Former WWE star Dave Bautista (aka Batista) shared recent photos, including him on the set of his new movie, The Last Showgirl, where he changed up his look. The photos were shared on Bautista’s Instagram. He shared 20 photos from the set of The Last Showgirl, including ones of Pamela Anderson and director Gia Coppola. […]
The post Former WWE star Dave Bautista looks unrecognizable in new movie first look appeared first on ClutchPoints.
A BELOVED nineties shopping centre has been set to return as plans for the abandoned mall have been revealed.
Shutting in 2020 due to the global pandemic, the site in Greater Manchester is yet to reopen to the public.
Located in the heart of Rochdale, the stripped back venue could be seen with a completely new look for nearby residents to enjoy.
Those in the surrounding areas could benefit from a new banqueting hall and events venue.
With the Wheatsheaf Centre being split across various floors, each level could be transformed into something different.
The fifth and sixth floors, where the library used to be, will become separate events halls.
Enabling a variety of events to be hosted, the proposal could offer a space for pre-wedding functions, wedding events, business conferences and public gatherings.
The lower floor is thought to provide a capacity of up to 280 people while the sixth could accommodate up to 180.
Rochdale Council has submitted plans which also look to include an extension to the floor car park.
This means direct access via stairs straight from parked vehicles.
It follows the centre closing its doors as the rest of the country battled through the pandemic.
The 2020 lockdown hit the site meaning it was expected to remain shut for some time.
AN ICONIC South London shopping centre, loved in the 90s, is set to be demolished.
Devastated customers say they can’t believe St Nicholas Shopping Centre in Sutton will be knocked down.
As with many high streets across the UK, Sutton’s has been hit hard in recent years, with the centre losing most of its major retailers.
Apart from a Primark, a Claire’s and a Perfume Shop it’s mostly empty.
Sutton Council announced plans to regenerate the town centre in October 2022, including removing the building.
This included building 740 new homes, half of which will be affordable for local families, and around 300 homes for social rent.
A new civic hub, library and retail centre are also included in the plans.
It cost £100million and was expected to be one of the South East’s “premiere shopping centres”.
In one online review, one shopper said: “I still remember when this shopping centre opened in the early 90s and going as a young boy with my family to see the cool fountains (people used to treat these as wishing wells and throw coins in…), skylights and loads of amazing cool shops.
“Now its many units, especially in once famous food court on the top floor, is desolate.
“Big names have disappeared, some escalators and lifts are non functional and fountains are all gone! My, how shabby this place has turned.”
Another person, who visited in the summer, said it was an “eerie liminal space where you can experience the Backrooms in real life”.
They added: “I hope to never go back.”
It has remained vacant ever since.
Before its demise, the site was home to a bustling complex over five floors.
Household names were spread throughout including New Look, Wilko and Ryman.
Planning papers, submitted by DHA Corporates Ltd, read: “Many functions and events, including weddings, concerts, and dinners, are currently held outside the town in other cities. This proposal seeks to retain a larger share of such commercial activities within Rochdale, responding to the high local demand.
“Consequently, it will boost local employment not only directly within the facility but also throughout the event-related supply chains.
“The development is designed to accommodate a variety of uses and cultures, with the client exploring potential partnerships with local businesses, corporations, and the council for hosting their events. The site would be transformed from one prone to anti-social behavior into a well-designed, high-quality venue that offers full-time employment and attracts a high-end clientele.”
Beyond the benefits to punters, it is thought the site just off Baillie Street could employ up to 46 full-time and part-time members of staff.
Other complexes are yet to be so fortunate to undergo such a transformation.
Locals to Lewisham Shopping Centre have been left furious after discovering their much-loved site was set to be demolished.
Some even ridiculed plans for redevelopment a “waste of money” as a £1.3 billion project could see the expansion of 1,700 new home with a modern shopping site and live music venue.
If approved by Lewisham Council, the plans would take 10 years to complete causing disruption to those who make use of the current site.
EMPTY shops have become an eyesore on many British high streets and are often symbolic of a town centre’s decline.
The Sun’s business editor Ashley Armstrong explains why so many retailers are shutting their doors.
In many cases, retailers are shutting stores because they are no longer the money-makers they once were because of the rise of online shopping.
