Scotland Connected

LOCAL SCHOOL CHILDREN AND RETIREES SHARE THEIR FAVOURITE BOOKS DURING AN AFTERNOON TO CELEBRATE GRANDPARENTS DAY IN STOW-ON-THE-WOLD

admin — Tue, 29 Sep 2026 05:29:50 +0000

20 primary school children aged seven to 11 from Stow-on-the-Wold Primary School visited homeowners at Brio Retirement Living’s Beechwood Park to spend time sharing their favourite books.

The children’s grandparents were also invited to join in and treated to scones and hot drinks at the onsite Slate & Grain brasserie, bar and coffee lounge in celebration of upcoming Grandparents Day on Sunday 4th October. Members of the Beechwood Park book club also joined in and shared their favourite stories with the children.

Matt Cotton, General Manager at Beechwood Park, added: “It was a joy to welcome the children along for the story share session. Everyone loved hearing exerts of their favourite books which included the aptly titled Grandad’s Island, Be Brave Little Penguin and The Spy Who Loved School Dinners. Some of the books the children brought in were very funny indeed – I’ve made a note of which ones I’ll be reading in full!

“We have a wonderful relationship with Stow Primary – we host lots of multi-generational events and the children often come in to sing and perform for our homeowners – it’s lovely to see the two very different generations spending quality time together and sharing their love of books. We’re already discussing our next story share as it was such a great success!”

Following the story share the children, grandparents and residents enjoyed treats from Slate & Grain.

Mrs Scutt, Headteacher at Stow-on-the-Wold Primary School, added: “The children have loved the story share session at Beechwood Park. We love reading together at school and are currently partway through our Roald Dahl fortnight where we’re focussing on different texts in each class which will culminate with a celebration of his works in an assembly.

“We have a huge focus on reading for pleasure and a calendar of literary events throughout the year, so this session was just perfect. Our pupils enjoy engaging with stories and poetry, visiting the library in Stow and we have lots of local community members who come in to school to hear our readers. It was so lovely to be able to celebrate with a nod to Grandparents Day too – we haven’t done that before – it was especially touching for those children and residents whose grandparents or grandchildren live a distance away from Stow. I believe education should be fun and enjoyed by all, and our afternoon at Beechwood Park certainly proved that.”

Beechwood Park is an age-exclusive community, situated in the picturesque market town of Stow-on-the-Wold, in the Cotswolds. The stunning development features a collection of homes, where a number of one, two and three-bedroom apartments are available to buy, rent or part buy/part rent.

All homes come with their own outdoor space as well as access to landscaped gardens; there is also an extensive range of facilities including a contemporary wellness suite, hobby room, roof terrace, landscaped gardens, fitness studio and outdoor exercise trail, plus the Slate & Grain brasserie, bar and coffee lounge.

Beechwood Park offers modern, stylish retirement, whilst the team on hand can offer a range of care and support packages if or when required.

For further information, visit https://www.brioretirement.co.uk/our-communities/beechwood-park-stow-on-the-wold/, or to book a viewing phone 01451 885494.

Building Consultancy Makes Move To Larger Newcastle Office

admin — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 19:09:10 +0000

A growing Newcastle-based building surveying firm has relocated to offices 50% larger than its existing space, as the firm’s headcount and workload continue to build.

Lantern Building Consultancy has signed an eight-year lease on second floor premises at Generator Studios on Trafalgar Street, two years after first moving into the building.

The move follows a period of sustained growth for the RICS-registered practice founded in 2021 by directors Martin Smith and Alex Carter who identified a gap in the market for faster and more solution-focused building surveying advice.

The firm’s new office has been designed around open-plan working, with a dedicated breakout area, kitchen, reception and a number of meeting pods to support both team collaboration and client meetings.

The expansion comes alongside growth in Lantern’s team, which currently stands at nine, having recently strengthened its operational capacity with the appointment of Lauren Walker. The firm is targeting steady, sustainable growth over the coming years, including ambitions for further recruitment.

