Latest news with #Regency
The Guardian
3 days ago
- General
- The Guardian
Country diary: A paradise inside four walls
Any garden is a special thing, but a walled garden? That's something truly special: an outside that is an inside. When Tara Fraser and Nigel Jones first came to view this semi-derelict Regency house in 2016, they had no idea Ashley Court included a walled garden. 'We saw this wooden door and pushed it open – and there it was. Just like The Secret Garden. Total jungle.' Nine summers and countless hours of labour later, and it is transformed. Nigel opens the door; I follow him and have to stop at the threshold as I catch sight of it. The garden is Tardis-like, bigger on the inside somehow, and bounded by high walls – stone on the outside and lined with brick – in a loose squareish shape that undulates with the lift and dip of the land. The veg beds and paths give it the feel of a patchwork coverlet laid over a sleeping giant. 'No self-respecting Victorian kitchen garden would be so ridiculously slopey,' saya Tara. It's one of the reasons why they believe the garden predates the house to before the 1800s. Not only do the high walls act as a physical barrier against deer and rabbits, they retain the heat and shelter the plants from the wind, such that the garden sits in its own microclimate. In winter, the cold air can escape through a rectangular frost window at the lower end (it pours out, apparently, like a white ghost, into the surrounding woodland). Hard to imagine on a day like this, with bees and demoiselles zipping about, buttercups shining, bathed in warm spring sunshine. Beans have begun spiralling their way up bamboo wigwams, gooseberries are as hard as marbles but growing plumper, more translucent every day. Ancient espaliered pear trees reach out to each other with gnarled fingers. Clumps of chives have gone to flower, their purple tufted hairdos like something out of Dr Seuss. Filled with all of these photosynthesisers feasting on the sun, this garden really is paradise. The word itself comes from the Avestan word pairidaēza, meaning walled enclosure. How fitting that the walled garden is both how we imagine heaven, and the very place on earth where that image took root. Under the Changing Skies: The Best of the Guardian's Country Diary, 2018-2024 is published by Guardian Faber; order at and get a 15% discount
Hans India
4 days ago
- Business
- Hans India
Regency College Celebrates 31st Annual Awards with Industry Legends and Student Honours
Regency College of Culinary Arts & Hotel Management marked its 31st Annual Awards Ceremony on May 24, 2025, at T-Hub Auditorium with grandeur. The event honoured culinary icon Chef Manjit Singh Gill with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Industry leaders like Eleazer Prakash and Chef Vijaya Baskaran received the Grand Regent Award, while top HR professionals earned the Elite Regent Award. The ceremony celebrated exceptional alumni and student achievers, showcasing Regency's commitment to excellence. Principal P Ramesh Kumar Reddy highlighted the college's 98% placement rate and its alignment with emerging hospitality trends, preparing students for global success.
Indian Express
25-05-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
Influencer dies after chugging 2 bottles of alcohol in 20 minutes; experts explain what went wrong
Thanakarn Kanthee, a Thai content creator, passed away a few months ago after accepting an alleged drinking challenge to down 2 bottles of whiskey for a significant amount of money. Known popularly as 'Bank Leicester' among his fans, the social media influencer was offered 10,000 Thai baht (₹25,076) per bottle to drink 350ml bottles of Regency whiskey during a birthday celebration in Tha Mai district of Chanthaburi, on Christmas. reported Bangkok Post. Soon after, he collapsed and was rushed to the hospital, where he was declared dead as a result of alcohol poisoning. spoke to health experts and found out what happens to the body when you chug so much alcohol in such a short span of time. Tanya Khanna, Nutritionist and Yoga Trainer, Alyve Health said that the body is not designed to process alcohol at such a rapid pace. 'Typically, the liver can metabolize only one standard drink per hour. A standard drink contains about 14 grams of pure alcohol, which is roughly equivalent to 44 ml of whiskey, 148 ml of wine, or 355 ml of beer. When alcohol is consumed too quickly, the body becomes overwhelmed, leading to severe physiological disruptions,' she said. According to Khanna, the brain, as the control center of the body, is particularly vulnerable. High concentrations of alcohol impair decision-making, coordination, and motor skills, leading to alcohol poisoning. This disrupts essential functions like breathing, heart rate, and body temperature regulation, which can result in coma or even death. 