The Pub - Discuss Anything

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https://www.thesun.co.uk/travel/34358375/uks-first-universal-theme-park-with-hotel-approved/

Harry Potter fans and thrill-seekers alike will have doorstep access to cutting-edge immersive experiences, high-speed roller coasters, innovative attractions, and world-class hospitality, thanks to a landmark deal struck between Universal owners Comcast and ministers.

The resort, which will also feature a 500-room hotel, is expected to create 20,000 jobs during its construction, with an additional 8,000 roles once it opens its doors in the next decade.

Universal anticipates the park will generate £50bn for the UK economy by 2055, drawing 8.5 million visitors in its opening year alone.

Hailing the much-needed economic boost, Sir Keir Starmer said: “Today we closed the deal on a multi-billion-pound investment that will see Bedford home to one of the biggest entertainment parks in Europe, firmly putting the county on the global stage.

 

 

Edited April 9 by KEVINAA

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US can manipulate time and space – White House

https://www.rt.com/news/615871-us-manipulates-time-space/

US can “Manipulate” and “Bend Time and Space"– White House. Here is the "hard evidence."

YouTube channel - Emil Cosman

 

 

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I recommended these 2 YouTube channels. Fantano and theneedledrop are his 2 channels by fantano.

His music albums review of artists and musicians.

https://youtube.com/@theneedledrop

https://youtube.com/@fantano

He just uploaded this an 1 hour ago.

Katy Perry Went To Space (It Was Cringe)

Video length - 6:17

 

 

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11 Of The Best Sandwich Shops In London

London’s sandwich scene is having a serious moment. From a century-old deli in Marylebone to a slew of openings that are turning out statement sangers, these are the hot spots to save for next time you’re hankering after a lunchtime sub.

https://slman.com/culture/restaurants/sandwich-shop-london

 

Crunch

Soho

 

On the corner of Dean Street and Old Compton Street, Crunch is a sandwich shop to get excited about. The team has built a cult following at Spitalfields over the past couple of years (they sell upwards of 15,000 sandwiches a month), but the new Soho site is their first permanent location – which means they are able to serve drinks and a breakfast menu for the first time. Each sandwich is made with homemade brioche-inspired bread, designed to hold firm against sauces and fillings. Our go-to? The Donald’s Duck – slow-cooked Gressingham duck leg, banana shallots, crispy onions and smoked apple sauce.

Visit SandwichUprising.com

Gerry’s

Clerkenwell

 

Wandering down Exmouth Street last year, the retro sign for Gerry’s Hot Subs caught our eye. The place was still in the building stages then, but is now a next-level sandwich shop from the man who made a success of Bodean’s. Independently owned, Gerry’s is built on a lifelong passion for American food and decades of experience in the restaurant world. The team slow-cooks, cures, BBQs and prepares all the fillings, and freshly bakes the subs. We can attest to the greatness of the Philly cheesesteak.

Visit GerrysHotSubs.com

The Dusty Knuckle

Dalston

 

Behind Dalston Junction station in a sunny courtyard, The Dusty Knuckle serves some of the best food in the area, and at great value. Predominantly offering pastries and bread, you can also order the likes of roasted beetroot, whipped goat’s cheese, toasted seed mix and salsa verde served in signature focaccia sourdough. Want to learn how to make your own? The Dusty Knuckle Bakery School hosts a selection of masterclasses – and you’ll go home with a dough scraper, recipe pack and some of The Dusty Knuckle’s sourdough starter so you can recreate fresh loaves at home.

Visit TheDustyKnuckle.com

 

 

Norman’s

Tufnell Park

 

Norman’s launched in north London in 2020 and quickly became an Insta sensation, with queues down the street at weekends, and its own line of branded football shirts. Its menu showcases British café classics – from a set full English to retro lunch staples including fish and chips, toad in the hole and steamed puddings – plated up simply and made using quality ingredients. That all said, we still have eyes for the simple sandwiches. Its bacon sarnies and chip butties – on the obligatory white slice, served with a mug of builders – hit the mark every time.