The move also reflects a strong financial trajectory for the business, which saw turnover grow by 20% last year and remains on target for further growth in the current financial year.

Lantern’s expanding workload spans a broad range of sectors and clients. The firm is currently managing over £1 million of work for Entain Group, alongside three new supermarket schemes in Newcastle and Northumberland.

Elsewhere, the team is delivering a refurbishment of educational space for a provider in Rotherham and overseeing the creation of a relocated post office in Spennymoor on behalf of the franchisee.

Lantern also continues to support Northumberland County Council on its extensive housing portfolio, including feasibility studies on redevelopment opportunities, and also provides surveying support to Bernicia Group.

Commenting on the office move, Alex Carter, director at Lantern Building Consultancy, said: “As we approach our 5^th anniversary, this new office is a real statement of intent for us. We’ve grown steadily since we started the business in 2021, and this move gives us the space to keep building the team.

“Staying at Generator Studios was an easy decision, it’s a great environment for our people and it says a lot about the kind of business we want to be. With a strong pipeline of work across the region and beyond, this feels like the right moment to invest in our home and set ourselves up for the next stage of growth.”

Max Bertin who joined the firm in 2025 and was recently promoted to associate director, added: “We’re thrilled with our new office, it’s a fantastic working environment for the team. The range of working areas and meeting pods gives us fantastic flexibility, and with room to grow, we’re excited about what’s ahead for the firm.”

Lantern Building Consultancy works with property owners, occupiers and investors across the UK, advising on everything from building condition and design through to construction management.

Norwegian Composer Solveig Sørbø Unveils Heroin Chic, A Powerful New Opera Exploring Addiction, Identity and Death

admin — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 19:09:10 +0000

Composer: Solveig Sørbø ⊱·✶·⊰

Librettist: Maria Kjos Fonn

Soloists: Susanna Wolff, Sofia Neacsu, Siv Misund, Ivar Magnus Sandve, Johannes Nikolai Aas

Orchestra: Ensemble Oslo, Hans Petter Mæhle (cond.)

Durata/formats: 90min – Digital (lossless) / 2XCD / 2XVinyl

Audio engineer/producer: Trond Kjelsås (LydFest)

Label: Solsnu

Distributor: Diger

Release Date: 16th October 2026

Following acclaimed performances in Romania and Norway, the ambitious 90-minute opera explores addiction, identity, death and the desire for transcendence through a maximalist and emotionally charged sound world.

Norwegian composer Solveig Sørbø’s ambitious opera Heroin Chic will be released worldwide on 16 October 2026 via Solsnu, distributed by Diger, bringing the acclaimed work to audiences in digital, 2CD and 2xVinyl formats.

Based on the novel by Norwegian writer Maria Kjos Fonn, Heroin Chic explores addiction, self-destruction, identity, sexuality, death and the tension between innocence and physicality. Drawing on both contemporary classical music and popular culture, Sørbø creates an intense and highly theatrical sound world that is maximalist, colourful, hypnotic and emotionally uncompromising.

The opera received its concert premiere in Romania in February 2025, where it was met with a standing ovation from an audience of 500. Critics praised its eclectic soundscape, philosophical depth, emotional impact and striking richness of sound. Romanian cultural magazine Revista Migalo wrote that the production “struck the collective psyche”, while Norwegian newspaper Klassekampen described it as a “danse macabre”.

Heroin Chic subsequently received its Norwegian concert premiere at Oslo’s Parkteatret in February 2026 as part of the Klassisk på Park concert series. The sold-out performance featured some of Norway’s leading classical performers, live visuals by Franciska Eliassen and a handful of staged moments, followed by an afterparty with DJ Roland Lifjell.

The performance was enthusiastically received, and Norwegian music publication Ballade subsequently compared Sørbø’s determination in bringing the ambitious project to life to that of Norwegian cross-country skiing champion Johannes Høsflot Klæbo.

