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The Guardian
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Nuclear haystacks and the patron saint of tyre repairs – Od arts festival review
Dog roses blush, honeysuckle trails and elderflower powders the air in East and West Coker. Dressed in May abundance, the sandy Somerset villages radiate genteel nothing-doing respectability. Yet culture, of an invigorating and experimental kind, has penetrated these sun-slowed lanes. Where TS Eliot once meditated on ageing, death and modernisation, the south-west has its very own bite-sized biennale, the Od art festival. Od isn't really odd, at least by West Country standards (it's the name of a crooked stream that runs through the villages). The theme of this fourth edition is Thinking in Circles, evoking seasons, migration and life cycles. There is a link, too, to the starts and failures, death and dung of Eliot's 1940 poem East Coker (encircling lines from which are inscribed on village signage.) Cumulatively, the 24 artists in the festival raise timely questions about the intersection of the rural and the industrial, the invention of traditions, and the global networks of people and goods through which England is sustained. Star turn is Libby Bove's Museum of Roadside Magic. Occupying a customised truck, it has toured the south-west off and on since Bove's graduation from Bath Spa last summer. The peripatetic archive contains the invented ephemera of songs, dances and esoteric practices used in 'vehicular maintenance, repair and journey making'. Artefacts include maypole-type figures whose coloured ribbons represent 'the wiring arrangements of a seven-pin plug', a photograph of the font of 'St Dunlop' used for the immersion and retreading of rubber tyres, and costumes worn for the blessing of vehicles ahead of an MOT. Bove's attention to the dowdy aesthetic of local museum displays, and the language of their signage is immaculate. From 'historic' photographs of dancers in pearl-buttoned costumes that apparently prefigure motorway engineers' hi-vis, to field recordings of 'traditional' chants, the whole presentation is so thought through and deadpan that it is hard not to believe it's real. This muddying of the waters is affectionate but pointed – in the world of folk custom, the distinction between ancient tradition and recent invention is seldom a sure one. The past for which nationalist politicians invite our nostalgia is as much a creation as the artefacts in Bove's museum. The Museum of Roadside Magic is parked beside a small industrial estate, but other locations are more picturesque. A glowing haystack occupies the 15th-century great hall of the manor house, perfectly echoing the arc of its gothic roof. Illuminated by ultraviolet light and smelling sweetly of the field, Simon Lee Dicker's Red Hot Haystacks nod to the territorial intersection of agriculture and the military. In Orkney in the 1960s, cumulative contamination by atmospheric nuclear tests became evident once hay drying in the field was gathered in stacks. Beyond the wellies in the manor's entrance hall plays Adam Chodzko's The Pickers. Chodzko commissioned four Romanian migrant workers – then engaged in harvesting strawberries in Kent – to view and edit archival film of crop-picking. Images on screen flip between early 20th-century documentation of workers on stilts setting up twine frames for hops, jolly families pulling the flowerheads off the resulting vines, and groups of Londoners gathering Kent harvests on a working holiday. The Romanians, who were recorded while editing, are fascinated by these bygone visions of contented labour and liken them to the collective farms of the Ceaușescu era. Their own workplace more closely resembles a factory or laboratory than a picture-book farm. Within the tightly regulated climate of a plastic-roofed shed, strawberries grow in elevated beds from which stems full of fruit dangle for harvesting. 'Imagine in the future that the British come to Romania to work in one of your companies because their economy has collapsed,' fantasises one of the pickers. 'They would have nothing to do in their own country. It would be interesting if they came to us. I would like it.' International relations of a different kind are imagined by Emii Alrai, whose dioramas of ersatz archaeological fragments are arranged in a long loft first used for the fabrication of ropes. West Coker was once famous for its rope and sail-making, connecting the village to the fortunes of Britain's imperial and merchant fleet. Alrai's half-buried pots and shards imagine the cultural plunder that occurred along these voyages, linking distant soil back to the Somerset fields that grew the flax that made the rope. More esoteric works occupy the cemetery chapel. Arranged in an inward-pointing circle, the ceramic hands of Chantal Powell's A Summoning, sprout ears of corn like tiny flames and carry engraved emblems of woven corn stalks. Its blend of ancient symbols suggests uncanny power. You might think twice before standing at this circle's centre. Ella Yolande's Find Us in the Slip Spaces is a gauzy suspended archway embroidered with pouches of fragrant herbs, leaves and seedheads. In this place of transition between life and death, it hangs as a symbolic (or perhaps hopeful) portal between realms.
