Somerset in Pictures: Bath triumph and Chelsea Flower Show
There has been plenty to celebrate in Somerset this week, not least Bath's European Challenge Cup win as rugby fans from the West once again took over Cardiff.There was also success for the county at the Chelsea Flower Show, and a glorious day in Wells for fans of vintage cars.And the usual glorious sunrises, sunsets and sights from the natural world have been on display.
West is best: Bath fans enjoyed their trip across the Severn to see their team beat Lyon 37-12 in the European Challenge Cup final in Cardiff.
Classic cars: The green space in front of Wells Cathedral was transformed into a paradise for fans of vintage vehicles as the Mendip Run rally came to an end on Sunday.
Somerset sunset: French photographer Evelyne d'Avalon took this beautiful snapshot of a sunset near Glastonbury.
Cricket wicket: Matt Henry of Somerset enjoyed taking the wicket of Sussex's Fynn Hudson-Prentice during day three of the County Championship Division One match at Taunton.
Summer seaside: With the sunny weather continuing across the county, weather watcher Sparky enjoyed the beach in Minehead this week.
Flower power: A Somerset florist and flower farmer has returned from the Chelsea Flower Show as a gold medal winner. Georgie Newbery from Charlton Musgrove is part of the Farewell Flowers Collective that created a funeral scene which was awarded the coveted prize. It is the first time that funeral flowers have been arranged and displayed at Chelsea in its 113-year history.
Cheddar goats: They are well camouflaged but taking a closer look, one can spot goats running along the road at Cheddar Gorge in this shot captured by Weather Watcher West Country Wombat.
Branch line: Walk on the Strawberry Line path through Winscombe and you'll find this sight, the final resting place of the rail line that operated from 1869 to 1963, now a peaceful green space to relax in.
Petting zoo: Donkeys, mini Shetland ponies, goats, rabbits and lambs are visiting a Rode pub this week. The animals are being brought along by Second Chance Petting Farm, which rescues and rehabilitates animals.
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Times
an hour ago
- Times
The fanciest sport hospitality packages
The game hasn't even begun and I am already one charcuterie board, a platter of prawns, a gallon of sushi, a beef wellington and several beers deep. My football-watching career has started on a high. It was a Chelsea game in the box — a gift for my brothers' 40th (not from me — I'm a good sister but not that good). I left thinking I could watch the beautiful game more often. 'What was the score?' someone asked. 'Who cares? I had a cheeseboard at half-time!' You can fine-dine at almost all sports, from darts to the FA Cup final. Here is a list of luxury dining experiences at the biggest and best upcoming sports events. • This article contains affiliate links that can earn us revenue Now the Six Nations have been and gone, it's time to move on. Luckily for rugby fans, this year's Autumn Nations is ripe for booking. The series will see England battle it out with four of the most exhilarating southern hemisphere teams. It'll be a wild watch and there is no need to do it hungry — you know the players won't be. Fret not — if the burger vans don't tickle your finely tuned taste buds, the Allianz hospitality packages are here for you. 'Today's hospitality offerings go far beyond a simple meal and a seat. Guests are choosing packages based on the culinary style, the exclusivity of the setting, and the opportunity to engage with sporting legends, both past and present,' says Laura Jefferies, head of marketing at Twickenham Experience. The chef Tom Kerridge (who owns the only pub with two Michelin stars) will be cooking in the Lock restaurant during the Australia, New Zealand and Argentina games. Expect free-flowing fizz and a four-course English-inspired menu. The chef Ollie Dabbous — who has two Michelin stars — can be found creating culinary excellence for the Australia game in the East Wing restaurant. You'll be dining all day, from arrival appetisers to amuse-bouches to a four-course menu — with complimentary drinks. The same package will be available with the chef Tommy Banks — a judge on BBC's The Great British Menu — subbing in to steer the East Wing helm during the New Zealand game. 