
Summer fun for the kids at Stirling shopping centre 'hotel'
The popular indoor beach is also making a return to The Thistles over the holidays as part of the interactive 'hotel'.
This summer, Thistles shopping centre in Stirling invites visitors to check-in to Hotel Cali-FUN-ia, a six-week summer holiday themed interactive 'hotel'.
Open daily from Monday, July 1, to Saturday August 10, this immersive experience promises to entertain visitors of all ages over the summer holidays with rooms full of games, music and surprises around every corner.
Guests will have their world turned on its head in the mind-bending upside-down room, then try their hand at hoop-throwing in the retro American diner, tackle the buzz wire challenge in the games room, and dive into fun with foam blocks in the hotel themed bedroom. Check-in is available from noon until check-out at 4pm and advanced booking is not required.
There is no cost to take part, but to support the local community, voluntary donations will be collected for Strathcarron Hospice, who will be on hand throughout the 'hotel'. All proceeds will support the hospice's vital work throughout the Forth Valley area.
To celebrate the launch of Hotel Cali-FUN-ia, Thistles has partnered with Stirling Highland Hotel to offer one lucky winner an overnight stay for two, including breakfast. For a chance to win, visitors are encouraged to snap a picture at the Hotel Cali-FUN-ia and share it on social media using the hashtag #HotelCaliFUNia and tagging @thistlesstirling.
The popular indoor beach is also making a return to the centre. Running daily from July 1 to August 10, between 11am and 3pm, the beach experience is delivered in partnership with Strathcarron Hospice. Children can enjoy 30 minutes of sandy play in exchange for a suggested £2 donation, with all proceeds going directly to support the hospice.
Gary Turnbull, Centre Director at Thistles said: 'We're looking forward to welcoming families and visitors to our brand-new Hotel Cali-FUN-ia. This summer-long immersive experience is a first for Thistles and part of our aim to offer fun and free activities for families during the school holidays.
'We're also proud to be continuing our support for Strathcarron Hospice and encourage those who can to donate.'
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The Herald Scotland
38 minutes ago
- The Herald Scotland
VIP all-inclusive Butlin's Minehead experience review
We arrived at the seaside town of Minehead in Somerset, ready and raring to go, after breaking up the journey on the way down from Bury with a lovely overnight stay in Droitwich Spa just off the M5. The site is right on the coast and we were soon through the drive-through check-in and checking out our seafront apartment which was a perfect base for a family-of-four. Our Butlin's Minehead Bayside Apartment living area and bedroom (Image: NQ) But you don't come to Butlin's to sit around, and we were soon out and exploring all the site had to offer us for our four-night stay. The great thing about Butlin's is that a lot of things are already included in the price, so you don't have to worry about how many times the kids want to go on the fairground rides, in the soft play or the vast swimming pool, as well as regular shows on the Skyline Stage. Extreme Mountain Bike Show on the Skyline Stage (Image: NQ) There are also more activities than you'd have time to fit in, at an extra cost, such as mini archery (£6), laser tag (£15), high ropes (£13) and pottery painting (from £10). We also had an Action Pass each (£22pp), which we used towards two games of bowling, a game of American pool, and one go on the Go-Karts. Unless you know you're going to make use of every single pass, I'm not sure these are worth the extra cost. The kids didn't manage to make it onto the bungee trampolines as the queues seemed to shift slowly. Bowling; party night at Reds; a full house of 1,500 in Studio 36 for The Masked Singer and Hotshots sports bar at Butlin's Minehead (Image: NQ) Which brings me nicely onto something I thought was an absolute game-changer – the Early Access VIP (from £29pp) pass that allows you to book onto shows three days before everyone else and entry 15 minutes before the rest. The shows at Butlin's really are first-class and it was wonderful not worrying about whether we would be stuck at the back, with little ones getting bored as they couldn't see the stage properly. On our first night, we