Cosmic Puffin spotted near Colchester

It has to be one of the most memorable names for a music festival, but its root stems from the charity gig in 2008 that first inspired it. Now into its second decade, the Cosmic Puffin Festival started out as a fund-raising event for a charity at Basildon and Thurrock Hospital that enables parents of…

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…

Hairy Bikers off on an epic trip

What do you get if you cross a professional make-up artist, specialising in prosthetics, with a locations manager on productions such as the Harry Potter films and TV series Byker Grove? Answer, Britain’s hairiest culinary conquistadors… Dave Myers and Si King, aka the Hairy Bikers. Big hearted, down-to-earth cooks with a love of good food,…

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…

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…

Six days of great ales in Chelmsford

One of the biggest events in the Chelmsford social calendar kicks off at midday today at Admiral’s Park, Rainsford Road. Boasting 300 different real ales and more than 100 types of cider and perry, the Chelmsford Summer Beer and Cider Festival runs from Tuesday, 4 July, to Saturday, 8 July. This year is the 39th…