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New Indian Express
a day ago
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
A nostalgic ride back to the '90s
You can dance, you can jive…' played softly in the background as ABBA's Dancing Queen faded out and guests settled in. Some nights feel less like events and more like memories in the making, and the 90's era at The Bench – Craft Bar & Kitchen, Brookefield on Saturday delivered just that. With retro music, comforting drinks and throwback prices, the evening brought back the carefree charm of the '90s in the most nostalgic way. The event was a collaboration with Sula Vineyards and Red Rhino Craft Brewery, two names that have become favourites among Bengaluru's beverage lovers. Guests raised glasses of brut, signature red, and the easy-drinking hefeweizen and signature lager, while house favourites like red wine sangria, zombie mojito and full moon witch added a spirited twist to the offerings. Giving a closer look at the inspiration behind the event and its nostalgic theme, Ajay Hegde, the founder of the outlet, says, 'The '90s represent everything we stand for – that sweet spot between quality and accessibility. Back then, things were simpler but still aspirational. Now, people are constantly worried about inflation and it's eating into their entertainment budget. When I think about our mission of ensuring customers never have to sacrifice lifestyle due to fluctuating income levels, the '90s era perfectly captures that sentiment.' The menu paid homage to old-school favourites with dishes like salt & pepper corn, hara bara kebabs, egg chilly chang, and kimchi gai as starters. The main course brought together crowd-pleasers like paneer tikka masala, chicken Chettinad, and more, with accompaniments of steamed rice, roti, and naan. Asked what song best represents the event, Hegde smiles. 'Walk of Life by Dire Straits. The song captures our vibe perfectly – joyful, energetic, and all about bringing people together. It's about celebrating life's moments, big or small, much like what we strive to do here: create memorable experiences without the worry of high prices,' he concludes.
BBC News
16-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'I want to finish career at Leigh'
Leigh Leopards winger Josh Charnley said he wants to stay at the club and has apologised for suggesting he could return to his former side Wigan Warriors next 34-year-old is out of contract at the end of the Super League campaign and currently does not have a deal for 2026. Charnley, who is second on the Super League all-time try-scoring list, added his 250th and 251st tries in Leigh's convincing 28-10 victory against Hull KR on Saturday. He is nine behind Ryan Hall, who has his future is not settled, Charnley would like to stay where he is."I'd like to finish [my career] off at Leigh but I'm just trying to enjoy the time that I've got here because I don't know if I'll still be in the squad," he told BBC Radio Manchester's Total Sport programme."I've just got to keep performing, and if something comes at Leigh, I'd grab it with two hands, but I'm just in a bit of limbo mode and I don't know what my future holds."I want to stay in Super League. It's the best in the country and I want to be up there with the top try-scoring talent, but I want to be number one."I'm really enjoying it at Leigh, the way that [owner] Derek [Beaumont] and [head coach] Adrian [Lam] are putting on performances at the club – it's just a good environment to be in at the moment." Charnley has moved to clarify his position after saying in another interview that he would like to end his career back at Wigan, where he won three Grand Finals and two Challenge Cups. He is also seven tries behind Warriors' top try-scorer in the Super League era, Liam on Sky Sports' The Bench podcast ahead of Leigh's 18-8 win over Wigan on 4 July, Charnley was asked what his "dream scenario" would be in terms of where he would like to end his career."Probably at Wigan. I'm so close to their try-scoring record so there's a little goal there," he said."Wigan gave me the opportunity in this game and it would be good to finish off there if I could." With that interview now released, Charnley has described its style as "fun" but added he had been "a little naive" when "responding to the question of what would be a 'dream' outcome"."There's a clear difference between reality and a 'dream' and I was simply referencing in a perfect dream world I would protect my Wigan record as well as having the number one record as a try-scorer [for a single season]," Charnley said in a statement., external"I have always been very clear about how happy I am at Leigh Leopards. "It's the best environment in which I have been throughout my career, and I have always been clear that I want to continue my career here."I would like to apologise to my club and its sponsors and fans for any upset the interview has caused and assure everyone my unequivocal commitment is to Leigh Leopards where I hope I am able to remain."Play-off chasing Leigh are currently third in the Super League table, five points behind leaders Hull KR, with nine games of the regular season to go.
