, who found a creative way to stay sweat-free while enjoying the outdoors.

The couple were spotted relaxing in the park, with one holding up a leaf blower and using them as an oversized fan to create a much-needed breeze.

Taking to social media, one person joked that the pair were the “UK heatwave final bosses”.

Couple spotted using Aldi leaf blower to keep cool as temperatures soar above 30 degrees (Image: Aldi)

The bizarre sight comes as the UK experiences the hottest day of the week, with warm weather sweeping across the country and many looking for ways to make the most of their gardens and outdoor spaces.

To help Brits keep their gardens looking their best this summer, Aldi is launching a range of garden must-haves on 13th August, including its Electric Leaf Blower, available for just £29.99.

Perfect for clearing garden debris, leaves and outdoor spaces with ease, this Specialbuy is a practical addition for anyone looking to keep their garden tidy throughout the warmer months. The Electric Leaf Blower is designed to make outdoor maintenance quick and simple, whether you’re preparing for a garden gathering or giving your outdoor space a seasonal refresh.

Julie Ashfield, Chief Commercial Officer at Aldi UK, said: “With temperatures rising again, Brits are getting creative when it comes to keeping cool, and this use of the Aldi Leaf Blower might be the best heatwave hack we’ve seen yet.

“Whether you’re looking to tidy up your garden, get ready for summer gatherings, or simply find a little extra breeze on a sunny day, Aldi has you covered with affordable garden essentials, available from 13th August.”

Aldi’s Electric Leaf Blower is available in stores from 13th August, but remember, as with all Specialbuys, once they’re gone, they’re gone!

English mayors will be allowed to keep a share of the taxes collected in their area, Andy Burnham has said as part of his pledge to “take power out of Westminster and carry it into every postcode in the country”.

The prime minister’s plans to let mayors keep a slice of income tax and business rates come as part of his bid to incentivise regional leaders to promote economic growth in different parts of the UK.

However, the plan falls short of the suggestion that he would allow mayors to raise taxes themselves by devolving control over income tax, as it has been handed to the Scottish and Welsh parliaments.

Details of the reforms are expected to be announced in a white paper, published when chancellor John Healey presents his first Budget in the autumn.

But Mr Burnham, who was mayor of Greater Manchester for about nine years, said the policy would be designed so that “every local leader will have the power and resources to improve public transport, build homes and create jobs”.

The rate of income tax which billpayers face will not change as a direct result of the reforms, according to the government.

Ministers will retain an equalisation system, so areas where less tax is collected continue to receive financial support.

Mr Burnham said: “I said we’d take power out of Westminster and carry it into every postcode in the country.

“Today, we make good on that promise.

“Under our plans, more of the taxes raised in a community will stay in that community. Soon, every local leader will have the power and resources to improve public transport, build homes and create jobs.

“I know what it’s like to be ignored by politicians in Westminster. I’m not going to make that same mistake now I’m PM.

“The whole of government will now pull together behind the people and places that desperately need our support.

“This is how we’ll bring back hope and bring power home to you.”

Several parts of England have a mayor, including Greater Manchester, the Liverpool City Region, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, and South Yorkshire, including Rotherham and Sheffield.

They have powers over issues such as transport, skills and infrastructure planning.

Mr Burnham hosted several of the local leaders at his inaugural No 10 North meeting in Manchester last Friday, when he told them: “What I’m trying to do here is make the UK one team where we’re all pulling behind you because your place is where growth happens or it doesn’t happen.”

Voters in parts of the country will elect mayors for the first time over the coming years, including in Greater Essex and Hampshire and the Solent.

Mr Healey said: “The people who best understand what skills employers want, what transport an area needs and where investment can make the biggest difference are those who live there.

“For the first time we’re giving mayors a share of income tax so communities directly benefit when their economy grows – passing power out of Westminster and driving growth in every postcode.

“This is the way we start to build new hope and advance the working people of this country.”

