Latest news with #ThePickwickPapers
BBC News
20-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Ipswich hotel may not be restored to former use, says owner
A developer has said an empty town centre hotel will need substantial investment before it can be used Howard, who has purchased the Great White Horse Hotel in Ipswich, said it would be a "real challenge" to restore the building to its former said he was "open to ideas" for its future and admitted it may not reopen as a Howard said he hoped the empty shop units on the ground floor would be occupied by tenants within a year. The Great White Horse Hotel was open as recently as 2024, but appeared to close at short High Street facing part of the building was previously home to a major cafe chain and outdoor equipment shop, but the units have been empty for more than five was once known as the town's main lodging house and even welcomed Charles Dickens; helping to inspire his novel, The Pickwick Papers. In 2024, the Great White Horse Hotel community interest company (CIC) was awarded £99,400 from the National Lottery Heritage Fund for renovation Howard said he would not be working with the CIC in the future, but invited "anybody in the community whose interested" to be involved. He has been involved in a number of other developments in Ipswich, having bought The Mill for £1 in Howard was also involved in the "wine rack" development, which was eventually turned into flats. Mr Howard said the building was looking "very sad for itself" and that he was keen to bring it back in to purchased the site from an investment company. "It's sat here for so long, it's got so many memories for so many people," he told the BBC."We really need to get this occupied."The hotel is listed as a Grade II* building by Historic Howard said he was hoping to work with Ipswich Borough Council and said he "might well need some support from the local authority to get it up and running again".Ipswich Borough Council was contacted for comment. Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
The Independent
26-03-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Queen walks in footsteps of Charles Dickens on visit to his former home
The Queen took a shine to a diamond ring worn by Charles Dickens during his lifetime and quipped 'I won't nick it' after holding the jewellery. Camilla lightened the mood after being told the story of how Dickens' sister-in-law Mary Hogarth died in his arms after collapsing the night before and he took her ring as a keepsake. The Queen heard the tale when she visited the Charles Dickens Museum, established in the writer's only remaining London home, to celebrate its 100th anniversary and hear its patrons, actors Miriam Margolyes and Simon Callow, read extracts from his works and letters. When Oliver Dickens, the Victorian writer's great, great, great grandson, gave her the ring, as they stood in the bedroom where Ms Hogarth died, she said: 'It is rather lovely' and joked 'I won't nick it' as she handed it back. Dickens lived in the town house during the early years of his marriage to wife Catherine, completing The Pickwick Papers and writing Oliver Twist in the rented property in Holborn, central London, leaving as his family grew and his career flourished in 1839 after two years. Camilla toured the museum seeing his Dickens' writing desk, his many portraits, letters and even a smart outfit he wore to meet royalty. Sandra Lynes Timbrell, chairwoman of the museum's board of trustees, gave a speech to gathered volunteers and supports of the museum telling them they were in the former home of 'one of the most influential writers in the English language'. She added: 'Few figures in our literary history have created works that have had such a lasting impact, not only through their writing, but also through their ability to challenge and to reshape the social fabric of their time, or even in a sense, to invent Christmas. 'Dickens understood storytelling to unite people and to provoke change. 'His words have deeply influenced our understanding of charity and social responsibility and their relevance endures just as strongly today as it did in their own time.'
