Latest news with #Jesters
The Sun
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Legendary UK nightclub with massive cult following could shut for GOOD after 35 years over ‘unpayable' debt
AN iconic nightclub with a huge cult following could be set to shut for good after 35 years, leaving party fans gutted. The popular venue will close for 12 weeks at the end of this week, as the club's owner fights to keep it running. 1 Jesters, in Southampton opened back in 1989, and has been described by revellers as being part of the city's "DNA." However, the club has been served a repossession notice, meaning the building, on Bevois Valley Road could be taking back by the bank. Jesters' is now at risk of "closing for good", but owner Alan Green thinks that the venue has a good case for when the matter goes to court. A fundraiser has now been set up to try and save the club, with a target of £200,000 set for covering essential operating costs whilst university students are away for the summer. The club revealed that a loan taken out has had its interest increased to an "unpayable" 35 percent, leading to "some of the biggest financial challenges" in the venue's history. Alan said of the club, which always closes during the summer, when students return to their hometowns: "It's usually a bit of a bleak summer, this is why we're trying to raise the money. "It's not quite over just yet. The repossession notice gives us the chance to plead our case in court. We're going down fighting." Party fans have been left devastated by news of the potential closure with Cam Burns, who started the fundraiser on behalf of Alan claiming that Jesters is "not just a club." "It is a part of Southampton's DNA," he said. "It is the first social, the last night out, the best memories." Timberland Closure Sparks Shift in Glasgow's High Street Former Southampton student Kai McKenzie said: "It had a unique charm about it that would 100 per cent be missed." Recent graduate Dan Baverstock added: "It would be a shame if it closed down." Cam also noted that the club has been a "launchpad" for talent, with BBC Radio One DJ Chris Stark having performed their whilst studying in Southampton. This comes after a legendary UK nightclub, rated as one of the world's best is set to close next month. Why are retailers closing stores? RETAILERS have been feeling the squeeze since the pandemic, while shoppers are cutting back on spending due to the soaring cost of living crisis. High energy costs and a move to shopping online after the pandemic are also taking a toll, and many high street shops have struggled to keep going. However, additional costs have added further pain to an already struggling sector. The British Retail Consortium has predicted that the Treasury's hike to employer NICs from April will cost the retail sector £2.3billion. At the same time, the minimum wage will rise to £12.21 an hour from April, and the minimum wage for people aged 18-20 will rise to £10 an hour, an increase of £1.40. The Centre for Retail Research (CRR) has also warned that around 17,350 retail sites are expected to shut down this year. It comes on the back of a tough 2024 when 13,000 shops closed their doors for good, already a 28% increase on the previous year. Professor Joshua Bamfield, director of the CRR said: "The results for 2024 show that although the outcomes for store closures overall were not as poor as in either 2020 or 2022, they are still disconcerting, with worse set to come in 2025." It comes after almost 170,000 retail workers lost their jobs in 2024. End-of-year figures compiled by the Centre for Retail Research showed the number of job losses spiked amid the collapse of major chains such as Homebase and Ted Baker. It said its latest analysis showed that a total of 169,395 retail jobs were lost in the 2024 calendar year to date. This was up 49,990 – an increase of 41.9% – compared with 2023. It is the highest annual reading since more than 200,000 jobs were lost in 2020 in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced retailers to shut their stores during lockdowns. The centre said 38 major retailers went into administration in 2024, including household names such as Lloyds Pharmacy, Homebase, The Body Shop, Carpetright and Ted Baker. Around a third of all retail job losses in 2024, 33% or 55,914 in total, resulted from administrations. Experts have said small high street shops could face a particularly challenging 2025 because of Budget tax and wage changes. Professor Bamfield has warned of a bleak outlook for 2025, predicting that as many as 202,000 jobs could be lost in the sector. "By increasing both the costs of running stores and the costs on each consumer's household it is highly likely that we will see retail job losses eclipse the height of the pandemic in 2020." Motion, in Bristol revealed that their lease will not be renewed, leaving revellers heartbroken. An iconic music venue, which hosted the likes of Coldplay and Oasis is also set to close in the coming months. The Leadmill in Sheffield lost a battle against eviction, with Liam Gallagher describing the closure as "scandalous". Meanwhile, a 'One of a kind' Birmingham bar has closed after two 'amazing years', through no fault of their own, its owners claim. The first of its kind, Exhale Conscious Bar, was Birmingham's first totally alcohol free bar.
