I sold our Edinburgh weekend to my mum as a gentle staycation: nice hotels, good food, a bit of fresh air.
What we actually got was a five‑star hotel that floats, food fit for a royal, and the discovery of a hidden city.
By the time we’re back on the train, she has already decided Edinburgh is her new favourite destination in the UK.
The cherry on top? It’s made me Son of the Year. Here’s why.
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Old world glamour
Edinburgh has that rare mix of feeling like a proper city break – architecture, history, great restaurants – without the chaos or scale of somewhere like London.
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It’s compact enough to explore on foot, but varied enough that every corner feels different. And from London or any of the UK’s major cities, it’s an easy journey by rail or by plane that still makes you feel you’ve ‘gone away’.
Making memories (Picture: Chris Buswell)
We start our trip somewhere that feels like a destination in itself: the Fingal Hotel.
A short cab journey from the station to the Port of Leith leads us to the gangway. Since 2014, this ex-lighthouse vessel has been transformed into a five-star floating hotel.
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Greeted at the door, you’re immediately transported to the bygone days of old world luxury.
The ship features 23 cabins, from standard rooms to multi-room suites, a double-height ballroom and a restaurant that not only has 2 AA Rosettes for culinary excellence, but has wined and dined a familiar face from The Royal Family: Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, who made a surprise visit onboard in 2019.
The floating Fingal Hotel (Picture: Chris Buswell)
Our twin room is small but comfortable, and beside the quirky curvature of the flooring and a porthole for a window, you quickly forget you’re floating on water.
Each room is named and inspired by Fingal’s rich history. Ours ‘Muckle Flugga’, after a small island north of Unst in the Shetland Islands which is also home to a lighthouse.
Outside, the historic port of Leith has evolved into one of Edinburgh’s most vibrant neighbourhoods, packed with independent cafes, boutiques and buzzy bars. It’s relaxed on the surface, but peek inside a window and you’ll find it’s anything but. Full of energy, conversation and an unmistakable hum of a place people genuinely enjoy being.
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Even if you’re not staying at the hotel but are in the area for dinner, I can’t recommend The Lighthouse restaurant enough.
If the double Rosettes and the royal approval haven’t yet won you over, the service and menu absolutely will. Order the parsnip soup. I’ll say no more.
The Lighthouse’s menu (and vibe) is a winner (Picture: Chris Buswell)
Taking the city in style
After an indulgent night onboard Fingal, we swap sea views for a two-night stay at The Rutland Hotel, checking into one of its ginormous two-bedroom apartments.
Right at the west end of Princes Street, the location is hard to beat, with Edinburgh Castle one way and George Street the other.
But it’s the apartment setup that really stands out. It really is abnormally large, stylish and genuinely practical, with a full kitchen, open-plan living area and two proper bedrooms — a welcome sight after a night in a ship’s cabin.
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Land ho! (Picture: Chris Buswell)
The ultimate Edinburgh itinerary
Even if you’re here for a day, there is much to see and do to get a taste of the Scottish capital.
Start the day with breakfast at The Huxley, which is partnered with The Rutland Hotel and makes for a stylish first stop.
From there, head to the city for shopping. The mix of high-street names, boutiques and gift shops is impressive enough that my mum immediately suggests coming back for her Christmas bits.
More UK staycations to inspire you for 2026
For Scotch lovers, go to one of the many stores on the Royal Mile, and take home a small-batch bottle as a souvenir.
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After that, make your way to Edinburgh Castle. Although we’re only seeing it from the outside, it still makes for a great selfie spot with an iconic backdrop.
From there, stroll down towards Victoria Street and the Royal Mile, where the cobbles, colourful shopfronts and medieval surroundings make the whole area feel like a living postcard.
The standout attraction
A stop at St Mary’s Close is a must. The underground tour (£25pp) gives you a fascinating glimpse into the city’s hidden past and is one of the most memorable and unique activities to do.
As you descend beneath the Royal Mile, the atmosphere shifts instantly — it’s darker, colder, and steeped in stories that feel eerily close.
