Shuttle service on the Real Ale Trail

Wales has a plethora of fantastic country pubs… there’s only one problem, how to visit them without relying on a car? Well… back in 2010 a forward-thinking North Wales marketeer hit upon a good idea to bring new customers to a number of small Flintshire pubs, put on some shuttle buses to take them from…

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…

The road to Wigan Beer Festival

Now in its 32nd consecutive year, Wigan Beer Festival takes place from Thursday, 28 February, to Saturday, 2 March, at Robin Park Sports and Tennis Centre, opposite the DW Stadium. The festival will feature more than 70 real ales from brewers such as Newcastle’s Almasty, Atom from Hull and Beatnikz Republic out of Manchester. There’s…

Liverpool cathedral beer bash

More than 200 real ales and ciders will find their way into the Metropolitan Cathedral Crypt later this month when Liverpool Beer Festival returns to the city. The event runs from 21-23 February, with afternoon and midday sessions available across all three days. On the Friday and Saturday evening sessions there will also be entertainment…

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…

Ice-capades with Mickey and Minnie

A dazzling world of Disney adventure sets off around the UK in March, with Mickey and Minnie Mouse bringing an icey extravaganza of magic and family fun to audiences around the country. The Wonderful World of Disney On Ice! gets underway at the SSE Arena in Wembley on 13 March and finishes up at the…

Durrant joins Van Gerwen in PDC

The 2018-19 World Championship was the Professional Darts Corporation’s biggest-ever event, featuring 96 players competing for £2.5 million in prize money at London’s iconic Alexandra Palace. Dutchman Michael van Gerwen was at his relentless best in the tournament, seeing off Gary Anderson in the semi-finals before a 7-3 victory over Michael Smith saw him lift…