Latest news with #DolphinHotel
Irish Independent
13-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Warning letter issued over development at Mayo hotel
The eight-bedroom hotel, which is accommodating 16 people in emergency accommodation at present, is owned by Manchester-based Pat and Mary Mulhern, who invested over €1 million in restoring the hotel. Local county councillor Michael Loftus expressed concern that ten extra bedroom spaces were being added to the hotel. Last November, the hotel ceased trading 'due to economic challenges facing the hospitality sector'. It has since been providing emergency accommodation for Mayo County Council. Speaking at the monthly meeting of Mayo County Council in Bonniconlon Community Centre, Cllr Loftus described the attempts to add extra bedrooms to the Dolphin Hotel function room as 'crazy'. The Fianna Fáil councillor proposed that people in emergency accommodation should be accommodated on a basis of one bedroom per person. Cllr Michael Kilcoyne seconded his proposal, saying he had received complaints about two strangers being accommodated in one room at one premises. Mayo County Council is currently paying €59.85 per person to hotel owners who provide them with emergency accommodation. In the last week of March, 149 adults accessed emergency accommodation in Mayo. Catherine McConnell, Mayo County Council's Director of Services for Planning, told the Irish Independent that the local authority had issued a preliminary warning letter to the Dolphin Hotel owners. She said that 'no decision on whether any unauthorised work has been carried out has yet been made'. In March, Mayo County Council issued a planning enforcement letter to the owner of the Railway Inn in Ballinrobe accusing him of unauthorised development. ADVERTISEMENT The council alleged that the change of use of the premises from a hotel to emergency homeless shelter required planning permission. Mayo County Council stopped using the property for emergency accommodation following several disturbances in the area around the premises. Separately, Mayo county councillors have called for people in emergency accommodation to be accommodated in their area. At present, several homeless people in Mayo are being accommodated at a former nursing home in Charlestown. Mayo County Council have used the former St Anne's nursing home as emergency accommodation since December 2023. The local authority are currently in a five-year agreement with the owners of the nursing home, which closed in the summer of 2023. The 26-bed facility can accommodate up to 100 people. It is accommodating mostly families at present. Cllr Michael Kilcoyne, who proposed the amendment to Mayo's homelessness action plan, said it was 'wrong' that people in emergency accommodation had to move far away from their area. 'People that become homeless in Castlebar are moved to Charlestown, Crossmolina, wherever…people in Ballina who are being made homeless, some have been moved the same way, and that's wrong.' Mr Kilcoyne's suggestion was backed by Fianna Fáil's Damien Ryan, who said that 'each area should have to look after its own' homeless people. Mr Ryan reiterated Mr Kilcoyne's concerns about children having to be taken out of schools to move to another area.
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Anzac Day dawn service marred by 'disrespectful' act, Karl Stefanovic Two-Up toss questioned, newspaper's scathing Trump cover
Hello and welcome to Yahoo's live news blog this Anzac Day. The dawn service in Melbourne's CBD has been marred after the Welcome to Country was booed by a minority of attendees. Plenty are out and about paying their respects, with pubs packed and Two-up in full swing. Karl Stefanovic and Peter Dutton are among the familiar faces seen playing the game today. Police are urging drivers to make the right decision on the roads after a "concerning" development over the Easter long weekend. Cops in NSW say there's an unacceptable number of drug drivers on the state's roads and motorists need to understand the danger. Follow along as we bring you regular updates throughout the day. And there are more familiar faces out and about today, with Today show host Karl Stefanovic having a great time down at the Dolphin Hotel in Sydney's Surry Hills. He took control of the Two-up action, and was seen clenching his fists in celebration after one of his throws. At one point he was egging punters on between tosses, waving the paddle to chants of olé. But while revellers told Yahoo it was "always fun" to have a celebrity among regular punters, one person said "his tossing ability could be better". Well there you have it. Take a look at his tossing action for yourself below. Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton have paused their election campaigns for Anzac Day and both paid their respects to those who've served their country at services this morning. And like many others, Peter Dutton has moved on to Two-up, and was earlier pictured in the Townsville RSL with a beer in hand. Attendees of Anzac Day services around the world have been hailed for paying their respects, with thousands attending across several continents. That included more than 4,000 people in Gallipoli, close to 2,000 in France, more than 1,000 in Thailand and 3,500 in Papua New Guinea. "Anzac Day commemorations have long held importance for Australians, since the first commemorative service held in 1916. The number of attendees highlights the continued dedication of Australians to honouring the sacrifices made by the Australian Defence Force personnel who have served and those who continue to serve," the Department of Veterans' Affairs said. Open Arms – Veterans & Families Counselling Service provides free and confidential counselling and support for current and former ADF members and their families. They can be reached 24/7 on 1800 011 046 or visit the Open Arms website for more information. A 19-year-old has been arrested over a huge wildfire in the US state of New Jersey, with police alleging he began the fire by burning pallets in dense forest. While at this stage there are no reported deaths or reports of lost buildings, 5,000 residents have been evacuated in the Ocean County area with the fire stretching to more than 15,000 acres. Smoke from the fire was drifting over into New York, leaving New York City with reduced air quality. Read more here. A self-described neo-Nazi has been questioned by police after he disrupted a Melbourne Anzac Day dawn service this morning. Jacob Hersant and his small group shielded themselves in darkness as they shouted "we don't want to be welcomed" and "this is our country" when speakers thanked traditional owners. Their interruptions were drowned out by louder applause from the crowd before police officers ordered him to leave. Hersant was later interviewed for alleged offensive behaviour and police said he could face charges. The events drew widespread condemnation, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese saying the hecklers should face the full force of the law. "A neo-Nazi disrupting Anzac Day is abhorrent, unAustralian and disgraceful," he said. Premier Jacinta Allan condemned the hateful act of disrespect to all service people, while RSL Victoria president Robert Webster said it was completely out of keeping with the intention of the solemn event. "The actions of a handful were completely disrespectful to the Aboriginal community, veterans, and the spirit of Anzac Day," Dr Webster said. Well we've all seen the massive queues outside pubs on Anzac Day, and a Sydney-based company that tracks just how busy venues are has revealed some remarkable data on just how big the day is. Bondi Lines says last year Anzac Day triggered four million views on its platforms as it brought live updates on the city's busiest venues – even with aerial vision from a helicopter. "It really is a hallmark event for Sydneysiders and a great way to pay respects," co-founder Callum Weatherall said. The platform estimated there were 3 million visitors to pubs across Sydney last year, and is expecting more of the same today. There's also been disruption from a heckler at Perth's dawn service this morning. The person began shouting out during Welcome to Country from Noongar Elder and former soldier Di Ryder. Premier Roger Cook called the behaviour "disgusting". "This is a solemn occasion, one where we should come together as a community, and for someone to use it to make a political point, and in that disrespectful way, it is really quite unacceptable," he said. It follows booing during the Welcome to Country during Melbourne's dawn service earlier. Two-up is underway across the country as plenty of Aussies head to the pub this Anzac Day. And while it's often played in a big circle, with gamblers on the outside, not all venues have the space. Take a look at the Quarrymans Hotel in the inner-city Sydney suburb of Pyrmont, which has no choice but to wedge its Two-up into a tight corner of its beer garden. "No one is perfect. It's still fun!" they said. We're sure it is. A major political party in the UK has called for people who play music on their phones on public transport to be hit with a £1,000 ($2,070) fine. "Far too many people dread their daily commute because of the blight of anti-social behaviour - and headphone dodgers playing loud music on buses and trains are some of the worst offenders," Liberal Democrat Home Affairs spokeswoman Lisa Smart said. The Lib Dems is now seeking cross-party support for it to become law, with some MPS previously saying they support such reform. Would you like to see such a fine enforced in Australia? Have your say below. China's having none of Donald Trump's suggestion the US is engaging with Beijing over their escalating trade war, stressing it will only negotiate with Washington if they keep it respectful. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun told reporters discussions had commenced was simply not true. "For all I know, China and the US are not having any consultation or negotiation on tariffs, still less reaching a deal," he said. 'This tariff war is launched by the US. China's position is consistent and clear: We will fight, if fight we must. Our doors are open, if the US wants to talk. Dialogue and negotiation must be based on equality, respect and mutual benefit." It comes after Trump said tariffs imposed on Chinese goods will be far lower than what his administration had stated. With dawn services ending, the attentions of plenty of Aussies looking to enjoy the public holiday have shifted to the pub, with Two-up once again the main drawcard for many. Renowned for its Anzac Day, Sydney's Clovelly Hotel has already got a mammoth queue outside, which snaked down the street before 9am. The venue is one of the city's most popular spots on Anzac Day with similar queues witnessed in recent years. It comes as Liquor and Gaming NSW warn pubs inspectors will be out and about making sure the gambling is all above board on a rare day Two-Up is made legal, while cops will be visiting venue to deter anti-social behaviour. Take a look at the huge line below. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Bondi Lines (@bondi_lines) A Japanese restaurant in Sydney says it is investigating after a customer claimed it found a rat in her salad. Tatsuya West Ryde apologised for the discovery, which it confirmed in a statement shared to customers. "While we prefer not to go into graphic detail out of respect for those affected, we fully recognise that the incident occurred within our operations and may have caused distress to the customers involved, as well as to the wider community that places its trust in us," a statement from the business read. The restaurant has since closed for a thorough clean with pest control called in, it added, with council made aware of the discovery, Nine News reports. King Charles has marked the 110th anniversary of the first landings at Gallipoli with a "special" Anzac Day tribute. He urged Australians to "uphold the values" of those who fought for the country. "It is my fervent hope that the years have brought you to a place of peace, and that peace shall remain with you always," he said in his statement. Today, on #AnzacDay, The King has paid tribute to all Australians and New Zealanders who have served and died in wars, conflicts, and peace keeping year is particularly poignant as commemorations take place to mark the 110th anniversary of the first landings at… — The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) April 24, 2025 Mounting dislike of Peter Dutton has sent the coalition's primary vote plunging to its lowest level in a leading poll as the election looms large. The coalition's primary vote has dropped to 31 per cent, down from 33 per cent last week, the latest YouGov poll provided to AAP shows. Labor's primary vote is up 0.5 per cent to 33.5 per cent. The lowest-ever primary vote the coalition had received in YouGov polling is driven by the opposition leader's unpopularity, director of public data Paul Smith says. "The public have clearly made a decision that they don't want Peter Dutton as prime minister," he told AAP. "The coalition is going backwards at a rate of knots." The YouGov polling shows Labor leading the coalition by 53.5 per cent to 46.5 per cent on a two-party preferred basis. Labor's support is higher than its 2022 federal election result of 52.1 per cent, while the coalition's is 4.7 per cent lower than it achieved at that election. Anthony Albanese (50 per cent) has also extended his lead over Mr Dutton (35 per cent) as preferred prime minister. Mr Dutton's net satisfaction rating dipped to minus 18 from minus 10 last week while Mr Albanese's was down slightly to minus seven from minus six. Read more here. It's another long weekend, meaning double demerits are in force for millions of motorists. And police are saying they don't want a repeat of the Easter long weekend where one in 10 drivers pulled over for drugs testing returned positive results. This is very concerning, and people need to understand that any presence of illegal drugs detected is not acceptable,' Assistant Commissioner David Driver said. 