Latest news with #socialclub


BBC News
5 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Century-old Stapleford social club at risk over £5k water bill dispute
Members of a 103-year-old social club have said they will be forced to close down if they have to pay a water bill backdated eight Old Mill Club in Stapleford, Nottinghamshire, says it discovered in 2017 it was paying double for its water usage totalling about £10,000 from utility company Water is because the club's bill included the water used by its neighbour - a Koi fish retailer - despite it paying its own bill as the mistake was identified, Water Plus reassessed the bill and cut it to £5,096 in January 2025. However, the club's committee says it is still disputing the updated bill, over claims Water Plus did not backdate it Plus said the new amount had been calculated by backdating to April 2 its current usage since the installation of a sub-meter in October installation work was carried out by water company Severn Trent. The debt had been accrued because the club had refused to pay its water bill "on principle" after believing it was being overcharged. Abigail Jackson, committee member, said the club had been "completely closed" during the pandemic - and this should have been reflected in the bill."All the way through this, we have stated we will pay once you can prove what you're asking for."The club said it had been given a 12-month deadline to pay the debt. Water Plus said its teams were available to help with setting up a payment plan."If we are forced to pay this bill, which there is no proof we owe, we would most likely have to close," Ms Jackson said. Zulekah Hattersley has been visiting the club since she was a toddler in a pram, and now aged 27, she brings her own child to the said that growing up with the social club had provided her with a strong sense of belonging and family."I've got people that aren't aunties that I call auntie in here," she the Old Mill had to close, she said the impact would be "horrible" for herself and for the other regulars."We're not what you expect from a working man's club. I've made long-lasting friends down here. It's a brilliant environment for all kinds of people, and we just want to be inclusive."She said the club had been fighting for survival for years, and described the water bill dispute as a "big grey cloud" over the heads of committee members and for Ms Jackson, she said the Old Mill came into her life when she was in "a very dark place", and that it was the only place she felt safe."This place also has a lot of history, and the mill building itself has been here for hundreds and hundreds of years, so not only would you lose the club, you would be losing something that has been part of this area for hundreds of years." Where did it all begin? The billing problem had been caused because both affected sites share a single water pipe, from when the land was entirely owned by the social 2011 a previous committee sold part of the land, which subsequently had various uses, until it became occupied by the Koi fish Trent told the BBC when the land was split, the existing supply was not split, and that both sites needed to make an application for a new current committee running the social club was not involved in that sale, and said such an application would now be difficult because the land was no longer under one manager of the fish retailer said his bills had been unaffected and that he had been paying the correct amount.A spokesperson for Severn Trent said: "Our records show that the customer was informed on seven separate occasions during a three-year period that they would need to apply to install a new connection and undertake works to split their supply."Because no application was made, the meter recorded all water that passed through the supply pipe, regardless of which property was using it."Changes to the water pipes and any maintenance within a property boundary are the responsibility of the occupier or landowner."Water Plus has requested a number of supply checks and site visits since 2018, and on each occasion our engineers confirmed that the supply still needed to be separated by the customer." 'Spreading payments' Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Water Plus said the company had been working closely with the management committee at the Old Mill Social said the updated charges for the social club had "significantly reduced the water costs and bills"."The current amount owed is for water supplied for the Old Mill Social Club itself, after charging could be divided and updated after a sub-meter was installed by the wholesaler Severn Trent, and we've shared information around spreading payments, to help the social club."Our teams remain here to help with setting up a payment plan to cover the monthly costs and the amount owed."


The Sun
04-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Love Island WILL replace axed Kyle Ashman in launch episode reveal ITV
THE Love Island 2025 launch has been thrown into chaos after Kyle Ashman was removed from the opening line-up. It was revealed Kyle, 23, was arrested in connection with a machete attack on his dad at a wake in February. His early exit from the show means Love Island are being forced to replace him in the opening show. A source said: "It looks like bosses will be replacing him. "There are a lot of moving parts but once it's all finalized they will make an announcement about who is taking his place." Kyle has since spoken out about being axed saying: 'I fully co-operated with this police investigation and made it very clear that I had no involvement in this incident. 'I am not a violent person and any suggestion otherwise is a mischaracterisation.' Masked thugs stormed a wake in Stafford and hacked at a dad with a blade in February. Kyle was one of two quizzed but released with no further action. Sources said the channel was unaware of the incident and he was not flagged as part of contestant checks. The victim, 38, nearly lost his arm. He was rushed to hospital for emergency treatment and kept in for around two weeks. Another mourner was glassed, one struck with a metal pole, and two people run over by a car during the 15 minutes of terror at a social club in Stafford. A source said: 'This was a horrific attack which could have been even worse. 'Ashman may have signed up to one of the biggest shows on TV with this hanging over his head."