Falling store sales and rising staff costs have made it even more expensive for shops to stay open.
The British Retail Consortium has predicted that the Treasury’s hike to employer NICs from April 2025, will cost the retail sector £2.3billion.
At the same time, the minimum wage will rise to £12.21 an hour from April, and the minimum wage for people aged 18-20 will rise to £10 an hour, an increase of £1.40.
In some cases, retailers are shutting a store and reopening a new shop at the other end of a high street to reflect how a town has changed.
The problem is that when a big shop closes, footfall falls across the local high street, which puts more shops at risk of closing.
Retail parks are increasingly popular with shoppers, who want to be able to get easy, free parking at a time when local councils have hiked parking charges in towns.
Many retailers including Next and Marks & Spencer have been shutting stores on the high street and taking bigger stores in better-performing retail parks instead.
In some cases, stores have been shut when a retailer goes bust, as in the case of Carpetright, Debenhams, Dorothy Perkins, Paperchase, Ted Baker, The Body Shop, Topshop and Wilko to name a few.
What’s increasingly common is when a chain goes bust a rival retailer or private equity firm snaps up the intellectual property rights so they can own the brand and sell it online.
They may go on to open a handful of stores if there is customer demand, but there are rarely ever as many stores or in the same places.
The Centre for Retail Research (CRR) has warned that around 17,350 retail sites are expected to shut down this year.
MANCHESTER UNITED fans lambasted the club chiefs’ decision to scrap free lunches at Old Trafford following a second round of brutal cuts since the arrival of Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos.
Ratcliffe, 72, completed a minority takeover in 2023 and has since gained control over sporting operations at United, which led to some severe downsizing.
Last summer saw 250 staff made redundant in a heavy first wave to save costs under Sir Jim.
But the list of casualties is now set to increase by between 150 and 200 job cuts amid the club’s transformation plan, which includes axing free lunches.
SunSport exclusively revealed how lunches for all but the first team had been reduced to soup and sandwiches, and that included coaches and analysts, with a later report from The Guardian revealing the staff canteen was set to close altogether.
According to Sky News, ending free lunches for staff is estimated to be saving the club £1million a year.
Man Utd fans didn’t take well to the news as that poses as a small fee in the grand scheme of things.
The Red Devils faithful stormed social media to lash out against club bosses and that measure.
One fan tweeted: “This is just embarrassing.”
Another commented: “That’s a month of Mason Mount’s salary!”
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS
A third wrote: “This club nah.”
This fan joked: “Problem solved then!”
And that one said: “Wohoo now we can sign [Kylian] Mbappe for 3 hours.”
United chiefs claim these cuts will help them invest in both the men’s and women’s football team.
An official statement read: “Manchester United is to transform its corporate structure as part of a series of additional measures to improve the club’s financial sustainability and enhance operational efficiency.
“The transformation plan aims to return the club to profitability after five consecutive years of losses since 2019.
“This will create a more solid financial platform from which the club can invest in men’s and women’s football success and improved infrastructure.
“As part of these measures, the club anticipates that approximately 150-200 jobs may be made redundant, subject to a consultation process with employees. These would be in addition to the 250 roles removed last year.”
Club chiefs aren’t planning on changing their donation of £40,000 per year to the Manchester United Disabled Supporters’ Association.
There are, however, talks over reducing funding for the Manchester United Foundation.
