Latest news with #Sabre
Scotsman
20 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
I went to Butlin's for a week of non-stop entertainment
'Our True Intent is All for Your Delight' runs the phrase. It's one which, nicked from A Midsummer Night's Dream, has popped up on Butlin's adverts throughout the years but which now - at least as far as I could see - only appears on the wall of the Splash swimming pool complex at the Bognor Regis site. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, 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... After five manic, hectic and ultimately wonderful days there, you can see why the slogan still runs true today, even though we are miles from the original days of knobbly knees competitions. After an exhausting half-term away, we needed to lie down in a darkened room for a bit, but that's not a criticism; in fact quite the opposite. We only live an hour away from Bognor so we're almost on home turf but not over-familiar with the area. But to be honest, that site could be a ten-minute walk down the road as far as the kids were concerned - they were not in town for sightseeing and in our five days didn't even leave the front gate. There simply weren't enough hours in the day to do everything we wanted to do - and again, that's no criticism. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Eddie, eight, and Rosanna, five, at Butlin's in Bognor Regis | Tom Morton/NationalWorld So where to start? Well, the headline for the summer is - again - the Masked Singer Live shows, in which anyone watching can indulge their Saturday night January TV fantasies and shout 'Take It Off!' at a real celebrity. No spoilers here, but the two who were unmasked when we were there were genuine household names - and were nicely pitched between difficult and guessable. It's a great laugh, and the hour-long show flashes past. The other attraction is - again Saturday night telly-based - meeting actual real-life Gladiators. This time it's not a spoiler to say that we had our picture taken with Sabre and Fire. Beware though - it's such a popular event, even though it's just a meet and greet and not a show, that the queue is enormous, so be prepared for a wait of up to 90 minutes. Tom Morton and his family meet Sabre and Fire from Gladiators | Tom Morton/NationalWorld While those two top the bill, our favourite show of the week was Electric Wonderland, who we had seen in an earlier incarnation as Electric City a couple of years ago. If you've seen Blackout on Britain's Got Talent, you'll know where they are coming from; very accomplished dancers but with neon lighting on their black bodysuits that allows intricate and pleasing patterns, witty visual jokes and dazzling effects to be staged. It's the kind of performance you could watch for hours. The start of Electric Wonderland's show | Tom Morton/NationalWorld Other shows we saw were the panto - Snow White and her Magnificent Friends - which saw Muddles and his mother bring the house down, and Animals and Mythical Beasts, a strange but charming mash-up of environmentalism, comedy, super-size puppetry and storytelling, which was also a hit. There was also Danny and Mick from CBBC with their bungled magic tricks, and SBX Extreme Playgrounds, with street stars showcasing basketball, street dance, football and beatboxing skills - all of which wowed an eight-year-old - and the in-house show, Iconic, which was a musical trip around the world. That was probably the only bum note, as the concept didn't really work, although the guest Kenyan dance troupe given a slot in each half were sensational. