Latest news with #Lancashire-based


The Irish Sun
01-08-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Much-loved UK theme park reveals new rainy day guarantee – with free return after bad weather
THE WORLD'S top place to take bored kids this summer, which is in the UK, has announced a new rainy day guarantee scheme. Blackpool Pleasure Beach Resort has introduced a free return for ticketholders who attend the attraction on a day that rains. Advertisement 4 Blackpool Pleasure Beach Resort has introduced a rainy day guarantee Credit: Supplied 4 This means if it rains for more than three hours on the day you visit, you can return for free within seven days Credit: Supplied The new policy means that guests will always have a great visit to the attraction, because if the weather is poor they can return on a day where it is better. The policy will be in place throughout August and it will need to rain for more than three hours on the day of their trip. If this does happen, then guests can return for free within seven days of their original visit date. CEO of Advertisement Read more on travel deals "We truly believe that you can have a great time at If a guest wants to use a rainy day return, they should arrive at the same ticket centre on the day of their return visit and display their eTickets, paper tickets or confirmation email to staff. The new option can also be used seven days of the week. Blackpool Pleasure Beach resort was also recently named as Advertisement Most read in News Travel created an index compiling the best attractions to take kids to this summer and the Lancashire-based attraction managed to beat the likes of Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando. Overall, it scored 31.3 out of a possible 35 marks. First look at new 'tallest of its kind' ride to open at English seaside theme park The attraction is home to 10 rollercoasters, five 'dark' (indoor) rides, five water rides and 12 Throughout the year, Blackpool Pleasure Beach Resort also hosts a number of shows, including Advertisement Earlier this year, the reimagining of Launch Pad was unveiled, which climbs up to 80 mph and sends riders 210 ft into the air. 4 The attraction has multiple different rollercoasters, rides and shows Credit: Supplied These included the likes of the Tower of London, Ribby Hall Village, and Warner Bros. Studio Tour London all made the list. Advertisement Some other attractions across the UK offer rainy day guarantees, such as Crealy Adventure Park in Devon. The attraction offers visitors a free return within seven days of their original visit if there is 30 minutes or more of continuous rainfall during their visit. It is worth checking the FAQs or T&Cs of your tickets to an attraction to see if the theme park, adventure park or other destination offers the same guarantee. Use these tips on your next theme park trip Next time you visit a theme park, you may want to use our top tips to make the most of your adrenaline-inducing day out. Go to the back of the theme park first. Rides at the front will have the longest queues as soon as it opens. Go on water rides in the middle of the day in the summer - this will cool you off when the sun is at its hottest. Download the park's app to track which rides have the shortest queues. Visit on your birthday, as some parks give out "birthday badges" that can get you freebies. If it rains, contact the park. Depending on how much it rained, you may get a free ticket to return. There is also a unique Advertisement Plus, 4 It was also recently named the best place to take bored kids this summer Credit: Supplied


Scottish Sun
01-08-2025
- Climate
- Scottish Sun
Much-loved UK theme park reveals new rainy day guarantee – with free return after bad weather
WASH OUT Much-loved UK theme park reveals new rainy day guarantee – with free return after bad weather Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE WORLD'S top place to take bored kids this summer, which is in the UK, has announced a new rainy day guarantee scheme. Blackpool Pleasure Beach Resort has introduced a free return for ticketholders who attend the attraction on a day that rains. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 Blackpool Pleasure Beach Resort has introduced a rainy day guarantee Credit: Supplied 4 This means if it rains for more than three hours on the day you visit, you can return for free within seven days Credit: Supplied The new policy means that guests will always have a great visit to the attraction, because if the weather is poor they can return on a day where it is better. The policy will be in place throughout August and it will need to rain for more than three hours on the day of their trip. If this does happen, then guests can return for free within seven days of their original visit date. CEO of Pleasure Beach Resort, Amanda Thompson OBE said: "It's important to us that guests have the best time when visiting, and while technically speaking the rain doesn't affect our rides, we wouldn't want the wet weather to dampen anyone's day. "We truly believe that you can have a great time at Pleasure Beach come rain or shine, but we know that everything is extra special when the weather is on side." If a guest wants to use a rainy day return, they should arrive at the same ticket centre on the day of their return visit and display their eTickets, paper tickets or confirmation email to staff. The new option can also be used seven days of the week. Blackpool Pleasure Beach resort was also recently named as one of the best attractions to bust kids being bored. created an index compiling the best attractions to take kids to this summer and the Lancashire-based attraction managed to beat the likes of Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando. Overall, it scored 31.3 out of a possible 35 marks. First look at new 'tallest of its kind' ride to open at English seaside theme park The attraction is home to 10 rollercoasters, five 'dark' (indoor) rides, five water rides and 12 Nickelodeon-themed rides. Throughout the year, Blackpool Pleasure Beach Resort also hosts a number of shows, including fireworks. Earlier this year, the reimagining of Launch Pad was unveiled, which climbs up to 80 mph and sends riders 210 ft into the air. Banish Boredom Index was made by analysing reviews from over 160 destinations, and the UK dominated the top 20. 