were treated to a wonderful show called Animals and Mythical Beasts by The Animal Guyz whose motto is learning through laughter. Part comedy, part educational and all about the wonder of animals, it was a delight of a show. A packed crowd enjoying Animals and Mythical Beasts (Image: NQ) Later in the week, 1,500 people packed into Studio 36 for a live version of The Masked Singer for which we had a prime spot. The show was hosted by YouTuber Nathan Connor, bringing all the elaborate costumes and ridiculous guesses from Saturday night TV to a delighted live audience whooping 'Take it off!' I won't spoil the surprise of who the two celebrities underneath the masks were but, let's just say, I was not disappointed and recognised them instantly… Another highlight was Meet the Gladiators, for which a huge queue started forming well before the event was due to open. The reboot of the '90s favourite has been delighting a new generation of fans and excitement was building in the huge venue as the host asked eager holidaymakers which Gladiators they thought would grace the stage. Much to the delight of the crowd, it was Dynamite and Sabre – purring, 'I can't wait to meet the dads,' – who were unveiled. Sabre on the big screen at Butlin's (Image: NQ) Families waited patiently to get photos with the glam pair, with snaps taken by a professional photographer at a cost of £8. A great price for something that is sure to be a lovely keepsake for many. After all that excitement, it was time for a tipple or two for which the All Inclusive Drinks Package had us more than covered. There was a range of drinks included, from pints of Madri, to wine, spirits and mixers and soft drinks for the kids. The All Inclusive Drinks Package menu (Image: NQ) From £25.95 per adult, per day, if you like a bev then this easily pays for itself and you can even add the package to your stay and pay monthly for the total using Autopay. We also enjoyed Premium Dining (£32.95 per adult, per day) which includes all-you-can-eat breakfast and dinner options in a choice of two eateries – The Deck and The Yacht Club. More: My Eurocamp holiday to Italy was 4 years later than planned – was it worth the wait? More: 'Stay at top-rated hotel and spa left me feeling on cloud nine' Dining options - The Yacht Club and, the one we preferred, The Deck, where there are fresh food stations (Image: NQ) While The Yacht Club was more of a canteen style, we much preferred The Deck which had service stations offering food such as freshly-cooked omelettes for breakfast and pasta, burgers made to order and Chinese options in the evening. The accommodation had everything we needed for our stay and it was lovely waking up each morning to the sounds of the sea. The bed probably wasn't the comfiest I've ever slept in but, after full-on days, falling asleep certainly wasn't a problem. Some of the park could probably do with a refresh but the kids certainly didn't notice or care. If you're the kind of person who lets something needing a lick of paint spoil your holiday, then Butlin's probably isn't for you. After a full-on and action-packed week, it was time to hit the road and head home. Holiday traffic meant it took seven hours on the return journey so I think my next Butlin's port of call will be the closer-to-home Skegness – once I've recovered from May half term. Football and playgrounds aplenty to keep the kids entertained on site (Image: NQ) Butlin's has three UK resorts, Skegness, Minehead, and Bognor Regis. Visit Summer Holidays from £475 (£119 per person) Butlin's offers a four-night Summer Holiday break featuring Stephen Mulhern staying in a two bedroom Comfort Room from £475 on 21 July 2025. Price is based on a family of four sharing and includes live shows and activities with free flow access to the pool, unlimited fairground rides and the SKYPARK playground. Dining packages start from £24.95 per adult, per day, £14.95 per child (6-14), per day and £6.95 per child (2-5). Summer Holidays from £1753 (£439 per person) Butlin's offers a four-night Summer Holiday break featuring Stephen Mulhern staying in a two bedroom Bayside Apartment from £1753 on 21 July 2025. Price is based on a family of four sharing and includes live shows and activities with free flow access to the pool, unlimited fairground rides and the SKYPARK playground. Dining packages start from £24.95 per adult, per day, £14.95 per child (6-14), per day and £6.95 per child (2-5).


