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The Irish Sun
4 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Our seaside city has turned into a warzone where knife-wielding ganglords brawl in street to control illegal VAPE trade
One shop worker too terrified to speak claimed he'd spoken out in the past and was told he'd be killed if it happened again 'ENDLESS BATTLE' Our seaside city has turned into a warzone where knife-wielding ganglords brawl in street to control illegal VAPE trade CLUTCHING a handful of brightly coloured boxes, a teenager emerges from a glass-fronted shop and hastily stuffs them in his pocket before scuttling off down the high street. It's one of the few stores that isn't boarded up on the once bustling high street in Newport - recently named the UK's worst for empty units. Advertisement 10 The once-bustling high street in the south Wales city of Newport is now awash with boarded up shops Credit: Adrian Sherratt 10 Newport was recently named the UK's worst for empty units by think tank Centre for Cities Credit: Adrian Sherratt Almost one in five (19 per cent) of all of its shops are boarded up according to a new report from think tank Centre For Cities. In the Welsh city centre's shopping district, 25 shops have been shut down in the past 22 months for flogging illegal vapes - some of which were found to contain drugs - and tobacco. And it's having a devastating impact on the community, with petrified locals telling The Sun they live in fear of the gangs peddling the criminal goods - while Trading Standards officers are fighting an 'endless battle' to shut down lawless outlets. Shop staff and residents say they've watched in horror as thugs battle with knives and batons in the street, while drugs are brazenly sold and cooked up in broad daylight. Advertisement Many traders on Commercial Street - the main high street - declined to comment altogether for fear of reprisals. Some said they feared attacks or intimidation if they went on the record discussing their true feelings towards the gangs and their shops, with one claiming he had spoken out in the past and was told he'd be killed if it happened again. A shop worker who insisted on being anonymous told us both he and customers are at the mercy of violent gangs peddling the illegal goods. Holding out a couple of legal vapes, he said: 'The problem is that we have too many desperate people, teenagers especially, who use the shops which not only sell banned vapes, but they put the old non-rechargeable ones on display - they're not even hiding it anymore. Advertisement 'They sell it to underage people - under 16s, under 18s, anyone who wants to buy it. 'I've heard and seen shops selling vapes which contain THC (cannabis) banned vapes, weed vapes, which I think they're getting from the US. Moment bloodied yobs batter each other with metal poles outside kebab shop 10 Earlier this month footage emerged of two gangs fighting each other with weapons on the street in Newport Credit: WNS 10 The footage from the brawl was shared online Credit: WNS Advertisement 'Five or six months ago I got a dealer coming in here and asking me to buy his stuff. 'I don't know what they were called but they were THC banned vapes, and I saw the same guy in a shop handing over packages, which I assume was the same thing. 'Most of the time the workers in the shops are forced to work there because they don't have National Insurance numbers, so they work for cash in hand and are put to work for extra hours for less money because they can't complain to their bosses who are exploiting them. 'That contributes to social unrest in the town. Advertisement 'Uncertainty is what we are afraid of, as anything can happen in this town as there are too many gangs operating. 'We witnessed a brutal fight over some shops or vapes - literally they had deep cuts from knives or batons, we don't what it was. 'The police came but they were too late. We witnessed a brutal fight over some shops or vapes - literally they had deep cuts from knives or batons, we don't what it was Shop worker 'We reported the people - five guys and one female, who was also selling crack. Advertisement 'The guys involved were also wanted on some sexual assaults and rape charges but, luckily they are behind bars now. 'It does affect our business… because they don't buy the vapes from us because they can get them elsewhere. 'They sell other stuff that we don't sell, like tobacco in large boxes and balloons (nitrous oxide).' A ban on the sale and supply of single-use vapes came into force in the UK on June 1 this year. Advertisement The shop worker added that the people running the shops and minimarts which have been shut down by Trading Standards simply move to a new shop, use a new name and relaunch their illegal activities, generating a harmful cycle. 'Shameful' 10 In October 2023 Newport council and Gwent Police launched Operation Firecrest to crack down on the trading of illegal vapes and cigarettes 10 There have been 87 seizures of illegal tobacco and vaping products in the city in the past 22 months Credit: Newport Council In October 2023 Newport council and Gwent Police launched Operation Firecrest to crack down on the trading of illegal vapes and cigarettes. Advertisement Since then there have been 87 seizures of illegal tobacco and vaping products in the city. This included 26,856 illegal disposable vaping devices, 481,790 illegal cigarettes and 199.05kg illegal hand-rolled tobacco - equivalent to 199,050 cigarettes. A recent BBC report claimed 19 shops in the shopping district have been shut down in the past nine months alone. Since 2023 that total is 25. Steve Hay, one of the Trading Standards team responsible for the closures, told the BBC: "It's shameful that this is happening.' Advertisement In October last year police also discovered a huge cannabis farm worth £2.1million in the former Wildings department store on Commercial Street. The shop worker we spoke to claimed that in the 'Pill area' - a notoriously crime-ridden area of Pillgwenlly, at the end of Commercial Street - heroin and crack cocaine is openly dealt and cooked. Earlier this month it was reported one Newport drugs boss made more than £500,000 after flooding the streets of Gwent with cocaine. Jamie Webber, 35, of Buttermere Way, St Julians was sentenced to 10 years and four months in January for being part of an organised crime group which trafficked nearly 3kg of the class A drug in Newport, Cwmbran and Pontypool. Advertisement The gang used a drugs line and had 23 runners working for it, peddling cocaine throughout Newport and Torfaen. 