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Wales Online
06-08-2025
- Wales Online
Ryanair flight forced to land in Cardiff after 'issue' onboard
Ryanair flight forced to land in Cardiff after 'issue' onboard The flight was supposed to be travelling from Dublin to Bristol The departures terminal at Cardiff Airport (Image: Rowan Griffiths / Daily Mirror) A Ryanair flight headed to Bristol was forced to land at Cardiff Airport after an "issue" was detected with the plane. Flight FR504 took off from Dublin Airport headed to Bristol on Tuesday, August 5, but crew made the decision to land at Cardiff when an issue was noticed. A spokesperson for Ryanair said: "This flight from Dublin to Bristol (5 Aug) diverted to Cardiff due to a minor tech issue. The aircraft landed normally at Cardiff Airport and passengers disembarked. Read here about a dad's clever hack to dodge a £500 charge. "To minimise disruption to passengers, we quickly arranged for alternative transport to bring them to Bristol Airport." The Boeing 737 Max 8 plane took off from Dublin at 3.28pm, but landed in Cardiff shortly after a "general emergency" signal was issued. Never miss a Cardiff story by signing up to our daily newsletter here It is understood that the captain did not declare an emergency onboard, with the flight landing "normally". Article continues below Cardiff Airport has been contacted for a comment. Get daily breaking news updates on your phone by joining our WhatsApp community here . We occasionally treat members to special offers, promotions and ads from us and our partners. See our Privacy Notice
Wales Online
12-07-2025
- Wales Online
Holiday park voted worst in UK as Center Parcs, Haven and Butlins all rank lower than winner
Holiday park voted worst in UK as Center Parcs, Haven and Butlins all rank lower than winner A new survey by Which? has revealed the best and worst holiday parks in the UK, according to visitors, with Potters Resorts taking the top spot, Pontins once again scoring badly and a Welsh resort doing very well too The Pontins near Weston-Super-Mare is the only one in the holiday park chain currently open to the public (Image: Rowan Griffiths ) A survey has unveiled the top and bottom UK holiday parks for 2025, with household names like Haven and Center Parcs being outshone by smaller operators. The survey gathered insights from 1,700 Which? members who rated their stays at various UK holiday parks and resorts. Participants evaluated aspects such as park cleanliness, accommodation quality, the range of free activities available, and the overall value for money of their trip. Leading the pack with the highest "customer score" was Potters Resorts, known for its all-inclusive holidays at two locations in Essex and Norfolk. Although predominantly an adults-only destination, Potters welcomes children during the summer holidays in Norfolk. It achieved a stellar 87% customer score, earning five stars for both facility and accommodation quality, and a perfect score for the diversity of complimentary activities. Despite being the priciest option in the Which? survey, Potters' cost includes all meals and beverages, a variety of activities from pickleball to archery, and 'West End' standard evening entertainment, which earned the resort a four-star rating for value for money. Forest Holidays secured the second spot, with an overall customer score of 80%. The brand boasts eight parks in England, three in Scotland, and two in Wales, offering rural locations and unique accommodation such as log cabins and treehouses. Forest Holidays clinched second place (Image: Leicester Mercury ) Article continues below Customers praised the quality of the accommodation and cleanliness, although they only awarded three-stars for value for money. Another top performer was Bluestone Wales, nestled in the scenic Pembrokeshire. Bluestone provides luxury lodges and cottages, also earning high marks for the quality of accommodation on offer — go here to read what one visitor who drove 2.5 hours to stay there thought. While they scored well for the variety of children's activities available and the entertainment, they also received a three-star rating for value for money, resulting in an overall score of 77%. Potters Resorts have two locations including the beautiful Hopton-on-Sea in Norfolk (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto ) Bluestone Wales in Pembrokeshire came third in the list (Image: Western Daily Press ) Pontins found themselves at the bottom of the chart once again, having also come last in 2024. The brand currently has just one holiday park open to guests, the adults-only Sand Bay Holiday Village in Weston-Super-Mare. Their other two parks in Burnham on Sea, Somerset and Pakefield, Suffolk are temporarily closed to accommodate construction workers. With 56% for customer satisfaction, Pontins earned just two-stars in most areas and, despite being the cheapest option, customers still felt they received poor value for money. In a scathing Tripadvisor review, one customer didn't hold back about their Pakefield park experience, stating: "Worst place I have ever visited, chalet was old unkempt and dirty, holes in sheets, beds pushed together with terrible mattress and pillows, to shower you had to keep pushing a button in, it leaked all over the floor." Another visitor expressed dissatisfaction, noting: "Rooms are shabby and quite dirty. Dirt on the baseboards, cobwebs in the corners and behind doors, our shower curtain had pink mold growing along the bottom seam, clearly not laundered between guests." Not all feedback was negative, as some holidaymakers enjoyed their stay, with one reviewer commenting: "We went beginning of October had a brilliant week! Food was great, swimming pool was really good and for the price you really can't get any better!" Pontins - who were bottom of the list - have closed locations including Camber Sands in East Sussex (Image: Adam Gerrard / Daily Mirror ) Entertainment at Pontins also received commendations, with a guest remarking: "The Bluecoats show Vegas was amazing! They are all so talented and are always doing some activity or joining in on the dance floor