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The Hindu
a day ago
- Sport
- The Hindu
The icing on the cake while covering a sport
More than a decade ago, my professor at journalism school advised us to always carry a few chocolates or an energy bar while we were on the field. This was to counter the uncertain world of day-to-day reporting, where both availability of food and windows to eat are erratic. However, I took up sports journalism, where a day is more structured. We know of events beforehand, and we usually cover a sport which has designated breaks for lunch and tea, and of late, even dinner. This has given us the opportunity to explore multiple culinary worlds. So much so that the lunch and tea spreads rank second in the list of our curiosities, just below the great sport itself. There are those who consider catering at stadiums as an enabler and not a main event. It helps scribes do their jobs without having to worry about filling their stomachs. It is a complimentary service, not a right. But cricket in India — at least at a majority of the stadiums — has such good arrangements for food that it has become an integral part of our experience. In this, I can say with authority — and can speak for a lot of others too — that Chennai and its iconic venue Chepauk ranks the best. It did when I worked there from 2012 to 2015, and it still did when I went back last year. During IPL 2024, one favourite dish was kalan pattani milagu peratal (mushrooms and green peas cooked in crushed black pepper and onion masala). It was rich and layered, in line with its long name and elaborate explanation. Bengaluru, my home city; Indore, widely regarded as the street food capital of India; and Ahmedabad, which I have visited often in the past two years, offer excellent spreads too. In fact, cricket reporters regularly upload photos of 'today's menu' on social media platforms, and two enthusiastic journalists even started a web portal to document each venue and the food it had to offer. A month ago, I landed in Leeds, United Kingdom, to cover the opening match of the ongoing five-match Test series between England and India. I had, of course, packed my usual set of ready-to-eat meals, but I was very much looking forward to the lunch and tea buffets at the famed cricket ground in Headingley. Mac and cheese and one boiled vegetable welcomed me on day one. With that, my bubble, which had swollen disproportionately because of years of pampering, burst immediately. The local press corps was upset with the cuisine too, and though things got better in the days ahead and the desserts were outstanding throughout, the first afternoon was a rough reminder that catering was indeed a service and not a right. My colleagues from other Indian media houses, who had past experience of covering cricket in England, assured me that I would be better off in Birmingham, the venue for the second Test. The West Midlands city has a significant Asian population and I was desperate to see that rich diversity reflect in my plate. The Industrial Revolution-era megapolis did not disappoint, with the first afternoon offering masala chickpea salad, Indian chopped salad, slow cooked carrots and broccoli, and home-made flavoured bread. To round it off, there was chocolate mint with chocolate mousse and egg custard tart, tickling my taste buds no end. Wimbledon, my last stop of the work tour, was predictable but perfect. From the menu to the chefs to the counter-managers in the media cafeteria, nothing had changed much since my first visit in 2019. The world famous strawberries and cream was inflation-proof from 2010 to 2024 at £2.50, and rose by 20 pennies only this edition. And like a champion tennis player's repeatable technique, the catering at the All England Club delivers every single time. A great service that everyone rightfully enjoys.
The Independent
25-04-2025
- The Independent
The 10 best UK city breaks for a weekend trip in 2025
Days spent lounging in parks, pub gardens with pitchers of Pimms, and early evening strolls along the beach: the long, lazy days of the great British summertime are officially on their way. June, July and August provide the perfect opportunity to explore some of the UK's most beloved places at a time of year where we dare to hope that rain won't ruin our weekend (but to be safe, pack a raincoat). Staycations are still a strong contender for Brits' booking holidays in 2025. And while there are excellent countryside and coastal destinations to uncover, some of the best UK locations worthy of exploration are its cities. Need some inspiration for your next break? Here are some of the best UK cities to help you choose your 2025 staycation. London The capital remains the best city in the country for things to do, with world-famous museums, parks, galleries and monuments. Walk through Westminster to see Buckingham Palace, Big Ben or Trafalgar Square (among many other sights), catch a West End show or simply explore Covent Garden, Piccadilly and Leicester Square. The more artistically minded can look forward to seeing some of the world's best artists at the National Gallery, the Tate (both Modern and Britain) and White Cube. Public green spaces make up around 20 per cent of the city, making them a perfect place for a post-art debate; centrally-located parks include Regent's Park and Hyde Park, but it's worth venturing further afield for a romp around Richmond Park and Hampstead Heath for dazzling city views. Incredible food can be found all across the city, with Camden and Shoreditch top destinations for street food, while Borough and Broadway markets are home to both food stalls and top class restaurants. There is no shortage of hotels in London. The Z Hotel Holborn is less than five minutes away from Holborn underground station and under 10 minutes' walk from Covent Garden, providing the perfect base for exploring the city's many attractions. Manchester The Industrial Revolution-era powerhouse lays claim to being the city that ' invented the weekend ', so what better place to enjoy one? The city has transformed in the last 20 years, with a skyline that has added numerous skyscrapers, and neighbourhoods that have been transformed from ' industrial wastelands ' into bustling, trendy districts. Many of the buildings in the city centre have retained their old red brick, factory-style facades (despite their interiors making way for apartments, restaurants and even cinemas), adding to the city's sense of architectural identity. The focus in Manchester is not on sightseeing, but rather on general exploration. Spend time in Deansgate – the city's high street, where you'll find independent shops and cafes alongside all the expected names – but the canals of Castlefield and the still-industrial streets of Ancoats are worth wandering through for some of the best scenery (and most popular restaurants) in the city. If you're looking to stay more centrally, locals will tell you not to miss the Northern Quarter: this is the city's main nightlife hub, but during the day is a maze of restaurants, shops and cafes ranging, from the high-end to the bizarre. Stay The Novotel Manchester Centre's location is among the best in the city, perfectly located for exploring almost every area of the city. It's also close to Piccadilly station. Edinburgh The Scottish capital is well-known for the architecture of its medieval Old Town and the grand nature of events such as the Festival Fringe and Hogmanay celebrations. One of the most beautiful cities in the UK, its castle and the Royal Mile are among its most well-known attractions, while Victoria Street – a winding street with colourful shopfronts - may be its most photographed. If you want to escape the crowds, the idyllic Dean Village is just 20 minutes away from the centre, where the Water of Leith River flows through rows of cobblestoned streets and old mills. Anyone wanting a panoramic view is advised to climb Arthur's Seat, an ancient volcano just under two miles from the city centre. The total journey up and down takes around 90 minutes, but the views are more than worth it. Stay Sitting within a 1750s sandstone building in the Old Town, Fraser Suites offers bespoke, fashionable rooms just 0.3 miles from the castle. Bristol This West Country city has gained a reputation as a great place to visit, with Conde Nast Traveller naming it the UK's best city break in 2021. The city has a 'hipster' feel to it; this reputation has been reinforced through its thriving university population, a wide selection of street art (including several pieces by Banksy), dozens of weekly musical and cultural events and an ever-growing range of excellent bars and restaurants, such as Italian mini-chain Bosco or Poco Tapas. Architecture and sights such as the Clifton Suspension Bridge or SS Great Britain might be the symbols of the city (and are definitely worth a visit), but anyone wanting to 'define' the city should look no further than Gloucester Road, which for a time contained the longest unbroken chain of independent retailers in all of Europe. For a more leafy feel, head to Clifton Village, a picturesque area of cafes and pubs that comes alive during weekends and evenings. Stay The Avon Gorge Hotel has one of the finest views of Bristol – looking out over the Suspension Bridge – which alone makes it one of the best recommendations, but its location within Clifton Village also gives it the feel of a stay in a tranquil village rather than a bustling city. Liverpool Home to arguably the world's most famous band (and two famous football clubs), Liverpool is a centre of British history and culture that remains a Unesco City of Music, despite having lost its status as a World Heritage Site. Liverpudlians won't care though, safe in the knowledge that their city doesn't need a title to prove its attraction. The city's architectural highlights (such as the Three Graces), the waterfront and canal areas (including Royal Albert Dock) and a plethora of galleries and museums (including the International Slavery Museum and works from Rembrandt and Monet in the Walker Gallery) provide more than enough to do on a weekend trip, while the evenings can be spent walking around the buzzing city centre or the more local Baltic Triangle. Stay When the sun is up, the waterside terrace at Malmaison is a gem for whiling away the hours (the food from the restaurant is a delight, too). Whatever the weather, this 130-room hotel has big, comfy beds and an on-trend look to ensure you'll have a good stay. Cardiff Cardiff is the youngest capital city in Europe, having only been proclaimed as such in 1955. It is now Wales ' main city and one of the largest in the UK, with a settlement history stretching back to long before Roman times. The castle (some of which was built in the third century) is the best example of this, while the National Museum (including St Fagans National Museum of History) does most of the present-day showcasing of the city's long and varied history. Nowadays, Cardiff is the home of Welsh rugby, the country's largest football team and several universities, making it a popular place to live, learn and visit (and giving it a buzzing vibe on the weekends). Cardiff Bay is an excellent hangout spot for drinks by the waterside, while the Brewery Quarter and Roath are two districts that are worth exploring (if you can bring yourself to venture out of St David's shopping centre). Stay Slap-bang in the middle of town on Cardiff's pedestrianised Queen Street, this hotel features vivid street art influenced by the city. Newcastle Another UK city with a thriving university population, Newcastle is well-known as being a great party destination, but it also has a reputation as an excellent choice for a more well-rounded city break. Grainger Town is the historic heart of the city, where Georgian and Victorian architecture blend to create an impressive centre, including the ever-popular 1830s Grey Street (including the Theatre Royal) and the Grade I-listed Grainger Market. Neighbourhoods such as Jesmond and