Just two days after the Norwegian premiere, the complete opera was recorded live to tape at Jar Church outside Oslo. Capturing 90 minutes of opera in a single day was a considerable undertaking for the performers and recording team, resulting in a recording designed to preserve the immediacy and intensity of the live work.

At the centre of Heroin Chic is Elise, a young woman consumed by an obsessive desire for death and transcendence. Raised by an overprotective mother who sees her as an almost saintly figure, Elise struggles with the growing conflict between innocence, sexuality and her developing sense of identity.

As she searches for a way to express the darkness within her, Elise adopts a heroin-chic aesthetic and runs away from home. She falls in love with rocker Joakim, who introduces her further into a world of drugs, while the emergence of D — a manifestation of her destructive subconscious — pushes her towards increasingly extreme behaviour.

Across two acts, Elise’s journey moves through anorexia, addiction, sexual exploitation, fractured identity and rehabilitation, with the boundaries between reality, fantasy, life and death becoming increasingly blurred. Her search for transcendence ultimately leads her back towards her mother, childhood and the idea of eternal sleep.

The opera’s final moments deliberately leave the audience questioning what they have witnessed: death, resurrection or a drug-induced fantasy.

Musically, Heroin Chic is equally unconventional. The score features a powerful and hypnotic percussion section, one of the largest soprano roles for a child singer in opera literature, and a distinctive reinvention of the cimbalom within a contemporary classical setting. Captivating melodies sit alongside an eclectic orchestral landscape, creating a work that is both challenging and highly engaging for performers and listeners alike.

The recording features soloists Susanna Wolff, Sofia Neacsu, Siv Misund, Ivar Magnus Sandve and Johannes Nikolai Aas, performing alongside Ensemble Oslo under conductor Hans Petter Mæhle. The recording was engineered and produced by Trond Kjelsås of LydFest.

With roots in the avant-garde as well as popular culture, Heroin Chic is a distinctive contribution to contemporary Norwegian music theatre. Its combination of opera, theatrical storytelling, unconventional instrumentation and psychologically intense subject matter creates a work that reaches beyond traditional operatic boundaries.

Following its successful performances in Romania and Norway, the complete 90-minute recording now brings Sørbø’s ambitious work to a wider international audience.

Follow Solveig Sørbø

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/solveigcomposer

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/solveigcomposer

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/solveig

Website: https://solveigsorbo.com/heroin-chic/

Luxury Advent Calendars for the Finest Christmas Countdown

admin — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 19:09:10 +0000

Make every day of December worth opening. From exquisite Belgian chocolates and Italian truffles to Danish liquorice and spices from around the world. 12 exceptional Advent calendars for a truly indulgent countdown to Christmas.

Lakrids Liquorice Advent Calendar, 690g, £75.00 from Sous Chef

Best for: Couples and serious liquorice lovers

The larger Lakrids Liquorice Advent Calendar combines the Danish maker’s signature liquorice with chocolate and a mixture of familiar and new flavours.

Inside: Flavours including milk chocolate, salted caramel and passion fruit, alongside exclusive new flavours.

Neuhaus Luxury Sharing Advent Calendar, 987g, £159.50 from Sous Chef

Best for: Families and sharing

The Neuhaus Luxury Sharing Advent Calendar is an indulgent Belgian chocolate countdown containing 78 chocolates.

Inside: Neuhaus pralines, chocolate bars and treats including hazelnut praline, salted caramel, raspberry ganache and hot chocolate beans.

Terre Exotique The Spice Discovery Advent Calendar, £45.00 from Sous Chef

Best for: Adventurous cooks

The Terre Exotique Spice Discovery Advent Calendar offers a different sweet or savoury spice to discover each day, complete with tasting notes and recipe ideas.

Inside: 24 individual spice sachets and a full size spice jar, including Cheese Maker’s Pepper, Viking Smoked Salt, Timur Berry, Speculoos Spice and Persillade.