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Queen walks in footsteps of Charles Dickens on visit to his former home
The Queen took a shine to a diamond ring worn by Charles Dickens during his lifetime and quipped 'I won't nick it' after holding the jewellery. Camilla lightened the mood after being told the story of how Dickens' sister-in-law Mary Hogarth died in his arms after collapsing the night before and he took her ring as a keepsake. The Queen heard the tale when she visited the Charles Dickens Museum, established in the writer's only remaining London home, to celebrate its 100th anniversary and hear its patrons, actors Miriam Margolyes and Simon Callow, read extracts from his works and letters. When Oliver Dickens, the Victorian writer's great, great, great grandson, gave her the ring, as they stood in the bedroom where Ms Hogarth died, she said: 'It is rather lovely' and joked 'I won't nick it' as she handed it back. Dickens lived in the town house during the early years of his marriage to wife Catherine, completing The Pickwick Papers and writing Oliver Twist in the rented property in Holborn, central London, leaving as his family grew and his career flourished in 1839 after two years. Camilla toured the museum seeing his Dickens' writing desk, his many portraits, letters and even a smart outfit he wore to meet royalty. Sandra Lynes Timbrell, chairwoman of the museum's board of trustees, gave a speech to gathered volunteers and supports of the museum telling them they were in the former home of 'one of the most influential writers in the English language'. She added: 'Few figures in our literary history have created works that have had such a lasting impact, not only through their writing, but also through their ability to challenge and to reshape the social fabric of their time, or even in a sense, to invent Christmas. 'Dickens understood storytelling to unite people and to provoke change. 'His words have deeply influenced our understanding of charity and social responsibility and their relevance endures just as strongly today as it did in their own time.'
Boston Globe
06-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
The time I gave my daughter a make-believe pony
Our mornings before school and work were already busy, so I kept it basic. Using a pad of paper and a pencil, I would take 10 minutes to draw a picture and advance the plot in easy-to-read block letters. I didn't map out a story arc — I just let it unfold each day. Day One did not set a high bar. 'HI SARA — HERE IS YOUR PONY. HER NAME IS FLOWER. LOVE MUMMY.' Advertisement I drew a crude horse, folded the page, and placed it in the lunchbox. To my delight, it returned in the lunchbox, with the bread crusts and apple core. 'Did you like it?' I asked Sara, maybe a little too eagerly. She shrugged. By Day Two there was some character development. 'FLOWER'S BEST FRIEND WAS A LITTLE GIRL NAMED SARA. SHE WAS VERY CUTE.' I posed Flower's hooves to convey personality. As the days went by, Sara and Flower had lots to say to each other in their special language. They went on picnics, sunbathed, played baseball. Sara pitched to Flower, wearing a visor, at bat. On Day Five, something happened. THERE WAS A LOUD CRACK. FLOWER THREW DOWN THE BAT. SARA WATCHED. WHERE DID THE BALL GO? Here their adventure took off as they searched for the ball in mysterious places, encountering 10 'silly men' who foiled them at every turn. No spoilers here, but it all ended well, with new friendships and an interspecies ballgame. Advertisement The Pickwick Papers this was not. But it was so much fun! For once I didn't struggle writing. There were no wretched inner voices (silly men?) telling me it was dumb. No editor at my reporting job to persuade, no readers beyond Sara to consider. My only job was to delight her, which, if it did, she kept to herself. The story continued with 10 "silly men" following the protagonists around. Linda Matchan After 26 installments, I stapled the pages together, called it The Story of Flower, Sara, and Many Other Things, and gave it to my daughter to keep. And that was that. Or so I thought. When Sara left for college, I found a folder marked 'Flower' in her desk, with the pages tucked inside. Few things have touched me more. The real Sara's story goes something like this: She's now 35 and still loves stories. She studied children's book illustration in art school. She started a book-editing business. She draws beautifully, especially animals, but with much more character than mine. She's a prodigious giver of handmade presents. She now has a baby of her own. Flower's story didn't seem to make much of an impression on Sara at the time, but she cherishes it now, she says, because it was something I made just for her. And it taught her the value of 'making something handmade for somebody else,' she tells me. My homespun Lunchbox Horse offered me a lesson too. Having reached 70, I'm struggling to unlearn the ingrained habits of a long, demanding work life and to make time for joy, to play again. It's discouragingly hard. And yet here is Flower, surprising me by trotting back into my life on a handmade card for my baby grandson and reminding me that spontaneity and fun can manifest without effort, if only I can remember to let go. Advertisement Linda Matchan is a frequent Globe Magazine contributor and longtime Globe journalist. Send comments to magazine@ TELL YOUR STORY. Email your 650-word unpublished essay on a relationship to connections@ Please note: We do not respond to submissions we won't pursue. Linda Matchan can be reached at