Ouseburn contain a vibrant mix of locals and students, plus a happy blend of affordable bars and pubs and quaint cafes and upmarket restaurants. For a more central hub of nighttime activity, head to the picturesque Quayside and spend time along the River Tyne. The city is also an excellent base for exploring nearby sites, such as Hadrian's Wall, the Northumberland countryside or the beaches (such as Bamburgh). The Vermont is an independent hotel with views over the cathedral and both the Millennium and Tyne bridges and just five minutes away from the city centre and main shopping districts. Belfast The Northern Irish capital is a popular destination for city breaks and a great base for exploring more of what the nation has to offer, such as parts of the Causeway Coast. The city is steeped in both recent and ancient British history, with opportunities to learn including the Conflicting Stories walking tour (regarding the Troubles period) or the Titanic Belfast exhibition, contained within the aptly named Titanic Quarter. Other great neighbourhoods include the Cathedral Quarter – the city's cultural epicentre, with dozens of bars and pubs centred around a cobblestoned pedestrian street – and the Gaeltacht Quarter, which aims to preserve Irish history and language (and is where you're likely to hear traditional folk music and see local arts). Of course, there's always the city centre too, where shopping areas such as Victoria Square meet more bohemian vendors, like those within St George's Market. The famous City Hall is also located here. The Hilton Belfast overlooks the River Lagan and is less than a mile from the city centre, with simple yet stylish rooms. Ranked by Which? as the best city break in the country in 2024, York ranked highly for its mix of great places to stay, eat, drink and shop. Its cultural sights received a five-star rating, and it's a place brimming with an extensive Roman and Viking history. The York Minster Cathedral is the city's must-see sight, though the Roman walls and Jorvik Viking Centre are the main links to the city's ancient past. The Shambles – a narrow medieval street, with 14th-century buildings that house shops and cafes – is another impressive area, but anyone walking around the city will be struck by its charming atmosphere. Walk alongside the Ouse to end up at sights such as Clifford Tower or the Millennium Bridge, or to find the Micklegate Bar, one of the city's most important medieval gates. Stay Located in a Grade I-listed Georgian townhouse, Judge's Lodging has views over York Minster and offers elegantly decorated British-style rooms. Bath One of the most picturesque cities in the UK, Bath has an impressive mix of history and architecture. The Roman Baths attract hundreds of thousands of visitors every year and is one of the best-preserved examples of Roman architecture in the country, while the Gothic abbey stands right next to the entrance to the baths – a reminder of more recent history. Much of the remaining architecture of the city consists of elegant Georgian buildings, from the Circus to the Royal Crescent. If a visit to the baths makes you suddenly yearn for a swim, the Thermae Bath Spa offers two-hour sessions in its thermal outdoor pool, mineral baths and ice chambers. If that's a little too much, walk across Pulteney Bridge to Royal Victoria Park to enjoy superb views of the river. Stay Eight has a great city-centre location, right next to the Roman Baths and the Abbey and less than a mile from Royal Crescent. Less is more here, with spacious, simple (but stylish) rooms.
BBC News
03-03-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
Quarry Bank: Appeal launched for flood-hit National Trust park
A fundraising appeal has been launched after parts of a National Trust estate were flooded following heavy rain over the new Bank said the wet weather led to the River Bollin in Cheshire breaching its banks, causing "extensive erosion and a major landslide in the gardens".While a National Trust spokesman said it was "too early" to estimate the full cost of restoration work, "we expect it'll cost in excess of £100,000 for clear-up, monitoring, prevention works and any redevelopment".The country park, which includes an Industrial Revolution-era mill, draws about 250,000 visitors every year and has annual running costs of at least £2.2m. Estate general manager Roz Stone told BBC North West Tonight that "the level of rainfall and the speed at which it came" caused significant damage in the area, which is set in a valley in Styal, near Manchester said surface water from nearby roads and fields had flowed down a cliff in the garden, causing a landslide to block paths."We've definitely seen an increasing number of flood and bad weather events - a high number of storm closures - this winter," Ms Stone added. "Far more than I've ever experienced before."We haven't had a landslide on the site previously so this has been a more significant event, but we are noticing that [poor weather] is becoming more and more the norm and a real challenge." Experts will monitor and survey the area over coming months to check for further land movements before they decide upon what action to Stone said it "may not be as straightforward as restoring the area to how it was before".She explained: "We've got to think about the fact that this type of event is more common now and could happen again."So, potentially, we might want to take a different approach to planting or how we manage the landscape in the area."Senior gardener Lisa Rogers added that Quarry Bank, which has featured in the BBC's Countryfile programme as well as Channel 4 drama The Mill, was "a rare example of a complete garden from the industrial picturesque age" with an "idyllic" landscape backed by a large mill."It is part of the irregularity and we do not hide from that, we embrace it." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on BBC Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram, and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