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Get a glimpse of the city’s hidden past (Picture: Chris Buswell)
The guide brings centuries-old tales to life, from plague outbreaks to the cramped, hidden lives of former residents, making it feel less like a history lesson and more like stepping into another world.
Keep an eye out for the room of dolls and the story about the King’s security dogs (IYKYK), both of which add an extra layer of intrigue, and just the right amount of unease, to an already unforgettable experience.
If you’re visiting in daylight, you can also walk past Holyrood House and take in the exterior, which adds another royal touch to the trip.
Once the sun goes down, head for dinner at Badger & Co, where the food and service are incomparable. Not to mention, the Pinot Noir was so good my connoisseur mum took a snap of the bottle.
For incomparable food? Head to Badger & Co (Picture: Chris Buswell)
And, for the nocturnals among us, squeeze in Monkey Barrel Comedy Club; one of Edinburgh’s beloved local spots for both upcoming and seasoned acts, it’s the perfect low‑key way to send off a really good weekend.
In the end, it wasn’t the floating hotel or the royal‑approved restaurant that sticks with me.
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It was the way Edinburgh wraps everything around a simple idea: a relaxing, funny, lightly boozy weekend with my mum that still feels like a proper holiday.
A few landmarks, a lot of laughs and one very photogenic bottle of wine was all it took to make it stick.
And that Son of the Year award? It should be in the post any day now…
Chris Buswell was a guest of The Fingal Hotel and The Rutland Hotel, but don’t expect us to sugarcoat anything – our reviews are 100% independent.
Chiefs have “no powers” to stop fans potentially causing title party mayhem if Celtic or Rangers win the league.
Bosses at Glasgow City Council have admitted they have “no powers” to prevent Celtic or Rangers fans causing carnage on the streets if either of them win the league.
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Both sets of supporters have taken to the city’s streets in the last five years to celebrate title triumphs and left a wave of destruction in their wake.
Fears over repeat carnage with the final day of the Scottish Premiership season just two weeks away recently forced police and Glasgow City Council to hold talks in order to prevent similar scenes. But council chiefs have now said there are no tangible enforcements that could stop fans from gathering in the city centre.
A city council spokesman told the Sun: “It is clear there are no powers which could compel fans to not gather in the city centre.
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“We have agreed to work together on facilitating celebrations which would be meaningful to fans and less impactful on communities.”
The talks between Police Scotland and the council came after violence marred the recent Scottish Cup quarter-final at Ibrox when both sets of fans clashed on the Ibrox pitch in March.
Concerns about potential disorder are well-founded. In 2021, after Rangers won the league for the first time in almost a decade, fans descended on George Square in defiance of Covid restrictions to celebrate.
Chaos ensued as fans started fighting each other, and riot police on horseback were sent in to try and break up the crowd. The incident saw more than 47 police officers injured and more than 50 arrests made.
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The following year, thousands of Celtic fans gathered in the city centre to celebrate their title win. Although the celebrations passed without major incident, a massive clear-up job was left for council staff and residents.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “We are liaising with the SPFL, clubs and other partner agencies ahead of end of season fixtures. Proportionate policing plans will be in place to minimise disruption and ensure public safety,” while a council spokesman added: “We are continuing to engage with both clubs and police colleagues.”
In what is set to be one of the most enthralling season finales in recent memory, Hearts, Rangers and Celtic are all set to go toe-to-toe in the final four matches of the season.
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The post-split fixtures will see Celtic host Hearts in a potential title decider at Celtic Park on the final day of the season, while Rangers travel to Falkirk.
The SPFL confirmed that the final fixture list had been signed off by police and was shared with the city council for any concerns to be raised.
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Mill Road is known for its “community feel” and “vibrant” culture
Mill Road in Cambridge is best known for the many independent restaurants, shops, and businesses that you can find there. With cuisines and grocery stores that stock food and ingredients from around the world, you will often see lots of students who have moved to the UK visiting the road for a taste of home or residents who want to learn more about different cultures.
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Many people who work and own businesses along Mill Road mentioned how “welcoming” the area is. Abdullah Maqbool, who works at Kan Zaman, said the Middle Eastern restaurant sees a lot of people from “different countries and different cultures” coming in to try the food.