4 The attraction has multiple different rollercoasters, rides and shows Credit: Supplied These included the likes of the Tower of London, Ribby Hall Village, and Warner Bros. Studio Tour London all made the list. Some other attractions across the UK offer rainy day guarantees, such as Crealy Adventure Park in Devon. The attraction offers visitors a free return within seven days of their original visit if there is 30 minutes or more of continuous rainfall during their visit. It is worth checking the FAQs or T&Cs of your tickets to an attraction to see if the theme park, adventure park or other destination offers the same guarantee. Use these tips on your next theme park trip Next time you visit a theme park, you may want to use our top tips to make the most of your adrenaline-inducing day out. Go to the back of the theme park first. Rides at the front will have the longest queues as soon as it opens. Go on water rides in the middle of the day in the summer - this will cool you off when the sun is at its hottest. Download the park's app to track which rides have the shortest queues. Visit on your birthday, as some parks give out "birthday badges" that can get you freebies. If it rains, contact the park. Depending on how much it rained, you may get a free ticket to return. There is also a unique UK theme park with safaris, water park and rides for everyone from toddlers to grandparents. Plus, Disney is set to open a brand new theme park and resort – here's everything we know.


Scottish Sun
15-07-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Michelin-starred chef to close popular restaurant for months ahead of huge revamp with new ‘flexible menu' in shake-up
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A MICHELIN-starred chef has confirmed plans to temporarily close a popular restaurant for months. The restaurant is closing while its award-winning chef plans a huge revamp of the eatery with a new 'flexible menu'. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 Tim Allen and his wife Mag run the Michelin-starred restaurant Sō–lō Credit: Instagram 4 The Lancashire-based eatery made headlines when it announced it would shut for several months Credit: Instagram 4 Its owners have confirmed that they will be planning a new menu Credit: Instagram Sō–lō was awarded its first Michelin star in 2023, in recognition of its incredible cooking. Its owners, Tim Allen and his wife Mag, first took over the eatery in 2021 and the restaurant soon landed on the UK's Top 100 list. Based in Ormskirk, Lancashire, it became famous for its delicious Sunday lunch service. However, the restaurant will be closing its doors on July 27 as it undergoes a major revamp. It will remain closed until early November when it will reopen with a very different menu. Ahead of the closure, Tim has said: "This marks a really exciting stage in sō–lō's - and our own - journey. "The time is right to invest further in the business, enhance the offering here at sō–lō and build upon the reputation we have. "We want to be able to offer a stronger dining experience. "The sō–lō people know and love will still be here - relaxed, welcoming and ingredient-led - but with a more modern, crisp, fresh new look." He is remaining tight-lipped about the refurbishment, though he has said that there will be a new chef's table. Restaurant chain owned by Michelin-starred chef is on brink of collapse 16 years after it first opened Tim has also confirmed that the restaurant will continue to serve its à la carte lunch menu and award-winning Sunday lunch when it reopens. The Michelin-starred chef did drop some hints about the new menu though. He said: "Flavour will always be at the forefront of what we do, but we are mixing things up a little. "We'll also be offering a more casual, and shorter, tasting menu style experience which showcases outstanding ingredients, our passion for produce and imaginative dishes." The news comes after several major Michelin-starred restaurants have been forced to close. La Dame de Pic closed suddenly in February, alongside fellow French restaurant Café Lapérouse. Both restaurants were located in Central London, with La Goccia - another luxury restaurant in the capital - also closing. La Goccia's owners blamed Covid and Brexit for the closure, saying that both factors left them unable to hire trained staff.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
The rail firm cleaning loos using green ‘chemical-free' product ... that's just water
A train company has been criticised for cleaning its tables and lavatories with a green 'chemical-free' product that is just distilled water. Northern Rail has been using the Clean Zero substance on all of its 345 trains since late 2023 as part of a net zero drive. Managers at the government-owned rail firm boasted that their trains' interiors were 'clean enough to eat from' after using the product, with publicity photos even showing a member of rail staff rolling out dough inside a carriage to demonstrate the cleanliness. But concerns have been raised that Clean Zero, made by Lancashire-based 2San, is 'just water' and contains no disinfectant or soap-type ingredients. Ian Blenkharn, an expert on hygiene and infection prevention who runs the consultancy Blenkharn Environmental, said water alone was not enough to kill harmful germs. 'I don't think it's a very good idea,' he told The Telegraph, after he was shown product safety documents that reveal the chemical composition of Clean Zero. 