'I don't feel safe anymore' 10 Newport drugs boss Jamie Webber made more than £500,000 after flooding the streets of Gwent with cocaine Credit: Gwent Police 10 Kayleigh Silcox, 31, who was shopping with her nieces and nephews, claimed she no longer feels safe Credit: Adrian Sherratt 10 A former sports shop lies vacant on Commercial Street Credit: Adrian Sherratt Advertisement On the main high street, shoppers admit they've noticed a change in the atmosphere, with one local resident admitting she now 'absolutely hates it'. Kayleigh Silcox, 31, who was shopping with her nieces and nephews, told The Sun: 'I just don't feel safe anymore. 'This is probably the first time in a long time I've actually sat in Newport centre and it's just so different to how it used to be. 'You just don't go out here on your own, and if you do always be on the phone to somebody, it's just quite sad. Advertisement 'All the shops are closing down, it just doesn't feel safe now. You just don't go out here on your own, and if you do always be on the phone to somebody, it's just quite sad Kayleigh Silcox 'I didn't realise what the vape shops were selling and why they were being shut. You can't crack down on all the shops though. 'It is scary. The groups of people look so different to how they used to, there's a massive safety aspect for us. 'Having nieces and nephews having to grow up here is frightening. Advertisement 'You know the shops which are legitimate and which aren't, but how do you relate that to a child? That they can go in certain shops but not others? 'My biggest fear is for the children being around this.' 10 Mike Morgan says Newport 'used to be buzzing but it's dead now' Credit: Adrian Sherratt Mike Morgan, 85, comes to the city centre every day to feed the pigeons, who climb onto his hands to greedily eat the bread he offers. Advertisement Sitting outside the once grand, now crumbling, closed Westgate Hotel, near a vape shop on the corner, he said: 'In my time people copied the film stars and everyone smoked cigarettes, not these vapes. 'With the landmines and steelworks there were 16,000 jobs here, but for the people starting at the bottom there is less money today. 'This place was buzzing with people when I was growing up, but look at it now. It is shocking to be quite honest. 'The Westgate Hotel here, MPs used to come and stay here, all the important people. Advertisement 'Newport as a city is falling apart. I used to like a drink and walk home at night, but there's no police here, have you seen any? 'It used to be buzzing but it's dead now. I wouldn't go out at night.' Newport as a city is falling apart. I used to like a drink and walk home at night... It used to be buzzing but it's dead now. I wouldn't go out at night Mike Morgan The Sun has reached out to Newport City Council for comment. Councillor Mark Spencer, Newport City Council's Cabinet member for communities and sport, previously said: 'The illegal trade of tobacco and vapes is harmful to our residents and those communities where it is taking place. We will not tolerate it in our neighbourhoods or our city. Advertisement 'I would like to thank our trading standards officers for their continued fight against these criminals and the partners they work with including the police and National Trading Standards. 'Their dedication and commitment to stamping out the trade is having an impact and disrupting this criminal behaviour. 'Closure orders can only be for a limited period which is why the officers have been working with landlords. We are grateful to those who have taken their advice in relation to the type of tenants they have and urge others to be vigilant. 'We would welcome changes in the legislation which would strengthen the action that can be taken against those involved in the illegal trade and the premises they operate from.' Advertisement Temporary Chief Superintendent Jason White, Head of Neighbourhood Policing at Gwent Police, told The Sun: 'Anti-social behaviour (ASB) and associated disorder is completely unacceptable. It has a negative impact on the quality of life of our communities and it won't be tolerated in Newport and in Gwent, as a whole. 'Between April 2024 and the end of March 2025, we carried out an additional 7,000 hours of patrols in hotspot areas across Gwent, which led to an overall reduction in ASB. 'Our commitment to address ASB is ongoing and we've secured an additional £1million Home Office funding for this work to continue over the next year, complementing our existing patrols in hotspot areas, including parts of Newport, with an additional 9,000 hours' worth. 'We've increased our neighbourhood activity, which includes a focus on ASB, as part of the Safer Street Summer Initiative (SSI). Advertisement 'Our policing teams continues to carry out partnership work with Newport City Council, other organisations and agencies to ensure that all businesses and residents feel safe. "Since October 2023, we've been working in partnership with the city council's trading standards on Operation Firecrest to address the sale of illegal vapes and tobacco in Newport. "We've recognised there are links between the sales of vapes, illegal vapes and illegal tobacco and criminal activities. "Through intelligence gathering and working closely with the city council, which is the lead organisation for Firecrest, we've seized more than 1 million illegal cigarettes, 274.39kg of illegal hand-rolling tobacco and 34,000 illegal disposable vaping devices worth a combined total in excess of £2.6 million. Advertisement "We've also worked together for the closure of more than 80 commercial premises in Newport. "When it comes to crime and anti-social behaviour, we're guided not only by information gathered though investigations and patrols, but by information the public has provided through their reports. "That's why it's really important people affected by these issues come forward and talk to us.'
