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Sefton Park Palm House is keeping the magic of Christmas free for families by hosting a special Story Time with Santa event.
The fun festive experience will be held on Sunday, December 22 at the Sefton Park Palm House.
And, as well as story time with Father Christmas, there will be songs and rhymes with Ann the Elf, and Christmas crafts with artist Rachel.
This year is the first time the Palm House has held Story Time with Santa, and this will be the second of two events after a first on December 8 sold out within 24 hours.
Kate Martinez, head of external relations for the Sefton Park Palm House Preservation Trust, explains why:
“As we all know Christmas can be the most magical and wonderful time of the whole year – but it can also be a difficult time for families.
“The cost of living crisis and soaring energy bills are on everyone’s minds and it could mean many parents will be feeling the pinch.”
“Sometimes even parents who manage all year round find it difficult to find the extra for all these added expenses at Christmas time.
“So this year, we have decided to have a Storytime with Santa event that is completely free – with people only being asked to make a donation towards it if they are able to afford to do that. But there is no pressure, and everything is organised in advance so there is no worry or fear for people of being asked on the day.”
Three sessions are being held throughout the day on December 22.
There is no criteria to fulfil to attend Story Time with Santa. Tickets are available for anyone to book (‘and that’s when there is an option to donate if anyone wants to do so and can afford to, but not if you cannot’).
“Every child should have a chance to have festive fun with Father Christmas this year,” says Kate, “and see the big man himself without parents worrying about how they are going to afford it.”
Book a place for Story Time with Santa on the Sefton Park Palm House website.
Find more Christmas events across Liverpool here.
A doctor proved laughter is truly the best medicine after he was crowned 2024 Southport New Comedian of The Year.
Henry Michael, who works in Stoke-on-Trent as a full-time NHS hospital doctor, won the title at the event, one of the highlights of the annual Southport Comedy Festival.
Hundreds of up-and-coming comedians from all over the UK applied to enter the prestigious showcase, which provides a springboard to emerging talent in stand up comedy.
Southport New Comedian Of The Year, sponsored by Dragon Soop, saw eight talented comedians taking to the stage in front of a crowd of over 250 people inside the luxury marquee venue at Victoria Park in Southport.
Tickets were kept low at just £5 per person as the audience was encouraged to show their support for the acts.
Judges awarded the runner-up accolade to Manchester comic Qasim Akhtar, whose previous comedy accolades include Panel Prize winner of the Beat the Frog World Series in 2023.
Third was Charlie Lewis, a quick-fire LGBTQ one-liner comic from South Manchester. Charlie is a former hospital porter and Amazon warehouse operative.
Judges reserved special praise for local woman Caroline Cove, from Formby, who impressed judges and the audience with her talent on just hir fifth stand up comedy performance.
Henry Michael, who won the Southport New Comedian Of The Year title and £300 first prize, is originally from Reading but has relocated to work in Stoke as a full-time NHS hospital doctor.
With comedy as his passion on the side he has notched up 500 gigs, been nominated for the Leicester Mercury New Comedian of the Year award and won the Comedy Hotspots New Act competition in 2023.
Other finalists were: former lawyer Marie Goulbourne, from Wigan; Manchester comedian Jake Breeze; freelance videographer and photographer Cameron Jones, from St Helens; and property developer Maxim Kuznetsov, originally from Russia, who was raised in London.
Southport Comedy Festival director Brendan Riley said:
“Our Southport New Comedian of The Year Final was an amazing night!
“By moving the event to a Sunday evening this year perhaps made it easier for more people to come to. How stunning is the set-up too; the venue, created by Elite Marquees, looks stunning.
“It was the biggest Southport New Comedian audience we have had so far – over 250 people for a new act competition is fantastic.
“We encouraged the audience to be as supportive as they could to the acts on stage, some of whom are very early on in their stand up comedy careers.
“Congratulations to our winner, Henry Michael, who won this year’s event, to all our finalists, and to everyone who came out and enjoyed this special evening.
“Southport New Comedian Of The Year is a fantastic springboard for new acts, who can use titles like this to really boost their CVs and to progress their careers.
“We see it as a great showcase too for them to be able to highlight what they do.
“We’re also very grateful for our ongoing support from Southport New Comedian Of The Year sponsors Dragon Soop, who have backed the event for the past three years.
“We were delighted to have Dragon Soop Sales and Marketing Director Isabelle Kent as one of our judges, and it’s great to see Dragon Soop so involved.
“I’d also like to thank our other judges; Alan Adams (Southport Flower Show); John Harding (Orient Express house magician and comedian); Babu Patel (S.B.Patel); and Andrew Brown (Stand Up For Southport).
“The standard of our acts in the Southport New Comedian of The Year final was exceptional. “The audience saw eight very different, very funny and very talented new acts.
“My wife, Val, and I go through hundreds of video submissions from people keen to take part every year and it’s always very difficult to choose our eight finalists.”
Southport Comedy Festival 2024 is now entering its final week with lots for people to look forward to.
Brendan Riley said:
“The New Comedian final was Night 10 of our 17-night festival!
“We have an amazing final week coming up for people to enjoy, with sold out shows for the likes of Ben Elton, Jason Manford and Jimeoin.
“We do still have some tickets left for our shows for Rich Hall, Jason Byrne, and then Ria Lina with Paul Sinha.
“We look forward to seeing everyone coming to enjoy superb live comedy in Southport.”
The Southport New Comedian of the Year event is part of the 17 night Southport Comedy Festival in association with Halliwell Jones MINI.
Running until Sunday, 13th October 2024.
Find more information and book tickets on the Southport Comedy Festival website.
Find more comedy events across the Liverpool City Region here.
A motorbike rider has completed a 1,600 mile adventure from Southport to Spain, to raise funds for a close friend.
Graeme Thow took on the Ride4Baz challenge on a Husa Berg FE 501 off road enduro bike to support Baz Fleming, from Southport, who is terminally ill after contracting a brain tumour.
He has already raised over £21,000. Well wishers are welcome to donate through his JustGiving page here.
Graeme was cheered on his way as he set off from outside Silccok’s Carousel and Silcock’s Pier Family Restaurant in Southport on Friday, 27th September 2024.