He added: “Along the road, you see so many varieties of food. You’ve got a fish shop, wine shop then you have Arabic cuisine next to Chinese cuisine and Korean restaurants. Even before the bridge, there’s so much variety and people have loads of choices to pick from. I think that’s a very good thing.”
Mr Maqbool mentioned always feeling “welcome” by people in Cambridge despite cultural and religious differences. He said: “I’m a Muslim. England is a Christian country but I always feel welcome. I remember a few years ago, it was Eid, which is a Muslim festival. I was dressed up in my cultural clothes and I was on Mill Road. An old English lady stopped me and said Eid Mubarak, which was lovely.”
Mirei Nelson, who is from Japan and works at Arjuna Wholefoods, loves how people ask about her culture and said she has “never had a bad experience” working at the grocery store. She added: “We get many customers from loads of different countries so I didn’t feel stressed about not being able to speak perfect English. It felt like we were supporting each other.
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“Most of our customers are vegan or vegetarian and they don’t judge, they are really lovely people. They always ask about me. They always ask questions about Japanese food and I really love answering that question because I love people who are interested in other countries and cultures.”
Djamel Rerizani was born and raised on Mill Road and said the area is a “great community where everyone knows everyone”. He is now the managing director of Bedouin, a North African restaurant on Mill Road.
He said: “It’s a very vibrant road. It’s got a lot of variety and great places to eat with great restaurants and cafés. It’s a cool road. It’s definitely the most diverse road in Cambridge. If you want something different from the chains then this is the place to come. Everyone gets along really well. I was born on this road and lived here all my life. It’s got a really nice feel about it.”
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Jay’s Fish and Chips only opened on Mill Road in July 2025 but its owner, Jay Cokyasar already feels at home here. He said: “I’m new to Mill Road. I used to be based in Ely. The difference is there’s a lot of cultures here, which we like. We felt more than welcomed when we first opened. Many people were really excited to have traditional fish and chips on Mill Road.
“Mill Road is a really food-focused street, which is really popular with people. When people think of food, I think the first thing most people think of is Mill Road.”
Ultan Rowan is originally from Ireland and moved to the city three years ago. He mentioned how Mill Road feels “completely different” from the rest of Cambridge.
He added: “It’s just the vibrancy of the place. You walk 20 paces and find a whole other culture and different people. It’s a very welcoming place with a real community feel. There’s a real convenience. If I want to have Chinese or Korean food one day and then the next I can have a kebab made by people who have grown up in that culture.”
Whether you live in Cambridge or are just visiting for the day, it might be worth popping over to Mill Road to enjoy the cultures and cuisines on offer.
Heidi Alexander has slammed Zack Polanski over his “abhorrent” criticism of the police response to the Golders Green terror attack.
Shilome Rand, 34, and Moshe Shine, 76, were left seriously injured in what police have described as a terrorist incident in north west London on Wednesday.
Polanski, the Green Party leader, attracted backlash this week after he reshared a post on X which suggested officers may have used too much force to detain the suspect.
But the transport secretary still slammed the London Assembly member during an interview on Sky News.
Alexander said: “I thought it was disgusting what he [Polanski] did and absolutely abhorrent.
“Those police officers ran towards danger, they were armed only with a Taser that they had already discharged. The guy still had a knife in his hand.”
The minister continued: “I think for the leader of a political party to jump onto Twitter, start retweeting content, criticising those policemen who responded with incredible bravery in what was a very difficult situation. I think it demonstrates that the man is not fit to lead a political party.”
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Prime minister Keir Starmer already hit out at Polanski’s comments on Friday, saying his comments were “disgraceful”.
The Green Party’s leader in Wales, Anthony Slaughter, also questioned the wisdom of Polanski’s action on social media, calling it “inappropriate”.
Polanski’s apology on Friday read: “Everyone in leadership has a responsibility for lowering the temperature at a time of such tension, and I apologise for sharing a tweet in haste.
“Police responses to emergency situations such as these do need later reflection in the right forums, but I accept that social media is not the appropriate channel for doing so.