Scottish Sun
4 days ago
- Scottish Sun
Our seaside city has turned into a warzone where knife-wielding ganglords brawl in street to control illegal VAPE trade
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) CLUTCHING a handful of brightly coloured boxes, a teenager emerges from a glass-fronted shop and hastily stuffs them in his pocket before scuttling off down the high street. It's one of the few stores that isn't boarded up on the once bustling high street in Newport - recently named the UK's worst for empty units. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 10 The once-bustling high street in the south Wales city of Newport is now awash with boarded up shops Credit: Adrian Sherratt 10 Newport was recently named the UK's worst for empty units by think tank Centre for Cities Credit: Adrian Sherratt Almost one in five (19 per cent) of all of its shops are boarded up according to a new report from think tank Centre For Cities. In the Welsh city centre's shopping district, 25 shops have been shut down in the past 22 months for flogging illegal vapes - some of which were found to contain drugs - and tobacco. And it's having a devastating impact on the community, with petrified locals telling The Sun they live in fear of the gangs peddling the criminal goods - while Trading Standards officers are fighting an 'endless battle' to shut down lawless outlets. Shop staff and residents say they've watched in horror as thugs battle with knives and batons in the street, while drugs are brazenly sold and cooked up in broad daylight. Many traders on Commercial Street - the main high street - declined to comment altogether for fear of reprisals. Some said they feared attacks or intimidation if they went on the record discussing their true feelings towards the gangs and their shops, with one claiming he had spoken out in the past and was told he'd be killed if it happened again. A shop worker who insisted on being anonymous told us both he and customers are at the mercy of violent gangs peddling the illegal goods. Holding out a couple of legal vapes, he said: 'The problem is that we have too many desperate people, teenagers especially, who use the shops which not only sell banned vapes, but they put the old non-rechargeable ones on display - they're not even hiding it anymore. 'They sell it to underage people - under 16s, under 18s, anyone who wants to buy it. 'I've heard and seen shops selling vapes which contain THC (cannabis) banned vapes, weed vapes, which I think they're getting from the US. Moment bloodied yobs batter each other with metal poles outside kebab shop 10 Earlier this month footage emerged of two gangs fighting each other with weapons on the street in Newport Credit: WNS 10 The footage from the brawl was shared online Credit: WNS 'Five or six months ago I got a dealer coming in here and asking me to buy his stuff. 'I don't know what they were called but they were THC banned vapes, and I saw the same guy in a shop handing over packages, which I assume was the same thing. 'Most of the time the workers in the shops are forced to work there because they don't have National Insurance numbers, so they work for cash in hand and are put to work for extra hours for less money because they can't complain to their bosses who are exploiting them. 'That contributes to social unrest in the town. 'Uncertainty is what we are afraid of, as anything can happen in this town as there are too many gangs operating. 'We witnessed a brutal fight over some shops or vapes - literally they had deep cuts from knives or batons, we don't what it was. 'The police came but they were too late. We witnessed a brutal fight over some shops or vapes - literally they had deep cuts from knives or batons, we don't what it was Shop worker 'We reported the people - five guys and one female, who was also selling crack. 'The guys involved were also wanted on some sexual assaults and rape charges but, luckily they are behind bars now. 'It does affect our business… because they don't buy the vapes from us because they can get them elsewhere. 'They sell other stuff that we don't sell, like tobacco in large boxes and balloons (nitrous oxide).' A ban on the sale and supply of single-use vapes came into force in the UK on June 1 this year. The shop worker added that the people running the shops and minimarts which have been shut down by Trading Standards simply move to a new shop, use a new name and relaunch their illegal activities, generating a harmful cycle. 'Shameful' 10 In October 2023 Newport council and Gwent Police launched Operation Firecrest to crack down on the trading of illegal vapes and cigarettes 10 There have been 87 seizures of illegal tobacco and vaping products in the city in the past 22 months Credit: Newport Council In October 2023 Newport council and Gwent Police launched Operation Firecrest to crack down on the trading of illegal vapes and cigarettes. Since then there have been 87 seizures of illegal tobacco and vaping products in the city. This included 26,856 illegal disposable vaping devices, 481,790 illegal cigarettes and 199.05kg illegal hand-rolled tobacco - equivalent to 199,050 cigarettes. A recent BBC report claimed 19 shops in the shopping district have been shut down in the past nine months alone. Since 2023 that total is 25. Steve Hay, one of the Trading Standards team responsible for the closures, told the BBC: "It's shameful that this is happening.' In October last year police also discovered a huge cannabis farm worth £2.1million in the former Wildings department store on Commercial Street. The shop worker we spoke to claimed that in the 'Pill area' - a notoriously crime-ridden area of Pillgwenlly, at the end of Commercial Street - heroin and crack cocaine is openly dealt and cooked. Earlier this month it was reported one Newport drugs boss made more than £500,000 after flooding the streets of Gwent with cocaine. Jamie Webber, 35, of Buttermere Way, St Julians was sentenced to 10 years and four months in January for being part of an organised crime group which trafficked nearly 3kg of the class A drug in Newport, Cwmbran and Pontypool. The gang used a drugs line and had 23 runners working for it, peddling cocaine throughout Newport and Torfaen. 