'Rapid alcohol consumption can trigger arrhythmias, irregular heartbeats, and an increased risk of atrial fibrillation, which can lead to strokes or heart attacks,' she said. Alcohol also suppresses the respiratory system, and vomiting, often a result of binge drinking, increases the risk of aspiration, which can lead to pneumonia or suffocation. Gastrointestinal distress, including gastritis, ulcers, and pancreatitis, can follow, she added. Isha Lall, Holistic Nutrition and Gut Health Coach added that drinking two bottles of whiskey (roughly 750 ml each) means consuming over 30 standard drinks. For context, a lethal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is around 0.4%. Downing that much whiskey could easily push you past this limit within minutes. 'Initially, you'll feel euphoric or tipsy. But as levels rise, your coordination falters, speech slurs, and judgment fails. If alcohol levels spike too high, your body's emergency brakes kick in: vomiting and loss of consciousness. These are your last defenses against alcohol poisoning,' she said. She suggested the following tips to ensure you drink safely: 1. Pace Yourself: Stick to no more than one drink per hour. 2. Never Drink on an Empty Stomach: Food slows alcohol absorption. 3. Know Your Limit: For most people, two drinks per day is the upper safe limit. 4. Stay Hydrated: Alternate alcohol with water to avoid dehydration.
Daily Mirror
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
BBC releasing unmissable period drama hailed as 'greatest movie ever'
The BBC will be dropping the acclaimed movie soon The BBC is set to deliver a Regency drama that's certain to leave viewers weak at the knees, reports Surrey Live. Audiences have lavished praise on the period piece, with one eager fan sharing their Rotten Tomatoes review: "Seen this in a movie theater elevates it to another level. "The top of the top in the romance/drama/comedy genre, and one of the best movies of all times [sic]." Another elated watcher wrote a glowing second review: "I would have to say, personally, this is the greatest movie I have ever watched. "The story was so compelling, the characters like no other." Further praise came from a third delighted viewer who admitted: "I love every single minute of this movie." Joe Wright's cinematically gorgeous 2005 version of Pride and Prejudice is slated for arrival on BBC iPlayer this month, just in time for its 20th anniversary celebrations and synchronising with what would have been Jane Austen's 250th birthday. This cinematic rendition sparked debate among die-hard Pride and Prejudice aficionados, especially as it followed a decade after the BBC's much-cherished 1995 series featuring Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle as the definitive Mr Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet. Firth's embodiment of Mr Darcy transcended the pages when he later mirrored the iconic role in Bridget Jones's Diary, amassing an even wider fanbase and solidifying his portrayal as the ultimate Mr Darcy for many. However, Matthew Macfadyen stepping into the prestigious shoes of Austen's beloved hero for the 2005 film did stir some dissent among admirers, especially as the actor was known then for his work on Spooks. However, his performance alongside Pirates of the Caribbean and Bend It Like Beckham star Keira Knightley, who played Elizabeth Bennet, managed to win over even the most doubtful critics. Wright's Hollywood rendition boasted stunning cinematography, featuring expansive shots of the English countryside, including a memorable scene of Lizzy perched on a cliff in the Peak District. Complementing the striking visuals was the enchanting score by Italian composer Dario Marianelli. For those unfamiliar with Austen's classic, Pride and Prejudice follows the spirited Lizzy and her sisters as they navigate societal expectations to secure their futures through marriage. Despite their mother Mrs Bennet's, portrayed by Brenda Blethyn of Vera fame, frantic attempts at matchmaking, several of the Bennet sisters do find a match. Amidst all this, Lizzy defies convention by seeking a marriage based on love rather than wealth. Her initial awkward interaction with Mr Darcy sets them both on a transformative journey that challenges their preconceived notions and changes them irrevocably. Pride and Prejudice boasted an impressive cast including Rosamund Pike, the late Donald Sutherland, Carey Mulligan, Talulah Riley, Jena Malone, Tom Hollander and Rupert Friend. The film is certainly worth revisiting before Netflix's upcoming adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, which will feature Emma Corrin as Elizabeth Bennet, Jack Lowden as Mr Darcy and Olivia Colman as Mrs Bennet. Netflix has assured that the upcoming series will be a true-to-source, classic adaptation of the novel, with Dolly Alderton, author of Everything I Know About Love, handling the scriptwriting. Filming for Netflix's Pride and Prejudice is set to take place in the UK this year.