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Just reading that back seems exhausting, and we haven't even covered the two things that topped the kids' favourites list. Firstly, the swimming pool. It's been a favourite for a couple of years now, and for anyone who hasn't had the pleasure, imagine a swimming pool, but designed by a (skilled) child, for children. It's very difficult to do actual swimming - instead you spend your time on a variety of slides, including a raft run, an enclosed chute called Adrenaline, and two traditional whizz-alongs called the Stick of Rock and the Racers. There's also the rapids - which are more fun the lighter you are, as the five-year-old almost hit warp speed in one section, plus fountains, a helter skelter, and hot tubs. It's easily two hours, if not more, of fun - we went twice and both times emerged wrinkled as prunes from the long time spent in the water. The racer slides at Splash Bognor, the swimming pool at Butlin's Bognor Regis And new to us was PlayXperience. This has been a while in the making as it was being built when we were last here in 2023, but goodness me it has some kit inside it, a range of traditional games but all updated with oodles of tech included. We had a crack at three of the rooms. Tech Putt is basically crazy golf - we were in Neon, which is as you'd expect dark with bright lights, and there are also Vegas and Music-themed versions. Tech Putt Neon at Butlin's Bognor Regis | Butlin's Yes, it was great playing golf in a darkened room, and the course was pitched (pun intended) so even the five-year-old could get round quite easily. For all the fact that it looks amazing, the thing that wowed me was that each player's ball was tagged to them, and somehow the system counted your shots; it didn't matter who went first, and there was no annoying mini pencil and tiny piece of card on which to scrawl numbers. Honestly, a huge improvement in modern life. I'll keep that and internet banking, but anything else invented after 2004 can get in the bin. The VR-cade in Bognor Butlin's PlayXperience centre | Butlin's VR-cade was even more mindblowing, especially to me as someone who has not kept up with computer games and has not often worn a VR headset. We played shoot'em-ups where you got the shock of your life when you turned around to confront a hideous alien behind you, driving simulators, and best of all, rides and rollercoasters where your heart was in your mouth even though you knew full well that your seat was only tilting by a few degrees and you were not going to be catapulted across the room. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Tom Morton and his family in the Laser Tag arena at Butlin's Bognor Regis's PlayXperience centre | Tom Morton/NationalWorld And our final trip to PlayXperience was to Laser Tag. Somehow I have gone through life without ever playing this, but after 45 minutes I'm converted. Brilliant fun, very sweaty, but utterly exhilarating. Summer holiday prices Here's what's on offer over the summer break Summer Holiday break from £541 (£136 per person) Butlin's offers a four-night Summer Holiday break featuring Stephen Mulhern staying in a two bedroom Comfort Room from £541 on 21 July 2025. Price is based on a family of four sharing and includes live shows and activities with free flow access to the pool, unlimited fairground rides, brand-new Skyline Gang Soft Play and access to PLAYXPERIENCE. Dining packages start from £24.95 per adult, per day, £14.95 per child (6-14), per day and £6.95 per child (2-5). To find out more or to book go to Summer Holiday break from £659 (£165 per person) Butlin's offers a four-night Summer Holiday break featuring Stephen Mulhern staying in a two bedroom Wave Hotel room from £659 on 21 July 2025. Price is based on a family of four sharing and includes live shows and activities with free flow access to the pool, unlimited fairground rides, brand-new Skyline Gang Soft Play and access to PLAYXPERIENCE. Dining packages start from £24.95 per adult, per day, £14.95 per child (6-14), per day and £6.95 per child (2-5). To find out more or to book go to Rosanna and Eddie with Billy the Bear | Tom Morton/NationalWorld Mix into this fairground rides, bowling, the new soft play and some pottery painting, and it's obvious why the eight-year-old said that he felt half-term had lasted for ages. That's what happens when you pack in that many activities into five days; so much so that you don't even go to the beach when it is but a pebble's throw away. We were, indeed, Delighted.