Forbes
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Mattel Goes After Kidult Demographic With Launch Of UNO Social Clubs
Mattel plans to open pop-up UNO Social Clubs at bars and other venues across the country, with the ... More first one in Las Vegas, NV. Toymaker Mattel, Inc., as part of its broader strategy to turn its toy lines into multi-generational lifestyle brands, is unveiling its first UNO Social Club, an in-person gaming experience designed to appeal to UNO players ages 21 and up. The inaugural UNO Social Club will have multicolored UNO decor, gaming tables, and other amenities, and will be located in one of the kidadult capitals of the world, Las Vegas. Going forward, Mattel plans to host additional UNO Social Club pop-ups at bars and other venues around the country, with UNO-themed drink menus, UNO tournaments, and photo opportunities suitable for social-media sharing. The giant toy manufacturer is responding to sales trends and surveys showing that grownup collectors and game players are the fastest growing toy-buying population, and that Gen Z consumers are eager for in-person experiences. The first UNO Social Club will be located at The Palms Casino Resort. Mattel is inviting UNO fans 21 and older to compete for a chance to win a two-night stay at the resort, and play in the UNO suite, by submitting TikTok videos. To be eligible for the contest, fans must create a video using the UNO Reverse Card filter and tag their videos with #UNOSocialClub and #MattelContest. The contest runs from today through June 19. The two-day stay at the Social Club is scheduled for July 18 to July 20. FEATURED | Frase ByForbes™ Unscramble The Anagram To Reveal The Phrase Pinpoint By Linkedin Guess The Category Queens By Linkedin Crown Each Region Crossclimb By Linkedin Unlock A Trivia Ladder The UNO Social Club suite at the Palms Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada will include an UNO-themed ... More bowling lounge. UNO, a best-selling card game, was created in 1971 by Merle Robbins, a Cincinnati barber who sold the rights to the game to toy company, International Games. Mattel acquired International Games, and the UNO brand, in 1992. Over the years Mattel has created hundred of new versions of the game, including themed sets featuring entertainment characters or sports teams, and created new ways to play it. Toy historian and consultant Chris Byrne, in his book Toy Time!: From Hula Hoops to He-Man to Hungry Hungry Hippos, A Look Back At The Most Beloved Toys of Decades Past, noted that a key reason for the game's popularity is its simplicity. All of the instructions are printed on the cards 'so people can just sit down and start playing - an important component of a hit game,' Byrne wrote. Mattel, like its top U.S. competitor Hasbro, has been focusing on the adult collecting and game-playing market as a key growth driver. Mattel has been exploring new ways to extend the reach of its iconic brands, including partnering with sports and entertainment marketer AthLife, Inc. to create toy-branded events at sports arenas, such as last year's Barbie Game Days and Barbie Game Nights at baseball and basketball games. Mattel Chairman and CEO Ynon Kreiz, in the company's fourth-quarter and full-year earnings call in February, said Mattel's over-arching strategy is to 'leverage the strength of our brands to create additional value outside of what we used to do as a company primarily just in the toy business.' Mattel is looking to create new experiences and partnerships using its brands. 'These are brands that have heritage value,' Kreiz said on the call, and 'are very current, very cultural, and really move the needle.' In a statement announcing the launch of the UNO Social Clubs, Ray Adler, Vice President and Global Head of Games at Mattel, said the clubs are designed 'to reimagine what game night can be - bringing people together for real-world fun, connection, and a bit of friendly competition.' 'The UNO Social Club in Las Vegas is just the beginning,' Adler said.


BBC News
07-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Derelict social club blaze tackled in Bolton-upon-Dearne
Firefighters tackle derelict social club blaze Firefighters tackled the blaze at the former venue in Bolton-upon-Dearne Crews have tackled a fire at a derelict social club in South Yorkshire. South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue was called to the blaze at the former venue on Vancouver Drive, Bolton-upon-Dearne, late on Tuesday night. Crews from Dearne, Adwick, Rotherham, Cudworth and Parkway were in attendance, it said, with the fire extinguished by 04:00 BST. The cause of the fire was under investigation, with the service praising all involved for their "swift response".