'I don't feel safe anymore' 10 Newport drugs boss Jamie Webber made more than £500,000 after flooding the streets of Gwent with cocaine Credit: Gwent Police 10 Kayleigh Silcox, 31, who was shopping with her nieces and nephews, claimed she no longer feels safe Credit: Adrian Sherratt 10 A former sports shop lies vacant on Commercial Street Credit: Adrian Sherratt On the main high street, shoppers admit they've noticed a change in the atmosphere, with one local resident admitting she now 'absolutely hates it'. Kayleigh Silcox, 31, who was shopping with her nieces and nephews, told The Sun: 'I just don't feel safe anymore. 'This is probably the first time in a long time I've actually sat in Newport centre and it's just so different to how it used to be. 'You just don't go out here on your own, and if you do always be on the phone to somebody, it's just quite sad. 'All the shops are closing down, it just doesn't feel safe now. You just don't go out here on your own, and if you do always be on the phone to somebody, it's just quite sad Kayleigh Silcox 'I didn't realise what the vape shops were selling and why they were being shut. You can't crack down on all the shops though. 'It is scary. The groups of people look so different to how they used to, there's a massive safety aspect for us. 'Having nieces and nephews having to grow up here is frightening. 'You know the shops which are legitimate and which aren't, but how do you relate that to a child? That they can go in certain shops but not others? 'My biggest fear is for the children being around this.' 10 Mike Morgan says Newport 'used to be buzzing but it's dead now' Credit: Adrian Sherratt Mike Morgan, 85, comes to the city centre every day to feed the pigeons, who climb onto his hands to greedily eat the bread he offers. Sitting outside the once grand, now crumbling, closed Westgate Hotel, near a vape shop on the corner, he said: 'In my time people copied the film stars and everyone smoked cigarettes, not these vapes. 'With the landmines and steelworks there were 16,000 jobs here, but for the people starting at the bottom there is less money today. 'This place was buzzing with people when I was growing up, but look at it now. It is shocking to be quite honest. 'The Westgate Hotel here, MPs used to come and stay here, all the important people. 'Newport as a city is falling apart. I used to like a drink and walk home at night, but there's no police here, have you seen any? 'It used to be buzzing but it's dead now. I wouldn't go out at night.' Newport as a city is falling apart. I used to like a drink and walk home at night... It used to be buzzing but it's dead now. I wouldn't go out at night Mike Morgan The Sun has reached out to Newport City Council for comment. Councillor Mark Spencer, Newport City Council's Cabinet member for communities and sport, previously said: 'The illegal trade of tobacco and vapes is harmful to our residents and those communities where it is taking place. We will not tolerate it in our neighbourhoods or our city. 'I would like to thank our trading standards officers for their continued fight against these criminals and the partners they work with including the police and National Trading Standards. 'Their dedication and commitment to stamping out the trade is having an impact and disrupting this criminal behaviour. 'Closure orders can only be for a limited period which is why the officers have been working with landlords. We are grateful to those who have taken their advice in relation to the type of tenants they have and urge others to be vigilant. 'We would welcome changes in the legislation which would strengthen the action that can be taken against those involved in the illegal trade and the premises they operate from.' Temporary Chief Superintendent Jason White, Head of Neighbourhood Policing at Gwent Police, told The Sun: 'Anti-social behaviour (ASB) and associated disorder is completely unacceptable. It has a negative impact on the quality of life of our communities and it won't be tolerated in Newport and in Gwent, as a whole. 'Between April 2024 and the end of March 2025, we carried out an additional 7,000 hours of patrols in hotspot areas across Gwent, which led to an overall reduction in ASB. 'Our commitment to address ASB is ongoing and we've secured an additional £1million Home Office funding for this work to continue over the next year, complementing our existing patrols in hotspot areas, including parts of Newport, with an additional 9,000 hours' worth. 'We've increased our neighbourhood activity, which includes a focus on ASB, as part of the Safer Street Summer Initiative (SSI). 'Our policing teams continues to carry out partnership work with Newport City Council, other organisations and agencies to ensure that all businesses and residents feel safe. "Since October 2023, we've been working in partnership with the city council's trading standards on Operation Firecrest to address the sale of illegal vapes and tobacco in Newport. "We've recognised there are links between the sales of vapes, illegal vapes and illegal tobacco and criminal activities. "Through intelligence gathering and working closely with the city council, which is the lead organisation for Firecrest, we've seized more than 1 million illegal cigarettes, 274.39kg of illegal hand-rolling tobacco and 34,000 illegal disposable vaping devices worth a combined total in excess of £2.6 million. "We've also worked together for the closure of more than 80 commercial premises in Newport. "When it comes to crime and anti-social behaviour, we're guided not only by information gathered though investigations and patrols, but by information the public has provided through their reports. "That's why it's really important people affected by these issues come forward and talk to us.'
