Latest news with #Battersea
Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Times
The best interior design courses to take now — in person and online
Anyone looking for a bit of design direction this summer should take note of the increasing number of big-name interior designers offering to share what they've learnt through workshops, masterclasses and creative boot camps, which take place in person or online. Here's a round-up of our favourites. When the LA-based British interior designer Kathryn M Ireland was pregnant with her first son, she bought a run-down farmhouse in the Midi-Pyrénées in the south of France. Her family have had countless holidays there and she has written a book about its restoration and decoration, Summers in France. This June and July, she's running two design boot camps at the house, which she describes as 'a week of learning and laughter'. Doyennes of interior design including Jane Churchill and Whitney Robinson, the former editor-in-chief of Elle Decor, are among those giving workshops. June 23–30 and July 7–14, from $8,500 (about £6,275), 'At some point, most of us get the chance to shape a place and yet it's not something we're ever taught,' says the interior designer Gytha Bouchon, who sets out to address that by hosting one-day masterclasses for up to eight participants at her home in Battersea, south London. Her belief is that everyone has an instinct for design and the day is about unearthing it — in a practical, creative and hands-on way. Participants also gain access to her book of contacts and can order through her network of trade suppliers, sharing her discount 50: are held twice a month. The next ones are on June 10 & 26, £600 including lunch, The interiors journalist Kate Watson-Smyth, who founded the design blog Mad About the House, is hosting three retreats this autumn at her 18th-century home near Turin, Italy. She bought the property in 2023 and renovated it. The itineraries include visits to open-air vintage markets and design workshops with experts such as Fiona de Lys, a colour consultant. The second retreat (October 3-7), run in conjunction with the architect Catherine Finkernagel, will focus on the art of renovations (layout, budget, avoiding common mistakes), be it whole house or a single 12-16; Oct 3-7; Oct 10-13, from £2,750 per person for three nights, including all meals and accommodation, Those who fancy a pre-Christmas escape to Marrakesh may be tempted by this course, which is hosted by the interior designer and broadcaster Sophie Robinson. A guest judge on BBC1's Interior Design Masters, she is known for her vibrant use of colour. The four-day retreat is held at the hotel El Fenn — opened by Vanessa Branson but now co-owned by the artist and designer Madeline Weinrib — and involves four mini masterclasses with Robinson on aspects such as Moroccan design heritage, artisan techniques and home 1-5, from €4,220 (about £3,500) including all accommodation, meals, drinks, trips and transport, (booking opens on June 2) • Attention, interiors snobs! Don't ignore Primark homeware Launching in June, and suitable for a range of design enthusiasts including beginners tackling a renovation, the interior designer Sophie Paterson's course offers more than 12 hours of video content across 40 lessons, split up into eight modules, which cover different rooms. Paterson, who works in London, Surrey and the Middle East and has 662,000 followers on Instagram, aims 'to empower participants with the skills and confidence to design beautiful and functional spaces'.From £999, Create Academy offers video courses from leading names in the world of interior design, with more than 1,000 lessons to choose from. Rita Konig's six-hour course is ideal for beginners or those new to interior design. It was filmed at two of her personal projects, in London and Co Durham. Konig actively encourages participants to discover their own design taste, rather than copy hers.£118 (reduced from £147), or subscribe to all Create Academy courses for £16 a month, Tricia Guild's course feels like a good and affordable introduction into learning about interior design online. Since opening Designers Guild, her shop on Chelsea's King's Road, in 1971, Guild has established a reputation for her use of pattern, colour and texture. The course is made up of four lessons, in which Guild explains how to introduce individual style into a room using colour, fabric and accessories. Participants are encouraged to create a mood board to send to Guild for feedback. £45, A brand new short-format course that focuses on Scandinavian design — it is recommended as ideal for those who are new to interior design. Reena Simon is founder of the lifestyle journal Hygge for Home. Her 12-lesson course teaches how to curate a stylish, cosy and affordable space. It was filmed at her renovated 1960s bungalow in Wales.£63 (reduced from £79), • Reena Simon: How I found success after a life of upheaval Beata Heuman, a Swedish interior designer (and Nicky Haslam protégée) based in London, is known for her ability to effortlessly combine unexpected elements, creating lived-in spaces with character. Launched via BBC Maestro, a subscription-based online learning platform, the course is made up of 20 episodes and helps participants to tackle a renovation, including budgeting, layouts and ideas on paint colours and furnishings.£79, For those wanting to take on a more significant commitment, this is a 13-week certified course with four hours of learning a week and an 8:1 teaching ratio. Inchbald design school has taught a number of leading names, including Nina Campbell, Kelly Hoppen and Henriette von Stockhausen of VSP Interiors. The autumn course runs from Sept 15-Dec 12, £1,500,
BBC News
4 days ago
- Automotive
- BBC News
Albert Bridge closed to drivers for a week for repair work
Albert Bridge in Chelsea will be closed to vehicles for a week to allow the council to carry out essential maintenance.A diversion will be in place - via either Chelsea or Battersea Bridge - from 07:00 BST on 27 May to 06:00 BST on 2 and Chelsea Council said the work is taking place during summer half term to minimise the impact on to the bridge deck, street lighting and expansion joints will be done while pavement repairs will be done in stages so that one footway will be open to pedestrians at all times. Cyclists can cross if they dismount. The bridge deck is made up of 715 individual panels fixed to the timber section. The panels deteriorate with the weather, and traffic can affect the surface of the carriageway and allow water into the timber 10% of the deck is said to be deteriorating and will be placed between the joints to prevent water reaching the bearing beneath the bridge, will also be replaced. Johnny Thalassites, from the council, said: "Keeping an iconic listed bridge operational does take regular maintenance. "We have to be responsible stewards of Albert Bridge which is both a landmark of the London skyline and a vital crossing point."He added that he was grateful for drivers being patient with the "short-term inconvenience". In January 2024, the council began to enforce a three-tonne weight restriction for goods vehicles in order to protect the structure, with fines for vehicles breaching the weight Local Democracy Reporting Service found the council made just over £630,000 by fining drivers breaking the restriction.