'Alcohol also affects people in different ways. Motorists are reminded that they could still be affected by alcohol the following day, which could push them over the legal limit. 'I ask that people think carefully and make wise decisions about how much alcohol they have had before they get behind the wheel." There's been some scathing coverage of Donald Trump's decisions of late and The Economist isn't holding back with its latest cover. 'Only 1,361 days to go," its latest cover read, referencing the date of the next US election. Accompanying the headline was a drawing of a badly-injured American Eagle. Trump's trade war has sparked panic globally, however his biggest trade feud with China appears to have calmed after a period of tit-for-tat measures, with Trump admitting levies imposed on Chinese goods won't be as high as his administration has stated. Our cover this week. — Shashank Joshi (@shashj) April 24, 2025 Melbourne's Anzac Day dawn service has been marred by a small minority after boos rang out during Welcome to Country. Victoria Premier Jacinta Allan condemned the actions, telling ABC radio the behaviour was "beyond disappointing". To pierce the sombre silence and pierce the solemnity that is the dawn service isn't just disrespectful, it dishonours the very thing that the men and women who fought and lost their lives is about, what Anzac Day is about," she said. Welcome to Country was delivered by Bunurong elder Uncle Mark Brown who persevered through the boos, before applause attempted to drown out the small number of people disrupting the service. Victoria Police are investigating the matter. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. And there are more familiar faces out and about today, with Today show host Karl Stefanovic having a great time down at the Dolphin Hotel in Sydney's Surry Hills. He took control of the Two-up action, and was seen clenching his fists in celebration after one of his throws. At one point he was egging punters on between tosses, waving the paddle to chants of olé. But while revellers told Yahoo it was "always fun" to have a celebrity among regular punters, one person said "his tossing ability could be better". Well there you have it. Take a look at his tossing action for yourself below. Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton have paused their election campaigns for Anzac Day and both paid their respects to those who've served their country at services this morning. And like many others, Peter Dutton has moved on to Two-up, and was earlier pictured in the Townsville RSL with a beer in hand. Attendees of Anzac Day services around the world have been hailed for paying their respects, with thousands attending across several continents. That included more than 4,000 people in Gallipoli, close to 2,000 in France, more than 1,000 in Thailand and 3,500 in Papua New Guinea. "Anzac Day commemorations have long held importance for Australians, since the first commemorative service held in 1916. The number of attendees highlights the continued dedication of Australians to honouring the sacrifices made by the Australian Defence Force personnel who have served and those who continue to serve," the Department of Veterans' Affairs said. Open Arms – Veterans & Families Counselling Service provides free and confidential counselling and support for current and former ADF members and their families. They can be reached 24/7 on 1800 011 046 or visit the Open Arms website for more information. A 19-year-old has been arrested over a huge wildfire in the US state of New Jersey, with police alleging he began the fire by burning pallets in dense forest. While at this stage there are no reported deaths or reports of lost buildings, 5,000 residents have been evacuated in the Ocean County area with the fire stretching to more than 15,000 acres. Smoke from the fire was drifting over into New York, leaving New York City with reduced air quality. Read more here. A self-described neo-Nazi has been questioned by police after he disrupted a Melbourne Anzac Day dawn service this morning. Jacob Hersant and his small group shielded themselves in darkness as they shouted "we don't want to be welcomed" and "this is our country" when speakers thanked traditional owners. Their interruptions were drowned out by louder applause from the crowd before police officers ordered him to leave. Hersant was later interviewed for alleged offensive behaviour and police said he could face charges. The events drew widespread condemnation, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese saying the hecklers should face the full force of the law. "A neo-Nazi disrupting Anzac Day is abhorrent, unAustralian and disgraceful," he said. Premier Jacinta Allan condemned the hateful act of disrespect to all service people, while RSL Victoria president Robert Webster said it was completely out of keeping with the intention of the solemn event. "The actions of a handful were completely disrespectful to the Aboriginal community, veterans, and the spirit of Anzac Day," Dr Webster said. Well we've all seen the massive queues outside pubs on Anzac Day, and a Sydney-based company that tracks just how busy venues are has revealed some remarkable data on just how big the day is. Bondi Lines says last year Anzac Day triggered four million views on its platforms as it brought live updates on the city's busiest venues – even with aerial vision from a helicopter. "It really is a hallmark event for Sydneysiders and a great way to pay respects," co-founder Callum Weatherall said. The platform estimated there were 3 million visitors to pubs across Sydney last year, and is expecting more of the same today. There's also been disruption from a heckler at Perth's dawn service this morning. The person began shouting out during Welcome to Country from Noongar Elder and former soldier Di Ryder. Premier Roger Cook called the behaviour "disgusting". "This is a solemn occasion, one where we should come together as a community, and for someone to use it to make a political point, and in that disrespectful way, it is really quite unacceptable," he said. It follows booing during the Welcome to Country during Melbourne's dawn service earlier. Two-up is underway across the country as plenty of Aussies head to the pub this Anzac Day. And while it's often played in a big circle, with gamblers on the outside, not all venues have the space. Take a look at the Quarrymans Hotel in the inner-city Sydney suburb of Pyrmont, which has no choice but to wedge its Two-up into a tight corner of its beer garden. "No one is perfect. It's still fun!" they said. We're sure it is. A major political party in the UK has called for people who play music on their phones on public transport to be hit with a £1,000 ($2,070) fine. "Far too many people dread their daily commute because of the blight of anti-social behaviour - and headphone dodgers playing loud music on buses and trains are some of the worst offenders," Liberal Democrat Home Affairs spokeswoman Lisa Smart said. The Lib Dems is now seeking cross-party support for it to become law, with some MPS previously saying they support such reform. Would you like to see such a fine enforced in Australia? Have your say below. China's having none of Donald Trump's suggestion the US is engaging with Beijing over their escalating trade war, stressing it will only negotiate with Washington if they keep it respectful. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun told reporters discussions had commenced was simply not true. "For all I know, China and the US are not having any consultation or negotiation on tariffs, still less reaching a deal," he said. 'This tariff war is launched by the US. China's position is consistent and clear: We will fight, if fight we must. Our doors are open, if the US wants to talk. Dialogue and negotiation must be based on equality, respect and mutual benefit." It comes after Trump said tariffs imposed on Chinese goods will be far lower than what his administration had stated. With dawn services ending, the attentions of plenty of Aussies looking to enjoy the public holiday have shifted to the pub, with Two-up once again the main drawcard for many. Renowned for its Anzac Day, Sydney's Clovelly Hotel has already got a mammoth queue outside, which snaked down the street before 9am. The venue is one of the city's most popular spots on Anzac Day with similar queues witnessed in recent years. It comes as Liquor and Gaming NSW warn pubs inspectors will be out and about making sure the gambling is all above board on a rare day Two-Up is made legal, while cops will be visiting venue to deter anti-social behaviour. Take a look at the huge line below. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Bondi Lines (@bondi_lines) A Japanese restaurant in Sydney says it is investigating after a customer claimed it found a rat in her salad. Tatsuya West Ryde apologised for the discovery, which it confirmed in a statement shared to customers. "While we prefer not to go into graphic detail out of respect for those affected, we fully recognise that the incident occurred within our operations and may have caused distress to the customers involved, as well as to the wider community that places its trust in us," a statement from the business read. The restaurant has since closed for a thorough clean with pest control called in, it added, with council made aware of the discovery, Nine News reports. King Charles has marked the 110th anniversary of the first landings at Gallipoli with a "special" Anzac Day tribute. He urged Australians to "uphold the values" of those who fought for the country. "It is my fervent hope that the years have brought you to a place of peace, and that peace shall remain with you always," he said in his statement. Today, on #AnzacDay, The King has paid tribute to all Australians and New Zealanders who have served and died in wars, conflicts, and peace keeping year is particularly poignant as commemorations take place to mark the 110th anniversary of the first landings at… — The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) April 24, 2025 Mounting dislike of Peter Dutton has sent the coalition's primary vote plunging to its lowest level in a leading poll as the election looms large. The coalition's primary vote has dropped to 31 per cent, down from 33 per cent last week, the latest YouGov poll provided to AAP shows. Labor's primary vote is up 0.5 per cent to 33.5 per cent. The lowest-ever primary vote the coalition had received in YouGov polling is driven by the opposition leader's unpopularity, director of public data Paul Smith says. "The public have clearly made a decision that they don't want Peter Dutton as prime minister," he told AAP. "The coalition is going backwards at a rate of knots." The YouGov polling shows Labor leading the coalition by 53.5 per cent to 46.5 per cent on a two-party preferred basis. Labor's support is higher than its 2022 federal election result of 52.1 per cent, while the coalition's is 4.7 per cent lower than it achieved at that election. Anthony Albanese (50 per cent) has also extended his lead over Mr Dutton (35 per cent) as preferred prime minister. Mr Dutton's net satisfaction rating dipped to minus 18 from minus 10 last week while Mr Albanese's was down slightly to minus seven from minus six. Read more here. It's another long weekend, meaning double demerits are in force for millions of motorists. And police are saying they don't want a repeat of the Easter long weekend where one in 10 drivers pulled over for drugs testing returned positive results. This is very concerning, and people need to understand that any presence of illegal drugs detected is not acceptable,' Assistant Commissioner David Driver said. 'Alcohol also affects people in different ways. Motorists are reminded that they could still be affected by alcohol the following day, which could push them over the legal limit. 'I ask that people think carefully and make wise decisions about how much alcohol they have had before they get behind the wheel." There's been some scathing coverage of Donald Trump's decisions of late and The Economist isn't holding back with its latest cover. 'Only 1,361 days to go," its latest cover read, referencing the date of the next US election. Accompanying the headline was a drawing of a badly-injured American Eagle. Trump's trade war has sparked panic globally, however his biggest trade feud with China appears to have calmed after a period of tit-for-tat measures, with Trump admitting levies imposed on Chinese goods won't be as high as his administration has stated. Our cover this week. — Shashank Joshi (@shashj) April 24, 2025 Melbourne's Anzac Day dawn service has been marred by a small minority after boos rang out during Welcome to Country. Victoria Premier Jacinta Allan condemned the actions, telling ABC radio the behaviour was "beyond disappointing". To pierce the sombre silence and pierce the solemnity that is the dawn service isn't just disrespectful, it dishonours the very thing that the men and women who fought and lost their lives is about, what Anzac Day is about," she said. Welcome to Country was delivered by Bunurong elder Uncle Mark Brown who persevered through the boos, before applause attempted to drown out the small number of people disrupting the service. Victoria Police are investigating the matter.