Scottish Sun
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Inside Glastonbury's poshest campsite where revellers fork out £38k for pool & cocktail bar – but there's a catch
From IV drips to mood lighting – this isn't your average tent PITCH UP Inside Glastonbury's poshest campsite where revellers fork out £38k for pool & cocktail bar – but there's a catch Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) WELCOME to the most bouji campsite at Glastonbury where a top package will cost you a staggering £38,000 - without even a ticket to get in. The Pop-Up hotel is just a 10-minute walk from the festival site but it is a world away from the enormous tent city and infamous long-drop toilets used by the masses. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 11 The Pop-Up hotel is just a 10-minute walk from the festival site Credit: Adrian Sherratt 11 Bubbles in the tub and in the glass — The Sun reporter Alex West visits The Pop-Up Hotel Credit: Adrian Sherratt 11 A 24hr restaurant and bar keeps guests fed and watered while a DJ booth and live music acts provide round the clock entertainment Credit: Adrian Sherratt 11 Many of the rooms and bell tents - which start at £3,6990 - have already sold out Credit: SWNS 11 The posh tents, which can sleep up to 10, are held up with thick bamboo columns and come with an ensuite bathroom, sofas and mood lighting Credit: The Pop Up Hotel 11 The whole thing takes around four weeks to put up with many of the areas like the reception and restaurant bespoke made Credit: The Pop Up Hotel While most of the 200,000 music lovers will go without a shower for five days, those who can fork out the price of an average UK salary can even have a swim. The exclusive retreat boasts the Festival's only pool, complete with deck chairs, cocktail bar and gold painted naked Roman statues. Between sets guests luxuriate in a spa with saunas, ice baths, hot tubs with yoga and meditation, and even hook up to a vitamin IV drip. High rollers pay £28,000 for a five night stay in the top Tipi Tenthouse Suites and can be flown there by helicopter from London in just 40 minutes for another £10k. The posh tents, which can sleep up to 10, are held up with thick bamboo columns and come with an ensuite bathroom, sofas, mood lighting, dressing tables and extras including hangover pills, Lavazza coffee machines, hand held fans and electric toothbrushes. Also available are American RVs at £20,000 and Airstreams for £13k. The glamping site is the ultimate in cushiness and the polar opposite of the 'rolling-around-in-the-mud squalor' that many will associate with the biggest music festival on earth. Organisers are tight-lipped about who might be staying in the exclusive campsite but previous guests have included Rivals actor Aidan Turner, Made in Chelsea star Millie Mackintosh, model Daisy Lowe, and actor Steve Coogan, who left a review saying: 'Great atmosphere. Plenty of space to chill out and great food. I will be back.' Fim director Guy Ritchie hired the Pop-Up Hotel for his wedding with stars including Brad Pitt and Jason Statham as guests. Foo Fighters make surprise Glastonbury performance as The Churn Ups Others staying for Glasto include mega rich hedge fund managers, trustafarians and successful business people. It started off small in 2011 as the first luxury glamping accommodation with just 16 bell tents and has expanded every year into the '350 room hotel' it is now. The whole thing takes around four weeks to put up with many of the areas like the reception and restaurant bespoke made. Many of the rooms and bell tents - which start at £3,6990 - have already sold out. And some of the guests arrive on Friday afternoon and go home on Sunday, missing out on two of the nights they have paid for. A source told us: 'The people who stay here have a different level of money.' Managing director, Mark Sorrill, a local boy from Street, Somerset, is unashamedly proud of creating the elite paradise. He said: 'We've evolved to deliver an unparalleled festival experience for our hotel guests during Glastonbury matched with a 5* service found at any international boutique hotel. 'Our creative production team is busy putting their years of experience into delivering the finest immersive experience combining festival vibes with a boutique hotel's comfort; making The Pop-Up Hotel the perfect choice for a Glastonbury adventure to remember.' Guests are ferried around the site on brand new £90k electric Mini Mokes - more often seen on the French Riviera than in a field in Somerset. And for the filthy rich there is a wellness area run by legendary dance DJ Rob DaBank and his wife Josie where they can get clean and chill out. The couple's company Slomo invested in a series of Dutch wood-fired hot tubs where 'festival weary bodies' can float about after a hard night's dancing. And what festival spa complex would be complete without a Wim Hof-style ice bath. Josie, who also runs Camp Bestival with hubby Rob, said: 'It's just what you need to relax if you've been partying hard. 'People want the wellness.' DJ Rob also takes breathing workshops and Renee Stewart, daughter of rocker Rod, teaches yoga. And for the cut above customers there is even a salon 'pamper area' where they can buy festival clothes and get a Glasto glow-up. A 24hr restaurant and bar keeps guests fed and watered while a DJ booth and live music acts provide round the clock entertainment. Fun Loving Criminals Huey Morgan is among musicians putting on private shows at the hotel. For those with deep enough pockets the hotel offers 'the thrill of glamping with all the comfort, service and facilities you'd expect from a luxury boutique hotel' that can cater 'for every whim'. But have you really been to Glastonbury if you haven't camped in with the masses, got covered in mud, and queued for horrific toilets? 'Some people don't want any of that. They just want to go into the Festival site, enjoy the music and then sleep in a comfy bed and have a shower,' a source said. 'And if you've got the money, why not?' Glastonbury: Pyramid Stage line-up 2025 FRIDAY THE 1975: 22:15 – 23:45 BIFFY CLYRO: 20:15 – 21:15 ALANIS MORISSETTE: 18:15 – 19:15 TBA: 16:55 – 17:30 BURNING SPEAR: 15:00 – 16:00 CMAT: 13:30 – 14:30 SUPERGRASS: 12:00 – 13:00 SATURDAY NEIL YOUNG AND THE CHROME HEARTS: 22:00 – 23:45 RAYE: 20:00 – 21:00 PATCHWORK: 18:15 – 19:15 JOHN FOGERTY: 16:30 – 17:30 THE SCRIPT: 15:00 – 16:00 BRANDI CARLILE: 13:30 – 14:30 KAISER CHIEFS: 12:00 – 13:00 SUNDAY OLIVIA RODRIGO: 21:45 – 23:15 NOAH KAHAN: 19:45 – 20:45 NILE RODGERS & CHIC: 18:00 – 19:00 ROD STEWART: 15:45 – 17:15 THE LIBERTINES: 14:00 – 15:00 CELESTE: 12:30 – 13:30 THE SELECTER: 11:15 – 12:00 11 Festival-goers can enjoy a relaxed dining experience inside the restaurant Credit: Adrian Sherratt 11 Organisers are tight-lipped about who might be staying in the exclusive campsite but previous guests have included Credit: Adrian Sherratt 11 High rollers pay £28,000 for a five night stay in the top Tipi Tenthouse Suites Credit: Adrian Sherratt 11 It started off small in 2011 as the first luxury glamping accommodation with just 16 bell tents and has expanded every year into the '350 room hotel' it is now Credit: The Pop Up Hotel
