Latest news with #MarksAndSpencer
BBC News
a day ago
- Business
- BBC News
Five stories you might have missed this week in Peterborough
From big changes planned in retail to teenagers going bonkers for bingo, here are five stories from Peterborough you might have missed this week. Major retailer plans expansion Up to 50 new jobs would be created if plans to extend a Marks & Spencer store get City Council has received an application to build on land separating the existing branch and Tapi Carpets at Brotherhood Shopping proposed development comes a year after M&S shut its Queensgate store after nearly 60 years in the city centre. While former store site to be sold Elsewhere, the council said it hoped the former TK Maxx building on Bridge Street could be turned into a mixed residential and commercial City Council's cabinet members agreed to sell the building at a meeting on 15 July, as it was "no longer economically viable".It was bought by the local authority for £4.1m in 2020 with the aim of using it for a £15m community hub project known as The a feasibility commissioned by Tetra Tech in July 2022 said the cost of the necessary works was about £10.8m, making the project no longer viable. 'Game-changing' rail investment New locomotives that run on electricity and renewable fuels could reduce rail freight emissions by more than half on a typical journey.A £150m investment was made into Class 99 locomotives, which were unveiled in Peterborough at GB Railfreight (GBRf) headquarters on testing was complete, the new fleet could enter commercial service to move consumable goods and materials across the country this winter. Andrew Pakes, the MP for Peterborough, said it was a "game changer for our city and the national effort to build a greener, more sustainable future". Ancient site 'heartened' after arson attack The boss of an ancient site where a thatched roundhouse replica was razed to the ground by suspected arsonists said she had been "heartened" by the support of the crews were called to Peterborough's Flag Fen Archaeology Park, which dates back to the Bronze Age, on Sunday night after local people saw 2022, 30 volunteers had spent nine months building the Iron Age roundhouse and a fundraising appeal has now been launched to replace it."We're all absolutely devastated at the loss of the roundhouse - so many of our team took part in building it and using it every single day - it was a much-loved thing," said site manager Jacqueline Mooney. Teens go bonkers for bingo Two teenagers proclaimed that "bingo was not just for older people", as they turned their hand to the game in the last bingo centre in the Lonnen and Alesksa Svencika, both 18, said they always wanted to play bingo when they legally could and visited the Buzz Bingo hall in site has become Cambridgeshire's last dedicated bingo centre following the closure of Winners Bingo in National Bingo Game Association said a combination of the Covid pandemic, energy prices and the impact of the recent Budget on employment costs had "made it difficult for smaller independent bingo clubs to survive".But Dan Shuttleworth, the manager of Buzz Bingo, said the game was "evolving" and would "survive long into the future". The week in politics This week we found out auditors said there was a "significant" risk Peterborough City Council may not be repaid a loan it gave to a developer to build the Hilton authority borrowed the money from the government in 2017 and the hotel is still not finished. The situation will be discussed at a council meeting on the future of £1 bus fares for under-25s is also up for discussion. The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority board, which involves the mayor and council leaders, is meeting on 22 July to discuss keeping bus fares reduced for young adults and children. Papers published this week said the authority wanted to keep the cheap fares for under-25s - but it could come at a price for other bus users. There were proposals to end the £2.50 fare cap for all bus users in Authority Mayor Paul Bristow has proposed to keep funding a rural bus route from Ramsey to Peterborough, via Whittlesey. However, it would come at the cost of other routes in the south of Cambridgeshire. It will be discussed at the same meeting as the £1 bus fares. The week in sport This week, Peterborough United beat Peterborough Sports 8-1 in a pre-season were 4-1 up at half time after a hat-trick from Bradley Ihionvien and a goal from Abraham Booth scored the only goal for the second half saw goals for Harley Mills, Kyrell Lisbie and a brace from Gustav Lindgren. Follow Peterborough news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