Daily Mail
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Peppa Pig's PR guru revealed: The woman behind amazing viral sensation that saw story of cartoon porker giving birth go global
When it was announced live on Good Morning Britain yesterday that national icon Peppa Pig had welcomed a new baby sister, fans across the world could hardly contain their excitement. It was the latest step in a masterful PR campaign which has seen the loveable cartoon character and her family - Mummy, Daddy and brother George - go viral in recent months as excitement built for the big announcement. From live interviews with the family on Good Morning Britain to a gender reveal party at Battersea Power Station, the brand has kept audiences hooked and made headlines across the world. Now, MailOnline can reveal how the company behind the campaign engineered its publicity Masterclass - and the woman behind it. Peppa Pig's PR team lies in PrettyGreen, an agency with years of experience handling clients that are some of the world's largest brands - including Amazon Music, Disney and Pizza Express. Headed up by Managing Director Sarah Henderson, who has been at the firm for 14 years, staff at PrettyGreen worked hard behind the scenes to turn the cartoon into global news, reaching some 1.4 billion people around the world. Ms Henderson, who has some two decades of experience in PR, has previously handled publicity for major brands including Nando's, Nintendo, Snapchat, Three Mobile, Cadbury, Audible and, of course, Hasbro - the firm behind Peppa Pig. After joining the firm in 2011, Ms Henderson worked her way to the top of the business, becoming Group Managing Director in 2021. The brand took inspiration from celebrity pregnancy announcements that take millions by storm - such as Rihanna's recent baby bump reveal at the 2025 Met Gala - to create a moment that 'broke the internet' with a 'playful, relatable moment'. Following a similar strategy, Henderson and her team were able to harness the media and create a unique TV moment that saw a live announcement which went viral on social media - with 57 million views on GMB's TikTok post alone. It all began with an exclusive 'live' interview with Mummy Pig on GMB with showbiz correspondent Richard Arnold. Appearing from her house in 'Peppatown' Mummy Pig was about to spill her major news before being interrupted by her eldest Peppa, who excitedly told her 'mummy, mummy they're showing you on TV, come and see!' After the brief interlude, Mummy Pig was ready with her news. 'I'm excited to share that our family is getting even bigger because we're having another baby!' she told a delighted Richard, before the camera panned back to reveal her baby bump. Mummy Pig also showed off her ultrasound as she revealed she was due in the summer. It was confirmed her pregnancy would also be announced in the perfect cliffhanger - the final episode of the latest series of Peppa Pig, which aired on March 30. The news quickly went around the world, with news outlets covering the story with just as much enthusiasm as any other major pregnancy. And PrettyGreen was quick to take advantage of Peppa's renewed fame by hosting a gender reveal party at one of the UK's most iconic landmarks. The huge party was held at London's Battersea Power Station on April 25, at which Mummy and Daddy Pig dropped a curtain to unveil that they were expecting to welcome a baby girl to add to the family this summer. The global smash hit cartoon also celebrated the gender reveal news with a VIP party at the world's first-ever permanent Peppa Pig store at Battersea on Friday, featuring fundraising in support of NCT, the UK's leading charity for pregnancy and parents. And now, just a month later, Ms Henderson lead PrettyGreen to break the internet again with the announcement of the birth of the new family member - little Evie. Returning to GMB, it was revealed live on air that Mummy Pig welcomed a girl named Evie at 5:34AM on Tuesday. This time Peppa Pig really went the whole hog - appearing at the Lindo Wing in London, the same location where Kate Middleton gave birth to all three of her children, and even employing a town crier. The birth was announced with a royal-inspired twist on the classic royal birth announcement, complete with a town crier, a scroll-style proclamation, and the unveiling of an official Peppa Pig birth certificate. Addressing the public from outside the hospital the crier declared: 'Lend me your ears for news of the birth of a daughter to Mummy and Daddy Pig. Peppa and George have a baby sister and her name is Evie. Long live Evie Pig!' A mock birth bulletin in the style of the royals' announcement was also made and displayed outside. And the excitement doesn't stop here, as fans can join the family on the big screen with Peppa Meets the Baby, a brand-new cinema experience launching May 30 in over 2,600 cinemas across 19 countries. The hour-long, song-filled screening features 10 brand-new episodes, as Peppa and George prepare for the arrival of their baby sister. And next week, GMB has promised to bring viewers Daddy Pig's first 'live' interview after the birth of Evie. Speaking about the success of the campaign online, a PrettyGreen spokesperson said: 'Leaning into internet culture and humour, we transformed this animated milestone into a viral moment, by recreating iconic celebrity pregnancy announcements alongside family photos and a sonogram. 