Latest news with #Omaze-style
The Irish Sun
8 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
One of the UK's most beautiful lidos warns it is ‘one step away from closing' this summer
Plus, the lidos due to get revamps across the UK WAVE BYE One of the UK's most beautiful lidos warns it is 'one step away from closing' this summer A HISTORICAL seawater pool is at risk of closing, despite currently being closed for essential repairs. Shoalstone Lido in Brixham, Devon is facing issues of antisocial behaviour, which is threatening the reopening of the lido. Advertisement 3 Shoalstone Lido is a tidal lido, but is being threatened by antisocial behaviour Credit: Alamy Win one of 8 incredible holidays to the Caribbean, Mexico and Greece by voting in The Sun's Travel Awards - enter to win here A number of visitors have been noted as tarnishing the much-loved spot. Despite the Victorian lido currently being closed for maintenance, some individuals have caused damage to the restaurant at the site. According to locals, the issues have been ongoing for weeks now. Advertisement Read more on travel inspo SHOW BOAT I tried new Omaze-style draw for superyacht holidays & lived like a billionaire One day ago, Shoalstone Seawater Pool Brixham posted on Facebook on a photo of the damage (that has since been removed): "So sad to see this again and again. "One day there will not be a restaurant or a pool for all to enjoy if this continues." One local commented on the post: "Amazing how just a few bad eggs can start to bring a town down." Another added: "I just can't understand the mindset of these individuals." Advertisement At the beginning of July, the pool also posted: "Sadly we are getting a number of reports of antisocial behaviour and verbal abuse from a number of youths to some of our visitors at the pool." Historic UK lido with 'stunning' mountain views that has been abandoned for decades The post went on to explain how the behaviour tended to happen after school hours and that the incident had been reported to the police. According to The Mirror, the pool manager David Thomas also posted on Facebook that "We feel we are one step away from closing the pool for the season. "We cannot afford to keep fixing what these youths destroy and the offence caused - it will cost approximately £500 to repair the fence." Advertisement The pool is likely to remain closed until August as the repair works aim to fix cracks that appear in the pool due to harsh tides. 3 The pool closed last month for repair works Credit: Alamy Shoalstone Pool announced back in 2024 that it had received a government grant of £750,000 for the pool upgrade. There will also be a new deep end at the pool, a raised deck and the railings will be replaced. Advertisement Currently, the pool measures 53 metres long and is naturally refilled by the tide. The pool was built on the site of a natural rook pool that was popular during the Victorian period. Today, it remains as one of the largest tidal pools in the world. It is also part of the English Riviera UNESCO Global Geopark. Advertisement Lidos due to get revamps across the UK A NUMBER of lidos are also expected to receive revamps across the country. Hilsea Lido: The £7.6 million refurbishment includes upgraded changing rooms, new benches and tables, a fountain, and accessibility ramps, and is expected to open in early autumn 2025. Worthing Lido: Plans are in place to restore the Grade II listed building, which was last used as a swimming pool in 1989, by reinstating the pool as a year-round attraction. Tynemouth Lido: Locals are campaigning to revive the outdoor pool, which has been closed since the mid-90s. The estimated cost for the renovation, which would include events, food, and drink facilities, has doubled to £10 million, with a plan expected to be presented to the council in the next three months. Stratford Park Lido: A £2.7 million renovation is underway to repair the lido tank, replace old pumps, and upgrade various parts of the leisure center, including roofing, flooring, and air conditioning, with the work taking place over five years. Grange Lido: A £6.8 million restoration is underway to reopen the site with a temporary infill of the pool to create a new multi-use public space. The project has faced delays, and a new opening date is yet to be announced by the council. Droitwich Spa Lido: A £5 million renovation is planned to restore the Art Deco lido, with proposals including "spa-like" services, a new children's play area, and a potential restaurant. The renovation work, if approved, would be take around four years to complete. The lido has also been compared to Australia with its amazing sea views. Plus, the UK's best waterparks and lidos.