Mill & Mortar Organic Spice Advent Calendar in Wooden Chest, £250.00 from Sous Chef

Best for: Serious cooks and spice lovers

The Mill & Mortar Spice Advent Calendar is full of exciting organic spices and blends, presented in a beautiful reusable wooden chest.

Inside: 24 full size tins including Triple Lemon Pepper, Shawarma Hack, Murcia Paprika, Saffron La Rosera PDO, Kandyan Curry and Ananda’s Cinnamon.

Neuhaus Chocolate Advent Calendar Classic, 264g, £38.00 from Sous Chef

Best for: Chocolate purists

The Neuhaus Classic Chocolate Advent Calendar is a beautifully illustrated countdown filled with chocolates from one of Belgium’s finest chocolatiers.

Inside: 25 chocolates including hazelnut pralines, pure caramels and sesame centred chocolates.

Francois Doucet Advent Calendar, 200g, £28.99 from Sous Chef

Best for: French food lovers and sweet tooths

The Francois Doucet Advent Calendar is a festive French countdown filled with traditional confectionery.

Inside: Crunchy caramelised nut pralines, aromatic fruit jellies and chocolates, often with more than one treat behind each window.

Lakrids Liquorice Advent Calendar, 345g, £45.00 from Sous Chef

Best for: Liquorice lovers and sharing

The Lakrids Liquorice Advent Calendar is a luxurious Danish liquorice countdown, with two pieces to enjoy behind each of its 24 windows.

Inside: Lakrids liquorice featuring chocolate, raspberry and other flavour combinations.

Neuhaus Chocolate Story Book Advent Calendar, 319g, £68.00 from Sous Chef

Best for: Luxury chocolate lovers

The Neuhaus Chocolate Story Book Advent Calendar opens like a festive book to reveal 25 days of Belgian chocolate.

Inside: White, milk and dark chocolates including dark hazelnut gianduja, coffee nougat, spiced biscuit praline and soft caramel.

Leone Confectionery Advent Calendar, 220g, £25.00 from Sous Chef

Best for: Anyone who loves variety

The Leone Confectionery Advent Calendar brings a taste of traditional Italian confectionery to the Christmas countdown.

Inside: Individually wrapped sweets and chocolates including pastilles, fruit jellies and Cri Cri dark chocolate and hazelnut pralines.

Babbi Luxury Wafer Advent Calendar, 264g, £32.99 from Sous Chef

Best for: Wafer and chocolate lovers

The Babbi Luxury Wafer Advent Calendar is an Italian Christmas countdown featuring some of Babbi’s best loved creations.

Inside: Babbini chocolate covered wafers and CuBon pralines in flavours including hazelnut and rich dark chocolate.

Heidel Nostalgic Chocolate Advent Calendar, 75g, £9.99 from Sous Chef

Best for: Stocking fillers and Secret Santa gifts

The Heidel Nostalgic Chocolate Advent Calendar is a traditional German countdown decorated with a snowy Christmas village scene.

Inside: 24 milk chocolate treats, with one hidden behind each door.

La Perla di Torino Chocolate Truffle Advent Calendar, 300g, £39.99 from Sous Chef

Best for: Italian chocolate and truffle lovers

The La Perla di Torino Advent Calendar is an indulgent Italian countdown filled with the Turin chocolatier’s famous truffles and treats.

Inside: Flavours including limoncello meringue, pistachio raspberry, tiramisu and a limited edition Christmas truffle, plus Baci de Dama cookies and chocolate covered coffee beans

Structural Repairs scores perfect 100% across every metric in Achilles UVDB Verify audit – for the second year in a row.

admin — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 15:53:33 +0000

Specialist structural repair firm Structural Repairs has joined a select group of UK companies to hit maximum marks in the utility sector’s most recognised supplier assurance scheme.

The Yorkshire-based firm achieved a perfect 100% score across every metric in its latest Achilles UVDB Verify audit, placing the specialist structural repair and rehabilitation company among a select group of UK businesses to reach the milestone.

It is the second consecutive year the award-winning firm has achieved the feat.