Scotsman
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
I went to Butlin's for a week of non-stop entertainment
'Our True Intent is All for Your Delight' runs the phrase. It's one which, nicked from A Midsummer Night's Dream, has popped up on Butlin's adverts throughout the years but which now - at least as far as I could see - only appears on the wall of the Splash swimming pool complex at the Bognor Regis site. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox 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... After five manic, hectic and ultimately wonderful days there, you can see why the slogan still runs true today, even though we are miles from the original days of knobbly knees competitions. After an exhausting half-term away, we needed to lie down in a darkened room for a bit, but that's not a criticism; in fact quite the opposite. We only live an hour away from Bognor so we're almost on home turf but not over-familiar with the area. But to be honest, that site could be a ten-minute walk down the road as far as the kids were concerned - they were not in town for sightseeing and in our five days didn't even leave the front gate. There simply weren't enough hours in the day to do everything we wanted to do - and again, that's no criticism. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Eddie, eight, and Rosanna, five, at Butlin's in Bognor Regis | Tom Morton/NationalWorld So where to start? Well, the headline for the summer is - again - the Masked Singer Live shows, in which anyone watching can indulge their Saturday night January TV fantasies and shout 'Take It Off!' at a real celebrity. No spoilers here, but the two who were unmasked when we were there were genuine household names - and were nicely pitched between difficult and guessable. It's a great laugh, and the hour-long show flashes past. The other attraction is - again Saturday night telly-based - meeting actual real-life Gladiators. This time it's not a spoiler to say that we had our picture taken with Sabre and Fire. Beware though - it's such a popular event, even though it's just a meet and greet and not a show, that the queue is enormous, so be prepared for a wait of up to 90 minutes. Tom Morton and his family meet Sabre and Fire from Gladiators | Tom Morton/NationalWorld While those two top the bill, our favourite show of the week was Electric Wonderland, who we had seen in an earlier incarnation as Electric City a couple of years ago. If you've seen Blackout on Britain's Got Talent, you'll know where they are coming from; very accomplished dancers but with neon lighting on their black bodysuits that allows intricate and pleasing patterns, witty visual jokes and dazzling effects to be staged. It's the kind of performance you could watch for hours. The start of Electric Wonderland's show | Tom Morton/NationalWorld Other shows we saw were the panto - Snow White and her Magnificent Friends - which saw Muddles and his mother bring the house down, and Animals and Mythical Beasts, a strange but charming mash-up of environmentalism, comedy, super-size puppetry and storytelling, which was also a hit. There was also Danny and Mick from CBBC with their bungled magic tricks, and SBX Extreme Playgrounds, with street stars showcasing basketball, street dance, football and beatboxing skills - all of which wowed an eight-year-old - and the in-house show, Iconic, which was a musical trip around the world. That was probably the only bum note, as the concept didn't really work, although the guest Kenyan dance troupe given a slot in each half were sensational. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Just reading that back seems exhausting, and we haven't even covered the two things that topped the kids' favourites list. Firstly, the swimming pool. It's been a favourite for a couple of years now, and for anyone who hasn't had the pleasure, imagine a swimming pool, but designed by a (skilled) child, for children. It's very difficult to do actual swimming - instead you spend your time on a variety of slides, including a raft run, an enclosed chute called Adrenaline, and two traditional whizz-alongs called the Stick of Rock and the Racers. There's also the rapids - which are more fun the lighter you are, as the five-year-old almost hit warp speed in one section, plus fountains, a helter skelter, and hot tubs. It's easily two hours, if not more, of fun - we went twice and both times emerged wrinkled as prunes from the long time spent in the water. The racer slides at Splash Bognor, the swimming pool at Butlin's Bognor Regis And new to us was PlayXperience. This has been a while in the making as it was being built when we were last here in 2023, but goodness me it has some kit inside it, a range of traditional games but all updated with oodles of tech included. We had a crack at three of the rooms. Tech Putt is basically crazy golf - we were in Neon, which is as you'd expect dark with bright lights, and there are also Vegas and Music-themed versions. Tech