Residents 'thrilled' with greening efforts

Residents in Grimsby have been "thrilled" with efforts to bring more greenery to the town centre, the council has said.The improvements, including new seating, planting and "living walls", were made as part of Levelling Up Funding awarded to the town in May last year, according to North East Lincolnshire Council.Grimsby in Bloom was working with the authority as part of the project, and was providing the plants and flowers throughout the year for hanging baskets along Victoria Street, a spokesperson said.Residents told the authority the town was "more appealing" and the changes were "positive" for the area and "exactly what Grimsby needs".
As part of the improvements, new seating has been put in place and a number of "living walls" - structures attached to buildings and filled with plants - are being installed to improve the look of the town and to help air quality, the authority said.According to the council, Grimsby resident Janet Bird had given feedback that the improvements "look lovely"."All the bright plants and flowers really add to Victoria Street and make it more appealing," she said. "This is exactly what Grimsby needs."
Meanwhile, Christine Ward, who said she was a regular visitor to the town centre, explained: "It's such a positive for the area and definitely makes it a better place."The authority said a pop-up garden was being created along West St Mary's Gate and festoon lighting was being installed along Victoria Street as part of the project's next stage.Elaine Atkinson, chair of Grimsby In Bloom, said they had also received many positive comments from visitors to the town."To sit around these flowers makes you feel so much better. It makes the town look great, but it also does wonders for your personal health and wellbeing," she said.Councillor Philip Jackson said he was thrilled to see positive change in Grimsby which was part of the larger regeneration of the town centre."With demolition under way, the new cinema, state-of-the-art market and other leisure outlets are one step closer," he said."This is such an exciting time for Grimsby and North East Lincolnshire as a whole," he added.Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.

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The Guardian

an hour ago

• The Guardian

Bacardi Breezers to BuzzBallz: why gen Z aren't the booze buzzkills we've been led to believe

You can tell a lot about a generation from the contents of their cool box: nowadays the barbecue ice bucket is likely to be filled with hard seltzers, non-alcoholic beers and fluorescent BuzzBallz – a particular favourite among gen Z. Two decades ago, it was WKD, Bacardi Breezers and the odd Smirnoff Ice bobbing in a puddle of melted ice. And while nostalgia may have brought back some alcopops, the new wave of ready-to-drink (RTD) options look and taste noticeably different. It is not just the drinks that have changed, but drinking habits too, driven in part by more health-conscious consumers and demand for variety, according to Marten Lodewijks, the president of the drinks market analysts IWSR US. 'A decade ago, hardseltzers, with less sugar and a lower ABV [alcohol by volume], appealed to a new, more health-conscious consumer that didn't want quite as much sweetness. Lower calories also meant less flavour, however, and, as with any trend, a countertrend soon emerged,' he said. Companies responded with a 'much wider range of ABVs, flavours, sweetness levels and even carbonation'. BuzzBallz, founded by a teacher and inspired by a snow globe, is among the newer arrivals tapping into that shift. The instantly recognisable palm-sized spheres 'climbed to become the number 18 RTD brand by volume in the UK', Jess Scheerhorn, the vice-president at BuzzBallz, told the Drinks Business magazine, citing data from Circana, the US market research group. The growing popularity of RTD products reflects a shift towards more casual, convenient drinking, often outside traditional settings such as pubs, Alice Baker, a senior research analyst at Mintel, said. 'Sales of RTDs have shot up from around £530m a decade ago to an estimated £970m in 2024,' she said, with many people buying them as 'a money-saving alternative to cocktails in pubs and bars'. The drinks company Diageo is aiming to make its classic brands such as Smirnoff, Guinness and Captain Morgan relevant to gen Z drinkers, whom it suggests are wrongly perceived to be less interested in alcohol. Giles Hedger, its global consumer planning director, said: 'A lot of people talk about gen Z being a cohort that is moving away from alcohol. Our data tells us otherwise. While they drink socially a little less frequently than other cohorts, they do so very enthusiastically.' In fact, 'gen Z is super-committed to socialising', he says, with alcohol a 'very significant and enthusiastic part of that'. According to Diageo, whose data draws on 150 consumer experts around the world and reams of market research, gen Z do half their drinking in pubs and clubs and are fans of 'three-hour-plus' occasions. They also 'love spirits' and have a soft spot for cocktails. Diageo has revamped Smirnoff Ice amid runaway demand for pre-mixed drinks. The 00s alcopop has a new look and comes in a can, but according to the marketers it still has the 'citrus flavour notes that people know and love'. Looks matter too – especially for a social media-savvy generation, Kiti Soininen, Mintel category director of UK food and drink research, said. 'Our research shows that 73% of white spirits drinkers think that using visually appealing glassware makes drinking white spirits more enjoyable – which no doubt works in favour of BuzzBallz.'