Housing, communities and local government secretary Angela Rayner said the announcement would put “an end to the begging-bowl culture of the past”, instead giving locally elected leaders “the tools they need to drive the change that communities have been crying out for”.

Samantha Garver and her boyfriend Sergio Mena admitted to second-degree murder and child abuse of her son Henry Wheatley-Brown

A mother who left her one‐year‐old son in a scalding bath while she went out with her boyfriend has been sentenced to more than a decade in prison.

Samantha Garver, 26, and her partner, Sergio Mena, 34, admitted to second‐degree murder and child abuse following the death of her son, Henry Wheatley‐Brown, at their home in Sugarloaf, California, on September 30, 2023.

The toddler died from catastrophic burns after Mena placed him in an excessively hot bath and left the property, allegedly to obtain methamphetamine. Mena received a 21‐year sentence, while Garver was jailed for 14 years, according to the Express US.

Following an investigation, authorities concluded that the young boy had endured ongoing abuse, having suffered second- and third-degree burns across his body, alongside physical bruising and multiple healing fractures in both arms. Child services also concluded, following their own separate inquiry, that the toddler’s death was attributable to “abuse or neglect.”

Upon returning to find the youngster screaming in agony after being “severely burned” in the bath, Mena made no effort whatsoever to ease the child’s suffering, according to the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office.

“Despite Henry’s extensive and life-threatening injuries, neither defendant sought medical care, instead attempting to treat the burns with over-the-counter ointment,” stated the prosecutors.

It was only the following day that the couple alerted authorities to his “shallow breathing”.

Paramedics discovered Henry in a devastating condition, with the district attorney’s office reporting: “Paramedics found Henry without a pulse, ice-cold to the touch and severely dehydrated.”

The district attorney’s office said in a statement: “Although nothing can bring back baby Henry or erase the suffering he endured, today’s sentences deliver justice and ensure these defendants will never again harm a child. The San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office will honour Henry’s memory by never forgetting him and by continuing to fight for vulnerable children.”

Years of records catalogue the alleged abuse suffered by the young boy and his three elder siblings, prompting the involvement of the San Bernardino County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) with Garber, according to The Los Angeles Times.

The mother allegedly admitted to DCFS workers that she “felt like putting a pillow over” one of her children to stop their persistent crying, and posted a question on Facebook asking if “duct taping a child’s mouth is abusive.”

The case left investigators divided in their assessments, with some concluding the children faced a “high risk” of abuse while another maintained the children were “safe.”

The child’s own family members appeared to minimise the gravity of the mistreatment occurring inside the home. The boy’s grandmother, Sierra Rivers, appeared to imply that ill-treatment is commonplace, acceptable, and something that can be endured.

“I got abused as a kid, and I got hit as a baby, and I turned out fine,” Rivers told The Los Angeles Times.

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Hartlepool’s Seaton Reach will host the return of the Clubland By The Sea and Open Jar Tribute Festival for the fourth year in a row.

The Clubland By The Sea festival begins on Friday, July 31, bringing more than 50 dance music artists to three stages at the popular seafront venue in Seaton Carew.

Headlining the main stage are German dance act Cascada – known for hits like Everytime We Touch and Evacuate The Dancefloor.

Plus event goers can also see Ben Nicky, best known for Oxygen and Keep Me High.

Other performers include Ultrabeat, Andy Whitby, Shugz, Flip n Fill featuring Karen Parry, Kelly Llorenna, Ian Van Dahl, and Jayne White.

There will also be performances on the Pressure Bounce Stage and Hysteria Rave Stage.

Some tickets are still available, starting at £48 before a booking fee.

The party continues on Saturday, August 1, with the return of the Open Jar Tribute Festival.

The event will feature top tribute acts to some of the world’s biggest artists and bands.

Tributes will include Queen, Oasis, Coldplay, ABBA, Madness, Ed Sheeran, Pitbull, Michael Jackson, Britney Spears, Amy Winehouse, Gerry Cinnamon, Madonna, Sabrina Carpenter, Vengaboys, and Kevin & Perry, performing across two stages.

