Private English island that's now open to the public with live music festivals and riverside bar

And the other islands near the UK you can buy for yourself
ISLE GO Private English island that's now open to the public with live music festivals and riverside bar
A PRIVATE island in the UK that hoped to be home to the 'Savoy on Thames' is open to the public - with a music festival on it every summer.
D'Oyly Carte Island was previously called Folly Eyot before being bought by Richard D'Oyly Carte (behind the Savoy Hotel) in 1890.
4
D'Oyly Carte Island has a riverfront bar open to the public
Credit: Alamy
4
The island was once privately owned
Credit: Alamy
4
The island property is being renovated
Credit: Alamy
However, it remained closed to the public until last year, after it was bought by Andy and Sheila Hill in 2021.
Last summer the island hosted a number of summer music events as part of larger Weymouth Festival.
This year, the island is hosting the D'Oyly Carte Island Summer Concerts 2025 from July 4-6.
Bands include Flo Collective, Yacht Brothers and Miami Coast.
Running from 11am to 4pm, tickets cost £20 per person although kids under 10 go for free.
Previously, people could only visit the island by using a chain ferry to pull themselves onto it.
A footbridge was later built in 1964, which allowed easier access to the island.
Now, people can park just outside the island, before walking the free foot bridge.
The island is also home to D'Oyly's, an outdoor cafe where people can order food and drinks such as alcohol cocktails as well as crepes.
People can visit on the island and sit in the outdoor garden or even pull up on the side by boat.
The private party island loved by celebs thats is for sale for £25million
Guests can even moor on the island with 45 pitches that have electricity and water, along with heated toilets on the island.
New this year are a number of wellness events such as yoga, pilates and forest bathing with a number of classes already sold out.
Original owner Richard D'Oyly Carte was dubbed the Simon Cowell of the Victorian era due to his creation of the Savoy Opera Theatre as well.
After buying the island in the late 1800s, he also built the huge Eyot House on the island complete with a grand ballroom and even a real crocodile.
It was hoped that the hotel would become the "Savoy on Thames" with a dedicated boat service between the two hotels.
However, after being denied an alcohol license, the 13-bedroom property remained as their home, where they invited friends and family over instead as well as having their own private concerts.
The Grade-II listed mansion was was left abandoned for years, was sold in in 2021 for £3million along with the island.
It is now being converted, with the 13 rooms being reduced to 10 en-suite bedrooms and will eventually be open to the public.
Until then, the hotels' grand ballroom opens every year to just 50 people as part of the D'Oyly Carte Music with "intimate performances" by top artists, yet to be revealed.
In the mean time, here are some private islands you can buy off the coast of the UK.
And a man who has been to more than 100 Scottish islands reveals his favourites.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Daily Record

9 hours ago

• Daily Record

Liverpool music festival halted after Sting's support suffers 'cardiac arrest' live on stage

Sting said the musician is 'in his prayers' as he took to the stage for the final night of 2025 On The Waterfront festival. Sting's support group The Christians had a gig in Liverpool halted mid-performance when the drummer collapsed and suffered a 'cardiac arrest'. Garry Christian had been fronting the band at a gig when he stopped and called for medical help for his bandmate. A privacy screen was then erected on the stage, as emergency responders raced to the scene. ‌ The musician was then treated at the venue before being raced to hospital. A woman who is believed to be the band's manager, Emma Bridget, announced an emotional update to the shocked crowd. She said: 'We're really hoping he is going to make it. He didn't have a pulse, he's got one now, we think. Thank you so much." ‌ The band had been performing at Liverpool's Pier Head when the drama unfolded. Emma went on: 'I'm just so sorry because Garry loves Liverpool and he wanted to put on the show of his life and we're really devastated but thank you so much.' A message was then displayed to fans after the ordeal, which read: 'We appreciate your patience and understanding. Medical staff are with the performer, and we will provide an update as soon as we can.' The group had been performing at the final night of the 2025 On The Waterfront festival. Thousands of people flocked to the English city as a host of musicians appeared. The Mirror reports the crowd was at capacity and the venue was silent as events took place on stage. There are no further updates on the drummer's condition at the moment but Sting provided information when he took to the stage to close the festival tonight. He said: 'The drummer in the band before is OK. He's in hospital. All of us are praying he's going to be fine. Our thoughts are with him.' ‌ Sting is the headliner for the concert, making his long-awaited return to Liverpool as part of his STING 3.0 World Tour. The Christians, from Liverpool, had the highest selling debut album of any artist at Island Records and international chart hits in the late 1980s and early 1990s after forming in 1985. ‌ The Christians are made up of Garry Christian (lead vocals), Roger Christian (vocals and instrumentalist), Russell Christian (keyboards, saxophone, vocals), and Henry Priestman (keyboards, guitars, vocals). Priestman, although not a relative, shared the Christian name by coincidence. Early members also included Paul Barlow on drums, Mike Bulger on guitar and vocals, and Tony Jones on bass. Roger Christian stepped away from the group in 1987 and announced he didn't want to tour, focusing on a solo album instead. He passed away in 1998 after a battle with a brain tumour. In 1995, Garry Christian moved to Paris to record his own solo album, Your Cool Mystery, effectively breaking up the band, although no formal announcement was made. The group have since reformed and have been performing again.