The Achilles UVDB Verify audit is the UK utility sector’s most recognised supplier assurance programme, giving buyers in energy, water and infrastructure confidence that their contractors meet the highest standards.

Structural Repairs was assessed on its management systems, policies and practices in four key areas: Health and Safety, Environmental Management, Quality, and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

Roger Line, CEO of Structural Repairs, said: “Achieving full marks in such a demanding audit is a tremendous accomplishment. It demonstrates to our clients and partners that we work to the highest standards in every area, with safety, quality, environmental responsibility, and sustainability at the heart of everything we do.

“For utility sector buyers, a result of this kind offers clear assurance that a contractor’s systems stand up to independent scrutiny. For Structural Repairs, it reinforces a long-standing reputation for excellence and gives clients further confidence that projects will be delivered with integrity, professionalism and care. It also underlines the company’s position as a trusted, forward-thinking partner in the utilities and infrastructure sectors.”

The result follows a significant period of success for the business. Structural Repairs recently won the Best Large Business award at the National Entrepreneur Awards 2026, presented at the Entrepreneurs’ Circle National Convention at the ICC Birmingham. The company is also a finalist in the Doncaster Business Awards 2026 and is developing a new facility in Doncaster to support its continued growth and the delivery of increasingly complex structural repair and rehabilitation projects.

Structural Repairs has grown into a specialist name in structural investigation, repair, strengthening and rehabilitation, taking on increasingly complex projects across highways, marine and coastal infrastructure, industrial sites and the wider built environment.

That growth has been backed by continued investment in specialist engineering capability.

Mr Line added: “The market is changing and the structures we work on are becoming increasingly complex which is another reason why this Audit success is so important to us. Ageing infrastructure, asset deterioration and the need to extend the life of existing structures all require a very different level of technical expertise – all of which we can deliver.”

“Our focus is now on building on those capabilities while keeping our business practical, responsive and focused on delivering solutions that work in the real world.”

Ideas Fest shows the entrepreneurial community is stronger than ever, says Champions (UK) plc managing director.

admin — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 12:53:33 +0000

The entrepreneurial community is stronger, more connected and more energised than ever, according to Matthew Hayes, Managing Director of Champions (UK) plc.

Mr Hayes was speaking following his experience of Ideas Fest, which is described as “Glastonbury for entrepreneurs”.

“I’ll admit it: when I first heard Ideas Fest described as ‘Glastonbury for entrepreneurs’, I thought the idea was bonkers. Business and festivals did not seem like a natural fit, but having experienced it for myself, I realise that I was completely wrong,” said Hayes.

“The entrepreneurial community is stronger than ever, and the sheer scale and energy of that community genuinely surprised me. Twenty-five years ago, you would have struggled to bring together a room full of people who described themselves as entrepreneurs. Ideas Fest shows just how dramatically that has changed.

“Nothing replaces meeting face to face, and the appetite for genuine, in-person connection was clear throughout the event. Since COVID, people seem to value the opportunity to exchange ideas, build relationships and spend time with other business leaders in the same room more than ever.

“The quality of thinking at Ideas Fest was exceptional. Whatever your area of interest, there was an opportunity to learn from people with genuine expertise. The breadth of subject matter and the calibre of the speakers made the event a rich source of insight for any business leader.

“Entrepreneurs still win by doing things differently, and innovation was front and centre throughout Ideas Fest. The essence of entrepreneurship is believing there is a better way, having the courage to pursue it and then proving that it works. That matters more than ever as artificial intelligence and other technologies reshape how we do business.

“A good idea means very little without excellent execution. Credit must go to Frankie, Dylan and the entire Ideas Forum team for bringing Ideas Fest to life. Having an ambitious concept is one thing, but delivering it well, earning widespread support and growing it rapidly is something else entirely.

“Ideas Fest challenged my assumptions, which is exactly what a worthwhile business event should do. It made me think differently about what a business event can be, while demonstrating the incredible appetite that exists for connection, ideas and collaboration within the entrepreneurial community.

