Having previously visited Porto and left thoroughly impressed, I wondered whether a return trip a few years later could possibly live up to my memories. At the invitation of IHG, I had the perfect excuse to find out, with the opportunity to experience two of its five-star hotels in very different corners of the city.

Ahead of the world premiere of The Farmer's Wife at Theatre by the Lake, playwright Hannah Khalil talks to Andrew Palmer about writing three generations of Cumbrian farming women into being. When Theatre by the Lake asked Hannah Khalil whether she might make a stage version of Helen Rebanks' The Farmer's Wife, her first instinct was to say no.

There are nods throughout TV dinners to some of the originators, like The Ramones, and Leech sounds like a track that’s a love child of The Runaways. Wine Lips may have taken a good swig from some of these early punk and garage bands, but they have updated things from their own world view and produced a thoroughly modern, whip-smart album of chaotically infectious fuzzy punk. The album should come with a word of warning, however – don’t listen to TV Dinner whilst having a TV dinner; things are likely to get messy very quickly.

Wars, political instability and polarisation, climate change, rising living costs and growing distrust of leaders and institutions can create a sense that the world is unstable and nobody is really in control. This presents a particular psychological challenge. Someone frightened of spiders, dogs or flying may be able to avoid the trigger, at least temporarily.

This book came recommended to me by another lover of reading. It is so good to be offered something you might not pick up yourself.

Tom Sorsby and the rest of the England Men’s Hockey team will begin their FIH Hockey World Cup campaign today (Saturday 15th August) in Amstelveen, the Netherlands. England men head into the tournament, which is being held jointly by Belgium and the Netherlands, ranked third in the world behind only the two hosts of this year’s event.

Millions of Britons heading overseas this summer could be paying far more than they need to for their car hire. That’s the warning from our consumer expert Jane Hawkes, who is advising holiday makers to book car hire well in advance and be confident in saying no to upselling at the desk.

In today’s world, where change is happening faster than ever, knowing when to move on has become a vital skill for anyone navigating their career. Jack Welch, a renowned business leader, summed it up perfectly: “Change before you have to.” That advice feels more relevant than ever, given the constant shifts across industries and workplaces.

Regent's new disc of Phillip Cooke's solo organ music, recorded on the celebrated organ at Blackburn Cathedral, is rich in colour and atmosphere. Cooke, who grew up amid the fells and changeable light of the Lake District, writes music that seems to capture that landscape rather than describe it, and Ed Jones, at the console, treats the Blackburn organ less as an accompanist to that memory than as its co-author.

I first met Bachelor Girl in person back when I lived in Melbourne, an experience that, if I'm being completely honest, excited my inner teenager rather more than was probably necessary. It was wonderfully surreal sitting down over coffee with Tania Doko and James Roche, having spent years knowing their music, while also photographing them for the interview.

Nearly five minutes is all it takes. Donna McKevitt's new single, released yesterday on Delphian Records, takes a single motet and turns it into something entirely its own. Few Renaissance composers still speak to us as urgently as Carlo Gesualdo, whose harmonic daring and emotional rawness sound startlingly modern four centuries on. That is exactly the quality McKevitt has tapped into with O vos.

With the summer holidays now well underway, families will be prepping to jet out of the UK for their annual trip. Experts predicted 2.2 million British holidaymakers were heading overseas in late-July, with high travel volumes likely to continue throughout August. Despite an upcoming holiday being something to look forward to, time away from home can elicit feelings of anxiety for some.

For those that don’t already know, Cupra is the high-performance arm of Spanish car manufacturer SEAT. In 2018, Cupra was spun off to become its own sub-brand, with all future models from the marque wearing Cupra’s arrow-shaped emblem. The company’s first standalone model was the Formentor, a car that put the Cupra brand firmly on the map.

Trust Me What can be discussed in words I beg to state in brief. A man has only one death: it may be as light as goose down or as heavy as a fatted hog. Gingerly the flowers open and are crushed in the vat. What's in your new perfume?