The Irish Sun
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Inside Glastonbury's poshest campsite where revellers fork out £38k for pool & cocktail bar – but there's a catch
WELCOME to the most bouji campsite at Glastonbury where a top package will cost you a staggering £38,000 - without even a ticket to get in. The Pop-Up hotel is just a 10-minute walk from the festival site but it is a world away from the enormous tent city and infamous long-drop toilets used by the masses. 11 The Pop-Up hotel is just a 10-minute walk from the festival site Credit: Adrian Sherratt 11 Bubbles in the tub and in the glass — The Sun reporter Alex West visits The Pop-Up Hotel Credit: Adrian Sherratt 11 A 24hr restaurant and bar keeps guests fed and watered while a DJ booth and live music acts provide round the clock entertainment Credit: Adrian Sherratt 11 Many of the rooms and bell tents - which start at £3,6990 - have already sold out Credit: SWNS 11 The posh tents, which can sleep up to 10, are held up with thick bamboo columns and come with an ensuite bathroom, sofas and mood lighting Credit: The Pop Up Hotel 11 The whole thing takes around four weeks to put up with many of the areas like the reception and restaurant bespoke made Credit: The Pop Up Hotel While most of the 200,000 music lovers will go without a shower for five days, those who can fork out the price of an average UK salary can even have a swim. The exclusive retreat boasts the Festival's only pool, complete with deck chairs, cocktail bar and gold painted naked Roman statues. Between sets guests luxuriate in a spa with saunas, ice baths, hot tubs with yoga and meditation, and even hook up to a vitamin IV drip. High rollers pay £28,000 for a five night stay in the top Tipi Tenthouse Suites and can be flown there by helicopter from London in just 40 minutes for another £10k. Read more on Showbizz The posh tents, which can sleep up to 10, are held up with thick bamboo columns and come with an ensuite bathroom, sofas, mood lighting, dressing tables and extras including hangover pills, Lavazza coffee machines, hand held fans and electric toothbrushes. Also available are American RVs at £20,000 and Airstreams for £13k. The glamping site is the ultimate in cushiness and the polar opposite of the 'rolling-around-in-the-mud squalor' that many will associate with the biggest music festival on earth. Organisers are tight-lipped about who might be staying in the exclusive campsite but previous guests have included Most read in Showbiz Rivals actor Aidan Turner, Made in Chelsea star Millie Mackintosh, model Daisy Lowe, and actor Steve Coogan, who left a review saying: 'Great atmosphere. Plenty of space to chill out and great food. I will be back.' Fim director Foo Fighters make surprise Glastonbury performance as The Churn Ups Others staying for Glasto include mega rich hedge fund managers, trustafarians and successful business people. It started off small in 2011 as the first luxury glamping accommodation with just 16 bell tents and has expanded every year into the '350 room hotel' it is now. The whole thing takes around four weeks to put up with many of the areas like the reception and restaurant bespoke made. Many of the rooms and bell tents - which start at £3,6990 - have already sold out. And some of the guests arrive on Friday afternoon and go home on Sunday, missing out on two of the nights they have paid for. A source told us: 'The people who stay here have a different level of money.' Managing director, Mark Sorrill, a local boy from Street, Somerset, is unashamedly proud of creating the elite paradise. He said: 'We've evolved to deliver an unparalleled festival experience for our hotel guests during Glastonbury matched with a 5* service found at any international boutique hotel. 'Our creative production team is busy putting their years of experience into delivering the finest immersive experience combining festival vibes with a boutique hotel's comfort; making The Pop-Up Hotel the perfect choice for a Glastonbury adventure to remember.' Guests are ferried around the site on brand new £90k electric Mini Mokes - more often seen on the And for the filthy rich there is a wellness area run by legendary dance DJ Rob DaBank and his wife Josie where they can get clean and chill out. The couple's company Slomo invested in a series of Dutch wood-fired hot tubs where 'festival weary bodies' can float about after a hard night's dancing. And what festival spa complex would be complete without a Wim Hof-style ice bath. Josie, who also runs Camp Bestival with hubby Rob, said: 'It's just what you need to relax if you've been partying hard. 'People want the wellness.' DJ Rob also takes breathing workshops and Renee Stewart, daughter of rocker Rod, teaches yoga. And for the cut above customers there is even a salon 'pamper area' where they can buy festival clothes and get a Glasto glow-up. A 24hr restaurant and bar keeps guests fed and watered while a DJ booth and live music acts provide round the clock entertainment. Fun Loving Criminals Huey Morgan is among musicians putting on private shows at the hotel. For those with deep enough pockets the hotel offers 'the thrill of glamping with all the comfort, service and facilities you'd expect from a luxury boutique hotel' that can cater 'for every whim'. But have you really been to Glastonbury if you haven't camped in with the masses, got covered in mud, and queued for horrific toilets? 'Some people don't want any of that. They just want to go into the Festival site, enjoy the music and then sleep in a comfy bed and have a shower,' a source said. 