“The concept works, the quality is excellent and the entrepreneurial community has embraced it. I was wrong about Ideas Fest when I first heard about it, and having experienced it for myself, I can say without hesitation that it is brilliant.

“The concept works and clearly demonstrates the remarkable strength and scale of today’s entrepreneurial community.”

Fashion boss warns supply-chain instability is costing its business an extra £20k a a year

admin — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 08:53:33 +0000

The founder of British menswear retailer Dobell has warned that manufacturing, freight and delivery costs have become a permanent challenge for SME businesses operating internationally.

In the past year, this has meant an average increase of 2% to unit cost, which the business says they cannot pass on to customers in order to remain competitive.

Dobell designs its menswear collections in Britain and works with manufacturing partners in China to produce its suits and accessories. The business plans its collections almost a year in advance while managing changing shipping conditions, exchange rates, transportation costs and customer demand.

Mike Dobell, founder of Dobell, said businesses could no longer treat disruption as a one-off event or assume that international trading conditions would quickly return to normal.

He said: “Businesses once approached supply-chain disruption as something temporary that had to be managed until conditions settled down. The reality today is that instability has become part of the normal cost and complexity of trading internationally. It’s unrealistic for business owners to think the supply chain will settle anytime soon.

“When products are designed in Britain and manufactured overseas, decisions must be made many months before they reach customers. The smallest change in shipping routes, transportation costs, exchange rates or delivery times can create huge consequences throughout the business.

“This is especially challenging for SMEs, which compete in the same global market as much larger companies but often have fewer resources available and less purchasing power than bigger retailers. At the same time, customers understandably continue to expect high-quality products and the same delivery timings.”

Figures released this month from the Office for National Statistics show that 28% of businesses with at least 10 employees are concerned about international conflict affecting their supply chains over the next year, while 21% are concerned about shipping disruption.

Among businesses concerned about supply-chain factors, 53% expect the cost of sourcing materials to increase and 46% anticipate higher transportation costs.

The latest ONS figures show that supply-chain concerns have increased considerably over the past year. The proportion of businesses concerned about international conflict was 17 percentage points higher than in September 2025, while concern about shipping disruption had risen by 12 percentage points.

Dobell believes greater transparency is also needed around the role of international manufacturing. Although its products are designed in Britain, manufacturing takes place in China and involves specialist machinery, garment construction, washing tests and quality-control procedures before the finished products are transported to the UK.

Mike continued: “There can be a tendency to view overseas manufacturing purely through the lens of cost, but that overlooks the skills, technology and quality controls involved.

We work closely with our suppliers, including twice yearly trips to their factories and full vetting before we engage with a manufacturer. The relationships we have with our current suppliers are longstanding relationships built over 20 years.

“China offers considerable manufacturing expertise and infrastructure. What matters is that brands understand where and how their products are made, maintain the appropriate standards and communicate honestly with customers about the process.

“Businesses cannot prevent every international disruption, but the Government can provide greater stability at home. When so many external costs remain outside an SME’s control, clarity around taxation, employment costs and international trade becomes even more important.”

MPs back calls for tighter regulation in funeral sector in major boost for campaigners

admin — Sat, 26 Sep 2026 05:40:39 +0000

A national campaign to raise standards in the funeral sector has secured cross-party political backing from three MPs.

The Funeral Officiant Authority (FOA), was launched in May by experienced celebrants Sacha Mulligan and Michelle Harvey, to vet and standardise funeral celebrants and ministers across the UK.

The FOA is fighting to introduce clearer professional standards for those conducting funeral ceremonies across the UK, and their work comes in the wake of a string of scandals.

These include the shocking case of Robert Bush who was recently jailed after admitting 67 offences, including 30 of preventing the lawful burial of a body.

At present there is no formal regulation preventing individuals from conducting funeral ceremonies without recognised training, vetting or accountability processes.

Now, in a major step forward, the FOA’s campaign has now secured the support of four MPs.