He was delighted to make it all the way, as he was given a warm welcome to his friend Baz, Baz’ partner Karen Waind, 54, and their daughter, Jasmine Fleming, 22.
Baz, his partner, Karen Waind, 54, and their daughter, Jasmine Fleming, 22, moved to live in Spain 15 years ago to set up the Adventure Rider Centre there.
Graeme, a 61-year-old engineer from Woolton in south Liverpool, wants to raise as much money as he can after the heartbreaking news that his close friend, Baz, 59, from Southport, has been diagnosed with a malignant tumour that is sadly terminal.
Along the way, he met up with several friends, figures in the motorbike world and strangers along the way, recording video messages of support for Baz and his family to see.
On his arrival, Graeme said:
“Big hugs from all of us!
“Today was everything and more than we ever hoped for, proper big hugs, tears and joy.
“Baz, Kaz and Jaz loved everything we have done and all the messages of love and support from you all.
“All we set out to do was to find a way to make them feel loved, appreciated and supported at this most terrible time in their lives.
“It has been an honour to have been able to hold that door open for you all to show them your love, and boy do they feel that love now.
“You have all been amazing and filled their broken hearts with love, thank you for all your support.
“Baz got to hear the engine roar up close and personal.
“Thank you all so much for making our friends feel so loved.
“I am blown away by the support but then I knew once the door was held open, there would be many like me who know how humble and amazing they are and they don’t even know it.”
Part of Graeme’s inspiration came when he was among bikers who took part in the ‘Dave Day’ ride in honour of Hairy Biker Dave Myers.
Graeme, who has three daughters and two grandchildren, with a third grandchild on the way, said:
“In May this year my friend Baz Fleming was told the devastating news that he had a brain tumour.
“A biopsy confirmed it as a stage 4 glioblastoma malignant tumour that is inoperable and terminal.
“Baz is now being cared for by his loving partner Kaz and daughter Jaz, but he is weakening quickly. This beautiful family only has a short time left together.
“Over the last 15 years the family have dedicated their lives to giving everyone visiting the Adventure Rider Centre (ARC) in Mijas, the most amazing and memorable experiences.
“They have always given the friendliest of welcomes and made everyone feel like part of a bigger ARC family, meeting new friends from all over the world from novices like me to the world enduro legend Graham Jarvis.
“They really are the nicest people you could ever meet, nothing is ever too much.
“They have had to overcome some difficulties like many of us over the years, but this situation is so difficult and heartbreaking for them, that they have had to close down the ARC. The future is so sad and uncertain with their source of income now gone.
“Please share and let’s try to raise as much as we possibly can for this beautiful family in such a sad and difficult situation.”
You can still donate to the Ride4Baz fundraising here.
Find out the latest in Liverpool here.
Liverpool will host a spectacular showcase of international artists to celebrate Latin American Heritage Month this weekend.
Latinx is set to be an unforgettable evening of vibrant culture, powerful performances, and artistic brilliance from Liverpool-based Luma Creations.
The night at Unity Theatre in the city centre will be filled with live music, captivating dance, moving poetry, and storytelling. Organisers have said that the showcase will be ‘more than just a performance’ and will offer the chance for audiences to connect with the local Latin American community and engage with renowned artists, academics, and cultural activists.
The evening will feature performances by Magaly Flores, Director of Colibri Mexican Dance; George Peguero, Cuban singer-songwriter; Grupo LUMA, presenting original, soul-stirring songs; Victor Rios, Director and Founder of Film Locos; Valentino, young Colombian/Costa Rican singer/songwriter and Valeria Cazas, Bolivian dancer, choreographer, and presenter, along with the talented LUMA Creations Dance Ensemble and many more incredible artists.
The show takes place on Saturday October 12th, a day recognised as the Day of Indigenous Resistance and Cultural Diversity across Latin America. Unity Theatre will honour the rich heritage, resilience, and diversity that define this vibrant community.
Francisco Carrasco from Luma Creations, said:
“Latinx will honor the rich heritage, resilience, and diversity that define this vibrant community. Don’t miss this inspiring celebration—where art and culture unite to tell the stories of Latin America.”
Tickets for Latinx, happening this Latin American Heritage Month at Unity Theatre, can be bought here.
Find out what else is happening at theatres across Liverpool here.
Budding young actors, musicians, photographers, fashion designers and film directors from across Liverpool are being invited to sign up to Rambert’s Future Movement, a creative programme that could give them get into the creative industries.
Commissioned by Liverpool City Council’s Culture Liverpool team as part of its Creative Neighbourhoods programme and funded through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, Future Movement is delivered by leading British dance company Rambert.
The free creative youth programme, aimed at those aged 16-21, is unique because it is co-created with the young people, designed around their career ambitions.
Throughout the 12-week programme, Rambert invites guest artists from a wide range of creative industries to share their skills, experience and career paths with the participants, who will benefit from dedicated sessions focusing on different areas of work such as producing and marketing.
The initiative was piloted in Liverpool last year following its success in London, Rochdale and Mansfield and it gave young people the chance to collaborate with like-minded creatives across the country.
During the programme, the students had the opportunity to work with and be mentored by industry experts including Merseyside born designer Patrick McDowell and film director Dan Löwenstein of House of Create.
The students also collaborated with set and costume designer Olivia Du Monceau to design and make a protest banner. Researching art and activism, the group used different mediums of creativity, such as sewing and drawing to create a joyful banner of self-expression.
Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Culture, Councillor Harry Doyle said:
“Full of BAFTA-winning productions and Oscar-winning talent, Liverpool has a vibrant, fast-growing creative sector, which plays a significant role in contributing to the local economy. So it’s only right that we invest in the next generation of creatives.
“We’ve never been short of pioneers in Liverpool and while the city attracts world-class talent, it’s vital that we invest in home-grown talent and help our young people achieve their potential. Seeing the work that the young people have produced has blown me away – truly inspiring.”
Patrick McDowell, Fashion Designer collaborating with Rambert on Future Movement says:
“Working with Future Movement has been enriching and fulfilling on both a creative and a personal level. It has been a joy to have had this opportunity to return to my hometown to work with young people from the area, who have opened my eyes to different ideas.