The Independent
17-02-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Where is ‘Mad About The Boy' set? All the Bridget Jones filming locations you can visit in London
Bridget Jones is back. Last year, author Helen Fielding confirmed that the beloved rom-com trilogy was getting a fourth instalment and sent the cameras rolling across London. Now, franchise leading lady Renée Zellweger – alongside past and present love rivals Hugh Grant, Leo Woodhall and Chiwetel Ejiofor – has returned to the silver screen. The last time we saw her enviable Zone 1 flat eight years ago, the serial singleton, now firmly in her forties, married Mark Darcy (Colin Firth) in a shift from her cigarette and chardonnay-fuelled days. For the diary writer's next narrative, the fourth film follows Fielding's 2013 novel, Mad About the Boy, and covers the eponymous character's next chapter: motherhood, social media and dating apps. With several of the street scenes, bar debriefs and classic faux pas locations easily stumbled upon on a walking tour of London, here's where to head for a behind-the-scenes look at Bridget Jones ' life. Where was Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy (2025) filmed? Hampstead, London The hapless heroine was spotted filming in her Victorian family home in London's Hampstead between May and August 2024 – and the affluent area features heavily in the film. Here Bridget also meets love interest, Roxster (Woodall) up an oak tree on the Heath. Hampstead is also the home of the famous Spaniards Inn, a 16th-century drinking hole that already has made a name for itself featuring in Charles Dickens's The Pickwick Papers and allegedly where Romantic poet John Keats penned Ode to a Nightingale. You'll spot it in one of the scenes near to the end of Mad about the Boy. Also in the affluent neighbourhood sits the French-Italian restaurant La Cage Imaginaire, a family-run affair that serves as the setting of Bridget and Roxster's second dinner date. Islington Another pub featured is The Old Queen's Head on Essex Road in Islington when Bridget, her friend Shazzer and the rest of the group head out for a few drinks. Lake District, Cumbria Doting mother Bridget accompanies her children to the Lake District for a school expedition in the fourth film. Director Michael Morris revealed to Time Out that if you were to head to Thirlmere, specifically, Steel End Road, fans of the film would be able to cast their eyes upon the picturesque valley location that serves as the backdrop to the scenes. Moor House, London Outside scenes of Better Women, Bridget's new workplace, were filmed at Moor House in London. However, the actual indoor scenes at work were filmed at the BBC Television Centre in Shepherd's Bush. In one shot, Bridget can also be seen commuting to work power-walking across Tower Bridge. In one scene, we see Hugh Grant's Daniel Cleaver attending his younger girlfriend's spoken word gig at The Hope & Anchor pub in Hammersmith. Borough Market and the Electric Diner Fans of the Bridget Jones franchise will have a special place in their hearts for Borough Market, with the exterior of the Globe Tavern being Bridget's original London pad. However, she has since up and left to leafy Hampstead north of the river. Yet it is not the last we see of the bustling London market area, as at one point the mother-of-two and her new beau Roxster are seen wandering through the stalls. The scene then cuts to a bar, which is actually all the way on the other side of London on Portobello Road, the Electric Diner, now a Soho House property that brings the diner experience to a swanky level. Hackney Towards the end of a date with Roxster, the pair soak up the sunshine along the banks of the canal in the hipster east-end borough of Hackney. Petersham House, Richmond In one of the most memorable scenes from this fourth instalment, a Colin Firth Darcy-esque moment takes place (Pride and Prejudice's Mr Darcy, of course, not Bridget Jones's Mark Darcy) where Roxster flings himself into a swimming pool at a garden party to rescue a dog, rising from the water with a soaking white shirt. The garden party takes place at the 17th-century stately Petersham House, whose curated and colourful nurseries can be visited from Tuesday to Saturday. Where was the rest of the Bridget Jones franchise filmed? Bridget Jones's Diary (2001) Aside from a host of London film