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“I have invited Mark Rowley to meet with me to discuss the police response and the wider issues raised in his letter.”
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Stephen Mangan has been a staple of British TV for years, but the Green Wing star has suffered great personal tragedy.
Hayley Anderson Screen Time TV Reporter
09:15, 03 May 2026
Lorraine: Stephen Mangan set to star in a play on the West End
Stephen Mangan has spoken candidly about a significant family investment made in the wake of two losses.
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Love Your Weekend With Alan Titchmarsh returns this morning, Sunday, May 3, with the host welcoming actor and comedian Stephen Mangan alongside his artist sister Anita.
Despite enjoying a flourishing career, including a role in Charles Dance‘s forthcoming film The Inn At The Edge Of The World, Mangan has endured tremendous heartache in his private life.
In 1991, when he was just 22-years-old, his mother was diagnosed with colon cancer and passed away merely six months later.
Then in 2005, his father died of a brain tumour at 63-years-old, also six months after receiving his diagnosis.
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“You feel so helpless when something like that happens to someone you love,” Mangan told Metro. “A lot of people live in denial and don’t want to think about what might happen because it’s depressing.
“I find being aware the clock is ticking makes being alive feel more special. You can’t go around thinking you’re going to die all the time but life is precious because there isn’t that much of it.”
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He further commented: “It’s a source of tremendous sadness to me that my parents never got to meet my children. It feels wrong but what can you do? You have to get on with it.”
Following their father’s passing, Mangan and his two younger sisters Anita and Lisa combined their resources to purchase a £800,000 country house in Wiltshire.
Speaking candidly about the lavish acquisition, the star revealed to Lauren Laverne on Desert Island Discs: “I think it’s always there because we were so close as kids.
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“When dad died, we bought a little place in the countryside, all three of us, that we could use and go to as a family because you no longer have a family home or a place that you can gather so we got somewhere.
“They are the people who made me, my mum, my dad and sisters. From that little family unit everything in my life has sprung.”
Israel approves plan to purchase two new F-35 and F-15Ia squadrons
Israel gave final approval for a plan to purchase two new combat squadrons of F-35 and F-15Ia aircraft from Lockheed Martin and Boeing, the defence ministry gas said.
The is deal worth tens of billions shekels, it added on Sunday.
British-made parts make up around 16 per cent of the value of F-35 fighter jet parts.
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Alex Croft3 May 2026 09:05
Nato working to ‘understand’ details of US troop withdrawal from Germany
Nato is working with the US to understand the details of the decision for a planned drawdown of American troops from Germany, a spokesperson said on Saturday.
“We are working with the US to understand the details of their decision on force posture in Germany.
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“This adjustment underscores the need for Europe to continue to invest more in defence and take on a greater share of the responsibility for our shared security – where we’re already seeing progress since Allies agreed to invest 5% of GDP at the Nato Summit in The Hague last year,” wrote spokesperson Allison Hart on X.
“We remain confident in our ability to provide for our deterrence and defence as this shift towards a stronger Europe in a stronger Nato continues,” she added.
Alex Croft3 May 2026 08:43
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Even if Donald Trump chickens out over Iran, the reckoning is coming
As Charles and Camilla decompress in Bermuda – no doubt with a nice single malt – they can enjoy the rave reviews for their highly successful trip to the United States.
However, the warm amber glow is chilled by an unwelcome reminder that not even the royal touch can cure Donald Trump of his erratic ways. No sooner had the royal couple left his company than the president was reverting to type.
First, he told chancellor Friedrich Merz he was minded to withdraw US forces from Nato bases in Germany. Then he told the world he “might restart” the war in Iran (no one thinks it’s all over, Donald) – and now he’s turned on Italy and Spain, again threatening to bring his troops home.
Alex Croft3 May 2026 08:25
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Trump says Iran can play world cup after Fifa confirmation – ICYMI
Trump says Iran can play world cup after Fifa confirmation
Alex Croft3 May 2026 08:07
Iran must urgently free Nobel laureate Mohammadi to get medical help, says Nobel body
Iranian authorities must release Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi to her dedicated medical team so she can urgently receive treatment as her life remains at risk, the head of the Nobel Peace Prize committee told Reuters on Saturday.
