If you believed social media, you'd think the hospitality industry now revolved around people photographing every meal before taking a bite, carefully angled cocktails and people announcing they're "collaborating" with a café in return for a free brunch. The word ‘influencer’ has become one of the most overused labels of the last decade.

Nat Metcalf has been named as one of twelve athletes in England’s Netball squad for the upcoming Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. The AO Manchester Thunder star will line up in the midcourt for her third Commonwealth Games after previously representing England at Gold Coast 2018 and Birmingham 2022.

Steven Nesbitt is a fourth-generation farmer. His grandfather lived to 96, and his father is 93, so he was confident his healthy lifestyle of exercise and fresh air would see him through to a ripe old age. That was until April 2025, when, to his astonishment, he was diagnosed with heart problems and told he had to change his lifestyle immediately.

There is a particular kind of restaurant snobbery reserved for buildings. We are trained, whether we admit it or not, to expect that good food arrives behind good glass—that the promise of the meal should be legible in the frontage before a single poppadom has been ordered.

Andrew Palmer continued his enthusiastic support of Ripon Theatre Festival and found Stephen Smith's virtuoso solo turn as Edgar Allan Poe left him breathless — exhausting, exhilarating and utterly captivating, in a masterclass in gothic horror that stopped his heart. There are shows that entertain, and there are shows that leave you wrung out with admiration.

Birth Trauma Awareness Week rightly encourages important conversations about difficult births and traumatic deliveries, but as both a midwife and a neurodivergent woman, I believe we also need to pay greater attention to what happens long before labour begins.

While there is no denying that there is amazing kudos in having a Primark range already raising their profile, the lack of single success means December 10 has notches both for and against their enduring success. However, their debut EP speaks volumes about what should be their destiny. Slick production, a strong balance of bops and ballads and, most importantly, striking vocals and an awareness of how to play to each band member's strengths – this is a solid introduction to a group that wishes to be taken credibly as the next big boy band.

Continuing his occasional series on whether bucket list destinations live up to expectations, Group Editor Andrew Palmer recalls a solo fiftieth-birthday trip to Japan — a country he found so beguiling that the only seismic event he experienced happened six miles from Ripon.

Let’s start by saying I’m a big fan of pickups. In my rural neck of the woods, they are popular with both working owners and those who use them for leisure purposes. With the recent tax changes, their popularity is in decline as double-cab models are now classified as cars for benefit in kind.

Summer party drug use among young people peaks over the warmer months with end of exam celebrations, parties, festivals and increased socialising with peers. So what should parents and young people be aware of? Party drugs are psychoactive substances used in social settings to heighten energy, mood, and sensory perception.

Heredity I am the family face; Flesh perishes, I live on. Projecting trait and trace Through time to times anon, And leaping from place to place Over oblivion.

With the release of their moving duet version of Real Man, MORGXN and JB Somers have transformed a deeply personal song into a powerful conversation about masculinity, vulnerability, faith, and identity. Originally written from Somers' experience growing up as a pastor's kid in Alabama, the track takes on new resonance with MORGXN's soaring vocals and shared perspective.

All of which is background; what matters here is the music, and it is a delight. Her own chapel choir of Selwyn College sings with a polish that belies the demands of undergraduate life, recorded in the radiant, spacious acoustic of Ely Cathedral, where MacDonald is also the director of the girl choristers. The ensemble's diction, intonation, and balance are all delectably precise, and the phrasing, dynamic shading, and rhythmic vitality throughout the performance are genuinely impressive.

A Leeds-based young people's counsellor is sharing advice for parents worried about how their children will cope with the proposed under-16 social media ban.

Welser-Möst and his orchestra match her at every step, the scoring tracking each swerve of feeling with unusual sensitivity: a trilling xylophone stands in for the ringing telephone with real wit, and the string textures underneath give the whole thing an unexpected warmth even at its bleakest.

A major summit designed to strengthen connections across the North’s technology ecosystem is coming to Sheffield this October.

The University of Bradford's incoming Vice-Chancellor Professor Gillian Murray has signalled “a new era” for the university focused on innovation and partnerships.

Stuart Greenfield, UK and European Sales Director at retail logistics company Advanced Supply Chain, commented in response to Andy Burnham’s plans to tax warehouses to help fund business rates cuts for high street venues: “Increasing taxes on large warehouses could force offshoring of retail supply chains, putting UK jobs at risk and negatively impacting sustainability efforts.

Communities across the Forest of Bowland are set to benefit from a major new project to restore nature, improve access to green spaces, and support those who live and work in the landscape.

Ripon will come alive on Saturday 1 August 2026 as this year’s St Wilfrid’s Procession is extended into a full day of free family celebration, held in joint celebration of St Wilfrid’s Procession and Yorkshire Day.

Professor Christoph Bluth, Professor of International Relations and Security at the University of Bradford, argues that NATO emerged from its recent summit militarily stronger but politically more fragile. In this expert analysis, he explores growing tensions over defence spending, Ukraine, Iran and US leadership, and assesses what this means for the future of the alliance.

As nominations open for the next Prime Minister, food supply chain leaders have written an open letter to candidates setting out a five-point plan for a more resilient and affordable food system.