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Award-winning Wetherspoons pub that has huge rooftop beer garden is right by the beach
Plus, how to save money at Wetherspoons CHEERS Award-winning Wetherspoons pub that has huge rooftop beer garden is right by the beach A WETHERSPOONS pint always goes down a treat - and even more so at this one venue that has a rooftop garden and sits right by the beach. Back in 2015, The Admiral Collingwood in Ilfracombe, North Devon, scooped up the prize of best new pub at the National Pub Design Awards. 3 The Admiral Collingwood is an award-winning pub in Ilfracombe, Devon Credit: Alamy And since, the boozer has become an icon of Ilfracombe's seafront after judges described it as "an uncompromisingly modern building where the glass dome offers urban presence, while the rest of the main elevation is understated yet sophisticated", according to Harrison Ince Architects. Inside, new artworks were commissioned for the pub at the time, and a steel sculpture of a wave breaking was installed. On the roof of the pub, there is a beer garden which is open between March and October and boasts amazing views across the coast. One recent visitor said: "The view of the sea is amazing; the roof terrace is lovely and the drinks are true spoons quality. Read more on travel inspo SHOW BOAT I tried new Omaze-style draw for superyacht holidays & lived like a billionaire "We love Ilfraspoons!" Another added: "The view and the amazing prices make the THE place to go" According to Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), the pub serves three changing beers which often include ales from Fat Belly, GT Ales, Exmoor, Cotleigh and Bays featuring regularly. In the summer, this increases to four beers. And then additionally, there are three regular beers on offer to punters. Visitors also get to learn a bit of histroy about the purpose built pub when they visit, as the menu states: "Until its very recent closure, the Collingwood Hotel had welcomed visitors to north Devon's Ilfracombe for over 130 years. I went to the UK's biggest Wetherspoons with rooftop bar overlooking the beach "The imposing five-storey building was named after Admiral, Lord Collingwood, Nelson's second-in-command at Trafalgar (who fought just off the Spanish coast in 1805). "Cuthbert Collingwood fired the first shot in the battle (one of British naval history's most famous and crucial) and took over command of the British fleet after the fatal wounding of his friend Horatio Nelson." Just a short walk away from the pub is Wildersmouth Beach, which is sheltered and shingle. Despite being central to Ilfracombe, the dog-friendly beach is often less crowded than other sandy beaches nearby. 3 Also in Ilfracombe is Damien Hirst's bronze Verity sculpture Credit: PA:Press Association Ilfracombe is also home to the Landmark Theatre, in Jubilee Gardens. For art lovers, make sure to follow the coast around to Ilfracombe's harbour where you will find Damien Hirst's bonze sculpture called Verity - a half-skinned pregnant woman, who stands 20 metres tall. The high street is also said to be a "thriving hub of independent shops", according to Visit Ilfracombe. There are many craft shops, gift shops and cafes to explore - and even a coffee-cum-craft shop. Sweet tooths will also enjoy the Ilfracombe Chocolate Emporium, which sells handcrafted chocolates and has a chocolate museum - which is free to visit. And make sure to check out the department story Chas N Pedlar & Son, which has been running for over a century. The seaside town has a lot of choice for accommodating too, with lots of holiday homes. How can I save money at Wetherspoons? FREE refills - Buy a £1.50 tea, coffee or hot chocolate and you can get free refills. The deal is available all day, every day. Check a map - Prices can vary from one location the next, even those close to each other. So if you're planning a pint at a Spoons, it's worth popping in nearby pubs to see if you're settling in at the cheapest. Choose your day - Each night the pub chain runs certain food theme nights. For instance, every Thursday night is curry club, where diners can get a main meal and a drink for a set price cheaper than usual. Pick-up vouchers - Students can often pick up voucher books in their local near universities, which offer discounts on food and drink, so keep your eyes peeled. Get appy - The Wetherspoons app allows you to order and pay for your drink and food from your table - but you don't need to be in the pub to use it. Taking full advantage of this, cheeky customers have used social media to ask their friends and family to order them drinks. The app is free to download on the App Store or Google Play. Check the date - Every year, Spoons holds its Tax Equality Day to highlight the benefits of a permanently reduced tax bill for the pub industry. It usually takes place in September, and last year it fell on Thursday, September 14. As well as its 12-day Real Ale Festival every Autumn, Wetherspoons also holds a Spring Festival. A Devon local has walked the South West Coast Path numerous times – these are her best spots The Salt Path movie doesn't show. Plus, Devon is also home to the best fish and chips in the UK.
The Irish Sun
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
I played the first-ever Traitors live experience – it was a heart-pounding world of lies and best friend-betrayal
I'VE been in high-stakes situations before - the kind that quicken your pulse and leave your hands trembling. But nothing could ever have prepared me for the chilling dread and simultaneous thrill of stepping into London's very own 'Scottish castle' for the new The Traitors live experience. 8 There is a new Traitors live experience in the UK Credit: Cyann Fielding Little did I know, this was just the start of what was going to be two hours of lies, deception and brilliant gameplay. Alongside 10 other players, I made my way into the belly of the building. The basement's chill sent a shiver down my spine - very apt for the live experience of the iconic TV show. A door was opened and the round table revealed itself - with every detail meticulously recreated. Read more on travel inspo SHOW BOAT I tried new Omaze-style draw for superyacht holidays & lived like a billionaire I definitely didn't feel like I was in London anymore... As the door slammed closed, our host revealed himself - smartly dressed and fully in character. Claudia would have been proud - it was almost as if he were one of her disciples, which I'm guessing felt the same for the other seven rooms full of players in different stages of the experience. We begin with a message from the queen herself, followed by our first time going into complete darkness by popping on blackout goggles. This was the moment most viewers wait for - where the Traitors are selected. Before you enter the experience, you are required to fill out a form where you can express whether or not you are happy to be a Traitor or not. I went on the new Titanic immersive experience Having selected that I didn't mind, as soon as my goggles covered my eyes regret sank in. My palms became clammy, as I jigged my knee - I was now begging silently to not be chosen as suspenseful music echoed around me. The music then rose to a crescendo, increasing the fear as it bubbled through my chest. Then it was over - the Traitors had been chosen, and I had remained a Faithful. Thank goodness. With the experience progressing, players must complete five challenges to earn gold just as they do on the TV show. In between the challenges, there are 'nights' where players put on their goggles again and someone is murdered. There are also round tables, where you get to discuss players and ultimately vote to banish someone. 