“Growing up, I was inspired by Liverpool’s style and how powerful and strong clothing seemed to make people feel. My working-class background and queer identity allowed me to see things through a certain lens, working with what I had to create something special. That ethos has remained with me to this day and it has been such a joy to mentor this pioneering project to inspire the next generation of creatives.”
Kieran Gregory, a 19-year-old actor who took part in the pilot said:
“Future Movement is boss. I’m an actor but as part of the programme, we designed a costume for one of the Rambert dancers. I’ve had no previous experience of contemporary dance before so it’s great to have new skills to put on my CV. We’re exposed to so many different people, learning about their journeys into the world of creative arts.
“Rambert have been so good at letting us use our brains. We’ve gone to them and said ‘we’ve got this idea, can you make it happen?’ And they’ve said ‘yes, we’ll back you to the hilt.’ Whatever stimulus they give us, we’ll put our Scouse twist on it. I love representing Liverpool because people outside the city don’t properly understand. Over the last couple of years, things like Eurovision have been fantastic for the community so why not showcase it? Rambert and Culture Liverpool have put their faith in us and given us that opportunity and confidence.”
The programme culminated in an exhibition of the students’ work at the press night of Peaky Blinders: The Redemption of Thomas Shelby at the Liverpool Empire earlier this month. There, they had the opportunity to showcase their work at a pre-show reception held by Rambert, in front of invited guests including representatives of the Peaky Blinders team and the Chief Executive of Arts Council England.
The new term starts on October 8 and the group meet every Tuesday from 6.30pm-8.30pm at Toxteth Library, Windsor St, Liverpool, L8 1XF – sign up to Future Movement here.
Find out what events are happening across Liverpool here.
Catherine Braidy on Aigburth Road will run the club every Thursday afternoon, giving people with dementia and their carers somewhere to get together for a chat and activities.
The idea came from Cath Williams who owns the boutique cake parlour.
She has volunteered before at a dementia club and says it’s an opportunity for people to be able to get out and socialise, and to give carers some much-needed respite for a couple of hours.
She said:
“I’ve seen with friends whose parents have dementia and their partners are their primary carers how isolating it can be,”
“I think that happens in a lot of situations, where a husband or wife is the main carer, and I’m not sure how much support there is available for them, so I just wanted to put on an afternoon which would give them a chance to relax and do something nice together.”
The first memory club will be this Thursday (Oct 10) from 1pm to 3pm, but Cath says it’s something she’s been planning for a while.
She originally hoped to start it before Covid, but when lockdown came in the idea had to be paused.
Now, as well as a soundtrack of music to bring back some happy memories, she’s got all kinds of activities in the pipeline for people to get involved with, or not if they prefer to just have a quiet cuppa.
“I know looking at old photos can be a good thing for anyone with dementia and that’s something people could do together so I’m going to try and get hold of some old Liverpool local history books,” she adds.
“I’ve got some colouring books and materials and I’m hoping to get some jigsaws too. I put a shout out on social media to see if anyone had any 30-piece ones they could donate because so many are 500 or 1000 piece and most of the smaller ones are kids’ pictures. I have ordered a few already but it would be great to get some more.
“I thought it would be good to get some playing cards, and maybe giant ones so we could have a game of Play Your Cards Right! It’s something fun that everyone who wants can join in.”
Cath, who also opens Catherine Braidy on Christmas Day to host a community get together, says the idea is to make the memory club a regular weekly date which dementia sufferers and their carers can look forward to.
“Hopefully we’ll get a good response but if only one person and their carer comes along and they enjoy it then that’s good enough for me.”
Find out more information about the memory club at Catherine Braidy here.
Find more events across the Liverpool City Region here.
Liverpool’s coffee scene is about to get even more exciting with the launch of Small Town Boy, a brand-new coffee and food venture from the team behind the much-loved Free State Kitchen.
Opening its doors tomorrow, October 8, Small Town Boy promises to bring high-quality coffee and homemade food to the heart of the city.
Set inside an old Victorian coach house at the bottom of Maryland Street, Small Town Boy is perfectly placed to cater to the areas university and office crowds.
The name itself, a nod to Bronski Beat’s iconic song, reflects the café’s down-to-earth, accessible vibe.
At Small Town Boy, coffee takes centre stage. The focus is on serving high-quality brews, with an ever-changing selection of coffee roasters. To kick things off, they’ve partnered with All Caps, a small independent roastery based in Chester, but expect more coffee collaborations as they rotate their roasters to keep things fresh.
But it’s not just about the coffee. They will offer a mouth-watering menu of homemade sandwiches, cakes, bakes, soups, granolas, and sandwiches.
Like at Free State Kitchen, the menu will change seasonally, ensuring there’s always something new to try.
Small Town Boy is opening with a soft launch, with the takeaway service up and running while the upstairs seating area gets its finishing touches. Once completed, the upstairs will offer seating for around 20 people, creating a cosy space for customers to enjoy their food and coffee in-house.
Kate Hughes, Co-Founder of Free State Kitchen said:
“With Free State being as much about the location as it is the food offering, we wanted to create something that can offer something else to the community around.
“A non-pretentious coffee concept that can capture the local offices, students, and those who don’t always have time to sit in and have a big burger. That’s when we came up with Small Town Boy.”
For now, visitors can expect takeaway service from 8am – 4pm on weekdays and 9am – 4pm on weekends, with a weekends focussing on pastries from the likes of The Butterholic.
The seating area will be unveiled in the next few weeks, but customers can already look forward to grabbing their morning coffee and a quick lunch on the go.
Kate added:
“All the sandwiches will be made in house at Free State Kitchen and brought down the road, so you will still get the same quality food experience that is very important to us, as well as coffee from these amazing roasters.”
Small Town Boy is the younger brother to Free State Kitchen, offering a more intimate, casual experience while maintaining the same dedication to quality food, drink, and hospitality.
The aim is to create a friendly, unpretentious space where locals can grab their daily coffee or enjoy a relaxed meal in a space that feels like a hidden gem in the city.
For more info on Small Town Boy, follow them on Instagram here.
For the latest news around Liverpool click here.
