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Telegraph
10-08-2025
- Telegraph
Departure lounges are universally dire – here's how we make them better
An airport's Departures zone is a strange and stressful hinterland. Part shopping mall, part canteen, part waiting area – all sandwiched between the tensions of Security and the inevitable discomfort of the flight itself. Alas, navigating a labyrinth filled with Toblerones and Bombay Sapphire isn't half as fun as it sounds on paper, and why is there never anywhere nice to sit? It's an indictment of how dire the situation is that the opening of two new M&S Simply Food stores at Heathrow's T5 Departures last month sparked a frisson of genuine excitement in the travel community. The prospect of decent meal deals and Scotch eggs at 35,000ft – plus somewhere new to kill a few minutes before take-off – feels revelatory. But the bar is clearly too low. So, in a bid to design the perfect Departures hall, we've asked psychologists and frequent flyers to share their ideas, alongside our own: whether ambitious and hare-brained or so sensible and simple that they should be implemented post-haste. Take note, Gatwick et al … Shops that make sense While gawking at £15,000 handbags is fun for a few minutes, wouldn't it be nice to have more stores selling things we actually need and use? Like second-hand charity bookshops, so you don't have to spend £12.99 on a novel that'll get trashed on the beach. Or low-cost kids' clothes shops, for grabbing replacements after the inevitable mid-journey spills/vomit/worse. And while the ubiquitous Accessorize is great for last-minute ladies' sunnies and flip-flops, we need an equivalent budget-friendly option for men. Bike lane-style walkways 'If airports created waymarked footpaths on the ground, similar to bike lanes in cities, things would flow more smoothly – and we'd all be calmer,' says psychotherapist Malminder Gill, whose clients include celebrities and royals. 'So often, groups of people are blocking the way and passenger-assistance vehicles are trying to get through – and this chaos just increases stress.' If people wanted to stop, they could simply step off the pathway, and there would be marked boxes in front of the screens for people to stand and check their departure gate. Abundant water stations While most UK airports now offer water fountains, they can be devilishly hard to find. Rather than profiteering from our fundamental survival need to stay hydrated, our perfect Departures would feature abundant free stations in which to refill your bottle – and perhaps even add an optional spritz of cordial, plus ice-cold or fizzy choices too. Mood-sensitive lighting The key to less confusion and more comfort lies in lighting, says psychotherapist Dr Michael Swift, founder of Swift Psychology. His ideal airport environment would feature 'mood-mapped' lighting: the adjustment of brightness and light 'temperature', according to the zone or time of day. '[Perhaps] brighter, cooler lighting at Security and early in the day to support alertness – and warmer, softer lighting at gates and in the evening to help passengers wind down,' he suggests. 'Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport already uses lighting to create calmer spaces; this relatively small design choice can significantly improve the experience.' A plane-spotter's paradise The roar of the engines, the elegant swoosh of take-off, the enviable art of parking a 277-tonne vehicle with wings: it's telly-worthy airport action, and it's happening right outside the window. Except, that window is usually obscured by signs to the gates or banks of uncomfortable seats. Why can't we have a fabulous observation deck instead? Heathrow has a tiny viewing area at Terminal 4 (near Gate 16), but think bigger: we want high-powered binoculars, an entertaining audio guide, live aircraft information and roaming experts to thrill us with tantalising insights. A dynamic soundtrack Heathrow hit the headlines last month when it announced it would be playing a four-minute soundtrack of airport and runway noises on a continuous loop to passengers all summer, in a bid to 'diffuse pre-holiday jitters'. But airports should be making smarter choices when it comes to music and sound, says frequent flyer Aifric Lennon, global director of research strategy at music agency MassiveMusic, who specialises in the impact of sound on human behaviour. 'Few airports consider how audio can drastically improve the experience,' she says. 