2 weeks agoBlogsComments Off on Wetherspoons dupe ‘Witherspoons’ at popular holiday hotspot now offers fish & chips for less than the cost of a pint
PUBGOERS can’t believe their luck as a venue even cheaper than Wetherspoons is offering fish and chips for less than a pint.
The Wetherspoons dupe can be found at a popular holiday destination, offering pub classics at even tastier prices.
Jam Press/WitherspoonsA Wetherspoons dupe called Witherspoons is offering tasty bargains on British food[/caption]
Jam Press/WitherspoonsThe budget boozer is selling fish and chips for just £4.58[/caption]
Jam Press/WitherspoonsWith 35 TVs and patterned carpets, the venue is decked out to be a taste of home[/caption]
Witherspoons can be found in Pattaya, Thailand, and has shocked holidaymakers with its extraordinary prices.
The budget boozer offers a classic portion of fish and chips for just £4.58 and a large beer for £2.94 more.
Similar to that homey decor found in British locals, the venue has signs saying: “Fridays are made for Fish & Chips.
“Start your weekend with a crispy, golden classic that always hits the spot.”
In proper Wetherspoons style, the pub is fitted out with 35 TVs, which show live sports all week long.
The uncanny replica even offers that recognisable bright patterned carpet with a menu almost identical to our beloved chain.
Witherspoons has racked up rave reviews and a four-star rating on Trip Advisor, ranking it as number 196 of 1,367 Restaurants in Pattaya.
One chuffed pubgoer wrote: “I always go here for my Sunday roast when in Pattaya. It never disappoints.”
Another happy customer said: “This is our favourite sports bar and restaurant in Pattaya.
“Great value food and drink at reasonable prices make this a great place to eat and watch sports.”
One holidaymaker chose to have an Indian dish, in an English-themed restaurant, based in Thailand, and appeared to be thrilled.
They shared on Trip Advisor: “Had the Chicken Tikka special which was great quality and great portion size, highly recommend and will be having again.”
In the UK, the average price of a pint is now a whopping £4.74 so it’s no surprise Brits are baffled at the low prices at Witherspoons.
Earlier this year, the dupe restaurant also made headlines by returning one of the classic items that were scrapped from the Wetherspoons menu at home.
The British chain axed the much-loved £13 sirloin steak from the menu at 40 sites, much to the dismay of loyal customers.
Witherspoons, however, has started serving up the steak special – and for even cheaper.
On Wednesdays, you can order a ribeye for just £7, with options to instead pick a New York strip, tenderloin and a range of sides.
A Witherspoons spokesperson said: “Calling all meat lovers. Get ready to treat yourself at Witherspoons Pattaya with a feast that’s worth every bite.
“Don’t just dream about it – dive into some serious meaty goodness.
“We can’t wait to see you here.”
Jam Press/WitherspoonsThe Witherspoons menu offers the British classics for less than the price of a pint[/caption]
Jam Press/WitherspoonsOn Trip Advisor the venue is rated four stars and has lots of complimentary reviews[/caption]
2 weeks agoBlogsComments Off on Sir Dave Brailsford questioning what he’s got himself into as he realises true extent of Man Utd disaster
SIR JIM RATCLIFFE can make all the cuts he wants — and the latest involves Manchester United’s training-ground canteen.
It is understood that lunch for all but first-team players has been reduced to soup and sandwiches — and that includes coaches and analysts.
PASir Jim Ratcliffe’s right hand man Sir Dave Brailsford is wondering what he has got himself into[/caption]
ReutersThe Ineos chiefs want to bin off many of Man Utd’s flops, but no one will take them[/caption]
GettyThings have gone from bad to worse since Ratcliffe took charge just over a year ago[/caption]
Meanwhile, this month’s FA Youth Cup 5–1 quarter-final win over Chelsea, which traditionally would have been staged at Old Trafford, was played at Leigh Sports Village for a saving of £8,000.
Manager Ruben Amorim has already declared he is in charge of “the worst” team in United’s history.
But against a resurgent Toffees outfit inspired by former Red Devils boss David Moyes and almost certainly denied a 93rd-minute penalty victory by a VAR call that Ratcliffe’s No 2 Sir Dave Brailsford might describe as a ‘marginal gain’, this was the worst of the worst.
Bruno Fernandes and Manuel Ugarte produced stunners to earn a point but United, before Moyes was sacked 11 years ago, were never this bad.
Plan A for Ratcliffe would be to dump most of them, if nothing else to save salary costs.
