Derbyshire County Show's return hailed as 'fantastic'
Gates are due to open for visitors at 08:30 BST on Sunday."It's fantastic to be back. It's what the society is about. We put the show on each year, and if we can't it spoils it for everyone," said Mr Hicklin.He said the weather was "completely the opposite" to last year and promised the hundreds of animals brought to the show would be kept safe."People that show the animals are professional exhibiters, and they know their animals. They know how to take care of them," he said."They bring shade and shelter and we've got lots of running water on show ground. No animals come before the day."Show ground manager Ian Martin added: "For people coming with animals, there are going to be dog baths around the place. "There's around 12 to 13 taps around the place, there's plenty of water and shade."New for the 2025 event is a drone racing competition.Mr Hicklin said: "They set big hoops and targets and an assault course for them to negotiate round. There's a display of that in the main ring."
The event will also see shetland pony racing, vintage cars and tractors, a stunt team and a Q&A with Clarkson's Farm star Harriet Cowan.Abigail Hicklin, 27, who volunteers at the event said: "She'll be in the main ring at about 12:20 doing a live Q&A session, but she'll also be walking round all day to do meet and greets. "It's really great, especially to have a young female farmer representing farming and all things agriculture. She's done a really good job to show that whatever boys can do, girls can do too."Organisers also revealed they had seen an increase in scammers trying to sell fake tickets.They warned the Derbyshire County Show does not sell resale tickets and tickets are only sold through its official website.
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Locatelli's skill at creating ambience is being tested at the National Gallery, especially at the moment, when school's out for summer and this elegant, echoey gallery that's packed with old masters is overtaken by quacking hordes of crepe paper- and crayon-wielding school trips from overseas. These children would rather be anywhere else but staring at The Ambassadors by Holbein the Younger, and are probably busy giving each other dead arms while I pick at my burrata and panzanella antipasti. But here's the thing: I liked Locatelli at the National Gallery a lot. Head chef Imma Savinelli and general manager Costanzo Cappella, who front this latest Locatelli venture, have pulled off something unique in this pretty space with its pistachio-coloured, velour banquettes, gold furnishings and cute dessert trolley that delivers large, fat slices of tiramisu. 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Overall, then, there's a lot to love about Locatelli at the National Gallery. Sure, it's not a patch on a night out at Locanda Locatelli; it's just a once-round-the-Botticellis followed by a bowl of fresh tagliatelle kind of gig. Not a masterpiece, but not bad. Not bad at all. Locatelli at the National Gallery, Sainsbury Wing, The National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, London WC2, (no phone). Open all week, 11.30am-5.45pm (Fri 10.15pm, Sat 8.15pm). From about £50 a head à la carte, plus drinks and service The next episode of Grace's Comfort Eating podcast is out on Tuesday 12 August – listen to it here.