North Wales Live
4 hours ago
- North Wales Live
The American diner serving burgers bigger than Llandudno's Great Orme
Towering high above Llandudno, the Great Orme, occupies one of North Wales most spectacular sites and views. I was hoping to find a similar rugged, foreboding pinnacle on Gloddaeth Street in Llandudno, as someone had told me that Dinos, served mountains of meat, which were just as difficult to conquer? Dinos Llandudno is a big and brash American diner and takeaway, which offers deluxe burgers bigger than your head. So, if your eyes are bigger than your stomach, then this could be the place for you. Dinos ranks high in the Trip Advisor ratings, but surprisingly has no American stars and stripe's theme with the inside décor. Instead, it is simply decorated with basic turquoise and pink walls. Despite its central location, the venue was relatively quiet when we visited. Dinos is obviously burger barmy but the saliva-inducing menu has various other options from across the pond such as chicken wings, shakes and pizza. There are lots of turkey rashers and barbeque sauce on the menu as you might expect, with toppings drawing largely on American Ranch influences, with enough cheese to sink a ship. Every type of burger is listed here. From, simple American style burgers with gherkins and American mustard for £11, to a massive Welsh dragon burger, food challenge, which involves two x 16oz Welsh lamb burgers and enough chili sauce to blow your socks off for £34. There were about twenty-three burgers listed on the menu, with all kinds of strange names such 'Heart Attack' 'Angry Bird' 'King Kong' or the patriotic 'Snowdon Mountain' burger. There were charcoal cooked chicken burgers such as the 'Bob Marley' burger or Cajun spiced and even a tandoori version. Although, I still think they were missing a trick by not having a 'Great Orme' burger. When it comes to burgers, there are some who think, less is more, and even though I didn't see any 'Smash Burgers' on the list? I did notice that there were a couple of Welsh Lamb burgers, which didn't include any sauces or cheese, so that you could get the full taste of the meat. The pizza list was just as big with over twenty-four choices such as 'Cajun sizzler' 'Hot Mexico' or 'Spicy Italian', all fairly self-explanatory with their ingredients. Grilled meals included various versions of chicken and there were a few healthy salads on offer for people who were counting the calories. I decided to leave the diet until tomorrow and went for the 'King Burger', which was an 8oz cheese burger with Parmesan cheese and a Caesar dressing. We were told by the waitress that we could add a meal deal, which meant French fries or Potato Wedges with a can of pop for £5 extra or you could add a fresh milkshake and your choice of fries or wedges for £7 extra. I couldn't resist and it was good to have an attentive service from a waitress, who didn't judge us for our guilty food choices. The burger was a plump, well- shaped pillow and the seeded bun was sturdy enough not to fall apart in my hands. There were three extra crunchy onion rings placed on the top of a skewer, which was delicately holding the whole thing together. The burger was smoothed in cheese with a primal, charred exterior but was soft and succulent inside. My wife went for her cheese burger to be concealed in a wrap. The results were surprisingly different and delicious, with her version tasting a bit like a big juicy burger kebab. The burger was cut into half and squeezed into the wrap with some salad and a burger sauce. The fries were presented in a mini chip pan fryer and were very morish indeed. The milkshake section was also extra-large and included all the usual suspects along with flavours such as Kinder Bueno, Peanut Butter, Oreo and Nutella. I completed my American dream with a thick and delicious snickers version, which tasted like caramel, peanut butter and chocolate at the same time. Desserts included USA inspired things like New Yorker Cheesecake, Chocolate Fudge Cake or Cookie Dough ice cream. We also saw a fine-looking Chocolate Pizza, which I am sure the kids would enjoy. Talking of big kids, I was still slurping my thick milkshake, topped with a flake, long after the burger had been digested whilst my more sensible wife sipped her simple Americano. Dinos food is also available for takeaway via the just eat app, and there is just as much choice on there, including melting meatballs, dirty fries, and various chicken bites, nuggets and strips. We decided to walk off our burgers with a stroll along the prom and the pier and by vowing not to eat again for at least 24 hours. Dinos Llandudno offers an American dining experience that keeps customers coming back for more. How can you resist a big plate of delicious carbs and sugar? If you like American classics, such as sloppy burgers, loaded fries and pizzas bigger than a dustbin lid, then you certainly won't be disappointed eating at Dinos. The Facts King Burger £11.00 (Milkshake meal deal) £7 Flake 50p Cheese Burger wrap £11.00 Americano £3.00 Total £32.50 Opening Times: Monday\u00094pm–9:30 pm Tuesday\u0009Closed Wednesday\u00094pm–9:30 pm Thursday\u00094pm–9:30 pm Friday. 4pm–10 pm Saturday\u000912pm–10 pm Sunday\u00094pm–9:30 pm Atmosphere- Despite its central location, the venue was relatively quiet. Car Parking- Some limited street parking nearby. Disabled Access- Some steps into venue and toilet. Plenty of room inside. Service- Attentive service from a waitress who didn't judge us on our guilty food choices. Overall- The American diner serving burgers bigger than the Great Orme, Llandudno. Dinos Llandudno 5 Gloddaeth Street , Llandudno, LL30 2DD