'And if you've got the money, why not?' Glastonbury: Pyramid Stage line-up 2025 FRIDAY THE 1975: 22:15 – 23:45 BIFFY CLYRO: 20:15 – 21:15 ALANIS MORISSETTE: 18:15 – 19:15 TBA: 16:55 – 17:30 BURNING SPEAR: 15:00 – 16:00 CMAT: 13:30 – 14:30 SUPERGRASS: 12:00 – 13:00 SATURDAY NEIL YOUNG AND THE CHROME HEARTS: 22:00 – 23:45 RAYE: 20:00 – 21:00 PATCHWORK: 18:15 – 19:15 JOHN FOGERTY: 16:30 – 17:30 THE SCRIPT: 15:00 – 16:00 BRANDI CARLILE: 13:30 – 14:30 KAISER CHIEFS: 12:00 – 13:00 SUNDAY OLIVIA RODRIGO: 21:45 – 23:15 NOAH KAHAN: 19:45 – 20:45 NILE RODGERS & CHIC: 18:00 – 19:00 ROD STEWART: 15:45 – 17:15 THE LIBERTINES: 14:00 – 15:00 CELESTE: 12:30 – 13:30 THE SELECTER: 11:15 – 12:00 11 Festival-goers can enjoy a relaxed dining experience inside the restaurant Credit: Adrian Sherratt 11 Organisers are tight-lipped about who might be staying in the exclusive campsite but previous guests have included Credit: Adrian Sherratt 11 High rollers pay £28,000 for a five night stay in the top Tipi Tenthouse Suites Credit: Adrian Sherratt 11 It started off small in 2011 as the first luxury glamping accommodation with just 16 bell tents and has expanded every year into the '350 room hotel' it is now Credit: The Pop Up Hotel 11 Guests are ferried around the site on brand new £90k electric Mini Mokes - more often seen on the French Riviera than in a field in Somerset Credit: Adrian Sherratt
Scottish Sun
31-05-2025
- Scottish Sun
War erupts in UK's ‘caravan city' as van-dwellers torch rival homes & turn hippy paradise into rat-plagued ‘no-go zone'
RESIDENTS who live near the UK's biggest 'caravan city' say the once serene grassland has become a no-go area overrun by warring drug dealers, council-tax dodgers, human waste and rats. Bristol has the highest number of van dwellers, believed to be a population of 680-700, and the majority are parked on the roads weaving around Durdle Down, known as The Downs. 14 A caravan was set fire to in February this year, and now Bristol locals say they have had enough Credit: SWNS 14 The charred remains of the torched caravan, with police investigating who is responsible Credit: SWNS 14 Caravan dweller Michael Freeman claims he was 'dumped' on the site by his landlord after being moved on from where he was previously Credit: Adrian Sherratt The sheer number of vans and the problems they allegedly bring has resulted in fury from residents and visitors, who are now locked in a battle to reclaim their once-tranquil 442 acres of common land. One claims it's reached a "crisis" point, with 'slum-letting' rife, drug-dealing and arson attacks on vans turning it into a "no-go zone". In February police and the fire service were called to the Clifton Downs where a caravan was in flames. Engineer Tony Nelson, 52, is a local resident who launched a petition on which has almost 6,500 signatures from 44 different countries. Supporters, calling themselves the Protect the Downs group, aim to force the council to clamp down on the five-hour parking restrictions, effectively pushing van dwellers out. Tony told The Sun: 'We feel it's a shame that such a rare and precious space is allowed to fall into massive disrepair. 'There have been van dwellers living here for a couple of decades, and we're quite proud of the fact that people have passed through and visited and stayed a couple of nights. 'But the council stopped enforcement a few years ago, and people have gone, 'That's a nice green space, I fancy living there' and 'I don't fancy paying rent anymore', or, 'I'm struggling to pay rent, so actually, I'm going to check out, and I won't pay council tax, and I'm going to go live in a van.' 'That has just proliferated and grown, and everyone's jumped on that bandwagon. What's gone from a couple of responsible van dwellers has ballooned into what I can only describe as a crisis.' The Downs, with its tree-lined streets and a view over the Avon Gorge, is used for educational visits, with Sir David Attenborough once calling it the 'jewel in the city's crown'. We live in 'Caravan City' - locals moan but it's too expensive to rent 14 Local resident Tony Nelson started a petition to have the council clamp down on parking restrictions Credit: Adrian Sherratt 14 Tony says the rubbish dumped by van dwellers is attracting vermin Credit: Adrian Sherratt But now there's an underbelly of crime and filth, according to locals, who pay around £4,000 a year in council tax. Tony said: 'It's too scary, because there are people who don't want to be found by the police. We know there's drug dealing that goes on, there's fighting between people who do that. 'They burn each other's caravans down. They've said things like, 'We've got axes and baseball bats.' It's a frightening place. 'It's not a them and us situation, and a lot of people would be offended if they felt that they were being tarred with that brush, but we can't say that it's safe. They burn each other's caravans down. They've said things like, 'We've got axes and baseball bats.' It's a frightening place Tony Nelson, local resident 'There are elderly and single females who really don't want to use the Downs, especially at nighttime, because it's quite a scary place. 'You can't let your kids play in the bushes because it's full of human waste. "There are rats because of abandoned caravans and piles of rubbish. 'Children don't want to walk to school this way anymore, it's a long way round for them now, and it pushes around onto more dangerous roads. "This should be a nice, simple, safe cut through, but it's scary for them. 14 Tony claims the area is no longer safe for women and children at night Credit: Adrian Sherratt 14 The number of caravan dwellers is now surpassing 600 Credit: Adrian Sherratt 'It's not just about the people around the downs. There are 30,000 people in the parishes that surround the downs. Most of those people don't have gardens. They live in flats. 'People want to come and use this space, and they're being denied that privilege because people think it's okay to come and check out of society, live here and not pay the council tax. 