'It provided media, influencers, and earned outlets alike with a rich content library to amplify the story, culminating into a highly shareable global, cross-channel campaign.' They added: 'Mummy Pig Pregnancy broke the internet, trending across Google, X, and TikTok. 'The buzz led to an 88% surge in Peppa Pig UK Google searches and a massive 57M views on Good Morning Britain's TikTok alone. 'The story injected light-hearted positivity into the news cycle, cementing Peppa Pig at the heart of pop culture - sparking conversation on Reddit, Mumsnet, and even earning nods from brands like John Lewis and Grind Coffee.' Peppa Pig first aired in 2004 and has since been broadcast in 180 territories and translated into 40 languages. It's spawned books, toys and even two theme parks, with the global Peppa empire now worth over £1 billion. Creators Neville Astley and Mark Baker admitted they were worried the idea would never get off the ground, and that people were initially bored of the idea. People in the pub would ask us, 'What are you drawing?' We'd say, 'A pig, called Peppa, it's going to be big.' They'd lose interest and wander off', explained Astley. The pair created Peppa and her family working in each other's houses or at the local pub. The creators explained that the secret to Peppa's long-lasting appeal is the show's simplicity, as well as ensuring the piglet is never the butt of the jokes. 'We put a lot of work into making everything look as effortless as possible, said Baker. 'We can laugh at the adults, but children don't like it if we laugh at the children in the show.'
RNZ News
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- RNZ News
Peppa Pig gets new baby sister
Photo: Instagram / officialpeppa Peppa Pig, the cartoon piglet known to millions of children for her muddy adventures, now has a baby sister named Evie, a UK television show has said. The animated show, which has told the story of Peppa, Daddy Pig, Mummy Pig and her little brother George for more than two decades, announced the pregnancy in February. "Daddy Pig has just shared these pictures with me of Peppa's brand new baby sister Evie, named after Mummy Pig's Aunt Evie, she was born at 5:34 am this morning," presenter Richard Arnold said during the Good Morning Britain television show. The gender of the baby was revealed in April when the chimneys of Battersea Power Station in London were lit up in pink to show Mummy Pig was expecting another girl. An hour-long special titled "Peppa Meets The Baby" will premiere on 30 May, as Peppa and George get ready to welcome their new sister. Evie is due to appear on screen in the series from autumn. A special set of stamps has been issued to mark the 20th anniversary of the series, featuring Peppa and her friends. The stamps include Peppa and George, Suzy Sheep, Danny Dog, Daddy Pig, Mummy Pig, Grandpa and Granny Pig in the main set. The series, co-created by Neville Astley and Mark Baker, first aired in 2004 on Channel 5. It has since been broadcast in more than 40 languages and is available in over 180 territories. -AFP
CNA
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CNA
Peppa Pig gets new baby sister, Evie
Peppa Pig, the cartoon piglet known to millions of children for her muddy adventures, now has a baby sister named Evie, a UK television show said on Tuesday (May 20). The animated show, which has told the story of Peppa, Daddy Pig, Mummy Pig and her little brother George for more than two decades, announced the pregnancy in February. "Daddy Pig has just shared these pictures with me of Peppa's brand new baby sister Evie, named after Mummy Pig's Aunt Evie, she was born at 5.34am this morning," presenter Richard Arnold said during the Good Morning Britain television show. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Good Morning Britain (@gmb) The gender of the baby was revealed in April when the chimneys of Battersea Power Station in London were lit up in pink to show Mummy Pig was expecting another girl. An hour-long special titled "Peppa Meets The Baby" will premiere on May 30, as Peppa and George get ready to welcome their new sister. Evie is due to appear on screen in the series from autumn. A special set of stamps has been issued to mark the 20th anniversary of the series, featuring Peppa and her friends. The stamps include Peppa and George, Suzy Sheep, Danny Dog, Daddy Pig, Mummy Pig, Grandpa and Granny Pig in the main set. The series, co-created by Neville Astley and Mark Baker, first aired in 2004 on Channel 5 in the UK. It has since been broadcast in more than 40 languages and is available in over 180 territories. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Peppa Pig (@officialpeppa)