SIR JIM RATCLIFFE’S minority takeover at Manchester United was announced on Christmas Eve in 2023 – and a lot has happened at Old Trafford since…
December 2023 – Man Utd confirm Ratcliffe’s takeover on Christmas Eve, vowing to invest £245m into Old Trafford
January 2024 – Ratcliffe and right-hand man Sir Dave Brailsford photographed meeting Erik ten Hag during tour of Carrington
January 2024 – Omar Berrada poached from Man City as new CEO
February 2024 – Ratcliffe’s £1billion, 27.7 per cent takeover officially completed
February 2024 – Former CEO Richard Arnold quits board as Ineos pair John Rees and Rob Nevin added
March 2024 – Ratcliffe bans words “awesome” and “lukewarm cappuccino” in bizarre move
March 2024 – Matt Johnson appointed head of women’s football
March 2024 – Ratcliffe announces plans to build “Wembley of the North” to replace Old Trafford
March 2024 – Man Utd NYSE share price drops to $13.73 on March 21 – down from $20.52 immediately after Ratcliffe takeover in December
April 2024 – Senior staff club credit cards and private cars cancelled
April 2024 – John Murtough quits as football director
April 2024 – Jason Wilcox appointed technical director after compensation package agreed with Southampton
May 2024 – Ratcliffe turns Carrington “toxic” after sending email to employees slamming “disgraceful” lack of cleanliness
May 2024 – Work finally starts on leaking Old Trafford roof
May 2024 – Man Utd finish eighth in Premier League, worst-ever finish
May 2024 – Ratcliffe gives employees just one week to decide if they want to accept redundancy
May 2024 – Staff forced to pay for own transport to FA Cup final and only given one ticket
May 2024 – Pre-match party and hotel for senior staff before FA Cup final axed
May 2024 – Man Utd shock rivals Man City to win FA Cup despite suggestions Erik ten Hag will be sacked regardless of result
June 2024 – Man Utd announce £50m plans to upgrade Carrington training ground
June 2024 – Ratcliffe introduces strict “back to work” policy forcing staff to come into office
June 2024 – Ratcliffe scores own goal with comments about women’s team
July 2024 – Man Utd finally agree deal to bring in Dan Ashworth as sporting director after four months of gardening leave at Newcastle, who received £3m in compensation
July 2024 – Erik ten Hag signs shock new contract extension until 2026
July 2024 – Ruud van Nistelrooy and Rene Hake appointed assistant managers, Andreas Georgson first-team coach and Jelle ten Rouwelaar goalkeeper coach. Darren Fletcher’s role changes from technical director to first-team coach. Steve McClaren, Mitchell van der Gaag and Benni McCarthy depart.
July 2024 – Ex-Chelsea technical director Christopher Vivell joins on short-term basis as interim director of recruitment
July 2024 – Jean-Claude Blanc added to Man Utd board
July 2024 – Man Utd cut down number of staff on US pre-season tour to 125
July 2024 – Ratcliffe makes 250 redundancies including popular media man John Allen, historian Cliff Butler and kitman Alex Wylie
August 2024 – Man Utd splash out £199m in the summer transfer window
August 2024 – Matchday staff lunchboxes scrapped and some forced to eat beside toilet
October 2024 – Man Utd stop paying £2m-a-year ambassador salary to Sir Alex Ferguson
October 2024 – Staff Christmas party cancelled
October 2024 – “Back to work” policy costing Utd fortune to convert hospitality suites into temporary offices between home matches
October 2024 – Erik ten Hag sacked with club 14th in Premier League table, costing club £15m
November 2024 – Ruben Amorim appointed new Man Utd manager on deal until 2027 after stumping up £10m release clause
November 2024 – Coach Ruud van Nistelrooy axed by new manager Ruben Amorim
November 2024 – Man Utd chiefs locked in blame game over summer shambles including Erik ten Hag situation and transfer signings
November 2024 – Ratcliffe reportedly set to half £40,000 budget paid to Manchester United Disabled Supporters Association
December 2024 – Ratcliffe admits “mediocre” Man Utd “still in last century”
December 2024 – Fans protest after OAP and children concessions tickets ditched and minimum home ticket cost up to £66
December 2024 – Dan Ashworth sacked after five months as sporting director
December 2024 – £100 staff Christmas bonus ditched for £40 M&S voucher
December 2024 – Ceiling starts leaking during Ruben Amorim’s press conference after 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth
December 2024 – Reports of a mice infestation at Old Trafford as rodent droppings found in food kiosks and plush suites as food hygiene ratings drops to just two stars
December 2024 – SunSport reveals Ratcliffe cuts £40,000 funding donation to Association of Former Manchester United Players charity
CHOCOLATE fans across the UK have been issued an urgent warning about “skimpflation”.
As production costs soar, companies have been forced to turn this more subtle way of bringing down costs.
Inflation has hit chocolate sales hard and the market research firm Kantar UK and Ireland has uncovered some worrying trends in chocolate sales caused by this spike in inflation.