and having a laugh or chatting with people." Largo Leisure Parks, which operates six parks in Scotland, found itself at the lower end of the satisfaction scale with a score of 64%. It should be noted, however, that this rating was based on a relatively small sample size of just 30 respondents who had visited their parks. A spokesperson for Largo Leisure commented: "Whilst this is of course disappointing, this relates to only 30 people who were surveyed about Largo Leisure over 12 months ago. On both TripAdvisor and Google Reviews, where we have thousands of reviews for each of our six Scotland holiday parks, all of them are rated 4.3 or above out of 5. "We regularly get 5 star reviews on both TripAdvisor and Google reviews and we would encourage people to take a look on both to see a true reflection of the guest experiences at our parks. We are very proud of our track record for providing exceptional holidays for our guests but we never stop trying to improve. We are enjoying a busy year across all our parks and if people read the online reviews they will see why." Meanwhile, Away Resorts scored similarly. It operates 25 parks in locations such as the popular south-west of England and the Isle of Wight. Away Resorts received just two stars for value for money, in spite of offering a broad selection of accommodation including caravans, glamping options, and luxury lodges. The company also had unsatisfactory ratings in customer service but earned three stars for cleanliness and accommodation quality. Away Resorts have 25 family-friendly resorts including one in Newquay (Image: William Dax / SWNS ) Center Parcs in Elveden Forest - their parks received high scores for quality but were described as 'expensive' (Image: Publicity Picture ) Center Parcs, the most popular holiday park provider in the survey, scored 69%, putting it on par with Haven. Despite high scores for its facilities and accommodation quality, it received lower marks for the range of complimentary activities and overall value for money. It was the third priciest on the list, following Potters and Warner Leisure Villages, who cater to adults-only breaks. A Which? member commented: "Very expensive for what it is. Accommodation excellent, apart from the oasis pool, everything was extra. Staff were very helpful and the children enjoyed their stay. I will not be going back." Haven, with 38 parks across the UK, matched Center Parcs' score, although they did receive three stars for value for money. Which? readers awarded them two-star ratings for food and drink and the variety of free activities available. You can read what one mum thought of Haven here. Article continues below Best and worst holiday parks in the UK - ranked Pontins, Away Resorts, Park Holidays, Butlins, Center Parcs, and Haven have been approached for comment.
Wales Online
02-07-2025
- Climate
- Wales Online
Oasis Cardiff gigs weather forecast reveals mixed picture depending which day you're going
Oasis Cardiff gigs weather forecast reveals mixed picture depending which day you're going You'll either need your Oasis-style parka or bucket hat depending on what day you've got a ticket for An Oasis fan reads the official tour programme ahead of their reunion gig at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff (Image: Rowan Griffiths / Daily Mirror ) The weekend we've all been waiting for is nearly upon us. After 16 long years of waiting Liam and Noel Gallagher will officially reunite Oasis from Friday and Saturday with Cardiff hosting the historic moment the band reforms. Excitement is at fever pitch in the capital as soundchecks can be heard bellowing out of the Principality Stadium with the final preparations being put in place by the Mancunian brothers. And fans are putting their own final preparations in place from visiting the pop-up shop at St David's Shopping Centre to purchase the all-important T-shirts and bucket hats to deciding which pubs they are going to frequent for some pre-match lemonades, with pubs and bars expected to be busy from very early in the day before gates open at 5pm. Concert organisers have confirmed that the roof will be closed at the home of Welsh rugby on July 4 and 5 which promises to add to the cauldron of noise that fans are going to create. But what weather can fans expect on the day? The Met Office's forecast for Thursday into Sunday predicts unspoilt weather if you've got tickets for the first night on Friday. But it appears to be more of an unsettled day on Saturday. Its website reads: "Dry with plenty of sunshine on Friday. "Turning breezier and cloudier over the weekend with periods of persistent rain through Saturday and scattered showers on Sunday. Feeling cooler too." Sunshine is expected all day on Friday. This is how it will look at 4pm Taking a closer look Cardiff is set to have temperatures of 19°C at 10am on Friday and by 1pm it will rise to 20°C. By 4pm the temperature will remain at 20°C and drop to 18°C at 7pm by the time second warm-up act Richard Ashcroft takes to the stage. It will be fine for when fans leave the stadium too with temperatures of 16°C expected. No rainfall is expected all day. Rainfall is expected all day on Saturday. Here's how it will look at 7pm On Saturday weather maps show downpours of rain over the capital all day long, from 7am until 1am on Sunday. Temperatures of 17°C are expected at 10am, increasing to 18°C at 1pm, which will stay the same until 10pm when it drops back to 17°C. Article continues below Tickets for the Oasis reunion sold out across all venues due to huge demand when they went online earlier in the year. However, there are still several options available for fans trying to snag a last-minute spot. Limited last-minute tickets can be bought from the official Ticketmaster resale site, where fans who can no longer go sell their seats, although these tend to go into and out of stock quickly. Elsewhere, resale sites like Viagogo, Vivid Seats, StubHub and Twickets are selling tickets for various dates with prices from £121, although fans should always bear in mind that many official sites, such as Ticketmaster and Live Nation, discourage the purchase of resale tickets.