Visit NormansCafe.co.uk

Max’s Sandwich Shop

Crouch End

 

North London institution Max’s Sandwich Shop is the new-generation OG on this list. Headed up by fillings wizard Max Halley, the café redefined the humble sandwich with its rotating roster of inventive fillings. Signature creations include the 'Ham, Egg & Chips' – a combo of slow-cooked ham hock, fried egg, piccalilli and shoestring fries wedged between freshly baked focaccia – and the Et Tu Brute? which is filled with poached chicken, pickled grape and tarragon salsa, chicory, baby gem, garlic croutons and anchovy mayo. To recreate the magic at home, check out Max’s book.

Visit MaxsSandwichShop.com

Dom’s Subs

East London

 

The excellently named Dom’s Subs has swiftly become a lunchtime legend. Across locations at 262 Hackney Road, 8 Ludgate Circus and 7 Cullum Street, the team is famed for its homemade semolina sub rolls, which are generously filled with bold ingredients. Available for collection or delivery, sub combos on offer include the Habibi Club (homemade smoked turkey breast, swiss cheese, shrettuce and guacachile) and a meatball marinara that uses beef from Hill & Szrok. They can rustle up party platters if you’re in need of en-masse sustenance, and they also do a decent line of merch.

Visit ImpeccableSandwiches.co.uk

 

Rogue Sarnies

Bethnal Green & South Bank

 

Rogue Sarnies is no longer one of the capital’s best-kept secrets for next-level sandwiches. The two founders met working at Galvin La Chapelle, began hosting pop-ups on the side and quickly decided it was the direction they wanted to head in. A few lockdowns later – plus some viral creations such as a sausage and black pudding crumpet sandwich and slow-poached egg and smoked cheddar bun – the duo went permanent in Bethnal Green in 2023, and now have a site at Between Two Bridges on the South Bank. Today’s menu is a masterclass in bold combinations: the ‘OG Marmite Cheesy’ combines camembert, mozzarella, parmesan and sticky marmite glaze. We also rate the ‘Lord Nelson’ – sticky braised beef shin and caramelised onions, roasted beef topside drenched in gravy, pickled BBQ onions, horseradish cream and landcress.

Visit RogueSarnies.uk

Eric’s

East Dulwich

 

Eric’s is an independent bakery founded by former Flor head baker Helen Evans. The minimalist, yellow spot opens only on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays – and the queues start early. Known for its exceptional sourdough, buttery viennoiserie and seasonal bakes (we can’t get enough of the confit potato scrolls), Eric’s has also carved out a niche for its elevated sandwiches, which are sold on Thursdays from 10.30am until they sell out. Built on the bakery’s signature tangy sourdough, the sandwiches use British produce and homemade condiments – a current hit is wild garlic pesto, tomatoes and baked Sussex sheep’s milk ricotta.

Visit EricsLondon.com

 

Paul Rothe & Son

Marylebone

 

Established in 1900, this family run deli and sandwich shop started out selling solely German produce but expanded to offer a range of European and British goods post-World War II. Today, the café-deli is known for its hearty, plate-filling sandwiches, as well as a cracking soup of the day. On the sandwich front, we like to keep things simple with a door-stopping egg mayo with chives and anchovies on brown bread. Make sure to peruse the honeys, chutneys and pickled bits and bobs; the cured meats – particularly the pastrami – are also a must-try.

Visit @PaulRotheAndson

Panzer’s

St John’s Wood

 

Since 1944, this iconic Jewish spot in St John’s Wood has been serving ‘everything’ bagels, salt beef sandwiches, and hearty chicken soup with matzo balls. It recently marked its 80th birthday with a refurb that’s deeply rooted in its history as a NYC-inspired deli. While it’s new sushi counter and pizza station are impressive, not much can tear us away from the original, incredibly filled, smoked salmon bagels. 

Visit Panzers.co.uk

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Livestream by Eurovision song contest from basel Switzerland

Grand final.