Scottish Sun
29-04-2025
- Scottish Sun
Little-known UK train trick that lets you visit up to 3 destinations for the price of one – and the best routes to do it
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A MAJOR train journey hack allows you to hop-on and hop-off a train to see different destinations with just one ticket. A 'break of' route allows travellers to purchase a train ticket, but get on and off the train route at multiple stations - as long as they do it in one day. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 10 Through a 'break of journey' ticket, travellers can see multiple destinations Credit: Alamy This allows passengers to see different towns and cities on the way to their final destination. Although you can stop as many times as you like, we've found three 'breaks' to be the maximum number that gives you enough time to enjoy all locations. Trainline's UK Country Director, Sarah Helppi, said: "Being able to take a 'break of journey' is an underrated perk of most flexible tickets – many people don't realise you can make multiple stops along your route. "This means you can visit more than one destination with the same ticket, maximising its value. "Whether you're looking to stroll around a new city, get immersed in nature or experience a combination, there are many routes across the UK offering easy access to explore. "To plan your next great journey, head to the Trainline app where you can easily research routes and make savings on your tickets." You can break a journey using any 'Anytime' tickets, however it is not possible with 'Advance' tickets. Some 'Off Peak' and 'Super Off-Peak' tickets offer the perk, however, conditions and restrictions do apply. In all cases, Trainline recommends checking the ticket conditions for any journey before completing payment. To do this in the Trainline app, you just click on the information icon. This will then show the conditions of the ticket and will include a note 'Break of Journey'. To save even more money when exploring, Trainline recommends purchasing a digital Railcard. Huddersfield Station Closure: £70 Million Revamp Set to Transform Travel Buying a railcard can maximise savings, as passengers get up to a third off on eligible journeys and according to Trainline, puts an average of £167 back into passengers' pockets each year. There are a range of different railcards including 16-25's, 26-30's, and Family & Friends. Here are Trainline's top five 'break of journey' routes: Bristol Temple Meads to Salisbury Hop on the train at Bristol Temple Meads, heading to Salisbury and enjoy stops at Bath Spa and Bradford on Avon. Once on the train, enjoy seeing the scenery whizz by before getting off at Bath Spa, after about 18 minutes. In Bath, travellers can explore the ancient Roman town, which is known for its Roman Baths and picturesque Royal Crescent. 10 Travelling from Bristol to Salisbury, travellers can get of at Bath Spa and explore Credit: Alamy After you have had enough time in Bath, hope back on the train and head to Bradford on Avon, approximately 15 minutes away. According to Trainline, Bradford on Avon is a "southwestern hidden gem" and is located on the back of the River Avon. Passengers can enjoy a picnic here and walks along the river. Once you have spent enough time in Bradford on Avon, head back onto the train for an hour and then get off at the final stop in Salisbury. Salisbury is one of the UK's most historic cities and is home to Salisbury Cathedral and a copy of the Magna Carta. If time allows, visitors can also jump on a short bus journey to see the Stonehenge. Cost: from £30 (or £19.95 with a railcard) 10 Alternatively, to escape the city Londoners could head to Broadstairs and stop off at Whitstable on the way Credit: Alamy London Victoria to Broadstairs For Londoners wanting to escape the city, travellers can head from London Victoria to Broadstairs, stopping off at Whitstable and Margate. Trainline's first recommended stop is Whitstable, around one hour and 20 minutes from London Victoria. Whitstable is one of the South Coast's most picturesque towns – known for its fresh seafood - particularly oysters - a picturesque beach and traditional pubs. After exploring Whitstable, hop back on the train to Margate, which is a 15-minute journey away. Known for its 'edgy' art scene, Margate is home to The Turner Contemporary art gallery, a number of vintage shops and Dreamland – a vintage amusement park. 10 The journey allows Londoners