Gulf Insider
25-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Gulf Insider
F1 Testing Revs up in Bahrain
Formula 1 testing week is here and Bahrain International Circuit, 'The Home of Motorsport in the Middle East', is all geared up to stage three days of exciting action on track. Formula 1 Aramco Pre-Season Testing 2025 kick starts tomoprrow and continues until Friday, with BIC opening its doors to fans on the last two days of running. All those attending the tests will be able to see all 10 F1 teams together on track for the first time in 2025, but they will also be able to enjoy plenty of offtrack entertainment. Headlining the attractions is a racing simulator tent, where fans can buckle up and zoom through thrilling tracks at incredible speeds in a virtual setting. Participants will be able to go up against family and friends, drift around corners, and speed down straightaways as they unleash their inner racer. In addition to this, world-renowned BMX rider Viki Gomez and teams of roaming entertainers will be interacting with fans around the BIC premises, creating a festival-like atmosphere that will be a sneak preview of what's to come at the F1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2025, taking place 11 to 13 April. A World Champion in his craft, Gomez will be showcasing aerobatics on a bicycle and will be mesmerising fans with his amazing and innovative tricks. The roaming acts include the Jesters, the Colour Drums, and the Circle Arts Drummers. The Jesters are a captivating stilt-walking group that brings joy and excitement with their bright costumes and largerthan-life presence. They combine artistry and acrobatics, creating whimsical characters that dance and engage with the crowd through playful antics and high-energy performances. The Colour Drums combine music and fun for an awesome adventure filled with amazing sounds and eye-catching drums that will make anyone smile. They put on an amazing and creative show as the drums come to life while making music that will have fans dancing. The Circle Arts Drummers will be bringing a burst of energy and vibrancy, captivating audiences with stunning costumes and exhilarating performances. These talented drummers create infectious rhythms that will get on-lookers tapping their feet and feeling the beat. Fans will also have the chance to join in on the fun with their interactive segments, putting them in the centre of the unique blend of music, dance, and visual artistry. Also on hand at the circuit's vending area throughout testing will be an F1 show car, replicating the championship's 2025 contenders. This will give fans the chance to be among the first to get an up close and personal look at the sport's awesome racing machines for the new season. All these plus so much more await spectators attending F1 Aramco Pre-Season Testing 2025 at BIC. Gates will be open from 11am on both days for fans. F1's 2025 campaign marks the championship's 75th anniversary, while the Bahrain Grand Prix's title partner Gulf Air is also celebrating 75 years in 2025. Tickets to F1 Aramco Pre-Season Testing 2025 cost BD10 for adults and BD5 for kids, per day. Meanwhile, those who had purchased their tickets to the F1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2025 on or before 7 December, 2024, will have free access to the tests, making for an incredible two F1 events with one single ticket.
Daily Tribune
25-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Tribune
F1 Testing revs up in Bahrain
Formula 1 testing week is here and Bahrain International Circuit, 'The Home of Motorsport in the Middle East', is all geared up to stage three days of exciting action on track. Formula 1 Aramco Pre-Season Testing 2025 kick starts tomoprrow and continues until Friday, with BIC opening its doors to fans on the last two days of running. All those attending the tests will be able to see all 10 F1 teams together on track for the first time in 2025, but they will also be able to enjoy plenty of offtrack entertainment. Headlining the attractions is a racing simulator tent, where fans can buckle up and zoom through thrilling tracks at incredible speeds in a virtual setting. Participants will be able to go up against family and friends, drift around corners, and speed down straightaways as they unleash their inner racer. In addition to this, world-renowned BMX rider Viki Gomez and teams of roaming entertainers will be interacting with fans around the BIC premises, creating a festival-like atmosphere that will be a sneak preview of what's to come at the F1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2025, taking place 11 to 13 April. A World Champion in his craft, Gomez will be showcasing aerobatics on a bicycle and will be mesmerising fans with his amazing and innovative tricks. The roaming acts include the Jesters, the Colour Drums, and the Circle Arts Drummers. The Jesters are a captivating stilt-walking group that brings joy and excitement with their bright costumes and largerthan-life presence. They combine artistry and acrobatics, creating whimsical characters that dance and engage with the crowd through playful antics and high-energy performances. The Colour Drums combine music and fun for an awesome adventure filled with amazing sounds and eye-catching drums that will make anyone smile. They put on an amazing and creative show as the drums come to life while making music that will have fans dancing. The Circle Arts Drummers will be bringing a burst of energy and vibrancy, captivating audiences with stunning costumes and exhilarating performances. These talented drummers create infectious rhythms that will get on-lookers tapping their feet and feeling the beat. Fans will also have the chance to join in on the fun with their interactive segments, putting them in the centre of the unique blend of music, dance, and visual artistry. Also on hand at the circuit's vending area throughout testing will be an F1 show car, replicating the championship's 2025 contenders. This will give fans the chance to be among the first to get an up close and personal look at the sport's awesome racing machines for the new season. All these plus so much more await spectators attending F1 Aramco Pre-Season Testing 2025 at BIC. Gates will be open from 11am on both days for fans. F1's 2025 campaign marks the championship's 75th anniversary, while the Bahrain Grand Prix's title partner Gulf Air is also celebrating 75 years in 2025. Tickets to F1 Aramco Pre-Season Testing 2025 cost BD10 for adults and BD5 for kids, per day. Meanwhile, those who had purchased their tickets to the F1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2025 on or before 7 December, 2024, will have free access to the tests, making for an incredible two F1 events with one single ticket.