Daily Mail
7 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Holly Willoughby cosies up to pal Christine Lampard in hysterical throwback snap from the pair's kooky girls' night
took to Instagram on Friday with a hysterical throwback snap from her and pal Christine Lampard 's kooky girls' night. The former This Morning presenter, 44, and Loose Women host, 46, appeared to be having a wonderful time as they playfully posed with crisps in their mouths as fangs. The cheeky duo looked fresh faced and radiant in the snap as they posed up a storm and gazed into the camera. Holly captioned the post: 'About last night… found this on the roll.… how do you eat your crisps? @christinelampard #fangtastic'. Fans were left in hysterics and rushed to the comments writing: 'I just love you two': 'love this xx': 'So many questions and not enough answers, I fear Looks like it was a hilarious night x'. Back in April Christine was on hand to support her close friend after her long running show Dancing On Ice was axed by ITV. Once again taking to Instagram Holly shared a selfie as the pair enjoyed a glass of wine in the sunshine. It came after she'd been left without an ITV primetime show for the first time in 21 years after turning down a major job with the broadcaster. Taking her mind of the matter, Holly look as lovely as ever with a pair of stylish black sunglasses and a navy blue padded jacket. Meanwhile Christine looked equally as stunning as she also donned black sunglasses and a grey jacket. Soaking up the sun, the pals beamed for the camera as they caught up with each other over a drink. Holly captioned the sweet snap: 'Rosé kinda Day.' It comes after Holly sent fans into a frenzy as she unveiled a striking new look on the platform on Thursday. The TV presenter looked worlds away from her usual style as she posed for a car selfie wearing bold, chunky black-frame glasses. The pair feature in a close knit group of pals alongside Emma Bunton and Nicole Appleton Turning heads in a yellow and white striped shirt, Holly beamed at the camera as she showed off her new look and joked about her latest parenting challenge. 'Any other mum/dads of 16 year old / post GCSE children suddenly find themselves with a new role of personal party driver? Mums Mini Cabs and yes I'm now a glasses wearer ... game changer!' she captioned the snap. Holly and her husband Dan Baldwin are parents to son Harry, 16, daughter Belle, 12, and nine-year-old son Chester. The broadcaster revealed a secret health battle that drove her to 'write herself off' in an emotional Channel 4 documentary. Jamie Oliver 's new show, Jamie's Dyslexia Revolution, hit screens earlier this month. The documentary saw the TV chef look into the challenges dyslexic children have to tackle at school and push for more support from the Government. Dyslexia is a common learning difficulty that causes problems with reading, writing and spelling and difficulties with processing. During the film, Holly features and opens up about her own battle with dyslexia. Reflecting on her time at school, the TV star spoke about her 'poor results' in tests despite 'working really, really hard'. She said: 'I definitely was terrible at spelling. I knew that because in spelling tests I would always get poor results' 'I always knew that when I got my homework back, there would be red pen all over it where there would be 'silly mistakes',' Holly added. The presenter revealed how it made her feel 'different' and explained: 'I felt like I was working really, really hard, with not getting much results. So I felt different.' She shared her take on the current school system and how it isn't suited for everyone. 'The school system is made for a certain type of learning and its so hard when you don't learn like that,' Holly said. 'When you then write yourself off at school as being non-academic that does shape your future somewhat,' she added. The TV presenter has previously said she was diagnosed with dyslexia 'quite late in life' and has praised her teachers with helping her overcome it at school. And during an episode of This Morning back in 2022, the star said she did not see the learning difficulty as a 'disability', adding: 'I think it makes me who I am.' While discussing dyslexia with British entrepreneur, Sir Richard Branson, 71, who is also dyslexic, Holly said: 'I don't see it as a disability at all, I see it as a real feather in my cap. 'I'm very proud of being dyslexic, I think it makes me who I am. I think half of the things I think that I'm actually quite good at in life are because I'm dyslexic.' Sir Richard responded: 'I was so hopeless at school work that I decided aged 15 to leave school and do the things that I was interested in, and once I started putting my dyslexic thinking brain to things that I was interested in I started to excel at them.