As prices rocket, shoppers have already begun switching away from treat-size snacks to season or multi-pack portions.
Inflation for seasonal pack sales has grown by 13 per cent and multi pack items have become 9 per cent more expensive, compared to the 24 per cent increase in treatsize snacks.
However, the increase in price has led to fears that shoppers may start to forgo chocolate permanently.
This has led chocolate manufacturers to attempt skimpflation tactics.
Skimpflation involves adjusting the mixture of ingredients to reduce the amount of the more expensive ingredients.
This could involve diluting the amount of chocolate used by introducing more nuts into the recipe.
Cadbury has been accused of leading the trend, after launching a range of filled chocolates in March 2024.
They have also announced a partnership with Biscoff which will launch in 2025.
However, this strategy can be risky as shoppers could be alienated by the brands they love.
There is the more obvious strategy known as shrinkflation, which sees brands reducing the size of their products while keeping prices the same.
This backfired for the beloved chocolate brand Toblerone in 2017, when their shrinkflation plan coincided with a 7 per cent drop in sales.
When they reversed the decision a year later, sales quickly recovered.
As supermarket prices continue to rise, shoppers have turned to dupes of their favourite chocolate treats.
M&S is selling a range of Chocolate Quail eggs, which weigh up to 235g and cost £10.
While an 80p packet of mini eggs will cost you £1.85 and a 270g packet comes in at just under a fiver, the M&S product gives you more bang for your buck if you’re looking to save some cash.
This is where the recipe for a food or drink item is changed to try and reduce production costs.
Despite the lowered production costs, shoppers still pay the same amount of money that they did before.
But shoppers still pay the same, or more.
It means shoppers won’t pay more when costs increase for the company making the item – but they will get less product.
Smaller products are easier for customers to digest compared to increasing prices, making it a popular option for manufacturers as it’s less noticeable.
Another tactic for businesses is “shrinkflation”.
This is where they reduce the size of their products, while keeping the buying cost level.
That means shoppers are buying less of the product for the same amount of money.
A SPANISH restaurant which closed its doors two years ago is back.
Rioja is set to make a bold return to Glasgow in a brand new city centre location.
Formerly in Finnieston, the tapas and street food favourite will now open on the busy corner of Hope St and Bothwell Street.
And the once small eaterie will now be set over three floors.
There will be a casual but stylish restaurant space upstairs, a bar with live DJs which serves Spanish wines and classic cocktails on the ground floor and a basement games floor, complete with sports screenings, pool tables and foosball.
Rioja, which first opened its doors in 2013 and closed in Finnieston in 2023 due to Covid will announce a series of unique events to mark its launch.
Owned by independent restaurateurs Toni Carbajosa and Kevin Campbell, the new venture will also bring over 20 jobs to the city.
Toni Carbojosa said: “Rioja was a much-loved part of Glasgow’s food and drink scene, and we were overwhelmed by the support and loyalty of our guests in Finnieston.
“Since closing from in covid in 2023, not a week has gone by without people asking when Rioja would return – and now, we’re back, bigger and better than ever.
“We’ve taken everything people loved about Rioja – the energy, the atmosphere, the incredible Spanish flavours – and reimagined it for a brand-new space in the heart of the city.
“This next chapter is about bringing that same passion for great food, great drinks, and unforgettable nights, but on an even bigger scale.
“We can’t wait to welcome everyone back and introduce them to Rioja’s bold new era.”
To mark its highly anticipated return next month, Rioja is rewarding its biggest fans with an exclusive Secret Spanish Supper Club experience ahead of its official opening.
If you ever visited Rioja in Finnieston or you’re a fan of Spanish cuisine and culture, simply sign up at riojaglasgow.com for your chance to be part of Rioja’s return.
BARRY FERGUSON once said he’d “run back” to Rangers if they needed him as manager.
And he’ll have his training gear looked out again to take up the reins at his old club this week.
It’s always been an ambition of the former captain and Light Blue legend to boss the team.
So much so, he brazenly warned a previous gaffer he was directly eyeing up his job at Ibrox.
It was a typically confident prediction from the midfield marshall who was as gallus as he was class when he strut around the centre-circle at Ibrox over the course of 428 games and 13 seasons.