Wales Online
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Cardiff Oasis gig preparations see important delivery to Principality Stadium
Cardiff Oasis gig preparations see important delivery to Principality Stadium Special preparations are taking place ahead of the gigs on Friday, July 4, and Saturday, July 5 Liam and Noel Gallagher will reunite on stage for the first time in 16 years with their huge reunion tour this summer (Image: Getty Images ) An important delivery has arrived at Principality Stadium in Cardiff in the lead up to the Oasis' gigs over the weekend. Brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher will be joined by their bandmates on the stadium's stage for the first time in 16 years for their Live '25 reunion tour. The tour will begin in Cardiff, before travelling to Manchester and then London amongst other cities across the UK, Europe, Asia and North America. And the Welsh capital is gearing up for a very memorable weekend. A few days before the first gig, which will take place on Friday, July 4, with the second gig on Saturday, July 5, photos from behind the scenes showed a whole truckload of beer arriving the stadium. READ MORE: Full list of Oasis merchandise and prices at Cardiff's new pop-up store LATEST: Noel Gallagher's daughter Anais spotted in Cardiff ahead of Oasis gig at Principality Stadium Fans are expected to flock to the stadium in their thousands. While there will be plenty of drinking, singing, and enjoyment, fans have been warned they will need to abide to Principality Stadium's rules. Preparations are now underway at the Principality stadium in Cardiff (Image: Rowan Griffiths / Daily Mirror ) The ground rules of the stadium strictly prohibits smoking in any form, other than in designated areas. From superstar gigs to cosy pubs, find out What's On in Wales by signing up to our newsletter here Anyone caught breaching that rule will be told to leave. Another thing to pay attention to is what type of bag you can take in. Ahead of the gigs, fans will be able to visit the official merchandise stand near the stadium (Image: Rowan Griffiths / Daily Mirror ) The gigs in Cardiff will take place on Friday, July 4, and Saturday, July 5 (Image: Rowan Griffiths / Daily Mirror ) It's only small bags and handbags allowed and they must be no larger than 35cm x 40cm x 19cm. You can read more on these rules here. But before then, fans can enjoy what's on offer at the Oasis pop-up store at St David's Shopping Centre, as well as the merchandise stand at the Millennium Plaza near the stadium, which will open on Wednesday, July 2. Preparations are now underway at the Principality stadium in Cardiff (Image: Rowan Griffiths / Daily Mirror ) Oasis competition: Win tickets to see Oasis at Wembley Tickets for the Oasis reunion sold out across all venues due to huge demand when they went online earlier in the year. However, there are still several options available for fans trying to snag a last-minute spot. Limited last-minute tickets can be bought from the official Ticketmaster resale site, where fans who can no longer go sell their seats, although these tend to go into and out of stock quickly. Viagogo and resale tickets Sites such as viagogo, Stubhub, and Vivid Seats allow fans to buy resale tickets from other fans. However, it is important to note that ticket conditions often prohibit resale after initial purchase. Those tickets may not be valid for admittance to gigs. Fans intending to buy tickets for live events through resale websites should check the ticket terms and conditions, to confirm whether resale is prohibited, before they buy. Ticket terms and conditions can be checked with the original seller, such as Ticketmaster or Live Nation. If resale is prohibited, tickets bought second-hand could be voided and admission to the event refused. Article continues below Elsewhere, resale sites like Viagogo, Vivid Seats, StubHub and Twickets are selling tickets for various dates with prices from £121, although fans should always bear in mind that many official sites, such as Ticketmaster and Live Nation, discourage the purchase of resale tickets.
Irish Daily Mirror
12-06-2025
- Irish Daily Mirror
Air India plane crash - photos capture devastating aftermath and destruction
Irish officials have confirmed that they are 'closely monitoring' the aftermath of a horror plane crash that sent plumes of black smoke billowing into the sky. The plane travelling from India to the UK with 242 people on board crashed minutes after take-off from the western city of Ahmedabad, according to the airline and police. The aircraft was en route to London Gatwick Airport, Air India said. It crashed in a residential area near Ahmedabad airport, according to police. The 242 people on board included 217 adults and 11 children. They include 169 Indian nationals, 53 Britons, seven Portuguese and one Canadian, Air India said. A Department of Foreign Affairs spokesperson in Dublin said: "The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is aware of an air incident involving a flight from Ahmedabad to Department, including the Embassy of Ireland in India, is closely monitoring the situation and stands ready to provide consular assistance." For updates as they happen see our live blog. Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Harris has said that his department is monitoring the situation in India (Image: X) 1 of 12 Pictures from the BJ Medical college student hostel mess, where the Air India plane crashed just after take off (Image: Rowan Griffiths / Daily Mirror) 2 of 12 Black smoke could be seen billowing from miles around (Image: AFPTV/ESN/AFP via Getty Images) 3 of 12
