Festive flavour to gin and rum

Just three weeks before Northamptonshire welcome Middlesex for their first home game of the season, the club will be hosting a very different occasion when gin and rum will be the order of the day at the County Ground. Sponsored by Schweppes 1783, the venue hosts a Gin and Rum Festival on 16 March, where…

X Factor auditions underway for 2019

The X Factor Live Tour 2019 begins in Nottingham this week, with the stars of the 2018 series Dalton Harris, Scarlett Lee, Anthony Russell, Danny Tetley, Acacia & Aaliyah, Brendan Murray, Shan Ako and Bella Penfold going on the road to venues across the UK and Ireland until 6 March. And if the sight of…

X Factor goes out on the road

It’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but there’s no doubting that the X Factor has huge appeal and has launched the careers of many talented artists who would otherwise never have had the opportunity to live their dreams. In 2018 Dalton Harris, Scarlett Lee, Anthony Russell, Danny Tetley, Acacia & Aaliyah, Brendan Murray, Shan Ako…

A tonic for gin lovers

It’s a generally accepted fact that Russians consume the most vodka, but what nation consumes the most gin? Any ideas? Britain, the US, China? Nope… the world’s biggest gin consumer is in fact the Philippines, drinking almost half of the 60 million cases sold annually. More than 22 million cases of Ginebra San Miguel are…

Belfast first date for comic cons

From humble beginings almost two decades ago, “comic con” experts Showmasters have developed into one of the largest dream-fulfilling operations in the country, regularly bringing stars of the big and small screen to cities all over the UK to meet their adoring fans. “Back in 2002 there were just three of us working on this…

Thrill-filled show of shocky horrors

When it started back in Glastonbury in 1995, people thought it wouldn’t run for 25 weeks let alone 25 years, but a quarter of a century later the Circus of Horrors is still running amok around the globe. An amazing amalgamation of bizarre and breathtaking circus acts, the “shocky horror” show pulls together a series…

The Book of John

After a a six-year break from touring, Welsh comedian Rhod Gilbert is back on the road in 2019 with a new show, The Book of John. The tour kicks off on Saturday, 2 February, at the William Aston Hall in Wrexham and spans 52 venues over six months, with two nights at both London’s Eventim…

Make a date for Beerex

The 31st Dorchester Beerex takes place next month at the Corn Exchange, where more than 80 real ales and 21 ciders and perries will be available direct from the cask. Taking place from 1-2 February, the festival will include seating for more than 100 visitors at all four sessions upstairs in the Corn Exchange, allowing…

Antiques to get an airing in Belfast

There may not have been many positives coming out of Stormont in recent months but that could all change before the end of the month… although it’s unlikely to be anything coming from the politicians. On Saturday, 27 July, the Parliament Buildings and Stormont Estate in Belfast is the venue for the next Antiques Roadshow…