They include Mark Sewards, the Labour MP for Leeds and West Morley who has spoken publicly about this issue many times in the past.

He said: “Bereaved families deserve to know that everyone involved in their loved one’s funeral will act with care and professionalism. Any work that gives families greater peace of mind is welcome, which is why I support the Funeral Officiant Authority’s efforts to strengthen safeguards and transparency among funeral celebrants and officiants. As I continue to press the Government for full regulation of the funeral sector, the FOA’s work can improve standards and protect families.”

Those comments were echoed by Simon Hoare, Conservative MP for North Dorset. He said: “It is now abundantly clear that the status quo of a non regulated funeral and mortuary sector is untenable. As a Government Minister I saw first hand the horror of the failures in Hull. Working with colleagues across the Commons we are pressing hard for speedy regulation. The Government is listening and the Prime Minister has said action is needed. So, the question is not whether but when. Speed is of the essence if public confidence is to be maintained. That is what the campaigns are all about.”

The campaign is also being backed by Louie French, MP for Old Bexley, Sidcup and Welling and The Shadow Minister of State for Culture, Media and Sport. He said: “Families should be able to have confidence that the person conducting a loved one’s funeral is properly trained, vetted and accountable. The FOA’s work to raise standards and strengthen safeguards is an important step towards giving bereaved families the professionalism and reassurance they deserve at an incredibly difficult time.”

Gareth Bacon, Conservative MP for Orpington, has also backed the campaign. He said: “This is a time of great vulnerability, and a celebrant enters a bereaved person’s home where they have sensitive information disclosed to them to enable them to understand the deceased person and their family and friends. This raises safeguarding issues.

“I would lend my support to a form of registration for celebrants and I am reassured to know that this is also the aim of professional Celebrants and Funeral Directors.”

Commenting on the MPs support, the FOA said: “We’re hugely grateful that Mark, Simon, Louie and Gareth are backing our calls to raise standards across the sector. “The Funeral Officiant Authority (FOA) is dedicated to helping families find trusted, professional officiants to deliver meaningful and personal funeral services.

“Through its carefully maintained database, the FOA is committed to supporting families with dignity, care, and professionalism during life’s most difficult moments.”

INDIE HEROES KAISER CHIEFS ANNOUNCE TWO YORKSHIRE HEADLINE SHOWS

admin — Thu, 24 Sep 2026 19:16:55 +0000

THE PIECE HALL, HALIFAX – JUNE 4

SCARBOROUGH OPEN AIR THEATRE – JUNE 11

Yorkshire’s very own Kaiser Chiefs are heading home next summer for two stunning live shows.

The Leeds indie heroes will headline Live at The Piece Hall on Friday June 4 before heading to Scarborough Open Air Theatre on Friday June 11.

Tickets go on sale at 9am Friday via ticketmaster.co.uk

Kaiser Chiefs – Wilson (vocals), Simon Rix (bass), Andrew ‘Whitey’ White (guitar), Nick ‘Peanut’ Baines (keyboards) and Vijay Mistry (drums) – are undoubtedly one of the most treasured bands of their generation.

Since forming back in 2000, they have truly made their mark on the British music scene with such anthemic hits as Oh My God, I Predict A Riot, Everyday I Love You Less and Less, Ruby, Never Miss A Beat and Hole In My Soul.

The band have released eight original studio albums which includes their Mercury nominated debut Employment, which sold more than two million copies, its Number 1 follow up Yours Truly, Angry Mob, which went twice-platinum in the UK alone, and Education Education Education and War which entered the UK Album Charts at number 1.

They have achieved top ten singles including the infamous number 1 hit Ruby, three BRIT Awards, an Ivor Novello for Album of the Year, toured with U2, Foo Fighters and Green Day and sold eight million albums.

Julian Murray of promoters Cuffe and Taylor, venue programmers at Scarborough OAT, said: “You can’t not love a night with Kaiser Chiefs. They always bring the party and where better to do that than Scarborough. This will be a truly momentous show next summer and we can’t wait.”