The Sun
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
I tried all the supermarket strawberry daiquiris – £2.25 winner was a punchy, silky smooth revelation
WELCOME to National Daiquiri Day – and why not celebrate by sipping this simple retro cocktail? Named after the beach in Cuba where it was created, the drink consists of four ingredients: white rum, strawberries, fresh lime juice and a splash of sugar syrup – and served with a generous scoop of crushed ice. 10 But you don't have to bother mixing your own, as most supermarkets sell ready-to-go canned or bottled options. Drinks expert Helena Nicklin tries some out and gives her verdict. Strawberry Daiquiri 250ml, 8% ABV, £2.50, Marks & Spencer - 3/5 I THINK the M&S range of 'perfectly mixed' tipples really set the standard for canned cocktails at a mid ABV (alcohol by volume) range, and this one is decidedly decent. A blend of berry flavour and white rum with a squeeze of tangy lime, it's a pre-balanced beverage which will save you the faff of buying all the components to create your own. Like all daiquiris, it's pretty sweet and gives good strawberry sweetie flavours with very subtle citrus notes. The booze isn't obvious but it's just about there on the finish. Very simple, but gluggable and well mixed. Funkin Nitro Strawberry Daiquiri 200ml, 5% ABV, £2.25, Tesco - 5/5 MY experience with the Funkin Nitro range of pre-mixed boozy tipples has not always been positive. But luckily, this ready-to-drink daiquiri didn't disappoint. Sip, Savor, Celebrate: Edinburgh Cocktail Week 2024 When it comes to the Cuban cocktail, this one was a revelation. The 'nitro' is an infusion of nitrogen to make it silky smooth and bar-quality, and this time the addition gives a lovely, authentic creamy texture. It looks more natural, colour-wise, and has a pleasant fruity smell. There are a lot of good flavours that taste like actual strawberries and limes. It feels and tastes punchy, too. It's not the cheapest, but this is an excellent cocktail. Malibu Sparkling Strawberry Daiquiri Cocktail 250ml, 5% ABV, £2.20, Sainsbury's - 2/5 A DAIQUIRI is a rum-based drink, so it makes sense that big brands have got in on the ready-to-drink action and created their own pre-made cocktails – ensuring their spirit is the core ingredient. As a Malibu fan, I had high hopes for this tipple. But sadly, it didn't deliver. It has less of a lurid pink look than some, though it's slightly spritzy and very sweet and synthetic-tasting. In fact, you can't really taste the booze at all and the flavours throughout are generic and rather fake. So not much like a daiquiri at all. There are better ones out there at a similar price point. Such a shame. Strawberry Daiquiri 250ml, 5% ABV, £1.95, Morrisons - 1/5 MORRISONS' own version is definitely more of an alcopop than a ready-to-drink cocktail, in my opinion. If you pour it into a glass, it has a scary fluorescent-pink appearance, plus it's very fizzy and thin, like a carbonated drink. Flavour-wise, there's a searingly acidic punch of something resembling lime and strawberry but it's achingly synthetic – enough to set your teeth on edge. The can is pretty enough to look at and it's easy to pack into a picnic for drinking on the go. Affordable and, I suppose, if you serve it with lots of ice and real fruit it will be drinkable. Au Vodka Strawberry Daiquiri 200ml, 8% ABV, £3.33, Asda, Morrisons & Tesco - 2/5 THIS gets full marks for its eye-catching retro Seventies-style gold and red can, which would be fab at parties, posh picnics or on your social media feed. But what's inside it is a bit of a let-down. A classic cocktail with a twist, this is a daiquiri made using vodka as its base spirit instead of rum, so a good option for those who prefer this spirit. It's another nifty nitrogen-infused can that promises a creamy texture, but it's not as effective as its rivals. There's tons of flavour, including a coconut undertone. But it's still incredibly synthetic and acidic. Expensive compared to others too – all flash and no smash. The Distiller Strawberry Daiquiri 250ml, 4% ABV, £1.22, Asda - 3/5 ASDA'S own Distiller range does a great job at offering every ready-to-drink cocktail you could wish for – and some are better than others. This one's not bad and it's a bargain price at just over a quid. But I'd also say that it's not their best either. As a one-off purchase or a cheaper ready-to-drink cocktail, it's well worth a try. Although it's not as sweet as some others, there's a lot of tooth-strippingly zingy lime alongside the fruit flavour – and it's fizzy. Served over ice with slices of strawberry, and maybe with a splash of