Scottish Sun

9 hours ago

• Scottish Sun

Cadbury launches new limited edition colour-changing Dairy Milk chocolate bars – and they're perfect for hot weather

Cadbury's new chocolate bars hide a cool surprise when the temperature drops CHOCCY TIME Cadbury launches new limited edition colour-changing Dairy Milk chocolate bars – and they're perfect for hot weather CADBURY has unveiled a brand new range of limited-edition Dairy Milk chocolate bars that change colour when chilled – and they're ideal for summer snacking. The new Cadbury Dairy Milk Summer Edition bars and the Iced Latte flavour are hitting shelves across the UK from June 2025, wrapped in cold-activated packaging that transforms in the fridge. Advertisement 3 According to Cadbury's research, more than half the nation stores their bars in the fridge, especially during the warmer months Credit: Alamy 3 Chocoholics can expect a limited run, so fans might want to snap them up quickly once they appear in shops Credit: Alamy Based in Birmingham, the chocolate giant confirmed that the special packs use thermochromic technology to reveal vibrant designs – including deck chairs, umbrellas, kites, and inflatables – when cooled. It's the first time Cadbury has launched a product like this. 'This summer, Cadbury Dairy Milk is reigniting the debate around storing chocolate in the fridge,' said Mara Popa, junior brand manager at Cadbury Dairy Milk. 'Our new Cadbury Dairy Milk Summer Editions range features cold-activated packs, reminding consumers that chocolate is a great snacking option in the warmer weather. 'Additionally, our limited-edition Cadbury Dairy Milk Iced Latte tablet is designed to excite consumers with a brand new flavour crafted for summer. Advertisement This NPD also features colour changing packaging, highlighting the chilled chocolate trend in a playful way and tapping into the debate.' The cold-reactive wrappers aren't just eye-catching – they're a clever nod to how Brits really eat chocolate. According to Cadbury's research, more than half the nation stores their bars in the fridge, especially during the warmer months. Despite this trend, the brand has advised fans to think twice before chilling their choc. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), a spokesperson warned that the fridge might not always be the best place. Advertisement 'Chocolate should always be stored in a slightly cool, dry, dark place such as a cupboard or pantry at temperatures less than 21°C to ensure the quality isn't compromised,' they explained. Still, curiosity is high. Shoppers beg Cadbury's to bring back 2005 recipe on iconic bar - as they moan current one 'tastes like candle wax' A whopping 67 per cent of Brits said they're open to trying chilled chocolate, and Cadbury is leaning into that interest with a playful summer twist. All five bars in the Edition range will be available in major retailers nationwide and have a recommended price of £2. Advertisement However, prices may vary depending on the store. Chocoholics can expect a limited run, so fans might want to snap them up quickly once they appear in shops. The packaging not only changes colour, but also ties in with the look and feel of a traditional British summer – perfect for picnics, beach days, or just a cool treat at home. The launch of the iced latte-flavoured Dairy Milk also adds to Cadbury's growing line-up of coffee-infused treats. Advertisement The bar combines smooth milk chocolate with a creamy coffee centre and crunchy biscuit bits, designed to satisfy both choc and coffee lovers. Cadbury has already seen success with coffee-flavoured chocolate. The Twirl Iced Latte has popped up in B&M stores in recent weeks, earning rave reviews from fans. Meanwhile, a collab with coffee brand Kenco gave us the chocolate-flavoured mocha – another hit among sweet-toothed sippers. Advertisement And it's not stopping there. From 2 June, the brand will also roll out a limited-edition Twirl White Dipped bar, combining its famous flaky layers with a coating of smooth white chocolate. A post on Facebook teased the launch, calling it 'unreal, indulgent, smooth, swirly, creamy, melty, new, and mouthwatering.' Earlier this month, fans also spotted a new Cadbury Dairy Milk Balls pack in shops, drawing comparisons to the nostalgic Cadbury Tasters – small, round chocolate treats first launched in 1996. Advertisement With so many launches lined up and a summer full of colourful, cold-friendly packaging, Cadbury is clearly out to make this season a choc-filled celebration. How to save money on chocolate We all love a bit of chocolate from now and then, but you don't have to break the bank buying your favourite bar. Consumer reporter Sam Walker reveals how to cut costs... Go own brand - if you're not too fussed about flavour and just want to supplant your chocolate cravings, you'll save by going for the supermarket's own brand bars. Shop around - if you've spotted your favourite variety at the supermarket, make sure you check if it's cheaper elsewhere. Websites like let you compare prices on products across all the major chains to see if you're getting the best deal. Look out for yellow stickers - supermarket staff put yellow, and sometimes orange and red, stickers on to products to show they've been reduced. They usually do this if the product is coming to the end of its best-before date or the packaging is slightly damaged. Buy bigger bars - most of the time, but not always, chocolate is cheaper per 100g the larger the bar. So if you've got the appetite, and you were going to buy a hefty amount of chocolate anyway, you might as well go bigger.