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The health of Mohammadi, who won the Nobel Peace Prize for her campaign for human rights in Iran in 2023, has “deteriorated seriously”, said Joergen Watne Frydnes, citing her family and lawyer.
(AP)
Alex Croft3 May 2026 07:47
Lebanese commander meets US general in Beirut to discuss Lebanon situation
Lebanese armed forces commander General Rudolf Haykal and US General Joseph Clearfield met in Beirut to discuss the security situation in Lebanon and regional developments, the army said on Saturday in a statement.
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Clearfield heads a committee monitoring a US-backed ceasefire in fighting between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah.
The participants at the meeting underlined the importance of the Lebanese army’s role and the need to support it during the current phase, the statement said.
Alex Croft3 May 2026 07:29
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Lindsey Graham says US should ‘finish the job’ if Iran does not yield
Republican senator Lindsey Graham has said US president Donald Trump should “finish the job” in Iran and resume military strikes if Tehran continues to be “provocative”.
Talking to the FT, Graham said the US needs to “open up the strait” to break the stalemate, noting it will need harsher military action.
“We have the capability to increase ship flow,” he said in an interview on Thursday.
The US should do “whatever combination of events is necessary to start the flow” of ships and “take the leverage away from Iran”, the close-aide of Trump said.
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“Between the blockade, which has been brilliantly executed, and letting Iran know that Kharg Island is in play, hopefully that will create some deterrence,” Graham said, referring to Iran’s oil export hub.
“If it doesn’t, [we need to] just stand up to Iran, don’t let them get away with blackmailing the world.” energy prices.
(Getty)
Arpan Rai3 May 2026 07:08
Israel threatens attack on 12 Lebanon towns, warns residents to flee
The Israeli military has said it will attack 12 towns and villages in southern Lebanon, ordering residents to flee their homes, in what it claims are operations against Hezbollah.
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The towns and villages are al-Duwayr, Arab Salim, al-Sharqiya (Nabatieh), Jibshit, Braashit, Sarafand, Dounin, Briqa, Qaaqaiya al-Jisr, al-Qasiba (Nabatieh) and Kfar Sir, reported Al Jazeera.
The IDF also asked residents to move at least 1,000 metres from their towns and villages to open areas.
Arpan Rai3 May 2026 06:18
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Trump’s war with Iran is as unpopular as Vietnam, new poll finds
Approximately 61 percent of the 2,560 people surveyed by Ipsos, The Washington Post and ABC News said the United States made a mistake in using military force against Iran. Just 36 percent of people said it was the right decision.
That is the same percentage of people who said the U.S. sending troops to Vietnam was a mistake in 1971, according to Gallup, and a similar percentage of people – 59 percent – who said the US made a mistake going to war with Iraq in 2006, according to the Washington Post.
Arpan Rai3 May 2026 05:51
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Spirit Airlines shuts down immediately, cancelling all flights
Low-cost Spirit Airlines announced early Saturday that it would shut down its operations immediately after 34 years in business, leaving thousands of passengers scrambling to rebook their travel on other airlines.
The company, which operated hundreds of daily flights across the U.S. and employed 17,000 people, had been in discussions with the Trump administration about a $500m rescue package, but no deal was reached.
But the effort has stalled because Spirit has been unable to secure the necessary backing from bondholders and government stakeholders, people familiar with the matter told the Wall Street Journal on Friday.
The airline said on its website that all flights have been canceled and customer service is no longer available.
The redevelopment could see new offices, labs, retail, and leisure offerings alongside a new home for a popular events venue
The potential sale of Cambridge Leisure Park could see a major redevelopment of the site including offices, labs, retail, and leisure opportunities. Cambridge Leisure Park currently hosts a hotel, car park, restaurants, cinema, and bowling alley.
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According to a sales brochure by real estate company JLL, it is the city’s “only multiplex and drive-to leisure destination”. A proposed masterplan shows how the 8.4-acre site could be redeveloped.