Times

3 hours ago

• Times

The UK summer festival kit list — luxury edition

Everyone knows that people who attend festivals in the UK aren't messing around. A feeble Californian unused to the elements, I turned up to my first UK weekender head to toe in all the wrong clothes. Where I should have brought warming but chic layers, I came with bare shoulders and no jacket. Where I should have researched fashionable but supportive shoes, I turned up in dainty sandals. Where it might have been wise to pack both a raincoat and a sunhat, I brought only trendy (and hardly UV safe) sunnies. As the rain whipped around me, the mud caked my ankles and my feet throbbed, I was cursing the Coachella influencers who had inspired my outfit. Instead I should have been paying attention to the clever way that the UK's fashionable festivalgoers weave together form and function to make sure they have the best time possible while still bringing personal style into the equation. It's a tricky line to navigate. Sure, you'll need sensible shoes. But the good news is there's never been a cooler array of sensible shoes on the market. Sure, you'll need a raincoat — but what if that raincoat was made by the queen of fashionable festival attire herself, Alexa Chung? Of course you'll want a hat to protect yourself from the sun, but what if that hat could take you from the soggy glades of Glastonbury to, say, the sizzling beach clubs of Monaco? Whether you're in the enviable position of sleeping in a luxury camper van at a glamping site or are kicking it old-school and camping next to your favourite stage, here are the festival staples that will have you looking and feeling your most luxurious. • This article contains affiliate links that can earn us revenue Possibly the most important festival accessory is a great pair of sunnies. These from eyewear king Tom Ford are the perfect blend of trendy and practical, with their 1970s-inspired shape. Strap them on a chain like this one from Loewe for extra safety. This will keep them from flying off in the mosh pit. Tom Ford, £413 My favourite formula when it comes to festival dressing is wearing a fun top with comfortable bottoms. This top from the LA-based brand Staud has jaunty sequins, a little bit of a structure and a neutral enough colour that it will go with everything, even a pair of Adidas shorts. Staud, £330 Same goes for this glitter printed number from the French brand Courrèges. It's comfortable but still has personality — and is also a nod to the early 2000s styles that have been creeping back into the fashion landscape over the last few years. Courrèges, £180 There is no one who has more successfully nailed the chic festival aesthetic than Alexa Chung. This is why her line at Barbour is the perfect choice for your festival kit. It's made with the brand's waxed cotton, which will keep you dry in a downpour, but it's lightweight enough to make sure you don't overheat. It also comes in a jolly yellow bright enough that your friends will never lose you in the crowd. The Edit by Alexa at Barbour, £319 Miu Miu has entered into the activewear space and done it very well. Among the brand's new, more unexpected offerings is a fleece sweatshirt. The oversize fit and thick material mean it'll keep you cosy when temperatures inevitably drop in the evening. Miu Miu, £1,800 This top from Pucci is a great way to bring some colour into your look. Bring along your favourite bikini top to go under the shirt and you're in business. Pucci, £270 This flouncy dress from the LA-based brand Doen will balance perfectly with the chunkier pair of shoes you will inevitably have to wear. Think how nice it will feel not to have to squeeze into a pair of trousers on day three. Doen, £268 These need no introduction. They're the king of festivalwear and the best way to protect your trotters when the rain starts falling and the ground turns to slurry. This model has an update on the classic Hunter look with a mid-calf height and a tiny platform. Hunter, £168 This cropped reversible jacket has the unmistakable Burberry check on one side and a solid green on the other, meaning you get two outfits for the price of one. It's lightweight and will help keep you protected from the wind in the chicest way possible. Burberry, £1,250 Brunello Cucinelli clothes and a music festival may feel like unlikely companions, but this ribbed polo is a jaunty red and made of a resilient and warm cotton, making it a perfect companion for your festival excursion. Brunello Cucinelli, £990 A good pair of denim shorts will take you far, and these from Agolde come in five different washes. They are the perfect length, sitting just above mid-thigh, which is most flattering. Agolde, £180 Celine's classic frames are a surefire way to stay looking glam throughout the festival, plus the brand's shades are made of a thicker, sturdier acetate, so they're a more reliable bet for a day involving lots of jumping around. Celine, £340 For something with an open toe but a bit more support, try Bottega's new sandals. These have sturdy leather straps and chunky soles to help keep your feet secure as you stomp between shows. Bottega Veneta, £770 Jacquemus has been making fashionable summer headwear for years. The French brand uses chic but sturdy materials like denim and canvas, and many of its hats include an attached strap — a practical element not to be sniffed at! Jacquemus, £220 For something more lo-fi but still just as comfortable, try a pair of trainers from the new brand Hatty. These British-made, vegan and vintage-inspired trainers are designed by the siblings Harriet and Lewis Houlgrave, who just happen to be third-generation