tonic, it's super refreshing. Great for a few drinks in the garden. Navigator Strawberry Daiquiri 250ml, 3.4% ABV, £1, Iceland - 4/5 FOR only a quid, this daquiri from Iceland was a total surprise – and in a positive way. The can is fabulous, with a gorgeous design that looks far pricier than it actually is. Not only does it look elegant but what's inside is pretty smashing too. It's probably not the most authentic Cuban daiquiri out there and yes, it's sweet and sticky. But it delivers what you want and tastes of strawberry and lime with a nice boozy kick. Compared to many others at this ABV range, it over delivers and will save you money. Stock up for your summer parties or serve it ice cold. It's a one-quid triumph. Served Strawberry Daiquiri 125ml, 14.9% ABV, £3.90, Morrisons - 4/5 THIS small, canned sipper sits in a different quality category from most of the others, as it's a proper, bar-style serving. With three times the boozy bite of the others – a whopping 14.9 per cent – it's creamy, concentrated and sumptuously smooth with a lot more natural flavour. There's lots of body, a stunning berry-red colour and it contains a much higher quality, proper Caribbean rum. It's double the price of the others, but worth it if you want to spend a bit more for an authentic beach bar-style glugger. One to pour into a fancy glass and savour.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
The best swimsuits for tall women: tried and tested by the You magazine fashion team who are 5'8 and over
Daily Mail journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission - learn more There's always lots of talk about the horror of bikini shopping, but if you're a woman over 5 foot 8, you'll know that finding the perfect swimsuit can be far more tricky. Squeezing a one-piece onto a torso that's any longer than average is not fun; high-cut legs become positively obscene, the straps are stretched and as for the crotch area – the less said the better. With many high street stores from John Lewis to & Other Stories only offering their swimsuits in one standard length, this can make options for tall women very limited. In fact, bikinis are the safest option – but if you want to rock a swimsuit, where can you turn? Sophie Dearden-Howell, You magazine's fashion director, and Sophie Hines, lifestyle and digital editor, know this struggle all too well. At 5 ft 10 and 5 ft 9 respectively, they have both been on a mission to find tall fit swimwear that actually delivers on its promise. Here are their findings – with swimsuits from the likes of Marks & Spencer, Boden and Bravissimo. SOPHIE HINES, LIFESTYLE AND DIGITAL EDITOR TRIED… Boden Levanzo Halter Swimsuit (Long length) £75 Shop When I first took this out of the packaging I was slightly horrified – a hot pink, halterneck swimsuit with ruching around the stomach just screams frumpy to me. However, I was pleasantly surprised when I tried it on, because it does like up to its 'body sculpting' claims – plus it was certainly long enough for my 5 ft 9 body. Skybak Ursula Swimsuit (Standard) £175 Shop Skybak is a swimwear brand that's been specifically created for tall women (Helen, the founder, is 6ft), so I had very high hopes of this design. I would say you need to size up when choosing which size to buy (I'm at 8 on top, 10 on bottom, and the small was much too small on me). However, the medium was perfect, and it's nice to have a belted swimsuit where the belt actually falls on my waist, rather than the whole thing feeling completely stretched out of proportion. The quality is excellent too. M&S Floral Shirred Bandeau Swimsuit (Long) £35 Shop While this swimsuit gains points for having detachable, adjustable straps – so you can wear it as a bandeau if you wish, and can tweak the length of the straps to fit your shoulders – it loses a few for being a tad granny-ish in the print. I do quite like the shirred effect, but I'm not sure that overall it was doing much for my figure. Boden Lefkada Square Neck Swimsuit (Long) £79 Shop It was probably a mistake trying this swimsuit on for the first time after eating my dinner; the horizontal stripes over the stomach are really not your friend when bloated. The fit was good but overall I found the print a bit busy and less flattering than I expected. I have one of Boden's Santorini swimsuits in the longer length and like that much more. M&S Printed Padded One Shoulder Swimsuit (Long) £35 Shop I absolutely adore this swimsuit; it was my favourite of all the designs. The one-shoulder design is extremely flattering, the length was perfect and the tropical print is the stuff of holiday dreams. Next Steel Blue Shaping Tummy