The brochure explained: “The proposed master plan would comprise of massing ranges from 2 stories to 10 storeys. These buildings would comprise a mixed-use estate for Office, Lab, Retail, F&B, the Junction, Creative Workspace, Leisure, Car Parking and Energy centre.”
This includes a “new sustainable home” for the Cambridge Junction, which hosts a variety of events. The repurposing opportunities also suggest that a “big box retail warehouse space” could be explored to draw in shops such as M&S, TK Maxx, Next and Superdrug.
“Whilst the masterplan leans heavily on offices and lab space the current commercial environment and local need would also position this site favourably for the massing of multi-family, Co-living and senior living on those areas of the site currently designed for offices and labs, complimented by further retail and leisure uses,” the brochure continued.
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The site currently has a 611 space multi-storey car park but the proposed plan has 145 spaces. Cambridge City Council is the freehold owner of the site and Land Securities is the leaseholder.
Why aren’t Democrats more popular, given the president’s low approval ratings in significant areas such as the economy? And what do Americans really think of Donald Trump?
In this special episode of Americast, recorded live at Maida Vale studios in London for Castfest (celebrating some of the BBC’s best loved news podcasts) we look at recent polling for both Donald Trump, and the Democrats. Why has the president lost support, and how worried should the Republican party be, given the possibility of losing control of Congress in November’s midterm elections?
Justin, Sarah, Anthony and Marianna also hear why former Trump loyalist Tucker Carlson who is now apologising for helping to get Donald Trump elected, and the wider impact this may have on Trump’s MAGA (Make America Great Again) base.
We also take a closer look at polling for the Democrats and why the party is not more popular. What should Democrats be doing ahead of the presidential election in 2028 to increase their support?
HOSTS:
• Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter
• Sarah Smith, North America Editor
• Anthony Zurcher, North America Correspondent
• Marianna Spring, Social Media Investigations Correspondent
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• Join our online community: https://discord.gg/qSrxqNcmRB
• Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480
• Email Americast@bbc.co.uk
• Or use #Americast
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This episode was made by Alix Pickles and Purvee Pattni. The technical producer was Robbie Hayward, the video producers were Grace Braddock, Sophie Millward and Jem Westgate. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.
If you want to be notified every time we publish a new episode, please subscribe to us on BBC Sounds by hitting the subscribe button on the app.
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Americast is part of the BBC News Podcasts family of podcasts. The team that makes Americast also makes lots of other podcasts, including Newscast. If you enjoy Americast (and if you’re reading this then you hopefully do), then we think that you will enjoy some of our other pods too. See links below.
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The Team Relay consists of 5 legs, of varying distances, with changeover points across the route:
LEG 1: Stormont Estate – Montgomery Road, 4.2 miles.
LEG 2: Montgomery Road – Boucher Road, 6.8 miles.
LEG 3: Boucher Road – Falls Road, 4.5 miles.
LEG 4: Falls Road – Duncairn Gardens, 5 miles.
LEG 5: Duncairn Gardens – Ormeau Park 5.7 miles.
See the exact points in the post below…
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How to get to Belfast City Marathon Relay starting points
A shuttle bus service will run 8:00am – 10:00am from Annadale Embankment at Dunnes Stores to drop runners off at their designated relay changeover point:
Montgomery Road – 08:00 – 08:30
Boucher Road – 08:30 – 09:00
Falls Road – 09:00 – 09:30
Duncairn Gardens – 09:30 – 10:00
Getting back to Belfast City Centre – a shuttle bus will transport participants from Ormeau Embankment to Belfast City Centre. This service will run from 11:45am – 4:00pm.
Getting back to Stormont – every 3rd shuttle bus leaving Ormeau Embankment will transport spectators back to Stormont
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All buses are free to spectators and participants on race day.
These are the latest significant developments planned across Greater Manchester
The transformation of a burned down nightclub in Wigan is one of a number of significant developments planned for Greater Manchester.
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Jak’s on Wigan’s King Street, popular with revellers, was ravaged by a fire in November last year. Emergency services were called at around 10.30pm in November, when several late night bars in the area were busy.
