Latest news with #Boddingtons
Spectator
30-07-2025
- Spectator
Make teenage summer jobs compulsory
I'm of an age where a summer's evening often means a few gin and tonics on my balcony along with cheese, olives and an Etta James soundtrack. But it wasn't that long ago that the slow descent of the amber orb meant trekking into Chester city centre to catch a minibus that would take me to a shampoo factory on the outskirts of Flint. There, from 9 p.m. until 7 a.m., my job was to screw the tops on to bottles of shampoo and conditioner to a soundtrack of scatological invective from my workmates, broken only by a 2 a.m. canteen break for cigarettes and a semi-melted KitKat. I endured this for three nights a week between finishing my A-levels and going to university, knowing while I stood at the frequently malfunctioning conveyor belt that some of my mates would at that very moment be boozing in beer gardens and attempting to snog girls to the strains of Pulp and Blur in Raphael's indie disco back in Chester. I was 18, but I'd been working since I was 12 and a half – the age I got my first paper round delivering exactly 144 (that number will never leave my memory) copies of the Chester Standard after school to houses, far too many of which were guarded by dogs seemingly professionally trained to attack children representing the bottom rung of the local press. The canine attacks were frightening and the shampoo bottles were sticky, but the money I earned ensured that I was never short of football stickers and, latterly, pints of Boddingtons. More importantly, doing these horrible jobs as a teenager instilled two important lessons in me. Firstly, you do actually take a pride in getting a wage packet, no matter how vile the work. Secondly, these forms of employment acted as a stern cautionary tale: if I didn't crack on with my studies, then I could be doing this kind of toil for the rest of my life. This was all three decades ago. But as a disabled, state-schooled northerner in the world of London media, I've long stopped feeling incredulous at the reactions of my more privileged brethren when I tell them about those odious teen jobs. I'm painfully aware of the potential to sound like Josiah Bounderby in Hard Times so I've never laid it on too thick with my tales of northern manual labour; after all, doing a paper round and a factory job isn't the same as a career spent down a deep cast mine. But, to many of those I have shared my quotidian, minimum-wage tales with, it seems that I have emerged straight from a chapter of The Road To Wigan Pier, only minus the flat cap and rickets. Am I jealous of their ability to eschew ever having had a summer job – chiefly thanks to the Bank of Mummy and Daddy? Yes, of course. But I also know my soul is purer from having had little choice but to work from a young age. As a result, I'm far less likely to miss a work deadline because it's 'all been a bit frantic here lately' or, most nauseating of all, 'because I've been a bit under the weather'. I've been staggered to discover, from my fiancée's 16-year-old son, just how few of his classmates are working, or even being pressured by parents into getting some kind of summer job – whether it be doing an internship or simply earning a crust at a McDonald's drive-through or at an Amazon warehouse. To sail into university and then into your chosen career without ever having known what it's like to tolerate a summer job is a dangerous way to enter your twenties. You will be more entitled. You will have less resilience. You are far more likely to develop confused, patronising or downright pejorative views about people who have less well-paid work than yourself. And you really won't have the same grasp of the value of a ten pound note. You don't have to travel far these days to find much bloviating around the 'snowflake' attitude of today's teens. And while any legislated insistence on 16- to 18-year-olds procuring a summer job of some kind is hardly the equivalent to demanding the reinstatement of national service, there probably should be consequences for the in-betweeners who decide to spend their summer gaming and guzzling rather than doing at least a moderate amount of grafting. So, without wishing to sound too much like one of the Four Yorkshiremen from Monty Python, I humbly suggest that, if you have done no work at all between the end of your GCSEs and the start of university (and work could include anything from volunteering to a lengthy internship or just sweating it out behind the till at Lidl), then this should count against you when it comes to getting into your chosen university. This could quite easily be accomplished. A few pay stubs or a letter from an employer stating that you have held down a job of some kind should be included with a university application. (Oh, and getting a family member to say that young Toby or Cordelia worked as an intern at Dad's company absolutely won't cut it.) If choosing to party in Ibiza on mum and dad's money can make the difference between getting into either Balliol or the University of Bolton, then teens might find that earning a crust for at least part of their summer is worth the strain. Are there jobs available for 16- to 18-year-olds? Yes, of course – and any claim otherwise should be robustly dismissed by parents if hollered at them by a truculent teen. There is a recruitment crisis in the realms of catering, hospitality and manual work in this country. Many of the jobs are zero hours, many of them come via an agency and almost none of them are well paid. But any teen can get one. As I found myself, nothing works better for scaring you straight than the notion that a lack of academic effort could result in the foreman at a North Wales shampoo factory offering you a job, and I quote, 'full time, if things don't work out, Rob'. So far (and I'm 47 now), they have worked out. But the memory of screwing on those bottle tops at 3 a.m. in 1996 is palpable. Every young man or woman, if they ever feel complacent in their first post-graduation career job, should be able to summon up the smell of chip fat, the weight of a beer barrel or the mephitic odour of cheap shampoo in their leaner moments. A tough summer job isn't for life. But the memory and experience of one is capable, over the succeeding decades, of making you graft harder, make excuses less easily and, just maybe, make you a little more grateful for what you now have.