A new art studio in the Baltic is offering pumpkin carving experiences for Halloween.
People will be able to create scarily good 3D sculptures in the giant orange fruit in unique sessions at Hand On Art Studio on Jordan Street.
Director Maddy Crawford says: “We had our first launch experience on Saturday, and it was a big hit. Everyone loved it, and even people who aren’t normally creative were blown away with what they achieved.
“We promise that everyone will come away with an amazing pumpkin piece of art – and they’ll certainly impress the neighbours if they put it out on the doorstep at Halloween.”
The pumpkin carving will be the first of many experiences to be held at the Baltic studio, with Christmas snow window experiences also being launched in the run up to the festive season.
“We are just so excited, and we can’t wait to get started,” adds Maddy. “My husband Paul is the difference with all the experiences. He is a phenomenal artist and a very humble man, but so passionate in what he does.
“And he can’t wait to get people involved in art in so many different mediums and help them enjoy such a social event too.”
Maddy and Paul, who are both born and bred in Garston where they live now, took over their city centre unit in June and have spent three months creating the Hand On Studio.
It follows years spent living in Australia where they went for accountant Maddy’s work: “But the pull of home and family was great,” says Maddy, 35. “We came back home just before Covid with our two daughters Raven, seven, and Winter, five.
“We have wanted to set something like this up for a long time, something for Paul that’s his. He is the creative one, and I do everything in the background!”
Paul, 38, is a professional glacial art sculptor who’s travelled all over the world creating incredible ice pieces for people and businesses.
He also excels in wood sculptures and snow spray window works – as well, of course, as pumpkins.
The father-of-two has, for the last few years, crafted the expertly-carved pumpkins at Trentham Gardens in Staffordshire to create nine incredible scenes for its pumpkin trail which is part of its annual Halloween Festival.
And Maddy says: “Paul has always taught friends and family how to do theirs, and they all suggested he could help other people too.
“You can get sip and paint classes, and pottery classes, with step-by-step instructions.
“But this is a little bit different. We have set up a bar with drinks and snacks, there will be spooky Halloween music, and Paul will closely guide everyone to help them create their own pumpkin work of art.
“It’s not just triangles for eyes and a scary face cut through, but proper 3D carvings to create a character and face in the pumpkin.”
The pumpkin carving experiences will run from October 16 with events running every weekday evening from 6pm – 8.30pm; and at 12.30pm -3pm and 4.30pm – 7pm on Saturdays and Sundays, right up until October 31.
The sessions cost £40 and, for that, people can pick their own pumpkin and all the tools are provided to help them leave with a fabulously carved pumpkin that will be the envy of their friends.
“No-one else offers this niche 3D carving experience,” smiles Maddy.
Hand On Art will also offer snow window art experiences towards Christmas, and from the New Year they will run charcoal experiences, Beauty in Chaos, helping people to create abstract works using the popular monochrome material.
“We have around 20 people in the pumpkin carving experiences, but there will only be 10 in the snow window art experiences because it is a harder medium,” explains Maddy.
“But we will be constantly thinking of different experiences and events like, for instance, having couples’ charcoal experiences before Valentine’s Day so they can draw each other in an abstract way.
“You can do snow windows too all year round, for Easter for instance.
“It’s getting people involved in art in different ways that are fun and social events,” says Maddy. “It’s great to be back home and doing something like this.
“There’s already great feedback from the launch weekend and now we just can’t wait to get started.”
To book your pumpkin carving with Hand On Arts Studio click here.
For more Halloween events in Liverpool click here.
Red hat? Check! Blue duffle coat? Check! Emergency marmalade sandwich? Triple check!
Fans of Paddington Bear in Liverpool, get your marmalade sandwiches at the ready because the iconic bear has arrived in Liverpool ONE.
Today, fans of all ages took a pew next to Paddington as STUDIOCANAL unveiled a statue of the marmalade loving bear at Liverpool ONE.
Launched as part of Paddington Visits, a trail of Paddington Bear statues across the UK and Ireland to celebrate the forthcoming release of PADDINGTON IN PERU, arriving in cinemas on November 8th, Paddington took a seat on a bench at Liverpool ONE and was immediately embraced by the local community.
With children dropping by for marmalade sandwiches and passers-by stopping for selfies, Liverpool is one of 23 locations taking part in Paddington Visits, a trail which will see the special statues appearing in cities, towns, and beauty spots all over the UK and Ireland.
Everyone in Liverpool buzzed with excitement as they gathered to welcome its newest neighbour: a meticulously crafted and painted statue sporting the wise bear’s signature red hat, blue duffle coat, and, naturally, a marmalade sandwich in paw.
Families and children can embark on an adventure to find their local Paddington, with locations ranging from John O’Groats to Land’s End, Westport Co. Mayo to London, and, of course, a very special stop in Newbury, the hometown of Paddington’s creator, Michael Bond.
With Paddington coming to towns, cities and beauty spots, STUDIOCANAL has teamed up with Ordnance Survey to help intrepid explorers discover Paddington in various locations in the UK and Ireland, head on over to Ordnance Survey’s website to learn more.
Donna Howitt, Place Strategy Director at Liverpool ONE, said:
“We’re absolutely thrilled to welcome Paddington to Liverpool ONE, as one of just 23 locations across the UK and Ireland. “We’re always exploring new ways to enhance our visitor experience, so we’re honoured to host Paddington, a much-loved character who spans generations. He will undoubtedly become a key attraction and help our visitors, whatever their age, create new memories!”
A spokesperson from STUDIOCANAL said:
“We are delighted to launch Paddington Visits, a trail which will see everyone’s favourite bear bringing fun, kindness and warmth to communities across the UK.
“We hope that everyone seeks out their local Paddington, whether that’s dropping by for a chat about your day or to enjoy a marmalade sandwich or two while enjoying the view! Paddington is ready to welcome everyone!”
Paddington Visits launches ahead of the bear’s latest cinematic outing, PADDINGTON IN PERU, in UK and Ireland cinemas November 8.
This new adventure will see Paddington return home to the Peruvian jungle to visit his beloved Aunt Lucy, now a resident at the Home for Retired Bears.