to escape to the seaside for the day Credit: Getty Broadstairs is then only five more minutes on the train from Margate and is a quieter seaside gem. The town is famous for its beaches and the Dickens House Museum - the cottage Charles Dickens is said to have visited often. Time: One hour and 47 minutes Cost: from £34.90 (or £23.20 with a railcard) Edinburgh (Waverley) to Pitlochry Up in Scotland, travellers can jump on the train at Edinburgh Waverly station and head to Pitlochry, with stops at Stirling and Dunkeld & Birnham. Just 45 minutes from Edinburgh Waverly station is Stirling - home to a host of tourist attractions including Stirling Castle, the Wallace Monument and the Church of Holy Rude, where James VI was crowned. After visiting Stirling, head back onto the train to Dunkeld & Birnham station, about 50 minutes away. 10 Starting in Edinburgh, travellers could explore Stirling, Dunkled and Birnham and Pitlochry Credit: Getty Visitors to Dunkeld can walk through the ancient ruins of Dunkeld Cathedral beside the River Tay or stroll in the forest to see the alleged last surviving tree from Macbeth. Then finally head to Pitlochry, just another 13 minutes on the train and home to the Edradour Distillery, Scotland's smallest traditional whisky distillery, as well as the Pitlochry Dam and Fish Ladder, where you can see salmon leap upstream. Time: One hour and 55 minutes Cost: from £30.40 (or £20.20 with a railcard) Exeter St David's to Hayle In the southwest of the country, travellers can board a train at Exeter St David's heading to Hayle, with stops in Totnes and Truro. Just over half-an-hour from Exeter St David's, Totnes is a small town in Devon home to Totnes Castle, which offers panoramic views of the Dart Valley. Visitors can also go for peaceful riverside walks (or canoe journeys) along the River Dart. 10 From Exeter, travellers could be exploring Totnes within half an hour Credit: Getty 10 They can then head on to Truro and Hayle, to see the Cornish coast Credit: Alamy Head back onto the train for an hour and 45 minutes, before getting off at Truro in Cornwall. The famous Cathedral city offers a mix of grand architecture and a vibrant independent shopping scene. Also, the Pannier Market has been operating since the 1800s offering local produce. It takes another 25 minutes on the train to get to Hayle - a picturesque town located on the south coast of Cornwall, renowned for its beautiful beaches, rich industrial history and close proximity to some of Cornwall's top natural attractions. Time: Two hours and 41 minutes Cost: from £30 (or £19.95 with a railcard) Cardiff to Tenby In Wales, travellers can head from the city of Cardiff to Tenby with a stop at Carmathen. Around two hours from Cardiff, Carmathen is a market town – alleged to be Merlin's home – and the gateway to West Wales. 10 Tenby is only 40 minutes from Carmathen Credit: Getty Visitors can explore Carmarthen Castle, before strolling around the town for lunch, including street food at Carmathen market. Head back onto the train for around 40 minutes, before getting off at Tenby - a picture postcard seaside town, known for its pastel houses and sandy beaches. Time: Two hours and 47 minutes Cost: from £34 (or £22.60 with a railcard) Manchester to Sheffield From Manchester and heading to Sheffield, passengers can jump off at and explore New Mills Central and Edale. Less than half an hour after leaving Manchester Piccadilly, get off at New Mills Central which serves New Mills in High Peak. Offering amazing countryside, traditional pubs and a whole host of outdoor activities, this stop has great walks with views of the Kinder Plateau. 10 Heading out of Manchester, travellers can explore New Mills Central and Edale before reaching Sheffield Credit: Alamy Board the train again for 18 minutes to Edale, where visitors have the chance to take a circular walk to Mam Tor, also known as the Shivering Mountain – one of the most scenic walking routes in the Peak District. Another half an hour will get you to Sheffield – known as the Steel City – is home to loads of attractions, including the Kelham Island Museum where you can learn about the city's steel-making past, the famous Sheffield Cathedral and the Millenium Gallery. Time: One hour and 20 minutes Cost: from £22.10 (or £14.70 with a railcard) The UK is also home to one of the fanciest train journeys with a champagne service, musicians and six-course dinner. Plus, look back at 200 years of UK train travel.