'On a single match day up to 45,000 plates of food are served within hospitality, with a team of 300 chefs across 41 kitchens and 2,250 hospitality staff, who each undergo training, to ensure the highest standards across every facility,' Jefferies says. Autumn Nations at Allianz Stadium is November 1-November 23. More information at and • Read more luxury reviews, advice and insights from our experts You could find yourself easily distracted at the races. If you don't have blinkered focus on the horses, your eyes may wander to the outfits and your nose may lead you to the food. Royal Ascot does not hold back when it comes to treating guests to gourmet cuisine — there are 29 Michelin stars shared between the chefs in residence — 'the most ever at Royal Ascot, or any sporting event globally,' according to Jonathan Parker, the managing director of 1711 by Ascot. Among the runners and riders are Raymond Blanc, who will mark his ten-year residency anniversary at Ascot, returning to the Panoramic Restaurant (which, as promised, serves its four courses overlooking panoramic views of the racecourse). Gazing at the horses in the parade ring is best done at the Parade Ring restaurant, where Simon Rogan will be presenting his five-course à la carte lunch. Lisa Goodwin-Allen, the Michelin-starred chef and winner of Great British Menu, returns for her second year at Royal Ascot, headlining the Queen Anne Enclosure's flagship restaurant, ON 5, which sits on the fifth floor and is glass-fronted to create the ideal view of the course. If you have been there, done that — you will likely want to do it again. But if you want to try the newbies on the Ascot block, the French chef Yannick Alléno is doing an alfresco pop-up with a small-plate concept that — given his 17 Michelin stars — is bound to be scrumptious. Likewise, Benoit Blin, the patisserie king, is also making his debut with a French-inspired afternoon tea — available in multiple restaurants and private boxes, everywhere short of the horses' stables. Royal Ascot runs June 17-21. These offerings are available for all guests but need to be booked well in advance; Test cricket may be as English as it gets. Free-flowing Pimm's, polite chitchat in the stands, intermittent sun bouncing off the players' whites. All in all, you're in for a lovely summer's day. Given that the match can last five days, it is more than justified to be entertained by other activities alongside the play. And what better activity is there than eating? 'At the Kia Oval our aim is to match the calibre of the cricket on the pitch with the fine dining we provide to the spectators,' says the director of operations, Alex Lewis. There is a myriad of casual-dining options spread all over the Oval grounds, including the fancy food truck Bob's Lobster serving lobster rolls at the Pommery Champagne bar on the concourse right next to the pavilion. But those seeking the classiest escapades will head to the Duchy Suite. The days starts here with a three-course gourmet lunch curated by the fabulous chef Ollie Dabbous. There's also a Pommery champagne reception, a brilliantly quirky afternoon tea — including Cacklebean egg mayo and cress sandwiches and canales cooked in beeswax — free-flowing complimentary drinks and, of course, padded seats on the Laker Balcony so you can plonk your well-fed self comfortably down as you buckle in for the long match head. Next chance to nab all that is the England v India Test, July 31-August 4. The Duchy Suite is £1,299 + VAT; The smell of burning rubber and highly tuned engines as the mighty cars go hell for leather up the track need not fill your nostrils at these races. Instead, your noses (and taste buds) can be redirected to the equally impressive food. With many hospitality packages to choose from, you could opt for a Lawn Garden party, the award-winning sustainable restaurant Farmer, Butcher, Chef, or the exclusive member-only clubhouse, the Kennels. For trackside viewing with gourmet dining, you have a few options. The Moss restaurant, named after Sir Stirling Moss — who not only had his first race at Goodwood but also won here more than any other driver — overlooks the starting straight. Clark is positioned on the famously dramatic Molecomb Corner with views of the hill climb from both inside the restaurant and the trackside balcony. And last but not least there is Goodwood's fine-dining experience at Surtees — named in honour of the only person to win world championships on both two and four wheels, John Surtees. Not only are the views of the action unparalleled, but the Michelin-starred chef Ollie Dabbous (who I'd hazard a guess at being a sports fan) will be preparing cuisine to match. The Surtees package includes unlimited drinks, a live DJ, VIP parking as well as a personalised concierge service. 'Whether it's a private paddock tour, a helicopter flight or photo moment on the balcony of Goodwood House, Surtees is the ultimate way to experience the Festival of Speed,' says Amy Yeates, the hospitality director at Goodwood. Goodwood Festival of Speed is July 10-13. The Surtees package is £2,100pp +VAT; Dating back to 1860, The Open is the oldest golf tournament in the world. It is also one of the most popular — so much so that tickets sell out almost instantly. Those for 2025 are sadly long gone. As are the hospitality packages, which included the silver-service fine-dining Engravers package — including breakfast, four-course à la carte lunch, complimentary bar and afternoon tea. Next year will approach in the blink of an eye — so it is best to start getting ahead of the game. The equivalent option on the 2026 line-up at Royal Birkdale would be the premium package. Although not silver-service, the experience holds its own. Guests get access to many wonderful restaurants — including Clarets, where you can dine on gourmet cuisine while looking