The Sun
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
So why DID pin-up Mel Sykes vanish from the public eye? Pals reveal all about her reclusive life amid ‘tough' few years
She was the ultimate 90s pin-up, the glamour girl with looks, brains and personality who was once voted the eighth sexiest woman in the world. But fast forward three decades and Melanie Sykes - once a successful model and presenter with a string of high-profile boyfriends and legions of male fans - has practically vanished from the public eye. 18 18 18 Now, the former Big Breakfast star, 54, spends her days painting - even dabbling in nude self-portraits - writing about her various health struggles and shunning showbiz parties after quitting the bright lights of the big smoke for a quiet life in the Yorkshire countryside. And pals insist she 'feels like a completely different person' to the bombshell brunette who kickstarted her career in an ad for Boddington's beer. A source told The Sun: 'She has had a really tough few years dealing with various health issues, and has openly admitted she has PTSD from working in the TV industry." Quit London for Yorkshire Mel has also openly documented her struggles with autism since being diagnosed in 2021, and publicly stated she believes she has Tourette's Syndrome too. The source added: 'She feels like a totally changed woman from the one that was on our screens for all those years, and she is focusing on healing from her trauma, as well as focusing on her health. Her life isn't anywhere near as glamorous as it once was, but she is much happier. She has found a love of painting, which has been really therapeutic for her. She's even painted some nude self-portraits of herself which she has shared on her social media. She finds it very liberating - she wanted to practice drawing the female form, so she figured why not make herself the model?' Mel's journey from lairy ladette to practical obscurity stems from a tumultuous time in the TV industry, most notably her experience on Celebrity Masterchef in 2021, which became the catalyst for her to quit the business for good. 'I was done' The brave mother of two sensationally walked away from her successful career after Gregg Wallace, who last week was sacked from the show following an enquiry into alleged misconduct, made inappropriate comments to her on set. Gregg Wallace is why I ended my TV career, Melanie Sykes says - as she slams 'jaw-dropping' behaviour on MasterChef set Mel claims that Gregg asked her if models eat, something she found 'ignorant,' before telling her that being on Masterchef would help her career. 'I didn't know what to say,' she wrote later. 'So I smiled and said: 'Yes,' but I was really thinking: 'Yes, you have finally helped me decide to end my television career once and for all. I was done.' She called Gregg's behaviour towards her 'unprofessional' and 'jaw-dropping', said she didn't like him being around her and even made an informal complaint against the former greengrocer. Earlier this month, 45 out of 83 allegations made against him during his tenure on the show were substantiated. But despite the victory for Gregg's victims, and his insistence that he is 'deeply sorry' for his actions, it's not likely to instigate a return to the limelight for Mel. These days, Mel prefers to keep in touch with her fans via online mediums where she is in control. 'Industry creates monsters' She boasts almost 300k followers on Instagram and 6.45k subscribers to her YouTube channel, also writes a regular Substack blog, following the closure of her magazine, The Frank, last year. 18 18 18 Using her various outlets, she regularly updates fans on her mental health, often sharing her artwork with hashtags such as 'recovery', 'blessed', and 'healing' or sitting down to address viewers with videos that cover everything from menopause and her autism diagnosis to her TV experiences and health woes. She spoke recently about suffering from an irregular heartbeat, which she claimed doctors ignored and also talked at length about a recent battle with alopecia, both of which she said were triggered by the allegations made against former Let's Do Lunch co-host Gino D'ACampo, earlier this year. After learning Gino was accused of misconduct, Mel 'didn't sleep a wink', she has said. 'This industry creates monsters,' she said on her YouTube channel, Melanie Sykes Is. 18 'I feel like I was in a war zone in that industry – 24 years of battling through an industry that didn't feel right to me anyway.' Since walking away from her lucrative telly jobs, Mel doesn't appear to be making the same money she did in her heyday, when she fronted shows such as Today with Des and Mel, Shop Well For Less and was the voice of the Blind Date reboot. But our insider insists she is getting by. The source said: 'Obviously she doesn't have the income she once had from all her TV and modelling jobs, which has been challenging and stressful at times, but she has savings and she makes money from writing her Substack newsletter, still has some royalties from her biography and she gets paid to speak at various festivals and events. 'She's also been getting funding for some film projects, which she is working on behind the camera and hopes one day to be able to make a living from her paintings.' 