Saturday night 17 May 2025

8pm UK to midnight

 

 

Edited May 16 by KEVINAA

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On 16/05/2025 at 23:45, KEVINAA said:

Livestream by Eurovision song contest from basel Switzerland

Grand final.

Saturday night 17 May 2025

8pm UK to midnight

 

 

 

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Large family tent that's 'easy to assemble' drops from £1,100 to £275 in time for summer

Debenhams has cut a huge £825 off a large eight-man tent in time for camping season, and it's said to be 'easy to put up and take down'

https://www.mirror.co.uk/money/shopping-deals/large-family-tent-thats-easy-35248431

With the recent sunny weather over the weekend, many could be looking for a last-minute camping trip and a tent that doesn't feel too cramped. In Debenhams's latest sale, the retailer has cut hundreds of pounds off a spacious family-sized one that's big enough to sleep eight people.

The Berkfield Home Family Tunnel Tent has been cut by 75% in the sale, dropping from £1,100 to a much cheaper £275. A huge £825 saving for shoppers looking to enjoy the outdoors more this summer, plus as unpredictable UK weather can be it comes with an 'all-round' waterproof design in case of showers.

Described as "heavy duty" by Debenhams it's proving popular with shoppers, as the site says more than 100 people have either looed at it in the last 24-hours.

The large family tent has a tunnel design with interior zips so campers can create different sections within the tent. Plus, it's said to be 'easy to assemble', a must for many, there's nothing worse than getting to a site and the tent taking hours to put up.

It's not the only tent on sale at Debenhams, this teepee style Outsunny one is reduced to less than £100, down from an original £148.99. Elsewhere, and retailer Cotswold Outdoors has a sale on too.

The Outwell Norwood six person tent is currently cut by £130.50 and has been 'tailored to fit large families or friends'. At Decathlon, the Quechua four-person tent is now £99.99, and has a sleeping compartment off the back of a 'full height' living space.

Debenhams shares how easy it is to put up in its listing: "Setting up and taking down the tent is a breeze thanks to the highly flexible and lightweight fibreglass poles and the convenient pin-and-ring connection system.

"The foldable and lightweight design allows you to easily pack the tent and store it in the included carry bag for easy transport." The Berkfield Home ten is made from polyester with a PU coating, which helps make it withstand rain and wind.

It also has taped seams which can 'prevent rain infiltration' and as standard to most tents, it comes with a ground sheet to keep the interior floor dry, and stops it feeling cold or damp from grass condensation.

There are no reviews for the tent on Debenhams site, which has a 2.4 star rating. There are a lot of satisfied shoppers, however a lot of the lowest ratings have been given for 'slow delivery'.

As one person said: "I buy so much from Debenhams that I love - but it is a shame that it's a struggle if you need to return an item." While another shopper said: "Received two lovely dresses pretty quickly. Sadly, neither for different reasons were suitable so I returned them within two days .... then I waited for over four weeks for a refund."

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Staub La Cocotte

https://www.zwilling.com/uk/staub-la-cocotte-28-cm-round-cast-iron-cocotte-buster-punch-black/1029898.html

28 cm round Cast iron Cocotte Buster Punch black

 

French cuisine meets English fashion hardware

• T-shape cross-knurl knob by Buster + Punch
• Culinary Masterpieces with solid metal finesse
• Classic enamelled black cast iron cocotte with cross-knurled handles
• Special edition knob designed by Buster + Punch
• A unique tactility of the knob

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Brian Wilson, visionary creative spirit for the Beach Boys, dies aged 82

Musician, who suffered from mental health problems, wrote and produced the 1966 album Pet Sounds – seen by many as the greatest album of all time

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/jun/11/brian-wilson-beach-boys-dies

 

 

Brian Wilson, the Beach Boys musician, songwriter and producer who created some of history’s most purely beautiful pop music, has died aged 82.