out over the 17th green. The Retreat serves a charcuterie-style lunch overlooking the 7th green. Complimentary beverages will be served to guests in Clarets, the Retreat, the Platinum Lounge and Links, which all have top-class views of the top-class golf. The 154th Open at Royal Birkdale is July 12-19, 2026. Prices for the signature package start at £1,000 per person for the weekdays and £2,300 for the weekends; It wouldn't be the British summer time without Wimbledon. Dating back to 1868, this sporting spectacle is the oldest tennis tournament in existence. There is only one thing I can think of to improve this classic English event — fancy food. It's not all strawberries and cream. Whilst the talented players serve on the pitch, the equally talented chefs are serving off the court. For the snazziest of service, you are looking at Le Gavroche at The Lawn. Michelin star mastermind, Michel Roux, will be offering a five-course tasting Menu Exceptionnel with wine pairings, followed by the famous Le Gavroche Cheese Trolley and the Assiette du Chef (selection of five desserts). There will be a complimentary bar for continuous whistle wettening — whether it is with Vintage champagne or bespoke cocktails. Of course, that is just the beginning — this package includes seats with uninterrupted views of Centre Court, a private terrace and access to The Lawn's English-style garden with live music, a whisky and cigar bar as well as a huge outdoor screen so you don't have to miss out on a single second of action while having fun.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Billy Ray Cyrus trolled over calling Elizabeth Hurley 'the love of his life' just two months after debuting romance
has been trolled for calling his new girlfriend Elizabeth Hurley 'the love of his life' only two months after the couple went public with their budding romance. The Achy Breaky Heart singer, 63 - who has previously been married three times - jumped to his main Instagram page on Tuesday to pen a sweet tribute to the British actress in celebration of her 60th birthday. Back in April, the two stars debuted their relationship as they cozied up together in a photo during Easter weekend. Cyrus uploaded a photo as Elizabeth sat on his lap for a cute snap as they both flashed cheerful smiles for the camera. The beauty donned a patterned top and a pair of denim jeans while a black cowgirl hat was placed on top of her flowy locks. Billy sported a brown shirt as well as shades and penned in the caption: 'Happy birthday to the love of my life ❤️.' Social media users jumped to the comment to offer mixed reactions to the singer's latest post. Hurley also shared her response to Billy's birthday wish with an assortment of red heart emojis. Her son Damian, 23, showed his support for their relationship by also a red heart emoji. Elizabeth shares the model with ex Steven Bing. One fan also typed out, 'How you two just started dating. love of your life what a joke,' and another wrote, 'you just met her,' with laughing face emojis. 'How many loves of your life have you had in the last 10 years??' an Instagram user shared, whole one added, 'Im happy for you bro but you have said that about all your past relationships.' But others had differing opinions as another commented, 'Dude looking happier than ever!!! Congratulations Billy.' 'Happy birthday!!! Thank you for making Billy Ray smile again. You two are gorgeous together!' a fan penned, and one wrote, 'I love seeing you so happy! Yes!!' Another also added, 'Happy Birthday to your lovely lady. So glad to see you so happy and smiling Billy Ray.' One fan also typed out, 'How you two just started dating. love of your life what a joke,' and another wrote, 'you just met her,' with laughing face emojis 'How many loves of your life have you had in the last 10 years??' an Instagram user shared, whole one added, 'Im happy for you bro but you have said that about all your past relationships' Hurley also rang in her 60th birthday by uploading an Instagram post of her own and left little to the imagination as she shared a snap while posing nude outdoors. In the caption, the actress typed out: 'Happy birthday to me! This year has already been a wild ride; my 30th year of working with the Estée Lauder Companies, my 30th year as the Global Ambassador of the @esteelaudercompanies Breast Cancer Campaign, the 20th anniversary of @elizabethhurleybeach and… I'm in love♥️♥️♥️. 'Feeling very blessed and grateful for having the best friends & family in the world ♥️ pic taken this afternoon… in my birthday suit xxx.' Her son Damian shared an additional comment by writing, 'Hahahah I LOVE YOU happy birthday mama xxx.' Two months earlier, Billy and Elizabeth unveiled their romance as they cozied up together in a photo while celebrating the Easter holiday. Last month in May, the pair made their red carpet debut in Rome while attending the Orizzonti | Rosso Exhibition Opening Dinner together - with her son Damian also joining the couple. At the time, Billy opted for an all-black ensemble while Hurley turned heads wearing a hot pink gown that clung to her toned figure. The singer had uploaded snippets from their time at the event to his Instagram page and wrote in the caption, 'With my beautiful girlfriend in Rome ❤️.' Also in May, The Royals actress made an appearance at the Breast Cancer Research Foundation 2025 Hot Pink Party in New York City - and gave an update about their relationship during an exclusive interview with She gushed that she is 'very happy in my new relationship' and added, 'Billy's a lovely man and we make each other very happy.' Ahead of her birthday, a source told The Sun that Cyrus 'is besotted with Liz. 