The Irish Sun
29-04-2025
- The Irish Sun
Little-known UK train trick that lets you visit up to 3 destinations for the price of one – and the best routes to do it
A MAJOR train journey hack allows you to hop-on and hop-off a train to see different destinations with just one ticket. A 'break of' route allows travellers to purchase a train ticket, but get on and off the train route at multiple stations - as long as they do it in one day. 10 Through a 'break of journey' ticket, travellers can see multiple destinations Credit: Alamy This allows passengers to see different towns and cities on the way to their final destination. Although you can stop as many times as you like, we've found three 'breaks' to be the maximum number that gives you enough time to enjoy all locations. "This means you can visit more than one destination with the same ticket, maximising its value. Read more on train journeys "Whether you're looking to stroll around a new city, get immersed in nature or experience a combination, there are many routes across the UK offering easy access to explore. "To plan your next great journey, head to the Trainline app where you can easily research routes and make savings on your tickets." You can break a journey using any 'Anytime' tickets, however it is not possible with 'Advance' tickets. Some 'Off Peak' and 'Super Off-Peak' tickets offer the perk, however, conditions and restrictions do apply. Most read in News Travel In all cases, Trainline recommends checking the ticket conditions for any journey before completing payment. To do this in the Trainline app, you just click on the information icon. This will then show the conditions of the ticket and will include a note 'Break of Journey'. To save even more money when exploring, Trainline recommends purchasing a digital Railcard. Huddersfield Station Closure: £70 Million Revamp Set to Transform Travel Buying a railcard can maximise savings, as passengers get up to a third off on eligible journeys and according to Trainline, puts an average of £167 back into passengers' pockets each year. There are a range of different railcards including 16-25's, 26-30's, and Family & Friends. Here are Trainline's top five 'break of journey' routes: Bristol Temple Meads to Salisbury Hop on the train at Bristol Temple Meads, heading to Salisbury and enjoy stops at Bath Spa and Bradford on Avon. Once on the train, enjoy seeing the scenery whizz by before getting off at Bath Spa, after about 18 minutes. In Bath, travellers can explore the ancient Roman town, which is known for its 10 Travelling from Bristol to Salisbury, travellers can get of at Bath Spa and explore Credit: Alamy After you have had enough time in Bath, hope back on the train and head to Bradford on Avon, approximately 15 minutes away. According to Trainline, Bradford on Avon is a "southwestern hidden gem" and is located on the back of the Passengers can enjoy a picnic here and walks along the river. Once you have spent enough time in Bradford on Avon, head back onto the train for an hour and then get off at the final stop in Salisbury is one of the UK's most historic cities and is home to Salisbury Cathedral and a copy of the Magna Carta. If time allows, visitors can also jump on a short bus journey to see the Cost: from £30 (or £19.95 with a railcard) 10 Alternatively, to escape the city Londoners could head to Broadstairs and stop off at Whitstable on the way Credit: Alamy London Victoria to Broadstairs For Londoners wanting to escape the city, travellers can head from London Victoria to Broadstairs, stopping off at Trainline's first recommended stop is Whitstable, around one hour and 20 minutes from London Victoria. Whitstable is one of the South Coast's most After exploring Whitstable, hop back on the train to Known for its 'edgy' art scene, Margate is home to The Turner Contemporary art gallery, a number of vintage shops and Dreamland – a vintage amusement park. 10 The journey allows Londoners to escape to the seaside for the day Credit: Getty Broadstairs is then only five more minutes on the train from Margate and is a quieter seaside gem. The town is famous for its beaches and the Dickens House Museum - the cottage Time: One hour and 47 minutes Cost: from £34.90 (or £23.20 with a railcard) Edinburgh (Waverley) to Pitlochry Up in Scotland, travellers can jump on the train at Edinburgh Waverly station and head to Pitlochry, with stops at Just 45 minutes from Edinburgh Waverly station is Stirling - home to a host of tourist attractions including Stirling Castle, the Wallace Monument and the Church of Holy Rude, where James VI was crowned. After visiting Stirling, head back onto the train to Dunkeld & Birnham station, about 50 minutes away. 10 Starting in Edinburgh, travellers could explore Stirling, Dunkled and Birnham and Pitlochry Credit: Getty Visitors to Dunkeld