Because you would not get back even half of the staggering near-£500million transfer outlay on Saturday’s awful starting side.
But why would Casemiro, aged 33 and playing like a midfield OAP, go?
He is on £350,000 a week and has just declared that he wants to stay until his contract runs out at the end of next season.
Of course he would say that. No sane club is going to touch this burnt-out wreck of a midfielder who once gloried in five Champions Leagues triumphs with Real Madrid.
Not even the moneymen of the Saudi Pro League would go anywhere near paying him that kind of cash — and he surely knows it.
Striker Rasmus Hojlund cost an initial £64m and he can trouser £85,000 a week until 2028.
He has not hit the net in 16 straight appearances, is completely out of his depth, and even a League One team might doubt paying him even £5,000 a week.
But they fought back late on thanks to a stunning Bruno Fernandes free-kick and volley from Manuel Ugarte, who bagged his first goal since his summer arrival from PSG.
Amorim’s men were then lucky to escape a penalty in the final moments after VAR overturned the decision.
SunSport’s Ken Lawrence has given his ratings of the Manchester United team…
Andre Onana – 7
United needed him with his game-head on, and his 93rd-minute stop saved a point.
Noussair Mazraoui 69′ – 4
Looked seriously uncomfortable on the right side of the back three – forced there because of a defensive injury crisis
Harry Maguire – 4
Out-jumped by Doucoure as the midfielder grabbed Everton’s second and was generally all over the place.
Matthijs de Ligt – 4
Nowhere for Beto’s opener, completely missing attempted clearance and got away with a 93rd-minute penalty call.
Diogo Dalot – 5
At least shows willing. Which is more than could be said for some of his team mates at Goodison.
Manuel Ugarte – 7
Spent most of the game stranded in United’s midfield morass but salvation came with a brilliant strike.
Casemiro 62′ – 2
The Brazilian is beginning to look like the world’s oldest 32-year-old —he’s become a genuine irrelevance.
Patrick Dorgu – 6
Made a determined start down the left flank but that enthusiasm was slowly but surely sucked out of him.
Bruno Fernandes – 8
His free kick was genuine class and once he was dropped deeper started controlling the game.
Joshua Zirkzee – 4
At £36.5M you would expect an element of ball control but the Dutchman used as a joint No 10 just looks lost.
Rasmus Hojlund 69′ – 3
Not so much a desperate Dane, more a despairing one although it would help if he had some support.
Subs:
Alejandro Garnacho 62′ – 7
Injected some desperately needed pace and passion.
Leny Yoro 69′ – 6
Should have been on much earlier.
Chido Obi-Martin 69′ – 5
The 17-year-old has a presence for sure.
But in 2023, he refused to reduce his weekly wage after West Ham bid £20m for him.
The former captain is on a one–year extension handed to him last month and is paid £195,000 a week.
But Maguire, 31, would have been gone 18 months ago — except United refused to stump up the £15m he is understood to have wanted for leaving.
SunSport understands Brailsford is now asking that very question.
For there is no Plan B and Amorim is seemingly hell-bent on destroying his reputation for the sake of a 3–4–3 point of principle.
United are not in a relegation crisis now but, with this lot, they will be next season.
They owe £1bn, Amorim knows that if he wants to buy he must sell first — good luck with that — and, worst of all, under Ratcliffe’s leadership the club is facing an identity crisis.
This summer, Moyes will be buying big while his former club are stuck with a collection of expensive fakes they cannot sell.
The irony of all that will surely amuse him, even if he was spitting feathers following the penalty debacle that probably cost him a fifth Prem win in six games.
PATyson Fury’s property company has been struck off because he failed to file any accounts[/caption]
The former heavyweight champ, who was listed as sole director of GreenwayBalmoral Ltd, has submitted no paperwork since it was set up in January 2023, Companies House documents reveal.
He was hit with a fine and warned last December that his real estate business would be struck off the register within two months unless objections were raised.
It was dissolved last week via a compulsory strike-off action.
A source said: “Questions over Tyson’s future remain after he suddenly quit the ring in January.
“Clearly his future isn’t in property development.
“His legion of fans are eager to see what he’ll do next.”
Under the law, a company director can be personally fined for not filing accounts on time.
The penalty is £1,500 for the first year and it doubles for the second.
The purpose of Tyson’s company was described as “buying and selling of own real estate” and “letting and operating of own or leased real estate”.