With The Brown Family and Mrs Bird in tow, a thrilling adventure ensues when a mysterious disappearance plunges them into an unexpected journey from the Amazon rainforest to the mountain peaks of Peru.
Find out more about Paddington Bear here.
Find all the latest news in Liverpool here.
Liverpool restaurant, Crust, has scooped the award for Best Pizza in the UK at the Italian Awards for a third time.
Going head to head with venues across England, Wales and Ireland, the Bold Street based restaurant was recognised for its delicious, authentic wood-fired pizzas.
Owned by Italian brothers Paolo and Donato Cillo, who are also behind the city’s Italian Quarter in Williamson Square, Italian fine dining restaurant Il Forno, all-day eatery Botanico in Woolton Village and the popular Gran Caffe on Duke Street and Lark Lane, Crust has been home to Neapolitan-style pizzas since it opened in 2015.
With a menu filled with traditional pizzas including its Napoletana, Siciliana, Diavola and Zingara to name a few, Crust also has a selection of ‘Pizzaficionados’ – the special ones – which include Straccetti with sliced filet mignon, Porchetta with porchetta roast pork and caramelised onion and Nduja.
Crust is also renowned for its fresh, authentic pastas, its unique pizza wraps, and more recently, delicious brunch dishes, some that have been given an Italian twist.
The city centre-based restaurant also scooped the award for Best Pizza in 2019.
The Cillo brothers and the team from Crust attended the Italian Awards evening in Leeds where they were delighted to accept the award for Best Pizza.
Paolo Cillo explained:
“Crust is home to Liverpool’s best and most authentic pizza. My whole family is from Naples and authentic Neapolitan food is part of our heritage. We’re honoured to win Best Pizza in the UK for the s econd time running and want to say a big thank you to all of our loyal guests… In crust we trust!”
Donato Cillo added:
“It’s fantastic to have our dishes recognised for their excellence. All of our ingredients are sourced from Italy to ensure that we create only the most authentic, traditional recipes. We’re so happy to have won this award and congratulations to all of the other award winners too!”
Find more information about Crust here.
Find all the latest Liverpool news here.
Political and business leaders from Sefton and Southport have met Liverpool City Region tourism chiefs to talk about the impact of the summer’s tragic events on the resort as well as plans for its future.
At the Waterfront Hotel in Southport, Sefton Council’s Deputy Leader Cllr Paulette Lappin and Chief Executive Phil Porter met Tony Hall CBE, Lord Hall of Birkenhead, who chairs the new Local Visitor Economy Partnership for the Liverpool City Region.
And the full Board, along with Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram, visited Southport for its quarterly board meeting, which was preceded by a special breakfast meeting at which senior Sefton Council officers and local business leaders outlined the impact of the summer’s events.
After the meeting, also at the Waterfront Hotel in Southport, board members were taken to see construction work at the Southport Marine Lake Events Centre.
The new multipurpose events centre will host entertainment shows, touring theatre acts, conferences, exhibitions and much more. Work is underway to prepare the site, which will be complimented by a spectacular water and light show on the Lake, the first of its kind in the UK.
The board heard how the tragic events of July had a significant impact on the local economy but that seeing progress on major schemes such as MLEC will be vital in giving investors the confidence they need to see that Southport has a bright future ahead and in turn encourage more jobs, visitors and investment in the area.
Sefton Council Deputy Leader Cllr Paulette Lappin said:
“Southport is a wonderful, welcoming place for everyone and that has been the case for more than a century. It is a town that has not only been a staycation staple for generations of families but also welcomes an impressive amount of international visitors year after year.
“Sefton Council’s Tourism team have played an incredible role in helping keep Southport at the forefront of the seaside resort sector amid a backdrop of challenges, not least following the truly awful and heartbreaking events of July this year.
“We know there is a lot of work ahead of us and we will continue to work with local businesses, the Liverpool City Region and Central Government to do all we can for Southport and its economy.
“It was especially pleasing for Lord Hall and members of the Local Visitor Economy Partnership to see what makes Southport’s fantastic visitor proposition so unique in our region, to visit the site of the future Marine Lake Events Centre, and to share with them the aspirations and ambitions of the Council and of the town for Southport’s future.”
Find more information on the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority website.
Find all the latest Southport news here.
LFC men and women’s teams will swap their regular front of shirt logo for a ‘Futuremakers by Standard Chartered’ design for their upcoming matches at Anfield, and fans will get a chance to bid on the signed match-worn shirts.
‘Futuremakers by Standard Chartered’ is the main club partner’s global initiative which aims to empower underserved young people around the world and teach them skills to improve their chances of getting a job or starting their own business. For the past five seasons, Liverpool FC has swapped its regular front of shirt logo for the Futuremakers design and donated the match-worn shirts for auction to raise awareness and funds for the programme.
First the women will wear the Futuremakers shirts on Sunday 13 October when they face Manchester City at Anfield. Tickets are still available and priced at just £10 for adults and £4 for juniors. To purchase your tickets, please visit here.
The men will wear the shirts on Sunday 20 October when they play Chelsea at Anfield.
Following each respective match, the shirts will be signed by the players and go up for auction where fans can bid on their chance to win a piece of Reds’ history. The auctions will feature up to 11 signed match-worn shirts from both the men’s and women’s teams, plus additional match-issued and bench-worn shirts, auctioned off on the fundraising platform, Charity Stars.
This year’s campaign, titled ‘Some swaps mean more’, taps into the player ritual of shirt swapping. To support the campaign, LFC and Standard Chartered have created exclusive videos featuring men’s and women’s players talking about swapping shirts, what it means to play in the Futuremakers shirt, and more. You can watch both videos below.
The auctions can be found here, with all proceeds going to recipients of ‘Futuremakers by Standard Chartered’, the bank’s global initiative to fight economic inequality.
Find events at Liverpool FC on our calendar.
The Zodiac Lounge on Seel Street in Liverpool City Centre has now been relaunched under new ownership.
The Turkish charcoal grill restaurant and shisha lounge can be found on the rooftop of a building that is nestled between Seel Street and Fleet Street.
Zodiac Shisha Lounge opened back in 2017 and has been a popular addition to the nightlife scene since. Open all year around, it has a covered rooftop with heat lamps to keep customers warm in the winter and a sun terrace with a removable roof for the summer.