The TUC has launched a new skills initiative bringing together unions, employers, and education providers to tackle Britain's deepening skills crisis. The union body says the crisis has been caused by years of underinvestment by government, falling investment by employers, a failure to listen to workers, and a skills system struggling to keep pace with rapid technological change.

Overall index increased by +0.4. Retrospective (+1.5) and forward-looking (+2.6) household finance figures continue recovery. Perceptions of house prices worsened over the past 30 days (-3.2) and looking ahead to the next 12 months (-0.5). Business activity measures improved over June (+3.6), as did outlook (+1.2)

With the school summer holidays around the corner, Aldi is sharing the quietest times to shop at its stores to help families avoid busier periods and make their money go further. From quieter shopping windows to practical ways to stretch the weekly shop, the UK’s cheapest supermarket is offering simple support for families during one of the busiest times of the year.

Yorkshire Water is inviting customers to take part in one of two ‘Your Yorkshire Water, Your Say’ online events on Thursday 9 July (6pm – 7.30pm) and Tuesday 14 July (6pm – 7.30pm). The sessions are an opportunity for customers to directly engage with CEO, Nicola Shaw and the senior leadership team at Yorkshire Water.

Ripon City Photographic Society (RCPS) returns this summer with its annual exhibition on Saturday, 29th August, transforming Allhallowgate Methodist Hall into a vibrant hub of local creativity. Open from 9am to 4pm, the free-entry exhibition brings together a striking collection of work from talented society members.

Whether you're training for a marathon, heading to the gym or playing five-a-side football, a good book could be one of the most powerful tools in your fitness kit.

Andy Burnham used his first major speech since launching his bid for the Labour leadership to set out an "innovation nation" vision for Britain, built around deeper devolution, a championing of science and entrepreneurship, and a fundamental rethink of how young people are educated and trained.

A third of people in Yorkshire have never discussed inheritance, with widespread gaps in tax and estate planning knowledge

Dear Editor, Around 3 million people in the UK are hearing aid users. With the temperature this week reported to reach in excess of 38C in some places, RNID, are encouraging hearing aid users to give their devices some extra TLC during the hot weather so they can soak up the sunshine without missing out on conversations.

Sir Keir Starmer's decision to step down has triggered a pivotal moment for Labour and for the future direction of public services, with Andy Burnham the leading contender to succeed him. Burnham has previously spoken about the need for stronger community-based services and reforms to health and social care, making the sector one to watch closely as the leadership contest unfolds.

Following the issue of a rare red weather warning, LNER is advising customers travelling throughout this week to check before they travel and strongly recommends customers booked to travel on Wednesday 24 and Thursday 25 June 2026 do not travel.

Long-distance train operator CrossCountry has announced that its annual Customer and Communities Improvement Fund, and its Biodiversity Improvement Projects fund, are now open for applications. The two funds are being launched to support local projects that encourage sustainable growth and create a positive impact for local communities across the CrossCountry network.

There’s no escaping it now: artificial intelligence has well and truly arrived in hospitality. From the moment a guest starts searching for somewhere to stay or eat to the follow-up review after they’ve gone home, AI is increasingly shaping the journey. It promises smoother bookings, sharper recommendations, and smarter marketing.

This is a beautiful novel which evokes all sorts of emotions. Set in Trinidad and partly in New York City, it is written in a patois which has a musical lilt to it and which quickly becomes familiar. Likewise, although the dialogue is not punctuated, it is laid out in such a way as to make it easily readable.

While the world watches the FIFA World Cup, Chester is gearing up to host its own global tournament, and this one comes with bells on. Twenty-five town criers from across the globe will descend on the city this September for the World Town Crier Tournament, organisers Marketing Cheshire have confirmed. The details were announced, fittingly, by Chester Town Crier David Mitchell.

A debt recovery expert has outlined the key steps universities and independent schools should take when recovering unpaid student debts. The issue has come under renewed focus following recent reports that nearly £500 million in unpaid or hidden debts is owed to UK universities, much of it linked to accommodation and other institutional costs.

She opens with the lyrical and rather lovely Handel Violin Sonata in D major — rhythmical and expressive, with delightful accompaniment from Bai. The playing throughout is perfectly balanced and crisply articulated, the dynamics judged with care, each movement elegantly shaped.

Whilst pot-bellied pigs are extremely affectionate and endearing, it is important to remember that caring for these small-breed pigs requires understanding and dedication. Pot-bellied pigs have wonderful personalities and are very clever animals; in fact, they are thought to be among the top five most intelligent animals in the world and are often considered much smarter than dogs.

Conservationists at Chester Zoo have welcomed a rare northern giraffe - and hope he'll prove quite the catch. Kris, a lively three-year-old male, has travelled from West Midlands Safari Park to meet the zoo's resident female herd. His introduction has been carefully planned, with conservationists matching the animals based on genetics, age and temperament.

If there is one thing every outdoor artist in Manchester learns quickly, it is never to trust the weather forecast. In the days leading up to Didsbury Festival 2026, the prediction was fairly bleak. Rain seemed inevitable.