Nicky Chance-Thompson MBE DL FRSA, CEO of The Piece Hall Charitable Trust, said: “I cannot wait to welcome back these true Yorkshire legends and show them just how much Live at The Piece Hall has grown. They last played in 2021 when there weren’t even 10 shows per season – there are now more than 40.

“The stage is bigger, the sound is better, the crowds are larger and louder, combine that with Kaiser Chiefs immense back catalogue of incredible indie bangers and I predict a riotously good time will be had by one and all!”

FOLLOW KAISER CHIEFS

WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | SPOTIFY | YOUTUBE

ENDS

21 SEPT 2026

Pictures attached: Kaiser Chiefs

LIVE AT THE PIECE HALL 2027

JUN 4 KAISER CHIEFS

JUN 18 JACK SAVORETTI & JAMES MORRISON

JUL 23 RONAN KEATING + BLUE + GERMEIN SISTERS

JUL 27 ALFIE BOE & GRAVITY

AUG 9 SIMPLY RED + SOUL II SOUL

SCARBOROUGH OPEN AIR THEATRE 2027

JUN 11 KAISER CHIEFS

JUL 9 JACK SAVORETTI & JAMES MORRISON

JUL 18 RONAN KEATING + BLUE + GERMEIN SISTERS
JUL 25 ALFIE BOE + GRAVITY

AUG 17 SIMPLY RED + SOUL II SOUL

*More dates and artists to be confirmed

SIMPLY RED ADD RECORD THIRD NIGHT AT THE PIECE HALL, HALIFAX

admin — Thu, 24 Sep 2026 16:16:55 +0000

Music legends Simply Red will play a record THIRD night at Live at The Piece Hall 2027.

Due to incredible demand for pre-sale tickets the British soul and funk icons’ two Halifax shows on Monday August 9 and Tuesday August 10 are now both SOLD OUT.

A third and final show will take place on Wednesday August 11.

Tickets for this third date go on general sale tomorrow (Thursday) at 10am via ticketmaster.co.uk

Members of The Piece Hall’s Club 1779 can access a pre-sale for this extra date now. To become a Club 1779 member sign up via thepiecehall.co.uk/support-us/become-a-member/

This is the first time any artist has played three headline shows in the same summer season at The Piece Hall. Simply Red – led by legendary frontman Mick Hucknall – will be joined at all three nights by special guests Soul II Soul.

Nicky Chance-Thompson MBE DL FRSA, CEO of The Piece Hall Charitable Trust, said: “We are absolutely delighted to announce not one, not two, but three nights with the legends Simply Red live at The Piece Hall – the first artist ever to have three headline shows here in the same season.

“Given the reaction to our original announcement we knew demand for tickets was going to be high, but this has been something else! We are really thankful to Mick Hucknall and his incredible band for agreeing to headline a historic third night.

“This means 18,000 fans over three nights can enjoy a truly magical experience under the stars in our stunning courtyard.”

Simply Red have maintained their position as one of the UK’s biggest bands throughout their 40-plus year history.

Summer Funk ‘27’ will be Simply Red’s first tour since their 2025 40^th anniversary celebration. The tour sold-out almost 50 venues across the UK, Europe and Latin America, delighting fans and leading to a critical reappraisal of their talents.

Simply Red have achieved five UK Number One albums, a UK Number One single and another nine UK Top 10 hits, plus three BRIT Awards, two Ivor Novellos, and the MOBO Award for Outstanding Achievement. Over in North America, they secured two Number One smashes on Billboard’s Hot 100 as well as earning multiple Platinum certifications and three Grammy nominations. Their 1991 classic Stars was the best-selling album for two years running in Britain and Europe, and every Simply Red studio album has reached the UK Top Ten.

Simply Red join Kaiser Chiefs, Ronan Keating, Alfie Boe, Jack Savoretti and James Morrison among the first 2027 headliners announced for Live at The Piece Hall 2027.

For more information about please visit thepiecehall.co.uk