The Turkish-inspired food menu features hummus, chicken kebab, lamb kofta wrap, roasted vegetable pizza, halloumi dishes and desserts such as baklava and banoffee sundae.
The new owner, Yunus Emre Uğur said:
“We are pleased to have taken over this fantastic venue on the vibrant Seel Street. We have added some of our expertise to the food offering, as we also own the award winning Turkish restaurant Akasya on Bold Street, and have changed some of the menu. We have also introduced different offers throughout the week for our customers, such as 2- 4-1 cocktails on Sunday to Thursday from 4pm until 9pm.”
Seel Street has seen many changes over the last few years with new hotels, bars and restaurants all adding to the Ropewalks area of the city.
Yunus added:
“We have retained many of the original staff and still have our great range of Shisha available. We are now looking forward to the festive period in this great city.”
Find out more about the Zodiac Lounge here.
Find all the latest Food news in Liverpool here.
The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority has been awarded the prestigious title of Regional Transport Authority of the Year at the National Transport Awards.
This award recognises the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority’s significant strides in creating an accessible, affordable, and sustainable transport network that serves all communities across the region.
The award, which is open to transport bodies that oversee multiple local authority areas, honours organisations demonstrating remarkable progress across a range of sustainable transport policies.
Judges were particularly impressed with the Combined Authority’s efforts to provide high-quality bus and rail services, alongside advancing active travel initiatives, to ensure no community is left behind.
Mayor of Liverpool City Region, Steve Rotheram, said:
“This is great news and recognition of the work we are delivering on behalf of the people of our city region. This award is testament to the dedication and ambition of everyone who is working to make our transport network one of the best in the country.
“We’ve always believed that accessible, affordable and sustainable transport is not just a goal but a right that every community should enjoy. Our mission has always been clear: to ensure that no one is left behind, and today’s recognition shows that we’re well on the way to achieving that.
“From our new publicly owned trains, work to take back control of buses and our expanding active travel routes, we’re not just investing in infrastructure; we’re investing in the future of our region. But we’re not done yet. With even more exciting projects in the pipeline, we’re committed to delivering the London-style integrated transport system our residents deserve.”
Katherine Fairclough, Chief Executive of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, added:
“Congratulations to colleagues across the organisation, the hard work by everyone involved in the incredible projects we’ve delivered together has been recognised at a national level, as well as the ongoing, daily dedication from our teams who keep the transport network running day in day out.”
The Combined Authority’s success is attributed to the myriad of new ways it has improved the public transport network across the city region. Its long list of recent achievements include the opening of the £80m Headbolt Lane railway station served by new publicly owned, battery powered trains; an £11m upgrade of the Queensway Tunnel lighting; transforming the bus network including franchising and expanding the zero emission bus fleet; the signing of a deal to build the first new Mersey Ferry in 60 years and delivery of the first phase of the region’s planned 500km Active Travel network.
Anthony Smith, Chair of the National Transport Awards Judging Panel, said:
“It was clear to the judges that Liverpool City Region are setting a new standard for public transport in this country and have made huge strides in rolling out accessible, affordable, high-quality bus and rail services alongside active travel to ensure no community is left behind.”
The Combined Authority was also shortlisted in two other categories:
- Design, Engineering & Construction Project of the Year: Headbolt Lane Station
- Digital and Technology Excellence in Transport: IPEMU Battery Trains
In their 21st year and organised by Transport Times, the UK National Transport Awards celebrate the dedication, expertise, success and innovation of those working to continually enhance the transport networks across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
For more info on Liverpool City Region Combined Authority click here.
For the latest news around the city click here.
Get ready for a spooktacular adventure this Halloween as Knowsley Safari’s Foot Safari turns into a pumpkin-themed wonderland, offering just the right amount of spooky fun for the whole family.
From Wednesday 23 – Thursday 31 October 2024, Knowsley Safari is inviting families to explore the Pumpkin Safari Spooktacular, where one child goes free with every full-paying adult throughout the half-term holiday.
It’s time to say, “Let’s boo this!”
Between 11am – 4pm each day, families can enjoy a fun-packed pumpkin patch treasure hunt, a haunted garden walk, as well as pumpkin-themed photo opportunities to ensure all those screamingly great memories are captured forever. Fangtastic facepainting is also available for an additional charge.
The pumpkin patch treasure hunt is designed for children under 12 years old, where they’ll receive a Halloween-themed map to navigate their way past friendly ghosts, spooky scarecrows, giant spiders and hundreds of pumpkins, before seeking out a mysterious character for a Halloween treat!
Guests can also get into the spooky spirit by enjoying the amusement rides and attractions, plus plenty of tongue-tingling refreshments will be available in Oasis Restaurant and the Outdoor Food Court.
Richard Smith, Head of Visitor Operations, Knowsley Safari, said:
“Halloween is one of the most exciting times of the year, a chance for the whole family to take part in some ghoulishly fun activities.
“This year, our Pumpkin Safari Spooktacular is designed to ensure maximum spookiness and fun, as well as great value, with all activities included with the general admission tickets and the kids go free offer runs each day from 23 until 31 October.”
In addition to the fun on the Foot Safari, also home to Andean bears, giraffes, mischievous meerkats and red river hogs, visitors can buckle up and head onto the UK’s longest safari drive, where they’ll be welcomed by Bactrian camels, southern white rhino, baboons, African lions and many other fantastic animal species.
A day out at Knowsley Safari can be made even more interactive by downloading the free Safari app, which helps guests to plan their day, enjoy lots of interesting and fun animal facts during the five-mile route, as well as providing interactive visitor maps to make sure nothing is missed.
The Pumpkin Safari Spooktacular is included with a paid admission ticket, with one child, aged up to 15 years old, free per full paying adult. Tickets start from £22.50 for adults if booking online at least one day in advance.
To book your tickets to Knowsley Safari click here.
For more happening around Liverpool this Halloween click here.
Liverpool’s very own comedy legend, John Bishop, is set to bring his milestone 25th-anniversary tour, John Bishop: 25, to the M&S Bank Arena on October 25, 2025.