Fury lives in a £1.7million home in Morecambe, Lancs, owns a £1million home in Cheshire, which dad John lives in, and has another £550,000 house in Lancaster.
Latest accounts from June 2024 show his other registered company, Tyson Fury Ltd, soared in value from £52million to £82million in the year to September 2023.
Tyson announced his latest retirement last month, stating: “It’s been a blast.”
But there is speculation he may return for a long-awaited show down with Anthony Joshua.
Fury quit the ring for the fifth time in JanuaryGetty
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2 weeks agoBlogsComments Off on Labour want Keir Starmer to stick it to Trump on live TV like Love Actually – but his anger MUST be directed elsewhere
LABOUR MPs hoping for a “Love Actually” moment in Washington on Thursday are set to be disappointed.
In a particularly cringeworthy fashion, they have been pushing for Sir Keir Starmer to recreate the famous movie scene where the PM takes time out from chasing a tea-lady round the corridors of power and sticks it to a boorish US President live on TV.
Labour MPs are hoping for a ‘Love Actually’ moment in Washington on Thursday when the PM meets the US PresidentLabour want Starmer to stick it to Trump on live TV like in the film – but his anger MUST be directed elsewhereGetty
Quite aside from the fact that all the lessons in the world from his glamorous actress voice coach will not make Keir Starmer a Hugh Grant, this is Playdough politics.
Thankfully wiser heads in No10 say it will be more love-bombing than Love Actually when the PM arrives at the White House with an invitation for Trump to meet the King at Balmoral in his back pocket.
But while we are on the subject of films and fiction, there is somewhere Sir Keir should be kicking the Americans right now: Silicon Valley.
He does not need to antagonise Trump, but all those tech bros gurning behind the President at his inauguration should be the ones getting a pasting from a plucky PM.
Global arms race
There’s a reason the Metas and Microsofts of the world have had a Damascene conversion away from woke censorship and toward Trump’s deregulating America First agenda — and it’s not because they saw the error of their ways.
They want to steal your brains . . . and feed them to artificial intelligence.
There’s a global arms race to have machines answer everything — soaking up tens of thousands of years of human knowledge then chatting about it back at us.
As that battle gets more and more competitive, the bros currently in charge of the robots are getting sharper and sharper in their pursuit.
Films, books, songs, shows, poems and, dare I say, newspapers are all vacuumed up into the AI hive mind for free, making these firms billions of dollars but leaving the actual content creators short-changed.
Knowledge is porridge, as they say — but it’s British artists, actors, directors, writers, authors and journalists doing the work while parasitic US billionaires coin it in.
The so-called creative industries generate some £126billion every year for the UK, and it’s one of the few sectors left where we are genuinely world-leading.
Our actors, performing in our language and beamed around the world, generate billions in taxes to pay for our NHS.
Now I’ve never been one to jump on luvvie bandwagons given their usual whines normally involve banning stuff or saying we should be nicer to those chaps from Hamas.
But even stopped clocks are right occasionally, as they say — and on this one they really do have a point.
So it does worry me that the Government seems to be siding with the tech bros, who have a long history of not wanting to play by the old rules.
Science Minister Peter Kyle is opening the door to a change in copyright law, which could mean the firms scooping up the internet would be able to pillage human endeavour willy-nilly unless a copyright holder EXPLICITLY opts out.
But with the astonishing pace of development and the sheer number of bots scraping the internet every day to feed the robot beast, critics are quick to call this a non-starter.
Experts say it is the equivalent of putting up a sign above your open front door saying please do not burgle my house, along with a list of crooks who are explicitly banned.
Or, to put it another way, it’s about as useful as a ‘please keep off the grass’ sign on a hot sunny day.
We have very strong copyright protections in this country precisely because we have so much good stuff to protect, so any meddling with that should be treated with extreme caution.
A source close to Kyle tells me “no changes will be made unless there is a way to ensure those who are happy for their work to be used by AI will get paid for it.”
However his department’s own consultation, which is due to close this month, specifically states the Government’s “preferred option” is the opt-out model, while others are calling for copyright surrender to be much closer to an explicit “opt-in” model.
Dangle investment
Some of Labour’s own MPs fear the party is too close to big tech and is begging bosses for investment in their desperate pursuit for growth.
A cursory glance at the dozens of meetings Kyle has held with big tech would suggest they are working him hard.
A Labour MP even tells me one slick-suited corporate lobbyist from an online giant was brazen enough to directly dangle investment in their constituency if they got on board with the copyright changes.