'For example, nature soundscapes can lower stress levels and help with navigation, and generative soundscapes – which respond to data such as footfall or weather changes – keep things fresh. The best example I've experienced is Singapore's Changi Airport, with its calming biophilic sounds of birdsong and falling water.' Adults-only oases (with bouncers) A quiet, restful area where well-behaved people talk in hushed tones, respecting each other's peace and personal space – and sorry, no kids allowed. This free, over-18s zone would have reclining sofas, a suitably grown-up fragrance (Diptyque's Do Son perfume, perhaps?), sultry lighting and abundant charging stations. There'd be bouncers to enforce the rules, of course: no smelly food, no loud conversations – and if you play music without headphones, you're out. Dare to dream… Sensory children's dens Kids deserve their own spaces, too – and they could be the key to reducing airport tantrums, says Dr Patapia Tzotzoli, a clinical psychologist and chartered scientist of the British Psychological Society. Her solution? 'Introduce sensory-informed children's zones to support emotional regulation before boarding, with dimmable lighting, noise-reducing flooring, gentle music, calming activities and restful areas, like quiet tents or corners with bean bags. Far from a luxury, these evidence-based interventions should be standard in every major terminal.' Restful green zones The vast indoor 'rainforest' at Hamad International in Doha, Qatar, is a literal breath of fresh air. You can explore its treetops on an elevated walkway, or curl up under a giant jacaranda to the (recorded) chirrups of hoopoes and macaws: just the tonic when you're halfway through the 21-hour haul to Sydney. The calming, restorative qualities of 'green spaces' is no secret, so while Hamad International has 300 trees and 25,000 plants, we'd appreciate even a tiny fraction of that in other airports. Space to stretch out Airports should embrace wellness trends, providing easy access to workouts and classes to calm our frazzled souls, says Dubai-based Luna Arja, a frequent flyer and creative lead at The Hanging House, which specialises in experiential events. 'Long layovers could be transformed with research-backed solutions like spaces for guided stretching, breathwork or meditation,' she muses. Her ideal Departures zone would offer 'calming workouts such as Pilates to provide comfort in high-stress environments, and cocoon meditation pods that adjust light, warmth and sound to calm the nervous system pre-flight.'
Metro
02-07-2025
- Health
- Metro
Urgent recall of Wall's Scotch Eggs over fears they contain dangerous bacteria
A popular British snack food is being recalled over fears it contains Salmonella. Food brand Wall's has pulled a batch of Scotch Eggs from UK supermarkets and shops and warned Britons not to eat the snacks. The Food Standards Agency said Compleat Food Group, which owns the Scotch Egg brand, is recalling Wall's The Classic Scotch Egg, which weighs 113g and Wall's 2 Classic Scotch Eggs, which weighs 226g. The affected products have a use by date of July 2, 2025. Symptoms caused by salmonella usually include fever, diarrhoea and abdominal cramps. A statement from Wall's said: 'We are voluntarily recalling the following Wall's products with a use-by date of 2nd July 2025 only due to a potential risk of salmonellla. 'If you have purchased either product, please do not eat it. Return it to the store where it was purchased for a full refund, no receipt is required. 'This is an isolate incident and no other Wall's products are affected.' A statement from the FSA said: 'If you have bought any of the above products do not eat them. Instead, return them to your nearest store for a full refund. For more information email customercare@ Though people colloquially call the sickness salmonella, the illness is actually called salmonellosis. Salmonellosis is caused by the bacteria salmonella; a family of bacteria which lives in the gut of many birds and animals, and therefore can be passed along to humans when eating these animal products. The salmonella bacteria was named after Daniel E. Salmon, a veterinarian who spent his career studying animal diseases for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The salmonella bacteria has been around for centuries, having been known to make people sick since around 1885. People commonly fall sick with salmonella by eating contaminated food, such as: Raw or undercooked meat and poultry products Raw or undercooked eggs and egg products Raw or unpasteurised milk and other dairy products Raw fruits and vegetables You can also get the illness even if you don't eat the food itself. If you handle contaminated food, and then accidentally transfer the bacteria from their hands to your mouth, that's enough to contract the illness on many occasions. People can also spread the salmonella bacteria to other people, objects and surfaces