studios, Zellweger, Firth and Grant filmed across the city to bring the Bridget Jones column to life. 8 Beadle Street, Southwark Bridget's endearingly chaotic flat sits in an enviable zone 1 location on Beadle Street in Southwark. The spacious site of many a solo singalong and glass of wine raises some serious salary questions... Globe Tavern, Borough Market For the flat exterior, the Globe Tavern – a traditional British pub in Borough Market – is the iconic location below the singleton's residence, just next to the tracks of London Bridge station. Pickfords Wharf Apartments, Clink Street Daniel Cleaver's (Grant) suave bachelor pad is in a converted 19th-century warehouse on Clink Street overlooking the Thames. The property went on sale for over £3 million in 2012 – we can only assume the price has since hiked due to the hilarious tummy-control knicker scene that was filmed there. Royal Courts of Justice, Westminster Top London human rights lawyer Mark Darcy grants Jones an exclusive TV interview while defending a Kurdish revolutionary leader who is faced with extradition outside the actual Royal Courts of Justice in Westminster. London Stansted Airport To the northeast of central London, Stansted Airport doubles as JKF Airport when Mark Darcy moves to New York City with his lawyer girlfriend. The aviation hub was also used to portray a NYC airfield in Spider-Man: Far From Home in 2019. Institute Of Contemporary Arts, St James's The publishing house launching Kafka's Motorbike hosts the book event in St James's Institute Of Contemporary Arts – still a home for visual art, film festivals and exhibitions in central London that costs just £1 to visit for the day. Royal Exchange, Threadneedle Street Bridget and Mark lock lips in the snow outside the No. 11 Royal Exchange Buildings in Cornhill where Mark is buying her a new diary, an unusually romantic end to the first of the otherwise chaotic dating chronicles. Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (2004) Three years later, Bridget returned to her love turmoils with Darcy and Cleaver. Though some scenes were shot in Lech, Austria and Thailand, the roots of the franchise remained in London. Hyde Park Italian Gardens, Westminster After Daniel abandons Bridget in Thailand, Mark confronts him around and in the picturesque Italian fountains of Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park for a scene firmly in the splash zone. The Light Bar, Shoreditch High Street On Shoreditch High Street, Bridget Jones is told to dump Mark Darcy by her friends who think he is cheating over several glasses of wine and cigarettes at The Light Bar. The renovated drinks hotspot set in an old Victorian power station is still open for cocktails at number 233 today. Rigby & Peller, Mayfair Bridget buys a corset before Mark's uber-fancy law council dinner at Mayfair lingerie store Rigby & Peller. The luxury brand has stores across London, including the Conduit Street spot seen on screen. Piccadilly Circus A location featured multiple times across the films, billboards flash messages from Bridget's diary as headlines in the bright lights of Piccadilly Circus on London's West End. Single and pregnant twelve years later, Bridget starts pre-natal activities across the city. Greenwich Park Longtime friend Shazza, played by Sally Phillips, gets the lowdown on all things babies and Jack Qwant (Patrick Dempsey) on the grassy hills of Greenwich Park. Kingdom Street, Paddington Bridget is now a senior producer at the fictional Hard News, and the Regus Studios on Kingdom Street in Paddington set the stage for the outlet's studios and offices. London Aquatics Centre, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park Pre-natal birthing classes with Jack and Mark – including exercise balls – take place at the London Aquatics Centre in Stratford. Albert Bridge Road, Battersea When push comes to shove and Bridget goes into early labour (and protests put a stop to the Italian takeaway van transport method), Albert Bridge Road in Battersea welcomes Mark and Jack as they carry Bridget to the hospital. St Clement Danes Church, Strand The funeral of Daniel Cleaver was filmed in the black and gold interior of St Clement Danes Church in Strand. The central church of the Royal Air Force has a memorial for those who have died in service in the RAF. Supreme Court, Westminster Mark Darcy is defending the freedoms of a Russian girl group called Poonani inside the Supreme Court. The prestigious location surprisingly opened its doors to the cameras for scenes, as did the Old Bailey. University College Hospital, Bloomsbury Several appointments with deadpan doctor Emma Thompson, as well as the delivery of Bridget's baby with the two potential fathers present, were filmed at University College Hospital in Bloomsbury. Bridget Jones's Diary, Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason and Bridget Jones's Baby are available to rent on Amazon Prime Video; is currently in US and UK cinemas.