In a post shared on Instagram on Wednesday, Wilson’s family wrote: “We are heartbroken to announce that our beloved father Brian Wilson has passed away. We are at a loss for words right now. Please respect our privacy at this time as our family is grieving. We realize that we are sharing our grief with the world. Love & Mercy.”

As the leading creative force in the Beach Boys, Wilson crafted a variously carefree and melancholy sound that came to define the uncertain utopianism of mid-century California. Using ambitious studio techniques to give the band’s music a thrilling grandeur, his songs about surfing, driving, girls and the pep of youth modulated to more reflective and often psychedelic material, resulting in one of the most highly regarded catalogues of American song. The Beach Boys’ 1966 album Pet Sounds – written and produced almost entirely by Wilson – is seen not only as the group’s masterpiece, but for many is the greatest album of all time.

Wilson was born in Inglewood, southern California, in 1942. A natural musician with perfect pitch who could sing back phrases sung to him as a baby, he learned piano as he and his younger brothers Carl and Dennis fell in love with R&B, rock’n’roll, doo-wop and pop. Despite going partly deaf in one ear (possibly as a result of an attack by a local boy), he and Carl joined their cousin Mike Love to form the high school group Carl and the Passions, later bringing in Dennis and friend Al Jardine to form the Pendletones. They had been encouraged by Wilson’s father Murry, with whom Wilson had a complex relationship – he later said Murry was also physically abusive to him.

Wilson’s first song for the group, soon renamed the Beach Boys, was 1961’s Surfin’ – the first in a series of Wilson-penned hits such as Surfin’ Safari, Surfer Girl and Surfin’ USA, the latter reaching No 3 on the US charts and cementing their breakthrough.

The Beach Boys in 1964. Photograph: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

 

Wilson graduated to producer, as well as songwriter, for third album Surfer Girl, and powered the group through an astonishingly high work rate, releasing 15 albums before the end of the 1960s. Wilson’s ambition meant that he strove not to be boxed in as a novelty band who sang about surfing and cars, and deepened the band’s songcraft – including on Pet Sounds, which was conceived as an overarching statement rather than a series of discrete songs, its complex arrangements featuring everything from orchestral instruments to Coca-Cola bottles.

Wilson began using cannabis and LSD, and said the latter was creatively useful – he wrote a signature Beach Boys song, California Girls, while on his first trip, and said acid allowed him to “come to grips with what you are, what you can do [and] can’t do”. But his drug use, coupled with his intense workload, likely exacerbated mental health problems that had started when he was a teenager suffering from anxiety.

He heard voices in his head, spent time in psychiatric hospitals during the late 1960s, and became somewhat isolated from his bandmates. Wilson would eventually be diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder and mild manic depression. He said in 2019: “There were times when [his mental illness] was unbearable but with doctors and medications I have been able to live a wonderful, healthy and productive life.”

Amid his difficulties, Pet Sounds’ follow-up Smile was never completed (though was later adapted into a 2004 solo album, and the original recordings eventually released as The Smile Sessions in 2011). His bandmates began to contribute more to the songwriting, though Wilson compositions still occasionally featured as the group emerged from a commercial downturn at the close of the decade to record the acclaimed Sunflower and Surf’s Up albums (the latter’s title track a psychedelic return by Wilson to his earlier fixation).

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NEWS UPDATE - AIR INDIA BOEING PLANE CRASHES AFTER TAKE OFF FROM AHMEDABAD, INDIA TO LONDON GATWICK AIRPORT.

+240 DEAD.

A London-bound plane has crashed shortly after take-off in Ahmedabad, western India

Air India says: "Flight AI171, operating Ahmedabad-London Gatwick, was involved in an incident today"

There were 232 passengers and 12 crew members on board, the chief of India's directorate of civil aviation tells AP

Tracking website Flightradar24 says it received the last signal from the aircraft at 625 feet (190m) "just seconds after take off"

https://www.bbc.com/news/live/c8d1r3m8z92t

 

Video by BBC NEWS YT.

https://youtu.be/7PUtKpGa2OU

VIDEO LENGTH - 13:25

Edited June 12 by KEVINAA