But is shooting a golden goose really worth the promise of a few extremely polluting warehouses full of servers on a ring-road somewhere?
They might employ a few security guards and a caretaker, but risk far more lasting damage to our economy if we fail to protect one of our leading industries.
There won’t just be no Love Actually moments if MPs aren’t careful with this one, but no Love Actually ever again.
GIVEN she turned up 20 minutes late to her first Cabinet meeting in 2022, blaming the traffic, Kemi Bandenoch has never been far from timekeeping jokes.
But frustrated with her lateness, aides at Tory HQ have started to use the code “KMT” when organising an event, meaning it will actually start 30 minutes later . . . “because Kemi has her own timezone”.
AFPTory leader Kemi Badenoch ‘has her own timezone’[/caption]
DEFENCE spending will be the talk of the week as Labour scrambles to keep up with Donald Trump’s new world order, but is it too little too late?
So cash-strapped are the Treasury, they suggested lumping the entire budget for our spy agency GCHQ into UK defence spending to make it a higher proportion of GDP.
The Mega AgencyPresident Trump upended 70 years of European security policy[/caption]
But I’m told that cooking the books has been given short shrift.
The authors of Labour’s Strategic Defence Review have concluded that defence spending will need to rise to three per cent of domestic output by 2030.
But they are waiting to see if that makes it into the final report that is being hastily redrafted after President Trump upended 70 years of European security policy.
With the PM poised to signal this week how he can finally eek it up to 2.5 per cent, in reality things are actually going backwards.
Not least because the MoD is down for £3billion in “efficiency savings”, also known as cuts, from April 1.
Add to that the pain of public sector pay rises, the employer National Insurance raid and inflation blighting arms manufacturing, and things look rather bleak.
2 weeks agoBlogsComments Off on Stars of huge noughties drama send fans wild as they reunite 15 years after show was axed
THE stars of a huge noughties drama sent fans wild when they reunited this weekend 15 years after the show was axed.
Viewers were left gutted in 2010 when the popular series came to an abrupt end after four seasons.
Vanessa and America sent fans wild as they reunited 15 years after Ugly Betty was axedInstagramThey starred as Wilhemina and Betty in the popular seriesGettyFans have made it clear they’re desperate for a rebootAlamy
Actress and singer Vanessa, 61, is currently starring as Miranda Priestly in the Devil Wears Prada musical and was thrilled when America, 40, went to see the show.
She took to Instagram to share a sweet snap of them posing together and wrote: “Look who stopped by Runway Magazine!
“@americaferreradefinitely had some deja vu remembering our Mode Magazine days together on#uglybetty.
“We were all thrilled to have you in our audience on a Saturday night in the West End at@pradawestend.”
Excited fans rushed to comment, with one writing: “I don’t think you understand how much the world would love for Ugly Betty to come back.”
Another said: “Somebody! Give us the Ugly Betty reunion movie we all want!”
And a third added: “This is iconic!!”
America starred as main character Betty Suarez in the series, which focused on the highs and lows Betty faced while working at fashion magazine Mode.
Most of the lows were thanks to the scheming ways of creative director Wilhemina Slater, played by Vanessa.
The show also starred the likes of Ashley Jensen as seamstress Christina McKinney, Eric Mabius as editor-in-chief Daniel Meade and Becky Netwon as receptionist Amanda Tanen Sommers.
Becky, 46, and Michael Urie – who starred as Wilhemina’s assistant Mark St James – recently teamed up to launch rewatch podcast Still Ugly, breathing new life into the beloved series.
PAWynne Evans’ showdown with the BBC has been put back by weeks over concerns for his mental health[/caption]
The Mega AgencyHe was sacked from the Strictly live tour and suspended from his BBC Radio Wales show following accusations he used inappropriate language[/caption]
Wynne, 53, had vowed to fight to save his reputation and told friends he would take the BBC to a tribunal if he lost his radio job.
But a planned meeting with the Beeb to discuss his future has now been put on hold.
A source said: “Wynne was due to meet the BBC last week to talk about the concerns raised against him and how, if they could, move forward.
“Wynne was ready to fight but in recent weeks he has been struggling mentally.
“The stress of what has happened to his reputation has been weighing heavily on his mind.
“The decision has been made to postpone the meeting by a couple of weeks to allow Wynne time to get his head straight.”
The Go Compare singer was sacked over a sexual comment during the tour’s press launch.