The Guardian

13 hours ago

• The Guardian

Angela Livingstone obituary

My friend Angela Livingstone, who has died aged 90, was a translator and university teacher of literature known for playing a key role in making the most innovative works of 20th-century Russian literature accessible to the English-speaking world. Her publications include edited selections of writings by Boris Pasternak and Marina Tsvetaeva and masterful translations of their prose and poetry, among them Tsvetaeva's 'lyrical satire' The Ratcatcher and verse-drama Phaedra, both previously unknown in English. She also published Pasternak: Modern Judgements (1969), a groundbreaking book of critical essays (in collaboration with the poet and critic Donald Davie), a monograph on Pasternak's Doctor Zhivago (1989) and, late in her life, a collection of her own poems, Certain Roses (2017). Elaine Feinstein, reviewing Phaedra in PN Review in 2013, observed that Angela's version 'not only extends our understanding of a great Russian poet, but also illuminates the spirit of her translator, who is as little interested in the commonplace values of the everyday world as the poet she translates'. Angela and I got to know each other in 1999 when, as features editor at the BBC Russian Service, I made a programme on her translation of The Ratcatcher. It was Tsvetaeva's breathtaking sound patterns and rhythms, and Pasternak's stream of striking images that gave Angela, in seeking to translate them, 'a pleasure which is not like any other', she said. Like her favourite poets, Angela possessed a childlike ability to experience everything, however familiar, as if for the first time. She also loved Andrei Platonov for his peculiar use of language and described his great novel Chevengur of 1928 as 'a prose of concealed poetry', transposing 50 passages from it into English verse, published as Poems from Chevengur in 2004. Angela was born in Hayes, Middlesex (now the London Borough of Hillingdon), to Albert Hobbs, a further education lecturer in mechanical engineering, and his wife, Edith (nee Parker), a primary school teacher. Her love for literature and languages was kindled at Greenford county grammar school, and at Cambridge University, where she gained a first-class degree in German and Russian. At university she met Rodney Livingstone, a fellow student, who later became professor of German at Southampton University, and they married in 1959. Angela worked in the department of literature at Essex University for more than 30 years, becoming professor and its head in 1992 before retiring in 1996. Her first marriage ended in divorce in 1971. In 2014 she married Alan Palmer. He died in 2019. She is survived by Sonia and Benjamin, the children from her first marriage, four grandchildren and her sister, Pamela.