Nicola Matteis arrived in London in the 1670s and, by all accounts, played the violin as though he'd dropped in from another planet. French taste ruled Restoration England, and nobody there had heard anything like him. Within a few years he'd turned the city's ear decisively towards Italy — so thoroughly that Roger North later grumbled nothing in town "had a relish without a spice of Itally." That line gives Duo Dorado their title, and it turns out to be a fair description of what's inside too.

While plenty of guitar bands spend their careers trying to escape the streets that shaped them, the Rotherham four-piece keep running back towards them, armed with loud guitars, sharp observations and a chorus designed to be screamed back by several thousand people.

A critically important piglet has been born at Chester Zoo, as conservationists warn her species is being wiped out in the wild by African swine fever. Little Rana is a babirusa - sometimes called the "pig-deer" - a species found on just four Indonesian islands.

Business leaders rate music highly for workplace skills - yet fewer young children in the UK have the opportunity to study it at school than at any point in a generation. This comes at a time when almost half of British adults (49%) rank music as the UK's greatest export to the world, ahead of scientific research (28%), technology innovation (24%) and manufacturing (18%).

Among family-friendly seaside resorts, one towers above the rest – Blackpool. And even better, you can get there for a day trip by Stagecoach bus. From Lancaster, catch the 42 Service. Or from Preston, jump on the 61 or 68 Service, and all three routes will drop you off just a stroll away from Blackpool Tower and the North Pier.

Leaders behind a firm which plans to build a major new aircraft conversion campus at Teesside International Airport have visited the region after signing a landmark agreement. Alfor Aviation will create 250 permanent high-skilled jobs at the new facility after a 50-year agreement was secured during the recent Farnborough International Airshow.

Aviva has reported a strong start to 2026, with operating profit climbing 24% to £1.3 billion for the first half of the year. The insurer, which provides cover to over 25 million customers globally, attributed the growth to its diversified business model and successful integration of the recently acquired Direct Line Insurance Group.

Handrail Creations, a specialist in bespoke handrails and balustrades, has invested in a wireless, AI-driven 3D scanner to support its growing project portfolio across the United Kingdom. The Bolton-based firm currently manages approximately 160 live projects.

Yorkshire Water is reminding customers to use water wisely as the UK’s fifth heatwave of the year arrives, with temperatures in the region set to reach more than 30 degrees. Yorkshire Water is preparing for the increased demand expected during the latest heatwave.

Devolution has just gained a scoreboard.

Following reports of giant hogweed being found in Preston, dog owners are being urged to learn how to recognise the dangerous plant and know what to do if their pet comes into contact with it.

ARMEXIS, the Harrogate-based armoured vehicle designer and manufacturer, has called for the UK to move swiftly beyond spending announcements and to rebuild its defence manufacturing capacity to keep the country safe.

Grade I-listed Ribble Valley hall set for hotel, members' club and wellness centre, with planning applications expected in November Alison Brooks Architects has been appointed to lead a £30 million redevelopment of Gisburne Park, a 1,000-acre estate near the Ribble Valley, converting the historic house into a members' club, boutique hotel and wellness centre.

Foodbanks are calling for donations of everyday essentials this summer as families face extra pressure during the school holidays. To help shoppers support their local communities, supermarket Aldi has revealed the products charities say are needed most, making it easier for customers to donate while doing their weekly shop.

Younger savers increasingly feel the concept of ‘saving for a rainy day’ is outdated, and are focusing their efforts on saving for specific goals, new research from LHV Bank has revealed. The survey of more than 2,000 savers found 44% of respondents aged 18-24 felt the idea of rainy day savings was outdated.

Campaigners have written to Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Chancellor John Healey, urging them to meet for talks on compensating millions of WASPI women. In a letter sent today, WASPI chief Angela Madden presses the new Labour leadership to urgently meet with campaigners to ensure 1950s-born women receive “fair redress”.

This coming weekend members of Blackburn Diocese Mothers’ Union from across Lancashire are holding an all-age local celebration and a special service - all to mark the 150th anniversary of the worldwide organisation.