'As far as I've seen, it's just water... It looks rubbish. I can't help but think it's an April Fool's joke. 'It's not feasible to say 'wash it down with magic water, that's all you need to do'.' 2San's website says of Clean Zero: 'There is no eco-friendlier product than one that is made only of water, which will not only disrupt the cleaning industry but eliminate pollution and the detrimental impact some cleaning products can have on our health.' Northern Rail introduced Clean Zero in November 2023 as part of a drive to replace chemical cleaning products with environmentally friendly alternatives. A spokesman for Northern did not deny that Clean Zero is water, saying: 'Customers rightly expect the highest standards of cleanliness on board our trains.' Jason Tallamy, the managing director of 2San, agreed to send The Telegraph copies of independent testing that proved how effective Clean Zero was. He said in a statement: 'This award-winning product was the subject of independent testing by a leading UKAS [United Kingdom Accreditation Service] accredited testing laboratory. 'Those tests have confirmed that the product, when used in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions for use, does result in measurable reduction in bacterial and fungal numbers. 'We have received no complaints from our customers about the effectiveness of the product.' In response to Mr Blenkharn's comments, Mr Tallamy said: 'As far as we are aware, Mr Blenkharn has not conducted any tests on the product, which has been the subject of independent verification. 'If Mr Blenkharn has conducted tests, we would be delighted to see the results and put them to the UKAS accredited testing laboratory that has previously tested the product.' Reacting to the revelation, Gareth Bacon, the shadow transport secretary, accused Northern of creating a 'serious public health risk'. He said: 'It is unacceptable that Northern Rail is reportedly using distilled water to clean toilets, tables, and grab poles, and still claim the tables on their trains are 'clean enough to eat off'. This is misleading and a serious public health risk. 'With the Office of Road and Rail (ORR) and the Health and Safety Executive apparently pointing their fingers at each other, the Government need to get a grip on this. They should step up to protect passengers and uphold basic safety standards.' Clean Zero does not appear to be currently available to the public, but an Amazon review suggested that a 500ml bottle was priced at £7.50 in 2024. A similarly-sized bottle of bleach can be bought for around £1, while cleaning sprays cost around £3. Despite the obvious public health implications of replacing disinfectant and soap with plain water, regulatory agencies are refusing to intervene. The Health & Safety Executive declined to comment and said it was a case for the Office of Rail and Road (ORR). The ORR declined to comment, saying its remit focuses on operational matters such as timetabling and the frequency of litter-picking at stations and on trains. The Department for Transport also declined to comment, referring The Telegraph's enquiries to Northern. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.


Scotsman
15-05-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
MFI: high street furniture and kitchen shop to be relaunched
Once a staple of British homes, the brand is being reimagined for a new generation 🛋️ Sign up to the weekly Cost Of Living newsletter. Saving tips, deals and money hacks. Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Iconic furniture brand MFI is set to relaunch online in 2026, nearly 20 years after collapsing in 2008 Victorian Plumbing, which acquired the brand via its purchase of Victoria Plum, is investing £3m in the comeback The revived MFI will operate as a standalone website, selling bedroom, dining, and homeware products It will be supported by existing Victorian Plumbing infrastructure, including two warehouses in Lancashire MFI's return marks a strategic push into the £20bn UK homewares market by Victorian Plumbing An iconic flatpack furniture brand is set to make a comeback nearly two decades after its collapse during the 2008 financial crisis. Bathroom retailer Victorian Plumbing acquired the dormant MFI brand and domain as part of its purchase of rival Victoria Plum last year, and has announced a £3 million investment ahead of a planned relaunch. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Victorian Plumbing revealed plans to relaunch the brand as a standalone website in 2026, offering dining room, bedroom, and general homeware products. The revived MFI will be supported by Victorian Plumbing's existing operations, including its two Lancashire-based warehouses. (Photo: Brian Robert Marshall/Wikimedia Commons) | Brian Robert Marshall/Wikimedia Commons An exact launch date has yet to be confirmed by Victorian Plumbing, but MFI is expected to relaunch online sometime between April and September next year. Once a staple of British retail with more than 200 stores and over 50 million annual deliveries, MFI became synonymous with the DIY furniture boom of the 1960s through to the early 2000s. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Its return marks a push by Victorian Plumbing to expand further into the £20 billion UK homewares market. Victorian Plumbing chief executive and founder Mark Radcliffe said: 'I am very excited about the upcoming re-invention of MFI, allowing us to tap in to more of the £20bn UK Homewares market. 'Our dedicated and ambitious team, decades of e-commerce knowledge and best-in-class proprietary software, together with the recognisable MFI brand, will help to deliver our strategic ambition over the medium-term.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The relaunch will see investment in both people and property as the company brings the once-familiar name back to UK consumers, this time with a modern e-commerce edge that aligns with Victorian Plumbing's existing customer base.