8 Located in London, the experience allows you to gain the thrill of the TV show in real life Credit: Cyann Fielding "I went to drama school," one player professed early on. That was his first mistake. The second came when he backtracked: "No I didn't go to drama school, I did drama and English at university. I can't act." It was too late - this early proclamation set him in stone for suspicions of many of the other players as a Traitor. The opportunity to get a shield (which protects you from being murdered for one night) in another challenge where you count to a set time blindfolded, caused some eyebrows to be raised at certain players. Clever insights from others seemed too well-thought out under the circumstances for them not to be a Traitor. This was my mistake. 8 Players even sit at a round table and have discussions Credit: The Traitors: Live Experience Accusations of piping up led to others being branded a Traitor and as a result, we failed to banish any real Traitors. With each 'night' brewing more anticipation, it was down to five players remaining including both myself and fellow travel reporter, Alice Penwill. Every second that my goggles were on for felt like an eternity and with each that passed I was chanting in my head 'please don't let it be me'. Then came the heart-plummeting moment: a pinch on the shoulder that sealed my fate. I had been murdered and was immediately escorted out to a second room where I met my previous rivals — the other murdered and banished players. Looking up to the screen, shock rippled through me as I discovered my friend and colleague was the one to murder me. I had been stabbed in the back - literally and figuratively. 8 There are also a number of challenges in the experience to complete Credit: The Traitors: Live Experience Yet the game wasn't fully over for me, nor had it been for the other Faithfuls murdered or banished. In the second room for the deceased and discarded, screens broadcast the game that is continuing at the round table. And challenges for remaining players are also a challenge for those in the second room, as we were given the chance to interfere or help the remaining players win gold. The room, which also felt like it had been dragged out of the Scottish castle itself, was the best of a bad situation. I was out alongside six other players, but that didn't mean we didn't get a full experience or waste our money. Perhaps for the first person murdered, 25 minutes or so of gameplay may feel stingy - especially then when you have to wait in the second room a while before another player joins you. But I suppose that is the name of the game - and you run that risk going in. In total, the experience lasts around two hours. 8 And opportunities to get a gold or earn a shield Credit: The Traitors: Live Experience After the experience, we were escorted to a second bar, with plenty of photo ops and merch to purchase. Here is where the debrief between strangers commences, which was an exciting reliving of what we all experienced moments before - but from a number of different perspectives. How to play like a Traitor - Alice's perspective When I was asked whether I wanted to be a Traitor from the beginning I ticked the box saying 'no' thinking it would be my worst nightmare. But in reality, it was absolutely thrilling. I entered the game as a Faithful, but during the very first roundtable found myself recruited as a Traitor by the chosen Traitor themselves. I had my blindfold goggles on and the host gently squeezed my shoulder. My first thought was 'oh no, I've already been murdered', and when I lifted up my goggles, I read from the interactive screen that I had been recruited to be a Traitor. 8 After the experience ends, you can have some fun with taking pictures Credit: Cyann Fielding Making sure to stay silent, I locked eyes with my fellow Traitor. Then, with a coy smile, I placed my goggles back on knowing the game of lying and deception, something I wouldn't say is my strong suit, had officially started. It's hard to stay on top of the challenges and act like a Faithful - but I had to say picking off fellow players one by one was pretty fun. It's challenging though when time for 'murdering' arrives because the room is completely silent. You're also very close to everyone so making no noise at all is crucial. When it came to kill off players, the Traitors had to take off their goggles and attempt to communicate in silence. This is fine when you agree, but tougher when you don't as there's no opportunity to have a lengthy conversation about who to get rid of. Through nothing but luck, I made it to the final four along with my fellow Traitor and two Faithfuls. And to complete the final challenge, we had to leave the game room and were taken through what felt like a maze of corridors, and down the stairs to a makeshift Traitors turret. 8 In total the experience lasts around two hours Credit: Cyann Fielding It looked very strikingly similar to the real location with a gloomy and castle-like feel. The four of us stood in a little circle around the well, but of course there was no plotting. There were lanterns along the wall, and even Traitors' cloaks hung up on the wall. In our game the Faithfuls were victorious, but I felt like the real winner really. At the end of the game, I asked the original Traitor why she decided to recruit me. What swayed her was that I had looked at her during the roundtable, and she thought she'd been made. So just be warned, people will pay attention to anything you do and say throughout the entire game. The experience costs from £29.50 per person - and is worth every penny. And rumour has it, new games will be added to the experience as it continues its stint in London. The Sun also recently checked out the new Titanic experience, where you experience the iceberg hitting the ship. Plus, the new Squid Game experience feels like being in the TV show but there is a downside for families.