The Guardian
23-03-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Bath, balls and Darcy's pile: where to celebrate Jane Austen's 250th anniversary
Southampton has a significant part to play in the Austen story: after the death of her father in 1805, she moved with her mother and sister to live in the city for three years, taking a house on Castle Square. The Jane Austen Heritage Trail links eight sites around the city that the younger Jane would have known, including the Dolphin Hotel (currently facing an uncertain redevelopment future) where she attended a ball to celebrate her 18th birthday ( A new Austen-focused exhibition opens at the Sea City Museum on 29 March, bringing together rarely seen letters, paintings and personal items belonging to Austen. A Very Respectable Company – Jane Austen and her Southampton Circle also focuses on Austen's circle of female friends, many of whom found their way into her books. Stay at the Pig in the Wall, with just eight shabby-chic bedrooms and a cosy lounge-deli-dining room, serving the best local produce (room-only doubles from £145, Chawton would be just another small, unremarkable Hampshire village, if it wasn't for the fact Austen spent the last eight years of her life there, revising and writing all six of her novels. Her cottage was a gift from her brother, Edward Knight, who owned the Chawton Estate and lived in the Elizabethan manor house. Both are now museums. Jane Austen's House has a year-long programme of events, beginning with the Spring Fling: Sense & Sensibility Festival (1-11 May), which combines guided tours with live performances, workshops and late-night openings, followed by Emma (12-20 July) and Persuasion & Poetry (12-21 September), with winter happenings for her Birthday Celebration Week (13-21 December, The Chawton Library has an exhibition, Sisters of the Pen: Austen, Influence, Legacy, that brings together works by women which shaped, and were shaped, by Austen, along with exhibits, including first editions of her novels ( The Jane Austen Trail follows the route she often walked to the nearby town of Alton, where the 17th-century Swan Hotel makes an ideal period base (room-only doubles from £76, She might have called it 'the most tiresome place in the world' but Bath's history is inextricably entwined with Austen's, who lived in the city from 1801-6, when the town was at the height of fashion as a spa resort. The entire city is a Unesco World Heritage Site (one of only two in Europe, along with Venice), a lattice of honey-hued Georgian streets, colonnades and squares, centred around the original Roman baths. Visitors can take afternoon tea in the original Pump Room, soak in the rooftop pool at the Thermae Bath Spa and even sip the 43-mineral-rich waters. But this year, more than ever, the focus is on Bath's most beloved literary figure. The Jane Austen Centre offers an excellent introduction to her life in the city, with costumed characters, interactive exhibits and a film of the locations that inspired her writing. For Austen 250, the Centre is holding three-themed balls (31 May, 28 June and 13 December), with dance workshops before the events ( To dive more deeply into Austen's sentiments towards Bath, No 1 Royal Crescent's exhibition, The Most Tiresome Place in the World, brings together letters and the only manuscript she wrote while living in the city (5 July- 2 November, Bath's annual Jane Austen Festival gets supercharged this year, with 10 days of balls, country dances, workshops and talks, alongside the largest Regency Costume parade in the world, with soldiers and drummers alongside ladies and gentlemen in full period dress (12-21 September, Stay in one of the elegantly converted Georgian townhouses at No 15 Bath by Guesthouse, where the rooms come with record-players and vinyl, the tea and coffee tray is hidden in a doll's house, there's a complimentary pantry of goodies for post-sightseeing snacking, and an innovative menu of small and larger plates (and wickedly-good cocktails) in the stylish bar (doubles from £147, room-only, It might not quite have had the swoon factor of Colin Firth's Mr Darcy, but Joe Wright's 2005 film of Pride & Prejudice gave Chatsworth a starring role as Pemberton, Darcy's vast country pile. On 13-15 June, the Derbyshire estate steps back into its Regency-era past with a weekend dedicated to all things Austen, with talks, garden tours and an Austen-inspired theatre production, along with the chance to try on Regency fashions (although visitors are encouraged to come along in period dress). The estate has a range of places to stay, from self-catering cottages to pubs and a hotel; the Pilsley Inn is the cosiest, with 13 stylish bedrooms and firelit dining rooms serving well-made pub classics (doubles from £135 room-only, Austen spent her final days in Winchester in 1817 and is buried in the north aisle of the city's imposing, 11th-century cathedral. No 8 College Street, the house where Austen spent her last weeks, and where she died on 18 July 1817, will be open to the public on Wednesdays and Sundays from 4 June to 30 August ( while the Cathedral will host a series of events, including a Regency Ball on 31 May, Austen-themed guided tours and talks and an interactive family trail ( Stay at the Wykeham Arms, a rambling, eclectically furnished gastropub with an award-winning restaurant. It offers luxe bedrooms with Bramley products and Egyptian cotton bedding, perfect for retiring to bed with a good book (doubles from £134,