And it’s one that came true this afternoon when he was appointed caretaker manager to replace Philippe Clement.
Ferguson has previously been a manager himself – at Clyde, Kelty Hearts, Alloa and a caretaker spell at Blackpool.
But he was once close to dugout duties at Rangers too – as Pedro Caixinha’s assistant.
The Portuguese boss was looking for an assistant with a link to the club when he took over for an ill-fated spell.
He eventually settled on Jonatan Johansson but interviewed a variety of club stalwarts until he settled on the Finn rather than Ferguson.
But five-time title winner Barry recalled his honest answer that might have worked AGAINST his chances of landing the gig. As we now know, it didn’t work against his hopes in the long-term.
Infact he looks positively predictable given the forthright ‘five-year-plan’ response he shared with the team on OpenGoal podcast five years ago.
Andy Halliday said: “So apparently he said to you, where do you see yourself in five years? And you went, ‘sitting in your seat‘.
“Everybody loved it – but we were like ‘five years? what about five weeks, get him out’.
And Ferguson confirmed: “That’s right, it was at the end of the meeting. And he just looked and he’s done that [offered his handshake] and said ‘Right, thanks, nice to meet you’.”
The bold prediction, delivery and response brought guffaws from the podcast panel – but it’s Ferguson who has had the last laugh by bagging the job – albeit on an interim basis.
Halliday added: “What I will say is what a f****** thing to say when you’re trying to get a first-team coaching job – I want your job.”
The former captain has drafted in old team-mates Allan McGregor, Neil McCann and Billy Dodds to his backroom team – but kept Clement’s new number two Issame Charai on the staff.
Previous coaches Colin Stewart, Alex Rae and Stephen van der Heyden have also followed Clement out at Ibrox.
Clement leaves with a win percentage of 64pc – 55 matches in 86 games.
That’s 13th in Gers’ all-time boss list – narrowly ahead of Steven Gerrard.
Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
A SNOOKER star has admitted many of his rivals are “angry a lot” on tour.
Michael Holt is back on the Pro Tour after a stint in the amateurs and is fully enjoying his return.
He reached the quarter-final of the UK Championship and is closing in on his goal to break into the top 64 in the world rankings.
But he revealed many on tour are not happy and frustration is common amongst his fellow pros.
He told the Metro: “Everybody’s still driving themselves mad. Everybody’s angry a lot.
“I’ve had my moments but generally I’m looking at it slightly different than I used to.
“Players are frustrated because they think they can do better. Some can, some think they can but they can’t. That’s the game. The level is so tough.”
Holt, 46, has learnt to deal with the losses and chooses to find the positives where he can.
He continued: “Every player loses most events they play in. Even the greatest of all time, which is depressing, but that’s how it is.
“It can sound like a bit of a loser thing to say that you should take positives from any kind of run, but you have to.
“I haven’t in the past. I’ve been terrible at taking positives from things. I can now, but I still think about the balls I’ve missed, even when I win.
“The best players are the best at forgetting, but also you want to remember all the good stuff.”
We’re set for another betting prediction and pick in the NBA as we take a look at this next cross-conference matchup between teams getting their first crack at each other on the season. The Los Angeles Clippers (31-25) will take on the Detroit Pistons (31-26) as both teams look to continue their winning ways. It’s time to continue our […]
The post Clippers vs. Pistons prediction, odds, pick – 2/24/2025 appeared first on ClutchPoints.
The New York Mets have opened spring training with high expectations. Juan Soto’s first at-bat home run set the fanbase on fire and got baseball fans everywhere excited. But injuries have been a serious issue in Port St Lucie so far. The Mets are dealing with another significant injury, as Sean Manaea is expected to […]
The post Mets’ rotation takes another hit with Sean Manaea injury update appeared first on ClutchPoints.
Almost over a week ago, Draymond Green took a shot at the NBA, saying that the games are boring nowadays, and some people didn’t take those words kindly, more specifically, Oscar Robertson. Not only did Robertson try his best to defend the current landscape of the NBA, he also took a dig at Green in […]
The post Why Warriors’ Draymond Green was so ‘surprised’ about Oscar Robertson’s callout appeared first on ClutchPoints.