The new John Bishop: 25 tour celebrates a remarkable quarter-century of stand-up comedy, which began in 2000 when he first took to the stage at the Frog and Bucket in Manchester.
To mark this special occasion every ticket at every show will be £25.
John Bishop: 25 kicks off on 2 October 2025 at the Plymouth Pavilions and then travels to arenas across the UK and Ireland, including a show at the M&S Bank Arena on 24 October 2025, before culminating in Belfast on 1 November 2025.
The tour includes a return show on 13 October 2025 to the Frog and Bucket in Manchester, 25 years since it all began. The £25 tickets go on sale on Friday 11 October 2024.
John Bishop said:
“I can’t believe that next year it will be 25 years since I first performed at the Frog and Bucket in Manchester. It’s been a rollercoaster! And I can’t thank the fans enough who have supported me all the way. I wanted to mark the anniversary with a brand-new tour and do something to say thank you – so every ticket throughout the tour will be £25. I really hope you can come and celebrate with me.”
Since that first gig in October 2000, John has achieved so much in his incredible career. Within three years John was playing to sold out arena audiences across the country and released the fastest selling stand-up DVD in UK history.
Last year, John starred in the UK & Ireland tour of Mother Goose with Ian McKellen, which included a hugely successful run in London’s West End.
Earlier this year, he embarked on a major sold-out international tour – Back At It – his first stand-up show in two years, which culminates at the London Palladium in April 2025. The tour includes legs in Europe, USA, Canada, New Zealand and Australia.
To book your tickets for John Bishop: 25 click here.
For more events happening around Liverpool head over to our Calendar HERE.
For the first time ever, children will have the chance to enjoy a festive morning with a special visit from Father Christmas, a delicious breakfast, and even a ride on the famous Silcock’s Carousel.
Families are in for a magical treat this festive season with the launch of the brand-new Breakfast with Santa events, hosted by Silcock Leisure Group.
These festive mornings will take place at Silcock’s Pier Family Restaurant on selected Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays throughout December 2024: 6th, 7th & 8th; 13th, 14th & 15th; and 20th, 21st & 22nd, starting at 10:30am.
For just £10 per child (plus booking fee), kids will enjoy a choice of tasty breakfasts—either sausage, hash browns, and baked beans, or American pancakes with fruit and syrup. The festive feast is paired with a choice of Christmas hot chocolate or juice.
As part of the package, children will also receive a Christmas goody bag, complete with a gift, prize tickets for Funland, and a ride on the iconic Carousel.
Silcock Leisure Group’s Operations Manager, Serena Silcock-Prince, said:
Silcock Leisure Group Operations Manager Serena Silcock-Prince said: “Come and join us for a fabulous festive morning at Silcock’s Funland and Pier Restaurant at Southport Pier this December!
“Join Santa and his elves for breakfast, with a festive hot chocolate, a small gift and a ride on our famous Carousel.
“Why not take a selfie with Santa and his Carousel Horse? It’s the perfect way to start your Christmas.
“Tickets are available to book now.”
Silcock Leisure Group has always been involved with Christmas – but never more so than this year.
Serena Silcock-Prince said:
“For the past 15 years, we have been the headline sponsor for the annual Southport Santa Sprint to raise funds for Queenscourt Hospice.
“It’s a superb event, with hundreds of people wearing Santa suits setting off from Silcock’s Funland on their run around Southport. This year’s Santa Sprint is on 1st December and we are delighted to be involved once again.
“We are also among the sponsors for the Queenscourt Christmas cards this year, one of which features our Carousel on the cover.
“Families ask us every year if we can put on something special during the festive season and Breakfast With Santa seemed like the perfect idea!
“Children can combine their morning with a ride on our Carousel and a visit to Funland.
“The response has already been amazing.
“We’re really excited to be putting smiles on families’ faces this Christmas.”
For more info on Silcock’s Breakfast with Santa click here.
For the latest news around Liverpool click here.
Here’s your Liverpool Gig Guide for October 2024
October is looking like a really busy month for live music lovers in our region, whether you love a bit of cheesy pop, country music, or good foot stomping indie.
Here are some of the gigs you can catch this month.
Crowded House at the Cavern: 6 October
The Finn brothers and their band bring famous songs like Weather With You to the famous Cavern Club as they launch new album Gravity Stairs.
Get tickets here.
The Last Dinner Party at Mountford Hall: 12 October
The winners of the BRIT Rising Star Award earlier this year, The Last Dinner Party come to Liverpool as part of the tour to support their debut album Prelude To Ecstasy.
Get tickets here.
Seb Lowe at the Arts Club: 12 October
The rising British Indie star brings his headlines show to Liverpool following the release of recent single Jump Scare.
Get tickets here.
Squeeze at the M and S Arena: 19 October
To mark their 50th anniversary, British music legends Squeeze have announced a massive UK tour for 2024.
Fronted by Glen Tilbrook and Chris Difford, they will bring a brilliant back catalogue to Liverpool as well as rare gems.
They will be joined by special guest Badly Drawn Boy.
Get tickets here.
The Libertines at Mountford Hall: 19 October
Pete Doherty and Carl Barat bring the catchy tunes of past and present to the stage again with the Brit indie legend’s latest tour.
Get tickets here.
Altered Images at the O2 Academy: 23 October
Relive the 80s sounds of Clare Grogan and the band who are famous for songs like Happy Birthday and I Could be Happy.
Get tickets here.
Jane McDonald at the M and S Bank Arena: 24 October
Star of stage and screen and singing sensation Jane McDonald is back with a new tour for 2024.
With All My Love will see Jane travel Liverpool on October 24 2024, performing the songs you love as well as new material penned by Jane herself.
Get tickets here.
Blossoms at Mountford Hall: 25 October
After 11 years Blossoms are still making great music with clever lyrics and catchy tunes. Catch tracks from new album Gary as well as favourites like Your Girlfriend and The Keeper when they bring their new tour to Liverpool. Their live shows are always a masterclass in perfect pop. One not to be missed.
Get tickets here.
Razorlight at Jacaranda Baltic: 30 October
The Noughties favourites are back with frontman Johnny Borrell back with band members Björn Ågren on guitar, bassist Carl Delemo, as well as drummer Andy Burrows. This show is an album launch for new record Planet Nowhere.