can walk through the ancient ruins of Dunkeld Cathedral beside the River Tay or stroll in the forest to see the alleged last surviving tree from Macbeth. Then finally head to Pitlochry, just another 13 minutes on the train and home to the Edradour Distillery, Scotland's smallest traditional whisky distillery, as well as the Pitlochry Dam and Fish Ladder, where you can see salmon leap upstream. Time: One hour and 55 minutes Cost: from £30.40 (or £20.20 with a railcard) Exeter St David's to Hayle In the southwest of the country, travellers can board a train at Exeter St David's heading to Hayle, with stops in Totnes and Truro. Just over half-an-hour from Exeter St David's, Totnes is a small town in Devon home to Totnes Castle, which offers panoramic views of the Dart Valley. Visitors can also go for peaceful riverside walks (or canoe journeys) along the River Dart. 10 From Exeter, travellers could be exploring Totnes within half an hour Credit: Getty 10 They can then head on to Truro and Hayle, to see the Cornish coast Credit: Alamy Head back onto the train for an hour and 45 minutes, before getting off at Truro in Cornwall. The famous Cathedral city offers a mix of grand architecture and a vibrant independent shopping scene. Also, the Pannier Market has been operating since the 1800s offering local produce. It takes another 25 minutes on the train to get to Hayle - a picturesque town located on the south coast of Cornwall, renowned for its beautiful beaches, rich industrial history and close proximity to some of Cornwall's top natural attractions. Time: Two hours and 41 minutes Cost: from £30 (or £19.95 with a railcard) Cardiff to Tenby In Wales, travellers can head from the city of Cardiff to Tenby with a stop at Carmathen. Around two hours from Cardiff, Carmathen is a market town – alleged to be Merlin's home – and the gateway to West Wales . 10 Tenby is only 40 minutes from Carmathen Credit: Getty Visitors can explore Carmarthen Castle, before strolling around the town for lunch, including street food at Carmathen market. Head back onto the train for around 40 minutes, before getting off at Time: Two hours and 47 minutes Cost: from £34 (or £22.60 with a railcard) Manchester to Sheffield From Manchester and heading to Sheffield, passengers can jump off at and explore New Mills Central and Edale. Less than half an hour after leaving Manchester Piccadilly, get off at New Mills Central which serves New Mills in High Peak. Offering amazing countryside, traditional pubs and a whole host of outdoor activities, this stop has great walks with views of the Kinder Plateau. 10 Heading out of Manchester, travellers can explore New Mills Central and Edale before reaching Sheffield Credit: Alamy Board the train again for 18 minutes to Edale, where visitors have the chance to take a circular walk to Mam Tor, also known as the Shivering Mountain – one of the most scenic walking routes in the Another half an hour will get you to Sheffield – known as the Steel City – is home to loads of attractions, including the Kelham Island Museum where you can learn about the city's steel-making past, the famous Time: One hour and 20 minutes Cost: from £22.10 (or £14.70 with a railcard) The UK is also home to one of the fanciest train journeys with a champagne service, musicians and six-course dinner. Plus 10 'Break of journey' tickets are even cheaper with a railcard Credit: Getty
BBC News
07-04-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Bath's first-ever waiter race raises money for charity
Waiters in Bath have been taking part in a Parisian tradition, racing against each other while trying to keep a tray working across the city's restaurants and cafes took turns carrying a tray with the traditional Sally Lunn buns from Bath and glasses of water across the famous Royal Herbert, CEO of organiser Bath Business Improvement District (BID) said the event on Monday raised funds for Hospitality Action - "a really good charity for people in the sector".Baker Richard Bertinet said it was a bit of "fun" on a sunny day that made Bath look "just as beautiful" as the south of France. "It's amazing isn't it," he said. "I've got my sunglasses on. Bath looks so beautiful today. It's fun, we're having fun." "They're racing but [also] waiting so they're not allowed to run otherwise they'll spill the drinks," Ms Herbert said ."They had two champagne flutes and a whisky glass on their tray with a Sally Lunn Bun - It's got to be about Bath."Everybody's raising funds for Hospitality Action, which is a really good charity for people in the hospitality sector who have found themselves in really difficult situations."Once points were deducted for spillages, the 2025 champions were winning team of waiters from The Pump Room jokingly said their secret to doing the race well was to drink Bath Spa water "every day".