Daily Mail
21-05-2025
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE The surprising seaside tourist destination that has been blighted by crime with robberies, pickpockets and shoplifting rife on its iconic shopping streets
It's one of Britain's most popular weekend haunts - but Brighton is being blighted by a crimewave on some of the city's most iconic shopping streets. Brighton's Regency neighbourhood, so-called as it is at the heart of the Regency city's old quarter, saw 2,436 crimes for every 1,000 residents last year. This is the worst crime rate for any big city neighbourhood in England outside of London or Birmingham, according to a new analysis of police data. The neighbourhood comprises the seafront and beach including the famous Brighton Palace Pier, the i360 observation tower and the tiny shopping streets and alleys known as The Lanes. There are dozens of bars, pubs, fast food and sit-down restaurants, kebabs shops, stores selling candy rock and seaside trinkets and it is a hotspot for revellers at the weekend. It is also home to the five-star Grand and four-star Metropole Hotels on the Regency seafront. But the community is also struggling to cope with a large homeless and transient population, many of whom suffer from mental health and addiction problems. Robberies, pickpockets and especially shoplifting is rife and the area after dark has been described as 'lawless.' Regency is a Lower Layer Super Output Area (LSOA), a term used to describe zones of 1,000 to 3,000 people created for administrative purposes. In order to compare urban crime rates, MailOnline obtained data for all LSOAs in English cities with a population of over 250,000 and ranked them by the number of crimes (ranging from petty offences to murder) per 1,000 people. Part of London's West End known for pickpockets and robberies had the highest crime rate last year of 16,348 per 1,000 residents, followed by two other areas in Westminster and then Ladywood in Birmingham (5,777 per 1,000). According to business leaders who ply their trade in Brighton's Regency neighbourhood, beggars, drug addicts and drunks gather in the area attracted by the rich pickings from tourists and visitors. Sam Farah, who runs Sparkling Newsagents, said: 'Especially at night and it becomes lawless. In my store they target the alcohol specifically. They walk in and just take it. 'Police have told us not to confront them so they know they can just get away with it so they do it repeatedly. 'This is especially typical in the 14-17 year age range where they know nothing can be done. 'Often they target a particular type of alcohol like champagne which has a high value but sometimes it's just things like Buzzball cocktails - which are all trending on TikTok at the moment. 'Some people can get quite violent if you confront them. We have CCTV all over the place but they do it anyway. There is no deterrent anymore.' MailOnline obtained data for all LSOAs in English cities with a population of over 250,000 and ranked them by the number of crimes per 1,000 people. This map shows the most crime-ridden LSOA in each city. No data available for Manchester On East Street, the famous Quadrophenia Alley - which featured in 1979 film Quadrophenia - has been renamed Smack Alley on account of the drug dealing that occurs there. Retailer Nick Wright said: 'There needs to be more deterrent. We hardly ever see a police officer down here. 'Police officers are too busy taking up their time with tick box crimes, filling in paperwork at the station and not spending enough time stopping crime from happening in the first place.' He called for a change in culture and said the high crime rate in Regency was no surprise to most of the traders that worked there. Another businessman said: 'We've been told that any thefts below £220 are victimless crimes and the CPS won't prosecute so there is no point in officers making arrests. 'As a result these criminals just go around as if they own the place, stealing stuff and selling it on to fund their drug and drink habits. 'It's organised crime - one person will steal an expensive, desirable jacket and if we give chase they'll pass it to another runner down the road who sprints off in a different direction. 'The police won't come so we're left having to claim on our insurance and our premiums go up and up. It's a dreadful situation.' Brighton is famous for its large number of independent shops and many of these are found in The Lanes, which is known for its jewellery stores and boutiques, and North Laine, which is just outside the Regency neighbourhood. One business owner, who has spent 45 years working in The Lanes, said: 'You never see a police officer. Fifteen years ago there was a visible deterrent around here but it's got worse and worse. 