Overall consumer confidence saw incremental movement in July 2026, according to the latest data from YouGov and the Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr). The index rose from 105.3 to 105.5 (+0.2). Any score greater than 100 indicates positive sentiment, while a score of less than 100 indicates negative sentiment.

Four wins and two of them the coveted two-star kind — Altrincham-based Lovingly Artisan Bakery has enjoyed one of its finest showings yet at this year's Great Taste Awards. The Guild of Fine Food has revealed its 2026 winners, with the Northwest bakery — which operates across Altrincham, Manchester and Kendal in the Lake District — picking up two two-star awards and two one-star awards.

A 78-year-old Wigan man is urging others to act fast on sudden eyesight changes after a routine trip to his local optician uncovered a serious, life-threatening condition. Edwin Causey, of Warrington Road, Wigan, woke on Saturday, June 27, to find he had completely lost the vision in his right eye.

Long-distance train operator CrossCountry has launched an industry-first digital Priority Seating Card, making it easier for customers who need additional support to discreetly communicate that they require a priority seat onboard.

Andy Burnham has been urged to make rewiring Britain’s faltering education system a key priority of his government.

The former Anglican Bishop of Lancaster from 1998 to 2005, Rt Rev. Stephen Pedley, has died at the age of 85. Bishop Stephen was also Honorary Chaplain to Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth between 1984 and 1998.  A priest's son, Stephen was born in Coventry in 1940 at the height of the Battle of Britain and the subsequent bombing blitz of many British cities.

The Rt Hon John Healey has been confirmed as Chancellor of the Exchequer in Prime Minister Andy Burnham's first major appointment, ending weeks of speculation and drawing swift reaction from business and rural groups over the direction of the new government's economic policy.

The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has issued a "Roadmap for Growth" to incoming Prime Minister Andy Burnham, calling on the new administration to abandon political drift and partner with industry to drive national economic renewal.

The UK economy grew by 0.1% in May, official figures from the Office for National Statistics have shown, with warm weather lifting retail sales even as renewed conflict in the Middle East threatens to disrupt global supply chains and dampen business confidence.

The latest KPMG and REC, UK Report on Jobs: North of England survey revealed divergent hiring trends in June, as a fall in permanent staff appointments contrasted with a rise in temp billings. While there was a sharper reduction in permanent job openings, growth in temp vacancies slowed.

A joyful gathering of 350 clergy, lay leaders and headteachers from across The Church of England in Lancashire took place this week; marking the Diocese's centenary year with their 2026 conference: ‘Found by Jesus: In Luke and Acts’. The major four day event at Liverpool Hope University combined worship, Bible study, teaching, prayer and celebration.

Professor Christoph Bluth, Professor of International Relations and Security at the University of Bradford, argues that NATO emerged from its recent summit militarily stronger but politically more fragile. In this expert analysis, he explores growing tensions over defence spending, Ukraine, Iran and US leadership, and assesses what this means for the future of the alliance.

The TUC has launched a new skills initiative bringing together unions, employers, and education providers to tackle Britain's deepening skills crisis. The union body says the crisis has been caused by years of underinvestment by government, falling investment by employers, a failure to listen to workers, and a skills system struggling to keep pace with rapid technological change.

Overall index increased by +0.4. Retrospective (+1.5) and forward-looking (+2.6) household finance figures continue recovery. Perceptions of house prices worsened over the past 30 days (-3.2) and looking ahead to the next 12 months (-0.5). Business activity measures improved over June (+3.6), as did outlook (+1.2)

Women across Britain are significantly more anxious than men about meeting everyday living costs over the coming year, with new research warning that mounting financial pressure is forcing many to rely on borrowing and eating into long-term savings rather than building financial resilience for the future.

Figures show people with red flag symptoms put off going to the GP and face barriers in seeking help. Cancer Research UK and Tesco have partnered to encourage people to seek help for potential cancer symptoms and support early diagnosis Tesco pharmacists trained by Cancer Research UK available in-store to provide information and support to customers experiencing potential symptoms or concerned about cancer