Putt Neon at Butlin's Bognor Regis | Butlin's Yes, it was great playing golf in a darkened room, and the course was pitched (pun intended) so even the five-year-old could get round quite easily. For all the fact that it looks amazing, the thing that wowed me was that each player's ball was tagged to them, and somehow the system counted your shots; it didn't matter who went first, and there was no annoying mini pencil and tiny piece of card on which to scrawl numbers. Honestly, a huge improvement in modern life. I'll keep that and internet banking, but anything else invented after 2004 can get in the bin. The VR-cade in Bognor Butlin's PlayXperience centre | Butlin's VR-cade was even more mindblowing, especially to me as someone who has not kept up with computer games and has not often worn a VR headset. We played shoot'em-ups where you got the shock of your life when you turned around to confront a hideous alien behind you, driving simulators, and best of all, rides and rollercoasters where your heart was in your mouth even though you knew full well that your seat was only tilting by a few degrees and you were not going to be catapulted across the room. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Tom Morton and his family in the Laser Tag arena at Butlin's Bognor Regis's PlayXperience centre | Tom Morton/NationalWorld And our final trip to PlayXperience was to Laser Tag. Somehow I have gone through life without ever playing this, but after 45 minutes I'm converted. Brilliant fun, very sweaty, but utterly exhilarating. Summer holiday prices Here's what's on offer over the summer break Summer Holiday break from £541 (£136 per person) Butlin's offers a four-night Summer Holiday break featuring Stephen Mulhern staying in a two bedroom Comfort Room from £541 on 21 July 2025. Price is based on a family of four sharing and includes live shows and activities with free flow access to the pool, unlimited fairground rides, brand-new Skyline Gang Soft Play and access to PLAYXPERIENCE. Dining packages start from £24.95 per adult, per day, £14.95 per child (6-14), per day and £6.95 per child (2-5). To find out more or to book go to Summer Holiday break from £659 (£165 per person) Butlin's offers a four-night Summer Holiday break featuring Stephen Mulhern staying in a two bedroom Wave Hotel room from £659 on 21 July 2025. Price is based on a family of four sharing and includes live shows and activities with free flow access to the pool, unlimited fairground rides, brand-new Skyline Gang Soft Play and access to PLAYXPERIENCE. Dining packages start from £24.95 per adult, per day, £14.95 per child (6-14), per day and £6.95 per child (2-5). To find out more or to book go to Rosanna and Eddie with Billy the Bear | Tom Morton/NationalWorld
Tourism Breaking News
a day ago
- Business
- Tourism Breaking News
Sabre Corporation partners with SalamAir to boost global distribution
Post Views: 32 Sabre Corporation has announced a partnership with SalamAir, aiming to strengthen SalamAir's global footprint by leveraging Sabre's marketplace and worldwide distribution capabilities. Under the new agreement, SalamAir's full range of flights and services will be accessible to travel agencies across the globe through Sabre's advanced global distribution system (GDS). The move is expected to significantly enhance the airline's international visibility, attract new customer segments, and accelerate revenue growth. 'Our partnership with Sabre marks a significant milestone in SalamAir's growth journey,' said Steven Allen, Chief Commercial Officer at SalamAir. 'By utilising Sabre's robust global distribution platform, we aim to achieve greater global visibility, reach new markets, and offer our affordable travel options to a wider audience.' For Sabre, the collaboration highlights its ongoing commitment to supporting airline partners in the Middle East with cutting-edge travel technologies. Recently, SalamAir renewed its long-term agreement with Sabre for the Radixx Reservation System, further reinforcing Sabre's credibility and reliability as a technology partner.
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Scots Gladiator star reveals bizarre fan request that left her gobsmacked
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) NOW the pugil sticks and the Travelator are packed away following another huge series of Gladiators, star Sabre is back to the day job as fitness instructor Sheli McCoy. The reboot, hosted by Bradley and Barney Walsh on BBC One, drew in millions for its second season, so a third series is looking inevitable. 5 Sheli as Sabre from BBC smash Gladiators. 5 Sheli in the day job as co-owner of the Sweat Box gym in Dundee. Credit: MICHAEL SCHOFIELD 5 Cheeky Sheli gives the peace sign while Sun man Matt struggles to keep up. Credit: MICHAEL SCHOFIELD 5 Sun man Matt is full of smiles after he rings the bell following his first ever pull-up. Credit: MICHAEL SCHOFIELD Sheli has not quit her day job, where for the past six years she has been the co-owner of gym Sweatbox Dundee in her home — but the show has a funny way of following her back there. Sheli says: 'I get sent cards and posters that kids have drawn for me, which is really nice. They're just addressed to, 'Sabre, Sweatbox, Dundee'. 