Control Bandeau Swimsuit (Standard length) £35 Shop I should preface this with the fact that 90% of my height is in my torso. Having tried on a very short-bodied swimsuit from a leading high street brand earlier this summer, I was pleasantly surprised as I peeled this costume up my torso. It easily lifted up over my larger bust and my 5ft 10 frame. The ruching is super flattering and I felt comfortable and flattered all in one. ASOS Nina knot swimsuit in chocolate brown (Tall) £32 Shop I was nervous to try this one on, as swimsuits with cut outs are so often designed in the completely wrong proportions for my body and I end up with my hips pouring out of areas that I'm sure were meant for my much narrower waist! This was perfect and I felt fabulous in it, the tall cut meant everything sat where it is meant to and was actually hugely flattering, a relief on a sunny afternoon. Bravissimo Lake Como Swimsuit (Standard) £79 Shop I was really excited about this one but I felt a tiny bit frumpy, the legs were cut very low and the bra shape felt ageing. I will caveat that with the fact that the length was amazing and the design is beautiful; if you are looking for more coverage it is exactly that and you will not be at risk of accidentally exposing yourself on a busy beach this summer. Away That Day Cannes One Piece (Standard) £225 Shop This was my absolute favourite, I felt amazing in it. It is quite high cut so it is not for the faint of heart with regards to bottom coverage. The length is perfection though and you do not feel like you are being used as a vessel to stretch fabric. The straps are adjustable giving freedom in where you would like it to sit and the waist cinching design is so flattering. An investment for sure but it is sustainable and above everything else, lined! 4th and Reckless Abstract Print High Leg Bikini £46 Shop I know this piece is about swimsuits, but I have been on the hunt for a high cut flattering bikini for years and the bottoms are never long enough (which means the waist band intended to sit on your waist sits on your hips, digging in and giving you a wedgie!) I recently treated myself to this, convinced it would be another disaster I tried it on and was thrilled. It was cut to perfection on my very tall frame and it was so flattering on my tummy and legs. Win-win.
BBC News
2 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
M&S extension would revive 'dated and small' Peterborough store
Up to 50 new jobs would be created if plans to extend a Marks & Spencer store were approved, the company said. Peterborough City Council has received an application to build on land separating the existing branch and Tapi Carpets at Brotherhood Shopping proposed development comes a year after M&S closed its Queensgate store in Peterborough after 60 M&S spokesperson called the current shop "dated and too small" and said the changes would encourage customers to shop in person rather than online. The planning application said expanding floor space would allow the total number of employees to increase to the ground and first floor levels would be extended for the sale of clothing and homeware, according to the Local Democracy Reporting M&S spokesperson said: "The existing store no longer provides a high-quality shopping experience and has become dated and too small for the surrounding catchment."The overall experience must be attractive enough to drive footfall into the location and through the front door."The development would not result in any changes to the 533 customer parking spaces, the plans added. Follow Peterborough news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
The Independent
2 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Business news live: Jaguar Land Rover to cut jobs, Marks & Spencer give staff extra discount
Marks & Spencer have taken another step towards fully overcoming their cyber attack earlier this year by reinstating their Sparks loyalty card, including giving staff members an additional discount for a short period as a thank you. A series of cyber attacks on retail stores included hits on adidas, Harrods and Co-op. The latter said this week customer details of 6.5m people had been stolen in the breach. In the stock markets, the FTSE 100 is just under the 9000 points mark heading towards the end of the week, while bitcoin remains above $120,000. US stocks rose on Thursday with Microsoft edging closer to a $4tn market cap, following Nvidia which reached the milestone earlier this month. Elsewhere, there continues to be reaction to Rachel Reeves latest growth plans, including getting more people investing and loosening red tape for businesses.