Those close to him said Wynne’s remark was not, as alleged, aimed at Strictly pro Janette Manrara, and was an in-joke.
They said: “Wynne knows the meaning behind his comment and, to his frustration, so do many of the dancers and celebrities on the tour.
“He is heartbroken by how this all played out and is upset that no one has spoken out to defend him publicly. The comment didn’t offend anyone and no one complained.
“Wynne feels badly let down.”
Following his tour exit Wynne said he had agreed to step away from his role on BBC Wales.
It was later claimed there were two other times concerns were raised to the BBC about his choice of words — once on his Radio Wales show and another while filming BBC1’s All At Sea with Gavin & Stacey’s Joanna Page.
2 weeks agoBlogsComments Off on I’m a single mum – I was banned from dating app Bumble after losing 10-stone… they accused me of catfishing
A LONELY heart was blocked from a dating app for “catfishing” after shedding 10st – making her unrecognisable from her previous profile picture.
Claire Sullivan, 41, decided to get back in the dating game and posted a new profile picture on Bumble.
SWNSClaire Sullivan was blocked from dating app Bumble for ‘catfishing’ after shedding 10st[/caption]
SWNSClaire was unrecognisable from her previous profile picture[/caption]
She hadn’t been on the app for a number of years – and last used it when she was around 19st (266lbs).
But the mum-of-one says she noticed all her new photos had been rejected by the platform.
A message from Bumble said her account had been “blocked” for “having an inauthentic profile” which can include “catfishing” and “pretending to be another person”.
Claire, a charity worker from Hillingdon, North West London, said: “It’s hilarious – I couldn’t believe it when they accused me of catfishing.
“I just wanted my photos to look like me now and not me then.
“I wouldn’t want someone to swipe on an old picture and expect to meet 19st me because I look different now I’m 9st.
“All my pictures were within the rules – all decent and fully clothed.
“They’re all natural with no filters or anything else going on.
“You expect you can change your looks and still be allowed to meet people but it’s like ‘computer says ‘no”.”
Claire has been single for about 13 years and signed up with Bumble around five years ago.
She had a gastric by-pass in 2022 and lost 10st (140lbs), and updated her Bumble profile with new glam pictures.
She added: “I’m a single mum so it’s harder to get out and meet people.
“I just wanted the opportunity to date again.
“I haven’t done anything wrong. I just changed the way I look – you’ve got to be allowed to do that.
“I thought they’d see that I’m not fake. I look similar, just slimmer.”
The Bumble message said: “You are permanently blocked from this account for violation of our inauthentic profiles policy.
SWNSClaire said: ‘It’s hilarious – I couldn’t believe it when they accused me of catfishing’[/caption]
SWNSClaire added: ‘I just wanted my photos to look like me now and not me then’[/caption]
“To safeguard our community we don’t allow impersonation or misinterpretation on our platform.
“Please know that our team has thoroughly reviewed this decision and no exceptions will be made.”
Claire emailed the Bumble team again and they have agreed to review her situation.
A Bumble spokesman said: “At Bumble our focus is to help people find genuine connections, and we have a number of measures in place to make sure the profiles our members see are authentic.
“In this case it seems like our moderation team was working extra hard, but we have now reversed the block and wish Claire all the best in her dating journey!”
2 weeks agoBlogsComments Off on 3 sneaky good NFL free agents Texans need to sign
The Houston Texans had a solid 2024 season. However, many fans may feel like the Texans failed to live up to expectations. Houston finished the regular season 10-7, winning the AFC South division title and making the playoffs for the second consecutive season. However, before the 2024 season, many fans and analysts thought the Texans […]
2 weeks agoBlogsComments Off on UConn basketball’s Dan Hurley gets brutally honest on Alex Karaban’s struggles
The UConn men’s basketball team has regressed this season after winning back-to-back national championships, and the struggles of Alex Karaban this season have been magnified. The Huskies suffered an 89-75 loss to No. 10 St. John’s on Sunday, and head coach Dan Hurley spoke on Karaban’s struggles this season, referencing the pressure he has on […]
2 weeks agoBlogsComments Off on Rangers’ Kevin Pillar reveals why he’s pulling 180 on retirement
The Texas Rangers have signed centerfielder Kevin Pillar to a minor-league contract on Sunday. Just days after young outfielder Wyatt Langford got hurt in spring training, Texas signed the 12-year veteran. Pillar spoke with MLB.com’s Kennedi Landry about why he decided to come out of retirement to sign with the Rangers. “Going through that process, […]