Tourism Breaking News
16-07-2025
- Business
- Tourism Breaking News
FHS World announces first confirmed speakers for Middle East's leading hospitality investment summit
Post Views: 38 The first 50 of a plethora of hospitality and tourism industry leaders have been confirmed as speakers at the Future Hospitality Summit – FHS World, taking place at Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai, 27-29 October. Globally renowned experts and personalities across hospitality, tourism, media and education are speaking at the Middle East's leading investment summit, held under the overarching theme for 2025 of Where Vision Leads, Investment Follows. Jonathan Worsley, Chairman of The Bench, organiser of FHS World, said: 'FHS World may be three months away, but the planning and organisation, which started as soon as last year's event finished, is in full swing. Our first speakers are confirmed, and hundreds of attendees have already signed up for the region's leading hospitality investment summit. 'FHS World gets bigger, bolder and better every year, and we are proud to announce our first 50 speakers and rapidly-evolving agenda at this early stage. We look forward to welcoming back some of our regular speaker participants alongside industry leaders who will be joining us for the first time, when the global hospitality and tourism investment fraternity gathers in Dubai in October.' With an expected attendance of more than 1,600 delegates, FHS World 2025 will feature its usual highly-anticipated, action-packed agenda addressing key industry opportunities, challenges and trends across three stages, with additional workshop rooms and breakout areas. Centred around the event theme, Where Vision Leads, Investment Follows, the FHS World programme covers everything from investment to innovation, sustainability to staffing and technology to tourism trends, with keynote speeches, panel discussion, presentations and round table debates on the agenda. Follow FHS World for updates and speakers. This year, FHS World will zoom in on global hospitality investment with a focus on projects, financing models and hotel performance. In addition, the country pavilions are back again for 2025 with, amongst others, China, Italy, Maldives and the Philippines showcasing their hospitality and tourism investment offerings. Also back by popular demand is the Branded Residences Forum, which takes a deep dive into the rapidly growing branded residences sector, with input from a host of global experts in the field. Details of the speakers can be found at with the list constantly updated as more sign up. Confirmed speakers include: • Abdullah Al Moosa, Founder & Chairman, A. A. Al Moosa Enterprises (ARENCO Group) – Winner of the 2025 FHS Lifetime Achievement Award • Stephen Sackur, Former Presenter, BBC HARDTalk • Thomas B. Meier, Chief Executive Officer, Jumeirah • Nick Candy, Chief Executive Officer, Candy Capital • Dr. Achim Schmitt, Dean, EHL Hospitality Business School • Professor Marc Lepere, Lead in ESG & Sustainability, Executive Education Department of Banking & Finance, King's Business School • Amit Arora, Chief Operating Officer, Arada • Stefano Saporetti, Director of Brand Diversification, Aston Martin • Hans Meyer, Co-Founder & Managing Director, Zoku • Daniel Thorniley, Economist & President, DT-Global Business Consulting • Eleonora Srugo, Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker & Star of Netflix's Selling the City
Scotsman
24-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- Scotsman
Garden expert names Meghan Markle-approved wood type to give your space an elegant boost
A garden furniture expert has named the Meghan Markle-approved wood type that could give your outdoor space an eco-friendly and stylish boost this summer. From gorgeous Georgian town houses to jaw-dropping penthouses, converted campervans to bargain boltholes. Take a peek at the finest homes across the UK. 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... Many homeowners opt for wooden benches, chairs and tables when it comes to furnishing their outdoor space but can struggle to choose which variety works best for them. Now, Bradley Spencer of garden furniture specialists Royal Finesse has named his number one type of wood that delivers on longevity, style and eco-friendly credentials. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad And it comes with the backing of the Duchess of Sussex, whose own garden has featured furniture made from the wood. Teak is set to be one of the most popular wood types this summer, an expert has revelaed He said: 'There's a lot of choice when it comes to choosing outdoor furniture and many people find it difficult to find the right answer for them. 'Wood types such as eucalyptus, acacia and cedar have long been popular among UK homeowners, but teak is undoubtedly one of the best choices. 'To start, it has great weather-resistant properties, so it can hold its own when it comes to the unpredictable weather we often get in this country. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'It also requires minimal maintenance compared to other wood types and can last for decades making it a cost-effective choice. 'And its smooth grain and rich, warm tones often catch the eye of those who hold stylishness as one of the key elements when it comes to choosing garden furniture.' Teak is a tropical hardwood species that is native to South and Southeast Asia, with countries such as India, Indonesia and Thailand large exporters. High in natural oils and rubber, it is highly resistant to rotting and can be left outdoors during winter, making it popular with UK homeowners who want a low-maintenance choice. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad And eagle-eyed fans spotted a teak wood bench being used by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in Global Citizen's Vax Live concert in May 2021. Fans drew parallels between the garden bench in question and the one that inspired the Duchess of Sussex's children's book titled The Bench. Teak has long been a popular choice in the UK, where strict rules mean imported teak must abide by regulations aimed at preventing trade of illegally harvested woods. Mr Spencer added: 'Whether you're redesigning your garden to create your own dream outdoor space or creating the perfect entertainment area for hosting family and friends, a wooden furniture set is always in style. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Sustainability is more important than ever for consumers and responsibly sourced teak certainly delivers as an eco-friendly option.