'But the most common thing is wives messaging me for signed pictures for their partners, saying things like, 'My husband absolutely loves you'. 'They don't seem to mind and say things like, 'I'm fine he has a crush on you because I actually think you're really nice too'. 'But one wife wanted to create an entire wall of images of me in her husband's office. She even asked if there were life-size cardboard cut-outs of me. 'I was like, 'Woah, this is intense'.' Raised in Fife, Sheli, 36, has a master's degree in health science from Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen. But 'overweight' for her 5ft 7in frame, she then decided to get fit — really fit. She explains: 'Right now I am 68kilos (10st 10lbs) which is my competitive weight. 'But I was a size 16 and weighed the back end of 80kilos (12st 8lbs). Physically and mentally I feel a totally different person. I was a shadow of who I am now.' Gladiator Sabre's 'steamy' moment with Apollo in locker room Sweatbox is affiliated with CrossFit, which combines gymnastics, weightlifting and varied exercises performed at high intensity to build strength and endurance. It is why Sheli is the only female Gladiator to tackle 'contenders' across every obstacle course, including Duel and Powerball. She says: 'The amazing thing about CrossFit is that it trains every single muscle group. 'It focuses on the ten components of fitness from strength, speed, agility, balance, cardiovascular and muscular, basically to build the perfect human. 'I like to think of it as the Vitruvian man. CrossFit asks you to be good in every direction and with every force. 'So when Gladiators came up and we did our fitness tests, I scored really highly because there were 12 fitness tests, all totally varied, which is just CrossFit. 'On the show I can tell which contenders are CrossFit athletes as they withstand the games far better than the rest. Amanda Wah, who won the women's competition this year, is a CrossFit athlete.' Sabre has become a firm favourite with viewers and even cheekily gave winner Amanda a wink before pummelling her with the pugil sticks. But she says that is Sabre, not Sheli, explaining: 'We were to bring our personality, but turn it way up, and stick some bells and whistles on it. 'So the competitive element of Sabre is actually me. Obstacles like The Edge are so exhilarating. It's high. It's scary. It's rickety and when I get up there, my adrenaline is flowing. SHELI JOINS THE SCOTTISH SUN SHELI McCoy will be writing a new wellness and fitness column exclusively online for The Scottish Sun from this weekend. The gym owner promises to offer tips and suggestions for people of all ages and from all walks of life to help them: 'Live stronger, live longer.' Sheli says: 'I am so glad I have been given this opportunity to write for The Scottish Sun. 'My column is going to be helpful, with useful hints and tips on health, fitness and wellness. 'I'm really looking forward to offering my Health Science education and experience to help you.' 'When I come for you up there you better be ready to fly off The Edge because if I'm going down, you're coming with me.' She adds: 'But ultimately, I feel like my biggest gift is to encourage you to bring your best self for your own good. 'If you beat me, I am so happy for you, because that's not an easy thing to do — it doesn't happen very often.' Back at home, her gym is a far cry from the Gladiators arena. On the day Sheli invited The Scottish Sun along, a young mum was working out beside a pram with her sleeping baby, while a middle-aged bloke in old beach wear was weightlifting. She says: 'You may notice that there are no mirrors in here, which is unusual for a gym. 'That's because we're not here to be looking at ourselves or posing like that old gym culture where everyone thinks their sports kit has to match and they have to look a certain way. 'This is a training space where you should just be able to sweat terribly, probably not looking your best and feel comfortable doing that.' SHELI GIVES MATT A GLADIATOR WORKOUT SHELI may be a fearsome sight for contestants as Sabre, but in her gym she's a totally different person. For starters Sheli says we're not here to compete with each other, because 'You would only lose' - of that I have no doubt. Instead she wants me to leave Sweatbox having achieved something I have never done before. She chooses pull-ups for me, which builds upper body strength in the back, shoulders and arms using nothing but your own bodyweight and a bar. Sheli says: 'The perfect shape for a man is a Dorito - wide shoulders, narrow waist.' I'm more of a Hula Hoop around the middle thanks to hitting my fattening fifties. After an extensive warm-up with rubber bands then some stretches, Sheli shows me how it's done. She powders her hands then uses an overhand grip to lift her lean frame effortlessly until her chin is well above the bar, repeating the process several times. Sheli says: 'My record is 21 in a row.' which is no surprise looking at her bulging forearms and biceps. I attempt to mimic her, but no matter how hard I try, I cannot raise my chin above that bloody bar. 