18 Mel, who came third in I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here! in 2014, was once a well-known face on the showbiz circuit. Her modelling career, followed by a successful stint as a reporter on MTV and The Big Breakfast, catapulted her to fame and lads' mags couldn't get enough of her. As a result Mel dated a string of famous faces, including Steve Coogan, Max Beesley and even Olly Murs. She was also in a long-term romance with Bros singer Matt Goss, which ended in 1997, when she discovered he was cheating on her. She went on to marry twice, once in 2001 to actor Daniel Caltagrione, father of her two sons, Roman, 23, and Valentino, 21 and later, in 2013, to roofer Jack Cockings, a union which lasted barely three years. She also famously enjoyed a romance with a 24 year old-gondolier, Riccardo Simionato, who she met on a canal in Venice in 2020. Now, however, those days of public romances are behind her. 'You won't catch Mel getting snapped with a lover again,' says a friend. 'She feels very scarred by how some of her romances played out in the media, and she feels like the way her love life was scrutinised impacted her relationships. These days, she is focused on putting herself first, not a man.' 18 18 18 As for her old TV pals, Mel still keeps in touch with a few people from the industry, including Alan Carr, but, according to our source, a lot of her 'showbiz friendships have fallen by the wayside'. 'Mel prefers to keep a small circle of close friends,' our insider said. 'Since being diagnosed as neurodivergent, she has learnt a lot about herself and realised she doesn't have the energy to cope with lots of casual, flighty friendships, she finds it really draining.' Looking to the future, feisty Mel has vowed to continue to use her voice to speak out about the wrongdoings in the TV industry with friends insisting she 'isn't afraid to call out the wrongdoings and BS she has experienced.' The source continued, 'It's really inspiring to see how far she has come. A lot of people who have been through what Mel has been through would have totally crumbled, but she is a survivor. "She's living proof that you can fall down in life and not only survive - but start all over again.' 18 18
Scottish Sun
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Iconic 90s beer RETURNS to taps after over a decade – and punters will be buzzing
The beer was renowned for its adverts which led to one TV star finding fame - do you remember them? CHEERS TO THAT! Iconic 90s beer RETURNS to taps after over a decade – and punters will be buzzing Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) AN iconic 90s beer is returning to pub taps after over a decade to the delight of punters. The legendary "Cream of Manchester", Boddingtons Cask Ale, became a symbol of Northern Pride, with the brewery famed for its memorable adverts starring Melanie Sykes. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Boddingtons Cask Ale is returning to pubs soon (Credit: JW Lees) 2 Melanie Sykes found fame starring in the iconic Boddingtons ad in the 90s Credit: Boddingtons First brewed in 1778, the famous ale disappeared from handpumps in 2012 but is now set to return to pubs across the North West. Manchester's oldest brewer JW Lees is to brew the cask ale close to its original home under licence from Budweiser Brewing Group. Punters who have waited 13 years for a sip of the creamy ale will be able to order a pint of it in selected pubs across the North West from September, before it becomes more widely available. The brewery said it would be brewed using traditional methods, but would be given a fresh twist for modern punters. The relaunched cask ale will have an ABV of 4% - slightly weaker than its original 4.1% recipe. JW Lees director William Lees-Jones said: 'When I joined JW Lees in 1994, Boddingtons was 'The Cream of Manchester' and we were in awe of their position in leading the cask beer revolution…' 'We are planning to put Boddingtons back where it rightly deserves to be, as one of the leading premium UK cask beers, particularly in our heartland of the North West. 'We also look forward to working with Budweiser Brewing Group with their portfolio of market-leading lagers and premium packaged beers in our pubs.' Boddingtons is best known for its creamy texture and the catchphrase "Do you want a flake in that?" which it adopted in its iconic 90s advertising campaign. TV presenter and Northerner Melanie Sykes first found fame starring in the ads, which originally aired in 1996, before she made the leap into presenting thanks to The Big Breakfast. Mel Sykes stars in classic Boddington's Bitter advert with athlete Ken George The star reunited with her "old muckers" in 2017 to shoot a new Boddingtons ad. While production of its cask beers stopped in 2012, cans of Boddingtons draught bitter can still be found in high street stores. As part of the beer's relaunch, JW Lees has created a new ad campaign referencing another of Boddingtons' famous slogans. A poster by the brewery readers: "By 'eck, the Cream of Manchester is back on cask" - a reference to the original "By 'eck it's gorgeous" line