Last entry for the event is at 6pm, with things wrapping up at 11pm.

Tickets are still showing on their website for £34.50, before fees.

Food vendors and fairground rides will also make a return to the festival site this summer and are expected to provide an even bigger and better experience.

Boy George has pulled out of his role in Jesus Christ Superstar just days before he was set to take to the stage. 

The role of King Herod is being rotated among actors, with the singer set to star from August 3 to 15. 

However it has now been revealed the star has pulled out of the role, with his management confirming on Thursday that he will no longer be performing. 

The news comes amid controversy surrounding Boy George’s new pro-Israel song We Will Dance Again.

The title We Will Dance Again, has become a phrase used by Israelis to express hope after the October 7 attack and lyrics in the song include: ‘You say genocide, I say war/ 

‘When you’re attacked, that’s what the army’s for / Does it get ugly? You bet it does / When I know you wanna kill every last one of us.’

Confirming Boy George will no longer be performing, his manager Paul Kemsley took to Instagram as he wrote: ‘After careful consideration, I have decided, in my capacity as Boy George’s manager, that he will no longer be appearing in Jesus Christ Superstar at the London Palladium.

‘The decision has been made with the utmost respect for the producers, the creative team and the entire company. We are grateful for the professionalism and understanding they have shown throughout and sincerely wish everyone involved every success with the production.’

Apologising to the fans who bought tickets specifically to see the star, he continued: ‘We also recognise that many people purchased tickets in the hope of seeing George perform. 

‘To those fans, we offer our sincere apologies for the disappointment this decision may cause, and we are deeply grateful for their continued loyalty and support.’

Addressing his new song, he added: ‘George has never been afraid to stand by his personal convictions, and I have always respected him for that. 

‘Equally, I believe it is my responsibility to make decisions that are in the best interests of my artist while also showing respect to others. 

‘In this instance, I felt it was right to step aside, allowing the production to remain the focus, while ensuring everyone involved can move forward with mutual respect and goodwill.’

The Andrew Lloyd Webber production is currently being performed at the London Palladium, with Sam Ryder taking on the titular religious leader in the rock opera, alongside Tyrone Huntley as Judas and Desmonda Cathabel as Mary Magdalene. 

A number of actors are stepping into the role of King Herod including Richard Armitage, Layton Williams, Julian Clary, Simon Russell Beale and Jesse Tyler Ferguson.  

The show is set to transfer to London’s Theatre Royal Drury Lane for a 12-week run in October due to popular demand, with Sam set to remain in the role for a nationwide tour next year.

The role of King Herod is being rotated among actors, with the singer set to star from August 3 to 15. However his management confirmed on Thursday he will no longer be performing (Sam Ryder pictured as Jesus in the show) 

Addressing his new pro-Israel song, he added: ‘I believe it is my responsibility to make decisions that are in the best interests of my artist while also showing respect to others’

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Elsewhere in Boy George’s new song, he cites the Hamas attack on October 7 as he sings: ‘Young girls raped against trees/ Murdered brutally/ For the crime of dancing.’ 

The chorus follows: ‘ There will be no war / But if you’re ever confused / I stand with the Jews / I don’t feel brave, I just need to behave like a human.’

Meanwhile back in April Boy George hit back at anti-Israel campaigners who criticised him for taking part in Eurovision after the song competition bosses refused to ban the country from competing.

Eurovision has been at the centre of controversy amid growing calls to prevent Israel from performing but bosses ruled in December that the country could compete.

And Boy George, who represented San Marino in this year’s competition, hit back at critics as he said: ‘I have many, many Jewish friends that I’ve had since I was 15 or 16 years old.

‘Are people asking me as a principled human being to turn my back on my Jewish friends? It’s not going to happen, it’s never going to happen.

‘From the beginning of my career I wore a Jewish star. Go back and look at pictures of Culture Club. I am so affiliated with Jewish people. I am not necessarily affiliated with Israel. I don’t really have an opinion on that.

‘But the job of music is to unite people.’