Click here for the latest on Greater Manchester’s politics in our newsletter
The nightclub was destroyed by the fire, but now plans to transform it into 18 apartments have been tabled.
Here is a breakdown of each borough’s recently submitted public notices…
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Bolton
Plans for ‘gated’ estate of five-bedroom townhouses in Bolton
Details of a new ‘gated’ housing estate on elevated land overlooking a brook have been published.
Outline permission has been granted for the development to the back of Irlam Street North and Eckersley Road, in the Astley Bridge area of Bolton. A planning report said the ‘sits in an elevated position to the south of Astley Brook’. Currently the land is used for the storage of agricultural vehicles and equipment.
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The site consists of hard landscaping and outbuildings in various states of condition and use.
Plans for funeral centre for pets to provide ‘a quiet space for viewing’ beloved animals
Plans for a ‘funeral centre’ for pets in an outbuilding in Bolton have been submitted.
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The retrospective plans, by Serenity Pet Funeral Services, seek to formalise the use of the outbuilding to the rear of a property on Tonge Moor Road. Plans submitted to Bolton council in the past week state the use of the building as providing ‘small-scale pet funeral services’.
A planning statement in support of the plans said: “The use has been operating since 2021 and provides a sensitive appointment-based service to bereaved pet owners, including the collection of pets, preparation of pets for burial or cremation elsewhere, a quiet space for private family viewing and the preparation of memorial keepsakes.
Manchester
Gorton pub staff accused of ‘deliberate attempt to hinder police investigation’ and being ‘involved in serious crime’
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Staff at a Gorton pub will be questioned by police who believe a ‘deliberate attempt to hinder a serious ongoing investigation’ was made by ‘removing’ CCTV footage.
Greater Manchester Police visited The Angel, at 37 Wellington Street in Gorton, multiple times in early April to ask for CCTV recordings as they investigated a ‘suspected kidnapping’ in the area, council licensing papers say. GMP believe there was a ‘deliberate attempt to hinder a serious ongoing investigation by removing or destroying CCTV footage’, documents add.
The pub’s premises licence has been temporarily suspended by Manchester council pending a full review.
Salford
Electric GoKarts and bowling arcade confirmed as part of £16m Quayside refurb in Salford
A GoKarting track and bowling alley are part of the £16m changes coming to the Quayside shopping mall in Salford. Peel Retail and Leisure, who own the mall, have confirmed Hyperdrive Karting and Hollywood Bowl are moving in.
The site was recently slammed as a ‘ghost town’ after a series of closures left many retail units shuttered and abandoned. But as part of a £10m refurb plan approved by Salford Council last week, developers intend to ‘transform the waterside destination into a leading regional leisure hub’.
The plans involve knocking through walls in the ‘mostly vacant’ food court on the building’s mezzanine level and empty retail units and offices on the upper floors. These will be reconfigured into three large commercial units.
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Stockport
Stockport council launches legal challenge over plan for 540 homes near A555
Stockport council has launched a legal challenge against a developer’s plan to build 540 homes near the A555 Airport Relief Road. Redrow Homes (Harrow Estates division) proposes to expand Woodford Garden Village by building on green belt land in December 2024. The firm later accused Stockport council of ‘prolonged delays’ in making a decision on the planning application. Nearly a year later, in September 2025, Redrow lodged an appeal to the Planning Inspector and was successful, with permission given to press on with the work.
Tameside
The transformation plan for Droylsden Marina
Droylsden Marina has been vacant and underused for years, but it could soon be regenerated as new plans for 192 new homes have been unveiled.
Developers, True North Partnerships and CERT, want to build three apartment blocks on the land adjacent to the Lock Keepers site, behind the old library. All the homes would be affordable and of a high quality design, according to developers.
In addition to the apartment blocks, the scheme also includes a series of duplex homes at ground level. The duplexes would be arranged to maximise views across the marina, Ashton Canal and towards the Pennines and Manchester city centre.
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More demolition work planned for giant food factory in Dukinfield
The giant food factory in Dukinfield is in the process of being bulldozed, but now plans for further demolition work have been tabled.