Daily Tribune
20-02-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Tribune
F1 Testing at BIC to feature fan fest
Formula 1 Aramco Pre-Season Testing 2025 is right around the corner and Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) has put together a colourful off-track entertainment programme for fans attending the two open days of the event. The tests are scheduled for 26 to 28 February at 'The Home of Motorsport in the Middle East', with the circuit opening its doors to the public on 27 and 28 February. Testing at BIC will be the first time that all 10 F1 teams will be together on track in 2025 as they prepare for this year's fast-approaching FIA Formula 1 World Championship. Motor racing's biggest stars will then return to the Kingdom for the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2025 set for April 11 to 13. Excitement ahead of F1 Aramco Pre-Season Testing continues to build especially following the F1 75 Live on Tuesday night – this season's historic launch event held at London's O2 Arena, organised for the first time ever by Formula 1 with all the series' drivers, key officials, and stakeholders in attendance. F1's 2025 campaign marks the championship's 75th anniversary. The Bahrain Grand Prix's title partners Gulf Air are also celebrating 75 years in 2025. Tickets to F1 Aramco Pre-Season Testing 2025 cost BD10 for adults and BD5 for kids, per day, for the two days open to fans. BIC is also offering exclusive hospitality packages during testing, featuring the best views of the action along with incredible, five-star cuisine and beverage selection throughout the day. The hospitality lounge is located right above the F1 pit lane, and fans will also get to do a pit lane walk. Available on both open days, the hospitality packages cost USD1,200 (including 10 per cent VAT) per person, per day. Meanwhile, those who had purchased their tickets to the F1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2025 on or before 7 December, 2024, will have free access to the tests, making for an incredible two F1 events with one single ticket. BIC's gates are scheduled to open at 11am on both test days open to fans. Unleash inner racer Testing's off-track entertainment will be headlined by a simulators tent. This is where fans can buckle up and zoom through thrilling tracks at incredible speeds in a virtual setting. Participants will be able to go up against family and friends, drift around corners, and speed down straightaways as they unleash their inner racer. In addition to this, teams of roaming entertainers will be in-teracting with fans around the BIC premises and creating a fes-tival-like atmosphere that will be a sneak preview of what's to come at the F1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2025. These acts include the Jesters, the Colour Drums, and the Cir-cle Arts Drummers. The Jesters are a captivating stilt-walking group that brings joy and excitement with their bright costumes and larger-than-life presence. They com-bine artistry and acrobatics, creating whimsical characters that dance and engage with the crowd through playful anties and high-energy performances. The Colour Drums combine music and fun for an awesome adventure filled with amazing sounds and eye-catching drums that will make anyone smile. They put on an amazing and cre-ative show as the drums come to life while making music that will have fans dancing. The Circle Arts Drummers will be bringing a burst of en-ergy and vibrancy, captivating audiences with stunning cos-tumes and exhilarating perfor-mances. These talented drum-mers create infectious rhythms that will get on-lookers tapping their feet and feeling the beat. Fans will also have the chance to join in on the fun with their interactive segments, putting them in the centre of the unique blend of music, dance, and visual artistry.