Hospitality Net
04-06-2025
- Business
- Hospitality Net
Cape Town is Hot Property Development boom bodes well for Africa's top hotel investment summit
Cape Town's hospitality and real estate industries are experiencing remarkable growth, reinforcing the city's current status as Africa's premier destination for tourism and investment. This surge bodes well for the upcoming Future Hospitality Summit Africa, the continent's most influential hospitality & tourism investment conference, which comes to 'The Mother City' on June 17-18. When destinations experience strong economic growth, they are typically a magnet for money, as investors are keen to come and see what's going on. Their presence has a knock-on effect of attracting top executives from developers, bankers, operators and brands, who are keen to meet their peers and discuss new opportunities. So, the organisers expect the Summit to be busy. The city's hotel sector has shown outstanding performance, with CoStar's April 2025 figures revealing an occupancy rate of 72.5%, the highest in South Africa. Revenue Per Available Room (RevPAR) climbed by 20.1% year-on-year, reaching ZAR 2,286.63 and the Average Daily Rate (ADR) reached ZAR 3,145.96, up 17.7% on 2024. According to Philip Wooller, Area Director for the Middle East and Africa at CoStar. He said: 'Cape Town's performance reflects a powerful rebound in demand and a growing confidence in the city's hospitality offerings. The consistent rise in both occupancy and RevPAR shows that Cape Town is not only back on the global travel radar—it's commanding a premium.' — Source: The Bench — Source: The Bench This strong performance extends across the Western Cape too. In April 2025 the province posted a 64.6% hotel occupancy rate, well above the national average of 56.3%. Cape Town's Luxury properties also performed particularly well then, achieving an impressive 66.2% occupancy—outpacing counterparts in other major South African cities. Cape Town's real estate market is experiencing a similar boom. In 2024/5, the average capital value of property reached R13,400/sqm, significantly higher than Johannesburg, and Pretoria. We're seeing a convergence of factors driving the real estate upswing in Cape Town: a robust tourism pipeline, investor confidence, and a renewed focus on mixed-use and lifestyle-driven developments. The city's appeal is both emotional and financial—it makes sense to visit, and increasingly, it makes sense to invest. Wayne Godwin, CEO at JLL Africa In keeping with its reputation as an investment-grade forum, FHS Africa's agenda will focus on all aspects of hospitality investment and finance, as well as development, capital markets, dealmaking and the sector's most pressing issues and opportunities. In the hospitality industry, it is known as a networking hub for global industry leaders, major investors, and policymakers and is an event where substantial deals are often conceived and announced. We're seeing strong and sustained demand in Cape Town, driven by both international, and regional travel. This is creating meaningful opportunities for growth, particularly in the premium and luxury space. The anticipated addition of Morea House, Autograph Collection later this year reflects this momentum and the market's appetite for distinctive, high-quality hospitality experiences. Karim Cheltout, Senior Vice President, Lodging Development at Marriott International, Middle East and Africa.