Pilgrim’s UK, one of Britain’s largest pork providers, shut down operations at the Bow Street site back in 2023. Plans to demolish the vacant factory, on the border of Dukinfield and Ashton, have already been approved by Tameside council. Demolition work was due to start last month and take 14 weeks to complete.
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Now OREP Fund Propco 1 Limited intends to scrap the metal bridge, which connects the warehouses on opposite sides of the River Tame. It is hoped that once approval is granted by the local authority, this demolition work can be started on May 18.
Wigan
Former Wigan nightclub building gutted by huge fire could become flats and commercial units
A fire-ravaged former nightclub building could become 18 flats if conversion plans are approved.
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The Jak’s nightclub building, on King Street in Wigan, is the subject of a planning proposal from Atherton based applicant CLS-UK. Documents on the council’s planning portal say the development would contain 18 flats on the upper levels and three commercial units on the ground floor.
On the evening of November 22, a huge fire ripped through the former nightclub. Emergency services were called at around 10.30pm, when several late night bars in the area were busy.
With the second-leg of their Champions League semi-final against Atletico Madrid finely poised, Arteta opted to make significant changes to his starting line-up on Saturday evening the most notable of which saw Lewis-Skelly make a first start in central midfield.
The Hale End Academy graduate made a stunning breakthrough last season as a makeshift left-back with his performances in that position rewarded with senior England recognition.
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It has been a different story this term for the 19-year-old who has been forced to play a bit-part role following the arrival of Piero Hincapie from Bayer Leverkusen who has shared the left-back role with Riccardo Calafiori.
Martin Zubimendi’s consistency, meanwhile, has meant Arteta had been hesitant to hand opportunities to Lewis-Skelly in his more natural position until yesterday evening when his gamble was rewarded with an eye-catching display.
And after watching the teenager impress against seasoned Premier League opposition, Arteta admitted he may have made an error in holding back a player whose lack of game time has seen him linked with a move to Manchester United in the summer.
Myles Lewis-Skelly impressed Mikel Arteta against Fulham (Picture: Getty)
‘He fully deserves it,’ said the Arsenal manager reflecting on Lewis-Skelly’s performance in a new-look engine room. ‘I’ve been tough on him.
‘He had a spectacular season last year when he jumped into the first team. He had some difficult moments after that, but he stayed very humble, very focused, very aligned with what we wanted to do, and I knew he was ready.
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‘He’s been showing in training every day the opportunities that he had to play. He’s done it and today he really stepped up and I thought he had an incredible performance.’
Asked why it had taken him so long to give Lewis-Skelly a chance to impress in midfield, he added:’Because probably I don’t have a clue and maybe I should have done it earlier, I don’t know.
Myles Lewis-Skelly started in midfield for Arsenal against Fulham (Picture: Getty)
‘But I have to do things when I believe that the player is ready, the team is ready and the opponent is the right one to play with him in that position. We’ve done it today, it’s the first time.
‘It was a big risk because I knew what was going to happen, if he wasn’t this great, we would have lost the game.
‘How do you play a kid at this age, in this scenario, in a position that he hasn’t played all season? I knew that but I had the feeling that it was the right game for him.’
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Reports last month claimed Arsenal were looking to net a combined total of £100million for Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri who has spent the second half of the season out on loan at Marseille.
Viktor Gyokeres scored twice in Arsenal’s 3-0 win over Fulham (Picture: Getty)
While there might be a measure of conjecture about his future, Lewis-Skelly hardly gave the impression of a player discontent with life at his current club after he played such a key role in a vital win.
He said: ‘Honestly, I was buzzing. Being back in that midfield, getting the trust from the gaffer and the players again, just allows me to play my game and play it simple but also be effective, which was really good today.
‘It’s hugely important for me to set that tone. When you’re in midfield, there’s a certain rally you have to attain, which is to set the tone, get the engine of the team going. I thought I did a good job of that today.
‘It’s a credit to all our players because when we’re all on the same wavelength, we’re really feeling it, playing with synergy, playing with that energy together. I feel like we’re one.’
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