synonymous with Boddingtons' 90s ads. AB InBev (Budweiser Brewing Group) president Brian Perkins said "We are excited to relaunch Boddingtons Cask Ale in partnership with JW Lees, combining one of the UK's most iconic beer brands with one of its most respected brewers. "We see real growth potential for Boddingtons in the UK On Trade, and this is a great example of how strategic partnerships can unlock value for both businesses and beer lovers alike.' Other iconic beers returning to pubs The Cream of Manchester isn't the only iconic beer returning to pub taps. Double Diamond beer was among the nation's best-selling drinks from the 1950s to through to the early 1990s, before it was discontinued in 2003. It made its return to pubs last year, and it was recently revealed that it has returned to the high street, with cans of the pale ale on sale in Tesco. In other booze news, Captain Morgan announced this month it's launching a "tropical beer" for the first time. The iconic rum maker's "Muck Pit Brew" is described as a "tropical beer-inspired drink with a gently fizzy twist, combines spiced rum, hops, and vibrant Caribbean vibes." The flavours are inspired by hops, which are a common ingredient found in beer, and fermented fruits such as mango. The booze contains 4% alcohol by volume (ABV) and is available in 440ml cans. Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@ Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories
The Sun
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Iconic 90s beer RETURNS to taps after over a decade – and punters will be buzzing
AN iconic 90s beer is returning to pub taps after over a decade to the delight of punters. The legendary "Cream of Manchester", Boddingtons Cask Ale, became a symbol of Northern Pride, with the brewery famed for its memorable adverts starring Melanie Sykes. 2 First brewed in 1778, the famous ale disappeared from handpumps in 2012 but is now set to return to pubs across the North West. Manchester's oldest brewer JW Lees is to brew the cask ale close to its original home under licence from Budweiser Brewing Group. Punters who have waited 13 years for a sip of the creamy ale will be able to order a pint of it in selected pubs across the North West from September, before it becomes more widely available. The brewery said it would be brewed using traditional methods, but would be given a fresh twist for modern punters. The relaunched cask ale will have an ABV of 4% - slightly weaker than its original 4.1% recipe. JW Lees director William Lees-Jones said: 'When I joined JW Lees in 1994, Boddingtons was 'The Cream of Manchester' and we were in awe of their position in leading the cask beer revolution …' 'We are planning to put Boddingtons back where it rightly deserves to be, as one of the leading premium UK cask beers, particularly in our heartland of the North West. 'We also look forward to working with Budweiser Brewing Group with their portfolio of market-leading lagers and premium packaged beers in our pubs.' Boddingtons is best known for its creamy texture and the catchphrase "Do you want a flake in that?" which it adopted in its iconic 90s advertising campaign. TV presenter and Northerner Melanie Sykes first found fame starring in the ads, which originally aired in 1996, before she made the leap into presenting thanks to The Big Breakfast. Mel Sykes stars in classic Boddington's Bitter advert with athlete Ken George The star reunited with her "old muckers" in 2017 to shoot a new Boddingtons ad. While production of its cask beers stopped in 2012, cans of Boddingtons draught bitter can still be found in high street stores. As part of the beer's relaunch, JW Lees has created a new ad campaign referencing another of Boddingtons' famous slogans. A poster by the brewery readers: "By 'eck, the Cream of Manchester is back on cask" - a reference to the original "By 'eck it's gorgeous" line synonymous with Boddingtons' 90s ads. AB InBev (Budweiser Brewing Group) president Brian Perkins said "We are excited to relaunch Boddingtons Cask Ale in partnership with JW Lees, combining one of the UK's most iconic beer brands with one of its most respected brewers. "We see real growth potential for Boddingtons in the UK On Trade, and this is a great example of how strategic partnerships can unlock value for both businesses and beer lovers alike.' Other iconic beers returning to pubs The Cream of Manchester isn't the only iconic beer returning to pub taps. Double Diamond beer was among the nation's best-selling drinks from the 1950s to through to the early 1990s, before it was discontinued in 2003. It made its return to pubs last year, and it was recently revealed that it has returned to the high street, with cans of the pale ale on sale in Tesco. In other booze news, Captain Morgan announced this month it's launching a "tropical beer" for the first time. The iconic rum maker's "Muck Pit Brew" is described as a "tropical beer-inspired drink with a gently fizzy twist, combines spiced rum, hops, and vibrant Caribbean vibes." The flavours are inspired by hops, which are a common ingredient found in beer, and fermented fruits such as mango. The booze contains 4% alcohol by volume (ABV) and is available in 440ml cans.