'He can't believe this chance he's been given and he's throwing everything at it, including this very expensive birthday trip to the Caribbean. He thinks she's the most beautiful woman in the world and feels incredibly lucky.' The insider added that Billy 'spoils her rotten with gifts but mostly they just enjoy hanging out, listening to records and making each other laugh.' Cyrus has also previously broken his silence on their relationship on Apple Music Country's The Ty Bentli Show in April. The pair's relationship began following his divorce from Firerose - and his third marriage. He had met Elizabeth on set of the 2022 movie Christmas In Paradise and as he was navigating through the split from Firerose, he received a message from Hurley. 'I felt like, "Wow, can life get any harder? Can it get any tougher?" For me, at a certain point it was like, you can't get knocked down any flatter than laying on your back when life is kicking you. And in this moment... a friend reached out.' Billy then tried to recall the contents of the message and explained she had said, 'Hey, it looks like life might be a little bit tough and just wanted you to know I'm in your corner; you've got a friend in your corner.' When he first received the text, the performer revealed that at first he didn't know who the message was from. 'So, I text back, I go, "Who is this?" And it's like, "Elizabeth Hurley." Of all the people to reach out to me in that second that maybe I needed most… this friend who made me laugh.' He later gushed that the actress is 'a great human being' and also 'impressively brilliant.' 'She reminds me a lot of Dolly Parton. She's a very smart businesswoman. If you can laugh together, you can make it through everything.' The star also reflected on how he has also gotten close to his girlfriend's son Damian as well. 'It's great that God brought them into my life when he did. It's just a good thing. It's been a long time since I've been this happy.' Miley Cyrus also broke her silence on her father's new relationship while talking to New York Times' The Interview podcast late last month. 'As I've gotten older, I respect my parents as individuals instead of as parents because, you know, my mom really loved my dad for her whole life,' she stated. 'I took on some of my mom's hurt as my own, because it hurt her more than it hurt me as an adult. So I owned a lot of her pain as mine.' The former Disney channel star added, 'But now that my mom is so in love with my stepdad, Dom, who I completely adore, and now that I see my dad finding happiness outside of that too. 'I can love them both as individuals instead of as a kind of parental pairing. I'm being an adult about it.' Miley's mom Tish Cyrus was previously married to Billy from 1993 until their divorce was finalized in 2023. That same year, she married Prison Break actor Dominic Purcell. The Flowers hitmaker also squashed rumors of a feud with her family and issued a statement on her Instagram stories which read: 'I rarely comment on rumors, but my mama and I are too tight for anything to ever come between us. 'She's my best friend. Like a lot of moms, she doesn't know how to work her phone and somehow unfollowed me - simple, coincidental and uninteresting.' The Flowers hitmaker also squashed rumors of a feud with her family and issued a statement on her Instagram stories which read: 'I rarely comment on rumors, but my mama and I are too tight for anything to ever come between us' Miley also commented on her relationship with Billy and added, 'My dad and I have had our challenges over the years. Now, in my 30s, family is my priority above all else. I'm at peace knowing bridges have been built and time has done a lot of healing.' The songstress concluded with: 'Grateful for the good health and love that flows through my family.' Billy shares daughter Miley as well as Noah, 25, and Braison, 31, with Tish. He also became stepfather to her other two children from a previous relationship: Brandi, 38, and Trace, 36.
Daily Mail
3 hours ago
- Daily Mail
PROF ROBERT TOMBS: British tolerance is being stretched to its limits. Mass immigration is destabilising our country
Last weekend, my cousin's lovely daughter, not long out of medical school, married her sweetheart – a handsome young doctor from an Indian family. The Hindu wedding ceremony was spectacular, colourful and huge fun for everyone. Watching as young English and Indian people danced together, I reflected that the day was a perfect example of multicultural integration as we all wish it to be.