shoemakers. If it's looking to be a dry weekend, opt for their cheetah print model. The gum soles and supple materials mean that these babies will keep you dancing all night, no problemo. The shoes arrive in a beautiful silver box, which also includes a card explaining how to tie a perfect bow with your laces. Handy. Hatty, £165 If you get organised enough to change into a pair of pyjamas (rather than flopping face down in your party gear), make sure they're extra luxurious. Eberjey is known for its uber-cosy pyjamas, and its (machine-washable) silk PJs are particularly fabulous. Opt for the new Casa del Sol collection, which was co-created with the actress Eva Longoria for a particularly summery-feeling combo. Eberjey, £270 If you're someone who tends to get cold at night, why not bring along one of Burberry's hot-water bottles to keep your toes warm. Burberry, £320 Comfort is king, especially towards the end of the festival, but that doesn't mean you can't look polished too. Prada's jogging bottoms have both a drawstring waistband and cuffs, meaning they will be not only a roomy solution, but also a stylish one. Prada, £1,010 Whether you're shuffling around your tent or braving a communal shower, The Row's flip-flops will keep your feet comfortable while also semaphoring your style pioneer status. The Row, £670 Augustinus Bader is the skincare brand used by those in the know. Its products are chock full of the powerful TFC8® technology, which was invented by Dr Bader to aid in skin renewal — something you will be in desperate need of. The starter kit offers the brand's skincare heroes in a collection of minis. Augustinus Bader, £210 This suncream combines skin care and protection, formulated as a hydrating serum with broad spectrum UVA and UVB protection. It also has a dewiness to it that will give you a nice sheen and it's tinted — great for those looking for a more minimal make-up look. Emma Lewisham, £50 There's nothing more annoying than the sense that a monster spot is percolating under the surface of your skin, especially when the last thing you have time to think about is a proper skincare regime. The ZIIP dot is your best friend in moments like this. The circular device, designed by the celebrity facialist Melanie Simon, is small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, but it emits micro currents that when glided over your spots help to reduce inflammation, swelling and tackle bacteria. ZIIP, £169 This primer will do everything you need for the festival. It will give you a glowy sheen, it will moisturise, and it will help blur imperfections without making your skin feel heavy. It's an all-rounder that also layers well if you need to do a mid-day top up. Vieve, £39 There's nothing more annoying than not having your phone handy to capture all the action. This case from Bottega is made of rubber, which will keep your phone safe from spills, and has a strap attached, so you can hang the phone off your person or even whirl it around your head with joy. Bottega Veneta, £200 You will spend half the time looking for the friends you've lost. Even worse is when you get lost with a phone battery that's rapidly decreasing, because then you may never see any of your friends again. Come prepared with a portable phone charger, and a chic one at that. Hermès' version is covered in supple calfskin leather and has wireless charging capabilities so you don't have to carry around any pesky cables. It also has a useful analogue gauge on the front to tell you exactly how much power is left in the bank. Hermès, £680 The Eyes water bottle is the perfect festival companion. Fun and functional, it keeps drinks cool for 24 hours and warm for 12, so it can carry your morning hot drink and then later help keep you cool and hydrated. Anya Hindmarch, £45 Sometimes you just can't bring yourself to stand in an endless line for a refresh on your drink. Solve for this by packing yourself a handful of tinned cocktails like these from Ghost Lab. Not only do they taste delicious, but they also feature light combinations like gin with grapefruit, lychee and cucumber, or vodka with espresso, cascara cherry and guarana. Plus the sleek silver packaging will act as an extra accessory. Ghost Labs, £18 It's almost a 100 per cent guarantee that you won't be eating as mindfully as you might like to during a multiday festival experience. Increase your protein intake (the key to managing a hangover) by supplementing with Louco's protein powder before you head out for the day. It's been specifically designed for women's health and will help you keep dancing for longer. Louco Health, from £24

Times

3 hours ago

• Times

Are you in need of a parasol upgrade?

A prerequisite of scorching summers, a garden parasol provides practicality (a shelter from sun and rain alike) and decorative oomph, injecting some fun to alfresco areas small or large. There's a design out there for every taste and budget, from the chintzy florals of East London Parasol's offering to Business and Pleasure's burnt orange, green and pink one, while striped ones (such as Habitat's £25 green and white iteration) pluck inspiration from the old world glamour of the Riviera, adding a dose of members' club chic to your garden. John Lewis's customers are prepping for sunnier days, with the retailer reporting that its customers' searches for 'parasol' are up by 223 per cent week on week on its website, with some models already sold out. So be quick, the best ones might not hang around for long. Don't forget the SPF — not every parasol is created equal. Check the UV protection factor from the manufacturer. £999, £25, £79, £455, (Top image: £785, £125,