once they've handled contaminated foods. The salmonella bacteria was named after Daniel E. Salmon, a veterinarian who spent his career studying animal diseases for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, The salmonella bacteria has been around for centuries, having been known to make people sick since around 1885. The incubation period for salmonella (the time it takes from picking up the bacteria to becoming ill) is between 6 hours and 3 days, but can be longer, according to the NHS. They state that it is often within 12-36 hours. People known as 'carriers' can have the germ in their stools for many months. More Trending The bacteria may take up to 7 weeks to clear out of the body so care should be taken not to infect others during this period, however, the greatest danger of passing it to others is early in the infection when the person is ill. Generally, salmonella is something one must go through and come out the other side – there's nothing that can speed up the process or fix the symptoms. The symptoms usually pass within a week. The NHS advises that people with salmonella should take care to drink plenty water or other clear fluids. They also add that low fat natural yoghurts and probiotic products (ones that contain small amounts of bacteria) can help to get the bowels back to normal once the worst of it has come to pass. Got a story? Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ Or you can submit your videos and pictures here. For more stories like this, check our news page. Follow on Twitter and Facebook for the latest news updates. You can now also get articles sent straight to your device. Sign up for our daily push alerts here. MORE: Over 143,000 pounds of popular US lunch meat recalled over 'labeling error' MORE: Popular children's ice lollies pulled from UK supermarkets due to potentially deadly risk MORE: Urgent recall for hundreds of salads over killer cucumber fears
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Denver restaurants aim for success during Restaurant Week amid high egg prices
DENVER (KDVR) — Denver Restaurant Week has provided customers with great deals for two decades. This year's event comes amid rising insurance costs and egg prices, and restaurants are offering more than just fixed price menus to make the most of the opportunity. Last year, participating restaurants sold more than 144,000 meals resulting in $10.5 million in revenue. Denver Restaurant Week: Menu, prices and new features announced for 2025 The Colorado Restaurant Association provided a statement to FOX31 saying community support is crucial this year. 'Denver Restaurant Week is vitally important to our local restaurant community, which is facing unprecedented challenges right now. Not only are costs out of control, including utilities, labor, insurance, eggs, and other ingredients, but diners aren't going out to eat as much these days, either,' the Colorado Restaurant Association said. 'A new report from Toast shows that Denver restaurants saw a 9% decline in transactions between Q4 2023 and Q4 2024, which is really scary for an industry with razor-thin margins. Please dine out as much as you can during Restaurant Week – our dining scene needs all the support it can get.' Alexis Treton, owner of La Bouche wine bar, located at 17th and Downing, told FOX31 he looks forward to providing new customers with a sample of his menu items and unique experience. 'It's all about sharing a moment with food and good wine,' he said. Treton said he has had to get creative when it comes to items that require eggs. 'Every two days, they are out of stock, so you just have to be smart,' he said. Larger restaurants like the Thirsty Lion Scratch Kitchen near Union Station are experiencing the same challenge as the price of eggs remains higher than usual. 'For us, about a $100 a case, but we are going to make it work,' said general manager Randy Strothers. Restaurants owners who testified in support of tipped wage bill were doxxed: Democrats The restaurant has brought back its popular Scotch Eggs appetizer ahead of St. Patrick's Day. 'Scotch eggs are boiled egg, wrapped gently with sausage, panko bread crumbs and then deep fry to a golden brown,' he said. The business is also drawing in customers with a traditional Irish menu featuring shepherd's pie, corned beef and cabbage, potato cakes and corned beef macaroni and cheese through March 17. Portions of each craft cocktail sold will benefit the St. Baldrick's Foundation supporting pediatric cancer research. To date, the Thirsty Lion has raised more than $298,000 for pediatric cancer research, matching the money raised through special food and drink offerings. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