Get tickets here.
UPCOMING
Tom Meighan at the O2 Academy: Monday 2 September
The ex-Kasabian frontman is out on the road as a solo artist. Expect classic Kasabian tracks as well as some new material.
Get tickets here.
Get more music news for Liverpool City Region HERE.
Alexandra Potter, Jane Costello and Millie Johnson have all made it onto the Sunday Times bestseller list with their novels.
The three bestselling authors are bringing a ‘funny, frank and fabulous’ night to Liverpool this October, celebrating the rise of over-40s heroines in fiction.
Together they’ve been translated into more than 25 different languages and sold millions of copies around the world.
Now they’re coming to Liverpool with a special event to discuss books, romantic comedy and why midlife women’s fiction is having a moment.
With a new Bridget Jones film confirmed and Bridget now just turned 50, the spotlight in books has definitely shifted towards women dealing with real life midlife issues.
There’s still dating and relationships, but they’re likely to come with the added complication of ex-wives and stepkids, as well as different career challenges and just the general pressure of getting older in a social media world of apparently ageless perfection.
Alexandra, Jane and Millie’s most recent novels all have relatable 40-something heroines, juggling it all and working out what exactly to do when life doesn’t quite go to plan.
Alexandra’s More Confessions of a Forty-something F*** Up is the much-anticipated follow-up to her huge international hit, Confessions of a Forty Something F*** Up.
Featuring lead character Nell, who’s been described as ‘the new Bridget Jones for our times’, that became the inspiration for a major US TV series Not Dead Yet, streamed on Disney+ and starring Gina Rodriguez.
Fellow Yorkshire author Millie is one of the UK’s best-loved novelists, selling more than three million books. Her latest is The Happiest Ever After, centred around a woman who starts writing a fictional feistier bolder version of herself after she’s cheated on by her partner, then unexpectedly ends up living the new life she created.
The third of the trio joining forces for the night is Liverpool-born author Jane Costello who has written 15 novels and been selected by the Richard & Judy Book Club.
The release of Jane’s latest book, It’s Getting Hot In Here, coincides with the event at Oh Me Oh My on Thursday October 17, from 7pm.
It’s a funny and sexy romantic comedy with a 40-something heroine, Lisa, juggling motherhood, divorce, perimenopause, office attractions, endless to-do lists and a kettle that desperately needs de-scaling!
Jane, who lives in south Liverpool, says Lisa is one of many over-40s women who are taking the lead in fiction right now.
“Once upon a time, to write a successful romantic comedy, the main character would have to be a young woman in her late twenties or early thirties, usually living in London and looking for Mr Right,” she says.
“But times have changed and there’s increasing recognition that women in their forties – who’ve done significantly more living – can be a lot more interesting to write about.
“Between raising teenagers and the perimenopause, there’s certainly no shortage of material, which is one of the reasons our event on October 17 is going to be so much fun.
“Milly and Alex are both terrifically entertaining so I can’t wait to join them on stage and meet as many readers as possible. It’ll be a riot and I think there’ll be quite a lot of ‘Oh thank god it’s just not just me’ moments!”
To book your tickets to funny, frank and fabulous click here.
For the latest news in Liverpool click here.
A Liverpool charity has supported more than 3,000 people in three months in foodbanks across the city as poverty rises even higher.
St Andrew’s Community Network, which has 18 food hubs across the north of Liverpool, gave help to 3,297 people in July, August and September this year – more than the same period in 2023.
Charlotte Moorcroft, development lead for the charity which also offers debt and benefits advice to those suffering hardship, says: “I think what we are seeing generally is a steady rise in foodbank usage with a bigger increase in need during the colder months when energy bills increase, and Christmas presents further financial challenges to those already struggling.
“Because of that, and changes to the Winter Fuel Payments which means fewer people will be eligible for support, we expect that need for foodbanks will increase again this winter.”
And she warns:
“We are already seeing this rise in need with over 150 more people accessing our foodbank centres in September than in August.”
One of the people the Clubmoor-based charity helped recently was a nurse, who was a single parent.
“They had recently moved to a new area with nothing. Their friends had bought them some household essentials, like a microwave and toaster but, as they told us, because they were working, they couldn’t get any help towards setting up the new home.
“When we spoke to them about their situation and the challenges they were facing, they told us that there was a plumbing issue in the new property that would take days to sort out, so they were washing their nursing uniform at their parent’s house.”
“The nurse told us that when they first came to the foodbank, they were embarrassed but were grateful to have someone to talk to.
“The food and toiletries provided in the parcel from the foodbank was a lifeline for the family, helping them through an extremely distressing situation.”
St Andrew’s Community Network provides essential support to around 36,000 people across its services every year.
It works tirelessly to try to break the cycle of poverty, and relies heavily on donations to support its vital work in the community.
Fundraising like that at Macello Meathouse in West Derby later this month provides a massive boost.
The Turkish-style steakhouse is hosting a charity fundraising event on Monday, October 21, to support St Andrew’s Community Network.
The evening will be a blend of food and entertainment, featuring a specially-crafted buffet and a spectacular tomahawk steak show.
All proceeds from the event will directly benefit St Andrew’s Community Network, helping them continue their mission to set communities free from poverty.
Charlotte says:
“Fundraising events like that at Macello’s are essential to helping us continue to meet this increased need we are seeing across our services.
“Without the support of companies, households and passionate individuals who so generously give what they can, both through financial donations, giving food and through volunteering, we wouldn’t be able to do what we do and support the amount of people that we do.
“Macello’s support means so much, and we know a lot of work has gone in to making the evening incredible. We’re really looking forward to it, and are so grateful to everyone who’s getting behind the event and booking tickets!”
Bayram and Gizem, owners of Macello Meathouse, say:
“Events like this provide a valuable opportunity to raise awareness and gather donations to support those in need. Our goal in organising this fundraiser is to generate the funds necessary to keep these vital services running.
“At Macello Meathouse, we’re committed to supporting the local community in every way we can, and we’re honoured to contribute to such a meaningful cause that positively impacts people’s lives.”