Time of India
22-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
British brews, desi cheers
There's refreshing news for guzzlers in the midst of an unsparing summer. Following the India-UK Free Trade Agreement , the import duty on British beer has been slashed by 75% – down from a steep 150%. Which means, your favourite chilled pint from the UK might soon be easier on the wallet. Coupled with the rise of gastro pubs and microbreweries, Indian drinkers (except those in Karnataka*) have never had it so good. 'Slow sip, long conversations' For many, beer and summer go hand in hand. But its popularity isn't seasonal. Beer ranks just behind hard liquor as India's most-consumed alcohol. 'Beer suits India's tropical climate – it's refreshing, low in alcohol, and lends itself to long chats or loud parties,' says Pankil Shah, co-owner of a Colaba resto-pub. 'It's casual, easy, and more 'sessionable' than spirits.' Debayan Datta, manager at a nationwide pub chain, agrees, 'Beer fits into every social scene – from house parties to cricket screenings.' The Karnataka conundrum: *In its fourth liquor price hike in under two years, the Karnataka government has increased the additional excise duty (AED) on beer from 195% to 200%, while cheaper Indian Made Liquor (IML) brands are expected to rise by ₹15–₹20 per 180 ml quart Cheers to Brit beers Premium UK labels like Boddingtons, Newcastle Brown Ale, Fuller's, Carling, and Cobra may become more accessible. 'These are maltier, low on hop bitterness and are great for those new to craft beer ,' Shah adds. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 전체 임플란트 꼭 필요하신 분 이라면? after 문의하기 Undo 'We're seeing growing interest in styles like IPAs (Indian Pale Ales) and stouts (like Guinness).' But there needs to be more awareness, felt Gurpreet Singh, owner of an alcohol brand in Bengaluru. 'Consumers buy beers like Corona and Hoegaarden because of Hollywood, Budweiser does well because of its global name. For UK beers to do well, they have to be better known,' Singh said. Spoilt for choice Homegrown microbreweries remain a strong draw, especially for younger drinkers. 'Craft beer's low preservatives and competitive pricing keep it popular,' says Sk Samim, GM of a resto-pub chain in the East and Northeast. Between premium imported brands and a blooming homegrown industry of microbreweries, we may be now spoilt for choice as a beer-loving nation. The cut in import duty on UK beers will certainly widen the spectrum of choices for Indian consumers. This is also an opportunity for Indian craft and mainstream beers to get greater visibility in the UK, where there's increasing curiosity about world beers Urban audiences are increasingly curious. Beer festivals and microbreweries have nurtured that curiosity – Debayan Datta, pub-chain manager What's Trending Crisp lagers: great for hot weather Wheat beers: smooth with a fruity touch Flavoured brews: mango, chili, coffee Craft ales: bold, experimental sips UK beers just got cheaper by 75 %Inputs by: Ruman Ganguly and Devika V Menon Check out our list of the latest Hindi , English , Tamil , Telugu , Malayalam , and Kannada movies . Don't miss our picks for the best Hindi movies , best Tamil movies, and best Telugu films .