'Just give it more beans,' Sheli says with gentle encouragement. With one last mighty pull, my chin finally clears the bar, with Sheli shouting, 'You've done it - now go ring the bell.' I do as told and everyone in the gym claps. Sure, I won't be competing on Gladiators any time soon, but just as Sheli promised, I did leave having achieved something new. Earlier this year, Sheli proved she had brains as well as brawn, winning a Gladiators special of BBC quiz The Weakest Link, hosted by Romesh Ranganathan. And she is in hot demand for other shows, recently filming an episode of Robson Green's Weekend Escapes, where she went paddleboarding on the River Tay with the Soldier Soldier star. She says: 'I've also had the opportunity to go on The Wheel with Michael McIntyre. 'I'm also doing House Of Games with Richard Osman and Bridge Of Lies with Ross Kemp which comes out soon.' And Sheli is determined to use her new platform for the greater good and to help people get fitter. She says: 'I'm now the patron of Women's Aid in Dundee and I do a lot of work with schools and colleges. 'So while it's great I get to do some really cool TV stuff it has allowed me to be a big sister to help people. 'Our ethos at Sweatbox is 'Live stronger, live longer' and maybe get fitter and lose a little weight in the process, just like I did. 'It was the graft that the overweight Sheli put in which has given me all these amazing opportunities today. 'If I can do it, anyone can.' *For more information on Sheli's gym go to
Zawya
2 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
SalamAir enhances global distribution strategy through Sabre partnership
MUSCAT, Sultanate of Oman and SOUTHLAKE, Texas – Sabre Corporation, a leading global travel technology company, announced a new agreement with SalamAir, Oman's leading low-cost carrier. This collaboration will utilize Sabre's marketplace to enhance SalamAir's global visibility, expand its market reach, and drive revenue growth. Through this agreement, SalamAir's flights and services will be made available to travel agencies worldwide via Sabre's extensive global distribution network. This strategic move enables SalamAir to connect with new customer segments, increase bookings, and further solidify its position in the regional aviation market. For Sabre, the partnership underscores its commitment to empowering airlines in the Middle East and beyond with cutting-edge travel solutions. 'Our partnership with Sabre marks a significant milestone in SalamAir's growth journey,' said Steven Allen, Chief Commercial Officer at SalamAir. 'By utilizing Sabre's robust global distribution platform, we aim to achieve greater global visibility, reach new markets, and offer our affordable travel options to a wider audience.' Sabre's strong presence in the Middle East, combined with its global distribution capabilities, positions it as a trusted partner for airlines looking to expand their operations. Recently, SalamAir renewed its long-term agreement with Sabre for the Radixx Reservation System, further reinforcing Sabre's credibility and reliability as a technology partner. SalamAir has been a Radixx customer since 2017, using the reservation system to streamline passenger booking and operational efficiency. 'We are thrilled to deepen our relationship with SalamAir through this new distribution partnership,' said Alessandro Ciancimino, Vice President, Airline Distribution, EMEA at Sabre Travel Solutions. 'Our global distribution network will enable SalamAir to connect with travel agencies and travelers worldwide, providing the tools they need to scale their operations and achieve their ambitious growth targets. We look forward to supporting their continued success.' This partnership reflects SalamAir's rapid growth within the region and its commitment to scaling operations to meet increasing demand. By utilizing Sabre's technology, SalamAir is well-positioned to achieve its vision of becoming a leading low-cost carrier while enhancing customer experiences and driving profitability. About Sabre Corporation Sabre Corporation is a leading technology company that takes on the biggest opportunities and solves the most complex challenges in travel. Sabre harnesses speed, scale and insights to build tomorrow's technology today – empowering airlines, hoteliers, agencies and other partners to retail, distribute and fulfill travel worldwide. Headquartered in Southlake, Texas, USA, with employees across the world, Sabre serves customers in more than 160 countries globally. For more information visit For media inquiries, please contact: Fatin Said Sabrenews@