'Imagine if I quite fancied living in Kensington, what would happen if I just rocked up there in a caravan?" Locals also suspect 'slum-letting' is taking place, reporting a high-end silver Range Rover dropping caravans off to house outsiders in. You can't let your kids play in the bushes because it's full of human waste. There are rats because of abandoned caravans and piles of rubbish Tony Nelson, local resident On the sunny day The Sun visited, a Range Rover was parked between two empty caravans covered in tree seeds, suggesting it hadn't been driven in a while. Meanwhile travellers camped on the grass for a month until a week ago, churning up the land on their quad bikes and reportedly abusing residents who tackled them. A recent fire brought emergency services racing to The Downs when a barbecue lit by a group of students set fire to the crisp dry grass. But the permanence of the caravans is what concerns residents in one of the most affluent areas of the city. Passing through The Downs on a 10,500-kilometre cycle trip across Europe, retired headteacher Mark Ingram, 65, from Leicester, was shocked to see the number now lining the streets. 14 Cyclist Mark Ingram was shocked by the number of vans lining the streets on the Downs Credit: Adrian Sherratt 'I've come through Portugal, France and Spain. I've seen this in the news briefly but it's a stunning sight. I've not seen anything like this. I've been astounded. 'I feel for the residents and for the people living in these conditions, being hated by the people who live here. It's not good. 'We should look to Europe to see how to solve this housing crisis.' Some of the vans and make-shift caravans house professionals, including a maths tutor and IT expert, working from their converted vans, lorries or horseboxes. But many are vulnerable, suffering from mental health issues, homelessness and drug addiction. 'Slum letting' 14 Michael Freeman says being dumped on the Downs has badly affected his mental health Credit: Adrian Sherratt 14 The council said it is working with police to address issues in the area Credit: SWNS Michael Freeman says he lived in his caravan in Warminster until he was evicted from the land it was on by the owner, who then towed him to The Downs and left him there. 'He told me I was going to live on a proper site, and dumped me here five weeks ago. I have no heating, no water and have to walk to town to find food," he explained. 'Being left here badly affected my mental health and to be honest, if it wasn't for my dog Bobby, I wouldn't still be here. 'I can understand why the locals don't like it - I don't even want to be here, I want to be housed. Being left here badly affected my mental health and to be honest, if it wasn't for my dog Bobby, I wouldn't still be here Michael Freeman, van dweller 'I am with the homeless shelter St Mungo's, so I can shower there, but it's not a great situation to be in.' But other van-lifers and residents think the Protect the Downs group is fuelling hatred. An anonymous van dweller said: 'Most of us keep ourselves to ourselves and keep the area tidy, put rubbish in bins and don't cause any issues, but we're all being tarred with the same brush. 'Groups like [Protect the Downs] fuel discrimination. 'I don't work because I'm neurodivergent, and a lot of the other people living here probably have some mental health issues. 'We're not stopping people visiting The Downs, and where else would we go? 'There are proper sites for van-dwellers, called Meanwhile sites, but they're pretty dangerous places and nobody would want to live there.' 'Ignorant' 14 The space is used by Bristol residents as well as the residents of the vans Credit: Adrian Sherratt 14 Some of the van dwellers appear to have settled in for the long term Credit: Adrian Sherratt A local resident and member of the Protect The Downs Facebook group, who asked not to be named, said: 'The group poses as one that is fair and is only concerned with making the Downs a better place for all. "However the message so many of the members spread is one of hatred and discrimination towards those whose lives they don't understand, lives they won't even try to engage with. 'Just the other day Frankie Turton posted about a litter pick up the van dwellers do once a week asking if people would like to join. 'You would have thought those so keen to complain about the problems would be the first to join the pick-up, not one of them has volunteered. 'It would have been an ideal opportunity for everyone to get a better understanding of each other's points of view, but that isn't what the group really wants. 'The group wants to remain ignorant to the struggles of others and to a different way of life.' 'Robust action' 14 A pile of rubbish outside one of the caravans Credit: Adrian Sherratt 14 Cops say they are patrolling the site to deal with issues raised Credit: Adrian Sherratt The group is currently seeking quotes from barristers as it intends to take the council to court if it does not enforce the parking restrictions. Councillor Barry Parsons, Chair of the Homes and Housing Committee, said: 'We understand that the current situation is not sustainable, and the council is taking a proactive stance on addressing issues. 'We know that we need to reduce the need for so many people to live in vehicles, and remain committed to increasing the number of well-built, affordable homes in Bristol so that people have a safe and secure place they can call home. 'People living in vehicles can experience poor health and other vulnerabilities, and our focus must be on finding sustainable solutions and support options. "However, if an encampment, or individuals within an encampment, start to have a negative impact on the area in which they live, we need to make sure we have a robust and clear policy for when we will take action.' An Avon and Somerset Police spokesman said: 'We're aware of public concerns relating to antisocial behaviour in certain parts of The Downs. 'We have frequent contact with partners, including Bristol City Council, and will continue to work with them over the summer months to tackle the issues raised with us. 'The Downs is an area of high footfall so our officers carry out regular high-visibility patrols there to help reduce antisocial behaviour, provide the public with reassurance and to act where any criminal offences may be seen. 'Anecdotal information around issues is useful to help shape our plans for dealing with issues in any area. 'However we'd continue to urge members of the public to report crimes to us, ideally while they are taking place, because that way we can take robust action and secure the evidence necessary to achieve a criminal conviction where the offence must be proven beyond all reasonable doubt.'