'The homeless, transient and traveller population has got much worse. We find human waste on our porch all the time, guys lying all over the pavement out of their heads. It's not good. 'As far as I can see the police do very little these days around here. They react to big crimes but the little crimes are ignored.' Down on the seafront there are a host of traditional boutique and small shops which say they are being menaced by shoplifters. Linda Car, who works with her daughter, Tina Davies, on the seafront said: 'It's scary sometimes how unprotected businesses are here. You would imagine the police would help but these days they simply don't.' Simon Sykes, 58, who has run All At Sea Shells for 20 years, said: 'We never see a police officer down here and it's a miracle if you can get one to come down following a genuine crime. 'Teenagers and youths are a big problem here. They work together to steal things from stores, often distracting owners while others pilfer your goods.' The former Royal Navy serviceman said: 'I've had kids pick up entire boxes of shells and run onto the beach and throw them into the sea while someone else films it for TikTok. It's crazy.' He said there were a lot of exchange and language students who behave 'appallingly' once they hit the seafront. 'There's no comeuppance for them because they are foreign and the police won't touch them, so they shoplift all sorts of things. I always watch out for them.' Ailynn Cruz, who runs Hoarder & Maker, said: 'They steal my stock and if I challenge them they get violent. 'I wish we had more police down here. It doesn't feel safe sometimes and we have to take measures to protect ourselves although we do have a good community of shopkeepers down here and we all look out for each other.' On North Street, on the outside edge of Regency, Greggs has suffered a particular blight of shoplifting with people walking in, picking up baguettes, cakes, crisps and drinks and then flagrantly walking off. In one day the store has seen up to a dozen such incidents with staff instructed to turn a blind eye. One resident, who did not want to be named, said: 'Until the council and the police do something to solve the horrendous homeless problem here then some parts of Brighton will continue to be blighted by scenes more akin to rough parts of San Francisco and LA. 'It's such a shame. Brighton is the queen of the Victorian seaside resorts but she's had her crown knocked off and is looking decidedly down at heel in recent years.' Councillor Bella Sankey, Leader of Brighton & Hove City Council, said: 'We have been working hard to tackle anti-social behaviour and levels of crime in this area of our city. We know all too well the impact that anti-social behaviour has on communities and safety. 'We have received feedback from residents telling us that the work we have been doing alongside Sussex Police and other stakeholders has made a noticeable difference and is having a significant impact and we are determined to keep going until everyone can feel the benefit. 'We will continue to respond to the concerns of local residents and do all we can to continue the positive work already underway.' Chief Inspector Simon Marchant, from Sussex Police's Brighton Command Team, said: 'We're fully aware of the concerns around anti-social behaviour and drug activity in the Regency area and our teams have been working tirelessly to tackle the issues head-on. Through increased high-visibility patrols, targeted enforcement, and close partnership with local stakeholders, we've made a real impact. 'We've also had real success in targeting county drugs lines operating in the area, resulting in multiple arrests, significant drug seizures and custodial sentences for key offenders. 'Residents have told us they've seen clear improvements in areas like Norfolk and Regency Square, and we're continuing to build on that progress with arrests, community protection orders, and daily hotspot patrols. We're also improving how we communicate, with more frequent updates and monthly ward-specific briefings, so communities stay informed and engaged in the work we're doing to keep their neighbourhoods safe. 'Please report any crimes or concerns online, via 101 or by calling 999 in an emergency.' West Midlands Police said: 'Over the last two years, crime has continued to fall in our communities since we introduced our new local operating model to bring a better spread of officers, detectives and specialist staff across the force delivering an improved service. 'Total crime across the West Midlands dropped by a further 18,000 offences (nearly 6%) over the last year alone. Compared with two years ago we have recorded 53,000 fewer crimes. 'There have been 3,000 fewer victims of domestic abuse, 1,500 fewer robberies and 2,500 fewer burglaries compared to last year. Knifepoint robberies have fallen by 24% in the last year.'
